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The idea of this may be a nightmare for many of you, but it may actually work for me. However, it isn't something you hear often. I have been having hunger pains since day 4 after surgery. As a matter of fact, its the first time in 15 years my metabolism has been right. I normally only ate one really large meal once a day and wasn't hungry the rest of the day so my body never wanted to lose weight because it was convinced I was going to starve it and held on to every bit of fat I ate. On day 4, every 4 hours or so I would get this PAINFUL feeling in my stomach, that after about 3 days I figured out was actually hunger! This may work because I am an A type personality that will forgo food for work that needs to be done but if this keeps up I will drop everything every 4 hours to get a few bites of food. Does this happen to anyone else? Like I said, this may not work for everyone, but it might be very beneficial for me. I had just never heard of it before.

Here's the background data. I took an early retirement package from my employer at the end of December of 2011. They were having some tough times financially and wanted to reduce costs - so when they offered the package, I accepted it. I took a gamble on myself and my skills being marketable in the bad economy. Not a fun time to be in the job market. For those of you who haven't looked for a job recently - it is completely different than it was even two years ago. If you don't know how to use social media, have a great "content-rich" resume, and are willing to network almost continuously, you are going to have a difficult finding a new job. I am 55 years old, and am competing with "kids" half my age and willing to take less money than me for the very same job. Here's the NSV - I received four job offers! The first was about 3 weeks ago, for a contract position - which I accepted. That seemed to bring all sorts of other good things my way. I received three additional job offers in the last ten days. All three of them were good offers for permanent positions (if any jobs these days are really "permanent"). I had the amazing task of deciding which one was the one I wanted - because I would have accepted any one of the three. I did a little negotiating with the companies - to maximize the offers - and picked the winner. I resigned from my contract job, accepted the job I decided on, and told the other two companies, "no thanks". I think the fact that I had successfully lost 100+ pounds and am a "normal" weight both really helped me have a successfull job search. I believe the confidence boost I got from having beat my personal demon carried over into my interviews. I know people looked at me differently during the interview process at a size 12 petite than they would have at a size 26W. I didn't have to worry about hiring managers or human resource people worrying about the costs of insuring an obese person. I think I look younger than I did 100+ pounds ago - and younger is definately better in today's job market. It is going to be nice at the new company to just be known as "Sharon - the new woman" rather than "Sharon - the fat woman who is new". I look forward to planning what I will be wearing the first week of work! Sharon

Hi, I'm new to this sight. I finally got approved after 1 year and several appeals later. (Thanks to Obesity Law.com) my surgery date is July 23 @ Holzer Weight Loss Center Gallipolis Ohio.I'm really excited and nervous at the same time.:smile2: I start my pre opt diet on July 9th wish me luck with that.

What a wonderful tool to be able to chat with people of the same sitution. Thanks for your concerns and goodluck on the weight loss....love your chart

I have done Weight Watchers more times than I can count and always gained the weight back. So, I feel like I will stick with WW online and my band (5/13/08 banded). I am avoiding carbs as my nutritionist seems to be pushing me in that direction. So, I think WW was always good for staying on track - although my protein requirements are much higher now than they ever were!

Hi there - I sooooo understand. I was banded on 12/21/07 and I didn't see more than an 8 pound weight loss until after March! That was almost more than 3 months!! Talk about depressed. I paid out of pocket for the procedure and I kept thinking that I totally wasted my money! But it did start coming off after my 5th or 6th fill - yes, it took that long! I read all these posts and others banded at the same time as me seem to be losing so much more so much quicker, but I keep trucking along. When I was struggling at the beginning I didn't read as many posts because they were depressing to me in my situation. Let's face it, they still are!! My average loss is far behind some of my peers on this site. I don't post often, but I had to let you know you are NOT alone! Hovever, my loss averages out to 1 pound a week. Which is just about where you are too. Hang in there!

:crying:HELP!! not loosing weight at all !!am still stuck there!! lost so far 7 lb ONLY!!!! is the band not suitable for me ???

I'm right there with you, I was banded on 4/29 and have lost 8.5lbs since surgery. I went today for my 1st fill and the doc put 4cc in. I asked him while I was there if my weight loss was normal, and he said yes average is 1-2 a week and that's about where I am. He said some people do loose more faster but not everyone and to not be discouraged. He said he is very happy with my progress and my fill should help with curbing my hunger and come back in 2 weeks. I really understand your frustration and concern, but when I get a little upset that I'm not 20lbs lighter already, I just think 1 i'm still 8lbs lighter. 2 I'm loosing not gaining and that is exciting, and 3rd and finally, if I continue with 1.5 lbs a week I'll have lost 78lbs by 1yr and thats incredible. So although it may not be coming off as fast as we want it to, the scale is still going down and that all I wanted. best of luck

I was sleeved 1/14 and steadily lost until this week, the dreaded 3rd week stall. I went from my start weight if 287 to 234 and I've stopped. Hoping it's just my turn at the stall!

Holy cow, today is my bandiversary. I’m just going to let my fingers do the walking and see where this story takes me, so try to stay with me if I get a little boring! On March 4th, 2009 I drove to my clinic with my mom so early that she had time to get McDonalds Breakfast. I was so glad the day had finally arrived, more than anything glad that pre-op was over and the medical issues I was going through weren’t stopping me from having surgery. I weighed 255lbs that day, down 15lbs from my highest weight of 270 which was recorded at my consultation for lap-band surgery, January 13th. What a year. I now weigh 90lbs less than I did when I started this journey at my consultation, 75bs less than when I had surgery. For those doing the math, that averages to just under 1.5lbs a week - slow losing IS STILL LOSING. That is probably my biggest piece of advice to remember, and surely advice I need to remind myself of. Even if you lose a small amount, week after week, when you don’t give up, those small numbers turn in to big ones. I had lost more most weeks I was on weight watchers. But I never stayed on a diet before. I was twenty-three years old when I had this surgery, and at that point was really wondering if I would ever be a normal weight. I had struggled with my weight since puberty, and could not remember a time past the age of seven where food wasn’t a crutch or a treat or a secret or a shame. I saw a nutritionist for the first time when I was seven years old, after all. To think that one year later, I’ve done it. Sure I am not at my ideal weight by my nor my doctor’s standards, I’m so freaking close. I’m close enough that I get to- Shop at any store Buy (overpriced) designer jeans from lines like Citizens of Humanity and JBrand Buy Hunter boots that fit over my calves... OK so there’s clearly a shopping theme here. I am fit. Or Phit, rather. I work out a minimum of eight hours a week, and I love every moment of it. I love that last night I did 144 push-ups - real perfect push ups. I couldn’t do five when I started seeing Julie in September. I struggle a lot still with loving my body - I struggle to see how different it is and how much closer to ideal than not it is. But after a workout, when my muscles burn and my hair is matted down with sweat, I love my body because it is strong and it is powerful. I didn’t start working out seriously until about six months post-op, for whatever reason it took that long for it to click with me. For those waiting for that moment, it will come, I truly believe that everyone can love exercise if they find the right workout, and in my lucky case, trainer for them. It is hard to say how much this surgery and losing weight has changed my life. In many ways I have not changed at all, and in others, I am becoming the person who I always hoped I could be. I am accomplishing the thing I knew I never could, and doing that is beyond empowering. I am more settled in myself, I can let my whole self just exist and not worry quite as much as to what I’m projecting. I am so grateful for the band... And so incredibly grateful to all of you for the support all my friends from my blog and here on LBT - I'd be lost without the support you’ve given me. I could never have come as far as I have without the support I get from my friends online, as well as a select few in my real life and my family. No one without the band can understand what we go through - the highs and the lows, the stucks to the the elation at experiencing a huge NSV. I have come so far in my first year with the band, and am so grateful that I get to spend the rest of my life with it. Lots and lots of love to you all, I’ll speak to you when I come back from Mexico with lots of pictures to share!

Try some shrimp or crab meat. Scallops are great and yummy! Find some more savory soups. Do you have a Whole Foods by you? They have some fantastic soups there that will make you happy happy happy! Don't eat the carbs!! They will slow your weight loss down and you have worked so hard! Go to www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com she has some wonderful foods on there also on pintrest you can find some other stuff. Google high protein recipes there is a wealth of recipes out there. Make some egg muffins those are terrific also!

I took advantage of the chance to lose some preop weight and I did! I stopped sugar and carbs months preop and I glad I did. It eased me into the small quality of food we can eat postop instead of having to go cold turkey.

I ate a lot of favorites two weeks prior to surgery, but also knew that I had to drop some lbs. I was told that my doctor would be very displeased if I gained, and he is no bul!$. It was a balancing act to enjoy some things while not going crazy. Food had such control over my life that I couldn't reconcile limiting access to it. At the same time I was giving myself some tough love going through with the surgery. It was a leap of faith. You are the only one putting things in your mouth. That doesn't mean to be forever perfect, just make much better choices most of the time. I'll be going into my 6 th week and it is ok. I have yet to shed a single tear over food. What is challenging is working on the mental and emotional aspects of an addiction to food. I'm learning and growing and everything will be alright. It will be for you, too as you develop and work towards targets and goals. Be good to yourself in the process by thinking about what you are eating and why. For me, the further away from simple carbs I got, the easier the process became. Carbs are my crack.

I'm wondering if anyone would share their experience regarding the follow-up appointment they had one month after surgery. I am getting anxious because I lost a significant amount of weight in the week leading up to the surgery and the two weeks after as I was taking in mostly liquids and very few calories those weeks. I have definitely kept portions much smaller for the most part, but I still find myself hungry (I call it "real meal" hungry) at least once a day. For example, I can eat an egg or a protein shake for breakfast and a can of tuna for lunch, but by dinner I'm having a harder time controlling portions. With this pattern I've put on most of the initial weight I lost while I was on liquids. I'm only down a net of 2 pounds. My doctor doesn't put anything in the band until 2 months out from surgery. I know weightloss is supposed to be slow and steady, but I'm kinda worried that they will be condescending about such a small number. I'm also concerned about having another month where I'm not supposed to eat more than 1/2 a cup of food 3 times a day with no snacking when the band hasn't been restricted at all yet. At any rate, I'd love to hear from anyone willing to share their experience.

:D :scared: :scared: Yep, I still Love my band.... ;) BUT, now I am learning more and more about it, like I just learned that while eating andd I hic-up that means to STOP eating cause the next bite will be too much and then it gets tough (slime-pain-ugly) very educational for me. Now I am beginning to deal with the fact that I can eat more than I used to in the beginning but I need to fill that space with GOOD FOOD and NOT JUNK, more education. Although I have not lost any more weight I have lost inches and as long as I am not gaining I really am fine for now. It's almost Christmas so here we go again on the food merry go round hopefully I can do the right thing. Merry Christmas to All...... 315/281/210

WOW that is GREAT! Looks like you are on your way. Sounds to me like you are trying really hard and you have your mind right where it needs to be. I was banded in Dec. of 09' best thing i have ever done. I have had a few bumps along the way . For now Im happy with it and would do it 1000 times again if needed. During the pre op diet I lost 23 lbs. It was awesome!!! On my one year anniversary I was at a 100 lbs lost!! Was feeling really good at this point . When i started this journey i was at a woppin 268 lbs. a size 26 pants. could wear a 24 but the 26 gave me breathing room if ya know what i mean.? At 168 and wearing a size 10 jeans I felt soooo good about myself. made sure i got those full body photo shots. lol.... Up until this year around the end of April early May I started getting sick. SICK because of my choices not the band. Started eating spicy foods just could get enough of it. Mean while i didnt know what i was doing to my stomach. Had to get unfilled because my stomach was inflamed really bad. Couldnt keep nothing down. Very Very disappointing to me. BUT I had to keep in mind that I DID IT TO MYSELF. I made poor choices. Well after waiting 4 1/2 months and gaining 22lbs back i went to get a fill. While there i find out that my port has done a 90 degree flip, ugh! after seeing a few drs. and finding out that it can be fixed and getting a fill IM BACK ON TRACK!!! Went on last friday and have lost 3lbs already. I didnt tell you all of this to scare you I just want you to make good choices and I know you will. you will do just fine! Keep us posted and post lots of pics. Look me up if you ever need to talk. Holla~

I had the exact same thing. It lasted 2 weeks and I actually gained weight! Don't stress - its normal and to do with the fluid in your glycogen cells. You will come out the other side. It's just frustrating at the time.

Unless I read your post wrong, you are saying you lost 102 pounds since March? If that is the case then a stall in July is not a bad thing. Your body needs to catch up to all of that weight loss. Hang in there and stay away from the scale for a few weeks. I have not had my surgery yet but stalls appear to be a common topic and they typically do not last long. Maybe switch up your exercise a bit. Congratulations!

My 2 cents is to start excersising if you haven't already. Start out slow and gradually increase your intensity/duration. It has so many benefits, just one being weight loss. You can do this!

Well almost a year ago I was going to a weight doctor, they put me on Phentramene, and the HCG pregnancy hormone shot, but prior to that they tested my metabolism, which, they said it was normal. So, you would think that with all the diets Ive tried, why havent I had success? I didnt eat a lot. Dunno. But, have any of you ever had your metabolism tested? If so what were the results, mine was of course as I said before NORMAL...

hi, i had the breathing test a while back and my metabolism was 20% less effective than it should be. i have also had testing for insulin resistance - which i recommend for anyone having trouble losing weight! it's a glucose tolerance test (3-4 hours) where they also measure insulin levels each time they measure glucose. my dr. didn't know about this (neither did the lab techs but they did it) but my nutritionist recommended it and i have high insulin resistance - which makes you gain fat from foods that are normally used for energy and makes it hard to lose fat. the good news on that is i've read that weight loss surgery (lap-band included) can improve insulin resistance by up to 70%! which will make weight loss easier. do a google on it to find out more -it's not as well known as i think it should be but it's a real metabolic condition - your metabolism is broken if you have this. there are many theories as to how you get this (high carb diet, heredity, who knows). this can be called (or is part of) sydrome x or pre-diabetes sometimes too.

I DID IT! After a week of eating raw fruits and veggies i lost the proper weight and today my paper work will be submitted to Aetna for final approval

3 months post op and right now I'm avg 4 pounds lost a week! I've only had 1 fill. I'm keeping my portions small as I can & choosing the right food with no cheating. (Except a little at Xmas). Walking on treadmill twice a day. Lost over 60 lbs including preop diet! People think the band deserves all the credit, like if you get the band you're automatically gonna lose weight. It's give me the help I needed to do this but I'm working hard & making good food choices. I'm thankful for the band but giving myself some credit for my hard work & sacrifice.

I was sleeved on 12/07/16. My heavy weight was 362 lbs. I was down to 357 lbs when starting my pre op diet. This morning my scales showed 326.9 lbs. With total weight loss of 35.1 lbs. I'm worried I'm not losing enough for being four days shy of one month post op. Anyone else feeling this way? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App