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So, I think that in most respects, I'm aging pretty gracefully. I'd like to think that despite being 41 (going on 42), I could pass for a man in my mid-to-early 30's except for ONE thing: the stupid crease between my brows. I'll attach a picture so you can see, but I'm curious if people know of anything that can be done about that. Botox? Makeup? I'm only... sort of kidding. I know that getting older happens, and you can only hold it off for so long. But now that my body is FINALLY starting to look GOOD, I'd like to keep my face looking good for a few more years, at least, so that I can enjoy it!

I went to my primary care Dr today and she was all for the lap band surgery! I called the Dr that will be doing it and scheduled my Orientation! It is set for August 9th. I was told that I have to lose 10% of my weight before I can have the surgery. My question is, do I start doing that now, or do I wait until after orientation? Is it hard to lose the 10%? What did you all find as the easiest and quickest way to lose it? I am going to have to lose about 26.5 pounds as of right now. I can schedule my surgery after losing 5%. How long should it take me to lose that weight? I am so excited, I cant wait!!

The hunger bit is completely normal...I was really worried about that too...I was hungry ever 30min or so... The pain bit is also completely normal I spen hours crying on my couch for two weeks after it because of the pain in the shoulder...fortunately my mom was there to help me with the kids... My dr also told me the first 4 weeks are about healing not loosing weight so don't fret your time to go down on the scales will come... keep us posted!

I'm 62 and was pretty fit even though overweight all my adult life. I worked out AT A GYM 3-4 week and was able to eat moderately well into my early 50's but the excess baggage slowly gained over time and I went from 250 pounds at 52 to my max of 390 pounds, my current weight of 365 and I am 6'5". What Changed in my life from 52-62? I went from an active on my feet job to a desk job that demanded manditory overtime I stopped going to the gym as often and I continued to eat like I was still exercising like before. My life became a cycle of Eat sleep Work and I became too tired even to have fun on weekends. This was a true downard spiral. My company downsized and my job, the one that seemed so important and demanded so much time from me was gone. I was unable to find work and lived on the severance, unemployment and a small pension. At 62 a fat man even with experience and degrees will probably never find work. I was even turned down by McDonalds, guess they were afraid I would eat the product...Picture frosty day in hades for that. In that one year after being laid off till my 62'nd B'day I gained 35 pounds to reach that all time high and I was Miserable. I had to have a heart stint put in, The ol blood pressure went through the roof and deep dark depression set in. Why do I say all this because if you see yourself where I was then you realize No Job is worth what you are going through. If the band didn't work for you then you must make time to LOVE yourself and go to a fitness center or gym. Don't bother with buying equipment you will use for a clothes rack and take up space in your home. Do 1/2 to 1 hour of cardio limit weight training to 6-8 exercises for chest arms and back the legs will be ok with the cardio at the gym and ask the gym to set up a routine for you. Let them know weight loss is the goal not massive muscles. Go 3 times a week do not weight train the same muscle groups 2 days in a row except for walking thats what we were made to do. Park as far from your office as possible and get some extra walking in, Do the same at the stores you go to, walk. Never take the elevator for 1 or 2 floors, great exercise. You can stand up at your desk to work, it burns more calories. This follows in the suggestion of an under the desk leg exercisor is a good one. Your legs are 40% of the average mans muscle mass and a pedeling device with resistance also is better than sitting and doesn't keep you from typing on a computer or answering the phone. So you see and I am sure already know that theres lots of exercise opportunities you may be overlooking or avoiding. Talk to your nutritionist, find out whats going on, you are taking in more calories then you are burning the same as the rest of us. Do a follow up with your surgeon perhaps they can work with you to get you on track. Do all of this today, don't wait another day passes and another and pretty soon, if you'er lucky, you are 62 and perhaps in ill health and then the task will be that much harder. I'm not trying to be preachy, I'm just trying to show you a future that would be a lot harder than it needs to be. Let us know how it goes for you and I for one wish the very best for you. All of us here know it's not easy. Ask for help, work less play and laugh more. I finally realized that no matter how much I love food it doesn't love me back. Good Luck.

Im currently 330 lbs Age 32 Male 125 over 83 blood Pressure Height 5'11 And all the Time I sit on My Office My Free Hour only when I got home 6PM and take dinner. Im Lapband Patient Since Oct 13, 2006 I want advice a Recipe for Diet and Exercise Program My Existing Equipment are the following... Protius 3 Home Gym Cardio Master Core Sellectorize What are your Suggestion For Me To Loose Weight.... What Program Diet Recipe and Exercise Program do I have to take???? And how many minute I take for My Work-out and What Recipe Diet you may suggest???

Over the past twenty years, lot of patients have become more familiar with specific measurements related to health, such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure readings. When it comes to weight-related health risks, there are three important numbers that you should know. The first is your actual weight in pounds; the second is your Body Mass Index, or BMI; and the third is your waist measurement. Your BMI is based on your height and weight. Doctors consider BMI to be a better measure of health risk than your actual weight in pounds. In fact, the medical terms "overweight" and "obesity" are based on BMI values. A BMI of between 25 and 30 is defined as overweight, and a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. The higher your BMI, the greater your risk of developing a weight-related illness, such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease. spine surgeons california

Well youve been banded for 4 yrs, have you lost any weight? whats a typical meal for you?

Maybe not enough weight is off yet. Or like my mother they could have thought it was type 2 and it turns out it is type 1 and not too much weight related. Congrats on the 54 pds I hope you solve this issue!

Is joining weight watchers an option? Good plan and weekly weigh ins are great documentation.

I had gastric bypass 6 yrs ago is thr rny the revision surgery? I've gained 100 lbs back. I gotta get it back off and I've tried everything.

I have a 5 1/2 yr old daughter that is extremely smart and sensitive. She overheard the word "surgery" a few weeks ago and freaked out thinking I wasn't coming back for a long time - her preschool teacher has been out for 6 weeks due to a hysterectomy. Anyway, I totally downplayed it, said mommy wasn't having surgery, etc. Mine is outpatient so that morning I will kiss her goodbye, tell her I am going to the doctor for a check-up and when I get home explain that sometimes mommy bellies need fixed after having kids. Not entirely truthful, but she has sooo many questions I'm keeping it super simple. Plus I don't want her to have a weight stigma when she grows up thinking mom had to have her belly shrunk to lose weight, so she should diet also.

Wow this one is a tricky one. I think that it depends on how you much you want them to know. I have a 9 year old daughter and 17 yr old son. I told my son everything because he is old enough to hear the emotional aspect of why I wanted to get the band and loose weight. My daughter is a curious creature and I didn't want to hide anything from her so I just told her mommy wants to be healthy and happy so I can be the best mom I can be. She has very bad eating habits and threw this whole thing I can see her changing the way she even looks at food. I explain to her all the time that I have to eat what my body needs to be a healthy body not just eat what I am craving because I feel hungry. I did go threw three months where I was too tight from my fill and it was difficult to hide getting sick after I ate. She started making comments about how she hating the band because she saw me in pain. I have gotten my band adjusted so now I can eat with out the compilcation of hurting and getting sick now. It is important to just explain it in a possitive aspect. They don't need to know the emotional roller coaster we go threw being heavy and dealing with the food issues. That is what the support groups are for. It is good to just let them know that mommy is going to be healthy and happy and when mommy is happy.......well know know :biggrin:

Sounds like this is where YOU come into play...not the band. I'm on maintenance and found Doritos go down so easily...yep, gained 2 pounds this week. While I am still 5 pounds below goal, I don't feel it's a bad thing. However, we have to stay away from those things that cause the weight to pile on....like Doritos and whatever you've found you can eat alot without sliming it up. Good luck and you've done so well!

i like that your doctor is encouraging you... when i hit 171 pounds at my 2 year anniversary, my surgeon told me i wouldn't lose any more weight and he considered me a "success" because i did lose 60% of my weight but i wasn't happy with that. so the past 10 months i've lost an additional 26 pounds bringing me to 145 pounds which is "normal" on the bmi chart. it's funny because people are starting to say "you're getting too skinny" and i make them clarify... am i looking skinny or TOO skinny? that makes me smile inside because it's been over 20 years since i've been skinny! YOU need to be comfortable with who you are. if you're happy now... just start maintaining. you can always lose more weight down the road!

All too often we play the numbers game SAT's, IQ's, ERA's, wins & losses weight, height, etc. It never seems to end. You should be proud of yourself for coming as far as you have. Don't let another set of numbers ruin all of the work that you have accomplished. The numbers that they give for norms change every 5 to 10 years. We all realize going into this endeavor that we need to lose a substantial amount of weight. When we get to OUR goal, we shouldn't have to be hurt by someone else's expectations. If you're comfortable with 225, so be it. But you know something, I'll bet that you will continue to lose More weight, not to satisfy your doctor, but it has become a lifestyle that we have taken up. I congratulate you on your success and hope that one day I will be at MY goal too.

It's your choice, of course. But getting indignant at the doctor for sharing what the BMI chart says ... well, going in to surgery, you knew you were obese. It really couldn't have been much of a shock to hear her recommend you aim to achieve a normal weight (that is well within your reach) rather than remain overweight. You've lost a HUGE amount of weight. There is nothing wrong with taking a breather, getting used to the changes in your body, and reevaluating. It's probably too soon to form concrete ideas of what normal weight will look like --- your mind needs to catch up with all of the changes in your body so that you can make a clear-eyed choice.

went to the doctors for another fill on tuesday and dropped a few more pounds. I am down to 227 from a high of 361 lbs. went from a tight 48 inch waist to a loose 36 inch waist... all since October 2nd 2009 only10 months ago...I was feeling pretty good about myself until the doc pulls out this little chart and tells me I am still obese... I have to loose 1 more pound and then I am just..OVERWEIGHT.:smile:... I am 6'1" tall broad shoulders ( played all sports in HS) there is no way I want to be "normal" weight which is 189 for my height.:smile2: I would look like a bag of bones.:ohmy:..... I thought I would be happy at 225 and I am but I dont want to go below 215 lbs....my High school days weight.....

I have 4 older sisters who all thought the surgery was cheating, but a week after taking care of me, they all quickly changed their minds. I would suggest u keep a journal and have something to share to those critics who say it is the easy way out. If you want to get to work, you could wake up at 4 am and take 2 or 3 hours to walk there or you can have a car note, be stuck in traffic, etc.. The car may get you there faster, but doesn't mean it's easy (I use to sit on traffic 3 to 4 hours a day Atlanta) I fell asleep behind the wheel, thigh and legs went numb, gained more weight and increase vertigo.

Hi everyone was sleeved March 14. Doing well still maintaining with a five pound weight fluctuation every now and again. Just wondering how everyone else is coming along, that was sleeved around the same time if you're still on the forums please respond.

Oh ok. I know I had to switch my second insurance, as my dr advised me that the one I started with was very strict and turned folks down for gaining a pound. I felt the same. Scared and happy at the same time. I wish you all the best with your surgery and recovery.

So I am 1 week out and have been faithfully drinking out of the 1 ounce medicine cups that they gave me at the hospital. I was not getting in nearly enough fluid and was burping 24-7. then I opened the cupboard to get my 2 yr old a drink and a stack of those cheap plastic sippy cups (no valves, they com in 5 packs) fell out at my head. I decided to try it. FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC! Burping is seriously reduced., there fore I and getting in much more fluiids. My protien shakes were the worst before, painful gain and I could barely get 1 shake down with gas x, now just a little burping and the shakes r going in. Hopefully I will actually drink all 3 tomorrow like Im supposed to! Hope this helps somebody get past that miserable gas! ing is seriously reduced., there fore I and getting in much more fluiids. My protien shakes were the worst before, painful gain and I could barely get 1 shake down with gas x, now just a little burping and the shakes r going in. Hopefully I will actually drink all 3 tomorrow like Im supposed to! Hope this helps somebody get past that miserable gas!

Forgive me, but you have a reaction to the food... Just not pain or gi distress. Identify your trigger foods or problem foods and keep working your sleeve. Maybe a non weight goal.. Mine is to play on the slides with my kids. I don't fit right now, nor can my knees handle the crawl. You have noted the problem early.. 15 lbs is totally doable. What do you want to do about it? Why do you want to do it? Why don't you want to do it? Which one wins?

I just need to vent this and get it out of my system. I am in the process of getting my insurance to approve me for lapband surgery. I am only doing what visits are necessary for preapproval since I have been told I would be responsilbe for these visits if the insurance denied me (BSBCNC). According to their policy I have to do the Dr visit, Nutritionist, Pshy eval, and 5 yr weight history for authorization. Once authorized then I would do the rest of the test. So i have done everything so far. Here I am waiting to hear something from the insurance only to find out my STUPID Dr office from 2 yrs ago has not gotten in my old records for the weight history. It has been a month now and when I call I am given some # for a copying center who says they sent them out yet no one has received them. SO since it has taken WAY LONGER than needed, I have had to reschedule my pulminary appoitment I thought I'd be able to keep (appoint. are a month out at a time-schedule this in Jan) AND I had to call and get them to RESEND the records. Who knows where my other records are at or who is reading them because they were never returned.....I can't believe this...I thought any delay would be from the insurance...not the stupid medical records. Thanks...I feel better now..

Umm...i could use some help...I had my surgery over 2 years ago...for the first two years, i lost about 80 pounds...i "thought" i was doing good. But i was sick, my band wasnt placed right, adn i was throwing up every day...it took that long and a switch to a new doc to get it fixed, back in november. since then i have gained 30 pounds...i am trying so hard...i am so tired of thinking about exercising, eating, every tiny tiny thing i eat. I am terrified that i am going to wake up and weigh 300 pounds tomorrow. I cant go back there....i am exhausted and drained. I know others have been though this...and gotten back on teh wagon..i could use some help.....thank you so much in advance.

First of all, thank you Deb's hubby!! And as for your age, remember it's only a NUMBER! Once you've had the surgery and you begin to loose the weight you will feel SOOO much younger and with so much more energy! Thank you for the heads upon the website! Enjoy your weekend!! Veronica