FLORIDAYS

Super news! Sound like you are making it happen for yourself. Congrats !!

Sounds like you are doing great ! I had my first fill 2 months post op since I had a pretty significant loss the first few months

That is fantastic. Start boxing up the clothes which are too big... No sense keeping them around,...You need to make room for the new stuff!!!!

Life will always get in the way. It's what happens when you are trying to do something. Obviously having the hiccup of the aftermath of a hurricane is incredibly stressful and the inconvenience of no power makes life hard. I am so happy you are ready to put it behind you and start your life as a bandster. Good luck!

You look terrific. Thanks for sharing!

You need to walk as much as possible. Even if you don't feel like going out side walk to and from the couch to the front door as many times as you can. I also took gas x which seems to help.

I didn't exercise during my journey. Well not much to speak of anyway. I started walking in the evenings after the first hundred lbs came off and that's all I have done. However I did try to be more active which wasn't hard since I had a lot of energy. I am forever doi g something in and around my home because I too have a lot of responsibility besides working 50 hrs a week. Going to the gym doesn't thrill me and i dont like to wak alone in the dark so i picked up a used treadmill so I can walk inside. One of the reasons I kept my calorie count at 1000 was because I didn't exercise. I averaged 10 lbs each month for 22 months. So now I am maintaining.... And with the treadmill I should have no excuse not to walk..ie weather, time, responsibility. I am working on it.

I was banded on 12/9/10. I have lost 216 lbs and On 12/18 I am having a tt and breast lift. I have a flat stomach but only in clothes. Out of clothes there is about a 3" flap from hip to hip that I just cannot stand. My belly looks like a shar pei'. My PS said while the tt should take care of it he may do some lipo once he gets in there. Since my belly button now frowns he will fix that as well. Additionally he said he would give the area under the hairline a lift since its a little puffy with extra skin. I am so excited.

Sounds like you are doing everything right, it took me 2 weeks to get my strength back to what I considered normal.

I just saw someone post in another thread her doc has been banded for 10 years.... And I know I have seen people on this site who are 5+ years out. Hopefully they will post in this thread.

Rule of thumb is to buy the best insurance you can afford considering the deductibles. If u are disciplineed and can put your deductibles in an account to be used for emergencies only then you can buy insurance with a high deductible. If you see the dr a lot for various reasons you want to look for plans with cheaper office visits depending on your financial situation. You can look at your needs and call your benefits specialist. He or she should be able to walk you through it.

I have no first hand knowledge....I am past that time of my life... However i would discuss it with your dr because losing weight pre baby would be a good thing but on the other hand how would the band complicate the pregnancy ? I am sure you will hear from bandsters with this experience but I would discuss it with your obgyn as well as you bariatric surgeon so you can make an educated choice. Congrats for looking for answers. Good luck

Welcome back... Congratulations for taking control,of your life again.

What a wonderful feeling!! Now can someone please tell all the plus sized catalogs I am a sized 8 now?? I have emailed, called and written all of them but they still keep sending them. It's annoying. Lol

Keep in mind....after the first year your fills will be few and far between. Once get in the green zone it's pretty much smooth sailing. The fills do evaporate slightly and you lose the fat around the stomach so the band loosens but I had 5 or 6 fills the first year... 2 the second year and as I approach year 3 I don't anticipate needing one for some time.

2 years next week.

I think that's accurate some of the time but we have all read the posts from people who really don't seem to have a clue which I find very sad and concerning... So I wondered if it was because the dr put out the advice and they just aren't following it or the advice and support just isn't there. From what I am reading most successful people stay close to their dr and staff throughout their journey. Granted the exceptions are there but it seems those who fail have less monthly contact. Just my observations and certainly not based on any scientific study.

I witness this all the time. It's as if I can see people doing the math in their heads when I tell them I lost 216 lbs. I am 161 now... Because I am 5'9" most people figure I am about 140. But you know what? I could care less. Honestly let them do all the math they want. They have no concept anyway and it doesn't impact my life one bit....

In the beginning my dr advises to sip as you learn what your band will and won't tolerate. Now I still sip. I cannot really take huge gulps and be comfortable. I don't think it actually will hurt anything tho if you gulp ...just make sure it's not carbonated.

Yummy... Thanks

Haha...cheap ones. Seriously... I wore mine as long as possible then bought a couple of cheap ones which I wore until I bought my goal bras.

My dr uses Optifast which you have to get from a medical dr I believe... It's a Meal Replacement shake which is important. I was on them for 2 weeks preop and then the 2nd and 3rd week post op. after that he doesn't advice using Protein shakes as he wants me to get my nutrition fm food not liquid.

I use calorie counter by fat secret.com. Your phone ap is obviously handy or you can also log in online

You sound like a sensible young woman. I applaud you for taking matter into your own hands at this stage of your life. I was 377 lbs and if you would have told me I was going to be buying sized 8 jeans today I would have told you your mind wasnt right. I NEVER imagined when I started this journey I would ever get this small. My hips were 77" wide. Today they are 37"!! My experience with the band has been wonderful. But I worked hard to learn how to become one with it. I followed all the rules, I didnt cheat, I saw my dr regularly and dedicated my life to being successful.

My pleasure.... You have a terrific start having lost the first 50.... Now take it 10 lbs at a time ... It will come off in no time!!