Hi, friends! I'm a longtime lurker, first-time poster. I'm just really excited to share with y'all that I had my surgery on April 21st (almost five months ago) and I'm down 55 pounds! (Started at 312, now at 257.) It's all happened so quickly, in a way, yet I'm impatient for the rest to come off. But I know how lucky I am, and that not everyone has such a successful first few months with the band.

Just to give a snapshot of my journey, for those who're interested: I didn't really start losing until my third fill (I have a large AP Band). I'm currently at around 6 cc, and losing pretty steadily. I try not to eat much wheat or a lot of other starchy things, but I'll do whole grains when the mood strikes. I also don't do low-fat or sugar-free; instead, I try to go for whole, unmodified foods, and when desired, foods that are sweetened with things other than high-fructose corn syrup. (This is more about overall health than weight loss for me.) I'm at a point now where the band doesn't restrict me to tiny portions as it does for some, but it serves as a kind of reminder of what can happen if I really go overboard. I feel like I'm doing most of this myself, with the very real and important backup provided by the band.

Anyway, that's my story thus far! Feel free to share yours as well...

-A

Way to go!!! Congratulations on becoming healthier!:thumbup:

Way to GO!! I can't wait to start announcing my weight loss acheivements too. You are doing absolutely amazing! Keep up the good work and you will be announcing you are at goal weight before you know it. :thumbup:

Hey there! Was great to read your post! I'm just under 2 months out now and am having my first fill on Thursday. It's encouraging to know that you didn't start to lose until after your third fill because I've been a little scared the past couple weeks... I dropped a lot of weight on the liquid and mushy phases after the diet, but have only maintained (+/- 1-2 pounds, depending on the day) ever since I started solids.

Did you lose any weight in between starting solids and your first, second, third fills?

Thanks!

Nick

Thanks for the support and congratulations, all! I'm feeling really good, and I have a sense of control over my life that I've been missing for years. Maybe for my entire life.

Nick - I think what you're going through is completely normal. I had the same experience when I switched to solids, as do most people on this board. I wouldn't worry at all about it - your body just needs to adjust to you being back on solids. The weight loss WILL start again, believe me. It may start before your first fill, or it may not. For me, I regained a few pounds once I went back on solids, and then SLOWLY lost them (maybe .5 pound/week?) until I started getting fills. At my third fill, I overdid it a bit and had to get a small unfill, but it was a valuable experience because I knew what it felt like to be too tight or too loose. If anything, I might be a LITTLE too loose now, but I'm OK with that.

I know all of you beginners are going to do great. Just remember that all the advice everyone gives you (aside from the basics bandster rules like chew a lot and take smaller bites) is based mostly on their experience, and everyone's experience is slightly different. You'll figure out what works best for your body, as long as you're careful while figuring it out!

-A

i am 6 and a bit weeks post-op and due my 1st fill next week at 8 weeks !! haven't lost anything for the last 2 weeks since i went back on solids -poeple keep asking how much wait i've now lost and i feel like a failure saying that i havent lost any more - i think this stage of the game is called ''bandster hell'' when ur back on solids but have very little restriction :sneaky:bring on the fill/fills!!!!! :thumbup:

Way to GO!! I can't wait to start announcing my weight loss acheivements too. You are doing absolutely amazing! Keep up the good work and you will be announcing you are at goal weight before you know it. :thumbup:

hey CMTURNER, Doc. Weaver is my doc and I was banded on Sept.8th. and everthing went fine so far. I have lost 28pounds in all including preop diet. I am so excited and Congrats to you getting approved, I remember that day.