laurigee

I think that it all depends on how much weight you have to lose and how fast you lose it. I have lost over 100lbs, but lost it very slowly and have no problems with skin hanging anywhere. Everyone is different and you'll have to just wait and see.

I exercise quite a bit and have never had that problem. Remember that everyone is different with what they can tolerate with the band. You must also remember the time to stay hydrated is before you exercise as well as during. Proper hydration is a continual process. If you drink the proper amount daily you should definately be able to drink enough while exercising without having a problem.

My family hasn't changed much. I still make the same meals I did before the band for my 2 sons and husband. I eat what they eat, just less. I don't think they remember that I even have the band. I've never restricted what foods were in the house. I just try to stay away from them as much as possible. Ice cream is the one thing I try not to buy, unless requested. One of my downfalls. Good Luck with your husband and your dinners!

Karey....You are so right when you say that it helps others. We had our surgery at the same time and I have always followed you during the last 2+ years, reading your posts, even though not always posting. You seemed to have similair experiences, good advise, and always positive. So thank you for giving us a little piece of yourself, I truly appreciate it. Your an Awesome Lady!

The only time I have had acid reflux with the band is when I was overfilled. I had them take some out and it disappeared. You may want to try getting some more taken out, even though you feel like you need a fill. Actually some people get the band that have severe acid reflux to solve that problem. So you really need to figure out why this is happening. Like the poster said previously ibuprofen(?) can erode the band. But I take prilosac daily because I have to take naproxen every day for my migraines and my joint pain. Certain insurance companies pay for the prilosac, mine does. So my doctor says as long as I take the prilosac before hand there shouldn't be a problem. Good Luck and let us know how everything goes.

You definately could just be overfilled. Don't worry yourself until you see the doctor. If it doesn't happen everytime you eat it could also be what you ate. The band can be really funny sometimes. There are days I can eat alot with no problems and days I can barely eat anything. One day a food I just ate a week ago with no problems, may all of a sudden cause problems. Don't get yourself worked up until you see your doctor. More than likely everything is just fine. Let me know what happens.

Karey...I am so glad that you are doing well. What is the problem that you are having with the lapband? I always worry about the day that something goes wrong. Do you think that you would need the sleeve? I have always wondered if when your eating and exercising has changed if you would need anything. I am still hungry with the band, I just wonder if it would be alot worse with nothing. Well, again, I am glad that you are feeling good and can't wait for you to post more pictures.

I really think that people get confused with what the band is suppose to do for you. I am always hungry. But not to the point I was before. I can control myself better now. I don't know why people have the surgery if they are not commiting to a healthier lifestyle. Just losing weight doesn't make you instantly healthy. You have to make changes. You can't think, If I normally eat a bag of cheetos and now I can only eat half a bag, shouldn't I be losing weight? (Not saying you do this, but I know some that do) You have to EXERCISE your body to make it healthy and make wise food choices. The reason why most lap-banders are successful is because they have incorporated exercise into their new life. I have been around this site for a long time and I don't think I have seen any sucess stories or long term weight loss without that key factor. If you do nothing else, just do that one thing and I can almost guarentee results. I think that those of you that the band is not working for need to have a long talk with your doctors. If they don't have the answers find someone that does. You just need to find someone who is knowledgeable enough to give you the correct advise and be able to work with YOUR body and YOUR band. Because you are right, everyone is different. For a while I had horrible shoulder and stomach pain. So we took all the fluid out. We then started filling the band slowly back up over time. For some reason I never got the pain again. The point is, my doctor didn't leave me with pain. He tried something different and it solved the problem. It is not meant to be an aggressive procedure to weight loss. Therefore, it should have minimal side affects and your doctor should have made you aware of what they could be. If all else fails I would remove all fluid from my band and ignore that it is there. I truly think though if you just regroup and use some of the suggestions that have been given, you can have the results that your looking for. I don't think anyone here is trying to be mean or judgemental I think we all want you to be successful, because we all know how you feel, all of us have struggled, and we are hoping this can be your answer to your weight problems like it was for ours. I wish you all the best. Good Luck, and please let us know how things go for you.

First off I have struggled to lose weight with the band. I have had it for almost 2 1/2 yrs and am still not at my goal. This is not the bands fault. I figured out if you drink with your meal you can eat more, which I used that fact on more than 1 occasion. I ate because it tasted good, not because I was hungry. For that same reason I kept eating when I was feeling full. I ate too fast and didn't eat foods that would stay in my stomach the longest. I would give excuses for not exercising. All me, not the band. When I finally decided I wanted to change, it started to work. Sometimes I think were ready for weight loss, just not ready for the energy it takes to do it. My doctor never made any promises to me, he said I would get out of it what I was willing to put in to it. The fantasy that you will never be hungry, you will lose weight without exercise, and you can eat whatever you want is a great one. If any doctors sold you on this, I have a bridge I would like to sell you.lol. When you read posts from people that are very happy with the band I can gaurentee the biggest part of their life they have changed is exercise. When I was younger I would spend 2-4hrs a day in the gym, but now I spend an hour or maybe less 5X's a week and have gotton the same results. You don't have to be a fanatic, you just have to do something more than you already do. Remember no matter who we are 3500 calories = a pound. If you eat more than you burn your going to gain. If less your going to lose. Write in a journal, you would be surprised at how calories add up in sips, tastes, and bites. Good Luck to all of you that are having a hard time. If you have any questions feel free to ask, I think I have been through it all.

Karey....Thanks for the advise. I definately think you have got things figured out for yourself. Every time I think I have, I will go a few months, then BOOM! Something changes. Maybe I'm menopausal. lol. Thanks again!

If you have any questions this is definately the place to come! Welcome to the site! Good luck on beginning the journey. I wish you the best. WELCOME!

Like said in earlier posts, DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS! That point can't be stressed enough on this site. You work on you. If you are unsure of what to eat or how many calories, ask your doctor. As for fills, I didn't get real restriction until my second year of getting fills. I never understood what others said they felt until then. My band is at capacity. Some people will feel restriction right away, some won't. So to ask is fine, just don't get discouraged if you are not the typical. I was a very slow loser and like I said it took alot of time to get proper restriction. Just listen to your body, use the band properly, get your exercise, and your body will do what it needs to do for you. Remember, how fast you get there isn't important, it's that you eventually get there. Be Patient and let us know how things go for you. Good Luck

I have been banded for 2 1/2yrs. I can honestly say that it has been hard for me. It took me a long time to lose the weight I have. I think that my dedication to everything is quite limited. It took until my 2nd year to feel any restriction. So before that I felt like I was doing the same as all the other times I lost weight. After the last fill, I finally felt what I had heard everyone talk about. Which was kind of hard to get use to cuz I have always been able to eat whatever I want. I tend to over do it with exercise and then get burned out. Then I take a week off and feel horrible. So my new years resolution this year is "everything in moderation." I don't think I will ever figure it all out, but I just keep plugging away. This site is my way of staying accountable. I only go to the doctor now once a year, and my band is full to capacity. The weight loss challenges and exercise challenges on this site keep me going. And the big bonus is whenever you have a bad day or feel like you blew it, you can come here and get pumped back up and great advise from people that have been where your at. And they truely care. So thanks to everyone! You guys keep me going. I would definately do the band again, it is hard work, but well worth it.

karey...You and I were banded at the same time. How do you decide where the end is? I have been struggling with this for the last month. When I get to what I think would be the perfect size or number I then change my mind. I sometimes feel like I have been consumed by this. I will look at myself and think "you haven't came as far as you think". I'm wondering if I don't have this project (improving myself) I will feel like I'm missing something. Have I replaced the food compulsion for this? Does the thoughts or fears of going back still consume our lives? Maybe it is just the long winter is WI that is getting me dragged down. Have you ever thought about this, and if you have, do you have any advise? Maybe a shrink, lol.

I can definately eat bread. Actually I can tolerate anything. I'm not sure how I would feel if I had to give something up because the band wouldn't allow me to have it. I probably would have lost weight faster. I'm not a real fan of thinking anything is off limits. If I crave it, I have it. This keeps me from overindulging. It's funny how the band works so differently for everyone. Goes to show there is no one right or wrong answer to any lap band question.

msdelicious.....Please, Please, Please, don't compare your weight loss to others. This is only going to distract, discourage, and frustrate you. If you know that you are following the banders rules, there is no right or wrong amount you should lose. Everyones body is different. I experienced everyone passing me up in weight loss. I got very depressed at the time so I stopped coming to this website. Then one day about a year later I came back. I seen the people that had passed me up a year ago and I was at the same spot as them about 2 years later. Did they get there before me? yes. Are we both there now? yes. Most of them did not lose as much as I did and had to have tummy tucks, arms, legs, thighs done. I believe it was because they lost weight very fast. I didn't. Mine was slow and steady and my skin was able to keep up with my loses. Of coarse some has to do with genetics, but you can't count out fast weight loss as a culprit. I may have taken a little longer but I saved alot of money and pain. Just wanted to let you know that it is okay to be a slow loser, it has it's benefits. Good Luck

Different things cause me to feel tighter. I definately feel tighter when I exercise. If I go a week without, I don't feel like I have a lot of restriction for some reason. With my band I feel different on a daily basis. I just have learned to adjust to it. I am at it's mercy. One day I can eat something and the next I won't feel so well eating the same thing. Some days I can eat in the morning, some not. I think that for some of us the band is just a little more finacky. Good Luck.

Congratulations Amy!!!!! You're doing wonderful, you should be proud. You're on your way!!!

This question is so different for everyone. I have never had problems eating any food. My band is at max. Some days I can eat alot, others not so much. I guess you will find what is comfortable for you over time. I liked to be a little loose so I was able to eat a little more than was recommended because I exercised a lot and would feel fatigued if I didn't eat enough during the day. Again, you will find your comfort level, it just make take time. Also for some reason, during certain times of the month, like a week before my period I will be able to eat more. Afterwards my restriction goes back to what I consider normal. The band can be very finacky. Good Luck

You are the only one that has to live with the decision you make. Don't go by the amount of weight or the short time it took certain people put stars in your eyes. Know that YOU are ready and willing to put the hard work into yourself. I never had very good restriction until year 2. Willpower is still needed on a daily basis. You will still get hungry. Exercise doesn't automatically become easier or more fun if it was something you normally didn't do. You will still use the same excuses for not doing it. The honeymoon period will wear off. You will get cravings that are hard to deny. If you want to you will be able to eat around the band. There is no guarentee you will feel full with smaller portions. Or that you will feel full longer. It does not solve compulsive eating problems. You may wonder why I am telling you all the negatives. Well every one of these issues I have dealt with. It has been a long hard road for me. After almost 3 years I still don't have everything figured out. I am a work in progress. Every day seems to bring the same choice I had before the band "Am I worth it, and is this worth it". My answer most days are "YES". Good Luck!

I could feel mine right from the beginning. Now that I have lost weight it sticks out a lot. Actually if I wear a tight fitting shirt you can actually see it.

I am still not at goal many years later. The only advise I can give, which is not what you want to probably hear is FORGET ABOUT IT! Most of us have obsessed with the scales for so long we don't know what else to do. I understand the pholosophy you have of wanting to finish this(as you put it). But wasn't the goal better health? I bet when you started you thought you would do cartwheels just to get to the weight you are now. Stop thinking about it, continue your good habits and continue to deal with the bad and be happy and ENJOY the new you. We just spend to much time in our lives trying to be what someone else tells us is acceptable. If it's not weight it's always going to be something. Mine was sagging boobs and baggy eyes. I have to get over it. The journey only ends I think when we learn to love ourselves with all our imperfections. That's my Dr. Phil moment. lol. Good Luck. You sure look like a success from where I sit. Like I said, I have been at it a real long time.

jayc... For some reason I came to this site today. Never have before. Decided that maybe I needed some inspiration and motivation myself. I read your post and for some reason I felt we could be a good match. I was banded 9/05/06 and have lost quite slowly but have finally got to, or should I say close to goal. Right now, I feel like I have some struggles myself. But maybe we could encourage and inspire each other. I know that you probably would like a person who has it all together, but if you would like to chat let me know. I won't be offended if you would like someone who has no issues and figured this whole thing out. I will be honest, I haven't. But I have been through alot and think I could offer some helpful advise. Let me know. Laurie

Hi. I would love to join your group. I will give you a little history about myself. I am 41yr old wife and mother. I was banded 9/05/06. My heaviest weight was 278.6. That was the first time I had seen that number written down next to my name at weight watchers. What an eye opener. I was never obese or even overweight until after my second son 14 years ago. I did slim down for about a year or two in with phen-phen. But once it was taken off the market the weight came back on. I currently am close to goal, which is 162. I finally got the courage to put my photo on the before and after site. Just to try to keep myself in check. Recently I have been eating wrong, not exercising, and just down right depressed. I never thought I would go back to compulsive overeating, I was wrong. I eat when I am definately not hungry. I eat for the taste. And if it taste good I keep eating, just like before. Cheetos have became my best friend, again. I need to be accountable and have someone to talk to that understands the frustration. You may say I need counseling not a mentor, but I know everything I should do, I just don't do it. Nevertheless, I would like to be accountable again and I think you girls could help me with that. In turn I feel like maybe I can help you with questions or problems newbies may have. Wow, do I ramble on or what, you should hear me in person, lol. Anyway, I would love to join your group.