Chapamar

Well, an update. I started getting very tight again last week. I am now completely empty. Amazingly, I still have some restriction. And I still "gurgle" after I eat. Doctor said to watch it close and if I start gaining to come back and we'll start fresh with fills. I'm just hoping this does it. If I get tight again, I'll know it's a problem with the band and I do NOT want to even think about that.

This has happened to me in a very drastic way. My surgery was in Sept. 2009. I had a total of three fills, the last being at the end of January, 2010. Since then, I have gone back THREE times to get 1/2cc taken out. I am now only at 2cc in my band. BUT, I have lost steadily and have just reached 80 lbs lost. It's such a mystery to me but I love it. And I've named my band Monty....as in Python.

My last fill was the end of January and for some reason I've had to have THREE defills since then. This is only my experience but it does seem like the band can get tighter on its own. I've continued to lose steadily. And if I got to where I was having problems eating or experiencing severe acid reflux, I went back and they took 1/2 a cc out. So, it is possible but I don't know how common it is. I'm beginning to think of my band as a boa constrictor :-)

Tataki tuna.....yummmm

I'm in south Alabama....(*hey Amy*)

Plus Sizes (X or W) are TWO INCHES bigger PLUS the extra size you're going up or down. That said, I was in 18W and 16W for the first 40-45 lbs. I'm about 60lbs. down now and I'm in 12's. Once you get into regular size clothes, you'll see that you're dropping a size almost every month, if the weight loss keeps up.

Good luck today. And thank you for being brave enough to post your pictures. We are similar builds and to see your results gives me a LOT of hope. Thank you. Thank you.

Your after picture looks amazing. I definitely want the thigh lift and tummy tuck. Still waiting to see how the girls hold up. It looks great.

Thank you for the great information.

I am so happy to report that I am at my "sweet spot" for now. I was a little tight and had a defill of 1/2cc and then still felt a little tight for a weeks or so after and then magically, it loosened a little and I am able to eat just enough. Not getting hungry. One thing I did when I was tight was really concentrate on how fast I was eating and the bite sizes. And now I find I can eat most anything if I take a very small bite and chew it well (30 seconds?). And choosing what to eat isn't such a huge deal, other than getting protein in, because anything I eat at this point is in such a small quantity that it's okay to have. (Within reason, of course) So, just wanted to share that this 'sweet spot' is awesome and it may take a little struggle to get there with overfilling or underfilling but, it's a good place.

I will say this though, I was a grazer in that I would want to eat multiple times a day. Not only has the band cut that out, my tastes have changed. I prefer much more flavorful foods now. And am just not interested in chips, french fries, chocolate, etc. And these were all YUMMY to me before. Just my observation.

I am right there with you. Same scenario almost. I had my third fill and went two weeks without being able to eat at all and then went and got 1/2 cc out. I was really tight still but able to eat a little. In the last two to three days I haven't been getting the stuck feeling and have eaten small portions of normal meals. It feels great and I have restriction and I also feel like I'm overdoing it after only being able to take three or four bites. I think we've hit the sweet spot!!!!!

I'm a little too tight if anything. I have hunger but not badly and it's at times when I should eat. I find myself wanting food and going to great lengths to cook or get the exact thing I'm craving and then usually about 10 bites in I am DONE. Can't eat much at all. For instance last night I had a 5 oz. steak. I ended up eating a quarter of it. And couldn't eat any of the salad or vegetables. I'm very quick to PB right now too because of the restriction so I take it nice and slow. I am really loving bisque and soups right now. They are perfect. So, I guess the hunger is normal and the restriction is on the tighter side. But, I'm being very careful with that and it seems to be getting better everyday.

Sorry for the delay, just seeing this. I was banded with a 7cc band that holds up to 10cc according to the doctor. I have had three fills. The first was 2 cc, the second was 2 cc and then the third was 1 cc. I was too tight at 5cc total so went back after two weeks and had .5 cc removed. For a total of 4.5 cc currently. I have plenty of restriction right now and continue to lose consistently. YAY!!!

I would have to question the expertise of the doctor. I'm guessing he put the second band in since he removed it for free? Sorry for your difficulties.