gretchens4

Hi everyone, I haven't been too active in the last year, but I check in often. I had my surgery 2/23/07 and have lost 139 pounds in 2 years. I can't believe how successful this has been for me. I am 3 pounds away from my original goal which is the high side of my healthy BMI. I started at 292 and was 153 this morning. I am hoping to make it to 149 by my 40th bday on 3/13. The key to my weight loss was definitely my fills. I was only successful during the times that my fill was fairly tight. I exercised only moderately, and seemed to lose the weight in chunks, not evenly through time. I am so happy I made this decision. With four children it has made such a difference in my life and theirs. I have some serious skin issues on my lower body and would LOVE to get it fixed someday, but as of now I will just live with it, try to get in better shape and see how it is in a year or two. Good luck to everyone starting out. I was scared and hesitant, I just wish I had done this sooner! Gretchen 292/153/149

so glad you asked ). I lost only 13 pounds in the 1st 3 months and thought this would never work for me. The first fill helped a little, but I did not "get it" until the 3 month mark and my 2nd fill. Hang in there. Those next 5 months my fill held up and I lost about 30 pounds. I seemed to have that pattern for the next year and half. I get a nice tight fill, it lasts about 3-4 months (I can only have a very small amount of food or I get stuck or PB), and then slowly I realize I am not losing, I need a new fill, and it usually takes 2 tries to get it back to optimal. Thankfully I have never been too tight, but if I don't lose I know I need to be a little tighter. My sweet spot is when I can drink and eat, but very little and I really need to think about it. When you are tight enough you naturally pick better foods with higher nutritional values etc. I would lose a lot in a month, and then plateau, it was not an even 2 pounds a week. You will know when you get the right fill, and then you'll know when you need it again. I got my last fill in November after not losing much in 2 months. I have lost 25 pounds since then which has made a huge difference since I am down to the last few pounds. thanks!

Wow, our stories are very similar! The only thing I regret about lapband is that I could have done it when I was younger. I had my first baby at 25 and got the band when I was 37. I also feel like it was all about portion control for me. I never diet or watch what I eat. I always eat what I am craving, but it is in very small portions. I still have about 20 pounds to go, but as of today have lost 120 pounds. Congrats to you, and I'm jealous that you have many more years to enjoy it!!

It doesn't sound like you've had enough time with your other surgery and pregnancy to get to optimal restriction. When I have restriction I will lose consistently, and then over time it will loosen up, and it takes a few times in for a fill to get back to the point where I lose. If I have the right restriction I don't diet or have to watch what I eat. I can only eat a small amount of food. The key for me and my weightloss has been proper restriction. My doctor has great aftercare though. Good luck, and try to get in for another fill. I think everyone is different, but for me, I have to be very tight for my weight loss to continue.

Yeah, It took 15 months, but I was down 100 pounds today. I can't believe. It's almost embarrassing to even say it. I still have 35-40 pounds to go, but now I believe I can get there. My skin is awful. I have been feeling really self conscious in the last month with the warmer weather. Everything is loose and shakes and it's just discouraging. Sometimes I feel like I look worse, even though I know it's not true. Any advice?? Hope everyone is well.

Wow, it feels weird to write that! Today my scale said 192, 100 pounds lower than before my surgery. It has taken me 15 months, and I still have about 35-40 pounds to my goal. I have figured out that with the right fill it takes me about 5 months to lose that amount of weight. I haven't been exercising much, but I eat very small amounts and would consider my band to be as tight as it can get. I try not to focus on food because I have had an eating disorder in the past. I eat whatever I am wanting at the time, but very slowly and very small portions. I'm sure I could have lost this weight much faster if I put in more effort, but my main goal was to take the focus off of food, so I don't count calories or keep records or do any kind of diet. It works for me so far. I do feel pretty bad about my body at this time though. While I know I am healthier and look better, my skin is awful, and I am depressed that I feel so self conscious after losing so much weight. This board has been a great support to me over the last 15 months. If I can do this anyone can. It doesn't feel like I've really lost all this weight or changed my body this much. I had to weigh myself 3 times to really believe it!!

I made it about a week ago. I'm Down to 196 and 4 pounds away from 100. Yeah.

I have recently started to notice major problems with loose skin. I have lost about 94 pounds in the last 14 months. I still have 40 or so pounds to go and I am not optimistic at all. I know buiding some muscle will help a little, but it's going to be a big problem for me. I've had some issues buying clothes recently and filling weird about the loose skin. It's as if my skin is not attached and I just shake when I walk etc. My husband says it's not noticeable, but i feel more self conscious now than before, how crazy!!

Hi, I lost really slowly at the beginning and still average about 7 pounds a month. Have you had a fill yet?? It took me 2 fills to get it right, and then recently after a year, I had to go back for 3 fills to get back to the place where I lose consistently. I had only lost about 18 pounds in my first 4 months. I am currently down 93 pounds after 14 months. It is slow, but steady and over time it all adds up. I had a alot to lose, I'm sure it will be a little slower with a lower BMI. I'm at 199 now, and I know it is getting harder. Take care.

I am so close, I was 201 yesterday........90 pounds lost!!

My face looks so much better. It makes all the difference in pictures. I do worry about more wrinkles, but so far it's been okay. I still have 50 pounds to go, so we'll see what happens. I have always been much thinner in my upper body, including my face which is my best feature. My lower half is a disaster. I am not looking foward to seeing how bad the loose skin will get.

This is different than your past diets. You don't realize how different it is to have real restriction. It not only helps you lose, but it helps you to keep it off. I have lost 87 pounds this year and have eaten small amounts of regular food (food my family is eating etc.). I can't eat much more than a few bites if I have real restriction. I only lost about 18 pounds in the first 3 months when I didn't have restriction. You will feel it when you get it. Good luck and take care!

It took me two fills to get to proper restriction, and then it loosened back up and took two more to get back on track again. It's a long slow process. When I have restriction, I won't eat pizza or fast food, b/c I know I'll regret it (and need better nutrition for the little amount I do eat). If I don't have restriction I go right back to my old ways. You will do great, just be patient and don't put too much pressure on yourself!

I have found really good suits in the Eddie Bauer catalogue (also Lands End) in larger sizes, plan black and cut in a flattering way. Good luck!

Hey, I meant to post yesterday on my one year anniversary. I can't believe it has been a year already! I started out slow losing only 13 pounds the first 2 months (8 in the preop diet), and then 5 more after my 1st fill. After my 2nd fill I got true restriction and as of yesterday I was down around 84 pounds. It's been slow and steady, but I have hit a plateau in the last month, and am going in for a fill this Thursday. I am happy with my weight loss though. I haven't exercised that much yet, so that is my plan for year two. I want to be a goal by next year at this time before I hit 40. Good luck, and thanks for bringing this post back up, it reminds me how far I have come and hopefully the others on this thread will see it too!

I know this sucks, I really do. My weight was similar to yours when I started and I was banded one year ago on 2/23. I started out REALLY slowly. I lost 8 pounds on the preop diet, and still had only lost 13 at my 1st fill. That helped a little, and I lost 5 more pounds at the 3 month mark. I felt really discouraged, but I hung in there and when I got my 2nd fill it all clicked. I've been reading these boards for over a year, and there really do seem to be all different kinds of weight loss. For some it starts very quickly. I would see all the people from my 2/07 group losing massive amounts of weight and it would be so discouraging. I started really losing after that second fill and realized for ME, I had to have tight restricton........that is the only way the band works for me, and over the year I have averaged about 7 pounds a month. It doesn't sound like a lot, but actually, I started at 292 and I'm now 208!!!! I've lost 84 pounds, and interestingly enough, it's very close to the same amount as others from the 2/07 group that lost quickly at the beginning. The best part for me is I haven't really followed all the rules, or exercised a great deal. I have just eaten in much smaller quantities b/c of my tight restriction. You will know it when you get there, and you will figure out how this thing will work for you. It's a very interesting tool, b/c it works so differently for everyone. Just try to be patient, I know how hard it is. I seriously went 3 months only losing 18 pounds, and will probably end up losing 90 this year. You have just started, but the pounds will really add up over time. Good luck, and wait for your fill, it will probably make all the difference when you get to the right restriction!!

I'm 8 pounds away........it seems far, but hopefully I'll be there in a month!! Congrats to everyone who's made it!

Wow, You look great!! Congratulations! You will be right around your goal by your anniversary and that is a huge accomplishment. When all is said and done, I keep telling myself, it's not a race. It's nice to get there sooner, but if we keep going we will all get there in the next year. I have lost about 83 pounds and am hoping to get to 90 by 1 year. You are doing so great!! It's frustrating and slow at times, but you have lost 100 pounds, that is amazing~~

No one knows I've had this surgery except for my husband. I just eat less, plain and simple. I try not to talk about it unless someone asks. If I really can't eat (which is the case alot), and someone notices I'll say my stomach is off etc. I try to get soup when I go out so it goes down better. When people ask me how I've lost 83 pounds, I just say I've exercised and eaten much slower and in much smaller portions, end of discussion. No one needs to know anything about my food. UGH, I hate that in society everyone is so focused on it. When I hear my friends talking about every little morsel they ate etc. I can't even be in the conversation. Sorry, just a little vent! Truly, if someone does notice I would just casually blow them off and end the conversation.

I remember feeling so frustrated too. I didn't lose much in the post op weeks, and especially in the first two weeks I thought it should fly off. Your body is really adjusting though, and I do think there is a lot of fluid retention etc. In the past year I've noticed through reading posts that some people lose like crazy in the 1st few months and then slow down, and some are the complete opposite (like me) and lose practically nothing until the 1st or even 2nd fill. I was SHOCKED that I didn't lose weight right away. I can't tell you how many times I looked at my husband and said I can't believe I spent 17,000 to stay the same. I only lost 18 pounds in 3 months and 10 of that was the preop diet!! I was stressed, but I hung in there and when I became restricted i totally "got it". I don't count calories, think about food, journal etc. b/c I don't want to be focused on every little bite. I am so tight that I can drink comfortably and get enough nutrition, but that is it. There is NO way I can over eat. That is what restriction feels like to me. At the beginning I got a very full feeling when i ate, but i could still eat a fair amount. With restriction I never really feel "full", but I am satisfied and just unable to eat anymore. You will get there and this thing will work the way it should. I am very happy with the slow and steady progress I have made over the past year. I hope to get down to -90 by 2/23 which is my year anniversary! Good luck to everyone.

Hey, I remember being so confused about restriction and what it felt like. I think it may different for different people. For me, after my 2nd fill I took one big bite of food and it was stuck. It hurt and I had to throw it back up to get relief (or suffer until it went through). I realized I HAD to eat very slowly, chew well, or it would be stuck. For me, having tight restriction is the way I lose weight, but some people wouldn't like it this tight. I rarely feel full the way I did before the band. I eat and start to gurgle or burp and know if I eat more I will be uncomfortable. It is definitely a learning process. I really don't feel hungry though, just not the deep stomach full that I used to get before surgery. I hope that helps. Some others may feel full, for me, I HAVE to stop eating, and can not physically overeat with this restriction. When I start to be able to eat more I get another fill.

I was just like you. I didn't feel like I had surgery at all after the first 2 weeks. I only lost about 5 pounds from my surgery until my 1st fill and then only 5 more after that. Then I was truly restricted after my 2nd fill 3 months out and now I'm 11 months out and have lost 83 pounds. Restriction is the key for me, definitely. Do the best you can and make sure you continue getting fills until you have good restriction. Good luck! This is the greatest thing I ever did.

Hello there! Some foods are harder for me than others, but it seems at my level of restriction right now I can only take a few bites and then I'm stuck. Sometimes at night it's a little looser, but for me to lose weight it almost has to be this way, so I just go with it as long as I can stay healthy and have no other problems. I could do better, but I'm happy at this pace. My main goal is to be at a healthy BMI by the time I'm 40, which gives me 13 months to lose 60 more pounds. I just can't wait to be under 200.......ugh. Thanks for the support!

Hello Ladies! I was banded on 2/23/07 and am doing pretty good. I find I need to be really tight to continually lose weight. My simple plan is just eating the foods I love and need in very small portions and it's working so far. I need to step up the exercise though, I've been pathetic. How is everyone doing on loose skin? I have almost 60 more pounds to go, so I can't tell yet, but I am not optimistic! Everyone is doing great!

I am so sorry. That experience is far from normal. I've had 4 different fills with 2 doctors and they have been easy and almost painless (all in done in 10 seconds). This office is terrible and you definitely shouldn't go back. One of the doctors has patients lift their legs while he finds the port, the other could just do it instantly with no help. Good luck, you will find a good, reliable doctor, they are out there.