bobby_hamrick

Well I have plenty to say. First of all the band is a wonderful tool. Not a magic bullet but a wonderful tool. I have lost 55 lbs. I feel great and this is still one of the best decisions I ever made. I would do it over again. I've had 4 adjustments total. I have stumbled with diet yeah still diet because I am one of these bandsters who can eat anything just not as much. I will say a word about empty calories. I was stuck and thats why. High calorie mixed drinks, sweet tea and snacking between meals this has delayed me months. Alchahol will slow your progress dramaticly, yeah dramaticly. I'm at 225 from really 280lbs when I started this.... I'm here for anyone with questions simply email me!! good luck to all and God Bless..

50's looking good on you girl...... You have both made it happen congradulations. You are inspiration to us all.... Bobby

I have never had this cough and I had 4 fills. Did you try and eat something afterwards if so you may have some hung chow! I know nothing about cleansings. If you cant eat call your Dr.

well I have gained 5 lbs in the last month and can see an increase in my food intake. Am i pushing the food yes I guess I am. I have rededicated but wanted to hang this out for everyone. I have been the type thats lost slow yet been able to eat almost anything from the beginning. I am considering another fill but want to see if I can rope this in myself. I can eat a whole turkey sandwich tosted/ A new york strip.! This is still a fraction of what I used to eat but I wonder if I have stretched my little puoch out and if I gradually pull off will it return like regular stomachs. :)

Its nice to know I have people to ask questions and get advice, Thanks. I will follow up in a few days. It was just a regular sandwich from home and I have 4cc in a 4cc band however I could do another half if needed. I believe its me so I'll adjust my eating and exercise first.

I am pretty sure I have stretched or atleast tugged my little pouch. My food intake has really increased. Nothing like before. I seen a 5 lb increase on the scale from this and a decrease in exercise. This was like getting a fresh one in the kisser! I have rededicated so back to basics. No drinking which I been doing and quit thinking I can eat anything. Pray for me cause this was very scary for me. I came from 279 -229 44 wst-38 aince Augest 12,03 so I am scared.

I have always enjoyed margaritas with friends at the local cantina along with the rich food. Since the band yes there were major cut backs. I continued to drink though and really to much and to often. My weightloss was consistent but slow. For the last 5 weeks I have not been to my favorite spanish resturaunt and the scale has noticed. My weightloss doubled over the last three weeks. I was drinking a lot of calories bottom line. Eating the food went hand in hand. I am now getting back into cooking my own food. My band is good to me as I can eat most anything with caution and limits. I wanted to share this because I did not think a couple drinks a couple times a week would have such an effect on my weight loss but it did. Don't be fooled like me and don't let anything stand in the way of our quest for being healthy! I'm in the 50lb club now and with renewed vigor!

You will find this site to be very helpful! I did. I got on liquids 2 days before then fasted the last day only. I had some great food before that though. You will have a ton of questions and will need some reassurance or I did. Many times and at different stages. Its like while tuning the band to you everyone is different so If one of us is dropping like mad on 1 or even no fill that doesn't mean the same thing for you. we are all different. This band is a key though I wouldn't change a thing. The op was a breeze for me. There was some pains from gas and soreness other than that no problemo. You have nade a decision and will have a master tool to losr that weight finally that will make you feel like a million. I'm down 46 lbs since 8/12/03. I used to be impatient and worry at times when my weight leveled out thinking is that it? It never was and I ate and exercised and weighed only every 2-3 weeks. It may go by halfs or 2's or quarters of pounds but its going! Congrats! I can't wait to break the 200's and am planning a drive for it by increasing my running and eating smarter. Yeah you can still cheat! So I'm boring you now ! Cya

I know you have investigated this right? The bypass is a very serious Op, The Band works and there is proof here. Just read on. I would not have opted for all the rearranging of the bypass. The band is a tool and I have seen many people dropping the weight that does not come back. You can eat around the band but it takes work I mean you can drink cals or wash down quite a bit but its hard not to make it work. Read and read some more.I wouldn't sell mine for nothing its been the perfect solution. Its been slow but sure. 276-230 since August.03

Sometimes the scale can decieve. If you exercise you are increasing muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. I only weigh once a month if I can help it. I exercise regular also since the band and I have had weeks go by without loss. Keep it up and it will go. Exercise is key and keeps you feeling good!

Grab 60 lbs of dumb-bells at the gym and then you willl know what you have done..!!

I am very happy for you as I can imagine what it will mean to me. I will be there soon/32 more lbs. I will feel like victory is mine at 200!! 200 and I am THE MAN!!

Hey I know you are impatient now and we all were or me anyway. Your band has to heal and what I call seat. This means where it is placed on your stomach. Hard foods could make it shift and you do not want that. In 6 weeks when you get the fill it starts again. liquids a couple days and you may still feel not much restriction. It may take several times to get it right. Eat smart and start to exercise as soon as you can and the 20 lbs aint coming back. Even in a few weeks you wont be able to eat as much as you used too. Chewing well and not drinking works fine. A chicken breast chewed well will keep me full for a while. It doesn't go straight through. This is a small hole man. Remember?

Well I feel like mine went fast. I decided to do it in June and by August I was done. Quick huh. 34 Years young Full phys, and blood work EKG Pshy. evaluation. Dieticion counsel Upper GI No Xrays All this was two days before surgery and I had a initial exam in July.

By all means if you have the self discipline to diet and keep it off go buy yourself a new car or exotic vacation somewhere. If I didn't have a problem being obese I wouldn't be here either. The band is only a tool. It gives me more control and some limitations that I chose to put in place. The band does not do it for you and is no magic cure. I what I like and can plus exercise. I do not diet as I don't believe in it. Watch what I eat yes I do. Atkins? Not my body. Look up Ketosis and you will see how super carb restriction can hurt you. I made a decision along with my band. It goes for good now. I'm on my journey and I would have paid double and would again.

I have tried to figure an angle or two on this restriction changes. I have a couple ideas. One the amount of sodium in you r body will effect the way you feel as in titer. I also believe if we go many hours without eating or drinking we relax and constrict. I think this is why most people are resrticted when they wake up. The hydration and sodium was brought to my attention by the Dr. the other is my own brainchild. I can eat what you did easily by the way. If I drink with meal and I know I need to eat I can wash it on down. If I haven't ate well for a few days and I am exercising intense I will try to get some major proteins down in a days time.

If you are like the rest of us you will ask this question many times over the next few months. Patience. The healing is first then finding the right adj. for you. It is very unlikely anything is wrong. I was into the fourth fill before I really got the correct fit. You will know when trust me. I too ask many times if there was something wrong. My loss was slow at first and still is but I lose every week and I have the time.

Has anyone experienced any complications in the gym. Some exercises gets your stomack right on a bench pulling lots of weight. I'm wondering if anyone discussed this with the Dr. Like you know laying on a bench face down pulling up weight, Pressyre on the port and pouch.

Hey I forgot about this thread but have enjoyed reading everyones progress, We have all came a long way. Congradulations to all. I have lost 43 lbs with 12 coming after my last fill, 4th fill I believe. I think I am at 4.5 in a 4.0 band I was wondering if I ever woul dget the coveted restriction needed. Not to worry now as the fork has been drasticly slowed now. My goal is 229 by first Friday in March. Drop another 10th you know. Its 4 lbs away so I'm sure I will make it. I only missed one goal so far as I was very slow loser in th beginiing. As we can see its working well for us all. The y would heve to get a warrent to get my band back!

when I had my last fill mt 4th that is it took 3-5 days before I was able to eat a good meal. I think maybe some swelling. I was on liquids 2 days and then when I tried like any bread noway. so I was very careful and finally I have some relief as I can carefully eat better. Still no bread. I actually ate a RIBEYE yesterday. Slowly and washed it down. I know thats bad but it had been so very long since steak. Give it a little while and see what happens.

I WANTED TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE SINCE 8/12/03 WHEN I WAS BANDED. AT FIRST EATING WAS EASY AFTER THE HEALING PERIOD ON FLUIDS AND SOFT FOODS OFCOURSE. THEN I COULD EAT ANYTHING EXCEPT NOT AS MUCH AS OFTEN. THIS COUPLED WITH AN ELABORATE FITNESS ROUTINE GOT A LOT OF WEIGHT OFF ME. IT WAS A SLOW GO THOUGH. I WENT THROUGH 3 FILLS WITH LITTLE RESTRICTION. I WAS STUCK AT 33 LBS LOSS AND FRUSTRATED WITH WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I WOULD REALLY PUSH TO GET THIS OFF. MY THEORY WS HEY IF I COULD EAT RIGHT I WOULDN'T HAVE NEEDED THE BAND RIGHT. WELL MY DR. FIXED ME UP WITH THE 4 TH FILL. I HAVE THE RESTRICTION NEEDED NOW. 10 LBS IN LIKE 15 DAYS. SEVERE DROP BUT I STAYED ON FLUIDS 3 DAYS THIS TIME AND WELL THE RESTRICTION AT FIRST WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. WHAT I AM SAYING IS DO NOT GIVE UP OR WORRY SO MUCH YOU WILL GET YOUR SWEET SPOT. KEEP EXERCISING AND EAT AS BEST YOU CAN. MY OPINION IS CUT SOME CARBS AND FAT NOT ALL CARBS. THIS IS DANGEROUS. IF YOU WANT A TRUE NEW FEELING GET TO REGULAR EXERCISING. I CAN DO 10 MINUTE MILES NOW AND DO 40 MIN. CARDIO MINIM,UM 4X A WEEK PLUS LIFT 3X A WEEK IN DIFFEENT SESSIONS. HEY WE WENT UNDER THE KNIFE TO FIGHT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IS GOING FOR EXERCISE THAT BAD?

GOOD JOB GIRL. I BEEN EXERCISIING THE WHOLE TIME AND ITS PAID OFF. KEEP IT UP, LOOKING GOOD I KNOW...

wELL i HAVE WAS STUCK ALSO AND GOT MY 4TH FILL. aFTER THAT THE PARTY WAS OVER. i HAD TO EXERCISE LIKE A MAD MAN TO CONTINUE TO LOSE.i HAVE HAD THE FILL 3 WEEKS ALMOST AND 10 LBS ARE GONE. tHIS IS THE RESTRICTION I NEEDED. i DO CARDIO 40 MIN. MINIMUM 4X A WEEK AND LIFT IN SEPERATE SESSIONS 3 TIMES A WEEK. IM 234 NOW FROM 276 IN AUGUST. I BELEIVE NOW THE REST IS HISTORY. I TAKING IN TO MANY CALORIES, BOTTOM LINE. I DO NOT BELIEVE IN CUTTING CARBS OUT ITS DANGEROUS AND HARD ON YOUR SYSTEM. ATKINS DIED OBESE WITH HEART PROBLEMS. CUTTING DOWN ON JUNK AND BREAD YEAH I SEE THAT , IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO EAT BREAD. THAT WAS GONE LAST FILL. SO WAS PIZZA, ANY SANDWICH OR BURGER OR BURRITO. SORRY I WAS GETTING CARRIED AWAY.

Really well, you look great. how is Ireland? Congrats on your losses.

We are all different. I am 3 fills out now with 3cc in a 4cc band. I can still eat a sandwich. Red meat gives me to much trouble but everything else is fine. I have dropped 35lbs since August 12. I am losing better a lb a week the way I figure it. Lately I don't think I am but if Ilose 3/4 lb a week I can live with that cause it is going going gone you know.