cynpatt

I also have a 14cc band. First fill 2.5 - felt nothing. Second fill another 2.5cc - again nothing. Third fill 2cc - bringing me to 7cc - slight restriction. I had no preop diet, and have really been watching the amounts I consume. I eat what I want, just smaller amounts. I decided to not have a fill today because even though I do not have full restriction, I can eat, be satisfied, am losing at a steady rate. As they say - you are in bandster hell. Keep with it. You are going to do great.

I was banded 3/5/10 and have had 3 fills - 7cc's in a 14cc band. Went in today and after speaking with the PA decided not to get a fill - wanted to share my reasoning with you all. I am steadily losing 2 pounds per week. I can eat 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food per meal and then feel comfortably full. I am not hungry between meals, and do not snack. I am able to get my protein in without having to use supplimental shakes. In other words, I am eating like a "normal" person for the first time in my life. I am currently not struggling, not getting stuck and not PBing. Yes - i can eat more then most, but right now, we both felt this is a good place for me. In the future, i will probably need more fills - when I reach a plateau, beging to struggle etc. So even though I am not at my "sweet spot" it sure is sweet to me!

Hello All, It has been quite awhile since anyone has posted hee, and wanted to know how everyone is doing. It has been a little over 4 months since my surgery and I feel great. I am now down 61 pounds and steadily losing 2 pounds a week. This has been a life changing experience and I am so happy that I decided to have the band. I walk 1-3 miles 4-5 days a week and have a great walking buddy who pushes me as much as I push her. I am down from a size 32 to a 24, and the sizes keep dropping. I have 7cc in a 14cc band. Today I went to get my 4TH fill, and after speaking with the PA decided not to get one. I am not at full restriction, but am in a really good place both mentally and physically. I can eat one to one and a half cups of food per meel and do not snack at all in between. I am not hungry and can get my protein in without having to use any type of drink suppliments. In other words - I eat like a "normal" person. I am not at the point where others are - only able to eat a quarter cup of food, getting stuck, pbing etc, but I am happy. I will get my next fill when I feel that I need some more help. Where are you all as far as restriction? Lets keep this thread going for the long term. Cynthia

I think that that would be fine - when is your surgery? I would discuss it with your surgeon - I bet there there would be someone from your doctors office who would be happy to be there with you. This surgery is going to change your life - congrats on your decision!

I just finished the July 4TH Challange and am now ready for this one too - I will start tomorrow - so by Christmas - so put me down for 45 pounds. Thank you for starting this cjallange - good for long term goals!

Met the challange - lost 1 pound! Thank you all!!!

I am in for 18 pounds - loved the July 4TH day challange and excited for this one. Will someone make a spread sheet for this one too? the spreadsheet was awesome!

Tenafy here - where are you? Hackensack has a support group first Thursday of the month - haven't been yet because it is during my late night at work, but going to try to make it in July and August due to no late nights.

For the first time in my life I forgot to eat a meal! Left for work yesterday, forgot to eat at home, forgot to pack something and also forgot to stop to even stop to pick something up! Yes I was startving by 10am, but wow - never forgot to eat in my entire life!

:smile2::thumbup::thumbup:RESTRICTION!:thumbup:

Humming bird - great post - thanks!

The best thing about that time of month is that as soon as it is over the pounds just drop! Finished yesterday - down 1 pound - today another 2!

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had to share with all my band buddies. Very soon I hope to reach my other goal of being in the 200's. My next mini goal will be to reach 275lbs by Labor day. I think this is reasonable. Do you guys have any mini goals? Cynthia

Hi! I also have a 14cc band (actually thought that I had a 10cc band until my fill this past Monday). I was also very hungry in the begining. I spoke to my nutritionist and upped my portions to 1 cup 3 times a day and 1/2 cup optional Snacks 2 times a day. Once I increased to the 1 cup (8oz) portions, i no longer needed the snacks. I make sure I drink a lot of Water, and hot tea also fills me up. My first fill was 2.5 cc (i had an empty band out of surgery) - no restriction. Second fill - another 2.5 cc - again absolutely no restriction. Third fill this past Monday - WOW! I hope that it stays this way, but I am prepared for the fact that once the swelling goes down that I will not be at my sweet spot. I have another appointment already set up for July 12TH. With fills scheduled every 4 weeks until I reach correct restriction, I know that there is an end in sight. Please don't get frustrated. Just eat healthy and don't drive yourself crazy. It took us all a long time to get to our present weights and it will take us time to get to our goal too. I have a different mind set about this entire process than a lot of the others on this board. I eat regularly. I don't think of this as a diet. I was never a sweets or desert eater - that was never my issue. If I crave Pasta or even chicken nuggets - it is okay - I just limit the portion size to a cup, make sure that I have the calories to spend that day (I try to stay around 1200 cal/day) and just make sure that I don't do it on a regular basis. This is the way "normal" people eat. That is why with a lot of research I had this surgery over bypass. I didn't want to always feel deprived - that is why I failed at so many diets in the past. I also make sure that I walk every day 2-3 miles. I have a walking buddy and we never miss more than 1 day a week. This will work for you! It has been almost 3 and a half months and I am now down 52 pounds. Yes I have a lot to loose, but it works. Please feel free to contact me if you want. Cynthia

I also thought that I had a 10cc band until yesterday and found out that I also have a 14cc one! My first fill was 2.5 cc - no restriction, second another 2.5cc - again no restriction. Monday at 3 months and 1 week got my 3RD fill of 2cc which brought me to 7cc and I deffinitly feel restriction today. Hopefully it will stay that way, but I do have an appointment for 4 week from now for an adjustment. I am taller - 5'9" but my surgeon said that he uses his judgement at the time of surgery due to size of the stomach, thickness, positioning etc. In the end - it really does not make any difference! Good Luck! Cynthia

I had surgery 3/5/10 and on my first post op visit I asked the nurse what size band the surgeon had put in (the surgeon had said that he would put in the size that he felt was better for me at the time of the surgery). She told me the standard 10cc band. I then had 2 fills (5cc's total) and today went in for my 3RD fill. The nurse practioner put in the needle, drew back the 5cc's and then said that she wanted to check what size band I had put in. I asked why and she said if my band was half filled when she inserted the needle in the port she would expect some initial flashback, but didn't get it. So she went back into the operative notes and it stated that my MD had put in a 15cc band. The person who entered it into the computer had entered it incorrectly! Well - it makes me now understand why I didn't have restriction. The nurse practioner thinks that I will feel quite a bit now, and will probably be at my sweet spot after one more fill!

Tina - we are band date buddies! Congrats! Liftingchic - 2 miles running - that is AWESOME! Had my 3RD fill yesterday - I feel some restriction for the first time! I cannot believe it! I hope it lasts. I thought that I had a 10cc band and found out yesterday that I have a 14cc band. On top of that I hit the 50 pound lost club today - tomorrow I am hoping to be in the 200's - wish me luck! I will have to set a new mini goal - 275 sounds reasonable for Labor day. Cynthia

Down 2 pounds! This means an average of 2 pounds per week! I was really hoping to reach 50 pounds this week and worked really hard to do so. Hopefully next week. Got me 3RD fill today - 7 cc's in a 14 cc band. Hopefully restriction is on its way!

I meant a 14cc band!!

Hello All, I hope that everyone is doing well with their band. I just had my 3 month Band Birthday and am SO happy that I am on this journey. I was on a slow down for the last few weeks, but decided that I needed to jump start everything by upping my exercise and cutting my food intake a bit. I have my 3RD fill on Monday. When I started this program, my surgeon made a comment that I took to heart - he said - I bet that you will be down 50lbs by the summer. Two more weeks until the end of school - for me the beginning of summer. Only 1 more pound to reach that mini goal that I set. 2 more pounds and I will be under 300! Update you all! Want to know how you are all doing! Cynthia

Good Luck! I also had about 200 pounds to lose, and had my surgery on March 5TH. I started at 350 and did not have a pre-op diet, so my surgery date was also my start weight. It has been 3 months and I am already down 49 pounds. It is deffinitly not easy, but very managable. I try not to look at the 200 number, instead I have broken it down into more reasonable numbers. My first goal was 50 pounds (2 more to get into the 200's), my second to get to the 100 pound mark and my temporary goal is to reach 200lbs. I hope to make it to around 160, but by setting smaller goals, it seems to be reachable. As I have started losing the weight, I am now able to walk. I found a great walking buddy and even though it is the last thing I want to do at night at 9pm after working, cooking dinner and helping the kids do homework and get ready for school the next day - I still do it. I can now walk 3 miles! Yes my feet still hurt - but I feel great everynight before I go to bed. You can deffinitly do this - for yourself and for your child. Please contact me if you ever have any questions. Cynthia

I run around 1200 calories a day and usually burn through exercise an additional 200-400 calories daily. I have been consistantly down 2 pounds per week. 1200 is an easy number to work with and not feel deprived.

Down 2 this week - going to try to go down 3 this upcoming week. i have a fill Monday and would love to be able to tell the doc that I am down an even 50 lbs.

Finally down another pound!!!!:confused: