funky_monkey800

I think this is the hardest part....realizing if I am hungry or just bored! I try to always have a protein bar or shake around. That way if I do cave I'm stuck eating something healthy....I'm fairly new at this so I wish I could offer more! Great job on the weight loss!

@@Dmilder I was banded in October of 2014 so we are pretty close! I agree with @@Bandista 100%! And everyone is different..I often have to remind myself to slow down and take it a day at a time!

@@inwiththenew Awesome! Listen to your doc and most importantly your body! Good luck to you! There is a great group of people here who can help you along with questions and suggestions! @@Craftlady77 It's never too late to get back on the band wagon! Get in to see your doc and go over everything. If anyone can help you get started again it's the doctors! Good luck! I hope both of you keep us posted on your progress!

Love this thread! Ok so I have two...last week at my appt my doc said that if I was to walk into his office today I would "no longer be a candidate for WLS, and I should be proud of my self"' And this a.m.....my favorite "old" pair of silver jeans fit!! 34x32...still need to work on the muffin top tho.....but I didn't have to lay down or jump up and down for them to fit! I am a jean hoarder...you know the type who always says "someday I will wear these again"...lol

I love tatts.....I have a half sleeve as well as many others...I have been incorporating medicine balls and kettle balls into my routines....I like to go on youtube and check out new exercises so I don't get bored! Once you start toning you may reconsider any cosmetic surgery...that's what I am hoping for! good luck!!

@@Bandista I wonder if I have a collar bone.....haven't seen it for quite a while lol

@@gowalking You look amazing! Way to go! Maybe in time I will enjoy the whole picture thing...lol For now I will be the photographer!

Also congrats on your weight loss!!! Amazing!

Wow! Great advice and that must have been scary for you!! Glad everything is ok! Hang in there! Remember our band is only a tool...you lost the weight! The doc is right! Time to use everything you have learned! YOU GOT THIS!

I had a follow up after surgery...I think it was two weeks. And then he likes me to go in once a month for the first year. My doctor has also been the only one who has done my fills.

Wow! Good job @@PSRS520!!!

Wow..this was a great read. I was self pay....there for I did hours of research, talked to many doctors, nurses, people with bands, sleeves and bypasses.....in the end when it came down to it, as a self pay all of the surgeries were very close in cost. I chose the band....so far I am happy with the results. Am I where I need to be? Nope.....but I also didn't get fat over night. Each surgery is going to be a tool which is going to require self control and discipline....it's not magic. After reading this I am quite happy with the doc I chose. Not only does the cost of everything include a year of follow up of fills, un fills, or if anything goes wrong with the band it's covered. And he likes to stay on schedule of seeing me every month for the first year. I love that he has spent so much time going over everything with me and he does all my fills. It makes me feel more confident in my choice when the doctor doesn't try and rush me off, but takes time to answer all my questions. I have not had any problems with my band. I am quite happy with my choice. As this will be your choice... We can all find the negative or positive in anything if we look for it! Go with what you feel will work best for you. No one knows your body better than you! Good luck with what ever you choose!

@@AWD12368 It is weird that the teacher would focus so heavily on the negative... There are plenty of success stories for each surgery I am sure of it....you just have to decide what road you are willing to travel...there are so many great people on this forum who have some really great advice. I am pretty much a newbie when it comes to all of this....I am taking it day by day! I am looking forward to hearing what route you decide to take! Keep us posted!

I have the lap band and have had no problems.....I am sure if we all look hard enough we can find negative or horror stories on everything...lol As far as my decision I chose the band because the surgery time was shorter and nothing was removed...but there is a foreign object in my body. Everything I found said slower weight loss but it continued over a longer period of time. I found a lot of statistics as far as healing time and complications that pointed me into the direction of the band.....I know people who have had great success with the sleeve and the band... You just have to do your own research and decide if it is right for you...maybe try a seminar on the sleeve or bypass and see how you feel after that?

I use kids chewables.... Lol..many years ago, before the band my doc suggested it since the iron makes me sick...she said that two kids chewables equals 1 adult multi vitamin...I also take chewable bit d and b12 drops...I am too chicken to try and swallow any pills

Just curious @@jenlbaucom what caused the tube to seperate? Also i agree with @@MarieMarie

@susan58....i would give the doctors office a call...the only thing they tell me is not to eat or drink before a fill...i dont know that any special diet is needed since you already have the band..good luck & keep us posted!

How is life with the band treating you? Any updates?

There is a great section somewhere on the diet forum for a ton of different protein shake recipies...there are some amazing ones! Maybe switching up a shake will help?

Wow! Great read! Thx for posting!

@@RWM why are you having it removed? I am curious because it looks like you just got it? The road isn't easy......I have good days and bad days. What I can eat changes on a daily basis....sometimes everything goes down well, sometimes it doesn't go down easy at all.... This is a journey...I am listening to my body more than I ever have. I also for the first time in a long time feel in control of my body. I think if you throw the towel in already you may regret it. I don't know...maybe not. I love my band....is it hard? At times yes! Is it worth it? Absolutely! Good luck to you!

I can also eat more on some days....some days I don't eat anything...weird right? My band also feels different at times...when it is colder out it seems tighter...or when I travel. I agree that calling is a good idea. After all the doctors are there to help. There have been a few times that I have called and talked to my nurse, because I am also quite a ways from the office.

@@csg, I was a major binge eater....mostly depended on my state...was I sad bored, happy? Everything revolved around eating! I agree with @@KateP you listen to your body and you definitely have to eat slower...so it does help! Where food once filled some weird void that I thought I needed, it no longer does. @@JustWatchMe talking to someone and finding what exactly is behind the over eating in the first place is great advice!! Also congrats to all of you and your weight loss and life style change accomplishments! You are all an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and goals. I enjoy hearing others stories and I love knowing what worked for everyone!

Ok...so hopefully I don't upset anyone with this. I know we all gain/lose at our own rate. And healthy is what we all want to be! but what are realistic goals? I feel like I need something to work towards...but would I be setting myself up for failure if I put a number on how much I wanted to lose each month? And does anyone out there use shakeology or thrive? And do we need it? Or is the band along with our lifestyle change enough? I feel like the band is an excellent tool...I just don't know if I should be doing anything else in conjunction with it....besides eating less and moving more. I'm going to discuss this with my dr. When we meet the first week of Feb. but wanted to see what others are doing... What are your goals...and how are you getting there?

@@enjoythetime, I agree...and great advice! I am the type of person who needs something to work towards. I can't just have this lap band and think....so now what. I need a step by step goal.. @@B-52 maybe once goals are met new goals would be set....like maintaining a healthy weight would be a goal or finally run a marathon. I don't think I would mess with the fluid or anything in the band. I would like to think once the sweet spot is found, it would stay there...I have read articles where people have not had any type of adjustment for many years.. So different lifestyle changes could be a goal? @@MandaMom23, lb by lb is also a great way to go. I only have my start date. I didn't set a time limit for my weight loss. And I agree, strict rules aren't the way to go...I definitely need realistic goals @@MarieMarie, smaller goals sounds good.