dean123

I am about a year out come November. There are times in the mornings when I first try to eat, that I get in a hurry and the band stops that really fast. Then once I get over the stuck episode, sometimes with some heavy watery mouth. I am usually better as long as I slow down.

Remember to just take it slow and if you have just had a fill do liquids for at least a full day to allow your stomach time to get less swollen.

I to do not feel significant restriction, early satiety, or appetite suppression. My doc told me he had been conservative in my last couple of fills. He said I am not sensating the fullness like most people do and I may not be getting the proper fill. He told me last time when I was to the point where I thought he wanted me to be I had less Fluid than I did the last time. So he started over and put in an extra cc from the time before. Yet still no feeling of restriction like most people say. Never had a feeling of anything being stuck and somedays I can eat everything in site. Also, I have not always been compliant. Drinking with meals was my biggest down fall and hardest habit to break. I have finally conqured that obstical. Now I just need to realize when to stop eating since I do not feel any restriction. I go Thursday for a fill. I think I am going to tell him to just add a cc and go from there, as long as I can have the Water go down smooth. I just want this to work. I had band on 11-25-2009 and I am down 20 pounds and up and down 5 pounds here and there.

Thank you for the post, I am so glad to hear advice and encouragment.

Thank you again.

You are making me feel better already.

I made a bunch of post-its up last night and went around sticking them in places I see everyday. Things like; You are amazing, you can do it, drink more Water, no snacking, find the real you stop hiding behind the weight, think positive, etc. I had forgot about them of course until I went to brush my teeth and opened the mirror and saw one, making me smile. Then when I went to get my meds out there was one. Then when I got my lunch out of fridge, and again when I was at the sink getting my Water. So I left the house in a good mood.

Silly little thing but make me feel good and the one in the fridge says you can do it and no snacking drink your water.

Thank you. I need the encouragment.

I think some of my problem too is evey time I have tried to lose weight and I get to the 25 to 30 pounds down mark, you know when people actually start to notice you are losing weight. When people are telling you how they can tell you are losing weight and how you look so good. I just do not know what to do, I am like a deer in the head lights. I am so not used to attention. I have always been the person who tried to blend in with the wall, so no one would notice me because of my weight. Maybe I am self sabatoging myself to keep from being noticed???? Why would I do such a thing. I should be eating up compliments and people noticing. I am just messed up.

I do apprecite your words of encouragement. They help me to realize I have let myself slack and that I know I can do this.

OK, so I hear what you are saying - you aren't experiencing restriction and you are disappointed and I can truly empathise and sympathise with you.

But....

There are lots of things what we can do but choose not to do. Before you were banded your surgeon probably told you to lose some weight, and almost certainly required you to follow a set restrictive or even liquid diet for anything from 10 days to 3 weeks before surgery. To follow that regime took will-power and dedication - and you did it. You CAN do it. you can resist the possibililty of excesssive consumption.

The band will not do the weight loss thing for you. You know that, right? Those of us who have lost significant amou nts of weight and kept it off through judicious use of the band will all tell you that there are ways around the bands restriction - even the most restricted people can still scoff ice cream and chocolate and stuff like that cos it passes through the restriction so easily.

Even those of us who have lost more than half of our body weight still have to exercise our most functional organ in order to keep our new, slim figures - and by that I mean use our brains. Exercise will power.

The band is a fantastic tool but it can only help - it can't do the work for you. You have to make it work for you AND YOU CAN DO IT.

I truly believe that you have it within your ability to make the band work for you. You have lived a good life. There have been times when it would have been easier to take the easy way out and by doing that allow people to be hurt, but you didn't. You can exercise strength of character and will power to look after the feelings of others. This time, my dear, you are the one who needs your own consideration. Just for once put yourself first. Give yourself the right to put your own health and beauty and appearance first. Decide that you will not do what you can do (i.e. eat the whole house) just because you can.

There are lots of things we could do but most of us don't. We could take drugs. We could steal. We could be violent. We could be selfish. We could allow others to suffer rather than exert ourselves to prevent suffering. You don't have to do something just because you are able to do it.

Look after yourself. Think of yourself first, just for once. Decide to put yourself first and eat the right food in the right amounts. See your doctor, get the restriction right and et all the help you need. Take some exercise, get out of the house, see friends, socialise - get away from food.< /p>

You are worth the effort. Good luck.

I am getting down. I can eat and eat and eat. I have had 3 fills, conservative ones. I feel no restriction. I had been eating to soft of foods and now have tried more solid foods but still do not have the full feeling after small amounts. It is as if my head is not telling me I am full. I know I should not eat anymore but yet I continue. Thinking I will feel full and know to stop but no I do not.

I too am a sabatoger. I was doing so good and I am down 2 clothing sizes. I have finally gotten noticed for losing weight, by everyone :scared2:. I am not used to the attention, kinda weird and hard to accept. Plus my dad asking me every week "how much have you lost this week" makes me feel I have to live up to a loss to impress. Which has not been happening. For the last month I have been hovering at around the same weight. I gained 5 pounds from my lowest weight. Plus only my dad, mom, husband and two kids know about my surgery and are sworn to not tell a soul.

Well my sister-in-law has noticed my weight loss and when I eat something she is the food police, which I know she thinks she is helping me but at the same time it annoys me and makes me want to eat more.

Then there are the boobs, have always been huge, and I have always hated them. Now they are like a flat tire and hang low. When wearing my bra you would think they are normal. I have to pick them up and stick them into my bra, it is so sad.

I am glad to have found this post. I see I am not alone in my struggle.

We can all do this we just need to overcome our fears and quirks.

I drink to close to and to soon after meals.

Today I hid my drink out of site at my desk until it had been an hour from Breakfast. That really helped. I am going to try to do this from now on.

Thank you for the post.

I am glad to know I am not the only one concerned with loose skin.

I have been hanging out at 20 pounds down since November 2009.

I am getting mad at myself for self sabotage. So I started to think of why I would do this. First loosing 2 clothing sizes made my boobs look even more huge than they already were looking, plus they are flat and hang down low. Then seeing my hands getting loose sking and my arms, nothing major just minor. It has scared me.

I do not like my boobs never have never will. They have always been huge even as a 12 yr old. I just need to get over my boob a fobia.

After reading here about the skin, I think I can talk myself through this one as well.

I think I am hovering at just this weight loss due to my insecurities in myself and my self image.

Hopefully reading more posts like this one will help me to move on down.

I started out so excited, I need to get back on the happy bandwagon.

Start size 24/26 and 3X some 2X

Now in 20 some 22 and 18/20 shirts or 1X

Need to work on drinking too soon after eating

I have lost only about 15 pounds was down 20. I have hit a wall. I had 2nd fill and I still feel no restriction. I have not been stuck, or feel like I need to stop eating. I do get full but on more than I think I need to be eating. I get my next fill on the 25th, I hope this will give more restriction.

I love my wii fit plus. I like the games on the board but there are also the great ones without the board too.

I also got wii resort. It has a lot of good games on there.

I just love the hoola hoop game and watching my daughter get in on the activity too. I feel like I am doing something positive for her by setting the example of getting up there and getting sweaty.

She does not know I had the lap-band surgery. She just thinks I am eating less and working out to loose the weight. So now she has started eating smaller portions and working out with me. It is great.

That is AWESOME!!!! You are going great!!!

I am down in sizes too! Today when I dropped my son at school one of the other Moms commented how great I was looking and how big all of my clothes looked on me! I was so HAPPY! I told them that one more size and I'll go shopping I have been getting by on 2 pairs of old pants that I am now back into!

I guess I should be glad that I have lost 2 sizes even if I have only lost 11 pounds. I guess going to the gym has helped me go down in sizes. Just wish it would make me go down in weight.

The ice thing is a great idea. I just need to break the habit of fixing a drink along with my meals.

I know I can do this.

Best of luck to all of us trying to kick the habit. :thumbup:

That is so cool to have someone banded the same day.

I lost a lot pre op too. Since yesterday I am down 2 pounds. Of course I am on liquids for 2 days. I just need to stop with the drinking too soon after meals.

We will both get back on track and we will be healthy and be there for our kids.

I agree, keep in touch.

Mary

:eek::eek:Dean we were banded the same day! I am in the exact same boat! I lost a lot pre op and only 10 post op although no one has said anything about it to me at the docs. I have been filled twice now and finally feel it! My 2nd fill was Monday and I have dropped 3 pounds since, so I am hoping now the band will actually start helping me. I have not been drinking with meals so I dont know what the frack is up with me? I am just hoping that now with my fill I can get back on track ...lets keep in touch!:drool::tt1::tt1::tt1::tt1::tt1::thumbup::biggrin::w00t::biggrin::woot::crying:

PS...my 4 year old likes to do the smile faces....

I had my 2nd fill yesterday 12-14-2010. I was only down 11 pounds since surgery on 11-25-09.

Doc said I was hovering, asked what I was doing. I said it must have been the holidays. He wanted to know why the holidays. I told him the higher calorie foods. He told me he had never said anything about calories, asked if I had been drinking with meals. I have on occasion, out of habit. Told me why did I even have a drink with me when eating when I know I am not to drink for 1 1/2 hour after a meal. He said that was my down fall. Told me no one has ever choked with out a drink at meal time and no one has died, he is funny. Said to stick with eating only solids and waiting to drink, even a sip of liquid when eating makes the food just slide on through and then you feel hungry before your next meal time.

My doc does not tell how many cc's he fills, said he does not want his patients to get hung up on a number. I do not care as long as it is working.

Now I just have to break the habit of getting a drink when eating.

I have always been one who has something to drink with me at all times. This has been hard for me. Waiting the hour is like a kid waiting in time out for me to get to drink.

I am determined to be down a big number in 6 weeks for my next visit.

I am glad to see I am not a failure after my 1st fill. I did not feel any restriction after the first few days. My appointment for my 2nd fill is this week. Hopefully this one will put some restriction on me.

This being stuck at 11 pounds since 11-25-09 is getting depressing, especially when it was coming off for the first couple of weeks.

My clothes have gotten looser and I have been able to go down 2 pant sizes and shirt sizes. I just would like to see a change on the scale.

Nora, thanks. You can do it!! I know you can. We all just need to get back on the wagon :thumbup:.

It is hard to get back in the right routine after the holiday, but we can do it. I am going to the gym after work today, and I am going to do my best to get back on track starting today with my eating.

Anyway, I know you can get back on track and you will lose weight in no time. :thumbup:

Mary

I'm glad you posted this, because I was thinking to myself this morning, how is it that it takes me a week to lose a pound, but yet I gained 3 in 4 days!!!!? It is very frustrating. However, just like you, I need to get back on track this week and get rid of them.

I will have my second fill on January 24. That should help.

Good luck to you and I am glad that you were able to lose it so quickly.

Nora

Well I made it. Got through Christmas, I was trying to be good and I must have done something right. I am 0.6 of a pound to being back down to my lowest weight. :thumbup:

Thank you all for your support and advice.

We can all do this. We can help each other when the going gets tough.

Best of weight loss to all, and to a slimmer New Year!:thumbup:

Well I made it. Got through Christmas, I was trying to be good and I must have done something right. I am .6 of a pound to being back down to my lowest weight. :thumbup:

I am bordering Frankfort. See Dr. Olsofka in Louisville.

Hey Dean 123...what part of Kentucky? I am near Louisville.

Cathy,

I know this is my problem. I also know once all the holiday goodies are done I will do good.

I just needed to vent and to express my annoyance in myself.

I also needed a reminder of why I did all this. I love all of the reminders. It is really helping me tell myself to stop letting my mind do the talking.

Again thanks everyone.

I feel your pain on this!! I had FOUR parties in 8 days. Got on the scale reluctantly come Monday morning...only to find I was up 9 pounds. Now I know I didn't eat more than 31,500 extra calories in 8 days so it had to be at least partly related to the contents of the food. You know what I mean...more salt, etc. So I've been really strict eating, and drinking extra Water this week, and as of this morning (I couldn't stand not to weigh and just check), I am down 5 pounds. 5 pounds in 2 days? Yeah there was a lot of Water, LOL.

For me the worst of the holidays are over. No more parties. Family dinner on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day but my daughter doesn't put on a crazy huge dinner on Christmas Eve and I'm cooking Christmas Day so there are some limits in place on things like salt.

I know the rest of that 9 pounds will go away as quickly as they came but once the whole holiday thing is over, I know things will return to normal and I will be back to losing actual fat.

Good Luck to you!!

He said I could start working out. I have slowly been progressing. I started on the walking and then to the bike and now to a little of the machines. I back off if I feel it is too much.

I have done really well today. I can only go day by day. I told myself I was going to do better today. So far I have stuck with what I told myself.

Thanks for your reply.

Mary, I hope your surgeon released you to work out. We don't want you to hurt yourself by doing too much too soon.

You just have to find the strength within yourself to say no. Don't give in to your urges. It is the practice of walking away from it that will make you stronger in the future.

I feel like such a failure at this point. I have gained 6 pounds in 2 weeks. All of the candies and people bringing in wonderful foods for the Christmas holiday. I am so weak.

My restriction is not yet where I need it to be. Only had my first fill on Dec 17th.

I can eat and only feel uncomfortable, not yet been sick. Oh I am so bad.

Please tell me I can get through Christmas and move on back to my weight loss as usual.

I vowed today to do better and to not eat the sweets. Only to eat what makes me feel satisfied even if it does not seem like enough food.< /p>

My head is not listening to my tummy. I am still working out every other day or two. I am still kind of tender with some of the workouts from the surgery on Nov 25th. Sometimes I feel like I am pulling an incision when lifting or pulling at the gym.

Anyway please tell me I can get through Christmas with no more huge weight gain.

OH I am doing so bad. I had lost 11 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks. NOw I have gained 6 in less than 2 weeks. :tongue:

Great! I do not feel as bad. Right now I am battling with the goodies and foods that are around this time of year.

Hi, I think you are ok. I felt no real restriction until after the second fill and now on my fourth I have really noticed a difference. Last fill I had to be careful as I ate to avoid getting anything stuck but I never felt over full.

Now however that has changed. I have a couple of mouthfuls and I can tell that I am getting there. I am also not hungry until around 2pm.

Stick with it. It has to go slow or you won't get used to it.

Hi, had my first fill on the 17th nov. I did not feel any real diffference either. At first I did like when I left the office. But the next day could not tell. On Saturday the area where my 3 incisions on the left of my body were felt different. Kinda like a pulled muscle or area and just sore. It was different, do not know if that was because of the fill or what.

Anyone else have any advice on what to expect or if I am not doing something right?

Hi, had my first fill on the 17th nov. I did not feel any real diffference either. At first I did like when I left the office. But the next day could not tell. On Saturday the area where my 3 incisions on the left of my body were felt different. Kinda like a pulled muscle or area and just sore. It was different, do not know if that was because of the fill or what.

Banded Nov. 10th. How is everyone doing? Had my first fill on Dec. 10th and don't really feel that different. Anyone have their second fill yet. Any tips. I was to go back on the 23rd but changed it to Jan. 7th.