Uli

Hi Babe, I just read here that you are loosing weight again, what did you do to get it going again as I am on a plateau right now. Any ideas would be great. I have lost 22 pounds with fitday since November, but need to keep going. So any suggestions would be great. Thanks Gerdi

I haven't been here forever either, just like you Babe. I was banded exactly 3 years ago and struggled. Lost 50 pounds right after the band. Now I am back losing weight, and am very happy. I started using this website called www.fitday.com where you enter all the calories you eat, etc. it is fantastic and in the last month I have lost 12.5 pounds without feeling deprived at all. I do believe that the band helps with this and it is really good. I have been on a plateau for so long, but now I am very happy that the weight comes off easy like this, about 2 pounds average a week which is the most healthy way. The band does help as I think without it I would be very hungry. I wanted to come to meetings again and hopefully I will make it one of these days but this is a busy time of year but I will try. Cheers, Gerdi

Hi Doddie, Yes, I am exercising every day in the gym, I can't do too strenuous work though as I am dealing with osteoarthritis of the knee, so I am usually doing stationary bike and weights and I do this 5 times a week. I am quite active so that is not the reason for not losing weight. I am just very frustrated as I would have liked to be at goal but it's just not happening and a lot harder then I thought. Especially thinking that I paid almost $13,000 for something and I still have to watch the same way as before the lap band surgery. Anyhow, thanks for the support, and I might come by in September again as now we are going on vacation, etc. Thanks, Gerdi

I have attended a few meetings and have not attended lately. The reason for it is that some people do talk more and I did feel excluded. I live in Coquitlam but the drive did not bother me. My surgery was November 07 and I have only lost 50 pounds and I might be embarrassed too as I need to lose another 50 which is just not happening at all and I don't know why. I am very stuck and sometimes wished I would have gone for the gastric bypass as the results are faster and better. But having spent $12,000 for this is unbelievable and I am quite disappointed with my personal outcome. I am just very frustrated. Cheers, Gerdi

Hi Nadia, I was banded in December 07 by Dr. Leung and it does get frustrating. However, if you feel that you can still eat too much, then you should go back and get a bigger fill. I always went back to get more fill as I had the same problem you are experiencing. I am now at 12 cc in a 10 cc band but I am sure there is still room. As I have said numerous times, the band is not a miracle, you still have to have a lot of willpower and determination to lose weight as a lot of bad foods go down really well. I would definitely go back for another fill. You need to have a thick skin with Dr. Leung and just block out the lectures, ha,ha. Cheers, Gerdi

Hi, the fastest weight loss is always at the beginning and you are happy the way it goes. I was banded by Dr. Leung in Nov 2007 and have plateaued for one year, and I know why. Now I have seriously started again and lose about 2 pounds a week. One mistake, and the scale tells me right away. Doddie is right, I also weigh myself once a week on the same day and time, that gives you the best results. I find it very hard right now with all the candies and Christmas coming, it is quite difficult to stay on track and for me it only works this way: either all or nothing, so I had to chose nothing, meaning no sweets whatsoever for me. That was always hard but I still need to lose 50 pounds. Anyhow, this will be a challenge for a life time. But it is worth it. Gerdi

I don't keep sweets in the house either at all. And needless to say I was always watching out for my daughter to never get fat and thank God she did not and is at a normal weight for her age. No mother should have children go through the same pain. As long as people put their best willpower into this, it is always better to be banded than stay heavy for the rest of your life. Surgery is the easiest, it is the time of losing after which is a long road. It is a bit difficult to not always think about food when we are surrounded by it daily. On the positive side, for most people the band has been great.

I am also a past patient of Dr. Leung, I was banded in November 2007. Needless to say it has been a struggle for me and I am not at goal. Unfortunately not. I was on a plateau for one year. Not good at all, and I am at 12 cc on a 10 cc band, and Dr. Leung would not do more which is fine as I am quite restricted. However, even with the band you constantly need willpower as sweets and stuff goes down real easy. I do eat a lot less now and the portions are so much smaller, but I can eat everything, no straw or such. I still eat too fast sometimes and then I throw up, but that is always a reminder to slow down. Finally I am in a good state of mind and have my willpower back, so for the last months I have lost 2 pounds a week and I have to say no to all sweets, there is no other way as I am tackling the next 50 pounds which need to come off as I am not happy until it is gone. That's the weight.......ha,ha. If I had to do it all over again, I think I would go with the gastric bypass as this seems faster and yo don't have to work so hard. 2 cousins of mine had that done and they are smaller now than me. What can I say? The struggle will continue for the rest of my life as what is in your head, is not in your stomach, meaning that the craving for sweets will never go away from me. And that was the only thing that I would have wished for. Good luck to you who has the surgery tomorrow. The healing is not bad at all and I was back at work after a few days. Cheers.

I know you had Dr. Leung in Surrey, as I remember, so did I and I also have a 10 cc band but a fill for 12 cc which is apparently quite common with Dr. Leung. Going back is always a battle though, as he simply tells you to stop eating, easier said than done. I am on a long plateau now and weight loss has not happened in a while. Going back to Dr. Leung isn't the answer for me either as he will tell me to stop eating altogether, ha,ha, sure that is what I will do. I would not worry about the over fill as he does that with a few people

Hi, well the restriction is great for normal foods, but I have a problem with sweets - as chocolate etc. goes down really well. So I had to go back to the willpower thing which is extremely difficult and had to cut out all sweets. So in regard to my sweet tooth, the band did nothing for me which I am a bit disappointed about. It is strictly based on willpower when it comes to the bad stuff out there and I know we all crave it once in a while. Well, who said it would be easy, I will have to struggle for the rest of my life. Cheers, Gerdi

Hi Jackie, I have not heard before either that any insurance company would pay for that. I had my surgery done by Dr. Leung in Surrey, the total cost was $12800.00 and 3 fills are free and then he charges $30 each. If you live here - it is quite convenient and I was happy with Dr. Leung as he has done many surgeries. He works out of Surrey Memorial Hospital and has his office across from there. Any questions, please let me know. Cheers, Gerdi

Hi Babe, Hey, you must be glad to have the surgery behind you. From here on out you will quickly lose weight which is great. For me, recovery took about a week, but then again, everybody is different. Hopefully you have a speedy recovery and get back home. All the best. Gerdi

Hi mom2two, I don't find fills hard to get used to. I had 4 fills so far and am at the max, I have a 10 band and have 12 cc. Even after the fills I could eat regular food, just chew more and slower. I used to throw up more, but now it's only once a week or even once every two weeks and I know exactly what I did wrong, as I was eating too fast. But I don't have a problem with that. Just knowing that I am at the highest fill is a bit scary as sometimes I am still hungry (or maybe it's not hunger) but I do crave sweets. And those sweets go down really well. Anyhow, I have stopped now and not have any which is darn hard, especially with Valentines around the corner. Cheers, Gerdi