Cindy C

I guess you are in the green zone. 200 pounds lost in less than 2 years! GREAT JOB!!!!! Congrats!

Make your own.

I don't have a problem with chicken but I can't eat beef, pork or lamb. Everybody is different with what they can eat. You will find that what you can and can't eat can vary from fill to fill. There was a period of time when I couldn't eat potatoes. It didn't matter how it was cooked...baked, fried, boiled even mashed...I just could not eat it. Next time I went for a fill all of a sudden they didn't bother me anymore. I swear my band has a mind of its own!!

Depends. If you weigh 300 pounds and just had surgery, then 30 is completely doable. If you weigh 200 pounds and had surgery a year ago then you probably won't lose 30.

Should probably wait til you get home from the hospital! Sorry couldn't resist! Seriously, tho. Alcohol has alot of empty calories. An occasional cocktail is ok, but that's really a habit you need to get away from if you want to be successful.

When you say a large size band do you mean it holds 14cc? If so, then yes, 6cc seems like a good starting place. Just because you CAN eat a "normal" plate of food, doesn't mean that you SHOULD! Don't expect the band to do all the work for you. You still need to exercise some self control.

You definitely want a record of the rash. Easier to get insurance to pay for panniculectomy (skin removal) if there's a record of it. It's caused by yeast. Have your PCP write you a script for Nystatin cream and use it. It will clear it up in a matter of days.

Three years, no complications. Not losing as quickly as I used to but I'm about twenty pounds from goal and I'm not gaining so it's all good!

Call your insurance company and ask them. Every company has different criteria. Or you could call the lap band doctor in your area and tell them what insurance you have and they can probably tell you.

My doctor doesn't give anyone their first fill til 8 weeks post op. I didn't have good restriction until 4 or 5 months out. By then I had already lost almost 60 pounds. Fills and restriction are only a small part of this journey. It's more about will power and lifestyle change. The band is just a tool to ease the way.

See, that wasn't so difficult, was it? It gets easier!

People are always quick to criticize what they don't understand. Do your best to explain it to her (or him) but don't feel like you have to defend your decision. You are doing what you feel is best for YOUR health. Opinions usually change as the weight starts falling off. In the meantime, tell her you respect her opinion but you are doing what you feel is necessary for yourself and really don't want to hear any negativity...then change the subject!

Seems pretty on target to me. WTG!!

Good job!

Definitely too tight!

My surgeon, who has done over 2700 lap-bands, said there are 3 reason why they slip. Excessive overeating, excessive vomiting and carbonation. So as long as you follow the rules, it shouldn't happen.

Add me to the list! What a great club to belong to! Congrats, everyone!

You can buy 60 pkts of just strawberry here for under $40.00: http://www.nestlenutritionstore.com/general-itemdetail.asp?T1=CIBPWD+CHOC+60PK I buy the chocolate at costco. 30 pk for $8.50.

That left side pain is caused from where they sewed the port in. Give it a couple weeks. It will get better!

In honor of the occasion, I went to the Lap Band Center to use their scale. I know that their's and mine are a little different and I wanted the "real" number. At home this morning I was 181.8. Up there I was 185.0. That's OK. I can live with that. It's pretty much what I expected. So officially I have lost 139 pounds since being banded 3 years ago. The frustrating part is that I lost 115 the first year. 12 the second year and now 12 more the third year. Seriously? An average of 1 pound a month for 2 years?! I REALLY want get to the point that their scale says 162. That would bring my BMI to just under 24. Is that too much to ask? At this rate it will take another 2 years. OY!! I'm really not complaining, I'm thrilled with the success I've had but is there anybody else banded about this long and get so close to goal and have ANY suggestions how to jump start the weight loss again? I do all the things I know I should be doing. I exercise...I watch what I eat...My restriction is good...I don't drink very often...It's so frustrating! Thanks for letting me vent!

You learned a valuable lesson. I'm sure you didn't do any damage. I don't even try to eat breakfast anymore. I just drink coffee and let the band loosen up then eat lunch.

I usually order from the appetizer menu and I've become a big fan of soup. The good thing about restaurants is the portions are usually so big that I take the leftovers home and get another 2 or 3 meals out of it. My BFF (also a bandster) and I go out and share a meal.

Thank you both and NO there is no way in youknowwhere that I could have done this bandless. I've lost and regained so many times I can't remember. The most I ever lost on my own was about 60 lbs. Of course within a year I gained 80! Cat lady, don't let your age stand in your way. You're never too old. My doctor banded a 72 year old woman and she has had incredible success. Read through the profiles. There are many of us here that are over 50. I was banded at 48.

Absolutely. I had surgery on a Tuesday and went back the next Monday. Just be careful about doing anything too strenuous.

Skip the beer. Have a glass of wine or a vodka and cranberry or orange juice. Go ahead and eat but be careful. Your body is still healing from surgery.