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We all have these blues along the way . . . it is perfectly normal. The incredible thing is, you can lose a lot of weight in the beginning but still look very overweight . . . but when you get closer to goal, a difference of 10 pounds can make a big difference. Just remember that this is a journey and you should be proud of what you have accomplished so far, but also know that this is only the start and you have a lot more celebrating to do down the road as well.

I don't know. I loss 85 pounds with the band and only about 9 pounds with the sleeve in about 10 months. I have a personal trainer but told today I was bulking my muscles, now will start toning which is more rep. I have recently started running. I think if no prior surgery probably faster with a sleeve. I am a NP and my pts that had the sleeve has done well. My gastric bypass patient has gained all her weight back plus more. I hope that helps

I leave in 2 days for the same place, same doctor. Know quite a few people now who have been to the same place and have all good things to say. Glad your sleeve went well. Wish me the same luck. Surgery is Sept. 19/12.

I went on a 10 day cruise 3 months out and had no issues with the available food on the cruise, I did not take protein powder with me. You can buy individual packets - like Jay Robb strawberry or orange and a skaker. I took some almonds and my Sip thermos. Three days should be very manageable.

I drove after a week, I was of pain meds. It was a little uncomfortable but not to bad. surgery date 08-01-12

@low bmi sleeve I had to gain 10 pounds to meet the minimum BMI for my insurance to cover my VSG. Gaining 10 pounds is easy to do for any food addict. I qualified because I have been suffering for more than 6 years of not just high blood pressure but high Cholesterol, sleep apnea using a very unsexy cpap machine nightly, and diabetes. I was prescribed way too many prescriptions and I was sick of it and sick of being tired all the time. The one positive I’ve had since my surgery 6 days ago is that on day 2 before they discharged me from the hospital, my doctor took me off 3 previously prescribed meds and I was no longer diabetic! Voila! Just like that! I couldn’t believe it worked that fast. Now the challenging part is I have to keep that up by not overeating again. Im afraid that if my new stomach can handle a full size meal now how will I lose weight??? If I’m lucky I might be able to maintain the measly 20 pounds I lost strictly from my liquid pre op diet and 3 days post op period. I haven’t lost one pound in last 3 days despite a very low calorie intake, around 800 calories.

i havent yet decided whether or not i want to have the lap band surgery done. i've talked with someone close to me who has had the surgery and she doesnt reccomend me getting it.so im unsure. she said she works with 10 people who have had the surgery done and they all havent had good luck with it. i dont know if its the hospital they went to to have it done or what. so i guess im lookin for opinions on what everyone thinks about their own surgery. successes and complications. :cursing:

heniser2 The decision is yours to make - you don't need approval from anyone else. #1 What is her reason for her not wanting you to be banded. #2 10 pple she works with had it done and they haven't had much luck - it the hospitals fault??? Darling there is no luck involved in any weight lost surgery or diet period. No WLS is the magic cure all answer to our issues with food. It's all about the work of changing your eating habits and exercising - the Band or any WLS for that fact is just a tool - a little helper - to make you feel full on a smaller portion of food. It doesn't make your food choices for you - it doesn't exercise for you and it doesn't do a darn thing about our head hunger which manifest itself into what we think is true hunger - the majority of our eating issues are mental not physical - and too - Food is our drug of choice - we are food addicts. Losing weight is simple math - calories in vs calories burn - Eating healthy for the rest of your life - this is where the lifestyle change comes in - Our eating normal is what got us fat in the first place - we eat high fat - tons of sugar and starches... Eating healthy is low fat - low sugar - and limited carbs/starches It all depends on how you use your tool - it depends on how bad you want it and for some no matter how bad they want it - they can not overcome their addiction to food - so they blame the band for not working (goes to haven't had much luck with it) I was 52 when banded - I lost 105 lbs in 1 yr 1 week and now my body is at it's happy weight (total lost 112lbs) I will tell you this - luck wasn't involved - it was me losing that weight - I did 75% of the work by changing my eating habits and adding exercise into my life - the band did the other 25% by providing restriction. I was lucky to be at my sweet spot by my 2nd fill - For others it takes longer. But regardless, it just a tool - a little helper. I could eat around my band if I choose to - candy Cookies ice cream - the band doesn't do a darn thing about stopping you from eating those foods. But try to eat 8 oz of steak - a big mac and fires - Heck no - it will stop you.. Keep on researching - keep reading pples post - talk to your surgeon and other bander's and you will come to you own decision if this is the right surgery for you.. Good luck on your journey.... I wish you the best...

I decided not to get implants so on Jan 4, 10 I will have my arms done and my boobs put back up north a ways!!!! The closer it gets the more nervous I get. Glad your unfill was just right. Mimi

I am 9.5 months out and can eat more, but as everyone says, it depends on the food. If you eat a piece of chicken breast, you should be able to tell if your sleeve truly has stretched, or if you're just eating crappy foods that disintegrate and slide down. I could eat 10 cookies in a row with no problems, but couldn't eat more than 3 or 4 oz of chicken. So I can't eat cookies, because I choose to keep losing and be full.

Congrats!!!! You are just 10 days away!!!!!

Good luck! Hopefully, they approve you quickly! I was self-pay, so I didn't have to worry about that. I'm 36 (almost 37) and have 2 daughters, ages 12 & 8. I want to have as much time with them as I can & that's one reason I did this. I'm now 10 days post-op and can't be happier with my decision! Good luck with your journey!!

ive got 10 cc in a 14 cc band and theres no way i could eat alkot even if i wanted to

Congratulations on making the decision to get healthy! I had surgery and was back PT on the following Tuesday. FT on Thursday. I couldn't lift more than 10 lbs for the first two weeks per dr instruction and it was just about then I started feeling normal.

I bought a digital scale that weighs in ounces. 10-14 ounces of food is more than you think. I was surprised to find how big 7 ounces of steak is. Think of this... if you go to applebees and order their steak from the 2 for $20 deal. the steak they give you is 7 ounces. Its large enough for me. an average size chicken breast is about 10 ounces. I cant stress enough to eat your protein first. then eat your side. I bought the biggest loser scale for $18 and it has multiple options. you can weigh your plate-zero it out then reweigh the plate of food and it gives you the weight of food minus the plate. The band is not perfect, I had it too tight and had to start all over. unfortunatly for me I didnt know how restriction was good for me until it was too tight. I was banded sept 2010. I have lost 80 pounds. I'd say my key is sticking to my doctor appointments and staying with the diet plan as best I could. For the last year i have gone to regular appointments every 6 weeks. I have fallen off the diet wagon many times over this last year. The appointments help reignite my discipline. Hope this helps....

Ok guys, HONEST OPINIONS! I was banded 10/7/11 at 276lbs. I am down to 198.8, as of 09/01/12. So, down 77.2lbs in 48 weeks. Breaks down to about 1.6lbs a week average. I know that ANY weight loss is good and not everyone loses the same and all that politically correct stuff, BUT I have seen people on here that have lost over 100lbs and barely had their surgery in April! Which is amazing for them! ...but do you guys think I'm losing what I should be or should I be pushing harder?? I would really like to be down 100lbs by my birthday, which is 56 weeks post op, but at the rate I'm going not sure I will make it. Has anyone discovered any crazy secrets about different foods or exercise that have helped push them a little further? Any help/opinions are always appreciated!

Hello, Everyone! New here...so glad I found this site!! I have been researching the Band for years and was going to have it done in September, but have changed my mind and am now doing the SLEEVE! Yay! So, SO 'cited :Banane03: My only questions are these - since I knew all the 'Band rules' inside and out and was totally prepared for that way of life, I need to figure out the "Sleeve Rules". For instance, with the band, you need to chew, chew, chew and then when you think you're done, chew some more, until your food is basically mush before you swallow. Also, your bites need to be really tiny, toddler-food style. All this to avoid getting stuck since your stoma/stomach opening is so restricted. Also, you cannot eat 'slider' foods or drink with meals as this will wash out your pouch of food, leaving you hungry again right away. No Soup, no 'runny' oatmeal. :sign44: And the other big band rule, you can almost never eat bread/pasta/rice, etc again as it's gluey and starchy and will get stuck, also. Now, don't get me wrong here! I don't need a lecture about how you shouldn't eat those things anyway, as I know that, very well - been dieting for years, just like most of us . But my reason for doing this is so I can be a 'normal, regular' person and eat like a 'naturally thin' person. LIke the nutritionists, say, be good 90% of the time, play 10% of the time. Those times I may want to splurge and have a half sandwich, or some Pasta, or a piece of pizza, I want to be able to have a little bit every once in a GREAT while - like I said, be normal!! One of my main reasons for doing this is so I can have a normal, healthy relationship with food. Not obsess over soup or a roll, or stress if I'm going to party for crying out loud!! And no popcorn, my favorite food!! :scared0: So, Sleevers, aside from the fact that you need to obviously eat slowly and we all need to take smaller bites and chew more within reason, are these things such a big deal with a sleeve? I am guessing it's not AS imperative since the stoma/stomach opening is not made any smaller with the VSG, but I don't know for sure?? Any band-to-sleeve revisioners that can outline the differences? And, honestly, do you vomit if you eat too much, or don't pay attention to yoru full signals? With the band, vomiting and "PB''ing" are VERY common, but how common with the sleeve??? Thank you guys, so very, very much, for all your willingness to help, support, and share with us "newbies". SO many of us would be lost without our experienced trailblazers to lean on. Love you guys and so glad I found a 'home!" Started 6 month supervised diet - 3/11 Psych Eval - 3/11 Band Surg Consult - 3/11 VSG Surg Consult - 6/11 (Dr. Lauter) Final Insurance Approval - ?? Surgery Date - 9/?/11?

I was banded on 9/14, and it took me a good 10-12 days before my largest incision area stopped hurting. I didn't wear a real underwire bra until this past weekend. Sports bras help to at least give you some support if you are top heavy. As far as going to the bathroom, I was lucky enough to have a doorway next to the toilet that I could use to pull myself back up. It's amazing how many abdominal muscles we use for everyday activities! I also agree with the poster who said not to sit up completely straight. I put a bunch of pillows behind me on the sofa so I was supported, but still leaning back a little. That helped relieve some of the pressure on the port area. You are still more swollen on the inside than you think you are. Good luck, and remember, it does get better!

Yes surgery scheduled for 10/22. I am self pay with all tests completed and waiting on results and have already started my two week liquid diet. Getting very excited thinking I probably should have done this years ago. I hope I will be saying that after surgery as well. Only problem I seem to be having is being tired/low energy and I probably need to keep a better count of my protein intake. Would love from other georgia folks as well.

hello again i know some of you have had to travel hours to see a doctor and i hate to sound like i'm whinning but........... my doctor wants me to go further from home to see a particular doctor. she said he's the best. but there is a whole clinic at AtlantiCare with everything you need right there. with support groups and seminars and the dietitions - everything. i know i could insist on going to the place closer to home for the surgery but i was also wondering if i did go the the far away doctor if i could do everything else at the this clinic close to home. has anyone had an experience like this? i just hate to drive 50 or 60 miles when i can drive 10.

I agree with Inner Surfer Girl here. She should reach out to her NUT to see if she can find a diet that would help her lost more. I find that eating more protein helps. I'm super sorry that your wife has to deal with this. When I started my program I was 342.7 pounds. Before my first meeting with the surgery I lost 15 pounds. He was very happy with that and told me that I didn't need to meet a weight requirement. He did tell me that the only time he makes a person lose a lot of weight is if they have a super high BMI. The larger you are the more weight they require for you to lose. He told me that at the most it's 10% of your body weight. Your wife is so close. I would maybe try going through another Bariatric program. Without knowing all of your wife's stats I can't tell you if the surgeon is just being a jerk about it. It's a disease. He should want to help. Wishing you all the best!

Got into a discussion today with a co-worker who always mixes his shakes from powder in the office (I always have premixed at home and brought in). He said his wife told him they should be consumed within 10 minutes of mixing. I called BS on him...only to find out that the label does indeed say that. Imagine that- a man who never read the instructions For adults, add one (1) scoop to 6-8 ounces or two (2) scoops to 14-16 ounces of your favorite beverage. Consume within 10 minutes after mixing. Why??? Hell, I have lost 115 lbs in 7 months, if I mixed and consumed immediately maybe I would have lost 150?

I've just been buying what I can at a thrift store. I basically have about 5 pair of pants and maybe 10 shirts. LOL! I have this huge, overflowing laundry basket of clothes that are too big right now and I'm still trying to figure out what to do with them. I've also hit up clearance racks just to get me through the season. Of course, I've been a bad bandster this week so I better get back on track (LOL!), but yes - I've dropped a number of sizes and pants were literally falling off when I walked.

One of my dearest friends eats chocolate every day. EVERY DAY!!! She's 115 pounds, and goes to the gym. She wasn't always 115 pounds, but she is now because her active lifestyle allows her to eat what she wants and stay HEALTHY! (notice I said healthy, and not skinny...). Guess what - chocolate is not from Satan. Foods are not bad or good. Carrot cake is not going to give you emphysema. Chocolate will not give you cancer. Potato chips will not make you lose a limb. So eat some in moderation and NEVER feel guilty about that! Have a Kit Kat, and then go run on the treadmill. this is a lifestyle change! Next time your "D"H (and I could come up with a few different words that start with D that aren't "dear") gives you the evil eye for having something that has an ounce of sugar.... you give him the evil eye every time he cracks open a Budweiser and watches an afternoon of football or golf. Sometimes a little tit for tat is necessary. Does he have a six pack and look like Brad Pitt? Does he eat 6-10 servings of fruit and veggies a day? I've had TWO husbands do that to me - look at me like "are you sure you REALLY wanna do that"... and guess what - not only do I eat it, I eat five times more just to piss them off!!! Well, I dumped both of them, and now I'm dumping all this weight, and I don't need any man's "help" to achieve my goal! Do you know how many obese women would DIE to be a size 14? Love yourself and where you are and what you've accomplished, and tell Chachi that if he can't love your new you like this, then he needs to take a long walk on a short dock.... (you think maybe this subject touches a nerve with me??? )

It sounds like he's trying to help, then. Maybe if you explain that you're okay with it and that you're still working on it, etc, then he'll lighten up. Maybe? I don't know about 190. I picked 145 because it's higher into my norm (5'5"), but I haven't been below 200 since early years in high school. I'm not sure what I will look like at 190. I may be happy with it. I'd love to be in 14's! I think that's "normal" and I'm not looking to become a super model, just healthy. I plan on getting healthy first, smoking hot second, and then if I bounce more than 10 pounds upward from whatever weight that is, then I'm tightening up! I know I'm really happy being in the 220's!!! I know people still look at me like I'm huge - and I am, big boobs don't help any - but I feel so much smaller. Weird, huh? Going up I couldn't stand to look at me, and was ashamed of the weight...On the way back down, I'm happy to tell everyone how much I weigh and how much I've lost! I guess I get upset when I read posts like your original post because I know without the support I have from my family I am not sure I'd be able to get through the long haul. And, knowing that, I want that same kind of support for everyone. I love the lapband so much! I was like you and dieted for years, and yeah - I eat the crap foods, but no where near what I was eating. Afterall, I didn't get fat off of too many carrots! :biggrin2: