grandy

TKW I just noticed your post. There are so many of them; I am working my way through them. I was banded 1-1/2 years ago and have had 9 fills and NEVER felt full or that I couldn't possibly eat another bite. I have gained back more than 20 of the 60 pounds I lost in the first 6 months because my weight loss was strictly due to Myoplex lite, and high Protein low-carb., exactly like the Atkins diet I went on so many times before and lost weight on. I don't know how many cc's are in my fills and the doctor's nurse said I don't need to know. I stretched my pouch once in the first 4 months from eating too many carbs the month before, but as far as I know, it went back to normal shape with a liquid diet for one week. I have had leaks in my band, so they were using thicker fill ingredients. I wish I could have a fill that would make all the difference like you have had. One lady in my group didn't notice much until her 8th fill at the one-year mark, and another one lost 107 lbs in 7 months and felt restriction from the very beginning. She is the one I thought I would be like, but have not been that lucky. Your weight loss is wonderful; I wish I could have that success! Congratulations. Grandy

Good Morning...I just noticed your input from June and I felt that I need to comment on lapband. I was banded 12/31/09 and lost 60 pounds in less than 6 months...16 lbs. in the pre-op and then the rest from Protein shakes and high protein/low carb eating. The band has helped thousands of people in the world. Just in my therapy group, several people lost a lot in the first year...one lady lost 107 lbs. in 7 months and the band worked so well that she could just eat a few bites after each new fill. If I had it to do over again, though, I would just stay on the Atkins, which is very similar to the diet you go on with the band. Many people do very well with the band and feel the restriction and fullness with each fill...I never experienced restriction or fullness and hence, have gained more than 20 pounds back now just out of frustration and disappointment in myself and my inability to stay on the high Protein diet. The band is a tool...not a miracle cure; you cannot believe the advertisements and billboards about trying the band when you have dieted all your life and other diets have failed. My doctor tells me that MOST of his patients are success stories and that those who need more help just get the sleeve. You need to do what you feel is best for yourself; if you can, get on high protein, low carb and try some of those Protein drinks like Myoplex lite---they are great mixed with ice and strawberries and blended with the hand blenders from Bed, Bath and Beyond. Good luck on your restart. For much better and more positive stories than mine, read the successful reports on this website. Many of the people have done so well and have so much to be proud of. Thanks, Grandy

Hi Simone...I just read your story and enjoyed it tremendously. Your boss got what he deserved; it's a shame he didn't pay for the entire band before you left. All of those people in that office were a waste of your time, but, I'm sure you learned enough to help you on your next job. Good luck; you are doing well. Stick to it. I am thinking about restarting with my band also...have gained half of my 60 pounds back because I never got to a place where I felt banded or that the fills were effective...and then, there's just carelessness and lack of ambition on my part... I wish you well. Let us hear from you Grandy

Hi SL I sent you an email previously today through another site, but not sure you got it. I clearly still don't know what I'm doing. Thanks for your well wishes. I hope you're doing wonderfully well on your diet...I am still not focused yet. All of the possible, but rare complications appear to be hitting me, quite literally, in the face right now. The bruising is down, do I don't look so much like Panda anymore. The swelling, visual disturbances and now a small scar tissue tumor behind my left lower eye lid are quite troubling. They are supposed to work on the "granuloma" next Wed. They also told me not to fill my eye glass prescription yet, because changes in vision often occur. When one signs the list of complications on the release form just before surgery, one seldom has to worry about all of these things...It's just like the lapband was to me...I seem to encourage odd and unusual occurrences, Sky It's July 4th -- Independence Day here in the U.S. There will be fireworks and celebrations tonight, but only in the places that aren't under a ban because of the drought we are experiencing. We have forest and grass fires in multiple locations. It seems like the whole world is experiencing natural disasters and tragedies of one kind or another. Take care of yourself, my friend, and do well on your high Protein, low carb. I know you can succeed. let me hear from you!! Grandy

First, thanks Sky Lily for bringing up this topic. I do enjoy new topics and discussions. My doctor doesn't like carbonation either and neither did my trainer (when I was smart enough to have one). My trainer said diet drinks were poison to the body's organs. I don't know about the pouch-stretching theory though. I stretched my pouch within 4 months of having the band, but it was from eating too many carbs, not carbonation. (Carbonation bubbled up in me before I had the band and it continues to do so). My stretched pouch was more because my fills have not made me feel any restriction whatsoever, and even after 8 fills and more than one leak), I still feel no restriction. I don't see how sparkling Water and limited amounts of other carbonated drinks can be all that detrimental; we bandsters have enough restrictions as it is. I might add, however, that Diet Coke is used in emergencies to remove corrosion from batteries when you're stranded on the highway...that in itself should deter drinking them in excess. Thanks, Grandy

Hi Sky! I STILL look like a Panda today, more specifically, a panda that has been a few rounds with Mike Tyson. Dad liked his Rollator/Walker; he will probably use it when he goes to the store. I ordered one today for his 88 year old sister; she is only 4'11", so we had to get her a Junior Walker!!!! Old age is sad, but they are real troopers! It is a blessing to me that they live together and look after each other; I don't worry about them as much. It's normal to gain some ounces back after such a drastic diet as the one you were on. I hope you are doing better today. So much of that 5 day thing may be some Water weight, but it will balance out; you are doing so well! I will get back on it in a day or 2...kind of distracted and hoping that my bruising goes away before I go back to the office on Monday...didn't want to have to answer any questions... You should be able to eat more than 1200 daily calories and not gain weight...unfortunately, our metabolism and hormones play into these things more than men. It sucks big time too! Let me hear from you, girlfriend...I know it's Thursday morning in Australia and I hope it's a beautiful day for you. We had rain for the first time in a very long time here in Houston, so it was a welcome relief. Take Care of yourself, and don't overdo that liquid thing... Grandy

Hi SL Well, I look even better this morning...the bruising completely covers the area below my eyes. I told my husband that if he didn't act right, I was going to tell everyone he beat me up!!! 6.6 pounds in 5 days is wonderful. You are getting back on track and I am proud of you. I know that if we work out more, we too, can be like the little hummingbird, since workouts increase the metabolism. Let's shoot for that...I have to wait a week, but after that, I will have no good excuse but laziness!!! It is Father's Day in the US and I am taking my 85 year old dad a walker that has a seat on it. He is getting frail and gets faint when he stands or walks for long periods of time; this will stabilize him and help him not to fall. I know he will be too proud to use it for a while, and then he will have no choice. Old age is so sad; even if you're thin and in good shape, you still can't stop the effects of it. Well, I'm off for now...need to do something with this hair that I have ignored for a couple of days; my husband keeps threatening to take my picture and put in on FB, if I don't comb it!!!! Take care, work out and lose that weight, SL. You can do it! Grandy

Hey sweetie...you are doing really well with that reduced calorie diet and the Wi, and I KNOW you will succeed. I am annoyed with the lapband too, but is has worked well for thousands of people across this universe. There is a lady in my therapy group who is in her 50's like me and she lost 107 lbs. in 6 months. Her restriction with fills was always just right, so she could NEVER eat more than a tiny piece of meat and a tsp of vegetables. I begged to have my fills regulated like hers and they told me that everyone is different and that everyone has one issue or another. I was told that I must work with my band and not expect it to work for me. I am still praying for that fill that will help me succeed. Another older lady in my group didn't really feel restriction or the ability to lose weight until after her 8th fill. After that fill, she lost over the 100 lb mark and feels great for the first time in a very long time. The truth is this: we MUST learn to cut back the food and exercise and we MUST make it a lifelong goal...don't do like me and lose 1000 lbs over a 30 year period and gain back 1200 lbs!!!! Lose it know while you're young and you will have no regrets. My son is an attorney and he is 39 years old. He is very tall and never had a weight problem until he was in lawschool...it was the eating double burgers and fries in the middle of the night while he was studying. Now he is over 300 lbs and that is WAY too much for anyone, even if they are 6'3" tall. He has never had to diet and he is struggling immensely now; he was talking about the lapband and I did not recommend it to him. I signed us all up at the gym and I am encouraging him to eat high Protein, and low carb, since he's a carboholic like me. I know you can do this; your metabolism is at its best now and will be great for years to come...the more you exercise, the better it will be. Sky Lily tells me that the little hummingbird has the best metabolism of all creatures. Well, little hummingbird, you CAN do this and you MUST start now. Work on it every day and you WILL succeed. What is that saying that I am reading everywhere now..."Skinny feels so much better than than piece of chocolate cake feels..." I want to hear from you often...we can do this together, little hummingbird!!! Grandy

Hey SL 3 kilos...wow, that's more than 6 pounds, isn't it? That's great and it's just the beginning. In just a few months you will get to have that chin/neck work done, and I've heard it's not nearly as painful as the face. I will try to get back on it tomorrow or Monday...am taking a variety of antibiotics, anti-virals, prednisone, etc. for this surgery, and I think it is plumping me up even more. I just ate pizza, because I was too lazy to cook tonight for my husband and me. Not a good thing to eat, for any reason. I want regular reports on how you're doing...your courage and strength will help me and others. I may even get another fill toward the end of July, but I have to lose a few pounds first, because I don't like the looks of disdain I get from the RN who does my fills, when I gain weight. She looks like Olive Oil, and I want to hit her, because she has to drink those damn shakes to GAIN weight. It's difficult to listen to someone like that preaching about losing weight. My doctor's office is full of young, low-paid clerks who have never been over weight either. Anyway, good luck this week; I know you will do well. Let me hear from you. Sincerely, Your very swollen and bruised friend, Grandy.

Hey tanks mama I am more than old enough to be your mama and I too, have struggled all my life with weight problems. Everything I researched and read pointed me to the lapband...even the commercials on television and billboards that said things like...Have you tried every diet and failed...then the lapband is for you. I lost 60 lbs in less than 6 months and then came to a standstill when I realized that I lost most of it preop, post op and liquid diets thereafter. I do well on the Atkins...60 lbs lost every time and then 70 lbs gained. I have gained some weight back this time too, and am going to restart on the Adkins and go back to my gym and get on the Elliptical. I have never been told how much (or how little) is in my fills and I have seldom felt any restriction, so I now must step up and do this on my own. I will get another fill in a few weeks and this time, I will demand to know how much is in it, and I will try once again, for myself to lose this weight. You can do it too. You are smart to use the Wi and the other games out there for people in your age group; you will do very well with those! Your weight loss is really good for having the surgery this year, so keep trying, and good luck. Just get in the right mind set that you are going to lose the weight, try to get help with the band, because you paid for it and move forward. Enjoy the rest of your life thinner and happier. Good Luck. Grandy

Hey Sky Lily I hope your 5 day start up went well. I know you lost some weight because that is a tough one. Well, don't believe anyone when they tell you that after having your eyes done, you will experience minimal swelling, bleeding and discomfort. You multiply that times ten and, if you're lucky, and have lots of bags of frozen peas (for ice packs) you will get through it OK. I look like 40 miles of bad road today and am not even answering the door without my sunglasses. I hope that I can return to work in a week and somewhat resemble my old self. My husband said he doesn't know why women put themselves through all the pain... You're right about me not starting the 5 day today...my focus is a little off (maybe because I only have one opened eye today!!!!) Take care of yourself, my friend, and we will talk soon. Good luck on Step 2...I know you will do well! Grandy