Westonrose

Do you have any other health issues? I am diabetic; I had the same issues, except it was my blood sugar going to low due to the change in weight. Yes, head hunger is hard to overcome, just follow the rules, get your fills and don’t give up. It will work. Make sure that you are eating enough calories so that you don’t go into starvation mode. This I know from experience. Plateaus, they suck and do happen, just change up your routine to help overcome. Best of luck.

Amy- You do have a very large band (14cc). I have the same size. The reason for the larger band is that you may have had more fat around your stomach when they put in the band. If you lost a lot of fat in that band area you may require more fluids to get the restriction needed. You are also only 5 months out from getting the band placed. It is possible that you still may be experiencing head hunger. I am 14 months and can tell you that it takes a while to go away. You have done great so far. Everyone loses at different rates. Eat right, drink the water and keep moving. You will get there. I have seen the other side and it is amazing. You will be there before you know it. Good luck.

Yeah, we are still here and doing great! I was banded on 03/12/2009. I had my final appointment today with my doctor (they do 13 month follow ups with free fills during that time). To date I have lost 120 pounds. I have no more health issues and life is great. I started out out almost 280 pounds and now can put on a size 10. I could not wear a size 10 even as a young teen. Lapband has been great. I still want to loose 15 more pounds. Life is good! Michelle

I am shocked by this tread. When I went to see my doctor and told her I was a smoker, but was planning on quiting she told me DONT. She said this was a major life change and that if I did the LapBand and quit smoking at the same time I was likely to fail at one of them and she did not want it to be the lapband. I still smoke but I have lost 115 pounds in 11 months. She must of been right. Now its time to quit.

Gas-X is your friend after surgery.

I spoke at a meeting last night were the Baritatric doctor answered this. She stated that the insurance companies look at the consutation weight with the bariatric doctor.

You have a large band. Most of the people I read about have much smaller bands. I too have a large band, I have the 14cc as well. You are going to require allot more Fluid in your band before you start getting good restriction. Just be persistent. Make sure you keep going in for fills. I was going in monthly for fills. It will come. Stick to the diet. Eat in the right order and keep clear of Big Macs. It will work. You can do it, look your down 33 and that’s great!! Good Luck! Michelle 284/173/155 pre-band/current/goal Banded 03/12/2009

Jennifer- All but 10 pounds was after the surgery. I made sure to stick to the rules. Even before a fill I was making sure my intake was 1/2 cup. It was a hard time but I made it and it helped. I am no longer an insulin dependant diabetic, I do take meds of any kind, and I started jogging. I never figured I could do that.

We all know the good of the Lap Band. It seems as you are looking for the things we did not expect... 1. Hair loss, it does happen. It will grow back. If you take biotin it will help. 2. The surgery is easy, but take the week after off. You won’t be sore but you will be weak from lack of food. 3. You really won’t be restricted until after you start getting fills. Yes, you will be able to eat after the surgery. You must make the effort to stay on tract and you will get hungry. 4. When you start loosing the weight get a compression garment. This seems to help with training the skin. Now that I have one I can’t live without it. 5. Lapbandtalk.com is a great support system. Use it. 6. Clothing will be an issue. You will see the weight coming off and new clothing needs come sooner and faster then you may think. 7. The say to eat slow… they mean it. Eating a meal fast will end up having it come back up on you. This is a quick action that does not give to much warning. The warning signs are not fun. This is the same for eating too much or adding water to a meal. It is worth it. It will be the best thing you can do for your health and happiness. Michelle 284/173/155 Highest/Current/Goal Surgery date- March 12, 2009

Health- I was 38 years old and heading for death. Lap Band saved my life. Sure I wanted to be thin. Look good. Walk a mile without being out of breath. My truth is Lap Band saved my life Michelle 284/174/150 highest/current/goal Banded 3/12/209

Banded 03/12/2009 Pre band 186 Today 178

I have been a diabetic for more than 12 years, in 2007 I went on insulin and in August of last year was put on an U500 insulin (yes that is a 5X concentrated insulin). I was banded in March of 2009. I am completely off all insulin, oral diabetes meds as well as all of my blood pressure and cholesterol meds. It was one of the happiest days of my life. I have lost 100 pounds. I was able to get off the insulin because my pancreas was still producing insulin. You can have the doctor run a blood test to tell this or not. This will assist you in knowing if it will be possible to get off the insulin. I hope this helps. Michelle

I too have a large band. I believe it is a 14cc. In the beginning it was hard to stay on track because I did not feel much restriction, but I was determined to lose the weight. Make sure you keep going in and getting your fills. If you don’t have restriction go back and tell them you need more. I finally got restriction. You can do this! Keep reminding yourself why you did this. You will see the benefits. I was a little over the 7 cc mark before I started seeing good restriction. It has paid off and I am now (for the first time) seeing the results. I had surgery in March of 2009. I started out 284 pound I have currently lost 99 pounds ( just waiting for that extra pound so I can say the magic number). Keep in mind that it was July before I got good restriction. I know it can be frustrating but if you work with the band it will work for you. Again, demand more fills and you will get to your sweet spot. Good luck, I have faith that you can do this. Michelle

What area in Washington do you live? I know of many Doctors in the area who are great. Michelle

No more insulin, no more BP meds, no more Cholesterol meds, no more anything. Size: 28-30 to now just getting into 14. The 96 pounds in the last 7 months were an added bonus!! Michelle Banded 03/12/2009 High weight 284 Current weight 188

I was banded on 03/12/2009. Post Op weight was 284 Current weight is 189 Down 95 pounds, 5 pound to the big 100!

I am a classic apple. no butt, no hips, no legs, but man do I have a waist. So yes buying pants are a challange. If you go online to Lane Bryant, they have a clothing line called Right Fit. It is color coded, we are Yellow. If you are shaped like we are then you can buy pants that are made with the larger waist and thinner lower half. I have personnally tried these on and they are perfect. They are not cheap. But you can get jeans and business clothes as well. Good luck! Michelle

Until you start getting fills you do not have very much restriction. If fact, you will probably be able to eat more than you think. This is normal. When I was in this stage I worked very hard to restrict my intake to a cup of food or less per meal. This helped, but was not easy. As you get fills you will start seeing the benefits. When you are feeling hungry try drinking water until your next meal and see if that helps. The weight will start coming off. Remember this is a tool. You have to use the tool for it to work. Make smart food choices and eat healthy. That change can be made. I was the Queen of carbs. I have been there too, but it can be done. Good luck to you all, I know you can do it. Michelle Starting Weight 284 Surgery date 03/12/2009 Current weight 194 Working towards the magic 100 pound mark.

Let them think what they want. You will never be able to control the stupidity of those who are uneducated about the Lapband. We all know this is a tool for weight loss, regardless of what they think. Be proud of what you have done. You took control of something you had no control over and looked what you have done already. I once feared what other people thought. Now I have the self confidence to not care. I tell anyone who will listen I did this. Why would you not. Think of the person you will inspire. It is a wonderful thing. You will see too. Don’t let the ignorance of people get to you, then they win, and they are not playing. Michelle Banded 03/12/2009 Starting weight 284 Current weight 197

Hang in there! It is easy to eat still. Once you start getting fills things will change. You will not be able to eat like you had in the past or like you can right now. When you hit a sweet spot you will know it. I did not think it was going to happen, but it did. The body will retrain to the amounts you can eat. The weight will come off and you will see it and want to make the right choices to work with it. Good luck! Banded 03/12/2009 Starting weight 284 Current weight 197