Julie norton

Thanks for the reality post of real life. Years down the road.... Seems like staying focused is the main hint. I agree it is easier to try to ignore great habits when under a lot of stress... Like you said. Going back and knowing what to do. Again. That is the long term key imho It is a true life time change.... Not really an off and on diet. Great to hear from other veterans????

Well ... I've survived many holidays and they can be challenging. My system is to have a protein drink right before going....and I know this sounds odd but I don't stand around the food or look at it too much. If I first ask what people at the table need ... Drinks , a glass, condiments, it helps to minimize my time at said table....often I get up from the table a little earlier and help with clearing a bit or refilling and just moving helps me not concentrate on just food. I do eat a small plate of what I choose And here we are at another holiday season. Good luck and please tell us if anyone has other hints to help After losing my dad in September and my husband last year... I just want January to come. No little ones so minimal decorations . (We are adopting a family instead of overbuying things we don't need) That is enough of my story!???? Hope others can also help with ideas to get to New Years without added pounds!!

Love???? love hearing good band stories. As you can read it is not for everyone and many are not successful. And perhaps non compliant? Don't know. A common thread seems to be keeping the fill in our bands a bit low. I just read many posts of dehydration And sleeping upright due to tight band issues. I'm very thankful I was one of the " lucky " ones that seemed to have good long term results. It has changed my life for the better and certainly for the healthier.

Best of luck. You have a great attitude and a good understanding of how this works from your post. It is hard work but all weight loss is. I found the difference is the weight stays off!! This is a good board to come to for all kinds of info and personal stories. Please let us know how your journey goes⭐️

Hope you can get a band adjustment just right for you. It is an illusive point and fills can take time to work... Or get looser in time. Seems like we are all different. I'm ready for a fill. Hoping next week I can get in. Have a call in. You sound like you need an unfill to not be uncomfortable at night and feel better???? Best of luck!

Wow! Congrats on a good job. You even look younger now. How is that possible?

Thanks for this thread. I'm going along swimmingly for years and years... Thinking I got this nailed! Empty the band for 8 months and good habits stayed good for months And then just the freedom to have a huge salad... Cobb....With dressing of course ....several I might mention And many good food items I haven't been able to enjoy.... For years...And you all know the outcome. 8 lbs up when I went for a fill .... Not enough of one... The burrito went down nicely... I called for another fill right away I do have faith that I know the right path. I just need my helper !!!!! Soon. Back to my regimen. I hope I "got" this My exercise has been spot on, but I believe the pounds are in the kitchen! I truly need my lapband

Jamielogical Enlightened me that Quest changed their bars. They now use insoluble corn Fiber. Lovely. But the flatulence is incredible. Wondering why I was having this issue. Got an old box and no problems... New ones have given several of us gas! Just a bariatric pal to pal warning

Great to hear positive posts from long time banders ! Best of luck on year seven???????? I'm ready to reach 9 years next month and I'm doing very well. Not perfect but I don't know what truly is perfect! Kept 90% of my excess weight off. Going for a fill next week. Been empty for awhile and started with a small one... I think keeping my band sorta under filled works well for me long term...empty didn't work, so I am thankful for my device!! Keep posting. It is nice to hear great results!

Nice you bring up a subject lots of us rarely discuss... The funniest comment someone posted who was dealing with severe constipation was She felt like she was "passing a pineapple". Ouch. And there have been days....

W

Sorry. Banded in 2006 here. Would like to see the 04 banders surface though.. I'll keep checking back.

Good luck Liz! I am also just starting again with fills. I was empty for 8 months and sure enough 8 pounds came back. I'm not used to being hungry after almost 9 years so it is somewhat of a struggle. Had a small fill last week just to start and will be getting another next week. I do like how we can adjust our bands. Nice to hear a pro band sentence, huh? My personal choice is to not get it too tight as I think it can cause complications down the road. Onto another banded adventure... I have faith that I can drop those 8 lbs In due time????

sigh. It is so true for many of us that we were "good enough ". Yet did not recognize it in our youthful yearsI am now at my high school weight and am thrilled... It is a great size for me....yet I never respected it as such due to teen insecurities I suppose...?? If we only knew now..... Almost 9 years into this change and just started my60's ...so comfortable Now. - and so thankful for the lap band giving me control over my appetite... And life!!!

Nice thoughtful post bandista. I think It helps to remember the past.. And rejoice in the now!!! Bye 200 anything.... Bye any size that has 2 digits and starts with a 2. Happy and healthy. That was the goal I'm thinking and you succeeded???? congrats to you!

Certainly we can all probably agree the big topics are what goes in. And what comes out... How and when are the variables....(In my opinion) Lots of opinions. That is for certain ????????????

Well my kids put ketchup on everything. Eggs. Meat. Potatoes I drew the line when they wanted it on waffles. Yuck

Small town... Only my cyber friends have really useful ideas and suggestions as they have been in my shoes... Our support group had one banded ( me) and mostly pre op and one year or so post op... Sorry, but frankly they were gushing about weighing twice a day ... Running a 1/2 mile for the first time. All good things... But I needed those with a few years under their belt or band or sleeve to help with some long term issues... maybe it is just me, but it feels different almost 9 years out. I still strive for enough Water, but Protein and work outs are fairly commonplace. I love to hear about new adventures with the old WLS !! And FYI I'm going for a fill again as I have been empty for 8 months and am starting to fill again Don't want to appear snotty... Just different for seasoned WLS people was my convoluted point!

Best of luck to all my WLS cyber friends. I'm a bit frightful of all the candy surrounding me...going out for fresh fish dinner instead. Hoping we all do well with our tricks...and our treats!

Cowgirl, You can see the WLS community needs you! I always look forward to your thoughtful posts. I do understand the naivety of some pre op or newly post op asking relatively the same questions ... The pizza or soda at 2 weeks post op doesn't even get a response from me. Many others will chime in. I sometimes check the length of time some of the posters have been here. It helps me understand where they are in their journey. I'm happy many get the new eating habits...and frustrated others cannot begin to grasp it. I think veterans have a lot of sage advice.... Though my lap band group is slowly fading... And sleevers seem plentiful.. I always look forward to info, products, advice etc. Next month will be 9 years for me and although I have a rhythm to my life and eating habits, I am always open to learning more???? Keep on posting veterans .... I believe we need each other!

I do have good luck with pepto bismol And heavily watered down pedialyte Just until I feel a bit more "normal" Good luck and please share what works. It could help others who feel ill and have had WLS ????

Congratulations on seeking professional help. My understanding is Eating disorders are typically very resistant to change. (Our family has a member who has struggled for over a decade even with the best of help.) Hoping you find peace with your body and your image. You deserve it????

so true. Just had a fill today after being empty for 8 months.... Not happy with 8 lbs up but now I am on my way back down. So glad to see my doc and get started again. They were happy to see me. I bet they have seen it all.

There is always hope. Lap bands can change your health and your life! You have to be committed fully though imho... Go to your seminars, ask lots of questions here too, read anything available. Being educated can help you with what to expect. Best of luck.

When coffee won't go down, that is my sign that my band is not adjusted right. It is difficult as it seems to tighten over time with no fills... Then I loosen it for two or more months.... This last loosening was in June. I gained 8-10 lbs. tomorrow is a fill so I am fairly sure (after all these years )that I will go down 10 lbs in the next month or two And so begins the dance again.⏰