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Honestly I'd think it would have to be a good bit of weight loss, unless you did something to make you lose it just around your stomach. Losing CAN cause the band to loosen, but as I understand it, it takes a few months (or more) not just 2 weeks. You're safest, though, to ask your surgeon. :ohmy:

It is totally normal to lose restriction within 2 weeks paticularly with you first couple fills because what happens is you have fat all around your stomache on the inside of you and that is some of the first fat to go so as you lose that fat surounding your stomache then the band gets looser because their was fat imbetween the stomach muscle and the band that is no longer their.

I had a first fill of 4.6 seven weeks after surgery. I felt alot of restriction the first few days. Now 2 weeks later the restriction has lessened. I do feel that less fills me up but I still have alot of head hunger. I'm hoping not to fill for a while but weight is slow.

With my first fill I could not tell the difference. My Dr. filled me with 3cc's, I just had my second fill with another 3cc's about two weeks ago and I can tell I have restrction. My lapband was done March 14, 08 and I have lost a total of Forty pounds. Starting weight was 354 pounds and I am at 314. Don't get discouraged it is a slow process but truly worth it. Best wishes in your journey!

Hey thanks and great job yeah usually on my off days of c25k i run the week befores interval just for fun. Great job and Ill def check that out!

I don't see why not but maybe you should try it for a short time, 15 mins or so and see how you feel. If your incisions are healed you are probably OK but you might want to ask your Dr. Just to be sure. pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4; 12 weeks post-op 274; 4 month post-op 266.2

Ok guys, I need some advice. Am I the only person on this earth who had a lapband and hasn't lost weight. I got banded July 3rd. After my surgery I lost weight maybe 3 lbs. quickly went into bandster hell where I gained 2 lbs. I had my first fill where I dropped an additional 8 lbs. at that point I was down 20 from where I started. Found out I was pregnant and gained 5 lbs! A second fill and miscarriage later my weight has not moved. My second fill did nothing for me after the second day. I am within the same 10 lbs I was on surgery day. What the heck is going on??? Some days I have absolutely no restriction???

Yep, mine "talks" to me after eating too, especially now that I've had my second fill (a week ago). It's sort of hilarious because my three-year old will pat my stomach and say, "Tummy?" and I say, "Yep, my tummy." I figure when she gets older she'll know what's going on, but for now she's just getting used to the fact that Mommy's tummy makes weird noises sometimes!

I've run into some family stuff (trying to help my parents get ready to move after pack-ratting in their home for 35 years- this is a HUGE HUGE HUGE job), and I haven't been able to get out for ANY runs in the last week!!! I can't see any runs coming up either....... I have a 10k race in a week and a half. Am I doomed??? on a side note, I jammed my shoulder the other day. How much impact do you figure it'll have on my running (if any)?

Hi, my husband had lap-band surgery a few weeks ago, and I have discovered that his surgery is greatly affecting me, too! I was just wondering anyone's thoughts on how the lap-band has changed their family life, particularly at the dinner table??

Remember you need good nutrition. I find it hard to believe you can consume the right enough of vitamins minerals and proteins on 600 calories a day even with suppliments. Your body does not burn efficiently on that few calories. You go into starvation mode. If you don't get enough protein your body will attack your muscle, which is dangerous. Your heart is a muscle. You really have to take in to consideration your own body's metabolism and how much you exercise. In the beginning, before I started at the gym I ate about 1000 calories a day. Since I now go to the gym 6 days a week for 2 hours I eat 1200 - 1300 and still lose about 2 lbs a week. Remember protein first. Good luck.

My surgeon is even more strict, I think. 1st week post-op was just Water, broth and diet Jello. I went to see him today (9 days after surgery) thinking that, yipee, I might be permitted some yogury or cottage cheese or creamy soups. But no. Not for me yet. At this point I may only add Protein drinks to my list. For another 3 weeks! And then, when I hit one month post-op, I am then allowed to add cottage cheese, ricotta cheese and yogurt. Nothing else. At 6 weeks I can add the following: string cheese, refried Beans, Soup (lentil, split pea, black bean, miso or egg drop, and tofu. And then, at week 7, I can add chicken turkey, fish and eggs. And all during this time, no caffeinated coffee. *sigh* On the upside, I've lost 19 pounds in 9 days!!

Thank you all for your encouraging words. I appreciate all of your comments and questions. pf337-I didn't have a set presurgery diet. My doc just said try to eat low cal/fat free for a couple weeks leading up to the surgery. I had written guidelines and sample diets for each phase after surgery. As for now, the written material I have simply says to eat 3 ounces of lean meat/protein with a couple tablespoons of vegetables and a couple tablespoons of starch to be eaten in the order of meat/vegetable/starch until completed or full. I can't eat everything so starches are few and far between. My only problem is that at work it is tempting to "grab and go" just whatever I can, so fighting the urge to eat whatever junk that is lying around is a battle I still face every day. WasABubbleButt-No, I didn't have a spinal. It wasn't even offered. I wouldn't have taken it anyway. I was given a spinal for my knee surgery(rugby injury) and had difficulty urinating for about two weeks. I came out of recovery at about noon and was making laps on the floor at 1:30 pm. I would have been out of recovery sooner but the dilaudid kicked my butt! The nurse kept reminding me to breathe deep until my O2 sat stayed up on its own. I was discharged the next morning at 10 am. I'm thankful everything went as well as it did.

I went in this afternoon my 2 week post-op appointment. My recovery has went smoothly up until yesterday when I noticed redness around my largest incision. Today it was even more red and started oozing this afternoon. So now I'm on a 5 day round of antibiotics. Hope it clears up soon! Good news is my doc was happy with my weight loss and moved me to pureed foods! Refried Beans never tasted so good!

Hi Everyone I just wanted to write a little post to say that on the few occasions that I've quickly popped my head into this forum, I've been impressed by the friendship and support that you're all showing each other -- and then quickly been stung with a little bit of guilt for a serious lack of effort on my part. My life has been crazy-busy recently, I've been in hospital twice in the past week after collapsing at work for some undetectable reason and my best friend has just had her husband walk out on her after he was kicked out of the police force (leaving her with an 8 month old baby, and a $500k mortgage - jerk!) so I have been spending a lot of time either feeling unwell, or trying to care for her - in between my very busy career! Alas, these are all still excuses which aren't good enough - having lap band surgery is a major event in my life that deserves my full attention, and it is going to be important to my success that I create a support network around me, not only through friends/family members, but also through you guys as YOU are also going through what I am going through, and the ability to share with each other will become invaluable. The support that I will find here if I invest my time in creating friendships will be so important, because I am single, I live alone, I am surrounded by males at work (I work in mining), my family are 1000kms away (and haven't even called to see how my pre-op diet is going!?!?), my best friend is being a jealous dick about the surgery and... well... I'm a pretty tough cookie, but I think I may just need this place to help get me through :-) So I am about to soon turn in for the night at the end of Day 5 of my pre-op diet, which means only 9 days to go until my surgery on 18th of August. I will do my best to find more time for you, to be supportive of you and to create friendships here!

I slept in a recliner the entire time in the hospital and for about 1.5 weeks after I returned home. Im a stomach sleeper so I completely understand. The doctor gave me Ambien to get me through that period because I could not sleep at all. I started slowly getting back on my stomach by using pillows to prop myself onto my side.

Hi Sherry, I know people have been very successful with either band. Your success will depend on how well you follow the rules of eating healthy, small portions, and exercise - these are the same for either Allergan band or Realize. I have the Realize band, banded on Dec 4th, and I have lost approx 31 pounds. I will soon be 67, and I know everyone worries about losing significant weight at my age. My doctor does both bands, and originally she offered either band to me. When it came time to make the decision, however, recommended the Realize for me. She says she has seen better results in people my age - not necessarily faster weight loss, but fewer problems with the ability to eat certain foods, fewer port problems. She also knows I am a computer oriented person and would make use of the website Realize offers. I will say I have had very good luck with this band. I am 3 1/2 months out - have lost 31 pounds. This is not esp fast weight loss, but fast is not what I am looking for. I am confident I will meet my goal, and I don't have to make it in the next 6 months! It has taken 3 fills for me to feel good restriction. 3cc, then 2cc, then 1cc - spaced 3-4 weeks apart. At 6cc for the last 2 weeks I feel nicely restricted, able to eat small portions with satisfaction. I have not had any issues with any particular food. I can eat salad vegetables, any meat, rice - all things some others have trouble with. I have avoided bread - tend to retain Water with carbs - but last week tried 1/2 sandwich on whole wheat bread. The bread tended to get stuck a little, so I probably will not have that bread again. I've had a few breads that have not been a problem. I like the website, have tracked my foods and exercise with it early on. It has good tips and an appointment reminder that are helpful. I confess I'm not using it much in the last several weeks, but I will keep up the weight and measurement charts. It is encouraging to see the inches go away... I think the process of applying the band is similar with either band. The port application is different with the Realize band, but that's one of the things my doctor likes about Realize. I will say the port area is painful for a longer time with Realize because of the way it attaches (as explained by the PA at surgeon's office). I still feel it if I bend over just right, but it is no longer painful. As I said above, I believe either band will work for you as long as you follow the guidelines of banding. I think Obesityhelp.com has a comparison article you might find helpful. You can be successful with either band.

So I finally decided to start my blog so I am able to journal about my journey to becoming fit and healthy. I start my liquid two week diet tomorrow! I am very excited to start the liquids only because I have been pigging out for the past two weeks and feel absolutely STUFFED! I know the next two weeks will fly by because I work the night shift and either I'm working or sleeping--- no time for eating...lol My surgery is scheduled for 7/17/12 @ 7am... as of now I am just totally excited about the surgery. The nervousness and anxiety hasn't kicked in yet. I have spent months reading about everyone's experiences on here and feel pretty prepared about the numerous outcomes. I know I am going to be successful at this because I want it way too bad to not be. I am starting pre-op at 5'6" and weighing 225. I am a confident person and have no problem with the way I look now, I just know I can look better and more fit. I'm very excited to get this weight off and start building more muscles. I want to be toned and athletic (really, me??!) YES ME! I hope to track my journey often and tune back in for more!

ok so had my fill and honestly it didnt hurt it was a weird feeling tho!!! lol for sure. Im so hungry!! i havent lost much since surgery and im having issues finding the right foods for me because im throwing up alot. i stay away from bread andpasta and anything sticky but it still sticks at times! Chicken has become my friend!!lol i go in next week for a fill its a definate NEED. i wanna loose more weight, working out only goes so far! wish me luck

I had my surgery on Nov 30th, I went in for a fill 2 weeks later, and when the PA put in my first fill, aparently my stomach swolle up, and I couldnt get water down, we had to remove the fluid to let the swelling go down. Trying to find my port has been just a crazy game, I get so sick to my stomach..cant find it. I went in for a refill this last Monday she dug around unable to find the port again OMG. I couldnt belive it not again. I am scheduled for a floroscopy Thursday. I guess I have been eating acting as I did before I decided to get the lapband or as I have always eaten my whole life...feeling like a failure. I have gained some weight back..I need something to happen soon. The PA told me we would have to add fluid to the band slow at first. What a crazy begining to a new year, and lap banding.

I have been banded since October 3rd, and everything has been rolling along smoothly...until recently. Last week I went snow shoeing and the next day my port area was bugging me. It felt like a dull ache; kind of like I had pulled something. It went away after a few days and I forgot about it. A few days ago the pain came back but it was a lot worse, and when I touched my port area it felt like my port was bulging out from under my skin. I have to admit that I really never touched my port before; I figured that if I just let it do it's thing we would get along just fine without getting too personal. I hate the idea of having to touch something foreign in my body. However due to the pain that I am in I have now been forced to explore my port and it feels like there is a big round lump under my skin. Is it suppose to be flat on top, or is it suppose to be round? I know this is so sad that I have to even ask this question, because I should know how it is suppose to feel! If anyone can shed some light on this I would sleep better tonigiht. Is it normal to have a dull ache around your port? I know my doctor did not stitch it down, so I can move it a bit with my fingers (side-to-side.)

My sleeve was January 19 and I've only lost 12 pounds though I lost 23 on the pre op. I gave up weighing every day for 2 weeks and I gained. I'm back to weighing every day. I think it makes me a little more accountable even if the fluctuations are tough to see. I was banded in 2008 and was not successful so yes I do have a lot of anxiety that this won't work for me. But I'm gonna keep at it.

Oh wow that's soon, I hope they can get mine done this week!

No stall if you diet right. I've lost 7-10 lbs every month since surgery because of my diet. I'm down 100lbs in 7 months! No stalls here.

i feel the same way. I was banded on 3/12/07. i feel very little restriction. I have had 2 fills, 6 weeks apart, for a total of 2.2 cc in a 10 cc band. I am getting disscouraged that this seems to be taking a long time to see any results. joan b reno