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I was an evening smacker while I watched TV. Since I no longer snack (3 meals and one Protein shake per day), I spend less time watching TV in the evening. I tend to play on my computer more and read. During the day I actually spend more time eating. Before retraining, I was a fast eater, often gulping down Breakfast and lunch in 5 minutes or so and finishing dinner in about 10. Now I spend 30 minutes on lunch and dinner and about 15 on breakfast. Lynda

.... that's what i was gonna say,@dklentz01983 - that's what I did; gained 10 lbs....

Ive looked and looked and haven't seen anyone post this problem so here goes.... I was banded 10-15-08 and since banding almost everytime I eat I get pains in the pit of my stomach like ulcer pains. sometimes I can breathe through it and keep the food down, other times I have no choice but to vomit, I have asked everyone I work with that has been banded and no one has had pain in the pit of their stomach with the band its always been chest or throat pain. Well tonight as we were watching fireworks and I had the most severe lower abdominal pain (low like belly button area/lower intestines) that encompassed my entire lower belly and into and around to my lower back, we walked a mile and half just prior to this and it started hurting when I stopped walking, as I was standing there watching the fireworks in pain I literally passed out and my husband caught me before I fell to the ground. When I came to it was weird, the pain was gone and I felt better. Since then I have been able to drink water fast, drank a can of diet soda with no burping ( I drank this to see if my band was still there because usually I cant drink soda AT ALL) and have been able to eat a hot dog on a bun....Im concerned now....do you suppose my band eroded, or do you suppose it came apart and thats where the pain was coming from? there was absolutely no pain at the port site or band site when I was experiencing the severe pain before I passed out and not pain now, it was all lower intestinal pain and low back pain. I am intending to call my doctor on monday I was just curious if anyone else has ever experienced this. Im completely dumbfounded. I feel great now but am very worried about something being wrong with my band now. I have lost 53 pounds since placement of the band. Help?

I'm 4 days post. But a lot better, I get it every now and then just sipping Water. But the real pain after the surgery lasted about 10 hours. I walked about 5x in that 10hrs. It helped a lot.

I went in for my consultation with my surgeon after being approved from insurance for sleeve today. Having been elated for being approved, I was also hit with news other gastrointestinal experts couldn't figure out. I've had upper GIs in the past...a scope..etc..as I've had serious stomach issues these past 10 years. The doctors told me..it's just heartburn, or ulcers..etc.. My surgeon took a look at my upper GI scans and said...has anyone ever told you that you have a lazy stomach? You must experience a lot of nausea and distention from what I see here.. I almost fell off the table...seriously!?!? So turns out..the sleeve is a remedy for this problem!!!! I'm so happy!!! Soo wishing I would have done this years ago!!

I REALLY like the responses from heartfire..CLASSIC! The bottom line for me is, NOBODY on this EARTH (except for my new life friends here on LPT) knows what I'm going through, what I've gone through, or what lies ahead for me. ONLY I know that. While some may be well meaning, I honestly just reply that this is a personal decision I made for many reasons that I don't need to discuss. I am SOOOOO happy with my band I cannot tell you. I was SO much like you in so many ways it's scary! I was 255, lost down to 163 (I'm 5'6 so 163 looks very good on me :rolleyes2:). Then people would see my "before" pics and say, OMG, that looks nothing like you (and it truly didn't). However, once I gained all that weight back + 10 (thank you to my 2 wonderful boys and overindulgent husband, and yeah, ok, I was lazy and ate like crap too :scared2:) no one said anything. They almost "helped" me live in my fantasy world of, "I still look good" (which trust me, I did not!). Suffice it to say that the people in our life we consider friends and even our family cannot possibly know what we've done and why. So I politely, yet firmly, ask them not to comment. Or if they do, I tell them why I found that remark offensive and it has opened more than an eye or two. Live by my motto..."Do what's best for you and screw the rest" :scared2:

Isn't it a great feeling?!?! Today I am wearing a blouse that a friend gave me before I had my surgery. Well, at the time - and for many months after - I couldn't even get close to buttoning it. And here I am today, wearing it proudly with slacks that are 10 sizes smaller than when I started this journey. YAY bandsters!! Congratulations!

Dear Community, This is a brief account of my surgery experience and first weeks after. I am 54, need to lose about 100 pounds, and researched this procedure thoroughly beforehand. My surgery date was 5/9. I just want to say that overall, it was (surprisingly!) much easier than I expected. I did NOT have a great deal of pain or discomfort, nor am I finding the post-sleeve eating and other routines to be that difficult. I'm so happy to have done this. As with most people, having bariatric surgery certainly WAS NOT my first choice! In fact, I was a bit shocked and insulted when my PCP suggested it to me 4 years ago. But since then (2009), having lost about 50 pounds and regained it TWICE -- and having developed some serious health issues -- I realized this had to happen. It did take a while to get my family on board. Since I've already told my "pre" story, I won't go in to all that -- you can read my earlier post. But suffice to say, I went in to this with "eyes wide open." I prepared an advance directive and a living will, too. It was difficult for me to know how to respond when the nurse, nutritionist, or someone else would say, "Are you excited about your surgery?" Well, no. I'm actually pretty scared. This is a desperation move, not something I'm doing for "fun." The pre-op "liver shrinking diet" was difficult for me, but I followed it pretty closely and worked at being in the best possible shape. My heaviest weight was about 255. I lost around 12 pounds in the 3 months it took to get prepared and "approved" for the procedure -- about 4 of that the last week. By the time May 9 rolled around, I was very happy the wait was over. Here are a few things I'd like to share about my experience: 1 - The doctor fixed a hiatal hernia I didn't know I had, which made the surgery a bit longer. That was something nobody had prepared me for ahead of time. Luckily for me, I didn't have much pain or trouble as a result of that secondary (necessary) procedure. A little chest ache was all. 2 - I was DYING of thirst every moment from the time I woke up until about 9 days after the surgery. Sipping ice Water was no problem for me, whatsoever. I asked for water in the recovery room -- they gave me ice chips. I had no problem swallowing water the night of the surgery, and icy cold water felt best. 3 - The only really "bad" moment was when I first woke up from surgery. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Also, I was discombobulated -- the clock said 3:30! My surgery had been scheduled for 10 a.m. but started late. Still, it seemed really late when I woke up. 4 - I felt stupid having my own pajamas and all these toiletries in the hospital. I used NONE of it. I was in a gown, and they wouldn't let me change out of it. My bathrobe did come in handy though, for covering my hind quarters as I walked around the floor. They brought me to my room around 4:30 p.m. They got me up to walk at 3 a.m., and I was discharged at 3:30 p.m. the next day. I had an upper GI exam that morning and also needed to be able to urinate and drink before I could leave. No problem. Was VERY glad to get that JP drain pulled and IVs out. 5 - When I got home, I didn't know what to do with myself. I was pretty spaced out. I wandered around the house a bit. My stomach was very swollen. I looked like a pregnant woman who had been in a knife fight. Spent a lot of time the first couple days drinking water and taking short walks and napping. By the third day, I was able to take a 15-minute walk outside with my dog. 6 - Someone told me it's best not to weigh yourself for the first couple days. That's good advice. I couldn't resist and felt very glum when I noticed up was UP six pounds three days after the surgery. I said to my husband, "Do you think I'll really lose weight with this? Or will I just stay fat or even get fatter?" He said, "Well, if you get fatter, they'll be marketing you to third world countries, because that's just not logical." (I had taken in a total of about 500 calories in the first 3 days!) 7 - At my two-week checkup, I had lost 17 pounds. I think about 15 of it was post-surgical. I lost about a pound a day for the first 2 weeks. The third week (last week), I had lost another 4 pounds. My policy is, I weigh myself on Thursdays. 8 - I was incredibly happy to get off the "liquid diet" phase. Those Meal Replacement shakes were starting to make me ill. They get OLD. The best thing I had during the liquid phase was cream of chicken Soup jazzed with non-flavored Protein powder and mixed with some homemade chicken broth. I'm REALLY glad I made homemade chicken broth and froze it in 8-oz containers prior to the surgery. It came in really handy. 9 - My husband has been so supportive. He says I already look a lot better, and I think that's true, too. I'm even moving better (already!) -- more lively and energetic. I know I'm lucky to have time to adjust to this. I am a college teacher and don't teach during the summers. 10 - I didn't know I would have to inject myself with blood thinners for 14 days. That was unpleasant. I did get used to doing it, though. I found it easiest to do when I first woke up, and I would just lie on my bed and give myself the shot in my stomach. They also prescribed anti-nausea medicine and hydrocodone for pain. It was difficult to turn over or sleep on my side for the first 4 nights or so; but the pain wasn't bad. After about a week, I didn't feel like I needed any pain meds. (I stopped taking them during the day after about 3 days.) 11 - I bought a mortar and pestle yesterday to grind up the Calcium citrate tablets. It just seems ridiculous, to me, to spend up to 20 cents per pill for chewable calcium, when you have to take so much of it -- it was costing about $1.20 a day just for calcium chews. Now, I pulverize the hard tablets and put them in applesauce. 12 - I've eaten a couple things that made me instantly sick -- things with too much "texture." It's taught me that it's really best to follow the doctor's guidelines. Not fun throwing up. 13 - I drink about 6 oz. of coffee in the morning. My doctor's office says it's OK, and it makes my life happier! 14 - My next BIG GOAL is for the first digit of my weight to be a "1," which is something that happened briefly in 2008, during my "diet pill" attempt. I have about 20 pounds to go before that happens. 15 - This is weird and different for me. The thing I like best is not being very hungry, and also feeling full after eating about 3/4 cup of food. But it's a big adjustment, because prior to this, I was a bulk eater and a snacker. I know the new reality will have its challenges. 16 - My fear is that I'll eat small amounts too often and stretch my stomach or just take in too many calories. I have to be very vigilant in avoiding Snacks. Since this surgery cost me a LOT of money, I'm just going to think of that bill every time I'm tempted to snack. 18 - I am finding it difficult to get 60 grams of protein a day in and for now am simply doing the best I can. (40-50) I know I could add a Protein shake at around 4 p.m., but quite honestly, I'm so turned off now by the thought of those shakes (after almost 4 weeks of drinking Boost, Glucerna, and Ensure!) that it makes me nauseous even thinking about it. I do have unjury powder when I need it -- chocolate and unflavored. 19 - I've been going to bed kind of early and also napping/reading some in the afternoons. Maybe I'm lazy, but I feel like I need time to heal, and I tire a bit more easily than before. 20 - Overall, I'm THRILLED with the progress so far. It's hard to be patient sometimes -- you want everything to happen at once! But I had a lot of fears of the unknown, and my experience was really not bad at all. Most of my recovery and first weeks have been smooth sailing. Thanks for listening. I just wanted to share that it's been really good so far for me.

I think I see your problem: YOU'RE GRAZING … I am snacking between meals YOU'RE EATING TOO LITTLE Protein … I don't eat meat..and after surgery I had a lot of Protein shakes to keep my protein up, but thats also stopped too. I do eat fish and chicken but not that often. YOU'RE NOT EXERCISING … I had started exercising … but fell off the wagon, so currently do not do any form of exercise …. YOU'RE NOT TAKING YOUR Vitamins … I've also stopped taking Vitamins …. YOU'RE EATING SLIDER FOODS AND SELF-MEDICATING WITH food … I've been under a lot of stress lately and have reverted back to my comfort eating Every single person who does what you're doing now will not lose weight. And most people who do all that will gain weight. You didn’t eat like this when you were post-op in months 1-6. And that’s when you lost weight. Instead of doing something unusual, why can’t you just go back to WLS basics? Eat at least 80 grams protein daily. Eat protein first at every meal. Eat 3 meals a day. Drink 60-70 ounces of Water daily. Do not drink before (15 minutes), during or after meals (30 minutes). Chew your food fully and wait between bites – to eat more slowly. Take your vitamins daily. Move more than you’re moving now, e.g., buy a Fitbit and get in 10,000 steps a day. Do all those other things you knew you were supposed to do right after WLS. I have lost 100 pounds and kept it off for a year now. I didn’t do anything wild or weird or crazy. I just did the basics. And I’ve kept on doing them. Oh, and since my WLS 19 months ago I’ve had four deaths in the family and my husband now has cancer. S**t happens to us all. We can’t avoid it. IMHO, we should just plan on it happening and accept it. What we can do is do what we can – which is make every day the best day we can. P.S. I have used (and still use) My Fitness Pal. It's a great tool. You don't need a special WLS app -- just go back to basics and log all your food and drink.

I'm finding that I'm at a smaller size at a higher weight this time around, too. It doesn't make any sense to me because I'm really not exercising as much as I should (yes, yes - I know...things are being revamped here, shortly). So I have no explanation whatsoever as to why I'm in a 10 now at 169 when the last time I was this weight back in 2002, I was like a 12/14.

ditto to the previous post. I will say the closer you get to goal, even though its hard to lose a pound, every pound makes a huge different. 2 or 3 lbs can sometimes make me go into a whole size downward. Remember when it took 10 to 20 pounds to go down a size? So keep you head up, even though it takes longer to lose lbs, it makes a bigger difference now. We're about the same size I think, not sure how tall you are, but I'm 5'5 1/2 and weighing in at 167. Last night I was at Bass Pro Shop and decided to try on these pants, guess what size I fit into - 8!!!!! This was the first time I fit into an 8!!!!! Most of my clothes I buy I have to take a 10. But I believe another 5 lbs I will be buying a size 8! You will have to tweak your diet too, and up the exercise. Again, best wishes to you.

The good ones are expensive, because they have real training. Anyone can get certified by spending like $400, so most of the ones at gyms are complete crap and they make $10 an hour. You can lose on your own without a trainer. Depending on your weight it would be better to get your weight down first before really trying strenuous training.

well, it is done. I have the band and was not expecting as much pain as I ended up having, but it was not too bad. I found Dilaudid does nothing for me, and the Morphine just took the edge off. I went in to the hospital at 6:30am and was taken back to surgery at 8:30am. The nurse who prepped me and started my IV kept telling me how she had a friend who hated her band and wished she would have never gotten it. How she had had it for 4 months now and only lost 20 pounds. Then she emphasized how I may never be able to eat certain foods again. What a downer attitude to have to put up with right before surgery!!! She did not know I was a nurse and had researched the surgery and weighed all of the possible outcomes for over a year now. I looked over at my husband and he rolled his eyes at what she was saying. She should definatley not be the nusre prepping lap band patients. Anyways.... I was out of surgery by 12:30 and doing by swallow test by 1:30. Boy was that stuff nasty!! Worse than barium!! Everything looked a-okay and I had my pain somewhat controlled and was up and walking by 3:30pm. We left the hospital by 4:30pm and I just kind of camped out on the couch with lots of pillows that night. Going up the stairs to get the the bathroom was a challenge the first 2 trips, but now is fine. I am a nurse, so the hardest thing for me to do is ask for my husbands help. It is hard to be the receiver of care when you are used to being the caregiver. I have only had to take my liquid lorotab once so far today, at 9am...I am going to take a dose here in a minute though. I was taking it about every 4-6 hours around the clock the first day after surgery and the day of surgery. I will update more later. I took a shower today and that felt really good!! Hope everyone else is doing well!!

Health Alliance covers the lap band procedure. You have to go through a 6 month "I can change program" but as long as you meet all there criteria they approve! As this is the insurance that I have and my surgery date is scheduled for 4/22/10

Today is kind of discouraging though. Even though I only had three protein shakes, half cup of milk and 5 bites of sugar free pudding yesterday, I only lost half pound today. I see people on the board are losing at least 10 pounds each week on the post-op liquid diet. I have only lost 5.5 pounds for 6 days post-op.

dont feel that way. not everyone lose weight the same. where i lost 21 pound my first ten days, but i got freins that just lost 4-10 pounds in the sametime. so you are doing great. we didnt get over weight over night so its going to go away over night. are you drinking alot of Water if not try that. just sip on it all day long. you can also try eat sugar free popcicles and sugar free Jello. keep us posted

I was considering purchasing Tony Horton's 10 minute training program and was wondering if anyone has tried it. If you gave tried it let me know your thoughts. I am on my treadmill 30 minutes 5 days a week, but if I could get a better result in 10 that would be great.

I'm on one of those plans where you have to lose as much as you can for 6 months before you can get approved and then start the real pre op stuff. Anyway I'm about 8 - 9 weeks in on the plan which is low carb high protein and I'm really struggling. Not with food, the food is fine but the weight is not melting off like it should on a low carb plan. My doctor made some tweaks to my diet last week and I'm trying that now and it did help stop the slow climb I was having but my body seems not to want to go beyond 10 pounds loss. Now here is my real fear... if I'm struggling this much on a pretty liberal diet where I still get to eat all the things I like with the exception of highly processed foods, sweets, grains, bread. Which honestly I really don't miss at all.... what is it going to be like when I get to the real highly restrictive diet I'm expected to follow pre and post op? I don't know, I'm beginning to have doubts that maybe surgery won't help and all sorts of crazy thoughts like maybe something is just wrong with me. I swear I have not been cheating at all! Yet I've only loss about 10 pounds???? what is wrong with my body... sigh... The fear that I might go through surgery and nothing changes wakes me up in the middle of the night in a panic.....

Great that you scheduled a doctor appt. I would schedule with the surgeon who did your procedure since s/he knows what they did internally. It could be a pulled muscle, scar tissue, gall bladder or your bowels not emptying completely or something/nothing. Think positive, keep a diary of what you are feeling, eating, and doing. Take with you to the doctor so he can get a full understanding. Good luck. Had lapband surgery 10/12/16

I had a small fill 10 days ago. 1/2cc. Prior to that, I used to get stuck at least once a day, I tend to eat fast. Since this fill I have no resistence at all. I have gained 5lbs. I am so upset...........SHould I go back and do a couple days of liquids? Is the band leaking? call the doctor. can someone please help me. Thanks:sad_smile:

i've lost 9 pounds so far, but all week it has been crazy up and down by about 10 pounds due to all the swelling, and everything else...i know it feels like without eating or drinking much you should be 20 pounds down by now, but our bodies have to adjust. hang in there...they say the first 4 weeks are about healing and the rest is about losing....so try not to worry too much for now