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That's really neat you recognized all that was happening. So many of us just go at this on a whim- meaning we just go for fills until we start losing weight. I was doing fine, like you, but ....this time last year I was 138 and thought it was DONE. But over the past few months I've started losing weight, without wanting to. I'm now 129.... I think I'm going back for an adjustment to get a cc taken out.

didn't lose weight today but doing okay... more energy

I’d like to share my experience with getting insurance approval, in case it helps anyone out. For the past 5 years I’ve been struggling with Type 2 Diabetes starting out at a 10.8% A1C in late 2009 with a BMI of 35.8. This was a life changing event for me, so I kicked into gear and did really well getting my weight down to 263, BMI down to 33.3 and A1C of 6.1%. I always knew what foods to eat as my Sister is a dietician, but man, I love cheeseburgers. I cut them out, moved on to low fat foods and lots of walking which worked really well. After 6 months of focus on my health I lost my job, picked up another one quickly but that seemed to be enough for me to tell myself I could get back on the cheeseburgers. By the end of 2010, I was back up to 278 and a BMI of 35.2. My BMI continued to hover between 36 & 36 up until 2014 when I asked my Doctor about the benefits of RNY for Diabetes management. He was surprised I asked and referred me to the Gastric team. I had an initial Surgeon consultation in Feb, 2015 in which he explained the process and benefits of RNY for Diabetes management. I was very excited, but now I had to go through a 6-month journey on supervised weight loss, which so many of us get a little bummed about but I went through the program. I found it extremely beneficial as you concentrate on changing your habits. I gave up a couple of vices; sodas and fast food, but I needed to maintain a 35 BMI. Whoa, 6 months up and now it time to submit the paperwork. I’ve dotted all of the I’s and crossed all the T’s and I’m ready. I was so excited and then my letter came in the mail – Denied. WHAT? I’ve done everything, but wait, there are more rules that you don’t know about. My BMI had to stay above 35 for 3 straight years and I needed evidence of addition weights loss attempts. Turns out my BMI dipped down below 35 on a few occasions at my recorded height. Life saver, I shrunk a half an inch since they recorded my height some twenty years ago. Now this is where having a great relationship with your primary physician really helps. He wrote a letter detailing everything, my height was incorrect, I attempted to lose weight under his supervision and he documented all of my co-morbidities. AWESOME! Yesterday, I received the phone call I’ve been waiting 2 months for. I have been approved and Phase 2 – Surgery will be scheduled shortly. Trust your medical team and good things will happen. Tonight it’s chicken on the grill, No Cheeseburger!

I turned 30 this year and i decided to make the biggest change og my life this year. I had my surgery in Aug. and I have lost ove 80lbs thus far. I have battled a weight problem all my life and it feels great to see the numbers on the scale decline. [ATTACH]1892[/ATTACH]

If you are far away from your goal weight, chances are you have more to lose and may lose more than 1-2 pounds per week, but that's a good estimate. I lost 15 pounds my first 2 weeks, 3 pounds the second 2 weeks. Last week it was 2 pounds. I find it better if I don't weigh everyday. The little up and down fluctuations would make me crazy!

Awesome job Tink! I hit 25# mark yesterday! I haven't worn my wedding ring in 8 years-YIKES! Every year, I will lose the weight and then I won't have to get it sized. So, I can only imagine how excited you are! Congrats!!! I think I will have to lose 85#s before mine will fit.

Well when I hit a stand still its for a few weeks and I start picking up my workout routine, than I have to turn back to the band rules...protein first, chew,chew chew, eat small bites and drink LOTS of water...once I do that for a week or so the scale normally moves again...my weight loss stands still for a few weeks than I may lose 2-3lbs and start the whole cycle again...its really starting to slow down now though ...so I have to work harder and it feels like as time goes on I sway away from the band rules more and more so I have to re focus....your doing a great job....glad you have such a great practice..Im debating on if I should get another fill or not, I have an appt next week. part of me thinks I could use just a little more but than Im scared of being too tight and miserable! its harder than I thought to find just that right spot..I have a feeling I may have to get overfilled in order to really know where I need to be! Good luck!

I know I have read and even posted about the stalls...but I am becoming depressed. I lost 20ish pounds and even endured a 2nd week stall but I am going up on the scale these last few weeks. I am struggling with eating soft foods so I backed up and went back to runny, liquid and/or mushy foods. Doing better eating but still very depressed when looking at the weight itself. I walk several miles a day and eat my Protein...I also drink my Water. I am not eating any sugary foods, no sweets (can't with the sugar dump I get right away) and hardly any carbs. Last weds I weighed 179, this week I weigh 182 :-( I just want all these issues I am having to seem worthwhile. Eating difficulties, pain, small portions etc. TIA everyone...for letting me vent. J

HI EVERYONE, MY NAME IS REGINA. I MOVED TO RICHMOND VIRGINIA FROM ALABAMA IN JULY OF 05. I HAD JUST HAD 2 MAJOR BACK SURGERIES AND WAS 291 FROM JUST BEING IMMOBILE. I GOT DOWN TO 270 ON MY OWN AND COULDNT GO ANY FURTHER. SO I STARTED LOOKING INTO LAP BAND . AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF CHECKING INTO THAT I DECIDED TO GO WITH IT AND I HAD THE BAND ON DECEMBER 21ST OF 07. MIND YOU I JUST GOT MARRIED ON SEPT 1, 2007. AND STARTED SCHOOL ON JANUARY 7 2008. SO , SO MUCH HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAT I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE WEIGHT LOSS AND I FIND MYSELF SOMETIMES HAVING THINGS I SHOULD NOT HAVE. AND I GET SO MAD AT MYSELF. I HAVE LOST 21 LBS SO FAR, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THAT WAS FROM THE LIVER SHRINKING DIET NOT AFTER THE BAND. SO I AM WORRIED THAT I AM DOING TO MUCH OF WHAT IS NOT RIGHT. AND I FEEL LIKE I AM JUST SPINNING IN THE MUD. :tongue:YOUR THOUGHTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED AND WOULD LOVE TO MEET PEOPLE FOR ENCOURAGEMENT. MY HUSBAND ENCOURAGES ME, BUT SOMETIMES HE SAYS THINGS LIKE HE WAS EXPECTING THE WEIGHT TO COME OFF FASTER LIKE HIS FATHER HAD GASTRIC BYPASS AND LOST 40 IN A MONTH, I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE OF THESE SURGERIES TO HIM AND HE SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS , BUT SOMETIMES I FEEL HE IS DISSAPPOIONTED IN ME NOT DROPPING THE WEIGHT REALLY FAST. ...LOL:rolleyes: HOWEVER I DID THE SURGERY FOR MYSELF AND HEALTH NOT FOR THE HUSBAND, LOL. NICE TO MEET EVERYONE, LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU

I've lost and gained a ton in my life (only half kidding). This article attempts to explain the gain part - a hormone called Lepitin. Health Journal - WSJ.com

Well, I agree with not using fat free or no fat products but my coffee and I have to have the Splenda or as a sub stevia. Aspartame is extremely bad for you. My friend was addicted to Diet Coke and she drank a 2 liter bottle daily. She found out she had fibromyalgia and the doctor told her to stop using products that contain aspartame. There is a marked improvement with her health since she stopped using aspartame products. She never had a weight problem but was walking with a cane for years. She now takes walks everyday without the aid of a cane.

hi everyone! First off, sorry i havent been on in so long. Life has been pretty crazy. Anyways, I had my sugery in June 2010 when i was 18 years old. It is now January 2013 and i am 21 at beyond my goal weight. Thanks to family and friends. I will never regret having my sleeve done but i cant say id do it again. I have had so many health issues and mental issues from this sugery. Although, I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to have this experience... I didnt go about it the right way. I was 215lbs when i was 18 so my insurance didnt cover any WLS. I went to Tijuana Mexico. The experience was something I never expected to ever happen to me. But i will never forget it. I havent gained any weight since surgery but i do have a hard time keeping it on. If anyone has any questions or advice they would be willing to give im all ears congrats to everyone on their success! love , Casey K.

Im 2 years post op and I hit a bump in the road so 3 days ago I started my liquid phase diet to start my weight loss again and im down 5 pounds!! Ive also been hitting the gym like crazy! Thank baby Jesus Lol

Today it has been one month. It has been an eventful month. The last week has been a challenge, I eat what I want. - i hurt sometimes when I eat. I don't eat anywhere close to the foods or the amount of food I use to - I just haven't lost anymore weight. The other thing is I am not getting full. - Hint from reading blogs I think I need a fill. I go back to the dr. in 2 weeks, it isn't going to come soon enough. Some days are hard, everyone knows I have had this surgery and they are expecting the pounds to just pile off I guess. I have increased my physial activity - so maybe we will get it all figured out - one month out - i feel good- just wanting to see some results for putting myself through this and my family. I am still excited, and will continue down this path until my goals have been conquered.

Hi Nikki Sorry I didn't see this until today. I had the band for almost 10 years and after about 7 years, I started having lots of complications. I always had difficulty with fills and unfills because my port flipped almost immediately after surgery. I did fairly well with the band and lost about 100 pounds. However, I regained almost all of that weight after 2 children, 5 months of bed rest and an injury from running. I started looking into revision mid-2010 and was given the choice of RNY (which I found out I couldn't have due to my severe anemia) or sleeve. I wasn't happy with either of those choices so after about 6 months of research I found out about the plication. I was going to go to Mexico but ended up finding a doctor here in Southern California who had just started doing plication. I was his very first banded plication patient, which was scary but somebody's gotta be first!! Anyway - I've lost a bit over 42 pounds in 15 weeks. I'd like to lose about another 50-60 pounds. I started at 283 and am now at 240.5. I am actually surprised that I've lost as much weight as I have considering I'm a revision patient. I track my food but not religiously. I ensure that I eat 50-70 grams of Protein and drink about 60-80 oz. of Water. I do exercise almost everyday and walk/jog about 2-3 miles per workout. I completed my first 5K a few weeks ago and am planning on wogging (walk/jogging) a 10K July 23. I have averaged about 10 pounds per month and have lost 42% of my EWL (excess weight loss). I've gone from a 22/24 (26 top) to loose 20s and almost fitting into 18s! My goal is to be around 170-180ish which for me is a size 12/14. I don't want to be much smaller than that as I prefer that size on me and so does my husband! PS-I have not had any fills in my band and I plan on leaving it completely empty.

First of all, you lost 59 pounds in 2 months? That is insane, I have never heard of anyone losing that quickly. You do realize there is no way you can keep losing at that rate, especially since you weren't super heavy when you started. Lots of things can make your weight fluctuate: hormones being number one. Do you still have a cycle? Is it now or coming soon? Also, things like sodium intake, etc. Everyone experiences fluctuations and stalls along this journey. It is normal to go weeks without losing even if you ARE doing everything by the book. Some men will reach their goal in 6 months, women usually take 9 months to a year, with those having less to lose losing more slowly. But wow, you have lost a pound a day and you are complaining? I wish I had your problems

It sounds like you are way too tight. Contrary to popular belief tighter isn't better. It can lead to both weight gain and slips. You are clearly exhibiting "soft calorie" syndrome because you're too tight. Please read this article, it will help considerably: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/support/post-op-support/tighter-isnt-always-better-r118

Thanks Frank I know my biggest problem is that I weight my self daily. That really stresses me out!!.. You are right the weight didn't just happen over night and I need to be more patient. Thanks for the support!

Well here I am again feeling blahhhhh :tired and reading all these threads wishing I was already banded. I am really stuggling with this whole 'supervised diet'. I WANT TO EAT!!!!! :hungry: I keep catching myself thinking 'oh one ________ won't hurt me.' YEAH RIGHT! That is how I got where I am. That exact thought. Luckily I have caught myself before acting though. I am so afraid if I don't lose the weight the insurance will deny me for my 'lack of trying' (I am afraid that is how they will see it. MAN.....if I could diet on my own I wouldn't be seeking suregery DUH!!! Anyway, looking forward to the consultation tomorrow. I am hoping they don't say ,'you are really over weight and need to shed about 50 lbs before surgery.' Gosh so many different senerios going through my mind. I am dreaming weight issues EVERY night. It seems like lately that is all that is on my mind. I sometimes feel like Stacy is trying to sabatoge me. It seems like she is goating me to eat and by some of the things she says more and more lately. She talks about how she guesses she not a risk taker and she worries about what would happen to Morgan if something happened to her with a major surgery like this. She says 'I think things through and see the consequences' Well hello....what happens if she stays over weight? I don't really care what she does and how she chooses to live. I just get tired of her 'analyzing' everything about what I do or am doing. She is always wanting to go out to eat. She knows I am trying to diet right now. When I say no she says 'your getting the band anyway.' I know she is jealous because she would love to have the band also but she doesn't have a job or insurance to pay for it. I don't begrudge her that tinge of jealousy. I do believe we are good friends but I also think we are 'food buddies'. She is the one I have gone out to eat with the past 3 years while Danny is at work and the kids are at school. I told her yesterday we need to get in the habit of getting together and walking instead of eating. She acts like I am boring her when I talk of the band anymore. I know I am probably talking none stop about it because I am thinking none stop about it but this is a very big decision. I don't know I guess I do have to wonder what happens after I am banded and I am not going to go out to eat and etc. Maybe we will not be as close. I don't know....it is a risk I am willing to take though. My health and my family are coming before anyone and anything else this time. It is time to take care of me....not worry about so and so is feeling about what I am doing. I guess I am just upset with her right now about a few comments she has made towards me lately and just her whole demeaner with this.:angry She will have to get over it because regardless of what she thinks or feels I am doing this. I have to for myself and for my family. Courtney needs a better rold model on nutrition than what I have been and by gosh I will become that role model one way or another!!!!!!:clap2: I really wish Courtney could go through the surgery also. She is so self conscious of herself. She was really happy last night though. She is down 6 pounds. I got Casey's for everyone last night after track because I didn't feel like cooking. I need to STOP THAT! I bought myself popcorn chicken but only ate half. Luckily that was in my weight watchers book so I was able to see how many points I had. I went over about 7-8 points yesterday. Hope today goes better! Wish me luck!

Hi Jae, Welcome to LBT. Good Luck on your weight loss journey.

Please advise! I am 2 years out and lost most of my weight and then have gradually gained back 30 pounds by eatting bad foods. I've have 3 fills and 1 unfill. I am scheduled to have another fill on Thursday because my volume has increased so much. For a few months I started drinking Diet Coke again because my nurse said that there has been no proof that it can harm you. But I've since given it up again, about 1 month now. I'm afraid I've stretched my pouch. I also drink during meals most times. But I can eat sub sandwiches, bread of any kind, and of course all the bad stuff. In fact, I haven't found one food that I cannot eat. I am not eating junk although I have eatten a lot of carbs. I don't exercise regularly either. I'd like some advise because it will cost me $150.00 for this fill. My nurse is going to try and talk me out of the fill since the last time (over a year ago) I was too tight. I'm so disappointed in myself and don't know how to get back the motivation I once had. Thanks, Jeanie

I have had 3 surgeries in the last 2 years, a band placement, a band revision, and now the sleeve, and they were all late in the day like yours, waiting to go in sucks, but afterward your sooo drowzy and doped up and the nurses are in and out taking blood preasures and all that stuff you'll wish someone would leave you alone. dont worry, it;ll go by fast, and you'll be home. good luck on your surgery and weight loss......vicki

I do not know if it is required, but I have an appt with my primary doctor to state that I feel I need WLS. I am hoping to obtain a letter of support from him. I will be bringing my history and proof of payment for various weight loss attemps as well as my last years blood test results. I am going to ask for a new weight and a height (shoes off this time). I have no idea of his opionion of WLS but I thought it wouldn't hurt to try for a written recommendation. I also will have him look at my chart. I had a BMI of 38 two years ago and then I quit smoking. I now have a BMI of 42. (But my lungs are now healthy:)).

First off, congrats on your success. You look great. I also agree with others...it's what you think that matters.... But you asked so...... Ok.....I'll try to answer this delicately and respectfully from a guy's view:) I think you are very balanced and natural looking at your current weight. Perfect!

Jenn I can identify with your post - I eat out of habit, being bought up in a family where you had 3 meals a day at certain times... eat everything on your plate. Its very hard to get out of the habits instilled into us as kids. My worst times were after lunch... sometimes I would go without Breakfast and be fine, but once I started then I found it hard not to graze all afternoon. Within such a short space of time my head has totally got round this.... probably due to the surgery, but I don't feel hungry now, and hopefully wont! lol..... but even on my pre op diet I didn't have a problem with wanting to cheat.... I was 100% with it, which then gave me the best start I could give it. As far as the exercise is concerned i do think the more you see thew weight coming off the more likely you are to want to exercise, the more energy you will have as well. Plus as Tiff says its a way of avoiding the food....do anything else you can, clean the house, put on a exercise dvd, walk the dog - or borrow one! If you want it enough then you can work the tool of the sleeve and make it work for you. Kathy