dcprincess

Thank you so much I will try it

The band didn't stop the cravings I did. I was so ready for the weight loss and to finally be successful (losing ), I followed every detail my Dr told me to, to the letter. No white sugar, bread, rice, pasta, potatoes or soda. The band will not stop sweets and all the things that are "bad" for you from going down HONESTLY the things we need the least are easiest to eat. I wish someone had told me before I still would have gotten the band because I "know" it is the best & safest way to go but I would have been forewarned. If you really are ready to lose the weight and committed you can do it and be successful. I have been and I'm proud to say the lap-band has been a wonderful tool. It can't work by itself but alot of prayer and commitment on your part will absolutely get you the results you are seeking. I have lost 121lbs. to date and couldn't be healthier. (My happiness comes from within.) If you know that you can and will do it!!

I wish I could stand by and watch myself one day. I enjoy walking, exercising and the hot air here in Houston life now is great. My main two problems are not being able to see myself and staying motivated on my diet. Im so close to my goal now I think I have become complacent and have started eating junk food when I know I shouldn't. I feel healthy and so much happier yet I do fear the weight will come back so I try to stay on top of it but it does get hard. I am glad I found this thread I just need to talk to someone who knows how and why I feel the way I do. (I sure don't undertsand it myself)

This is exactly what I need I have alot of co-workers who have had the surgery nad many haven't reached their goals. I need help i find that some days I feel okay about the weight loss but most days I am just passing. I can't fully see myself in a amirror i can only see portions of my body at a time if taht makes any sense. I want to see me the new me and I can't it has been 2 1/2 yrs since my banding and I started out at 268 today I'm 153. I was at 147 but I am yo-yoing. I think I need support from people who undertsanf fully what I'm going through. I get alot of compliments and some who arent nice about how much weight I've lost but its a myth to me. It isnt real.I can physically do thing that I nvere dreamed of doing now and I know my clothes are smaller but i need something tangible to hold onto ( a visual image ). I also have an issue with feeling real broad still and bloated all the time, like a stuffed Turkey.I wear a size 6 but feel like a 13 or larger. Help anyone any ideas??

I have had a similar pain it comes and it goes. I have noticed it generally comes after my sleepng face down on my port, also (don't know if your female or not) :embarassed: but it happens if my bra slips down on my port that happens now because my bra is too loose now.

I hope I'm not too late I have several co-workers who have slipped their bands and one whose body was rejecting her band after a year and a half. All of them had their bands replaced and are doing fine. I'm not sure why you would be waiting slipping is very serious and should be taken care of as soon as possible. If you have already taken care of this good. I pray you are doing well and get to keep your band.

I work with several ladies who had the surgery also we formed a circle and passed on our clothes as we lost weight. I also learned to shop at thrift stores and hand-me-downs are my best friend. :biggrin1: :clap2: Before the band I wouldn't be caught in a thrift store, now I can't be caught in a department store paying full price. I go straight to the Clearance racks and marked down items. My friends call me cheap now and I love it. I no longer have to pay full price for plus-size clothing, so I buy "cheap". You can get a few items along the way but I recommend the "cheap" way :eek: (smile) and have fun finding bargains.

I have UnitedHealthcare and they have approved people who had 40lbs to lose, not sure why,:omg: they werent sick either. but with a health issue and 50lbs to lose I think most insurance companies will say yes. They don't like paying for on-going medications I think they prefer paying for a one-time surgery.

I have a 4cc band which my Dr (Felix Spiegel your Dr) said is considered the small band, the next in size is a medium 6cc band and the large is a 10cc band. Dr Spiegel said the bands are used according to the size of your stomach the larger stomach requires a larger band, and so on. I was told by a friend who had hers done by Dr Spivak that the bands should only be filled to one less cc than the actual size, ie,,,4cc should only have 3cc to avoid reflux and other complications. Sounds like good sense to me,:nervous but I know others who have more of a fill in their bands. I had 3cc until I had a procedure done thursday (not due to any problems with my band) they had to unfill it the P.A. said I had good restriction with just 2cc (she could see that thru flouroscopy) so I left with 2cc. She told me that we shouldn't pay attention to numbers (the amount of CC's) in our bands but pay attention to how much restiction we have, so I learned somethig new. This band has been a constant learning experience, Iv'e had mine since 2-05. I suggest we all ask every question we have to our Dr.s and hopefuly we will get answers, I do, after all he put it on and he should know. I must say my Dr has taken excellent care of his patients, we have the support group meetings, and the procedure I had done on thursday was a Endoscopy which enables the Dr to see whats going on inside our stomachs and esophagus. This was a one year follow-up procedure that I think is a very good idea. :biggrin1:

Not sure why you both are weak, it could be the adjustment to losing the weight, your body goes through a stage of adjustments and the 1st for me was a loss of energy but after about 6 weeks I was so energetic I thoughtI had lost my mind. I also started taking B-12 as well as my multi-vitamin which my Dr recommended I take twice a day. Hopefully that might help if not go to the Dr and get checked out if its been longer than 6 weeks there might be something going on.

No we haven't progressed as a society we still look at color and we are still prejudiced. We just hide it better but I'm very proud to say my children are part of a new generation who don't care and are very open-minded people, the way we all should be. I don't care about race religion or any preference of others but of course many people my age still do. Sad but one day it will all change I pray.

Try the 3 meals it works, its very hard but that's why you got help the "Band". Use it the way it was designed to work. We have every rationalization about our eating habits but if they were actually good eating habits and worked for us we wouldn't need the band. I hate doing it too io get hungry but I have to do it in order to stay where I am and hopefully get to my goal.

Its good to have a Texas crew on this site. Im from Houston my band was done by Dr. Felix Spiegel I think he is the greatest. Welcome Texas Brat and I hope you lose every unwanted pound. If you need an ear Im here for you. Kick butt and drop those lbs.!!!

My Dr (Spiegel) didn't tell us to drink warm liquids but we do have to drink our breakfast and thats to get our protein shake in and to give our stomachs a chance to stretch out from being in the position of crumpled up from sleep. It helps me a great deal. He does tell us to drink hot liquids anytime we cant get food down, it helps to open the opening for the band. Works wonders for me!!!!

I hope you start to lose real soon and stay on a constant reduction. I can';t speak for anyone but myself its been 9 months since you had the surgery and you have only had 2 fills I had surgery Februaury 17 2005 and (in cheking my journal I had my 5th fill November 10 2005. I think you need to get a good fill and watch what you eat (protein protein protein)> You iwll lose it it can be done if I did it anyone can I was the worlds worse when it came to discipline and willpower but I learned how to follow the rules my Dr gave me to the letter, i wanted the weight gone. Get a fill and email me once you start losing. I will be there when you want an ear to listen to you.

Its going to get tougher as you go on, the beginning is easier than the end. Focus on the 22lbs you lost and how many more you want to lose. Eat only what your Dr recommended, stick close to the rules and walk everyday at least 30 minutes everyday. If you can walk more do so.!! Dont touch "White" sugar,rice, pasta, potatoes and bread only the "Brown" versions (if you just have to) and the weight will drop off. Its not that hard the low carb way will get you there quick. Remember walk as much as possible. I walked so much at work I became the talk of the office, (I really didn't care). I had surgery Feb 2005 and in Dec of 2005 I was 100lbs down . The last 23 or so have been tougher because you get a little big-headed (once you start to look so cute) Smile. You can and will do it dont give up..

HOnestly it won't help you to not eat, nothing will maybe counseling. I have had alot of success with my band and I am an emotional eater too so I know how you feel. I have lost 123lb and I still have days like today whre I want o eat just because, I pray I exercise and I talk to myself alot. The band won't allow you to overeat (that has been my experience) not a huge amount and it will make you stay full but your mind has to be in tune and agreement that your belly is full. I had health issues high blood pressure, aching knees and I have been large for years all my adult life so it was in my opinion necessary. Think really hard about it and pray. My Dr always says "the band is a tool not a cure" and he is so right.

This has to be the best place for encouragement, I think it should definitely be a sticky!!!!

This has to be the best palce for encouragement, I think it should definitely be a sticky!!!!

Sugar1 don't be so hard on yourself if you were a 32 and are now an 18 Girl be happy and do your thang.!! Find a dress shop that has something to offer that wiil make you feel as wonderful as you look. You have done great and will get to your goal, it does take time, I'd rather be smaller than larger when I was last seen and take alot of pics because once you get to your goal you can look back and see how delicious being at goal really tastes. Yum Yum !!!!!!!! Dont let anything or anyone deter you from accepting your cudos for a job well done.My arms are flabby and I'm at my goal (for the moment I want to lose 10 more). I cover them and raise my head real high and I think how proud I am of me, you do the same. We cant have it all, unless you have insurance that will cover getting rid of the flab Big Smile).

I thought I had joined the Gone for Good Club a while back. Im not great with computers so let me see if I can do this. Debbie C. start------268 today -----147 lost 121 stil working on it

I keep seeing "PBing" what is that guys??

This is so true and I pray you have a speedy and safe recovery. It wont be that bad (the hunger) once you get off liquids, you wont remember this time, smile.

Amen to that my sister you said a mouth full. I thought after losing so much weight it would just stay easy and if I wanted I could lose more. :speechles Well the reality of it all is the band will restict you from eating too much (if its tight) but it won't tell you what to put inside your body nor will it take away the cravings for the wrong types of food. :think This has been a journey and I'm still learning. I do know you I couldn't have made it without God and much prayer. I encourage all to pray and take one day at a time. If you blow it today there is always tomorrow. Start over fresh leaving the past behind and move forward knowing "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you" . :clap2:

I will remember you on the 10th (in prayer) and cant wait to hear how wonderful you feel and look.