should_be_working

Hi, everyone. I haven't checked in for a very long time, mostly because I was becoming so discouraged by my lack of success since I was banded in August. After 2 fills, I was at 6 cc's and felt almost zero restriction. Still, I want to be honest and acknowledge that I haven't been a 100% compliant patient either. I haven't exercised very much, I've indulged in too much alcohol and I've had a very hard time not drinking during/after meals. I had my 3rd fill today and I'm hoping that it will make a difference. I'm now at 7 cc's in a Realize band. DH and I are leaving for Hawaii in 10 days. I'd really hoped to be much thinner by the time we made the trip but that's not going to happen. Oh well, it's better to be fat in Hawaii than fat at home, right? I'm planning on doing a lot of walking while I'm there and I've already checked into the availability of a gym at our hotel (they have one). I feel like I'm starting over. Wish me luck! I'm really impressed by how well the rest of you are doing! I hope I can achieve similar success.

I am very frustrated. I've gained 2 pounds in the last two weeks and was starting to feel like I'd wasted a lot of time, money and energy on this whole process. The fill was not at all painful. He put in 4cc's. Afterward, I drank a small cup of water and didn't feel any restriction. He was surprised so he stuck me again to remove the saline just to make sure that it had gone where it was supposed to be. It had. He didn't recommend a soft diet... just said to take a bite, chew it well and wait a few minutes before taking the next bite. That hasn't felt necessary so far because I'm still not feeling any restriction. I have to wait 6 weeks to get another fill. :thumbup:

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8.......wk9.......wk10.......wk11.......wk12 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5.. ...240.....236.......233........233........230 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245.....243.....240.......235 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217..........217...........216.........215.......213.......212 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310..... ..305......307.........308..........304.......297.......294 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317.......313 MaggieGT...........264..........260........253.......252........249... ..254 MrsPeterson07....219.......... shouldbeworking 219...........209.........206........205........205........206.......206.......206........208 bdbmamaw 226...........218........210.......204.......201 Cherishthepast.....230........216.........213.......211......208...... 206......204.....202...199 __________________

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8.......wk9.......wk10.......wk11.......wk12 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5.. ...240.....236 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245.....243.....240.......235 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217..........217...........216.........215.......213 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310..... ..305......307.........308..........304.......297 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317.......313 MaggieGT...........264..........260........253.......252........249 MrsPeterson07....219.......... shouldbeworking 219...........209........206.......205........205........206........206 bdbmamaw 226...........218........210.......204.......201 Cherishthepast.....230........216.........213.......211......208...... 206......204.....202

I will be 5 weeks post-op tomorrow. I haven't lost any weight in the last 2 weeks and I am not scheduled for my first fill for another 3 weeks. If it weren't for this board, I would have become tremendously discouraged by now. I can't wait to get some restriction because I'm feeling like my old self -- hungry all the time! Last Saturday, we ate out and I unthinkingly ate a piece of celery that was the garnish on my plate. I felt some cutting pain that evening and some soreness the next day but everything's back to normal now. I am not exercising as much as I should. :tongue2: I'm getting ready for a trip to Disney World with my DH and kids and I'm about 25 pounds heavier than I was the last time I squeezed onto those rides.

Bandit...............WK1.........wk2........wk3.......wk4.......wk5... ....wk6.......wk7.......wk8 formerfatchick....262..........260........252........244.......242.5 abbypoo............275..........266........263........261....... jennyr1222.........265..........263........260........255......249.... .245.....243.....240.......235 missK................241..........231........228........223.......219. ......217..........217...........216.........215 morphiend..........238..........229........222........ Tripletmomma.....327..........323........319........312.......310..... ..305......307 Threeboys3........250..........247........243.5.....232....... Ariscus99...........342..........320........317.......313 MaggieGT...........264..........260........253.......252........249 MrsPeterson07....219.......... shouldbeworking 219...........209........206.......205........205 bdbmamaw 226...........218........210.......204.......201 Cherishthepast.....230........216.........213.......211......208...... 206......204 __________________

Kate, I'm glad to hear it went well and that you are feeling good restriction. Let us know how your transition to solid food goes!

That's great news. Thanks for posting it -- you are an inspiration!

Prior to surgery, my doctor told me that there would be 5 incisions unless my liver was so large that it required more.

I am also "well endowed" and my only problem was like SamB's -- the underwire rested right on one of my incisions. I went without or wore a sports bra for about two weeks and then went back to underwire. I did have to put gauze between the incision and the underwire for another week or so. After that, I was fine. My port, however, is just just above my belly button so pressure wasn't really the problem for me.

Sounds like a great appointment. I can't wait to have that feeling!

I have been thinking about this situation (because I worry that I will share it) and have two thoughts: (1) Perhaps you need to increase your calorie intake to get your body out of starvation mode so that it doesn't feel the need to hold onto every single calorie, or (2) Maybe you were such a weight loss pro before you got the band that your body needs something more to get it kickstarted. Are you exercising?

Personally, I chose a weight that is not as low as my lowest ever adult weight, but one that I felt good at and think I can maintain this time with the help of my band. My doctor has never mentioned a goal weight. Have others chosen that weight in consultation with their surgeon? Because it represents a specific number of pounds lost? Because it gets them to a specific BMI? Just curious.