RLittman

I had lost 75 pounds from 06 to 08 and was 8 pounds from goal in late 08. The first 50 came off easily, the next 25 came off with strenuous exercise. I then had bronchitis in late 08 and required a cortisone shot which caused me to gain 10 pounds. I then began to develop hypothyroidism, and had another cortisone shot in late 2009 due to a knee problem which caused me to gain more weight. My thyroid worsened in 2010 which caused me to gain 5 pounds, and made it difficult to lose weight. I got a fill last summer and lost ten pounds but still have 30 to go. I am still glad I got the band because despite the shots and thyroid my weight is constant. Preband I could gain 5 pounds in a week and be out of a clothing size in less than a month.

He said it wasn't worth it because I would only lose 5 pounds or so. I replied that it would get the ball rolling. So I asked, am I done here? and he said yes, which so surprised me because we had a wonderful relationship. I went to a fill center, got a fill and lost ten pounds.

I stopped seeing Dr. Spivak in 2010 because for no reason he would no longer fill me (surgery 8/06) so I turned to Dr. Pears all at Longevity Centers on Richmond. I don't know why he returned to Israel since he had such a lucrative practice.

How is everyone doing now that we are four years out? I have regained thirty pounds over two years due to medical issues and am ready to lose. I was within 8 pounds of goal so I was very frustrated to regain the weight Went from a size 8/10 to size 14 but still glad I was banded in 2006. Love to hear from you all.

You sound like me. I lost 75 pounds between 8/06-5/08 years (banded 06) and after two cortisone shots and a knee surgery which stopped my exercise, I regained 30 pounds over 2 years. I was unfilled due to heartburn and slowly refilled to where I was before, but I am hungry when I shouldn't be unless I am emotional eating. I need to relose the thirty pounds and about 8 more to be at goal. I am happy I was banded because I would have regained all the weight in a matter of months but I can't seem to get restarted. Has the band lost it's magic??? It was so easy the first time - fill, lose weight, fill, lose weight. Help!

Two years after banding,I had bloating and pain for 2-3 days after overeeating or eating dense food like steak. Dr and Gastro dr did tests and determined I had scar tissue issues. It was chronic for about three months. I watched what I ate, took pain pulls until it stopped. Meanwhile I watch diet carefully and I massage stomach whenever i feel episode coming on in lieu of pain pills.

I was banded by Dr. Spivak in August 2006 and I think he is wonderful. I am 6 pounds from goal and love my new life and self. One suggestion you may not have read elsewhere. Try unjury which is a Protein supplement that can be added to cool and lukewarm liquids - juices, shakes, Soup, Jello, etc. You can find it at Unjury.com. I still use it to this day. I am so glad you all went with Dr. Spivak as his care is the best. Good luck. Robin

It has been awhile since I posted but I am 73 pounds down and only 9 pounds from surgical goal. Family and friends say I can stop and that I look good but I still want to lose 10-12 pounds. I am wearing a size 10 and exercise 3-5 times per week with jogging, lifting light weights and stair stepping. It is so wonderful to go clothes shopping because everything fits! I finally have a new wardrobe which I have worn for several months. Before I would wear something for maybe a month or 2 and then go up 10 pounds and never wear it again. How are all the August 2006 bandsters doing? Robin

I selected the initial goal of 149 because that was the top range of the BMI for my weight/height. Now that I am so close I think I will go for another 5-9 pounds. I can't believe I am wearing size 8 and 10. So many people have said I should stop, even my husband but I know I can look better. This is the first time I can get to that perfect weight and I am going for it. After maintaining at 184 for seven months, I started exercising regularly in September and since then have lost 26 pounds, 8 pounds since my last fill on 2/19 which was the tightest one so far and it really jumped started the weight loss for me. That and a big increase in exercise which I know do 4-5 times a week. Working with weights really helps carve off those inches. What do we do when we hit goal? Has anybody opted to loosen the band so they can eat more but maintain? Robin

I have lost 66 pounds and am only 15 pounds from my goal. I will probably try to lose another 5-10 pounds once I hit 149 but we will see. I actually have folks say I don't need to lose more but I can;t see where they are coming from. I feel great. Starting exercising 3-5 times a week last September so I have gained alot of muscle and trimmed alot of inches. The holidays were amazing as everyone was in shock to see me. But then I got sick right before New Years with flu and pnuemonia - lost 5 pounds but it stopped my exercising cold. I wasn't able to get back to the gym for two weeks. I visited a plastic surgeon about cosmetic surgery and it looks like I will have to have 3 different procedures - the first being a lower body lift, abdominoplasty and liposuction. Glad I still have more weight to lose before I have to make a decision about all this. How is everyone else doing? Robin

I am just east of you in Memorial off of Gessner and Memorial Dr.

Hey West Houston folks. I was banded 8-2-06 by Dr. Spivak who was wonderful. I am 65 pounds down with about 20 to go and I feel fantastic. Went from a sendentary lifestyle to exercising 3-5 times per week. Little to no hunger pains, little weight gain and easy to lose. Go for it!

Okay, it seems that the August Band Crew from August 2007 has all but disappeared. That means one of two things - that everyone has met their goals or they no longer need support. I guess I will keep it going until I hit my goal which is now only 19 pounds away. I can't quite believe I am in a size 12. I now weigh what I did when I got pregnant 15 years ago. I really want to get to a size 8/10 and I will be happy. I feel so good right now it is not funny. I am working out 5 times a week for 35-45 minutes - jogging on inclined treadmill for 7 minutes, stairstepper for 10 minutes, bike at level 3 for 7-10 minutes, and weight work on upper body including 60-80 situps for 15 mintues. The increased exercise helped the scale to start moving and really caused the inches to just fall off of me. Life is wonderful and I am so glad I had this done. I am so proud of all of us who stuck with this and let it help us toward our goals. I can't believe I am 28 pounds lighter than last Christmas. And I am so enjoying clothes shopping!!!!! Good luck to everyone with their continued success now and into the new year. Robin

i have 18 pounds to go!!!!

In August 2006 a thread (new line of discussion) was started (posted) by a group of bandsters who were banded in August 2006 - hence the title August Band Crew - "ABC" followed by the month we were in at the time. As each month past we started a new thread and ended the old. We are now up to a thread called ABC- December 2007 chat.

I meant to say August 2006 band crew but that is fine. I cannot believe you are in a size 8 that is so amazing. I am in a size 12 but really want to be in a 10. I started a spinning class last week and could not believe I got through it and wasn't sure the next day. I have big thighs, always have, so I am hoping this will help. I cut down on the heavy weights - 10 pounds and am now doing 2-5 pound weights with tons of reps. I also added a cardio class once a week - it is so hard but I am determined to burn more fat and add muscle a little more slowly. I am working out 5-6 days a week for 45 minutes to an hour with group class of some sort at least twice a week. I have learned from the instructors that it is best to vary my exercise during the week. How is everyone looking in their holiday clothes???? I feel so great. My husband's co-worker actually called me skinny. For someone who has at least 20 pounds to go that felt great! Robin

Hey Diane, Sorry to hear he cancelled the ball. I wonder why such a poor showing. I am flabby too from lots of loose skin. I am using weights every day in my exercise to tone muscle and it is making me slimmer. I am in a tight size 10 pant but would love to lose the extra roll around the middle and the loose skin on my thighs. If I want to look my best I will have to opt for plastic surgery and scars. I had a few friends who thought I should not do the lapband because of loose skin but it was worth it. I have been surprised too that as I have lost more weight some of what was hangin loose skin at first has shrunk considerably. Size 16 is such a triumph because you can find that size clothing anywhere. It just gets better from there. When I had a saleslady ask the other day if I wore a size 12 I was in hog heaven! Take care, Robin

Okay it is time to start a new thread. Anyone from the original August Band crew 2006 still out there???? How are we all doing? I am up to exercising 5 times a week. I am in a tight size 10 pants. I started out in September hovering around 178-179 and now I am at 171-172. I am determined to get to 169 before Thanksgiving so I am cutting out sweetners, increasing water consumption, no soft foods and no sweets for the next 5 days. 169 in my mind was always the big hurdle for me and the real success marker since I started on this journey in August 2006. Let me know how everyone is doing. Robn

Since we are well into October I started a new thread under ABC band crew - November 2007. Robin

Okay August Band Crew of 2007, where are you? Here is my update. Last month I decided to forget about the scale and focus on putting exercise into my daily routine. I challenged myself to hit the gym at least 3 times a week. In the first week I lost 5 pounds from the exercise, then in one week regained it because I put on muscle and now this week lost it again because the muscle is now helping me lose weight. Meantime I have lost inches and went from a size 14 pant to size 12. I started out using 5 pound hand weights and now up to 8 pounders. I was at a level 2 on the recumbent bike and now at a level 4. I started with 18 situps and can now do 70 without stopping! On the treadmill I started walking for 10 minutes at a 3.6 speed with no incline; now, I am at 3.6 jogging for 8 minutes at a 2.5 incline. I started exercising 3 days a week for 20 minutes and now I am up to 5 days a week for 35 minutes as well as walking in the evening for 20 minutes. I feel great and feel alot less jiggly if you know what I mean. I would like to challenge others to try to lose weight or at least change one clothing size before Thanksgiving, 7 weeks away. Anyone want to join me?? Robin

I am not sure if I can go. My husband always has lots of holiday parties to go to but I have not yet found out the dates. I feel so go, exercising 4-5 times a week. I have alot of excess skin but am developing alot of muscle as well. Looking great in clothing and I love what I see in the mirror. I went to a party last weekend where I hadn't seen folks in ten years and they could not believe my appearance. I ended up dancing for two hours in 3 inch heels and felt no pain and hardly sweated. It was AWESOME!!!!

Size 10!!!!!!! Oh my God!!! I can fit my legs in but not my stomach which is still a size 12. Go girl go!!

How are you all doing who took the weight loss challenge? continue to work out 4-5 times a week and am getting stronger and gaining more muscle. The scale has not moved below 172 but I continue to lose inches. My face looks completely normal now with no sagging jawline or double chin. I am comfortably in size 12. I talked with a friend of mine who has been trying to lose 15 pounds for 2 years. It will not budge so she went on an exercise program like me but she started about a year ago. She looks a whole size smaller but has still not lost a pound. She thinks when women get to middle age our bodies hang onto the weight to protect ourselves against other diseases or ailments. Who knows?

Has anyone used Dr. Spivak with Unicare Insurance? So far the only testing that Unicare is requiring is a psych evaluation to determine fitness for the procedure. They also asked for medical notes from my pcp and any other information I feel is necessary to prove medical necessity. I thought I would send them pcp notes showing high cholesterol and borderline diabetes along with my orthopedic notes showing degenerative disc disease and arthiritis. Spivak has a form that you fill out to show all the diets you have tried, and when and how much weight you have lost/regained. I go to his seminar on May 12th.

For several months I munched on popcorn during the evening, ate custards or low fat puddings in the afternoon, drank Starbucks, slipped in little Snacks like goldfish and chips. I knew how to eat around the band so nothing would get stuck. I ate a bunch of empty carbs each day and I did not lose one pound for 6 months. Then last month I got honest with myself and cut it all out. Now I eat a Protein bar in the morning and 2 meals a day mostly high in protein with low carbs, drink a ton a Water and exercise at least once a day for 30 minutes. I have dropped 5 pounds, 1 whole dress size and gained lots of healthy muscle in the last 5 weeks. Truly look at what you are consuming, do not eat in the evening, eat only when really hungry. I noticed with my band that the first few months the weight fell off effortlessly. Now it is more like a diet but with the difference that I don't have the extreme hunger and I will not be able to regain the weight. I might be able to regain 4-5 pounds but I can never overeat again which is what caused me to regain my weight over and over again.