howdybooth

Shoshanna - I'm with you - I'm 187 - AGAIN! But, I was so restricted while losing, that it's taking lots of effort and energy to not GRAZE and go back to 3 meals a day. I was so afraid at the beginning that this wouldn't work for me - it did, but I guess just like when I learned to live on LESS food, I need to learn on living on MORE food, without gaining! Yikes! Always something!!!

I've actually got down to 160 lbs - 20 below my goal weight. But, no energy, sick, generally, not very healthy. I had 2 cc removed in early June & gained 25 lbs!!!! I needed to gain 10, but not 25. I went & had 1.5 cc put back - still no weight loss. But, I have been grazing - so I've started back to Protein Drinks & Greek yogurt for Breakfast, salad with grilled chicken for lunch - whatever for dinner & no grazing!!! I really don't want to get another fill - I'm going on my first cruise, to Alaska, in September - I think I'll wait until after that before getting a fill. Oh & I'd convinced myself that frozen yogurt was ok - like I said - bad habits.

Everyones pain tolerance is different. I didn't find mine to be too bad. I went grocery shopping the next day & cooked thanksgiving dinner. It did hurt when I first stood up or sat down, but other than that - I was good to go.

In my case the arm surgery will not help. You are still young and it might help. My doc daid he could remove the fat pocket, but that would leave the skin & only surgery will fix that AND leave a scar. You should really read up on it & than have a consultation with a good PS that does the laser Lipo.< /p>

I has mine done 11/18 & I'm pleased with the results. He took 31/2 lbs total, but I've had to lose why more weight than you! I'm 5'8" & was 290. I'm now 175 & slowly working my way to 160. Also at age 51 (yikes!) my skin will not bounce back. My outer thighs look great in clothes, but I'm saving for a thigh lift (maybe!). That is neither an easy surgery or a quick recover & does leave big scars! So, I'm still thinking the whole thing over.

Howdybooth,

I have stop eating by 6pm & go to bed @ 10-11. I still get reflux when I try to go to sleep. I have an appointment with my surgeon on Wed. It's a nightmare.. I don't want to remove my band either but, if he has to remove fliud so, that I don't get any more teflux, am up for it!! I want to be able to sleep w/o stuff coming out of my nose & mouth.. Thanks for your information.

I did have 1/2 a cc removed in Jan 2011 and another 1/2 in March and no more problems. But I had gotten carless and last week i went back and had 1/2 a cc put back in and bang - acid reflux and today - pneunomia! I always have to learn the hard way! LOL

So, maybe removing some of youe Fluid will help stop the cycle. My GP today told me he could give a an acid reducer, but that it wouldn't really stop the reflux, just the amount of buring acid. The problem with that is you need the acid to control the bacteria - catch 22! Less acid, but still a great chance of reflux and a bigger chance of bacterial pneunomia! I'll work through this some how. My friend lost 186 lbs with the band and her band is 5 years old (she had the surgery in Mexico). It recently developed a leak at the port and she went back to Mexico to have it fixed, but in the mean time, she has gained 50 pounds in about 4-5 months! So this band is never coming out of my body!

Please let me know how you progress through this!

I've been reading and learning about smart Lipo - it's where they make a small incision and very much like your typical lipo, they remove the fat. Here's the difference - it's done in the office (of course you are numbed up and pretty loopy! ) But instead of just sucking out the fat, they use a pulsating laser to burn up the fat and than suck it out. I know that there is all kinds of stuff I could have done on my body, but I look pretty great in clothes, wiht the exception of my saddle bags (doc calls them cones). So, for $2600 I can have them sculpted and shaped!

If you know anything about the procedure, I'd like your input. If you don't, google it and look at the before and after pics.....just amazing!

I think many of us have had this problem. I was warned by a former bander that the band caused fungus to grow in her lungs. Here's what I've learrned through trail and error.......don't eat a heavy meal after 7 pm. This may be really hard for most folks, but after my 3rd bout of pneunomia in 1 year I learned, again, how to change my life style to fit my band. I don't want to remove my band or decrease the amount of Fluid in my band. I don't have any problems with acid reflux or heartburn during the day - only if I eat and lay down within 1-3 hours after eating a big meal - and by big, I mean half of a jr. burger with the top bun removed and 10 french fries.

So, I have my biggest or heavest meal at lunch and just a light salad and yogurt for dinner.

Anyone else find something that works for them? I'd love to hear any suggestions!

I'm 22 months out and have lost 110 pounds - I've been on maintenance since 2/11. My current problem is pain in the port area. You know how sometimes you get a "catch" in your side......well that's kind of what it feels like. Not horrible pain, just uncomfortable. My port does stick out now - you can even somewhat see it when I wear my yoga clothes. I haven't been doing any different or new excerise.....so, anyone else ever have this kind of discomfort?

What you are going through is perfectly normal. The ins company just wants to make sure you are serious about this journey. It could be worse......you could have to pay for it yourself like I did & many others have.

It happens to mist of us - you either need to increase your exercise or reduce you calories. A for under 1200 & I'm pretty sure you don't need to be paying for additional suppelments. You have the right tools just need adjusting. I list 110 pounds in about 18 months and you are heading in the same direction. Good luck!

Just remember - you did it before, you can do it again. I've been freaking reading how some of you gained weight back and trying to figure out how that happened.....then I noticed I had gained 4 pounds! YIKES! Before I could beat myself up too badly I realized that my hands and feet were swollen.....there was no way my rings (that fit perfectly 110 pounds ago) would be tight on me now! But.......I haven't been eating as well - so I'm back on the wagon!

Just wanted to thank everyone for sharing - sometimes it's just what I need to keep me pointed in the right direction.

Thanks everyone. I did the pouch test and have been following the south beach diet since I was able to add food. My pouch is good I don't think I could handle a fill. I had a hard boiled egg and it was all my pouch could handle and I felt full for hours. I have dropped a few pounds already and am really feeling encouraged. I have a trip coming up in august and have set a goal to be under 250# by then. I'll keep this thread updated on my progress.

Good for you! I'm going to India at the end of the month and expect to lose weight! Not sure about what type of food I'll be eating or if I'll like it LOL. I figure India food in India is pretty different from here! Face it - Chinese food is different here than from China - LOL. But keep up the good work and don't forget......small goals and small meals! I only eat 3 meals a day and only give myself 15-20 min to eat it and no liquids 30 min before, none during and 1 hour after a meal!

I was banded 1/25/11 and including the 19 lbs I lost pre-op I have lost a total of 50 lbs (and I have 60 more to go). With my first three fills I felt no restriction at all, but about 3 weeks ago I got another fill and definately know what restriction means now. For the first few days I couldn't eat anything but was told to wait it out. Now I can easily drink my Protein shake for breakfast. I have been eating Soup or cheese and deli meat or really soft casserole type leftovers for lunch and dinner but can only eat maybe 1/4-1/2 a cup. Last night I had the toppings (cheese and pepperoni) from 1/2 a slice of pizza and it was fine. Today I tried a 1/2 size BLT salad from Wendy's and only took a small bite or two of chicken before I got stuck. Liquids go down just fine. Unfortunately so do chocolate and pirate's booty, but I'm doing alright with that. I'm just worried I'm hurting my pouch by it being too tight. What do you think? I'm scared of going back to no restriction.

I don't think you are too tight. You mention drinking Protein shakes (I have one of those just about every morning), cheese, deli meat, casseroles - the only meat you mentioned was from Wendy's that didn't work so well. I can't eat any dried out meat or over cooked meat....it's just to hard to digest. What you didn't mention was meat you cooked yourself or what type of meat was in your casseroles.

If you aren't slimming, throwing up, or having acid reflux (all of which are signs of being too tight) then you are fine and welcome to the world of restriction with the band. But, in the end, you will need to do as you doctor says; call the office and see what they say.

By the way, I recently found out that surgeons suggest two ways of getting your daily amount of food: 3 meals a day, no Snacks or 3 meals a day and 3 small Snacks a day (fruit, cheese). My doctor (who was a teaching doctor) told me to have 3 meals a day, no snacks, and only give myself 1/2 an hour to eat. It seems to be working for my maintance.

Go get a fill too. That's the greatness of the band. 5 day pouch test than a fill. You'll be back on track.

Nay - I'm more concerned with you eating "bad" stuff. 1/2 cup of food is all you should be able to eat at a time. For example - I'm at goal and today for luch I had fresh spinach and fresh chicken salad (1/2 cup) and that was 3 hours ago and I'm still full.

BUT - here's the deal - I like being tight. That way I can't eat bread or pizza and I've lost all the weight I wanted in 18 months (110 pounds). What you can't do is eat the bad stuff! Stick to Protein first, than green veggies, and then carbs if you have room. Sometimes, I just had birthday cake and ice cream for dinner - LOL - but not often.

So, what you are experiencing is your first real restriction.....you'll have to learn to live with it and not eat the bad foods.

Good luck!

YES - YES - YES! I was even ready to call it off as I was being wheeled off to the OR! Here's the good thing......it wasn't hardly painful at all. I was home by 11:15 AM, in my own bed, sleeping most the day. By day three, I beleive I could have returned to work - but you have to know that I have had 4 surgeries in the past, so I knew what to expect pain wise, but was very pleased that it was totally controllable.

Now - as for the eating part - that's what scared me the most. I felt some panic that I wouldn't be able to eat - and not that'd be hungry, but that I wouldn't be able to get mentally full. So, I went to consuling and worked with a psychiatrist who could work with me, along with some meds, to help me overcome my fears and learn how to NOT use food as a comfort. I beleive the people that have had the band and been successful have learned to overcome their dependence on food.< /p>

Getting your head in the right place is far more important than getting the band.....the band is just a tool to help you lose the weight; your brian is what make it work successfully.

Good luck Tiffany!

You aren't alone with your thoughts and here's the good thing......once you have the band, you can slowly make it tight and give yourself the time you need to come to terms with the fact that you can no longer over eat. As you feel more confident in yourself, you can get it tightened. After that, you will be so happy with the results, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about!

Well - even if you haven't eaten, it doesn't mean that something isn't stuck. Have you had your first fill yet? It can take several fills before you really start to feel the restriction.....right now you may have some restriction, but still pretty much able to eat everything.....you just may be getting something stuck from time to time - hence the slimming

When it happens, try drinking something warm - like tea or broth. Sip slowly and allow the warm drink to settle in you stomach. If your stuck, that should help it move along. And beleive me, you'll fill it move along.

Uhhh - it kind of sounds like what we call 'slimming". If it's really thick and clear, it's slimming. It's when you eat a little bit more than your new tiny tummy can hold and something gets stuck and your body's response is to send mucus to that area to get rid of it. You get all this slim in your mouth and you try to swallow it but it wont go down because there is an obstruction in the way so you have to spit it out.

You might as well get ready to go have some (if not all) removed! If you didn't have acid reflux before the fill, then the problem is the fill. Since you only have 15 pounds to lose, making the band tighter won't work. Well - if all you can eat is liquids, you might lose, but it seems you can't even keep that down.

Go back and maybe they can just remove .25 cc and you'll be fine. But - bring something to eat with you......like yogurt and stay in the waiting room until you are sure you can eat it without any problems. If you can and it doesn't take you an hour to eat it, you should be ok. Most likely you've lost enought weight that tightening the band won't really work or you just need a tiny, tiny bump - like .25 cc.

How far along are you on your weight loss? If you've pretty much just started the journey, it will loosen as you lose weight. Sip liquids slowly, eat greek yogurt (for extra protein), and don't eat for at least 4 hours before you go to bed........but, if you are close to you weight lose goal (I was within 20 pounds when I had the last fill) it may not get better until you have some removed.

You are too tight - take my word for it - been through it twice. Back December 28 2010 I got a 1 cc fill and started having acid reflux right away. January 2011 I got pnenomia twice - becuase of acid reflux and had 1/2 a cc removed - no more acid reflux. But I was still having problems eating meat or salads and when I did eat, I could only eat a tiny, tiny bit and I wasn't losing any weight. I went back to the doctor and had another 1/4 to 1/2 cc removed.....ahhhh total releif! Now I can eat everything - only small amounts and I lost the rest of my weight and hit goal.

Go have some removed!

My surgeon is different from most. Yes I was on liquids for 10 days before surgery, but since I was afraid that I couldn't do it, I started the process 4 weeks before my surgery - 2 meals a day liquid and 1 regular (dinner). It is very important to stay on the 10+ days on liquid before surgery to lower the fat on and around your liver.....makes surgery much easier.

But it's after surgery that my surgeon is different. Day 1-3 you are on liquids. Day 4-6 mushies. Day 7-10 soft foods (eggs, fish, etc.) and then after that you slowly start adding regular food to your diet slowly. Some surgeons make you stay on liquids for 4 weeks after surgery.....and there isnt any reason or proof that you are any better off. Yes you may lose more weight, but of course you will since you are only one liquids.....don't need to have lap band to lose weight on liquids LOL.

But, you need to decide if you want to follow you surgeon or not. But, Drummer - you will want to make sure and ask when you can get your first fill.......I had a small fill at my 2 week check up and a larger fill 8 weeks after my surgery and we only waited that long because of x-mas and my surgeon having surgery.

Finally - I will tell you that I was VERY agressive with my fills. I wanted to be tight - I prety much couldn't eat breads or Pasta - but that's was my "drug" of choice. So you will need to ask you surgeon how agreesive you can get. I've lost 110 pounds in 18 months and I'm at my goal

My name is Terri

I drink my Protein drink on the way to work - about 7:30 & have my Greek yogurt between 9:30 & 10. I have a cup or more of mixed spring salad, with a 1/4-1/2 a cup of chicken salad for lunch about 1. I try really hard to have lite cheese & a fruit around 3 & than cook whatever for dinner. I also have a weight watchers snack (ice cream - that kind of thing for a snack). I try to eat about every 3-4 hours & I don't take longer than 1/2 an hour to eat. At the end of that time, I through it away

And remember, it's 1/2-3/4 cops of chewed food. I pretty much follow weight watchers. If you been on that program before, there's no reason to stop now!