roziecakes

YAY! You did post it I'm so happy for you!! You're one of my favorite people on this forum, and I love to see your success.

Great post Dave! As always, you inspire me. I admire your success!

Check Yes, I appreciate you posting on the topic. I haven't had an adjustment either yet, and I have enough restriction to lose almost 100 pounds thus far. I too have been wondering if I should keep the band in or not after I get to my goal, I guess that will depend on if I ever need an adjustment or not. It seems like at this point I won't as long as I keep on the bandwagon.

Absolutely!! Hey, you and I are at about the same stage in regards to pounds left and pounds left to go. You ROCK! You are doing such a good job!

Honestly, I don't think it is just willpower. In my case, I was stuck in a rut. I had already lost 150 or so pounds on my own, and I had a back injury that prevented me from exercising enough to really make a difference. The band helped me to realize when I was full and has helped me control my calories by providing the right physical signals for me to read. I didn't have much of a problem with eating healthy food, but my portion control was horrible, and I ate way too many calories, especially carbs. So what the band did for me was give me a kickstart and it acts as my backup kind of. There is a lot of the process that has to do with me, of course, but the band does help, I know. It's something that I work with rather than letting it work for me.

I agree. This has happened to me a couple of times, and it was some of the worst pain I have ever experienced in my entire life. Oh it was horrible.

Amen Sistah!! I've lost really fast too, but I also exercise like a fiend, which is not really that easy. I don't think this journey is easy for any of us. Sure there's probably some golden amazing person out there who just loses with no effort whatsoever... but I'll bet even for them there have been a few hurdles... To the OP: That being said, I think what this boils down to is that NONE of us are failures. YOU are NOT a failure. We each have a special journey that takes steps that only we can take. A song I love, "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead says, "There is a road, no simple highway, between the dawn and the dark of night, and if you go, no one may follow. That path is for your steps alone." What this means is, don't compare yourself to others. Your story is different from their story. Just because someone else has lost more than you, more quickly, doesn't mean that you fail. I always say that every pound is a victory. You have had at least one victory. I also know that you can't always do it on your own. You may need help from a dietician or counselor, but that doesn't mean that you are a failure either; that means that you have taken the steps and used the tools available to you to get the job done! Do whatever it takes!! Don't get down on yourself for your mistakes, and use each new moment as a new opportunity for health. If you lost one pound, I'm sure you can lose more! Honestly, you've taken the first step, which is realizing what you are doing wrong. Now you know what to fix; another victory! Best of luck!!!!

Sitting with my legs crossed has been a big one for me, and also fitting into movie theater chairs, and any other chair for that matter, and not worrying about breaking chairs. I also love going to the store to buy clothes and finding jeans that fit. Every time.

I think that our bodies are all different, and that we are all going to have different rates of loss that work best for us personally. I also have lost really quickly. I have lost 96 pounds since April, which makes an average of 13 pounds per month. Some people might balk at that rate, but I had a larger amount to lose. I still have almost 100 pounds to go. I had a bit of a slow period in September, but it's stepped back up again. As for skin... I haven't had a lot of loose skin, the only spot that I do, that I don't like, but it's not too bad, is my upper arms. I am much less bothered by it than I thought I would be. What I would say is, if you feel good, and healthy and that your weight loss is a good rate for you, then it probably is. Admittedly, I was a little freaked out a first when I started losing that fast, but I've felt so good that I've just come to terms that I was meant for it to go at this rate. Best of luck to you! Congrats on your loss thus far Edit: I also should add that I have not had a fill at all, and I started with 2cc's in my band.

Here is another vote for Gall Bladder. I haven't had this problem personally, but from what I've heard from others, having gall bladder pains does almost feel like a heart attack. I would talk to your doctor though, and see if they have any insight. They know your medical history better than we do. Best of luck!! Hope you feel better.

Thank you!!

WOOHOO! I wanted to lose 10 pounds this month, and I've lost 12 in the last two weeks, so that's a total of 16 for the month of October! I wanted to lose 20 by the end of the year, and I think I'm going to get there!

My doctor had me on a ton of protein afterward, and I think that's why I ultimately wasn't that hungry. I did have hunger pangs, and I felt dizzy some of the time from hunger, but once I got the protein down I felt fine for several hours at a time. I think that drinking little bits every two hours or so isn't that big of a deal though. I think if you're truly hungry you should have a little bit of something.

I didn't cheat on the post op diet (but I did a little on the pre-op diet). I was too scared to do anything dangerous to my band... I did think about it, but stopped myself every time; so you're not weird to be wanting to cheat, seriously, it's normal! Good luck with your band!

I was all about puree'd strained soup. It was hot and satisfying. Definitely better than just eating cold pudding all the time, although I did eat a lot of that too, and fruit smoothies.

You are NOT a failure. Every pound is a victory. Every single step you take toward your health and well being is a victory. How good of track are you keeping of your intake and exercise? See if you're taking in more than you are burning off. How are your fills? Do you have restriction? Keeping careful track of all of these things is sometimes what you need to do to get back on track if you feel like you're falling off...

I get on the scale every day, but I don't count my weight loss until the end of the week, because I find that my weight fluctuates a little throughout the week, I just like to see what my patterns are. When I weigh at the end of the week, I weigh first thing in the morning. As for head hunger. You bet I get it. The band doesn't take that away. It's my will power that keeps me going. I'm not at my green zone yet though. I'm late getting my first fill because I got pregnant only two months after getting my band (it was a loss), but my doctor opted not to give me a fill. Anyhoo, I'm going to be getting a fill beginning of November, we'll see how that goes!

I'm totally in!! I've got a current short term goal going, and I'll mix this with that to help keep me motivated. Thanks for doing this Name, real or screen~ roziecakes - Roz Age~ 29 Weight on October 1st~ Well, it's the 30th today, so good enough I think: 292 Goal Weight for October 29th~ 282 Exercise Goal for October~ More cardio and more yoga! Dietary Goal for October~ More Protein, less carbs Personal Goal for October~ More clients and more work hours Date Banded~ June 8th, 2011 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 25 presurgery, 57 post op

I agree, it sounds like the surgeon doesn't really know what they are doing. Do you have any other options for care? Scary! I would be gone in a hot second. I can tell you that yes, if you have a good surgeon, then it does get better, absolutely!

Cool!!! Another Eugene person! Let me know if you ever want to talk or get together for coffee

I live in Eugene, Oregon; and I am originally from Ukiah, CA; which is where I had my surgery at the hospital my stepdad works for, he is an ICU nurse.

It varies with each surgeon and each office. I was private pay, and I saved up for a long time to be able to get the band. I do know that there are some places that do in-house financing.

YES! I can tell you from personal experience that losing weight and becoming healthy will make your hormones balance out. First of all, feminine hormones are stored in your fat cells, and as you lose weight, everything's probably going to be wonky for a little bit, and then will normalize. In my case, it made me balanced out enough to become pregnant, which is something that I never thought would happen to me, and hadn't happened for 9 years. Although I lost the baby, it was a huge sign that my body is leaning towards doing what it's supposed to be doing. Don't worry too much! You're just getting healthier.

Thank you so much Dave! That really means a lot~

Yes! Cardio! It took me a while before I could lift any weights. My exercise methods of choice are walking / jogging, yoga, and some cardio classes. I really like belly dancing and kickboxing! I also love to swim!