Search the Community

Hi, I am curious: any people with tattoos? How did that look or change after a lot of weight loss?

Mine are fine mainly cuz they are in muscular areas - But if i had them in weight loss areas they would be messed up

Boy if you and I knew that answer we could make a million dollars in weight loss science! 🙂

It is said a loss is a loss. Better than gaining but there will be times we gain but we can't let weight gains go over 5lbs. They say eating to low calories can make you gain. Normally, eating anything below 1200 calories per day make your body assume there's a food shortage. The end result causes your body to go into what is known as Starvation Mode. During this mode, your metabolism will slow down and try to conserve energy. So guess we have to find a balance and at first you get way under 1200 and we start losing water weight and when your able to eat more at first will be a weight gain but we have to get out of starvation mode and eat enough but not to much. Keep going we all will learn through trial and error. You got this. Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using BariatricPal mobile app

Marci, By your weight loss stats, it appears you are doing very well. This is a process and you will not lose the weight overnight. If that is your idea of success, you need to put that notion out of your head. Eat good, nutritious foods, exercise, and get your fills. You will lose the weight in time! And please don't rely on getting sick to make you stop eating. There are plenty of people on these boards who seem to do that and they're the same ones posting with complications down the road. I can eat bread, rice, and Pasta and I have good restriction. I just eat limited portions. You need to learn your soft stop. Puking is a hard stop. My soft stop is just a tad bit of pressure in my port. I know when I feel that I need to stop and that is actually before I am "full". Hope this will help you out some and best of luck in your journey!

The sleeve, but I opted for the rny because I wanted more agressive means for weight loss, you can always go from sleeve to rny.in the future if you , your surgeon and your insurance allow you decide . Cyn-shakiraa-*12/17/12*Sent from my mobile Rnytalk.

I have the VSG last August at CER with Dr. Garcia, and my experience was very positive. He and his staff were kind, attentive, and efficient. I experienced minimal pain and discomfort, and felt that I was take care off throughout the duration of my stay. My room was spacious, completely private, and had everything I needed. I brought a HDMI cable to hook my laptop up to the TV so my parents and I could watch movies while I was recovering. My parents were my support team, and they stayed at the Marriott and had a free shuttle back and forth to CER every day. They enjoyed their stay. Other supporters stayed in the room with the patient, but didn't get much rest with the nurses coming in throughout the night (to be expected) and the chaise lounge not being very comfortable. The only negative for CER was that it was extremely noisy when I was there. It's new, and they're still working on construction on some of the floors. There's also construction just outside the hospital. Babies with cleft palates were being treated on the same floor, so naturally they were crying at night. If you're a light sleeper or are prone to headaches from noise, I'd consider bringing some earplugs and comfortable headphones. I also have this tiny portable white noise machine that I take with me to help drown out noise when I'm traveling (I've stayed in a lot of hotels next to airports). I did not receive much follow-up care through Dr. Garcia, but I also didn't seek it out. I could have emailed them with any questions. I was given a folder with nutritional guidelines, and a package with pain medication, bandages and such for the incisions. For me, this was sufficient because I consulted with a local Registered Dietician who has worked with bariatric patients, and my endocrinologist had agreed in advance to provide follow-up care. I'm extremely happy with my decision. I have lost 70 pounds in the past 11 months, have had no complications, have perfect lab results, and have no skin issues, and little hair loss. I've gone from a BMI in the low 30s to a BMI in the low 20s.

I'm in the same boat. I lost about 9 pounds in the first week, and haven't lost since. I was talking to my surgeon today and he said that this weight loss isn't going to be a steady decline, it's going to be more like stairs. We're going to lose, stall, lose, stall... which is frustrating but he said as long as it's coming off, we have to be proud of that! I'm right there with ya.

22lbs in two months is a great loss. Its more then two pounds a week. People dont understand that the band is a slow weight loss and like CG a loss is a loss no matter whether it is an ounce or a pound. Slow and steady wins the race.

I think a loss is a loss as i see it.....if you are adhering to the band rules in regards to eating the proper portions, the better food choices and letting the band help you and also, realizing 3500 cals is a pound whether its ate or drank and to not take in more then you burn off, then you are doing great. if you are losing inches, clothes getting bigger, then its working. the scale goes up and down all day long. just because the scale is not moving quickly, I am sure its working. hang in there. I just know you will continue to lose.

I don't subtract exercise calories, but there's probably nothing wrong with it if you can estimate well enough. I've actually added Protein and calories lately because I'm working out more and getting into a weight lifting routine. I think any method is good as long as you're happy with your rate of loss and body composition. I'd rather lose a little more slowly and gain some muscle along the way to help balance things out.

Congrats on your pre-op weight loss! You might get more answers to your questions on the General Support forum. More long-timers hang out there.

LuLuC - I had a slow loss in the beginning and I think it was *because* I lost so much pre-op! :smile2: I think bandsters can loser slower in the beginning because of lack of restriction but it seems very variable so I didn't want to generalize.

It wouldn't "deflate" unless there is a leak, which I suppose could come from severe vomiting. It is more likely you could have caused band slippage with the vomiting, which might change your level of restriction. Neither thing is an emergency that you would have to rush to the doctor with, but either could cause a loss of restriction. You would need a fluoroscope and barium swallow to see what, if anything, is out of place. It could wait until your next appointment, but I wouldn't be surprised if your band doesn't work in restricting your appetite during your wait.

I'm planning on telling everyone I had gallbladder surgery (true), and that I was sick due to that, hence the weight loss. "I thought I might as well keep the weight loss going..."

Just wanted to share my progress so far. 41 pounds gone. Exercising 5x a week. The left photo was taken the first day of school this year in August 2013. I weighed 369. The right photo was taken last week because I felt "skinny" for some reason at work. I am now 328. My surgery was 10/2/13. I still have a lot of work to do, but: 1.) my clothes fit better 2.) I'm rediscovering old clothes I haven't worn in 4-5 years 3.) my shoes fit better! 4.) I'm not tired all the time 5.) people notice my weight loss now

Weight Loss Surgery was such an out of the blue decision for me -- I'm not even sure exactly how it came about. We live in the boonies, I don't watch TV, and I didn't know any one else with a LapBand (or any other WLS). I am kind of a health food type and had never been an overnight patient in the hospital before. I guess I heard that a cousin's doctor had recommended this for him and so I started digging into the research. Almost right away I realized I was the perfect candidate. I think what this means is that I was READY. I had spent two decades dieting and working every weight loss angle under the sun, yet I always put the weight back on again plus a little more. Each year I was a little heavier, and since I'm in my fifties it was really starting to add up. I ate well, just too much. Now I eat well, just in much smaller portions and at appropriate intervals. What a difference this makes over time. Here I am today 75 pounds down from when I started 17 months ago. I honestly can't believe it. Next month at a year and a half I hope to be able to report 80. It's been a long winter and I have not been exercising as much as I'd like. I know from experience that for me the exercise is really the magic ingredient. I hate the gym and as soon as this sleet and snow clears off I can't wait to resume outdoor walking again. Last year I bought a bike and I look forward to that. I have arthritis and being able to do these things is a real gift. So much easier without carrying around all that extra weight! The scale is the scale and sometimes it doesn't budge. I tend to lose some and then hover a long while around a particular number for a while. This can be frustrating but I've learned that it is okay, that the scale will eventually move. Meanwhile, its all about the pants, the pants. I have gone from 18 jeans down to size 10 in the same brand. Right now I have a pair of size 10 jeans in another brand that I picked up on sale and they are way too tight. But I'm going to get into those jeans over time -- and I also have a couple of pair of linen pants in my closet. I try them all on from time to time and that helps keep me motivated. It's all about the pants, the pants..... Determining a goal weight is hard -- I guess I will know when I get there (and I know I'm not there yet). I'm fairly tall and don't want to be "skinny" -- I like my curves. For now I am thinking 155 might be a good weight for me and I am thrilled to be just 22 pounds away from that goal as of this morning. Oh my goodness, I am so happy!

And while I was yakking on to dfaulkner about sweets, I completely forgot to congratulate Bandista on her incredible 75 lb weight loss !! Way to go !! Congratulations !!! How are things going since your post in April ? Better ? Worse ? Biking or walking much ? Details ? ( Sorry , got off track, one of us here is ADD and easily distacted......................squirrel !)

Sorry you have to be going through this, sending you hugs !! The only thing I can think of is 1. You handled it extremely well, especially since you were caught off guard ! 2. Unfortunately , kids have no filter, and he may have been taught or heard that being " fat" is not "okay " or different , or out of place, just as kids may point out a very tall person, a bald head, a girl with bright purple hair, etc........ anything that stands out, kids will notice and comment on it ( no filter yet ). His comment did hit a nerve with you because of your past, which hurt your feelings. You should give yourself a big hug for handling it so well, setting an example for your daughter, and working so hard that you have lost 80 some pounds ! WOW ! Congratulations ! Keep up the good work ! Hugs !

@@Bandista your posts and comments on post are ALWAYS encouraging and supportive! Congrats on your loss and I have no doubt you will reach your goal!! ????

My nutritionists keep saying the same thing....over and over about diet sodas. "No Greg, you can't have them". I asked my surgeon about the matter during my 6 month post-op appointment. He told me to have at 'em so long as my sleeve agreed with them. Just hearing that I could was enough for me. I've yet to try one, though. I am happy with my coffee and Water and occasional tea. Two of the most successful wls people that I know.....both have been at their maintenance weight for years.....both drink a real soda....one likes real Mountain Dew and the other likes real Cokes. They each drink a very small amount....no more than one a day, but they sip on them throughout the day. Again.....I stress....both of these ladies have achieved their weight goals years ago and have been living that way ever since. Looking at them you'd never know they had wls. Never. I've come to a certain level of understanding concerning my nutritionists rulings on things.....they are always gonna give the safe advice and promote the generic advice they give to every single patient. They are consistent if nothing else. The two in my current program suck outright at one-on-one advice so far. The nutritionist in first bariatric program I started with last year was much more thorough and everything was one-on-one and customized to my needs and goals. My surgeon, though, is all about me as a patient and focuses on where I am....not where a group of us are. There are folks at all degrees along their weight loss process on here. They advise all sorts of strategies to gain advantage over their weight loss endeavors. It's all about finding what works for you and finding the daily pleasures that you enjoy and can do so without adverse impact to your health. I'm sure I'll knock back a Diet Dew at some point.....but for now I'm content just knowing that it's been okay'd by my surgeon. It's just not something that I yearn for like I did in the past. Pre-op found me killing those things in silly quantities. It's been a fun process....learning about myself all throughout. Some of the discoveries are funny.....some scared the crap outa me....some just leave me wondering what the hell was I thinking.........

First off, I just want to say I have the most supportive friends a person could ask for. My best friend in the whole wide world came to hospital every day the four days I was there after my surgery. He stayed for several hours, if he didn't have work, at a time, even when I was drugged up and sleeping. He even contemplated skipping one of his classes so he could stay with me, but I told him no, especially since finals were drawing near, lol. Now that that is out of the way, onto the story. I consider myself in between the pureed and soft food stage, because while I still puree some stuff, my doctor gave me the go ahead to try some soft foods. Like I said, my friends are super supportive. I went to a Christmas party at my friend's house, and the two that were planning the food put a lot of thought and consideration into what they would have at the party based on what I could eat. One of my friend's signature dishes is homemade mac and cheese, and she made it with reduced fat cheese so I could have it since more fattening cheese makes me very sick right now. They also had some sort of chili cheese dip and crab meat dip. They know soda is my weakness, mainly coke and sprite, so my friend hid it before I got there, lol! He even bought my favorite diet juice drink just for me and gave me a saucer sized plate so I couldn't overload. Well, at the party, I probably ate more than I should. I never really felt the signals that I was eating too much at one time (ie burping, slimies, etc), but it was more like I was grazing throughout the night. I started out with about, I'm really bad at measurements, 2-3 ounces of the chili cheese dip and a few noodles of the mac and cheese and it was amazing. Drank some juice afterwards and then stopped for about an hour, before I had some of the meat from the deli tray, probably about four pepperoni sized pieces. We started playing a game so I mainly sipped Water during that time. Afterwards, I had some more of the chili cheese dip and some crab dip on a couple of crackers (I know, I know, some consider carbs evil but I couldn't resist ) and a cube of cheese from the deli tray. All in all, I probably grazed on about 8 ounces of food in a 5 hour time period. By the end of the night, I realized I probably ate way too much, and I felt a bit of heaviness in my stomach, but luckily no nausea or slimies, just a bit of burping. The next day on Wednesday, I was reluctant to go on my scale because I was certain I had gained. Turns out, I had lost 1.2 pounds! Wasn't sure if I was ever going to say this, because in the beginning I severely regretted my surgery, but I love my sleeve! I tried on my favorite jeans last week and I can fit more than a hand's width in between the waistband and my stomach! I was even more surprised when I looked at the tag and saw they were actually a size 22, when I had thought they were a size 24! I wore them a few days later and while visiting my mom, she said, "you need to stop wearing those pants, they're practically hanging off your hips." It was a great feeling. I can now comfortably wear a size 20, when before they would be digging into my stomach so much, I'd resort to unbuttoning them and hope my shirt covered it. I work in a movie theater and we are given two t-shirts for work. Well, a week before my surgery last month, we got new shirts for the holiday season. I wasn't sure what size I needed so I had my manager give me an XL and 2X and I would just trade the size I didn't need for another of the size I did. Tried on the 2X first, and it was too big, so I tried on the XL and while a bit snug, it fit better. Yes, I was definitely pear-shaped because I could wear an XL shirt but needed size 24 pants. Well, the district manager was working with me the next day and I told her I needed to trade in my shirt. After one of the supervisors went upstairs to switch them out, he couldn't find another XL, so my manager suggested I just get a 2X. I politely told her no (since I knew I would be having the surgery in a few days and it'd be a waste), and I'm glad I did because now my XL is too big! It'll probably be another month before I can comfortably wear a size large, but it feels good to physically be able to see my weight loss. The first two weeks after my surgery, even though I was throwing up the whole time, I had cravings like crazy. I wanted pizza, nachos, bread, etc. Now that I'm a little more than a month out, my cravings have gotten better, except a time or two here and there. Well, for the aforementioned Christmas party, I was supposed to make Cookies. I made sugar cookies, and before my surgery I would use a spoon to get whatever leftover batter there was, but I really didn't have the temptation to this time. Well, I bought some vanilla whipped topping and used food coloring to make it red and green, for Christmas. While stirring, naturally I got some on me. The first time I did was the only time I licked it off, out of habit mainly, but after realizing what I did, it was pretty easy to just keep a paper towel next to me to wipe it off. To me, that's a big accomplishment. Those are my NSVs (so far ) and sorry for the long post! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

Try not to rely on the scale....that is always a down fall. I have trained myself not to look at the scale more than twice a month,.,.,..it is really hard, but you always see a difference then and you learn the idea of loosing weight over time. I have lost 60 pounds since March 22, my surgery date, and 20 from the two weeks before surgery. I am close to goal and slowing on weight loss. I am learning to be happy with this progress. Feeling great! good luck

I called yesterday on a whim and my acceptance letters were sent out that same day. I could do the procedure pretty quickly but it seems that I have to have someone there with me and someone has to watch my kids. I have to be at the center at 5am and the hourly daycare center does not open till 8am. I am from minnesota so I dont have any family here in texas! Talk about obsticles! My husband is an offshore diver and is on call 24/7 so having him home on exactly the right time is only half my problem. I think I really need to find a babysitter in houston who is willing to be at by place at 4:30 in the morning LOL. I figure I might have to wait till the first week of january for when my mom is planning a visit and between now and then I can work out who can watch my kids. In the meantime, i need to sort through and get prepared for what is coming. I keep hearing that I will loose my hair and I am really interested to hear when that happens and how bad it is and can it be prevented. I suppose it will grow back, I am more interested in being about to shop off the sale rack at target in regular size clothes than what my hair will look like for a while. I get to be skinny again. I am so thrilled. So, if you read this far, *applause* and thanks. If you ahve any tricks or words of wisdom, or can give me any ideas of what to expect and what could make life easier between now and my surgury as well ass what I can do w=once I get home. Great big thanks, everyone!

I agree with Julie. I felt pressured to have my first fill despite that I was losing weight. After my first fill, I have not lost ANY WEIGHT. In fact, I gained a few pounds. My bariatric surgeon said at a support group meeting (weeks after my first fill) that he doesn't not expect any restriction of food until the second fill! My second fill is in a couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to it and to start losing weight again. I would suggest not having a fill until you start slowing down with losing weight or stop losing weight. If I had to do it all over again. That is what I would do. I am not craving food but I have little to none restriction on the amount of food. To succeed with weight loss, we need the added tool of restriction with a fill.