MuffinBirdie

Way to go!! Way to go!!!

You'll be in my thoughts!

Thanks! I'm pretty passionate about helping people get to their goal weight with the band. Its that last 25% of the weight that is hardest and I put my website up to help people since the band has much such an incredible difference in my life.

I am. I was 250 and am now 125 (well, it goes up and down a little and I'm a little on the high end at the moment, but it ALWAYS goes back down). It took me two and a half years to get there and I've been at this weight for at least a year and a half. LOVE IT!!!

July 4, 2001 - first band August 4, 2005 - revision with second band

Have you had any fills? It can be a sign of a band that is too tight. Mae

Hi, I need a moderator to contact me about a thread I would like to start, but I need to know if I can or not. I don't want to break any rules. Could a mod please PM me? Thanks! Mae

I always go with sugar free because then I don't get cravings later on. Sugar gives me cravings in the worse way and then I end up eating more in the long run. So a few extra fats instead of lot of sugars are always better for me. Mae

Glad my site could be of help to you!

I lost 17 pounds the first month, gained ALL 17 (plus a few extra) BACK during the next five months and then only lost 3 to 4 pounds a month for a long time. My weight loss didn't really kick in until 9 months after I got the band. Now I'm 128.5 pounds. I think my money was well spent. Even if it wasn't the instant weight loss I would have liked. The reason my weight loss was so slow was it took me forever to find a fill doctor because it was BRAND new to the US (in fact when I had my surgery in Sweden the band was still in its "approval" phase here in the US). When I finally did get a fill it was too small to make any difference so it took a long time to get enough of a fill that I could actually see that I was eating less. Even once I started doing all the "right things" it took a couple of months to get the weight loss in gear. Weight loss with the band is not instant unfortunately - but its definately worthwhile. One of the reasons you probably don't see more "skinny" bandsters on the board is because for some reason, once you get skinny you get busy! REALLY BUSY. This is the first bandster board I've been on in at least two years. So many of us veterans forgot how badly we needed encouragement back in the very beginning of our journey. That's the biggest reason I decided to join a board again is because I remember how much I needed to see some success!

The lap band is safer then RNY by a long strectch and doesn't have many of the horrible side effects that RNY can sometimes give people. Plus, nearly everyone I know who has had the RNY surgery has started to gain their weight back and they are either terribly depressed or NOW getting the lap band. There is not the control over your weight loss with RNY like there is the lap band. This sounds crazy to someone trying to lose weight, but there are people who lose TOO MUCH weight with the RNY and they can't stop it or do anything about it. My cousin got the RNY and he is soooooo skinny now. Too skinny. Plus he has suffered some major medical problems because of the surgery. I personally don't like how the RNY surgery takes so much control of my weight away from me. I like control of my body and hunger that the lap band gives me that I would not have gotten with the RNY. I was planning to get the RNY orginally but after nearly six months of in depth research I changed my mind and decided to go with the lap band and take my chances at only losing 75% of my excess body weight instead of 85% that is the norm for the RNYers. But with the right support group (like this board) I think you could easily lose more then the 75%. Knowing how to work with the band to maximize its benefit for you makes all the difference in the world. As does an experienced surgeon who knows were to place it. Hope this helps. Mae

Ugh, I typed a whole long answer to this and then it didn't post right. Here I go again... It took me nearly four years to get to my thinnest point. The third year I lost the last 10 to 15 pounds, but it took the WHOLE year. The fourth year I didn't lose a pound but everyone kept commenting on how I looked like I lost more weight. I could really see the difference in my face even though my weight hadn't changed. For me the secret is taking short cuts when ever possible. I eat light or fat free substitutes for everything I can. Except on Friday nights I splurge and allow myself to eat WHATEVER I want for dinner with as much fat as it has and also allow myself a dessert that is full fat and not reduced in any way. I am able to say no to a candy bar mid week much more easily knowing I have Friday night to allow myself either the candy bar or some other fattening food. But during the week I eat low cal ice cream with only 70 calories per serving or fat free chips and dip so I still don't feel the least bit deprived, but save a lot on calories. Also, I want to add that somehow the band gave me the ability to control my cravings more (since I wasn't hungry all the time after the band) and that is how I am able to make the right food choices and choose low fat and fat free items where I never used to be able to diet succesfully. I don't feel like I'm dieting now even though I choose to make healthier low calorie foods. Its an odd switch that got turned on - or off I guess depending on how you look at it!

Thank you! All I know is if I can do it, ANYONE can do it!!!

I'm afriad I'm packing to move to Anaheim that week AND preparing for out of town guests (yes, I should have planned better)!!!! Otherwise I would!!!

Hi, For the first six months after I got my band I gained back the 17 pounds I'd lost during the liquids only phase. I got it in July, lost 17, gained it back and then didn't start losing again until the following January, but only like 3 pounds a month for several months. I figured I was going to be part of the small percentage that the band didn't work for. Now I'm a size four, down from a 24. It just took time that's all. Mae

I had the exact SAME problem - check out this thread, what worked for me might help you too: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=8957

Oh, by the way, I'm in Long Beach - moving to Anaheim in two weeks.

I worried about the same thing and now I weigh 129 pounds. My normal weight is 125 but a gained a few when they took all my fill out for a revision surgery. But I'm losing the extra pounds fast and will be back to my "normal" 125 in no time. Have hope! If you work with your band, it will work for you!

Its definately hardest until you starting getting fills that make you realize you really WILL stop feeling hungry all the time and you WILL feel satisfied with a small amount of food - it was that way for me anyway. I am still on the liquid phase of my diet since my revision surgery but normally when I go to a restuarant I try to choose something healthy. Unless its Friday night. On Friday night I eat whatever I want (but I don't binge!) and that usually means Papa John's bread sticks with LOTs of garlic butter or Outback Steakhouse cheese fries. Ohhh yum. I like to eat at El Pollo Loco because the chicken is fabulous and its easy to remove the skin. I like Taco Bell because one soft taco is filling and a lot less calories and fat than a hamburger and fries. But for the most part I cut calories when I cook at home by using light or fat free substitutes as often as possible. I always eat low-cal, low-sugar ice cream and I always use "I can't believe its not butter - LIGHT" for the other things. So that helps a lot too I think. The thing I like so much about the band is that it puts control of food back in my hands. Before I had the band I would literally eat out of control and just gorge myself trying desperately to feel satisfied and never feeling it. Now food doesn't control me and I find it easy to make the right decision about what I eat or prepare for myself.

I don't have stitches at all. I was glued shut - literally.

Oh duh! Guess I should read the whole thread before putting in my two cents worth. Good for you though! That can be a hard thing to do.

You may seriously want to consider seeing a counselor and find out the "deeper" reason why you are eating even when things that should keep you from eating are present and not stopping you. A lot of people use food to cover up deep emotions they don't want to think about (and sometimes they are so deep you don't even realize they are there!) but if you don't un-bury what it is you're covering up with food it will be so much more difficult for you to lose weight.

When were you banded? Originally 7/4/01, Revision 8/4/05 What was your weight ON DAY OF SURGERY? 250 What is your weight now? 130 (with five more to lose since revision) What size do you wear? Right now loose 6, but at my normal weight of 125 I am a size 4 How tall are you? 5'4" (almost)

Um... what does NSV mean? Negative Size Vector Not Since Vacation Never Say Velvet Noon Should Vary I'm sure its obvious ... but I'm not getting it... At any rate, congratulations! That is such an awesome and wonderful feeling - the first of many to come! Mae

I've added sugar free Jello & fat free sugar free whipped topping to my list of things to eat right now. A sugar free jello has only 10 calories and a big 'ol scoop of whipped toppings only has about 50 calories (depending on what your definition of "big 'ol scoop" is of course). So you get this huge bowl of dessert for about 60 calories. Taste wise its not as good as the sugar free ice cream but size wise its more satisfying. Also, I got my "Soup thickener" in the mail today (hard to find at stores) and added it to my egg drop soup. MAJOR DIFFERENCE. I couldn't believe how big of a difference it made to add that and without affecting the taste at all. It's so much more satisfying to eat it for a meal when it feels more solid! I only have NINE more days until I will finally be off liquids! HURRAY!!! I don't think time has ever passed by so slowly. I am dying to try a new Greek salad recipe I found. I can't wait!