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I posted about measurements yesterday. They're a good way to track success other than just the scale. Mine haven't had a lot of movement in the last 6 weeks even though I've lost weight, but overall they've changed. Plus, I haven't exercised in 3 weeks because of the heat wave, so I guess I need to get back to toning up at the gym.

First off, good for you! You did/are doing great! if you want to keep going is really your own personal choice. No one should make that choice for you. I know for myself, I reached my doctors goal which was 212. I surpassed that and now weigh anywhere from 200 - 210lbs . I personally feel great at this weight. And I love how i look in my clothes. I look healthy, not anorexic or starved (although my daughter thinks I look like a starved orphan! hahaha) anyhow, i had a personal goal to get to 170lb. My doctor said, as with you, that my frame is too large for a weight like that, but i could try. . . nope, my body (not me) likes where it is at. . .won't budge, so i leave it alone. . i'm not going to force the issue. Like one of my forum buddies said, I did meet my goal which was set out for me. . . therefore I am a success. . .and I'm glad i did. If i'm to lose more, good for me. . if not, then good for me too. . . good luck!

Yesterday, I posted about these 11S junior size jeans that fit me. I was absolutely on cloud nine! Many people told me yesterday that 11S is a really small size in reg sized jeans. Ok, how much smaller could the number be? I mean seriously right? I think it was early this week that I posted on something Pasquini was talking about and mentioned that I was going to get my very first pair of skinny jeans to go with a new pair of boots I just bought. I was so happy about the boots because there is no zipper on them and they just slid right over my calf. I bought the jeans today. Are you ready for this people???? I got a size 6 and they fit like a glove! Initially my personal goal was 140lbs, doc said no way that 155lbs is really what I should do, that my frame is too large for 140. Ok, I amended my goal to 155lb no problem. But you all know this well, we go from one goal to another until you find a place where you are happy. At one point I said I wanted my goal to be a size 6 jeans. I guess I am at goal, right? There is where lies the problem, as happy as I am in being a size 6, I am 171lbs which is 16lbs from the weight goal. Do I keep going? Do I stop and try and maintain? When do you know when enough is enough? Do not get me wrong, I AM OVER THE MOON about reaching this goal, truly I am

Thanks for all the input, guys. Your opinions mean a lot to me because you are living what I am going through too. When I ask people who know me well they think I am fine where I am at. Of course they do, LOL, they remember when I was morbidly obese and compare between then and now. Some even argued that I didn't need the surgery. I am going to continue fighting the good fight . Anewme is 100% right too, because we can gain if we are not careful, its in our make up. I proved that when I tried to quit smoking. We have to watch everything. When I don't have to watch everything is when I will be happy. I also realized too, that posing the question was in essance the answer to my question: If I have doubts then I need to continue on until I am doubt free. I need to be 100% happy with most things about me, my health, my body and especially my eating habits. In reality, like thinoneday has stated, my body will probably make that decision for me and when its happy where its at, then I will stop losing. So the deciding factor is a little bit of what EVERYONE has said ... Am I comfortable with where I am at: 1) size wise: yes 2) weight wise: no 3) body visual: no 4) health numbers: almost 5) eating habits: almost - I still see where I can easily "fall off the wagon" I think those are the 5 questions to ask when looking for the answer. I only said "yes" to one of five. Not good enough in my own eyes if I'm going to be honest about it. Oh btw, have I said how much I love you guys??? If I have never said it, I will say it now, I LOVE YOU ALL! You are all my sanity (and my hubby's) through out this whole process. Thank you so much for everything you have given me.

I was banded on June 6, 2008. Frankly, the whole story about how I got the band is pretty interesting. I was working for a man who, for 48 years of his practice, never had a 'big girl' that worked for him. I was good at what I did, came highly recommended and so he hired a fat girl. Over four years I heard comments about my weight. He would give me cards to surgeons (I was a single mom, there was no way I could afford the surgery), he would have his friends - who were doctors - come and talk to me about my weight 'issue' and tell me that often fat people are fat because of some type of sexual disfunction. He would hang photos of skinny women in almost nothing bathing suits and put notes like "what real women look like" etc. One day one of the other staff actually said she would rather be dead than fat. Now I have never written that in a public setting and I haven't told many people that story. Before you get riled about it and ask why I didn't leave immediately, it was a great paying job, I was a single mom and words are words - I can let them hurt me or I can not. In January of 2008 my insurance, Aetna, decided to start paying for the lapband surgery. During the first 30 days predetermination was not required - because they had a flaw in their benefits. I had 30 days. I was misreable in my job and misreable in my body. I went to my boss (legal field, very established firm, crazy money) and just flat out said, "put your money where your mouth is" - I would get half the surgery covered but he would have to pony up the other half. He did. So - I had the surgery February 8th - I left my job March 7th. I have to admit I didn't feel bad about it. So - after I was banded I lost about 20 pounds, fell and injured my ankle, was on crutches, didn't get a fill, met the man I married this February 2011 and pretty much ignored having the band for awhile. I gained all the weight back. In July 2009, I got my first fill. I've been filled twice since then. It is not easy. The band is not a magic wand that makes it all better - the band is a tool for a journey. To shorten the story, I have to really watch what I eat. I know that some foods let me cheat and if I do then it's not a weight issue - it's a me issue. I have lost almost 100 pounds. That's ten sacks of potatoes. That's a whole other person. I have about 50-60 more pounds to lose. These are going to be even harder than the first 100 - but look! I'm more than half-way there. I joined this group because I'm beginning to excercise more, I'm really watching what I put in - good stuff in, good stuff out. I really enjoy reading this site when I google lapband questions and it seems to be such a positive forum. I like that. Look forward to interacting with all of you. - Simone

That's good that you still lost after the holiday. I had my first gain but I'm not worried about it. It's my TOM and I didn't drink enough water over the weekend. I was out of town and ate all kinds of bad food. I only worked out twice last week. My elliptical is supposed to be coming soon so I will try to get on it everyday.

Hello! I am not banded YET... I am working on selecting a doctor. I have a consult with 2 different ones to see which one I like best and who can get me in the soonest. My mother is a dietitian so I know where you're coming from as well because she is overweight. As I have told my mother since she is considering the surgery..... it is a great place for her to start and you as well. You could actually help the lapband communities with your knowledge. If I was you I would use the band to make write diets specific to the lapband... and to educate those that have it on nutrition and staying healthy... Putting a metal ring aroudn the stomach miight make us lose weight but it wont give us the nutrition we need... thats where you could come in Thanks for checking in and we look forward to seeing you around the community.

You've maintained the weight you lost, and that's a great thing, and managed to continue losing. Good luck picking up the pace again, and be proud of your accomplishment to date!

It was very different for me. My PCP referred me to the hospital in my area. They have a weight loss program. Either by diet group meetings or weight loss surgery. Then they check and recheck for health problems. They submit the paperwork to insurance company. You wait for denile or approval. Then go from there. Very different.

I thought I was feeling my band too. I felt a lumpy thing right in the center of my ribs. (Not my port...that's farther down and to the right.) Anyway, I asked my doc about it and he snickered and said that it's definately not my band because the band is too far inside to feel from the outside. I guess as we lose weight we just start feeling parts on our body that we haven't felt for a long time!!!!! I can actually feel ribs and my hip bones too and I haven't been able to do so since childhood!

Stepping on the scales a few days ago to realise that I had cast aside the title of "morbidly obese" was almost as thrilling at when I first discovered Sicilian lemon pudding. Almost. As I left the bathroom, adorned with my new proud banner of "obese", I was mentally working out when my next heavy-weight title adjustment to "overweight" would be. Perhaps I wasn't savouring my obese label with as much pureed relish as I should have been. What it took to lose my "morbid" moniker! The one thing about slowly shedding a life-long disability is the dawning realisation that you may well not be fully ready to throw away the crutches and run as soon as you would like. Having hidden behind morbidly obese for so long and realising that in a few months I would be just overweight started to make me feel a little edgy. What excuses would I be able to conjure up when I didn't fancy going for a walk? What reason could I give for feeling depressed some days? What lies could I make up for the reasons I never made it as a singer? I remember being filmed for a documentary for the Discovery Health channel and giving the sob-story that my songs would never make it because no one wanted to see a man of my weight on stage. I didn't conform to the marketable beauty that all rock and pop stars must have. Soon, my only excuse will be that my music just isn't that good. It's a scary prospect that I may well have to admit that to myself one day and not blame the belly. Such massive life adjustments, whether for the best or not, are bound to be scary. It's new territory that I am totally unused to. I can't remember ever being anything but fat and, this time next year, I will be in the nerve-wracking zone of a normal, healthy weight. I just have no idea what lies ahead because of this change. Also, moving on from a long-term relationship into a small flat on the other side of town brings an even greater anxiety of uncharted seas ahead. In the old days (ie last month), I would take a short overview of the situation and settle down with a big fat steak - and forget it all. Bury my head in the sand of that huge unending desert that is emotional gorging. Now those wastelands are not part of my life - I have to find a new way of dealing with my upsets and fears. Maybe, just maybe, I will have to...gulp...deal with it! All this change and personal turmoil is certainly going to be one interesting ride and I think the best and only thing to do is sit back, watch it all happen and enjoy the ride. Originally posted at: Lap Band Blog

Congrats on losing the weight pre-op and welcome to LBT (Lapbandtalk) and the Jan 08 bandsters! 2lbs. is nothing, you'll do it!

Over a long period of time it is almost comical how many different surgeons have so many opposite requirements. They are working for all of us though and that is what is important. My husband eats less than I do, but he is motivated to keep losing more weight while I am happy to be where I am.

As of this morning I have lost 70 lbs!!!! I was ecstatic. I have never lost this much weight in my life. This journey has not been easy. I have to work hard. I watch what I eat and I exercise. It's not fun when you are on vacation and can't really enjoy yourself at a restaurant because you know if you're not careful food can easily get stuck and bam you need to find a bathroom. On a recent trip to Disney World I couldn't enjoy myself at Chef Mickey's because I kept getting stuck. I spend the majority of my dinner running to the bathroom. It sucked. What was even more embarassing is we were eating lunch at our hotel and there wasn't a restroom around and I got stuck and had to throw up right there at the table. That was pretty embarassing. Thank god there weren't alot of people around and I got myself unstuck asap. Anyway, my 1 year goal is to be in onederland. I am 43 lbs away. I'm sure with hard work I will reach my goal.

As of this morning I have lost 70 lbs!!!! I was ecstatic. I have never lost this much weight in my life. This journey has not been easy. I have to work hard. I watch what I eat and I exercise. It's not fun when you are on vacation and can't really enjoy yourself at a restaurant because you know if you're not careful food can easily get stuck and bam you need to find a bathroom. On a recent trip to Disney World I couldn't enjoy myself at Chef Mickey's because I kept getting stuck. I spend the majority of my dinner running to the bathroom. It sucked. What was even more embarassing is we were eating lunch at our hotel and there wasn't a restroom around and I got stuck and had to throw up right there at the table. That was pretty embarassing. Thank god there weren't alot of people around and I got myself unstuck asap. Anyway, my 1 year goal is to be in onederland. I am 43 lbs away. I'm sure with hard work I will reach my goal.

I know what everyone is going through trying to find a great plastic surgeon - so I want to share mine! If you are in NYC (or willing to travel), Matthew Schulman is great. He specializes in weight loss patients and has great credentials. I had a tummy tuck and my breasts done and am thrilled with the results. I am scheduled to go back in June for my arms. I originally found him because he spoke at my supprot group a year ago. I was impressed, so I did my research (is "googling" considered research?) and found more about him on ObesityHelp.com and his own website i(madisonavenueplasticsurgery.com). I don't think you will be disappointed.

My doctor told me it was based on the initial weight. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield and my policy allowed a BMI of 35 if 2 or more co-morbidities were present. Since I have diabetes and sleep apnea I was approved no problem. My BMI was 39

Hi. My husband was sleeved back in July and has really learned a lot from you guys. Now I am considering surgery too. I have lost about 50 pounds just following the diet he eats, (but admittedly eating a little more). I am going to start my 6month diet as required by our insurance company this month. I am wondering, if I continue to lose weight on my own will they turn me down for the surgery? I am still diabetic and have high blood pressure. I need to lose about 100 more pounds to be healthy. I know that I can't continue eating just the little bits without some sort of help, like a sleeve.

I had a RNY gastric bypass surgery 21 months ago and am well pleased with the results. One of the things that I found out after surgery was that I completely loss my hunger. It was not hard to lose weight when hunger was not constantly gnawing at my bones. I went from a size 3X to a size small in shirts and from a 46 in pants down to a size 33. I ran across a few people in our support group who had lap bands and switched to gastric bypass. In one case the band wore into his stomach and it had to be removed. In another, the band was installed too restrictively. One of the individuals who underwent this change was very pleased by the results.

I gained 10 pounds after surgery. I asked to get on the field during one of my walks around the hospital floor. I was flabbergasted when I saw the extra weight. That came off in about a week and a half. I had my sleeve on 12/5. I've lost 23.7 from my starting weight before surgery. I'm starting to slow down now. I think I need to pick up the exercise a bit more Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So you are at least eating softer foods. But the preparation is not so great. Fried is fried. And will add tons of calories from bad fats. 11 days doing this is not good. I'm just gonna tough love this for you. FOLLOW your doc's plan for you and don't advance your diet. Liquid phases SUCK GIGANTIC GREEN ONES! But truth? Suckitupbuttercup. We ALL had to do it. You get through it. You do not have to LIKE your protein drinks. You simply HAVE to do it. Sadly, the first 2 weeks are when most of us feel the least like eating--so consequently we eat very little and eat only protein. And so we are 2 weeks into breaking a bad food habit. Most of us had 2 weeks liquids up front so 2+2=4weeks out. Supposedly it takes 3 weeks to build a new habit. And now that you are having your shenanigans, you are starting your brain and behaviors back at ground zero. My advice? If you can't be compliant at 11 days, you need to get to your RD, your surgeon, and a psych. Cuz you need counseling to work through the head work. The first 2 months is when we lose the most amount of our weight. Don't squander this opportunity to change your life and heal you legs and self image--heal your blood pressure. Write out an index card with your WHY on it and post it on your fridge and mirror. WHY did you have this surgery?!! WHY! Keep a focus on that. Make good and healthy food choices. Get your protein in according to your doc's phase.

Hi Everyone::confused: I am getting banded on August 11, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I have met my doctor via my best friend whom is a cardiologist and whom know what I have gone through all my life with my overweight, the issues of been overweight, the depression, health issues and lately the lack of self esteme. My doctor will give me a letter resuming procedure done and follow up instructions when I return to the United States, my only concern is, Will there be any doctor in the area of North Jersey (Passaic County) whom can take care of my fills and post operation follow ups?, if any one can give me suggestions, I am open to them. On the other hand, I have decided to have my surgery overseas, first because I am from Dominican Republic, Second because the Doctor was highly recommended to me, and third, because I have no Health Insurance and would not be able to afford it in the US (the cost out of pocket in US is between $20,000 and 35,000), my doctor is only charging me $7,000 as a package and includes everything from surgery, to one of the most known and professional hospitals in my country, I mean everything. Then I decided to go for it. I am actually 230 pounds, which I have accumulate during the last 4 years, been 5'2" it put me with a BMI of over 40, plus High Cholesterol, High Tryglicerids, High Blood Pressure and High Glucosse levels. I just want to be able to improve my health and self esteme. Believe me I have always been a chubby girl, my weight was always fluctuating between 140 and 165 pounds, but never this high. I need as much information as possible about this type of surgery, and if anyone knows a support group or seminar I can attend before my surgery date, I will really appreciate if you can give me the information. I have lots of expectatives about this new journey, and I know I will make it, but I need lots of support and information from people whom have already gone through this, and I am open to suggestions. I thank all of you for reading this thread and thank you in advance for any comments and suggestions you might give me.:blushing: Belkys

Hi I have had the band now 4/5 weeks and was doing really well lost 12lbs but now I seem to be putting the lbs back on. My first fill is on the 18 November and am very worried I will but all the weight back on before the first fill. I know you are new to the band like me and wondered if you could give me some advice. Can you bring the first fill forward. Many thanks

Mine is just to the left under my rib cage not uncomfy just anoying now the weight is gone, i can feel it more now !!