TheRealSouthernBelle

It's major surgery, you should have hesitations. I had hesitations and I'm sure everyone else has too. But listening to naysayers and negative people is only going to amplify them. You have to do what's right for you, whether it's Lapband or not. I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better about it. It will be okay!

It's really not as bad as you think it is. I think it will happen as long as I have my band. Most days are good, but sometimes I do get a tight in the chest feeling. I just hold my breath, slow it down, and take small bites and chew well. This probably happens once a month. I don't actually slime and "throw up" every month. That rarely happens. Everyone has their own hang ups. I know this was one thing I was scared of because I HATE throwing up, but it doesn't actually feel like that. I was also worried about the scars, not losing the weight, dying (which clearly didn't happen), all kinds of complications...I would say that this is pretty small compared to other things that could go wrong.

I think everyone is different. I had hernia repair while my band was placed and I was in so much pain. I guess I have a low tolerance for pain anyway, but I was taking that liquid pain medicine religiously and still was hurting. The worst was when I tried sleeping. I couldn't lay down in the bed with hubby, so I had to sleep propped up on the couch. I was having weird dreams and kept waking up. Then I had to blow in that thing every couple of hours. It sucked beyond belief, but all was well after a week.

The only people that know about my surgery is my hubby and Lapband mentor (she told me all about it and shared her story with me, etc.). I didn't worry about telling anyone else because it's not their business and am not really up for hearing comments, opinions, or you didn't need that, or you are going to die, etc. Now that I've lost so much weight so many people ask me what am I doing, etc. and I just plainly tell them watching my calories (which is something I started doing more as the weight loss has slowed) and exercising 4-5 times a week (something I've done since a month after surgery). I had to tell work though and they just know I had a hernia repair, which is true! It's no one's business, but your own. If you know your mother in law doesn't keep secrets well and you want it to remain a secret, don't tell her. You are not obligated to anyone, but yourself and your immediate family (hubby and kids). She may ask you why you are eating funny or is that all you're going to eat, (which I get often LOL!), I just tell people I'm on a diet, which I guess is true and that's why I'm loosing weight. As far as being gone 5 days, how will people know that you're gone unless you tell them. If they ask just tell them that you needed to get away. Whatever decision you make it's yours. Don't listen to negatives because that will only dampen your spirits. You make the Lapband, it doesn't make you, so you have to work. True indeed others have to work more than some, but you will find what's right for you. It's not for the lazy, the faint of heart, or the emotionally unstable. You will have your ups and downs, but for me it's all been well worth it! Don't ignore the risks, complications, side effects, etc., but don't let those deter you from making an informed decision that could change the course of your life forever. Good luck!

Belle's Progress: Weight, gain/loss: -3lbs. (Enacting my revenge!) Goals met: Worked out well over 4 times last week even though I was traveling! No snacking at all! Other Issues: I went on a pre-Thanksgiving diet, since I am now unemployed (turned in my 2 weeks' notice) I have amped up my exercise routine and it's paying off! 11/1 244 lbs. 11/8 244 lbs. 11/15 242 lbs. 11/22 239 lbs. 11/29 ??? lbs. 2 more lbs. to Turkey Challenge Goal! Will I make it or will I fall victim to Thanksgiving food and liquor?

This is your choice and your choice only. If you feel compelled to listen to your parents, by all means do that, but you will have to live with the what-ifs. I am not that close to my parents and I am a grown woman (I can make my own decision), so their opinions didn't mean anything to me. My parents said the same about gastric bypass surgery (when my sister told them she was thinking about doing it). They automatically thought I wanted it too. They said I didn't need it and I was going to die. It just shows how uneducated they are about that procedure and WLS in general. You are correct that the Lap Band fails and so do many people. Lap Band was not made for everyone, so some people have complications and it really does them no help. (You NEED to be prepared for this possibility!) Then there are individuals that fail their bands. They get too tight, they continue their "normal" eating habits after being banded, they ignore their bodies (possible complications), they refuse to exercise, etc. Either one could happen. Then you could have success with the Band, What an odd occurrence. I was being totally sarcastic! There is a thread here dedicated to success stories and I am one of them and I'm not all the way through. I was interested in this procedure after I seen the success that a former school mate of mine had. She lost well over 100 lbs. I figured if she could do it, I could do it too. I talked to her several times and she convinced me that this is a great procedure that will work. She told me about how she still lives a normal life. She doesn't measure and weight food, she doesn't PB, goes out to dinner here and there, and does not let her band hinder her. She advised me to do as much homework as possible and then let her know and that's exactly what I did. I would suggest to you to do your homework. Keep Googling, researching, and doing everything you can do to learn more about this procedure and other ones as well. Use this information to educate those around you and maybe they will be on board, but maybe they won't. I went into this with only 1 person as a support system and that was okay with me. I would rather have one person I love and trust in my life than a million that constantly gossip, talk behind my back, and are negative about issues in my life. BTW Of course, Lap Band is there to market and sell their product. They are a for-profit company. They also let the consumers know of possible side effects (read the fine print). Also, I don't think that it would be possible to give a major surgery to that many contestants and no one know this for years and years. That statement about the Biggest Loser contestants is laughable. Those individuals are isolated from society. They have no other choice, but to follow a diet and exercise (they do have cameras watching). They have the finest foods and assistance in preparing them and they also exercise 4-6 hours per day! Results are pretty much guaranteed. LOL!

Only my boyfriend and his mother know (he told her and I'm assuming she told some people because she gives my clothes away). No one in my family knows and neither do any of my friends. I didn't need any lectures, negativity, or the food police arresting me for eating what I want. A few years ago my sister was thinking about getting gastric bypass surgery and told my parents. They freaked out and started asking me was I thinking about getting a surgery. At the time I wasn't and all I could hear from my mother was you didn't need that (which I did because I've been morbidly obese since I was 18) and I would die (which is most likely not true because of the advancements of today's surgeries). I'm not that close to my parents and I'm a grown woman, so I really didn't need their approval. In the beginning compliments were few and far between. It's hard to tell that someone really large (348 lbs.) has lost weight until they have lost a lot of weight. Now people always ask me what I am doing and I tell them the truth dieting and exercising. No one needs to know your business if you don't want them to know, so don't let someone pressure you into telling them personal details of your life if they are really not that close to you. I've been talked about behind my back so much and stabbed in the back it's not even funny. Just keep your personal life private and if people don't believe you oh well. Isn't that what everyone says, "diet and exercise are the only true way people can lose weight"? Just keep them guessing!

Size 14 skirt! Never thought I would see the day...

Belle's Progress: Weight, gain/loss: -2lbs. (Take that scale!) Goals met: Worked out 4 times last week! Snacking is at a minimum. Hoping that will be further reduced when I get a fill and get rid of this stressful job. Other Issues: None this time, but next time I'm sure I will have a book to write! 11/1 244 lbs. 11/8 244 lbs. 11/15 242 lbs. 11/22 ??? lbs. 11/29 ??? lbs.

Frederick's of Hollywood has the cutest bras. They are always having some type of sale. Check them out. I love how they fit and how they make my boobs look perky.

It is inevitable, weight loss is going to slow down especially if you are able to eat more than you are supposed. I know that you do not want to be too tight, but I would suggest getting the smallest fill level possible. Perhaps .1 will do the magic trick. I've heard that just a little can do a lot. Also, changing up your exercise routine will help tremendously. Are there exercise classes around town or the gym you go to? I did a 5 week boot camp and it changed my overall strength and fitness. Do not fret about the sizes. Plus sizes are way larger than regular sizes, so it will take awhile for you to go down in sizes. Also, are you tracking all the calories and water you are getting in everyday? Often we eat more than we realize and a lot of foods have more calories than we think. Good luck!

I've wondered this same thing too. I have been overweight my entire life. I can remember being called ugly and fat in kindergarten and I was only 5 years old then. My mom had to sew my clothes because stores did not sell age appropriate attire in my size. I remember getting on a Slim-Fast diet when I was 11 years old. I could go on and on. I have tried to lose weight all my life very unsuccessfully. I always thought that I was destined to be big. I was content with it. The smallest I got down to was about 215 my freshman year in college. BTW I thought I was hot stuff. LOL! I don't know if I'll make it to goal, but I sure am going to keep trying! I cannot imagine myself wearing a single digit size and walking into ANY store and buying clothes. I didn't think that I would ever get up to 348 lbs., so I guess it's possible that I can get well under 200 (I've seen too many success stories). In the mean time I am doing my part and the band is doing its part.

I had an extrememly difficult time with the concept of throwing up. I hate it, it disgusts me, and is one of the worst feelings in the world. I was a little scared the first time I got stuck. My throat and chest were hurting, my eyes were watering, my mouth was full of saliva, and I just felt like getting it over because I knew what was next. Once I spit it up (because you're not actually puking), I felt instantly better. It really is not so bad once it comes up. Is avoiding getting stuck really in the hands of the patient? Maybe, maybe not, it depends. Of course you will have to change how you eat. No more big bites and a couple of chews. Everytime you get a fill your food tolerances change. Sometimes you may or may not be able to eat what you ate before. It is possible to get stuck even with small bites and chewing because you are not used to that fill level or do not yet know what you can or cannot tolerate. You may even have to get an unfill after several days of struggling. For instance, after tossing my Cookies a couple times I learned that I can no longer eat food in the AM. I can't even drink really until I have my morning coffee, otherwise it hurts going down. The rest of the day everything is A-okay as long as long as I drink plenty of fluids. Also, will getting stuck be a life-long issue to be dealt with, even after reaching goal? I haven't reached goal yet, so I can't answer this so-to-speak, but almost a year out this is something I feel like I am going to have to deal with as long as I have the band unless it loosened up dramatically and I didn't get another fill. Getting stuck is really no big deal (as long as it's not happening everyday, then you would need as unfill). If you learn the proper way to eat and monitor your eating after fills you will master it. I feel as though it's a small price to pay to finally be a normal size.

Belle's Progress: Weight, gain/loss: None. Maybe next week. Goals met: Worked out 4 times last week! Still snacking though. Other Issues: Being banded for almost a year, I am finding it extremely difficult to lose weight. It just flew off the first 9 months and all I was doing was jogging 3-4 times a week. Now, it is SO slow and I'm doing major cardio and weight lifting. I want to scream, but I will be okay. I haven't come this far to fail.

I know I'm super late, but PLEASE count me in. It's getting slower and slower and I need a little motivation. Name, real or screen: Belle Age: 27 Weight on November 1st: 244 Goal Weight for November 29th: 237 Exercise Goal for November: Finish bootcamp strong: Run a mile in 10 minutes, 40 situps in a minute, 30 pushups in a minute. Get in that extra day: 4 days per week! Dietary Goal for November: Stop the damn snacking! Personal Goal for November: Turn in my 2 weeks notice. Date Banded: Dec. 20, 2010 Total Weight Loss Since Banding: including pre-op diet: 104 lbs. since surgery: 89 lbs.

The fact that you broke your foot and couldn't exercise is probably a big reason why you haven't lost alot of weight. I went a week without exercising (bad me) and gained 3 lbs. As far as exercise, you can only do what your body can take. Listen to your body. If you are gasping for air and pouring sweat by walking 4 miles, then I would believe it's good. I wouldn't increase until I felt comfortable because overexerting yourself is a surefire to injure yourself. Take it from me, week 1 of boot camp I pulled a muscle thinking I could keep up with people who are at least 100 lbs. lighter than me. Also, their fill policy is stupid! Fills should not depend on the amount of weight you have loss, but how hungry you feel. Although some people would disagree with me, hunger should not be something you have to bear through. That is what we traditionally did and that's where we messed up everytime (or at least for me). I got so discouraged and hungry that I ate everything in sight! And the cycle started over. My advice is to eat when you are hungry. When you are hungry your brain or body cannot function properly. food is supposed to be fuel, so how can you possibly have enough fuel for your body to make it through the day and exercise by eating 500-700 calories? My advice is to track your food intake religiously by using My Fitness Pal. You can set it up on a computer and always have it handy as an app (Android & Iphone) on your phone. You put in your stats and it tells you how many calories you should be eating a day to lose up to 2 lbs. per week. I'm a 27 year old female that's 5"7' and weighs 244 lbs. and it says that I should be eating like 1350 calories per day to lose 2 lbs. per week and that's not including exercise and it always says I'm eating too few calories (so what do you think about 500-700). Make sure you are drinking 64 oz. of Water per day. Ugh! I know it's a pain, but believe me it helps. Of course exercise (always at YOUR own pace)! And eat! Not Snacks, sweets, and treats (not regularly anyway), but filling, nutritious foods. I found that Protein bars were my savior. I ate the Atkins fudge brownie and Zone chocolate chip cookie dough when I was hungry. They are not too hard and don't have too many calories. I don't know about sugar, carbs, etc. Finally, listen to yourself. Everyone always wants to give advice, but they are not YOU and don't know what's best for YOU. The PA at the fill clinic told me I shouldn't be eating Cereal in the morning for Breakfast because it had too many carbs in it. Did I listen to her? No! That's because everyone does not know what's right for YOU! I was still losing weight and sticking in a good carb range, so I chalked it up as she wanting to hear herself talk. Do I eat cereal anymore in the morning? No, but that is because I can't eat anything! Just hot coffee and a Protein Drink. GOOD LUCK!

I have been on a plateau damn near a month, but part of that was my fault with my eating habits. The best thing to do is shake up your exercise routine. I've enrolled in this 5 week bootcamp and already lost 4 lbs. Also, remember to get in your protein and drink lots of water! GOOD LUCK!

Who knows which scale is better? I use a digital one at home, which happens to be the exact weight that is at my doctor's office (they use a digital one as well). I use a balance beam scale at the gym and it always has me weighing in 2 lbs. lighter. Go figure!

I had problems with hair loss as well. It was thinning like crazy. I bought some Nioxin from EBAY for like $30 because it's really expensive and did the trick.

CONGRATULATIONS! It definitely needs more 100+ people like us posting to let people know that it's possible! Keep up the good work. You are a success story.

I was NEVER told to limit caffeine intake post band and it's not in my post op directions. LOL! I drink a cup every morning with cream and 3 Splendas. Hot drinks help those of us with stubborn bands open up a little, so we can start to eat and drink throughout the day. I'm not sure about pre-op because I didn't drink coffee then, so I would ask my doc or nurse.

It's almost been a year and I still HATE exercising! I don't despise it as much as I did when I was almost 350 lbs. but it's still a chore. I have to keep telling myself that it will all be worth it in the end and it will be over before I know it. I've just tried to make it a part of my regular, daily routine. People gave some great advice like find something that you enjoy doing (or don't mind doing as much) and do that! Also, you want to make sure that you shake things up a bit in case of a plateau! I've enrolled in a bootcamp and lost 4 lbs. already! I think the results are the things that keep me exercising. I LOVE looking in the mirror at how my body is changing. I know it sounds cliche', but think of it as a lifestyle change. It will be something you will always have to do not only to get in shape and stay in shape, but be healthy as well. GOOD LUCK!

Just a little background on me first. I got the band in Dec. 2010 and so far have lost 100 lbs. since my first consult. I told NO ONE about getting Lap Band except my boyfriend (who went to all my appointments and was there at the surgery) and the lady who I first talked to about it (she had it over 2 years). It has become noticeable that I have lost a ton of weight and I often get compliments and friends want weight loss advice. I was talking to one of my friends (we've been friends since elementary and her idea of over weight is the 160 she now weighs instead of the 120 she did in high school) on the phone and she was like you have lost a lot of weight, how much more do you planning on losing (as if I had already lost enough). I said well, my ultimate goal is 160 and she asked how far I was away from that (basically just a nice way to find out how much I weighed). So, I was like let me tell back up and tell you my whole story. Then she interrupted me (I was going to tell her about my lowest weight my freshman year in college and how I'm getting close to that) and said, "Oh Lord, don't tell me you had Lap Band"! I was taken aback and said, "No, I wasn't going to tell you that, I was going to tell you about my weight loss since freshman year in college" and she was like "Oh". And that moment I realized why I hadn't told anyone about MY surgery. It is just that, my surgery! I do not need anyone's negativity, sideways comments, or unsupportiveness. If you are contemplating on telling people or not, just think before you act. In my case it was best that I didn't!

If you have one in your area Burke's Outlet is a great store for cheap jeans and dress clothes and they do have a plus size section. You can shop the clearance rack at most stores and find good deals. I found some $9.99 jeans at Ashley Stewart (plus size store) the other day with an additional discount, $9 jeans at Maurice's (they have a plus sized section, but I got a 17/18 out the juniors), and a $15 jean jacket at the Avenue (plus size store) with an additional discount. You just gotta look, but deals are out there. You may also want to try Rainbow (got a pair of $10 white jeans awhile back) or Simply Fashions. I never pay full price for anything. I also do alot of shopping online. If you shop online do a web search for coupon codes and there's usually one out there. There is always a 50% off coupon code for the Avenue! Happy shopping!