bex6

My highest weight was 246. I had lapband in 2006. I only lost maybe 40 pounds. Gained 20 back then lost it again doing HCG. Gained and lost it again doing good old diet and exercise as the band did not really work for me. At 205 pounds, I did revisional surgery to gastric sleeve in January of 2013, but I left my band in. So, my stomach was not cut as small as most sleevers. Weight loss was slow, and I could eat whatever I wanted without getting sick or having any negative side affects. I just became fuller faster and as such ate smaller portions. Today I weigh 126 and have lost an overall total of 120 pounds...still 10 away from my personal goal. In my personal opinion...I wish I skipped the lapband all together and went straight for the sleeve. I left my band in as a security blanket. I now wish I just took it out and got the smaller stomach. Luckily, my insurance covered both surgeries. Just my two cents for anyone who wants it.

Yes, I did the sleeve and left the band in. If only I knew what I knew now I would have just had it removed completely and opted for the smaller stomach. I hate feeling the port and discomfort of it and think I would have an easier time losing and maintaining with a smaller stomach than a tool that never worked properly for me anyway. My stomach is still small, but they had to leave enough in to keep the band in place. I completely agree with you, the band just made me sick and didn't curb my appetite and so I suffered being hungry and when I did eat, I was constantly throwing up and feeling miserable. With the sleeve, I eat with no pain and feel full and content after small portions. It's perfect and feels absolutely normal for me. This is what successful bariatric surgery should feel like.

Like I said, I regret not taking mine out. Sleeve was the ideal solution for me. Don't worry about removing it...fully embrace your sleeve. Not sure about age or risk on revision for you. But, I would encourage investigating and researching your options on doing so. Best decision for me.

Surgery Date 1/22/13. Starting weight 205. Weight as of today 7/11/13 is only 168. 37 pounds loss. Need to lose 43 more. Not even 1/2 way there. Feeling frustrated.

Yes...just only losing a pound every once in a blue moon is frustrating. Feels like I have lost all I will lose and still have at least 40 more to go. Not even 1/2 way.

Geez...I hate to be negative Nelly. But, here it goes. I was sleeved Jan 22nd. Starting weight 205 and I am only down 34 pounds at 171. I am stuck and can eat whatever I want without any negative side effects. Ugh! All willpower baby!!

January 22, 2013 surgery date Starting Weight: 205 Surgery Date: 195 Total Pre Op Weight Loss: 10 pounds Current Weight: 179 Total Weight Loss: 26 pounds My problem: I am not drinking enough water, I can't stomach protein shakes and I seriously can eat what ever I want without feeling any negative side effects... to a fault. I only feel full faster. I wish my stomach made me sick or I had problems eating things. It's all about self discipline which if I had in the first place, I wouldn't have needed this surgery. I work out and run on my treadmill. I was on a stall so I quit working out and weight finally started to fall off. Perhaps I was not getting enough good calories and of course need more protein and less carbs. I really need to start anew and get my nutrition in gear and resume my work outs. A few weeks ago I actually ran 3 miles without stopping. Never being a runner, that was a huge accomplishment for me. Now if I could just eat right and drink more water, I could maybe get this weight falling off faster!!!

Hahaha...this headline and was hilarious that I spit!

That's great! I am now down 26#. I too have stalled more than not and it is coming off soooo slow, but just moved a few pounds down this week. Hopefully J can incorporate more protein. Still so hard for me.

11 pounds of which were pre op. I feel like a failure. I have only lost 5 pounds since surgery. I do get the full feeling and know when to stop and I eat so much less than I used to, but the weight just isn't coming off. I am already back on my treadmill and working out and still stuck. So frustrated.

Thank u so much for your support and replies. Even though I hate protein shakes and can eat regular food, I will try doing more shakes and less food. I WILL DO THIS!!!!!

The biggest problem is I can eat almost whatever I want and feel no negative side effects. So, it is all discipline. If I had that I wouldn't have needed this tool to help aid with that. The only thing that has changed is I definitely feel full faster, so obviously I am eating less. I am tracking what I eat and making sure to keep my calories in line, but it would be very easy for me to exceed recommended calorie intake.

Jan 22nd...only have lost 5 pounds since actual surgery date, 16 pounds total. I am stuck and not losing. I can eat whatever I want without any problems...that's the problem. I do feel full a lot faster than prior to surgery and I do stop eating before I feel full and only eat 3 times a day. But, obviously this is not working as I am not losing. Suggestions?

Jan 22nd...only have lost 5 pounds since actual surgery date, 16 pounds total. I am stuck and not losing. I can eat whatever I want without any problems...that's the problem.

I was on a week clear liquid diet with protein shakes, I just couldn't do the protein shakes, so I just mostly drank water and chicken broth once and a few sugar free jello. I was finally able to tolerate 2 sugar free carnation breakfasts, but that was the limited protein I had. I was shaky, nauseated, extremely fatigued and just feeling so sick, but on the positive side I was done 10 pounds and was being strong and doing so awesome. But, then I completely screwed up today and 2 days before my surgery. I am so upset with myself. I was completely fine on my own, but went to a family function with a ton of food and it got the best of me! I had a few bites of salad and wait for wait for it..a peanut butter bar. Eek! What the hell did I just do? I really hope this doesn't cause any complications with my surgery or starts me out with a major setback. Now I am really worried. I have got to find some protein shakes that I like and stat.

My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday January 22nd. So scared and nervous!!!

Thank you so much for the support! I must admit I got all teary eyed and stuff, haha! I have had so many surgeries in my life, so I don't know why I am so over anxious and worried about this one. I guess because when I had my last C-section with my baby, due to several complications, I was in surgery for 9 hours, needed a full hysterectomy and 3 blood transfusions. After realizing how close I was to actually dying in child birth has me really scared for this one! Yes, I want to get to my goal weight and be healthier for my children, but if I died doing voluntary surgery, I would never forgive myself. Then, you read the horror stories of not actually dying, but being on a feeding tube the rest of your life or crazy complications like that. Eek! I truly am so excited for this and have been contemplating having this done for a very long time. I do feel confident in my decision and I truly believe that if all goes well, will be life changing for me. I already have the exercise thing down, so this would just be the tool to help me with the nutrition side of things. I guess I am just having pre-surgery anxiety!!!

I have the same problem! I hate the gritty texture if not blended, the foamy texture if blended, the thickness of it, the taste of it period! I would rather starve.