Desdemona

Amanda -- I hope you are out there. The weight loss for me is slow too. It has been for a really long time -- although people claim my shape is different than it was 6 mos ago. Go figure. But let's not give up. Well -- I'm in BOTH the losing and PS mode! Even though so many people say "wait until you get to goal," -- I still had the BR done -- and I'm glad I did. Back, neck, shoulders feel much better. People say I LOOK much smaller because of the reduction. That really makes me want to low carb and get to the gym because I'm feeling HOPE of getting to goal. So far I seem to be blessed with Grandma's solid flesh because so far -- the skin is still tight on belly, legs, forearms. The thing I don't understand is how do you know what is loose skin on your upper arms as opposed to fat/flab that may yet come off? The fat under my upper arms is much better but I still have a wade hanging there and I can't figure out if it will go away. I figure I have about 25 or 30 lbs to go and it mostly seems to be located in my mid-section. Any ideas?

There are times that I have thrown up a lot -- but usually I do not unless I eat too fast. One time, after a fill - I found that I could only eat very slowly and a small amount for about 3-4 wks. One other time -- I found that it was just too tight and I had some taken out. If you have trouble getting liquid down -- you are too tight. You should not have to just eat soft foods. If you are doing that -- it's too tight. Another thing that could be happening is -- that you threw up because you ate too fast and you are swollen and you did not let the swelling go down before eating again. Once you throw up -- you really should just have liquid for the rest of that day to let the swelling go down (which happens from throwing up). If you just keep putting food in on top of the swelling it just makes it worse. Have the liquid and then try the next day to have a small amount of food and eat it slowly. If you find that it stays down -- then that was the problem. If you find that you throw up after 1 day of liquid -- go to the MD and have some fill removed.

frenchvanilla-- I agree w/confused. One thing I have found out in the year and a half I have been on this board is that people have different rates of weight loss, partly because we have different bodies, partly because we have different lives, and partly because we have different things that motivate or engage us. What will work for 1 person -- may not work for another. The board is excellent for getting ideas so you can figure out what works for you. But ---if you keep at it -- you WILL come up with the right combination that WILL work for you! I have also eaten all the right things -- and spent quite a long time avoiding and hating exercise. I had a great initial weight loss and then just plan stopped losing. I stayed there for nearly a year --- but I must also say that even though I didn't lose weight - my body seemed to be reshaping. Then I got so frustrated that I did finally get the lead out and start to slowly do some exercise. I still didn't see weight loss but I ate more because I was hunger from the exercise. My MD told me that I am simply so short (under 5 ft) that I just will not lose anymore unless I move my butt. So now I know and accept that this is what I have to do. Another thing that helped me was getting a breast reduction. I had it 2 wks ago. I have to wait 1 more wk before going back to the gym and I have to wait another 4 wks before I can do strengths training on the weight machines. I do admire all the runners here and I think it's a great way to get in shape and lose the weight but I know I just will never run. First of all -- my bones and joints will not take it. Second -- I'm just plain not motivated/interested in it but I do know that there are other ways of losing weight and our challenge is to find the right method and stick to it. I also appreciate EbonyRose statement about the way the body plateaus and insists on losing when it gets good and ready to do it. I have been in those interminable places when I just can't understand WHY I'm not losing. I think the body is complex and that we can be doing everything right and our bodies are just going to do what they need to do before giving up more weight.

Lynn-- 12 -15# SKIN!!! Whoa!! Now THAT is serious weight loss! Do you feel different? Lighter? Do you find that it changes your posture? I'm finding that I'm standing straighter --- shoulders back - head up -- chin in -- without even trying. And I'm finding that shoulder, neck and left arm pain in greatly reduced. When did your MD say you could get back to exercise? I can do treadmill, upright bikes, elliptical in 1 more week and then I have to wait until 6 wks out of surg for weight machines. I haven't weighted myself at all. I'm afraid to. I know I lost about 1.5 from tissue/skin but I'll bet I put more than that on before surg from stress. They took the sutures out today -- and I'm back on low carb today so I'm motivated. Now I'm thinking about having the arm and neck done but I will wait until I'm at goal weight for that. Some people say --wait until goal to have the BR but I'm very glad I had it done now. MD says they will get smaller as I lose but they will stay in proportion and be good.

Hi Ladies-- I'm also back from my breast reduction. They didn't take any fill out of my band either. I was surprised and glad they didn't put any drains in. They kept me in the hospital an extra day because I developed Tachycardia. My pulse is still high but under 100. Blood pressure is low. They ran all sorts of test and don't see anything wrong with my heart but I have to follow-up with my PC. I'm looking forward to getting back to the gym.

Lynn-- Best wishes. I'll bet you are sore. I've been flirting with BR surg and waiting for ins approval. I"m scheduled (FINALLY) for Fri AM. Should be home by Sat eve. hopeinapril----welcome back! It's a struggle but we WILL do it!

I'm having mine done on Tues. I have been weight stable for the last 6 mos but I want to lose another 25lbs (after BR). I do exercise but not enough because of shoulder/back pain. I also have spinal degenerative disease so they are really damaging my spine. My "girls" were large and dense even when I was 18 and 114lbs so I know just losing more weight won't reduce them down to a comfortable level. My PS says they are so dense that even if I lose another 25lbs they will not really lose their new shape. I'm also 57 yrs old so I don't care if they sag a little after I lose more. I think it's hard to know when to have them done. I would say that if your breast are fatty and if you are young and want to make sure they are as "perky" as possible -- then wait until you are at goal weight. But- if you have dense tissue (glands with little fat) and don't mind if they sag a little if you lose more weight, and think you will be able to diet/exercise better if they were smaller -- then go ahead and get them done.

Holy Moly! I just checked in to see what was going on. This page is INTENSE!! --- We are going through some very big changes here!!! Me too. It makes me wonder what's happening? Is it just the times we're in or do you think we're just somehow in a place in our lives where we have decided to make major changes (including our weight and appearance)? I'm waiting to hear about 3 very big decisions this week. 1 will affect income; 1 will determine if I change places of employment and 1 will dramatically change my body (breast reduction surg may happen as early as THIS Fri)!! I need to ask a question about the band. I have come close to passing out 3 times within the past month. I have never passed out in my life so this concerns me. My blood, urine and other usual screens/checks are excellent. I had an MRI that checked all organs below my ribs. Band is in place. So far it has happened on afternoons that have all been muggy. I don't experience panic attacks but I'm pretty anxious these days because of current events. I think I was excited (and talking a lot) each time it happened. My MD once told me that the band can cause you to be short on breath. I'm wondering if that could be the problem and if I should have some saline taken out. Has anyone else had this problem?

Now that is a short and sweet and EXCELLENT statement! I'm gonna remember that one every day. I get so busy with work and everything else I just have a hard time feeling that I don't have time to go --- but you're right (!!) everything else CAN wait!

Thanks. I'm going to have the anchor incision. It does sound like mine will be less invasive than yours. I know what you mean about not wanting to go out shopping. Thanks for the advise. Best!

I'm getting ready for Breast Reduction. I'm having about 350g off each one. My MD says they will take some fill out of my band for the surg. I'm guessing this is because of swelling. I'm a bit worried about going on an eating tear when they remove some fill. How long did it take before they replaced your fill? Were you hungry? Did you eat much while recovering with some of the fill out? Did you gain weight?

hey JD -- I remember you very well. It's great to see you back. I lost most of my weight within the first 4 or 5 months. It's been very slow since then. My eating hasn't been bad but I didn't exercise. It also took me a long time to get my band adjusted to where it should be. But now my BMI is down to 30 from 43. I found that PT helped me deal with muscle and joint pain so I could exercise. I also found that starting exercise in a gentle and slow way worked much better for me than just going at it full-tilt boogie. I started with CURVES because I knew I could do 30 min every other day. It was all I could handle. After 3 wks I got use to going someplace and I decided to go to Planet Fitness (which is running a 1 year plan right now for $99!!!). I started there by just using the treadmill on the days I didn't go to CURVES for just 30 mins. Then I added, then recumbent bike and quickly went to the upright. Now I'm dropping CURVES and switching to the Planet Fitness weight machines because I'm strong enough from CURVES). I found that going to CURVES or the gym in a routine way help motavate me to eat well. JD--yesterday I went to something called the Summit House. It's a really old building on top of the highest peak in my area. I live in a valley of hills. It's the first time I ever went there. I had to climb 4 flights of stairs to get to the top of building. The view was absolutely glorious ---- but what was even MORE glorious was that I wasn't even breathing hard or breaking a sweat when I got to the top!! Before I lost this weight and did a little exercise I wouldn't have bothered even trying that. I have my life back! So -- what is something that you truly and dearly loved to do that you stopped doing? When you lose more weight -- you will be SO thrilled to do it again. Please hang in there with us.

Jamie--I had a lot of joint pain before surg. Then I lost about 50lbs and it still hurt so I asked my MD to send me to PT. I just could NOT believe the diff after PT!!!!! I still do have arthritis and joint pain but no where NEAR what it was before. I was told about the compensation but that isn't all. I was a couch potato so my muscles and tendons were really out of shape. The PT told me that as we gain weight and age our posture (and spine) goes out of wack. Also -- when we are inactive during all that time the dead cells from our muscles do not "wash away" and they hang around the muscle and sort of clog thing up and that contributes to inflammation of the muscle and joints. Then when we go to exercise or lift things our muscles don't slide over each other the way they should so we actually injure the muscle. That causes the pain and more inflammation (any nurse out there reading my laymans way of explaining this must be cringing by now!!). PT uses methods to get rid of all those dead cells. That allows blood to circulate and get right down in there to nourish the muscles so the inflammation goes down. That way --you can go to the gym without so much pain. I also began execising by just doing a treadmill --- then an upright bike. Strengths training began with just CURVES. Nothing strenuous. Just enough to help build my muscles in a gentle way. Now I can go to a regular gym without much pain. I just came back from my MD and now we feel that adding in Yoga will help stretch muscles and improve posture so the bones and joints don't pressure my nerves. I'm very hopeful. I hope some of this helps. Stay in touch.

Hi Hazel-eyes-- I started at 221 but I'm only 4' 11 1/2 so my BMI was about 43BMI. I lost 18lbs pre-surg. Surg was 3/19/08. I had the 10cc AP band. My after surg diet was very strict for the first 4 weeks (basically chicken broth and sugar free freezer pops for the first 3 wks with protein drinks added for 1 wks then a little egg or cottage cheese was added etc). I lost a lot of weight fairly quickly. I would say that 75% of what I lost went in the first 4 to 5 mons. I didn't exercise very much. I do eat 3 to 4 meals a day but they are small and I'm now exercising. I do believe that I have continued to lose fat and add muscle because I have clothes fitting me now that did not fit me 6 weeks ago even though I weigh the same as I did 6 wks ago. My band surg told me that because I'm so short I will not lose more until I move my butt and also build muscle to boost my metabolism -- so that's what I'm working on right now.

I have heard that arm lifts are painful. I'm hoping more of the fab from my arms will go down with the last 30lbs. I guess time will tell. I'm really hopeful about my skin tightening.

Onikenbai -- I really appreciate your thoughtful reply. You gave me some important info that I didn't know about. My MD seems to think I'll lose about 5 lbs. My spouse will be away for the first wk of Aug and I have a small dog. I was thinking of having the surg just a few days before that but now I'm wondering if I should wait until he is back so I won't be alone. Or -- will I be OK enough a few days after the surg to mange on my own? Anybody else? How much did you lose? How was the operation for you? Did you have fill removed from your lapband?

I'm 57 -- have lost about 60lbs and have about 30 more to go. So far my skin is coming back surprisingly well. I have been significantly overweight and steadily gaining for about 30 years. Breast are drooping but they were large before I gained any weight. I'm headed for a breast reduction very soon (days). I'm apple shaped. My PS saw my belly the other day and remarked that I was really coming along very well. No signs of hanging skin except I MIGHT be headed for bat wings. I really can't say because it could just be fat that will go as I lose the rest of the weight. I do have SOME small amount of loose skin on my neck. If it doesn't go away -- I will do something about it. It could be that I will see some hanging skin within the last 30lbs but so far so good. I HOPE Grandma's genes keep working for me!

Special--I'm really happy I had the band instead of the bypass too. They lose weight faster but they often have far more trouble with learning new eating and exercising habits than we do. In 5 -7 years their intestines adapt to the bypass by "learning" to perform much of the functions of a stomach -- e.g. the intestines dramatically increase their capacity to absorb calories and the weight comes back on because they often continue taking in too much food/calories. We can gain too but our restriction approach gives us a much better chance of not putting all those calories in our mouths in the first place. Kathy-- I was thinking exactly the same thing you were - about us talking about PS! Isn't it amazing!? I'm a bit disappointed that I'm not at goal weight yet but I have to admit that it's at least partly my own fault because I have only recently gotten serious about exercise. Nevertheless, it's great to have gotten as far as we have after all those years of trying and failing to take off the weight. The band has gotten me a lot farther than I would have been without it! I was very interested in your comment about "crinkled skin" because I have been staring at the flab hanging off of my upper arm. I don't see any "crinkles" but there is plenty of flab. It's a lot less flab than it was when I started and I still have 30 lbs (on an under 5 foot frame) to go. There is a small amount of skin stretch marks but not much. I'm wondering if I'm going to lose that flab through weight loss and toning or if I should ask the MD to liposuction my upper arms when he has me under for the breast reduction? Does anyone have any knowledge or advise on this?

Josiebies-- Thanks for replying. Interesting. My band MD said they would take out some fill but maybe the PS will decide differently. So in your case, you may have gotten a weight loss boast both from the removal of tissue and less food intake for 10 days. Are there others who will let me know there experience of this?

Hi Lisa--It's good to see you back. I didn't lose for the longest time -months and months- and it's hard not to see the scale move. It only started moving again when I started doing some serious exercise and got my band tightened. And if I don't watch my carbs I just stall. It's still slow going. But everyone says I look smaller than several months ago so I'm guessing I'm adding muscle and losing fat (too slowly). I don't know if I'm deluding myself but I'm still hoping that I won't have to get any PS done except the breast reduction (which I have needed since I was about 4 years old (LOL!!!). The BR was just a given. They were too large when I was 18yrs and 114lbs. Now at 57-- they're large and very sad. But the good news is that the rest of me seems to be pretty tight. I might have bat wings but I won't really know that until I lose more weight. Lynn ---did your MD say how much weight s/he expects will come off with PS? My PS is expecting about 5lbs between the actually removal of tissue and the ordeal of surgery.

I'm doing the CURVES because I started using the machines at Planet Fitness and they are too big for me. I strain trying to wrap my little body around them. I thought the CURVES would be easier. They are -- but now I'm wondering if they are really doing much for me. I AM losing but I'm wondering if it's because I go to Planet Fitness (only $10 a month!) to use the bikes on the days I don't go to CURVES. I use interval training on the bikes. I do hope to also be able to switch my strengths training over to Planet Fitness but I think I need to get stronger at CURVES first. Christine -- glad you are back. Wow! All of that sent me right to the medical dictionary! It sounds frightening. I understand why they want to do a biopsy of the hip but I'm unclear about what they are looking for in the pelvis. I do hope you will stick in here with us and let us know what's going on. I'm concerned. Lynn-- Like Christine -- I'd like to know more about your TT. Will you do it soon? Still no word on the breast reduction approval from my MD or ins co.

Special K-- WOW! That IS low. I'm glad you're MD thought to check it. I'm a researcher so I keep an eye on a lot of studies. You might want to check out this page from the Vitamin D Council. There really is a lot of very new material in D and it's very interesting. Am I Vitamin D Deficient? Scrappy -- I see you work out a CURVES. I've been going there since just before Memorial Day. I like it. I keep reading mixed reviews about it's effectiveness. Do you feel it really helps you a lot? Do you just go around the circuit the "prescribed" 2X (30 mins) or do you do more rounds? Do you do other types of exercise the other days?

Dr Schulman-- Thank you for giving us so much information. It appears that I will scheduled for a breast reduction in about a month. I will still be about 30lbs from goal after the surg. The surgeon mentioned that they will have a lipo machine close by to remove fat from my side rib cage near the breasts so I don't have that buldging fat there. Would it be a lot of extra trouble (pain, expense) to ask them to also lipo under my arms at the same time to help with the "bat wings?" Even though I have lost 65lbs so far -- my skins seems to be pretty elastic so I'm wondering if I just do lipo in the arms and exercise if it might work well enough without a having an arm lift? Thanks again.

Special K-- That's a wonderful story. Thanks. I was on a plane and saw something like that happen to a bunch of volunteers on their way to Rwanda to help genocide victims. It was a great feeling.

Special K -- HOLY COW!!! And I was concerned that taking 5,000IU of D3 was a lot!! And you were STILL low? WHOA! Did your MD tell you what your level was? I'm just wondering what he considered low? Mine is 35 and that fits within the old standards that are still on most lab report forms as the proper guidelines but it's below what the important new studies are saying. I'm hearing that the new guidelines are 50-70 and some say as high as 80. Yes -they have just recently found that low D can be involved in the development of 17 different diseases. We can not get enough of it in our food - specially those of us who live in the northern states. But what was most impressive to me is the role that proper levels of Vit D are playing in the metabolism of FAT!! It's a very important Vit for weight loss --- especially around the belly and mid-section. They are finding that up to 50% of all Americans are under the new levels of 50. Just thought I'd mention this for anyone who feels stuck in their weight loss and can't understand why. I have started taking it to see if it helps.