HeatherinCA

You only vomit if your band is too tight. (well that should be the case). I haven't ever been sick, or stuck. It depends how dedicated you are.. but the fills help get your band to a place where the hunger hormone isn't produced (it presses down on a nerve or something like that), so you don't think about food as much because you aren't hungry. It's a useless piece of plastic if you aren't getting hunger control from it. There is no way to know if just having the band will do that... most people get a fill. But I will say not everyone gets sick all the time with the band. Some people it's only certain food... some people insist on having their band super tight. But most people with normal fills, who take their time to eat shouldn't get sick.

The diet is more to prepare you for surgery... but not everyone needs to do it. It's supposed to shrink your liver.

The pain after surgery is fairly bad for 3 or 4 days. But it's not unbearable. I was never nauseous except immediately after surgery in the hospital and they gave me meds for that. The surgery is easy and quick, I was home the same day. For me, I'm 4 months out, I've lost 48lbs. I've NEVER had any food get stuck. My appetite is gone. (doesn't meanI don't WANT food, but I'm never hungry) I was more scared when I read this board.. But it really is different for everyone. The way people use the tool is different for everyone... I would say if you can commit yourself to changing your eating habits then go for it, if you can stick to a 1200 calorie diet then go for it. If you still want to eat junk food all the time and expect to lose weight, forget it. It's still essentially a diet, you eat the wrong things you won't lose weight, that doesn't mean occasionally you can't have a cookie. But everything in moderation. I'm not worried about complications right now. I will cross that bridge if I get to it. It's a fairly safe operation, SO many of them have been done. The technology has improved over the years.

I go out a lot. I still personally, order a regular meal and just eat what I can usually about 1/3 to a 1/2 of it (appetizers usually have a crapload of calories, not worth it). If I can plan ahead I do.. I like to check out the menu and see what I can eat. Generally just look for anything grilled, baked or broiled and doesn't have a sauce on it... Or if I don't know the calories, I just try to guess, and eat a small amount, I don't over do it. Don't get the bread basket, a salad, soup, dessert, soda, alcohol.. then a meal isn't so terrible. I don't get sick or puke, I haven't had any problems yet. But if you do, then you may want to be more careful.

I feel like this should be posted in every thread you rule! But i completely agree. No excuses if you are eating junk, you won't lose weight end of story.

I always wondered that. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it

I'd try to stick with it! Take a good HARD look at your diet and count the calories and exercise and make sure you aren't causing the lack of weight loss (I'm only going by what you said.. but if you are really eating nothing you would lose weight. If you are taking in less calories than you are burning off you will lose weight). Or try to change things up. Try low carb.. try eating a little more, or a little less.. or different things. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut... Maybe do a liquid diet for a day or two.. do the 5 day pouch test.. See if anything can jumpstart your weight loss to get your motivation back. Don't give up! You spend $15,000 and it's only been 6 months..

I don't... but it depends on what your body can get down. I try to take smaller bites, but I don't do "pencil eraser" size bites or anything like that. Besides if you chew it to liquid then it becomes a slider food. You just don't want to take a huge hogish bite and chew twice and swallow.. which I know is I what I did pre band. When I'm at home I use baby fork and spoon to ensure I don't eat too fast. Also we only eat small portions, it's more satisfying to eat slower.

What do you mean gross? Like saggy and stuff? I think in clothes I look much better!

My first fill was 5.5ccs. My doc has a fluoroscope machine (like an xray to see how the liquid flows through my band) so he can accurately gauge how much fluid I need. If you are doing it blind, then it's gonna be less to make sure you don't overfill.

Terrible pain is normal for 3 or 4 days. Yea I had liquid Lortab... nothing really helped too much though, I mean they cut your stomach muscles it's just gonna hurt when you have to use them.

Just get as much as you can, and eat more Protein than anything else. Hard protein like chicken, meat, fish.. It keeps you full because it's harder to digest. I don't necessarily think it's important to go overboard on protein though. Just make sure the main part of your meal is some sort of protein MOST of the time. I get all mine in and I'm still losing my hair. Which happens from excessive weight loss and the trauma of surgery.

I would wait till you are back on solids, then it's fine I mean I can't imagine it would feel good if you aren't eating at all. But remember, alcohol has a ton of calories.. so try to limit it to special occasions.

I actually wasn't that hungry.. but my fill KILLED my hunger, after it set in for a few weeks, I just lost my appetite (I got 5.5ccs for my fill), I'm almost never hungry anymore. If you get a really tiny fill, that may not happen, it may take a few before you get that feeling. Gaining weight or not losing at this point is normal, the first 6 weeks is about healing it'll even out

I feel pretty settled now, I've been banded about 4 months. It's more.. I just don't think about it as much anymore. I kinda know what I can eat and what I have to do, like not drink before meals, take my vitamins, and drink my water. But I mean, I'm always going to have to think about it. The world is working against me. Restaurants don't have healthy options, the grocery store is tempting, you just have to pay attention.

I agree with both of you! I physically can't eat WAY to much food, or I feel totally uncomfortable, But I definitely eat similar to you. I always felt weird seeing people eat like 1 egg for a meal... I tried that today I had 2 eggs and a tomato and I was starving in like 2 hours. The band kicks in the 20% I can't stick to my diet. It gives you that little bit of leeway.

Lucky! haha. The pre op is mainly to shrink your liver for surgery, some doctor's don't require it, and some don't require it if your BMI is lower. I personally liked it for the Water weight loss, I lost a good 15lbs from it, it was a nice jumpstart to my weight loss . But it's HELL haha.

Well, it's hard!! If you follow the rules, eat a 900-1200 calorie diet and exercise you WILL lose weight. (though that is easier said than done) It is a HUGE mental battle, and you have to force yourself to change your habits. I've been banded about 4 months, and I've had a good size fill and my hunger is gone. Do I still eat too much on occasion? YES. Even if I'm not hungry, it's a constant battle with my mind whether to eat or not. I would say if you are a grazer.. make your meals small, and allow for Snacks, for me I like 3 good size meals I do about 300 for Breakfast, 350 for lunch, 350-400 for dinner and about a 150 calorie snack somewhere in there. The band controls my hunger so I don't really feel the need to snack that much. If you snack a lot make your meals smaller so you have the calories available to you

You never know what will be the right spot for you. Listen to your body and when you can go 4-5 hours without being hungry then you are good. Don't look for "restriction" and for it to stop you from eating, because that won't happen.

The band doesn't stop you from eating and it never will. There is a hole, and food will pass through. Regardless you still need to follow a 900-1200 calorie diet to lose weight. That is simple math. I can eat anything I want, and fairly large portions, but I don't because I won't lose weight. The band should control your hunger level.. but it won't stop you from putting food in your mouth. Yea, it's possible there is another problem, but it also seems like you aren't following the rules. I agree with fluffy, I'm not hungry, so I don't feel like I need more Fluid in my band.

Leslie Sansone Walk at Home! I love those. I did 2 miles this morning. It's easy enough for someone larger, not a lot of stress on the body, but it's still a good workout. You can watch some of them free here: http://www.exerciset...=leslie-sansone (or plenty of others you can watch there) or I found them on ExerciseTV on demand (on Time Warner Cable) Also I've been doing the 30 Day Shred from Jillian Michaels, it REALLY kicks your ass if you can handle it haha. It's about 25 minutes, and it's a lot of impact, jumping jacks, push ups... etc but it's a really good work out in a short amount of time. Aha I actually wanna get the Richard Simmons ones! He actually teaches classes around here, I so wanna go

Healthy diet is 900-1200 calories a day.. I know you are fairly early on and may not be able to eat so much, but I'd up it a little bit and see if that helps. Remember this is your new life, it's not as much a "diet" don't starve yourself, eat a good regular, healthy diet.

Yea eat more just fill yourself up with healthier choices. Like, I wouldn't be satisfied eating 1 taco.. or 1/2 cup of Pasta. So I fill up on things that are lower calories. I'd rather have 4 turkey meatballs with sauce and cheese, than 1/2 cup of pasta.. Then I don't feel deprived. I also find low calorie substitutes for unhealthy things, like a bite size sugar free candy bar, instead of a big one. Or fat free frozen yogurt (it's a california thing lol), instead of ice cream. Or a pre-portioned Lean Cuisine pizza instead of slices of pizza from a restaurant. I still eat everything, but I do watch what goes in. If it's too bad for me, I usually don't want it! No food is as good as skinny feels

I'm doubting that is what she eats.. she's only lost 50lbs in 6 months. I'm sure if would be much higher if that is all she ate @ElfiePoo Yea to each their own, if they wanna do it fine. I don't see any harm in it. I just feel like it's a HUGE expense and a lot of work to lose 50lbs.

Ok I watched it. I I both agree and disagree with what was shown.. While, if you only need to lose 40-50lbs I don't understand why you would go through major surgery and spend the money. That's like $500 a pound.. But, seems to me, from reading this board for a few months a lot of people only lose 40-50lbs with the lapband then they kinda stall out. So maybe it is a good option if you have less to lose. I wish I could have done it when I was a little smaller (but I never had, and still don't have co-morbidies, even when I was 300lbs), but I think it's a bit ridiculous to do it to lose 40lbs. Especially because of the amount of work you still have to put into it to lose the weight. Also I didn't like how they portrayed the food... I would hope the lady that was 6 months out isn't eating 5 tablespoons of yogurt for lunch..I think they just worded everything wrong. Clearly that is what the liquid diet is for 2 WEEKS. It's not accurate to say you'd be satisfied eating that... also not accurate to say if you have another tablespoon of yogurt you'd puke LOL