DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Today i am offically no longer obese I am just overweight.. .
14lbs to go !!!

Yes, because yaya77nc, because unfortunately the band can only stop physical hunger not "head hunger". In other words it won't take away the cravings and desire that have nothing to do with being hungry,
Hang in there. I find if I can just grit my teeth and resist for awhile that urge eventually passes. I'm lucky to be in the infamous "green zone", so if I do have a moment of weakness I thankfully can't do much damage because I'm likely already full from my last meal.

I just HAVE to brag a little. I went out to dinner with my fiancé tonight and the hostess led us to a booth. I was about to ask for a table instead when I just decided to try the booth and see. Well, not only did I fit in the booth but there was a good 3-4 inches between me and the table!! I was beaming! I told my fiancé and he was high fiving me and praising my hard work! I was so happy I didn't want to eat hehe!!!

This has been amazing! There has been both highs and lows... I started in a size 24 W, now I wear sz 8. I have been sz 8 for little over a yr...

(chuckling),,,its not as if there is a team of espionage agents waiting at the end of your esaphogas keeping records of what you ate.
The point of the liquids is to give your insides a chance to heal without too much burden on your digestive system....No, I don't think anyone is going to know what you ate... but if you feel this guilty, call your docs and confess. tell them it was a mistake.. a moment of weakness... and you promise you'll be better... (still chucklin)...but better than that.. stop beating yourself up about this.. we are human.. call your doc and get an understanding of why they expect you to eat this special diet.. and what falling off the wagon will do.... so you get the motivation to get back to the diet... (trust me, we all had our moment...)

Unfortunately, you're going to find this on any medical board, especially when costly drugs and/or procedures are in question.
I noticed a lot of what I call sock puppets right away when I got here. A sock puppet is the slang term for a fake account made specifically to sell, spam, or bash on the topic at hand. I spend a fair amount of time on boards for Multiple Sclerosis, too. (because I have MS) I see sock puppets there as well, trying to bash on people's drug of choice only to try to sell some new unproven treatment or a different drug. So when I came here, I was able to pick out the sock puppets almost immediately,
Here's some hints: If you suspect a sock puppet account, go to their profile and check their posts and topics. 98% of the time it's a dead give away because their patient info is blank and their only posts are to band bash or sell another procedure.
It's unfortunate that people are so unethical but rest assure this happens everywhere.
Oh and for the record? I love my band. I've lost 55 pounds in 2 months

UPDATE:
BENIGN BABY!!!!! I'M CANCER FREE!!!!
Thank you for all of the prayers...they worked!!!! Now I get to concentrate on my baby that will be joining this world in 12 short weeks!!!! Whoop Whoop

Am I the first male to comment??...
I can not understand why people cheat.. especially when have built a family and a foundation.
I would LOVE to have another partner.... I have 3 girls and I lost my wife to cancer at age 38... I'm still on my own and it wretches me when I hear stories like yours... cancer is a horrible disease but I stuck with her to the end... NOTHING comes before your family!
Dump and go on and you wil find someone.....

It's hard to believe but I got my band 4 years ago. I am down between 75-80 pounds overall. (Of course I want to lose those extra 10-20-25 lbs, but if I just stay where I am, I am ok too.) I love my band and can't imagaine life without it.
In this time a lot of things have happened, as they always do. First, I had breast cancer, which came with chemo, a mastectomy, radiation, reconstruction etc. But through it all, I happily kept the band. I had only one hurdle with it though... after the mastectomy I had a wicked reaction to the anesthesia so after heaving for hours in the recovery room, the band was dislodged and I had to have a "revision." Unfortunately the next year I had another slip and another revision. I'm really quite careful now and am relieved that I am basically at the year mark and intact. I did have to have it loosened recently, then quickly gained 8 lbs, but am now back on the way down. It is distressing to regain but a relief to know that I can get back on track again, without too much damage done. So you can see life with a band is much like life itself, somewhat unpredictable and not a straight line of perfection. But the band is the tool that I feel has saved my life and self esteem. I am grateful for it every day. It gives me something that other people have, but I either don't have or lost along the way, an internal brake telling me that I'm full. It's that simple.
People who know ask what I miss... not much. Bagels? I had enough for a lifetime, but sometimes I'll pick at the outer crust. Steak? I can live without it. Lobster? Oh well... nothing is really a big deal. I feel I can eat a little of almost anything...
To those who are on the journey, good luck. Questions welcome, of course.

Hot tea or Water help me. I've had two painful stuck episodes since my last fill and neither time anything would actually come back up. I drank some hot tea and it washed the stuck food through.
Good luck

Good morning all, it's finally my turn....Just waking up, I really would like a cup of coffee...My surgery is at noon. I'm super excited. I want to thank everyone who's helped inform me on things. I've learned so much. Guess I should get up and around.
Have a super day, and I'll chat with you on the other side once I become a banded.

It sucks big time. I went 4 weeks on liquids- it was hell. My doctor doesn't allow us to start on mushie food until the 5th week after surgery. That was a LONG month!
Though not liquids, I was allowed yogurt and sugar free pudding on the liquids phase. V8 also makes some shockingly good cream style Soups, so I ate those a lot as well. Oh and runny oatmeal helps, too.
I know it's hard but stick with it. This time is for healing not weight loss, so just drink when you need to and remind yourself you're trying to give yourself time to heal.

It sucks big time. I went 4 weeks on liquids- it was hell. My doctor doesn't allow us to start on mushie food until the 5th week after surgery. That was a LONG month!
Though not liquids, I was allowed yogurt and sugar free pudding on the liquids phase. V8 also makes some shockingly good cream style Soups, so I ate those a lot as well. Oh and runny oatmeal helps, too.
I know it's hard but stick with it. This time is for healing not weight loss, so just drink when you need to and remind yourself you're trying to give yourself time to heal.

It sucks big time. I went 4 weeks on liquids- it was hell. My doctor doesn't allow us to start on mushie food until the 5th week after surgery. That was a LONG month!
Though not liquids, I was allowed yogurt and sugar free pudding on the liquids phase. V8 also makes some shockingly good cream style Soups, so I ate those a lot as well. Oh and runny oatmeal helps, too.
I know it's hard but stick with it. This time is for healing not weight loss, so just drink when you need to and remind yourself you're trying to give yourself time to heal.

I hate it when people claim to be something when there are not. I had my lapband done two yrs. ago. I have lost some weight. I want to lose more. Its my fault that I haven't. I like the lapband. I had my fill on monday and had to go back and have some taken out. I couldn't hold down liquids and that is miserable. But I feel good now.

Surgery date Sept.12th,2011......Its great I am at my sixth month anniversary and I am down almost 100lbs (pre and post) surgery. I feel wonderful, more active (just brought myself a bike) This is the best thing I have ever done for myself.

Unfortunately until you have adequate restriction, there is a lot of white knuckling willpower required.
Keep in mind that even once you do have restriction, you can still not lose weight (or even gain) if you're not making good food choices. It's really important to look at this as a lifestyle change rather than a diet and to realize the band is just a tool not a cure.
If you have a smart phone, I would highly recommend an app called 'Lose It'. It is my bible! I track everything I eat so I can be sure to stay within my allotted daily calories and monitor my Protein, carb, and fat intake. I've even used it when eating out to check the calories on food before I order (you can search food by restaurants). I have even used it to figure out the calories and nutritional content on food I cook for my kids, like spaghetti and goulash, so I can eat with them.
Another thing I have found helps is to get rid of processed bleached white flour foods. For instance, I use whole grain wheat bread. Aunt Millie's makes a great one and it's only 35 calories a slice. When I make things like spaghetti or goulash, I use whole grain Pasta rather than the normal bleached Pasta. It costs a little more but well worth it. If I'm making something that calls for ground beef, I substitute it for 93% lean ground turkey. There are a lot of ways to make foods you already like healthier.
I try to stay at about 1000 calories a day. Of that I make sure to get at least 60g of Protein, less than 20g of fat, and no more than 125g of carbs. (this is per my nutrionist's recommendation). If I have a sweet tooth I can't beat, I will have a sugar free pudding, a Smart Ones dessert, or even a Skinny Cow cookie. But even then, I make sure it fits into my daily calorie and carb allowance.
Good luck to you!

Just wanted to share this great app. Its free, easy to use and does everything for you. It really help keep me accountable. Android or Apple!
Loseit.com
In the app market
Really helps guys!

I am also 5.4 tall and i had double the weight u need to lose the band for me was the most simplest of all 3 surgeries, i dont like being forced to live with something because it cant be reversed. I have lost more than some people do with the bypass or sleeve .. if u want to succeed and work hard at it then it is possible ..I wouldnt change the band at all ..
Just make an informed decision based on the medical info and self knowledge . then commit to it .. good luck

I was within weeks of having gastric bypass surgery and canceled. I just couldn't rationalize having perfectly healthy organs re-routed and even parts removed without trying less drastic first.
I did a lot of research on gastric bypass, the sleeve, and the band. For me the band was the most logical step, because it's 100% reversible and there's no rerouting of your organs. I figured if this didn't work, then I'd consider the sleeve next, but only if the band didn't work.
I had surgery on January 6, 2012 and I have lost 55 pounds so far. I feel better than I have in years and am SO happy I chose the band.
Something to keep in mind, regardless of what surgery you choose, you still have to do the work. None of them are a magic fix and all take a lot of commitment to change by you. People don't lose weight, or gain weight back, with all three surgeries if they aren't eating right. I know a man who'd lost over 200 pounds after having gastric bypass 4 years ago, however now he's gained about 100 back and is still rising.
The other thing about the gastric bypass and the sleeve is, if you overeat and stretch out your pouch, you're kinda screwed. However with the band, you can always get a fill if you're needing it.
I love my band, but I also know we all have to choose what's best for us. I'd talk to the surgeon and do a lot of research on both procedures. Get the facts before making a decision.
Best wishes to you on whichever path you choose.

I was within weeks of having gastric bypass surgery and canceled. I just couldn't rationalize having perfectly healthy organs re-routed and even parts removed without trying less drastic first.
I did a lot of research on gastric bypass, the sleeve, and the band. For me the band was the most logical step, because it's 100% reversible and there's no rerouting of your organs. I figured if this didn't work, then I'd consider the sleeve next, but only if the band didn't work.
I had surgery on January 6, 2012 and I have lost 55 pounds so far. I feel better than I have in years and am SO happy I chose the band.
Something to keep in mind, regardless of what surgery you choose, you still have to do the work. None of them are a magic fix and all take a lot of commitment to change by you. People don't lose weight, or gain weight back, with all three surgeries if they aren't eating right. I know a man who'd lost over 200 pounds after having gastric bypass 4 years ago, however now he's gained about 100 back and is still rising.
The other thing about the gastric bypass and the sleeve is, if you overeat and stretch out your pouch, you're kinda screwed. However with the band, you can always get a fill if you're needing it.
I love my band, but I also know we all have to choose what's best for us. I'd talk to the surgeon and do a lot of research on both procedures. Get the facts before making a decision.
Best wishes to you on whichever path you choose.

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.

Yes Medicare approved mine fast, too. I went to my first doctor's visit on Dec. 3, 2011 and had surgery Jan. 6, 2012. No waiting period at all.
It's awesome you're finally about to get yours! Congratulations!

Don't worry about weight loss right now. You are healing from surgery and before that you were probably on a liquid diet. The 15th is only a few days away. Don't stress, just keep doing what you're doing. You'll be okay!

A year ago today I got a voicemail that changed my life. In the months before, I was having issues with my thyroid. I had scans and biopsies done and I was referred to an endocrinologist. She had me do all sorts of blood work. Her voicemail a year ago said that I had thyroiditis. It when your levels go up and down and you go from having hypo- thyroid to hyper thyroid. She was more concerned with my sugar levels and told me that my Ac1 was at 6.4 which is onset diabetes. I made up my mind after that voicemail that I was having the lap band done. I had my surgery 6/6/11. I have a little less than 3 mos to go for my banniversary. So far I'm down 67 lbs. I'm not weighing myself during lent and I'm ok with that. I was never a morning person and now I wake up at 4:45 am very weekday to go to he gym before I go to work. I'm so grateful for the band. My thyroid issues are gone and my sugar levels are fine now. I still listen to hat voicemail every now and then to remind me of how unhealthy i was. I can't wait to post my 1year stats.