FLORIDAYS

you know.... I am reading this thread and I can honestly say no one has ever hated on me because I had the lap band.... they are too distracted noticing how good I look. Seriously... I have not heard one negative comment.... Maybe they think it.... but no one has said it to me.

In the beginning I told close friends and relatives because they all had to put up with me while I was on my 2 wk pre surg liquid diet.... then as the weight started coming off and I found myself telling more people than I expected to.... Today when I see someone I havent seen in a while and they see me as an almost thin person and ask what type of diet I am on I tend to tell them the truth.... 1000-1200 calories per day.... and we really never get to the did you have surgery question. However if I feel I can help someone by telling them... I do volunteer the info.

I am 5'9 and my BMI was 55 and the scale indicated I weighed 377. I was on a 2 wk liquid pre surgery diet and lost 22 lbs... so the day of surgery I weiged 355. Fast forward 16 months and today my BMI is 28... and I have 30 more lbs to go.

My BMI was 55 at my first consult. I thought my Dr would make me do a 3 week liquid diet before surgery but I only had to do a 2 week... and I lost 22 lbs in those 2 weeks.... Maybe your Dr. does something similar?

... most times being stuck just requires time to let whatever is stuck go down... but my problem usually isnt being stuck... its being lucky enough to taste whatever it was again. Usually its my own fault by eating too fast. If I think something is going to come back up....I have become proficient at the bring the napkin to my mouth move......LOL Its graceful and non alarming and gives added comfort while you wait for your body to decide what its going to do.

17 months out and Mine too still grumbles every once in a while.. Dr said its normal and just juices moving around.

I am 17 months out.... you'd never know I had surgery of any kind.... and its been like that since about 6 months.... no scars at all.

It sounds like air bubbles.... make sure you arent drinking from a straw and like others have said... tiny sips of all liquids. It will be 2 weeks before you feel normal again.

I didnt cheat at all until I was about 8-9 months out... and I had a fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookie. It was the best cookie I had ever tasted. LOL Now that I am 30 lbs from goal I will have something I shouldnt every now and again but I limit it to one bite... so there is no damage and I am satisfied.

I do think that is a valid point. It gets in the maintaining mode....

Thanks Cazzy.... You are my inspiration...can't wait to hear about your body lift... I am thinking about getting my arms and tummy done. And the girls will also be lifted.

I am so glad to hear you say that... because I thought I was doing something wrong! For most of my journey I averaged 10 lbs per month.... now its more like 5... which gets pretty frustrating. I have found that if I up my Water intake sometimes that helps. Other than that I wish I could offer other suggestions.... Its still coming off... but just so slow. Congrats on your loss thus far!

I have lost 176 lbs. 34 more to go.....

My Dr... in all his surgical wisdom said its a complete unknown so its been decided that it just somehow evaporates because there is no place for it to escape. But I agree it goes somewhere.... one day I am at comfortable restriction and the next day I can eat the house!

Thought I would dust off this thread and see how everyone is doing... I have been a little scarce on this site but still losing and counting the days to goal. Hope everyone is doing well and we can serve as a good example for some of the newbies....

I am 17 months out... and I just asked my Dr that question since I am about 30 something lbs from my goal. He said I would need to continue to eat small portions, keep good resriction and watch my calories or I would be likely to gain... but basically listen to my band and when I am full stop eating. He said I can get a fill if I see more than a 5-10 lb gain but that as long as I am in the green zone I should be able to maintain on 2000 calories per day.

Well if I could turn back time I would have learned to eat correctly as a child, been more active and never blown up to 377 lbs. But... turning back time to when I made the decision to be banded....No question...I absolutly would do it again. Dont get me wrong...I have worked very hard to lose 176 lbs. And I still have 34 lbs to go. But the band has been by far the most effective tool in helping me lose the weight. Even now... I have been weaning myself to a less strict diet and the band is right there...letting me know when I am full and keeping me in check. Best of luck to you.

Hmmm I was 175 when I graduated high school in 1978..... but its funny...my Dr is ONLY concerned about my BMI. I saw him last week and I asked him if I should change my goal from 160 to 150. He said... I don't care what you weigh as long as your BMI gets below 30 (I started @ 54...now 32) and you stop losing when you hit 26. So.... I guess I will see how 160lbs looks on my 5'9 fram and take it from there.

To date I have lost 157 lbs. I am 50lbs from goal.... and my legs are sagging pretty badly since thats where I carried so much weight. I am going try to get motivated to exercise and get them toned up since I dont have the time nor really have the desire to get the skin removed. My arms sag too... maybe the exercise will help there. My boobs however are beyond help without surgery...I hadnt thought that I would have them altered but its actually affecting my personal life . My hubby doesnt mind.... but I do...in a big way .... and its getting in the way of me enjoying that aspect of my life. So after I hit goal I plan on looking into that....

I am 5'9 and weighed 377 lbs when I had my surgery 13 months ago. I have lost 157 lbs and have 50 ish to go. My BMI was 54 when I started this journey. Today it is 32. I needed a lifelong solution after years of yo yo dieting so I turned to the band. And let me tell you it has been the best decision I have ever made. Just remember... the band will do 70% of the work. You must do the rest of it by eating properly and following your dr's directions... if you do that you should lose the weight and be able to keep it off.. Good luck to you!

with soup i just eat the veggies or meat at the same time but I chew them to puree form... If I get in a hurry and forget to chew well... it will come back up

I bought a pill cutter and cut them if they are bigger than an asprin. Itake chewable adult gummy vitamins so no need to cut those.

After the initial first couple of months losing about 20 lbs per month I have settled into good restriction and lose about 9-12 lbs per month consistantly. I have very good restriction now and am full after about 4-5 oz of food. To help my band work more effectlvely I eat 1000-1200 calories per day. I am looking forward to getting to goal in about 50 lbs and maintaining....

I have been banded 13 months and have had no problems whatsoever.

My Dr asked me what number I had in mind. I said 150 off the top of my head ..... I saw that last in 8th grade I think...LOL.... so thats the number he used..... considering its well with in a healthy range for my 5'9 frame. Now that I am well on my way... I am not sure if thats the place I will stay at or be happy with...but when I get there i'll have a better idea.... and if I am happy as a clam at 160...thats ok too. There are 153 lbs already gone that I will never see again.