vlp1968

I hope you feel better soon!

Yes I agree, I don't think it will hurt the band at all. 2 caveats are that it has lots of calories and could reduce your inhibitions so you may eat something not on your plan. Havea great anniversary!

You are off to a great start! Congratulations

I know it's hard, but I would only weigh in once a week. I kept my scale in a cabinet under the bathroom sink and just pulled it out once a week. I recorded that weight. I knew the natural flucuations would drive me crazy. My once a week weight in's showed a steady loss for the most part. There was that one week I gained a pound even though I had stuck to my eating plan. Anyway, that being said I am now a "scale *****" as I work on maintaining my weight. I weigh in every morning. Part of me feels like I need to do this to monitor myself, and part of me feels like I am getting obsessed. I should probably cut back on getting on the scale to maybe twice a week. Congrats on your weight loss so far, you are doing great!

I swear by a low-carb/low fat/high protien diet. I usually eat eggs for breakfast, maybe some lite sausage. For lunch and dinner is a lean meat and nonstartchy veggies. I also have a planned snack, usually some cheese and 1/4cup nuts. Hope this helps! Good luck.

I eat at the same times every day too, at least for the most part. I include a healthy snack and 3 meals. That way, I can spread my food out across the day and not let myself get too hungry. Also just keeps me feeling in control.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Right now your band is empty- so food is not sitting in the "small pouch", it is going right down into your "big stomach". Also the stomach has a lot of give to it, it is my understanding it would take months of evereating to stretch the pouch. I hope your first fill does it for you, it took me 3 fills to feel any restriction. Good luck!

You are doing great! Just be aware your weight loss may slow down. 10 pounds a month is a tough pace to keep up. Just don't want you to set yourself up for dissapointment. Have so much fun at the wedding, I am sure you will look great.

I completely agree with others who have said- if it's too big get rid of it. You will never need those large sizes again! I cleaned out my closet about every 6 weeks. I had plenty of smaller clothes from years of yo yo dieting. I bought one shirt and one pair of pants the whole time I was loosing. That I didn't even need but I wanted something new for a vacation. I gave all my clothes to my sister, who is also overweight. What she didn't want she passed on to friends or donated. I know it's hard to get rid of things you really like and maybe hardly ever wore, but I think it's important. That being said, the psyc. involved in my wls suggested I keep one "fat outfit" as a reminder. When I was frustrated with my rate of weight loss I looked at it or tried it on. It helped me to see how far I've come. Best wishes!

Although I was successful in getting to my goal, the lapband was not as helpfull as I hoped it would be. I had months here and there when I was in a really good place. However, I spent more time either hungry or getting sick than I would have liked. I think I was just finally ready to "give up the food". I have other addictions and I think food was simply the last one. I was in thereapy for a while, helped me learn to deal with my feelings in a healthier way. Part of me wishes I had given it one more shot before I got the band. I hadn't tried on my own in in about 5 years. All that being said, the bottom line is I lost the weight. My advice would be to try one more time to do it on your own, especially if you haven't in a while. I highly reccomend you start excersising if your not already, it has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. Also, I think everyone can benefit from some therapy, it's great to get an outside, proffessional opinion on things. Good luck!

First off- go see Bridesmaids for sure, it is hilarious! Sounds like you need to talk to your husband about how you feel. I understand you not wanting to go to the outings while on liquids, just too tempting. I think the 2 of you need to figure out how to spend time together on the weekends without it revolving around food. That being said, I think you have to do your part in the compromise. IMHO you shouldn't expect him to miss the gatherings, or even to always go by himself. Maybe you could go to something once a month (once your off liquids), and he goes once a month by himself. The other 2 weekends of the month you can do something unrelated to food. When you do go to a party, why don't you bring something you can eat, then at least you know you'll have something. Just a compromise off the top of my head, hope it helps. Congrats on your surgery!

As already said, everyone is different. "Hell" for me started only a few days after surgery. I hope you continue to feel satisfied with your small meals. I wouldn't get a fill until that stops, you don't want to be too tight, that is just miserable (been there done that). Keep up the good work!

That is great you were such a good advocate for yourself. I think people know there bodies well, and need to listen to that. Glad you are feeling better!

As long as you are tolerating liquids you should be fine. My doc. said you know the band slipped when suddently you can't even keep water down. Sorry you got sick and hope you feel better soon.

I experienced some hair loss about 6 months post op. I went to the dermatologist. He said your body goes into a kind of shock from rapid weight loss. Much to my relief, he said I wouldn't go bald. I didn't do biotin or anything. The hairloss stopped in 3-4 months. I was luck to start out with a think head of hair. Try not to worry about it, but I know it's concerning to see that hair fall out.

I hope this fill puts you in a good place in terms of your band. You want to be able to eat solids for sure, at least a couple days after the fill. Follow your doc's instructions on that. Setting mini goals is a great idea. How about adding in an excersise goal? If you already are working out, set mini goals to increase what your doing. If your not, set a small goal to get started. Maybe some light cardio like a brisk walk to start out. You can gradually increase your duration/intensity. A goal can be to workout for 20 minutes 3 times a week for 2 weeks. Reward yourself when you meet a goal, just not with food. Maybe buy a new top or get a spa treatment. Excersise is tough to start, took me about 4 months post op to hit the gym. Good luck! You can do it!

Doing just shakes for 2-3 days might kick things off. In additon, once you go back to solids, I would focus on eating the right things- low carb/low fat/high protein. Lots of lean meat and non-starchy veggies. I eat eggs and or low fat sausage for breakfast. Also, if your not working out I highly reccomend you start. It has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. I hope they figure out what's going on with your band soon. Very strange they couldn't even find it. Best wishes!

I too am very all or nothing. Either I eat great all day, or I eat like crap all day. I have other addiction issues, food just being one of them. I lost all my weight by going "cold turkey". I ate nothing high fat or high carb for about a year. I am now trying to strike a balance. I was in therapy for a while, but stopped because I thought I had everything under control. However, now I am struggling a bit to maintain. Like I said, I am very all or nothing. Once I get this last 4 pounds off , I gained about 10, (I am doing protien shakes for the past few days) I plan to eat treats in moderation- like once every 1-2 weeks, and make it a reasonable amount. I need to stop "pigging out" all day just because I ate something not on my food plan. I am thinking of going back to my therapist to help with this. Best Wishes!

Oh yes, it happened to me, also to lots of people from reading posts. You are in what is affectionatley known as "bandster hell". It's the time between surgery and when you get restriction. Hang in there! 3 seems to be the magic number for lots of people, it was for me. Right now, I would focus on eating the right foods (low carb, low fat, high protien) even if your portions are larger than they will be once you have restriction. Also, excersise would be great, if your not already. It has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. Start out slow (just a light walk for example) and gradually increase your intensity/duration. It's so tough to start, at least it was for me, but it will become a matter of routine. 3-4 days a week would be awsome.

You have gotten great advice and encouragement. My 2 cents is to start excersising if your not already. Start slow and gradually increase the duration/intensity. If you already are working out, increase the intensity/duration or change up what your doing (if your walking try swimming for example). It has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. You can do this!

Accocording to my surgeon, when your band slips you suddenly can't keep anything down. However, I would call your doc.s office and let them know what's going on. I don't think you have a slip, but something else might be an issue. Hope you feel better soon.

Sorry you are feeling down. Fast food was a real dowfall for me too. I was pretty good at not buying junk at the store, but would go out for fast food instead of eating the healthy stuff I bought. I find since I haven't had it in so long, I don't miss it very much. I would just go cold turkey and break the habit. Just tell yourself fast food is not an option for you. That's what I did anyway. Also, are you excersising? It has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. It's tough to start, but it will become a matter of routine. It took me about 4 months post op to hit the gym. Now I go about 5 days a week. Good luck, you can do it!

My comment is about snacking. I know many doctors seem to say no snacking, but I have found it works really well for me. I eat something about every 2-3 hours. I believe it keeps your metabolism going, every time you eat it gets "fired up". I think the trick is to make them planned snacks that fit into your eating program. I eat low fat cheese sticks, nuts, berries, beef jerky for snacks. Just what works for me. Take Care.

First off, YES! excersise will help you loose weight, not to mention all the other benefits. I think your brother is right about you not eating enough. Your body can go into "starvation mode" where it hangs on to body fat. I also think you are a bit too tight. It's not normal to have all that throwing up. It's probably gotten worse because the vomiting causes swelling and it''s then a vicious cycle (more throwing up, more swelling). Being to tight means your band is too tight for food to go through it. I think it has to do with loosing weight because your not holding on to enough calories. I would see your doc. and talk to him/her about a slight unfill. In the meantime, you might want to try soft foods like refried beans, apple sauce, cottage cheese. They may stay down better. Also, you can drink protien shakes if they are available where you are. I have found a diet low in both carbohydrates (chips, bread, pasta, fruit) and fat works really well. I eat lots of lean meat and veggies. Usually eggs for breakfast. Hope this helps and hope that you feel better soon.

I agree with above, try to drink as much water as possible. Sounds like your tolerating it fine. Hang in there, the initial post op diet will come to an end. Congrats on your surgery.