cwm812

I'm 5'6" and started at 350 (size 3x or 24/26 pants), now I'm 186 and wearing a size 12 and even a few 10's. I think at 300 you will be into some size 20s, but maybe not everything. Leigha had it right. At 300, it took about 30-25 lbs to drop a size, and at my current weight it's about 10 lbs. The interesting part is that since I'm losing so much slower now, it takes about the same amount of time for me to lose a size. Cindy

If this were easy, we'd all be wearing a pair of size 2 skinny jeans...I'm glad you have your appointment next week. I'm thinking that your doctor will give you a fill. With the fill and liquids for a days or two, it will be easier to get back on track. Just make sure you don't cancel that appointment. So many people are afraid to talk to their doctor when they struggle, but that's why they are there and they've seen it all before. Let us know how you are doing. We all want to see you succeed. Cindy

Today's my 2 year bandiversary and I feel I've been successful. The best tip I can give you is to remember your doctor when things get rough. At some point, you will slip. Don't be afraid to tell your doctor what is going on and get some help. I've heard a lot of people tell me that they don't want to admit to their doctor that they are eating too much, but that is why we have an adjustable band. I'm sure you will get lots of other tips about diet and exercise, but for me, the important part is to just keep going on. You will have good days and bad ones, but your band will be there for you when you need it. Good luck in your journey. I hope you will be as happy with your band as I am. Cindy

I really don't know anything about your insurance, but that no-fill-without-weight-loss-policy kind of defeats the purpose of the band. After all, if you don't have restriction, you will be hungry and want to eat more. I would still go back to the doctor and tell him what's going on. You may not get a fill, but he should know about the problems that you are having. If you have to get back on track without the benefit of the fill, it's just the same old diet and exercise routine we are all used to. First, start eating mainly solid food and a substantial amount of Protein. That should help you maximize whatever restriction you have. Then maybe if you can get some weight off, he will let you have another fill. And as the previous poster said, exercise will help with the hunger,too. I really feel for what you are going through. I've done that same thing on Weight Watchers and similar programs, so many times. I love my band because I don't count points or follow anyone else's food choices. The more rules they give me; the more I want to break them. I guess I'm just a rebellious teen at heart. Cindy

Good luck with your appointment today. I think you will be fine with a new fill. If you had had enough restriction, you would probably would have lost some weight. I'm 2 years out and I'm still losing (slowly), but I have lot less to lose at this point. As long as your band is ok and filled, I don't think you'll have a problem even though you were banded in 2008.

You are going to love going to theme parks again. I was waiting for this one. When I dropped 100 lbs, I asked my son to take me to theme park he where he works. We rode everything that I've been avoiding for years. It was terrific. I fit on everything and I could keep up with my 16 year old son. Cindy

I live in Harrisburg, PA. I never lived in Buffalo (and neither did my husband), but we have alot of family there and on Grand Island. Cindy

Thanks for the nice words. I always thought the band would work for me, but I never anticipated how well it would work. Whenever I hear someone say that anyone with a BMI over 50 needs to have a bypass, it makes me crazy. As for the clothes, if I get smaller, I'll save them for you. I might even be able to get them to you. My in-laws live in Buffalo! Cindy

Well, I didn't start at 400, but is 350 close enough.... I just hit a BMI of 30 and it's almost my 2 year bandiversary. One more thing...I'll be 50 this summer. This thing does work. I have my bad days and I am far from the perfect dieter, but I love it! I still eat overeat sometimes, but it never goes too far. Right now, I'm debating if I want another fill or if I'm content with my size. I really thought I wanted to lose another 10-20 lbs, but I'm wearing a size 12 and I'm pretty happy. As a long time obese person, my band is like a miracle. I've have dieted plenty over the years and I've lost a lot of weight, but I never kept it off. I'm not starving all the time, and I eat like a normal person. Today, we had cake at work. I took a piece, and I threw half of it away. Not because I felt guilty or like I was cheating, but because I really didn't want it. Don't let your 400 lbs stop you from trying the band. You can do this and succeed. Cindy

If you are taking antibiotics for your infection, they could be causing your nausea, as well. Many antibiotics can really make you feel sick. Cindy

You're going to be ok. Even though this website is filled with stories of things that can go wrong, they rarely do. Follow your post-op eating plan and you will heal properly. After you are healed, your band doesn't slip or stretch every time you do something wrong. It's pretty darn flexible or you would never see all the success stories you read on here. Don't agonize over every little thing. You will get used to this. You will do fine and your band will help you get there. Cindy

I can eat tuna salad, but I have to eat it with something else. If I eat it with either lettuce or some multigrain crackers, I do fine. I seem to get that "uncomfortable" feeling, if I eat things that have only one texture. I do better if I mix a soft food like tuna salad with something crunchy. Cindy

I think I'd vote for a fill, too. You aren't getting stuck frequently. I got stuck last week on Soup. I don't know how and I'm definitely not too tight. Sometimes, it just happens. Also, with your upcoming move, it may take you a while to find a doc in AZ. There's always so much to do with a move. Good luck with your move. I've been to AZ a couple of times and I love it there. Cindy

You may just have to keep experimenting to find what works. For example, I have trouble with white bread and thicker pastas. I can't eat ravioli, but I can eat macaroni. I can even eat spaghetti, but when I eat it, I use a little Pasta and extra sauce with lot of meat. As far as bread goes, I can do harder breads. I can even do a sandwich with a roll, if there is a lot of meat in the sandwich. For me, it seems that the key is having a variety of textures in my meal. Then the soft bread doesn't just stick together and gum up the works. I really can eat almost anything. Cindy

What a sweetie! You may have to clone him for the rest of us! Cindy

I don't think 8-10 ounces is a problem. In fact, it's what my doctor recommends. I was too tight for about a month in January. It's no fun. Just like Ada, most solid food got stuck and I was pretty much eating 1/2 c. of chili twice a day and a Protein drink for Breakfast. I wasn't hungry and the weightloss was great, but it's no way to live (at least for me). You sound like you are happy where you are restriction-wise, so I wouldn't mess with it. If you start being able to eat 2 cups of food at a meal or the weight loss stops, then I'd be concerned. Cindy

You folks need a couple of teenage boys. My sons are always finishing my meals for me. At restaurants, they even tell me what they'd like me to order since they know they'll be eating it, too. Let me know what time dinner is at your house...I'll send them over. Cindy

Jachut, I wish I had your attitude! I know that everyone isn't looking at me, but every time I'd see my reflection I'd cringe!. Yesterday, I was trying on shorts and swimsuits. I decided to buy jeans. It was not a pretty sight. I am seriously pale and veiny. My legs are just a kaleidoscope of color. My solution - hot tubs. From the waist up, I look great! Hummingbird, thanks for the idea...I may get a sarong or pareo for walking around. Cindy

I think you're doing the right thing. You don't want to go into something like this half-heartedly. When I started this journey, I thought I'd see the surgeon and use the nutritionist for 6 months and see if I could lose the weight, then I'd decide about surgery. I did great on the diet, at first. I lost 35 lbs and then Christmas came and I gained all my weight back by March. That experience reminded me of why I needed to go this route and I haven't looked back since. I hope you do better with your last diet than I did. I would never want anyone to have surgery if there was a better option. Good luck. Cindy

I've been banded nearly two years and its does get normal. As with any new process, the first few months are all about learning the system. Once you have it figured out, you really don't think about it much. It's just part of my routine day. The only time I really spend any time thinking and planning is if I'll be eating in a new restaurant or going on a trip. Then I still usually check out the menu ahead of time. Other than that, it's life as usual. The band is just a very small (but important!) part of my life. It's always there, but I don't plan around it, I just live my life. Cindy

No pre-op diet for me, either. And my BMI was high. I asked about it and he told me that they used to require it and they found that it really didn't make much difference. My surgeon is part of a large bariatric practice and they have been doing this successfully for years. When I read all the struggles over the pre-op diet, I am grateful I didn't need one. Cindy

My surgeon runs a support group that includes bypass and banders. I went twice and found it useless. It was mostly bypass patients. Since I knew that the practice had about 50% banders, I asked the nutritionist why they weren't there. She said, "They don't seem to need the support that the bypass patients do." There were a couple of band patients there, but they were either pre-op or just banded. Honestly, I get the best support from this site. It's a great cross-section of banding practices throughout the world. You also get realtime responses from a wide variety of prespectives. While I regularly disagree with something that's been said, it's always interesting. I recommend this site to anyone who's contmeplating the band. You will see and hear about the good, bad and ugly here. I think my surgeon's support group was only really useful, if you had questions specifically about their practice. The docs were there and you could ask anything, but I could do that at an appointment. Cindy

I've been in your situation and it's exactly why I got the band. I've always been a successful dieter. I've lost countless lbs with nutrionists, Weight Watchers, LA Weight Loss, Atkins .... The problem has always been that I gained the weight back. I could not stand to hear one more time that diet and exercise work, because for me they don't. At some point in the process, the weight loss always slows to a standstill and then I get frustrated. Because I'm still hungry, I end up eating too much, then I stop working out and before you know it, I'm gaining what I've lost. The difference for me is the adjustability of the band. Even when I got way off track at Christmas, I called my doc, got a much-needed fill and lost the 5 lbs I gained in 2 weeks. Try to do that with Weight Watchers. The band allows me to live like a normal person. I eat moderately and work out moderately. I don't count Protein or carbs or calories. I just live my life and I lose weight. I am one happy camper with my band. There are some things that take getting used to, as I'm sure you've read on this site, but once you've learned how to manage your band, it's life as normal. I've been banded almost 2 years and it's one of the best decisions I ever made. Cindy

Contacting your doc is never a bad idea, but I suspect the problem will be resolved with a few days of liquids. I think you are swelling up after your stuck episode on Thursday. For me, I stay swollen for at least a day sometimes 2 or 3. Because you're still swollen, more things get stuck and then you are in a really bad cycle. It's possible you need a small unfill, but I'd hate to mess with a fill that's been working well for you, without trying to give your stomach a break for a day or two. If you can't eat normally in 2-3 days, you really do need your doctor. Cindy

I'd predict that within 6 months, you will be amazed at how normal you feel. When you read this forum, you find alot of people who are just getting used to their bands. They spend all their time exercising and counting calories and Protein. After you've been banded awhile, it all becomes routine. I've been banded for nearly 2 years and I love my band because it makes me feel normal. I don't count anything and I exercise 3 times a week. It's exactly what all those "fit" people do. They don't log every morsel that goes into their mouths or agonize over a chocolate chip cookie. I realize that some people need to do all that stuff to be successful, but I just wanted to be normal and I am. It is truly miraculous for me. I've spent a lifetime dieting and this is the first time that I feel like a normal person. Cindy