NWgirl

Hi again, I would love to stay in contact! It's always nice to have another person to talk to about these things. I'm not sure I will be telling anyone outside of my immediate family, mainly because I don't want people thinking I took the easy way out. Do you do text messaging? Maybe when we've both been banded, we can be support buddies. Are you a part of a gym or anything like that? I'm hoping to maybe go to some of the local support groups in the next month; maybe we could go together?

Mis73, you just made me laugh out loud after the grueling day I've had. Sometimes you wonder if these people have their heads so far up there that they don't see what's in front of them.

Hi there! I am also in Portland, over in SE but hoping to move over to SW in the next month or so. I am getting my surgery done at Legacy Weight Management Institute. I am 23 (turning 24 in June) and cannot wait to start this journey! I started this journey with a Fiance, but it appears that has gone all kinds of wring and I am now single. Go me! I do have a wonderfully supportive family that lives in the area and are all behind me to get this done. They just want me to be happy. I am going in tomorrow for my consult with the psychologist, the nutritionist, and the physical therapist. I went last week for the welcome group and the psych test (a whopping 370 question scantron). If the psychologist clears me, I will be able to schedule my surgeon consult tomorrow. I am hoping to be banded sometime in February... I love sweets, but not enough to sacrifce my weight. I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and secretly hope that it can account for some (not all) of my weight issues. Last year I did 6.5 months going to the gym 5-6 days a week and eating 1200-1400 calories a day and was only able to lose 35 pounds with a daily deficit of at least 1000 calories... Very discouraging and I'm hoping the band will give me the extra boost I need Sorry for the history lesson.

yes, I have had both the bodybugg (which is the Bodymedia, but sold by 24 hr fitness) and the fitbit. Hands down, the fitbit does everything the bodybugg does, except it's much cheaper, there are no subscription fees, and it can be easily hidden. Also, the bodybugg seemed to over report my calorie burn by about 400 calories a day...

I am guessing the one advertising is a set up service. Maybe in Mexico? I know someone said there's a Dr in Colorado who does the procedure for $9000.

Mio is also good. I have found some I like, and of course some I don't. I did see a new type of squeeze additive by the Mio's at safeway last week, but have not tried them.

I have shared with my parents, my fiance, my aunt (who is also banded), and maybe will share with my brothers. Other than that, I don't feel the need.

if you want a HRM, I would recommend a Garmin. I found a bundle a few months ago with a HRM strap, a footpod, and an exercise watch for $99 on Amazon. It was only an older model (the watch face is the only difference between the new model vs old). if you want something that tracks calories, food, sleep, etc, the Fitbit is awesome! I love my fitbit, bur decided I needed an exercise watch too.

sounds like maybe you need even more accountability than an online training program since you already need to exercise, but you are not doing it. Maybe a personal trainer you meet with once or twice a week or a gym buddy to hold you accountable?

Have you seen a gynecoligist or other medical professional that would have taken weight down? I know I have five years of weight history from just my gynecologist, but was able to also get my pediatric growth chart showing when I went off the chart in terms of weight gain in relation to height...

I agree- I feel as if the Iband is a lapband procedure that is NOT another form of WLS- these people are going to the surgeon of choice and being offered one more option than they originally knew of in regard to Lapband. They are not people with permanent plication or the sleeve. I hope they continue to post here if they in fact have the band, as that !is the main part of their procedure!!

I still have to find out if my practice is doing the plication with band. Usually, this type with the band is only sutures, and not any actual cutting or re-routing like the other WLS. It is supposed to keep you from overeating because the stomach below the band is effectively made as small as 1 cup or so, but can be reversed by simply taking the sutures out. It also is supposed to require less maintenance on the band (fills) because it is also helping to restrict your intake.

I have been using the Fitbit for nearly a year and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a device to help with calorie expendature. The Fitbit tracks calories out based on movement and can also be used to log food, sleep, journal, etc. If you like numbers and really want to see what's going in vs out, it's a good buy at $100. It is also very discrete- you can clip it on your bra, pants pocket, etc. The Bodymedia or Bodybugg must be worn on the upper arm and cause a lot of people to ask about it.

what is the book called?

Google both "in the land of cheese and sunkist" and "Lap Band Gal"- these are both really good blogs.

Is it possible you aren't eating enough? I know that seems like knock on wood, but some people do not lose weight as well on a severely restricted diet. Maybe bump up your calories a little and see if it helps?

Muscle is something that takes a longer time to build, so I doubt you've gained two pounds of muscle in a week. I know the body does funny things when you start exercising because of the shock, and I hear a temporary weight gain is normal. Give your body a few weeks to get used to exercise.

non scale victory

It seems that from what I've read when people get the lapband removed, they also get another form of weight loss surgery at the same time (if there are no complications)- such as the sleeve. Is another WLS procedure an option?

Awesome !!!

Please do, that is why I changed Dr.'s as well... I was seeing someone at a clinic I visit off and on because I hadn't chosen a 'real' PC and each time I went in for weight loss appointments, the lady made me feel like crap. If she doesn't want the money my insurance will pay her with, so be it. Even though we are bigger people, we still deserve compassion and respect for our problems. Some people will never experience food addiction and so it is hard for them to wrap their mind around it. For example, A long time ago, I had a conversation with someone I love dearly about my food issues and they asked me why I didn't just "put the food down." I about went crazy when they said that, which is why I am also being very selective in who I will tell. I don't need to be insulted over my weight issues. You wouldn't belittle an alcoholic or a drug addict, so what makes us any different?

I am done trying to reason and am sorry to those who think I've been fueling the fire. @54Shirley: How exactly do you go about putting someone on that block list so you won't see their posts? Edit: Never mind, found the ignore preferences.

No, I believe band failure terminology is: 1) losing less than 25-30% of your excess weight or 2) having complications that require removal of the band. I think you never reached restriction, but you lost weight with your band and you're unhappy that you didn't get it "easy" like other people did. You never deny that you lost weight, just that the band didn't work as you expected it to and you had to diet and exercise. Don't you think that most of the people on here STILL diet and exercise even with the band???!!! So, please ask yourself the following questions: What is the point of getting the lapband? To lose weight. Did you lose weight? yes Looks like you did both, did you not? There are people who REALLY failed, who didn't lose more than 25-30% of their weight or did have to get the band removed. Why don't you end your pity party and actually provide support for those people and not go around moaning about how the Lapband never got you to restriction? Isn't that always the point of your posts, to complain that the people who failed need the most support? You are providing them no support whatsoever. In fact, you are deceiving these new people that don't bother to look at the blog you posted or the facebook group you're a part of into thinking you didn't lose weight. Frankly, that's extremely sad and I hope someday you find peace with whatever your problem seems to be.

Why are you so defensive? I asked you a question in regards to how you were so successful in losing weight and you jump to the conclusion I am accusing you of lying about your band? I think that your input and experience may be beneficial to some, but you never share your actual experience and the way you ended up being successful- you only say that the band did not work. I'm sure there are more people than just myself who are curious about how you overcame obesity on your own if you had started out with the mindset that WLS was the only way. This is why I said that even though you may have useful information for other bandsters or bandsters-to-be, you never actually talk about the HOW involved in your journey. You also only use negatives and say things in a way that many people will just role their eyes and move on. You do no credit to yourself and your own journey. This is the last time I ask you anything directly about your own journey, because I have posed the question on more than this thread and you never feel the need to respond. I don't know the motivation behind your silence, but it seems to me if you are trying to convince people that this is an ineffective WLS, you would explain why you believed that to be the case.

Fluffy, why do you believe your band failed? What types of food did you eat, what types of exercise did you do? if the band failed, how did you lose the weight? I saw your blog and can see that you are skinnier. You always seem to use scare mongering tactics when someone asks anything, which frankly discredits anything of value you may have to say. PLEASE tell us your story and what you believe went wrong with your band.