LiveStrong41

The ring is gorgeous Missy! My reward is a non-plus sized wedding dress to wear next July!!

I have said from the beginning, when I lost 200 pounds I wanted a major reward for all my hard work. I've actually lost over 230 pounds now and finally found my reward to myself. A ring.
I have wanted a Peridot ring forever. Plus, I feel like every time I look down at my ring, it's reminder not only how far I've come but to stay on track so I never go back to that miserable state again.
So, my question is, what's your reward? It doesn't matter how big or small it is. I've had many other small ones along the way and I've love to hear yours. What do you reward yourself with instead of food?
(btw, it looks MUCH prettier in person lol)

What HAS HELPED is structuring my time in the evening. I make certain that I have nothing to eat for 2 hours before going to bed, and then wait an additional hour after taking my evening medications before I attempt to lay down and fall asleep. Since I began following this schedule, I have had no more nights of interrupted sleep. I think it's working for me, as it has been close to a month since any real episodes, with the exception of the night following my UGI study. I am still waiting on results of that study. If following this evening routine allows me to retain my band, then it is well worth it to me. I have had my band unfilled since May, and have been able to continue to lose weight. I hope that I will be able to complete my journey...but any way you look at it, I am healthier today than I was last year. It has all been worth it for me.

Oh how badly i want to respond to this post. I myself went through lap band hell. I went through lap band hell because my doctor wouldn't listen to me. You are right, he was making lots of money off me each month. I am a 46 yr old woman and i know my body. My band was good for me for about two yrs. and then after a fixed flipped port, everything went downhill but my weight (which i am accountable for) i would lose restriction after 2 or 3 days of a good fill and i had horrible port site pain. So after 7 months of arguing with him i had it. Sure enough, he finally paid attention to how many cc's were in there. One time i asked him what is in there, and he didn't know. i was so pissed i slammed the door. So he found a leak and my port was being rejected. I switched doctors within the clinic and have been so blessed. I chose to have the band out and switched to the sleeve. My insurance covered it because the band was being rejected and i couldn't have it. So far i am 45 pounds down 10 weeks post up and a very good surgeon that listens to me. It sounds like you are trying and doing what you should be doing. I have nothing against lap bands, but why does it seem like if someone has a band thats working they think its you that is doing something wrong. I don't think you are slamming your band, you have every right to slam your incompetent doctor. If you have a chance and decide to change surgeries, the sleeve is so easy. The recovery was a bit hard due to two surgeries at once (band out, and sleeve) but i am good now. I am so sorry you are gong through this. I wish people that had successful lap bands would be more supportive of those that are struggling. If your insurance is paying for it , maybe they can tell them your body is rejecting it and you may want to consider the sleeve. And i never found my sweet spot either after two years. So i feel for you and support you. We have all walked in each others foot steps, so lets make suggestions for those that need it, not tell them how successful you have been with your band. She is hurting enough and feeling sad, she doesn't need more ridicule~~~ You should change doctors if you can., one that listens to you. Yes, my fills were over 200.00 too every month. All it did was build a big medical bill. After i had the sleeve i had 3 post op visits and cancelled the rest. I feel good and am doing fine. I wish you well and please send me a personal message if you want to talk. i am here for each and everyone of you. AS I HAVE WALKED IN ALL YOUR SHOES!!!!!! Lets make sure we are supporting all our members on here. I have heard some harsh things on this site and it makes me sad. Just because one thing works for, it doesn't mean it works for another, even if they are doing everything right. Again, I am here to support all of you. This is a terrible disease that had debilitated many of us...my heart goes to those that are struggling. BUT I BELIEVE IN EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!!!

<------Myself and my new great friend Sojo. We each drove over an hour to meet.Love that girl!
Great post Alex, thank you for your continued support.

Incredible!!!!! Now you are stunning inside and out thanks for sharing!

Very happy to hear the doctor thinks it will heal fine, finally.
Thanks for the updates.

I asked my Plastic Surgeon and Bariatric Surgeon the same questions... not silly at all. In my case neither Dr required an unfill like I expected they might. They also consulted with the anesthesiologist who said she did not feel it was necessary so I didnt get one. My port was just to the left of my old belly button. My BS and PS know each other and they said the BS could go in during surgery and give me a low profile port if I wanted it for additional fees of course for the BS. I decided my port was fine where it was and never really stuck out too badly so I decided to leave it alone.
Because I was swollen I couldnt feel it so after surgery I asked my PS how he dealt with the port and he said he worked around it but had no problems with it being in the way. Now that the swelling is going down I can feel it again and its still to the left of my new belly button.

Congrats. I'm still not ready to put a face with the name!! Hopefully I'll get the courage to "out myself" one day!!

My pleasure lee... I think that one of the big benefits of this forum is to be able to see first hand what others are or have gone through. Congrats on your huge loss! It's life changing isn't it?

Floridays, it's really awesome that you are giving us the play by play on the surgery ... I "need" it having dropped 269 so far but still dropping. Really worried about doing it so helps to get a trusted person posting ; )
Thanks
Lee

Thank you....your hot bod will be right there with me very soon!

Great news! I can understand your hubby's concern. I would have been scared too! I'm so envious of you and your new hot bod (in a good way! Ha!) Welcome to your year... 2013!!

I found this article that relates to the topic, only this is from a well known surgeon in the US.
What We Know from Successful Lapband Patients

Posted on 05.27.12
Band Help
2 Comments

There are several characteristics that we have identified from those patients who are successful with their band. Sometimes what we find out from them surprises us, and changes the way we think about the band. But we spend a lot of time with our successful patients, and learn from them as to what we can do to help others.
All I do is install a tool. It is up to you to use it
The band is a tool
One lovely patient of mine said that if I told her this one more time she would choke me. But this is what our patients who lose their excess weight tell me. “The band doesn’t do the work,” Bill told me, “I’m doing the work. The band just makes it possible.” Bill has had his band for five years. When he came to me he weighed over 300 pounds at five foot six inches, and was not a happy man. He now weighs 160 pounds, but he will tell you that he works at this every day. He eats healthy food, he measures his food, and when he needs to get an adjustment, he comes in. Recently Bill had a bit of pouch dilation so we had to remove Fluid for a few weeks and rehabilitate his band (he had been eating a bit too fast over the last months and started to notice heart burn.). During the band rehabilitation Bill gained 2 pounds.
X-rays of successful patients
Take a piece of food, like meat, and put some x-ray material on it (kinda ruins the taste) and have a successful patient eat it. How fast do you think it goes from above the band to below the band? Pretty quickly- usually less than a minute, but for most about 30 seconds.
We use to think that food stayed above the band and slowly dripped down – like coffee through Mr. coffee filters. But it doesn’t. Food, in successful patients- goes through quickly.
What about patients who are not successful and talk to us about wanting the band tighter and more “restricted.” Their food stays above the band longer. They have more episodes of “productive burps” more trouble with meats and vegetables. But if you ask the unsuccessful patient they will tell you, “I know my band, and this is how I lost weight before.” It probably wasn’t- but now they think the answer is to make the band tighter and tighter.
Drinking and eating
Successful patients eat and drink at the same time. We use to think this wasn’t a good idea, and some patients from those days don’t eat and drink at the same time- and tell us it makes a difference.
Exercise
Did you know that 77% of our successful patients exercise. Lots do weight training, some cardio, but they work out and do it a lot and enjoy it. A very small per cent did that before the band. Exercise isn’t how they stay thin- but if you ask them, “When I exercise, I don’t want to waste calories on something stupid and give up all I did.”
Unsuccessful patients tell us they didn’t exercise last month (the month before they came to the office).
Measure Everything
Measure everything
They don’t “eyeball it,” they measure it. And in fact, they often don’t trust their own eyes because when they don’t measure for a few days and then test themselves they are shocked at how much they start to eat. Jacquie weighed 260 pounds when she started with us. One year later she weighed 130 pounds. What was her secret — she measured everything, “Everything I ate I put in those little cups.” Oh, after a year she got her first fill (her band was a bit lose).
Unsuccessful patients tell us “I eat less than I ever did, and I just don’t understand.” Do they measure? No- they eyeball. Test this right now – get a measuring cup out and cut up the meat you would think is your portion for dinner.
Successful patients know that they eat less for the first year or 18 months, then they increase the amount. Unsuccessful patients increase the amount.
Never hungry, never full
“I just live by never being hungry, but I never want to get full either,” said one of our patients. She ate every four hours, but never much, and she had gone from 220 to 125 in a year.
Patients who are not successful tell us that they “can eat more than I should.” The answer is, they always could eat more – the band does not physically prevent them. But when you eat to feeling “full” you will eat more than you should. When you know how much you need to eat to avoid getting hungry, and not go over that, the answer is weight loss.
Accountability
Everyone has setbacks. But successful patients get up, come back in, and get adjusted. Sometimes it is their head, sometimes it is there band.
Unsuccessful patients blame everything but themselves: be it drugs they are taking, a lack of exercise, or stress. The successful patient learns from the mistakes they made, know their trigger and figure it out. We had one patient get upset because she was on prednisone, had thyroid issues, had orthopedic issues, and just thought we were not nice because we didn’t accept that as an excuse (we would have the first time, maybe the second time, but a year of excuses to not lose weight with the band).
Food restrictions
Successful patients will tell you that they eat differently now than before surgery. Unsuccessful patients tell us that their diet can’t change because they are picky eaters, and their diets have not changed. In spite of signing the consent form, which on page 2 says they are willing to change lifestyle- these patients don’t change the most fundamental issue- what they eat, and where they eat it. Bad food, and too much of it, is bad food.
Visits
Successful patients see us about 6-11 times the first year, and 4-6 the second. Unsuccessful patients see us either much less – or a few see us more.
Want to change?
Consider this- there is nothing that is difficult if you are willing to change. Let the lapband be the tool. Our 90 day challenge is meant for those who either need to re-focus, get rid of things, and then begin again. Never stay down- always come back.
http://azlapband.com/blog/what-we-know-from-successful-band-patients/

I signed up for the forum 3 years ago. It took until today that I finally got the courage to add a picture to my profile. I was afraid of being seen and "outed" I guess.
My success story is that I have reached a point that I have realized there is nothing to be concerned about. If someone I know recognizes me all the better. Maybe they will approach me and we can discuss what great life choice I feel I have made for myself and I could encourage other who might choose this path to do the same.
For so many years I would avoid getting in pictures over the holidays. I regret now that it is hard to find many pictures with me and my daughters during Christmas over the years. This year I was getting in as many as I could while my girls are still young (8 and 10) to make up for lost time. Looking forward to a happy and healthy 2013 and wish everyone else here the same!!

Thanks Patty!! I'm very excited being 6ft tall and very muscular from my former cheerleading days I tend to carry weight well thank God lol even at my heaviest I was only a size 24 so now I am basically in between plus n regular size clothes and it's an awesome feeling!!! If I wasn't so old and out of shape I'd do kart wheels around my living room lol!! So how far into your journey are you?

when you have more to lose I think it comes off faster in the beginning. I lost 40 lbs the first 5 weeks.....then it kept coming off and overall it actually averaged ten pounds per month... But the last 50 lbs actually took 6/7 months.... So enjoy the early part of your journey!!!!

I'm glad everything went well, even thou I had my drains in for two whole weeks .. Everyday I had fuild coming out . So I can imagine how much fuild you had .. I think I would have panicked and called 911 ... And my husband too !! Lol ... Feel better ASAP and take it easy ... When do you return to work ...

thanks you very much....So am I.. Of course last night my husband was sure I was bleeding to death... But I told him no way would I die now... I need to enjoy my new bod.

I am so happy to hear it was nothing concerning! Great way to start the new year!

I feel the same way as your hubby.. I only saw boob jobs that looked like boob jobs...until I started really researching.... And I picked a dr who knows his stuff. My husband thought we should go to a strip club and find out what drs the girls used. I negated that idea and started with friends, online reviews and then asked my surgeon in a moment of realization he just may know who is the best in the biz and not a boobs r us guy.... And turns out he did. If you look at the pic in my gallery . I know it's all covered up but I think they look pretty natural. Well none that I have ever had but some do I suppose. .

I was SO glad to see you posting here!! I've been thinking about you, praying you were doing well. I'm so thrilled that you are!!!
Heal fast and hopefully you continue to feel good!

you make valid points.... but i just think people need to have thicker skin. Seriously this is an open forum...not a members only invited type of "club" so you are going to have a melting pot of people who were not schooled in manners as much as the next person. I can pick those people out right away and I tend to breeze through their postings because i don't think anyone can force their opinions on anyone else unless the person is open to accepting them... As for people selling books or telling me it's their way or the highway... I pretty much read and move on. I paid my dr a lot of money to guide me and at the end if the day I will follow his advice. But I can tell you there were many times I would tell him about something I read and would ask his opinion on it.
There are basics every bandster should follow... Chew, liquids after fills, eat small portions and drink lots of Water. After that you will start seeing thousands of posts on what worked for others... That's where you need to pick and chose and if need be...ignore.