FLORIDAYS

I started out 20 lbs heavier than you. I am a pear shape. I am 5'9 1/2" and have size 10 feet... I carry my weight from the waist down..especially in the legs. On the day of surgery I was down 22 lbs and still wearing 3x top, 44 B bra and 4x skirt. Today I am down 94 lbs and have on a XL shirt, 38B bra and a sized 20 skirt and all are roomy I have decided there is no single answer to what size = what weight... it depends on so many factors. Because I am bottom heavy my legs tend to prohibit me from wearing somethings my waist and hips will fit in... Go figure! My goal is to become more evenly proportioned and to be able to wear jeans that dont gap 10 inches in the waist!! I remember for a minute in my 30s I was in a sized 10 jeans weighing 175 lbs and a size S/M shirt. I am 1/2 way there!!!!

me too.... if i get lazy on my water.... my weight stalls!!!

All Drs are different. I was allowed to swim after the 2nd day!

I enjoy a cocktail everyonce in a while.... since my Jamaican Rum and DIet Cokes are a thing of the past and I am not fond of the taste of most hard liquor I struggled on what to drink. I found Citron or Manderin Vodka mixed with Water and a splash of regular cranberry with a lime is actually very refreshing and good. I tried the splash with the diet crandberry but it left such a bad aftertaste I couldnt stomach it. I estimate the "splash" of cranerry is not much more than a teaspoon full so It wont kill me. Make it look the color of a light pink flamingo!! 2 of those and I am feeling it.... and to think I used to think I had a high tolerance for alcohol. LOL Just dont forget to count the calories in your food diary... Vodka is about 60-80 calories per ounce

I too have been losing very well with out formal exercise. I know I needed to start doing something so I started walking .... every night I walk 15 minutes away from the house and turn around and walk back. Not particularly exciting but its a start. I also am gardening on the weekends (becasue I can now kneel and get back up!) and trying to do the little things like parking farther away from the front door @ work, stores etc....

This should make you feel better......I started my liquid diet the day before Thanksgiving. I had to go to a company holiday dinner 5 days before surgery.... My surgery was on Dec 9. I made it through all of the December temptations drinking liquid! I started mushies on Christmas Day. I had mashed potatoes. On New Years DayI was alowed to start solids.... How appropriate... huh? You will find that it isnt too bad... once the weight starts coming off you are so focused on the success that the food becomes secondary.

I too had severe gas.... Maalox seemed to help a lot but in all honesty walking was the best fix. I am not talking about walking a marathon... just walk around the house. I went for my post op visit 5 days after surgery.... they told me I wasnt walking enough. So I went home and started walking from the kitchen to the front door.... my hubby said i was wearing a hole in the carpet.... but within a few days I was much more comfortable. you will feel like yourself again.... you just had surgery... give it time. It gets easier... I promise.

You have less to lose so I think its natural for it to slow down more quickly. I am also 5'10.... My weight has a lot of hiding places....LOL I would be VERY surprised if I duplicated the past 6 months.....by losing 92 lbs in the next 6 months. For the past 2 months I have averaged about 10 lbs per month so thats only 60 more at the 1 year mark . Of course losing 152 lbs in a year would just rock my world. LOL I cant wait to say... Oh I have 30-40 more lbs to go!

In the beginning I told just a few people close to me because its a personal decision and quite frankly no one's business. Now I would say more people know then don't know just because I have lost alot of weight so am constantly being asked how I am doing it. Most times I tell them I was banded and that I have learned portion control and healthy eating habits. Strangers or casual aquaintences I just thank them for noticing and move on. It depends on the situation.

Hi ..... I didnt know this! I am headed there tomorrow for my monthly visit. I will have to ask about it.

Unfortunalty you misundestood my intention of the post. I am not losing weight to get cat calls, fit into society's idea of perfect or to be able to fit into skinny jeans. Those will be benefits. I decided to be banded to assist me to lose weight in a healthy manner so I would live longer and continue to be in good health. Thats soimething you think about when you hit 50 years old. Of course the band will naturally assist me in the loss and provide me with a tool to keep the weight off. The latter is something I have not been able to do on my own. I am 5'10", have a sized 10 shoe and have accepted I will never be a skinny girl. I am pear shaped and carry most of my weight from the waist down. Even at the start of this journey I had a "figure".... IE defined waist, bust......it was just a larger one! For a minute in the 90s after a huge weight loss I was delirious in a size 10 but according to the charts still overweight at 170 lbs. But I was happy, active and healthy. The problem is that I didnt learn portion control or how to eat healthy so I reverted to old habits and gained it all back...plus 60 lbs.... My Dr has decided I should be 150 lbs. I have warned him that I am not sure thats a healthy weight for me.... but I promise you I will be happy to find out. I lost my mother at 80 just 2 years ago and saw first hand how weight complicates your life as you age. I do not want nor wish to saddle myself or my loved ones with that burden. Therefor I decided to research my options. The band made the most sense and so far it completly is working the way I expected.

I was 50, very overweight but with few health problms other than borderline high blood pressure, constant fatigue and horrible heartburn when I was banded 6 months ago. Today at 51 my BP is normal, havent taken so much as a tylenol for any ailment (including post op pain) since November 2010 and have more energy than when I was 40! Best of luck you you and all the children of the 50s and 60s!

Welcome to the site. I am a semi regualar poster with 6 months of lap band success and 40 years of yoyo dieting successes but just as many failures to go along with it. While you make many good points.... I understand the post isn't gospel.... its just your opinion and of course you are entitled to it. I highlighted 3 items which I tend to have a little different viewpoint . Considering your age, military and current medical situation I understand how you may have come to your conclusions however I thought some may be interested in mine. If you've lost 30 pounds during your pre-op diet and the first couple weeks after surgery...most of that 30 pounds is Water. I'm really sorry to disappoint you there. My response to that is so what? 30 lbs is 30 lbs. I lost 22 lbs duing the pre op liquid stage of this journey and I felt like I could do anything. It was so motivating and I could care less if it was fat, water or muscle. It made the scale move, got me well prepared for surgery and motivated me for a lifetime of healthy eating. Are we here to lose WEIGHT or are we here to lose FAT? PLEASE ASK YOURSELVES THIS! As of today I have lost 92 lbs in 6 months. For the past month I am averaging 2-3 lbs per week. Is it fat? I dont know. Its weight.... Its size... its healthy and its wonderful. GET RID OF YOUR WEIGHT SCALES!!! No can do.... not looking at a scale after my "successes" is what contributed to my failures. That and focusing on "dieting" instead of eating healthy. Sure I lost weight on various diets but the minute I got bored or frustrated I was back to my old ways. Since the band is a lifetime commitment it will be different this time. First I will actually reach my goal and 2nd I will be able to keep the weight off with close monitoring. Getting rid of the scale would sabatoge me for sure. The most important thing I can add is the band can do 70% of the work for you according to my Doctor.... and 6 months into it I agree. The rest is up to you!

Wow.... just looked @ my calendar... 6 months ago today I had my surgery.... where has time gone? I am thrilled with my progress but I still have a long haul so continue to get frustrated with non loss weeks even though I am sticking to my plan perfectly.... Its comforting to see others with the same struggles. Keep up the good work!

I allow myself a sugar free chocolate pudding cup (60 calories) or a Skinny Cow chocolate truffle ice cream bar (100 calories) once every few days. .... that tends to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Doubtfull. My Dr said unless I had extreme trauma to the stomach, the lap band was safe and sound. But as always you should check with your Dr to put your mind at ease.

Giving them away..... I have no use for them any longer. This band will be a permenant solution..... so I just gave a friend 4 big trash bags of clothes which are too big for me to get away with wearing any longer. She has 3 daughters and a Mom who could really use them.... I of course I have been trying to make things last as long as possble but my choices are limited.... I am not buying more than the basics until I get to my goal.... seems sensle to waaste money on stuff I will be too small for in a few months. I am trying to buy stuff that can shrink with me like elastic waists and forgiving fabrics....

I lost 1 lbs the week after surgery and was so upset...having lost 22 on the pre op liquid diet. But the second week rolled around and I was logging in 3 more pound lost.... My Dr explained the first month is for healing and your body goes in shut down mode to protect itself...so what you are seeing on the scale is perfectly normal.

Stop replacing your meals with Protein shakes. Eat regular healthy low calorie solid foods... plan your meals and count your calories is the best advice I can give you. That and the fact that you very well may need a fill. I would mak and appointment with my Dr and get back on track. It may help you to recall why you got the band 6 years ago and draw on that enthusiasm to "kick yourself in the butt"! Best of luck to you!

While the bypass or sleeve may be thought to be a "better" solution for those of us starting the journey at over 300 lbs, I decided to go with the band for numerous reasons... the most important to me was that is didnt in anyway alter the way my body normally functions. That said I am almost 6 months post up and I have lost 90 lbs. I have more to go.... but when I get there the band will be a tool for me to finally keep the weight off. I drink an enormous amount of Water but for the first week after surgery you may not want to. Considering your job I doubt you will have any problems... just dont drink with your meals. As for the question about the fills... my doctor will not do fills unless he implanted the band... but many will. Just call around in your local area. You should be able to find somone. Best of luck to you!

I was on liquids for 2 weeks pre op AND 2 weeks post op.... and I didnt eat near the calories I was suipposed to...not for the lack of trying... I just wasnt hungry. After I moved to mushies at 3 weeks I concentrated on protein, veggies, starch in that order. Your appetite will return in due time.

With a down payment , my hospital allowed a 2 year payment plan with no interest. And then 4 months after that they offered a 50% discount to pay off the account which I moved heaven and earth to scrape together!!! So in essence I got my band inclusive of everything for $7000.... even less than what I would have spent traveling out of the country for the procedure. Now the only cost are the fills. ($50 each time) Talk with your Doctor.. if you don't like his answer... check with others in your area including hospitals.... there are lots of options out there for self pay.

Hopefully you have called a Dr by now.... seriously not being able to swallow anything is not healthy! Sure hope oyu feel better soon!

I havent heard anything good about the benefits of diet soda. I just chose to ignore it and drink 4-5 per day in my former life. And I remember sitting in the office listening to my surgeon tell me no carbonation and that included diet coke and I was sure my life was over. LOL Of course now we know otherwise and somehow I managed to live on since last December. I am not a beer drinker... never was. However my favorite adult beverage is mixed with Diet coke... so the temptation for a nice jamaican rum and diet coke is long gone. I found Citron Vodka and Water with a splash of cranberry is pretty tasty... but if I finish one I look a little too loopy for my own good. LOL

MIne came from Target...it is a digital scale that was under $30. I also use a set of measuring cups / spoons for sauces, potatoes etc. I still cook for 2 since the kids are gone so hubby usually eats the leftovers for lunch the next day. For me I use a small plate and measure out 3-4 oz of Protein, 1/4 c starch and 1/2 c veggies. It fills up the plate perfectly. When I am out I just eyeball it. And I always ask for an extra plate or to go box and take what I know I can eat and put the rest in a box to take home.