I am a 35 year old female and I have tried every fad diet there is; Weight Watchers, Atkins, Chicken Soup Diet, Keto, South Beach Medifast and Optifast. I gained on everything except Atkins and Optifast, but sadly lacked the discipline to stay on either of those long enough to reach my goal. I have struggled with my weight since I was a child For the last 8 years I have been overweight, with my weight creeping from 140 to 220lbs. At 65” a 220 weight has my BMI soaring up to 36.6, which is either severely obese to morbid obese. Either way it translates to fat. An underactive thyroid is no excuse. My goal is to reach and stay in the range of 120-130lbs a mid-range healthy BMI. I have the exercise side of things covered, I use my fitbit and make sure I hit my 10k steps daily and work out with a trainer 3-5 times a week. I have my fingers crossed that the Orbera gastric balloon will get me set on the will power to stop eating junk. Updated on 25 Feb 2018: I had my first appointment with Dr. Liu 2.22.18. I appreciated how detailed his questions were and how he listened when I asked questions. I felt he used my time appropriately, he gave detailed answers to my questions but did not try to push me to commit to having a procedure. Dr. Liu went through all three balloon types with me, and then gave me his opinion on which was right for me. He had many before and after photos to show me of folks of various sizes and about 5 patients who were my size and age. I met with his coordinator and she was a delight. I did decide I wanted the Orbera. As I was filling out my paperwork I sat with the staff who were friendly and lively. They let me try the various flavors of vitamin chews and provided me the liquid diet I will need to be on for two weeks post placement. Dr. Liu was direct about what it is like to have a gastric balloon. This will not be a walk in the park. He told me to expect some serious discomfort for the first 48 hours. He explained that if I laid down on my left side the balloon would shift in my stomach and it would provide a little relief from the expected discomfort. He also told me that many people experience burps with a noxious smell, and that Diet Coke or Coke Zero in small amounts can help keep the surface of the balloon clean and the bad breath/burps to a minimum. He also advised that even though I will not feel my best that a little movement around 100 steps an hour will help me feel better faster. Updated on 26 Feb 2018: I am pleased with how detailed my instructions are and how Dr. Liu’s team is checking up on me to make sure I have picked up the medications and do not have any questions. I have picked up my six (yes six!) prescriptions for my procedure. I would post the medications and their dosage here, but I know some MDs consider this proprietary information and I have not told him I am posting about this process online. I have also loaded up my cabinets with the post procedure protein shakes and approved drink mixes that I will be allowed to enjoy for the first two weeks. Things are being set up at eye level so I will not have to stretch up to reach anything. I am aiming to minimize the core movements it has been suggested I avoid. I am nervous about putting a foreign object in my body for six months. The hope is that this Orbera balloon will prompt a reset of my eating habits and give me time to adjust to them. I have read the papers and discussed with Dr. Liu that the average patient only lost 21lbs. I am determined to be an outlier. The more weight I loose the more fun the gym will be. Updated on 28 Feb 2018: I am two days away from having the Orbera gastric balloon inserted by Dr. Liu. His office called today to remind me that I had an appointment scheduled on Friday, as if I could forget! I am bouncing around trying to focus on work and get my environment as comfortable as possible by Friday morning. I have my fridge stocked with three different types of water bottles, diet coke, and milk. I think I have got everything I could need to get through the first few days Updated on 2 Mar 2018: This morning I meet with Dr. Liu at his preferred surgery center. I arrived at 7:30am, procedure was at 8:30 and was released before 9:30am. Very efficient. I had the scopolamine patch on behind my ear to help with stomach distress. I spent the day doing light work on my computer and not moving around much. My stomach was cramping and it felt like someone was pushing against my throat. I did get sick around 8pm. I felt better after my stomach emptied and I am hoping that I am done with that part of things. SW-219.3/ CW 219.3/ GW-130 Updated on 5 Mar 2018: I have had the balloon in for three days. The nausea is not bad, only really shows up when I try to sleep or lay down. The stomach cramps are intense and pair with sharp pains in my back. Nothing impossible to manage. The burps are the worst part. I feel like I would be a hit with eight year old boys. Still 3 days in and 3.6 pounds down. I cannot stand the drinks. They are flavored using coconut, which I find repulsive under the best of circumstances. I am trying ensure and eggs. *fingers crossed* SW/219.3/CW215.7/GW=<130 Updated on 6 Mar 2018: Four Days with a balloon, four pounds. I am trying to keep my spirts up. I have read so many reviews and it seems that folks loose the majority of their weight in the first two weeks. So here I am feeling no significant difference with the balloon in or out. I am terrified that I will be one of the average patients who looses a meager 21.3 pounds across six months. Updated on 10 Mar 2018: It turns out that things do not get better as you go, rather they get worse. From Thursday on I have had sharp pains in my lower left abdomen and back. I have been sick badly enough to be vomiting blood and coughing often. I have not been able to find a comfortable position to sleep in. On my back I feel like I am suffocating, same on my right. On my stomach is painful and is my left side. I missed my first follow up as I could not force myself into the car. I figured if I could not make it from my bedroom to my powder room without getting sick that a car trip would not be wise. I also feel like I cannot get my teeth as clean as I would like them. All I can say is that weight is coming off. I am not sure if it is dehydration for being consistently ill or actual losing weight. SW/219.3/CW2111/GW=<130 Updated on 16 Mar 2018: Lets start with what everyone really cares about, weight. In two weeks I have lost 10.2 pounds. The worse I feel the more I loose. The nights I have slept on my bathroom floor have been followed each time by a pretty reasonable drop the following morning. The pain has eased back off. At this point my concern is muscle wasting. I have gone from a minimum of 10k steps a day to regularly failing to hit 2k. The pain level went from 3-4 to 9+ for about a week. I was seriously considering having the ballon pulled out early. I met with Dr. Liu and he told me that it was nearly over, that my adjust wad going a little longer but I would be okay. I am feeling close enough to myself to want to get back into the gym. SW/219.3/CW209.1/GW=<130 Updated on 21 Mar 2018: I am frustrated. It has been nearly three weeks and for the last there is no movement on my weight. A little up, a little down. It makes me want to scream. I am not loosing weight any more quickly with the balloon in than I was the month before I had it inserted. I am back in the gym working out with a trainer, hopefully that will help get me off the plateau. SW/219.3/CW208.9/GW=<130 Updated on 27 Mar 2018: Well it has been a little like 3.5 weeks and I have lost 13.1 pounds. I am back in the gym boxing in the morning and walking with my dog in the evenings. I am struggling with exceedingly slow progress. It feels like I am just barely moving those numbers on the scale. For the last 2.5 weeks (17 days) I have been losing more slowly than I was before having the balloon placed. I am queasy all day. I am still unsure sometimes if I need to burp or vomit. Awkward. I was hoping to be to onederland by the end of March. Y'all keep your fingers crossed I haven't given up the dream yet. SW/219.3/CW206.2/GW=<130 Updated on 29 Mar 2018: One of the things that is frustrating for anyone trying to lose weight is when the scale pops up and down. It has been for the last month. What is concerning to me is the pattern emerging. Stomach settled-weight steady or a gain. Sick as a pig- scale moves in the right direction. I am guessing I will be down in the morning. I want to be down, I do not want my weight to be determined by how often I am hanging out on the washroom floor. SW/219.3/CW206.5/GW=<130 Updated on 30 Mar 2018: Today I am four weeks post insertion or 1/6 of the way through my time with the Orbera. I was told that the majority of the weight would come off in month one. I am disappointed with the my present loss of 13.6 pounds in four weeks. When I had the Orbera inserted I began using an app called Happy Scale. It keeps a record of your weigh ins and tells you when you will hit various goals...at the moment things are not looking too good. SW/219.3/CW205.7/GW=<130 Updated on 2 Apr 2018: Today is the one month anniversary of my insertion. Hooray. I went by the pharmacy to pick up 3 of the 5 RXs I am on for this month. In full disclosure I am coughing enough that blood is coming up so there is an extra RX for me that might not be there for everyone else. 31 Days Out 15 pounds down. 151 Orbera Days and 74.3 pounds to go. SW/219.3/CW204.3/GW=<130 Updated on 4 Apr 2018: 33 Days out, 15.8 lbs down. 149 Orbera Days 73.5 pounds to go. SW/219.3/CW203.5/GW=<130 Updated on 6 Apr 2018: My intention is to be neither positive nor negative in my posts. Weight loss is frustrating process, my posts reflect the ups and the downs. It is easy to be enthusiastic when things are going well and the pounds are coming off. In contrast no one wants to hear that your stomach hurts because you are going to be constipated and have bad stomach cramps. Its odd because I have not been ill for a few days and the longer I go without sicking something up the slower the weight comes off. *shrugs* Here is to hoping for better results this month. SW/219.3/CW203.1/GW=<130 Updated on 29 May 2018: I have been waiting to post an update. I have been checking in with the MD as time allows, and though I have missed a few appointments due to travel he agrees that I am doing what I should. I track my exercise via a fitbit. I am consistently hitting 5+ miles a day. In an effort to reduce my caloric intake farther I have been eating two meals and day and not eating the recommended snacks. In the past 53 days I have lost 7 pounds, it has not been slow and steady but fits and starts. Even on a “regular diet” the expectation is to lose 2lbs a week. I still have acid reflux issues, when leaning over I have to be mindful of angles of I sick up stomach acid. It makes cleaning a real adventure. In total I have had the balloon for 88 days and lost 23.2 pounds. Fair or not my expectation was to be closer to 40 or 50lbs down by now. I have 94 days left with the Orbera, and my goal was and is to be another 66.1 down in that time. Cross your fingers boys and girls I need to triple my current loss rate to make my goal weight happen. SW-219.3/ CW 196.1/ GW-130 Updated on 6 Jun 2018: Another week in an my progress was less than impressive. 2 pounds down in the past 8 days. A few people have asked about the diet that was given to me. I am attaching a photo below. 64.1 pounds to go, 86 days with balloon remaining SW-219.3/ CW 194.1/ GW-130 Updated on 14 Jun 2018: This last week has been a real bummer. In the last eight days I have gained weight and it hurts. 2.6 pounds gained in the past week. I have lost all that time and made no progress. I reached out to my MD and asked about a protein drink options which do not have any sort of coconut. They told me to try Premier Protein. I went online bought a variety of flavors; Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, Strawberries and Cream, Peaches and Cream, and Clear Raspberry. I will post reviews with how each flavor tastes. For now I am going back on a fully liquid diet until things improve. I have a MD appointment next Tuesday. My goal is to be in the 180s by that time. It will have been more than 2 months since they saw me I would like, they expect me to have lost 24lbs I am hoping to make it 15. No one said this would be easy, but if I can get to my goal it will all be worth it. SW-219.3/ CW 196.7/ GW-130 Updated on 17 Jun 2018: Premier protein is the non-coconut brand my MD's office recommend to me. So far I've got mixed reviews. This week I tried. Chocolate- Okay, better served over ice Cookies and Cream- Disgusting too sweet Strawberries and Cream- Tastes like drinking chapstick Peaches and Cream- Like a sort of watered down yogurt but drinkable Raspberry Protein Water- A little granular, but okay So far the basic chocolate is the most palatable. Updated on 6 Jul 2018: I made it into the 180s on June 29th and have been struggling to keep this momentum going. I am living off premier protein shakes right now and the occasional meat or veggie to try and balance the nausea. I have lost 32.5 pounds, well under what I was told to expect but a bit more than the average patient loses while have the balloon in. I have 56 days to loose the last 56 pounds. At this point that goal is more fantasy than anything else. I am determined to loose as much as I can before the balloon comes out in September. I know I can and will stick with the majority of my new habits to continue loosing weight and keep it off for the rest of my life. Still every pound that comes off now is one I do not have to worry about loosing later. SW-219.3/ CW 186.5/ GW-130 Updated on 20 Jul 2018: This week I was given my removal date by Dr. Liu. His office is run very smoothly. I like his staff a great deal. Sini in particular has a very easy way. I am down 34.4 pounds and 139 days into the process. I have 48 days until the balloon is removed and 54.9 pounds to loose. At this point I am more disappointed than anything. In twenty weeks I would have expected to loose 40-50 pounds on a bog standard diet. I am not even meeting that goal and the amount of money spent combined with the discomfort and illness involved makes me feel I have made a poor decision. I have 6 more weeks, if by some miracle I loose at least 55lbs in this process (3 pounds a week until the end) I will be content. But truly I have had better success without any intervention in the past. SW-219.3/ CW 184.9/ GW-130 Updated on 24 Jul 2018: I am 145 days in 36.4 pounds down or about 1.75 pounds a week. That is the information everyone is really after. 44 days left and 52.9 pounds to loose. Odds are looking pretty slim that I will hit my goal. I am still hoping to drop another 20 pounds before I have the balloon out. As I have said if I can get myself below 165 by September 7th I will be content. If I could be below 150....well that is what I would consider a success. So keep your fingers crossed and maybe light a candle or two. I am still hoping to double my weight loss so far before the balloon is out. I show the ups and downs I am attached a graph of my weight loss, the record is not perfect when I travel I cannot weigh in. SW-219.3/ CW 182.9/ GW-130(150 for the balloon) Updated on 25 Jul 2018: I was not thrilled with 182.9 yesterday. One 7.9.18 I was down to 182.8 and I was happy with that but then it cam roaring back. I felt like yesterday things were reasonably under control. I had a protein shake for breakfast and grilled chicken for dinner. Days In 146/ Weight Lost 34.9 pounds Days Left 43/ Weight to Lose 54.4 pounds SW/219.3/CW184.4/GW=<130 Updated on 25 Jul 2018: I did try a few new protein drinks based off recommendations posted on this thread and others. Bolthouse Farms- Chocolate 16g Protein Granular and gross Odwallea- Chocolate 32g protein, 410 calories. This one tastes okay but at three times the calories as a Odwalla- Vanilla Syrupy Sweet 32g protein, 380 calories. Odwalla- Strawberry Protein 25g protein, 320 calories. By comparison the Premier Protein Chocolate shake has 30g protein and 160 calories. The drastic increase in calories (more than 2x) and 53g of carbohydrates vs 6...well if you think it tastes more like a regular drink it is not a health drink. Updated on 30 Jul 2018: 39 days until my balloon comes out and 52.6 pounds to go. I am feeling pretty low about the process at this point. Since March 3rd (151 Days) I have lost 37.6 pounds. In the last 90 days I have lost 18 pounds. In the last 30 days I have lost 7.4 pounds. In the past week I have lost 1.8 pounds. It feels like at every stage the weight loss is reduced. It is now slower than what you are told to expect on straight calorie reduction. 38 Days to go! 52.6 pounds of excess fat remaining :( SW-219.3/ CW 182.6/ GW-130 Updated on 14 Aug 2018: Due to international travel I ended up having to remove the balloon a month early. I had gotten down to 179 even but this morning I am 179.9, bummer. I had the ballon out last Friday. Overall in 5 months I lost 40 pounds. I had been hoping for 50 or 60 but the loss of a month cost me. So I still need to loose 50 pounds, but I am off to a solid start. SW-219.3/ CW 179.9/ GW-130
