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I have heard the same harsh comments as many people have...just cut back, exercise, diet, drink more water, eat more veggies...you name it, and I have probably heard it. I didn't choose to be overweight, it just seemed to creep up on me slowly and before I knew it, I weighed 300 pounds...from having kids, from not being active, from being a good cook, from marrying into an Italian family. I had WLS after my husband said to me that he was concerned about me and my health, and that he wanted me to be around so we could enjoy retirement together. He didn't want me to sleep all day and not be able to go for a walk, and mostly he could see how I was depressed from my weight. He is my biggest supporter, and he didn't care how much it would cost, just "get it done". So, after years of yoyo dieting, trying every fad diet in the land, I was banded and I have to say it is the best money I have ever spent. I do not regret it for one moment because you see, I am a food-aholic...just like an alcoholic, but with food. I was not able to help myself. Now, I have learned healthy eating habits and choose the foods that appeal to me. I no longer crave the chips, chocolates, ice cream, cake, cookies, popcorn that used to rule my life. Now when I get a hankering for something to eat, my thoughts turn to protein, veggies and fruit. But I know this would not have been possible without my band. My band is a reminder to me each and every day of the new me, and I am going to be on this wonderful journey forever. So, when someone gives you a bunch of grief because you have decided or did have WLS, tell them to walk a mile in your shoes, and tell them to be sure to climb those stairs 2 or 3 times a day, and then tell them it is not a crime to want something better for yourself, to want to be around to see your kids or grand kids get married, to see them graduate. My bi-weekly trips to my dr's office are fantastic. I get excited to get on the scale and see that it has moved backwards, closer to a new me. The dr is proud of me too, and I can tell you, that goes a long way in my book of "good feelings". So if you are contemplating WLS, I say B-R-A-V-O. YOU GO AN 'GET'ER DONE'. You will probably find the road a little bumpy at times, but so worth it. I LOVE MY BAND Zil Banded 8/19/2011, starting weight, 299, weight loss to date 76#s, and another 65 to go...hoping to make it by 11/1/2012. Oh, BTW, it did take me 5 months to get into the green zone and that was with fills every 2 weeks.

I am 10 days past surgery and to say the least. I was really having a hard time recovering from the pain. This morning I am feeling pretty good. The stabbing pain is gone, my shoulder pain is gone. I was starting to wonder what I had done, but now I am getting ready to help a child hood friend celebrate her Daughters Sweet 16 party, sitting by the pool drinking my soup. lol Thanks for all the support and good luck to you all.

Once you have good restriction, food wiil accumulate in your pouch while eating, and you will have to stop eating at some point. Automatic Portion Control, part of being in the Green Zone. So, drink water on top of that....and you will learn why real quick, and you will never do it again.

There are some people, like Michelle, whose body does not tolerate the band. I've had my band for a little over 3 months now. I love it. But do not go into this if you are not willing to work at it. The band is not a miracle cure as some diet doctors will have you believe. It is constant work. But if you follow your doctor's instructions closely, listen to your own body, and like Holly did, make your own mistakes, you will be successful. It just gets easier and easier.

Hello there. I am coming up on a year and very happy with my band. I can't say that it has controlled my hunger, hoping my next fill will do it. My horror story? Thank goodness there is only one! I ate a handful of cheese Its, packed my band full and then drank a slushy. Not even thinking that I shouldn't have the slushy after eating, I was excited because my kids wanted one and I saw they had a sugar free one. Well, shorthly thereafter I couldn't even swallow my saliva. When you do get something stuck, you will get a ton of saliva and that's what comes up for me whenever I have had something get stuck. After 5 hours of throwing up, I finally decided to call my dr. Mind you, I was camping and now it was 7:30 pm! I was atleast 50 miles away from the office and thought I could just crawl into my tent and just sleep it off. Nope, no way, no how! My physician asst met me at the office at 9:30 pm. She took a tiny bit out and instant relief! Did I learn my lesson? Well, yes and no. I never did it to that extreme but I did have Cheese Its one more time and felt them going down slow. So, since then I haven't touched them! I wish the same thing would have happened with chocolate! Good luck! Can't wait to hear your success story down the road.

I had my lapband placed 3 yrs ago never regretting a day of it...I have done exceptionally well and have kept my weight off and controlled for the past three yrs. I was on an insulin pump for over 10 yrs and I no longer take anything whatsoever for diabetes because it disappeared along with the extra weight...I have my life back and I am in control of my weight...Best decision that could have made.......You must be ready mentally for it to a be a success.......

My surgery was on Tuesday. I was supposed to be first of the day, but got pushed back since I was relatively healthy compared to the other cases. So I didn't get out of recovery and into my room until 6pm that night. I had alot of pain that first night, mostly from the gas that they pumped in. But I asked my nurse to help me get up... I think I only walked about 10feet but it really helped loosen everything up and I felt better afterwards. I had my leak test first thing Wednesday morning... I'm convinced that was the WORST part of the whole thing. I still don't know how I managed to NOT vomit! But, it was good news because there were no leaks. When I got back to my room, I have never been so excited to see chicken broth in my whole life! I walked a mile that day (in small increments) and did my one-oz-per-hour. I stayed Wednesday night because I still had drainage from my JP. On Thursday morning the fellow came by and told me I could go home that evening. I told him I didn't care whether I went home or not as long as they took that stupid drain out! I was hard to do anything with that attached! I walked another mile that day and worked my way up to about 4-oz-per-hour. Last night I slept in my own bed, albeit propped up quite a bit. So, my goal for this weekend is to work my way into sleeping flat! I'm still trying to increase my liquid intake, thats been hardest, but I'm "sip, sip, sipping" just like every one says to. I'm glad I took two weeks off work because I definitely could not face going back on Monday!

Nothing much to report back on solids again, had a chobani for b/fast with some granola (1 T) and yogurt covered raisins (1 T), was feeling fine until an hour before I could eat again and my stomach is growling, I know that's not "real" hunger but it's annoying. Wooo talking about "real" hunger, um let's see what have I learned this week: headaches and fatigue for me = hunger. On Tuesday, I had a huge headache, I was still on liquids per mds orders so I thought "well maybe I'm hungry" made myself a protein shake and sure enough voila! Problem solved! Yesterday, I was so tired that I ordered a cup of coffee (something I don't usually do after 4pm) and a packet of veggie cream cheese (since I was still on mushies) at D & D and I don't know if it was the coffee or the cream cheese, but once I got home, I was ready to go kick some @$$ at the gym! So, I think I figured when my stomach is growling, that's just my body being pissed off. When I have headaches or am about to fall asleep standing up, that's hunger. Also I ordered a Keurig for my office, I really do think I need a pep in my step in the afternoon. It's 1:30pm here and I'm yawning! Have a good weekend! I'll be back on Monday!!!

I just looked at it, they don't call me "Grace" for nothing. Good luck. Looks fun but I would be injuried.

Hello all! 04/26/2012 will be my FIFTH bandversary. Yes, 5 years. I used to live on this site and for me it was vital to my success and accountability. I was tight with my group of "Violets" who were all 2007 bandsters..... I am still friends with most of them on facebook and such, but the need to come here and post is long gone. If you click on my profile you can see where I started and where I'm at today..........as I uploaded more pics to my progress album. I did awesome my first year and lost 98 lbs, and then I just quit watching what I ate and quite weighing every day....... I gained about 30 lbs, but then I just settled. I would get on the scale about once every 6 months and the scale would read the same 204-208. Failure? Hell NO! I was (and am) normal sized and comfortable in my size 12-14's. In 2012 I am refocusing on re-losing those same 30 lbs, because I loved the feeling of size 10 levis! and my narrow face, plus I ready. I love my band. I haven't had a fill (or unfill) in well over two years and have no plans for one in the future. I still eat too fast, but I will never again be able to eat 6 tacos or a large thin crust pizza! I can however eat two tacos and be completely stuffed!!!! I believe in eating Low Carb.. it has always helped me lose weight banded and pre-band. I am currently adhering to a LC lifestyle and I will come back and post a pic when I get back down to those size 10's in 2012! I was the first in my family to get banded........ My Brother in law got banded in Mexico 4 years ago My Mom by Dr, K 3 years ago My StepDad by Dr. K 1 year ago All of us have lost weight. My band has been a great tool and the ONLY way I've been able to maintain any ONE size in my entire life! Good Luck on YOUR band journey! Tracy Banded 04/26/2007 272/174/today206/goal for 2012... 172 and it is totally do-able!