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@@hipnthighsfordays I hope that it doesn't impact your approval or surgery. Many insurance plans will not approve if any weight was gained during the supervised diet period. Some surgeons won't operate if you haven't lost weight either. Your shakes may have a lot of sugars as well - and not enough Protein. It's important to check labels. I don't see how you could gain 7 lbs though if that's all you were eating. Hopefully you are wrong on your weight! Good luck.

Honestly? You may not have this moment for several months. We stare so much at ourselves in the mirror, just waiting for those changes to flash us a neon sign saying "Here! Here look this is soooo much thinner!" but that's not really how it happens. It took a few months for me before I looked in the mirror and saw myself. And it wasn't I looked in there and said "Damn you fine!" or anything like that. In fact I looked practically deranged since I just come back from my first real run in several years. I was sweaty and gross and blotchy and covered in gnats because summer running sucks... but I really saw a difference. I was capable. That was my "aha!" moment. There are some people who drop 30lbs, but are still in the same sizes. They drop 60lbs and have only dropped 1 pant size. There are some people who drop 15lbs and drop 2 sizes. How we hold our weight is so very different from person to person. So if your looking for each little tiny change, you may miss the bigger picture. Instead, focus on some other aspects. Could you walk further this week than last? Did those stairs kick your ass as much as yesterday? I found this to be very very motivating!

I'm allowed any tablets....no problems with em. HW 312, pre-op (lap-band) 294, pre-op (RNY) 255, surgery date 2/11/13, goal weight 154, current weight 225.8

OK, ready for this?? I hate motorcycles...always have. I think they're dangerous and was thrilled when my boys eventually sold their bikes off. I know that folks who ride love the feeling..it's just that I personally don't like 'em. Having said that however, my physical therapist rides a bike and even after he took a spill and broke his wrist recently, he still rides and tells me how much he loves it. Well...at PT last week, I was able to get on one of the weight machines backwards in order to work on strengthening exercises on my back. This is the first time since the hip surgery that I could get my leg up and around the seat fairly easily. Sanjay was silently watching me and then quietly said, 'That was spectacular. If it's the last thing I do, I'm gonna get you on my bike and we're going for a ride.' I still doubt I'll do it. Imagine me on a motorcycle in Manhattan...aagghh! You take your life in your hands just crossing the street, much less sharing the road with cars, taxi's, trucks, and NYC buses. But...just to know that I can get on a bike is miraculous to me.

I'm on one of those plans where you have to lose as much as you can for 6 months before you can get approved and then start the real pre op stuff. Anyway I'm about 8 - 9 weeks in on the plan which is low carb high protein and I'm really struggling. Not with food, the food is fine but the weight is not melting off like it should on a low carb plan. My doctor made some tweaks to my diet last week and I'm trying that now and it did help stop the slow climb I was having but my body seems not to want to go beyond 10 pounds loss. Now here is my real fear... if I'm struggling this much on a pretty liberal diet where I still get to eat all the things I like with the exception of highly processed foods, sweets, grains, bread. Which honestly I really don't miss at all.... what is it going to be like when I get to the real highly restrictive diet I'm expected to follow pre and post op? I don't know, I'm beginning to have doubts that maybe surgery won't help and all sorts of crazy thoughts like maybe something is just wrong with me. I swear I have not been cheating at all! Yet I've only loss about 10 pounds???? what is wrong with my body... sigh... The fear that I might go through surgery and nothing changes wakes me up in the middle of the night in a panic.....

Lol, "It's about time?". That comment would be way too supportive. Here's a sampling of some of the REAL comments people hear: "Surgery? That's taking the EASY way out" "Why don't you just try to diet and exercise?" "My friends sister's best friends aunt had weight loss surgery, and she gained all her weight back" "I know someone who DIED because of weight loss surgery. And that was AFTER they gained all their weight back!" Obviously that last one is tongue and cheek, but you get the idea.

hi so my name is jessica and i am new to the bypass forums but not new to the site. ive kind of been lurking since wendsday of this week and wanted to tell my story. i am 24 with a high weight of 290 pounds right now i am in month four going on month 5/7 of my required visits for insurance and have lost 8 pounds not a lot but ill take it. i have a awesome husband who is my rock and is supporting me through all of this and is keeping me accountable when my head hunger kicks in and i want mcdonalds really bad lol so thats me ill update more as i go along i should be having surgery in march or april of 2016 so anyone having it around that time message me and we can keep up

I didn't lose any weight during my six month waiting period prior to surgery. I did make several lifestyle changes such as cutting out all soda, cut almost all refined sugar out... Still no weight loss. Did two week liquid diet and only lost four pounds. I was so worried that this surgery would not work for me or that I would be a slow loser. After surgery the weight began to drop off. I went from 271 to 145. Hang in there you may just see your loss post op!! Congrats on your upcoming surgery. Hang in there with the liquid pre op diet. You can do it.

Ketosis! I carry mints & gum all the time and brush when I can. I am 1 yr banded and it doesn't go away. Worth it for the weight loss!

Thanks to all for this post and the replies. I am having almost the exact same problems but I haven't lost nearly the weight you have. I am going to try keeping a closer watch on my Protein, drinking more Water less coffee (with sugar free creamer). I also have not been good at exercising but I am doing better and have found some buddies to exercise with some days which helps. I also just bought a book that was recommended in another thread and I hope that it helps. Failure is not an option!

Not this type - but losing weight made me aware I have hernias at each end of my caesar scar. When they became visible, I suddenly noticed them. I pressed on one and SQUELCH - it was disgusting! they look like two golf balls under the skin, its weird. I saw my doc when i went for a pap smear (just the gp, not a gyno) and she said "oh, dont worry about it". But I think I'll follow it up becuase hernias of course can strangulate and if its squelching, its obviously bits of my guts poking out (disappears when I like on my back)! Plus it looks awful. I also notice that after I've been on my feet all day or done a lot of running they ache.

You're welcome. I actually told the surgeon as they were all running around getting me ready that if this surgery interfered in any way with me getting my lap band surgery than forget it. He reassured me that this was not an issue. But you know after that surgery I was not too hungry and the day after Christmas day was when I started my two week liquid diet. So that last supper never happened and you know I am grateful because I lost more weight prior to the lap band surgery and being on another liquid diet post-op was nothing. No Bandster Hell for me. Oh and I forgot to tell you that the anesthesiologist accidentally broke my front tooth during the hernia repair and because I was having lap band surgery so soon I did not have it fixed until the end of January because the insurance company would not pay to fix it and there was no way I was fixing it twice. It's always something isn't it? :thumbup: You'll be fine I will keep positive thoughts for you.

Lauren - apparently you are not a lone case. Drs. consider the surgery sucessfull if you have lost 65-70% of your excess weight. If you had 100lbs of excess weight you are sucessfull. Keep up the good work. Increase excercise and continue on your diet and the lbs will keep coming off.

I will be 1 year out in July 2013.. Had surgery in Mexico with Dr Garcia.. Yes I did have issues but have lost over 70lbs.. This is the smallest I have ever been.. It feels so good to buy clothes ! I still have issues with reflux, I take 1 prolosec in am & 1 in pm.. My insurance has covered all my after care, including 2 hospital stays for a C Diff infection. Also I still struggle with food. Sometimes difficult to eat with the reflux. One of my docs wanted to convert my sleeve to a bypass but I dont want to do anymore surgery.. I was suposed to have another EGD last Fall with a monitor placed for 2 days but I didnt want to do anything at that time.. My C Diff finally went away in December. Ok, so Im actually going to try & attach pics.. One is of me & my son from October 2011, I probably weighed 185.. The other 2 were taken a few days ago at 129 lbs! I never liked to take pics before so it feels weird to take them now.. Good luck to all in their weight loss journey!!

i was bnded on 7-14-06 and have had to 2 fills but no restriction and i know i have been eating too much but try to watch what i eat. but today and yesterday i have had a slight pain under the sterum it is not a sharp pain just pressure i have been eating nuts latelly could i have one stuck or something i do not have any problem swallowing and have not pb'd or slimed just this stupid little pain. i go monday for my 3rd fill and each time the dr has had some problem getting the saline into the port they can find the port but have trouble injecting the saline into it. i don't think they actually got any in the last fill. i have not lost any weight in the last 3 months but i have not been the best bandster still eat my chocolate but WAY WAY less than before the band and i have seen a loss of inches. i know i'm rambling but i'm full of questions.

Hello everyone - I am a 38 year old married mom of two boys. I work full time as a paralegal. I was banded on December 2, 2009, and have lost 40 pounds so far. I feel with the holidays passing by I have fallen off the band wagon and need some support from fellow band members! I didn't gain weight over the holidays, but didn't loose either. One of my concers is I think i should have lost more weigt than i have so far. I started out at 246 and weigh 203. I don't exercise and haven't found the motivation to do so. I am in a bit of a depresive slup and need help. My next issue is that I have learned what bad foods to eat that go down easily and need to stop eating those foods as well as getting out of my head that I dont need to put something in my mouth evey minute of the day like I used to feel before I was banded. However, those feelings are coming back again. I went to a support group last night for the first time and got a bit of encouragement and feel better today but need to continue the support so that is why Im here. I have a 10cc band that is filled with 8cc's of saline so i dont belive I can tolerate anymore of a fill. Any advice and encouragement would be much appreceiated!

Have you been using Fitday.com ? Free subsr. Great tool to log weight; activities; foods. Track weight; activities; cals.; carbs.; proteins; etc. It keeps you aware of intake after each meal, each day, each week, etc.

My weight loss has slowed significantly and the PA told me to eat at least 800 calories per day. She first said between 800 and 1200, but when I asked her where to start in that range, she said between 800 and 900 (or 1,000 - I can't remember for sure). I'm almost 2 months out. This was at my 6 week checkup.

I signed up and introduced myself a while back but didn't realy have a chance to post after that. But I am back to re-introduce myself. Im Heather, 27 (about to be 28 in march) and I am a Norcal-er (Northern California). I have been checking into the lap band for a while. I finally got up the nerve to go to my PC doctor to talk with her about the lapband. I have Kaiser and have heard horror stories about them not wanting to refer people for the surgery. So I went and talked with my doctor and to my surprise she went ahead and sent a referal for me to the San Francisco Bariatric center. I got my letter from them today explaining things and that they will be scheduling my first "oreintation seminar" in a few weeks. I am super excited to get started on my weight loss journey! I look forward to sharing in the same experience that the majority here have, and I look forward to being active on the boards :biggrin:

Hello fellow Texans............... Well, I am trying to stay healthy and am going to the gym 3 times a week and lifting weights. I got pretty good at it too, so good I got a inguinal hernia (in my groin area). Researching a hernia it happens to people who are carrying too much weight and also losing alot of weight so of course that would be me. My questions are these..................... 1. Has anyone experienced this? 2. Did you have surgery to fix it? 3. What method did the doctor use? 4. I am in the DFW area and if anyone has a doctor they trust in, please let me know. Any knowledge would be of great help. Thanks, Josephine

Ok, I have to share this with someone that would understand what a big step this was for me. I went for my last appointment with the surgeon yesterday and I expressed by what if I fail concerns with him. We talked for ahile and I was reassured I have every opportunity to succeed at this as anyone. The line that struck me was - We'll (the MD staff) will be there with you every step of the way on your weight loss journey even at 3 am. You'll never be able to forget we are in this toegether once you have the surgery - OK a little corny - but it worked for me. I stopped my Last suppering that I've been doing all month and I actually had the nerve to walk into VICTORIA SECRET today. I broswed like I belonged there and I will belong in a few months. I am not afraid to success. ROAR!

Hi everybody, I've been lurking on the boards for so long that I felt it was time to come out of hiding and say how much inspiration you've all given to me without knowing it. You are a great source of information, comfort, and camaraderie -- it feels wonderful to know that I'm not alone. My real name is Michele. I'm originally from St. Louis, MO but I've been living in the Houston area (The Woodlands to be more exact) for 14 years. I'm 49 years old and I have a host of problems that I hope are going to be greatly improved by the surgery -- diabetes, high blood pressure, low thyroid, high cholesterol. Diabetes is the main one. My mom was about 100 lbs. overweight and died when she was 62 from the complications of diabetes. It's taken several of my friends too, and I just don't want to go out that way if I can help it. It's funny, I'm a conservative Republican but I tell everyone "Thank you President Obama!" If it weren't for Obamacare I don't know where I'd be. Because of the PCIP program which is part of the Affordable Care Act, I am able to get insurance and I couldn't afford it previously. I was turned down for other insurance and the Texas Risk Pool insurance was twice as expensive as what I pay for deductibles now. Anyway, my insurance covers bariatric surgery. I had to be on medically supervised weight loss for 6 months, then they approved me. Because of previous surgery I had on my ears this year, I've already met my out of pocket maximum so this surgery is free for me. I have been truly blessed. This past year has been an epic saga trying to get to this point. After doing everything I needed to do for six months and gaining approval for the surgery on the first try, I found out my surgeon was out of network because the medical group he was a part of fell apart and he joined with a new group and my insurance couldn't find him on their network anymore. Finally my insurance suggested that I find a different surgeon so I looked around and found one who has a lot of good reviews online -- and this is going to be my hero - Dr. Dexter Turnquest. My surgery is scheduled for Monday the 19th at 1:00 pm. I'm so excited that it's finally happening yet I'm feeling more nervous and I have more trepidation than I thought I would. My surgeon allows only Clear Liquids for the first week (yep the week of thanksgiving - maybe i can find some turkey broth). Then after that I go on the soft diet. He said he wants his patients eating their Protein, not drinking Liquid Protein, so I'm glad I won't have to be on the Protein Shakes -- I'm sorry, they're mostly awful. I worry what it's going to be like to be at home and not chowing down. I wonder what it's going to be like not to eat certain things, not to eat as much as I used to eat. I wonder if I'll get really depressed because that's been my coping source all these years. But I know that God is on my side and He has brought me to this and He'll help me get through it. But I can't help wondering and worrying a little if it's going to be really hard. Can anyone recommend things I should have on hand for that first week when I'm home that I would regret if I didn't get? My friend is going to spend the night with me the night I come home (which will be Tuesday afteroon) but after that I'm mostly going to be on my own sitting in my little apartment. Please let me know if there were things, medicines, food items, that you were really glad you had around. Anyone else live in The Woodlands area? I would love to go to a support group and make some new friends. I think it would help me get out of myself and help me take the focus off ME. There's so much more I could say so I'll just leave it at that for right now -- thanks again to all of you for being here!

Congrats on the weight loss. You might try the nutrition forum. I know there are some recipes floating around.

The Antijared has some loose skin there but nothing too awful. He's done well. But frankly, there isn't much you can do. Take care of your skin, keep it healthy and hydrated.....yeah, that might help a little, but it's no guarantee. How much weight you have to lose, age, genetics....they are the contributing factors and you can't control those things. And resistance training....well, if you build muscle to replace the fat, that will help fill out the space vacated by fat loss, but no one is ever going to be able to build enough muscle to replace all of the lost fat. That's just a fact. So again, it just depends on the elasticity of the individual. And not to burst bubbles, but you can do toning exercises till the cows come home....your muscles will thank you, but it doesn't affect your skin. Skin cannot be made to shrink by working the muscles underneath. And someone can say they did X bicep curls and didn't get bat wings....but that doesn't mean the curls had anything to do with it. Sorry to be pessimistic, but just trying to keep it real. Be healthy, lose the weight, live a long life...the skin is an annoyance, but it's better than the fat.

Well, this thread is gettin around--but that's the fun of it! All that stuff about me and my pathetic dating life will have to wait because I have to tell you about how I taught my sons to kiss. (Okay...stop going "EWWWW" it's nothing sick!!) Several years ago (the LAST time I got to a decent weight) I dated a man who seriously knew what he was doing. There were quite a few times I went "Whoa--where'd you learn THAT??" And finally he told me his secret. When he was a young, inexperienced man in the service stationed in Camp Penndleton he found a professional woman down in Encinitas (MX!! I guess it IS good for more than just LB docs!) who TAUGHT him how to please a woman. Let me tell ya, I wish I could've sent every man in my life to her. His kissing... oh my. He described to me how she taught him how to kiss with STRAWBERRIES!! So one day I had picked some wonderful peaches (fresh off our tree) and was sitting around with my sons (14 & 17 at the time) and I took the opportunity to try to teach them something that may improve their relationships down the road as much as my lessons on how to clean a bathroom. I said, hey guys take a bite of peach...they did. And then I said, this is how you should approach the lips of a woman. (MOOOOOMMM! YUCK!!! You can imagine--but my sons are used to me being a little different in what I think is important) I said, stay with me here... you want to taste her lips--like a lucious peach... feel the texture and just sip the juices, try to approach them like you've never tasted a peach before and you're trying to totally explore the taste and texture with your lips and tongue. And don't always do it the same way... try to find as many ways to taste a peach as you can. Well, as you can imagine they were grossed out and my youngest said he'd probably never be able to each a peach again! (lol) I dunno if the lesson took but I have every intention of asking some future daughter in law if whichever son is an exceptional kisser and if he is I'll get to see the look on her face when I tell her she can thank ME for that!! (The lengths I will go to to be a good mom!)