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What should someone with a high BMI (55, 60, 65) expect? Will surgery or recovery be tougher? How long of a recovery time before going back to work? How long for wounds to heal? From what I see, it appears that those with a higher BMI are losing weight at a more rapid pace and/or shedding more pounds total....is that correct? Thanks for your answers! )

Yea being stuck like that sucks. I didn't loose any weight for a good 6 months and then all of a sudden my weight loss picked back up and I have since lost 30 lbs. Just keep doing what you are doing. Make sure you are working out, staying on track with your eating. Maybe re-evaluated what you are eating and change it up. My doctor told me "there are times you loose and there are times you shrink". I didn't pay too much attention to that but it always stuck with me and how true it is!

I think a little more information might help. Have you ever been filled and if so how much? What size is your band? Have you been following up with your Surgeon regularly and have you been up front with him/her on your struggles. If it has been a long time since seeing the Doc I would think then that would be the first step. You know you've gained 17lbs but the question is why or how? Are you eating a lot of slider foods? I would recommend starting to track your intake as it may help you find where the problem is. Edit: Meant to mention I would recommend maybe talking with a nutrionist and bring along some food journals. Good Luck and don't give up!!

Im losing weight consistently actually started at 349 I'm at 276 in less than 5 months, but recently I've been getting hungry between meals more often faster more fiercely. I went to dr and had fill under fluoroscope, and doc said she added .5 cc I feel like she took 5 cc out!! I know she didn't but that's how I feel, have any of you ever recieved a fill and felt less restriction than you did before u went in? Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. I have 14 cc band with approx. 8.9-9cc. Thanks guys

My Doc is really conservative. My post-op paperwork says 5 lbs the first week and increase at 5 pound increments each week. My problem is.... I'm traveling to Mexico, and I have to pack. I'm going alone, so I'll have to manage my own luggage. My plan is to take a light weight tote, and only bring the bare necessities. Normally, if I was going away for 5 days, I'd have 10 changes of clothes, at least 5 pairs of shoes and purses to match, LOL. My plan is a loose long dress to fly home in, a small pillow and airline blanket in case I get cold on the plane (the Airlines no longer provide those), enough changes of panties, a nightgown, the bare minimum of toiletries (I won't be wearing make up), some broth packets and Mio drops for the last night, a book to read, and a journal. Of course, my I-phone and charger. I'm not bringing my lap top with me since that alone weighs at least 5 lbs. I've already spoken to my "sleeve Sister" and I'm sure we'll have enough to talk about to keep ourselves entertained. Am I missing anything???

Has anyone ever had someone tell them they may be exercising too much? I have my band at 1.5 cc and am eating 3 small meals a day, and have had little weight loss recently. I had to have my band loosened last summer because I couldn't keep anything down, and while it was completely loose I ate like a pig and put all of my weight back on. It was only supposed to be loose for 2 weeks but my doctors kept cancelling my appointments because of scheduling conflicts, and I took FULL advantage of the 3 months that it was loose. Since October I've gotten back on track and have been exercising regularly....walking, jogging, biking, yoga, etc...usually 6-7 days a week, between 1-2 hours a day. I've made exercise #1...but its still soooooooo slow....I'm going in to the doc for the first time in a long while on Thursday and am nervous to see the number on the scale, scared that its going to throw me off track if its high. I think I'm going to get the band tightened a little bit to kind of shake things up...but my mother (who I love dearly) keeps telling me that she thinks I may be exercising too much for what I am able to consume. Has anyone had this problem? Does anyone have any ideas on how to throw yourself off a plateau? I live in Montana and it's currently REALLY cold (negative 25 this morning), so I've mostly been doing biking and yoga this week.......I just need some tips! Work out dvd's that anyone recommends, etc. There's no gym here, so I'm pretty much on my own! Any help or ideas is really appreciated, I'm so sick of having this gut back!

Hi all! I am scheduled for the sleeve on Dec 17. I have to do a 6 month monitored diet. I've already had most of my pre-Op stuff done. Just need labs about a month before! Super excited. No gaining weight this holiday season for me... At the same time will be hard to have family get togethers and explain over and over why I am not eating... Hoping to start the new year off the right way!

Hi everyone! I've been browsing this site and reading post for several days now and have finally decided to join. I am attending a LAP-BAND® seminar next week and I'm so excited. I have considered LAP-BAND® for a few years now, but I have reach a point (weight) of desperation. I am 26 and I weigh 199 at 5'2. My highest weight was 212, but have recently lost a few pounds over the a 3 month period. This is typical for me, I often fluctuate 20-30 lbs and I'm tired of it. This is a journey that I'm excited and anxious about! It's great to have this site to read other peoples stories....

I have free weights and a kettle bell but my favorite is the resistance bands. You can go from one exercise to the next without ever skipping a beat and you really feel it working. I also do title boxing and that is an awesome workout for the whole body but my arms are just worn out when I'm done.

This is from LAP-BAND.com: The LAP-BAND® System creates a small stomach pouch that can hold about one-quarter cup (approx. 2 oz) of food. Eating more can stretch the stomach, canceling the effect of your procedure. Dietary Guidelines After LAP-BAND Surgery Portion size is a major factor in your success with the LAP-BAND System. However, the types of foods you eat can affect your weight loss as well. A healthy diet will have items from each of the following food groups. Quantities and suggested foods are listed in each group. Always talk to your doctor or dietician about your particular dietary needs. Good Choices Fruit and vegetables: 1 to 2 servings of fresh fruit daily 2 to 3 servings of fresh vegetables daily Whole grains: 1 small portion of cornflakes for breakfast, or 1 to 2 slices of toasted whole wheat or rye bread each day. If you find you have trouble with bread blocking your stomach opening, substitute other whole grains such as refined, cooked or ready-to-eat Cereal, oatmeal, cream of wheat, or grits. Protein: 2 to 4 oz of meat, fish or poultry, or one egg for additional Protein Remove all visible fat from the meat. Remove skin from poultry/fish. And cook with little/no fat — grill, steam, microwave, or boil. Dairy: 2 cups of low-fat milk or yogurt, or 1 oz low-fat cheese (max.) Since milk and yogurt are calories in liquid form, you might think they should be avoided. However, the Calcium and protein they have makes them an important part of a healthy daily diet. Fats: 3 to 4 teaspoons of margarine, butter or oil per day (max) Low-fat salad dressings and mayonnaise (in moderation) Drinks: Unlimited zero- or low-calorie liquids per day, including: Non-carbonated beverages Tea or coffee (black) with low-calorie sweetener Clear soup and broths Water Not-so-good choices Proceed with caution: Some foods may cause problems as they may block or have difficulty passing your stomach opening. Introduce these types of foods to your diet slowly, one at a time, to see if they are tolerated. Remember: always be careful and chew these foods well before swallowing. Dry meat Peanut Butter Shrimp Untoasted or doughy bread Pasta or rice Fibrous vegetables (e.g., corn, celery and asparagus) Dried fruit Coconut Popcorn Citrus fruits Nuts Steer clear: Some foods contain too many calories and too little nutritional value to be of any use to you with the LAP-BAND System. Avoid foods high in sugar or fat, including: Syrups, jams, honey Candy, pies, cakes, biscuits chips, dips High-calorie soft drinks Some doctors suggest patients avoid carbonated drinks, as they may contribute to enlargement of the stomach pouch. Alcohol should also be consumed in moderation (one glass of wine or less per day).

hey, im 22 and 5 days post op the first three days were hell,, i was crying and pissed off and every one and so annoyed that i couldnt eat,, then yesterday i got up and had some energy m was so angry so i went for a walk,, the longer i walked, while it was a little uncomfortable, i started to notice i had more energy, and by the time i got home had a shower and my shake i had a nap and woke up feeling much better,, you just have to remember that this will all be positive,, this isnt the easy way out,, or the drastic option , but it is the best option for us, and it will work,, keep lookinh for other ppl's success stories, there is a girl on youtube, katie look her up her video's are amazingly helpful she talks about everything from the emotional ups n downs, to food and excerise and how her life is changing, good luck, keep yourself busy , i weight and measure myself everyday as i find it help me keep the long term goal in mind,

I am just starting my 3 month diet before I am banded. I have been dreaming about how it will feel when I get to my goal weight. One of the things I hate about being big is the heat! I sweat all the dang time. Its actually embarrasing sometimes bc everyone else is comfortable and I am sweating. For those of you who have lost weight, do you feel cooler?

my doctor said most doctors have "their own" spot where they place the ports. mine is over to the right of my belly button but up about 2" i don't think the placement really bothers anyone too much... not that i've read anyway. i'm just worried that when i lose my weight you'll be able to see my port but my doc promised me i wouldn't be able to and that his wife has the same bad as me with the port in the same place and she is at my goal weight and it isn't noticeable.

Well, It's early I just got up and pulled off some of the bandaids and took a relaxing bath. It felt soooo good. I'm still not hungry but, can feel my energy start to lag .....so it's time to eat. I left the hospital on full liquids and it is starting to get boring. I'm going to the grocery store this morning and I'm going to pick up lemons,limes and oranges and tangerines, so I can squeeze the juice to flavor my water. I'm also going to the baby food isle to get fruits and veggies. Everything tastes too sweet to me that drinking juice got old very fast, and I know many of the baby food don't have sugar. I feel the need to find a protein source, so I'll check them out and let you know. I did eat some cheerios last night, I put them (one or two) in my mouth and let them dissolve then with a drop of water made a paste. I did have some gas (burps) but I found gently patting on my chest really helped. Already I love the band and in this short time I can see and feel a difference. My family all caught that nasty stomach flu and I thought I was getting it yesterday, I had some awful nausea. I called Dr. Schwartz's office and that wondeful man returned my call in minutes, he ordered tigan suppositories and one was all it took. Later that day he called to check on me and also told me that the radiologist at Abbott found that I have a kidney stone. (had some 20 years ago) Can you imagine that! I am more impressed with my doctor and hospital than ever. I must say that it is so different not walking by something and popping it in your mouth just cause it's there. I intend to treat my body like a temple. I have a second chance and a wondeful instrument to help me, I am so thankful. I can't wait to fully recover to tackle life. I can't wait for my energy to surge and I know it's coming. I can't wait to wear clothes not layered to try to cover my weight. I can't wait for water slides, instead of sitting in a chair sweating, watching, wanting so much to be there with my children......I'll be riding with them. I feel my weight has robbed me of so much, and I let it. I have always had vanity, and it has has kept me from so much. I didn't want to be the side-show or the fattest, slowest mom. I have always hid behind my humor ("fat folks are jolly folks") while silently I ached. I look forward to walking by Lane Bryant or Catherines, and into a regular store that will give me the selection and styles I that were not available to me before. Mostly, I look forward to the day my husband will sweep me in his arms ( OK I know I'm getting carried away........the visions of Rhett Butler scooping up Scarlet and carrying her upstairs, but hey, You gotta dream, right?) I'll tell you my secret fantasy..........read on only if your bold and not afraid, fearless and .............. OK........ it's my husband and I riding in a canoe on a moon-lit night across a still water lake.........then I stand and he holds my waist and we embrace..........oh wait, that's the scene from Titanic. Well you get the point and I hope a smile as well. Good luck to you folks with banding dates a coming, I'm here for you. may God bless, Gabby

Hi Gabby, Congrats and it sounds like your doing beautifully.. I loved reading your last posting and your dreams.. We all share in some sort of dream fantasy.. and we shall all overcome this weight battle. Our fantasy will come true -we can make it happen. Won't be long and the mushy food will start.. I found egg beaters were wonderful, fish is great.. You just have to experiment.. You will do fine.. Keep posting and let us know how you are.. I was just recently banded on 12-29-03..So i'm still new at this.. Congrats again.. Becky

I'm doing Weight Watchers right now. I'm hoping to lose a few more pounds before my first fill.

Oh Cindy, Carbs are not the enemy...I thought that for years. I was on Dr. Bernstein which is a low cal, high protein, low carb diet. I lost almost a hundred pound on it but when I came off and started earting carbs...yikes I gained it all back and more. I think that the right carbs are good for you and the right portions. Sometimes when you restrict yourself from carbs you put your body in a vicious weight loss cycle...trust me your learning from the pro!! lol. I would hate to see anyone go through what I did. Take care girl.

I have seen and read a lot of posts on here that have mixed opinions about the pre-op (liquid diet). My doctor suggests a 14 day liquid diet consisting of 4 protein shakes and one 400-600 calorie meal a day. It has been a rough road! Day 3 I had a headache that wouldn't subside. I've had to say no the Valentine's Day chocolates, going to a buffet lunch with my in laws (who are in town), had to practice self control while grocery shopping and so on and so forth. I've missed food so much I've cried. I'm addicted and that's why my weight has gotten this high. This pre-op diet has forced me to face hunger. To feel what being hungry really feels like. To practice saying no to myself, my family and my friends. I'm now 6 days in to this diet and I'm feeling better. Sure I'm hungry and want some things but it's getting better. Saying no is getting easier. I am proud that I can do this pre-op diet. That even though I want to eat badly I'm not giving in. I'm learning how to take care of myself. This is just the beginning. So to anyone out there having a terrible day know that you're not alone. You'll have rough days. Days when you want to eat your sadness away. Days when you want just the texture of some food. But stick with the diet your doctor has put you on. This is just the start of your lifelong journey. You will be saying no a lot once you get the surgery so start now!

Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum today. I've been lurking for sometime, and I decided today I would post. :success1: My story is like so many others here, I've tried so many things over the yrs to lose the weight, lost it, gained it back, only to repeat the cycle, and disapoint myself for not being able to control myself. I've been reading about Lapband surgery for quite some time, and I finally decided that I'm going to do it! Hopefully the insurance company agrees.:nervous It is a covered benefit as long as I meet the requirements, and according to them, and the surgeon I've picked out, I do. So I sent in my first packet of info to the surgeon, and I pray that this process goes smoothly and quickly!!! I get excited, and can't wait to get it done, especially after reading some of the posts here, it's very encouraging to read that I'm not alone, even though I feel like it sometimes. I can't wait to get the old me back. The one that isn't afraid to run into someone from their past, and not be recognized because of all the weight I've put on through the yrs. Well, thanks for listening. Good luck to you all...and me too!

All of a sudden I just realized how happy I am!!! I was banded on February 23. I was a little scared but really wanted this. For some reason I just realized it has not been a tough road so far. Its just so doable. I dont feel like if im starving. I was on a liquid diet for 7 weeks and got my first fill on the 8th week. Not even the 7 weeks of liquids were horrible. I figured ive been stuffing my face all my life why cant I just be on a liquid diet for 7 weeks. I think the attitude has so much to do with it. I Cook huge meals for my family yet dont feel bad if I cant eat what they are eating. There are days I wish I could have lost more by now, but all of a sudden people all over are noticing that Im looking SKINNY!!! What a great feeling. Im working out so that makes me feel better. Skin is really getting loose but that has motivated me to get into the gym so that things fall into the right place when I get to my goal weight. Any way just wanted to share how Happy Ive been feeling ever since Ive been banded and wondering if everyone feels the same way. I know some people feel deprived many times after weight loss surgery. I am currently at 193 lbs. I had not been under 200 lbs for over 7 years or more....so I feel Great!!!:thumbup::w00t:

So I haven't been on in a while but I did go ahead and get a fill... 1.6 cc's added to my 2.4 so i'm at 4 cc's in a 10 cc band. Honestly, this feels good. I know the first week can be tighter so the real test is on now. I got my 2nd fill on Thursday, February 24th. It's been 10 days. After only losing 5 lbs in the 4 weeks after my 1st fill, I lost 5 lbs in the ONE WEEK after my 2nd. Five pounds in a week is a lot - my goal is about 10 lbs a month so I know this week may be slower but it was encouraging, nonetheless. And while I know muscle weighs more than fat (thanks for the reminder ) it's still hard to swallow fighting the same pounds week after week when you're working so hard. But, accoring to my TANITA printout - my fat was down like 14 lbs and my muscle was up 3 lbs. I was also holding on to more Water (probably a result of mother nature.. lol). So again guys -- thank you so much for your continued support and talking some sense in to me when I get down on myself. It all works out in the end, we just need reminders. Some short-term goals: 1. Down another 40 lbs by vacation (July) 2. Down 50 lbs by my husband's school reunion (August) How great would that be :-) And by the way -- I'm the weight now that I am when I met my husband. Another 10 lbs and we are heading into unchartered waters. LOL

Congrats on the weight loss and the attitude. I was a teacher and always posted a big banner in the front of my room; "Attitude is the Mind's paintbrush, it can Color ANY situation". It's so true! Best wishes!!!

hello im new here. im in the process of getting the lap band procedure with Dr. Gomez at the IU Surgical Weight Management Center. 7/30 psych evaluation 8/05 consult with surgeon, dietician, and pre-op testing. I have a friend who works for Anthem, she said that Anthem is REALLY FAST at approving or denying requests. it can take anywhere from 24-72 hours!! Im excited and nervous at the same time! I went out and bought all of my pre-op stuff 2 weeks ago lol I really hope i dont get denied!

So I finally received insurance approval this week. My surgery is set for 2/26. I've gone through so many emotions now that this is all becoming reality. I wonder if I will truly be able to do this. I'm afraid of failing and just praying that this will finally be the end of this journey of losing and gaining. I'm not trying to be skinny....I just want to live!! My babies need me and I have to do this for them just as much as for myself. I'm looking forward to being able to be physically active enough to take them to the park, ride bikes etc. Even though I'm nervous I'm also excited at the thought of the new me! I've read so many posts here over the past few months and am so inspired by all of the inspirational and insightful posts. So since my family doesn't agree with my decision to have the surgery...this message board has been my source of support through this process. I'm looking forward to walking through this journey with lots of support from fellow sleevers! Sent from my ADR6330VW using VST

Well, a fill would be required if you are hungry all the time.. other wise maybe you don't need it. Before the fill it was just healing mostly, and you were on mushies and liquids thats why you lost more weight. Yea just make little tweeks and see if that helps. I'm more liberal on my diet than a lot of people. I want it to be realistic. I eat a good 1200 calories a day. I'm not one of those people that eats like 1 egg for Breakfast, and 1/4 cup of tuna for lunch.. and I'm losing 1-3lbs a week. It's all complicated! One week I go balls to the wall 5 days a week, INTENSE exercise and I lose a pound. Which I HATE, and makes it feel so useless when you don't lose much, and spend 6 hours in the gym. The next week, I do some walking, or an exercise video for maybe 4 days, not nearly as intense and I lose a pound or two. I'm trying to figure out the right balance. The body is just fickle I guess.