FailureIsntAnOption

If you are exercising an hour a day I'm sure you are still loosing. You are probably loosing inches rather than pounds since you most likely are gaining lean muscle. Try varying your calorie intake. If you normally eat 1000 calories then try 1200. Try going up or down two hundred calories each day. You need to trick your body.

I walked until 4 weeks post-op then joined the gym. As long as you are healed you should be fine.

That is way more than I got. My first fill was 1.6 cc. Second fill was .6 cc. I would imagine that with a 5 cc fill you will really feel restricted.

I started on soft foods a few days early because I just couldn't take the liquid phase any longer. I went to Juice It Up and had a protein smoothie. I enjoy making my own smoothies. Try adding a banana, a handfull of blueberries and vanilla whey protein to ice and blending. It is a nice low-calorie treat that wont hurt your band.

Sheavens, You need to change your lifestyle patterns. I stay busy until it is time for bed whereas I used to sit and watch tv until bedtime. Especially since it is summertime and it stays light out until 8:30 or so. I go directly to the gym when I get off work, then my husband and I take a bike ride, then we go swimming. Once I am finished with all this I go to bed. NO time to think about grazing. Good luck! You are experiencing "head hunger" not real hunger. After you get a significant fill this should subside. If nothing else works, go to bed and wait til morning to eat bfast.

DB, There really isn't any pain to speak of. More of a discomfort for a few days. It's totally worth it though.

Bthom, Congrats on your decision. I had my band done in Mexicali, Mexico. My cost was $7,000.00 and included lifetime fills. I've already been back to Mexicali for two fill. I was banded in April and I feel great. I've lost 54 pounds and ready to keep going. The more active you are the faster you will loose. Good luck to you.

Scott, I go through your area everytime I see my surgeon. I had my band done in Mexicali. My total cost including lifetime fill was $7000.00. No program fee for me.

Is it that you can't do the exercise? Or is it that you wont do the exercise? You have to put things into perspective. If you want to live a healthy, lean lifestyle it takes work for anybody. The band has helped me tremendously to eat much less. The rest is up to me and I am loving the new and improving me!

Looks like I'm the odd ball here......my port is dead center about 8 inches up from my belly button. No problems due to location of port. Banded 4/17/09 First fill 5/30/09 1.6 cc Second fill 7/10/09 .6 cc:cool2:

I went outside my insurance and self paid for my surgery. I had my appt. with the nutritionist my primary care physician referred me to approx 6 weeks after surgery. She asked me why I got the band and I told her that I needed help loosing weight and I chose the band because I didn't need to have my digestive system rearranged or rerouted and if there were a problem the band is reversible. She said it is not reversible and the average weight loss with the band is only 30 pounds. That really ticked me off. I've already lost 50 pounds and at that point in time had lost 39 pounds. It's just crazy how some of the medical professionals try to discourage us. I know I will reach my weight loss goal of 160 pounds. How dare she throw a monkey wrench into my commitment. By the way, I filed a grievance with my insurance provider for not covering my surgery in the first place. We'll see what happens with that.

SD2bskinny, My insurance company, Kaiser Permanente, did not due my lapband. I had mine done in Mexicali, MX so I was able to avoid all the hoop jumping. Kaiser has done my post-op care and has agreed to do my fills as well. Hope this helps. Best of luck with your journey.

I went to Mexicali, Mexico and self paid $7,000. No regrets here. I had great care in Mexico.

Thank you Catherine for the information.

Can somebody please explain to me what is meant by the term "sweet spot" and how do you know when you are at that point? Banded 4/17/09 First fill 5/30/09 1.6 cc

Please advise as to what it means to reach your sweet spot? How do you know when you have reached it?

I have experienced a greater amount of saliva but only when food gets stuck and right before I vomit. Did you recently have a fill? Perhaps your band is too tight.

I do it all the time. Pre-op and post-op. You just have to learn to control yourself when you get the munchies. Otherwise, it's no big deal. As far as testing for it during pre-op testing, that's false. They don't look for that.

Hello, I had my lap band surgery in Mexicali also. My surgeon was Alberto Aceves. The care in Mexicali also exceeded my expectations. I stopped loosing at about 2 weeks post op too. You will begin loosing again but it is not uncommon to stop loosing at this point. My surgery was 4/17/09 and I have lost 48 pounds. Make sure you are drinking enough Water and eating around 65 grams of Protein daily. I got my first fill at 6 weeks in Mexicali. After my fill I began loosing again. Be sure to exercise at least 30 minutes each day too. You may need to increase your calorie intake just a little. I began to loose once I increased to 1200 calories. Remember, the lap band is only a tool that will help you to eat less during dieting. It is not going to make you loose the weight. You will still have to eat less and move more to make the weight come off. Good luck to you.

With all due respect, I disagree that if you are having doubts you aren't ready. Of coarse you will have some doubts, totally normal. I had so many concerns when I was wheeled through the hospital to surgery. All those doubts disappeared once it was done and I knew what I had to do. Catherine, If you are getting hungry between meals then you need a fill. You should not be hungry.

Congratulations!

I most certainly would do it again in a heartbeat. Think about all the diets you have tried and failed. I know I tried many times. The worst part for me was the constant hunger. Although I still felt hungry for about 2 weeks after surgery, the cravings have gone away and so has the hunger. Once you get your fist fill you will rarely ever experience hunger again. Yes if you eat the the wrong foods, eat too fast, or don't chew your food enough you will experience some discomfort and possibly vomit. It's still worth it! There is a learning curve with the lapband. But once you obey the rules you will have few if any problems. I had my surgery April 17th of this year and went through many different feelings about giving up food and never being able to enjoy food the same way again. This is totally normal. The band isn't a magical cure-all for being overweight. You will have to eat within the parameters of your band. You will most definately have to exercise. The whole key to loosing weight is to eat less and move more. The band will help you eat much less. You will have to change your relationship with food and eat to live not live to eat. I am truly enjoying my lapband journey. I have lost 48 pounds in 12 weeks and feel like I've been reborn. I have so much energy and have gone down almost 3 sizes. My husband and kids are so proud and supportive of me. For the first time in a very long time I enjoy going shopping for clothes. I still enjoy going out to dinner even though I don't eat as much and most importantly I feel great about myself. I still have a long way to go to get to my goal but I know now that I will succeed because I am now thinking like a thin person. My advice to you is to make the leap, have the surgery and become a happy, healthier person. The surgery is only about 30 minutes and the pain is very minimal. In fact, I would say it is more of a feeling of discomfort and it only lasts about a week. Good luck to you on your journey

I have problems with dry foods such as meat and wheat bread so I focus on the healthy low-calorie foods I don't have trouble with such as cottage cheese and soft, cooked veggies or soups. Salads work great for me too. You cannot eat biscuits and expect to loose weight. I'm sorry if I come across as judgemental but how can you keep this from your husband??? My husband is my biggest fan and supporter as well as my best friend and confidant. Banded 4/17/09

I have a Protein drink for Breakfast, a can of Soup or a small salad for lunch and either a salad, chicken & vegi, or a protein smoothie for dinner. I go to Curves 3 times a week and bicycle 7-10 miles 4 times a week. I also drink 5 or six Water bottles each day. I'm doing okay, weight is coming off slower than I would like but at least it is coming off. Good luck to you! Banded 4/17/09 First fill 5/30/09 1.6 cc 11 pounds lost on 10-day liver shrinking diet pre-op.

Having lap band surgery is the best thing I have ever done for myself. It gave me the motivation to stick with it for the long haul. The band helps you to eat less by making you less hungry it's the diet without the starvation. I exercise daily and eat right and have more energy then I know what to do with. Good luck to you! Banded 4/17/09 First fill 5/30/09 1.6 cc