howdybooth

Well - I'm just about at my goal weight! Had my surgery Novembver 16th 2009 and as of today I've lost 102 pounds with 8 left for goal. People ask if all the time if I'd do it again and I say Heck Yeh - in a heart beat. I've really not had any problems with the band......and any that I did - I knew that I did it to myself! I had plenty of people tell me their horror stories - and I learned from them what to do and what not to do! So very proud of myself!

Shoshanna - I'm with you - I'm 187 - AGAIN! But, I was so restricted while losing, that it's taking lots of effort and energy to not GRAZE and go back to 3 meals a day. I was so afraid at the beginning that this wouldn't work for me - it did, but I guess just like when I learned to live on LESS food, I need to learn on living on MORE food, without gaining! Yikes! Always something!!!

I've actually got down to 160 lbs - 20 below my goal weight. But, no energy, sick, generally, not very healthy. I had 2 cc removed in early June & gained 25 lbs!!!! I needed to gain 10, but not 25. I went & had 1.5 cc put back - still no weight loss. But, I have been grazing - so I've started back to protein drinks & Greek yogurt for breakfast, salad with grilled chicken for lunch - whatever for dinner & no grazing!!! I really don't want to get another fill - I'm going on my first cruise, to Alaska, in September - I think I'll wait until after that before getting a fill. Oh & I'd convinced myself that frozen yogurt was ok - like I said - bad habits.

Well - I'm just about at my goal weight! Had my surgery Novembver 16th 2009 and as of today I've lost 102 pounds with 8 left

I've been reading and learning about smart lipo - it's where they make a small incision and very much like your typical lipo, they remove the fat. Here's the difference - it's done in the office (of course you are numbed up and pretty loopy! ) But instead of just sucking out the fat, they use a pulsating laser to burn up the fat and than suck it out. I know that there is all kinds of stuff I could have done on my body, but I look pretty great in clothes, wiht the exception of my saddle bags (doc calls them cones). So, for $2600 I can have them sculpted and shaped! If you know anything about the procedure, I'd like your input. If you don't, google it and look at the before and after pics.....just amazing!

Everyones pain tolerance is different. I didn't find mine to be too bad. I went grocery shopping the next day & cooked thanksgiving dinner. It did hurt when I first stood up or sat down, but other than that - I was good to go.

In my case the arm surgery will not help. You are still young and it might help. My doc daid he could remove the fat pocket, but that would leave the skin & only surgery will fix that AND leave a scar. You should really read up on it & than have a consultation with a good PS that does the laser lipo.

I has mine done 11/18 & I'm pleased with the results. He took 31/2 lbs total, but I've had to lose why more weight than you! I'm 5'8" & was 290. I'm now 175 & slowly working my way to 160. Also at age 51 (yikes!) my skin will not bounce back. My outer thighs look great in clothes, but I'm saving for a thigh lift (maybe!). That is neither an easy surgery or a quick recover & does leave big scars! So, I'm still thinking the whole thing over.

I did have 1/2 a cc removed in Jan 2011 and another 1/2 in March and no more problems. But I had gotten carless and last week i went back and had 1/2 a cc put back in and bang - acid reflux and today - pneunomia! I always have to learn the hard way! LOL So, maybe removing some of youe Fluid will help stop the cycle. My GP today told me he could give a an acid reducer, but that it wouldn't really stop the reflux, just the amount of buring acid. The problem with that is you need the acid to control the bacteria - catch 22! Less acid, but still a great chance of reflux and a bigger chance of bacterial pneunomia! I'll work through this some how. My friend lost 186 lbs with the band and her band is 5 years old (she had the surgery in Mexico). It recently developed a leak at the port and she went back to Mexico to have it fixed, but in the mean time, she has gained 50 pounds in about 4-5 months! So this band is never coming out of my body! Please let me know how you progress through this!

I think many of us have had this problem. I was warned by a former bander that the band caused fungus to grow in her lungs. Here's what I've learrned through trail and error.......don't eat a heavy meal after 7 pm. This may be really hard for most folks, but after my 3rd bout of pneunomia in 1 year I learned, again, how to change my life style to fit my band. I don't want to remove my band or decrease the amount of Fluid in my band. I don't have any problems with acid reflux or heartburn during the day - only if I eat and lay down within 1-3 hours after eating a big meal - and by big, I mean half of a jr. burger with the top bun removed and 10 french fries. So, I have my biggest or heavest meal at lunch and just a light salad and yogurt for dinner. Anyone else find something that works for them? I'd love to hear any suggestions!

I'm 22 months out and have lost 110 pounds - I've been on maintenance since 2/11. My current problem is pain in the port area. You know how sometimes you get a "catch" in your side......well that's kind of what it feels like. Not horrible pain, just uncomfortable. My port does stick out now - you can even somewhat see it when I wear my yoga clothes. I haven't been doing any different or new excerise.....so, anyone else ever have this kind of discomfort?

What you are going through is perfectly normal. The ins company just wants to make sure you are serious about this journey. It could be worse......you could have to pay for it yourself like I did & many others have.

It happens to mist of us - you either need to increase your exercise or reduce you calories. A for under 1200 & I'm pretty sure you don't need to be paying for additional suppelments. You have the right tools just need adjusting. I list 110 pounds in about 18 months and you are heading in the same direction. Good luck!

Just remember - you did it before, you can do it again. I've been freaking reading how some of you gained weight back and trying to figure out how that happened.....then I noticed I had gained 4 pounds! YIKES! Before I could beat myself up too badly I realized that my hands and feet were swollen.....there was no way my rings (that fit perfectly 110 pounds ago) would be tight on me now! But.......I haven't been eating as well - so I'm back on the wagon! Just wanted to thank everyone for sharing - sometimes it's just what I need to keep me pointed in the right direction.

Well - I'm just about at my goal weight! Had my surgery Novembver 16th 2009 and as of today I've lost 102

Good for you! I'm going to India at the end of the month and expect to lose weight! Not sure about what type of food I'll be eating or if I'll like it LOL. I figure India food in India is pretty different from here! Face it - Chinese food is different here than from China - LOL. But keep up the good work and don't forget......small goals and small meals! I only eat 3 meals a day and only give myself 15-20 min to eat it and no liquids 30 min before, none during and 1 hour after a meal!

I don't think you are too tight. You mention drinking Protein shakes (I have one of those just about every morning), cheese, deli meat, casseroles - the only meat you mentioned was from Wendy's that didn't work so well. I can't eat any dried out meat or over cooked meat....it's just to hard to digest. What you didn't mention was meat you cooked yourself or what type of meat was in your casseroles. If you aren't slimming, throwing up, or having acid reflux (all of which are signs of being too tight) then you are fine and welcome to the world of restriction with the band. But, in the end, you will need to do as you doctor says; call the office and see what they say. By the way, I recently found out that surgeons suggest two ways of getting your daily amount of food: 3 meals a day, no Snacks or 3 meals a day and 3 small snacks a day (fruit, cheese). My doctor (who was a teaching doctor) told me to have 3 meals a day, no snacks, and only give myself 1/2 an hour to eat. It seems to be working for my maintance.

Go get a fill too. That's the greatness of the band. 5 day pouch test than a fill. You'll be back on track.

Nay - I'm more concerned with you eating "bad" stuff. 1/2 cup of food is all you should be able to eat at a time. For example - I'm at goal and today for luch I had fresh spinach and fresh chicken salad (1/2 cup) and that was 3 hours ago and I'm still full. BUT - here's the deal - I like being tight. That way I can't eat bread or pizza and I've lost all the weight I wanted in 18 months (110 pounds). What you can't do is eat the bad stuff! Stick to Protein first, than green veggies, and then carbs if you have room. Sometimes, I just had birthday cake and ice cream for dinner - LOL - but not often. So, what you are experiencing is your first real restriction.....you'll have to learn to live with it and not eat the bad foods. Good luck!

YES - YES - YES! I was even ready to call it off as I was being wheeled off to the OR! Here's the good thing......it wasn't hardly painful at all. I was home by 11:15 AM, in my own bed, sleeping most the day. By day three, I beleive I could have returned to work - but you have to know that I have had 4 surgeries in the past, so I knew what to expect pain wise, but was very pleased that it was totally controllable. Now - as for the eating part - that's what scared me the most. I felt some panic that I wouldn't be able to eat - and not that'd be hungry, but that I wouldn't be able to get mentally full. So, I went to consuling and worked with a psychiatrist who could work with me, along with some meds, to help me overcome my fears and learn how to NOT use food as a comfort. I beleive the people that have had the band and been successful have learned to overcome their dependence on food. Getting your head in the right place is far more important than getting the band.....the band is just a tool to help you lose the weight; your brian is what make it work successfully. Good luck Tiffany! You aren't alone with your thoughts and here's the good thing......once you have the band, you can slowly make it tight and give yourself the time you need to come to terms with the fact that you can no longer over eat. As you feel more confident in yourself, you can get it tightened. After that, you will be so happy with the results, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about!

Well - even if you haven't eaten, it doesn't mean that something isn't stuck. Have you had your first fill yet? It can take several fills before you really start to feel the restriction.....right now you may have some restriction, but still pretty much able to eat everything.....you just may be getting something stuck from time to time - hence the slimming When it happens, try drinking something warm - like tea or broth. Sip slowly and allow the warm drink to settle in you stomach. If your stuck, that should help it move along. And beleive me, you'll fill it move along.