sparkplug

You come from an Italian family. That was my problem. I still have the battle scars from growing up in an Italian family. Even at my lowest weight at 20 years old of 118 my mother thought I had a fat a... Yes, not an ounce of fat on me then but she said I was not skinny enough. Fast forward to age 60 ( tomorrow is my birthday). I got the band 4 years ago and have lost the 85 pounds in the first year and am steady between my 5 pound margin of 150-155. Maybe this year I will try to get another 10 pounds off. My family is all deceased and for some strange reason I still feel and look fat because it has been inbred in me. People tell me all the time I look great but there is always that nagging person in the background telling me I am still fat even though I am in size 10-12 clothes. I have my great days and not so great days. In the end you have truly done wonderful with losing 50 pounds. DON'T let anyone tell you that that is not an accomplishment. I wish I was as mentally secure when I was young as I am now. I am happy with myself and my weight and I really don't care what anybody else says or thinks. This is my journey and thanks to the support of people on here you will succeed. Some people just make the journey slower than others. Good luck, this will happen this year.

I actually have the children brand granules that melt the minute they hit your tongue. They are bubble gum flavor which was great. I swear by them and have used them a few times from cold congestion and they work just fine on adults as well as children. My thoughts were that if they are safe for children that they would be safe for a lap band patient. Hope you feel better soon.

This is exactly why my husband who needs to lose 60-80 pounds will not get the band. I love my band!! But I do not see many men having success like the women. I don't mean men cannot do this properly, but most men like my husband started out thin and grew into this belly mode and never dieted and honestly do not understand the concept of changing eating habits. I never had any fills and practice self-control and trying to change bad habits along the way. People on here say why get the band if you don't get fills. Getting fills is not right for me, having the band alone has helped me get to goal and stay there for 4 years, so you can do this without having the band so tight that you throw up everytime you eat. It sounds like you are very tight and maybe a big bite will come back up when you do eat. We are not doctors but from what I have read, I have done what is best for me and never had any fills. I cannot live like you are trying to eat normal and throwing up every time. Most people on here think like me and do what YOU are comfortable with. You need to sit down and figure out how you can comfortably use the band to your advantage. Good luck and I hope you can find a way to work this band in your favor.

I hope everybody puts this much time and energy into important issues on the lap band journey. When I was banded 4 years ago I came on this website for any and all information I could find, especially when I ran into a problem like eating too fast or too big of a piece of food and got stuck and was in so much pain I prayed to either have it move down or up, either way would work. This website has kept me on this path and to goal for 4 years. I don't believe I am thick skinned, I have always been very sensitive so for a long time I never responded to any comments or suggestions, just read what I needed and left this site and went on with my life. I do splurge on holidays and gain about 5 pounds and by the end of the week, I will be back on the wagon getting it off. This works for me and I don't recommend it for everybody, but this is what keeps me happy and to goal for this length of time. If I do not like what people say on a certain subject I just move on to the next subject. Everybody is so different and I have not found 2 people alike in this journey. I have never had a fill and people on here say what was the purpose of the band with no fills???? Not true, if your band in put in the proper position for YOU, a lot of people on here have found they needed NO FILLS. But like I said, this is so different for everybody. I get the same signals as someone who has been filled halfway up or more. I do want to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and just move on to bigger and better things. Ohhhh, I loved the comment about getting paid $3.00, what a great sense of humor you must have!!!!!!

I lost a lot of hair also. I have read on here about Biotin and started a few months ago which has slowed the loss and it seems to be getting some new growth, but it is so hard to tell since my hair got so thin from the surgery. It has been 4 years since my surgery and I have other tricks to make my hair look a little less thin. I have changed my centrum vitamins to the chewable fruit flavor (had a coupon) and found out it has less vitamins then the orange flavored tabs and need to go back to my original Centrum since I have been so tired and dragged out. We have to get used to not being able to eat a lot and need the supplement for health and maintenance. I need to read the labels more instead of just saving a few dollars. I cannot live without my vitamins since this surgery.Anybody else have the same issue?

Congratulations, what a nice Christmas gift! I am to goal in size 10-12 depending on the style and 10 pounds would make things really lose but 20 pounds on me would be another full size down. I am not sure if everybody is different since we are built different. I carry most of my weight around the middle which is easily hid under a looser top. What a wonderful journey.

Everybody is so right on here! Being a yo yo dieter my whole life, I would never approach somebody and tell them they need to lose weight, even when I was down to size 8-10 years ago. I did not say anything to anyone in the beginning because I was not sure if this was going to work for me since I have been down before and gained it all back and then some. Being at goal for 4 years I would gladly tell anybody that wanted to know about the surgery. My husband has been my biggest supporter from day one. He told me when I gained all the weight from quitting smoking and my "change" that he was confident when the time was right I would be able to get it off with the surgery. He feels he must tell everyone how great I am and had the surgery to look this fantastic! Geezz, he will even tell strangers if they see I don't much in the restaurant, he feels he has to explain. Oh well, he always adds at the end how wonderful I look so it is awful hard to get and stay mad at him. Maybe because I am older, it doesn't mean how much what other people think, I did this for ME and ME alone! If they want to know about it, I will tell them but if they don't, so be it! Never be ashamed or let anyone put you down because of this surgery, I tried everything before having this surgery and never regretted it for a minute.

4 years on 12/20/12

I still run into people who still cannot believe I have lost the 85 pounds and kept it off for the last 4 years. They are totally amazed. 42 pounds is fantastic. Remember this journey is for YOU not for everybody to notice. There will be a lot of jealousy from people who do not want you to look fantastic and therefore will not "notice" the weight. I did this for "me" and me alone and even now people say I can't believe you have lost that weight and kept it off. I still play the 5 pound gain/lose for the holidays but after the first of the year we will pay attention and I really would love to get another 10 pounds off for me! I want to attack this challenge I have given myself for something new and different. You are doing fantastic and like everybody said, I too am not a swimsuit model from years of yo yo dieting I have lots of loose skin especially around my mid section and cannot afford plastic surgery. Take me as I am and I will continue to hide the extra skin in skinny jeans and mosey down the road. Keep smiling.

My surgeon was great but the staff had so many people going through at the time I was going through that they were running out of paperwork and other giveaways that I should have gotten. I never got the free food scale, paperwork on what to eat after the initial month of liquids and mushies, etc. The waiting room was so full when I was getting ready for the planned surgery that it was standing room only. Not only did I have to drive 1 1/2 hours away to get to this doctor who was one of the most highly recommended, but waiting almost 2 hours to get in to see him or his partner was a day long project. I am more than satisfied with my Dr. Atkinson but his staff probably should have been better on planning appointments so that we could get more time with the doctor instead of being rushed through. I actually talked more and longer to the PA who was wonderful and very informative and offered me to call him anytime when the doctor was not available. I am a success story and even though I have no fills, I have not been back to them since the first year of surgery. Our insurance will no longer cover him because he is in a bordering state and the insurance coverage has changed. I will have to find another doctor in Arizona but hopefully nothing will go wrong until then.

My husband and I eat together. I just use very small special bowls or dishes for me and he has the normal sized ones. Even with such little amount of food, I have eaten and started the dishes before he is done. I can still talk to him while he is eating and by the time he is done I am almost done cleaning the kitchen and we can enjoy the rest of the night together watching TV. You need to acquire different habits that work for both of you. In 4 years it does not bother me to watch other people eat a lot of the foods that I can longer get down through my band. I have TMJ problems that were never fully corrected 30 years ago so eating until my food is mush is totally out of the question. I tend to go with soft foods and easily chewed foods. It is all worth it to me and just like a person who has acquired a disability, you learn how to live with it and still be a happy person in spite of it.

I agree with everybody above that every single person is different in what they can and cannot eat. I think because I adhered to the doctors orders and did not eat any solid food for the month after surgery that I healed well and I have never had to have any fills. Even with no fills, I can get stuck and get full with very little food, I cannot explain it but it has worked for me and I feel great. Good luck and follow your doctors orders.

This is exactly why I come on this site every morning before work. Things said are very encouraging and I have yet to not find a section that answers any questions that have come up along the way of my journey. When I gained the 80 pounds plus I refused to buy expensive clothes because I knew some day I would get back down to my 10-12 range. Most of the clothes I bought a Walmart were worn out and the ones that were not when I got down in size I donated to the battered womens shelter in town. I have some nice clothes now and that is encouragement enough to stay where I am in size but occasionally I will spot something just as nice at K-mart that I have to have. I get bored with my clothes and need to start new so I always have made it a reason for not buying too expensive clothes except for winter coats. You guys are awesome and I wish I had known you when I started this journey 4 years ago and wore my baggy pants in my transition from size 24 to 10-12. Good luck to all of you lovely ladies.

You are doing great! People can be so jealous and envious of someone else. I used to pay attention to everybody's comments but I have learned to choose whose opinion matters most and that would be "ME". I feel great with being banded and to goal for 4 years. I was a very slow loser so I know it can be discouraging to say the least but people like this are always trying to sabotage you so don't fall for it. I am uncomfortable when people say how much did you actually lose? I normally say I have lost the weight of two small children or one fat kid! This normally makes people laugh and they go about their business. I made up my mind early in the game that this was all about me! You are doing a great job, don't ever let anybody tell you different, even when things tend to slow down because in the end you will get all the weight off you want. Good luck and keep smiling.

Not all men are like that. My husband was and is very supportive. Sometimes toooo much. Aren't you eating too big of a bite of food? Are you suppose to eat that? Aren't you eating too fast? Oh well, I guess some are too overbearing and others just disappear???

Okay, I am 4 years banded and the gas is still there. Some days are worst than others. I have learned to act like nothing is happening and look at everyone else as if it came out of them. I have mastered the "innocent look" like it was not me and go about my business. At home, my husband laughs so hard because after being with me for 33 years he cannot believe someone can have that much gas in them and live! Oh well, I look and feel great and some days are worst then others but try to pretend like nothing is happening and it sure works for me and people wonder if they really heard that or not. It's all in the "look". Be happy and enjoy the new you, with or without gas.

My success with the band is to never say "NO" to any food. Even a taste of the forbidden fruit will give you satisfaction and then you can move on. This was my downfall for 50 years of saying I can never have certain foods again. I was good for months and even a few years and then the cravings came back so strong I could not fight them off. Hence the yo-yo dieting syndrome. I think I have a handle on this and I do mess up and gain a few pounds and then get back to basics and get it off. I think in my case I have to outsmart that fat little girl inside of me by letting her have her way once in a while and then she quiets down and let's me go on my way. I guess this is all about us and how we can get this to be a lifestyle change permanently instead of a temporary lifestyle to get the weight off. It is just as important to keep the weight off as it is to get it off. Life is funny if we look at it this way and take it in stride.

This is a constant vigil. Don't get discouraged. We are all in the same boat. Some lose faster and others lose slower. It is not a race but a lifestyle change.

My prayers are with you. I was denied twice. I finally asked them if I needed to hire an attorney and went through the whole list of medical problems I have and asked them if they are prepared to either pay one price for the band or continue paying for my medical for the rest of my life. The third time was a charm and they had me approved and in surgery within 2 weeks. Hope all goes well with you.

I love my band, everybody has a different reason for getting their surgery. I am also a quantity eater and this limits you or else you suffer the consequences like getting stuck or feeling so full I can't stand myself. The sleeve or bypass does not limit the amount of food from what I have read. I am 4 years out and do not ever plan on getting my band removed unless it is definitely causing any major problems. I still gain a few pounds over the holidays but get back to business after the first of the year. I love my popcorn and tend to go overboard on that for a while and then I am good for a few months. I believe the weight gain is the salt because we do not use salt at our dinner table or in cooking. This is a choice you need to make on your own and I really don't care if anybody else agrees or not with me. This band has saved my life and that is proof to me that this was the right choice. If something drastic changed and I had to have the band removed I don't know what drastic surgery I would choose. The sleeve and gastric are very risky operations and right now I would not be comfortable with either one if I had to choose. Good luck and enjoy your band and don't let people get you down because if it works for you that is all that matters.

I love my band for all the above reasons. I am going to be 60 years old in a couple of months and feel like 30! This band has given me a new lease on life and I am not on any meds and just had a check up and all my blood work is excellent! This is a journey and you have different emotions along the way, but don't let people's remarks or negativity get in the way. I come on this website every single morning and they inspire me to keep this way of life and thanks for all the support everybody gives you on here. I am loving life and all of these great people.

Here I am again, almost 4 years and still no fills. I leveled off at my current weight and when holidays come around I tend to have a cookie or two. I have had 2 stuck episodes without fills and cannot even imagine how that must feel if I did have fills. I am happy where I am and do not plan on ever getting any fills. My husband seconds that since he has seen how I suffered with the "stuck" problem. I know it was my fault eating too dry of pork roast and dried out ham but live and learn is the lesson here. I can go anywhere from 4-5 hours before feeling hungry and like everybody else, it is the head hunger that is always there and is my demon. This band works just fine for me unfilled and personally I don't care what the other people say about getting the band and you have to have fills. Not true at all. There are about 4 or 5 people from the same doctor office where I had my surgery that lost over 100 pounds with no fills. I believe that everybody is different and this is why it varies by individual. No they did not put any fill in my band at surgery. I have a very senstive stomach and the slightest upset or too much stress makes it hard to get anything down other than liquids. The band is a wonderful tool, just pay attention to your body and use the knowledge from others if it pertains to you personally and if not, listen to your own body because I have yet to find two people the same in this journey.

The first few days were bad. My husband cooked for himself and made lots of toast which I love the smell of normally. But when I got home from surgery, I had to go outside every time he toasted something because I wanted to throw up and I was afraid of ruining the surgery I just had. It did pass by the 2nd or 3rd week and I am back to loving the smell of toast. Don't know why that is but it was not good! Hang in there it does get better.

I am 4 years out and still eat mushy foods with lots of protein. For lunch I love tuna or chicken inthe can with tuna and a little mayo. Holds me from noon until dinner at 6:00 pm. Breakfast I am not too hungry so might have yogurt cup or SF pudding and maybe for snack have a piece of cheese with turkey cold cut. I have been trying different things because even though I am to goal, I would like to get another 5 or 10 pounds off but I am not going to starve myself to get it done. I am happy at my 10-12 pants and if it comes off fine, but I am not going to sweat it. I still have a hard time with dry foods, especially hamburg or pork. No bread or sugar for me! I guess things in moderation is the key if you can get everything down. Good luck and you will be just fine.

Liz, first of all, I would never consider going to another country like Mexico to have surgery of any kind. I have friends who had disasterous dental surgery down there and now I see the result of the lap bands from there and I want to cringe. Secondly, I agree with the above post I let my band tell me what to eat and how much. Bread and sugar are definitely no no's. I try to eat mostly protein and occasionally veggies when cooked real well. I have no fills and still occasionally get stuck from my own error of eating too fast or too big of a piece. I was not prepared for the band when they scheduled my surgery. I had researched gastric bypass and my insurance would not cover it because I did not need to lose 100 or more pounds so the doctor gave me the one option left which was the lap band. I was so desperate to lose this weight and KEEP IT OFF. I lost it a million times over but it kept coming back and even with the band I have to keep guard on what I eat and it is so easy to get carried away. I am so sorry it did not work for you but I see it is so different for everyone on here. I never had any fills and have no fluid in my band and am to goal and yet I read how people are getting filled every other month and still having trouble losing weight. It works so different for all of us and nobody should condemn you for your thoughts on this. Everyone of us has a different view but like I said I would never go outside of the United States for any surgery on my body even if it was for free. I hope you get better and can get to goal whatever way you end up going. Good luck and keep happy.