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I think I've had great success with the band and working out has been a large part of that. Even though I work out a LOT, I don't make any special food allowances for that. If I'm hungrier for some reason I may eat more, but it's not like I think of it as earning credits as you might in Weight Watchers or something. All this said, I never did count calories, so I did have a different approach in general. But I think it's best either way to think of exercise as just a part of your lifestyle rather than as something that allows you to (or requires you to) eat more. Best of luck to you!

My NUT says weigh cooked. That said remember volume and weight are different. (Ie 4 oz of ground turkey may be more than 1/2 c) so just watch what you’re weighing with regards volume. But then again your stomach should help tell you too

I do know my body burns calories all the time. I know some people don't believe I starvation mode, I do, in the past when dieting I've tried to eat less than reccomended to lose weight and I stopped losing. Once I started eating more again I started losing again. So I believe it in. I do know that I've lost inches. I've had to get smaller pants and work scrubs. I get at least 80grams of protein per day, so that is adequate. As for the gym, I usually go in the morning about an hour after breakfast. This morning I wasn't really hungry, but I felt I should eat, so I had an unjury protein shake, made with milk, so it was 28grams of protein.

That some SWIFT weight loss! You keep us inspired!

I was band on 12/28/2010, and my start weight was 239lb, I lost down to 198lb, then I started throwing up, Gerd, and abdomen pain. I have gained 22lb back. I have not changed anything. I still eat write I follow the eating plan that me and the dietitian set up for me. I go and get the ultra sound on wednesday to see if my band has slipped. Any help in understand more about band slippage will greatly be appreciated.

I think it is completely amazing that you've been able to lose most of your excess weight by yourself. I think you'll find that many people on these forums, like you, have found ways to lose a lot of weight on their own, at some point in their lives. I myself, had lost and gained probably hundreds of pounds over the years. By the time I was considering weight-loss surgery though, I was once again at a higher weight than I had ever been-in the 320s. I didn't feel like I could lose it on my own, even though I had done so numerous times over the years. The problem, was that sooner or later, my Will would break, or some crisis would put me over the edge and I was just not able to keep up the work that got me to where I was before. I knew it was necessary that I had to lose weight, or my life was going to deteriorate even more. But I also knew that I wanted to do it for the last time, and so something had to be truly different. For me, that was the bariatric surgery!

Is there anyway that you can change the type of surgery that you want without losing your place in line? Maybe lap band or gastric sleeve would be enough to help you keep the weight off, instead of going for the full gastric bypass. Just something else to consider.

Thats great news!!!! I hope I get the same news but I have read so many post on this site that you have to have high bp,diabetes,sleep apnea,Im just hoping they see that im on my way to getting all those things if I dont control my weight now.Is all I can do now is pray

I've lost 73 pounds and hydrate my body on a daily basis. I have loose skin on my inner thighs and a bit on my belly. There are so many things that contribute to whether or not you'll have loose skin - genetics, how long you've been heavy, how heavy you are prior to surgery, skin elasticity, etc. I imagine I'll have a thigh lift at some point. If other things are needed, I'm sure I'll have them done as well. However, I'm going to wait until I get closer to my goal weight before I start making appointments to see a plastic surgeon.

The best way I have found is to take pictures of yourself every couple weeks and set them out next to each other or digitally put them together and you will be able to see the difference. We all have that thought process that we are not really losing the weight because throughout our lives we never have been able to do this kind of thing before or else we wouldn't be here now, the mind will play tricks on you especially when you look in the mirror. Good Luck.

I have been scheduled for surgery on April 2nd - very nervous about this journey, I also know it's time to take charge of my weight. Where did you have your surgery?

The MMPI is this long questionnaire that tries to assess whether you have problems with depression, anxiety and addiction (among other things...but questions about those three things get asked repeatedly) It's no biggie. If those problems exist...expect some follow up on them. My therapist works exclusively for my bariatric group. She also runs our weekly support group and does therapy with people running into issues after surgery. She's pretty knowledgeable about the process, and attends a lot of continuing education unique to helping bariatric patients. I like her. She's made sort of a specialty out of providing support to people going through the process. At the determination appointment, she asked me: 1. What my motivators were for wanting surgery. 2. How each of the core people in my life were reacting to my decision. 3. If I felt I had enough support from family and friends. Who were my main cheerleaders? Who were my detractors? 4. How I felt about the surgery, the process, my care, the surgeon. 5. Asked me about my history with struggling with my weight. 6. Asked me about future goals and hopes. It was actually a really nice appointment. We had coffee, laughed a lot, and she gave me a glowing recommendation. Was super easy, and I feel like I have someone knowledgeable and familiar to talk to if I hit unexpected problems down the road.

I'm trying to post some photos of myself for my one year anniversary. I have my before picture from the hospital and a few after pictures that are more body shots because I really hate those even after weight l loss but feel safe sharing with all of you. These are photos that show me in my daily life. I'm a mom and a professional singer and gym enthusiast...but it won't let me post t he photos lol. Sent from my LG-Q710AL using BariatricPal mobile app

I am with you! I was in the same boat. I thought I was able to get financing and I also considered getting health insurance to persue the surgery but I could not afford it b/c my payments would be so high considering my weight. I decided that I was making my mind up to do whatever it took. That was in Oct. I am a waitress, not lots of extra cash and thought I nothing. I started with a garage sale. I sold everything. If I did not use it it went. Life is much better and my house is cleaner. I made $400. 00 in one weekend. I put things on craigs list, baby clothes, camaras , ect. I started putting away every cent. I used to like to go play Bingo, stopped that. I do not go buy fast food. $10-20 there a week. Soda.... that stuff.... My husband pitched in $500.00 from our business (which we really do not have) and as of today I am 1/2 way there. I have $2500.00 saved. This is from not having ANYTHING. I thought I had NOTHING to sell. If you really want to be sleeved you will see where you waste your money. For me I had to start a savings account with NO ATM card, otherwise I would spend it. I do not know if I will get the other half up as soon but I will give all I got till I get there. Also I am trying to repair my credit slowly in the event for my tummy tuck in 2 years...lol If you want it real bad it will come!!!!!!

Yeah And now I can cheer even better for others because I'm not an outlier after all! Did I tell either of you I did drop 30 pounds the month of March? Really did, when they removed my PICC line and I was no longer getting the artificially high calories of TPN, I think the count was 1403 daily, I dropped Ka- thud. I had not stalled but I was losing maybe a pound a month, but whooee, when they weighed me April 4th before my arm/shoulder repair,i made them do it 3 times because I disbelieved them. I bet I was the talk of Ambulatory Surgery after I left that day! See I had a titanium plate and 12 screws placed when I severely broke my humerus, my upper arm bone in a Workmans Comp accident 9 years ago. Who would have thought it would become less stable from weight loss? That's something I never considered until it happened to me. Big enough it had to be another open incision, so while Dr Doolittle was in there he decided to look around at my internal anatomy. And surprise surprise only one tendon was holding my rotator cuff in place, didn't want to bring me back in for more surgery in a couple months so did a complete repair and that's what hurts like a son-of-a-gun! With just the simple hardware removal it would have been par with a skinned knee in pain, but this other, well we're allowing an extra month to heal up than usual. So no pushing ,pulling lifting, and arm no higher than straight in front.And I am in a sling for 6 weeks minimum, ever try putting on one, getting it cinched right, the Goldilocks way, not too high on the chest,not too low, not too tight but tight enough it does flip. And I try by myself because I'm a bull-headed redhead who doesn't want to be a burden. And then I get flustered and frazzled and finally let my son help. Age does slow this kind of surgery healing down , normally at a month I should be finger-crawllng up the wall in PT, no PT before it's time, wants to make sure I'm totally knitted back together. Joked with me at my 2-week checkup "When do you want me to do your Left shoulder?" see we had already been putting shots in there, didn't expect the Right to flare up. Told him" Not yet , Kenny- Bob, you play TOO rough!" His real middle name isn't Robert just my pet name for him, he's been with me since 2010, long time so we're sorta friends now. He told me when I was there for my pre-surgical appointment I cried, he said he never saw me cry before, not even with the badly broke arm. Said I seemed so stoic, I could handle anything, well that's how bad it was hurting before this surgery. So it is painful now but I am not praying to die so I don't feel it anymore. And I will get better, sleep at night with it on its own pillow, hurts less and I don't try to turn over in my sleep that way! Still only getting 3-4 hours than I got to get up, go sit in the recliner and pop some Tylenol. Oh I still have Norco in the house, not afraid of it being an opioid, it just constipates me to the INTH degree, and I DO NOT WANT THAT!

Hello all! I was banded on June 28th, and as I near the end of month 2, I find that I am barely losing weight at all. Is anyone else experiencing this?

I'm 7 weeks out - the scale got "stuck" at exactly 3 weeks post-op (had lost 15 pounds to that point) - My stall lasted three weeks. It was tremendously frustrating, but I'd read so many posts here by people who'd experienced the same thing, so I didn't panic. During that time, though, my clothes kept getting looser & looser, just as though I WAS dropping weight..... and I've lost 8 pounds this past week.

At about that 3 week mark, my weight loss changed from a downward slope to stairs - hold for a while, big drop, hold, drop, etc. It's been that way ever since. But I also have noticed my body reshaping. When you're working so hard, it's frustrating to not see something change in the scale every day, but keep the big picture in mind. It will come off!

Super bummer. I knew all along that ins denial was a possibility (my BMI is 38), but I really, really thoght my comorbidities would be enough. GERD, hypoglycemia, hypopnea,high cholesterol, joint pain, shortness of breath, depression, plantar fascitis, sciatica, plenty of weight loss attempt efforts documented (meridia, xenical, nutrisystem, et al). And yet...nope. I'm not completely giving up - I filed an appeal on Friday - but it's just SUCH a bummer. i've been SOOOOOOOO looking forward to this. I even had a date of 12/31. I feel like someone kicked me in my ample, fluffy belly. :cry Any words of advice or encouragement? IWANNABEALAPBANDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Waah!

When you first start to eat solid food just take slow and carefully. Think of yourself as a baby. What would you feed a baby who is just starting to eat real food? At almost four months post op I can eat pretty much what I want but find I have to focus on the Protein to get enough. I do eat carbs but not anywhere near as much as before. I also try to eat salad a lot cuz I actually crave it! Who'd a thunk? I used to be such a chocoholic. Try to stay away from processed sugar because it might make you feel sick and if not, it will slow your weight loss, at least that's what my NUT told me. pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4; 12 weeks post-op 274

Hi I thought I would introduce myself. Im Melinda 41 and live in London uk. I had my Sleeve done on the 8th February 2011 at the Hommerton Hospital In Hackney. I was first referred there by my diabetic doctor 14 momths previous to surgery. Having diabetes that was steadily getting worse, high blood pressure, high cholestrol wls was considered the best option for me. I went to my first appointment thinking of having a gastric band, they soon said no to that, and suggested I have the Gastric Bypass. So my starting weight was 17and a half stone. and at 4ft 11inches my bmi was 44, if i remember rightly. Before surgery I got down to 16 stones. I had complications during my surgery hence why I ended up having a Gastric Sleeve instead of a Bypass, they had a struggle to keep me alive, due to me having pnemonia. My post op period was herrendous, i had to have further surgery, and am still currently having breathing problems. I see the hospital every two weeks, and my doctors once a week. But I am now 6 weeks down the line and am feeling so much better than i did I am nearly me again, minus 33lbs lol... I no longer take blood pressure tablets, its normal for the first time in 16 yrs lol. But I am still due to my surgeons advice only on stage 2 of eating, ie mushy food, and I am still struggling with pain, am off to see my surgeon later today so hoping he can give me some advice. Anyway think ive kinda waffled abit now so will sign off for now.

Hello! I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18 and I've tried to get pregnant with no luck. That's part of the reason why I got the band not the only reason but one. I believe that part of PCOS is weight related. I got the lap band on 2/6/06 and I already got a period. Now I don't know if my body is going through changes or it has something to do with the fact that I lost 28 lbs. I never got a period on my own I always had to take medication, so it's too early to tell. I will definitely keep you posted. Good luck to you and I hope the information was helpful.

Good for you! Isn't it a great feeling? I just started running in February. At first just knowing that I COULD run was enough to make me want to do it--now I actually enjoy the running, too. You're doing this the healthy way--not waiting to lose weight before starting an exercise program. You might want to check out Jeff Galloway's book, Running: Getting Started. I found it helpful as a beginner. Way to go!

I was banded Oct 2008 and never felt much restriction. I lost 50 lbs in the first 4 months then gained 9 lbs over the next 2 1/2 months. I went in for a fill last Tuesday, and may be overfilled. I don't know if this is what restriction is like or if this is too much. For breakfast I had a protien bar, lunch: 3 bites of a naked chicken taco (then threw it up), snack: 5 doritos (then threw it up) ...scared to eat dinner. I lost 7 lbs in 5 days, so I don't want to lose the restriction. I am scared that I am not eating enough though. I am going to put myself back on liquids for a day or two then try solids again. I want to keep the restriction, but be able to eat small meals. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks Karen