vlp1968

It is intimidating but try to enjoy it. You will probably start with bigger sizes than you really need, I know I did. I couldn't believe I was having trouble finding clothes small enough for me! On the down side, I've had some regain, need to loose 20ish pounds. Anyway, congrats and don't buy too much, they will only last for so long lol.

If coffee was loosening your band, and you gave it up, you should have more restriction then before. I have been told hot drinks loosen the band, but haven't found that to be the case for me. I think everyone is different. Since you have less restriction it could be you've lost weight and the band has loosened because you have lost fat around the stomach. You may want to make an appointment to meet with your doc. about a fill. Good luck!

As said, it can't all be fat. Did they check your thryroid? I stupidly stopped taking my thyroid medication, due to lack of insurance, and blew up like a balloon. I was fine once I went back on the meds. Just a thought.

The face is typically where weight loss is noticed first. i do think it's in your head a bit. Your body must look differrent with a 72 pound weight loss. The psychologist at my surgeons office suggested I take a picture once a month. I did it in my bathing suit. I would look at the every once in a while. It helped some, but of course there are times I see the fat girl in the mirror. It takes time for our brain to catch up with the body. You are doing great!

The reason they say not to drink before or after is that the food can be washed away into your big stomach. The idea is to feel full longer of course. My nutritionest said 15 min. before and 15 min. after no drinking. 2 hours seems like a long time.

I have experienced my band suddenly tighter. A slight unfill did the trick. As said, it may be that your swollen but I wouldn't wait to long before seeing your doctor. You don't want to suffer unneccessarily and dehydration is an issue. Hope you feel better soon!

Are you afraid you'll be hungry if you have some fluid taken out? The doc. can just take a small amount out and it could make all the difference in the world. That happened to me several times. I was in a really good place after a small unfill. I think you want to be able to eat healthy meals, protien, veggie et... You may want to stick to liquids until you can get in to see the doc. Getting stuck is not good. Also as already suggested, if you are having acid reflux you deffinately should get a bit taken out. Let us know what you decide to do and good luck.

You are doing awsome! London is a fabulous city, haven't been to Madrid or Paris, would love to though.

First a plug for excercise. It really helps with weight loss, and I find I make better food choices when I am working out regularly. I agree, since you are smaller, you may need to cut your calories a bit. Also, are you doing low carb? I found that helped when I stalled. Also, be sure to get your protien and water in. Good luck! You can do it!

It is possible never to get stuck, not getting stuck is a good thing. That is great your first fill put you in a good place. Skin on fruit can cause problems, I don't know about tomatoes. Dry meat can also cause issues. Big culprits of getting stuck are bread, rice, pasta. Until I had a large unfill I couldn't eat them. I was fine with that while I was loosing but when I got into maintaince mode I wanted to be able to eat them in moderation. Keep up the good work!

Hi, this is my first post on this forum. I had a tummy tuck a little over a year ago. Since then, I have regained thirty pounds. I plan to loose at least 15 of that (several people have told me I got too thin). I'm not sure it will be enough, I guess I'll just have to wait and see. My question is, did I effect the results of the TT. Will my skin bounce back? Has anyone experienced weight gain and loss after a tt?

I lost weight very quickly, 107 pounds in about 10 months. I stuck to a very strict high protien/ low carb/low fat/ low cal. diet. Didn't cheat at all. I started working out about 5 days a week about 4 months post op. That being said, I have gained back 30. I feel like I didn't learn how to eat for the long haul, I was so restrictive. I have since moved to a pretty much south beach diet. The right carbs and the right fats- in moderation. My cals are 1200-1400 a day. That's all I log. I know I am getting plenty of protien- lots of lean meat and eggs, and one protien shake a day. I had the first good week last week in a while- lost 4.5 pounds. My suggesstion is to not rush along this journey. Think about lifestyle changes you can live with. If you do what I did, I realize in hindsite, it's just another diet. As far as my band, I had trouble staying in the elusive sweet spot. I was there for a few weeks here and there. I was pretty satisfied in the early part of the day, couldn't even eat solids in the morning, had a protien shake. By 2 or 3 my appetite would really kick in. I had small fills that pushed me to the other side and I was getting sick even on shakes. Very frustrating. I am frustrated at the weight gain too, never thought I would let 30 pounds creep back on. However, I am back on track and not looking back. I know it will be slow going, but the weight will come off and hopefully I will have learned to eat the way I need to for the rest of my life- well 85-90 percent of the time anyway lol.

I finally had a good week eating and excersise wise. Lost 4.5 pounds. It feels really good. I am doing a pretty much south beach diet. The good fats and good carbs. Counting calories, keeping at about 1200. Doing cardio about 5 days a week and weight training with a trainer 4 days. I am journaling everything I eat. I was off track for months, starting with a trip to Europe the beggining of oct. Before I - knew it, it was Thanksgiving and then Christmas. 25 pounds later - uggg. The good news is I am feeling back in control.

I never really had trouble with pills, even when my band was tighter than what it is now. The only times I had a problem was when my band was too tight after a fill, and nothing was staying down. That is so awsome you and your husband are doing this together! You also did a great thing clearing out the house of everything you won't be eating. I think you both are on the road to success! Make sure to start excersising once your dr. clears you. Maybe you can go on walks, or to the gym together. The whole experience will undoubtedly bring you closer together.

It is confusing that dr's vary so much it the post op diet regiment. I was told 1 week full liquids, 1 week mushies then solids. I had no problems. I bet I could have tolerated food after a few days. I would follow your dr.s instructions.

Yes, fish is probably your best bet. That is less likely to get stuck than chicken or steak. Take small bites and chew. Fish and a non-starchy veggie would be a perfect meal. Also, even if you get stuck, it's really not that bad. At least that's been my experience. I get a pain kind of in my chest and a funny felling in my throat. I then go to the bathrom, cough a bit and it comes right up. Its not like vomiting, say when you have the flu, there's no heaving. Again, this is just my experience. Enjoy your evening out.

When I was tight, I couldn't eat rice, bread or pasta. They all came right back up. Band is looser and I still have trouble sometimes with bread first thing in the morning. It coming up is not that horrible. If you really like rice, I would try it. Be careful of the carbs (ie eat it in moderation) and brown rice has lots more fiber than while rice.

You have done amazing! I am sure you can be a great source of knowledge and motivation on this site. Please keep posting, tell us how you lost and how you are maintaining.

Great! That's an awsome NSV! Keep up the good work!

According to my surgeon, if the band slips you suddently can't keep anything down, even water.

I agree it could be your thyroid. I lost my insurance at one point and stopped taking my thyroid medicine. I swelled up big time. I wasn't weighing myself back then, but I am sure I gained tons. Your issue deffinately seems to be water retention. I wouldn't worry about my weight, keep doing what your doing and get a workup done by your pcp. Good luck!

I too have been slacking the last few months. Went on a trip to Europe in Oct. then it was Thanksgiving, then Christmas. 30 pounds later uggg. I was in a pattern of depriving myself (ultra low carb, low fat, low cal, high protien diet) and then bingeing. Can now excersise again, had to take a break after surgery. That has helped me get back on the right track. I also decided not to have such a strict eating plan. I have introduced a bit more fat and some healthy carbs (whole grains, starchy veggies, beans). I 'm on my third day, so far so good. My only issue has been eating too many nuts and too much cheese. Cut back on that yesterday and the scale moved.

Love to hear these NSVs!. I think it's easy to get focused on that number on the scale which can lead to discouragement. I am struggleing to get back on track after some regain, going for 3 good days in a row. Hopefully some NSV's to come soon!

I agree with the others that your facilitator was way out of line. However, I personally think you may look a little too thin at 125 given your height. Like someone else said, 125 may look different on you now. You may find another 10 pounds or so goes a long way in keeping body parts like your face from looking as saggy and wrinkly. That being said, I wouldn't worry about it now. You have your whole journey ahead of you. Good luck and keep up the great work! You had an awsome first month!

I agree- alchohol in moderation is ok. Just be aware of the calories in the drinks and I know for me it can give me the munchies and with a buzz I'm more likely to cave to the cravings.