reverie

Welcome back and congrats on making the effort to get back on the wagon! Since you've been banded for 2.5 years, you know the band rules. Start to follow them again. Go back to the beginning and start fresh. If you know what you're doing wrong (snacking, eating too much, not exercising, etc.) work on that first. Definitely start tracking what you eat. There are a lot of programs online you can use; fitday.com is a good one. Make sure you're getting all of your protein! Go back to bars/shakes if you have to. Protein, more so the dense kind, will keep you full for longer, so focus on lean meats like fish, turkey, chicken, etc. If you need a fill, by all means get one! Make sure you're exercising at least 3-4 times a week and drinking all of the water that you need. Good luck!

Yep! Since surgery I've had great restriction and I love it. A cup of food, if not less, fills me completely for hours. Sometimes in the morning (when I first wake up) my stomach will growl, so I've started to eat a Protein bar in the morning since I'm up so early, but other then that, I'm doing well and never really feeling hungry. I had an issue with the weightloss stopping too. Gotta love plateaus. I was eating around 500-700 calories a day and losing really well, but I added in exercise and stayed at the same calorie level. I actually gained a few pounds. So now I'm eating 850-950 calories a day, depending on my exercise (switches from cardio to sculpting/weights), and I hope to eventually bump it up to 1000 calories + especially if the weightloss stops. Good luck with your fill! Try mixing up your calories/exercise and see if it jump starts the scale. Congrats on your weightloss as well! :thumbup:

Woo hoo. Everyone says fills are painless. Glad it went well. I haven't gotten to experience one. (not sure if that's good or not lol!)

Congrats and have fun treating yourself!! You've done awesome.

Congrats on being banded and even more congrats on the weight you've lost! :thumbup:That's an awesome amount and I doubt you are losing too fast. As for the gas pains, walk walk walk and take Gas-X strips. They both helped greatly and I believe by the end of week 1 the gas pains were minimal to none. As for the next few weeks..focus on healing! Take things slow and be sure to stick to your post-op diet. Drink as much water when you can. Be careful on bending especially because it really does hurt. You'll have pain near your port incision for awhile. Good luck!

First and foremost, you mention a lifestyle change/routine. That is exactly what the band helps you form; your own healthy lifestyle with healthy routines to help you lose/maintain your weight. You're only 2 weeks out, and you've lost 13lbs. That is a great loss! Do you remember the last time you've lost 13lbs and kept it off? Also keep in mind that you're still healing. Right now you need to focus on allowing you body to heal properly. The point is, you can't compare yourself to others. Some lose faster, some lose slowly, but we all get to the same end point eventually. Keep in mind people with a lot more to lose often lose quicker, but in the end it all evens out. I started weighing myself each day, about 10 times a day, and I can say it's not a healthy habit. Stop getting on the scale each day if it's something you do. I only now weigh myself on Sundays, which is my rest day from exercising. The scale is not the only way to measure success. Measure yourself: waist, hips, arms, etc. and compare in the measurements in a few weeks. Look at how your clothes are fitting. Good luck with your journey and remember yours is entirely your own. You make of it what you want it to be. Exercise, eat right, and get your fills when you need them (when that time comes) and you'll be successful. There's always someone here to help you if you hit a roadblock though. :thumbup:

A LOT of clothes Never thought I'd drop from a size 20 to a size 16 and from size XXL shirts to XL shirts in such a short time period! And of course, some bad habits.

Stick to warm liquids for a day. You may just be very swollen from surgery. If you're still having issues, its best to call your surgeon for some advice. If he prescribed you anti-nausea pills, those may help. Good luck!

I usually try to eat dinner around 5:30PM then nothing but water after. It all depends really. I try to eat no later then 3 hours within my bed time, though I'm breaking that rule today because I just woke up from a 5 hour nap. :redface: Oops.

Most of the time people with a slipped band don't have any symptoms. But, some people will get heartburn, will have trouble eating/keeping down solids. If you're worried you can always consult your doctor. As for diet sodas, some people can tolerate them, some people don't drink them, others aren't allowed to. My surgeon did not want us drinking soda, which I am plenty fine with. The carbonation can mess with the band, but for others soda is completely okay. Again, consult your doctor.

Congrats everyone! 231lbs lost, that's awesome Scale hasn't been doing much for me, but down another pants size.

Probably not. Your BMI is 28.7. Most doctors will only operate on those with a BMI of 35 and up. If you lose 22lbs you'll be in the normal range.

You just had a big life change. Cut yourself some slack, but not too much! Praise yourself for getting back into the gym when life allowed you to do so, especially in an entirely new environment. I, to this day, don't have the guts to go to a gym! If you're still eating more than you need to, get another fill when possible. It's all a head/control game until you have restriction. Since you're going for slider foods, stop buying them. Keep them out of the house. It's never bad to treat yourself once inawhile, but don't make them an everyday thing. As for protein, up your meat content if you can, or go back to protein shakes/protein bars. Both work great. I've been eating 1/2 of a South Beach Diet protein bar in the morning to help push me past 60g. I also use hemp seed in my food (like sesame seed) which is 11g protein per 2 tbsp! Can't beat it. In all, I think you're doing good for someone who just had a big life change. 65lbs is a great loss, and once you get back on the wagon, you'll be losing even more. :scared2:

19. :scared2:

I still have mine! My doctor has me on meds for 6 months to avoid gall stones/any other gall bladder issues.

I believe the number they are throwing out now is 1 in 2,000 versus 1 in 250 for bypass. I've never heard of anyone directly dying because of the surgery. If anything people die from unlying conditions that are unknown/are left unvoiced before surgery. This is why it's important to tell your surgeon everything the day of surgery. If something doesn't feel right, let them know! I had the fear of dying too, seeing as it was my first surgery at 19, but, I trusted my doctors and kept positive thoughts!

I started off doing South Beach Diet. You may want to read up on it. Now I just cut out breads, rices, etc. Though at times I will have a thin slice of bread. I eat a lot of cheese, vegetables. Salads have become a wonder food for me, but if you have a fill you may have issues with salads. I usually eat about 30-40 carbs a day, but at times I stay below 30. I'd say no more than 45 a day, but you may want to consult your nutritionist. You'll find a lot of low carb recipes online.

Congrats! I got into onederland not too long ago, so I know the excitement. :bolt:

Gas-X Strips definitely! Comfortable PJ pants/comfy shirt. Slippers or flip flops. Maybe a book/iPod whatever if you're one who needs entertainment.

If you already have your surgeon picked out, maybe try to speak to him/her. Or definitely work with a counselor if possible. The only one who can be sure you are ready for surgery is yourself. If you're ready and willing to make the changes and follow the rules of the band, then you should keep that in mind. I had a lot of doubt before I got my band as well. I'd been overweight for years, probably since the end of elementary school, and I always thought maybe I'm not ready, maybe I can do it on my own, and being only 19, it was a pretty big decision to make. But it all came down to the fact that I knew I needed this, and no one was going to sway my decision. Maybe take some time, look at what you've done to lose weight in the past, and look at what the band can possibly help you do. If you believe you're ready for it, then go for it. Lots of people here will definitely be behind your decision either way.

Congrats on being banded and good luck on your journey! :bolt:

Thanks Jachut! You look awesome by the way!

Thanks guys for all your help! I've bumped up my calories a bit and the scale is moving again. I've upped my carbs a little as well. I don't think I'm losing muscle mass at all. Inches, yeah, muscle..I don't think so. But of course it's possible. Though I find it hard to believe that I've lost 50lbs of muscle. :smile2: I'll keep on trucking along. Eating 1500 calories a day is impossible for me though. Like I said I ate about 1000 one day and just felt miserable. Maybe eventually I can eat that many cals, but I don't know. Thanks again! :bolt:

Most people lose quite quickly in the first few weeks, then the weight-loss slows down or stops completely. Normally, you'll be losing 1-2lbs a week, sometimes more, sometimes less, but the rapid weightloss probably wont come back. If you're not exercising, you may want to try and see if it helps. Even walking for 30 minutes really makes a difference. Anything that gets your heartbeat up. Journal what you're eating to make sure you're getting in your protein and not eating more than you should. Good luck.

Congrats! That's an awesome goal. I've lost all of my weight with no fill, so if you don't need one, definitely don't force yourself! My surgeon was plenty fine with it.