This group is for weight loss support for lower bmi bandsters (of course anyone is welcome!).

For encouragement, tips, accountability.... Give stats, helpful advice, etc.

How much weight you have lost, how long it took. etc.

In some case I have found it takes a lower BMI patient a lot longer to lose the weight.

Introduce yourself and jump on in!!!:welcomeB: :welcome2:

Audree

Glad to see this thread come up. It's a little hard to relate to some of the higher BMI, beginners..pre-op diets etc. My BMI was 33.3 to begin, weighed 188.5 and I'm 5'3" tall. After filling out forms etc. I was pretty much told that BCBS would not approve me for surgery even though I've got three leaky valves, 2 heart murmors, HBP & H Chol. Most due to Phen Phen use for 30 months way back when.

Things move very fast with self pay, that's for sure. Had my surgery on the 12th. One week ago tomorrow, and I've lost 11.5 lbs. I just chocked it up to all liquids. I'm sticking mostly to Soups (straining first)..some re-fried Beans w/cheese. I have no idea if this was to be expected, but I'm prepared for a slow-down until I can have my first fill. Anyone know what I might expect during the next few weeks?

I haven't started exercising yet, but I was told I could expect to loose up to 25% more if I do. Still experiencing some weird feelings under my rib cage, feels like something's catching. Still swollen in there? Still another week till my follow up visit. Love to hear from anyone since I'm pretty new at this. Thanks all! Love hearing what you're having to eat.

Lessofme,

Sounds to me like you are pretty typical. I had a lot of pressure in my chest at the beginning.

I had to self-pay as well, as my insurance was only interested in bypass and then only if you had a BMI over 50 and tried their 6 month diet plan.

Welcome to the low BMI bandsters. We talk a lot. I have lost 40 lbs in 8 months, for which I am very proud. But, I did no REAL exercise for the first 3 months after surgery.

Welcome again.

Hey Deckedout,

Sorry to hear about your knee... you can definitely walk the 5k. I wouldn't even worry about Boston (the people I know run a marathon in like 3.5 hours or something to qualify. Uhhh no).

I made a goal to do some kind of event every month in 2007 and so far I have done it (haha that's only 2 events so far, LOL). That way the events keep coming and I keep training (except last week I was a big slacker).

If you like to swim, have you thought about joining a Master's swim club? Those people really swim a lot and are in great shape... it ain't your grandma's swim club. I am actually a little intimidated to join one here but keep saying I am going to.

I say do what you love! I think the PT will help a lot if you have muscular imbalance in your leg causing the knee pain.

Hi everyone! Glad you are doing well! I love reading about your activities...I can't wait till I am that active. I really enjoy hiking swimming etc. I just bought a universal gym, so now I have that, a treadmill and a recumbant bike. I live in an apartment, so it is quite packed! My son came to visit the other day and when he came in, he asked how much a membership is! It was very funny.

Keep it up everyone, you are doing (and looking) awesome!

lol tell him he can work out at your house if he cleans it first bandiva. The cleaning can be his warm up!

I have a quick question. I was banded on the 9th. I have very little incision pain, but my port is uncomfortable, not painful, just annoying. It almost feels like it sits against my ribs when I am sitting down. I don't really know how to explain it, it is such an odd sensation. Will it go away or will I get used to it?

Ideas????

My port was kinda funky for a while... I was banded Jan 5th and it is still a little sore to touch.

I say give it a while... but then I don't know how uncomfortable you are. I am a big baby myself.

Hi,

Well....actually I have 11 days to be exact that I have to be on liquids. I can't believe I've only lost 5 lbs! I know it's only been a little over a week since my surgery, but jeeeeeeeez......it really seems like by now of having only liquids and gettin in my 30 grams of Protein per day I should have at least lost 10 lbs by now! I've been reading these boards for a while, and realize that this is the healing period, etc. and I shouldn't be so worried about the weight loss at this point, but it is sooooo hard getting through these days of not eating real food!

Audree, I plan on starting the South Beach on Day 22! That is so great that you've lost over 20 lbs. already! I hope I can do the same. I've been walking a mile a day since the Monday I got home from surgery, and I really hope this helps kick start my body to loose weight. My problem right now is really gettin the calories in. I'm soooo burned out on the soups, and Protein shakes......but as they say, no pain, no gain.....or should I say loss!

Mindy

Does everyone know which band they have? I have the VG 10cc. I think it makes a difference as far as how many fills you need etc.

Hi Everyone!

I would love to join the low BMI group! My BMI was 36. I am 5'9" and weighed 246 starting out. I did a week of the South Beach diet as my pre op diet and lost 14lbs! YEAH!!! I couldn't believe I lost that much in a week...I know a lot is water, but still!! I had my surgery on February 14th and I weighed today and I weigh 227!:clap2: I am thrilled to death! I am doing everything by the book and I am starting to get sick of broth, protein shakes and soups already. I keep looking forward to getting to add new foods to my menu!

I am looking forward to chatting with you other low BMI bandsters!

Oh, by the way, I am a self-pay too...it is sooooo worth it!

Melissa

Can anyone tell me how to change (move) my ticker?

Welcome to all the new folks!!!

Decked Out: Sorry to hear about your knee, I hope it gets better.

Supergenius: HOw have you been doing? I have not been on as much lately and need to catch up with everyone.

Bandiva: Hey girl! I go for my fill on Wednesday and I am a little nervous. I am hoping for some good restriction.

Less of me: Congrats on the weight loss!!!

NurseCeo: It gets better. It may be due to the cutting and moving the muscle around, stiching into the muscle. It does get better over time.

Mindy: How are you doing on your liquids? Glad to have a SB partner

!

toqu: I have the one that takes 4cc's.

Mommyofthreebs: Welcome!!! South Beach definitely rocks!!! Congrats on your weight loss! Sticking to the rules will definitely get you better and faster results!!

Audree

I was messing up for a few days, the days I was not checking in...

Today I have had tuna, almond, 1 string cheese.

32 ounces of crystal light

1 tbsp. liquid vitamin, 1 Biotin, 1 QuickSlim30

No exercise today.

I need to be accountable for the exercise thing. Please help me guys.

When i check in I keep on track, so I can't get to busy that I don't at least check in once a day.

Did you guys miss me??

Missed you a lot Audree. Thought maybe you'd fallin' off the earth!

Went to yoga, but couldn't do a lot of the moves cause of my stupid knee. I'm icing it right now. Went and got my brace. Hubby wants me to go for a walk later. Don't know if I'll be able to go very far, but I'll probably go. wish me luck swimming tomorrow. I might end up spending a lot of time in the spa.

Congrats on your weight loss!!!

You are absolutely right on what it takes to lose the weight. We all get off track, but the we need to renew our commitment to our band and do the things we did in the beginning, get a new goal and be accountable to someone.

How did your pouch dialate and what were the symptoms?

That is a good question regarding the pouch dilation. It may be different for everyone but this is how I believe it happened. I ATE TOO MUCH TOO OFTEN. Bottom line, I look back over the past year and I can put it all together now. I had become very comfortable with my "new" self. My husband and I were going out more, taking more vacations with the kids and I was very active with the Moms from my kids schools. Meeting for breakfast, lunch....very fun but not really realizing how much you eat while talking and each time I over ate, I stretched my pouch. I also ate very band like most of the time but began to notice that I had less restriction. Ha, I could eat chinese food again without PBing. That was my favorite. Long story short, I knew I had slipped into a bad place when I started getting reflux at night. So badly that I would almost choke on my own vomit. At the beginning, I didn't want to think it was band related cause then I might lose my band so I went to a GI and went on every reflux medication under the sun. Nothing helped. I finally found a DR. that took my insurance and went for a check up. An upper GI showed that my pouch was dilated and I had 2cc's in my band that it wasn't allowing food to go down so it would sit in the pouch for hours and not move. That was it. Being able to eat more and more, less restriction, very bad reflux that wasn't fixed by medication. It's been 5 days since my doctors visit and I have been on liquids. From the time she unfilled my band on Friday, POOF, reflux gone. I am hoping that a couple of weeks on liquids will correct the problem. I am willing to be on liquids for as long as it takes to save my band. I hope it will help. I feel soreness and tenderness and I am not as hungry as I was last Friday. Perhaps I am being overly optomistic but I don't want to lose my band. I learned my lesson and heed my advise....if you can over eat, it isn't a good thing.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->