happy2lose

"Puking" isn't the same with the band as you are describing. When we banded people vomit the food is not digested yet, therefore doesn't contain stomach acid. It actually isn't even the same as vomiting. It is called "PB" (productive burping) and the food just comes out. It's really not as bad as you think so don't sweat the small stuff.

Relax, sounds like you took in too much food and you are experiencing the "full" sensation. Just be sure to stick to your surgeon's post-op diet and you will do fine.

Once you vomit you need to only have Fluid for the next 24 hours to give the swelling around your band time to go down. DO NOT keep eating because you will most likely keep throwing up! This does not necessarily mean you are too tight....it means you must modify your eating behaviors. Sounds like you are eating too fast, eating too big of bites, and/or not chewing well enough! It takes time to learn how to eat again after each fill. Slow down and take your time!

Ayana, Please don't give up hope! The band will work for you but good restriction is key! Tell your doctor you would like him to be more aggressive with your fills. Until you are at the right restriction for you, you have to exercise a huge amount of self control. Find ways to distract yourself when you feel ravenous....go for a long walk and change your focus because like it or not, you still have to watch what you eat and exercise to make the weight come off. There are people on this website who insist you can lose the weight without exercising but this has not been the case for me. If I don't work out regularly, I don't lose anything. I have lost weight the most consistently when I only eat 3 small meals per day. Adding two Snacks to my day seems to keep me from losing. I try to stay right around 1,000 calories/day and focus on my Protein. Best of luck to you and have faith.........restriction will come!

This is a giant step! I just know that one year from now you will look back at all the positive changes in your life as a result of the lapband and ask yourself.........WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO DO THIS????

Whillow, My last plateau lasted 4 months! It is my opinion you need a fill.

Kerri, For about the first 10 days of any diet you will have sugar withdrawals and crazy cravings. You need to remind yourself of why you chose this procedure and post it on your refrigerator, pantry or anywhere you keep food. I also recommend you post a picture in those places of yourself at your heaviest weight. This will be a reminder of what you don't want to be. I know not all surgeon's prescribe the same pre-op diet but when I was on mine I was starving and ravenous. I was sure to snack on high Protein foods such as hard boiled egg or yogurt. The biggest suggestion I have for you is to rid your house of all the temptations. It will not hurt your family to do without until you have your band and enough restriction to be tempted. Do not keep any sweets or starches in the house. Best of success to you! ~Donna

Your body is still recovering from surgery so being tired is perfectly normal. Also, the greatly reduced nutritional intake is bound to make you tired and lack energy. Once you are back on solid food and get all your protein in each day you will feel better.

Everything you describe is perfectly normal. Until you reach good restriction you will most likely have most of those same feelings and you may even have regrets for the first couple of months. It is all about restriction! Once you get there and your band begins working and you begin losing you will feel it was the best thing you have ever done and ask yourself why you didn't do it sooner.

Ask yourself this question........If I can't stick to my "2 week" pre-op diet, how the heck am I gonna stick with a 4 week post-op diet????? I am just over 1 year post-op and I'm here to tell you the the only way you will ever get the weight off and keep it off even with your band is by making serious lifestyle changes. I have lost 100 pounds but it has taken shear determination, dedication and hard work! The band is not magic, it is only a tool that will help you to feel satisfied on much, much, less food. If you continue to make poor choices with the band, you will not lose weight and may damage your band..........just the cold hard facts!!!

Obviously the doctor you work for has absolutely no clue how the band works. I have had my band for a year and losing the weight has been anything but easy! Tell him he should really educate himself before making such ignorant comments!

Yay! We're all back!

Yes, I am now down 100 pounds and I feel fabulous and very proud of myself. I know that I personally would not have ever lost all this weight on my own. I am forever grateful to be blessed with my band. I have not had any problems with my band in this entire year. The first 6 months I ate exactly the way I was instructed by my surgeon and followed the rules to the T. I have come to realize that I can achieve similar results once I calmed down a bit and stopped worrying about my band failing. Do I cheat once in a while? YES! I drink alcohol more than I should and I do have sweets on occasion. The only way I can successfully eat bread is if it is toasted. I still cannot eat dry meats or eggs but I can live with that. pizza and Pasta are also very difficult and cause me much discomfort. What I crave most is a big juicy hamburger but I know there is NO WAY I will ever be able to eat one with my band. I can only eat approx 1/2 cup of food at a time. I can easily forget to eat during the day. I never feel hunger anymore but I do get a queezy stomach if I go too long without eating. Some days I don't get all my Protein in but make a bigger effort the next day. I have found that getting all my Water in is the most important rule to follow for ME! I have suffered through bouts of dehydration and periods of not not being able to eat because my stomach swells around my band from lack of hydration. If I follow this one important rule it seems that everything else flows smoothly. I am by no means suggesting that anybody stop following the band rules, this would be a bad idea. What I am suggesting is that those of you who are still uptight and worried about your bands failing, just relax a little and don't be so obsessed with your bands. Get out and move and enjoy your lives. There is so much more to living than eating!

Thank you all for your kind words. It really means a lot to me. Starting- overin-AZ, I especially appreciate what you said. Thank you!

Thank you Colorado! I started out much bigger than you so it stands to reason my weight may come off a little faster. I have totally flaked out on my workouts for the past 3 months. I was plateaued for 4 months at 97 pounds lost and finally started losing again and finally got my lazy butt back to the gym. I am going to work out at least 3 times each week at the gym and keep riding my bicycle. You are doing great! Keep up the good work! I still need to lose another 50 pounds......YIKES!

When I reach my goal weight I am going to reward myself with a flat tummy. I'm already saving my money for more surgery.

Yes, I do feel this way! The feeling is wonderful and confusing all at the same time. I really don't have any clue what I look like even when staring at myself if the mirror. The only way I can see my weight loss is to look at side by side comparison of before and present pictures. Then the feeling is wonderful!

You need to have some patience and give the band a chance to work. After you have restriction, sticking to a 1,000 calorie/day diet will be easy. There are days when its an effort to get 1,000 calories in.

Great story! Yes our weight goals are obtainable so long as we can hold onto our determination and keep our eye on the prize! The prize is a new, improved, happier, healthier person!

I totally agree with what tarajim said on this topic. I do the same, make it part of my routine and just do it!

Anytime Bill! You and I both know what we need to do to change our lifestyles just as we know how we got to the point of obesity. Now we just need to get it done!:thumbdown:

NOPE, you are wrong! I am holding my bottle and it reads as follows: Excedrin Tension Headache Acetominophen and Caffeine Aspirin Free * Pain Reliever/ Reliever Aid Express Gels My surgeon advised me to return to taking my 81mg aspirin 6 mos. post op but it had to be coated aspirin.

I'm sorry Bill, I don't sugar-coat things.....I'm a straight forward person. I still believe that the reason your wife's words stung so badly is because you know in your heart that she is right. I don't doubt that you are working much harder than you ever have to lose weight but really, are you doing everything you can? I want you to succeed Bill. But you are going to have to push yourself beyond your comfort zone and work your tail off to lose a lot of weight. Running 15 miles per week isn't even enough to maintain let alone lose significantly. You can do it! You need to find the determination.