cgailsmith

As soon as I posted the reply I re-read your post and realized you hadn't had the operation yet. Good luck with it! Krahn is a fairly young doctor and they are extremely busy. I got very frustrated a couple of times after having had to wait three hours for a fill. I bitched and moaned and told him it was unacceptable. As of my last visit (I think January or February), the wait had been whittled down to about thiry minutes. They refused to tighten my band last January, it really pissed me off because I have plateaud. After reading this forum, I am going to make another appointment and try to get more Fluid in the band, because I am just not losing weight! With Dr. Krahn's office, they have too many chiefs and not enough Indians. He is trying to get a handle on it, but puts way too much authority in his supervisors..

Yes, I do cheat - and yes that has slowed my progress. I can't believe that there is anyone out there that doesn't. The lap band didn't do anything for my need to eat emotionally, if I were in control of my eating before the lab band, I probably would not have needed it. The band is simply a tool that prevents me from consuming large quantities, and certain types, of food. I believe in my heart that I do need more restriction.

Thank you, I do believe its time my doctor listened to me, instead of his nurse. Last time I went in, I was fitting into a loose size 14, wearing all black and had heels on and I can't help but feel that they felt the band was working well enough. But I have a wardrobe with size 6 - 8 clothes; and I can barely fit into a size 12. I really do believe I should be making more progress.

Yes, since September, so I know some of the poundage is increased muscle mass. I haven't worked out in three weeks tho, the longest since September - probably why I'm feeling so bitchy.

1. Don't worry about losing weight after the first surgery pounds fall off. It usually takes three months and several fills after surgery for the physician to fill the band enough such that it gives you really great restriction. Many people lose 20 lbs right after surgery, and put back on 5 or 10 lbs before the band has been filled enough. Those pounds will definately come off again. 2. Stay away from alcoholic beverages, they are enjoyable and a source of comfort, but it will significantly slow your weight gain. 3. I can no longer enjoy a beer. The carbonation is such that it prevents me from eating anything on my plate. 4. Don't view the lap band as the magic band. You still have to help it work by changing some bad habits. Here are my bad habits: alcoholic beverages, popcorn and eating while watching the television. The lap band does not prohibit my intake of either alcohol or popcorn (for that matter, anything that is crispy and crunchy I can still consume in large quantities). Therefore, I must keep the beverages and popcorn out of my house. The lap band does not prevent me from watching television. in summary, if you had bad behaviors before the lap band, you will have bad behaviors after the lap band. 5. The lap band does work!! Even if you are a horrible cheater like me. While my weight loss is not as fast as I want, I have pretty much done everything to cheat it, but I have still lost weight, and am not gaining it. Want to know anymore?

Wootsie 73: I've been banded for 18 months, and while I cheat and have not lost weight as fast as I should, I do know the lap band has been highly successful in keeping me from gaining weight! I wouldn't worry so much about gaining weight on the lapband once your third or fourth fill is complete. It really is a great behavior modification tool. I find I gain weight only if I really, really want to....which means I eat small amounts, all day long, and the small amounts are very bad foods. Soooo....again, if you keep yourself from being holed up all day and eating a pile of crap, swishing it down with alcohol and/or soft drinks, then my feeling is that the band is going to work, at least to keep you from gaining again.

This is to happyhomecc...have you been banded yet? I noticed you were in the inland empire, wondered if you used Dr. Krahn?

What's a band to sleeve revision?

I bought it this morning, and was surprised to see Stevia in it, which tastes a lot like artificial sweeteners without the cancer causing side affects! It's really a great find, so thanks for starting this thread. I agree that it is a tad on the sweet side, but a neic break from plain Water. Also, the lable reads that it has "reverse osmosis water", another nice thing for your body. I wonder where I can go to find other foods that people find that are nutritious, fast, and work well with the lapband?

I'd like some information from people who've been on the band for a year or more. At what level did you hit your "sweet spot"? I'm at 6cc and really can't seem to lose more weight at that level, so I just wanted to hear from others. Thanx

I'm 5'3 - I started at 210. I really look and feel my best at size eight. I was size eight about 5 years ago, gave up diet pills at that time, and started packing on the weight (and by all signs would have kept going). I've always struggled with it, but the diet pills kept it under control during my 30's. Anyhoo, I still want to lose more, but I seem to be going nowhere.

I have the standard. I feel hungry every thirty minutes or so. I can eat quite a large portion, just not quickly, and I have to chew thoroughly. Do people get filled beyond 6cc?

I was banded approximately 18 months ago. I've lost 33 lbs, 20 of which came off almost immediately following surgery. I was frustrated like you during the first four/five months following surgery, because, like you, i was still eating pretty much what I wanted with only minor discomfort. Your first fills won't do a lot for you. I was banded November 2007, and started getting "significant" restriction in April or May, after my third fill. At that time they filled me to 6 ccs. I went in again last January, and they refused to fill me, although I wasn't losing any weight- at that time, I was still 185 lbs. Since then, I've lost down to about 177. I would like to get the band tighter, but to be totally honest, I do have significant restriction already, I just cheat alot!! Don't worry about it for right now. I paid my $15,000 out of pocket too, expecting it to be magical. It isn't, I still have to make good food decisions and let the band work with me. I drink too much alcohol and don't really make the best food choices. But here is the good thing! I may not be a size six, like I want, but I am a size 12, down from a size 16 and I AM NOT GAINING ANY WEIGHT!! That's pretty much a miracle for me!

I have had the band for one year, six months; and have lost 33 lbs. I lost the first 20 pds in the first three months after surgery; and then stayed at 188 lbs for the next year even though they kept tighteneing. The last time I went in (january?), my surgeon refused to tighten it anymore as his nurse felt I was getting enough restriction. I am at 6ccs now. Is it normal for people to lose this slow, and hit plateaus?

OK, I did that I am just posting a reply so I can see if it worked.

Can anyone tell me how to get the weight loss ticker? I go to user CP, edit signature, and then from there I am lost....

Does it have artificial sweetener? Just curious...:redface:

I want to know, why can't you drink before meals and during meals? Whats it do that is so bad?

Yes, and I still cheat and eat around the band.

I am a slow loser too, I was wondering: do you eat "around" the band? I tend to find ways I can still eat, like potato chips, popcorn. I wondered if this interferes with your progress like it does mine. Do you have any other foods like the Tortilla chips with flax at Trader Joes that you could recommend?

:glare:Wow, congratulations on losing so much weight...What other foods do you eat that work against the band? I find that popcorn and potatoe chips goes down just as smoothly as soup. Bad me...

Totally normal, and it is frustrating! It appears as if you need two to three fills to hit the right spot to restrict your intake. I, like you, was impatient and wanting to tell the Dr. to "tie it up", but they move at their own pace. But feel good, your experience is like everyone else.

:confused: You are funny. I was lapbanded two years ago, and have not been able to give up my JD and Coke. I didn't drink so close to the surgury tho. Be careful with carbonation, sometimes it's really difficult (I found beer just gets stuck now). Anyhoo, the JD and coke does interfere with my weight loss. I've down to a size 12 now, but should be an eight. Just love my cocktails!

i had the same experience as you. It took about three times to get the band to the point that it gave me really good restriction.