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

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

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 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!~!

I was banded by True Results in Scottsdale in Oct 2007 and I do not regret it one bit. The Doctors are fabulous. My question is around the payment and agreement... When I self paid in full I paid $14,500. I was told (but never given any paperwork - I know, my bad) that this included the first year of fills and the second year of fills there would be $1000K of my payment set aside that they would draw from. Truthfully, I did not even question the second year of fills as I was sure that I would have lost all of my weight by then and insurance would help defer any costs I my have. Well now, 6 months post op, they are billing my insurance and there is a new patient coordinator who does not know or have documented my agreement. Can any of you who self paid with true results share your terms with me? This would be very helpful as I try to work to a solution with them. Thanks in advance

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

love nuts - buy them in bulk at trader joes...keep them in my desk for afternoon emergencies

I agree about using percentages vs pounds lost - I am almost 7 months out and have lost 50% of my excess. Hopefully the next 5 months will get me to 90-100%.

Not yet, based on my question to them about why my insurance is being billed without my knowledge, they say that they are researching it. We will see - I have now 4 people who have said that they agreed to the same thing as me so I feel confident that they will come around. I just have a hard time paying the money and then 6 months later they turn around and bill my insurance and expect a $35 co-pay. Her words were "we wouldnt be able to stay in business if we gave everyone free fills for life" I told her that a) many people get insurance approved so those people are paying and :thumbup: I dont expect free fills for life, just for the first year, since that what I was promised. It should not be this difficult as I am at 8.5cc in a 10 cc band. i will keep you posted...

Jachut - hey, do you have any good reciepes for Bircher Muslei? I only said it was weird becuase it is hard for me to get past the fact that I am eating cold oatmeal - that is not typically done here in the states. Anyway, if you make it all the time I would love some of your reciepes. When I search the web, many of the ones I have found come from down under.

I am six months into this journey with just about 50% of my excess weight lost. I am finally at my sweet spot with 8.5 cc in a 10 cc band. Since this last fill I am eating VERy small amounts, typical day like yesterday was: b: 1/2 cup oatmeal and large cup of coffee l: 1/2 diced chicken breast with egg, etc from the salad bar d: 1/2 cup of soup and a small spring roll 3-4 cups of water (I know I need more) and no drinks containing calories. I am just starting week two of the couch to 5 k running program so I am exercising about 45 minutes, 3 times per week. I expected to start dropping the pounds - but nothing. I have stayed the same. Wondering: Is the new found exercise causing me to 'build muscle' and thus the scale is not moving? For you runners out there, did you experience anything similar? Are my calories too low? If so, not sure how I can get around this restriction and eat more? Is protein a real requirement to lose weight? I am not getting 50+ grams a day but pretty close? Thanks for your help an guidance - I appreciate your support

LJM and Julie - This is a GREAT thread. I am just getting started with the exercise (couch to 5K) and I have lost about 50% of my total weight to loose. Question: did you alter your eating (did you eat more) once you started exercising regularly? I am not seeing the scale move at all and I am trying not to get frustrated, some are saying that I may not be eating enough! Ugh, HELP!

Molly - thanks, I will do that - it is so weird adding in more food, especialy when I am finally not hungry Stranger - WOW, we are band twins, huh? I know how you feel, the afternoons were rough for me until this last fill. But, you are right, nothing compared to the binging I used to do. I actually am surprised that I was not heavier than 222 considering all the massive binging that I used to do. Let me know how things go for you. I would have a stroke if my Dr. told me to wait 3 months to come in, luckily they will accomodate me and my annoying behavior. All in all, I try to be grateful since I have not seen the mid 180's on my scale since 1995. Life is good. Thanks again for all the help - the comments really help me put my experience into perspective. Gotta go get a snack!!!

This is weird but soooo good, it is called Bircher Muslei....it is a cold oatmeal dish that you can make ahead of time. Just search on google for recipes for the exact ingredients but here is what I do: Take a tupperware container and put 3 cups of dry oatmeal in it. Cover with non fat milk, 2 tsp of vanilla extract and a 1/4 cup of orange juice. Chill in fridge at least overnight. The next morning I take a 1/4 cup of the 'oatmeal' mixture, 1/4 cup of greek yogurt or any other non fat plain yogurt, 5-6 fresh berries, 1 TBL slivered almonds and maybe a packet or two of splenda. I sometimes add some fat free half and half. Stir and enjoy. It is really good, easy for me since I work long hours, I have a weeks worth of breakfast made in a snap. Try it.

Hey all you self-payers, make sure that you take the reciept for service and file it with your taxes....I got alot back and my accountant said that the majority was due to the surgery and the fact that I self-paid.....

For Sticky - under the general lap band forum at the very top of the page there are discussion threads that are labeled as STICKY - which means they never move, always stay at the top of the general lap band forum section. One sticky is before and afters (my fav) but another one is called Scar Stages - Share Yours! This is more than you ever wanted to know about scars....

Yes, finally! I am at 8.5cc in a 10cc band and I too am learning to SLOW down and chew like crazy. Never had a PB for the first six months - then 4 in two weeks, that will get your attention. Life is good - love the band.

I am just over 6 months - I have lost approximately 50% of my target weightloss, so I feel great. Down 36 pounds...Woo Hoo