shakey88

I started off at 285 about 4.5 months ago and since then, I have been trying to stay between 1000 and 1200 calories. Some days it is less, some days it is more. I have heard that your body gets used to the amount of calories if you continuously intake the same amount each day, so once a week I eat around 1400 and at different days of the week! It has worked for me so far!

I am a teacher at a high school and a student today says to me as I am walking down the hall and I quote "You are gettin skinny. You on crack?" I was like thanks for the compliment and insult at the same time! I did laugh though and was happy that he has noticed my hard work.

I have lost over 70 pounds since June 18th and the only place I am really seeing skin is my upper arms, but I have been using free weights and it is not as bad as I thought it would be. I thought I would have more excess skin than I do, but so far so good and I hope it stays that way beings I still have another 50 pounds or so to go!

We order shirts every year at work to represent our school. Instincitvely, I grabbed the 2X to try on....way too big. Then the XL again too big....I finally can wear a shirt without an X in front of it!

You look great! I hit the 70 pound mark today and know what you mean when you were excited...I didnt cry but I was overwhelmed with emotions! Keep up your hard work!

I was going to say the same thing....but not a Sox fan! Go Phillies!!!

Congrats! It feels great with the surgeon/PA tells you that stuff. I had the biggest smile like I had really accomplished something when they asked me how I was doing it! Keep up all the hard work!

Just make sure you start over again the next day. If I mess up, I just say well tomorrow is a new day. I bought candy the other day and took too bites and had to throw it away! It was too sweet and did not even taste good like it used to. You will get through this!

Congrats...I am almost at the 70 pound mark myself so I know how excited you are!! =)

Thanks everyone!

I went walking yesterday and the armband that hold my IPod kept slipping, so today I tried it without the extender and it fit! I know this is small, but it did make me smile!

I eat between 900-1200 calories a day, but also workout at least an 1.5 hours a day. I have read that your body gets used to the exercise and the calorie intake which slows down the loss. It is good to flucuate your calories and change your workout routines at least every 4 weeks (that is what my PT tells me). I have started to switch things up and I have noticed that it is helping with the weight loss. I have lost almost 67 pounds since June 20th and this is just something that has worked for me. Hope this helps a little!

Actually, I think that is a great idea. Lately, I have been throwing away or donating clothes and my closet is slowly disappearing. I am cheap when it comes to purchasing clothes because I do not want to only wear them for a couple months and then them not fit. Ihave been trying to make the others work, but they are falling off. I am going to try your idea! Thanks

Congrats...keep up the hard work...I have been banded almost 16 weeks and have lost close to 65 pounds! It feels great!

I have went to numerous restaurants since being banded and find that as long as I get the chicken or seafood everything is okay. Hope you enjoyed your night out!

I did not have any gas pains, but like the others stated, I started walking around as soon as I can and would walk as much as my body would let me. I am also the one who had no pain at all from the surgery and did not take any gas x or pain meds, so I may not be the best source!

Every time I touch my hair, it falls out. When I shower, its handfuls. This is crazy. I have not tried anything yet, but I think I will try what lildentonmommy suggested! I am only 3 months out and I heard from months 3-8 are the worse for hair loss. I will be bald by then!

I also have back problems and was taking 800 mg ibuprofen before surgery...It sucks now that I can not take it. The liquid vicodin I have from surgery helps about as much as tylenol

I had to have an endoscopy, EKG, EEG, sleep studies and some breathing test because my surgeon wanted it done, not my insurance!

I am only 3 months out and I do not have a fill and am very close to 60 pounds gone. I agree with poster above. I believe that my stomach shrunk during the liquid diet. I am not hungry and sometimes have to make myself eat because I need the calories. My weight loss is slowing down, but I believe that is due to my lack of exercise. I was walking about 3.5 miles, 30 mins on the Wii fit and weights/band everyday! I found out I have arthritis in both of my knees and the orthopaedic wants me to slow down on the exercising until the pain is minimal. I do not feel like I am dieting at all! I wish I would of done this years ago!

I do not have any fills and find that I get hungry less often than before the band. The only time I am really hungry is if it is time for a meal (like 5-6 hours after the last time I ate). Other than that...no hunger here!

My insurance company recommended my doctor because it had to be a Center of Excellence. I had to pay $5. I got a bill in the mail for $5 from the hospital and I am fine with that because when I added up all of my explanation of benefits, it was well over $28,000. I only went to one seminar and that was for the surgeon that completed my gastric banding. As far as the tummy tuck, I can not answer that. I am only 3 months out!

I would agree with everyone else that it depends on how you feel. I did great and went out to a friend's house the day after my surgery. The only pain I felt was in my throat from the tube during surgery. Other than that...I was fine. No gas pains and no real soreness!

Congrats...I can not wait to be in your shoes and it will be so worth it!

I am also three months and this week I started to gain a little. I believe it is due to me not exercising. I was walking 4 miles a day, 30 minutes on the Wii and some sort of resistance (weights or strtchy band). I hurt my knee about 2.5 weeks ago and the ortho does not want me working out until I can go see him on Friday. I can tell you that exercise is key and I can definitely tell this over the past couple weeks!