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Hey guys, just wondering what your weight loss is after 6 months. I am 6 months out now and have lost 95 pounds so far, but the last few months it has been dragging. I still eat between 600 - 1100 calories a day. Most days I get 80g + of protein and keep my carbs under 30g. I exercise a few days a week and stay very active. I wear about a size 16 now (started at a 24). I would like to lose another 70 - 75 lbs, but would be happy with 50. I am going to change up my exercise routine tomorrow to see if that helps. I have been doing lots of walking and c25k. I'm going to start aerobics and weight training tomorrow and aim to do that 4 days a week. In my head I know I will lose more weight eventually, but I still get scared that this is it. How is everyone else doing?

I hit goal at 6 1/2 months and am now at 8 months, so my weight has slowed quite a bit but still coming off. I have been losing about 6 lbs a month over the last 2 months.

I am 54 years old, mother of two grown daughters, grandmother of 5 grandsons and 1 special needs granddaughter. My weight problems started around the age of 30, after I quit partying. At first I just gained a few pounds here and there. I yo-yo dieted for years. I tried Herbal Life, Weight Watchers, and Jenny Craig. I walked miles, and I got a gym membership. I lost, I quit, I gained it all back and more. I had a hysterectomy in 2007, and my hormones and metabolism went nuts. At my heaviest, I was 283. My husband said if I reached 300, he would leave. I think I wanted him to since there has been no intimacy, or affection for that matter, for well over two years. With no partner, no friends, and the responsibility of caring for my 92 year old mom on my own, I really didn't care anymore. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea. I was borderline diabetic. 3 of 4 of my siblings are diabetic and there was prior history of diabetes and heart disease in the family. One day I received a phone call from a bariatric nurse from my insurance company. She and I talked about all the co-morbidities, and she suggested I look into bariatric surgery. I went to a seminar, and the journey began. I had gone to Jenny Craig for 9 months, so I had satisfied the diet part. I went through all the tests and was scheduled for the vertical sleeve to be done on July 31st. I drove myself to the hospital that morning, had the surgery and spent the next two days being sick and alone. I had no visitors, no phone calls. My husband was working out of state, my mom was at home alone. I called her when I wasn't throwing up. My daughter picked me up and gave me a ride home in my car. She has 3 kids of her own and doesn't really have the time or inclination to stop by to check to see if my mom or I need her help in any way. She calls if she wants me to do something for her. I am 6 weeks out today. I'm not sure how much I've lost, but I think it's a little over 35 pounds. I overate at breakfast, so I've felt pretty sick for the past couple hours. I knew half way through I was full, but forced it, took bites that were too big, and didn't chew long enough. I don't often do this, so I deserve to be suffering now. Physically, I think I'm doing alright. Emotionally, I am sad a lot. I often wish I could have lost the weight and kept it off with diet and exercise. I know in my heart, it would never have stayed off because I lack willpower and the desire to be healthy. I figure if no one cares, why should I. I'm working on my feelings. I'm hoping when more of the weight comes off, I will feel better about everything. So that's the story. Please don't be too critical of me. Good luck to each of you as you go through your sleeve journey.

There will be frequent stalls along the way, make sure you are following your surgeon's and/or dietician's guidelines and you should be fine, weight loss will catch up. If you need to refer back to your dietician for assistance.

http://www.obesityaction.org/wp-content/uploads/Weight-Loss-Surgery-and-Hair-Loss.pdf

I recommend going to a different doctor. I'm living on base now, they do it at the hospital on base, and my doctor only told me to try and lose weight and if iv couldn't she'd refer me to the surgeon. Anyway, I got my surgery date for the 29th of December. I think your doctor is just being difficult. TriCare covers it

I love it !!! It is perfect...you sure have a fantastic way of expressing yourself. I even think your Dr. will appreciate your answers and I bet he has never heard any so true and so well said!!! Great Answer to "why do you want to lose weight" You are the man Ryan

I know this isn't any consulation, but I got to pick my port postion. I asked a lot of people here before chosing my spot (sounds like where yours is...between my ribs and belly line, but far enough down that my ribs can't really catch it, and I have to sleep on my right side so placement was important). I drew a porthole on my tummy to mark the spot for surgery (read HERE). I've noticed while gardening and bending a lot this week that my port is still sore, and I hurt it a few times bending so far...so maybe yours won't bother you once it heals completely. I'd ask your surgeon if this will continue to be a problem as I've heard things tighten up as you lose weight and tissue forms around the port sutures, so maybe it will get better. It could be worse...there are many here who told me they woke up to a 'third boob' on their breastbone! (Read HERE. Or if your a man LOOK there LOL.).

It moved 4 inches! Holy cow! I've heard the placement feels different as you lose weight and your abdominal muscles tighten up, but if it's sutured to the abdominal wall how can it move 4 inches?! I guess I'll have to wait to see what happens. I don't carry most of my weight in the abdomen so I can feel the port now easily, and I'm almost 5'9" and not short waisted...like you said, if it moves, I'll just have to deal.

sat morning and my surgery is monday at 1:30.I am a little nervous and very happy to be getting it done.My weight on first visit was 282 want to lose 100 and be 182. I will see what I weight just before I go in.- I get to drink that lovely bottle of "rotor rooter" in the morning.

Hi Due to some complications I have had to have 3cc removed from my band. This is the first time since being banded that I have experienced any complications. I have to admit I am having a little trouble dealing with it. I am really being tested now on how much I have actually learned about eating correctly. I have little or no restriction for the first time in over a year. I have to admit I am petrified that I am not up to the task, and that I will start to gain weight. I will eventually be able to start having fills again, but it will be a slow process. I am within 15 to 20 lbs of my goal weight. Any advise from anyone who has gone through something similar would be greatly appreciated. How do I stay on the right track?

I only ask because at 5 weeks post op i thought i was starving and have been on a search for the "green zone" ever since. everyone will move along at their own pace. it took me years to put on this weight and it will take time to get it off. this is why i chose the lap-band. i didnt want the "fast" route of bypass or sleeve. i wanted to give my body a chance to work down and use the lap-band as a tool not a quick fix. it really is all about learning to eat all over again. food used to be my comfort friend and now food can hurt me if i don't do it right. i used to go eat at my mom's favorite restaurants after she passed so that i could feel good. now i go and look at what i used to eat and think to myself "omg how in the world did you eat all of that" i would say that you need a fill. i am 4 months out and lost 30lbs. i gained some in there when i had to have fluid removed, but now back on track. i have roughly 5-6 cc in the band, but everyone is different. so you might only need another 1cc and be great. i would just listen to your body and be sure to go to the office once a month for a check in. you don't have to get a fill every time you go. you just need to check in so you keep on track.

i am 6 months post op and since the surgery i have lost 35 lbs. I just went to both my dr and my nutrition yesterday and they both said that that much weight lose post op at this stage is very GOOD, so your doing great.i also got my third fill yeterday so i now have 7cc's in a 10 cc band. and let me tell you i am def eating less then i was .

Just think about how good you will feel when you are losing all that extra weight. Keep us posted.

You ARE my story exactly! I've worked out since 1983 and didn't have a lot of co-morbities associated, i.e. diabetes, sleep apnea. Did have acid reflux and my knees have arthritis (but look at my age, for heaven's sake!)... And yes, my scale kept climbing, climbing, climbing! In the six months I went to the nutritionist, I lost a TOTAL of six pounds (and I really think my high weight was just on a bad day, luckily... ). I honestly thought this Band would never work for me, NEVER! But here I am--I still work out four days a week (two at the YMCA and two at Curves)--I'm not sure I like your doctor's recommendation that you quit working out :confused2: what's up with that???? Have faith, cakegal, it DOES work--as long as we maintain the discipline to let it help us. But it also means we have to totally submit to a life change. That's the key...:wub:

Thank you for all the support and encouraging words. I did see Dr. Robert, NewSho, and I have decided to go ahead with him. I will be his third lap band patient. He has been skillfully performing surgeries for 30 years. He will be assisted by Dr. Garth and another surgeon who has had over 500 lap band surgeries. I feel like I am in good hands and am enthused about how the Weight Management Center at Methodist treats the whole person as I need a lot of support pre and post op and help with the psychological aspect of recovery from this MO. I am excited to hear about others who have lost 100 plus lbs. Thank you for sharing this info with me.

I recently joined the Y and used my free "quick start" work outs. I have a question on weight training. I am already a big girl, 5'10 - 11 currently about 250# size 14-16. I have a lot of muscle, and I don't want to get bulkier. I have had several trainers tell me that weight lifting is not going to make me bulkier. Anyone know if this is true? I don't want to start lifting all of these weights and gain weight! I can handle a lot of weight, they are usally amazed at what I can do and for some reason no matter how many trainers tell me this I just have a hard time believing it! Thanks!

I find at 5ft 10, what I can lift or hold appears amazingly heavy for smaller people! It probably wont bulk you up - the people who bulk up fast are usually ones that have large bodies in the first place due to a lot of muscle tissue - like you can be fat but have LOTS of muscle. For most women, it just wont happen, you'll get nice definition. But really, if you notice you're bulking up more than you'd like, its simple, stop doing it (so much). I've found though that lots and lots of running has given me the type of body I wanted, tall, slender, with definition/shape but not big muscles. I dont really do any more than pushups and tricep dips for my upper body - good compound body weight exercises for strenght and tone, and running takes care of my lower half.

"Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band" Everything You Need to Know Before & After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully. Sold at Borders. I'm 3/4 into book, It's Great. I will bring it to 1st lunch I can attend. Wish you all the best of health. Hasta Pronto, George

I do weight training 4 times a wk (2 w/a trainer) with a mix of cardio (running / elliptical / bike). I love it! I really am loving the way my body is toning up. My upper body looks great & my legs are starting to catch up - I noticed my calf muscles for the first time today, thinking wow they are "defined", not a lump of fat. I believe in it - but a balance of exercise is important too. I don't get paranoid any longer about the scale, since the clothing sizes are dropping wkly it seems.

I would write to confirm that Dr. Osuna will be there. Also, I would recommend researching Dr. Ortiz in the event that Osuna is not present. I had no problems with Ortiz and liked him. That being said I would have preferred to be able to research him as well! This was something that could have influenced me to walk away but I felt peace about it so I went through with the surgery. Immediately after surgery while walking the halls, I did think to myself, Oh my, maybe I could have tried a little longer (to lose) before doing this... (It was the discomfort speaking!) Now as I watch the fat melt away, even with the complications, I'm so glad I did it! I can totally identify with the 200 mark you mentioned. I had lost and gained the same stupid fifteen pounds for the past 4 years! Now, I'm down 28- woohoo! Good luck to you! Amber

Thank you for the encouragement!! I am very excited to do this, just a little nervous that I'll fail at yet another weight loss journey. I'm sure that's a normal feeling, just have to remember why I'm doing it!!

Because getting proper nutrition in is so hard after weight loss surgery, a lot of surgeons wont want you to get pregnant for 18 months following your sleeve or bypass. Its just not safe for you or the baby.

Well I do feel a little restriction today though being on liquids this time and actually feeling ok in myself I think I am getting hungrier quicker...then I don't know if it is in my head!...I can't wait to eat something a little more solid! :thumbup: The nurse did my fill. She asked if I minded, I replied "So long as you are a good shot I don't mind!!" It didnt' hurt and was over very quick! She then said book in for your next fill between 3-4 weeks. I booked in at the 3 week mark :biggrin: Doc was in a long consult and they usually do a quick face time and a hi how are you going on your first fill....they said you can do it next time if you don't want to wait...I was like great! out of there and off to work! I got 2cc's put in my 10cc band! Oh and a NSV today...one of the guys at work has been sick and off for the past 8 weeks. He came in today and when I walked in he said hey you're looking great you've lost a bit of weight *Really loudly* I said yes I have...then some of the other guys start saying "oh yeah I guess because I see you every day it isn't as obvious!!" then my friend who knows what I have had done said and your pants are getting SO LOOSE!! hehe maybe it is time I raided the wardrobe again!

In my case, I consulted with 3 surgeons and my final decision was based on how comfortable I felt. Of course, critical criteria which I asked directly were as follows: - How many years have you been practicing? - How many procedures for each type of surgery? - How many patients have had complications and why? - Patient reviews etc.... In my case, the surgeon that sold me the most was the one that not only talked about the different types of procedures in depth but also took the time to explain the fundamental relationship between our brain and food. That was key to me as he spent quite a considerable amount reinforcing how this was a tool and that the majority of work would be on me to change my lifestyle. I found his focus on the nutrition part golden cause that is what ultimately makes us gain the weight. Hope this helps and good luck with your final decision!