luvmy2dogs

It's interesting though because my Dad had the original band and he had throwing up problems really bad. The realize is a little more flexible, so you don't throw up quite as much, but the downside is, I guess because it's more flexible, I don't quite have the restriction that he had. He lost a ton of weight, but could not eat ANY meat without throwing up. I never had that issue. That sucks. He's having it removed. I would die without my band. I can't imagine ever having to have it removed.

i think we all eat the crap now and again after being out this far. It's easier because it goes down better than the protein. The protein does give more restriction, and that's what the band is designed to do. I think because I exercise so much I tell myself that I can eat the girl scout cookies, etc... cause I'll just burn it off. That's probably why I just maintain with all the running I do. I def need to be stricter and get back to my band way of eating like I did when I first had the surgery. I like the protein, but can't eat it constantly like they want you to. I can not eat meat for breakfast every day. I'm a cereal / yogurt eater, and I prefer that in the morning, so it doesn't hold me as long by any means. It's hard to make yourself stick to the band way of eating, but that is what works. I know that. The treadmill is VERY boring. I can not run on the treadmill. It's drudgery. I run outside. I started by doing the couch to 5k program on my treadmill, and then started running organized races. It's so much better running with the groups in the races. It's very motivating. I got my husband started, so he runs with me, and that helps ALOT! I love popcorn too. It's the only reason I go to the movies. Softball is a great form of exercise. What about walking? Good Luck, I know you'll get the other 15 off now that you have better restriction with the fill you got. Def hide that popcorn maker... or better yet.. throw it out! LOL! That's what I do if I start snacking. If I have a special occassion with company over etc.. I'll eat a dessert or whatever, and then when they are gone, I throw the rest out in the dumpster so I can't eat it. Sometimes hubbs will hide it, but I WILL find it, so I throw it out. lol I have a terrible sweet tooth and if it's in my house I have NO willpower.

It's a constant battle keeping the weight off. You had your surgery a month after me. Do you have the realize band, or the original lap band? My Dad had the band as well, and was constantly throwing up, and has had nothing but problems and is having it removed next week. He's gained all his weight back. It scares the crap out of me. I have been able to maintain within a couple lbs, but I literally run 30 miles a week+ to keep it off. I don't have a ton of restriction, and never really did. It's weird. I had some definitely, but not the restriction they said I would have. I am able to eat way more than the cup of food they said I would. I eat a pretty regular sized meal. Not as much as I did before, but a normal meal. I know that my weight is staying in check because of my exercise, and if I didn't exercise this much I would gain because right now with all of it I just maintain. It's frustrating. Of course.. I allow myself more treats than I used to when I first had the band done, but I think that's because my restriction is much less now than back then as well. Also, I'm at the max in my realize band for for fills. My Dr. said I could prob go slightly more, but I think I'm at 10cc in my 9cc band. I can't remember. It's been so long since I had my last fill. lol I haven't had a fill in over a year.

oh.. and vonhelzing, I noticed after reviewing your profile, we pretty much started at the exact same weight ( I started at 254, and we finished at the same weight. I'm at 164. lol Well.. I fluctuate bet 162 and 164. We lost like the exact same amount of weight with the band. When did you have your surgery? How is your restriction now? I'm actually almost 4 years out.

Vonhelzing: Thanks for the info. Did you have a straight tummy tuck, or did you do the circumferential deal all the way around. is anyone familiar with this? I've read some about it, but am unsure what to do. I've had one Dr. recommend the circum, and one Dr. recommend just the straight tummy tuck. The Dr. that recommended the straight said you get a tighter tummy tuck just doing the tt rather than the circum. Any advice? I guess since I can only do this one time, I was considering what would give me the best "bang for my buck" per say. lol The circum lifts the hips, but, tightens the tummy, etc.. but maybe not as tight of a tt as if you just did the tt alone. I guess that's because with the circum you stand straighter while healing and with the tt alone you are a little hunched forward. Standing straighter pulls on the tummy a bit and can loosen the tightness of the tt... not substantially, but some. Any advice from others that had the circum, or the straight would be great. I have so many questions, and this is why I have NOT done it yet. ha! Thanks everyone!

They told me I would be under like 5 hours for both. That sounds like a really long time to me. I have put the surgery off for a long time, because I'm scared to death. I'm afraid of never waking up or something. I couldn't imagine having all the stuff done at once like those extreme makeovers. They must have been in miserable pain. ugh

Thank you for your thoughts. I firmly believe running is what keeps my weight off. My eating has increased since I had my band done almost 4 years ago. I'm pretty much maxed out on my fill, and don't have a ton of restriction, so I have to do something to keep the weight in check. ha! I visited with a couple surgeons, and most will do the tummy tuck and breast lift together. They don't like to do tummy and legs, because I guess with tummy you hunch over, and with legs you are supposed to stay straight, so one would kind of outdo the other. I haven't even asked about face, etc.. Congrats. on your arms. I would like to have mine done, but I had to pick my battles. I can only do this once. $$$ does not allow a multiple surgery, so I chose the two parts I want to do most. My breasts have tons of skin, and it flaps when I run, even with the best bra possible. (I know tmi) hahah sounds nasty ha? My stomach isn't terrible, but def have a slight apron, and I figure since I'm doing one anyway, I would go for it. Maybe down the road I can do another part if I win the lottery, lol. Thanks again for getting back to me. I'm going to see another surgeon next week.

oh, and for those that have done tummy/breast, how soon did you resume physical activity. I'm run 30-40 miles per week, and am scared to death of not being able to run for months.

I'm searching for a PS in the Hampton Roads, VA area. Anyone know of any that have had lapband patients. Apparantely there are not alot of them out there that are familiar with band patients. I've seen 3 and neither of them have done a band patient. When I asked one of them what they would do about my port, he said "I'll just take it out" EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEekkk! I nearly ran out of his office screaming. lol HELP! I wanted to use someone familiar with the band/tubing/port, etc... Also, I'm considering having tummy and breasts done at the same time. Anyone done this?

Hi Faith, I'm still here. :-) Not many stay wit the board. I was banded by Dr. T almost 2 years ago, and doing great. PM me any time. Also, I'll send you my e-mail address through PM. Talk soon. :-)

Sue, did you have the all around 360 lower body lift, or just the tt?

Karen, Thank you sooo much for your reply. Did you have the all around 360. The surgeon said my back isn't back, but my hips and butt and lower things are pretty droopy. hahaha Also, did you have implants with your lift. Both the surgeons I saw recommended a small implant because I lost so much tissue with the weight loss. After reviewing all the material on the implants last night, I'm actually steering a little away from them. There apparently is a significant amount of maintenance involved with the implants, with most women having to have them replaced at some point. The brochure says throughout that "This is not a lifetime implant" I really don't want any maintenance and don't want to have to ever have them replaced, so I think I'm just going to go with the lift and tt and skip the implant. I don't need 20 year old boobs afterall. I am 43. hahaha Thanks so much again for your help. :-)

Hi, I just started interviewing Dr.'s for plastic surgery. I'm scared shitless. It sounds so extensive. I want to do a tummy tuck and breast lift prob with implants, as the skin is soooo bad on my breasts. It's funny because I've always been very big up top and in the past wanted a reduction. I've gone from a 44DDD to a 36 D. I run several times a week, and the skin flaps and I get chafing and blisters under the breast area. It's brutal. I have gotten two different opinions. The first Doc does what they call a lower lift or 360 around the whole body. It lifts the stomach back, etc..not just a tummy tuck. He says there will be some slack after and I'll get some drooping. The second doc doesn't do it like that. He says he wont do the 360 because you can't get the stomach as tight that way. You need to be hunched for the tt and straight for the back part etc... so one ruins the other. get it??? He does the tt, and says it will be very very tight and that I should NOT have any slack or drooping. So... please help! What do you think. I want to d othe tt and breast at the same time. Also... Neither doc has seen anyone having the band done. Mostly gastric patients. The second doc actually was confused by my port scar and port and said "Can I take it out" I said NOOOOOO! Def NOT. hahahaha Seems weird with so many people doing the band now that neither was familiar with it. HELP! I welcome ALL advice. I'm afraid to death of this surgery. 5 hours and 5 drains scares me to death. If it wasn't for the skin so bad on my breasts, I would skip it all. But.. with running so much, it's just not an option.

KMW, I took off a couple weeks, but that is because I did a lot of heavy lifting with my job. I think you will be ok if you have a sit down job. I had a lot of gas pain from them blowing up the stomach, but other than that after the first few days I was fine. Good Luck with your journey. I went to WLSC as well, and am very happy with my outcome. I'm down 95 lbs and am healthier and in better shape than I've ever been in my life. I started this journey with asthma and high cholesterol, and have neither now. :-) It's been a life changing experience for me. Be prepared to make a lifestyle change though. It does NOT happen all by itself. It has definitely been a struggle, and is a struggle every day of my life to keep this weight off. I can gain 2 lbs in a week, and it takes 3 to get them back off. It's very hard. It's def not an easy way out. You have to make the right food choices and exercise regularly. Good luck. You'll do great!

hope it works too. I'm feeling really discouraged.

also, how do you know if you don't have a leak if your doc doesn't take the fluid out. I asked him about this once, but he didn't seem to pay much attention to me. He did say you can't take ALL of the fluid out to check it. I just feel like at 9.5 cc I should have some kind of restriction. He said it's because I lost so much weight. ??

I can eat plain white meat chicken with no problem. :-(

Well, I'm at 9.5 in my 9cc realize band, and am feeling very frustrated with my lack of restriction. I had a fill last Thursday of .25 cc. I'm already over my band max. When I told him I was hungry he looked at me like I was nuts. I feel like he doesn't believe me. I have never had a really tight band. It's always been pretty loose. He did the fill under fluro and agreed the band looked loose. The .25 didn't seem to make much difference. I don't know what the heck is wrong with me. I feel like I've been hungry all day today. UGH! I'm depressed! I have lost a lot of weight, and I know that, but I exercise obsessively. I run about 30 miles a week. I feel like I've done a lot of this on my own with just a little help from my band. I love my band, I just want it to give me a little more help so I'm not hungry.

I had another fill of .25 cc. I'm now at almost 9 1/2 in my band that holds 9cc. I don't really see much of a difference. Has anyone else had this problem. It's a little frustrating.

What a fabulous idea.. a spray bottle. Way to think! :-D I don't have the drinking while I'm eating problem, as I've never been a big drinker, but I love this idea. It was so creative.

Hi, I have 9.2 cc in my 9cc realize band. I had surgery a day after you. I currently have NO restriction, but I'm kind of struggling through it, as I'm at my max for my band. My surgeon said he can go a little over. I'm struggling keeping the same 2 lbs off now. I have done great with my weight loss with a loss of 92 lbs, but I've struggled every step of the way. I've never had complete restriction that lasted. I can eat anything now, and pretty much a normal size meal. I may go in for a little fill and see how it does.

Hi Kiz. Great to hear from you. I laughed out loud when you said you haven't popped. Your post was encouraging for me. I definitely need another fill. And.. you've done great, so, I'm keeping my hopes up that I will get full restriction again. :-D My doc seemed to think going over the 9cc was fine. He said sometimes it can crease a little when it's too full, but that there has been no proof at all that this would cause a problem. He said he's never had a leak, erosion, etc.. with the realize band. He prefers that band over them all.

I have approx 9.2 cc in my realize band my doc says. Give or take a smidget. hee hee I have very little restriction, and am going for my next fill next Thursday. Hopefully that helps. I'm keeping my hopes up after reading pongomps post and saying she's at 10 with good restriction. My surgeon also said he can go past the 9cc in the realize. Hoping this does the trick. I'm done 85 lbs in 13 mos and loving life! Oh, this has NOT been an easy journey. I worked really hard! UGH! Some say it's been easy. Not for me!