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At First I Regretted It, Now I'm In The Sweet Spot!



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Hey everyone! I got my band back in June 2012. I had never had any surgery before and wasn't sure how I would feel afterwards. I unfortuntly had all the side effects ie. Constipation (from the pain meds), horrible shoulder pain, and so on. I stuck to my liquids then mushies but didn't really lose any weight during that period. Only 1 pound when I went to my first fill. Then no weight loss till i got up to the 5.5cc range. I was scared to tell anyone I had the procedure because I had no results for months. Then as soon as I felt a good amount of restriction, the weight has been falling off ever since!!! I love my decision to get the surgery and I am finally happy with my body. Still have a lot to lose but the mini miracules are amazing, crossing my legs, no need for an afternoon nap, no crazy cravings/got to eat now feelings, fitting back into old clothes! If I have any advice to give to new bandsters is to not get discouraged in the first few months after surgery with slow to 0 weight loss, a lot of people including myself didn't start losing until the 5.5cc-6cc restriction.

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OMG I love you for saying these things I have been very discouraged. I have lost very little I am trying to eat smaller portions and healthier and excerising and nothing is different. i was think why the hell did I do this. I knew the band was not a

Miracle but really no differnce. I got my second fill today and i am at 5cc so I am hoping it starts to work more.

Thank you for giving me hope.

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Thanks so much for posting, I have almost the exact story as you. I also was banded on June 18th, 2012 and until my last fill, I would lose a pound or two, but nothing very quickly. I am now at 5.5cc and things are kindof just clicking into place. I now have very realistic expectations of the portion size I will eat, I find myself not hungry a lot of the time and have now lost 31 lbs and am feeling so much better physically. I still have a ways to go, wanting to lose 60 more pounds, but now I feel it is doable.

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So true!!!! My weight loss was more in second year. The first year was adjusting to a new lifestyle change. Healing, rest, learning, nutrition, and moving just walking was my focus. As I'm getting near the end of the second year, I'm reflecting and glad that I went slower with my weight loss...I still got there and only about 20-25 pounds to goal. Fitting in a nice loose size 12 now ( very different from a size 24!). Yes good advice...think of this as a journey of hills and valleys. Not always easy but do enjoy the little changes because they all add up. And eventually it works out great!

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Thank you, all of you for posting. I got on the scales today and had gained 2 pounds. Stood there crying . My first fill was 26 Oct and thought at least some weight would shift but never thought I would gain any. Maybe I need to wait for my second fill to see any loss :(

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I was told by my nurse that gaining some times can be expected until you reach the green zone. I think this is called bandster hell and what some have mentioned on the forum. Others will still say "well if you eat right and excersise you should still lose" but I was told things wont be what you expect until the "sweet spot" and this is what i am hearing in this discussion. I know that the band is a tool but right now it feels like there is no diffrence what-so-ever and i was discouraged thinking why did i spend all this money. So I am hopeful i will get there and things will fall into place too. More importantly talk about these things on the forum it seemed no one went through this it was like that had the surgery and boom they lose all this weight and love it and life is wonderful. i think a lot more go through this period of adjustment.

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Hey everyone! I got my band back in June 2012. I had never had any surgery before and wasn't sure how I would feel afterwards. I unfortuntly had all the side effects ie. Constipation (from the pain meds), horrible shoulder pain, and so on. I stuck to my liquids then mushies but didn't really lose any weight during that period. Only 1 pound when I went to my first fill. Then no weight loss till i got up to the 5.5cc range. I was scared to tell anyone I had the procedure because I had no results for months. Then as soon as I felt a good amount of restriction, the weight has been falling off ever since!!! I love my decision to get the surgery and I am finally happy with my body. Still have a lot to lose but the mini miracules are amazing, crossing my legs, no need for an afternoon nap, no crazy cravings/got to eat now feelings, fitting back into old clothes! If I have any advice to give to new bandsters is to not get discouraged in the first few months after surgery with slow to 0 weight loss, a lot of people including myself didn't start losing until the 5.5cc-6cc restriction.

Thank you so much for posting this......So AWESOME & I'm so excited for you!

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I feel the same way, I did lose some weight but it was more after my second fill that I started to lose more..To bad they could not just put in 6 cc right off the bat, lol..but all in all, keep going forward, learn the rules, and follow them best you can!!! wish you all the best!!! I am so happy with how things are, I dance everyday!!!

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What os tje green zone? I remember my doctor mentioning this, but can't remember what he said.

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Hey everyone! I got my band back in June 2012. I had never had any surgery before and wasn't sure how I would feel afterwards. I unfortuntly had all the side effects ie. Constipation (from the pain meds)' date=' horrible shoulder pain, and so on. I stuck to my liquids then mushies but didn't really lose any weight during that period. Only 1 pound when I went to my first fill. Then no weight loss till i got up to the 5.5cc range. I was scared to tell anyone I had the procedure because I had no results for months. Then as soon as I felt a good amount of restriction, the weight has been falling off ever since!!! I love my decision to get the surgery and I am finally happy with my body. Still have a lot to lose but the mini miracules are amazing, crossing my legs, no need for an afternoon nap, no crazy cravings/got to eat now feelings, fitting back into old clothes! If I have any advice to give to new bandsters is to not get discouraged in the first few months after surgery with slow to 0 weight loss, a lot of people including myself didn't start losing until the 5.5cc-6cc restriction. [/quote']

Thank you for sharing, going through this now.

It has been difficult.

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I'm very close in my fills even though I only have 4.5cc in a 14cc Allergan band. I'm losing close to 2 pounds a week and that's when my doctor wants me. So I believe next time I see him in December, he will not give me anymore saline solution.

But, I'm not complaining and I'm close to no hunger at all.

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Thank goodness for this! I'm 9 weeks out and so frustrated... Still no loss or restriction. I'm at 6cc with a 10 cc band, and they tell me I have a very small esophagus so will probably need a fairly full band. Another fill in a few days. I'm wondering what 'restriction' even feels like?! Will I detect a big difference? Anyhow thank you posters for this ray of hope. I've been questioning my decision to have the surgery.

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Awesome thread! I too have been losing hope- especially around the holidays ... No restriction whatsoever - 3ccs in my 14cc band.. 7 wks post op

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Hey wannabethin2012,

I completely understand this! I was banded on Aug 20 I have had 2 fills I'm at 5cc in a 11 cc band. I have lost 18 lbs. I just had the second fill last week and haven't lost a single pound exercising 4 times a week and sticking to the rules. So I'm very glad to hear at some point the weight should be coming off because I'm starting to get very discouraged!

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Here is to tomorrow another fill to bring me to 5.5cc in a 10cc band I am praying this is the sweet spot becuase I am like most of you....discouraged and not losing wondering why I did this. Kepp you posted I have faith that this is it.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      1. This update has no replies.
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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