new_me_2008

Hi Michelle - Thanks for your post - it is exactly what is happening to me. I just celebrated year 2 with the band. I lost 50 (needed to lose 75) but was so happy with the 50 that I got lazy. I remotivated myself and went for a fill which was too tight and then I went for an unfill and it was too loose!! So, I have gained 15 pounds back and I am miserable. I went for another fill Tuesday and I also went to the gym and went back to the correct way of eating. The Dr really helped, she said that I should not get depressed, felling like this is like every other diet. This is the band, which is adjustable and they show all kinds of success for 5 years and longer. That was nice to hear and enough to get me on track again. Keep in touch

KG - thanks - your post is exactly what I am going through.. you were much more eloquent Lulu - your progress has been great too and I will be just like you, actually more exercise and running around so I will go in for a slight fill. All - thanks for the ideas/support and lack of flogging! I am thinking of going down .2 or .3 cc's I know that doesnt sound like much but before my last fill of .5 I was totally unrestricted....

I am hestiant to ask the question for fear of being flogged, but here goes.... I have been banded for over a year, doing just fine on my weight loss - not perfect, but acceptable. Anyway, I am filled to the point where 2 weeks a month it is sweet/tight the other two weeks (around TOM) I am a bit tight and I have to be SUPER careful. I am going on a cruise and I do not expect to go 'Crazy' but want to experience a little of the variety. I certainly won't be eating bread, soda and all of the 'bad' foods but wondered if any of you had every had a slight unfill before going on a vacation or holiday etc? It seems like a reasonable thing to do but wondered everyone elses perspective.... Thanks

I was having a problem with hair loss and hating the liquid Vitamins that were recommended. So, about 4 months after surgery, I found a product called JuicePlus and I love it. It is described as: juice Plus+ provides the nutrition from 17 different fruits, vegetables, and grains in convenient and inexpensive capsule form. Juice Plus+ Orchard Blend<SUP> </SUP>contains seven of the most nutritious fruits around: apples, oranges, pineapple, cranberries, peaches, acerola cherries, and papaya. Juice Plus+ Garden Blend contains ten nutrient-dense vegetables and grains: carrots, parsley, beets, kale, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, and rice branandoat bran. I was feeling like I wasnt getting enough fruits and veggies anyway so these are great. They are in capsule form but since they are ALL NATURAL - NO Fillers, when I was particularly tight from a fill I could open the capsule and sprinkle in a smoothy or in Soup. They really changed my life. My DH (Type 1 diabetic) and my son are both using the product and I am no longer losing my hair - plus my skin looks great too. In addition, the Fiber in each capsule - if taken with a full glass of Water - keep me full. I am so into it that I am now a distributor of the product. So, if you have questions PM me.... btw, I am working with my Surgeons office right now - this has such a good reputation from the medical community (including bariatric physicans) that he may begin recommending it to his patients, pre and post op.

I had the exact same senario that mlalways describes above. My husband could not read my mind and when I would say "oh cool, Sharon Osborn has the band" he did know that I was hinting around. Once I called him, from an airport, crying, telling him that I had done all of the research and this was the best and only solution for me, he told me to schedule it right away. One year later, it is the best decision I ever made. I will say that my husband has not been thrilled when I leave the table at a restaurant (he knows that it not a good sign) but overall he is happy that I am happy.

A year has come and gone and I can not imagine a better experience. I had my lap band "installed" on OCT 8, 2007. Here are some of the wonderful things that have happened in the last year: 11 ... the number of inches lost on my waist 55 ... the number of total pounds lost 9 ...the number of BMI points lost 110/70 ...the number of my 'new' bloodpressure - used to be high! 14...the number of fills and unfills, trying to find that perfect sweet spot - still looking 8...the number of sizes I am down (20 to 12) XL to M! This is the best decision that I can imagine...It has been much easier than I can even describe. I do not make the best choices all the time and yes, I could be exercising, but all said - I am a new me!!!! If you are considering this - go for it! Your life will not be the same.

Tomorrow is my 8 month bandiversary - here is the progress: - Lost 45 pounds - BMI is now overweight and not obese - this is the best!!! - Lost 11 inches on my waist - Lowered blood pressure to 'normal' range - Finally achieved my sweetspot - took a while but oh well - Wearing a size 12 pants and Medium Shirt - instead of tight 18's and XL's - I feel great, sleep well and enjoy LIFE - Best of all - lost my total obsession with food I am thrilled with this and hope that those of you considering this will give it a go.:biggrin: Just 30 more to go - and I am not too concerned - which is a relief, my life has been spent calculating how much I need to loose....

Im finally at restriction - 8.5 in a 10cc band. 8.0 was just not enough and 8.5 might be too much, especially around my TOM. During that week I PB almost anything other than mushies. I am not complaining though as my weightloss has finally picked up!

This has been wonderful - I am over 50% to goal. Thanks to all for the daily support - this is my favorite thread. P.S. HELP - if you cant see the attached picture, can someone post it for me? P.S.S. Rain - you look amazing - you have been an inspiration for me since I started this journey

I have my 7 month bandiversary tomorrow - and I am down 37 pounds which is exactly 50% of my total weight loss goal, so I am thrilled. It is slow and steady but expected since I started with a lower BMI. Life is good and I am exercising (couch to 5K program.) I am 8.5cc in a 10cc band. Life in all areas is better without the burden of weight constantly on my mind. Congratulations to all of my fellow october losers!

Yesterday: B: Zone Bar - chocolate mint - YUM & coffee with SF creamer L: 1/2 cup wild mushroom soup - small scoop of egg salad S: cashew cranberry mix from traderjoes and a few cheez-its D: cottage cheese, hummus (2 TBL each) and then a 1/2 cup cereal/skim S#2: crystal lite lost a pound today - offically now past the halfway mark - WHOOT!~!

yesterday: B - zone bar , coffee with ffcreamer L - 1/4 cup lentils with about 3 TBL of Chicken Tikka Masala (Indian Food) D - hotdog with 1/4 cup chili (no bun) S- couple of TBS of yogurt and 5 quarter sized cookies Today B- 1/2 cup oatmeal, coffee w ff creamer L - boca burger patty with sauteed mush and onions (plus a couple of REAL potato chips