sHeLLaBee

Congrats! Wish I, too, would have started sooner. I'm 33 and now I feel 20! No regrets. Enjoy your new life. =)

Good luck! It's totally worth it.

The liver being smaller also helps for less painful recovery because it isn't so much extra weight bearing down on your stomach. I don't think the doc would stop the surgery, but it may be beneficial for you to not suffer as much.

My surgery was October 2011. I have lost a total of 88lbs. I have a 10cc band and was filled to 7cc as of July 2012. I was great from then until about mid October and then stopped losing weight. As of January 3rd, nothing has changed. I picked up my exercise and am changing up my diet, but I noticed in the last month or so that some things have changed. I used to just have a Protein shake for Breakfast at 7am and that would last me until about 1130. Now I have to add something to it (banana, granola bar, apple sauce) to fill me up and it is only lasting a few hours until I am hungry again. I have also noticed that I am able to eat more than I was before. Not a whole meal still, obviously, but def more than before. So, I'm thinking I need a super small fill. It's just weird, because I still have those days where I can barely eat anything or everything seems to stick. They are much more far and in between now, but they still do happen. Has anyone gone 6 months and then all of a sudden needed a fill? I've heard that as you shrink, so does your stomach and the band needs to be tightened. Maybe that's the case? I have this extreme fear of over filling. My doc is an hour away and I feel like if there was an emergency then I would be too far away, maybe? I'm going to call the doc today, but what do you guys think?

Thanks! My doc does require one full glass of water to go down before I can leave the office. I guess that's the best proof I have if it's too tight! I also have to be on a liquid diet for 24 hours after the fill. So, I guess I will know sometime Thursday if I'm good. =) My appt is on Tuesday.

Wow, one day pre-op diets, or none at all! I had TWO WEEKS of liquids! No joking. It is standard for my doctors entire practice. I say, if it makes you feel better, do a little diet of your own. It can't hurt! =)

Love it! I have noticed that I have to move the seat closer now. I think losing my backside has made that happen!

I have had the complete opposite experience in this situation! Before surgery I went once every 3 days or so. Now I'm daily. Weird. I started taking calcium and magnesium in the last week or so and now I'm going multiple times a day. Don't know if that has something to do with it or just coincidence, but it's good, right? =)

Beyond the 88lbs I have lost =) there are a million other little things that make me happy on a regular basis. I didn't really have an major health conditions due to my weight, but I would imagine that those are the best NSV's for some people; not having to take any more meds, etc. Here is a list of mine... Walking into a store and buying something off the rack without having to struggle to find my size and fit and such. Not to mention not having to spend a fortune on clothes that are in style and don't make me look 70! Not being embarassed at the register when the cashier rings up my pants and then proceeds to hold them out for the whole world to see as they fold them. Being able to cross my legs. I feel so much more lady like. Haha. Being able to shave all the way up my leg without getting major razor burn. I believe that is due to my hormones balancing out and my legs not rubbing as much. Being able to hike and play paintball and other activities without tiring after 10 minutes or being too embarassed to do those activities in front of people. Sitting in the car next to my skinny best frind or sister and not continuously glancing down and noticing how much bigger my legs are. Walking by a glass wall or mirror and being excited about my profile. Getting a Facebook message from my "monster-in-law" stating that I am now smaller than her. Being able to wear a thong without it being uncomfortable and completely lost for most of the day. The old fashioned doctors scale dropping down to the 250 notch, then the 200, etc. Having a lap. My puppy can now sit in it. <3 Being able to sit COMFORTABLY in a movie theater chair, restaurant booth, Plebotomy chair and with a seat belt on! My PCOS is chilling out and I've started ovulating regularly! Hopefully a baby soon. =) I'm sure I could go on, and some of these are ridiculously silly, but they all make a difference to me and make my world so much better. I heart my LapBand and would go through this process again and again and again. No regrets.

So frustrating! I am down 88lbs and I am lucky if maybe 2 people (outside of my immediate circle) have said anything to me about it! I'm not all about the praise and how good I look. If they would just acknowledge I look different that would mean the world to me! I've worked hard for those 88lbs darnit! =)

My doc suggests we wait 18 months, and we've been trying for 17 years! So, needless to say, it's hard to just "not try" after losing 85lbs. Ugh. My goal is to be at 100 total lbs lost by my 18 month bandiversary and then we are going to start trying again. That will put me well under 200 and (hopefully) no chance of getting above 200 again! That is my worst fear... You need to be the best you that you can be for your baby and yourself. You want to be healthy, so that there are little to no complications with delivery/baby. I would wait... Not sure of your age, but I'm 33 and no where near too old. =)

191 for me!

I hit a plateau back in October and have been right around 190lbs ever since. Ugh. I joined Curves and signed up for the Curves Complete plan. It's $12 a month more and it includes a diet plan and weekly coaching, weighing and measuring. It's only been 5 days and I am liking it so far. I can't follow the diet plan exactly due to the LapBand, but as long as I stick to similar foods then it seems to be working. I feel great working out 4 days a week there and am doing cardio at home the other 3 days. I really want to get past this hump. My new goals for the new year are... Monthly, to lose at least 5lbs. To have lost a total 100lbs by my 18 month bandiversary on 04/07/13. (15lbs to go) To get to by goal weight and a size 8 by my 2 year bandiversary on 10/7/13! (41lbs to go) One thing I realized too late last year, was my expectations were a little high. I did so good in the first year, which is when you will obviously lose the most, that I didn't consider my body would eventually get accustomed to the change and start losing slower. I have adjusted my diet, exercise and goals and am hoping for something great this year! Have any of you joined Curves or the Curves Complete program? Let me know how you are doing and if you have any suggestions. Thanks!

Fill us in on what you have been doing. Maybe we will have some suggestions other than those. What was your starting weight, total weight lost, etc? I'm actually really excited to hear from someone who has been banded for so long! Do you feel like it has benefited you in the long run? Have you ever had any issues with the band medically?

Absolutely! When I say diet I don't mean the temporary kind that we have all learned to hate until our respective surgeries. I mean the "diet" that we all live with everyday and should be natural. (example: food or feed habitually eaten or provided: The rabbits were fed a diet of carrots and lettuce.) =)

My doctor states that I should be eating about as much as will fit into a tennis ball per meal and I should not get hungry for another 4-5 hours. It's not perfect science, but it's working for me. If you are getting hungry too quickly then I would def suggest you get a small fill. You could first try eating more protein with each meal, that seems to keep me full longer. I drink a protein shake at about 7am, usually with half a banana or a fiber one granola bar. I am just now starting to feel hunger and I'm 3 hours, 45 minutes out. I will eat lunch at noon and it usuallly lasts me until 4-430pm and I need to eat! Haha. That's how I judge if I need a fill. Good luck!

I've had 2 and They do suck! The first one was just a few weeks and the doc said not to work out for a week and then get back to it hard. I did and it helped. =) The second one I am just coming out of. I weighed the same from 10/9/12 til 1/3/13! Ugh! Almost 3 whole months! It was partially my fault. All those Halloween/Thansgiving/Christmas/New Years parties. Haha. Not a great time of year for a Lapbander. I kicked up my veggies and water intake and am now doing strength training 4 x a week and cardio (walking/jogging) the other 3 days. I have lost 2lbs in a few days and am satisfied I have come over the top. Thank goodness I didn't gain any during that time! Just floated between a few pounds. Good luck! It sucks, but you will get through it. =)

Name, real or screen~ Shellee Goal weight for January 29th~ 186 Weight on January 1st~ 191.2 Age~ 33 Dietary goal for January~ More fruits and veggies Exercise goal for January~ Strength training x4, Cardio x3 per week Personal goal for January~ Doctor to check all my levels and make sure I'm good. Date banded~ 10/7/11 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 84.8 What is your favorite New Year Activity?~ A new beginning!

Name, real or screen~ Shellee Goal weight for December 29th~ 185 Weight on December 1st~ 192 Age~ 33 Dietary goal for December~ More protein! Exercise goal for December~ Zumba 2x a week Personal goal for December~ Get 2013 bucket list ready! Date banded~ 10/7/11 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 84 What is your favorite Winter/Christmas/Holiday Activity?~ Presents! =D

My port is in a very inconvenient place for me since losing weight. It's right at the bend in my waist and where my pants reach. I've been able to feel it kind of move around and tilt since surgery, but nothing major and no pain, just a weird feeling. I asked the PA about it and she says it's normal. Basically, as long as I can feel it then it's where it's supposed to be. About a week ago I dropped something off the couch and leaned forward to pick it up. I felt a really weird pulling and sat up quickly. Since then I have had a small muscle pain in that side; more like soreness. I can still feel the port and it seems normal. Could I have just bruised a muscle maybe? I'm not scheduled to go in and see my doc til April, of course I could go sooner if I wanted, but it's an hour away and, otherwise, I'm great! Should I just give it a week or so and see if it subsides and then call? It's not constant or severe. What do you think? Have any of you had a similar experience?

I was banded 14 months ago and have lost 88lbs. In the last month I have gained 4 back. =( I have no motivation. I was working out with a personal trainer 2-3x a week, but that was a 6 month plan that ended in September. I haven't done much for working out since then. I am also not eating great. I was still losing up til the first of November and then the 4lbs happened. I am an emotional eater so the weight gain leads me to bad places. Ugh. I need to get out of this rut. I am having oatmeal for breakfast today. We will see where the rest of the day takes me...

Good luck! Hope all goes well!

Ok, I'm a bad girl. There are 2 things I did not give up. Ranch and soda. Ranch I use very sparingly and I went to light, but it's def still in my fridge. I only drink diet Pepsi and I sip it, also I do not drink it through a straw. I don't drink nearly as much as I used to, but probably a half a can every couple of days. Also, did not start drinking it again until about 6 months after surgery. It's a personal choice, but of course, your doctors opinion is always the most important. I don't personally know anyone who has ever had a problem drinking soda. It's always "I heard about this girl...", but it's never someone that anyone has known directly. Even my doctor, after doing thousands of these surgeries, has never personally had a patient who has experienced this problem. He doesn't suggest it and to him it's more about the liquid calories, but it's not off limits.