Greetings to all!

June 14, 2005

Your posts are full of wonderful stories and good advice. Thank you.

I was banded 5/24/05.

I'm probably one of those people who didn't do enough research. I had been doing Atkins for 4 months, lost 21 lbs. One birthday dinner was enough to get me on a carb binge. I was so depressed I would have opted for the band no matter what. I didn't want to find any negative stories and just focused on the "I love my band" stories. My Atkins loss made me borderline qualified. Between my initial phone call and appointment I gained 9 lbs--not so borderline now. Since we have a cruise planned mid July, I was in a huge rush to get the band. Because of that and because I was self-pay they rushed me through. By the date of my surgery I was up 13 pounds (every meal was my "last" and I was going to enjoy it!).

I lost 10 pounds the first week and was thrilled. My doctor had said I would lose 20-30 pounds before my cruise and I began to think he might be right (I was skeptical as I've never, ever lost weight that quickly.). Then I went 5 days with no loss and on the 6th day I gained a pound. I cut back on the number of Protein Drinks. Today, my 3-week anniversary I'm down 13 pounds--to exactly where I was before my post-Atkins binge.

It's amazing how my body holds on to fat. I'm consuming less than 1,000 calories--some days less than 500. It's been suggested that I'm eating too little and am in starvation mode. I'm supposed to be on liquids, cottage cheese, pudding (no more than 1200 calories), for another week. Yesterday, I was so hungry and frustrated that I ate most of a grilled cheese sandwich! . It felt no different than pre-band. Today I'm back on liquids and am trying to add exercise. I took a walk this morning and will try to get in an aerobics tape this afternoon. I'm way too sedentary.

I love reading your success stories as well as your frustrations (misery loves company, I guess). I’m a “glass is half-empty” person and need to read how others cope successfully and take the weight off. I hope I haven’t written too much.

Sherry

Iluvharleys · June 14, 2005

Welcome Sherry! Don't worry, you are still in the healing stages of the band. You haven't had a fill yet, so you are wide open right now. Any weight you lose right now is good, but not everyone loses before they get filled. Hang in there, you will be fine. You will see a big difference when you start solids too! It is natural what you are going through right now.

shagamelic · June 14, 2005

Sherry,

I was banded on June 1. I try to get in around 60 grams of protiens a day. Starvation mode may be it. Are you drinking plenty of Water?? I buy the bottled Water in 20 oz. bottles so i can keep track of it. Also if you up your protiens you won't be as likely to loose muscle. There is a thread on here about protien shakes. Which ones are best ect... These are a good way to get in your protien. Hope this helps. Everyone else will chime in here later.

shagamelic

DtDtKty · June 14, 2005

Welcome to LBT Sherry. So glad you are here. It sounds like you are doing great. Any weight you lose before your first fill is like the proverbial icing on the cake since there is not real restriction. Hang in there. Make sure you do eat or like you said, your body will think it's starving. Work on getting more Protein and you'll feel and do better. Best of luck to you.

I'llsucceed · June 15, 2005

Slow down there tiger! Healing isn't for losing weight its for healing. READ READ READ has much as you can here since you didn't do that much research in the beginning. You will learn so much here & get so many questions answered. You will lose & you will be successful - but you do need to follow the new rules of your"tool". Best of luck to you !