canary1

you said you don't know where to begin but you HAVE begun....by talking to your doctor, writing to this website, talking to your insurance people. You're on your way! I'd say, get your doctor to write a WLS prescription/referral and find out what WLS centers your insurance will work with.

That was a great answer!

I like this idea. My accountability efforts are taken by keeping track of my food intake and exercise in a software program...but that isn't the same as having a person to talk with. If you're gaining weight, start writing down what you're eating. The calories add up fast. Also, track your exercise. The math doesn't lie. Your energy output must exceed your energy consumed. Of course it won't always look that way ("I ate two pieces of cake and didn't gain anything!" --) but the long-term trend will show what you are doing. Sugar is a hidden ingredient in most processed, packaged foods. Find out where it is in your diet and then avoid it as much as possible. Fresh squeezed juices or plain ol' fruit are best but even then, dilute a bit with water (the juice) .... You will win in the long run if you're doing eating right. You only HELP yourself when you write down what you're consuming and doing exercise-wise. The win won't happen over-night. But you WILL win........ Hang in there! Also, remember, the number on the scale is only one indicator. How do your clothes fit? How are you feeling? I take a powder protein supplement that is dynamite for me. I think the protein intake is really important, more than we give it credit for. OK....onward and upwa....I mean downward!

two years out (from surgery). I told my housemate, my doctor (after the fact) and one friend who asked. I have told health care professionals with a "need to know". I'm glad I handled it this way. It would have been a curiosity for some, an excuse to judge for others, gossip for others, a diversion from true relating for others. I'm glad I did not divert everyone around me by making it a topic. Since I lost slowly, no one really made a fuss. And, finally, when people DID ask how I lost the weight, I said, Well. among other things, more exercise than I ever thought I do and less food than I ever thought I'd be able to put up with"..... That is true AND it ends the "discussion". No one is really that interested. Good luck!!

Wow! That's fantastic....and it is what I would suspect for your age range. I'm 60 and feel lucky that the sag isn't any worse than it is......BUT clothes cover a multitude of sins. I can live with it!!

Slower loss may let your skin "keep up" but it won't end up any tighter than it would if you lost more quickly. I like this terminology and is what I mean when I think about the skin problem. I suppose if there is an inordinant amount of skin, it may need to be surgically removed. I lost very slowly and my skin "kept up" with me until the very end. I have a small bit of loose skin that I am willing to live with -- and, who knows, it may "tighten" in time. But at my age, I'm willing to take the trade-off. Thank God for 3/4 and long sleeves!.....and exercise!

I was just wondering how many of you have had problems with loose skin, or with your skin not being so resilient. I was told that because of my age, as long as I work out, my skin SHOULD bounce back.....just wanted to hear everyone elses experience on the subject. I agree: Your age, the slowness with which you lose, and the fact that you will exercise will stand you in good stead. I lost about a lb a week while I was losing. That felt slow. I walked 5 miles a day in addition to shorter walks with my dog. I also "ran" stairs -- about 1000 every other day. I put "ran" in quotes since mostly I dragged myself up them. But it worked and it's much easier now. I do think that exercise is a main key to the whole success of your process. You can't fight your mom's argument so don't try. If you have the money to live your own life, just do it. Ignore everyone else's nay saying. In fact, I'd stop talking about it. Use this and other sites for your support. People here understand. Besides, there's a lot more to your life than this operation and weight loss process. Talk about the other things. Best to you.

wow. Sliming aside, it looks like you're doing great! (Looking at your stats......) Just eat tiny bites and eat slowly. Keep up the good work!

I was just looking at your stats. Wow! You've done fantastic!! Congrats and keep up the good work!

This is a good suggestion. The doctor isn't living in your shoes. Perhaps he is pre-occupied with other issues. But I guarantee you, I'd either win the argument on this one or find another doctor. It's time to take your life into your own hands. You're trying, that's obvious. You have the wrong doctor. Something isn't right here and you need help you have paid for but are not getting.

It isn't a matter of cheating or not. It's a matter of finding your way. If you are eating slowly, eat slower. If you are taking small bites, take smaller bites. Eventually you'll find what stays down. Sliming and throwing up won't kill you but the less the better. (Not that you can fight it if it starts.) 11 days post op, you are still healing. I would allow that to happen before worrying about losing weight. It will happen. And it will likely happen slowly -- about a pound a week. Don't freak. Hang in there. You'll get to goal, no doubt.:tt2:

That sounds fantastic! Glad you worked it out. Keep us posted......

I think it is 65 and younger, not 56.......

Your inability to exercise may be what is slowing you down but at least you are losing. If you continue at your current rate, you will be down around 50 lbs in a year. That is fantastic. i would just hang in there and take delight in the fact that you are losing, not gaining. You may find that as you continue to lose weight, you may, indeed, be able to begin exercising. Exercise will speed your weight loss. Given your situation, it sounds like patience will be your best friend. In two years at your current rate of weight loss, you could be down 100 lbs. I think that prospect is worth the effort within your current limitations (which I think will improve over time).

I would at least discuss that possibility with your doctor. Yourf weight loss looks great!

Dr. Aceves in Mexicali did mine. He and his team are great. They do free fills (except you have to pay about $80 for the xray. They pick you up at the San Diego airport and fromthere on, until return to airport, they take care of everything. You are never on your own. Remember to bring your passport.

I ditto everything said above. I was banded 08-16-07 by Dr. Aceves and team. The hospital is cleaner than what I've seen here in the USA. The attention from staff is professioanl, competent, very polite and interested. I had no complications, two fills, and am doing fine two years out.

Your first job after surgery is to heal from it. I lost no weight after surgery for three weeks. But I knew that healing was the first job. Do the post-surgery program. Don't cheat. You'll get where you want to go. The thing with loosing wieght is not the daily number. It's what you weight after a year. Wow. Down 60 pounds? 120 pounds? That's what you look for. Record what you eat. Follow the guidelines. You'll get there. My average weight loss over a year was 1 pound a week. It took me roughly 70 weeks to lose 70 lbs. Don't freak. You'll be fine.

Dyanna -- It sounds like you are coming down with the flu. I just got over it -- and it took two weeks -- and all your symtoms sound like mine. I hope you have the luxury of hanging out at home and letting this pass. I hate the thought that the doctor let something inside of you during surgery (other than the band), or didn't suture you correctly, but I think a thorough investigation of that possibility is in order. This would include x-rays and an indepth discussion with the doctor. Some will ask, what could he leave inside you using laproscopic surgery? I have no idea. But that's the question and the way you are now feelings following surgery needs a complete discussion and investigation. Stuff happens. And if you don't have the fortitude to go in by yourself, have your significant other or friend go with you. And don't let the receptionist or nurse put you off for three weeks. You need to go in to-day. Once surgery malfunctions are laid to rest, move on to the topic of having the flu or some other ailment. Go to your regular doctor and figure out what you have. Then treat it. Regretably, treating the flu may just be going home and going to bed for too long. On the hunger issue, I don't think that goes away with the lapbad as it seems to with the sleeve (so I hear from sleevsters). Keep a record of everything you eat so you know what you're doing in that area.

Please don't let this derail you. I have had to walk away from many "friends" whose friendship was based on political persuasion (they thought I viewed things one way and when they found out differently started harassing me); drug usage (I don't use); religion; other social factors. At work, I had to keep myself distant from co-workers who had a real "us vs them" mentality (i.e. anyone who wasn't a cop was a criminal, even decent citizens). Somewhere in the mix, I am lucky to have life-long friends who know and love me for who I am. I haven't lost any friends due to my weight loss but if I did, I would let them go and just move on with my own journey. I was going to suggest that you make new friends. Perhaps go to church -- or a new church -- where people don't know you from before. If your family is deep into a current church and they don't want to change, find a Wednesday night group to go to. Or join a hiking or book club. Someone posted that s/he doesn't get close to people at work. I totally agree with that mode of operation. Work is work. Be polite and professional, take your paycheck home, but keep your social distance. I always did and am I ever glad. It saved me LOTS of trouble. Finally, as formerly fat or bigger-than-we-wanted-to-be people, there is probably a psychological component that hasn't faded for you yet....or may never. You want everyone to love you.......or you want to please everyone.......I don't know, but if this rings a bell, I just beg you NOT to allow these tendancies to interfere with your wonderful progress. Your life is much better now. You have proved you can take yourself to a better place. Don't let yourself get derailed by the pettiness of others. Take the loss of your co-worker as you knew him into a true, professional relationship -- which doesn't necessarily mean you chat him up. You are just polite when you have business with him. It's already been proved that you AREN'T friends. But you can still be polite and cooperative in the work setting. OK. That's my input. Hope something there makes sense. Most of all, congrats on a great effort, a great success, a great new life!!!

I drink Isopure, too. Some people don't like it. I dilute it to cut the strength of the taste. That still gives me protein and also more H2O without the strong taste-aftertaste.

Wow. Hang in there and don't give up. Maybe it's time for a professional second opinion. Are there other doctors in your area who might weigh in on this? I know doctors like to stick together sometimes. You might have to go OUT of your area, but this seems like a questionable deal to me. If you are dealing with the doctor who did the surgery, that person had to know what a catastrophe this is for you. I;d be in that doctor's office saying we need to DEAL with this so you can lose the weight that operation was intended to help you lose. Until that happens, this surgery is a failure. If it was any other kind of surgery, you BET the doctor would be back in there trying to create a success of his work. I don't want to overlook the expanded esophogus. Were you eating too much too fast and throwing up at all? If so, that would seem to correct itself over time if you also corrected your eating. This doctor needs to work with you. If he doesn't, find another one. And, as for $250 a fill...WOW... I pay nothing except $80 for the x-ray. I've had one fill and one unfill. I've gained weight after the unfill but I needed to. Now I need to just figure out how to maintain. Best of luck to you.