Short and Chunky

Congratulations Shelley..sounds like things are doing just great. Keep you the good work...

I agree with not going and telling him you don't feel well. It was 7 days before I felt "social". As for telling him. Only you can make that decision but it won't be long before he does know - You are getting skinny, can't go out for pizza night, you eat like a bird...He will know..Good luck with your sugery. I know you will be alone on Thanksgiving but you will probably sleep alot that day anyway..watch the parade and some football..it is only one day and you are making a decision that will change your life. I have lost 65 pounds since my surgery (7/7/11) and look better and feel 10 times better..Next Thanksgiving or even this coming Christmas you will be in a better place with yourself and your weight. Hang in there...

Thanks Jenn for your comments - I know how you feel. I get so angry with myself with I eat something I know I should not eat. I know this is a lifestyle change but for some reason, my lifestyle isn't changing enough for me. Yes, I am loosing weight and yes, it is at the 1-2 pounds a week level and I know I didn't wake up one morning and find myself 118 pounds overweight - but I am not a strong person and I have very little self-control/will power. That is why I have the band. Comments like you made make me feel "normal" and that is was ok when I made my goof - I am not alone...thank you Jenn. Good luck with the rest of November and December and hang in there we will get through this together ! Melinda (63 pounds thinner since I began the lapband thing - 55 more to go !)

Rosstheboss: hope all went well with your surgery. You have so much to be proud of and although this was a big step, so was getting the band in the first place. Hopefully, I will be in your shoes next year..Congratulations ! Short and Chunky (down 62 pounds and counting)

Name, real or screen~ Melinda (Short and Chunky) Age~ 60 Weight on November 1st~ 195 Goal Weight for November 29th~ 190 Exercise Goal for November~ walk 3 miles or more 5 x per week add some type of workout Dietary Goal for November~ Don't get anything stuck and follow the real rules - not my "adjusted rules" Personal Goal for November~ Be true to myself - I'm the only one who suffers when things go bad - stop snacking on the bad stuff Date Banded~ 7/7/2011 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 62 pounds (total loss pre and post banding/plication) Thank you for this great challenge. I can't wait to see how everyone does (including me)...Good luck everyone...

Kati good luck with your decision and congratulations on your current weight loss. I am 60 with 1 co-morbity (high BP). I had the lapband with Plication. I am down 60 pounds and just reached my halfway point. My surgery was 7-7-11. It took me 3-4 months to decide what was best for me. Do your research and give it a great deal of thought before you decide and good luck. No matter what you decide, WLS is only a tool, you still have work to do on your own...Best wishes from Florida..Melinda

I had lapband with plication (at the same time) 7-7-11 and I am doing great 60 pounds down and loosing at a good pace 1-2 pounds per week. I feel fine and do not regret having had both. My plan is to lose 118 pounds so I knew lapband alone was not going to do it. Talk to as many people as you can so you can make an informed decision. Had my 3rd fill today and having some issues with water but it will pass tomorrow, I am at 4cc (I think). Good luck with your decision and your weight loss journey. Melinda

I have Tricare and I had my surgery 7-7-11. I was not required to wait 3 months for any dietary counciling. I did have steps to go through but they were standard medical tests. Check with Tricare in you area and inquire yourself. When you do that, you will get the straight info,. Good Luck

On Friday, it will be 3 months since I was banded. I am feeling great but do get upset with myself when I eat something I shouldn't. Very pleased with my weight loss - 54 pounds but sometimes feel like things are going to slow. I am adding the 10,000 steps a day plan to my workout and it is so much fun. I wear a step counter and check it off and on during the day. When I get home from work, I take my 2nd walk for the day and hopefully by bedtime I see that 10,000 #. It is kind of fun and breaks up the just "walking thing". I have been having left shoulder pain again and not sure why and boy do I get an upset stomach every few weeks. I see the Doctor again on the 21st and I plan on dicussing both with him at that time. I have had 3 fills (small ones) and really don't feel any restriction - I can eat just about whatever I want and therefore, I have to make myself not eat it. All and all I would say I am happy with this thing and I would recommend it to friends and family if they asked. I can tell you, I am smaller today than I have been in close to 10 years and that makes this whole journey worthwhile. Have a great day to all July bandsters and post something soon, I'd love to know how you are doing too. Melinda

Jump on in and start the process. So what if it is getting close to the holidays. Either you want to loose the weight or you don't. It will always be something - 4 th of July, Labor Day, Birthday's, Anniversary - If you want to loose, get it done and don't care what the calendar says.

Corrigan, good luck with your proceedure. I had lapband with Plication on 7/7/11. They did fold my stomach in and stitch it up (making it more like a banana rather than a football in size). I am doing fantastic - down 481/2 pounds since surgery. I was told this has not been FDA approved yet and is still in the trial stage - many doctors cannot perform this yet so if you have a doc that does - go for it. I was hesitant at first but knew at my age (60) that I was only going under the knife once so make it count...I understand both the lapband and the plication are reversable but you can keep it forever. I have had 2 fills and my band has 3.5 ccs in it (10 cc band). Good luck on whatever you decide is best for you and happy weight loss....

I have Tricare Prime South and my only out of pocket was about $300. I had to pay for the dietician visit, a co-pay (paperwork charges) to the surgeon and $50 toward the mental health eval. I went to my primary first and she recommened I have the sugery (I asked her about it) - I had slightly elevated BP and a BMI of 42, no other issues. I went through all the "steps" and was approved on the first go-round (about 2 weeks after papers were submitted. I am doing great loosing a ton of weight and all my follow-up visits are totally covered (no co-pay). Good luck Melinda (48 punds skinner and counting !!!!)

Check the Protein count in the foods you are eating....some meats/seafood is high than others - that helps, also Beans (I know about the gas) but they too are high in protein and so is eggs (6 gms for 1 egg). I eat about 2-3 ozs of meat and a 1/2 cup of vegies per meal - sometimes for a "snack" I eat a Low Fat Mozz. cheese stick (high in protein again). I have the band plus plication so I am even more restricted but doing well. My surgery was 7/7/11 and I am down 48 pounds. I still get gas but no longer have pain the shoulder. I hope your doctor can give you some relief. I know loosing weight is the plan but not if you are miserable. Take care and keep us posted. Melinda

Well, I feel your pain about waiting...I did not have to do a 6 month supervise diet though. Talk to your insurance company and then talk to the surgeon. Another option is to find another surgeon in your area. This 6 mo diet thing may be HIS requirement and not your insurance. My doc put me on a diet as I went through the system - Mental eval, Blood work, EKG, Dietician, Personal Trainer. Some of these I was able to do all in one day (saves taking too many days off from work) but the special diet was only 2 weeks long. The whole process took me about 1-2 months. I was banded 7/7/11 and am doing great (down 48 1/2 pounds). Hang in there. Don't get upset and be very proactive. Also, explain to the surgeon that you have a timelimit regarding your insurance - since you said the new plan would not cover it. Doctors want to get paid and they like insurance $$$ - watch how fast he'll move then. I'll keep you in my thoughts and will look forward to hearing how everything turns out for you. I wish you only the best. I am 60 yrs old and I know what you are feeling so hang in there kiddo ! Melinda in Jacksonville, Fl

OK July bandsters...I was banded on 7/7/11, I had the band with plication. I am down 46 pounds and counting. Yes, it is now much slower than the first few weeks but at least it is still going down. I am loosing 1.5 - 2 pounds a week and that is enough for me. I eat Protein at every meal and vegies. I also treat myself with some fruit of even 1/2 of a cookie. I know, they are no no's but I have to make myself happy too. I also joined Weight Watchers (for the 100th time I think). Yes, I know I cannot eat like they want you to eat, but the weekly weigh ins, the support and receipes are great. My leader knows I had the lapband and she is even tailoring my plan for me. I have tried Protein shakes and I find them to be nasty, even with milk. So I avoid them unless I have no other option. I have had 2 fills - 2cc and 1 cc. I still find myself getting hungry between lunch and dinner but trying to get better. My exercise is limited to walking for now (and in the Florida heat that is a good one). I walk around 10 + miles per week. My clothes are hanging on me so I know I am loosing inches. I also swim at least once or twice a week in addition to the walking. I drink a lot of Water and avoid carbonated beverages and fruit juices. OK, that is my tips for today. I love reading other tips on this site and have found them to be so useful especially when you feel too embarrased to ask the doctor or feel the question is stupid. Thanks to all of you..Well, that is it from sunny (and HOT) Florida today. Good luck and please keep posting and stay in touch - no one understands like fellow bandsters.... Melinda

Alli: I was banded on 7/7/11 and had plication at the same time. I feel GREAT. I am down 46 pounds and dropping- now, I am only loosing 2-3 pounds per week but I am dropping (lost 16 pounds the first week - too much too fast). I had a longer recovery than tradditional lapband - instead of 2-3 days it was more like 7-9 days but now I feel wonderful. I have had 2 fills - one was 2 cc and the second was 1 cc. Both were done in August. I am eating and not getting too hungry (I do get hungry between lunch and dinner - but that is just me). I have not had any slimming or anything getting stuck..in fact I really don't feel anything or any different than I did 6 months ago, just smaller (and happy about that). The doctor I used is in Jacksonville, Florida and he is one of only a few who do lapband with plication - in fact, I was in his "study group" so they are following me a bit closer so he can complete the study. GOod luck with your decision. I am glad I chose both and have never looked back. Here's to a skinner you ! Melinda

Good Luck. You will do great. Just be sure to follow all the directions your surgeon gave you. Best wishes to your wife too...Dr. Cywes did my surgery too on July 7th, 2011. I am down 46 pounds and counting. Are you having plication too or just the band? I had both and have had NO PROBLEMS. Take care ! Melinda

This is Melinda from Florida...Hey, no problem - eat the freezer - all that stuff cooked on the grill would be great - also, there is many vegies (squash and Zucchini) that are great grilled. Tomatoes and carrots don't need to be kept cold. Of course all the canned stuff that was already mentioned. I am not big on the Protein Shakes especially with Water (yuk). Make sure you have lots of water ! We will be thinking about you and please be safe. Melinda