jayres14

I've been banded since July. I have had PCOS for a long time and had to go on Metformin to get pregnant with my daughter 5 years ago. My periods used to be irregular, sometimes 6 weeks apart, sometimes 8 weeks apart, never regular. Since banded and lost some weight, my periods are coming every 4th Saturday. I could almost bet the farm that I would start yesterday, and I did! My PCP said to be very careful b/c I was fertile. I can tell my hormones are regulating themselves due to the weight loss. You didn't say in your post if you were banded or not. If you are, give it some time before you spend a lot of money on treatments. If you are not banded, it is definitely a good prospect for multiple reasons. Good luck and keep us posted.

I was banded 11-14-11
Start 254
Now 174

Yesterday it was in high 80's and now today it's dropped down to the high 60's. I was actually cold so I went into my closet to pull out my once favorite black cardigan.
The cardigan I wore the day I had surgery and I haven't worn in many months.
Holy cow, I couldn't believe how huge it was on me! I mean, I guess I should've known because I've dropped 5-6 sizes since then, but putting that sweater on was a "wow" moment. It really put into perspective how far I've come. Especially considering the day of surgery, I couldn't button it because it was too tight across the tummy if I did.
So, I thought I'd share the difference. Here is me in the now massive sweater

Happy Bandiversary!! My one year was this month also and I have lost about 40 pounds too. I still have about 25 more to go but like you said, I am closer than I was. Cheers to us!!

Happy Bandiversary!! My one year was this month also and I have lost about 40 pounds too. I still have about 25 more to go but like you said, I am closer than I was. Cheers to us!!

Ever since I was baned this has been an ongoing question.
I have always said mine looks like a golf ball under my skin.
Well going through our vacation photos, I found one that shows it.
It is attached to the abdomen muscles, right under the skin because there is no longer a fat layer as a barrier.
I can feel every nook and cranny. Also, if you look close you can see the tube come out the side towards the center before it goes deep.
I once had a kink in my tubing preventing a fill. It was easy for the Dr. to palpate the tube and straighten it out.
I never worry about the port flipping.
A one armed blind man can give me a fill. Heck, I could do them myself. (I've considered carrying a syringe on vacations in case I need to do a emergency un fill 1000's of miles from home.)
So, say hello to my little friend "Lumpy"

Mine is right below my sternum sewed to my abdominal wall. It is actually a good spot because it doesn't move around a lot and lower risk of flip!

Sometimes overeating without realizing it that causes pressure in the chest is a negative. Also, the daily fear that something will happen to my band is overwhelming. I am self pay so things could get pretty expensive!

So here lately I have been eating much more than I should be eating. I always seem to get this way right before Aunt Flo's visit! I totally take the blame for it, and am now going to have to pay the piper. I am going to put myself back on liquids for two day to give everything a rest and allow my pouch and band to shrink back up a little. This is going to totally suck, but not as much as seeing the scales go up for my ingnorance. I don't need another fill, I already have 7 in a 10cc band. I have good restriction when I play by the rules, I just need to give the band a chance to work for me. Everyone stumbles once in a while and I am not going to beat myself up for being naughty, especially since I will be extrememly ill the next two days anyways. I hope I don't pass out during zumba tonight!!
Does anyone else do this "reset"? This will be my second time doing it and it really worked this first time.

Brush your teeth right after dinner, use a strong mouth wash too. I don't know why but when I do this, I don't want to eat anymore, i guess because the food won't taste good with a minty flavor!

Brush your teeth right after dinner, use a strong mouth wash too. I don't know why but when I do this, I don't want to eat anymore, i guess because the food won't taste good with a minty flavor!

I needed to see this to remind myself of what I already knew. It is frustrating when you want the scale to move and it doesn't. I will just keep doing what I am doing and it will drop before I know it. I have lost 50 pounds so far that I will never see again, so I can stop my snivelling and get on with it. ; )
Take care,
Jen

I'm not usually one to respond to drama, but this thread makes me very sad. This is supposed to be a place of help and encouragement, not lecturing and bickering. I think if we made exercise a priority in our lives to begin with, we wouldn't have lap bands and wouldn't be discussing this at all. All of us have our own journey and our own lessons to learn, and no one is more "right" than the other. I've been banded a year and I still learn new things from everyone here. As long as we lose weight and get healthy, we're all winners, right? Let's stop the insults and agree to disagree respectfully. We're all in this together.

I wonder if maybe you're not good with reading. I'll summarize and simplify for you.
#1 - my tone is exactly the tone you took with everyone else on this board, and if you can dish it, you can take it.
#2 - no one said exercise is bad, as I stated in my first post. I also said I exercise when I can. If that means a couple of hours on the weekends, and taking the stairs instead of an elevator, it works for me.
#3 - I don't care how angry you are about whatever in your life, you have no right to be judgmental and condescending to others on this board. Don't take out your personal emotional issues out on people who are here to support one another.
#4 - We should *ENCOURAGE* one another for the efforts that we are making to live healthier lives, not discount the efforts others are making because they don't meet YOUR standard. Who are you to judge others?
#5 - An hour is a LOT of time. If you don't think so, then you obviously have tons of extra time to devote to whatever.
#6 - I type 103 wpm. If it takes you longer to type, that's not my problem.

I wish Violet would stick a sock in her mouth already. Who are you to tell Hummingbird that she lost weight in a very unhealthy way because she didn't exercise??? Are you a doctor? You're simply stating your opinion and not facts! Time to shut your pie hole!

No, I'm not saying exercise isn't benificial. Yes it is optional. A person can choose to do it or not just like many other things in life. I did breeze through over 100 pounds of weightloss with the help of lapband.
Your lecture in your first post is what bothered me. Like ..... who does that chick think she is lecturing people like that talking about people's excuses and such. It really shouldn't be your concern if someone else doesn't exercise or makes excuses. If you want to do it your way that's cool.
It should not be your concern how I lost my weight. The last few times I spoke with my surgeon he is thrilled with my results. I am thrilled with my results. There is nothing "sad" about my success.

At this stage you sure seem to know it all

If you are not eating enough, your metabolism will go down! Get 1200 in a day, even more if you are exercising right! When I restrict my diet too much, I plateau, no matter how much exercise I do. When I eat enough to keep me fueled all day, then I lose. It's almost like your body knows it is going to eat every few hours so it doesn't hold on the the stored fat like it will never get fed again. Just make sure the calories are good ones like high Protein, no sliders. Good luck to us all!!

I start out knowing I will get heat for this but here goes . . . .I have a hard time believeing ALL these people who have nothing good to say about the Band are real. They ALL have been banded for several years and the Band totally failed them or they never loss the weight or lost it and gained it all back plus some.
When you read someone's posts look at who is posting it. If they just joined today and have only posted one post and never post again MAYBE they are just misleading you. In over 2½ years here I have seen it happen a lot. I am not saying everyone's is like that I know some people are being real cause I know some people the Band doesn't work for them or some don't work with their Band.
I always try to give people advice anyway, but there have been a few that were just flat out rude and and sent people rude private messages all night including me, if you call them on what you suspect , , , you can tell what they are doing. Trying to scare people away from the Band. People get paid to do that. Newbies and people researching just saying I think we should help every body but take caution in what you are reading. Even mine!!
Cheri

Still have about 20 lbs to go. But......
Saw some jeans on the internet that helps give you a little booty. Cause mine is flat and wide. Anyway, had never been in this store, was nervous that I couldn't find anything to fit me. While looking at the jeans (Was so hoping to be able to look without the assistance of sales person but a skinny sales lady came over) She asked if I had ever worn there denim before? I told her I saw the ad on internet but I didn’t see any 14's. I was so embarrassed. She asked why I was looking for a 14, so thinking their 14's were smaller then other places, and wishing I hadn't come in….I started running my mouth,,,,,"I recently have lost a lot of weight and needed to get new clothes and really didn't know what size I needed, thank you anyway"…..and tried to leave. She told me to go to the dressing room and she would bring me some jeans. When she handed them to me she said "don’t look at the size" I put them on and they fit so nice, I went out to show her and she gave me such a great smile and said "those are size 10." WOW!!! Ok they are made a little big but I don't care they are 10's. I HAD to buy them.

my thought is he needs to remember he is the one who takes you home and has the "fun" with you!!! Flaunt it

Mine has been very very very attentive. lol. Not that he wasn't before but extra since the surgery and it has only been a few weeks. I think that it is more my attitude. Very positive and happy these days. He sees me going out and doing things much more when I was more of a homebody prior. Sometimes he asks me if people are making comments yet and often says that I will have to get used to a lot of attention from other guys. Not that he feels threatened or anything because he knows I am not interested. He has never ever had an issue with my weight and for him it is about my health but it is funny how I see him reacting. I have also been all over him a lot more too. Guess that goes along with just feeling better about myself and making positive changes. So how I am dealing with it is just giving him lots of attention and showing him how much I appreciate him.

I would also say that its not really jealousy but fear and insecurity. I am sure after things return to routine and time elapses that it will improve and things will settle down again. It may also be that there is some element of protectiveness there from him, thinner people tend to appear more vulnerable and he may feel like he has to protect you more now, hence the stepping in front of you ... It might be an idea to show him that he is still the one in the same ways he does for you, dont just reply to texts send him ones yourself. I am not saying send him flowers but find something he would like and make a thank you gift for all his support. Notes in his pockets that he finds when he is at work, etc etc.. Its not just a case of reassurance but also making him feel as special as u do now that u have lost the weight..
I am sure things will work out and settle down. Good luck !

Yes I noticed my hubby being a bit more affectionate when he would drop me off at work. ( I work with 150 men) walking with his arm around me. when we sit put his arm me. He's always been affectionate but lately he is extra snuggly.
He did make a comment about me getting a late text and I said read it, it could be my sister/daughter. After he looked I told him I was his, not to worry there is nobody else that would take my sh*t. There is some fear for our loved ones, because before they had no reason to be jealous that others would look at us. But now, vavavavoom..
Just constant reassuring, and letting them know that what we are doing is for us as a person and as a couple... for a future happy longer life.
Good Luck

I mostly agree with you B52. I think if someone decides, say, to get an unfill so that they can eat more, then they can't really complain if they gain some weight, you know?
Or if they don't want to go get fills, they can't really b***h about their lack of restriction.
But I think everyone should be entitled to make their decision on it. If you want to keep eating more, and therefore not lose, or even gain, who the hell am I to tell you not to? But OWN that decision. Live with the consequences. I have no issue with someone who gets the band then decides that that's not the lifestyle they want to live. But what I hate is people saying 'the band's not working' when it's really their choices that's not working.
I agree though with jayres that sometimes you need to be kind to someone when they're down. I think as heavy people we're so used to failing, so used to being helpless when it comes to our weight. But I always say, there are so very few things in the world that we can control, and the way we think is one of those things. So sometimes people just need a push in the right direction to get them believing in themselves again, and I think B52, from the posts of his that I've read, knows when someone just needs encouragement.