Meekie

I agree with everything Jachut said. Pull yourself up. Stop having a pity party and MOVE FORWARD!!! If you don't like the doctor; find another one! You are the customer. Stop them when they want to run out of the room quickly. I had to do this to mine. I had to say "Wait, I have more questions and if you've got something else to do, I'll be right here waiting for you when you finish!". They knew then, I was one they were going to have to take their time with. He turned around and smiled and asked, "What's on your mind?". I then began to tell them that I'm a 25% payer and I don't have the time to continuously come there for small fills and then file the claim, take off of work for both, etc., etc. SPEAK UP, they will listen! Build a rapport with whatever doctor you choose. You are so close to your goal ( according to your ticker). Don't you lose heart or hope. Remember, the band is a tool. No tool ever works unless you grab it and use it! We've all had setbacks. Join the club, honey. But, be a part of us who move past our setbacks, weight gain, and self sabotage. You can do this!

I'm so sorry to hear that you have had a relapse. But, you've got to look at it as just that, a relapse. Get your self back up and start again. You have already proven you can do this once! Do it again. Start by finding a doctor. I know what it is like to have a change in insurance as I had a slight one. My husband retired from the military and we are overseas. Military clinics do not do the band (I had mine done by a German doctor). I have to pay 25% now when EVERYTHING was free at first. I paid $0.00 for my band. No co-pay, NOTHING! Now, paying 25% can be a hefty amount. I have to pay 25% for fills. But...this is the best money I can spend for MYSELF! Find yourself a doctor!!! Get back to the band rules you already know! Follow them and commit to yourself to improve yourself. You are worth it! Don't let yourself just go to the dumps! You've worked too hard to throw it all away. The longer you wait the more difficult it is. So, get back on the bandwagon. There is room for you here! Don't beat yoursefl up as we've all had setbacks. You are normal! Welcome aboard, again!

You did not lie, it is a longggggggggg post! LOL! You poured out your heart and feelings. First thing to answer your question; I chose the band because I wanted to start with the least drastic weight loss surgery. Seeing and reading that you can always go more drastic, I decided to start with the band. It fit what I needed. This was something to help me control the portions while I did my part, exercising and making better choices in the type of food I consumed. I was willing to do that; my part, that is. I chose the band because there are people who have been successful with it. They may not have lost every pound they needed to lose, but they lost weight. They proved that this tool does give you the assistance that it says it does in most people. I chose the band because the side effects, (slimming, pbing, getting stuck, losing restriction) can be somewhat controlled with my choices. However, side effects beyond my control, (erosion, slippage) were possible but minimal. I was willing to take the risk. And finally, if I failed with the band, I could have it removed. (But, thank God, I've not failed.) One thing I will tell you, the band does not cure, solve, resolve, do away with, heal, diminish, delete, deplete, or erase all the reasons why you eat and got to the weight you are! It does nothing to deal with your emotions and feelings of low self esteem. It doesn't ward off rejection (as this still happens to skinny people as well). That is something you're going to have to own up to and not blame (even the divorce, ankle, etc, etc) others or life's situations. Once you look at them head on, you were overweight before these events. What made you fat then? What are you willing to change? What are you willing to do consistently for YEARS? So, with that being said, I think the all weight loss surgeries work to some degree. The INDIVIDUAL must know themselves and what they are willing to do to make them work. Hope this helps. Just my humble opinion.

I had no restrictions just the amounts. I'm really interested in how your 9 year out banded friend is doing!!!! Please give us an update, if she or he doesn't mind!

Hi, I'm banded and live in Wiesbaden. I was banded here and can share my experience with you, show you befores and afters. I've lost 129 pounds and will be happy to give you the raw truth. It's the best thing I've ever done!

I did the same thing. Turns out I had slipped my band. Please go see your doctor ASAP!!!! They may only need to unfill you and it may go back in place and then refill. Or you may need to have surgery to re-fit. Hope this helps.

I buy mine at the military commissary. You can probably find it in any health food store or major grocery chain. Believe me, it works!!!

I highly recommend that you get a personal trainer. This was the best money I've ever spent!!!! She trained me for the long haul and educated me on what I needed to do in order to get certain results. Now, I'm very educated as to what I need in order to lose, tone, and get overall healthy. I would recommend that you assess where you are in your weight loss, physical abilities, and please ensure you have no restrictions from your doctor. With that being said, I would start with walking. I would take a brisk walk in the mornings and in evenings. I would start out with 20-30 minutes and then build up to an hour or more. I would incorporate some light weight lifting after about 3-4 weeks (no more than 3-5 pound weights doing things like bicep curls, chest presses, triceps, and deltoid raises). I would do this after walking 3 times a week alternating days. I would find routes with some moderate hills after about 4-6 weeks. I would see how you react to this start up and then build. Then, explore some of those other high impact things like aerobics, since you've never worked out. Some of those classes will butcher you if you're not in some sort of shape to take your heart rate being up. That always discouraged me and I would never go back because others in the class could keep up and I just couldn't do them. So, with all that being said. I would suggest that you build your workout and not start out high impact. You've got to build up your heart rate, resisitance, and so forth. So, getting the trainer and getting an assessment might be a good idea. You don't have to keep them forever but at least 5-10 consultations could give you the education you need for 'you' as we all don't know what your heart rate should not be elevated above, how much pounding your knees can take or what sort of endurance you already have. This way you don't waste time! All the best to you. Let us know what you "end up" liking. For me, I love running and spinning. When I was 310 pounds, never thought I'd be saying that!!

Organic smooth move tea is the thing that works for me.

Most of our congregation knows about my band. (I was banded August 2008). Those who were there then know. We are a military community so our flock changes often. Newer people who come in usually don't ask until they see a picture of me or someone notices I don't eat much. I don't hide it but I don't blast it from the mountain top either. I also am willing to share my success with others who struggle. Many times believers feel guilty that we haven't prayed enough, fasted enough or whatever to get the weight off. I always share that God has different methods for different people. He instantly healed some as for another, he made a clay out of spit and put it on the man's eyes and then he was healed. So, as the Lord leads, I share. Yes, I am on the ministry platform as well.