Bardy

After a great weight loss saggy skin is to be expected. After you've lost all your weight you might want to have a consultation with a plastic surgeon regarding removal of excess skin. Unfortunately this is never covered by insurance and can cost quite a bit. Deb

You will do it! I am 2 years out and actually reached my goal weight in the first year! I too started at 232 and am now at 145 and wearing a size 6! I've had my share of difficulties adjusting and suffer occasional heartburn/acid reflux but I'm overall so much happier! If I can do this you can too. You're already doing great! Good luck and keep up the good work!

I find that I just have to constantly monitor what I'm eating and amounts, as well as continue to take the Prilosec and Zantac and tums alternately to control the acid production. I think it's just part of the deal when you have the lapband due to the restricition around the stomach (with or without any fills). We need to continue to just eat very small portions, chew carefully and not eat anything within 2-3 hours of bedtime ... it is a constant challenge, but I think it can be managed. It's just a PITB. Fortunately even without any fill I still am maintaining my weight at below my goal and in total have lost 90 pounds since getting the band in December 2010. Good luck to all of you!

I'm doing well - I try to just really pay attention to portions and have been maintaining. Regarding the acid reflux, I still have to manage it - take Prilosec OTC in the morning and Zantac in the evening and sometimes also chew Tums -- seems to be working. I feel a lot better but it is an ongoing balancing act for sure. I hope you feel better soon!

Update again ... I ended up going back to the doc, had an upper GI series to see if the band had slilpped, but no, it was right in place ... went and had the last bit of fluid removed, and since there was irritation tood a while to ease into eating solids again, but doing well now. Still sometimes get the acid reflux at night, but have prilosec OTC and Zantac to take as well as tums and if I pay attention to when and what I eat -- like not eating too late, I can manage it ok ... It definitely is a balancing act. But I'm happy I can eat again without things coming back up -- I'm still maintaining at 140 and pay attention to portions and healthy eating habits. Thanks for all the input -- I will try the Omprazole too -- Hang in there everyone!

Plateaus are very tough on us emotionally -- we want to keep seeing the weight come off! I learned a little trick about combining some foods that will tend to break the plateau -- fish, spinach and grapefruit -- not all together haha - but if you bake some salmon or other fish, add a spinach salad or steamed spinach and have a few bites of grapefruit there is something about those foods that will help break a plateau -- try it, it worked for me! Hang in there and don't give up!

I just want to encourage you to go for it! If you keep with the program after you've had the band placed, get counseling to deal with the food issues, etc. you will be successful! I know this because it happened for me! Make sure you have a good surgeon who really knows what they're doing in placing the band for you -- I had an excellent surgeon and have not had any slippage -- of course it is a learning process how to eat with the band -- but you will get there, and the feeling of success and being healthier and being able to buy cute clothes and feel good about yourself is awesome! I was banded on December 3, 2010 and have lost 95 pounds -- I'm at my goal weight of 140 and so happy. I had a complete unfill as I had some issues not being able to eat, but those have been resolved. I have also had challenges with heartburn and acid reflux but am learning how to deal with that as well -- overall it was the BEST decision I have made for my life! Take care and hang in there!!

Well, I'm back - unfortunately I am developing more acid reflux even though I do not have any fluid in my band -- not feeling well again - get hungry, try to eat a little mild food, then sometimes even throw up again -- don't know quite what's going on - maybe a hernia or something else interfering -- how do you know if your band has slipped?

I like Ensure that has 25 grams of protein to sip on between meals. I also eat half cup portions of tuna salad, or chicken salad, or egg salad for protein. Be careful not to drink liquids following solids -- that can be disastrous. I always drink my fluids first, wait a while and then eat a few bites chewed very carefully. I also like Jamba Juice protein smoothies.

I gotta tell you I am so happy to now be in a size 4! I never have been this size in my life -- the smallest I got was a size 8, which was fine because I'm 5'6" -- but I kept losing with this lapband program and kept shrinking -- I did make the mistake early in my journey of buying different sizes -- went from a 16 to a 12 to 10 to 8 to 6 (which most of my clothes still are) and now some size 4's so I did waste quite a bit of money -- my friends have lucked out some as I gave away some fairly new clothes, haha! But it is so much fun to just pick something up and know it's going to fit! I too need to tone up as I'm rather "loose" but very happy overall.

15 pounds in 3 weeks!! That's awesome! An average loss of 10 lbs a month is awesome. Good for you! Keep up the great work! You can try protein smoothies from Jamba Juice that are awesome too. I also have used a strawberry protein powder blended with frozen fruit and water and it's pretty good -- I get the powder from GNC. I got to my goal in about 9 months and now under and maintaining. You will get there!

Update -- I went to my doc and had all the fluid removed from my band -- I feel so much better and haven't had reflux or vomiting since. I'm well below my target weight and still keep my portions small, but overall feel good. I think often folks get their band adjusted too tight for fear of gaining weight, and should rather get a little fluid removed and pay more attention to food choices and portions. It is an ongoing journey for sure, and there are sometimes other health issues to address. Good luck everyone.

Well at least I'm glad I'm not alone -- have been having awful acid reflux at night and same thing -- having to sit up or feeling it come up and burn my throat... I'm below my goal weight so am going in on Tuesday to have an unfill and talk about getting some Nexium or something for the acid reflux. I've been living on Tums and have not really been able to eat much either so I do think it's time for an unfill. I just hope the band hasn't slipped... I've been banded since December 2010 and feeling great otherwise. I also think I need to give up my white wine! oh well ... I'm happy to be a size 4-6 now!!

You are all doing great with the exercise -- I certainly didn't do as much -- but what I found is that I had to keep calorie intake to more like 900-1,000 a day to really see the weight come off. For me that wasn't too difficult as with the band I can only eat a small handful of food -- trying to stick with protein based meals - tuna, chicken, salmon, etc. I am a year out from being banded December 2010 and have reached my goal -- down a total of 90 pounds. Believe me, although sometimes it feels like it's slow, as long as there is steady loss you will get there! Good luck to all of you! If I can do this at age 55, you youngsters certainly can! Deb

That is awesome! I know it feels fantastic! But don't buy too many clothes yet cuz you're still shrinking! I made the mistake of starting to buy clothes cuz I was so excited -- bought 14's then 12's then 10's then 8's ... I'm now a 4-6!!! I cannot believe it!! I was banded back in December 2010 so a little over a year later and 90 pounds gone!! Woohoo! It is very exciting for sure!!

Yogurt, protein smoothies, try to stay away from the breads and cereals ... you will get thru it. )

I can eat very tender steak or bbq'd carne asada -- as long as the meat is tender and chews up really well. I also can eat lean pork roast and sometimes shredded pork. It is true everyone is a little different and it is definitely trial and error. Sometimes chicken and turkey are too dry. Good luck.

Wow! I can't believe it's been almost a year since I got my lap band ... December 3rd is my bandaversary and I have lost 89 pounds and am at my goal weight!! YAHOO!! I never would have imagined I would be at this place when I was first banded -- There were a lot of challenges getting used to the feeling and know what to eat and how much, etc. Trial and error is what we all go through -- sometimes I would let myself get too hungry and then would eat too fast and end up throwing up ... wish I could say that only happened once, but it occasionally happens even now if I don't pay attention to what and how I eat. Overall it has been a great experience and I am ecstatic to be at this place a year later! I went from size 16-18 to now a size 6!! It's so fun to shop now and feel sexy again! I encourage all my fellow banders to hang in there -- it is definitely worth the work and lifestyle change. I pretty much can "taste" most foods and stick to the very small portions -- avoid most bread products and try to eat balanced and healthy. I find I can't eat much solid foods in the morning so I usually ease into the day with a protein/fruit smoothie, then maybe a little tuna or egg salad and soup for lunch, chicken or fish and veges for dinner ... snack on protein if I get hungry. I want to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas season!! Deb

26 pounds in 3 months is almost 10 pounds a month -- that is FANTASTIC!! Any faster and it wouldn't be healthy -- that is what I averaged for the entire time I have had the band and I have reached my goal after 9 months -- be ecstatic and enjoy -- you are on your way!!