DH & I will be getting banded in January. I would love to share this experience with others.:closedeyes:

Great NEWS....

I went to the doctor today... for my first fill:):cursing:

I got 4cc's and found out.. I LOST 20 POUNDS>>>>>

I am so excited.. this is the first time I lost weight without feeling like I was dieting.. without the massive hunger pangs... without the detrimental binges when you can't handle it anymore...

I am so happy.....I am really excited for month number two now... every month for this first year is going to be such a ride....whew....

Just had to share:)

Congratulations!! That is absolutely wonderful! You're doing great! Hope the second month goes smoothly as well and you're 4cc's help out!

Great NEWS....

I went to the doctor today... for my first fill:):eek:

I got 4cc's and found out.. I LOST 20 POUNDS>>>>>

I am so excited.. this is the first time I lost weight without feeling like I was dieting.. without the massive hunger pangs... without the detrimental binges when you can't handle it anymore...

I am so happy.....I am really excited for month number two now... every month for this first year is going to be such a ride....whew....

Just had to share:)

JENJENJEN!!!! I AM SOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!

I go for my third fill this Tuesday. So far I still have zero restriction and feel like I'm simply doing this myself. For example, if I get served a large salad with broiled salmon at a restaurant I can easily eat all of it. I make wise food choices and am very, very careful about what I put into my body...but I know I shouldn't be able to eat the amount I can eat. I am hoping that the third time (fill) is the charm. I'm still at my writers retreat without a scale nearby (which is probably good since I tend to obsess and get on and off the scale a lot) but I can tell that I look better/am smaller. A friend came up to visit yesterday and said she could really see my weight loss. I'm hoping for 2-3 pound loss since last fill which was 2 weeks ago. I'm continuing to go down on my prednisone -- now down to 18 mg a day -- and I was up to 25 right after surgery Jan 12. I did have two cortisone shots in my knee yesterday -- not sure if that affects weight (yeah, I'm obsessing, I know lol). I do feel very proud of my commitment and the effort I'm making, but I would like to glean the benefits of the surgery already. I often eat these bariatric packaged foods here at my cottage which I got online from a site that specifically sells food for those who have had bariatric surgery. I actually like most of 'em. In fact, the bars are so good that I decided I can't order 'em at all lest I consume a box.:wink2: I'm guessing I'm down about 23-25 pounds now...will find out Tuesday. I'm so happy for you, Jen, and so proud of all the hard work you're doing, knowing how busy your life is...:laugh:

JENJENJEN!!!! I AM SOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!

I go for my third fill this Tuesday. So far I still have zero restriction and feel like I'm simply doing this myself. For example, if I get served a large salad with broiled salmon at a restaurant I can easily eat all of it. I make wise food choices and am very, very careful about what I put into my body...but I know I shouldn't be able to eat the amount I can eat. I am hoping that the third time (fill) is the charm. I'm still at my writers retreat without a scale nearby (which is probably good since I tend to obsess and get on and off the scale a lot) but I can tell that I look better/am smaller. A friend came up to visit yesterday and said she could really see my weight loss. I'm hoping for 2-3 pound loss since last fill which was 2 weeks ago. I'm continuing to go down on my prednisone -- now down to 18 mg a day -- and I was up to 25 right after surgery Jan 12. I did have two cortisone shots in my knee yesterday -- not sure if that affects weight (yeah, I'm obsessing, I know lol). I do feel very proud of my commitment and the effort I'm making, but I would like to glean the benefits of the surgery already. I often eat these bariatric packaged foods here at my cottage which I got online from a site that specifically sells food for those who have had bariatric surgery. I actually like most of 'em. In fact, the bars are so good that I decided I can't order 'em at all lest I consume a box.:wink2: I'm guessing I'm down about 23-25 pounds now...will find out Tuesday. I'm so happy for you, Jen, and so proud of all the hard work you're doing, knowing how busy your life is...:laugh:

Cherie...

I feel the same way about the scale... I feel like if I get on it.. I won't get off.. so I am limiting it to doctor visits....

I think the only reason I am not eating as much as "I could" is fear... I don't want to get anything stuck... and in my mind.. whatever it takes to keep the food away....

There are so many concious decisions that have to be made.... smaller plates, smaller utensils...eating a little bit.. wait.. eat a little more....I do like the lap band though... it is giving me the push that I need....

I can't beleive it has taken away the hunger pangs... that amazes me.... I am so happy that we did this Cherie...

How did it feel to have someone "notice" the weightloss... no one has noticed mine.. but I tooks some photos and I can tell... I can't wait to get that first moment where someone says.. "hey... have you lost weight":laugh:

Keep focused on that writing retreat...I get my cortisone shots on March 12.. I am going to be happy.. my knee keeps buckling and I need it to walk for sure...

I have a question for everyone... my aches and pains appear to be coming back with a vengence with the weightloss... (it could be a lupus flair though)... has anyone else had that problem...

I have had to take a few pain pills for the back and muscle pain and I haven't had to do that in a while.. maybe the weight was a good "cushion":):eek:

Keep hanging in there everyone.. we are doing great... we are losing weight.... my expectations are about 1-1 1/2 pounds a week... anything else.. I will consider gravy.....(but I will be trying like the dickens to get a 12-15 pound loss by 26 March - just my personal challenge to me:)

Have a great weekend everyone....

Cherie...keep me posted girl......

Jennifer

What about a full blown Gout Attack brought about due to a massive spike in Uric Acid level caused by a high Protein Diet? Did anyone get warned by their Surgeons on that possibility? 3 weeks of NO Exercise lost due to the gout flare up and HAD to go on very caustic NSAID Indomethacin ER for relief (Celebrex did`nt work) after gout subsided with new found hair line stress fracture in both ankle and 4th mandibular in left foot. Talk about timing and the Perfect Storm. Still dropped 34 lbs since getting banded on 1/12/10.

Just wonderful to read about everyone's success since banding. Keep up the good work!!!!! :thumbup:You all inspire me!!! THANK YOU!

I got my first fill last Friday, the 26th, and so far, so good. I have a 12cc band, and got a 5cc fill . . . my doctor did this under a floroscope (sp?) and didn't take too long to find the port and judge by the speed of the barium going down how much of a fill that I needed. Hoping that getting almost half full for the first fill isn't a bad thing, but I really like and trust my doctor, so maybe I'm worrying needlessly. Today I return to regular diet, so hope I'll get full really quick and will go over the diet/food guidelines as I really am afraid of anything getting stuck.

Did anyone else get this much of a fill for the first time? :biggrin:

Just wonderful to read about everyone's success since banding. Keep up the good work!!!!! :thumbup:You all inspire me!!! THANK YOU!

I got my first fill last Friday, the 26th, and so far, so good. I have a 12cc band, and got a 5cc fill . . . my doctor did this under a floroscope (sp?) and didn't take too long to find the port and judge by the speed of the barium going down how much of a fill that I needed. Hoping that getting almost half full for the first fill isn't a bad thing, but I really like and trust my doctor, so maybe I'm worrying needlessly. Today I return to regular diet, so hope I'll get full really quick and will go over the diet/food guidelines as I really am afraid of anything getting stuck.

Did anyone else get this much of a fill for the first time? :biggrin:

I had 4cc and wish I had 5 cc:):laugh: Although.. no hunger ... but I am still eating with my eyes...

It's a process.. time will heal this I know it will

Great NEWS....

I went to the doctor today... for my first fill:):biggrin:

I got 4cc's and found out.. I LOST 20 POUNDS>>>>>

I am so excited.. this is the first time I lost weight without feeling like I was dieting.. without the massive hunger pangs... without the detrimental binges when you can't handle it anymore...

I am so happy.....I am really excited for month number two now... every month for this first year is going to be such a ride....whew....

Just had to share:)

Congrats Jen!!! Keep up the good work. You are doing fab!

Has anyone else had any "issues" with going number 2?

Sorry if this is TMI, but I'm starting to get really concerned.

I have not had a normal bowel movement since the day before surgery on January 11th. I thought after a month or so it would return to what was normal for me but I seem to always have very bad gas and explosive episodes when I go.

Again, sorry about the TMI. Anyone else have and peculiarities?

Thanks,

Claricey

Has anyone else had any "issues" with going number 2?

Sorry if this is TMI, but I'm starting to get really concerned.

I have not had a normal bowel movement since the day before surgery on January 11th. I thought after a month or so it would return to what was normal for me but I seem to always have very bad gas and explosive episodes when I go.

Again, sorry about the TMI. Anyone else have and peculiarities?

Thanks,

Claricey

Are you getting enough Fiber? I use the gummies from Target.

Are you getting enough Fiber? I use the gummies from Target.

Try taking a Colace Stool softener capsule and a Tablespoon of Metamucil before bedtime and you should be good.

Thanks for the replies! I am pretty good at getting daily fiber in and I take a liquid Calcium supplement that has Vitamin D and magnesium. (kind of like milk of magnesia) So I thought that would keep me going.

I will give that tip a try.

Thanks again!

Claricey

I had my surgery Jan 25th. I have lost about 20 lbs. but find that one day I am 4 lbs down and 2 days later up. for the last week or so I don't think I have lost anything. I am hungry now, but am trying to stay within my calories. I don't get my first fill until March 18th. I wonder why, where everyone else seems to get them early. Texas girl

I've had 2 fills now and still have no restriction. I'm frustrated - to the point that I just eat anything I want, because I CAN. In the beginning, I was really good about tracking calories and nutrients, working out, etc. Now? I feel like I'm just in a holding pattern until I can get to some restriction. Why am I sabotaging myself? I'm stressed with work, not getting enough rest, etc....but is that really an excuse to screw myself over? Ugh. I'm apparently in dire need of some motivation.

CherieLynne, don't forget that Prednisone and cortisone have steroids in them and those can actually make you gain weight. I went in for a fill yesterday and had this talk with my doctor because I have been sick with bronchiolitis and I had to go on a steroid in my nebulizer twice a day and was worried about weight gain. So while on steroids your weight loss might not be as much as if you weren't on them...Just keep that in mind. I know my weight loss was very low while I was on steroids plus I haven't been able to work out.

Good Luck!!

I've had 2 fills now and still have no restriction. I'm frustrated - to the point that I just eat anything I want, because I CAN. In the beginning, I was really good about tracking calories and nutrients, working out, etc. Now? I feel like I'm just in a holding pattern until I can get to some restriction. Why am I sabotaging myself? I'm stressed with work, not getting enough rest, etc....but is that really an excuse to screw myself over? Ugh. I'm apparently in dire need of some motivation.

Hey JoiaRox! I just wanted you to know that I feel the exact same way. I go for my second fill tomorrow and I sure hope that I will have some restriction. I am very frustrated right now. So pretty much everything you are feeling, I am right there with you. Hang in there, though, it has to get better. By the way, I checked out your blog and I really enjoyed reading about your journey. Keep it up, you are inspiration!

Celia