Britneygirl

Kiki1616- dont feel bad or díscouraged. You are not alone with your feelings or hopes. I can honestly say that I seriously thought that I would get skinny just by wearing the band. I'm ashamed to admit this but it's true. And I think a lot of people who wud never admit it hoped tbe same. Before I got mine, I would see so many old friends who were once obese that are now skinny pins. They all said I got the Lapband. So over the years I said enough gaining 60 pounds a year. I wanna get one of those bands that makes me feel full and get skinny. And that is so far from what tbe band actuallt does and Is. It's a medial device that will HELP you lose weight by forcing you to reduce your amount of food you eat. Thus making you less hungry by the next meal. That's all it is. If u don't diet or follow rules it's basically just a device around ur stomach. If u don't understand how it works like I didn't. I always stare at a picture of a banded stomach. And it makes u think about what type of work ur body had to do to get the food down from above the band. I'll tell you what tbe secret is. CHEW CHEW CHEW.

I'm 10 months out and have lost 76% of my excess weight. It's been a steady loss of a pound a week. That's without exercising. I've managed to shed 60 pounds since surgery and 73 total. My band is real light rite now and I'm barely in the green zone. I think. Anyways 18 months is what ny dr said is the average amount of time it takes most patients to hit goal. Just this past week I realized I'm not Fat anymore. I'm not even chunky. This is getting weird!!!! But in a good way.

These are all amazing stories. Especially the collar bone post. I hadn't thought about it before but yes that is a big difference I also notice.

This is me today. That was me last year. I am so thankful for my surgeon Dr Lee Au.

That moment when someone u haven't seen in 5 months sees u but walks past u bcuz they don't recognize you. That's what I encountered today at work. That was one of my best NSV's so far. I'm 8 months post op and 35 away from goal. This NSV just motivated me more than ever. To hit my goal by November. My Bandiversary.

It works as hard as u do. And the loss is slow. But u need this time to adapt to a brand new way of eating. Your stomach will be shaped smaller which forbids u to eat more than a cup of food 1-3 times a day. Think about it real good. It's NOT easy at all. But worth it.

Thank you all for joining my thread. Its so very rewarding to see all of the encouragement. I definitely dont feel alone with my feelings. Tge self hatred can be so overwhelming at times. Although this surgery has taken some of those feelings and made me a healthier person.

Last year the beginning of summer j cried one day and thought how do u get thru another summer at 230 pounds. I had to make a change. I am almost to my goal. I want to hit goal by this November.

I can't get mine to work and it seems all my data that I've entered these past 6 months, is no longer on my profile. I Use this app daily to track my journey.

You go girl!! With ur thinner u. It's just the beginning of your journey, enjoy.

With his wonderful and always professional team at modern institute of beauty, he is the best dr if you are lucky to have your surgery performed by him. He treats his patients with dignity and respect. And he sees so many patients in beverly hills, LA, antelope valley, San Diego. As as many faces he sees he always remembers his patients and makes me laugh while doing a wonderful job. I absolutely love this man and all that he's done for me. I have a wonderful dr that has helped me shed 50 pounds and made my life so much better. Look up this dr if your looking to have gastric banding. He is thee Lapband dr for all who need a good dr.

I would attend if I knew where. I used to go w my mom when I was a kid.

If there are any bandsters who used to attend OA (overeaters anonymous)?

OMG!! That is certainly an excuse to cry!!! You are amazing and an inspiration to all who are reading this.

Thank you. It's very emotional for some reason. I see pix of before when I was very obese and I get so mad at myself for letting myself go. I don't want to ever feel bad like that.

I hit a huge milestone today. I have lost as of today, 50 pounds which is also 50% of my excess weight. I am halfway there. I've been banded for 6 months now. And although it was hard at the beginning, these first 6 months have been more than a diet. It has been a total reprogramming of the mind and body. I feel so great now. I want to hit my goal by m birthday december 9th.

Hi all. I have to agree about the pain when the dr pushes my port in and feels around w his fingers for the plunger on mu port. It is so sensitive there. I see dr au every month and he is worth the trip to Beverly hills. He pretty much gives me a fill when I ask for one. I have lost 45 pounds including pre op. I was banded November 4,2011. Dr au tells me that at the rate I'm losing, I will see my goal in about 6 months. I am getting a lot of compliments now and I can finally see te change in my self. I have a neck again and my big belly is now a tiny spare tire. I'm in love w the new me. Good luck to all of you who are on this wonderful journey. Don't b on a hurry. Take lots of pictures and do lots of before and after side by sides (photo frames ap) every month. I wish I can share mine. I don't know how to post. Can anyone help me post a pic

I would be careful w those program fees. In my opinion that s just a sneaky way for drs offices to get more money from those of us who hav insurance and don't have to pay anything. My office required a $1200 program fee that they demand before they scheduled my surgery. I didn't have it and I made a big complaint to the office manager and asked why I had to pay that much and I ended up having it waived (they never mentioned it again.) so ask questions before u pay that. I think drs know how bad people want this surgery so they capitalize on it. Beware of these fees. U are having a medically necessary surgery. So why "program fees"?

I would be careful w those program fees. In my opinion that s just a sneaky way for drs offices to get more money from those of us who hav insurance and don't have to pay anything. My office required a $1200 program fee that they demand before they scheduled my surgery. I didn't have it and I made a big complaint to the office manager and asked why I had to pay that much and I ended up having it waived (they never mentioned it again.) so ask questions before u pay that. I think drs know how bad people want this surgery so they capitalize on it. Beware of these fees. U are having a medically necessary surgery. So why "program fees"?

Well that there does make sense. I guess that was why I was given a 14 cc band. I just got my 7th fill yesterday. I'm at 11ccs now. I dont know how it feels yet cuz I'm on liquid til Sunday. But I think I'm now very tightly filled. Which is what I need. I'm pretty sure with yesterday's fill that I'm now in green zone territory.

Can anyone tell me the difference of the two. Is it just different manufactures, and is one better or work better? it seems that the majorjty of people on here have the 10cc band. Very curious. I have a 14cc and it's taking me a while to get to my green zone. I wonder if my band is too large for my stomach?

Yeah I feel tight in the morning when I drink my pills and eat my yogurt. But by lunch I'm good. And if I don't chew good then my band screams at me to slow down. This is awesome for me. I am excited to get on the scale every morning. I'm never hungry anymore Like I was In the beginning. I love my band.

FINALLY! I am 5 months out and 30 pounds lighter. But I have been wondering when I would get here. Im not having trouble getting anything down and I have 10 ccs in my 14cc band. I eat 4 ounces and fell full for over 5 hours. Ive lost 4 pounds in one week. I still have to make smart food choices to utilize this wonderful device to it's fullest. I jest now realized how this all works. It's been a wonderful journey getting here. I almost lost focus and gave up on this journey a few times. But I jumped back and now the plan is coming together. #excited@