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I am addicted to ice cream too. I lost 100 pounds initially... had some complications (gallbladder surgery, port leak, port replacement) and I let it all go to ****. I gained 50 back and have been hovering at the same weight now for a long time. Unlike you, I DID have an addiction to ice cream pre-band, but thought if that was the ONE thing I had to do myself, I could do it. Well... it is REALLY hard. I am back to eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's a night. Sometimes more. I easily eat 1000-1200 calories a day in ice cream. I just recommitted myself 2 days ago. I have been ice cream free for 2 days. Sounds silly... but seriously, that is huge for me!! I am relearning how to work with my band instead of around it. No more drinking when eating. No more slider foods. And no more ice cream!! For me, I have to completely ban ice cream from my life. When I lost the 100 pounds my first year... I was not eating ANY. I understand that skinny people eat ice cream, and chips, blah blah. Moderation blah blah. Well I am not, nor have I ever been a skinny person. I can't just have 1 scoop. I always want more. My brain never stops wanting more. I crave it. I obsess about it. The only way I could control it is to treat it like an alcoholic would alcohol. I cannot have any. Never. Not one scoop. Not one bite. Not one lick. Once I have it, it snowballs. I have been in pretty bad sugar withdrawals the last two days... but I am hanging in there. I did it before, I can do it again. Yesterday I was obsessing about a turtle sundae from Culvers. I wanted it. I was telling myself, just this one last time. Just once more. Start tomorrow. Well I have been telling myself that for over a year. And where has that gotten me? I went home and had a Protein shake instead. I was pissed. Unsatisfied. Angry. But after those initial feelings passed I was so proud of myself for hanging in there. Today was a little easier. Tomorrow will be a little easier. HANG IN THERE. You just have to keep reminding yourself of your goals. Why you had this surgery. Don't throw it all away for 10 minutes of pleasure. It is a wicked, awful, nasty cycle. You can do it. Drive a different route. Don't pass Sonic. Don't keep ice cream in your freezer. Treat it like an addict. You cannot have it. Period. Give it a shot. Best of luck to you. I am there with you. You are not alone.

So I have officially scheduled my port replacement. I really truly hope this will be it. I am SOO ready to get back to losing. I decided I am going to stay on the looser side this time, and do more head work and expect less from my band. I think I really expected it to do it all. And I pushed it. I remember the pain... the chest pressure... the pb'ing on 1 or 2 bites of salad. I hope that by staying a bit looser those issues will resolve. I will be absolutely CRUSHED if I STILL have pain, chest pressure, PB'ing on healthy foods. I hope that finding a consistent restriction will be the key. Anyone with similar experience... would LOVE to hear your story & results. Thanks.

Been a LONG time since I have been here. Dee posted on my profile so it brought me back. lol. Just wanted to say hi!!! I will be having revision surgery on the 17th. My band has had a slow leak in it for the past two years and it is going to cost me way too much to fix the leak. I have re-gaind 50 of the 100lbs I lost. So I decided to revise to a VSG for numerous reasons. The band just was not the right tool for me unfortunately. I could never find the "green zone" and dealt with pain and chest pressure constantly. I am looking forward to no longer having a "pouch" to deal with.

I think I have a leak. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I went in for a fill a few weeks ago to a new fill Dr and I had 5cc's in my band. The amount I was supposed to have. I received a 2cc fill. It was too tight; water wouldn't go down, so I went back in about an hour later and had him remove 1cc.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Went back a week later because I had no restriction. When he checked, I only had 4cc's in my band. I chalked it up to him having taken out more than he thought?? He added 3cc's for a total of 7cc. <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Again no restriction. I was afraid to go back, put it off for a month, gained a little weight back, so I finally went in. Told Dr I was afraid I had a leak. He pulled out 5cc's instead of 7cc. <?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id=_x0000_i1025 style="WIDTH: 13.5pt; HEIGHT: 13.5pt" alt="0" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/modern/crying.gif" src="file:///C:DOCUME~1loripLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml101clip_image001.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> He doesn't think it is a leak because otherwise I wouldn't have maintained the 5cc's. ??? Thinks it leaked right away when he pulled out the needle. I really want to have 100% trust in him, but I have my doubts. He filled me another 3cc's for a total of 8cc last week. I still have no restriction. <v:shape id=_x0000_i1026 style="WIDTH: 15pt; HEIGHT: 15pt" alt="0" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/modern/sad.gif" src="file:///C:DOCUME~1loripLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml101clip_image002.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I have always had my fills under fluoroscopy before I switched to him. I have never been thrilled with "blind" fills, but I was willing to try them since it seems to be the norm for a lot of Dr's... including my original surgeon, and I was thrilled to find someone local for fills.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I go in next week to see what my fill level is at again. I think I already know what the answer is going to be. <v:shape id=_x0000_i1027 style="WIDTH: 13.5pt; HEIGHT: 13.5pt" alt="0" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/modern/crying.gif" src="file:///C:DOCUME~1loripLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml101clip_image001.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Is it possible to have a leak that holds at a level of 5cc's?<o:p></o:p> How much does it cost to replace a port?<o:p></o:p> I am a self pay (employer opt out), is there any hope that insurance will cover a replacement?<o:p></o:p> How do I know if it is a faulty band or Dr error that caused the leak?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>

Borrowed a friends hair waver and was feeling cute today. Decided to update with a new photo since it has been awhile. I will save the full body shot for when I hit -100. Only Twelve pounds to go! Here is moi… -88 (hopefully it is obvious the left photo is a before shot!)

I am still even on the weigh in. None lost, none gained since my last check in. Hopefully Sat will knock me down another pound or two. Borrowed a friends hair waver and was feeling cute today. Decided to update with a new photo since it has been awhile. I will save the full body shot for when I hit -100. Only Twelve pounds to go! Here is moi… -88 (hopefully it is obvious the left photo is a before shot!)

-2 for me. =) Still at 296 this morning. Yeah!

Oh wow! That sounded miserable. Glad to hear it all turned out ok. I finally broke my plateau! I hit 296 today! Two pounds under my lowest weight. I am SIKED! Can't wait to see what it is for Saturdays weigh in.

I am thinking I might be at an ok restriction right now. If I eat slooooow and take smaaaaall bites and cheeeeew really well I do ok! The pain isn't there, and I am satified. All I have to say is WOW. This is hard! To constantly remember to take small bites and chew. I am so excited to finally FEEL my band helping me. Bella what happened last month?

Yeah my boobs have always been lowriders. I am getting them done no matter what. My gift to myself for all this crap I have put my body through. Gift to hubby too I guess! haha. Well gotta log off. Nice chatting wtih ya mini. =) Keep up the good work!

Oooo shopping in regular stores. That would be so trippy! Enjoy it. You deserve it! =) I would love to have my pannus removed but am going to wait a bit longer. I want to lose more so maybe I can just have that done and forgo the whole TT thing.

It's all good. I am feeling encouraged right now with the news that it is possibly not leaking again. haha. Hopefully this time that is true. BTW... you are doing awesome on your weightloss! I would KILL to be 177! That is my secret goal weight! =)

Well since I have been at the same weight for about 4 months... I am not counting on it! 8 pounds seems impossible. I am so sick of seeing 300.. 301... 300... 299... 302... 298... 300... 303... 301... 298 ARGH!

I hate it too. I feel stuck though (pardon my pun)... if I go in for a slight unfil I am afraid I will be back at square 1, no restriction, leaky band. So I am going to tough it out for now. As long as I don't PB anymore... I figure I should be ok.

I will join the VDay challenge. Put me down for 8lb. That is 2lbs a week from now until then. =)

Mini I had my fill on Thursday. I can get soups and mushies down ok. I think I am just not chewing my first few bites well enough and am getting stuck because of it. Lot of chest pain so I don't want to eat any more. New learning experience for me! If I can't improve things, I will move up my appointment and have a slight unfil.

I am tight.. tight... tight. Grrr. Trying to stick it out a bit longer to see if it will loosen a bit. Still leary if this restriction will stick around. So far it is. Boy is it ever. Everything hurts when I eat. So tired of everything hurting and only being able to take a few bites before I am done done done.

Well I don't think I will make a size 9 ever! haha. Not without getting my pannus cut off. But I like the sound of it! Works for me. :wink: I didn't gain over the holidays which is a miracle since I baked tons of cookies, and ate like crap! So I thank my band for that! Keeps my portions down on the crap! haha. I was training at work so I couldn't use the computer, and then we had so much family in and out for weeks I just really have neglected y'all. Sorry! I missed everyone as well and hope to catch up on what I missed. Hope everyone is well! I will be around more often for sure. Looking forward to getting back on track. Is anyone doing a challenge? Exercise or food based? I need to focus on that. :yikes:

Hi ladies. I know it has been awhile since I checked in. My life has been CHAOS over the holidays! haha. I am still in limbo land, no loss, but no gain over the holidays. I was waiting on my port to come in for my replacement and the holidays put a delay in it. Well I have had restriction pretty much for the past month. I finally went in today and had him withdraw everything to see if it was restriction from the band or if my fill was holding. Everything was still in there! So he added a half CC putting me a 6cc's right now. I go back in 3 weeks and am crossing my fingers it will all still be there. I was so afraid to have him even mess with it... I will just cry if the little bit of restriction I have had for the past month is gone. It wasn't optimal, but it was something. He is not sure if the extra pressure from more fluid in the band will make it leak again. I am hoping this is the end of it for me and everything will turn out to be fine! So port replacement surgery if off again. For now. I need to get back on track. I have been so depressed over the leak/no leak that I have given up trying and have just let myself hover at 300 for 4 months. Time to get moving again and be more vigilant about what I eat. Think my mental break is over. So what is this size 9 in '09?

Sorry Sue. :rolleyes2:

Awesome job missy! =) Keep it up! Lucky for me I was never a beer drinker, but I LOVE Lambrusco...and I just don't enjoy it anymore because of the slight carbonation. Makes me burp waaaay to much and it is just uncomfortable to drink now. *sigh* I feel your pain. KWIM= Know What I Mean The body fluctuates anywhere up to 3 pounds a day. So don't fret it. I am sure it is probably Aunt Flo... da bitch. :tt2:

That happened to me as well. Really good restriction for awhile and then gradually got less and less. So subtle that it took me a bit to realize "hey I am eating too much". You almost forget... until you get good restriction and then realize how much less you can eat. I am still at good restriction right now and am losing good and eating a lot less. I am hoping it hangs on for a bit longer until I can get my port replaced. I feel like I am on borrowed time right now. Sorry you are not feeling the same level. That is a real bummer. The low profile port will be nice. At least there is a silver lining I guess. I wish I could do that but I still have too much to lose and he has a hard enough time finding my regular port! haha.

I am down 5 this week! I lost another pound since yesterday so I am at 298! My lowest weight yet. I am thrilled! My restriction right now is so good. Waaah. Please stick around awhile longer. Awesome girlie! You are headed in the right direction. You are still in the bandster hell so anything you lose is a lot YOU. Great job! Heck yeah it is better than a gain! Good job on the loss! Keep up the good work! How frustrating! Hang in there, hopefully they will be off again next week. Plateaus SUCK! I am finally thinking I may be off my FOUR month one... but who knows. Next week will be the test. Thanks girlie! =) AWESOME! Feels good doesn't it! That is the perfect rate to be losing! I think I am at my sweet spot too! Hope it sticks around for another week or so. *crossing fingers* You don't have to mourn food girl. Everything in moderation. Your tastebuds are probably more sensitive because you are taking smaller bites and chewing well. You are really giving your palette TIME to taste instead of swallowing it down quickly and washing away flavors with a beverage. You may not LOVE that food anymore but you will discover other things you love more now. Try making your own hummus! There are some things I have had to give up on. I have problems with hamburgers so I rarely eat them. When I drive by the In N Out I salivate and wish I could mow one down... but then I am also thankful that I can't. KWIM. Pre-band I would have gotten several burgers and gobbled them up, barely tasting them. Now I smell them, remember what it was like, and then drive by and feel BETTER because I resisted! If I really want a burger I have to make it myself so it is moist enough and it is really much healthier that way anyway. You just have to adjust how you look at it, it is not what you have to do without, it is what you CAN do without.

I know. The mental part of this is the HARDEST! Everytime I pull on my size 24 jeans I need to remind myself that less than a year ago I was barely squeezing into a 32... so I need not fret over the 22's I can't quite make it into yet. Baby steps.