Big Fred

I would wait until your Dr. says it's OK. Everything has to heal and we don't really need the calories. I was banded on 10-25-07. I did not drink any alcohol until my 30th anniversary a few weeks ago. It did not bother me but you know after I drank the beer, I didn't really feel I needed it either. Finished the meal off with unsweetened ice tea. I think that sometimes it's just something to do at a party.

Keep up the good work, I lost 25lbs prior to surgery. My surgery was on 10-25-07 and to date have lost a total of 82lbs including the 25lbs prior. I can truly and honestly say that this has been the best decision of my life. I won't kid you by saying everything is going to be rosie, there will be some bumps and turns but if you hang in there and have a positive outlook (it sound's like you do) it will work for you. If you ever need any support along the way or if you have any questions, this is the place to go. Good luck, I wish you the best.

This so hit home. I was banded on 10/25/07 and to date lost 82lbs. went from a 3X shirt to an XL and from a 52 waist to a 44. When I look in the mirror I see my old self not the new person I have become. Yesterday I was walking in the mall with my wife and when I saw my reflection in the store front glass, I didn't recognize myself. What a shocker! It seems that we are all concentrating on loosing the weight and not stopping to see how well we are really doing. I started a new job about a month ago and the people there did not know I lost the weight. During a conversation with another employee, he shared with me that he had made the decision to have the surgery. When I told him my story, he was so excited that it actually works that I spent the entire lunch hour just answering his questions. Please take time to see how far you have come and don't be discouraged if someone looses more weight than you. We are all different and may take slightly different paths but in the end all roads come together. Happy in Lap Bandville...........................:Angel_anim:

Keep up the good work and realize that we are all different. We certainly did not gain the weight in eight months, it took a long time to put it on and it will take some time to get it off. I too was banded in October 2007 (10/25) and to date I have lost 82 pounds (25 prior to surgery). Do not worry about the number, some have lost more and some have lost less. The thing to remember is it's going down, a slower weight loss is actually better. I am completly off my blood pressure medicine, C-Pap machine and feel great. Hang in there you are on the right path, enjoy the ride.

Please don't beat yourself up. I was banded on 10-25-07, so far I have lost 80 lbs. We didn't get this way by being able to say NO to the food we love. It's what we do after we eat the candy bar (beleive me - we all have done it). I truly believe that we need to re-learn the whole eating experience, the road to success is paved with stumbling blocks. Again - please do not beat yourself up, pull up the straps and move on. You made the hardest decision of all, getting the band. From today on is the rest of your life. You can do it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 03-24-07 - 374lbs - Started Journey 10-25-07 - 349lbs - Surgery Date 06-03-08 - 294lbs - Still Working It

This has been a great discussion. I too have been on the edge of getting another fill, we are going on vacation in July and I thought I would wait until we got back. Everyone here has inspired me to go get the fill I know I need. It's amazing how we can sabotage the one thing we truly want - to loose the weight. The head games never stop and it needs people here to give someone a guick swift kick in the a** so to speak. Thanks to everyne for being honest, it helps more people than you may think. 03-07 - 374lbs - Started the journey 10-07 - 349lbs - Surgery Date 05-08 - 295lbs - Current - finally broke the 3's

Thanks LilMissBand-Aid Congratulations on your success as well !! :thumbup:

Well it's official !!! Im in "TWOterville" -- Weiged myself on Sunday - 295lbs - CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!! I can't even remember the last time I was in the 2 hundreds - Down a total of 79lbs............. This whole experience has been so life changing, down two shirt sizes and 3 pant sizes. 03-24-2007 - 374lbs - Started Journey 10-25-2007 - 349lbs - Surgery Date 03-30-2008 - 295lbs - Current (79lbs down - 50 more to goal)

I have learned to love drinking Water. I drink anywhere from 3 to 4 16oz bottles a day. Since I had the surgery I no longer enjoy soda, it has to many bubbles and I don't enjoy it. I have probably had about 5 beers only on special occassions, they too fill me up (but I still enjoy the taste). Water has become my new best friend, I enjoy it plain. At first I put in crystal light mixes but that became a hassle in a hurry. Once you get used to just plain water, it's OK. 03-24-07 - 374lbs - Started Journey 10-25-07 - 349lbs - Surgery Date 12-05-07 - 325lbs - First Fill - 3cc's in a 10cc band 01-16-08 - 319lbs - Second Fill - 2 additional CC's 02-28-08 - 311lbs - Third Fill - 1 additional cc 03-11-08 - 304lbs - Isn't it great

I can't believe I'm even getting close to "TWOterville". When I started this journey just about a year ago (3/24/07) I weighed 374 lbs. Weighed myself yesterday and I'm down to 304lbs, that's 70 lbs gone! I had my surgery on 10-25-07, it really is a life altering experience. Of course it has it's up's and down's - but I can honestly say that it has been more positives than negatives. Looking forard to seeing numbers in the "TWO" zone. Everyone keep up the great work. 03-24-07 - 374lbs - Started Journey 10-25-07 - 349lbs - Surgery Date 12-05-07 - 325lbs - First Fill - 3cc's in a 10cc band 01-16-08 - 319lbs - Second Fill - 2 additional CC's 02-28-08 - 311lbs - Third Fill - 1 additional cc 03-11-08 - 304lbs - Isn't it great

I just had my third fill today - total of 6cc's in a 10cc band. The 2nd fill lasted about 2 1/2 weeks, feeling some restriction today. Let's see how this one goes. My Dr. is very conservitive after 5 cc's, she likes you to live with it for awhile. Total of 63lbs so far. :thumbup: 03/24/07 - started journey - 374lbs 10/25/07 - surgery date - 349lbs 12/05/07 - 1st fill - 325lbs - 2cc'sin a 10cc band 01/16/08 - 2nd fill - 319lbs - 3cc's in a 10cc band 02/28/08 - 3rd fill - 311lbs - 1cc in a 10ccband

You are not alone, please do not get discouraged!! I was banded on 10-25-07 and have lost 40lbs post op & 25 pre op - that's the good news. I have been at this plateau for over a month. My second fill was on 1-12-08, had some slight restriction for two days then it just became shear willpower (still is). My next fill is sst for 3/4 - can't wait. Still all in all I'm happy, I am off the sleep apnea machine, med's down to 1/2 pill from 2 for blood pressure. My blood work came back great - no longer border line diabetic, chloesterol is good - best of all I feel better. Went from a 52" waist to a 48" waist, from a 3x shirt to a 2x sometimes a 1x. All this in 4 months, can't wait to see where this band takes me.

I went from taking two pills a day for my blood pressure down to 1/2 a pill. Also, and this is the best part - I'm totally off the CPAP machine for my sleep apnea. The Dr. says that at this rate I'll most likely be completly off the med's later this year. 03-07 - 374lbs - Started this journey 10-07 - 348 - Surgery Date 02-08 - 310 - Still working it

To all - Hang in there. Remember what you were told - The band is just a tool, we need to use it. I too have been guilty of eating the wrong things or just plain overeating. You need to tell yourself that it is in the past and move on (Yes I know it's not easy to do). I was banded on 10/25/07 - lost 25lbs pre-band and 35 since. That's 60lbs I'm not carrying around, better than some and not as great as others. The bottom line is that I've lost weight. Pull up the straps and take control, drink your Water, eat smaller portions - Protein first (I know easy to say). We can do this, let's all get together and make this work!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to all !!! I was banded on 10/25/07 - lost 25lbs before the surgery and 35lbs so far after the surgery. My first fill was on 12/5/07 - 3cc's in a 10cc ap band. Second fill on 1/16/08 - 2 additional cc's. Finally feel some restriction now, not at the sweet spot yet but at least it keeps me from overeating. To date I have only had one pb episode when I ate baked chicken, believe me I never want that to happen again. So far the hardest thing is eating slow, no drinking 1/2hr before and 1/2hr after eating. This was the first Christams holiday that I lost instead of gaining - isn't this band journey great !!!!!!!!!!!!

Had my second fill yesterday 1/16/08, now have a total of 5cc's in a 10cc ap band. The Dr. said that it is more like 4.5cc because the fill tube holds some saline as well. I can honestly say that I feel some restriction now, had some before after my first fill 12/5/07 - but that slowly faded. I'll see how long this feeling lasts, Im not as hungry as before. This process has a learning curve associated with it, not sure how much was head hunger vs actual hunger. I was banded on 10/25/07 and have lost 30lbs since then, added to the 25lbs lost prior to surgery for a total of 55lbs since this journey began. Can't complain but would like it to come off faster. 03/24/07 - 374lbs - Journey begins 10/25/07 - 349lbs - Surgery Date 12/05/07 - 323lbs - First Fill - 3cc's in a 10cc band 01/16/08 - 319lbs - Second Fill - 2cc's more for a total of 5cc's

I was banded on 10/25/07 and had one fill so far on 12/5/07 (3cc's in a 10cc band). Had some slight restriction after first fill but now hardly feel anything. I have to watch everything I eat, could eat more if I let the old habits kick in. Going for my second fill next week 1/16/08, hopefully this will provide some restriction. I have lost a total of 60lbs and am very happy with that, I did not gain over the holidays but I want to use this tool for what it was meant to do. Hang in there, I'm sure the sweet spot will be there eventually.

Today B - small coffee & one packet outmeal L - scoop of tuna salad & one slice of whole grain bread Snack - one small clementine S - 3oz. left over Christmas lasagna Snack - one small clementine 03-24-07 - 374lbs - started journey 10-25-07 - 349lbs - banding date 12-05-07 - 319lbs - first fill (3cc's in a 10cc band) 12-27-07 - 310lbs - isn't this great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I allowed myself to have a beer for Christmas. Haven't had alcohol since being banded on 10-25-07. Tasted great and I satisfied my craving, drank Water the rest of the evening. My surgeon told me that I can have a drink if I want, they suggest staying away from it due to the calories. A friend of mine who had the bariatric surgery gets giddy on two glasses of wine, I guess it affects everyone differently, so just be careful.

Had my first fill on 12-05-07 (3cc's in a 10cc band) and it was a piece of cake. The Dr. asked if I wanted the are to be numbed. Didn't see the need in it, if I was going to have a needle anyway to numb it I would rather she just did it. I didn't look and before I knew it it was over. Very little pinch and then it was over, all that angst for nothing. I realize that everyone is different but believe me you will do fine. 03-24-07 - 374lbs - journey begins 10-25-07 - 349lbs - surgery date 12-05-07 - 319lbs - first fill 12-26-07 - 310lbs - lost weight during the holidays - WOW!!

I was banded on 10-25-07 and todate have had no complications except for yesterday. I went to bed and when I layed my head on the pillow the whole room began to spin, it only lasted a second or two. This was a wierd feeling, the next day I was fine. So far this has only happened the one time but I'm concerned that it may happen again. I was curious - did anyone here ever have anything like this?? I have a Protein shake in the morning, take my Vitamins and watch what I eat. I have lost 30lbs since the banding and feel great otherwise. Just looking for answers.... 03-24-07 - 374lbs - started journey 10-25-07 - 349lbs - surgery date 12-05-07 - 319lbs - first fill (3cc's in a 10cc band)

Update: I went to my doctor yesterday, it is the bloodpressure medication that is causing the problems. I can't believe that my pressure is down so low. The Dr. cut my medication in half, he said that it will take about a week for the meds in my system to stabilize. Good to know that the vertigo is not going to stay with me, for those people that have vertigo - my prayers go out to you. Isn't this band amazing, our bodies are changing constantly.

I have been fat since I was five years old. I think I have been on every diet known to man. Even tried the supervised Dr. diets, lost a lot of weight and then gained it all back plus a few extra for good measure. When I turned 50 the weight began to take it's toll, had to go on bloodpressure medication, was border line diabetic, chloresterol was high, had sleep apnea and just plain didn't feel well. I was banded on 10-25-07, lost 25lbs prior to the surgery and another 30 since. I can honestly say that this is the best decision I ever made. Off one blood pressure pill already, almost off the second, do not need the CPAP machine for my sleep apnea but most of all, I feel a whole lot better. As everyone mentions, its not easy. You need to commit and work at it, but believe me - IT WORKS! Good luck................... 03-24-07 - 374lbs - started journey 10-25-07 - 349lbs - surgery date 12-05-07 - 319lbs - first fill (3cc's in a 10cc band)

Thanks delo, I thought thats what it was, not pleasant !! Thankfully it only happened that once, I will have my meds checked to make sure that my bloodpressure is correct.

lauraj23 - I usually drink 3-4 16oz bottles of Water a day plus coffee or tea.= 0- hopefully that's enough. YorkieMama - you know I didn't think of the meds - yes, I am on blood pressure meds. I was taking two pills, the Dr. already took me off one. Perhaps I need the second dose lowered?? Thanks everyone - I see the Dr. next week, I'll make sure he checks my medication.