happy2lose

Hey Bill, First of all, don't beat yourself up over your progress.....I did the math and you are losing about 2 pounds each week which is right on target with the average for lapband patients. Ask yourself this question.....could you be doing more to benefit your health and increase your weight loss? I'm willing to bet the answer is yes. Have you talked with a nutritionist? I think it is very important for you to sit down with a nut. and figure out just what you should be eating for optimum weight loss. It can be a difficult juggling act to figure out what calorie range you should be within as well as which foods will give you the most bang for your buck! You should be exercising in some form every day. I'm not trying to be a downer here but 15 miles of running each week really isn't that much. It averages out to 2 miles per day. I recommend you join a gym, the benefits of working out at the gym are awesome. Building lien muscle will increase your fat loss significantly. Working all your major muscle groups will help with your psyche as well as change your body contour completely. I aim for at least 30 minutes of cardio and strength training daily. I go to the gym at 6:30 a.m. every morning before work. I find that working out each morning sets the tone for my day and helps me to stay on track with my eating. If I work out in the morning I am less likely to stuff my face with fattening foods. To answer your question, I do not eat Cookies. Not to say you can't have one every so often but in no way should be a part of your regular diet. On the weekends my husband and I enjoy riding our bicycles together. We ride about 40 to 50 miles every weekend. My goal is to burn 2,000 calories over the weekend. Now there are rare times we are not able to do this, but if the sun is shinning, I am on my bike. I think it may be time for some soul searching on your part....be honest with yourself! I think there is most likely some truth to what your wife said or you wouldn't be feeling down on yourself. Listen to her.....she only wants what is best for your health and your future.

I recently cleaned out my closet and was able to take my nicer clothing to an upscale consignment store. By selling my clothing this way I will get more money for my clothes then I would by having a yard sale and also don't have to subject myself to the rude remarks of yard sale people who don't want big size clothing. Just a thought you all may want to consider. Congratulations on your combined success, that is awesome and I'm so glad you all have the support of one another. Donna

I believe it is because our eyes are much bigger then our stomachs. I think it just takes a while to adjust. I am 10 mos. post op and still order way more food in a drive thru or restaurant then I can ever eat. Oh well, there are worse things I suppose.

I've lost more from my upper body, arms, neck, face, breast then I have from my lower body it seems but I've lost over 70 inches all over thus far.

Forgot to mention......Be sure to take your measurements so you know how many inches you lose. This knowledge is really important for NSV moments :rolleyes2:

When I weigh at the gym I weigh 4 pounds more then my home scale which isn't a big deal as long as know this and expect it. It is possible you are building muscle and that is the reason for the gain. Be sure you are getting in all your Protein and your Water each day. I'll bet you see a sudden drop next week. Hang in there, you are doing the right thing for your health.

I was told no NSAIDS ever because they can cause an ulcer in the stomach. I swear by Excedrin, it contains caffeine and acetaminophen and is aspirin free. Hope your headache goes away! Donna

As I recall, the tightness in my chest lasted about 10 days. Remember, the surgeon pumped your chest cavity full of gas and moved around your insides in order to place the band. It does take some time for everything to get back to normal. Keep walking to ease the gas pains and give it a little more time for the stomach swelling to go down. Be prepared though, once the swelling subsides the hunger will come on strong.

Elfie, It's time to start a new tradition. Make some sugar free pudding or baked apples. You don't have to stop living, just do it in a healthier way! Take care, Donna

I order off the skinny menu at Starbucks and just adjust my daily calorie intake to compensate.

I have suffered from depression for about 13 years now. There are times when it seems more severe then others. You may need to have your medication re-evaluated. The surgery may darn well have triggered a depressive state for you. You have lost your coping mechanism FOOD! Especially if you are not yet able to eat solid foods. Please make an appointment to have your meds evaluated. A simple medication increase or change may do the trick. Take care, Donna

I have a cup of coffee every morning. Can't start my day without it. I stopped drinking it on my pre-op diet and resumed about 2 weeks post-op. While it is always best to follow your own surgeon's protocol, I don't see where it would hurt you.

I was very good for about the first 6 months. Didn't eat anything that wasn't super nutritious. Now adays, if I crave pizza, I'll have a slice but it has to be crispy crust or I struggle with the dough. Just because we are banded doesn't mean we can't ever enjoy food again. It is best not to deprive yourselves of everything you crave. The important part to learn is moderation. I find that allowing myself a treat from time to time helps me to learn what moderation is. It is okay to enjoy a slice of pizza. What we don't want to do is rush in and eat the entire thing or many slices. One thing that really helps me to stay on track is this................If I work out in the morning before I go off to work I am less likely to eat the fattening foods. The thought of working my butt off at the gym is a great reminder that I don't want to ruin my day's hard work by stuffing my face. Thin tastes way better then food anyday!

I'm sure being exhausted within the first week or so after surgery is completely normal. Try not to worry so much and don't be afraid to call your surgeon with any questions you may have.

Thanks for sharing!

Exactly! Also, keep in mind that the sleep study is for your benefit. The surgeon needs to be prepared should you have sleep apnea and it occurs during the surgical procedure.

I'm so sorry you went through all of this and that the band was not the tool for you. You are right, what works for some doesn't work for all. I wish you much success with your weight loss efforts.

There are several things that can cause your stomach to swell around the band. 1. PMS 2. Cold or sinus infection 3. Not drinking enough Water 4. Stomach spasms or PBing, vomiting or stuck episode

It seems kind of foolish to get the band and not work with it the way it was designed. I'm just say'n.......

I was banded in Mexico last April. It was much more affordable and the medical care was really good. It is important to line up follow-up care close to where you live though. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please message me with your questions. Donna

Margaritas are my weakness.......luckily they are not carbonated, but very fatening... so I do understand. It really is important to stop the carbonation at least until you reach the 1 year mark when many surgeons do allow it. Mine however, says never!

I suggest you substitute tea for the soda. If you have caffeine withdrawal headaches, I recommend Excedrin as it has caffeine in it. You just have to buck up and do it!

I lost very quickly the first few months then it slowed down, now I am losing at a snails pace (4-5 pounds/month). I understand how frustrating it is.........but we didn't put the weight on overnight and its not gonna fall off overnight. I recommend you go back to the basics. Start journaling every bite that goes in your mouth, drink only Water...NO SODAS! Carbonation is VERY bad for your band especially within the first few months and you are setting yourself up for failure by having carbonation. Focus on solid Protein and begin an exercise regimen you will stick with. Shoot for at least 30 minutes exercise daily. Exercise is a vital component to weight loss and maintenance as well as long term health. If you are doing all this and still aren't losing, I recommend you see a nutritionist to find out what you may be lacking or getting too much of.

Sam's Club carries the Brown Cow brand with strawberry and blueberry but its only 13g of protein. I don't remember the price but I do remember it is cheaper than other stores.

If you take smaller bites, like I did mention, it wont hurt you to eat. It is completely normal to have a period of adjustment after each fill and you will notice the bites have to be smaller. Like I said, I like my band tighter. The reason being, I don't want to feel hunger. This is what the band is for! I am not some stupid person who is gonna wear my band so tight that it erodes. Besides, my doctor checks my band under fluoro every time I go in to make sure there is no slippage or erosion. Duh!