LPAYTON88

I am 2 years out and I lost about 65 pounds total. I have been stalled for the last year and I have been going in for fills but end up having to go back in for an unfill every time. It has been so frustrating because I am self pay and it's costing me a fortune! I do track everything I eat plus exercise but it seems like my body is fighting me all the way. I guess I should be grateful that my blood pressure is normal and not on any meds anymore. Hopefully one day I will get there.

Hi!! I am 2 years out and started at 248 and now 183, and I just stopped losing. I have had to be unfilled twice and now I have 5cc in a 10cc band. I cannot tolerate any more in my band and feel like I will never make it to my goal weight. when I eat I am so uncomfortable, nothing is getting stuck but the pain in my chest is terrible. I think i have lost all motivation to exercise. I will try to help anyone I can, we all need to stick together.

I know exactly how you feel, I will be 2 years out in January I lost 85 pounds intially but now I've remained the same for about 6 months, I feel like I will never make it to my goal. I have been experiencing some problems eating regular food too and I just had some fill taken out so I'm not sure what is going on. I know I don't sound like much help to you but I think eventually we all go through the same issues and we can help each other through this. I feel like I'm gonna struggle the rest of my life but I still don't regret getting the band, It's just so hard staying motivated when the new wears off and it is very hard to not eat the wrong things when you can't eat! like you said chocolate and ice cream go down so easy!

I LOVE FOOTBALL TOO!!!! I LOVE ME SOME SAM BRADFORD!!! GO RAMS!!!

well I have 20 more pounds to go to reach my goal and I felt good at first because the first 6 months to a year the weight came off relatively easy. But now I have been on a plateau for at least 4 months, and when I look in the mirror I see part of my stomach that sags and that's when I feel fat still. I know a tummy tuck would cure that but can't afford it at this point. So I totally understand that constant fat feeling, I feel better about my self when I'm covered up, but I would love to be able to wear more revealing things but I guess at my age, it won't happen.

So far no restaurants have honored my card, but the buffets have. Golden Corral and Hometown Buffet and honored mine and charged kids prices or senior citizens discount. I love buffets because I can pick out what I want and I'm not able to overeat, it's great!

I'm down 86 pounds and I'm trying to push to my goal of losing 100 pounds but I have injured my back and my right knee. Not really sure how I did that but when I try to exercise I'm in alot of pain so then I just quit. I haven't gained any weight back but my weight loss is nothing now. I know I can't lose any more without exercise but I physically can't for very long. Everyone is telling me to go to the doctor but just can't afford to right now, I'm still trying to pay off this surgery since I was self pay. I'm just frustrated sorry about the venting!

Thank you guys so much for the advice, I never thought of the pool, I don't swim much but I might start. I will go to the doctor as soon as I possibly can, I just owe so many different doctors right now its hard to keep up. My back is actually feeling a little better today so maybe if I just rest a few days I'll be ok. Not sure what is up with my knee but I will try the heating pad to see if that helps because it doesn't seem to be swollen. I want to try Zumba! Anyone else tried that? Well good luck to you all and thanks again for all the advice it really makes me feel better!!!!

I had mine done the standard way until a couple of months ago, and I think the fluro is so much better! I love being able to see what's going on. I have been banded for a year and a half and I had a couple of episodes and was having problems so after going in and being able to see, they corrected the problem and now it is all better.

When I go out and drink I stick to Vodka and Cranberry juice, that's the lesser of the evils. I can drink beer but I limit it to 1 or 2. I watched Dr. Oz the other day and they were saying if you are watching your calories Brandy is also an option.

I eat about 1200 calories a day, I have been banded for about a year and a half and have lost 85 pounds. I'm kinda in the same boat, I feel like I'm eating too much but either way my weight loss has stalled. My doctor always said to eat between 1200-1400 calories a day. Hope this helps!

Hi, I have been banded for a year and a half and I have had 5 fills and 1 unfill. Last visit they put a little back in and I did fine for a little while until now. I had went out with my friends to eat and got something stuck and lets just say I have been sick for days trying to get whatever it is out! I'm really sore and I am doing liquids again to see if I will feel better eventually but it has been going on 3 days and still no relief. My question is, is there anything that I can do besides get an unfill again because I am self pay and cannot afford to go in right now. Someone mentioned pineapple juice but that didn't work for me. I just need something to lodge whatever it is out. Obviously throwing up didn't do the trick, I think I might be swollen because of all the times I got sick but I just need relief!! someone help!!!!

Well I started out at 250 lbs and am now at 164 but for some reason I still look in the mirror and see a fat girl. I'm not yet where I want to be but I'm still trying. I still don't like my picture taken and can't figure out why. People tell me I look good but I just don't see it yet. I guess I need to work on the mental part of all this. My boyfriend tells me I'm obsessed with dieting and that I will never see myself looking like I want but I don't know. This is still the hardest thing I've ever done!

I started out at 250 and 5'3", wearing size 26-28 shirts and 22 pants, now I am at 164 lbs and bought my first pair of size 8 jeans! I was so happy but I'm still wearing size 10 and 12 in some things. I think the sizes vary so much and that is the frustrating part.

I never heard of liquids for 2 weeks either, after a fill I usually on liquids for a day then to mushy for a couple of days then back to solids.

I had pain for weeks after my surgery, it felt like when I bent over I was being pinched. It could be gas pains or what they call port pain. My port was pretty sore for a couple of months but it does get better. It also happened to me when I wore jeans for the first time after surgery, i felt like i was dying the pain was so bad. I have been banded for a year and 4 months and after the first couple of months that pain went away.

The only place I find the card to come in handy is at buffet's. I love going to Golden Corral and they do take the card. They give me the senior citizen discount, which is better than nothing and I can just go get what I want with no leftovers. I can't do leftovers very often because I would want to eat more if I took it home, this way I don't have to. Also, Hometown Buffet took my card. As far as regular restaurants, I haven't found any that take the card so I just order what I want and share the rest with my dog.

Mine was $13,000, so I think that is a good price! I wish I could have gotten it for $10,000.

I'm right there with ya on this. It has been a year and 4 months for me and I started at 248 and am now 162, my goal weight was also 150. Like you I have gotted comfortable where I am now, I started going shopping more and hanging out with my friends more and kinda been slacking on the exercise. I still journal everything I eat but exercise is the key. I can't seem to get motivated enough to start exercising again but I'm trying. This site is the only support I get so it is so good to talk to people going through the same thing. Good luck with starting again, we can do this!!!!!

I allow myself a treat once a week, and it has worked out great for me. I stick religiously to my healthy eating during the week and pick Saturday or Sunday to splurge a little. I have lost 90 pounds and feeling great!!!! Once you have reached full restriction you will be able to eat a little of something and be satisfied. Good Luck!

There are several protein bars I like, Pure Protein is good, Atkins Advantage have some some good ones and also I have found one called supreme protein with 15 grams of protein and not alot of sugar and they taste like candy bars to me. I eat 1 a day at least to help boost my protein. They are all available at Walmart, Walgreens and GNC.

Mine started about 8 months after surgery, and I did have a clump come out which made a small bald spot. I have since started taking Biotin and have noticed a big difference. It started growing back and so far so good. Hopefully no more comes out but I have lost 86 pounds so far and that outweighs everything!!!

We sound so much alike, I am also 5'3" and I am now at 168 pounds. I have lost a total of 80 pounds and still have 18 to go. I love where I am now but I still want to get to where I wanted intially, which is 148-150 pounds. It is really strange how all our bodies differ because I'm wearing a size 10, I can fit a size 8 but it's a little snug. I have had success with my band too, it doesn't always come off fast but it is coming off! This was the first Thanksgiving and Christmas that I didn't gain weight and it felt great!!! Good luck with the last 15-20 pounds we will get there!!!

I have my last 21 pounds to go, and it has been so hard. It's like my body is stuck and it isn't budging. I've even tried liquids for a couple of days then back to mushies, then solids but that didn't even work. I exercise regularly too and even change that up but nothing seems to work. I would love more advise on what to do too. I just keep getting told not to give up because eventually it will come off. So you are not alone! We all need to stick together.

I'm at 29.4%!!! yea