shues138

I'm on the same boat as you as well. I take it one day at a time. Yes, I get frustrated if I eat too much, but my doctor and I have decided that this year we are "going back to basics" and so far so good overall. Don't stress it (I should tell myself that) and take it one day at a time, and try to get some excercise in as well, even a few minutes because it helps!

checking in 223 down 2

Welcome....
I would only suggest....to be advised there are opinions here that range from the most negative to the most positive, and you have to learn to "Chew the meat and spit out the bones" so to speak.
It may take a while to discern those who just don't get it, and those who do.
Be careful of "Know It Alls" giving expert opinions when they are still newbies themselves and don't have a clue what they're talking about, only that is what they were told.
I only say this because there are people I know who have come here, and then, within time, have left!
Good Luck!

I'm five years post op and the worse scars are from my gall bladder surgery in September 2010, but the worse lap band scar is where the port is, and the surgeon puts the port where that the scar looks like a scar from having your appendix removed.
All and all the scars from the lap band surgery are barely noticable, my belly button scar from the gall bladder surgery on the other hand....smh

Okay here's an update, I saw my psychiatrist again and IryshGreene is right. He said I am bipolar. He started me on a mood stabilizer and my world is already a much happier calmer place:) I'm glad to have an answer and to be feeling decent for now.

I read your blog religiously it is such an inspiration! Thank you so much! I didn't know you were on these forums too, good to know

I use an Android app called Lose It. I use to track my calories and nutrients, but it also is helpful because it has a section called "my recipes". There you can enter in the ingredients one at a time and then it will figure out the calories, fat, Protein, carbs, etc. per serving for you. I've used it a couple times and it's a real help.

If i didnt call my insurance off i wouldnt know anything ....i called about once a week until i got my approval ......it seems like it takes forever to get that approval but once you do it seems like time flies by and befor you know its time for surgery .....good luck!!!

Yay for non scale victories! Today I was left to use the last towel in the closet, the one that no one likes to use. And you know it must be small if no one else wants to use it, considering I "WAS" the biggest one in the house! Well, today that towel wrapped around me and I was able to tuck it under my arm! WOO HOO! I am reaping the benefits of a new, healthy lifestyle. I am so thankful everyday for what the band has helped me achieve!

This will be my first weight loss challenge, so I'm going to give it a go!
Name, real or screen~ shues 138 (andrea)
Goal weight for Febuary 29th~ 285
Weight on Febuary 1st~ 295
Age~ 28 31(lol)
Dietary goal for Febuary~ Stay below 1000 calories/day
Exercise goal for Febuary~ At least 4 days a week
Personal goal for Febuary~ Not to go crazy lol
Date banded~ 1/26/2007
Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 27 lbs (fell off the wagon, back on again)
Do you have any Valentines day plans (How do you plan to handle Valentines dinner)~ Going for hibachi I think, which I usually take leftovers home for the next day.

So this is kind of a scale-non-scale-victory! Lol!!!

Your stomach internally is surrounded by fat as you lose weight ( internal fat ) the band losens and your stomach shrinks .. imagine a normal belt like on a dress or skirt, as u lose weight u need to put the belt on the next hole, same with the band u lose weight band losens and u need a fill to tighten it..

Was there ever a time that you felt everything was totally working correctly?
Comfortably in the Green Zone? If so, then you need to get it back.
When I feel things are starting to get a little out of hand, I go full liquids for a few days.
This is on my assumption I have stretched out my pouch a bit, and giving it a rest will let it contract.
It does work for me, usually extremely tight afterwards.
Also, and many people fail to mention this, that IF you are constantly eating small portions, over time, your primary stomach will shrink also, just as it stretched when we overate constantly.

Didn't your doctor warn you about that before your surgery? It's like the biggest NO NO of all the NO No's.

My routine is 6 day a week for 2 to 3 hours in the gym!
Sunday, Monday, Thurday & Friday (2 hours) 1 hour 30mins of Cardio ( Treadmill or PreCor machine) 30 mins of weight training (either upper or lower body) and abds
Tuesday & Saturday (3 hours) 1 hour 30mins of Cardio ( Treadmill or PreCor machine) 30 mins of weight training (either upper or lower body) and abds and 1 hour of Zumba
Wednesday OFF DAY
I started out going to the gym at 3 am. Now I am doing a evening routine and next month I will mix the two. Trying to not have my body get stuck in a really routine of doing thing, so that I do not plateau. Keep it confused and just when it think that I am on a routine I switch it up.
I am loving working out! I miss it on wednesday to be honest. But I know that my body need to reboot.

Beating the dead horse but yes the first fill unless it is massive (which is a bad thing personally) shouldnt really cause you any restriction. You want to do it slowly, you need to train yourself to eat right BEFORE you reach restriction for the best results. Because if not when you do hit restriction, you will possibly overeat and end up throwing up all the time which can make things worse.
REMEMBER: You didn't get this way overnight, it takes time and work.. RETRAIN. RETHINK. IMPROVE.

lillie this is very normal. the reason why you have no restriction is because after the surgery you are swollen so you feel some initial restriction but there is no saline in the band. I lost 6 lbs from the preop diet then in 4 weeks had only lost like 4 and 4 weeks after surgery i was eating like a champ. went to the dr got my first fill of 3 cc, didnt really notice any difference, was still eating like a champ, chinese meals, egg rolls pizza, no stuck episodes, nothing, went to the dr and he gave me another fill with 1 cc total of 4 cc in band, went 2 months through the holidays and still eating like a champ, trying to make better choices but still eating ALOT. went back to dr 2 weeks ago, he was not happy with mylack of progress over the holidays i had only lost 2 lbs in 2 months, he gave me my third fill another 1.5 cc with a total of 5.5 cc in my 10 cc band, I am now experiencing stuck episodes, smaller portions and no longer eating like a champ LOL I have to go slow, watch what i eat, no breads and i lost 4lbs last week. so dont get discouraged, it takes about 3-4 fills to get to your sweet spot where you actually feel restriction. you are moving along just fine, my dr told me the first 6 weeks after lapband is about healing not losing weight. a good surgeon will adjust you slowly to get you to where you need to be. you will get there, good luck.

How sweet:) Since you don't like it does that mean you are volunteering to clean it up?
I have 3 kids, one is a toddler that's always needing me and the other 2 are high strung and have ADHD. I'm also a full time college student. We own our own small business and my husband works 50-60 hours a week. I finished up my finals this past Friday and had just enough time to catch up on bare basics before my surgery day. One woman can only do so much by herself. SMDH at your manners.

ROFLOL.....WOW THAT'S IT???? I was scared for nothing...I felt nothing at all...he sprayed this really cold numbing stuff on my stomach and then he said "see, that didn't hurt now did it?" I was shocked b/c I didn't even know he had stuck the needle in. I mean i felt NOTHING>>>>no pinch, no sting, nothing....yea me...and he put in 3/12 cc's, sure hope i feel something...if not i go back in a month for more...the worst part is now i'm back on liquids for 2 days..that sucks.....