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hi fofo check these out Weight Loss Clinics - Healthier Weight Centres there is a number and email there and i am sure they will be able to help you out lisa

Hey there....only 7 days out and looking at my food intake. I'm getting about 2500mg of sodium a day, almost entirely from the soups I enjoy (blech to the low sodium!). This is around the rda...but certainly seems high compared to my caloric intake of about 400 calories a day. I'd anticipate it getting better when I move to mashies in about 2 weeks but don't want to slow weight loss in the meantime. Thoughts?

You're such an inspiration!!! You had such a rocky start post-op and you're doing so great!! Lymphedema is a tough tough disorder but every bit of weight you get off will help plus the more you lose the more active you'll be, which again helps the lymphedema. Keep up the great work lady, so very proud of you!!! HW 312, pre-op (lap-band) 294, pre-op (RNY) 255, surgery date 2/11/13, goal weight 154, current weight 225.8

I am at a loss to understand why I am not loosing weight with my band. I was banded 4/18/06 and went from 227.5 to 204lbs. During the 6 week waiting period before the first fill, I gained weight until I was back at 215lbs, which was what I weighed the day of surgery after the pre-op diet. I was so freaked out, I thought maybe my band was leaking because the amount in my band fluctuated between fill 1 and 2. I had no clue that my VG band required a greater fill and that air could have been displaced causing the dicrepancy, until I was Enlightened on this board. I got my first fill in Mexico and then got my last two fills in the states. Since my last fill in June, I have maintained my weight at 210 lbs. I am so frustrated. I PB daily. At times I feel tight and others I can eat like a horse. After talking to my doctor in Mexico, he would like me to return to his clinic and have an evaluation for possilbe band slip or pouch enlargement and if neither have occurred he recommends a complete unfill, let the stomach rest and start filling the band again. He thinks I am too tight. I honestly don't know what to do. I was banded with my mom and sister on the same day and my sister who has a regular size band has lost 60lbs in the 5 months since surgery. Any thoughts?

Chelley, If you are PBing daily, then you are too tight regardless whether it is a slip or not. Its possible you have a dilated pouch, but harder to do if you are PBing and not pouch packing. I had pouch dilatation, but was asymptomatic other than the ability to eat more and more. No reflux, barfing, etc.. That was my problem and it resolved once the Fluid was out for 4-6 weeks and the pouch and esophagus was allowed to relax.My band waas too tight. I love my band but it is work and requires significant post op care and diligence to follow the bandster rules of eating solid Protein first, then veggies, no drinking and eating with meals etc.. I dont know your day to day habits what kind of foods you eat, how much so its hard to say why your band is not working for you. Most people who are too tight have "soft food syndrome" start gravitating to soft comfort foods and then wonder why they are gaining or no longer losing. Maybe this is your issue?? Babs in TX

Getting a fill can cause swelling around your band. The liquid diet for two days is to give your system time for any swelling to go down. After that you may or may not feel some degree of restriction. It usually takes several fills before you'll notice dramatic differences, so don't be disappointed if you don't feel much of anything at this point. You also should be aware that the point of the band is not to achieve restriction in your eating. The point of fills in the band is to cause a dimming of your appetite, so you can use your common sense and willpower to prevent overeating. The band may limit the volume of food you can swallow at one time, but it won't stop you from overeating, or from making poor food choices. And liquids tend to go through the band very quickly, so the point of drinking Water at the surgeon's office was only to ensure you "could" swallow and process things. This article may help you put things into perspective: http://drsimpson.net...estriction.html It takes time for the band to get fine-tuned for your body, so try to be patient. Follow your doctor's orders, and let the process happen at its own pace. As has been said before, you ddn't gain this weight overnight, so you shouldn't expect to lose it overnight. Good luck! Dave

Congratulations! You have reached The Dreaded Week-3 Stall. It's perfectly normal, and just about all of us have suffered through it. You're not crazy, and your doctor didn't screw up. In fact, you might not lose any weight for two weeks or more. But don't worry -- after that, the weight will start falling off if you stick to your program. If you're interested, here's a good article that explains why it happens and why we all have to go through it. Hang in there. Pretty soon it'll be in the rear-view mirror and you'll be dropping weight again like crazy! (Apologies to BP regulars who have seen this repeatedly, but it's a big deal to those who are going through it!)

Have your surgery prior to your surgery- yo7 will be on weight restriction a minimum of 6 weeks after surgery.🎱🏆

I am 11 weeks post-op and just reached 40 pounds lost since my date of surgery weight. 60 pounds if you include pre-op diet. It seems like alot of videos and blogs say that at this time they have lost a good 20+ pounds more than me. Maybe I'm not doing all I could be? I do everything my surgeon has said. I'm just so afraid I'm not going to reach my goal weight in time. Im kinda wishing I should have had the duodenal switch.....they say it has greater weight loss outcomes, but there was no surgeon that performed that surgery here. Anyone else feel like its moving slow? And have you found any tips on maximizing weight loss. I have 100 pounds to go to not be " overweight". Any tips?

Yes only a week out and feel like other than residual surgical pain and the money it cost me the surgery did nothing. I'm hungry. Not head hunger. I don't like sweets. I hate milk products. No more protein shakes please. I want a nice salad. I was losing weight really well, now nothing. My rationale for the surgery was historically gaining it back. Now I just want a greek salad with fat free dressing and to return to losing 5 pounds a week.

My port has flipped, a little. My surgeon said he can still access the port, however. I do not have any pain. He said that the port might have turned when I had lost enough weight to make it too big and I might need a smaller port. So far, I have not needed further surgery, but I don't get fills anymore, either since then. Perhaps you do as Dawalsh did. Best wishes to you. Karen..aka.kll724

I don't know if it's the holidays or what but I'm getting no where fast. I have gained 3 pounds in the past 2 weeks, have plenty of things I cant tolerate but the things I can I feel like I can eat endlessly. I know I'm making crappy food choices and not really exersicing now that the cold weather is here. I just feel like I cant get out of my own way. What do you do to kick yourself in the butt and get it together?

Hi Jennifer - Yes you are worth it !!!:eek: I love my band for the great tool it is - I love me for doing the work that it take to lose the weight - I am 7 months out 76 lbs lighter. Feel 200% better and 10 yrs younger. I eat healthy 98% of the time - I exercise 3-5 days a week depending on my schedule - For me it hasn't been that hard - I went thru major surgery to get this tool - so my head is totally in the game - I know that I must make a lifetime lifestyle change in my eating and exercise habits - this is not a diet but a new way of life. It's not the magic cure to our issues with food but it is a geart tool to help control your portions. All you have to do is eat healthy and add exercise into your life and you will do great. For lunch had 1/2 soft taco - and brought my chilli relleno home for dinner - well guess what - I didn't want it -I wanted fish & veggies - so that's what I ate - I am no craving healthy foods .... Good Luck on your journey...

Love this thread... only a few places or people you can talk about things like this with. I met a new man around the time I hit goal weight and at first when we were intimate, I was really self concious -- only about my saggy stomach. I had a ton of stretch marks before surgery from pregnancies, so it's really the only place I have lots of sag and wrinkling/scarring. So, at first, it was lights out, or keeping a cami on... stuff like that. He never really asked about the weird eating habits (super small portions, picking through stuff on the plate for Protein, appetizers for meals and still taking home half). I think he just figured that's how I stayed at a slim, healthy weight. After dating for about 2 months, I told him about having surgery and losing over 70 pounds. He was like "Wow, good for you!" It was a total non-issue with him. He was a little shocked when I told him I had only had the surgery 7 months before. He thought it had been years. He asks me every now and then questions about before, like was I active then or able to hike/climb, stuff like that. I showed him a few before pictures and he was like "Wow, you look like a new woman -- a beautiful new woman". It stings a little when he says stuff like that because I know with him, he would not have been attracted to me. He's very fit and healthy and active and just doesn't go for heavier women. I don't judge him for that because it's just the way he feels but it still stings to remember how unattractive and undesirable I felt at my prior weight. You're right... horny men DON'T even notice a lot of our flaws. They certainly don't focus on flaws like we seem to meditate on. I read a dating blog and the guy frequently says no matter what you look like when you wake up, you're beautiful to us because you're waking up beside us. Good for you recognizing this and talking to your therapist to help overcome it. It may talk a while but maybe someday we can really feel that our "flaws" are just proof we're human and that we've done work to help us lead healthier lives... they are not just battle scars but victory scars!

I'm in the same boat as you Becca. I'm 6 months out and I can eat more. I have yet to stay the same or gain since I've had the surgery, and I really hope to not break that trend on Thanksgiving week. We are having Thanksgiving at my sister-in-laws, but my husband and I are cooking most of the dishes. I am making everything I usually make, but I will not be bringing chips and dip as I usually do. I am not going to eat everything from dinner. For example, I won't be wasting room on dinner rolls or mashed potatoes. For Breakfast, I will have my usually yogurt and a Soy Latte. At lunch I will eat the turkey liver and 1/4 cup of macaroni salad that I am making for dinner. Dinner is early in our family, around 3 p.m. I will have turkey with a bit of gravy, cranberry sauce, and a bite of stuffing. Later in the evening I will have a bite of pumpkin pie and maybe a piece of sees candy. I will be working out Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday Thanksgiving week. The next day for lunch and dinner, I will have turkey and a little something else, but not as much as on Thanksgiving. My goal is to eat Protein first, limit the bad foods to 1/4 cup or less of only my favorites, and to NOT GRAZE. If I limit the number of times I eat during the day, I will automagically have more portion control. Additional goals are to limit the indulgence to Thanksgiving and the day after and to work out as many days as I can that week. I'm looking forward to a fun family holiday. I'm toying with the idea of adding a new craft for the day: Maybe a little branch and a bunch of paper leaves. People write what they are grateful for on the leaves and then tape them to the tree. My family may find this too hokey. Other possibility is some little Christmas craft I can do with my nieces. They are in their late teens now, but sometimes still like to make a craft. Lynda

In researching VSG I came across an interesting explanation as to why some insurance plans cover weight loss surgery and others do not. I can't confirm the accuracy of this explanation but it sounds very plausible. There are generally two kinds of insurance plans: employer funded and commercial plans. Employer funded plans are used by many employers with more than 500 participants as it is more cost effective to fund their own plans. They will use an insurer to administer the plan, but since most of the funding comes from the employer they have a big say in what is covered (within lawful restrictions). Commercial plans are offered by insurers to the general public, or to smaller employers. They are funded by the insurance company through premiums and investment of their assets. The health plan, not the employer is on the hook for costs in this case. Many commercial plans do not cover WLS because they realize that their membership is very transient and change plans often. For example someone who is a member of a Blues plan this year is likely to be a UHC or Cigna member next year. Health plans understand the long term healthcare cost savings of WLS but do not want to spend their dollars today to generate savings that will help out the plans the member will participate in 5 or 10 years down the road. Many employer plans take a longer view of this situation, realizing that as long as you are employed with them they will have responsibility for your healthcare costs, and thus are more likely to pay for WLS as a long term investment in your health. So when a health plan denies coverage or publishes a specific exclusion, they may not be stupid, just focused on their short term financials.

Here is a little nsv I had recently. Hope its not to personal. I was in a scooter vs car accident on March 10th so I am recovering from a pelvis fracture. A couple days ago I was given the go ahead to be able to go to bathroom alone. If you have never been there you have no idea how exciting that is.I am sitting on the toilet and finished my business when I realized I have always been a reach through wiper, arms to short or butt too big. Due to limitations on how I can move there was no way I could. I set and pondered this for a bit. I didn't want to call for help. I finally decided I was going to try reaching around and what do you know my arms must have gained at least 4in in the last couple years. Now the funny part of this is I have been able to do this for awhile because I have been on a plateau for well over 6 months, holding steady at 200-210. I had just never tried. Lol. One of the first things I thought of after the crash, while still laying on the pavement, and keep thinking of is how much harder this whole thing would be 150 pounds ago. Not only on me and my recovery but on the awesome people taking care of me.

Hi Ruthie, not everyone loses weight during the liquid phase, although many do. Don't panic!

I'm a week out and I just assumed that I would drop some weight during the liquid phase. I'm on my second week of Clear liquids and I haven't lost anything in five days. I'm trying not to panic and I know I have to have patience. Just wondering if this is normal or what I should be doing. Any help??

I read through a bunch of the comments. People are clueless about nutrition or any data about long term weight loss and SO MEAN! Kudos to those of you sleeved who are writing such great comments.

Hi, I am having surgery in 8 days but I am sure I can answer a few of your questions... I have not read of anyone dying because of the surgery, I have heard of a few people dying from underlying illnesses, mostly heart problems that were not caught in time. Before the surgery they put you on an adtkins like diet- 2 - 3 weeks before. Now I have heard that some have had no pre- surgery diet. But this is to help shrink the stuff around the liver and make it easier to work around. Right after it will be Clear liquids for up to 2 week so your stomach can heal. You will slowly work you way up to solid food. About a month to 6 weeks later you will most likely be able to eat solid food. You will get full a lot faster, and you can overeat, but then you will just end up throwing up or PBing. You can do serious damage if you do not listen to you stomach when you are full. After about 6 weeks of no weight loss and more critera of no loss of weight you will go in for a "fill" in which the band will be filled with saline to make you have restriction. This might take a few fills to hit what they call the "sweet spot" this is when you can eat very small portions and still lose weight. The band is permant unless there is complications or you wish to remove it. It took me 3 months to complete all of my appointments, sum 30 appointments total..It was stressful, but at the end well worth it. There are so many people on this board and you will get a wide variety of stories and opinions, so here is mine. Also here are the differences (in my opinion) of what the procedures are and why I chose the one I did! I have done some extensive weighing of the options, I found out that once you do the gastric bypass, you can not do anything else. The gastric bypass is a "quick fix" which is you lose the weight quickly. But once your body recovers and 3 or 4 yrs down the road if you have not changed your eating habits you will gain a lot of the weight back. I have read some recent articles in people magazine of people gaining all the weight back plus more 3 to 4 yrs later and they can not have banding or any other surgery. I have heard so many sad stories of complications and deaths that it scared the crap out of me. With the band it is a continuous life time changing procedure. It is reversable, and yet while you are learning to eat right 3 to 4 yrs down the road if you find yourself gaining, you can go in for a fill to get yourself back on track. Yes the weight loss is gradual, but it helps your body adjust as you learn better eating habits. I have heard about complications, but most are relatively minor and can be quickly corrected. I have heard of no deaths that are directly from the surgery. And only 2 that were because of underlying illnesses that were not caught before the procedure. And this is why I chose the procedure... Good luck in what ever decision you make... Baileym Hope this helps! Baileym ____________ June 14th

To be honest I really don't have a routine but I do it a egg for Breakfast every morning I don't weight my food I indulge in a piece of chocolate once a week or two weeks and I mean one piece I don't eat bread , rice , Pasta ect at all I haven't reintroduce them yet and I'm not in a rush to do so I eat Protein first always been a meat eater so this is not a problem for me I don't eat out really unless my husband takes me and I don't consider my self on a diet if I want something I have it but its not many unhealthy things I want I don't use pure sugar at all I drink Water and use a liquid enhancer to provide flavor for me oh I don't drink Protein shakes gave them up at two weeks I rather eat my protein

Congrats on your 50 pound weight loss. You have done so well.

You have to stand on your head, chew gum and drink your Water at the same time to lose weight or didn't you hear that from your doctors?! Of course we all are only kidding, and to each his own I agree 100%. I know I say this often on the site, my hubby and I were banded 3 days apart. We go to every post op appointment together, sit in the same room with the same PA. We talk about our eating habits what we eat together as well as individually as we are not attached at the hip and work different schedules Our journey's are 100% different. His is his and mine is mine. We support each other, and try to eat together when possible and cook our meals together sometimes. What works for Ken does not always work for me. I needed more saline fill then he does to not feel hungry between meals. Eating broccoli makes me feel sick (never did before but does now) and he loves it. When people share what works for them even if it's Yoga or Zumba or taking Hoodia or using the Vitamix I read all their advice take it under advisement. If I feel it's something I might like to give a go like making a health shake I will get the advice of my Dr. and see how they feel especially my nut and if they are OK then I might give it whirl. Nothing is written in stone other then to say : FOLLOW YOUR DOCTORS ORDERS. TGIF!!!

It's not even real food. It's chemicals that are supposed to approximate real food so that we can lose weight and feel like we're not missing out. Don't do it. Seriously, a little bit of real food goes a long way. Unless you have a trigger food (which you should absolutely avoid) then a small amount of dressing or syrup or BBQ sauce (measure it and keep accountable) is a far better food choice. Real sugar. Real fat. Eat real food. If you can't eat real food in moderation, do not find a fake food substitute that is chock full of chemicals and terrible for your body and that may just trigger cravings because you feel deprived, anyway. Find a way to substitute that you can live with, instead. Whatever you want to buy, I bet you can find a recipe online to make it yourself and it will not only taste better, it will be more satisfying. ~Cheri