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So I ended up going to a PCP and they told me that I more then likely malnourished. So that and the rapid weight loss put my body and shock. They still are not clear on what is causing the swelling but once that is figured out they said the weight will come off as quick as I put it on. Such a relief having someone believe me and give me some type of answer!=)

Michelle, give it some time. Your skin may be elastic enough to shrink to the point you will feel better about yourself. I think you are pretty young and many things will change with a little time. Give your self some time and work on the toning....I think you will be happier than you believe. As far as what people say....just figure most of them are ignorant....unless they've been overweight and lost a lot of it, they will never know. What I have noticed this time around is when I slowed down on the weight loss, (and I haven't even lost 50 lbs yet) that my body started to tighten up a little. Yes, it's still flabby but I'm huge and have been for decades and this flab is better than not fitting into the airline seat. I really notice it in my face, my face is already a lot thinner and there are many more wrinkles. Oh well, I will get that worked on some time down the line but for now....I will learn to deal with it and everyone else can not look at me if they don't like it.

As I said, Jen, be patient and see what comes of everything after a year's time. I do some weight training and think that really did help with putting the girls back up to where they are supposed to be. I never go without a bra (except for sleeping) and believe that it contributes also.

We have sweet stuff in the house, which scared me for a while. As a chronic dieter I'd prefer to just not have it around at all. But my husband, who doesn't have a weight problem, is capable of eating just one or two Cookies and putting the bag back. I think that's a VERY important skill to learn. So I continue my abstemious ways (most of the time) and let him handle dessert. I used to obsess over this issue, and deeply feared having kids with a weight problem. When I was pregnant with my first I used to watch children at the pool and wonder at their varying shapes, and yes, I admit that I felt really sorry for the ones already dealing with excess weight. As far as our habits go, I can't say we're especially this, that, or the other thing. Families with two working parents have to deal with that reality first and foremost. So yes, we eat out often and even go to McDonald's a couple of times a month. The girls love the wrong kinds of food, to different degrees, but each of them seems to have an inner meter that just turns them off after having enough. Whatever they're eating, however delicious and bad for them, they STOP when they're no longer hungry and go on to something else. That's something I was born without and I'm very thankful they have it. Both of them are very tall for their ages and weigh appropriate amounts. My sense is that the whole family MUST be involved when there are food issues. As the lone fatty in my immediate family, my whole childhood was about watching what I ate, making sure I didn't get another serving, keeping me away from Desserts. It was horrible and I'm absolutely convinced it contributed to my problem, not helped it. So while I'm glad my family hasn't faced this yet, it could easily happen and when it does I will be taking a different approach than my parents did.

Hiya, You know what... I think all of our kidlings are going to be juuuuusssst fine because we are all being mindful of the things that led us to where we are and mindful to try something different with our children. (o: Well... I know my daughter has inherited the genes that will lead her to have to watch her diet as she gets older but I don't really want her to focus on that at the age of 11. I know that I turned to food at a very young age for comfort for abuse that nobody in my family knew about and that has compounded the genetic predisposition. Miss Em doesn't seem to need to overeat... she loves food but when she is full... she just stops. When I see that she is putting on a little pudge I just try to increase the time we spend as a family doing active things like biking or rollarblading...etc. Even grown-ups teased me when I was little ... I guess they thought if it was done with love it was okay. I'd knock someone on their ass if I heard that happening to her. (o: I have also worked very hard to teach her to be kind... I told her of my experiences in school and how terrible those times were. I think my afforts have paid off. SHe is stronger than I was... for instance... she told me this story the other day. She said she was walking into the classroom and two boys were like... "EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW don't let her touch us EWWWWW Emily!!!!" She turned to them and asked quite genuinely "What??? Am I disgusting or something???" I guess that wasn't the response they were looking for and stumbled all over themselves and shut right up. (o: My husbands children with his first marriage were not allowed to have ANY sugar... her nickname was wholewheat Susie. THey were not allowed to have ANY candy... no white flour... no chips... everything lowfat. His son is skinny... but the daughter is obsessed now with carbs... she battles the bulge even though there are few in the family that are overweight. I guess to me this says there should be a good balance. I keep healthy Snacks in the house but they are also things that my daughter really likes.... granola bars... fruit... yogurt... grahm crackers... and I buy juice in the little drink packs and she has those occais. for a treat as well. I keep FF Jello pudding in the fridge... buy lowfat frozen yogurt for the freeze and then I just hope for the best! I so hope her weight issues are "normal" ones...

Thats wonderful news I am so pleased for you. I know how you feel about the weight gain but try and relax and not worry to much. (I am a fine one to talk!) Anyway October will be here before you know it. :clap2::clap2:

well, it looks like i have to wait til october. october 4th to be exact. my doc wont do surgery before then, she says my stomach needs to heal completely before the next surgery. so, i have 3 months to wait. i guess at least there is a pot at the end of my rainbow, its just the weight gain in between that im afraid of.

Hi Everyone: I am struggling with this lap-band. I am yo-yoing back and forth and can't get past the 35 pound mark. I drop to 194 then back up to 202. My problem, I think, is when I get filled, I am on liquids for 2-4 weeks, that's clear, to full liquids just like after surgery. While on that timeframe, I can lose 15 pounds no problem, cause I'm not eating. As soon as I start taking in solids, I gain. Please help! I am 9 cc filled. Last fill was one week before Thanksgiving 2007. We are nearing our one year anniversary mark, and I am no where close to goal! Thanks, Carol

I know nothing about the sleeve so I can't really say what it is like. My ex-wife had a GB in 1990 and had quite a few problems. She gained some of her weight back but she is still not as big as she was. I am excited about the progress I have made with my Lap Band. I have a super DR. and his Staff is great. :wink2:

Sue Take a "take charge" approach, Does your Dr do Floruscope xray with his fills? If you believe something is wrong, then document each visit, ask for the xray when you get a fill, so you can see how restricted you are and that everything is in place and in its proper condition. Your nurse may have been new. She may just not be as good as we would like her to be, or as experienced. There may have been a lack of adequate communication. Keep a small notebook each time you go, you track what they are telling you they are puttin in or taking out, any advice, your weight. etc, when you have questions ask to see the Dr, don't settle for the nurse only. We too often forget we paid for the services of the Dr when we come for fills and if you have a good Dr he/she will want to stop in and see you, have your questions ready when you go, and jot down any that come up when you are with the nurse. Stay until you get them answered. Never take an appt that you will have to rush thru or off to something else. This was important to you. Maybe your band is stretched, or maybe its not placed properly,, or maybe your weight loss is just enough to keep losening around the band,, or maybe the nurse is just wrong. The Dr and a xray with your fill would settle the questions you have. Go back and get it cleared up. Good luck Sugarbear

How much weight have you lost? What are your expectations? 1-2 lbs. a week is "normal". Did your surgeon inform you of this? There will be weeks where you don't lose ANY weight, but your motivation shouldn't stop because of this. Weight loss is dependent upon more than just diet and exercise although these are the main factors. How do people know that you are NOT losing weight? Why are they worried? Are you doing this for them or you? Please do not let the number on the scale dictate your continuation with healthy eating habits and a good exercise routine. Keep it up and the numbers will follow!

Oh I'm so sorry. It is NOT your fault! If anything, I was issued a big warning that with weight loss comes the increased chance of conception and to be extra dilligent with BC or I'd be pregnant in 6 months! Don't beat yourself up and don't take your partner's comments to heart. He is confused and sad and looking for a reason...you are NOT the reason. Just try to heal yourself right now. I know it is sad to grieve this w/o his support but just focus on getting back your confidence. Your biology and lapband are fine! Don't give up!

Ann, your choices for a decent surgeons are Riverside, Orange County and Beverly Hills. I went to Cedars-Sinai and had the best care I've ever had in my life. The drive is horrendous and it requires eight to ten trips. I have a ranch, not too far from you and I did a lot of research before deciding, my doctor's recommendation made up my mind. I don't have any idea what Tricare might do for you, but please find the best surgeon and hospital you can. Not all weight loss facilities are equal so choose wisely. I know I sound preachy, but I hate to see young people get less than the best care possible. If I can be of any possible help, feel free to PM me, and the very best of luck to you.

I'll let you know 46 more to go for 90 lbs off.lol I got the band in Aug and down 44 lbs and when I don't want to go to the gym I sit down and look at my legs and stomach and cant believe what I have already done. I have to smile get my shoes on and off I go. I always feel emotionaly better when I go to the gym and I just do weights right now. You have to talk back to your brain when it tells you something shouldn't do like "just have one cookie" then say out loud "you know you wont stop at one" stuff like that. good luck and it is so much easier with the band and the fills amount in it..you just wont believe it...this time IS really different.

I've dropped 275lbs so far - my sister 214lbs You can do it!! Freedom is awesome! I was a 7X shirt and 72 inch waist now I'm a Medium or large depending on cut and a 34 waist http://on.aol.com/video/i-weighed-454-pounds-before-having-weight-loss-surgery-517631677 Lee

It really hasn't been a problem for me. For me the key is to just not have something to drink sitting in front of me at a meal. If it's there, I'll automatically pick it up and drink. It's not a problem to occasionally sip some wine with dinner. I do. Alcohol is not conducive to weight loss, so it's good to not drink too often. The thing to watch out for with wine is that it relaxes you and you might be able to eat more than usual.

I'm am hoping that my insurance is going to give me the go-ahead to have the surgery soon. I have been on every kind of weight loss gimick, tried every diet that's out there, and all I seem to do is lose alittle gain a lot. This has been going on since I was in 5th grade and I'm in my 40s now. I am so ready for a change that I can hardly stand myself. I've got a lot of questions so if anyone has some answers for me I'd surely appreciate it!

Yay Lellow that is great!! I expected to gain or at least stay the same this week due to xmas eating habits but to my suprise I lost a little! I am down another 400grams (0.88pounds). I am SOOOOOOO close to onederland!! 0.65pound away!! Christmas was great...I couldn't overindulge like I used to I was happier about getting my photo taken and I had an absolute blast!

According to the Law of Attraction your life is a physical manifestation of your predominant thoughts and feelings. If you have spent many years battling with your weight and not liking your body, the primary focus of your thoughts and feelings has been that of discontent in terms of your weight and body. Every thought you think carries with it an energetic vibration and will attract experiences that carry with them like vibrations. If you are focused on needing to lose weight, not liking the weight you are now, and feel like it is a struggle you will attract to you more life experiences that will be an energetic match to that feeling thus showing up as excess weight, discontent with your current body state, and struggle. Focusing on what you don’t want is like having someone say to you “Don’t think of an elephant” (I bet you just pictured an elephant in your mind!!). If you want a strong, slender, healthy body, you must keep your focus on the kind of body you want and the feeling of what it would be like to live in that body. It does take energy and effort to keep yourself focused on what you do want especially if your dominant focus has been on that of what you do not want. Answering the following questions will help you shift your thoughts in a positive direction. Why do you want to resolve your weight issues? How will your life be different if you were at a healthy weight? Use the following questions as a guideline: Do you think your health would improve? If so how? Would your energy level change? If so how? Are there physical activities that you would participate in that you do not do today because of your weight? Do you have any aches and pains you think would be resolved if you lost weight? Would you walk differently? Would you interact with people differently? Would you talk differently? Would your relationships change? Would you eat differently? If so how? Are there people you would be more or less involved with if you lost weight? Would losing weight affect your career? If so, how? Would losing weight affect your family? If so, how? Would you dress differently? If so how? Would you have any new hobbies? Would it affect your social life? If so how? Do you think it would affect your mood? How about your mental clarity? Next week I’ll tell you how to use the answers to these questions to generate a powerful vision statement… Blessings and Peace, Louisa p.s. I’ll be offering new telephone support groups starting in September. If you have any questions or would like more information about them email me at louisa@louisalatela.com or call me at 856.429.9799. www.louisalatela.com

Try increasing exercise. If you become too tight you will actually gain weight rather than losing.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I went to GNC yesterday, and got some 100% whey protein choclate caramel. Don't know about the taste yet, I have it on ice. I like mine real cold iI dirnk it better that way. No, my Sarc Doc didn't say take the band out. In fact he said that it was a good idea considering that I've gained all my weight from the years of steroids, nad haven't been able to take it off until now. He just said my labs were good, and that I just need to make sure that I have a high amount of protein in my diet, and that should eliminate the muscle breakdown. I also bought a protein bar yesterday that had 30 gms of protein in it, ate half of that for lunch instead of meal, and had the other half for breakfast on my way to work. Minus the 2 bites my 2 yrs old begged for. I can defintely tell the difference in the amount of protein intake. I am way less sore today almost to my normal self. So I think that this was the right choice. I ma also lucky that I have a good sarcoid doc that listens to what I have to say, and not just dump the steroids back on me.

Good luck! Are you dead set against keeping your band...... why don't you just turn it off while you work with your therepist on the head and emotional issues and then when you are ready work on your weight again. What ever you decide.. GOOD LUCK

If my insurance didnt cover it I would probably love to come over to Austrailia. My goodness the men over there are gorgeous! I went to Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago and went to see The Thunder From Down Under. That was fun. The accent is so sexy. I will visit Austrailia one day. I was banded on the 30th of June, I want to lose some weight before I come down under! Angie

Turtle: no/slow weight loss I'm excited about this.

:bump: Alright, the current suggested categories are: Just Looking (into banding) Pre-band: Decided or Scheduled Losing & Happy Turtle: no/slow weight loss Head hunger More than 150 lbs to goal Less than 30 lbs to goal Erosion/Slippage Post-band/unbanded Pick one and post some info about yourself. You'll get your own "accountability" and support partner/weight loss sister (or brother) to help you on your journey; you CAN match yourselves up or I will do it tomorrow afternnon (3 PM? Depends on how work goes!)