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Good morning, everyone! I have been reading all of the threads with some temptation to respond to some, but since all of my questions fall into separate categories, I decided to post a new thread:)

I had my banding done on February 28th. Since then, I have only lost max 17 lbs., most days like 14 lbs. I am very frustrated. I can eat more than what the docs recommended, but never as much as in the past. I have not had Pasta, bread, or rice, though I have tried a bit of tortilla when in a situation where I can't find something more better suited.

Is 17 pounds reasonable for being 5 weeks out of surgery? I seem to be stuck right now gaining and losing 2-3 pounds on any given day. I have started exercising. I either walk my treadmill or walk my dogs. Both give me a relatively good work out to the point I am sore the next day. I have been watching Losing Jusme's blog and am astounded at the amount of time she works out. Is this what I should be doing or is 25 to 30 minutes a day okay?

Does anyone else have a problem feeling full? I never feel full until I get left shoulder pain. I would prefer to feel full first to avoid uneccessary discomfort.

I have not had my fill yet. Do you think the weight loss gets better after this? I am very frustrated with the docs office. He told me to come in two weeks after the surgery, but when I called they couldn't get me an appt. until the end of March. Then he had to see me anyway due to an allergic reaction to my tape. He told me to schedule a fill and I have to wait until the end of April for that. I am so frustrated. His office staff has completely changed except for the few incompetent people that were there. He has lost his bedside manner due to the resctructuring of his office and I really woulf like to go see someone else. Does anyone have United Health care? Do you know if they would let me change docs so that I can get my fills elsewhere?

Thanks!

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I was very frustrated with the lack of weight loss however, I am reminded by the kind people on this site that before my fill it is a healing time not weight loss time. My Dr just wanted me to shoot for 5 lbs more this month. THAT'S ALL. He said after my fill the weight loss will begin.

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ilvlucy607

17 lbs in 5 weeks is nothing to sneeze at. I have had 2 fills, very small ones that totalled .9cc between the 2. I was banded 2/15/08 and have lost 15 lbs in about 7 weeks. My doctor said 1-2 lbs a week is a good way to lose - it is healthier and hopefully will allow the skin to shrink back vs leaving a lot of loose skin to deal with later on.

I would love to have lost the 30+ lbs some other banders have in the 7 weeks but I am content with what i've lost so far. I don't really feel like I have restriction and I can eat quite a bit if I want to. I make a conscious decision everytime I sit down to eat to eat less than I ever did before. If I eat out, I ask for a to go box when they bring my meal and I put 2/3 of the food away up front. That way I'm not tempted to eat more than I should.

Good luck on your new journey.

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So glad you posted! Yes, things will get MUCH better after your first fill. I had almost given up hope until I got mine. (See my "Vomit is my Friend" thread.)

The fact that you have lost anything is great because a lot of people (and I'm one of those lot!) regain back all of their weight after the post-op liquid stage before the first fill. Hang in there and keep hanging out here with us! =)

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Good morning, everyone! I have been reading all of the threads with some temptation to respond to some, but since all of my questions fall into separate categories, I decided to post a new thread:)

No problem! We love to talk here! :biggrin2:

I had my banding done on February 28th. Since then, I have only lost max 17 lbs., most days like 14 lbs. I am very frustrated. I can eat more than what the docs recommended, but never as much as in the past. I have not had Pasta, bread, or rice, though I have tried a bit of tortilla when in a situation where I can't find something more better suited.

Please don't be frustrated! That is what causes many to give up. You are doing great and 17 pounds is not something to feel upset about. It is 17 pounds that you did have clinging to your body before you went in for your surgery.

Is 17 pounds reasonable for being 5 weeks out of surgery? I seem to be stuck right now gaining and losing 2-3 pounds on any given day. I have started exercising. I either walk my treadmill or walk my dogs. Both give me a relatively good work out to the point I am sore the next day. I have been watching Losing Jusme's blog and am astounded at the amount of time she works out. Is this what I should be doing or is 25 to 30 minutes a day okay?

Yes, 17 pounds is very reasonable. Please keep in mind that no two people are alike. Some have lost a great amount of weight, some in between and some had a hard time losing any at all in the first stages. All are ok, and the weight loss will come in time. With the Lap-Band, we, and I'm sure you as well were brought to the knowledge that it is going to be a personal effort along with much patience. The weight is going to come off our bodies more slowly than we might expect.

As far as exercise goes, if you are just starting out I think you are doing a great job. I think anyone is doing a great job for a beginner who just simply gets up off the couch and does anything! Don't feel so compelled to measure yourself up to anyone else. You are an individual and as long as you are giving the cause your most, then you are on the right track.

Does anyone else have a problem feeling full? I never feel full until I get left shoulder pain. I would prefer to feel full first to avoid uneccessary discomfort.

Not sure I fully understand your second sentence, but for awhile prior to my first fill just a few days ago I did have this problem.

I have not had my fill yet. Do you think the weight loss gets better after this? I am very frustrated with the docs office. He told me to come in two weeks after the surgery, but when I called they couldn't get me an appt. until the end of March. Then he had to see me anyway due to an allergic reaction to my tape. He told me to schedule a fill and I have to wait until the end of April for that. I am so frustrated. His office staff has completely changed except for the few incompetent people that were there. He has lost his bedside manner due to the resctructuring of his office and I really woulf like to go see someone else. Does anyone have United Health care? Do you know if they would let me change docs so that I can get my fills elsewhere?

Thanks!

I am still new with my first fill, but I have already seen a big difference in my habits. My scale has been cooperative with me afterward also. This might be the case for you too. I do have to say though, it's not all the Lap-Band's job to lose that weight, so keep up your routine and it will all fall into place.

As far as the doctor's office goes, I can relate to you. I wasn't able to get my first fill for 9 weeks! I hung in there though and did the best I could. The reason is, the Lap-Band surgery is better suited for those who wish to make many changes in their health habits. So even though you are struggling, you just have to stay on course as best you can. We are here if you need a little uplifting!

Also, some of those questions regarding getting your fills at another location is something you'll need to contact your insurance or doctor's office about. Good luck! If you don't feel you are getting the service you require then it would be worth it to seek the answers you need.

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      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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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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