shonette

The greatest advice I can give any banded person is to learn what does and does not work for you and your band. Each person will and have adjusted differently with their band. I do take pills and they have gotten stuck before which is a really bad experience. I have learned that my band is much tighter in the morning so I take the majority of my pills in the afternoon or midmorning. The pills I take are just supplements but they make me feel much better throughout my day. I have had my band for over 2 years now and I have thrown up several times for different reasons, but I have learned what things that trigger the reflux reaction. Sometimes it does not matter how much I chew certain foods don't go down for me, therefore I have removed them from my diet. This band is not a one size fit all in my opinion- you will have to figure out how it work best for you. I do wish you the very best with your band! Before my band I wore a size 24-26 and now I am in a 16 and I am 6'1.

Learn to be proud of every pound you lose. I still see myself as this 348 pound person. I do know that isn't true, but mentally that fat girl will always be in the back of my head. I hate feeling that way, but I use pictures to remind myself just how far I have come. That really help me a lot. Keep up the good work.

Great- great post. I love when people are able to be honest about things they are still trying to overcome even after they have a band. As I stated in my status update- having a band does not and it will not fix all of your proglems. Years of hurt and pain from being over weight does not go away overnight. For some of us (me)it will take a life time. Please learn to be loving and kind to yourself, because you deserve it. A pound lost is always better than one gained. I have compared myself my entire life, and honestly "I still do"! I pray daily and I ask God to allow me to be content with the things he's given to me. I have learned that life hurts enable me to appreciate any amount of success no matter how big or small. You are doing a great job and be proud of that. Again- great post!

Thanks so much for the encouraging words. Yes- I do feel alot better and I am in the process of finding another doctor in my area. I do thanks God each and every day for a second chance at having a healthier life! We bander(s) have to share our stories and encourage one another in this process. Again, thanks.

! I have been banded a little over two years and so much has happened on this journey! I have learned so much about this band, and I still continue to learn things about having a band. One of my newest experiences was about three weeks ago when I could not get anything to go down and every thing I put into my mouth was getting stuck. I did not know what in the world was going on because I had not gotten a fill in over nine months or maybe longer. I was always told that the band could not readjust itself, but that is so far from the truth from my own personal experiences. I was told the band is a little tighter earlier in the mornings and after lunch I should be able to eat well as long as it was chewed "well"! (not always so true for me) Right before I started experiencing my stuck episodes- I had a really bad sinus infection and I wasn't aware how much post nasal drainage I was having. The drainage caused my esophagus to swell around my upper stomach where the band is connected. The more I tried to eat different foods and vomiting the more irritated and swollen my esophagus around my band area became. I lost a quick 20 pounds in two weeks before I really realized it. I was so focused on the daily stuck episodes and trying to figure out what was going on wrong with my band. Now someone may ask, "Why in the world I didn't see my WLS". Well he had moved 4 1/ hours away and I did not want to make that trip feeling so awful unless I had no other choice. Therefore, I scheduled an appointment with a gastroenterologist and he ordered labs for barium swallow. A day after the barium swallow everything had gone back to normal. Unknown to me all of the post nasal swelling had gone down and my band was back to its appropriate restriction level. If that's the correct way of saying it. I have also learned that a week before my "M" cycle my band appears to be more restricted until my cycle has ended. I have also identified that my band is also more restricted when my body feels stress! These things were something I had to learn due to my life experiences with living with my band. Each person's experiences with their band is not always going to be text book or similar to someone else. Each day I learn a little more about life with a "BAND"! Please know that every single day is not going to be the same. Each person will achieve a different level of success- but it does not mean someone else is a failure compared to others. It only means each banded person is a little different and unique! LOL (learn to work “your band”) Each day I work so hard mentally, emotionally, and physically never to become that same person I left behind two years ago and counting……… I had walked three miles while watching Netflix last night before I had realized how long I had walked. I could not believe it! Two years ago- the old me would have pasted out within the first 15 minutes of walking. That was a big victory for me last night and I now understand how much my weight has held me back from a lot of things. I remember me "then" but I focus on me "now"! I am down a total of 90 pounds and counting.

How long have you been banded? It sounds like you are too tight or you are having some major irritation around your band area in your stomach. Either way it does not sound good for you. It is not normal for you to be having those issues daily. If you keep on vomitting, you can and will cause your band to slip, and I really don't think you want that to happen. Go on a liquid diet for a couple of days to a week to see if swelling will go do and that should give you some relief, if not you may need to have some fluid removed from your band. I have had this band for over two years and that's not the way the band works. It's a tool to assist you in your weight lost process and not a device to make you suffer. Honey, that is not living as it relates to the band. Good luck!!!! From first hand experience- I've had fluid removed and added back, and I've had to place myself on a liquid diet until my system could readjust.

I am so sorry to hear that your husband was ill. I pray everything works out for him. Yes, I do know the feeling very well. It's almost been 2 years since I was banded, and I should know better but eating too fast has caused me a lot of pain. Yes, I would advise everyone to chew until you feel like it's nothing left to chew on. It will save a lot of stuffering in the long run.

Congrats on your 2 years of being band. July will make two years of being banded for me. I love the new me more so than I have done in the past 10 years. My life has been so much happiers for so many reasons. I can totally relate to losing another person also. It's so hard at times to believe how large I actuall was before getting banded ..I want to lose about 30 pounds by July. Good luck.

I have a 10cc standard band as well, and I have been banded almost 2yrs and I have less than 5ccs in my band. I have learned from experiences it's never good to be too tight. When someone becomes too tight it encourage poor food choices and you run the risk of developing reflux issues (not fun at all). I have found for (me) that my success came from learning when enough was enough and not to take that next bit of food. A band is a tool and it 's not going to do the work for you. Yes, some people do gain for several different reasons. It could be water weight/ slider foods that may be higher in calories. You just need to look at all the different thigns that is going on with you to determine what's causes your weight gain. Also, do you work at ? Good luck. Always remember that more in your band don't mean more weight lost! Everyone's tolerance is totally different.

I know it's been a very long time since I have been on this site. In the past I would get on the site at least twice a day, but I slowly started to fade a little from visiting so often once my first year of being banded. I really do miss all of the wonderful post and comments people would write on this site. Actually, things have been very well with me. I have spent a lot of time helping my daughter out since she started her first year in college. I am very proud to say that my weight continues to go down and I have not had any weight gain since the Christmas seasons passed. I do thank God for that. I have learned what do and do not work for my band. Certain foods had to be limited, and I have finally learned what my sweet spot is and what that actually means for me. I have not had a fill in over six months and nor do I need one. I finally have the tool I need to have long term weight success. My weight lost has always been slow, but I continue to lose weight. I really don't and never have used the scale to measure my success, but inches and my clothes sizes are my biggest indicators. I started off wearing a size 24-26 and today I wear a 1x & 16-18. Most of the 18 sizes are too big in dresses so I normally get a 16w. That is a very- very big accomplishment for me. All and all I am very very happy with my band. This relationship has had its ups and downs, but the majority of my experiences have been very positive. The band is really what a person allows it to be for them. It really takes a lot of work and effort to get to where you really want to be. My husband recently purchased a very expensive treadmill like the ones they have at the gym, and that has really aided my success. I try to walk a mile1/2 at least every other day. It takes only 25 minutes so I watch Netflix on my iphone which makes the time fly. I really have to say that my family has been great and they really made this process so much easier to go through when times got hard. I will be banded 2 years on July 21st this year. I just encourage all new banders to be patient and give yourself time to learn your band and how it works best for your success! I am going to make an honest effort to visit the site much more often than I have done in the past. This is truly a wonder site in which a person can gain a lot of knowledge, support, and motivation from others who have figured things out a little clearer than others. My final words would be to stay encouraged, be patient, and never ever give up on your weight lost goals because you are worth it. Always remember that half the battle has been won if you have already gotten your band or started the process to have it done.

I love to eat baked or broiled fish. I have an allergy to other soft shell seafoods so I stay away from shrimp-crablegs or anything with a soft shell. It's just trail and error to see what works best for you.

With this process I think time is the key. It's been over a year since I was banded and my weight lost is a slow go. I have to monitor my eating habits daily. A lot of times I want to eat and I'm really not hungry. It's a mind thing that I really struggle with. Just be patient with yourself and remember this band isn't going to do all the work for you. It's just a tool to aide you in your weight lost process. Good luck.

Just a little words of wisedom. Your weight gain didn't happen over night and it's not going to all come off over night. Things take time and your body is adjusting to all of the changes it's going through. Eat right and move as much as possible and give yourself time. If you do all of the things you are suppose to do the weight will come off soonier or later. I know soonier is what you want to see but time is the only true judge!

I am sorry you had to experience that, but I have experienced that feeling several times too many. I was too tight and everything I put into my mouth would get stuck. It's always best to take very small bites and chew very well.

<P>I can see myself in this picture all over again. When most people are first banded- we expect and want to see major results "quick", and I do think in a sense it's normal to want that. However, for most people it's going to take time to lose the weight. I was told time and time again by my doctor and others on this site that time is something we can't rush. It took time to gain the weight and it's going to take time to lose it as well. Don't beat up on yourself because someone's success is a little more progressive than yours. Each person on this site is an individual and our bodies all work totally different. Learn your band and what works for you. Learn to eat healthier foods and balance the appropriate amount of protein and water your body needs to become lean and strong. I have been in this for over a year and each day continues to be a learning experience. Good luck and stay motivated and encouraged. </P>

I sorry- but I read this blog a couple of times and I still don't get it! Whatever, you were sharing I think I missed the entire thing.

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">It's been 16 months since I was banded. Yes, I want to have a healthier life style, but I don't totally restrict foods that I like. I do know that's one of the main reasons my weight lost has been slower to come off. But I am losing constantly! I pay more attention to the inches- instead of the pounds. I can wear something one day and a couple of weeks later, it fits me totally different. For me, the main purpose for having my surgery was to control my portions and to aid with losing weight. Losing weight has never been an easy thing for me, but now I am able to know my limits and be more satisfied with eating smaller portions. No, I don't count calories but I make an honest effort to eat foods that are better for me. "No", pigging out on unhealthy foods totally defeats the purpose for having a band. There must be some accountability for food choices and doing some kind of physical activity as much as your schedule allows. Some weeks I hit the gym hard and others weeks I can't. I also try to be as active as possible daily. You just have to figure out what works best for you once you have your band! I do wish you the very best of luck.</SPAN></P>

I really do appreciate all of the encouragment and insight from each of you. Again, thanks.

You have done an amazing job. The weight will come off just adjust a few things you are doing, because our bodies tend to get adjusted to the same routines and food choices.

<P>Keep it up because no good deed goes unnoticed. </P>

Ha, don't beat yourself up too much. It just lets you know that now you have to be a lot more focused on you weight lost goals. Make the right food choise are not easy, but once you see the weight coming off it's all worth the efforts you've made. Good luck.

I have been there and done that! I am so very glad to see you are doing so much better. Most people don't realize that being to tight will prevent weight lost because it will lead to eating slider foods that are very high in calories. I will also cause long term damage due to the excessive acid reflux.