Anne Finch

Hi Tabithan and others! THANK YOU for starting this thread. I haven't read every post, but hope you don't mind if I jump in. I've been feeling pretty distressed the last month or so about my progress, lack thereof, and actual regaining, so I went back to this forum and few other places to get remotivated. Its my fault. I learned to eat around the band. And boy did have I eaten. Was banded in January 2007, and did REALLY well for a long time. then my success got to my head. I started off at 315, and got down to just about 210 by my one year anniversary. then it crept up to 215. back down to 210, then LOTS of hard work to 205 as of July 2008. I was so proud of myself, and got very lazy. stopped writing everything down. started having a few more cocktails and "little bites" everywhere. stopped going to the gym 2-3 times a week. then more and more "little" bits here and there. Things I never craved before appealed to me more than ever... dips, salty foods, fat based foods (cheese and mayonnaise things, etc). two days ago I finally weighed myself again and I am back up OVER 230. that's 25 pounds in less than 6 months!!!! What am I doing?!?!?! As of Tuesday, I am turning over yet another new leaf. Maybe this whole thing isn't just a change in how we live and eat, but a series of constant changes and adjustments. I don't know. But I really have to get to 180 or 175 to have my BMI in a safe range. I don't care as much as I should about how I look, but I do care about my health... so now I need to prove it to myself... again!!!

That is absolutely great how much you have lost already! I think that really shows this surgery will be a a success for you - you obviously can follow the dietary stuff. Just keeping following the diet to a "T" and you will be fine. Don't cheat on your Protein, even if you are over for the day's calories, and drink, drink, drink! You WILL get really hungry before your first fill. I was HORRIFICALLY hungry. But that is good since it means you are healed up and will be ready for a fill. Fluids will be your best friend. And drink them now, since it will get harded when you've been filled. I started at 315lbs on New Year's Day of this year. I had the surgery two weeks later and just TODAY hit the over 100lbs lost mark. Yippee! But I have to say, those first several weeks were really tough. Tougher than I expected or anyone said. Especially when the hunger hit. But I found it easier to bite the bullet and stick with it since I knew a fill would be coming - there was an end in sight. I never had a problem with following what foods to eat on a diet, I just couldn't deal with constantly feeling (physically as well as mentally) hungry. Not that you are asking for advice, but if you want some... try to keep the food/progress diary like they recommend. It really made it easier to count stuff up and keep track of Vitamins, etc. in those first months, and I also look back at them now and again to see how far I have come. It was difficult at first, because it made me feel like I had to think about it all the time, but now it is kind of routine and really helpful. I will stop blathering on now... but CONGRATULATIONS again. And it is great you have an good doctor! We need more of them out there! -Anne

Today it is official - on the SAME scale I weighed 315 on 1/1/07 (just prior to banding on 1/17/07), I now weigh 213.5!!!! The last couple of weeks I kept hovering at 217/219. Then all of a sudden! This was my goal for 1/1/08... and it is only November 29! Wahoo!!! Dare I ask for under 200 by 1/1/08? I still have about 55 pounds to go... but it is seeming more like a reality every day now! YIPEEE!!!!!!! YIPEEE!!!!!!! YIPEEE!!!!!!! 101.5 today!!!!!!

I had some Cereal at my mother-in-law's this morning, and since she "knows I am eating healthy these days" she put some dried fruit bits in it with the Special K flakes. I didn't notice at first - I thought they were part of the grains. Very sweet of her, and I didn't think they would be a problem. Stupid me. Well, I think a bit of dried apricot or apple got stuck in the band area. Oh my lord. Such mucus. Such horror. For hours. All day. I am only feeling better now, at 10pm. I stretched and stretched to try to wiggle it down. I tried drinking warm liquids and would just throw them up. Not until I finally threw up that bit a little while ago would ANYTHING stay down. I am just sharing this with you all since I don't want anyone else to venture into dried fruit without warning.

Thanks for the tip... I hadn't heard that one but I should have read about it. I am adding it to my grocery list!

Dear Joyce- I came up with your posts when I did a search on the forum for Dr. Strom... he did my lap band in January of this year. I haven't read everyone's posts, so forgive me for any repeating. Dr. Strom's group has monthly support group meetings, and it might be a good idea for you, your husband, and your daughter to go.. lots of people who go are just considering surgery. The next one is in November - they have probably filled you in on them. I couldn't go to the one this week - perhaps you already went. Anyway, I bring this up because you all could get a real good idea of what life is like after the band - the good and the bad - from people right there in the room. Not that there is anything wrong with info on the forum, but I think being there in person could make it more real for your husband and daughter. I didn't go to any groups meetings beforehand and I wish I had. Don't get me wrong... I do not regret getting the band at all: I have gone from 315 on 1/1/07 to 212 as of yesterday. It is a lot of hard work and a VERY serious committment, but I am proof that it surely can be done. And it is a whole lot easier than the ravaging hunger I had with "regular" diets. I think it is great you and your daughter are pursuing something - if she had cancer you would do whatever is necessary, and at over 300lbs, it can be as medically serious. Not to be corny, but this can really be the "gift of life." You daughter is still so young and I think that helps make this is a great opportunity for her to prove to herself she can do whatever she puts her mind to... her self-image is still being formed, and think how strong and self-reliant she will be having conquered obesity... a national epidemic! And how confident she will be when she doesn't have to be a young person self-conscious about her weight? Anyway, I will stop droning on, but good luck to you all and perhaps I will see you at a meeting!

Congratulations, Aaron... I am really glad for you! the band has been a really great thing for me - I really feel in control of my health now, and not consumed by the Beast.... the Beast of Thinking About Eating all the time... it just isn't there anymore - physically. losing 85 pounds in 6 months since getting the band has been great, but what I am REALLY glad to be rid of is the constant mind-bending hunger, and thinking about what and when I can eat next, etc... If that is kind of the same for you, don't get discouraged during the first couple of months - until you are "adjusted" with fills correctly, you might still be hungry sometimes... I swear, after I healed and before the first fill, I would have sworn they hadn't done anything to me if I hadn't had the scar. that was tough, but I could handle it and was able to stick with the nutrionist's diet (for the most part!) because I knew I would have relief sooner rather than later and I would be able to deal with it once properly "filled." Anyway, good luck and tell that skinny-minny wife of yours how great she is for caring about you enough to pursue this.:car: Oh, and one last word - PROTEIN! Anne- formerly of CT

Conratulations, Areellady!!! I, too, have feared the booth... and lawn chairs... and bathroom stalls... and seat belts in friends' cars... and lots of other things, but no more! You know, after having my son, I was able to use him as my excuse (instead of having to tell the hostess or waiter that I simply wouldn't fit) since they usually put child seats at tables, not in booths. How pathetic of me. But no more! I was banded 6 months ago, and as of this morning (on my scale) I am down exactly 85 pounds. I still don't believe it is working so well, and I still have a ways to go: I was 315 on New Years Day 2007, my end goal is 160 - so I still have 70 to go (even though I can't get my ticker below to cooperate with these numbers). My hope is to lose the remaining 70 pounds in the next year - and I WILL DO IT!!!! and I'll be thinking of you next time I get seating in a BOOTH!

It helped me to take baby bites - and having a baby in the house helped, as I am using my son's little silverware! it is just so much harder to chew a larger bite as much as you need to.

I am very concerned about the same thing as you, and seems like we are similar in terms of starting weight, etc. Everyone keeps telling me there is nothing to be done, but I know from my grandmother (she lost a lot of weight many years ago after a stroke), her doctors wanted her to get lots of Protein and dairy, saying it would help with her skin's overall health and some elasticity... it did not unstretch it, but it was more healthy at least. i've got to start saving pennies, too, since I am down 80 already, with another 80-90 to go, and am already sagging terribly!

I have a question for those of you more experienced with the band than me... I had the band done in mid January of this year, and have been very happy with my progress (almost 80 pounds lost so far!!!), but three weeks ago I went in for my third fill as I was starting to get very hungry and had lost enough weight in the stomach area that I really needed it. Problem is, I was hungrier AFTER the fill. way hungrier. even more than before I had the very first post-op fill. Is this possible? Could the needle miss, or even release some of the Fluid. I gave it a few days to make sure, but have now scheduled to go in again this week. I think the DR is going to think I am crazy. But I haven't lost a pound in a month now, and have actually gone up a little. YIKES.

My doctor said high altitude and air travel shouldn't affect the band, but I know when I was in the mountains for a family reunion for a long weekend, I couldn't get down anything but liquids. Perhaps it was my family making me sick (ha ha) but as soon as I 'descended' I felt better.