Laurinda

I hear it ALL the time. I have a ways to go granted but I have come far. Instead of even TALKING to people about it any more and feeling like I have to "argue" or justify my weight loss goal, when they ask if I am "done" losing weight because I am "just fine" I smile and say "Yes, yes I am done" then go about my life

I don't think it's a "sweet spot" if it comes with so many issues. When I hit my "sweet spot" and from what I have heard and read from many others, it's a point where you have very good restriction and yes your weight loss picks up. I think if your getting stuck all the time then maybe yes you should talk to your doctor about a possible slight unfill. Getting stuck all the time is no way to live..Good Luck to you!

I think your doing great and I agree that any loss is a good loss! The first 6 months after surgery I too felt like I wasn't loosing very much very "fast" and then BAM! It all came together and became steady. I found my "sweet spot" and noticed a HUGE difference. Hang in there your doing fine! I have talked to SO many people who are frustrated within the first 6 months because their expectations and results are not equal but it comes :purplebananna: It comes!

I kept one pair of jeans to reflect back on...other then that I get rid of em ASAP!

I have heard chew to a "paste"

131 down :thumbup:

I had my surgery at St. Vincent's in Jax Fl. I only paid my co payment my insurance company required for out pt surgery. I have been hearing more and more lately about what I conceder "extra expenses" that are being charged. I am hearing of this after care stuff and diet programs (??) I don't get it all. IF you have insurance and they require a co-payment,that you pay...why these other charges? The dietician was not covered on my insurance so I paid that out of pocket $100 The psych eval was not covered so I paid out of pocket $150 Then I had my out pt surgery and paid a co=payment Insurance covered pre/post care ( I would think if insurance was gonna cover the surgery they would cover pre/post) One of my patients/customers had her surgery done at another hospital and had all these extra expenses, they put her on a low carb diet, have her taking a TON of supplements ( provided by the doctors office) and after so many months are up she is expected to continue to purchase these supplements from them. Sounds like a racket to me. Granted things change and I am sure some things have changed since I had my band but it sounds to me like the more popular the band becomes the more they come up with things that are "needed" When I researched/got the band I learned that the band was a tool to asset you not a cure,I also learned that you do not have to be on a "diet" but rather change your eating and life style habits. Some of the follow up diets are so strict I would have become frustrated and burned out long ago (like I never tried a diet before???) I have not been on a diet since getting the band. Sorry I didn't mean to go on there, I just think there has been a lot of unnecessary Lap Band related things surface that are designed to take your money, turning a simple situation into a complex one. How did the rest of us survive with out all these special after programs? I would keep looking around in the area and nearby areas,compare cost and what they offer ,call your insurance company and find out exactly what they cover.

Coffee has been talked about on this board many times and I am not sure there is "ONE" right answer. I have heard not to drink it because it is a diuretic,because it is an appetite stimulate , it can erode the band (?) I dunno. I drink it and have never stopped. My doctor has no problems with it. If the ONLY reason my doctor told me not to drink coffee was because it could stimulate my appetite I would not be overly worried about it, you know your body best, if you find your abnormally hungry after drinking coffee then ,maybe take it under advisement..other wise :thumbup: perk up!

Don't let getting stuck make you fear getting the band. Yes it happens and yes it SUCKS but I promise you learn from it :thumbup: You learn the signs your body makes and you learn to LISTEN to them. (Sorry you went through that in public iwalktheline) I have had a few "mini" stucks (pressure slight pain) and one MEGA stuck that caused me to paninc. I learned not to eat fast, chew to a paste, not swallow a large amount at once and if I feel any pressure it's time to stop. The band has been a wonderful tool! We all have to just learn what we can and can not tolerate.

I had to have an unfill about 7 months ago because of being to tight . It took several fills to get me back to where I was (wanted to take it slow after that) It can be frustrating yes but hang in there! I had slow weight loss periods and greater weight loss periods during this time but it was worth taking it slow so I didn't hurt myself or the band trying to rush my fills. As for that doc that is closer to you....Ummm NO!!!! Why pay someone to make you feel like crap? Attitude is just as important as competency and ability, just because he knows HOW to do your fills doesn't make him qualified to do your fills Good-Luck to you

Kidney infection?

Good-luck!!

Hey there I can't help you out about the fills and what not but I am sure if you keep reading the board you'll find what your looking for! Good-Luck to you~

You sound like really want this and THAT will help you succeed!! As you will read over and over the band is a tool not a "fix" but I have to tell you it has been a blessing to me. I have not had to "diet" thus far and am doing pretty good. I have changed my eating habits, portion size and my food choices, all with the help of determination and the band. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! :laugh: Good-Luck to you on your journey and tag back to read more info to help you as you go!

Hello there :laugh: Good-Luck with your journey! Read on there is LOTS of good info here

My husband and I watched this on the news also and we both shared the same opinon you have. It is WAY to scary to think we can "make" babies the way we want them....these babies grow up to be adults and there is something very weird about picking and choosing things to make up a human. I think technology is awesome but I also think some things have gone to far and should be left alone. I would not change one thing about the two children I have (damn teenagers *wink*) They were (are) a gift from the master planner and why would I alter his blueprint?

I haven't had my band for 3-4 years but I wanted to say Hello and good-luck on your journey!

SunnyRachel, I hope I didn't appear rude when I said ya gotta suck it up, I didn't mean it to sound ugly. I went through and am going through the same thing. I think I was more relieved to learn it is just something normal that happens then to continue trying every product on the market to "fix" it. That being said I absolutely LOVE what you have written under your "goal"

Good-luck on your journey! This is a woderful place to read and learn!

I have to agree with everyone here. You will have people tell you to eat protein, take biotin <sp> and use certain shampoos but fact is none of that STOPS the hair loss and you have to suck it up. Trust me... I did not do a good job of sucking it up lol. I have lost about 50% of my hair volume, I am not bald but man the handfuls of hair that would come out in the shower. Stress and panic, Lawdy mercy. Where I have not seen a huge re growth I have finally seen the hair loss slow down, I am no longer clogging the shower drain.

Yeah the excess skin *sigh* dropping a lot of weight is a double edge sword. I am very happy and thrilled with the weight I have lost but am taken back with the transformation of my arms and legs (to name a few parts) When I was over 300 lbs I was like "I don't care about excess skin" now I am like "ewwwww" I really think the psychological evaluation should come AFTER you start taking off weight *wink* cause man it is sometimes hard to absorb

Welcome ! The excess skin is very individual, some have better luck then others. I have an issue with excess skin but clothed I look pretty good I may do something about it in the future BUT even if I don't I am WAY better off now then a year ago. Good-Luck to you

Congrats and good-luck on your journey!!! The board has TONS of good info! Read up!

Over eating is a habit/addiction and like with all habits and addictions even when we "quit" it the temptation is always gonna be there. Trust me I know 100% what you are talking about. I will find myself thinking of food for no reason (not as much now but it's still there) and I will stop and ask myself "what the heck are you doing woman?" Then I move on to something else. Hang in there!! It gets better I promise Good-Luck to you!!!

I have never been told not to drink coffee,,,,just no soda and not to use a straw.