Livingthe Dream

I have been flying along towards my goal weight for the last 3 months. I finally hit the wall at 230 pounds and have not moved below that number for 2 1/2 weeks. I even go to bed at 230 pounds and wake up, hop on the scale only to see it at 230 pounds. I know that I can eat better so it is not some great mystery but I am tempted to go low carb. The good news is that I seem to maintain my current weight effortlessly when not trying to lose weight so that is exciting. My goal is 210 so I am looking at 20 more pounds. Has anyone used this approach to hit their goal weight and did the weight come back after leaving the low carb lifestyle. For some reason I think that the weight will stay off If I can just get to the the goal. Who knows but I could use some advice on this topic. I completely understand the view point of no gimmick diets and just live healthier but at this point I am trying to bust up my routine.

Having the same issue, I am perfect through out the day but every morning about 3 am I wake from a dead sleep and throw up. Never food just about a half cup of fluid. Sleeping on a slant, not drinking fluid before bed. No luck

FYI, those are things I wish I knew but still no doubt would have had the surgery. I love the fact that I can sit in my sports car and not be crammed in like tuna, love the fact that my chest is not sitting on my stomach. Love the fact that I can run with little to no stress on my joints since I went from 290 to 200 in 6 months. Love it.

I eat the following everyday. 2 eggs and Bacon with one peice of toast 3 chicken fingers and a side of potatoes Cornbread and butter with a small peice of meat My concern is that I obviouly am not getting the variety I need. I am concerned but the reason I eat this is because it works and never gets stuck. Each day I go to bed full and satisfied. I am at goal weight now but concerned that I cant keep my calorie intake up high enough to work out. I can maintain my weight fine but I am right on the border of dropping to low. Everytime I go to the doctor they take out .5 cc and it usally kicks off a yo yo affect of filling and unfilling. I thought I had finally settled on a fill amount but dont know. Everything resolves around how moist the food is I guess. Im confused.

I know it sounds crazy. I lost 100 pounds in less than a year. I have always loved to play sports so when the band stopped my 5000 calorie a day I was still burning 35-4500 calories a day in sports. One day I looked down to tie my shoes and I could not get them tight enough. The eyelets were touching each other. I bought these shoes about 30 days before my surgery in Dec 07.

Let me add a little more info, I play basketball 2 nights a week and the above mentioned food in during the work week. I have only eaten like this for about 3 months and I have been banded about 16 months total. I started out around 300 and ended up at 201. 6'3 tal I know I need to add some variety. I am fine with the breakfast but lunch and dinner need fruit and veggies. Right now I feel like my choices are so limited but I will try some other items. I know bread is out regardless of how well it is chewed.

You are either with me or against me. I am not going to waste alot of time figuring it out. Lift me up or get out.

Lets face it 30 minutes is a lifetime when you are swamped for time. I have carried a handgun for several years and I am a 200 pound man. Getting banded is like turning over a new leaf so why not embrace this as well. You are either prepared and ready or a walking victim. You should watch a show called "I survived" that will give you some good examples of what can happen. FYI, you can get a permit in most states to carry a concealed firearm.

I have been at goal for 9 months now and here are my list of surprises. Eat Protein first is a great saying but didnt know that meat was so hard to get down and keep down. Didnt know pizza and hamburgers would iniate the launch sequence regardless of how carefull I chewed. Didnt know that one really bad experience would affect my desire to ever eat it again. Both bad and good I guess Assumed that my skin would bounce back but never really did. You have to retrain the brain so you dont over order on portions. your friends take a long time to adjust to you going from 44 waist to 34 waist. Are you sick? :thumbup: Didnt know I would drop one shoe size

Exhausted: It seems that I am having a weird case of reflux while I sleep. I am already at goal weight and had zero problems with the band. I wish I could find a nice Doctor in Oklahoma City that would do fills and unfills when needed. I live in Norman OK and it seems like these doctors are only interested in helping patients that did the surgery with them. It is not rocket science but I guess I will keep driving to Dallas. Disappointed.

Hello Friends, Wanted to check in since I was banded back in Dec of 07. Everything has gone as planned and the band has done its job. I started at 280+ and now I am holding steady at 215. I would say that even after a year I still order more food that I can eat at most meals and that if not banded I would balloon back up. I have been as low as 197 but at 6'3 it made people worry that I was getting to thin. I am now targeting 205 and say the hell with them. It is crazy to get feedback from people that have known you and then those that have only known you as skinny. My old friends try to get me to stop. My deal is 220 I look just right with clothes on but with clothes off 200 looks good. So I am going with what makes me feel good.

I have 21 pounds to lose before I hit goal and I am very excited to see what I look like. I still have a belly and a 40 inch waist so those are still areas of concern. The one thing I know is that if I could selectively take 20 pounds off my frame I would be looking and feeling great but it doesn't work that way.I want to take 20 pounds off the belly and chest and not lose anything else on the arms and legs. Well full speed ahead.

Well I have just realized that I have been eating alot of slider type foods because I feel tight I guess. chocolate, Ice cream, creamy fat Soups (Outback Soup) have never come up on me and I like them. The minute I eat a piece of chicken or steak it starts to hurt and I think the stress of knowing that is making it worse. This is such a weird experience to me. I have hit my goal with no issues but I cant find the sweet spot to stay at a certain weight. The worse part is that I went in and paid 150.00 to take out .5 of Fluid and you would have thought that the band was completely empty. What the hell? Should I try again and now just take out .3 or .2 of the band. Can that little of amount really make a difference? Protein equals pain these days and that is not cool for a 6'3 guy to not get protein.

Started at 285 Goal 220 Now 207 Dr K in CO Thanks for the advice over the last 9 months. I got done to 197 but didn't lose the flab on the belly so I am done for now at a safe weight for 6'3.

When I was banded on Dec 18th 2007 I was mad at myself for letting it get to this point. As I sat by myself in the pre-op room in Colorado I thought how I was going to make this work for me. Listed below is what I feel worked for me and what I would recommend to others. 1. You should fail at something at least 3 times a week. When I was first cleared to walk I decided to walk bleachers at my local high school. I wrote down in my book that I would walk these bleachers 50 times before stopping. I made it 28 times before I literally could not do it. My legs cramped and my back hurt because I was hunched over and didn't know it. I pushed myself to the limit and know for a fact that I got maximum calorie burn and benefit. Push yourself to failure but not injury. How long this journey takes is completely up to you. I bought the P90X program and failed to finish that workout 78 days straight. 2. Change your routine after 60-90 days regardless of results. Your body adapts so that lunch time walk is not doing it anymore. You can still do it but put on leg weights or carry little dumbbells but something has to change. I bought the P90X and failed to finish that work out 78 days straight. 3. Take measurements- There will be times when the exercise doesn't affect the scale and that is when you should check your measurements. Usually one is going down and the other is not. If you need more feedback then get a bodybugg and track calories. 4. Do things that you never thought of doing as long as it keeps you moving. For example, you can pay $45.00 for a speed bag at Academy sports. Speed bag is what the boxers use to get faster reflexes. The little punching bag is a great workout and after 3 weeks you can work it like a real boxer and it is fun. 5.Lifestyle Change- If you are a internet surfing moving watching snacker that doesn't work out then you will be a internet surfing movie watching snacker with loose skin after the transformation. Try to develop a new lifestyle where you are playing sports in a church league or maybe camping with family and doing hikes. You have to relate to something besides the computer and online chatting. Take this time to strengthen your relationship with God and your spouse. Have you built walls between you and your spouse because of your weight?

Sassy, This is your new life and you have made a big step in the a great new direction. I have lost 80 pounds of weight and hit goal in about 8 month so I can tell you what works. The first thing you should do is search this website for posts made by Jakhut. She knows what she is talking about and will lead you in the right direction. Im going to be blunt but it is for your own good. Curves is a joke. A 30 minute session burns 184 calories which is not the kind of work out you need. You would be better served walking the parking lot at curves then going back to that place. Joining a GYM- You can join a gym but are you that type of person? Are you going to be embarrassed to be the biggest person in the gym? I don't know you but when I first started I felt like I need to deal with these demons on my own and not in front of 20 soccer moms at the YMCA. (I'm a guy). Can you fail in front of people? Stress- Don't add a reoccuring gym bill to your stress level, lose the first 10 pounds on your own. If you need momentum then buy yourself something sports related like new walking shoes. Did you know that if you go to a real runners shoe store they can get you in the perfect shoe based on how your foot lands on the ground. Good luck to you. How long this journey lasts is completely up to you.

I just realized that you were banded the day after I was banded. You need to find a new doctor regardless of there bed side manner. I dont know the details like you do so it is hard to deal in absolutes but from what I know it doesn't sound right. What state do you live in? I drove 12 hours for my second fill if that tells you something. Being local is great but it has to make a difference. The good news is that I lost 80 pounds since Dec 18th 2007 and it flew off, You have the hardest part over now go get a fill. Do they limit how many times you can come in? Im guessing they make you wait a month. I am sitting here steaming over your results and I am mad that you are not getting the help/support you need.

I have to agree that is unacceptable as well. Can you explain the fill process that you go through each time. Being overfilled is not the end of the world especially if you are local and can go back in. I am amazed that you have stayed as well grounded as you sound. I had restriction on 3 fills and held that 3rd fill till I hit goal 7 or 8 months after surgery. Now I did have to have that fill taken out for some reason since it started to get to tight. I will never understand the band but 8 shots and no restriction is way to conservative. Are you paying for each of these fills?

I seen pictures of the inside of the stomach where the tablet just sat on the interior lining and burned a hole in it. This lady didn't have the lapband procedure just a normal person. I try to take everything in a liquid form if possible.

You know its crazy but I could hit what ever weight I needed to with this band. If I needed to be at 185 to see my abs then no problem, give me a couple of weeks and I would be there. I have gone as low as 196 on a 6'3 body and still have the stomach that manatee mentions. This is what I don't understand though. How does Lipo tighten the skin? I would do Lipo in a heartbeat but not the tummy tuck. I like to call myself one roll fat. When I was at my heaviest i still just had one big belly like Santa. I didn't have a roll on top of roll which in my uneducated experience would call for more drastic plastic surgery steps. I looked fine clothed and with a dark tan I am ok naked and I think I will have to leave it at that. If I had unlimited funds I am afraid at what I would do.

I would start out doing long cardio sessions at a less intense pace. I was about 3 to 4 weeks out before I got the green flag from my doctor. I started on long walks and just getting my body use to everything and also rebuilding the muscle that I lost. Last year I tore my ACL and literally watch my huge thigh muscle dwindle away after about 2 weeks of inactivity. If you are bored and tired of waiting then start laying the ground work now. Do you have a club membership? Have you reviewed your daily schedule and determined times that would work for a workout session? Your not going to wear your old lawn mowing shoes to work out are you? Have you found a Protein powder that you like? I was a firm believer in getting all things right in my life during this transformation. I joined an active church and started doing things with them once my energy came back. I scheduled a vacation with the family to Disney World on the day I thought I would hit goal. I made sure that my family knew that it was all about me this year and that part of the reason that my weight got out of hand was that I put myself last.

I went to a plastic surgeon and he told me it was loose skin and not so much fat but that is me of course. What raised concern for me was when I got into pushup position (without a shirt on) and looked at my stomach it was hanging way way down and that kinda cemented it for me. That loose skin had a dimple look to it and I could tell that it was not really fat. I am 6'3 and got down to 196 before giving up on the idea of a 6 pack. You know me Manatee that was my dream from the get go because I have this band thing down. I can pick my weight with this restriction and my routine but I don't think the chiseled looked is possible with a loose layer of skin. I hope we are not in the same boat and you prove me wrong.

It took a good 4 months and about 40 pounds (of 80) to get off the meds. I never really took them that religiously to begin with but was glad they were no longer needed. All those blood vessels in that fat have to be kept alive and that requires a big pump (heart) so it makes sense to lose the weight and relieve the pump.

The band in not the question my friend. The question is are you going to accept a new lifestyle or maybe go back to a lifestyle that you use to have before gaining the weight? I lost 80+ pounds in 6 months but I am an athlete that got fat and lazy then gave up and piled on the pounds. Can you really give up large meals and the social aspect of eating? I have gone from a 46 waist to a 35 inch waist and am happy with my decision. I on occasion still order food like I am not restricted and then just throw it away sadly.

My weight loss results went in spurts of weight then inches and back to weight. At least one day a week you should do something to really task the body. I started out walking on a treadmill for an entire Seinfield without stopping. By the time I stopped my routine and hit goal I was having my wife drop me off at the gas station in town and I would walk the 5 miles home. The next day I would rest and the start my normal routine. You should fail at exercise at least 2 times a week. By failing I mean going until you just cant go anymore.