sparkplug

I have had the lap band for about 12 years with no fill and no problem. I gained about 30 pounds when I retired, which I am slowly getting back off. I honestly love the band because it is a constant reminder if I eat too much or too fast, I get stuck and that is the reminder I need to keep on track. I originally lost 90 pounds and kept it off for 8 years but I was always a stress eater and am trying to get back to my original eating habits.

thank you

Good Job, I have had the band for 9 1/2 years and it still works with no fills but had some terrible issues with work until retirement last year but had gained approximately 40 pounds back from my original 90 pounds lost. I am starting to lose it again sensibly and slowly. I love this band!!

Cat lady I am right there with you. I am starting my 5th year at goal and never had a fill and never had anything put in my band at surgery. I can't explain why I have always been content with a cup of food but I started very slow and did just what the doctor told me and it has worked for me. I go about 4-5 hours between meals and even when I get hungry it is not gut wrenching hurtful hunger like before I got the band. I do not ever plan to have a fill because I am so comfortable where I am. I lost 90 pounds originally but 5 pounds bounced back on me from the first holiday feast I had and it will not budge. I am happy and comfortable where I am and if at some time a few more pounds come off fine, but if it doesn't that is okay too. I agree with everybody here that it is an individual decision with fills, but there are quite a few people who were banded by Dr. Atkinson in Las Vegas that never needed fills so I am a loss as to why some do need them and some do not.

Erin you are not stupid. Being banded for almost 5 years, I see from reading all of the forums every single day that nobody has been given all the information concerning the band from day one. I have learned as I go along thanks to all the veteran bandsters on this website and I believe this is what has made me so successful. The people around me in my daily life that will admit to having the band struggle just like all of us and are clueless as to how this journey will be end up for them also. I guess it is how you look at this like I know from yo yo dieting my whole life, this is a diet for life but the band makes it so much easier. I do not get so hungry that my stomach hurts and I feel like it is torture to stay on the diet. I am always comfortable after my meals with such a small amount and I can go at least 4-5 hours between meals. I do occasionally cheat with a cookie or piece of pie but basically follow the rules of any good balanced meal plans of a healthy person. I really believe it is all in how you look at it and I try not to let that head hunger get the best of me. You will be fine, the beginning was hard for me too and I am still learning about my band even at this stage of the game. Good luck and keep positive.

I went through the same thing. I kept saying what on earth did I do to myself getting the band. My husband did not know what to do to me I went into a depression from having so much pain from the gas they put in me at surgery. But.....after I saw the weight coming off and started feeling better and the gas was gone, I started to come out of the depression and at goal now I feel fantastic. It does get better. I was mourning the loss of all that food and snacks and I think your body goes through a phase of adjusting to not having all the junk food and large quantities. I never had a fill but I do remember barely getting water down the first week or two and when the doctor asked if I was going to get any fills I remember vowing at that point that I would never be in that position again of not being able to get water down. We all make different decisions on how we want to handle this band and I honestly never regretted my decision after the rough start. Look ahead and when you start seeing the weight loss you too will be very happy.

I know the feeling of betrayal. Thank goodness it happened now and not another 10 or 15 years from now. You are still beautiful and catch yourself a good man so be thankful that it happened now and not when you were too old to get in the game again. They say that things happen for a reason and I am not too sure why things like this happen but you will be happy again soon. My second husband and I have been together for 34 years and I know it never cheated or would cheat on me. You have a lot of life left and weight will not be a deciding factor in getting a good man to stand by you. Been there and done that. Good luck and vent and get that out of your system and enjoy life now that he is gone and start fresh.

I always give the candy away at the office and they love me for it! Got a great home made cupcake and gave it away to one of the attorneys who just had a baby and told her she needed to keep her strength and sugar level up with the newborn, she loved it too! My husband stopped giving me candy years ago when I was still the yo yo dieter. We go out to a nice dinner with healthy food instead and re-commit our love to each other in a healthy way instead of all that sugary propaganda of buying valentine candy. He used to buy flowers which last much longer and are not fattening. Everybody learns how to deal with issues on candy and sweets and it does get easier as you go along and see the great results of not giving in. I still have a cookie or piece of pie when I really feel I "have" to have it, but I try to keep it off in the distance for as long as I can before I give in. Happy valentines day to all you skinny chicks and soon to be skinny chicks.

It sure sounds like that awful gas they put in you at surgery. It hurt so bad for me for almost 2 weeks. I could not even put the seat belt on me when my husband drove me to my 2 week appointment after surgery. I ate gas x strips like they were going out of style and walked constantly as much as I could before it started hurting so bad. It will go away, I know everybody is different but the pain for me was horrendous and when it is gone you will feel like brand new. Keep positive and take things real slow for a while. Some people don't seem to have issues with this and others like me have a really bad case of case lodging. Good luck and keep moving

Well, I am starting my 5th year being banded. I have always not drank with my meal at home but out I always have to have a cup of coffee there for me to get my food down. I successfully lost 90 pounds originally and stabilized at 85 pounds and I still have no fills. I have a very hard time with any kind of meat unless it is in gravy or liquid and I still have a smoothie with my whey protein at night because I cannot get enough protein in me during the day. This has been a battle my whole journey with the band. I agree that everybody is different and the drinking and eating at the same time has worked for me and in the end that is what counts on this journey. From day one my doctor said to learn what works for me and go with it and this seems to work. The band is a journey of trial and error for each person. Good luck on your journey.

This is exactly why we moved to the middle of the desert in Arizona. If we were still in New York, I would be stocking up on fresh baked bread and cookies until the storm passed through...let me see...maybe 5 pounds added on the hips for this storm. Fortunately we are a little cooler than usual but sunny and we are going to Vegas baby!! Everybody on the East Coast stay in and keep safe.

Great story and results! Doesn't it feel good? If you don't mind, can I ask how old you are and how much weight have you lost and how long did it take you to lose it all? I have lost 90 pounds originally and settled in at 85 pounds and am on my 5th year being banded, but I have a lot of loose skin from years of dieting. I never could run and have really bad knee problems from years of carrying so much weight and hurting them when I was younger. I love hearing everybodys stories and success stories are always great to hear.

I too get my whey protein at Walmart. It usually is on sale for $15.88 for the large container of chocolate or vanilla. I am trying a new flavor of cookies and cream which is great. I still have a smoothie almost every night since I cannot get my protein in for the day. It is like my treat and saving grace of getting last minute protein for keeping me healthy and fit. I put in some frozen banana, fresh strawberries and water and ice with my protein and it is just like a milkshake. They must be working because I feel great and full of energy every day.

I started at 235 and hang around the 155 mark at goal. You are all doing fantastic. But...from all of your pictures, you all look wonderful and do not look as heavy as you have listed. I wish I had looked that good at 235, but I literally felt like a lump so maybe I did not see through the weight. You girls are truly an inspiration and will get to goal sooner or later. Life sure can put the pounds on depending on what we have to deal with and we will learn down the road how to handle it without eating. Congrats on your road to success.

Everybody on here gets off the "real" subject of weight loss and accusing and slamming each other for their opinions. When I was in my 20's I stayed for a long time in the 110-124 range but that is totally unrealistic for me at 60 years old. I am happy in my size 10-12 range and off all meds. I believe people on here are just voicing their opinions and it should be taken as such. There is no need to slam anybody or insinuate anything more other than their opinion or knowledge. This is suppose to be a helpful place to come like I do every morning and if I don't like what somebody says, I move on to the next subject. We are all in this together and we need to put aside mean spirited remarks against each other just because we see things different. I myself do not believe in fills and have never had one and more than likely would never get one, but that is my opinion and anybody that says why did I get the band does not know what my circumstances are. People on this website said if you don't get fills, you should not get the band. Not true! All the years of dieting has made me very aware of my body and the band is the extra incentive for me to keep there.

Me Too! What a wonderful gesture on your part though.

I guess everybody is different. I am starting my 5th year banded and to goal. I am getting my Christmas 5 pound margin off and love life. I have no fills and feel the band stops me from overeating and I still do not eat bread or sugar whenever possible. I try to eat healthy and still measure my food. This works for you if you have a goal and dream set in your mind. I never felt better in my life and I just turned 60 and was told the other day I did not look over 45. What a great feeling. It is there for you, just take it and don't let it go. I have varied the rules to fit in my lifestyle and it works for me.

That was the worst part of the whole surgery was the "gas" that would not leave. It was painful to even have my seatbelt on when my husband took me for my first week check up. It is all downhill from there. It will eventually come out and after 4 years it is still coming out of that end. Just think how great you will feel when it is 4 months from now and you can fit into smaller clothes. Be patient.

I went into this with "no fills" to be had until I stop losing weight. I went right through from start to finish with no fills. Not everybody needs fills. I am starting my 5th year being banded and still have no fills. If I wanted to be filled where I could not eat, I would have opted for having my mouth wired shut instead. At least with that option you would not get stuck or throw up continuously. I have been very happy with my decision since this is my body and my decision to make. You definitely need a new doctor if he is so insistent on fills before you need them. My doctor gave me the option and choice of what I wanted to do with the band and this has been a success for me. You need to decide what is best for your body. Good luck

Like everybody else, I was on the diet roller coaster my whole life. I investigated the gastric bypass for years and got partially approved before moving to Arizona and did not go through with it because something inside of me said it was not right. After moving here to Arizona I set my goal on getting approved again but new restrictions would not give me the gastric bypass but the band so I went it for it. It is not a quick fix and took the year to lose the weight and I do keep to goal for the last 3 years after losing the weight. I never regretted it and last week celebrated my 60th birthday feeling better than ever! People cannot believe I am that old after losing all that weight. When I was heavy, they thought I was 60 when I was only 50. How is that for incentive? Everybody gets nervous at the thought of surgery, keep in your mind that this is going to work and help add more years on your life, and look fantastic along the way.

I am so sorry for you. I too, was banded 4 years ago Christmas and there was not a lot of support where I had my surgery. Excellent doctor but that is all they wanted to do is fill, fill fill and I refused from the git go to not have a fill and still work with the band. I heard such horror stories from so many of the patients in the waiting room about getting filled and unfilled over and over again and thought this is not for me. I took the bull by the horns and got on this website which I do every single morning and read everything and anything I can from these great people. First of all, there is an answer for anything you would want to know about the band from people on here who have gone the course before you and me. There is a wealth of knowledge on here that has put me to goal, off all meds and feeling wonderful about me and my band. I could not afford the high prices of our nutritionist in town and my insurance does not cover her so I learn what and how to eat by trial and error. I wanted this so bad and nothing was going to make me change my mind. You need to reach inside of you and say YOU CAN DO this and you will. Good luck and please come on here to get the support and knowledge you need. The first step is to make sure from a doctor that you have not done any damage to the band from the excessive eating you mentioned. Good luck and everybody is here for you.

I just had my 4 year bandiversary on 12/20 and never had a fill. I lost at a steady rate until my goal of 85 pounds and the doctor did not want to mess with the perfect set up. I have learned control and portion size with the small plate and small utensils from day one and I do gain about 5 pounds every winter around the holidays because it gets cold here in Arizona and I don't swim this time of year and have a hard time getting out walking more than once in the day.

I eat a lot of popcorn and feel it has got to be better than potato chips and other cookies and snacks hanging around my house. I have times like this where I cannot get enough of popcorn and then I might not eat it for months and then I wish for it so bad I just have to have it again. It is a vicious cycle and somehow it is my reward for being so good in other food categories. It DOES have grain and keeps moving on me so it is a welcome relief in a lot of ways. I guess we are all different and I try to cut back on other things while I am in my popcorn mode. Good thing I never tried or got hooked on drugs, huh?

I have at least a cup of food which works for me and I am such a picky eater that helps to limit foods I probably should not be eating. There is no way I could be satisfied with a golf ball sized portion. You might have misunderstood, if that was the case I honestly do not know too many people who can handle that small of a portion, me included.

Wow, I am glad I did not talk to you or your wife before my surgery. You would have scared me to not have either surgery and I probably would have been a full blown diabetic by now. I believe you did not have the mindset for the surgery to work and I am sorry you are so against it, but if not for the lap band I would be 85 pounds heavier and with all my medications not on a very good road. I am 4 years with the lap band and believe it has saved my life and will give me more years to enjoy. This surgery is not for everyone and whoever does get the surgery needs to go into it with eyes wide open and make up their mind to work it by the rules. I have adjusted my lifestyle by what makes me comfortable. I never had any fills and do just fine with the band. Good luck on whatever you decide to do, this WLS is not for everyone.