FLORIDAYS

To date I have lost 157 lbs. I am 50lbs from goal.... and my legs are sagging pretty badly since thats where I carried so much weight. I am going try to get motivated to exercise and get them toned up since I dont have the time nor really have the desire to get the skin removed. My arms sag too... maybe the exercise will help there. My boobs however are beyond help without surgery...I hadnt thought that I would have them altered but its actually affecting my personal life . My hubby doesnt mind.... but I do...in a big way .... and its getting in the way of me enjoying that aspect of my life. So after I hit goal I plan on looking into that....

I am 5'9 and weighed 377 lbs when I had my surgery 13 months ago. I have lost 157 lbs and have 50 ish to go. My BMI was 54 when I started this journey. Today it is 32. I needed a lifelong solution after years of yo yo dieting so I turned to the band. And let me tell you it has been the best decision I have ever made. Just remember... the band will do 70% of the work. You must do the rest of it by eating properly and following your dr's directions... if you do that you should lose the weight and be able to keep it off.. Good luck to you!

with soup i just eat the veggies or meat at the same time but I chew them to puree form... If I get in a hurry and forget to chew well... it will come back up

I bought a pill cutter and cut them if they are bigger than an asprin. Itake chewable adult gummy vitamins so no need to cut those.

After the initial first couple of months losing about 20 lbs per month I have settled into good restriction and lose about 9-12 lbs per month consistantly. I have very good restriction now and am full after about 4-5 oz of food. To help my band work more effectlvely I eat 1000-1200 calories per day. I am looking forward to getting to goal in about 50 lbs and maintaining....

I have been banded 13 months and have had no problems whatsoever.

My Dr asked me what number I had in mind. I said 150 off the top of my head ..... I saw that last in 8th grade I think...LOL.... so thats the number he used..... considering its well with in a healthy range for my 5'9 frame. Now that I am well on my way... I am not sure if thats the place I will stay at or be happy with...but when I get there i'll have a better idea.... and if I am happy as a clam at 160...thats ok too. There are 153 lbs already gone that I will never see again.

I am not allowed to eat solids for 2 days after my fills... then mushie on the 3rd day. Maybe you tried to eat too soon and the swelling is what is making you feel uncomfortable.

I use the free app Calorie Counter on my Droid phone.... its hooked into fatsecret.com so you can track online too. I cant recall the last time I couldnt find what I was looking for. But in the event I do, it has a bar code scanner you just scan package of the food you are eating and poof... its in there. You can track weight and excerise on it as well. Almost every chain restaurant is hooked in so that makes it super convenient!

why? Seriously... this is early on in your journey...why cheat now? Just asking.... The drink wont hurt you physically .... but one of the benefits of doing the 2 week liquid is not only to shrink your liver so your Doc can see whats going on in your stomach during surgery but to get your head right.... to get you used to realizing that you cannot live like you have been living and be successfull. You have made a huge life changing decision. Embrace that and start celebrating that in a short period of time your hard work will pay off. I would take this weekend... have every food you can think of that you might miss... enjoy beverages you know you will miss and have an early bday party so that by 12/21 you have it all out of your system and are ready to jump in 100%. Otherwise you set yourself up for failure. Last year I started my liquid the day before Thanksgiving... was banded 2 weeks later and at my first solid food on New Years Day! It stink....but guess what... this holiday season I am down 149 lbs and plan on having a few cocktails and maybe a cookie here and there.... but since I am 50ish lbs from goal I wont go crazy.... I dont want this to take any longer than it has too. LOL Good luck!

watching people used to be a favorite pastime... now watching people eat has replaced just general watching but really its actually quite disturbing! I never noticed how much people eat until I had the band. In restaurants, at home, in the car... it just amazes me! The portions are huge. In fact I have to bite my tongue more often than not so I dont say ...Wow...are you going to eat all that? Not my place and no one wants to hear me....Nothing worse than a reformed fat person. LOL

Boy you arent kidding.... where has the time gone? I havent checked into it....yet. SO far my belly isnt creating a problem however my thighs are awfully jiggily and I noticed my knees are getting to look wrinkled from the excess skin (I am a pear shape carrying lost of weight below the waist) Considering the fact i have lost 149 lbs I guess I shouldnt be surprised but I plan on waiting until I get rid of the last remaining pounds then explore my options. I will research bariatric plastic surgeons to start then go from there.... If you have a PPO then I would start with the plastic surgeon... if you have an H M O you may need to go the refferal route with your primary. Good Luck!

This is so great for your physical and mental...not to mention your emotional well being! I have a few more pounds to catch you but as of today I have lost 149 so I completely understand from where you speak. We are on home stretch of huge losses..... Kudos to you!!!!

I would take the job...but I wouldnt fib about your surgery nor would I indicate what type it is or isnt. I would just explain you have a prescheduled medical procedure scheduled for the week of blankidy blank and need that week off. Of course you would understand if you had to take it without pay. Good Luck!

That seems like alot of food to me.... I measure and weigh everything, track my calories and avoid fatty foods. I usually eat 3 oz of meat or fish, 1/2c veggies or salad and 1/4c starch. I stay between 1000 - 1200 calories each day. If it were me I would sub the cotage cheese for 1/2 veggies or salad (you are getting the Protein in the chicken) and cut the baked potato in half. Not sure how big those tenderloains are but 2-4 oz of meat is more than enough..

I would use the same logic I used during the initial post op months with minimal or basically no restriction. In a 24 hour period just have 3 meals.... 3-4 oz protein, 1/2 c veggies and 1/4 starch 3 times a day... add a couple of low cal snacks if needed and stick to 1000-1200 calories. Make sure to drink lots of water and get at least 6-8 hours of sleep at a time.

I was a self pay and In FL last year it was 10k all inclusive or pre op testing, liquid diet, Dr visits, free fills for 3 mnths and the hospital stay.

My BMI was 55 when I had my surgery....... if your Dr shys away I will introduce you to mine. best of luck.

Just the other day a friend and his wife made the comment... you look amazing and have done so well... you arent going to lose any more are you? I said...well I am 60 lbs from goal so yes... I plan on getting to my goal. They were both staring at me like I'd just said something horrible.... I appreciate that I can disquise my fat but I seriously didnt come all this way not to get to normal BMI and acually fit in on a weight chart! LOL

My biggest fear before surgery was that I wouldnt know how to live with the band. I am happy to report that I followed my Dr's instruction and am doing just fine with it.

By the 4th day I was fine... the first few days are hell. You will be just fine!

Sounds like you are doing everything right! Before you feel good restriction is the toughest time and quite honestly you need to find every ounce of will power you have to "diet". By diet I mean follow your Drs orders to the letter. Mine recommends 4 oz of Protein, 1/2 c of veggies and 1/4 c of starch for every meal. Snacking should be limited and if needed you need to nosh on low calorie foods in minimal portions. I stuck to 1000 calories per day (yes even at over 300 lbs) and tracked everything I ate on a smart phone ap. I drank more Water than I have in my whole life and made sure to visit the Dr every month for weigh ins and adjustments. I had 4 fills before I got to the green zone I seem to recall. Best of luck to you! I am sure you will be just fine!

Today is my 1 year being banded anniversary... and I have lost 148 lbs. 69 to go....

Joan I am sorry to hear of your troubles.... But use what you know and have learned since being banded and I bet you wont gain it back. Get on that scale everyday...and don't ignore your weight like we have all done for so many years.....You have such a great attitude I am sure you will continue to be successful!

I have been banded 1 year today and am down 148 lbs. I carry alot of weight in my legs so there is alot of water weight. I never had it removed. (didnt know you could actually) However if I eat salty things or do not drink enough water I can feel the water building back up. Maybe thats your situation as well.