Lower BMI Bandsters!

[clc1968 0]

My dr. says to eat the Protein first. When there is mostly protein in my system, it causes me the same problem. I'm not sure there is an answer for that. I had my gallbladder out in Nov. then the band in March. I never know from one day to the next if I'm going to be running for the bathroom or so clogged up that I can't go. I know...tmi, but it is the facts of life.

Slim-Fast drinks and Protein Bars really "gas" me up some days and I have to be close to the bathroom other days, so that is not my solution either. I do drink them and eat them occasionally and I'm always in a hurry, so those are quick and easy for me.

[Mischievous1 6]

Yeah, I wish I could have lost all my weight by now, but at least I know it is gone forever!!

I guess that is why I don't post everyday either because if I am at a plateau or gaining and losing the same few pounds, I don't feel like I am making progress.

But, I still come to get support. I think I need another very small fill. I should be losing. I know that I need to exercise and I will probably start to lose again when I do.

Thanks for responding to me!!! I post and sometimes no one responds so I don't feel like I am part of the loop anymore.

I know it has to do with me being gone for a few months, but I hope to get a group of people to be accountable again.

Oh well!!! Take care!!! Audree

Well I read your posts, I read alot of stuff and just don't respond as I try to take in as much as I can in the short period of time I can when I get a break from my 3 year old! LOL

You may try another small fill to get those last few lbs, but honestly you look GREAT and those last few may be hard due to the fact that you are just so close.

I just had more (fill) put in today - i'm at 2.8cc in a 4cc band now and I'm curious to eat a meal to see if I can tell a difference or not but I have to do 24 hours of liquids thru tomorrow afternoon before I will know....

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

Well I read your posts, I read alot of stuff and just don't respond as I try to take in as much as I can in the short period of time I can when I get a break from my 3 year old! LOL

You may try another small fill to get those last few lbs, but honestly you look GREAT and those last few may be hard due to the fact that you are just so close.

I just had more (fill) put in today - i'm at 2.8cc in a 4cc band now and I'm curious to eat a meal to see if I can tell a difference or not but I have to do 24 hours of liquids thru tomorrow afternoon before I will know....

I will be really curious to hear if this helps you. I am at 2.5 right now, and

not losing. I want to get up to around 2.75 or 2.80 like you. I know I can't

handle more than that. I have heard from a lot of people, it takes a tight

band to keep losing.

I don't go until the first week in Sept. so I will be anxious to hear if you

feel like this has been a help to you.

[Pam in MI 0]

I've had Constipation problems most of my life and last year was told by a nurse to try Vitamin C - start with 2 the first day. If you don't go try 3 then 4. By the time I got to 4 it was working and then I dropped back down to 2 and take 2 each day. Sometimes have to increase it. I'm not banded yet butI think it would be ok. Don't worry about taking too much because the excess is peed out!

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

Hey that's easy enough to try. I take so much stuff now, it's hard to get it through my band. But I have chewable vit. C, and I just forget to take them. I am willing to try anything at this point.

Someone said to eat baby food prunes, but that didn't help me at all. I think some of the medications I have to take for my bad spine are constipating. Eating so much Protein only adds to the problems.

[Pam in MI 0]

omg - my computer keeps booting off each time I try posting so if all of a sudden three posts from me show up - sorry.

Aug. 29 is my date! Totally excited and not nervous at all. I know once I'm on the table I'll be shaking uncontrollaby though. I found out on Wed. and had my "education" on Thursday where I got the official preop diet. It's been a little hard because I didn't have a lot of the good stuff in my fridge or pantry except the Protein Shakes which my husband drinks for breadfast usually. So I never got to say "good-bye" to some of my favorite foods or have a "last supper", but it's not really bad. Tuesday will be interesting when I'm on Clear Liquids. It's our staff luncheon and first day for teachers to go back to school. Guess I'll bring some sugar free Jello and try to avoid too many conversations about surgery. Don't plan on telling everyone at least not right away.

Anyway, love this thread. I'm at a 36 bmi and have always lost slowly. Love reading about your victories. Wish me luck!

[Sooverit! 1]

:clap2::whoo::clap2:That's great news Pam! Way to go..just in time before school starts! You'll do fine! Please keep us posted! BTW, you are not using insurance to cover the op are you and if you are which company covered you. Thanks!

[jobyone1 0]

I joined this forum back in May when I was pre-op. I had the surgery May 25th and now I'm on my second fill. I'm at 1.9cc and I am very well restricted. It is still a daily struggle though. Getting to the gym almost every day, eating lean Proteins, passing on the sweets and fried foods - what a chore! However, the band has made it easier than it has ever been. I'm down to 163 and I feel proud of my weight loss.

My poor husband was banded with the VG band in June. He has not lost ANY WEIGHT. He regained all of the weight he lost on the liquid phase. I feel so sorry for him! He is on his 2nd fill to 5cc (a 10cc band) Zippo - NO RESTRICTION at all! I watch him gulp his food like I used to and I salivate thinking how good it must feel to swallow like that! The VG band is much more difficult to get to a good restriction. Our fill doc is local - it's $155 a pop with no fluro - which is reasonable for the NJ area. I hope that soon he will have some restriction and I will be able to share the journey with him.

The eating plan they suggest does not work at all for me. I tried 3 meals a day and totally stopped losing weight! I was eating less but not losing. I don't know why but the 5 to 6 small meals works great. It is hard to remember to eat every 3 to 4 hours but when I keep it up - I lose. I was stuck above 165 for a while and lost the 3 lbs with the mini meals. I really recommend it! I got this book called Fire Up Your Metabolism by two twin sisters that are nutritionists. It is full of helpful advice and great pointers. The only thing that we can't do is drink Water with our meals, but other than that most of the advice is good. What they say is that you need to keep your metabolism running so that your body burns what you eat instead of storing it. The only way to do this is to eat 5 -6 times a day. Before the band I could never stick to the portions they recommend but now I can't eat it all!

One question, I am so tight in the mornings. I can't eat Breakfast so I normally have a half a shake and then a whole one around 11am. Why is this? It makes it difficult to eat throughout the day when food doesn't go down well until about 4pm! I feel like I would lose weight faster if I wasn't eating the majority of my food at night! Anyone have any suggestions?

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

That is very common to be tight in the morning and looser at night.

They say it has to do with sleep. The band reacts to hydration. When

you're sleeping, you get dehydrated. Plus the position of sleeping

flattens the band. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is drink

a glass of pretty warm Water. Warm or hot liquids open the band.

[Mischievous1 6]

I will be really curious to hear if this helps you. I am at 2.5 right now, and

not losing. I want to get up to around 2.75 or 2.80 like you. I know I can't

handle more than that. I have heard from a lot of people, it takes a tight

band to keep losing.

I don't go until the first week in Sept. so I will be anxious to hear if you

feel like this has been a help to you.

Well so far so good. I had the fill on Friday and I have eaten very little. I am making sure to get enough Protein and liquids but I have very little appetite. If it stays like this I know i will be seeing some changes on the scale as I can easily resist food like I did the first week after surgery!

This is how I envisioned it would be with the lapband and if I find my appetite really coming back strong, I will not wait so long next time for another fill.

:whoo::whoo::whoo:

[Mischievous1 6]

omg - my computer keeps booting off each time I try posting so if all of a sudden three posts from me show up - sorry.

Aug. 29 is my date! Totally excited and not nervous at all. I know once I'm on the table I'll be shaking uncontrollaby though. I found out on Wed. and had my "education" on Thursday where I got the official preop diet. . Wish me luck!

Congrats!!!!!

[Mischievous1 6]

Okay just letting you all know, I had to PEEK at the scale this morning because I KNEW I had lost, I COULD FEEL IT, and I am down to my first goal FINALLY of 228! I had hit my lowest at 229 two weeks after surgery in May and have went up and down 2 lbs (never lower than 229) since then, so this is a major victory...I think this last fill MAY be my sweet spot, I am not always hungry and I can take or leave food so I am able to make smart choices to make sure I am getting enough Protein and nutrients and I don't want to munch because i'm bored!!!!!!!! You can't see it but i'm doing my happy dance..

[momlambert 77]

Dance away, Mischievous1! Congrats! I had my 7th fill a week ago and FINALLY feel SOME restriction--I'm so excited! I'm at 3.1 in my 4 cc band. The restriction is only with the first bite and then if I wait a few minutes it subsides and I can eat pretty much like normal--maybe just a little less. But I'm optimistic and finally feel like I actually have a band! Woohoo!

Jobyone, give your DH a huge hug for me--tell him I totally understand. I didn't have a preop diet so didn't lose then but I did lose for a few weeks after the band was placed and then absolutely nothing since. I was banded almost 6 months ago so I've gone about 5 months with no restriction whatsoever. It's so disheartening! You have all these expectations and, even though they seem realistic, they aren't even partially met. It's so tough. I hope it doesn't take him 7 fills to get some restriction but tell him that if it does, he's no alone.

Hugs all around. Good luck everyone!

[Mischievous1 6]

Dance away, Mischievous1! Congrats! I had my 7th fill a week ago and FINALLY feel SOME restriction--I'm so excited! I'm at 3.1 in my 4 cc band. The restriction is only with the first bite and then if I wait a few minutes it subsides and I can eat pretty much like normal--maybe just a little less. But I'm optimistic and finally feel like I actually have a band! Woohoo!

It's so disheartening! You have all these expectations and, even though they seem realistic, they aren't even partially met. It's so tough. I hope it doesn't take him 7 fills to get some restriction but tell him that if it does, he's no alone.

Hugs all around. Good luck everyone!

MomLambert, thank you for your kind words. I know how hard this is watching everyone lose like crazy and the scale isn't moving for us....argh...you just want to scream! I hope this 7th fill continues to help you and if not I hope the 8th is a charm!!

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

Dance away, Mischievous1! Congrats! I had my 7th fill a week ago and FINALLY feel SOME restriction--I'm so excited! I'm at 3.1 in my 4 cc band. The restriction is only with the first bite and then if I wait a few minutes it subsides and I can eat pretty much like normal--maybe just a little less. But I'm optimistic and finally feel like I actually have a band! Woohoo!

Hugs all around. Good luck everyone!

Wow, I was just noticing the schedule of your fills. No wonder you are

so happy. They hardly put anything in there each time!

I hope this fill lasts you for a long time. Remember, as you lose fat inside,

the band will get looser.