apralfool

Hello everyone, I cannot believe that it has been 6mos....but what a difference the band has made in such a short time. I was at 459lbs pre-op and I am now down to about 385lbs...No more back aches as I walt through the mall.....I am anxious to see what my weight loss will be in a year!

LOL! I love the true point of your story....I cant't wait to just be a "b" and not a "fat b".....

Mandi you can do it. Dr. B did my surgery and I actually had to be on the pre-op for 5 weeks due to my BMI....I weighed 459lbs pre-op. I will be honest and tell that I did not follow the instructions completely, but just keep in mind that fudging is a slippery slope. If you feel that you just have to have something break off the "bite" that you are going to allow yourself and then throw the rest away before you eat the bite. You will find that after you eat whatever it is you will sometimes feel gulity or discover that it was just "head" hunger and the one bite was enough to pull you through the storm. Now if you are diabetic you need to immediately talk with the doctors office because being light headed is a sign that your glucose levels are not good. Trust me it will be worth the effort. I was banded on 3/29/07 and I have lost about 80lbs as of today---keep it up you can do it!

How do I go about finding a bike that will support my 375lb body....i just envision myself on the road with a bike that has steel belted radials. Is there a specific company or style that I should be looking for?

Okay everyone....I think that we raise our foot off Tiki2007---because he/she makes a valid point. However, Tiki just keep in mind that it is not what you say, but how you say it. Because to be perfectly honest, I know that if I spent less time on the couching watching tv that would be an opportunity for me to do something that would exert more energy and thus promote more weight loss.

Don't get discouraged...this is quite common. After my first fill I could still eat anything that I wanted;however, I just had my second fill last week and I was in for a rude awakening. I was told that the first fill is designed to more or less teach how to change your eating habits...like taking smaller bites, chewing your food properly etc....trust please practice these things because your second fill will not be as forgiving...after my first fill, I could eat 4 tacos within a couple of days...after the second fill, I had trouble eating half of a taco... You just need to focus on self control for now...the restriction will come with future fills.

Sorry to hear about the insurance issue....My weight as of 1/1/07 was 476---when I started my pre-surgery testing I was down to 459 and by my surgery date I was at 445. I can honestly say that I was not hungry all the time. I was one of those people that ate one time a day and when I ate, I ate! Like the reply above, the trick is eating at least 5-6 times a day--you will be amazed at how much you will lose even before the surgery. I have to agree that with her also that I too suffer from "head" hunger, but drinking water usually resolves this for me. I usually have a pack of instant oatmeal and 2 link sausages for breakfast; lunch is then a salad with sliced deli meat; and dinner is some form of protein and veggies....Tacos have become my friend because it is a "all in one" solution. Also drinking all the water that you can stand or even Crystal Light will help you lose the water weight. I have lost 25lbs post surgery(3/29/07)....Trust me--you can do it! At my weight, i know that I have a long way to go, but I plan on celebrating many small victories!

I have to agree with Wheetsin....I don't see it as being the same journey. I look at people who only needed to lose 50-60lbs and think--they could have exercised that weight off. Yes, I know that is wrong of me to think that and very judgemental, but my weight loss journey actually did begin at 500lbs--476 to be exact, so to me 60lbs is a drop in the bucket, so I truly unable to relate someone with a BMI in the 30s--my BMI is currently 68 and it is down from 73. I empathize, but I definitely feel that it is a different journey.

Hello Everyone, I had surgery on 3/29 and my scale is telling me that I have not lost any weight. I initially had lost about 6lbs, but now I am back at the weight I was the day of the surgery. I must admit that I have not been drinking the Protein shakes....could this be my problem? I know that I am not eating over 1000 calories a day, so I can't figure out why I am not losing??? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Apralfool

I am glad to here that someone else is experiencing the same thing....I too was worried that my band had slipped or something because I had surgery on 3/29 and I don't seem to have any restriction. I am really trying to follow the food stages...but I have not been drinking the protein...it gives me horrible gas and it tastes terrible.

Hi Everyone! Just got banded on 3/29...planned the procedure as a 40th birthday present to myself. I've been told that life really starts at 40 and besides it is the new "20"! It will be the start of a long journey for me since my BMI is above 70. So far everything is going great...no pain or hunger. Had my procedure done in the Dallas area...I was home within 4hrs of having the surgery and I am looking forward to the greater things to come.

Hi Ted, I got banded on the 29th also...hope that you are doing well. I am feeling great so far! I too was short for my weight so you are in good company! Wishing you the best on your journey!

I just had surgery 3 days ago and I have been experiencing the gurgling also...I figured that it was just my stomach growling...it feels like more like a purr rather than the roar I would get before the surgery.