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Just a small scale victory, but somehow, while on vacation in Hawaii, I lost almost 7 lbs! Plus, I finally broke the 240 lb barrier, weighing in at 239.7 lbs! I felt like I ate a lot of junk food, but the truth is I wasn't eating much at all (too busy having fun to eat!) and most of it was Protein. That plus snorkeling and having fun in the sun all day means weight loss galore. So, thank you, sleeve, for making my vacation a weight loss success along with a vacation success! Now if I could just kick this stupid cold I picked up on the plane ride back (*grumble grumble kids who don't cover their mouths when they cough grumble*)

I am 6 weeks post op, lap band imbrication, I was 240 the day of surgery and lost 17 lbs in 2 weeks. Then over the last 4 weeks I have lost 6 more. A total of 23lbs. The biggest misconception for me about weight loss surgery is that I would not be hungry, boy was I wrong!! Lately I have been so hungry I could just EAT!! Like the old way, but I don't my weight loss is going slow and steady I guess, but I sometimes wonder if I could have just done this without the surgery since it is SO hard still, I thought it would be a little easier. I am grateful for the weight that I I have lost and very happy that I have not had any complications anyone else hungry? Anyone else have lap band imbrication?

I have lost 19.5lbs since my liquid diet on the 11th and today I am up two lbs. I have not cheated, hit my water and protein goals everyday and get a small walk in as well. I'm hoping someone else has had a gain during PMS or their period? Just a bit bummed being one week out of surgery.

Your bank will loan you money to buy a new car, but they wont pay to fix it if you have problems or need to sell it. Does that mean you shouldn't buy that car? Same deal. Given the huge numbers of people who have zero band issues (compared with the much lower number of people who do have band issues), the odds are in your favor that you won't have a problem. So what's more important to you; Losing the weight, or worrying about the "what if" stuff? Get your band first, and cross the other bridges if and when you ever get there. Chances are you won't ever have those issues. Dave

Vent... having a difficult time getting bariatric doc office to submit to insurance. I did a 6 month nutritional program through my former insurance, gave release to doc office (still haven't requested it). I also did 10 months of Weight watchers from august 2016 - may 2017 and even had doctor visits in august, October, April, (and several others) where my weight was recorded and even nutrition discussed - though the visits were not specifically for that. I have talked to my current insurance several times and they are very much encouraging me to have my doc office submit for approval. Especially now since my medical tests revealed a hiatal hernia and gerd (i knew I had gerd) and that sometimes a waiver is given. However, the person at my doc office is being a bit snippy about turning it in for approval because she thinks the people I talked to at my insurance are wrong. I am trying to get them to submit but agh. (they also still have to request my ekg results since hospital was not theirs and get the online bariatric psych eval place to actually send my approval results). A bit frustrated. Just in case I started the 6 month nutrition visits through my doc back on the 6th

i started the pre op liquid diet and the bathroom is an issue. I am a speech pathologist so I work o a 1/2 hr schedule so I try and run to bathroom in between children. I also do home care and sometimes the 30 mins btwn houses is difficult im running straight to the bathroom. I bought a lunch box cooler maybe for the in btwn time you can drink a protein shake I put an ice pack in my "lunch box" and put my ice in my shaker cup and place in fridge at work and it stays cold not icey and it worked today pretty good. I think its all about the planning and the cooler has saved my life in my dieting journey did similar tricks when I was on weight watchers and with the band I imagine we need less food to feel full. I wont be banded until 7/1/13 so we will see

It's no biggie but they didn't give me a preop and I'm surprised about that coz I was 277 and 5'5". My surgeon was Dr. Atkinson. Weight loss center. Had my surgery at Desert Inn hospital on the 5th of this month. I followed orders the first two weeks but I don't follow to a t anymore. That's bad. I still get all my Protein in but I had pain popcorn (not supposed to) and I had alcohol one night (not supposed to). Other than that, it's going great. When I first woke up, I immediately regretted it but now I am so glad I did it. I went back to work 3 days after. Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

1) What band are you going to use? Will there be any fill in it right after surgery? 2) How can I reach you outside of normal office hours? 3) What will my fill schedule be like? 4) What are your expectations for my weight loss? 5) Do you use a numbing agent before fills? 6) Do you require fills under x-rays?

I'm ten months out and down 108 lbs. I'm about 6-7 lbs. from my doctor's goal and 16-17 lbs. from my goal. Wearing a size 10/12 on the bottom and a medium on top. Pretty much all of my extra weight is in the stomach/hip area. Feeling great and trying to start jogging. Hoping that will lean out the middle section. This photo shows me and my daughter on Easter. ????

It took only a month because I had 6 months of supervised weight loss. It doesn't have to even be 6 months consecutive. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

C-diff can be a tough one. My healthy 20 year old college football playing son fought with it off and on for over 6 months. No idea how or why he got it. Nobody else on the team did. He was miserable and depressed because he was banned from the team facilities so nobody else ended up with it. He wasn't in the hospital or any kind of medical facility, isn't old, wasn't compromised. So don't look at your surgery as a negative. Maybe you would have gotten the c-diff anyway. You will eventually feel better. You will eventually be so thrilled with your weight loss and your surgery choice. You will look back on this time and say "DAMN THAT SUCKED" but it will just be a bad memory.

Hi! My name is Libby and I had lapband surgery on the 22nd of May 2008....I am experiencing lots of gas and pain in my stomach .....but as you have gone through ......I am losing weight dramatically......About three months ago I was at a point where I was having trouble leaving my lounge chair and this was very scarey for me.....I am a mother of five wonderful children and a supportive husband as well as that I am also a high school teacher.....it was funny at the end of last year I decided that I needed a year off and gave notice and thought that it was for me to go back to study and then maybe to Abu Dhabi for a new job but it really was my body telling me to get fixed....so I embarked on this journey as well.....I was 211.6kgs and now one week after my surgery I am 192.4kgs....I still have a long way to go but now I can move again.....I want to start an advocacy agency to help people who are morbidly or super obese...how can't afford the surgery to get sponsorship from businesses and our government ...so I would love to invite you to help or give support ...if you are interested ......you see this surgery is not elective/plastic surgery .....it is life-saving!

I promised myself I would take pictures of my progress mainly because it is so hard to see changes day to day....below is high weight (about 230), the day of surgery(220) and today (207.5)....almost 3 weeks out. Please ignore my filthy house and scowl (oh, and the horrible house shoes in the first phot!) Little by little I am getting there

When my weight stalled, my NP suggested one day of higher calorie/good fats (avocado, olive oil) - no processed or forbidden foods. Then back to a regular WLS diet. It seemed to work - my weight dropped a couple of days later after a 4 week stall. I had RNY and while agree with Ladybandito on nearly every point, I have been advised not to go longer than 3 hours between meals/snacks (I'm on a 6 times a day routine - 3 small meals and 2-3 healthy snacks). Maybe a difference between lap band and gastric bypass? I also hear a lot of talk on this website about the 5:2 diet (5 days of normal eating followed by 2 days of "fasting") but I haven't needed to get that extreme yet.

It's early....I was gaining weight 6 weeks after surgery, and I had my first fill 4 weeks after surgery....( I had Lap band surgery) But then 1 year after surgery and I was 80% successful....shortly thereafter 100% But again, you did not mention what surgery you had....

Exactly what I was thinking. If you look at my ticker below, when I get to my goal weight of 240, my BMI will still be 30. 30 is still considered obese. I'm 6'3", an athlete all my life, and have lifted all my life. My weight really got out of hand, but c'mon, I graduated h.s. at 250 as a starting tackle on the football team. That is just ridiculous. As for that bill, there is no way it will ever get passed. I would imagine it is just some little hick legislator trying to get his/her name out there.

Wow Loseweightin08, you have lost that much weight just this year WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!! I want to know what you did if you don't mind. I was banded on Sept.8th and I'm down 28 lbs and I have 86 lbs to go to meet my goal of 150 that I've set for myself. I was told that us Lapbanders can lose as much as the Gastric patients but at a much slower pace like a pound a week, but you have proven that it can be faster. Are you working out? How many calories are you eating everyday? Okay, I am so excited for you and I because you give me hope for myself and I thank you. Please pm me if you like. WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!! Congrats! You are doing an awesome job cool.

Weight loss surgery will not fix any psychological eating, binging, self sabatoging issues. Additionally it can be very emotionally taxing. The insurance and surgeon want to ensure you are capable of being successful. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Hi! I just wanted to introduce myself (and my husband). I am a 30 year old registered nurse who has struggled with my weight for my entire life. My husband is a 33 year old "computer dork" who has also struggled with his weight for longer than he can remember. We both were extrememly active in high school, and even into college, but of course that changed when we hit "real life". We have both lost weight and gained it back. But thankfully we are both getting banded next week - me on Monday 7/28 and him on 7/29!! One of the things that attracted us to each other and has kept us together is our experience with weight loss and gain. We can relate to one another and can be each other support (and unfortunately, each others worst enemy!!). But we are tired of the struggle of losing weight and not being able to keep it off. We have both FINALLY admitted to ourselves that we need help! As I said we are getting banded next week at the Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery, in Lenexa, Kansas, by Dr Wanda Kaniewski. We are SO excited! We are struggling through the dreaded 10 day liver-shrinking/liquid diet but are determined to get through it! I have been "lurking" around the site for several months now and decided I had better introduce myself. Thank you to everyone who has provided support to me (even though you don't even know it!). It's great to have some place to go and share triumphs and tribulations with people who understand! Wish us luck!!! :eek: ~~Allison

Thank you for your imput. It was encouraging to hear from you. Looks like you had your lap ban around same time I did and you are close to my age. I was so pleased to find this web site and last night as I was able to read about the problems and victories that others are having. The support group I attend has almost all gastric by pass people and I find that their challenges are nothing like what I will be facing. I noticed that some people have a weight loss graft at the bottom of their posts. Do you know how to acccess and make one of these? As of today I am back on track and lost the 3 lbs that I gained over Christmas. I really was pleased at how you prepared so you would not experience guilt. Guilt is something I am hoping to avoid because it is so self defeating. I knew I would face set backs but did not expect it so soon after surgery. However after reading some of the posts that talk about fillings and feeling full I think I am doing pretty well. How have you planned for your weight loss goals?

u can always get both done.. u can get the GB once u shead ur pounds u can get the lapband if ur afraid of gaining it back..!

I'm trying to figure out if I've met my sweet spot. I have lost 58 lbs since I had my surgery on April 03, 09. 20 lbs came from the pre-diet. I think I have about 5cc in a 10 cc band. Most of my appetite is in the p.m. hours. I drink 2 cups of coffee in the morning and can go without breakfast. If I have breakfast I have to really take it slow and do not eat very much. I have lunch at 1:00 and It doesn't take much for me to fill full but by dinner time I seem to be starving and can tolerate almost any type of food. My last fill was Oct 22 and my next one is Nov 30. I've probaly lost 5 lbs this month. I have cheated by snacking later in the day. I've had 4 episodes of pb and its from not chewing my food well and eating to fast. I'm afraid if I don't get a fill then I want lose any weight. I want to be able to lose some weight in December. I've always gained in December due to the holidays. The month that I went without a fill I only lost 1 lb so when I went in Oct he put in 1cc. I think I need a small fill. Just curious as to what others think.

Hey great job on the weight loss but try to go for healthier Snacks if your still hungry between meals nuts, yogurt and jerky

I can definately relate, only I went through all of the pre-op tests BEFORE I was Informed that my BCBS also had an obesity clause!!! That was 6 years ago. Last year I decided to bite the bullet and just pay for it. UGH!!!! I'm also getting ready for a TT and breast Reduction that I'll also be paying! My only advise to you is figure it out, whatever it takes. I gained another 30 pounds and aged Nother six years into my fifties by waiting. So wish I had figured out a way to pay six years ago. Best wishes to you. Hope you can figure something out.

Hi Nicci, You are still quite young (30) so compared to me, your "impending time" for health stressors may be less than mine (I'm 43). And, of course, I don't know if your family has a history of serious health problems such as cardiac issues, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, etc. Any one of those is life threatening and many of them seem to come as a "package" to those of us who are morbidly obese. Our weight really does "drag us down', if not sooner, than later. My starting weight was nearly identical to your current weight, and I'm very close to your same height. I WISH I had had the option to have the VSG done at age 30! I could have had a much different last 13 years indeed! We have a family history of cancer (breast, bladder and brain), hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, strokes, etc. I am healthy now, but if I don't get "hold" of things NOW, I am in for a world of hurt in the next decade. And it only gets worse from there.... So I had the VSG done in May, 2012. And I am now close to 80 lbs down (in less than 5 months) with another 100 or so to go! I feel great! I'm off my asthma meds (4 of them!) since surgery. I can exercise without shortness of breath. I'm down from a size 26/28 (or 4X/5X) to a 18/20 (or XL) now, and really looking forward to maybe being a size 10 or 8 (and maybe smaller!) when I hit goal. Yes, there are risks. But the % of people who develop surgical complications or post-op complications with the VSG is VERY VERY small. The % of morbidly obese people who develop serious, significant and often life-threatening health complications is VERY HIGH. So you're not "playing it safe". You're just putting off the time when the health problems will come. Now, you have a small risk. Later, you have a HUGE chance for life-long debilitating illness(es). I made sure I was very well informed about the possible complications. I prepared my Will, put my affairs in order and made sure that things were going to be taken care of (as best as possible) should anything go wrong. Then I got on a plane (by myself), flew to Mexico and completed the best decision of my life. Give yourself the chance to spend the next 50 years of your life having an active, full and healthy lifestyle with your children and future grandchildren. Don't let your body hold your spirit and your heart back. And while you definitely need to be completely informed and knowledgeable before you make this decision......don't let a few bad outcomes scare you away from the opportunity to change you life for the better. You will see that the number of AMAZING outcomes far far outweighs the poor ones. Do you research, get comfortable with your surgeon's experience, training, background and work environment. Get yourself tested "six ways to Sunday" to make sure you are a good healthy candidate for surgery and if there are any issues, starting working on the ones you have control over NOW, so you can come through the procedure as one of the success stories (like me!). I know you can do this, and you will be so grateful the opportunity exists. But above all, inform yourself and give everything you read a fair assessment. Then make your decision based on ALL the information. Not just the good and not just the bad. Good luck!