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Hi, I am 33 years old and live in Harrisburg, PA. I was banded April 3, 2009. Within 30 days I was down 22 pounds and over the next few months I lost about 10 more. Then about Oct of 09 I hit a wall. I started to crave more sweets like cookies, and cakes. Things I never really ate before my surgery. Now in the last 5 months I have not lost anything, I gained like 2 pounds back. I find that now when I eat if I get full after a few bits, I then start to spread that meal or whatever Im eating out over like an hour period till I done. I use to be excited about the band but now I am not because I can not seem to help the cravings and I try to eat anything I can. I want to get back on the right track, but need some suggestions and support on what I can try to do to get back on track how I was in the beginning... Thanks!!!

Hello, My name is Trish. I started this journey in Jan. 2010. I am currently on the liquid diet..A Big Yucky lol!! I am so excited to finally have my surgery date on 9/23. I have done my preop and now just counting the days. I currently weigh 222. I started at 232 in January. I am really having a hard time with the liquid diet. I am doing it and not cheating, but I am a very picky eater and I hate drinks like slim fast, energy drinks, etc...Does any one know why the liquid diet is required before surgery? Anyway, I have 2 more days of this & then it is clear liquids...It is hard to do this & work. I am having trouble staying focused lol. Any ideas?

I'm all dressed in my gown. ..surgery at 10:30. See you on the other side!

Am 10 days post op and I get the hiccups after I ingest anything. It's not painful just annoying. I love itailain ices and they are the worst ones. any advice?

For those in the NYC area, I just received an email from NYU Bariatric Group. There will be a clothing exchange on September 7th. I've cut and pasted the info below. I'm bringing a bunch of things that no longer fit me and were very gently worn including my winter coat from last year. I hope everything gets taken. I also hope that others on this site stop by to drop off or pick up new things. Join us in midtown Manhattan Sunday * September 7, 2014 * 11 a.m.–2 p.m. qwetyuip[asdfghjkl;' Where: BOTTOMLESS CLOSET [in the Hotel Pennsylvania opposite Penn Station & Madison Square Garden] 401 Seventh Avenue, Level B, Suite 40 (bet. West 32nd and West 33rd Streets) *** Take Elevator #1 to Level B; follow signs *** Everything must be clean, intact and ready for wearing. Intimates (e.g., workout clothes, underwear, swimwear, sleepwear, socks, hosiery) must be new/unused/unworn. Accessories are great (belts, jewelry, scarves, neckties, purses, shoes, etc.). Dressing rooms are available. If you need nothing now, feel free to stop by with items you're no longer using and stay for the conversation. Bottomless Closet, our host, helps disadvantaged NYC women enter and succeed in the workforce and improve the quality of their lives. All items not adopted during our event are donated to BC. Documents will be available for tax purposes. Contact bandsterswap@yahoo.com if you have any questions about the exchange. If you'd like to help set up, please come at 10:00. If you're able to stay a little past 2:00 to straighten up, please do.

Here is a link to read an article from NPR about how having a little extra fat could help a person live longer. I thought it was a very intersting read and wanted to share. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/02/168437030/research-a-little-extra-fat-may-help-you-live-longer

Hi everyone So this post is for those of you who have gone to Tijuana for banding and/or fills and had to spend a few nights there. As some of you may know I am seriously considering having some plastic surgery done in Mexico and I am just trying to get all my ducks in a row as it were. I think I'm pretty certain on the surgeon/facility and will be having a phone consult with him soon (tomorrow probably). Then it will be time to pick some definite dates and I am pretty certain of those as well. So now we come to flights and hotels... I will be kept in the medical facility for probably 3 or 4 days and then released, however I am planning on staying there for an extra 10 days or so until the drains have been removed and I feel I will be comfortable enough to fly home. So for those of you who have stayed in Tijuana, which hotels did you use? Were you happy with the service/cleanliness/location/facilities? The clinic I will be using is within a block of Dr. Ortiz's clinic so that is the area I will be staying in. So let me know what you all have experienced !!! Since I will be there a while I am interested in if the rooms have fridges or microwaves... Is there any kind of grocery shopping nearby? Oh heck, just tell me anything you feel is important !!! Looking forward to some of your thoughts !!! Patricia

My main weakness has always been Coke. I love a nice, icy cold Coke on a hot day. My nut asked me what I would miss most...I said my Coke! I haven't had any soda in over 10 months, & I haven't been sleeved yet. ( thanks A LOT, BCBS!!!) I miss it terribly but I'm pretty darn proud of myself. I agree that small sipped amounts every now & then should be ok. Feeling deprived of anything is what got me here in the first place!

Hi all, I was banded on 9/15/08. I am 52 years old, married with grown children. Moved to MA from MI about 2-1/2 years ago. I had my surgery at the Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI even though I live in MA. Going into Boston for dr appts and fills just wasn't going to be easy when I was working (at the time) in Providence, so I went through the bariatric program in RI. I need to loose about 130 lbs total. I've lost 30 lbs so far. 17 pre-op and 13 post-op (actually in the 2 wks following surgery). Since 10/1 I have been bouncing back and forth, up and down between the same 3 lbs. Typical, I know... but frustrating none the less. I would like to connect with a buddy who has been successful in losing 100+ lbs. I know the statistcs state that we will only lose 40-60% EWL over 3 years, but I would like to become an exception to that statistic, and lose 80-100%. I know it can be done, with hard work and support. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I'd love to hear from you! Vicky

i hope everyone is doing okay. i had the gastric bypass 12/10/07 and i am already down 43 pounds in 5 weeks:cool2: hugs Ann

Hello: I would look on this forum in the section called Lapband complications, there might be information there. The FDA states the band is good for at least 10-years and could last longer without complications. As far as studies, here are some links: However, the best research papers are in medical journals. Do a Google search for information. gastric banding research - Google Scholar Gastric Banding Reverses Impact Of Type 2 Diabetes

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I was going to say the same as @@James Marusek. Bypass will really help you with maintenance. You will just need to be sure to work continually with a NUT and may have to increase your calories faster than some. For what it's worth, I have never lost 30 pounds a month or any of the other crazy numbers people quote. I lost fairly steadily at 12-15 pounds the first few months and then 10ish pounds per month. I am 10 1/2 months post-op and down 110 pounds since surgery. You will just get to goal and move on to maintenance quicker than most of us are able to.

First, let me just say I am sorry for your frustration and that I completely understand. I'm 5 weeks post op and and don't have a fill in sight- I'm self pay so I have to save up for it. But that said, I am running on straight up will power! And it has been a struggle, but I'm doing it. And you can too! What worries me is that you said you are eating what you did and how much you did before. Ask anyone- the band is not a magical cure. It is a helper. We still have the same obese brain we did before! We can't do anything about that. You really just need to learn to change your thinking. Try tracking all of your food. I use myfitnesspal.com. It's wonderful. I eat 1200 calories per day and also track my exercise there too. I have no restriction right now so I really need to watch what goes in my body. We all do! And this way, I'm training my mind to eat the right foods so that when I do have proper restriction I will stay on track even more. I lost 10 pounds pre-op and 12 so far post-op. This past week was a struggle and I stopped losing but I refuse to give up or gain. Remember, it's completely up to you! You/I/We are our own worst enemy... Work on the mental side of it until you can have the physical part on your side. That way you can be even more successful. If you don't tackle the mental part then you will always find a way to "cheat" the band- so I've heard.... Good luck, and keep us all updated! :thumbup:

I got my date (November 19, 2014). So excited. ???? I have even stated getting ready for the 2 weeks liquid diet. During the day I've been drinking the protein drinks along with all types of liquids, like broth, jello and ice pops. I eat dinner when I get home. Then 2 days last week I went the entire day liquids. I did good. My family helped by cooking dinner, I went into my bed room ????. This test really helped me. The thought of going cold turkey all at once was causing me stress. I lost 10 pds already. I even thought of not doing the surgery but I know the 10 pds won't stay off if I don't get the lap ban. I took the 10 pd loss as a sign that I am ready for this and I can do it. Lisa

I struggled this weekends, it was really hard. I do better during the week because I'm at work and I'm very busy. To make things worse I have been sick. I just got finish telling myself you can do this, so I got up and got a protein drink. I want a bag of chips so bad right now. It is a mind thing. If I get to hungry, I have been eating eggs or broth with white chicken meat in it. In my house Sunday is pasta night, this was the worse night yet. I love, no, I am addicted to pasta. ????. Not being able to eat pasta last night made me very depressed ????. It even made me rethink about having the procedure. I went to my room closed the door and I survived. 10 more days, seems so long. I have lost 15 pounds already.

After seeing my surgeon about getting a sleeve revision (had my band removed 12/10) I was told I would need to lose 25# before he would schedule surgery. So...after I got mad, and cried a bit...I put on my big girl panties and got serious! He wanted me to eat meat and veggies...no sugars, grains, or dairy AND 1200 calories a day. Well, I am doing that...sort of. I cut all sugars and processed carbs out of my diet. I did keep the dairy (mostly cheese and half and half in my coffee) and I'm averaging closer to 1500 calories... BUT.... I lost 5 pounds this week!! I changed my ticker for my FIRST goal...lose 25#...then I'll start on the next goal! Happy Monday Everyone!

Hello everyone. I have made the decision to have bariatric surgery. Diagnosed with type one diabetes and high blood pressure last year. Cholesterol diagnosis & meds last summer. I decided at that point to work harder. Exercise daily, eat much better and nutribullet. Well I have & been successful at not gaining more weight but not losing which us what I need to do to get healthy. I have never had a weight problem until I had my daughter in 2004 plus diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the sane time. I am a single mom of two wonderful children. They are 9 years apart but are my world. I am an only child with my mom. I have step brothers & sisters all live out of state. I am super closer with my sister than my brothers although I love them all. I have my first appointment with my surgeon next Wednesday. Thanks to this app plus other research I made the decision to have WLS. I an excited and nervous. I have been so used to feeling bad physically, i.e. tired, achy muscles bones, headaches & backaches. You just keep going, just a way of life. In all actuality... I'm killing myself!!! No I want to live, have to for myself, 10 year old daughter, 19 year old son. My mom I'm her only child... Plus I love life, yes I do... Well I'm happy to see so much support, read other stories and get more inspiration. Thanks for listening & more to come...

Wow, I am going through the same thing you are. I got my 3rd fill and I was on liquids and mushys for the next 4 days. On my 5th day I went on a business trip to Vegas and I have not been able to eat anything at all. I can only drink Water, shake and eat Soups. But not creamy soups. It's not a good feeling because everything I threw up everything. So, my first two months I lost 19 lbs. for the last three weeks I hadn't lost anything at all. Then after 5 days of not eating anything, just liquids, I lost 7 lbs. How does that happen? I was thinking about going to the doctor but I have lost so much weight that I don't want to go. Oh and another thing, I am not hungry! So, here it is two weeks after my 3rd fill and I've decided to just eat soups until my next doctor's visti (in two weeks) so that I can loose more weight because I was at a plateau!

My surgery date is set. I am becoming a sleeve sistah on July 14th. I am determined and I know that this is what I need to do...... I am 5'5" and weigh in at 300lbs. If you looked at my medical chart, you would be impressed, all my numbers are great, with the exception that I am 300lbs. I am healthy as a horse, a fat horse that is..... I work out like a mad woman, I train for triathlon, I lift 2 times a week, and do cardio 6-7 days a week.....spin, swim, C25K....you name it... I am in great physical shape and am healthy, except that I am 300 lbs....and am 5 feet and half tall??? So can you guys imagine what I could do physically if I weighed less???? I mean, let's all face it, anyone who is heavy, is STRONG....it takes a ton of strength to lug around my 300lbs! So here I go.....I am ready and I am ready to be re-born! I am not a poor food choice eater, I don't graze, I don't have a sweet tooth, I eat mainly protein and healthy fats (but let's face it I am a severe volume eater - I can down a 16oz rib-eye as if it was air, or last night I had 1 1/2 lbs of skirt steak....I love my meat......I also love a good beer after working out, or a vodka soda......I know these are empty calories...but hey! right!? So I am so ready for this, I really am....I am married and my husband is also a big man...we were both to have surgery at the same time....he's backed out and going to try "on his own" again....whatever..... I have a few fears: Will I lose my husband over this? We will have been married for 10 years in November. We dated for 5 years before getting married.....we have a great friendship and he's actually being super supportive and excited for me. he knows that I have done everything "right" (calorie control, high protein, medication, naturpathic, exercise, etc.....) he knows I need to do this....but at the same time....we have our best times and our entertainment is BBQ-ing, or fixing dinner, or you all know...basically revolves around food.....we both are good cooks, and love to experiment! Today I started thinking.......should I go for a Bypass vs. Sleeve? And then the old hauntings came back in....with a bypass I would have a larger stomach, and would lose weight due to mal-absorption and some restriction....but eventually, once I lost weight, I could handle managing my weight....you know like when I was in HS, and I could manage being around 180-190....those 10lbs were manageable....but my 150lbs are insane..... I am going to drive myself crazy...I have these ideas of "what if this doesn't work for me?" Seriously...I have tried everything, and my PCP knows and vouges for it, which is why he's suggesting and supporting my surgery.....but I can drive myself insane.... Can anyone relate? What are your thoughts? How did you all deal with all the fears, demons, etc.? I'm going to Dr. Aceves on July 14th. I am going to do this. I just would like some feedback on if this is the right type of surgery, should I wait for plication, should i go for bypass instead...you guys all know....all the same fears forever..... I am so excited, I feel like a kid before Christmas....but at the same time I am super anxious and scared...HELP!

I'm 10 days out and my protein shakes for making me nauseous I was on yogurt cream soup's and doing just fine digesting my 2 ounces my next stage was a few days away so I removed myself up to puréed foods just chewed up my cottage cheese well blended lentil soup are refried beans now I'm starting to feel better that I'm getting protein other ways than barely getting to my goal with my shakes

Im 2 months out an Ive lost 30 lbs. I HOPE to lose 10 lbs this month to get me at 40. I think your loss is awesome! Keep it up!

I paid privately (in Belgium) and literally had one visit with the surgeon (lasted about 10 minutes) and one meeting with a dietician (lasted about 5 minutes). And that’s it. Choose which surgery I would want and picked a surgery date. Since I had quite a low starting BMI (35.5), I didn’t have to do another appointment with the dietician. Other people had to record their eating for a week and discuss that with the dietician. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Leading up to the surgery I also had to do some bloodwork through my GP. But that’s it. Got a leaflet explaining the pre-op diet and that’s it. 😅 I already knew everything I needed to know since I did lots of research myself, so I didn’t really mind all of this, but it did seem quite weird to me, compared to the hoops people have to jump through for insurance. One advantage of being self payed was that at my hospital they always do the self-pay patients first, so I was actually first of the day and done by 9 in the morning. 👍🏻

Cerrin, I do feel for you. This morning they were baking gingerbread men in the kitchen here. Christmas is definitely a tough time to be on liquids! When I picked it, I thought "oh how tough can it be?" Big words coming from a fatty! But I try to keep in mind that the reason I wanted to do it now rather than AFTER the season is that these ARE my bad foods and if I waited, I would have an EXTRA 10 pounds to take off. Who wants that? I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and trying to send you positive thoughts. Steph

I'm 7 days out and on clears till 10 days. For the second time I tried unjury unflavored in a cup of warm soup and, man, it went right thru me! No other probs with soups. The only other thing it could have been is that the beef broth I tried with it tonight doesn't agree? But if I'm handling chicken broth fine that seems strange. No probs with my protein shakes mixed with water, including unjury. Anyone else experience this? Trying to deduce if it's the unjury or the soup, lol. Argh.