blksuperwoman40

I drink 4Ever Fit Fruist Blast protirn isolate. It is the best. They have several flavors...( I alwasy drink toropical Mango). Its not thick...mixes easy in a Water bottle and the taste is good. Its low carb too...so not all the sugar you get in some protien drinks. You can buy it at Vitimin World.......or order it online. High quality protien drink. I work out everyday, and I use it after my workout, but you could drink it anytime... They have several flavors... I hope you enjoy

Slowmover, If you have been going to the gym 5 'x a week, I wouldnt cut back calories, I would add more. Your body need the extra calories when being activie, otherwise your matabolism slows down. Thats why you are not losing. trust me, I was in the same situation.. I uped my calries and the inches and pounds started melting away. Just a suggestion.

Went from size 18/20 to now a size 8___although i can fit some 6's. Funny my initial goal was 165 and size 10/12...then went to 150...thought it would take me to a solid 10-some 8's....10's. I am at 156 and 10's are falling off of me...can fit any 8's and a few 6's...weird. I exercise a lot, so I have leaned out although i still weigh a lot. What i have noticed is that as you get smaller...5 pounds can move you from 1 size to the next....My goal is 150..but i really dont want to be too thin....funny huh...would never have thought i would say that! LOL... By the way...I am about 5'6. Exercise and the size's will start to change. My lesson...focus less on weight and more on changing of my body. I do weigh myself to keep myself in check...

Please remember, the wonderful thing about the band is that it can be forever and it can also be adjusted or removed depending on life circumstances, illness (God forbid), or problems down the road. I still have all of my insides and i have some control over the band. That is not true for either the sleeve or GB. The sleeve is still pretty new, but many doctors dont like the idea of removing half of your stomach and I dont like the thought either. The band does not work for everybody, but it is a tool and if you use your tool you can be very sucessful. I love my band and I have lost to my goal weight. Went from a 20 to an 8..(and some 6's)...I had to exercise, eat right and all of that, but the band helps you along that path. The wonderful thing I beleive about the band is, if I start gaining my weight back, I can go get a fill! yeah! Forever! Yeah...not the case with GB or the sleeve. And i know several folks who had GB, lost great fast...but now gaining it back. They have nothing to fall back on...I always do (although I hope not to have too)...Its your choice, but I love my band!

I had large arms but alwasy been somewhat shapely. I started working with weights..(more then 5 pounds ladies)...and now I have awesome arms and shoulders...I get compliments daily (Mrs Obama arms, they say)....I have a little tummy pouch but this has alwasy been a problem area for me. Cant really see it with clothes on. I use to have a large rear end...so as I lost weight, it got quite jiggly....wouldnt call it loose skin...I do tons of squats and it has improved...still working on that... Also...inner thighs....some loose skin...but has drastically improved with exercise using weights! Starting weight--244.....Now 158. Goal is 150 but already in a size 8...and looking skinny...very toned due to using weights! From size 18-20 now in size 8...thats were I want to be!

I dont know a Dr in that area, but I am sure there are plenty. It actually sounds to me like you are too tight, therefore cannot eat a reasonable amount of food, so you settle for alcohol and proberly other "bad" slider foods. I would consider getting a unfill....I have noticed that I do not lose weight when I eat a lower calorie diet. And just so you know, I was in the same situation. I have been banded 3 years. I lost 30 pounds the first 6 months. The nothing. I disnt have real good restriction and I didnt make good food choices. I finally decided i needed to use my tool! I started going to the gym 5-6 days a week and realing watching my food. I went and had a fill...I know have great restriction...and I have made it to my initial goal...I now love the gym and really into weightlifting etc...I feel great and look even better... Dont resort to drugs...use your tool...and yes, its not a magic pill...u have to put in some work!

3 years and no complications. I love my band!

I exercise 6 days a week. Actually not until i really started exercising did I get good results with the band. Exercise and the results keep me in check. Surgery is your choice, but I can tell you...I was at a lower BMI when I started. i actually purposely gained weight so i could qualify. It was one of the best decsions of my life. No more starting the new year with "this year I am going to lose weight". Yes, I do lose more weight when I eat more calories. I get this in with protien shakes. Trust me your trainer is crazy. You wouldnt beleive how many people come up to me at the gym everyday and say YOU LOOK AWESOME! I do cardio and weights and have lot of definition....so its up to you. To struglle or not to struggle!

I feel your pain, but be encouraged! Just briefly, I was banded in dec07. I lost 30 pounds in 6 months...then nothing. Went and got one fill...it helped but i could still eat almost anything. Waited a year. Finally decided..IT was ME, not the band that was failing. I went for a fill..it helped, but needed another a month or so later. The next one worked! I lost 25 pounds in about 2.5 months and that included over the holidays. I went back for a little tweaking and I am now at my sweet spot! I ahve lost an additional 30 pounds. So a total of another 55 pounds in about 6 months...and that 2 years AFTER being banded. OH yeah... the most important thing! I got serious. I started exercising 4-5 days a week and watched what i put in my mouth. You have a choice. Do I put something healthy or not healthy in my mouth. I know that sounds cruel...but the band is a tool. And YES...when you get to your sweet spot...YOU will only be able to eat so much. Physically, I can only eat so much and thats not a lot. I ocassionally slime when some food dont agree with me or I try to keep eating although my band has told me to stop. So I would encourage you to keep getting your fills until you reach that spot. I never knew what people talked about until i got there! Its wonderful! But you gotta work your tool and make a decision that you really want to lose the weight. When i turned that corner...it has been all down hill from there! I am loving it...20 pounds to my goal, although I am a size 10 now and it looks quite nice on me...but I am working on toning and reducing my body fat percentage now. hang in there.:smile:

I understand, but dont be discouraged. I have been banded since Dec 07. I lost about 30 pounds the first six month, then nothing. Over the next year I gained about 10 of those back. Mainly because i dint get filled and made bad food choice. Last October, I went and had a fill and made a committment to use my "tool". I started going to the gym six days a week...no matter what. I started making better food choice. I aslo went through the feeling "too toght" phase and thought I was going to need an "unfill"...but after about a month...it adjusted and I adjusted. I realized I had to be careful with what I eat and the amount I eat. But most importantly I started going to the gym, or outside to just walk. I am now down another 50-55 pounds since i "got serious" and started using my tool. I am 20 pounds to my goal. Did it take over 2 years..,.yes...but it is worth it and I love my band. I am also finally at my "sweet spot" ...and that helps. BUT...I have to make choices everyday...like to have a piece of cake or ice cream. I choose to say no...the results I have received are not worth that peice of cake. I should say I do occasinoally splughe...but everything in moderation. One small slice or a few bites...and I am done. So dont give up...You can do it.

I dont normally reply to post, but I truely hope I can send a word of encouragement. I was banded in december 2007. In the first 6 months i lost about 30 pounds then came to a standstill. I went back for a fill and the guy told me he gave me 2 additional cc's which would have taken me up to 7.0. I felt no restriction and gained about 7 pounds back. 6 months later i finally went back for another fill. I was discouraged but also realized that without my band I proberly would have gained more. Anyway, when I went back a different person did my fill. She also told me that I did not have 7cc's in my band but more like 5.5. I did not have a leak, the other person just simply didnt do my fill correctly the previous time! Anyway, I had some restriction for a little while, lost only a few more pounds but did not give up. Now here it is 1 1/2 years later and i was only down about 30 pounds from my surgery weight. I then realize that the band is a TOOL and i must use it correctly. i went for another fill and I decided that i needed to watch what I ate (healthy foods), the amount of calories i took in and I started going to the Gym or doing some type of exercise everyday. That was October 2009. I went to the doctor last week for a slight fill and I was down 25 more pounds! I lost almost the same amount of weight in 3 months that it took me in 1 1/2 years. I feel awesome...I have great restriction finally. I watch what i eat but i dont deprive myself. I treated myself to "bad" food over the holidays, but all in moderation. I can now eat a bite of cookie and be satisfied, versus needing to eat the whole cookie. Yes, the restriction helps, but i also realize that the Band is not the ultimate answer, but a tool to help you in this journey. Try to eat foods that are filling. Limit the junk food....I have learned to just say no and EXERCISE is the key! I hear everyday, you are skinny...you are getting skinny! I still have 45 more pounds to go but i feel awesome! Dont be discouraged. My band is finally working after 2 years! Well...ok, I am finally working my band after 2 years! Surgery- 245 Current 193 Goal 150