happy2lose

I began losing my hair at 4 months post-op. It finally stopped around 8 months and is finally growing back. I was beginning to worry because I have lost about 50% of my hair. Lucky for me, I had a lot of hair to start with.

I just wanted to let those of you who are losing their hair know that it does eventually stop. I began losing my hair by the hand fulls about 4 months post-op. I am now just over 8 months post-op and the hair loss has finally stopped and I am beginning to notice new hair growth. So don't panic, it's only temporary.

It's very common for weight loss to slow down or stop completely in the first few months. Just keep doing what you are doing and it will start up again.

Don't know, maybe you should ask your doctor. It's posts and responses like these that make me not want to help.

Don't beat yourself up over it! Figure out why you did it and take action to make sure you learned from it and don't repeat the same mistakes. The holidays have been tough for me as well. I'm actually afraid to get on the scale after eating everything I wanted over Christmas weekend. Today I will get right back to business and work it off and make corrective efforts not to repeat the same actions.

Congratulations on the gift of prolonging your life and making the quality of it so much better. Before you know it you will be thinner, happier, and healthier. Donna

Everything you described is normal so please try not to worry so much. What you are going through with hunger now is perfectly normal. So normal that it has a name "bandster hell". Until you start to get some restriction through fills you will feel very hungry. This is the time when will power is much needed. Try and drink all the Water because it does help some to starve off hunger. Just follow your post-op instructions and don't eat anything you aren't suppose to. This is the time for healing and following your surgeon's instructions. It will only take you a fill or two before you start to feel better. Gas is normal. Some have it more than others. You can use Gas-X as needed. Hang in there! It does get easier and before you know it you will be down 40-50 pounds. Merry Christmas! Donna

Try doing another day or two of liquids to see it the swelling goes down. You may be fine and not need an unfill. If after the liquid days you are still having trouble then go in for the unfill.

Mary, All you can do is your best. You will feel stronger every time you pass on the urge to eat junk. Hang in there, once the holidays are over it will be much easier.

I have lost many things along with the 87 pounds lost so far. 1. Lost the shame I once had for letting myself go. 2. Lost my relationship with my sister who is now so jealous she doesn't want anything to do with me. 3. Lost my huge appetite for food.

Yes, I totally agree with this. You will be fine and you will be adding more calories as your appetite dictates.

You should loosen up a little over the next couple of weeks and you will become accustomed to taking smaller bites over this period as well. Be prepared to notice that you are tighter during certain times of the day then others. The band is a very fickle tool but you will adjust.

There are no guarantees in life. We all take risks but this risk is much better then the known outcome of obesity :tongue:

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 don't know about the studies or the denial but I have lost 87 pounds in the past 8 months with my band and hope to make goal at 12 months. Guess I beat the odds!

If binging is your issue, I suggest you also research the sleeve procedure.

What you describe is completely normal. My band is the same way. When I PMS my band also gets very tight. It sounds to me if you are eating much less after your last fill then your band is doing it's job well. Now it's time to sit back and watch the pounds drop off.

If your doctor and his staff are not meeting your needs then by all means, change doctors. It is important that you have all the support you need on this journey.

Please try not to get discouraged. Like the previous poster said, it is a slow process. Once you get good restriction you wont feel deprived. I am satisfied on very little nowadays. I know it is difficult for you right now, especially with all the holiday goodies around but it's only food. Put it into perspective. When I began this process it was pretty slow and I have very little patience. If I would have realized last April when I had my surgery that I would already be down 87 pounds by Christmas, I would have been much more satisfied with my band. Looking back on this past year I realize that I really have lost this weight pretty quickly and painlessly. The big thing to remember is that the band is only a tool. Your tool will not work properly until it is in proper working order. Once you are perfectly restricted you will begin losing slow and steady. It is the slow and steady that will prepare you for keeping this weight off the rest of your life. So please hang in there and prepare to change your life for the better. Regards, Donna

The best way to handle cravings is to change your focus. Go for a long walk and keep busy.

Liver shrinking diets are quite common for people with a BMI above 50. Please call your doctor and clarify the 300 calorie per day diet. It just doesn't sound right. Lien protein and a veggie for each meal will shrink your liver, there is no need to starve yourself. We bandsters can't even survive on 300 calories per day.

Happy holidays to you Jessica. Thank you.

We all stumble. It's okay to stumble as long as you get right back on track as soon as you realize it. Falling off the wagon and not getting back on is what you should avoid. Trust me, I have had weeks where I gain weight or don't lose because I ate more then I should or ate the wrong things and so will you. Just get back up and start again. This is a long journey. You didn't put the weight on over night and it will take a while to get it off. Working out regularly helps to keep me on track because I work so darn hard that I don't want to blow it.

Minxz, I was just like you. Not necessarily the 2 week part but I would not stick with dieting or exercising long at all in the past. I went into surgery with the mindset that I will not fail this time. I think what has helped me to be successful so far is pure determination. Have you seen the movie What Is Eating Gilbert Grape? If you have not, I highly recommend you rent it and watch it. I don't want to put my family through the pain and humiliation of my obesity ever again and especially if I were to die this way. I hate exercise but I found ways to enjoy it. I joined Curves and was fortunate enough to have clicked with the owner. I have great support at Curves and many cheerleaders keeping me motivated. I also discovered that riding my bicycle is fun now that I have built up the muscles to climb hills and stamina to ride long distances. I think what I am trying to say is that if you find activity you can find enjoyment in, that it is not a chore, it can be fun. I hate to sweat and find it very unpleasant. It is small steps and small victories that keep me determined. For instance, I noticed the shadow of my husband and I walking into a restaurant the other day. Instead of my shadow being huge by comparison to my husband's, it was about the same size. I can put on my husband's bathrobe when I get out of the shower instead of my old huge 3X size robe I can wear a men's large. Just small victories are really important. Plus I weigh everyday. While this doesn't help many others, it helps me see the affect that eating a Christmas cookie or two or three have on my weight. It is making myself accountable daily. Before beginning this journey the only time I weighed was when I had a doctor visit. Anyway, you need to find your own motivators. Perhaps you need to remind yourself daily of the horrors you have experienced being fat. Maybe you need to change up your menu when you get bored or change your exercise routine to keep yourself interested. Just don't give up trying. The motivation you need is within you. You just need to find it.

It's really not a good idea to compare what fill level works for somebody else to what is working for you. Everyone is different and with all the different bands on the market there really isn't any comparison. Just go by how YOU feel!