7/16/08        I posted this today on the boards and thought i should copy it here as well.
Hello my fellow lapbanders. I was banded on 4-1, as some of you already know and those newbies that are unsure of the process, i just wanted to put out there some of my observations. In the beginning, i lost 22lbs right off the jump go in the first few wks. I thought WOW! this is awesome!!! Since then i see this happen's to most ppl.  Then the honey moon post op period ends ;{........  The weight loss slows down and we wonder... what happened? why arn't i losing anymore? Did i do the right thing, will i fail at this? I see post like this alot. I too felt the same way. It seemed to go on for a good 4-6 wks. A pound here or there, up a pound or two, then down again. Seems like it was so hard to lose and after working sooooooo hard and exercising the weight loss was so stubburn. That's how i felt for about the first 10 wks post op.   Then came fill #1 5-30. Nothing. I didn't feel any different with a 2cc fill. Until a wk later when TOM came for a visit and WOW! So this is restriction?!!! I thought it was so great! Then about 4 days later, it was gone ;{..... Sadness again. Down a pound or two, up a pound or two. YO Yo  again for about a mth.  Then i got fill #2 of 3cc's on 7-9. Didn't notice much the first wk. except my food stayed with me longer. Then here in the last cpl of days I have been feeling like i have a perfect restriction for me. My portions are very small 1/4-3/4 cup of solid food per meal. And it stays with me without needing a snack during the day. So now i'm officially satisfied with 3 small meals per day. I must eat very slowly, small bites, pause between, and really watch for that soft stop, OR ELSE! Thank goodness i have been doing this and haven't gotten myself into trouble. I came close tho. lol. And so far since the fill on the 9th, i have lost 3lbs. for a total of 39lbs down. I couldn't be happier! I feel like i'm finally on the road to steady losing. I HOPE! But in my observations, this is what happens to most folks if i'm reading their post correctly. For the newbies reading this, do not give up hope. There is light at the end of the tunnel. It seems like it takes the body 2-3 mths to really get settled into the losing mode since going thru such a drastic measure as surgery. it isn't anything like dieting before surgery and the body has to adjust. But it does. This is the easiest weight loss experience i have ever had as far as not feeling deprived and starving. The band is an awesome tool once you get the rules down and it is filled enough to do it's job.   I must say, that Elena and i'm sure many others are the exception. I mention Elena, because i have watched her journey since preband. Elena has done a remarkable job with her band from day one, and her weight loss is fantastic. Kudo's to you Elena. But for the average bandster, these are my observations. I wanted to give the newbies a glimmer of the light that is at the end of the tunnel. We don't call that period "BANDSTER HELL" for nothing. But it does end and does get much better. Good luck to you all and God bless.

July 19-08
I have had a stomach flu for the past 24hrs. Luckily no vomiting so far. Thank God for Phentagrin suppositories. I stayed in bed the last 24 hrs for the most part, exhausted. Feeling like i had been hit by a truck. I didn't dare eat much yesterday. I had 1/2 cup of 7 grain hot cereal for breakfast. Didn't feel bad when i first got up, but by 10am i had a terrible headache and it went down hill from there. When the tylenol didn't help the headache, i went back to bed and stayed there. For lunch i had a peice of wheat bread w/ a light smear of butter and 2 whole grain crackers w/ hummus. I almost got stuck, it sure did hurt for a minute. Drinking a few sips of tea helped a lot.  I had another peice of toast mid -afternoon, and another for dinner. I did drink a lot of water and crystal lite peach tea. At around 10pm i really started feeling like i could throw up, so i used a phentagrin suppository and that took care of that problem and i slept thru the night. This morning, the neausea is gone, but the diahrea is still there. I feel better then i did yesterday that's for sure. Coffee is setting fine. I did manage to hit my 40lbs lost this morning. I hope i can lose another 10lbs by Aug 12th, my b-day. Being sick yesterday really made my band tight. Today i will stick to toast and soft foods and not over do it again. Everytime my stomach would hurt real bad, all i could think about was that tiny little space from my band, and how would i ever throw up safely. That is the last thing i wanted to do. Scared me to death. Again, thank God for phentagrin suppositories. I don't EVER want to throw up. My daughter started with this flu and had it for 3 days. Lost of vomiting. Then my son got it but only threw up once. I don't want to go there. Hopefully, the worst is over. Hubby has to work today, so i can't stay in the bed again all day like i did yesterday. I'm so glad he was home yesterday to look after Ava. What a relief. My body is very sore this morning. I don't like to stay in bed for long periods of time, as i get real achey. Back really hurts today.

July 24, 08
Over the stomach flu and feeling so wonderful. Getting back into the swing of things as far as exercise goes. I walked on Tues & Wed. and last night started doing some lite weight liftin (16oz can's of beans, one in each hand) for 15 min at night while watchin tv. Tonight i added in 25 crunches. I do it at night after everyone has gone to bed, i don't want anyone watchin me exercise. And wouldn't ya know it, last night and tonight, hubby had to go to the bathroom, and caught me. Oh, at least he doesn't come in the room or say anything. I also went swimming today for the first time in about 20 yrs. Had a blast. it was the first time i have been swimming with my kids. My son thought it was terrific! I vowed to swim this summer, and i have done it. The neighbors are going out of town for a cpl of wks and said we could use the pool all we want. While they are gone, i will really take advantage of it and get some good exercise in the pool. I'm not in a swim suit yet, so shorts and tshirt will have to do. I hate getting out of the water and having my clothes cling to me, i might as well be naked.   I'm determined to get to a total of 50lbs by my b-day on the 12th of Aug. I have 9 lbs to go. I can do this. 
My knee and hip are feeling so wonderful since the PT fitted my shoes for heel lifts. They haven't hurt since. What a wonderful thing. I am experiencing some cramps in my feet tho. I think because i walked hard two days in a row. So i will walk everyother day until i get stronger. And continue to lift my cans of beans everynight. I should probably alternate what i'm doing everynight. But for this wk, i vowed to lift those cans everynight, so i will. Next wk, i will re-evaluate and maybe change it up. 
We are going to the in-laws lake house on Sat thru Tues or Wed. That should be nice and relaxing. A wonderful place to walk. We plan on doing some fishing and boating too. 
Been having tooth pain for the last few wks. Trying to get into the dentist, but nobody wants to take my medical coupon, although it covers dental. I will have to show up at 6:30am and stand in line and see if i can get one of the few appointments. Hopefully i can get in before going to the lake. If not, i have a huge new bottle of liquid Tylenol. Taking that crap so often makes blisters on my feet. If it's not one thing, it's another. Such is life 
I cannot wait til my one yr bandiversary and see the scale down at least 100lbs from where i started. My goal is 100lbs, but i think i can surpass that. I love my band! It's the best thing i ever did for myself.

7-26-08
First stuck/slime episode this am. Needed to PB but couldn't get it to come up. Hot coffee finally gave me some relief. That'll teach me to try to eat cheesy french toast so early in the morning. Won't be doin that again. Feel like crap now.