Hey everyone,

It's been 4+ months since we've all been banded. How's everyone doing? Have you run into any obstacles or made any goals you'd like to share? How much weight have you lost?

Well, it's been quite the journey for me::

• I've had my share of stuck episodes which were far from pleasant. Learning how to take small, small bites & chew my food until I can chew no more has, and continues to be, quite the challenge. After basically inhaling my food for some 47 years, it's not so easy to slow down. However, if you don't, you're gonna feel it.,,and you're not going to like it.
  
• I've learned that I can no longer eat shrimp. I just can't chew them enough to keep them down
  
• I've learned that baking instead of frying is an excellent cooking alternative.
  
• I've learned to LOVE my crock pot!
  
• I now prefer turkey chili over beef chili.
  
• I find that pre-planning my food menu for the week helps keep stay focused & keep my family healthy
  
• I've learned that tracking my daily food intake on MFP is the best thing I can do for myself
  
• I'm impressed with the support & kindness I've found on this website from strangers
  
• I try to remember that nothing tastes as good as losing weight feels.
  
• I've lost 47 pounds to date & people are FINALLY starting to notice the weight loss
  

I'd love to hear about your journey!

Happy New Year!

Fran

August 8, 2012 was my surgery date. I have lost 69 pounds including Pre-op. I'm sticking to the basics like protein first and not eating more than 1200 calories per day. I drink 64 fluid ounces of water. No sweets, sugar or cocktails.

I also love myfitnesspal app!

Wow, 69 pounds. That's awesome!!! I'd love to be there. I thought 45 was good. I was banded on Aug 17th.

Can I add you as a friend on MFP so I can see what foods you're eating? I could use some good, new ideas!

I have accepted your friend request

Oh goodness, I am now concerned! After reading all about your weight losses so far, I cannot help but panic a little! I was banded on August 1st and have only lost 2 pounds. I have a 14cc band and I have had 5 fills to the volume of 6cc. I have had a few things stuck and plenty of vomiting when I eat certain foods such as rice and bread, needless to say they are no longer in my diet!! On the whole I can still eat large portions and my bites are definitely not as small as they should be!! This could be totally the wrong attitude but I am reluctant to try losing weight on my own due to the fact the nurse will refuse to give me a fill if I have weight loss of 4lb a month. Should I continue this way til I get restriction? At this moment in time I am even unsure on what that should feel like!!

- a very confused < loosing all faith> bandster

I was banded August 13th and I have not made a lot of progress unfortunately. I initially lost 25 pounds and have gained 13 back. Until yesterday I had only 1 fill and it just wasn't tight enough. I was able to eat whatever I wanted and a lot of it. I was back to my old habits. And to make things harder, my surgeon is about 6+ hours from where I go to college. I'm on the hunt for a good surgeon near me but I really like the surgeon and nurse that did the surgery. I can definitely tell that the fill I got yesterday is much tighter than before so hopefully I'll get a little more help from my band but at the same time I understand that it's ultimately up to me. Just gotta break the bad habits! I hope you other August banders have had more success then I! Here's to a new year and a new me

I was banded August 13th and I have not made a lot of progress unfortunately. I initially lost 25 pounds and have gained 13 back. Until yesterday I had only 1 fill and it just wasn't tight enough. I was able to eat whatever I wanted and a lot of it. I was back to my old habits. And to make things harder' date=' my surgeon is about 6+ hours from where I go to college. I'm on the hunt for a good surgeon near me but I really like the surgeon and nurse that did the surgery. I can definitely tell that the fill I got yesterday is much tighter than before so hopefully I'll get a little more help from my band but at the same time I understand that it's ultimately up to me. Just gotta break the bad habits! I hope you other August banders have had more success then I! Here's to a new year and a new me <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Good luck to u Erin!!

Hey Sarah and Erin, you can do it but you must change your mindset first and your eating habits next. I'm committed to my health and weight loss. I decided before surgery to make some life style changes that I needed in order to be successful with my band. I see my surgeon every 4 weeks like clock work and I adjust my band to make certain I'm successful. I'm doing my part and my surgeon is doing his part. We are a great team and I have about 32 lbs to do to reach my first goal of 100 pounds lost. I'm willing to help anyway I can or to be your cheerleader.

Hi Luckyaya - well done on your achievement so far! It's a great inspiration! I think you are totally right about the mindset I have been thinking about it all day and I've listed a number of changes that I have to make. Fingers crossed! I'm determined to make this work. I have 90lbs to lose so any tips and secrets u can give me would be especially on knowing the signs to look out for in being full. So far I've had a few stuck episodes and lots of vomiting (bad behaviour but I honestly don't think I get the full signals, then before I know it uh oh it's too late)! Keep up the good work u are clearly doing brilliantly!!

Hey Sarah, how are you doing this week? I have lost about 1.4 pounds this week but it's been hard but I'm keeping my diet in check and working out at least 3 to 4 days per week.

I too was struggling and feeling terrible especially since I was a self pay. I really didn't lose much until my third fill end of December and now I see why the band works and helps in losing weight I think it is important to have the right mindset (that i too was lacking) but having the right adjustment really helped me get to that mindset and making it easier, less hunger and I just stop eating so imagine actaully seeing the scale go down.... I have the mind set now. before I felt like a dissipointment and glad i told no one. Now I even just got back from an all-inculsive resort and lost weight, that was unthinkiable pre-band.

So hang in see your doctor and get the right amount of fills.