Telly

Spoken like a true unhappy person. So you show a total lack of respect to everyone until you think they have earned it from you? Wow...

Here is an example of one of my days. It can be found in the "competition readiness" thread. It is a struggle for me to get in my calories as well. Sometimes I add seasonings and dressings to my meals to add more calories. I hope this helps. Revamped. See my journal.

I used fill centers for my fill (first fill and currently the only fill). They are seemingly a great service. They were patient with me as I continuously cancelled my appointments days before the fill (out of fear). My ARNP was amazing! She didn't use fluoro and didn't need to, for me at least. Fillcenters made a follow up call to me to inquire about my experience. They sent me a recipe book and lapband guide book recently. They, however are not specifically dedicated or focused to take over the follow-up care of patients being banded abroad. They market evenly to all Bariatric doctors and take on patients that doctors refuse to see or doctors that are not equipped with fluoro. They pretty much market to any and all lapbanded patients. I was happy with the service the company provided.

I'm still here, still alive, still fighting myself but not that hard. Everything is good and nothing adverse to report...at this point in the early stages.

That's great juliegeraci that you are back at the gym. The great thing about life is... if you should fall off of the wagon, you can always climb back on. It's never too late until it's too late...know what I mean. Also I had a doozy with Tequila last weekend but it was worth the 4 hours of Deuce card playing and ultimately losing almost every other hand. Everything in moderation.

Well since my banding..thus far has been all rainbows and ponies, I suppose my answer is biased. I have no regrets. Maybe in a year or so I may have slippage, maybe even erosion or removal. I will clearly not blame the band for "failing me". It has not failed me at all and even if I ever had to have any component of the band removed, I will 100% say it has been a success.

Aww hey Ousooner! Thanks for noticing. But you are right. Alot of the "goal reachers" just aren't around to answer these good questions. So the poll may not have a good, reliable outcome. I know how frustrating it was for me to read about people who met goal but they weren't around anymore. Most of the people on here are either concurrent losers, veteran bandsters, newly banded and pre-banded. I had alot of questions for the "goal reachers" but noticed none were around. I've seen some people meet goal during my banding and they are no longer posting. I promised to stick around. As long as I go online and browse the internet, I surely have the time to peek and chime in on the lapband forums. Though I have some pretty good success with my band, I know that my weightloss is not common with banding, meaning the time frame in which I lost, my fill frequency and the crazy stuff I do. So yeah, I can answer whatever questions thrown my way about the band and my experience but I don't think I will give common responses or answers. Either way, I hope to help where I can. Thanks again Ousooner. P.S. - Your weightloss is amazing. 122lbs in less than half a year is remarkable. You have really disciplined yourself. Strong-minded and disciplined.

Newsho I agree. Though I have had tremendous success with both of my Mexican surgeries, I do not openly recommend people just go out of the country because the surgery is more affordable. Please please please do your research. Not everyone will come out of surgery without complications. I got lucky. I've been blessed. There is a story where two patients which were sisters went abroad and had breast implants. They both had great success. The sisters then recommended their doctor to their mother who in turn had a tummy tuck. She was in her late 50's, not sure if her age had anything to do with it but she later had blood clots, which progressed to necrosis of her skin/tissue. Later, turned gangrilous (if I recall correctly) and after a few calls to the surgeon, he promised to perform further surgery to remove the dead tissue which he did. He flew the patient to Mexico and performed the surgery but he was not fully equipped to handle the complications she experienced during the surgery and the patient passed away. This was a formal complaint on a website where doctors are reviewed by patients. So the bad thing here is...if only the patient and her daughters knew that the surgeon was not equipped to handle her complications fully, then they would have most likely used a doctor and facility that could take care of her, then maybe she would be alive today. Even the best research on a doctor, whether abroad or local ..is not enough. No one can predict their outcome. But what are your chances of survival should you be familiar with your environment and have convenient access to a state of the art hospital or facility that can care for you, should complications arise? Chances are better.

Looks like.....by the end of summer or maybe in another 2 months, I may need a breast lift and implants. I have lost soo much volume and the perkiness is just gone. After I put on my bra or sports bra, I have to reach down into the bra and pull my breast up so that my nipples are centered, that's how bad they are. Also, breastfeeding both of my kids as well as losing 100lbs within 7 months has taken it's sweet toll on me. Not sure when I will do this but it has to be done and I'm sad for it. I don't wan't to be the Bride of Frankenstein with all of these incisions but I have no choice. Makes you think twice about eating too much anymore. I sit sometimes and think... if I had just done pushbacks from the table and got up off of my butt and worked out..then I wouldn't have needed surgery twice this year, not to include another surgery next year.

It was tricky answering your questions because....I've reached a healthy BMI, however I am not at my personal goal weight. The thing with your statements are...I can respond to all of them but my response/answer will varies. 1. I have not been recommended a goal weight or weight range...but yet I have met a healthy BMI. 2. I have not quite met my personal weight loss goal that I set out for which changes between 120lbs - 135lbs. 3. I have not met my surgeons goals because he did not set one for me and as far as my own goals, see #2. 4. Yes, I am still in the process of losing and at this point, I believe my banding and WLS is a total success either way (with the loss of 100lbs). 5. Does not pertain to me as I have had success with the band.

I admire you. You are a no excuses kinda lady. You rock girl!

I can see some abdominal definition peeping through.. I got a long ways to go but not too far.

Wow girl! You look amazing! Just AMAZING! You lost soo much in your face. I didn't recognize you for a minute there, till it said "me" I was a size 12 right before surgery. So I am guessing you'll drop 2 pants sizes like I did.

Julie, I'm sure you have read about how fickle the band can be. You "CAN" eat and then you "CAN'T" eat. It's a crazy phenomenon. Here's my current situation. It's that time of the month for me and I am extremely tight. I've had only 1 fill so far in this band journey and there are times where ..lately meat will go down with no problems. Other times, I cannot even chew up one tiny little bite size of meat enough, it just won't go down. So I panic and try to have a sip of Water to moisten the meat and BAM! Bad news! Fickle!

I'd have to say after as well, though for me, I'd have it before. I say "after" only b/c it will be highly embarrassing to have your first fill and have a burping, gas/pb episode in front of your family and friends. They may or may not know what is going on with you and it would be something to try to explain. Also, who wants Soup the entire cruise right?

You can do anything you set your mind and heart to. I don't care what people say.... I go against the grain of the wood and so can you. How have you been doing? Exercise wise?

Sheila, lol you and my lil sister are soo much alike. She's my personal cheerleader. I'm cheering for you now. I can't wait to see your progress photos. ________________________________ Hey there Puddinpie, I am a size 8/10, 10's are very loose on me. 8's fit me perfectly. I was an 18/20 @ 240lbs. I think you made a good decision. It makes sense since you are planning on having kids. Sounds like you are ready to have surgery. You have lost alot of weight and you look wonderful! Hey would you post pictures? I'd love to see your progress.

My doctor never gave me a goal weight and I have not met my personal goal weight as I keep changing it. I am close though. Yesterday, my goal was 135lbs but today my goal is 120lbs.

Thanks guys. I'm just sharing progression pictures here. Keep up the great work with your weightloss.

Thank you!!!

I can see some abdominal definition peeping through.. I got a long ways to go but not too far.

As you can see I still have quite a ways to go with fat reduction and swelling around my abdominal area (post tummy tuck). I am in the gym still and I am utilizing abdominal exercise machines. At this point in the post operative stage I am unlimited to the type of exercise I am able to do however I try not to push too far with the abdominal exercises. Tummy Tuck - 10/09/06 Today's pics - 11/21/06 Approximately 7 weeks tomorrow, November 26th, 2006 First picture left - Frontal view of the abdomen and belly button Second & Third picture right - Side view of the abdominal area Fourth picture bottom left - Laying on my side to see how much belly would spill over and out. Fifth picture bottom right - Laying flat on my back. Can see upper abdominal muscles are tight thanks to muscle repair stitch.

Workout changed. Updated on the first page.

Sunshine thank you for pointing out that the key to successful weightloss and physical fitness is exercise. It is what it is. There are no shortcuts and no way around it. I am not professing to be a know-it-all about weightloss and living with the band, but I figured out how to lose the weight consistently, so I share it. I have seen a few people on here lose most of their weight with just cutting back and better food choices which I find admirable. I also read that most of the same people complain that cutting out or carving out bad foods is not enough. At some point in this game, they've found out that they have to do something extra, something more because diet alone has stopped working for them. Being stuck at at the same weight for a month or so can be frustrating. Especially for those who have not changed their diet and have been eating the same things for months, the same foods and amounts of food that has allowed them to lose weight previously. Some people are boggled about it. When they finally troubleshoot and put exercise into play, they realize that putting in 3 days per week at the gym or hitting the pavement was exactly what they needed to get over that plateau and to start losing again. It's not just to get over the plateu of course, but really...exercise coupled with good food choices and controlled food portions IS THE KEY TO WEIGHTLOSS AND GOOD PHYSICAL HEALTH. It's a fact. I'm so glad you know this. I'm sure everyone knows this but the best truth is the visual truth.

Thank you Katgirl and Keeka! I finished a 2 hour training today and prior to training I had my fat%, BMI and weight checked out and I was pleasantly surprised. I jumped on the scale fully clothed to include my infamous hoodie jacket and sneakers. I weighed 140lbs exactly. I jumped on and off 3 times to make sure it was right. It was digital and I am very skeptical about those. So yeah, 100lbs gone in 7 months. I am 5lbs from goal of 135lbs. My Stats were: BMI - 24.8% from 42.5% so down 17.7% Yay! My Body Fat% 25.06% from 38%, waist is 29.75 From going to Mexico alone to be banded, to losing 30%+ of my hair, to dropping off weight like a mad person I could say I've put myself through extreme craziness. If I had to do it all again, I would. No regrets and no complaints.