jfran

I met a lady on my vacation that had had gastric bypass. She lost 165lbs and then had the arm surgery. Her scars went from elbow to armpit and were not straight at all. They were healing well and blending into her skin. She is thrilled and can wear any kind of shirt she wants. Tummy tuck is next for her. She was such an inspiration.

One of my biggest problem areas and concerns is the fat on the back of my arms. It is so frustrating because I am self conscious when wearing sleeveless shirts and most shirts with sleeves don't fit.... I have been exercising consistently for about 6 weeks now and have seen some improvement. I have lost a little over an inch in each arm, but its not enough by far.... Any exercise tips out there that would target the arm flab??

Congrats! You will be so happy that you are doing this. I also have not told many people. Now that I have lost 37lbs people are starting to notice the weightloss and want to know what I am doing. I tell them the truth "I am exercising like crazy, eating healthy with more Protein than carb and I drink a ton of Water." I just leave out the part about the band. Those people that were around when I had the surgery just think I have stomach surgery for my GERD and gallbladder which is also true to an extent. Good luck on your journey and keep us informed of your progress.

Loser28: I am so psyched with my progress and it is really starting to show. I feel so much better about myself and I find myself making the effort to do my hair, put on makeup, wearing contacts, and buying new cute clothes. I am down 2 sizes in shirts and 4 sizes in pants!!! This is so awesome and I am almost out of the plus section!! Thanks for your words of encouragement. Jfran

Before I launch into my tirade, I want to preface it by saying I am thrilled with my weightloss success so far, but... I had my first fill 2 weeks ago. Over the first 3-4 days (liquids) I lost 6lbs. Then I weighed a few days later and I gained 4lbs back. I got upset and decided to wait to weigh for a whole week. I exercised like crazy everyday. I weighed this morning and I was only down a half a pound????? I am so confused and frustrated because I worked so hard, ate the right things on the whole and drank tons of Water. ....And, I am hungrier than ever. Has anyone gained after a fill? Some words of encouragement would be great. I am schedule for a checkup in a couple of weeks- think I am going to ask for another fill.

how is everybody?? I am feeling great! Ten weeks post op and down 37lbs and 50 inches!! Very pleased... I go back to school in a couple of weeks. It is my challenge to keep up with these healthy habits of eating right and exercising during the school year. Wish me luck!!

I feel the exact same way. I have been using small weights (1-3 lbs) and doing tricep and bicep exercises as well as using a stretchy band. I am also doing cardio dvds that include arm exercises. I have lost approximately 3 inches in each arm and I can visibly see a difference, but they will have to shrink a lot more before I wear a tank top. Good luck and let me know if you find an exercise that works well.

Well, here's an update.... went on my cruise(loved it)... exercised 7 out of the 9 days I was gone for around 45 minutes...came home and weighed (NO LOSS). I suppose I should be glad that I didn't gain while on a cruise. Since I have been home, I have gone back to my regular healthy eating and I am continuing to exercise and WAHLA...I am down 4 lbs!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!! I am done a total of 37lbs and a whopping 50 inches!!!!!!! I go back to the doctor on Friday. I still think I may ask for a small fill, because I can eat a lot of food and I am hungry in between meals. I guess we will see what happens,but I know I am on the right track. Thanks for everyones suggestions.

Calcium citrate is particularly good for women and is essential to the health of their bones especially for women over 40. At least that is what my nutritionist says. I take Citracal- chocolate chewies--Pretty good and a nice treat to end the day.

I am from East Tennesse and I know there are several others here as well. I had my surgery 8 weeks ago and I have lost 33lbs!!! Of course I wish it were more, but I am thrilled with the loss. And get this, I have lost a total of 45 inches from my body!!!!!!!!!!! I am down 3-4 dress sizes and feeling fabulous. Good Luck to everyone having surgery soon!!

I haven't told too many. Just really close friends and family-- Parents, Neighbors that are like family, couple other friends and my hair stylist (I can tell her anything) I haven't told my cousins, aunts and uncles or even my grandmother. Just think they would be too judgemental. I will eventually tell them but I just want to give my self the chance to make the band work and to work on myself. The ones who know have been very supportive and it helps that I can share my experience with a few.

We're losing our insulation. This is a good thing.

If you are still looking for a reply---- I am 7 weeks post op and I have been able to eat 1/2-1 cup at each meal. On rare occasions 1 1/2 cups depending on the food. I stick to salads and chicken most of the time as well as cheese and wheat crackers, fruit and scrambled eggs. So far I have been able to eat just about anything just in smaller portions. I am like you in that I am not slowing down enough and I am still trying to hear my body's cues that I am full or not hungry. Overall I am thrilled with my results and I am taking in 1000-1500 calories a day. It varies. Good luck with your banding experience.

I started walking around the house the day of surgery and was a little more active in the next couple of days. About 4-5 post op I started doing walking dvds but took fairly easy as far as intensity. By the second week I was increasing the length of time and intensity. Now-6weeks out, I am doing Hip Hop Abs dvds and loving them. I have done 8 or 9 workouts and can really see a difference. I would wait 3-4 weeks before you start working your abs, but do what feels good to you because I seriously doubt you will hurt your band. Good luck.

I also found out that I have an AP band. I have an AP small or 10cc band. I was so excited to hear that because they didn't even come out till this month. My doctors were some of the few to receive the bands early and were allowed to use them. The main difference is that a VG band is only 300degrees around the stomach. Therefore it leaves 60 degrees where the stomach and band can slip. The AP bands are 360degrees and the band itself is wider. This is supposed to help decrease the risk of bandslippage. I also read that the AP may help people lose quicker. My doc says he is going to put AP bands in all his patients from now on. I don't know if a VG band would have been different ,but so far I am doing great. 12 days post op and I have lost 10lbs plus 12 lbs preop for a total of 22lbs.

I called my doctor and he said it could be a mild bacterial infection in my mouth (gross I know but this sometimes happens after antibiotics). He gave me "swish and swallow" medication that I am doing every 4 hours and I can see some minor improvement. MaryumC- congrats on your 47lb weightloss!!! I have lost 22lbs since feb. 07 12 before surgery and 10 since and I am not quite 2 weeks post op. I am seeing a loss of 2-3 lbs a week now and I am happy with that. My doc and some other lapbanders as well as a fitness trainer told me that you can exercise too much. I exercise 30 minutes a day 5-6 days a week and try to intersperse strength training with that. I can see a big difference in my legs (I have skinny ankles!!!) and I have lost 1in in each arm (I am thrilled about this). Good luck and gradually build up your exercise, don't push your body too much.

Mostly great otherwise. Today I feel more myself. I am 11days post op and I want to chew food so badly. I had a little chicken salad, chewed really well, but I must have just ate too much because I felt like it got stuck- no PBing though thank god, just uncomfortable for a while. I have lost 9lbs and a good 10 inches all over my body. I am having trouble getting in enough protein because I can't stand the sweetness of my protein shakes. But I am thrilled with the weightloss and feeling pretty darn good. I'll let you know what the PCP says about the throat thing.

So far I have been able to deal with the occasional hunger pains/growls, but I just drink lots of water and keep my liquid calories low. I am not consuming more than 800 calories a day and usually around 500calories is more typical. One thing my doctor does during this stage is prescribe phentermine to anyone of his patients have difficulty with hunger. I have a prescription but so far I have been able to go without it. If you are really having a problem ask your doc for a prescription. So are you still having the throat thing and is it sometimes difficult to swallow? How far post op are you?? I am seeing my PCP tomorrow for other reasons and thought I may ask him. Like you I tried to scrape/brush my tongue and gagged (scary). Hopefully it will go away soon. Good Luck!

Hey everyone, I was banded on the 31st. Now 11 days post op and feeling much better. And hey, in the 11 days post op I have lost 9lbs!!!!!!! and lots of inches!!!!!!!! I am so thrilled. I have a couple of questions maybe you guys can help with. I am noticing I have some sort of a scratch in the back of my throat. I feels like some sort of coating on the very back of my tongue and no matter how hard I swallow it is still there and too far back to scrape/brush. I just wonder if anyone has experienced this and if they have any solutions. Doesn't hurt just annoying as crap. Also, since being banded I have noticed I can't tolerate things that are really sweet. They just make me nauseated, therefore, I am having difficulty with the protein shakes as most are sweet. If anyone has a suggestion please let me know. I hope all of you are doing well. Check with you later. jfran

I was banded May 31st and other than bad gas pain in my shoulders and neck I haven't had too many problems. Incisions are sore and abdomen is swollen (I look pregnant!). I found that the best thing for the gas aside from walking/rocking is a heating pad when I sleep at night. I am a stomach sleeper so it has been very difficult these past few nights. Is anyone experiencing feelings that you can't distinguish? I can't tell between nausea, hunger, and gas pain. I feel better than I expected but overall I feel pretty weak and yucky. I am hoping this will improve. I am also having major difficulty getting in enough water/liquid and enough protein. The most liquid I have gotten in in one day is 40 oz and I feel like a water balloon ready to pop. Hope all is going well with everyone else. Stay in touch, and by the way. I have lost 8 lbs since surgery date for a total preop/postop of 20lbs!!!!!!

I am not sure about the effect of your kidney---and I am no expert on lapband, but for me personally I would never consider gastric bypass. In my opinion it is too invasive and permanent. I am being banded on May 31 and I have 110lbs to lose and I believe I can lose every bit of it. It will take lots of exercise and strict compliance to the post op lapband diet, but I have faith that with the band as my tool I can finally achieve my weightloss goals. I have never felt so optimistic and I believe that God is leading me and has given this option to me as a solution for my life long struggles with weight. Good luck and I hope you decide to get the band.

I have BCBS of TN through my parents. Our policy including WLS but you had to prove that you had been on a doctor supervised weightloss program for 6 months and had been overweight for 5 years. I was denied the first go around because of insufficient medical documentation on the doctors part. I resubmitted as an appeal and included a personal letter that I wrote about how my weight effects my life as well as additional medical records and another strongly worded letter from my primary care physician. I don't know if my letter made the difference, but I was approved and I am having surgery May 31st. Make sure you check your policy and see if it is covered and also include as many real numbers (weights- up and down, cholestrol, blood pressure, etc. -family history) as you can. Numbers don't lie-generally. Good luck getting covered. Also BCBS pays 80% in network. If your doctor is out of network they pay 70%-still worth the fight for approval.

I went to the doctor today for my last consult before surgery (may 31). I had lost 4.5lbs!!! I am only a half a pound from my 12lb preop weightloss requirement.

i got my date!!! I am being banded May 31st!!! I still need to lose 5 lbs before surgery less than 8 days away. Any suggestions for quick weightloss? Should I just go on and start a liquid diet??

wow, there are so many of us being banded this month. I'm so excited i got my surgery date. i will be going the rest of you on May 31st. i need to lose 5 more lbs in the next week before surgery. does anyone have any ideas for quick weightloss?