FLORIDAYS

That is where I am at now. I have lost 126 lbs in 10 months. I look and feel wonderful compared to last November.... I am wearing L instead of 3x tops and 18 or XL bottoms instead of 4x! But while I Celebrate my loss... I still need to lose 61 lbs to hit my personal goal and 81 to hit my Dr's goal for me. So I am still overweight. I am just not morbidly obese anymore! Its frustrating at times and feels as if I will NEVER get there..... but moreso I am in a much better place than where I was so for that I am thankful. I will succeed. It may be 8 more months or 2 years.... but I WILL get there and I WILL keep it off !

SInce I started my pre op liquid the day before Thanksgiving I did a 4 day gulf coastal food tour topped off with Thanksgiving dinner 4 days early! Whats even funnier is that I remember exactly what I ate. LOL Day 1 Clearwater Beach / Grouper Sandwhich / adult frozen concoctions Day 2 Panama City / Oysters, Shrimp, crab cakes / Jamaican Rum Day 3 Biloxi / Jumbalya, Buffalo Shrimp, Fries, steak / wine Day 4 At home with Family for traditional Thanksgiving DInner Day 5 Pre Op testing / Spaghetti for dinner (somehow didnt gain more than 1 lp on the food tour Day 6 Mexican lunch with work friends / Last supper of chicken wings! Day 7 Started Pre Op Diet Day 8 went to friends so my hubby could eat another Thanksgiving DInner....I drank my Optifast and Water

Its very normal.... the first few days I could barely drink 20 oz per day! I was banded on a Thursday and returned to work on Wednesday.... finally felt like myself about 10 - 14 days post op.

I can honestly tell you that I was on liquids for 2 weeks before surgery and didn't cheat...I was on clear liquids for 1 week after surgery ...then regular liquids for the second week after surgery.... then the third week after surgery I was on mushiesand I did not cheat ....I made a commitment to myself to follow my doctors orders said that I would be successful with this lap band .. did I think about food ...yes quite often .....but my head was in a place that just didn't allow me to stray from the things I was allowed to consume .I cannot tell you if I would have been successful if I would have steared away from the doctor's plan.... however.....I made the decision to get a lap band and to be successful therefore I wasn't taking any chances .

Sorry to hear of your job situation but as others have said this is a perfect time to focus on you No matter what the circumstances losing a job stinks... but I sure wouldnt let it make me fail in other areas of my life. When the shock wears off and you start intrviewing for another position you will want to look and feel your best... Binge or stress eating isnt going to do that for you....

Get to your Dr and discuss the reasons why in 3 years you have only lost 20 lbs. Obviously you need a fill but there may be other reasons why you arent losing weight. I am 10 months post op and have seen the Dr every month since being banded and will continue until I reach my goal. I have had 4 fills to get to my sweet spot.... but the more I lose the more filled I need to be. I couldnt be as successful as I have been if I didnt see my Dr every month. Best of Luck to you.

As weird as it sounds I was a healthy fat person. No high BP, no diabetes, no high cholesteral... just 200 lbs too many for a healthy weight for my height. But at 50 years old I knew those healthy days were numbered. Actually for the first time my husband and I had a frank conversation about my weight when I was whinning about being scared during the first week of my preop diet.... and he was the one to calm me down by saying he didnt care if I lost weight or not. He loved me. However he was concerned for my health and was worried I would die with in 10 yrs if I didnt get the weight off and keep it off. My daughter was pregant at the time and I was worried sick something would happen to me during surgery and she wouldnt have a mom around and her baby wouldnt have a Grandma but his words seemed to put it all in perspective for me. Fast forward 10 months, I have a healthy 3 month old granddaughter and my husband has a healthier 50 year old wife who is 126 lbs lighter than that dark November day last year! I had my gall bladder out 20 years ago...that was my surgical experience which I obviously survived so I dealt with my fears by facing it head on. I did my research, visited 3 surgeons, followed all the rules of the preop diet including giving up carbonation (that is HUGE) and was mentally ready to make this life change. I decided I wouldnt have any problems because I trusted my Dr and promised to follow his advice. You will be fine and your children will be so lucky to have you around for a long long time.

Anyone who thinks this is the easy way out is a moron.... or at best uneducated... Either way I would dismiss them from my radar.... and if its a close family member I would thank them for their opinion and never discuss it with them again....no matter how much they probe. But that's just me. You just cannot fix stupid.

Tampa, Florida

I was also banded in December. I have had my share of plateaus.... I usually tried to just ride them out but increase my Water intake for a few days. That seems to get things moving again. During 2 plateaus the water didnt help much so I went on sugar free instant Breakfast shakes (with Protein added) for a day... which seems to help... Just make sure you get at least 800 calories on your liquid day. However I will tell you my Dr doesnt advocate the breakfast shakes... but told me they wouldnt hurt me as long as I drank 4-5 of them in a day.

Once I made the decision I moved full steam ahead. I started my 2 week liquid the day BEFORE Thanksgiving last year. I was banded 12/9 and had my first solid food on New Years Day. I just kept reminding myself that I had 49 previous holidays to eat goodies.... if I didnt do something soon I may not live to see many more....

I didnt broadcast it....but I also didnt hide it. Most of my close friends knew and now when people ask how I have lost weight ...sometimes I tell them I got the lap band. sometimes I tell them I have been dieting. Both of course are the truth. Most people dont ask anymore questions. The ones that do are usually interested in the info for themself or a loved one and I am happy to discuss it. When I requested time off for the surgery I told my boss I was having a surgical procedure. He asked what was wrong (and while its not really his business since I have gobs of vacation time) I just said it was a stomach issue. He didnt ask anymore... I didnt volunteer.

I can eat bread, celery, pizza, tortillas and anything that is breaded. However... I can tell you that I have had 1/2 slice of pizza 2x in the 10 months I have been banded, limited my celery intake because it does seem to much work to chew chew chew.... I eat 45 calorie wheat bread several times per week and dont have any issues. I have tried white bread and didnt seem to have issue with it but its soooo many calories I don't bother. I love tortilla chips and will have a few of them now and again. I havent had any flat tortillas because they just seem a waste of calories so I dont know how they would do.... I also avoid anything breaded however I did have a few bites of something breaded a few months ago and didnt have any trouble. You will find your band is selective and personal. I eat a scrambled egg today and I dont have any issue. Tomorrow I eat a scrambled egg and can't digest it..... go figure... LOL

to be honest....nothing regimented until recently... now I am walking 2 miles 3x per week.

when you have any surgery your body goes in panic mode ...and it conserves calories and doesnt burn them like normal. Most people do not lose weight the first week or so. Its normal... Best of luck to you

My pleasure....I just anwered the question which I decided was the objective of your post.

I am 9 1/2 months out.... I have lost 124 lbs thius far and have 60-80 to go.... I just followed my Dr's advice and eat 1000 calories each day. I eat 1-2 Snacks and 3 meals. For each of the 3 meals I have 4 oz meat / protien, 1/2c veggies / 1/4c starch. Typicaly my day looks like this: weekday B-fast - Carnation Instant Bfast sugar free / skim milk weekend bfast- 1 egg scrambled, 1 slice wheat toast w/ suga free jelly / 1 slice bacon week day snack - fruit Lunch- 4oz tuna, cup of lettuce / onion, cucumbers/ fat free dressing / 3 triscuts dinner 4 oz meat (broiled, grilled or baked), veggie or salad and 1/2 small baked potato Snack - Skinny cow 100 calorie ice cream bar / mini box of raisins 64 oz Water Its not exciting...but it works!

Last year December I got on the scale and about had a heart attack... I had gained the 60 lbs I lost on Jenny Craig (didnt make it to my goal because I got bored and wasnt commited....) 2 yrs earlier as well as 30 more.... today I have lost 124 lbs and have about 60 more to go. For me this has been a wonderful decision. I do not regret it at all! I wish you all the best and know that a correctly filled band will do 70% of the work. You must do the rest by way of making good food choices. So far I dont have too much extra skin.... .. but I will take that over 200 lbs of extra weight. Best of luck with your decision.

Its the hardest thing for me.... but I just do it.... but my Dr said 30 min before and after.... not 60. I will tell you that I have on occasion only made it 15 minutes after... but then I only had a sip of water until I waited the whole 30 minutes..

And I wanted to add..... I wish you all the best in making your decision. You are the only one who knows what is best for you!

Based on your first paragraph I would think the LapBand would be perfect for you as well. I dont petend to walk in your shoes so will not tell you what to do. I also have no idea what a Center of Excellence is.... What I do know is this. I stepped on the scale in My surgeon's office last December and weighed 377 lbs. At 5"10 I was a big girl. Last week I stepped on that same scale and it read 253. I am still 5'10 and I am still a big girl.... but I am 124 lbs, 10 sizes and more inches than i can count smaller. And in another 6 months I expect to be 165 lbs. I know how to diet... shoot I had done it more times than I could count over the past 30 years. Problem is... I never learned to eat just a little bit. No one taught me food is fuel. Until the Lapband. My Dr is strict. He has done 600 bands so I trust him and have followed his guidelines to the letter. I gave up carbonation, stay away from fried foods, do not drink my calories and record what goes in my mouth on my phone ap. I eat 4-6 oz of food per meal...3 x per day. I have 2 Snacks. I stay at around 1000 calories and walk 2 miles a few times per week. I have been doing that since December of last year. I dont care about the statics. I did my research, picked a top bariatric Dr and follow his rules. I can tell you he has removed 1 band in 600 due to a medical problem. He also was honest to tell me at least 20% of his patients fail... because they do not follow the rules, get regular fills and keep appointments. I have never vomited but I have brought food back up when I ate to fast or too much...that isnt tha band's fault. I have never been "starving" except the first 4 days of the liquid diet. I am not sure what an incorrect fill is... unless you mean its not enough or too much. Thats part of the process getting to your green zone. Its certainly not a big deal. That said... I believe this band has worked for me and will continue to work for me after I reach my goal because I want it too. Its a drastic measure... but one I was ready to make. I dont know how much you need to lose... I dont know what your motivation is... but the band does 70% of the work. You must do the rest. For me... I was willing to give %30.

Based on your first paragraph I would think the LapBand would be perfect for you as well. I dont petend to walk in your shoes so will not tell you what to do. I also have no idea what a Center of Excellence is.... What I do know is this. I stepped on the scale in My surgeon's office last December and weighed 377 lbs. At 5"10 I was a big girl. Last week I stepped on that same scale and it read 253. I am still 5'10 and I am still a big girl.... but I am 124 lbs, 10 sizes and more inches than i can count smaller. And in another 6 months I expect to be 165 lbs. I know how to diet... shoot I had done it more times than I could count over the past 30 years. Problem is... I never learned to eat just a little bit. No one taught me food is fuel. Until the Lapband. My Dr is strict. He has done 600 bands so I trust him and have followed his guidelines to the letter. I gave up carbonation, stay away from fried foods, do not drink my calories and record what goes in my mouth on my phone ap. I eat 4-6 oz of food per meal...3 x per day. I have 2 Snacks. I stay at around 1000 calories and walk 2 miles a few times per week. I have been doing that since December of last year. I dont care about the statics. I did my research, picked a top bariatric Dr and follow his rules. I can tell you he has removed 1 band in 600 due to a medical problem. He also was honest to tell me at least 20% of his patients fail... because they do not follow the rules, get regular fills and keep appointments. I have never vomited but I have brought food back up when I ate to fast or too much...that isnt tha band's fault. I have never been "starving" except the first 4 days of the liquid diet. I am not sure what an incorrect fill is... unless you mean its not enough or too much. Thats part of the process getting to your green zone. Its certainly not a big deal. That said... I believe this band has worked for me and will continue to work for me after I reach my goal because I want it too. Its a drastic measure... but one I was ready to make. I dont know how much you need to lose... I dont know what your motivation is... but the band does 70% of the work. You must do the rest. For me... I was willing to give %30.

I am over 1/2 way to goal and just finally broke down and bought 3 cheap bras at Walmart to get me to goal.... I was a 46C and now a 36B so I just lived with it for the past 10 months....I dired them in the dryer (something I usually dont do with my bras), shortened the straps and hooked it on the tightest row of hooks.