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Loved Dr. Alvarez! I had a great experience. I had my surgery 3/01/13. Wish I would've done it years ago.

Hi I'm 4"11 and been sleeved going on my 11 month. My journey started out at 265 day of surgery 260. Lost about 25 pounds first week. First month over 50 pounds, then kept losing. Currently I'm between 135-140, stop going to the gym for 2 months and been in this stall. Getting back to the gym I'll lose the 15-20 more pounds I'm wanting to. I thought I was the only shorty out here!! BTW I did everything like tall people would do my Dr said it did not matter how tall. Check out my pics! Five months out/ 8 months out 10 months out/ current DL picture had to renew I look like a different person Just for kicks with my peeps

Still use my baby spoons... and I am 10+ months out.

I had surgery 10/22 (Monday). I slept most of the morning then focused on walking about 20 min. By the end of my laps I was ready to sleep again. I was discharged Tuesday at noon and have been focusing on sleep/sip/walk. I have not taken any of the heavy pain meds and even the gas isn't bad

I have found that a lot of the "bariatric" products are overpriced and come in small amounts like a month at a time. I just get the feeling they are trying to cash out on us. Centrum has an orange flavor chewable that has daily amount of Iron needed which can save you from having to take iron individually. There are roughly 90 for $10 and since I'm taking them 2 times a day that's enough for 45 days of course. Not a bad deal.

It is so good to read what everyone writes on here and know that I am not alone. I had my surgery 10/20 , had my first fill the day before Thanksgiving and have lost only 5#! I am going in for another fill tomorrow as I feel very little restriction. I guess I thought this surgery would be a magic pill, or something but have found out that you certainly still have to be very regimented with your way of eating! It is hard if you are a "snacker" and not one to eat 3 regular meals a day. That is the biggest thing I need to work on as well as not drinking with my meals. So I am needing to start over and try to do this the right way. Thank you to everyone for all that you write and all the information I gain here!

Dr. B did my LapBand 7 weeks ago. He's one of the more experienced surgeons in the business.......the clinic that I went thru for all my pre-op work referred me to him because I was 'special' (senior citizen, heart condition, etc.). I had my surgery at the hospital in Decatur (only place he works that my insurance would pay for). The nurses/anesthesiologist/staff seemed very skilled - said they did 10 LapBands every Monday morning. The whole thing was flawless......I was in at ll:00, out at 2:30. Never even had so much as a gas pain afterward. I've had haircuts that were more traumatic! (The hardest part was trying to get on the damn surgical hose!) I've had one follow-up visit; he said come back in 6 months, but he gave me instructions to call him any time I needed to. (I'm getting my fills at the clinic that did all my pre-op work).

I was banded on the 23rd also, with a hernia repair. I'm like you. I don't feel that hungry, but my body seems to be getting weak from lack of food. It would really like something to eat. Soup, and protein drinks are not getting it. Truly the gas is the worst part. I've been walking on the treadmill (very slow 1.5 mph) for 10-15 min every afternoon, when the gas is the worst. It seems to help, and, makes me sleep better. The heating pad, and walking seem to help more than anything. However, I have found that a ride in the car seems to help. I'm like a colicy baby. I'll start burping about a mile down the road. :tt2:

I have always been the cute chubby girl. Then I became the pretty faced heavy girl. After having my third child, I was big. I looked at food I'd gain weight. I'd eat to hide my pain or if i was happy. I love food. Like most of everyone I have had my share of heartaches and disappointments. I'll be brief, my first born son passed away when he was 18 months old (medical complications), my step son passed away (he had cerebral palsy), my parents divorced when i was 15 and my father remarried (I love my step-mom) but the rest of the family won't speak to him anymore, its very hard for me to be in the middle, and other crap but that's the big stuff. So, for me hiding in my food felt so good at the time. I've tried all kinds of diets Jenny Craig, weight watchers (too many times too count), Atkins, lots of different pills...I would lose 40-50lbs the most and then I felt like it gave me the license to eat just 1 treat..... well that only led to many more rewards for myself.... Sometimes I wonder if I'm trying to sabotage my own success because then I would have to maintain a new figure?....hmmm I don't know...The breaking point came when I had seen pictures of myself at my son's birthday party...which of course was a water slide n swimming b-day party.I don't want my son to be ashamed off me or other kids to say things about me to him. I also don't want him to think that eating like I did was normal. I was so disgusted with myself. My husband of course said he loved me no matter how I looked but I didn't love myself. I was thinking about gastric bypass surgery (which was the last resort for me, I knew some people that had the surgery and I knew it was an extreme) when my Mom told me about a commercial she had seen about the Lap-Band. I went online and looked for Dr.s in Ohio. I think God had a hand in me finding my Dr. because he is great. I went to an informational meeting. I was so nervous my insurance wouldn't pay for this procedure (but I am so thankful and blessed to say my ins. paid for everything but $267). It took about 4 months before I actually had my surgery. It felt like it was never going to happen . I think one of the hardest parts was the 2 week liquid diet. Man was I a mean .......bleep! I felt sorry for my family and friends..LOL! (Oh yeah, I forgot to mention my step-sister was also going through the procedure with me we had our surgeries on the same day. She was 18y/o 309lbs and had high blood pressure).As far as my medical problems they were few. I have PCOS and had trouble conceiving my 3rd child (we used Clomid). I had gestational diabetes with my last baby as well. That's pretty much it. I had my surgery July 14, 2009. It took a few days to recover but I was excited and hopeful. The first couple of weeks were difficult learning how to follow the after surgery diet plan. At first appt. y sis and i learned we had diff. size bands. i had a 14 and she had a 10. The first couple of months went ok but I really stopped losing. i learned how to eat with my band i really mean cheating...Well, anyways, We would see the Dr. every 3 months. We started going to his satellite office and he hired a new dr. We loved him right away. He had the surgery 4yrs ago and he knows what we're going through. He, also, called us out on our bad habits no games or excuses. Well, my sis has lost 97lbs. and I've only lost 48lbs. as of May 2010. Very depressing for me. The dr. said he couldn't understand why I had such a big band. He said if i was a foot taller, 30yrs older and diabetic he could see the big band. But he said he wasn't there during surgery so he couldn't argue with my surgery dr. He has now filled my band up to 9.5 and I'm now starting to lose weight. I've lost 6lbs in 10 days. I'm sooo excited!!!!!

Hello all! 04/26/2012 will be my FIFTH bandversary. Yes, 5 years. I used to live on this site and for me it was vital to my success and accountability. I was tight with my group of "Violets" who were all 2007 bandsters..... I am still friends with most of them on facebook and such, but the need to come here and post is long gone. If you click on my profile you can see where I started and where I'm at today..........as I uploaded more pics to my progress album. I did awesome my first year and lost 98 lbs, and then I just quit watching what I ate and quite weighing every day....... I gained about 30 lbs, but then I just settled. I would get on the scale about once every 6 months and the scale would read the same 204-208. Failure? Hell NO! I was (and am) normal sized and comfortable in my size 12-14's. In 2012 I am refocusing on re-losing those same 30 lbs, because I loved the feeling of size 10 levis! and my narrow face, plus I ready. I love my band. I haven't had a fill (or unfill) in well over two years and have no plans for one in the future. I still eat too fast, but I will never again be able to eat 6 tacos or a large thin crust pizza! I can however eat two tacos and be completely stuffed!!!! I believe in eating Low Carb.. it has always helped me lose weight banded and pre-band. I am currently adhering to a LC lifestyle and I will come back and post a pic when I get back down to those size 10's in 2012! I was the first in my family to get banded........ My Brother in law got banded in Mexico 4 years ago My Mom by Dr, K 3 years ago My StepDad by Dr. K 1 year ago All of us have lost weight. My band has been a great tool and the ONLY way I've been able to maintain any ONE size in my entire life! Good Luck on YOUR band journey! Tracy Banded 04/26/2007 272/174/today206/goal for 2012... 172 and it is totally do-able!

Congrats! It doesn't matter how long it's taken you, 81 lbs. is PHENOMENAL and I know you look great!!! I hope to have the same success, I am so worried about my bad habits though. I will be banded on June 19.

I have started my lap band journey. I have attended the seminar, had my lab work done, sleep study, and started a 6 month supervised nutrition program required by my insurance company. I have had the PFTS. I also need to get a cardiology clearance. I have lost 10 pounds since I began the supervised nutrition program. Staying off of all things white has been surprisingly better than I thought. I do however cheat on Sunday since we go out after church and eat. I was surprised that last week (1st week) I was not a enticed and ate less than I usually do - only 2 tortillas- yeah!!!

I've said before that I'm not great with numbers so if I'm a bit off from previous posts, please forgive me. I'm not trying to revise history, just not that observant on numbers. But I'm just now starting my 2nd year in this life and thought I'd share the markers. In mid-October 2010 I started my pre-op diet. I think was was right about 326. Strict program requires loss prior to surgery. In mid-April I started my pre-diet liquid fast. I was at 309. I was 100% faithful and it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. 10 day fast and I ever skipped two packets. I think my mind was on the future by that time but I was also going a bit numb. I knew I had to do it so I sort of went into denial which worked for me. I was actually sleeved the last week of April 2011. As of today, I am at 235. That's a loss of 92 pounds. It's not tearing up the track. I've seen others who have lost tons more but that's the main reason for this post and something I want people to understand. You body, if you stay within reason and safety in eating, will lose. It just might pace itself differently than others so try not to judge yourself by others. I lost horribly when I was in the 400 calorie a day range. When I moved to the 800 calories, it wasn't much better. But now, in these past several months, with being able to take 1200 calories a day and having the energy and strenth to pick up more exercise (and with almost 100 pounds less stress on my knees) my weight loss has become steady and consistant. As I've added more calories, and 1200 is very reasonable to live with, I am not stopping weight loss. My surgeon preached that if you didn't lose in the first year in his program you were not going to lose with the sleeve. He was 100% wrong with me. This is now my new normal and the key to that is that I no longer fight it because I've accepted it as my normal. It's no longer something that was forced on me to save my health but something I'm thrilled to have done to have saved my life. It feels like I was born this way. I stopped counting every bit of food about 3 weeks ago. I just got sick of it. I concentrate on Protein and take a good multi every day as well as my Calcium. In that 3 weeks I have become far less obcessed with food. I think of it so much less, eat only when I am really hungry (and I do still experience hunger). But now I'm just a human being who has a small stomach. Most days I love it. It's a relief. I had had a bout of depression but I'm also going through menopause, lost 2 brothers (both under 60) and my Mom is now terminal and these things are the tip of the ice berg.. I have never turned to food in stress. My stomach actually gets tight and hard to eat so I don't think the sleeve contributed any to the depression. But I'm not being a hero and getting the depression treated so I'm thinking I'll be better by year end. And at least 10 pounds lighter. Oh, and one more thing. One year ago rolling my trash can to the end of the drive was a challenge. The last several days I've walked a 1/2 mile trail behind my house. And I have very bad knees. So plan for the best. It's right around the corner for you.

My surgery was 12/28/12, I returned to work on 01/08/13. I found it comfortable to lean back in my chair and stretch my arms to reach the mouse and keyboard. Before I knew it, I was not feeling anything. I also make a point to stand up - even if it is just to stand. Can you adjust your chair to lean back a little - are you able to reposition your monitor (make it higher?)

Hello I'm Getting Banded On The 10 Also.............

Hello, I also have severe left shoulder pain. The pain comes and goes and is so bad that it stops me in my tracks and could bring me to my knees.( I know that sounds dramatic but it is true) I move around, use a heaing pad, moist heat, cold, you name it. I was banded on 12/19 and have had several conversations about this with my doctor. I am very upset about this pain. It seems the only thing I can do is learn some way to manage it. I feel like this is never going to go away. I'm sorry for your pain, but I am comforted in the fact that I am not the only one. Keep us posted on your progress and If anyone has any more advice on how to manage this I would also appreciate it.

Hi there, I'm in Katy off I-10 and Fry. I would love to be a part of a support group. I am going for my first consultation on Thursday and waiting for insurance approval. Lori

Hey katy bandsters, I have been banded. :clap2: Sept 19. I am doing good have not gotten sick at all. I think I need a fill. I know this is a tool but I would love to wake up and be 50 pounds liter. GOOD LUCK TO ALL StaceyLCA

I ended up cutting my basals in half when I started my preop week of clears that was really helpful. My endo gave me "permission" to drop each basal by 10% if I was getting lows so I was able to resolve it pretty quickly. Glucose tabs as much as I hated them did the trick for me.

Hi, I'm late to the party but wanted to reply. I've had T1DM for 18 years, been pumping for 10. I'm having sleeve surgery on 8/21 and have the same fears about low bgs. Im doing my 2 week pre-op diet now and have had some lows, but nothing a little juice couldn't fix. Do you have a CGM? I do, and don't wear it frequently now due to site issues, but plan to more once I'm back at home after surgery, to help catch lows before they happen.

There are tons of theories on this subject all around this site. First, don't stress, we all stall. First step, avoid the scale for awhile. Second, a lot of people will increase their calorie intake for a few days then return to the previous diet. Your body has set weight points where its comfortable at, once it hits a number and doesn't move your body gets stubborn and wants to stay there. What I do, personally, is switch to 2 shakes, 2 small healthy Snacks, and a very light meal once a day. I do this for a week. And if my fibro allows me, I'll do a little more cardio that week. Not much, maybe 5-10 more minutes to up my metabolism. And avoid that demon scale! I find the best results when I avoid the scale for a week or two then weigh and go for there. Just try and avoid upping your carbs, then you get cravings and have to go through the lovely carb withdrawal again Don't fret, you're not alone. It'll work itself out just be patient.

I was sleeved 10/27 and for the past few days my legs hurt so much! They are just aching and feel awful. It's mostly my calves, back of my thighs and tops of my legs. Any ideas? Thanks

I agree with Crystal... you'll slow down, lol. But in the meantime, the toothpic idea is a good one, or at least, cut up the tiny bites and only put one bite on the fork at a time. If it were me, I'd take baby steps. If you are wolfing down your food, time yourself between bites when eating NORMALLY, and then add 10 seconds in between each bite (yes, you'll have to count). Then when you get used to that add another 10 seconds. I have to do everything in baby steps or it's just all too big!

It's not impossible! I did it. Training can be whatever you you want. One does not have to be hurling heavy weights. High rep low weights would be great to maintain muscle tone. You still need a recovery time though. I would not waste the surgery's fastest period of weight loss until hunger returns... It might not return for a year or more....One can make up Protein easily by adding Protein Powder to meals. Carbs are more difficult Will need to squeeze in an extra meal. Or do a ketogenic diet. Eating lean Protein meats and cheese is generally low carb and sets one up for a ketogenic diet. I put myself on a ketogenic diet without even trying. Lean meats and cheese for Snacks. When I wanted vegetables, it was sweet peas because good Fiber, carbs and Protein. My Protein bars I would eat would have a good carb content, low sugar and low fat. Be creative.To be clear, I am saying going to the gym even every day, is ok. And by that, I mean once a day, and giving entire muscle groups enough rest days between training. If she is going 2-3 times a day, I don't know what to say, may it's cardio, maybe it's treadmilling, one can do brisk walks more than once and and everyday. She really did not elaborate. I know I can go to the gym, do my "leg day" and later on run a 5 or 10 k, because I am not running hard, just jogging along. Running is something that can be done almost everyday, if one spreads out at least one rest day in the week.Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using BariatricPal mobile app

I went right in the middle of the healthy zone for BMI which includes a height calculation. BMI is not a perfect tool, but it's a decent starting place for most of us unless we're body builders or competitive athletes. I got close to the original goal and decided to stop and put my self in maintenance a few pounds early as I was in a size 4 and didn't feel like I needed to be smaller at that point. I allow a myslef to float around in a 10 pound range now which is working pretty well.