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Hi I am two days post op.I am experiencing more pain then I expected but I think being an optimist I expected none. I think most of the pain is gas related and it will resolve in a few days. Generally I feel pretty good. I'm thinking this is going to work for me. After a lifetime of my weight going up and down I may have found the tool to finally maintain a healthy weight. I have looked around the site and read everything on here I could pre-op to prepare so now I just wanted to say hi and hope I can be supportive of others in my journey.

Ok. today @ 2:45 was my post op appointment and 1st fill. I walked in, & they weighed me. I was kind of dreading this because 1. It's that 'special' time of the month 2. I've been hungry 3. this weekend, though I still didn't eat volume wise what I normally do, ate things I shouldn't have, like bread and brownies 4. last but not least, I weigh about 4 lbs heavier in the afternoon than I do in the a.m. water retention I guess. Much to my delight I have maintained myself at 318.. I was 331.5 on the day of surgery, which means I weighed even more than that before surgery and lost some before because of the hellacious pre-op 'all food is evil so you must drink your meals' diet. So I lost around 20 lbs and have kept it off without gaining any before my fill. From what I've been reading on the forums, some people gain before their 1st fill so HOOfreakinRAH for me!:clap2: They had a "basket 'o Needles sitting on the desk.. boy that cheered me up and fast.:faint: Todd was like... well look honey.. they aren't THAT big... Dr. Morton thought my incisions sites looked great and where healing V well. They also thought my matching tie dyed undies/sports bra and socks were a hoot, I informed them that of course, I wore them for this ever so special of occasions. At this point, they had me laying down on the table in my colorful skivies and it occurred to me that this bragging on my homemade undies was a clever ploy for them to distract me from the bee sting of a numbing shot they administered to the incision on my sternum. I think Todd's fingers may still be tingling...:rolleyes but I have to admit.. it was like a baby bee sting and not one of those big A$$ scary bees.... So.. after this he sticks in the saline needle and all I feel is pressure, I was like.. wow, that's kind of weird, he then informed me that he was going to help me SIT UP with said needle protruding from my sternum. uh....:guess He gave me his hand and helped me sit up.. I didn't pass out or anything! In fact at this point, I didn't feel a thing but I guess my eyes were still bugged out like a fly in a frog pit cause he commented on my expression.. It was kind of weird to look down and see a needle sticking out of me but, it didn't hurt:) They then gave me a cup holding 9 ounces of water and asked me to sip on it. Apparently the band I have holds 4 thingies of saline (cc's maybe?) and while I sat there drank water and burped profusely he put in 2.2 thingies of fluid. He seemed pretty happy with how it was sounding and he pulled out the needle and slapped on a bandaid. I was like... 'THAT's IT?" As I predicted, I felt silly for being to worked up over this. It all took about 10 minutes from weigh in/strip down to fill up. I was grinning like a cat in the fish market on the way up front because my stomach had been growling like crazy when I got there and all the sudden.. I was FULL. HOLY CRAP>>>> I went from ravenous beast to pleasantly just ate full.... on 9 ounces of water. NICE. I scheduled my next appointment for 3 weeks from now to weigh in and see if I need more fluid in my band. I am on liquids until wednesday afternoon then I can switch to soft stuff like cottage cheese/apple sauce then gradually at my own pace, work up to real food again. I am ever so slightly sore now where my port is and he said I might bruise a little. I got a protein drink and some veggie juice for supper and right now I'm full as a tick.

I need a space to be real and accountable so here goes. Started 6month SD on 6/10/17 and really struggled for the first 10 days. The struggle was due to these factors: 1. failure to plan 2. wanting to eat crap more than wanting to lose this weight and get healthy 3. too many "last meals". So I had a come to Jesus moment and watched many more videos of others who have gone before me. I researched and planned a true low carb high protein meal plan and I went shopping to get food that is compliant and I made a video blog for my own personal use to hash it all out with myself. One thing that quitting smoking many years ago taught me is that this game is not in my stomach, it is in my head. Not to discount the very real fact that my stomach and other factors are heavies in this battle, but the real bad guy here is this voice in hy head that really thinks one more McDouble is a necessary thing because I may never eat one again. REALLY, that crap is so nasty but yet here I am like a ball and chain. So Ten days ago , I got on track. The last ten days have not been without hic-cups, for example, I now realize that carbs are not the enemy, but children's birthday parties and specifically PIZZA are the enemies. I went in with a plan and still ate pizza.. ugh. I have to realize that little things like this will still happen and while they are not to be blown off, I am not going to beat myself up over it. I WILL however look at all those caalories and assess, was bowling alley pizza really WORTH it. No. So I started 10 days ago at 268 and this morning I weighed in at 259.6. A baby loss and like any baby I need to takecare of it and help it grow, hence this thread. Thanks for reading.

I have lost 60 lbs since 2/09 and am proud but not satisfied. Part my fault for eating habits but am going for another fill next wek. need to kick in the losing weight again.

Well, I've made it to one month and I'm 30 pounds down! woohoo! I've had one fill already, which was 2 days ago..I've noticed some restriction, I've had a few encounters where I felt like I was going to vomit, I think only cause I was rushing myself and didn't chew carefully. But I'm so excited to lose some more weight..I have a lot more to go, but at least I have a great start. The first two weeks of liquids was really hard, and I ended up losing 25 pounds in those 2 weeks! These following 2 weeks have slowed down big time! 5 pounds in 2 weeks? Just doesn't seem like much, but I have to keep telling myself that I lost 30 pounds in 1 month..that's pretty freakin good! Talk soon with more updates!

Welcome to the group. The only words I can say to you is that June 5 will be my 1 year anniversary. In the time I have dropped 110 pounds. Went from a 22 pant to a size 6 and from a 2xl to a s/m in shirt size. Starting weight 256. Height 5'4. 33 years old!

I was told that they do not weigh you again. Your first weight is the weight they send to your insurance co.

Apparently LapBandTalk is wondering where all of it's former members went and why us "old timers" no longer post. So far the first 4 pages, to my surprise have been "I'm doing great, lost my weight and enjoying my new body" type posts. I was the first bust thy bubble with complications. I figured those who had bands prior to VSG would at least enjoy the read if not want to share your story to prevent another poor soul from going through what we have. I did NOT go looking for this thread of LBT, they sent an email out asking where some of the "Old Timers" were and I figured perhaps some of you who used to post there may have changed your email address but would still LOVE the chance to be honest with what the band did to you and your body http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/126044-any-old-timers-still-around/page__st__60#entry1584321 is the link. Enjoy!

My first fill was 4cc's...between my first fill and the next one, I gained weight.!!! I felt guilty going back to the Dr for my second fill....fortunately he just laughed at me, reminding me how the band works and it's a process of fills to get it properly adjusted.

155 lbs I was down to 152, and have GAINED! I ended up getting an unfill on March 29th. I started having issues with my fill and not being able to handle solids well. PBd a few times, which hasnt happened in months. Got to the point only liquids and thin mushies would go down. I have been unfilled to 1cc for 2 weeks and it is tough. I ate a PBJ sandwich with a glass of milk for breakfast one day........so I KNOW that I am wide open. Have been trying to make good choices until I can get back to get refilled. Upside is I am in size 10 pants and jeans!

:clap2::clap2:

Long time no post...Reason, no weight loss and very busy. Yup. A little frustrated on the no weight losss but pretty excited about the NO WEIGHT gain!!!! Yeah it sounds weird but it's true. I am very excited about another thing. I found a few new snack that are great tasting as well as healthy and full of productive calories not empty ones. My husband and I found Whole Food's Supermarkets. Ok, I would of never went into this place a few months back because it just didn't interest me. plus, I never understood what it was about. Well, guess what... I love it now!!!! i found some Soy rice cakes, some honey roasted soy nuts, dried/baked veggies that really taste yummy. Even my kids loved it. I am so pleased that my kids loved it because no we can all enjoy a healthier lifestyle together!!! I also went to Trader Joe's (also another supermarket) and found some dried fruits and fruit snack that taste like fruit roll ups and only 70 calories!!!! HOLY SH... I can fill my sweet tooth!!!! So a heads up to all those sweet tooths out there...there are other healthier and "allowed" sweets out there, we just need to look for them in the right place!!!!!

Had lunch a few days ago with some friends/former co-workers. One of the five of us is underweight, one is pretty much on target, two of us are wls patients (both still overweight, but nothing like pre-op) and then there's the other one. She is the nicest, smartest woman. But she is SO deep in denial. She actually said that her weight problems are not the result of overeating, because she doesn't eat very much. I used to have lunch with this woman on a daily basis. She eats much. Really much. And, as she was explaining that she doesn't eat much, she was finishing a HUGE beef-dip sandwich and fries. This is NOT a woman of limited intelligence. She is a bright woman, a professional, has multiple degrees, and has professional siblings. (She also has a husband with food-related medical problems and some kids at normal weight and other who are obese.) But, her BMI has got to be well, well over 50. She is really big, but says she's healthy and athletic. Question: Now that YOU have had surgery or are considering it, how do you handle conversations with friends like mine? She's still in her 40's and I'd love to see her get healthy while she's relatively young. (I'll be 57 in a couple of weeks...she looks VERY young to me.) Do I pretend that she's right? Do I assume that because portion sizes are so big, she really thinks that she eats reasonable amounts of food? Do I let her think she's convincing me, when I don't believe a word of it? Right now, I just respond with, "Well, you know better than anyone else how you feel." What do y'all do? Sue

What up people! well well welll....its been a long time since we talked. anyway, i had a rough patch there for awhile. i dont know if i depressed or what ever, i just know i was down for a bit. but, im back now and ill give you all a update for those who care. i still havent told anyone that i got the band, and at this point, i doubt i ever will. ask me why...and ill say i dont know. who will ever know what goes on inside my head, but at this point, im keeping it a secret like Victoria's, "know what i mean, hahah" so, iv really been thinking about the future lately. i watched this True Life episode on MTV and there were stories about young peolpe that are going through huge physical life changes. some girls got gastric bypass, another dude got calf implants. im sorry but, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. now that i got that out of my system, no...wait....i didnt. i mean CALF IMPLANTS, cmon, if that was my worst physical problem, i would be, ahhhh mmmm i dont know....jumping for effin joy. ok ok, since i lost a little over 90 lbs im looking better, im not hedious by any means, but i got another 90-100lbs to go. that would bring me down to 210-200 range, and im 6'3, so i think ill look half decent at that point. but the thing that worried me when watching this show was....i could relate to the guy in some way. i have been working out like a fiend. i mean sit ups, crunches, leg lifts, swiss ball exercies, and not to mention my cardio at the punching bag and hiking. im a mchine at this point. "I DO WANT THE PERFECT BODY" was "mr. CALF'S" quote, and i can feel where the dude is coming from. ive been a total slob my whole life. im not just talking about my weight, i dressed dumpy and everything. now...im as sharp as a dagger when it comes to dressing. i find my self talking to people i usualy would of never talked to, and getting complements for my effort. now, this dude on MTV was totaly self absorbed. he thought he was gods gift to women, men, and who ever else wanted a piece. im not down with that, i just can bring my self to that level....or want to. but, i do want that body. the body that people have to do a double take at. at first i was like, "ahhh, cmon Furious, that wont happen to you, that takes time and extreme dedication....deff not going to happen". now after 9 months post op and after about a trillion crunches, i can see it all coming together. im getting some deffinition around the ab area, and the rest of the body is falling in line. now, im not a shallow person, i didnt go through all this to get the "bowflex body", haha, ive seen that ad on tv like a million times now. but, its deff a bonus, since my whole life ive been extremely over weight. ive even considered Lipo....if it is needed when im all done. Because, now im hooked. ive seen old friends from the past and they cant get over how much i changed, even the ladies notice....and what guy dosent like that, i mean cmon. at this time last year, if some one would of told me of all i did so far, i would be like, "yeah right, get right out of town, that would never happen". not to tute my own horn but, "beep beep". i doing it and im like a freight train at this point, 9 months with 90lbs off. once again, "beep beep" i just hope i stay the same...know what i mean. i dont want to loose myself along with the weight. i want to still be the funny dude that people come to when they need a stand up guy to talk to. i dont want to become "mr calfs" at all. on a lighter note, some times i feel a little gay, "not that its a bad thing, cmon people im not that Furious" but i look at dudes with their shirt off, and im like, "ewww i want that body to be mine...wait...wait....no that one!" its a bit odd to be checking out guy's bods for ideas. hahahaha, but thats what im thinking. when i look at mens fitness mags at the supermarket, im thinking, "how long did it take Hue Jackman to get THOSE ABS!" its kind of like motivation, but it works. Well thats it for now. Please comment back, i love to hear from all of you, anything, good, bad, or indifferent. i got to go check out some more dudes for ideas, but enough about my homoerotic escapades, hahahaha, ill catch you on the flip side. oh and before i forget, what do you ladies look for in a guys body. i need real opinions from real women, and mostly that is all of you, so let me know what makes you all googelie eyed for a man, hahaha. STAY MOTIVATED, STAY STRONG......AND OF COURSE......STAY FURIOUS:cursing:

I really enjoyed reading your blog. You are very funny. The things that I find most appealing on a man is their butts. Full and round with the indention on each side, however I do not think just anyone can get that kind of butt with just working out. Another thing that is a real turn on is a nice muscular back to where there is an indention down the spine. The most attractive thing is the eyes and believe it or not a nice funny personality. I don't think anyone want to be with any man that is always thinking about himself. BTW congratulations on all your hard work and weight loss. I am not quite 3 weeks post op. I cannot wait to get to where you are now. Keep up the great work. And remember the kind of woman you need to impress is the kind that like/loves you for what you are on the inside. Good Luck

Just wanted to say "hello" to everyone! I started my journey on September 08, and I just completed the 5th month in the 6-month supervised diet...so far, so good. My last weigh-in will be on Feb. 9, and then my doctor will resubmit my paperwork. My doctor feels that my insurance should approve it, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. If all goes well, I should be banded in late March. Just curious if there is anyone with a late March or early April surgery date--or anyone who is having surgery at UCSD. I would love to have a "support" buddy to help motivate each other during the dreaded pre and post liquid diet--and with weight loss.

Hi there ... I was banded in 2008 and had my band removed on 18th April. I went from 242 down to 149 (5'9) and maintained with the band but it went crazy on me last December and it turns out it was adhered to my liver!! I am booked for 9th July as earlier in July is our school holiday period (Australia) and the surgeon doesn't operate :-( I had to gain to get my surgery due to my great bmi of 23 when the problems started which is frustrating and now my bmi is back to 28 and I feel yuck so bring on my surgery date!! Good luck with your surgery and I cant wait to hear how you are traveling ...............

We are the exact same weight loss, stall and surgery date Lol. I cut out all artificial sweetners. I add a little agave nectar to coffee or drizzled on my oatmeal if I need it. I have no sugar issues though.

LAB-BAND surgery tuesday MARCH 4 @ 6:30 pm. watch a live broadcast of a LAB-BAND weight loss surgery. St.Marys medical center. I hope every out there is losing weight and life is treating every one well.JohnQ:thumbup::biggrin::thumbup:Its been so long I had a ahard time posting any thing, site has changed?

LAB-BAND surgery tuesday MARCH 4 @ 6:30 pm. watch a live broadcast of a LAB-BAND weight loss surgery. St.Marys medical center. I hope every out there is losing weight and life is treating every one well.JohnQ:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:Its been so long I had a ahard time posting any thing, site has changed?

I had my first fill 4 months after surgery... don't ask LOL. I had my 2nd fill today. The way I can tell is that I am not losing weight and I am eating just like before banded. I'm not kidding when I say I can eat anything and alot of it. I barely have to chew...yikes. You will know, don't worry.

I'll take hair loss on my head, over a gain of body hair... any day. Thank you Matt for putting things into perspective.

Hang in there, Susie. This is part of the weight loss journey. I promise it gets better, way better. This period of sadness won't last. Just know that you are going through the normal process. Please keep reaching out and asking for help until this period has passed. Stay strong <3

So the holidays really caught me by surprise and even though I was down in the dumps:crying: a bit about the whole 'not being w/ the one you love' kind of holiday season I still had my family. I mean I'm quite aware that my immediate family are still the ones I love but it's been a long time since I've had that :wub:special kind of someone in my life and it's made me really emotional (:unsure:thank God i'm not an emotional eater or i'd be in big trouble). I've been :thumbup:praying though and God is getting me through it day by day. I just have to learn that when it's time He'll direct my in the direction of he and he in the direction of me. (sigh....exhales) Aside from all the hum glum of the holidays there was some cheer in there and I love my family. :rolleyes:The food,fun and laughs were flowing. My grandmother was surely missed but I miss her every day especially when I want to tell her the good news about my weight. I know she's proud of me though. :w00t:Speaking of good news!!! Well of course you're well aware that I go every six (6) weeks to my LAP-BAND®® Dr. so that he can weigh me. We're still not sure (or at least i'm not) when i'm going to have the initial surgery but I'm pretty sure it will happen when it happens. Still being on this semi-liquid diet even through the holidays I was successful at losing an additional 11lbs. Yes folks 11 more lbs. I was amazed myself and if you add it all up that's 51 total lbs in 12wks tops. I'm so proud of myself because I didn't think I would lose any and actually thought I had gained some. But to my surprise I lost. (exhale) So i'm sticking to this thing like glue and I've even been trying to convert some friends of mine who aren't even dieting. It's not working too well but you just weight they'll see the results and change their minds instantly. A really good friend of mines mother passed away just recently and it hit hard for me. Although I'm pretty sure he was prepared I don't think anything prepares you to lose your parents. He's so sweet though and I love him dearly. I continue to pray for him and I'm going to send him a sympathy card and a thinking of you card too. Oh my new years? well it was pretty good i mean I toasted myself and one of my besties was going to come over but I had fallen asleep and refused to answer the phone. so yeah I brought the new year in on a pillow cloud lol. Oh and my other best-friend got married . I'm so happy for her and my new cousin-in-law. They have been together for so long I was wondering when the wedding would take place. I was a little unhappy that it wasn't a wedding wedding and that they went off and did a quiet little thing () lol but i'm glad they are married. Well that's about it right now. Nope no resolutions I have enough on my plate as it. Talk to you soon and blessings. :smile2:

I am only three weeks post-op and I am already being treated like I have the plague by my heavy friends. Most of them won't even look at me for fear of....I don't know what. I even have a friend who lost a whole bunch of weight and has kept most of it off who is now treating me the same way. She began to diet again when I had my surgery and, everytime I see her now, flaunts the fact that she has lost ten more pounds. Great for her but why not great for me too? There are a few who are wanting info on the band and a few who just want to know what is going on and are being supportive. I am not friendless by any means. I just wish that my heavy friends would not feel threatened, or whatever it is, by my success so far. These are the people who also, when actually speaking to me, feel the need to tell me about all the bad things they have heard about the band and how they would never get it or have WLS because of it. One good thing out of all of this is that my husband, who is only minimally overweight, has hit the pavement jogging again. He still looks good at his current weight but he is a total HOTTIE when he drops about thirty pounds!:thumbup: