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Elcee - I'm kind of a believer that the body will begin to start to slow down your metabolism if you severely restrict your caloric intake. I used to do 1000 calorie diets and never lost weight as fast as I did with the band. Your body has an amazing ability to adapt. For the first time, I allowed myself 1500 calories approx/day and have had success. So it sounds like you're doing the right thing and from your ticker you've done great. Congrats!

Looking back I wish I had been more prepared for the emotional and psychological changes that I needed to make. That was the hardest part of the journey other than changing my eating habits. The banded part of the journey has been pretty uneventful for me other than a few episodes and a too tight band for 6-8 weeks. Other than that, the biggest part is the process that you go through to make better choices and adjust to your new lifestyle. As the weight came off, my outlook changed, my mood, my perceptions and who I am changed. I no longer just sit by and let things happen because I don't want to be noticed or have people judge me due to my weight. They will judge anyway, but let it be on something other than size. I didn't fully realize all the positive things that have happened as a result of losing the weight. Not even thinking if I'm going to fit in a chair, heels don't hurt anymore, seatbelts fit, riding a bike, hiking, and basically being able to do most things without pain...the list goes on.

Got to my goal of 150 as of this morning. It feels absolutely wonderful. I'm now thinking I may shoot for 5 more lbs so I can be at this weight with my clothes on! Hitting my goal weight is something I wasn't sure I would ever be able to do. I haven't been this weight since freshman or sophomore year in high school - possibly junior high. Now I feel like I could do anything I set my mind to. And I know I couldn't have done it without the band. It gave me the time and the control I needed to work thru my issues with food and have a healthier relationship with food. Today's a pretty freaking good day!

Congrats on getting your band! As far as a daily diet - it goes something like this. Morning - Protein shake (210 calories, skim milk with scoop of choc. unjury powder) lunch - 3-4 oz cottage cheese, 1/2 sandwich (toasted) or 3-4 oz of meat/chicken/fish with or w/o cheese Mid-afternoon snack - 6 oz yogurt w/homemade granola (Kashi Cereal, choc. chips, brickle bits, peanuts, pecans) Supper - 4 oz fish or chicken or red meat, pc of fruit or veggies (3 oz), piece of cheese (my vice) Evening - Protein Shake (unflavored Unjury with Crystal Light lemonade) I'm not big on fruits and especially not veggies (at least the green ones), but I try and get some in when I can. This is a good day for me. I usually aim for around 1500 calories a day and exercise 5-6x/week for at least 30 minutes. I concentrate on getting enough protein, watching my fat intake and avoid refined carbs if I can. However, if I do want a snack I keep flavored rice cakes, or the 100 calorie snack packs or 100 calories popcorn bags in the house so at least I won't go apesh*t and grab the ice cream!

I eat healthier foods, and exercise 5-6 times a week. I don't knock my socks off exercising, but each time it is for at least 30 minutes - walking, biking, hiking, ellipical machine, whatever. I also use the strength machines at the local "Y" for toning and keep my Protein up. When I hit a plateau, it helped to increase my protein by adding a drink to my day and cutting calories elsewhere. I never journaled until the past several weeks so I could get the rest of my weight off and concentrate on what changes I needed to make and if I saw any patterns that I needed to address. I also think support is very important - whether it be from your significant other, an exercise buddy, friend, co-worker, support group, mentor. Somebody who gets you going even when you may not want to and someone that is encouraging and helps you stay focused (not nagging). The longer I go on this journey the more I understand about myself. I'm alot different person than I was at the beginning and much of it has to do with the band getting me started, but alot has to do with going thru this whole process. I've had ups and down, times when I was focused and other times when I struggled, but the biggest difference is when I would gain a few pounds - it was just a few lbs and not 15-20 like before. For the first time I felt like I had more control over food. That was a biggie for me. The band and the slower progress of losing has helped me get more understanding of how food was so much apart of my life and how to deal with it now. All I ever wanted at the beginning was to feel normal and healthy. Now I do and I am. That is what I focus on and what I'm celebrating.

LapBeezy - I'm not sure why the fill-in doc took so much out either. But that's done and over. You sound like you need proper restriction to make your journey easier and that can be a very fine line. As of today I've reached my goal weight, but it took 4 1/2 months to get the last 10 lbs off. It took work and really watching what I ate more than ever before. I believe to have successful weight loss with the band, you do have to work with it - it will only do so much for you. Some people like to feel alot of restriction in order to lose weight - but that is risky. It's a really fine line to find the amount that will allow you to eat almost everything (or everything), in less amount, be able to drink fluids adequately, not pb or slime, and still be able to lose weight or maintain. For me - .1 cc made the difference in the world when I got too tight. So 3 cc's is alot to take out all at once. Please keep up your fill dates with your physician and try and find the spot that allows you to make proper food choices and lose consistently. Sometimes you may go for months and not lose any - or just a small amount, but try and keep a long range point of view that this is for the rest of your life. Whether you get there in 6 months or 2 years from now is not important. I think the time it takes to get the weight off allows you to adjust your thinking towards food in general and be able to get more control over your appetite and relationship with food. As you lose weight, exercise becomes easier and less of a burden. I'm not an athlete and never was and I never liked to exercise because I got hot and uncomfortable and was alot of effort along with pain. But it gets easier and less painful and I actually enjoy getting out and mixing my routine up a bit to keep it interesting. It's pretty normal to have doubts and frustrations along the way. It will really help once you have proper restriction. A therapist, support group, an exercise buddy or mentor can really help give you that added umph to keep you focused. It is hard, and it's full of ups and downs, but very rewarding. Please try and keep your spirits up and gradually teach yourself to eat better. Lean Cuisines are great for calorie control, but it is a processed food that can have alot of sodium and preservatives in it that aren't maybe the best choice. Don't get me wrong, I eat them occasionally myself when I don't have anything else in the house. I keep them on hand for emergencies and if I don't feel like making anything. But try and plan what you are going to eat in a day. I never wrote down what I ate until 7 weeks ago when I became really focused on getting the rest of this weight off. I also weight myself daily in the morning and keep track of that also. 3 things to track - caloric intake, exercise and weight have helped me get here. I don't plan on doing this forever, but until I really get an idea of the amount of calories I can eat in a day and maintain my weight loss, or if I find myself gaining some weight back I can refocus on what helped me get here. Good luck to you and I hope you are able to find your way thru this journey.

It really sounds like you are too tight. If the doc said you are unfilled, then maybe he should have used a larger band? Try sipping warm beverages, Soups. I can honestly say I was too tight for about 6-8 weeks and still didn't suffer the way many people have. Yes I pb'ed 1-2 times a week and many foods were uncomfortable to eat, along with acid reflux at night if I didn't stop eating/drinking at least 2 hours before bed. After 2 small unfills, I have no "problem" foods and pb'ing is very rare (the last time while traveling Memorial Day weekend - and it was totally my fault for eating too fast). I think you have to take the information you get on these boards with a grain of salt since many people who don't have issues may not even look at these forums unless they have a problem. I would double-check with your surgeon's office to make sure he didn't put any saline in your band and get their opinion on what to do. It is not the painful, suffering journey you are portraying it to be for most of us. For a few, maybe, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. It's a shame that you've had to experience such bad side effects from the surgery. Any please know that many of your feelings are quite normal right after surgery. The "what did I do" and "is this going to work" and doubts and fears are all quite common. I wish you the best.

I'm hypo and actually had to have my meds increased since my levels TSH levels were rising instead of falling. It is now under control - but I didn't noticed any particular problems due to the fluctuation. Doc monitored it every 3 months and now every 6 to make sure it is in range.

Well, typical can be like this for me: Breakfast - Protein shake (I normally never ate breakfast) lunch - Meat/cheese sandwich (the thin-type buns toasted), or 3 oz cottage cheese with roast chicken (about 3-4 oz) Afternoon snack - 80 cal yogurt with homemade granola (total about 200-225 calories) dinner - 3-4 oz of chicken, hamburger, steak or 4 oz of baked fish. Add some cottage cheese sometimes or fruit. I also add a portion of unflavored protein into my afternoon drink for added protein. I'm rarely hungry. Usually my caloric intake is somewhere around 1300-1500 calories a day and with exercising, it keeps me at a slow loss at this point or steady. I don't eat alot of carbs other than the toasted bread which is whole grain and has alot of Fiber as does the granola. I used to be die hard Atkins dieter, now it's just carbs in moderation...with a minimal amount from "white" foods (sugar, flour, rice, Pasta, snacks). If I feel the need to snack, it is usually on cottage cheese with pita chips, or flavored rice cakes instead of my pre-band days of junk food.

Linkco - When I say it's not for everyone, it's because some people do not want to put the effort into it that is needed or are willing to change their habits. Someone that is a "grazer" or a junk food junkie that wants to continue to eat that way will more than likely not have much success with the band. There are very few people, although a few on these boards, that their bodies cannot physically tolerate the band for whatever reason. There is a part of the lap band process that requires the person to make changes to the way they eat and really try and change the reasons they eat. That may be the most difficult for many people. I had reservations about the lap band initially because I knew what kind of eater I was, BUT, I was willing to change and it was the only WLS I would personally consider at the time. It's a journey that goes far beyond just getting the surgery and fills. But I don't want to scare you, it is doable if you sincerely want to change your life and the desire and will is there. Support helps in whatever form you get it. This forum helps many of us as well as face-to-face groups. It is a journey that requires you to make changes for the rest of your life in terms of possibly what you can eat, how much and how fast. But I feel that the payoff is well worth it.

I agree with Rockstardiva that toning exercises will really help make loose skin look better and slower weight loss. At 31 years old, you may not have too much problem but it depends how long your skin has been stretched out and genetics of course. I have loose skin, but my arms don't look that bad that I can't wear sleeveless shirts because I have some muscle tone in my arms. You won't ever catch me in a pair of shorts again though! And the stomach doesn't look that great either, but they are my battle scars to remind myself of where I've been. It's not the end of the world. I look well enough in clothes

I fully expected to lose most of the weight with the band...so more than 50-60% for sure. I'm quite happy with the results and have almost hit goal. I feel like that % is what is realistic for all who get the band - like an average. Let's face it, some who get the band think they don't have to change their eating habits or increase physical activity to lose and want the band to do it for them. Very very few of them will ever get close to goal that way. For those that choose to eat healthier and exercise as it becomes easier and make it a lifestyle, I believe it is realistic to get to a reasonable goal.

Good luck with your surgery Suzanne. Sounds like you are able to maintain during all of this so that is great! A slip is my #1 worry also. I'd like to keep what got me here. Keep us posted!

The warmest congratuations to you! Wow that is awesome! As far as your goal, just decide as you go if you need to. What you have accomplished in 9 months or so is amazing! Enjoy every minute of it and best of luck getting to whatever goal you set for yourself.

Blaze - Don't know if I have an answer for you, but my sister went in a few months back for a checkup and the doc took out her Fluid and put the exact amount right back in and she had amazing restriction. Her doc at the time said the outside of her stomach is sort of like corduroy and the innertube on the inside of the band will reform about the stomach when some fluid is taken out and put back in. Of course he might have been feeding her a line of sh*t too, but for whatever the reason, after he did that she had great restriction again. Some people are very sensitive to fills and swell easily. And some (like me) don't feel restriction until 3-4 weeks after a fill. So I'm not sure what to tell you. One sign of not feeling much restriction is a pouch dilitation, but I don't want to alarm you - that it probably NOT the reason. You might have to chalk this one up to the fickleness of the band.

Congratulations! It is quite an accomplishment! I'm glad you are enjoying your successes along the way.

I notice when I travel for more than 3 hours my band gets tighter. Humidity, stress, TOM, dehydration, extremely cold foods can all seem to cause problems at one time or another. I can't always tell if I'm tight or not on these occasions so I just have to be careful when I feel any of these things. They tend to be my triggers. It really is kind of a learning process for everyone since we all seem to have different experiences.

Please don't think a slight unfill is going backwards. .1 or .2 cc's can make a world of difference. You should be able to eat solid foods, not just soft foods. Excessive sliming or pbing or acid reflux are signs of being overfilled as well as the inability to eat solid food or drink adequate amounts of Fluid. Try eating small amounts, chewing thoroughly, allow a little time between each bite. If you feel a tightness or are uncomfortable, wait until it passes before eating another bite. If you are still having trouble then a small unfill may make it much easier to tolerate foods. Being too tight can lead to alot of problems...that you don't want if you are going to keep this thing in for the rest of your life. When I had a slight unfill, it didn't make a difference in the amount of food I ate, it just made it more comfortable to eat without alot of problems. Try and find a happy medium.

Jiggle - Congratulations on our decision! It will change your life! I think you'll have a good idea when you're ready to pick up your daughter. Just wait until your port incision is well healed and follow your doctor's advice. 4-6 weeks as Laura said is a good idea - just be careful while you're healing. You sound like many of us when we finally get to the point where we've had enough. Look forward to the journey and your new life. It takes awhile, but very rewarding and life changing. I wish you the best!

We have a self-insured plan. After my second appeal, I was approved after finding out online that surgery was allowed (after I had it done!). Since it was out of network it cost me around $4700. Unfortunately, we changed TPA's and with the plan revisions, WLS is no longer covered.

I like the unjury Protein powder the best and order it off their site. Quick to ship and packaged extremely well. chocolate with milk is the best by far. Unflavored I add to a 20 oz bottle with a pack of Crystal Light and can't taste it. vanilla I use with fruits for a smoothie. Don't care for the strawberry and chicken Soup flavor I would not be able to get warm enough to enjoy. I take Centrum chewables, Oscal chewables for calcium, and 5000mg Biotin daily for hair. That's it. Lately I've been drinking 2 protein shakes a day and it has helped alot. By the way, 7 cc's in a 10cc band for a first fill is almost unheard of. Extremely large amount at one time. The most I ever received at once was 2 cc's and even then they had to back out a touch so I could drink Water. I'm now up to 7.8 cc's and it's a good place. But it may be much different for you. Be very careful...you may have alot of restriction from that one and hopefully it won't get tighter. Get in your fluids and protein should help with the hunger. Also drinking a Fiber supplement like Metamucil can help.

I'm with Hummingbirg on this one. Much of the weight came off without tracking calories, and moderate exercise. The last 15-20 have been where it's taken a bit of effort to lose. Upping the exercise, tracking calories (not all the time, but within a certain time period to see how many and what works for me), and really watching what I eat. When I do the scale rewards me, when I don't - well you know. My band is on the loose side and I'm contemplating just a very small fill to make it a bit easier to keep my portions in check and my hunger. But I do like that I can eat anything right now and don't have any sliming or pbing. I like that fact that I know my band right now. If I stay determined I can get the weight off and get to goal - I just know a tiny .1 cc fill would help things along. I don't know if I'm willing to pay the price yet.

Its hard to know without looking at your Summary Plan Description booklet. It all you have to pay is $4500, then it sounds like your deductible amount is included in your max OOP max amount. Ours isn't, but some plans do. Your co-insurance amount applies toward your OOP Max amount. Look in your SPD to see if your deductible is included in the OOP max. Then it sounds like what they are saying is true (of course, assuming your doc/surgery center is in-network and there are no charges that are considered not covered due to other reasons in your SPD).

I agree with the others about a small unfill. You should be able to eat more than that and not have so much trouble. If you are already taking small bites, chewing thoroughly and waiting a little bit between bites, and still have problems, then look into getting a small unfill. Unfills are not a bad thing. They don't necessarily make you eat more, but can eliminate things like acid reflux and sliming or pbing too often and food goes down easier. Just a thought.

Yes it can get tighter. It usually takes about 3-4 weeks for a fill to kick in for me. And certain TOM and weather, travel, etc. make my band tighter. Now that I'm used to it, I know when to be more careful. But it is different for everyone. Some are tight right away after a fill, others it takes a while.