muelle

Congratulations!!! You look great and you look younger as well I regret not taking before pics, at the time I never wanted to see myself like that again, but now I regret it. I do have a couple random pics from last Thanksgiving, and I was banded the Monday after, so that is as close as I'll get to pre-op pics Keep up the great work!!!

I have a low profile port, and it has been noticeable for a couple of months now. You can really only see it though if you know it is there, otherwise it kind of looks like a muscle or something

Thank you!!! I wasn't very clear I meant no leftovers, especially chicken and pork. I think it is because the meat is too dry. I have even tried reheating chicken with broth on it, and it still doesn't go down very well

I'm almost 11 months post op and I can eat about 2 pieces of sushi. I can no longer eat more than a couple bites of rice, bread, and red meat. I sometimes have problems with lean pork chops as well. Also no reheated foods, at all. I think I am either very close, or at the green zone and have met my goal weight. Good luck to you on your journey!!!

I'm guilty of not checking into this thread regularly enough I too can't believe it has almost been a year, I was banded 11/29/10. I have met my doctor's and my original goal, but in my mind I would like to lose another 10 pounds or so. I averaged about 10-12 pound of loss every month, but that has slowed down in the last 2 months, which I guess can be expected considering I have less to lose now. I have not had any complications or issues, it has been fairly easy for me. I started out on a strict low to no carb, low calorie diet, but in the last 5 months or so I have loosened up on that and if I want to eat something, I eat it in moderation. I also do not exercise at all anymore, I know I need to start again though. My doctor says that because I am so young (34 haha, not so young in my opinion), my skin tightened up on its own. I do want to tone up my stomach and thighs a little though How often does everyone go to the doctor? I am still on monthly visits to adjust my band and was just curious about everyone else. Good luck to everyone!!!

Great job!!! I remember my first shopping trip after I could no longer fit in any of my clothes. It is such a wonderful feeling. At the beginning of the summer I bought a couple nice pairs of capris, size 14 and tops size large. I work part time in retail so I had to have a couple decent outfits and I figured they would get me through the summer. Within a couple weeks, my new clothes were falling off of me. I tried on some clothes at work and was thrilled to fit in a size 10 bottom and medium top. I now fit in a size 9 bottom and medium top in juniors. I even bought a skirt yesterday that was a 7 Keep up the great work and thank you for the motivating post!!!

I was banded November 29, 2010. I was 33 and weighed 244. I am now down a little over 100 pound and feel great! You just need to follow your doctor's advice and you will be just fine Good luck to you!

I am 10 1/2 months post op and I have probably only felt actual real hunger half a dozen times since my surgery. Many times I go without eating through the day because I would rather go home and eat a good healthy meal rather than grab something quick and easy on the run. My surgeon says "Don't eat if you are not hungry." I know that is not what most surgeons say, so follow your surgeon's advice, but it has worked for me as I am down a little over a hundred pounds since surgery. Good luck to you on your journey!!!

Thank you so much!!!

I have a friend who teaches three or four spinning classes at the YMCA five days a week. I was talking to her yesterday and I asked her where she gets her energy. She told me she takes Jack3d. I had never heard of it before then, so I have been trying to research if it is safe for Lapband patients and can't find much. Has anyone ever taken it? I am going to ask my doctor about it Wednesday, but was just curious what you all know about it. I have hit my goal weight with virtually no exercise and it is time for me to finally start. I have a couple areas I should tone up a bit Any information anyone has on this would be great, thanks in advance!!!

I started with a bra size of 40D, now I have a bra size of 34B. I wish I could say that makes me happy, but it doesn't. Not only have the size of my breasts shrunk, but it's like they are deflated balloons With a great fitting bra it is not noticeable, but I know. I am now saving money to get a breast lift and implants

If someone had asked me one year ago if I ever thought I would be at a "normal" weight again, I probably would've laughed. Yet here I am, at my doctor's and my goal weight and with a normal BMI. When I started this process, weighing 244 pounds, my realistic hopes were to just be under 200 pounds again. That came fairly quickly, and the rest was just bonus. It has been just under ten months and I am here to let everyone know that it is possible, you can do it too! I realize that I am very fortunate that I have not had any issues or complications and am very thankful for that. When I lost my mother a few months ago, I was devastated and used that as an excuse to overeat. I had been averaging a loss of ten pounds per month, so when I gained two pounds the month following her passing, I had to remember why I had the surgery and how proud my mom was of me for losing weight. She has always been my rock and my inspiration, so thinking of her has been my motivation. If you get discouraged or down during your journey (and I'm sure everyone does at one time or another) just go back to square one and remember why you went down the road you chose. Whatever that reason was, whether it be health, body image, love or anything else, I hope it will motivate you as mine motivated me. Good luck to everyone on your journeys and I wish the best for all of you!

Gering, NE

I agree that there are a lot of success stories here, I am one too. I had surgery 11/29/10 and have lost a little over a hundred pounds. I have had no complications or issues, and really haven't had to work at it at all. When I first joined this site right after having surgery, I got a little scared by some of the complication stories I read on here. I even spoke with my doctor about it and he made a very good point. This is a support group website, and when people are having problems, they come on here for help, so it is common to see more complication stories than success stories. Good luck with whatever he chooses!

Mine is about an inch below my ribcage, a couple inches to the left of center. I like where it is at so far. I sometimes forget it is there and if I lean on a high counter, ouch! People look at me like I'm nuts when I barely lean on something and jump back like I was bitten by a rattlesnake I have lost a little over a hundred pounds and when I lose weight I get thinner in my torso area, so my ribs now stick out and there is a slight bump where my port is. I have not worked very hard at toning up my stomach and when I do, the port may stick out. I guess I will cross that bridge when I get there. Good luck to everyone!!!

Thank you!!!

I'm so sorry for your losses. Thank you for your kind words, I'm glad that my post was meaningful to you. I think it is great that you are doing this for yourself as well as your parents memories, I can relate Good luck to you as well! Kristi

I have been banded just under ten months, and I have only felt hunger maybe half a dozen times in that ten months. With proper restriction you should not feel hungry all the time. For some people it takes awhile to get to that restriction and it can be difficult for them. I love my band and have had no issues or complications. Good luck to you with whatever you choose

I am almost 9 months post op and I experienced the same pain/discomfort as you. I'll be completely honest with you, the discomfort and sometimes pain lasted for me for about 6 weeks. I even asked my doctor about it because I wasn't sure I could take it if that feeling was going to last forever. The more weight I lost, the better it got. I am a full time student, so a ton of my time is spent sitting and sometimes I would just have to get up and move around to "make some room" It takes a little while for your body to heal completely. Not only do they cut through skin, tissue and muscle, but they also move your insides around to get to your stomach. Plus most people have their port stitched to their muscle, so it takes a little while to get better. Even now, depending on what I do or how strenuous my day is, I still have occasional discomfort. Hang in there, it will get better and it is so worth it! Good luck to you on your journey!

I don't know if our stomachs are the same size or different sizes, but I do know we sometimes need fills as we loose weight because the fat pad around the stomach shrinks, at least that is what my doctor says As far as the original question from Juicylicious goes, I think the size of band the doctor places is up to them, though I'm not sure why. I started with a BMI of 35 and was around 40 when I had my surgery (I think) and my band is either 11ccs or 14ccs, not sure which one. I asked him at my post op appointment, but forget what he said. I have had around 7 small fills totaling just under 5ccs in my band and I am in the green zone. Good luck to you and I hope this answer helps with your question.

I think with in a couple weeks of surgery I was able to drink quite a bit at a time. I was concerned and asked my doctor if this was ok and he said as long as it is going down it is fine. He said for the most part liquid passed through the band very quickly. I have almost 5ccs in an 11 or 14 cc (not sure which one I have) band and now have to slow down my drinking, especially early in the morning. I can feel the water going down for about half the day, then the band loosens up some. Good luck to you!

Like PalmBayTrish said, everyone is different, but I know it's nice to get an idea of what other people's experiences are I am not totally sure what size band I have, it's either 11ccs or 14ccs. I currently have just under 5ccs in my band right now and I think it took like 7 fills. I was really close to the green zone, and have always lost pretty well, so my doctor was only giving me tiny fills. I think I am either at the green zone now, maybe a little over. Good luck to you!

Try to chew better and see if that helps you get the food down. If that doesn't work, you may be too tight. I was always told if you can't get the healthy food down, then you are probably too tight and you end up eating not so healthy food because it usually goes down really easy. I get stuck after a couple bites of certain foods no matter how well I chew, but I just know not to eat them. It's usually things like bread, and stringy meat. As far as gaining 5 pounds this week, that could be attributed to swelling if it is close to your TOM. I know it is disheartening to have a set back, I was crushed the 1 month I actually gained a pound when I had been losing 10-15 pounds every month. I just rededicated myself and paid closer attention to what I was eating. Good luck to you on your journey!!!

Congratulations on your loss so far, you are doing great!!! After about 50 pounds people started telling my husband I looked great and asked what I was doing. I have been very open about my surgery and if people ask I tell them. After losing 65 or so pounds, people began to tell me I look great. Now at close to 100 pounds lost, I get at least 1 person a day commenting on my weight loss. It feels great to get the compliment, but it makes me a little uncomfortable too. I think when I started buying clothes that fit me better, people started to notice my new curves and that along with going back to school and seeing people I haven't seen for months has prompted all of the recent comments. Keep up the great work and good luck to you!!!

I took phentermine about 2 years before having lapband surgery. I did well with it and lost 60 pounds in 5 months. Around the 5th month I felt that the phentermine was not having as much effect on me, so I quit taking it, my doctor only allows you to take it for 6 months, then off for 6. I regained everything I lost and a little more within a year. I tried it again after about a year and it still had little effect on me so I only took it for about 2 months and started the process for lapband surgery. Having tried phentermine and now having the lapband, for me personally, there was nothing psychological about keeping the weight off. When you are on phentermine not only is your appetite suppressed but so is your desire to eat, which is why it is usually effective (while you're on it). I would not change getting the band for anything, I am so happy I got it. My personal experience has been very positive and successful, I have little to no hunger. As far as keeping the weight off, I believe I will be successful with that as well. I am 10 pounds from goal, although I may lower that a little after speaking with my surgeon, and feel that if I have not felt deprived while losing an average of 10 pound per month, then maintenance should be really easy Good luck to you on your journey!