B-52

I'm old school - calories in versus calories burned. I am not a believer in the "Starvation Mode", at least not in the same context people loosley use it around here. Seems like you have the calories burned under control. Cut back your intake. Plus, with the amount of excercising you are doing, your body is "toning" up. I hit the gym evry day and my weight loss has slowed way down, but on the other hand my clothes are fitting better. I have access to a body fat % scale, and although my weight loss has slowed, my Fat index is steadily dropping. Having the band properly adjusted does not equate to weight loss directly, but when properly adjusted it controls portion size and appetitie control, meaning it restricts calorie intake resulting in weight loss, provided one burns calories also. But I am close to my goal and things are slightly different now.

After loosing so much weight, we have been looking at "Before and After" pictures, Then joked about it looks like another person on my driver's liscense. But then I though about my Passport. I don't look anything like that person anymore. We will be traveling this spring. I'm not sure if this will be a problem or not. I'm sure they are experienced and grained enough to expect these circumstances. Generally a passport ID trumps other forms of ID, but now, I think I will have to carry additional ID with me, and maybe some proof of the surgery. Any thoughts? Any customs or homeland security people out there?

Thanks, that was what I was thinking also. Just throwing it out there in case someone had a problem. If i wanted to renew mine, I would have to do it now for travel in the spring.

No, that sounds about right. They just want to be sure you're responcible, know what and why you are getting into this. Make sure you're not just looking for some vain cosmetic fad thing, or that you have self destructive tendencies, etc. abusive with laxitives, etc, etc. Just want to be sure you're a stable sane normal person. I'm 60 years old, and I am a product of the 60's. So when the subjetc cane around to drug abuse, I shared some things. She would not let up on it, kept coming back to it. Finally I said Hey! I was 18 y/o, it was 1969! Give me a break! She burst out laughing and agreed with me!

Being the new me is the best reward one can have. Getting dressed in the morning and looking into the mirror, I am rewarded all the time, every day!! New clothes were a neccessity. Even my feet got smaller. My energy level has quadrupled! My Health! My self esteeem! Socail Behaviour! I'm 60 years old and I feel like I'm 35! And this will go on everydfay for the rest of my life!! What can I possibly do that would be a better reward than that?

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.

I now look like nothing like my photo's on my driver's liscence and my passport. We'll be traveling in June. Wonder if this will be a problem

Want a tease????? 1 year banded and I hardly ever think about food anymore. That's what you have to look forward to if you hang in there!!!

My first goal was to get under 200 lbs. Now it is to get where I was when I graduated High School - 40 years ago!!

2 cc's for first fill, may be short lived, could even be inflamation which will clear shortly. But don't fret, that's how it goes untill you get it adjusted properly.

it took me 3 fills, about 5 months after surgery. Everything is between you and your Dr., but if I read your post correctly, 3 fills 2 weeks apart for each? be careful, sometime a fill does not "kick In" for 2 weeks. Also, every Dr. gives a different amount per fill. Multiple fills with little fluid, or a few fills with larger amount fluid.

Between 1st and 2nd fills....I GAINED weight. remneber, it's all about getting the band adjusted properly to where it can start working for you productivley. That can be a few fills from surgery.

Everyone needs to experiment and learn for themsevles.....You've mentioned 2 foods that are on my "Do Not Eat List" peanut butter, and bread. That means no more sandwiches, for me. other people can.

Varies from person to person...I have been banded over a year and you can see my port though my shirt like htere's a 1/2 golf ball there!

After my workout, in the men's locker room they have a real fancy scale, one with a digital display mounted on the wall with 8" tall digital number readout, a few feet above your head, for ALL to see. So, I get on the scale, Ok, not bad, not great, at least I'm moving in the right direction. Then, from a man waiting to get on after me, says..."Man, I'll take that!" WTH? I never would have expected that in my life. I turn and smile at him, and notice he's in pretty good shape! WTH is he talking about? I've had many people tell me that even though you are loosing weight, your mind is not programmed to think that way. And when people compliment you, they are seeing something your mind cannot comprehend. Oh, BTW, in the men's locker room we are all walk around with nothnig more than a towel!

Today, Jan 31, marks having the band for 1 year! It is the BEST decision I could have ever made for myself, and my family. I have tried every diet under the sun, and failed miserably at every one. It took surgery, having a band wrapped around my upper stomach, to prevent me from overeating ever again! IT IS NOT A DIET! I take exception to those that say it is "Only a Tool" A tool is something "I USE", something that I can control, whether it be a lot or not at all. But the Band is something I have No Control over! IT CONTROLS ME! If anything, I have become the tool the band uses! It controls how much I can eat! it controls my hunger! The only thing I need to do is make wise food choices, drink my Water, and excercise. HOW HARD IS THAT? I used to have to stop from overeating. Now I have to remind myself I HAVE to eat! After the first few moinths of Bandster Hell, that everyone here experiences, it became the easiest weight loss experience there can be! Living in the "Green Zone" has become an every day common experience where I do not even think about it all that much. I definitley do not think about Loosing weight. It happens now all by itself. And yes, I love my band tight! to me it is all about restriction. Below are my before and after photo's. The before shot was taken at Christmas 13 months ago, one month before surgery. The after shot was taken a few days ago.

Thank you, Thank you and thank you also.

Thank You. I appreciate it.

I was banded Jan 31......of last year! Does that count? Good luck to all, anything I can do to help just ask!

I was told to get a pill crusher and start using it after surgery which I did. Then I found I could swallow my pills, one at a time, without crushing them. Ans some are very large liquid gell capsules filled with fish oill (Lovaza) I have not crushed a pill since, and that was a year ago. My band is very tight also. I prefer it that way. When I mentioned this to my Dr., he laughed and said it is one of many standard things they tell everybody because it is in the playbook...And people eventually figure it all out themselves with time. An d I have found this to be true with so many pther things also.

BROOKS!!!! Go to Zappo's and check them out.

It's not too late....you can still change your mind!!! Joking of course.....it was the best decision I ever made. Well, one of them. Do not regret it one minute. Banded 1 year ago, close to my goal,. Easiest weight loss I have ever done because it is not a diet. If it was, you wouldn't need surgery. Good luck, just enjoy the day.

Who says the band doesn't work???

My only regret is that I did not do it a lot sooner!

Good luck, relax and enjoy. Any chance for a last meal tonight? I did, then fasted all day Sunday before my surgery on a Monday. Went to a place. Knew I would NEVER eat at again...a Chinese Buffet!