txgirl10326

Hey everyone! So I had surgery almost a year ago this month. I have yet to get in a swimsuit and hang out with people. My fear is I have not told anyone about my surgery beside my family and my best friend. Obviously I know have a scar on my stomach from surgery...If you haven't told anyone about your surgery, does anyone have any suggestions for me to tell people when they ask me what the scar is from? I haven't had any additional big surgery that I could say that is what it is from. I just am nervous about the questions that will get asked when we go to the pool in a couple of weeks. Thanks in advance!!

Thank you all for your responses!! I really appreciate it!!

I have noticed there isn't much activity on these boards as others. Which is why I try to answer any questions; I had a lot of questions before I got the procedure done and it's nice to get the answers. To be honest; I didn't exercise for a while after the surgery. I did do some walking, but that was the extent of it. It took a few months for me to get going with exercise. I started Shaun T's T25 program. I LOVE IT!! However I start it, then life gets busy with school and work and I manage to stop it and I acutally just started it again. I have pictures of me in a swim suit while I was doing it and weighed 138 and looked tone and good. I stopped it and got down to 133. I took pictures of myself at 133 and I was amazed to see that exercise really helps because I look soooo much bigger in the 133 picture then I did in the 138. So I just recently restarted it. I am 8 pounds from goal so I believe that exercise is crucial. Side note - I like T25 for the mere fact that it is 25 minutes a day, Monday-Friday. Friday is 50 minutes (because you are supposed to double up). With such a busy schedule it is a program that is completely do-able. I completely recommend it! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I am here to help you. I am coming up to my one year bandiversary at the end of this month.

Anyone who is a low bandster and getting banded at the end of July? Would love to have a buddy to go through this with

Blacktxbelle, I am 5'0...5'1 on a good day! Lol I started this journey at 163 pounds. I was banded on July 26, 2013. It has been an extremely slow journey for me. But I knew that going into this that I wouldn't lose weight as fast as somebody with a higher BMI. I am currently sitting between 130-133 pounds. Getting below 130 seems to be my hardest thing yet! My goal is to be down to 125. Although sometimes I get depressed thinking why can't it come off faster, I often remind myself that I'm down 30 pounds from the beginning and that in itself is a huge victory. I take a lot of before and after pictures, so that helps me mentally see that I am changing, when sometimes the scale doesn't show. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. I was all over this message board before I had surgery, so I know how it is with wanting to know answers. Toni

Heyy!! I was banded July 26th with a BMI at 32 (at 5'0)...and needless to say I am having a tough time trying to lose weight! I have only lost 17 pounds in almost 5 months...not the results I had hoped for. I am looking for people with similar stats to be able to talk to and discuss each others' journeys! Is anyone looking for a low BMI banded buddy to help keep other accountable?

My procedure was $9,995.

It's okay!! I'll answer all the questions you need! This is a big step...you should ask questions! It can be a long tedious process; however my insurance didn't cover me getting Lapband so being self pay makes it a lot quicker. I had my consultation with True Results in mid June 2013...and my surgery was July 26, 2013. So for me, the whole process was a month! Let me know any other questions!! I'd be glad to answer them!

My experience has been pretty much easy. I haven't had any issues with my band. I went in for surgery around I think it was 9 or 10am...and was on my way home I believe around 3ish. I am not going to sugar coat it...the first week was hell. I would slowly move an inch and wonder what the heck I did to my body and why I would put myself through this. I was second guessing myself like no other! The slightest pain, hurts me. I have no tolerance for pain, AT ALL! So that could have been my problem! With that being said, it did get better! I had surgery on a Friday...and was back at work that following Tuesday (however, I do have a desk job). I was on liquids for the first week - which I wasn't really even hungry. (I ate alot of pudding, popsicles, etc) The 2nd week was mushy food. (pureed Soups, cottage cheese) 3rd week was soft Protein (egg salad) and 4th week was solid protein (chicken). The only thing that kept me going...was my parents. They both have had LapBand for 4-5 years. I have seen their successes and their downfalls. I knew the first week would not be easy...but I knew once I got past that, I would be A-Okay! Again, it varies for everyone...what affects me, may not affect you. I am just a sissy, so everything hurt! LOL Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks, Toni

Hey! I am glad you are following me and my journey!! I am doing alright! I currently have 7.8cc's in my 10cc Allergan band. I have lost 25 pounds in almost 8 months. That may not seem like a lot to many people that have had this procedure done. But I started at 163 and am currently 138. I am consistently losing...but very slowly. I started with a BMI of 32. If I had to do this all over...I definitely would. It has made me be aware of what I choose to eat and giving me a sense of confidence that I had lost. At 27, I am turning into the person I want to be. If you have any additional questions please feel free to message me! I'd love to share my experience. Thank you, Toni

Hey everyone!!! How is everybody doing?!? An update for me...I finally hit 20 pounds (I think I am at 23 pounds now)!! LOL Woohoo!! The 26th of February will be 7 month surgiversary...so although this has been a slower journey than I thought...I still wouldn't change it. I have so much more confidence and happiness than I was when I started this. I think I am getting really close to my green zone. I have had 5 fills. I am at 7.5cc's in a 10cc band. I go this Wednesday for hopefully a 6th fill. Not sure if the nurse practitioner will give me a fill...since this last month I have lost about 4-5 pounds. Which is what they recommend (and that was with NO exercise). But I started this journey at 163 and hit 139 yesterday! Which was very exciting! I just thought I would check in and see how everyone was doing!! Hope to hear from everybody! Toni

How is everyone doing? I am almost 4 months post op...and needless to say, I am not at the point I thought I would be. I am going in Monday for my 4th fill. Still haven't gotten to the green zone yet! I have only lost 14 lbs. I realize with us being "low" bmi'ers that it would slower losses...I would have just expected a little more than 14 pounds! Now, I say that, but I can also say, that if it wasn't for the lapband...I would be able to comfortably fit into my once skin tights shorts, and I am pretty sure that in 4 months I would have gained weight if it wasn't for the band. So I am thankful for the band...just wish my losses were more than 14 pounds! Just checking in with everyone...how is everyone's progress?

I was banded in July 2013...I would love to have an email buddy! I am considered a Low BMI lap band patient...so my journey is going very very slowly! But I would love to communicate with others about their journey! Toni

I am sure this in a thread somewhere, but I can't find it. I have been trying to figure out the balance between how many calories to intake/calories burned...etc. I have gotten mixed advice: 1) some people say eat around 1200 calories; exercise and DON'T eat the calories back... 2) some people told me to eat around 1200 calories; exercise and DO eat the calories back (so really I'd be eating roughly 1500-1600 calories) A little background on me...I am 8 weeks post op and have only lost about 14 pounds total. I started this journey with a BMI of 31.8 (so I know weight loss is going to be much slower). I have been watching what I am eating and plugging it in to MyFitnessPal. I just started doing workout videos (Shaun T's Rockin Body/Chalene Johnson's TurboFire) where I burn roughly 300-600 calories per workout (depending on the specific workout that day). I have a Polar Ft7 watch and heart monitor to give me more of an accurate reading of calories burned. I know it is different for everyone...but can anyone give me advice for what works the best for them. Thank you in advance for your advice!

I was banded 7/26/13. Starting with a BMI of 31.8. My weight pre-surgery was 163. I am now weighing in at about 149. I got my first fill on 8/28/13. Doctor put 4cc's in at surgery...and my fill added 1cc. So I am up to 5cc's. I am defintely eating much less and feeling satisfied for about 4 hours...but scale isn't moving. Okay, so I have a question. Is this good progress? I just want to make sure I am on the right track. I feel like I am not losing much weight. I realize that starting with a smaller BMI, weight loss is going to be much slower! I already know that. I just would have expected to have lost more than 14 pounds. However, I can definitely tell in my pictures that I take weekly that I am losing inches somewhere...LOL but it is just depressing that the scale isn't moving. I have been working out. I have been getting on the treadmill and doing weight loss intervals burning anywhere from (430-450 calories in about 40 minutes) 3-4 days a week. Could not eating enough/ or drinking enough Water hinder weight loss? Any insight would be extremely helpful!!! Thank you in advance!

I was just about to ask...what is the calorie intake supposed to be? I feel like I may not eating enough...which I have read can stall weight loss. Yesterday I ate more then I usually do...not over doing it....but definitely more then usual and woke up this morning, weighed myself, and was down a pound. So that got me thinking...maybe I need more calories. Being banded just almost 2 months ago...I'm just trying to figure the right equation of calorie intake, exercise...etc. Any input/advice/comments? Thank you in advance.

Thank you all for your input! Guess I wasn't looking at it being 14 pounds in 5-6 weeks. Better than a gain of 14 pounds! I also think I'm not eating enough and barely drinking enough water! Maybe if I get that going right...the scale will start creeping down! Thanks for y'alls advice

Thank you all for your input! Guess I wasn't looking at it being 14 pounds in 5-6 weeks. Better than a gain of 14 pounds! I also think I'm not eating enough and barely drinking enough water! Maybe if I get that going right...the scale will start creeping down! Thanks for y'alls advice

I am in week 4 post op. I am a low BMI bandster (starting with a BMI of 31.8). I haven't lost all that much. I have lost 5 pounds since surgery (July 26th) and 11-13 pounds including pre-op diet...which I understand is normal for the healing process as well as not having a larger number of pounds to lose. I weighed this morning however and had gained 2 pounds. I don't understand why I am constantly hungry now! I go for my first post op appointment on the 27th and my first fill on the 28th of next week. Is this normal to feel just as hungry as I was before surgery...I feel like nothing has changed. And it is quite depressing to see the scale go up...and not down. Thank you in advance for all your advice!! Toni

Thank you all for your responses! I really appreciate it! HTXPEPPER- I agree with you. I have only lost really 11-12 pounds including pre-op diet. (I only had to do a week of pre-op since I started at a lower BMI). It is depressing. But from what I read...what we are going through is "normal", being that we don't have as much to lose as others. I go for my first post op appointment on the 27th...and my first fill appointment on the 28th! It can't come soon enough! I am ready to start this weightloss journey

I was under the assumption that nothing was put in it during surgery. But a woman who went through the same doctor I did and started with a very similar BMI I did...just went for her first fill and they let her know, that the doctor put 4cc's during surgery. I found it extremely odd that she wasn't told before or after surgery. But I wasn't told anything either...and at the time, honestly, didn't think to ask. So I can only assume maybe he put some in mine during surgery? I honestly don't know. I am meeting with him Tuesday...that was going to be one of my questions to him.

I am 9 days post op...up until day 7, my port soreness was alright. Day 8 and Day 9 it has been extremely sore to the touch and just really uncomfortable. The swelling in my stomach has somewhat gone down...but I do have a tender lump at my port site (from the swelling). Is this normal? How long did it take for peoples' port sites to not be so tender to the touch and for the lump to go down? Thank you.

I am 17 days post op. I realize that the first month is supposed to be for the healing process. But I have only lost 6 pounds since surgery...and 14 pounds total (including pre op). I know because I am a lower BMI bandster that weight is going to be slower coming off. But are these normal numbers? I am 5'0. I started at 163 with a BMI of 31.8. I am now roughly 149-149.5 with a BMI of 29.1. Just wanted to make sure I was on the right track My first post op appointment is scheduled for August 21st! Thank you all for your advice and help throughout this journey so far!!! Toni

I was banded on 7/26/13. I have lost about 13-14 pounds total (pre-op and post op). About 6 lbs since surgery day. I am a low bmi bandster. I started my journey with a 32 BMI. Everything is going good. Port area is still real tender. I am having a hard time getting all my Protein in. I needs to start getting my shakes in properly! But other than that...things are going good! What about you?

I got slack as well from my sisters. My parents were completely supportive (they both have lapband). But I only told them and a couple people at work...for that reason. No one needs to know. After all, I did this for ME, and ME only. I am doing good. I am 18 days post op. I was weighing everyday...but DON'T do that! The first month is for healing and not so much for weightloss (esp. since we are starting at a much lower BMI). My port is still real tender...but that is it...I feel pretty much normal! How are you doing?