Janine

Hi Tammy, 5 years can you believe it. I so wish all the others would chime in and tell us how they are doing. I am so sorry to hear about your slipped band. Mine has slipped twice, now I have it still in there just hanging way down. My restriction is all over the place but for the most part it is pretty loose. Can you keep yours in can they try to slide it up? You have done amazingly well with the lapband your just about at goal and have kept the weight off so you DO have will power girl. Do you feel you have learned from this journey? I know I have. I am actually 12 lbs up and started Atkins to jump start the weight back down. I have had a pretty stressful year, DH and I both losing jobs, trying not to lose the house, mom has dementia yada yada, I am a stress eater so here I go. But if you start to go back to the old way you have to put on the brakes. it can creep up so fast. Please keep us posted. Hey people we would love to hear how you are doing, and one with plastic surgery?

White pants congrats on being so close to goal, that is awesome in itself. Watch that acid reflux that is how my gall bladder started, with also bloating and rotten egg burps. Nothing quite like being bloated with a lap band on UGH! Have you tried Zumba, you truly do not have to drag yourself to do it,it is so much fun. It is so trendy right now! Mrs. Husker thanks for the well wishes I am so glad you found your sweet spot especially right before going into the holidays, Yeah! Carol thanks for your kind words. Did you guys watch Dr. Oz yesterday he said it is sooo hard for over 40 somethings to lose wait, not impossible but hard. Don't we all know it. So now I have nerve pain from being cut, but I am sure once I get through it I will be on my way again for a full recovery. I swear I should write a book about my journey crazy. So here i am sitting with absolutely no fill and desperately trying to break 200. Hopefully watching Biggest Loser will motivate me! Cheers to the new year of positive thinking and weight loss!:smile:

Hello, Well I had the gall bladder taken out and THEY SAVED MY LAP-BAND® I am so happy!!! I definitely think the vomiting from the gall bladder stones took a toll on the LAP-BAND® too! The LAP-BAND® is a piece of cake over this gall bladder. Very interesting fact for you guys. Essentially when you are on a low fat diet for along time like we all have been for the most part...the bile in the gall bladder which really is just cholesterol becomes hard hence turning into stones. In other words the liver shoots out bile when you eat a high fat meal, if it can't keep up it has the gall bladder shoot some bile to break down the fat. But if you don't eat high fat meals the gall bladder's bile turns sludgy then can turn into stones. Unlike kidney stones these stones can not be broken and must come out. So if you guys get food regurgitation into your mouth, bloating, rotten egg burps right shoulder pain and pain in your stomach check your gall bladder. I have to start all over again with Clear Liquids, full , puree, mushies, soft...I can barley remember the stages. You guys reading your posts I see you beat yourselves up over those ten lbs up and down, but the more people I see that have had the full RNY have large weight gains back, hang in there. I have had so many complications but still love my band. __________________

Hello, Well I had the gall bladder taken out and THEY SAVED MY LAPBAND I am so happy!!! I definitely think the vomiting from the gall bladder stones took a toll on the lapband too! The lapband is a piece of cake over this gall bladder. Very interesting fact for you guys. Essentially when you are on a low fat diet for along time like we all have been for the most part...the bile in the gall bladder which really is just cholesterol becomes hard hence turning into stones. In other words the liver shoots out bile when you eat a high fat meal, if it can't keep up it has the gall bladder shoot some bile to break down the fat. But if you don't eat high fat meals the gall bladder's bile turns sludgy then can turn into stones. Unlike kidney stones these stones can not be broken and must come out. So if you guys get food regurgitation into your mouth, bloating, rotten egg burps right shoulder pain and pain in your stomach check your gall bladder. I have to start all over again with Clear liquids, full , puree, mushies, soft...I can barley remember the stages. You guys reading your posts I see you beat yourselves up over those ten lbs up and down, but the more people I see that have had the full RNY have large weight gains back, hang in there. I have had so many complications but still love my band.:thumbup:

You guys you are not going to believe this one. It happened again. Basically I have been having gas pain and bloating and vomiting lightly for about 2 months. Went to the doc today and yes I have to have my gallbladder that is full of stones out. I guess I am happy only that it happens to people that have significant weight loss usually. But here is the kicker.... from the vomiting from the gallbladder i have slipped my band again and prolapsed my stomach. Thank god this time i was not too tight and it did not strangle the stomach like last time. They took all the fluid out today and want to wait to see if the lower stomach will drop back on through the lapband. Frankly I am hoping tomorrow when they take out my gall bladder they can fix the prolapse. I will not lose this band again. Can you believe iam sitting at 203 that close to onderland. :thumbup: I had to share with you guys I will keep you posted. Where is everyone???

Hello, I am really enjoying Ruby on the style channel. I don't know about you guys but I my eyes always zero in on my problem area tummy. I don't see anything but that when I look in the mirror. On Ruby they had a womens intensive 6 day weight workshop. They had the ladies stand in front of wall length paper and draw what they thought they looked like. Then they had someone actually trace them over their life size drawing. Their "trouble area" was overly exaggerated. I know I would draw myself with a humongous stomach. Ruby said that we have done this to ourselves, as brutal as it sounds if we lose all the weight we have the sagging skin to remind us of our overeating past, and if we have plastic surgery we carry our scars from our overeating past. If only we could turn back the clock. As a teen growing up in the 80's it never crossed my mind not to eat those greasy fries while washing it down with pop. Hopefully, we have learned and we can begin to share with this generation of kids, I will make it an oath that I will try to educate any child that comes through my life the value of putting positive nutritional foods into their bodies. I only wish i was told before it was to late. I am so glad we are starting to jump start this forum again. Hugs everyone!

So tell me how this works once the fat is gone and you have the skin kinda of hanging.

Hi Guys, I have not tried the chocolate cheerios, maybe I could mix that with the coco krispies for more Fiber. Well, I am a crazy Zumba freak. I dance Monday Wednesday & Saturday. I am starting another one tonight a different instructor. I just love to dance and especially enjoy the cool down when we do the more sensual dancing. It is almost like India soft belly dancing. I have a neighbor who has twin Far eastern Indian girls that are dancing. They dresses are beautiful I want to ask if I can go, but I am not sure if it is a religious ritual too, I don't want to offend anyone. Where is everyone? We should have a forum reunion next month and hopefully everyone will check in. My inner thighs are really hanging it soooo gross. I am so tempted to go to Thailand and have a tummy tuck and thigh lift, it is pretty cheap there and my hubby has a lot of frequent fliers. But can you imagine being in paradise and strapped to a bed. Has anyone looked into plastic surgery anything for under 3000? I just don't have the rashes for documentation.

I find it interesting that newly banded the first year you could feel full fast. I am not sure about you guys but I will have something it will go down then about 15 minutes later i will feel full. By then it is too full and too late and I get that heavy feeling. My craving is chocolate, I eat a lot of coco krispies, it really helps at night in front of the tv.

I am definitely goal minded in breaking 200. That was my initial goal in having the lap band surgery. If I hit 171 I have exceeded my goal and I would be delighted, I know, I know for my height I should be about 135, but 171 I will be happy. So how will I acheive this you ask? I am joining Zumba boot camp, a kind of intense zumba routine 3 days a week. Also I just have to get going on Sparks people, I love it. It keeps me in check. It has taken me awhile but I love my idea of having the lapband over the RNY. So many in my bariatric support group are gaing their weight back and are over all unhealthy. Wouldn't you guys love to hear from Julie and Jeni about how life is going after plastic surgery? Also Kyethra and Mama Lambert & Mrs. Husker oh there is so many Where are you?? What about the body bugg has anyone tried one of these, they use them un Biggest Loser. Speaking of biggest Loser, I love shows about weight loss. A few worth checking out, Carniw Wilson in Unstapled...a reality show watching her weight loss, I think Kirstie Alley is having one too. Oh and i just love Ruby on style TV she started at 500+ pounds,.... One Big Happy Family is a show about 4 family member 300+ changing their eating habits, love it!...Jillian Michaels from Biggest loser will be in a show coming soon about actually going into peoples homes and helping them....Dr Oz he really explains how to be healthy and what aides in weight loss. Have a great week!

Hi Gals, My top goal is to break 200. Josie do not get the band removed, I gained like 40 lbs in no time, don't do it!!!!!! I love and respect by band...you did the right thing by just unfilling it. Mazel Tov on your up and coming wedding, way cool! You guys think that everyone wants to break 200 and once you do you go on pretty happily?

Hi White pants and march 2007 i am glad i found you guys again!

White Pants_ so I have to ask how did you eat a whole loaf of bread, I can not really eat bread. Do you need a little fill? For everyone out there close or near goal, do you keep your band a little loosen for everyday life? I am not really gaining anything, losing a pond a week I would say now, but the lapband is not very tight right now. Not sure if I should get a little fill. I am very gun shy with my lapband after losing one. Well, time for these dreaded holidays, so glad for the band!

Hello All, Barb my thought and prayers are with you. Please keep us posted as we will always be here for you!

Hi, Well, I am still doing Zumba. I have been watching Ruby and her struggles with being bored at the gym, would love to blog and tell her to Zumba. Although the weight is coming off very slowly I am contented. I know I am losing inches a few here and there, and I know if I go easy on my band hopefully I will have it for a very long time, which is a good thing. Juli loved the pictures. Tammy so sorry about your leak, yikes! Jeni thanks for reposting the rules. This time of year I think we probably all fall into that darn ice cream, shake, hell. It is a good wake up call not to drink those calories. Well, I am so glad Hubby and I came up with a solution to warding off a pbing episode. We found if he taps my back pretty hard it relieves that pain. I am going to San Fransisco next week with a friend. I told her what hubby does. She laughed and said she has no problem "burping me' it should be a sight for sore eyes LOL But I plan to be good and all the steep walking should help. Well, have a good week everyone! Anyone on facebook?

Jeni, I am so glad this round went good for you. Can't wait to see the new Jeni. Whoo Hoo!:crying: Ok, This hint is so over due it is not even funny. If you get that stuck feeling have someone rub/tap your back which usually produces a burp which then takes care of whats stuck. No hanging over the sink pbing :drool:. But I have good restriction the lbs are dropping slowly but definitely going. I am in smores hell though everynight, with those damn over the burner smores. Damn girl scouts anyway for inventing them LOL :wub: I guess I ma in a crazy mood tonight hence all the icons! Happy hump day!

Hi All, I notice that i have gotten into the habit of eating like 5 blackberries, then 5 ish almonds, then a table spoon of peanut butter, then a hard boiled egg, then a couple slices of cucumber, then a piece of cheese etc. This is all good food, i just tend to graze. What do you think?

Jeni, I am dying to hear what the dance boot camp will be like, that sounds like fun. Do you think the lapband played the major role or exercise on how fast you lost the weight? After already losing one lapband i have been so gun shy of keeping this one too tight, so I have ramped up my exercising. While I am definitely losing inches the lbs hardly budge. I know, I know, muscle weighs more than fat. But I have been pretty stagnant since December when I feel I reached a pretty good sweet spot. So Juli and Jeni, not sure how you guys were previously shaped....me all my weight is mostly in the abdomen.....what is the feeling with that all cut off? I mean every time I work out I say if I could take the inner tube off I could work out so much better. LOL

My 5 girlz, I am so glad you have started to chat! So your a Zumba instructor my have you come a long way. I love Zumba it is truly my life right now. I am losing inches and am getting very healthy and feeling great. Our zumba is housed in a men's strength training center. A woman strength trainer was intrigued by our music. We began to chat and she said she would love to dance some. I told her it is much more then mere dancing. I asked her if along with weight training diod she get any cardio, she said, "Oh yes, yes, I do the treadmill" Umm I thought Well, let me tell you little miss 40's something with the cute little outfit on and hair up in a pony tail could not keep up with the class. I laughed my ass off when she ran out of the gym saying I need air. Just dancing afraid not. I laughed all the way home! Jeni and Juli thanks for all the inspiration you sure have reached your goals, how proud you must be!! I am so darn ecsstatic spring has sprung, I love cutting the grass such good exercise and it clears your mind to boot.

Hello Kyethra it so nice to hear from you again, it sounds like you have a good plan. Josiebies welcome. So I have this feeling and was wondering if you have ever felt this way. I have been doing Zumba dancing and have really built up my core muscle, from my toes to my head. I really have only dropped a few pounds but now have calves of steel. Here is my question. I feel like my inner core is hard and is covered in tons of fat. it is a very bizarre feeling. I stand in front of the mirror and hold up the belly fat and say if this was gone I would not be terrible. But I still have so long to get to a proper weight. it is just so odd. Do you feel like a fairly fit person drowning in fat?

Hi Annette, After being banded twice now, I often wonder if I should have not just gone for the RNY. But first of all, I know quite a few people that have had the RNY that are either gaining back the weight or have gained all the weight back. Don't get me wrong there is a lot of people that keep it off. Tey are now starting to put lapband on patients that have had the RNY and are gaining. It may go slow and we may never lose it all but we have the ability to really manage how much we can eat. The RNY often stretch their pouches out again and then what. If your feeling better, then you are a success! Keep up the good work!

Hey Niecey, Yeah, I have been stalled too. I do Zumba X2 a week and often wonder if I am building muscle. Your right! That class beats your ass. I absolutely love it though! I try to aim for 1200 calories on Sparks but I don't measure so I think that is my problem. Also the days I do Zumba I have it in my head to treat my self for a little dessert, I Know, I know counter productive. I agree about spring, I am going to try to walk and run bleachers on my off Zumba days! Cheers,

Terri, The first thing to do is go to er and get a complete unfill. This was my biggest mistake. A slip can feel like your having a heart attack, you can not even keep your saliva down. It is very painful. keep us posted

Sure Terri. Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks Terri for doing a monthly check in, this should work much better. Man, second time around has been tough, I have lost 14 lbs. Since surgery. I really think weather has a big part in this small loss. Last time I was banded in March so was able to jump right into out door exercise. I am still Zumba dancing and just love it. it is very cardio and strengthening. it is great for the self esteem too! I am taking 1 day at a time. My last banded group is celebrating there 2 year anniversary, most are either at goal or very close. Two are having major plastic surgery. I just can't wait to have it done. My stomach is hanging just horribly. We can do this! Cheers, Janine:thumbup: