josie74

I just moved to Burbank from NYC. How difficult has it been for you all to get in for fills? And how much does it cost? Thanks!

I think every one of us starts to panic when we see even a small gain because in the past, as soon as we stopped losing on diets we immediately started gaining in a steady increase. With the band, a 3 pound gain is NOT the beginning of a 30lb gain. Don't think of it as you've lost 26 but now you've gained 3... just do the total. you've lost 26-3+23. You've lost 23 lbs!!!!! That's fabulous!! And in a short period of time.

Name...............Starting................ Current.......Goal..............To Go agreatknead............237......................205...........180..... ..............25 areellady................189.......................189...........159…. ..............30 BIGB......................342.......................342...........300 …...............42 BellaPerdente..........287.......................251...........200.... .. ............51 Boos02...................258.......................226...........200…. ..............26 Brandy....................221.......................219...........191. . ................28 BrownBear..............240.......................235...........200.... . ..............35 Cadets71................223.4.....................223.4........189.... ................34.4 Claudine.................250.......................250.......... .225. ...................25 Bunkey1965...........194.......................189...........170...... . .............19 Cutiew/booty...........251.......................251............220.......... . ........31 Dionna113..............199.......................198...........160... ….............38 Ekat........................527.......................172...........15 2....................19 feefee57..................262.......................212...........180. ...................32 FeliciaLevy75 .........240.......................234...........190.................. .44 GillieBean..............304.......................296............264. ..................32 Hollie ....................l54.......................154............125..... . ....... .....29 Jeni 85..................182.......................182............160.... .. ....... .....22 Jillbeme.............235..................212........185................27 Josie74..................260.......................255.............21 5. ......... ......40 klmsilva.................216......................216.............19 0. .......... .....26 legster..................183......................183..............1 60 .......... .....23 linksmom..............251......................251..............200 ... ......... ...51 Liquidbluegal............225......................225..............199 ... ............26 Liz_hager..................161.....................158..............13 0... ............28 lotzasunshine............292.....................291..............250. . .............41 Luu2008...................230.....................199.5............153 ... ...........46.5 Mamanmidwife..........295.....................295..............260.... .... .......35 MELISSA AGUIRRE..266....................233..............160................73 Melody2006..............223.....................223..............173.. ... ..........50 MiniPearl#2.............. neefam.................... 238.................... 189............. 158................. 31 odizzzydori...............242.....................242..............199 ... ............43 paige65.....................252....................252..............2 08.. .............44 rainer........................236....................233........... ..199. .............34 reif78........................294....................195............ ...40.................40 RichardCranium........338.....................276..............200.... ...........76 soontobehottie...........201....................201..............165. . ............36 srknepler...................285....................285..............25 5.. ............30 squale.......................353....................353............. 325...............28 Sunshine2................177.....................175..............160 ...............15 stevegoad..................370....................341.............. 267...............74 Terilynn112................240....................239..............199 ................41 Truediva.....................299....................285............... 235..............50 thininside28...............255....................255...............21 5.............. 40 youcandoit!...............196....................196................16 2..............34

I'm unclear.. have you had any fills?

I've never done one of these challenges before. How often do we update?

Name.............StartingWeight....Current.....Goal.........To Go FeliciaLevy75 .......240.................240............190...........50 Hollie ...................154 ................154............125........... 29 areellady............. 189................189............159...........30 klmsilva................216................216............190......... ..26 Boos02................258...............226.............200........... 26 Dionna113...........213...............199.............160............4 0 BIGB....................342...............342.............300......... ....42 Liz_hager.............161................161.............130.......... ..31 MELISSA AGUIRRE....266................233..............160.............73 Liquidbluegal...........225................225..............199....... ......26 GillieBean...............304................304...............264..... .......40 linksmom................251...................251..................200 ...............51 BrownBear.............240....................240..................200. .............40 Josie74...................260....................260..................215...............45

One other thing to consider is if you want everyone speculating about what you "had done" to lose the weight. Bypass is so fast that anyone in your life will be able to guess, lapband really is slower and steadier and I find there are a lot less questions and attention.

That is 100% ridiculous!! You should look into finding another doctor and possibly reporting him to the AMA. Every single person at my dr's office stresses that this is a tool to help eat healthy, portion controlled meals. It sounds like all they want is to have dramatic before and after pictures!

I'm not trying to get around the instructions I've been given but the nutritionist I'm working with pushes the low-fat agenda too far in my opinion. I personally don't like eating a lot of fake foods and I've only had any weight loss success by doing lower carb plans. The first three weeks after surgery I followed her instructions to the letter and didn't lose ANY weight! I decided to start eating low carb and immediately lost 5lbs. Mind you, nothing unhealthy, no fried foods or bacon.. but I feel SO much better. This puts me in a tough position when I check in with the nutritionist as she constantly tells me to use fat free everything and to have carbs every day. Is there anyone else out there who also needs to do low carb to see results and if so, do you have to lie about it in follow up appointments?

I agree with all the positive responses everyone is giving you. I am dealing with a similar thing. Whenever I talk to my best friend about the struggle with willpower I'm having (don't have restriction yet) she says, oh but you'll lose for sure, you have the lapband.. as though it's a magic wand and I don't have to still resist all the sweets that were my downfall. She's not very overweight but struggles with 25 extra pounds and I think she feels like her struggle is more valid than mine. Luckily she's not mean like that woman was to you!! Something to think about... someone who gets surgery to clear their blocked arteries never gets accused of "taking the easy way out". It's seen as a necessary surgery. No one says, "oh your arteries are 80% blocked? You're gonna need to struggle with diet and exercise to get that fixed" I equate a lifelong struggle with dieting with no lasting success as the same kind of thing. (For everyone who's really struggling with willpower and feeling weak, I highly recommend the book "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes.)

I had the same fears! However there's been a thought that's really helped me. You can always have it again later for your next small meal. If you love what you're having but are stuffed after 10 bites - just put it away and have it again later. It's almost better because before I'd have a huge meal and not stop till I felt completely stuffed and almost sick. What I didn't realize is, halfway through a big meal you stop really enjoying the taste. This way, I get the deliciousness of the food anew. Also, going out to dinner is better in a way because you eat slowly and really have more time to talk. That being said, I've only had one fill so far and can still eat almost anything, that's why I'm making better choices as well. Oh and one more thing. In my case, I really stopped caring about food in the same way. It is no longer an activity. It's literally just a way to get rid of hunger. I eat like a toddler does. Small Snacks every couple of hours. It really can completely change the way you interact with food

I was told five meals a day, no bigger than the palm of my hand. Don't know if that's right but that's what I've been doing.

I think you're right. I hate the idea of lying but it feels like whenever I start to broach it, she poo-poo's it. I think low fat can work for some people but I'm not one of them. Thanks for the response

For me it was two things. First, The idea of rerouting my digestive tract just seemed scary and dangerous. Second, all my life I wanted to have a "normal" relationship with food. The lapband so far has created that relationship. I'm less concerned with how fast I lose and more that I lose steadily and avoid regain. IMO, the lap band creates that experience. Also, it seems to me that while bypass creates quick and dramatic results, I'm not sure that after the initial loss that all the same struggles and issues don't come into play again. My doctor pointed out that at the 5 year mark, lap banders have statistically kept off more weight. Either way, do what's right for you and follow the rules and I know you'll be successful.

I have a job where it's VERY tough to get time off so I went back after 5 days. I mostly sit all day so I thought I'd be fine but one thing I didn't realize was that in my case (don't know if it's everyone) lying down was fine, standing was fine, sitting was torture!

I did gain weight the first couple of days. I blamed it on the swelling. I don't know about you, but my abdomen was so swollen it was distended and my "real" (ie. not sweatpants) clothes were tight. However by a week out I was down 5lbs.

I totally started having fear once I got my surgery date. I kept thinking (ridiculously) that if i died I'd be soooo embarassed. However, the one thing that made me realize how much I wanted it was that one week before my scheduled date, my insurance (UHC) asked for more documentation after they had already approved. When I was scrambling to get my approval back, I got to experience how I would feel if it DIDN'T happen and that put it all in to perspective for me. I really wanted it, risks be damned! All went well with my surgery and all will go well with yours as well!