Nicole74

I was banded in July 2010 as well!! I ditto your post...definitly been a ride but NO REGRETS and I am so happy I have lost over 60lbs! I still have 50lbs to go but I feel much more confident that I will get there now!!

NO REGRETS.... I read negative things too before getting the band and I remember feeling just like you..I was at the point of being so stressed out and scared but I decided it was truly my last resort! I had some rough times especially at first...had a really bad week after surgery, I did lose weight but I couldnt even drink at first, I didnt even feel like I had the band for the first several months and went through bandster hell for a while but I just took it day by day and followed the rules ( with some slip ups) and stuck with exercising. It all finally just came together. iv lost 65 lbs in 8 months and feel soooooo much better...all the good that comes from this out ways the bad that COULD happen. I refused to make the decision based off what negative thing MIGHT happen...and Im so glad I thought that way. I still get scared that somethign will happen to my band..I was self pay and I wil be on my own if anything does ever happen but like one poster said..just follow the rules and take care of yourself and your band! Good luck!!

Hell to the No! no way that I Iv worked this hard and went through 5 fills to have it taken out just so I can eat a little more for a week vacation!...dont get me wrong I totally get it..I sometims miss just being able to eat like "normal" and get tired of chewing chewing and getting stuck when I eat something to fast or sneak that bread or donut I just HAVE to have...but its just not worth it...I never want to go back to how I eat before and the way I looked before losing 65lbs... I think if you did end up doing it you may just regret it:)

I completly agree with Princess...once you hit the right restriction you wont be able to drink and eat at the same time and you wont WANT to. I was really worried about that too for the longest time but I actually had no problem with it once I got banded. I almost always just order a glass of water and nothing else when I eat out and I just dont bring a drink to the table when I eat at home. Once in a while I will eat something that makes me really thirsty and it is harder not to drink but most of the time I dont have a problem, that part really surprised me because it was one of the main things I stressed about before surgery. Iv been banded for 8 months! The easiest way for you would be just not to bring anything to drink at the table with you and only order water or no drink at dinner when going out.

I completly agree with Princess...once you hit the right restriction you wont be able to drink and eat at the same time and you wont WANT to. I was really worried about that too for the longest time but I actually had no problem with it once I got banded. I almost always just order a glass of water and nothing else when I eat out and I just dont bring a drink to the table when I eat at home. Once in a while I will eat something that makes me really thirsty and it is harder not to drink but most of the time I dont have a problem, that part really surprised me because it was one of the main things I stressed about before surgery. Iv been banded for 8 months! The easiest way for you would be just not to bring anything to drink at the table with you and only order water or no drink at dinner when going out.

I really want to beat that statistic!! I am a just about this now. I have lost 65lbs so far and almost 9 months out! no way Im stopping yet!

You may "feel" like your back to normal but you did have surgery just a couple weeks ago. I would reccomend going back to your doctors plan....I did start my mushies and solids a few days early and I didnt have any issues but be careful with solids until your really healed...even though it may not effect you, now is the time to start getting yourself disciplined and prepared for when you really need to follow the rules! Good luck!

I know how you feel..I used to get so annoyed when people kept asking..I started to wish i didnt even tell anyone about the surgery..I felt like I kept telling them the same weight over and over which just led to be getting more frustrated...especially while I was in "bandster hell"...but now that I am 7months out and have lost almost 60lbs I dont mind it as much...like you said in your post. ...in fact Iv learned to be pretty proud of what I worked so hard to accomplish cause like Im sure you know its not as easy as people think.

I love these too..thanks for posting!

Hey everyone! its been a while since Iv posted on been on here...but wanted to come back since Iv had something on my mind for a while. I just celebrated my 7month bandiversary and have lost 57lbs...its been such an up and down roller coaster ride since having surgery but Im pretty happy with my results so far..Iv been working out since month 2, going to the gym 3-4x per week and finally am almost at my sweet spot after the 5th fill. I have 9cc's in a 14cc band. ...my body is holding up pretty good with the weight loss..I began at 302lbs and now am down to 245...but my stomach is "saggy" and I have this hanging lower stomach..not too bad or large but annoying..my stomach is still pretty overall jiggly and I know that Im not goin to have washboard abs but my question to bandsters who have lost maybe 70-100lbs if your stomach every got "tighter" or that hanging lower part of your stomach shrank to where it wasnt hanging anymore?? without surgery?? I really hope I dont have to consider a tummy tuck or anything but I just want to know if anyone who worked out alot and lost alot of weight had their stomach "fix itself"..hope that makes sense...but its really the part of the body that im concerned about. Thanks!!

about a month after I was banded I started taking body pump and body combat classes at the gym.. they are each an hour long ..pump is weights and combat is cardio. I went 3x a week. I started seeing results in my body in about 2 mnths..my legs and arms felt tighter and I could really feel the muscle in my thighs, i also started noticing a little difinition in my upper arms.

Iv been lucky that my "stuck" episodes only last for 30 minutes...but what Iv found has helped is a few things...SIPPING on some hot tea...laying on my left side ...and I have even stood in a doorway and stretched my arms up and like hung on the molding..to stretch out my chest...that worked for me a couple times. Hope one of these works for you!

Hey...I was the same way....I didnt start to get any type of restriction or feeling full sooner until about my 3rd fill...and never had a "stuck" episode until my 4th fill and 5months out from surgery...I lost a good bit of weight at first too because I really stuck to the "rules" and basically just dieted. I did weight watchers and tracked for my food. I just tried to eat better and started exercising. for the first couple months I didnt even feel like I had the band and I remember getting very worried and frustrated at thinking this wasnt going to work for me. Once you start having restriction it does get easier. I still have my tough days...the longer you have the band the more you figure out what works and doesnt for you. you still have to have the self discipline..Im still not at my sweet spot becaue I can eat much more than the half cup and get hungry still a good bit but I can't eat near as much as I could before the band and I have learned how to eat with the band...hang in there and take it day by day..you will get to the point that you wont be able to eat as much...

It took me to my 3rd fill to start getting at least some restriction...I did weight watchers and tracked my food on fit.com. for the first few onths....It was really frustrating for me but I just took it day by day and did my best to eat right and started exercising...you just have to try to get your mind set that you HAVE to do this and get through this tough part..you will be there before you know it.

WOW ! congrats, I am sure that feels awesome!! keep it moving down:)

Congrats!! we were banded close together and lost almost the same amount of weight..I started at a size 22 and now am a16! I wish I was a 12 though like you:)

Its probably just pain and swelling....I have small stuck episodes and my chest hurts a little afterward..my girlfriend who has lapband too vomits alot and she has alot of pain afterwards..she has to go to straight liquid for a day or two..she went to the doctor once after it happened and he said it is just because she agitated her band and chest...I would go to liquids if I were you for a day or two and see if it helps..if not call the doctor... hope you feel better!

when I first started the band process in Feb 2010...the office only did realize..they had books and info all over the place on it. I did my research and was set on realize..and was glad I was getting that one...well I had my surgery this past July and on my first visit I asked what size band I had and he said the lapband 11cc...I thought the whole time I had the realize band but the doctor informed me that they had some issues with the realize band in the past year and a month before my surgery they changed back to lapband. He said he found that the fills were harder with the realize band and he saw more success with lapband than realize during the year they tried it. either way I am very happy with my band!

Hang in there..its tough before you start getting your fills and are so hungry. You just have to stick it out..be careful what you put in your mouth, exercise and drink lots of water....it will start to get easier for you...try and be patient:)

Whats helped me is weight lifting..I take a body pump class a couple times a week. Also, iv read drinking Water helps with the loose skin too and I drink a ton of water. Mine are still a little flabby after losing 50lbs but I think they would be worse if I didnt do the arm weights. I think that is about the only thing you really can do to help.

I am the exact say way!!! I sware it got even worse after I got the band! I am good all month until the week of my period...I gain 4lbs..and eat all kinds of crap I shouldnt and I sware I feel like I have NO WILL POWER!! ONce its over Im "back to normal" again... I credit it for me that I went off the pill before surgery and never went back on and I my pms and craving are much worse not being on the pill. Your not alone..Its amazing how much more I can eat and have less issues eating during that week timeframe!

Thats great! I am still dreading the swim suit season but have a few more months to lose more weight and firm up some..I have to look better than I did last summer before I even had surgery!! I need a tan too...lol..its a psychological thing....

Once you start getting fills..I had my first 1 six weeks out...you will feel better...I could eat bread with no problem until my 3rd fill than it started getting harder for me..I can still eat soft bread but I have to eat it in very small bites so I usually just stay clear. Your early on so hunger is expected...you might be a lucky one and get some restriction after your 1st fill. Hang in here and good luck!

I am a week away from my 6month anniversary. As of today I have lost 55lbs since I got the band on July 30th. Iv lost a total of 16.5 inches. Feel so much better!! Has been alot of hard work but so worth it!!