Amanda2008

Thanks guys. I will try starting over. Good advice to read everything again... Getting back in this forum every day will help too. Thanks!

The band has changed my life tremendously, but I find myself overeating during times of stress. Unfortunately, since losing my job three weeks ago, I've been snacking around the clock. I can't really binge eat like I did pre-band, but I can certainly overeat and make unhealthy choices (ice cream, cheap ramen noodles, etc). I don't think I need a fill as I've had three or four now and am pretty tight. I need to get back on the program. Any advice? thanks!

I'm just wondering if there are others on here who decided on LapBand after a history of bulimia. This is the case for me. I was bulimic for 18 years, beginning at age 13. I was always overweight so only my close friends knew I had the problem. I did every kind of psychotherapy available, treatment programs, medication... and nothing helped - I always went back to the behavior. I took a risk on Lap Band and I am so glad I did. I am completely cured, and am a completely different person. Before I had no hope, and now I am happy. Are there any others with a similar success story?

Congratulations! Stories like yours inspire me!

Let me know if you know anyone! Thanks!

I've accepted that burps are part of life with the band. Honestly, I'd much rather have the burps than live life the way I did before!

Thanks! I feel so great. Most of my happiness comes from the fact that I never think about food anymore. Before it was all I thought about.

Finally! 244.5 this morning! I'm so happy. I love my band!!!! Next goal is 225 lbs

My first fill tightened after a week, and then tightened again after a month. I haven't scheduled my second fill yet. You might need to be patient! If after a few weeks you see no change, then by all means go get another fill.

If you can eat anything you want with no restriction, then you probably do need another fill.

I've just started the band journey, but I've been losing steadily eating the following: breakfast: protein shake (Muscle Milk or Ensure) Lunch: Lean Cuisine Dinner: Lean Cuisine Plus water/Crystal Lite, coffee, low-fat pudding, deli turkey I've also discovered that if I get a steak burrito (no cheese, guac or sour cream) at someplace like Qdoba or Chipotle, it takes me about two days to eat it and I lose weight. I think it's the rice and flour tortilla that make me unable to eat very much. (Prior to the band, I would sometimes eat one burrito for lunch and get another one for dinner!)

Funny, according to that my happy weight is 125, but Dr. Miranda said I should aim for 160! She said I have very heavy bones etc.

Are you starting your day off with enough protein? I was really frustrated because I couldn't eat much in the morning but ended the day very, very hungry. Well I started drinking a protein shake every day for breakfast and my appetite was lower all day. I've started dropping weight again too!

I ate some tuna casserole and no PBing, but after a few minutes I started gagging! It turned into dry heaving. It was like my body was trying to throw up the food but it couldn't go back through the band. It was about 20 minutes of hell. Was this some sort of weird PB?

I guess I'll be going back to TJ then for my second fill... I trust the fluoro.

Great job!

I've had one fill and can eat salads. Chicken can be tricky though, so salad with chicken needs to be chewed thoroughly.

I've only been banded a few months so the affect on my psyche is not related to significant weight loss. Prior to the band, I had been a failed yo-yo dieter for 24 of my 32 years, losing and gaining 50-100 lbs every few years. I suffered from "eating disorder not otherwise specified," the clinical term for someone with symptoms of bulimia, anorexia and compulsive overeating but not enough symptoms of any one disorder to be diagnosed specifically with that disorder (i.e. if you binge and purge "only" seven times a month, it does not meet the clinical diagnosis of bulimia which is an average of twice a week). Approximately 90 percent of my emotional energy was devoted to food and weight. I took 80 mg, the max dose, of Prozac each day for depression. I took Ambien because I could not sleep at night. I could not think clearly and was failing in life, jobs and school. Nearly three months after banding, I no longer need Prozac or Ambien. It has not been easy, but I no longer obsess about food, which gives me energy for my actual life. I am beginning to write a book about my life struggles and recovery. I am excited about my future. I know I need to make some psychological adjustments as I lose weight, but I don't see any of them truly being a problem, considering what the band has given me. I wouldn't be where I was without the OCC and my wonderful family who loaned me the money to pay for it.

MY UPDATE! I made a big adjustment too - I've added protein shakes for breakfast and sometimes lunch. I was so sick of them after the pre- and post-op diets that I never wanted another one again. But after adding them back, I am now eating a LOT less. My appetite is way down in the evenings, which is when I was really hungry and overeating. I've also stopped drinking coffee - I can't stand it black but the cream and sugar really adds up. Instead I take two caffeine pills in the morning and I'm good to go. I lost four pounds this week - 2 more and I will be able to update my tracker :-)

Are there any fill doctors with fluoro in the San Francisco Bay Area? I know there is a Fill Centers USA in Novato that just opened, but I'm not sure if they do fluoro. I am also interested in something a little closer south. thanks!

I am in the same place and I feel like crap about myself. I had surgery the day after you. I hope this is because we are not yet at our sweet spot. The first two weeks after the fill was GREAT but I guess it's worn off somewhat.... However, even with it wearing off somewhat, I know the restriction is working because I do eat about 1/2 to 1/3 of what I used to eat pre-band. However, I used to eat ENORMOUS amount of food! For the year before the band, I probably gained about 5 lbs a month. So now even if I eat 1,800 calories a day, while it's a lot less, it's not enough to lose weight. My weight loss tracker: Pre-op: -18 lbs 21 days liquid diet post-op: -6 lbs (24-lb total loss) The post-post-op month before first fill: +10 lbs (14-lb total loss) Two weeks after first fill: -10 lbs (24-lb total loss) Two weeks following: +5 lbs (19-lb total loss) I'm so hungry and I HATE being hungry. You have no idea (well probably you do) what it does to me mentally and emotionally. I feel like going on the pre-op diet again and just making myself suffer. Am I normal? Am I a band failure? Help.

I've only had one fill, but sometimes three bites is the limit for me for a good 20 minutes. Also, I'm pretty sure that most bandsters are never able to eat things like bread, meatballs, etc. They're just too dense. I could be wrong but It seems to me that you just have very good restriction after your second fill.... It should relax eventually.

Wow this thing is fickle. It seems like the restriction is back! On Friday for lunch I ate pizza and salad and was still hungry, and today I had a few bites of chicken and nearly PBd. I'm still scheduling my second fill for a month from now. I want to hit that sweet spot soon!

Hi, I was wondering if anyone decided to, post-surgery, go on a specific diet? I never see anything mentioned except for Lean Cuisine. I am thinking of trying the Fat Smash diet again, which I did a few years ago and it worked (but of course I lost interest and gained it back). It's supposed to kickstart your metabolism and you change your diet in stages. Phase one is a nine-day detox program. It's written by the doctor on Celebrity Fit Club. Since my first fill, my appetite has been amazingly reduced... it's been awesome, but I guess I just feel kind of lost without a specific structure... did anyone else feel the same way? I also feel like I'm not losing as much as I should.

I used to drink a lot out of a water bottle and I've switched to glasses. It's too easy to chug with a bottle.\ Also remember, no straws! While it seems like you would drink less with a straw, you also suck in too much air.