anglov

I am definitely a success story in the making. I have reached a major milestone in my life and one that I would not have made without the lap band. Please see my blog about my journey so far and click to follow. http://thelapbandexperience.blogspot.com/ I was banded 10 months ago and cannot believe where I stand today. I never dreamed I would hit this milestone in less than a year. My surgeon had a goal of 40 lbs a year with a total weight loss of 120 lbs over 3 years. I have always shopped at places like Lane Bryant and Woman Within (when I could no longer buy off the rack at Lane Bryant stores). I have gone from a very tight size 28/30 in pants to a size 18/20. I went from a size 4x/5x (30/32) top to a size 1x/2x (22/24) at a regular store not the specialty plus stores like Lane Bryant. I am shopping at Old Navy and saving tons of cash on clothes. I now shop at least 2-3 times a month for clothes. I am LOVING it!! That is definitely something I would never have thought I would do again. I still have a long ways to go but I know without a doubt I will get there. I am not eating bird-size portions. I don't eat fat free. I eat a salad plate size portion at each meal. I eat eggs every morning pretty much for breakfast. I don't exercise as much as a I should. Frankly hardly at all so I know that if I were to change that I would probably have been at my surgeon's goal already. The key here is I am happy. What I am doing is working for me. I don't obsess about food. I only recognize the foods I cannot eat. Other than that, all is fair game. I have come to realize my whole problem was portion control. I can choose healthier items if I want but I would eat really huge portions of everything. Now I don't. Another milestone for me is that I have not had a single soft drink in a year. March 25, 2010 was the day I stopped drinking soft drinks. I only drink Vitamin Water Zero, milk, juice. That's it. I have no caffeine at all. May 12th will be my 1 year bandaversary. I can't wait to see where I will be at that time.

Thanks everyone!

Congratulations! It is definitely a thing to celebrate.

Carol Ann, It's called Correc-Chin by Serious Skin Care. I try to use it as soon as I get out of the shower every morning. I have tried it at different times but it seems to work best right out of the shower. It says to use it twice a day but I don't. I have the double chin and it helps minimize it. I have had the double chin since I was a little girl, when I wasn't overweigt at all when I was little, so I don't think that will be going anywhere. It says "firming beauty cream for the chin, neck and jaw line." My mom who is 70 years old, gave it to me after I had surgery and said "here you need this more than I do", gee thanks mom!! LOL!! I think she got it off QVC or HSN, one of those. Being 40 and down 96 lbs in less than a year, I need all the help I can with sagginess. Thanks Angie

I have had reflux for over 20 years. I was taking Protonix before my surgery in May 2010. I was heartburn free for a few months then I started having sliming espisodes that irritated my stomach and back came the heartburn. I now keep the Protonix on hand and use as needed when it flares up. Tums didn't work and I wanted to make sure it was taken care of so I wasn't uncomfortable or miserable more than I needed to be. My surgeon is the one to suggest I go back on it as needed. I didn't get an unfill I just skipped the fill until my heartburn was under control. I got the Protonix filled again because I don't want to try and find something that might work. I know the Protonix works for me and I want a sure thing versus a maybe.

Wow where do I begin? I have the stomach "apron", a large flap there. I have bat wings under my arms. My inner thighs look like someone let the air out of a balloon. I have no doubt I will be having plastic surgery but not for several years. I only use a firming cream for my neck/chin. I can tell a difference from days I use it and days I don't. Other than using duct tape to hold it in and up (LOL) just going to deal with it. Tuck it and tape it, I say!

Have a cookie, if you deprive yourself you may indulge in something worse. I always take a large insulated bag with my foods in it each day with an ice pack. I don't put anything in the breakroom fridge and I eat at my desk. The only time I go in the breakroom is for ice, hot Water for my cider, or to heat up my lunch in the microwave. People bring treats in all the time and for the most part I turn them down because I just avoid where they are at. My desk is my safe haven. It has my foods and my indulgences there. It's girl scout cookie time here and I bought 10 boxes. I LOVE those Cookies. I knew I would eat them. I just adjust the remainder of the day. If I want to indulge I must be extra good for the rest of my meals but if not then I don't beat myself up over it. This is my life and will be like this for the rest of it. I also can't eat donuts or cake without getting stuck most of the time so I don't have a problem with those. Cookies though are a different matter.

I have 28-24 sizes to get rid of. I seem to be shopping weekly to get clothes. I need size 20 pants and 22-24 in shirts or 2x.

I agree, the more protein I get in the more I seem to lose. It also helps you not to lose muscle mass. True about drinking something warm or in my case it has to be hot. I have steak envy. I can't eat steak anylonger. I could at first but now it's not an option anymore. The same goes for pork chops and pot roast no mater if I have a hot beverage beforehand. Bread is also a big no no along with most pasta.

I hate protein shakes in general but the GNC WHEY in chocolate isn't too bad. I mix it with a banana or peanut butter and it makes a pretty decent shake for when I get a fill. I have unflavored and vanilla but not crazy about either one. For hair, I take Biotin daily and it has made a difference. I noticed that hair loss started around 3-6 months and slowed down after 8 months.

Check out my blog at http://thelapbandexperience.blogspot.com/ I have gone through the same thing. I am down 95 lbs now and about half way to where I should be.

I so understand your thinking!! I didn't get a reality check until I had lost more than 50 lbs. Now I see it and man does seeing feel good. Congratulations! You are on your way!

Do, Definitely DO!! Why deprive yourself of certain treats and foods? I mean as long as they don't get stuck. The band is a tool and as I see it, I use my tool I don't work against it and I also don't work against my brain. My brain wants something and by golly I give it what it wants just in moderation. That's where the tool comes in. It helps me to eat less. My brain in return makes better choices or makes my regular recipes a little healthier, if possible. Today I have chicken breasts roasting in the oven for white chili and buffalo chicken dip. I am looking forward to both. I eat a lot of regular foods and not always low fat foods. The fact that I eat much less than before allows me to have what I want. If I am eating MORE of those not so good for your foods then I know it's time for a fill. So far its working for me. To each his or her own I guess. What are your favorite Super Bowl Foods or regular meal foods? Recipes? http://thelapbandexperience.blogspot.com/p/recipe-collection.html

I have to sip water before I leave the office to make sure no issues. The only diet I have after a fill is 24 hours without meat, pasta and bread. Try drinking a hot liquid like tea. coffee, hot chocolate, or cider, as hot as you can stand it, 15 min before you eat. The hot liquid helps relax your band but not so much that you eat too much. Sometimes it works for me and sometimes it doesn't. There is probably some swelling due to the fill. It's common at first. When I go a while between fills it happens to me. I haven't had a fill since the beginning of December so I expect there to be swelling when I finally do get a fill if I need one. I am not rushing out to get a fill because one day I can eat everything that isn't nailed down but the next day I would be tight as a drum. As a matter of fact, the last fill I got I was really tight for about 8 days before it started to ease up just a tad. Sometimes it just takes a little time.

I had the most horrific sliming episode. It was more embarrassing than anything. I did what I had to do to "survive". Check out my blog for the gruesome details. http://thelapbandexperience.blogspot.com/ I am hanging on steadily with virtually gaining and losing the same few pounds every week for the past few weeks. I am maybe down a pound this week. I truly need to step up my exercise or actually just step up to it period. I do nothing. I have done a little but easily get distracted. I absolutely hate it and I don't have time. I work four 10 hour days so I get home at 8pm. I only have the three day weekends to really catch up on everything I need to do. Somehow I need to find something somewhere that will motivate me to "move it". I am also a person who does not like to work out with others even my own family. I have a Wii and have tried the Wii fit, which by the way, is down right rude if you get off the board to take a rest. The problem is my kids or husband comes in and wants to "watch" and I can't do that so since they refuse to leave I just stop and then don't touch again. Any suggestions? I wanted to try the Wii Zumba but again if the family comes in the room they won't leave so I just quit.

It is SOOOOOO worth it! It's surgery so everyone gets nervous. The only thing I would change is I would have done it sooner. My life is so much better now. It has its ups and downs but every bit is worth it for the results I have gotten.

Thanks Judy, and CONGRATS!! Welcome to the band family. It took a really long time for me to start wearing smaller clothes. I mean I was down 50lbs and was bummed because I wasn't in the smaller clothes yet. Now I get clothes at Old Navy and not online either. I go in the store. It's a good feeling. Thank you for the compliment. It will take some time for me to feel beautiful but I think I will get there. I tried to tell them it was "me" time. DIdn't work. There have been big arguments between hubby and me about it. The fight will go one I suppose. Feel free to contact me anytime. I would love to keep in touch through your journey and mine.

I dont' think it is the band either. I have days that I can barely eat beause I am tight and then the next day I can eat everything with no problems. I was told stress plays a factor and can make the band tighter. Not sure how that works but who knows. I have not been losing weight just staying the same for a little bit but most days I feel I am in the green zone so I don't want to get any fills right now. I think if I actually exercise maybe the weight loss would kick back in. I have lost 92 lbs so I guess what I am doing is working for me. The key is finding what's right for you. Everyone is different. Keep in mind excess breads will cause you to gain weight. Pizza is a carb fest and if you are eating it for breakfast, keep words break and fast, you may need to switch up what you eat. You are breaking the fast from overnight. I always eat pure protein in the mornings. Usually eggs. Just a thought. I know it's what works for me. Protein first, veggies second and if still hungry carbs. At each meal I eat a salad plate size of food per my doc.

Looking for other patients of Dr. Oldham's for band buddies.

I am not on any special diet. I was banded 8 months ago. I eat what I want but like QTNEY1, in normal or smaller portions. There are some off limits foods because they cause issues and steak, being one of them, was my all time fave but that's okay. I can deal with that. It takes a while but eventually you can get back to normal. I was 350 lbs and I am down 91 lbs in 8 months. I know my weightloss is not the norm. My surgeon said if I lose 40 lbs a year I would be doing great. I guess I am rocking it! It has been a blessing. It's a tool and you need to treat it as such. It is not a miracle but it is fantastic when used right. I hate exercise and I don't exercise not that I am proud of that. I really need to because I have tons of excess skin. Now that a good chunk of weight is off I plan on starting but that is still a work in progress. You are lucky your insurance paid for it. Mine didn't so I am self pay. Don't take that for granted. You are truly lucky so embrace it!

First...virtual HUG!! I know this is very frustrating and it's hard when you are going it alone and by alone I mean not with someone who has had lapband or getting it as well. Other's mean well but really don't understand and sometimes end up saying hurtfull or insensitive things. As DADKINS8 said, this is redefining your relationship with food but also with yourself. You have to come to terms with what you are doing and why. Pre-op sucks. Plain and simple. Once you have the band you have a whole new focus but you will have your band helping with the decisions. It won't be so stressful. I feel your pain with the protein shakes. They are just plain nasty! I see people talk about the shakes they love. Really? I never found a one that I could drink without gagging. I have this thing with food textures. Liquids should not be gritty. YUCK! Keep your eye on the prize. This will all be worth it. When you are looking back you will be proud of all that you have gone through because it will make you that much stronger. Those of us here will be with you along the way.

The gurgling always cracks me up and I hope that others can't hear it. I found out sometimes they do. LOL!! You are fresh from surgery so there is swelling and tightness. It will ease up as the swelling goes down. When you get fills it will probably do that again. I know mine does. Try the GASX strips for the gas pain. I also found a heating pad was my friend for back/shoulder pain or just to lay on my stomach. It was soothing. I had a hiatal hernia fixed at the same time as well so the extra pain is normal. Warm liquids are good. This is what my surgeon's office told me. They said cold stuff actually restricts while the warm liquids relaxes your esophagus and the opening. I thought it sounded silly but it's true for me. I drink hot cider 15 min before a meal and the food goes down easier. Hot liquids may do down easier since you have some swelling. Good luck! I had surgery 8 months ago. My blog is http://anglovato.blogspot.com/ if you would like to visit and read about my early days. Any questions feel free to send me an email. I would be happy to help you through this.

My port was tender for a month or two. It takes time especially since it is in a spot that you are constantly moving. Eventually it does go away. When I get fills sometimes it is a little tender when she is poking around to find it but really no troubles.