jbtullis

i have had about 15 fills over the past 10 months and i pretty much always ate whatever i wanted after it. For me the fills took about a week or two to kick in for some reason. I figured it out and just waited for it. Everybody is different but give it a week or two. Of course you could have a leak somewhere. If it still doesn't get better see if the Dr. can check for it.

this is hilarious. I have lost 2 elephant penises and a rack of baby back ribs. HAHAHAHAHA

okay so this will sound odd, but I am trying out crochet. I asked one of the ladies at work to teach me how to do it. Sounds odd for a guy to do it, but it keeps both hands busy while you are watching tv. That means I can't put something in my mouth if both hands are busy.

I lost 100 almost to the day for 6 months. I am at 115 now. I think what Wheet said is right. I have 200+ to lose so the first 100 came off pretty quick. Don't get me wrong, I worked my butt off at the gym, literally, as well as the band.

I have to say I never heard that rule. I don't drink anything carbonated but I live off ice tea and that is caffeinated.

What is the reasoning for not having caffeine?

Sort of like asking, How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop. I am getting ready to go in for fill 11 I think and I am still not to the sweet spot. As you lose your body changes and you have fat in places you wouldn't think. So as you lose the fat around your stomach you made need more fills.

I just keep saying at least the hard part of the surgery is over. Now it is just a shot in the stomach to keep fine tuning it. I know it can seem to take a while but when it hits you, it hits!

Have any of you guys had plastic surgery yet? What are you considering having done or did you have done? Also was wondering how it is different from the ladies. I see a lot of talk about it in the other threads but not many men discussing it.

Have to say this is the first time I have heard of this requirement. I would think your PCP could run any test this other guy could. Maybe even ask your PCP if there is another one he/she can recommend to do the same thing. Of course ask the surgeon for sure.

Name...................... Starting....Loss....Current.....Goal......To Go

losingjusme.(Christine).. 273..........-4...........269.........252........17

faithmd...................... 302.........-4.6.........297.4.......290.......7.4

ridinmyhddream (Carol)...262..........+1..........263. .......250........13

insubordination..............300........-3.5.........296.5.......292........4.5

Kimmie.........................314........-19. ........295..........290........5

Tinkerbell77..................317........-4.8..... ..312.2.........299......12.2

Rainer (Lorraine)............298.........-14...........284..........278.......6

Chiefsfankatie...............305..........-8..........297..........290.......7

jbtullis ........................300..........-11..........289..........285........4

Elisabethsew.................278...........6...... ....272..........269........3

I have been away for most of the month but wanted to post results. I didn't quite make it to my goal but I cracked a new all time low for myself. I am feeling pumped about it!!!!!!!

I have the larger band and think I am on my 11th fill since Feb 07. He keeps putting more in but with the bigger band it is harder to find the sweet spot.

For me I just lay on the table and he puts his hand right on the port tells me to expect a sting and puts the needle in. Now I do have to say, I am totally scared of needles but he is so good it doesn't even make me flinch. I was terrified about the first one but it was no big deal.

Tracey,

I have never had him tell me about how much I have in there. The first time I asked one of the nurses she just said that was a guideline and not really important. I just quit asking after that. As long as it works I will leave the amounts up to him.

I was just up there last week for my fill and the new lady, Brandi, is a lot like Darlene. She is funny and witty. Of course she doesn't have a band I don't think so can't help there but she is pleasant to work with.

Remember you can still see Darlene at the band wagon meetings that will be at New Hope. 435 and Nall

I think I have a VG band. Isn't that the larger one where they can put in more Fluid, like 11cc or something?

so how do you know or monitor the fat pad? I am probably on my 8th or 9th fill, lost count honestly. Been banded little over 6 months now and still never really have restriction. I have maybe a week or so at a time but that's about it. Any thoughts?

Don't get me wrong. I am very pleased with my progress. I am just wondering when I get towards the end of that and the fat pad is gone? Is there a % of body weight loss or something as a guide? I am sure it is different for everyone but how do you gage it?

Wow, I would be discouraged too. I might look for a different doctor. My doc said the band could help me lose up to 70% of the weight I needed to lose, the rest would have to be me.

So far I have lost 100 pounds in 6 months. Granted I need to lose another 100. But 1/2 way to my goal. The thing to remember is the band is a tool, not a cure.

If you browse around on here you will find tons of folks who lost a lot more than the 50.

Good luck.

From the day I logged on this board I have been so hopeful to get to post on here that I finally made the 100 pound mark. I was banded on 2/27/07 and have now lost 102 I think.

I would be surprised they were pushing GB over LB for you if you have less than 100 to lose. In my mind I always thought of GB as being the most drastic measure they did and reserved for patients with lots of weight to lose. I had 200 to lose and still went with LB. But I think the option of getting a 2nd opinion is a good one. Of course I am writing this after your scheduled date. So what happened?

I love Mexican food as well and we eat it often. I have been able to eat pretty much anything I wanted just not nearly as much. I do stay away from the tortillas though. They don't go down that great. But if I want fajitas I have them on a salad or just eat them with my fork.

Beware the chips and salsa. Those chips will slide right through.

I so needed this thread to make it to the 100 mark last month. I am in again. I finally made it to twoterville yesterday. So I'll call that a couple of pounds for this month. WOOO HOOOO.

September Challenge

Name..............................Starting........ Loss.......Current.....Goal......ToGo

losingjusme..(Christine)........273............. 0.............273........252........21

faithmd.............................302...... .......0.............302........290........12

ridinmyhddream (Carol)........262..............0.............262. ......250........12

insubordination...................300............. 0........... .300........292........8

Kimmie..............................314........... ..0. ...........314........290........24

Tinkerbell77. . . . . . . . . . . .317 . . . . . . .0 . . . . . . .317 . . . .299 . . . .18

Rainer (Lorraine).................338.............0...... .........295.......275........20

Chiefsfankatie...............305...............0.. .............305............290......15

jbtullis ........................300...............2.............298..........285.........13

It's been a while and I keep meaning to come on to update it. I finally had a huge plateau break through. We were at a support meeting and a lady who is a long time bandster was on a soap box about people who say they just can't stop drinking with meals. She went on about you can do anything if you try and being one who used that excuse it hit home. I have tried to break that habit this month with the challenge and happy to say while not yet to Twoterville I am just outside the city limits. I made my personal 6 month goal of 100 so I was thrilled. 1 more to go to move inside the city limits!!!! :whoo:

Name...............................Starting……....L oss.......Current…....Goal….....ToGo

losingjusme..(Christine).........293.............. ..15 .............278...........275............3

tann.............(Tammy)...........211............ ..... 3..............208..........198............10

Josette......(Josette)..............322……......... ..8..............314...........307.............7

RidinMyHDDream..(Carol)......264.................. 4 ..............260............254............6

FaithMD...............................308......... ........5..............303...........299.......... .6.4

Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth)......275................ .0..............275 ...........265............10

Libra.....(Angela)...................214.......... .......0..............214............208 ............6

glindab.................................282....... .......3.4............278.0..........265.......... .13.

Inner_me...(Chris)..................295........... .....0..............295............280 ............15

waterlily1072...(Nicole)...........289........... ....12..............277.............0............. . 0

Rainer...(Lorraine)..................311.......... ......12..............299.............260......... .39

staindgal....(Bridget)..............319........... ....5 8...........313.2...........299..........14.2

jbtullis...(Jonathan)................317.......... ......17.............300............299...... ......1

Insubordination.....................311........... .....6.6...........304.4...........299........... 5.4

Squale.................................334…....... ........9.............325……......310….........15

ShaunECook........................256.2........... .....0...........256.2……......245........11.2

That pre-op diet sounds worse than the post op diet I had. My Dr. didn't have a pre-op diet requirement until recently. He made the change after he had to close up 2 or 3 people because he couldn't get the band on them. I can't imagine the disappointment of waking up with all the pain and still not have your band. I would be devastated for sure.

So for anyone working on the pre-op diet, hold on, you can do anything for a couple of weeks.

For me it was about 25 when closer friends started noticing, it was about 50 when more folks noticed, and by 65 even my boss said something. It gets addictive to hear the comments. At first they were a little uncomfortable as I didn't tell anyone about the band. Now I just openly talk about it and still get loads and loads of support.

Name...............................Starting…...Loss.......Current…....Goal….....To Go

losingjusme..(Christine).........293............8. ............ 285... ........275............10

tann.............(Tammy)...........211............ 3..............208..... ......198............10

Josette.................................322....... ....................322............307........ ...15

RidinMyHDDream.(Carol).. .....264...........................264............ 254............10

FaithMD............................... 308..........2.6............305.4....... ...299...........6.4

Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth).. ....275............................275 ...........265............10

Libra..(Angela)...................... 214...........................214.............208. ............6

glindab..................................282...... ....3.4............278.6..........265..........13. 6

Inner_me.....(Chris).............. ..295...........................295............280 ............15

waterlily1072...(Nicole)............279........... ................279............269............10

Rainer (Lorraine).....................311...........2.... ..........309.............299............10

staindgal (Bridget)..................319..........4.4....... .....314.6...........299.......... 15.6

jbtullis (Jonathan)...................317...........7...... .........310.............299............11

Insubordination.......................311......... ........... ......311............306..............5

Just wanted to update and say thanks for the feedback on the band. I have lost 7 already this month so hopefully I will make it by the end of the month. I finally have some restriction. I do have the larger band so I know it takes a little longer, was just thinking it would be a bit faster. This one is kicking in slowly, strange thing this band.

Quick question on restriction. Noticing what you guys are talking about being so tight, I have never been there, granted I am only 5 months banded. I keep getting frustrated that I never seem to think I have enough restriction. I know I have some, and while I don't want to be quite as tight as not being able to eat the cheerios, I would like to be closer to a sweet spot. Any guidance on how long it took you to get there?

I go to the Dr. every month and have already had 6 fills in less than 5 months. I did get a little restriction a on the 5th fill but it's gone after two weeks.

Thoughts?

Jonathan

Hey I want to join the challenge too. I had my 6th fill today so I have the Dr.'s scale for the starting wieght. Hoping to make it to twoterville with this challenge. My original goal was to lose 100 pounds by my 6 month anniversary. If I make it to twoterville by the end of August I will make it.

Jonathan

Name...............................Starting…....Current…......Goal…..........To Go

losingjusme..(Christine).........293.............. 293... ..........275..................18

tann.............(Tammy)...........211............ . 211..............198....................13

Josette.................................322....... .......322..............307..................15

RidinMyHDDream.(Carol).. .....264..............264..............254........ .........10

FaithMD............................... 308..............308..............299............. .......9

Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth).. ....275....... .......275 .............265..................10

Libra..(Angela)...................... 214...........;...214..............208............ ........6

glindab..................................282...... ........278.6...........265....................13. 6

Inner_me.....(Chris).............. ..295...............295.............280........... ........15

waterlily1072...(Nicole)............279........... ....279.............269...................10

Rainer (Lorraine).....................311...............3 11..............299...................13

staindgal (Bridget)..................319................319. ............299................... 20

jbtullis (Jonathan)...................317................317..............299....................18

I joined the gym. The thing that really makes me go is that my kids like to go to the child center there because it has so much stuff for them to do and play on. They love it so it is a little extra motivator at first. That and they have the swimming pools at the gym too so after you work out you can take a quick swim or sit in the hot tub. I take it as me time. I never did that before being banded and rather enjoy it now.