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Today I am 8 month out. I have been struggling for the last 2 month with staying a little over 200 lbs losing and gaining the same 2-3 lbs over and over again. Last Monday I went back to basics and this morning the scale said 196.5 lbs. I have been in onderland since Tuesday but I was so afraid to gain again that I waited 3 days  to believe it is reel. My short term goal its to have lost  100 lbs by my first year anniversary that is 27.5 lbs in 4 month. I think it is doable. 
Last year was a pretty exiting year and I hope this year will be even more exiting. I have good restriction but I am still struggling with food that I should not eat . Chocolate, ice cream and cookies have played a big role in me not losing anything for 2 month. I have emptied all my cupboard of any forbidden food and told my DH that would kick him where it hurts the most  if he brings any of it in the house. This year will be the year of my total transformation from an old fat chick to an old hot chick.

Last week I was 6 month out. I did not feel like celebrating because I have been struggling for the last 4 weeks. I was loosing the same 2-3 lbs over and over again. Onderland is around the corner but it still seems so far away. I had a fill yesterday and I hope that will do it. 
I had started my old habits again, Grazing all day and not journaling. So I kicked myself and started writing down every bite.Boy those calories are adding up. Good thing I am on liquid diet again. I hope it will put me back on track.

I found this today in one of the post and I want to store it on my blog

A Clinical Study

A clinical study was done in Germany to review complications following lap band surgery. Thirty-five hospitals were involved in the study, with 4138 patients that underwent gastric banding over a five-year period.  Lap Band long-term complications were described in 8.6%  of all patients.  The most common complications included: pouch dilation or enlargement (5.0%), lap band slippage (2.6%), and Lapband migration or erosion (1.0%).   (Stroh,C  Manger, T “Complications after adjustable gastric banding”, Chirurg, 2006, Vol 77,pag 244-250)

 Normal Lap Band X-Ray Under Fluoroscopy

  Enlarged Lap Band Pouch    

What is Lap Band Slippage?

One of the long-term complications of lap band surgery is called “Lapband slippage” and can be defined as “when the Lapband and the stomach pouch are both prolapsed.”  This means that the lap band has shifted position and the enlarged stomach pouch has also shifted or twisted so that food does not go through the lapband into the rest of the stomach. This may result in pain, discomfort, decreased appetite and inability to eat or drink, and vomiting. Lapband Slippage does not happen immediately but may take several months to develop. 

Large Lap Band Pouch

Lap Band Slippage generally develops in a progressive manner. As food intake is increased, the stomach begins to stretch and grow and the patient may stop losing weight or start to regain weight.  At this point, patients may only exhibit an enlarged stomach Lap band pouch.  This can be medically treated by deflating the lap band to release pressure and slow the growth of the pouch (successful in 70% of cases, or surgical treatment can be considered). However, if the enlarged lapband pouch continues to grow, the lapband progressively rotates until both the lap band and the enlarged pouch become prolapsed, resulting in Lap band slippage.  This is followed by functional stenosis (narrowing) of the stomach.  

 Lap Band Slippage

Lapband Slippage Symptoms typically include progressively worsening reflux, vomiting and epigastric complaints, which may increase to sudden near-total dysphagia (inability to swallow or eat anything, including saliva).

Risk factors or causes of lap band slippage include surgical technique, model of the  lapband used, early consumption of solid foods, early inflation or filling of the band, consumption of carbonated or sparkling beverages, and frequent vomiting.

Treatment for lap band slippage requires surgical intervention. The lapband must be repositioned or removed, based on the operative findings and condition of the stomach pouch. If appropriate, the surgeon and patient may elect to choose another type of bariatric procedure such as a Gastric Sleeve. 

How Do I Prevent Lap Band Slippage?

In order to decrease the risk of developing lap band slippage, it is important to follow the recommended diet following surgery and to avoid introducing solid foods too early.  In addition, the fills should not be started before 6 weeks post-operatively and these Lap band fills should be very gradual.  We also recommend that fills should be done under fluoroscopy, even if you are asymptomatic (no symptoms of lap band slippage), to be able to monitor the position of the lapband, and the size of the stomach pouch and condition of the esophagus. This will allow for early diagnosis of an enlarged stomach pouch or possible lap band slippage.

Yesterday I had my 3rd fill. I did not expect it because the other two fills I got under fluo. I had an appointment with the PA and complained about being hungry and having very little restriction. So she ask If I wanted a fill  now.and 5 minutes later I had 1.5 ml more in my band. I was a little afraid that it would be to much because I was burping with the cup of water she gave me to drink.
This morning everything is fine. I had a cup of hot tea and it went down well. I will fix myself a shake a little later and stay on liquid for the rest of the day. Tomorrow on to mushies for 2 days. I hope I will have a decent restriction with this fill because with 6.3 ml  in my band there is not a lot of space left .
This morning  I was at 59.5 lbs weight loss total and hope I will be over 60 lbs on my official Friday weigh-in.

Here is one I found looking up "lap band recipes" on the net. I only used 1 Tbs of the rice.
If you like mushrooms you should like this
Hamburger mushroom saute
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef (can also use ground chicken or turkey) 1 (10.75 ounce) can low-fat mushroom soup 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (optional) 1/2 cup sliced onions (optional) 2 cups cooked brown rice Directions 1. In a medium skillet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, saute ground beef until browned. 2. Add mushrooms and onions, sauteing until onions are translucent. Add soup, and pour in enough water (or milk) to reach desired consistency. Cook until mixture reaches a low simmer. Salt to taste. 3. Spoon 1/4 cup of brown rice into individual serving bowls, and top each with 1/2 cup of Hamburger-Mushroom Saute. Enjoy warm! .

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 3/4 cup
Recipe makes 8 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 150

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 3/4 cup
Recipe makes 8 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 150 Calories from Fat 35  

Total Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 1.5g

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 30g

Sodium 310g

Total Carbohydrate 15g

Dietary Fiber 1g

Sugars 1g

Protein 13g

I am 4 month out and feel good.
Thanks to all the people who organize challenges. It keeps me motivated and dedicated.
Finding this web site was and  is a blessing for me. My WL center organizes a support group  2 x a month .but it is after the information session in an auditorium and 98 % of the participants have not had surgery .So it turns out to be an other information session. I am going anyway but it does not give my much support. My support comes primarily from this website.

4 month ago I started my preop liquid diet and was praying for the strength to go through this journey. 
 Since then I have lost 50+ lbs and feel on top of the world.
I am walking 4-5 k with my nordic poles 4X/ week,
Do circuit training 2-3x/ week and warm up for that with 20 min elliptical trainer.
I am no longer morbid obese,
Have dropped 3 dress sizes and 1/2 a shoe size.
I am looking forward to the future and if I would not lose another lbs the band still would be a success for me

Today  I am 3 month out and have lost 46 lbs. I did not as good as the prior 2 month, but I ate  about twice as much as before. Last month was berries and cherries month and I often got over my allowed 2 oz of carb per meal.  A loss of 7 lbs in 1 month is nothing to sneeze at anyway. I am happy with my WS and if I had to I would do it all over.
I am still shopping in my closet. So far I have lost 2 dress sizes .I cant wait to go shopping , but I have about 5 different sizes in my closet . I made a deal with myself.  I will only go shopping for clothes  when I can shop in a regular store. No more buying in plus size stores for me.

Today I am 2 month out and have lost 39 lbs ( including  13 lbs during 2 weeks preop liquid diet) I had my 2nd fill today and hope I will have some restriction. I still could gobble  down a whole bottle of water  in a few minutes if I wanted to.
I follow 95% of the time all the band rules. Every ones in a while I eat or drink to fast, but until now it never bothered me. My new fill is 1.8 cc that makes a total of 4.8 cc in a 10 cc band. I am back on clear liquid today then 2 days full liquid, 2 days mushy and back to solid food. I can't wait. I am soo hungry.
I enjoy having the band even with minimum restriction because I feel full faster and don't have to fight myself all the time not to stuff something in my mouth.
My workout has also improved. I went from a couch potato with all the excuses not to workout to walking 4-5 times a week with my Nordic poles  for 60 minutes and do 2-3 times a week circuit training with 15 minutes elliptical trainer as a warm up. I have so much more energy and if someone ask my if the band works I would say if I you follow the band rules and stay away from slider food it works.

Today I am 6 weeks out I have lost (including the two weeks pre-op) 33.5 lbs. I feel better, move better, my energy is sky high. I am pole walking 50 minutes 3-4 times a week. and do circuit training 2-3 times a week. In the evening I go to the pool and water walk against resistance for 30-to 40 minutes Unfortunately we had a lot of late  afternoon thunderstorm popping up last week. so no water walking.
Yesterday I bought a Pandora charm bracelet ( told my DH it was a belated birthday present  from him- thank you John) and 3 charms for the 30 lbs I lost. Every 10 lbs I will lose, I will have another charm added on. This will be an incentive and  good a reminder how far I have come.
 I still don't have allot of restriction and can eat whatever I want to -which I don't-  but my wl is good so I don't complain. I eat what is prescribed for this post-op phase and I am  not hungry..
I am in this WL and exercise challenge, which helps me tremendously. Thank you Kristy for organizing it and keeping records of our progress.
I was at my first post-op support meeting organized by my bariatric center. It was a joke. 1 hour prior to the meeting the information session is held and the people are encouraged to stay. So you have 50 people in an auditorium  10 of them are post-op patients. The speaker (this time it was the psychologist) tells everybody that after 18 to 20 month 50% of WL patient will regain some  or all of of their weight. Thanks for the encouragement. If I would not get brownie-points for going this would be the last time I would go there.
 I will stop bitching and finish with a positive note. LIFE IS GOOD.