MelVan

It’s been six months since my surgery. I’ve had three fills totaling 6 cc’s and I’m still learning how to live with my band. This is my experience so far:
I’ve lost 58 pounds without real difficulty, just making good food choices and putting the fork down when I’m satisfied. This once seemed laughably impossible, but it’s really pretty simple with the band.
I’m off all medications and my sleep apnea is gone, as is the searing heartburn I used to get. I have no body aches and pains, no shortness of breath. I have the energy of a teenager. I’ve had to buy a new wardrobe because I’ve shrunk out of most of my clothing. (And I’ll have to do it again before it’s all over.)
I’m learning to be content with smaller meals, but I don’t feel restriction. I keep my portions sensible but if I wanted to I could (and have) easily consumed huge meals. Maybe I’m not technically in the “green zone” but I’m losing weight fairly consistently. I might do better with another fill but I’d rather be too loose than too tight, and my doctor agrees.
It’s not all roses. I still screw up and eat too much sometimes, but I no longer beat myself up for it. My head still gets in the way and I have to check my automatic thoughts every day. My weight loss has slowed some and I’ve faced some frightening plateaus. In these times I think, “This is it, it was too good to be true, the ride is over and the weight will come back.” But it doesn’t. I get up every day and do what I’m supposed to and eventually - in a few days or a few weeks - the scale shows a loss again.
I have absolutely no regrets. If I didn’t lose another pound I’d be happy with where I’m at today. I still need to lose another 40 pounds. I’ve decided to relax and not worry how long it takes. I’m confident that if I keep my head in the game and a positive attitude, I’ll get there in time.
If I had one piece of advice to leave the newly banded, it would be this: Relax, don’t be too anxious, and don’t view this as a sprint. Success will come. It takes time, but it’s worth every minute. Enjoy the ride!

MelVan... i just want to say good luck with your knee operation. Im sure you will be really blessed to find out how much more you can do after the replacement. ive had both my knees done. The only think i find i cant do is kneel.... thats a problem sometimes but i get around it. On average Ive been losing about 1 lb a week... the last couple of weeks ive slowed more but ive got another fill coming up sept 5th. I would love to have a swimming pool close to where i live. the sea is way too cold for me now.

Alerker, I appreciate your comments and thanks for checking in. It's good to redirect our focus and try new tools for success. I needed to be reminded. I only have 3cc in a 10cc band (1 1/2 cc in my band and 11/2cc in port tube). Even I get stuck episodes from occasionally eating too fast, food too dry, fibrous veggies. I really have good control of my hunger and don't overeat but keeping a food journal and counting calories would help me. I have been putting off adding new tools for weight loss but I am now more motivated. Thanks for sharing your plans. Melvan

Congratulations, Ladybug28, you are doing an amazing job. You must be working out too. I still am not in size 16 pants but I hope to be soon. I can wear size 16 dresses it they are very full/loose in hips.

Judych, I will email you this weekend with my recipes, eating plan, websites I like etc. I laughed at your request because I am not known as a good cook....I try to eat very healthy. No salt, sugar, healthy fats only. About 10 yrs ago I tried to be vegan and I have tried the raw food diet, juicing....I feel food can cure us of illnesses caused by the standard American diet(S.A.D.) this new way of eating according to the band has been very different from what I have been doing. I would prefer to mostly do without dairy and almost never meat. WOW am I doing things differently on this diet. Anyway I still believe in lots of veggies fruit nuts and seeds whenever possible. I think I can find your email. Melvan

you did well to maintain your weight as well as you did. did i say that im taking my youngest grand daughter out on an 11 day cruise into the south pacific?? sorry, if ive shared already, ignore this post. lol. Im thinking now what will i do before we go. we fly out to join the ship on the 6th nov.
Did you do any swimming? i intend to. hopefully by early now i will be looking a lot better in my swimsuit. lol. ive had one fill. ive got another coming up june 20th.. i will have that, and keep goign with the fills if necessary. ive read here that some people have a little taken out of their band before they go on cruises. i will wait and see how i am before i make a decision. i will talk with the dr about it all.
Again.. you did so well while on board and all that wonderful food around. i hope i do as well as you did.

Wow, while my doctor required the 2 week pre op diet and all, she is not that strict. I have to be on liquids the day I have a fill and then can slowly increase to solids depending on how I feel

I have a goal to at least have lost 60lbs by the time August gets here and nursing school starts again. I have 13 more lbs to reach that goal.

Newme2012, I was banded 3/21/12 and have had 2 fills. First was 2.1cc and second time .9 for a total of 3cc. I believe that is 1.5 in port tube and 1.5 in band. I will be out of state and next apt fill is August 6. I really tried to get dr to add more with second fill. Either he is careful so I don't swell and can't eat anything or he likes to fill very slowly to bill insurance more times. I really understand your frustration. I am going to accept my journey will be slower than others and I am still losing some. I think this is more willpower diet than restriction. Too many people know and are watching for my transformation. I feel the pressure to change because I have tried everything in the past to lose but could never keep it off. I am making better, healthy choices and I do eat less. I no longer eat junk food, no deserts, no carbonated beverages, no bread, Pasta, rice, no alcohol. I eat on a small plate or bowl. I eat only when hungry. I eat slowly and chew a lot. These are a lot of behavior changes that will improve my life forever however the weight loss takes. Keep up the good work bandsters, we will we will be victorious.

March bandsters, your recent conversation about how many cc fill and quantity you can eat and how often you eat....very helpful for me. I guess I consider myself a slow loser. I eat when I feel like it, don't count calories but try to make healthy choices. I certainly eat less and much healthier than preop. However my total cc is 3 and I was told that's 1.5cc in band...I think there is 1.5cc in port tube. I have a little restriction if I eat too fast, don't chew enough or eat dry food. I don't think this is the same as you who have more cc in fill. I can certainly eat 2 or 3 cups at a time of chili, soft meat and veggies. I have read other bandsters who carefully measure out 1 cup per meal. At this point I think I would be hungry all the time with that little. I guess this is just a diet of willpower until restriction green zone. Clearly I'm not there. Still, I am losing a little from my improved diet. You specific info with numbers and measurements helped me so much. Thanks. Melvan

Wow that is rough. I am sorry you are not finding the support you need from your close friends and family but you have it from all of us. Don't get discouraged, you did this to help you not them and honestly their opinion doesn't count. You are doing an awesome job, keep your chin up and do your thing. I have had alot of support from my family, friends, co workers and classmates but I have also had some ridicule as well and you know it doesn't matter that people don't like what I have done, I know that I want to be around for my kids and their kids and I can't do that if I am overweight and killing my self with other health problems related to my obesity. So for those who don't like what I have done, they can find someone else to be friends with or talk about and think of it this way if they are talking about you, your life must be so much more interesting than their boring lives and jealously never got anyone anywhere . Keep smiling and keep walking off those pounds. You are doing great and I am proud of you

I have lately been missing food I used to eat and was really tired of Protein Drinks, ff cottage cheese, Greek plain yogurt, poached eggs and ricotta low fat cheese. So today I made a bowl of dip and had with healthy chips. Yum. The dip was a can of ff refried Beans, ff sour cream and spicy salsa
The chips (suggested by dr oz as high in protein) I found at health food store. They are popped black bean crisps, wheat free, gluten free, reduced fat low sodium. This was such a treat and it did not take much to satisfy me. I will have more for several days. I may add chopped avacodo one day or a chopped low fat cheese stick and chopped fresh tomatoes.

Thanks for your kind words of encouragement Ladybug28. You are right, I need to keep doing what is best for me. I have new bandster friends on this site. however prebandsters need to be cautious about who they tell. I know I should have been more guarded. Keep up your good work and progress. I wish you the best. Melvan

I was on the fence for YEARS. Banded 3-21-12 . Slow loser because I can't exercise/disabled. I am so pleased. No problems yet. I was so scared and wasted time. I now have hope and have lost 20 lbs. Meds are being reduced. Bloodwork numbers better. food cravings are gone and I never thought that was possible. I only choose healthy foods. I now eat to live...used to live to eat. All the foods I mourned that I could not ever eat again...I don t miss. When I read band friendly recipes I felt better about getting the band. There are so many ways to get the flovors and versions of foods you miss. I would do this again only years ago. Melvan

B52..geat post and congrats on your hard work/success. I am new on the journey. Banded 3/21/12 and am down 15lbs. I am 60 with 10+ comorbidities including all you listed. For me this is about extending my life to see granbabies grow up. My meds were not working and drs were always talking gloom and doom about my numbers. Already, my meds are being reduced and my bloodpressure and blood sugar much better. Walking or moving at all is very painful and I walk with a walker if I must walk at all. I hope this disability improves so I can start burning calories. Your story is a real inspiration of hope and please share your experience, stength and hope again. MelVan

Fellow March Bandsters, My day is TOMORROW. I am already in Palm Beach at motel and I go to hospital at 9am/surgery at 11. I thank you all so much for this blog. I have learned so much and have a good idea what to expect. I won't be scared with every pain and new feeling. Pay for me as I am praying for all of us. I'll blog again after I cross over and am born again with my new baby stomach. Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels. MelVan