gowalking

My bariatric surgeon never gave me a goal. We didn't even talk about it. I did have input however from two other sources. My PCP and my orthopaedist. My PCP told me that if I could get down to 150 lbs. she would be quite satisfied. My orthopaedist said I wasn't a good candidate for joint replacement till I was under 200 lbs. I weighed 267 at the time. I haven't changed my eating since I was banded two years ago. I was losing consistently so I figured the weight would stop coming off when my body was done shedding. I'm probably done at this point as I am basically staying in the neighborhood of 115-118 lbs. So 'technically' I surpassed my goal of weighing 150 but again...it was a very arbitrary goal. My BMI at 150 was still in the overweight category. But I also know that BMI is far from an exact measurement as well. My opinion...and it's just my opinion...is that your goal should be a healthier and happier life...and not go by a number. In fact...my goal was really to lose enough weight to get my hips replaced and that goal was met when I weighed under 200 lbs. The remaining 85 lbs. I lost was gravy as far as I'm concerned.

I was losing my hair as well and started taking Biotin and drinking unjury every day per my surgeon's advice. That added about 20 additional grams of Protein. Between the Biotin and the Unjury, my hair did eventually come back. Biotin is over the counter and not very expensive. If you buy the big containers of Unjury rather than individual packets, the price is pretty reasonable.

I'm actually watching Gray's Anatomy. Never watched it on regular TV so I'm watching it on Netflix. Also...I watch Call the Midwife on PBS. @@woo woo, it's a British series about midwives during the 1950's in a working class area of England. It's a really nice series. I just watched the Christmas Special and the new season starts soon.

Ohhh...OK. That makes sense. I always thought it was the same type of surgery. Obviously not. Thanks for clarifying it for me.

There was a disclaimer at the beginning noting the inflammatory opinions she holds so I figured she was a fat hater...so I changed the channel. I like watching the 600 lb. episodes but that's because these folks for the most part are successful and it's nice to see. The only thing I wonder about is why the bariatric surgeon does the skin removal. Isn't that supposed to be a plastic surgeon? Especially as these folks still look pretty lumpy even after they have skin surgery. Anyway...random thoughts..

It will happen @Elizabeth68. I promise. I've lost 150 lbs. and the port, once completely invisible hidden under all that fat, is now protruding just like the other posters say...it does look like a golf ball under the skin. I asked Dr. Ren about it when I saw her last month and she said there was a lower profile port available but it wouldn't make much of a difference in her opinion. Truth be told, I have become very proud of that bump as it means I've lost so much excess weight that it's clearly visible now.

I second everything 2babutterfly wrote. Just the fact that you take responsibility for your poor choices means that you can...and will succeed. Good luck and come here as often as you need to for support.

Hi Cori. This is a small forum for folks involved in the support group. Can I suggest you post this on a larger forum where more people will see it and give you feedback? You can post in either the lapband or sleeve area...or even the general weight loss forum. Good luck.

I'm also doing well for the most part with the food aspect. I'm never going to be a fan of exercise so I do my best to get to the pool two or three times a week and I consider that a goal met. But Water....oh my. I so need to drink more water. I often drink less than two bottles and I know I should be drinking twice that. I drink coffee instead and I know that's not a good thing. I just recently got the flavor drops and I've found that helps so I hope by adding flavor, I'll drink more water this year. I know my intestines and colon will thank me...

@@Tribecca26, I see you are in the NYC area and used Dr. Ren as I did. I can give you the name of my therapist. She's on the UWS and had WLS as well so she has a good working knowledge of folks with eating issues besides just being 'book trained'. I've been seeing her for a year and we're working on root causes to fix the inside as the outside changes. Feel free to PM me and I can give you her info if you are interested.

Glad you're feeling better. It's raining cats and dogs here in the city but at least it's significantly warmer today. Am also going for a late brunch with friends and looking forward to it. I went out for Russian food last night and because I can't eat much, what I do eat is orgasmic in nature if the food is warranted. Last night it was warranted..lol. Gravlax, sour cream, and potato pancake. OMG! ..and more OMG was that I had one serving...not four.

@@Sharon1964, you are new to this site so I don't know if you read my posts but basically I've been changing the outside of me for two years, and am working on the inside of me for just over a year. As other posters have said, we share many of the same issues and understand all too well what you feel and what you wrote. The band will not help me keep the weight off without my getting to the root cause. Self esteem issues, non-supportive family, body image issues, control issues, there's alot going on with me and only with the help of a therapist (who also has had WLS) can I hope to keep the weight off for good. Some people only need to fix the outside to fix the inside, but unfortunately, not me. So I did what I had to when I got banded. Now I'm doing what I have to in order to make sure the weight loss is permanent. Good luck my dear...we are all here to help and support you as much as possible.

Good for you medium Al...love that by the way...

I've had a number of surgeries/procedures at NYU and the staff is truly wonderful. Congrats on your surgery and welcome to the other side.

You are on your way girlfriend!!

The doctor shouldn't sway you one way or the other. It's your body and you know if you need a fill or not. I haven't had any fills and I've been banded two years. I happen to have good restriction without fills. It's unusual but not unheard of. If you think you don't need one, don't get one.

Feel better soon sweetie!

Great job Ken. I was also morbidly obese and suffering from mobility issues. Not any more and it's all because of my weight loss. I hope to never forget how far I've come in order to never go back there again. I hope the same for you. Congrats on a job well done.

Hi there. Your stats are similar to mine. I am also five feet tall and was 267 lbs. I also have Cigna. I needed to have three months steady of doctor supervised weight loss/dieting. I did not have to lose any weight, just have it documented with the doctor. You should be OK insurance wise. As far as the surgery you want, talk to the doctor and explain why you want the DS. If he has a problem with it, you will know that he's the wrong doctor for you. Regarding the amount of weight you expect to lose, just know that my PCP told me to get a gastric bypass since I needed to lose at least 100 lbs. and her experience was that I'd only lose about 40 lbs. with the band. I went with the band because that's what I was comfortable with and I lost 150 lbs. I weigh less than my PCP now so don't assume the weight loss based on the surgery. Good luck and keep us posted.

Look at that! We're band twins. Congrats as well on your success. I do hope you can get that excess skin off but in the meantime, keep rocking those skinny jeans and boots. Woo Hoo!

Look online for a Y near you. I use the McBurney Y on 14th Street. Runs me about $90 a month as a resident. That's alot cheaper than the cost of a private gym.

Excellent decision. It's always a struggle for me to go to the pool but I've never regretted it once I'm there and start exercising and swimming my laps.

I am eating as though I was in the maintenance stage and almost didn't realize that I've lost another 10 lbs. over the last four months. I don't really worry since I'm eating well balanced meals. I figure the weight loss will stop when my body is done getting rid of what it considers excess weight. I have a good deal of extra skin as well and I know that if I ever get plastic surgery, I'd likely lose both additional pounds and another size or two. I'm not ready to move forward with that yet, so I'm also not letting it keep me up at night.

Thank you so much for all your kind words and good wishes. I'm so glad that I can help to inspire others. I really feel like I'm paying it forward while it's also helping me to keep my eye on the prize.

Hi Tanya. I exceeded my 'goal' as well. My PCP told me if I got down to 150 lbs. gone, she would be thrilled so that's the number I plugged in. Two years out and I'm down to around 115-117 lbs. That's not underweight for me as I'm small in stature but I also think as you do that at least ten pounds is loose skin so I'm likely 105-107 lbs. which is still in the normal range for me. I have gotten some remarks from friends and family about not losing any more weight but I know that's just because I've lost so much that they are concerned. My doctor is not and neither am I. Besides...I love food way too much to become anorexic. If I have plastic surgery, it won't be for a couple of years yet so I don't know the answer to your question but since I need my tummy done, and much of the lower body as everything is saggy from the waist down, I have to think there's a good ten or more pounds of loose skin. I just need a break from surgery as I've gone through several these last couple of years. Hope this response helped some.