Cheryldee

I am 90 pounds down and still have a bit to go, but already I can see the need for some cosmetic work. Flabby arms that will not tone up even with working out consistantly and I cant explain it but my thighs are very saggy... still dimpled with some cellulite, but just seem to hang like elephant skin. Honestly when I look in the mirror, Im thrilled with the weight loss, but my whole body needs some work, but scared to DEATH of the pain and scars of a whole body lift. I always swore I would just be happy with the weight loss.. but I am embarrassed of my thighs.. so I only wear capri's and skirts with my swimsuit... and try never to wear sleeveless anything unless Im forced to take off my coverup with the swimsuit etc. Its almost like I was hiding myself in clothes because of the fat... and now Im hiding myself in just smaller sizes because of saggy skin... I guess I just need the reassurance that when I do reach and maintain my goal it will be okay to do this next step and not be as horrific and I think it is.

Im doing good.. been at a plateau for about the last 11 months.. but we had a relocation and with three kids and settling into a new place.. I honestly just was happy to be maintaining while we went through that life change. So now Im in a new place starting new with a new Dr. (hoping he is a good one..) and ready to get off the last bit that I have to go. Glad to see everyone else doing well.

I have found that many times I sabotage myself because after a fill I will eat something too quickly and get it stuck and have to purge.Or I fail to wait the whole 24-48 hours on liquids.. stupid me.. I know... But then I have irritated my band and it will swell up on me that starts a viscious cycle of liquid days to soft food.... to absent mindedly sticking something in my mouth and not chewing it properly and having to start completely over again when it irritates my band. This has been MY issues... and since I KNOW what im doing I have no one to blame but myself when I screw up like that.. but I was just wondering in your case if you tried to eat something too quickly following the fill.. or maybe you were doing the same cycles as I did.. but definitely if you can not get ANY liquids down, you need to get in a get some taken out so you dont do any damage! I always start my morning with first a Hot Green Tea.. then about an hour after that I drink my protein shake.. but I have never had much luck with eating in the mornings.. .. Best of luck to you... Im going in next week to have just a small amount put back in.. . I tend to be able to eat way more than I should in the evenings... and have been bad about my portion sizes for that evening meal since it tends to go down easy. So Im hoping that will help! I have not gained much back, but dont want to either!

I got a failure message from my email to the Houston Bandsters that I was trying to locate. I think that center must have relocated or just gone out of business. So Im not sure if there is a band support group here in our area or not. I called today and am going to start going to a lap band Dr. off of 242. I have to get all my records transfered and all that. But I will ask them next week if there is a support group out of thier office. But I am also game for just starting one for our area. Obviously if there isnt one.. maybe we could start one and gain some more members! Im sure there are others in our area who could benefit!

I was actually online today looking for a support group because I am new to the area. I heard of a group called Houston Bandsters... but tried to call the number on the website and it was disconnected... so I sent one of the contacts an email to see if they still meet and the when and where. I will let you know when I hear back. The website was h3wellness.com

You body will catch up! It is confused right now by the changes you have made and it just takes it time to catch on to what it is supposed to do. But dont worry ! It will come off.. and then you will most likely hit a plateau again after 10-20 pounds and have to wait again... I went through cycles like that where I would loose 8- 10 one month and gain 2 the next... then another 8- 10 and so on... everyone is different and your bodies react differently due to your metabolism and body size etc. If you have not started to exercise, do that also.. walk or swim... something to add that element, it will help your metabolism start burning more! I waited until I felt more comfortable with my body to start working out, always was embarrased to step into a gym the size I was..but that would have helped me more if I had done it from the start.

Im in the Woodlands also..

Do any of you who have had your band a long time find that some days you are tight and may even have to go to soft foods for a day and other days it is like the flood gates have opened and you have to tell yourself to stop? I am nervous about getting a fill because I have been maintaining well, but I still have some weight to lose to reach my ultimate goal, but dont want to get too tight as I have been before cuz thats no fun at all ! Thoughts?

Thanks for the confirmation that Im not loosing my mind! I too think I am in a good spot and just need to do the rest myself.. I think any tighter and I will not be able to eat any of my protein and although I would like to lose this last bit of weight.. being sick isnt how I want to do it ! Glad to know others have that sensation as well.

Your band isnt giving you restriction really yet. You just had surgery. Why you dont feel hungry has more to do with the medication and the swelling of your stomache.. once that goes down you will feel hungry again and you will have to control yourself because you will be wanting to eat and need to stay on the liquids and then the soft foods. Stick to it ! You can do it!

I think it is also because your stomache has been through a tramatic experience and it will be naturally a bit swollen from having that band attached to it. So once that goes down.. you will regain your hunger ! It took me about 3 days but it will return.

yes.. I agree with you B-52, and ducker... there are some people that should never be banded. I have talked to some of them who come to me wanting to know about how it helped me. Im sure you get those same conversations. I think people who have bingeing issues are going to find themselves in a whole world of trouble if they dont fix that emotional issue first before getting banded. You binge with a band and you can do some real damage. There were issues that I found out about myself that I didnt realize and had to emotionally deal with them along the way... I still deal with some. I envy you B-52 for having it be second nature. Im not there yet. I still have to tell myself to eat and not get so famished that I start grabbing for things that are the wrong things. That is my biggest issue... not the portions or chewing.. just making sure I eat frequently and dont put myself in situations where Im so hungry that I eat too quickly etc. I think this conversation is a great thing to help people figure out that although we talk about "the rules" and all... it all boils down to making good choices.. and Lap Band cant help you there... you have to still make wise decisions and if emotionally you are not ready to do that you should THINK hard before you band!

I think you need to see your Dr and honestly tell him/her what you are doing. Maybe they can suggest some nutritional therapy groups or get you into other groups that would help you. Obviously you have discovered through this process that there is more to this than just food. It is emotional, mental and many other factors and issues come into this besides just the food. Dont give up on yourself though and i wouldnt give up on your band. Remember that you are worth it and your health is worth it! Go see your Dr. and get back on the right path !

I think I have seen some of the posts you refer to. I think it is wrong to tell people Its OKAY to break the rules... but the fact is, we are human, we got this way because we had eating issues, and it is unrealistic to think that we are going to be perfect everyday!~ I just try to keep my comments to where I understand that we all have made mistakes..but get back on the right track and dont make things worse. Have I eaten a milk shake when I know it's a cheat... yes. Have I tried to nibble on things thinking if I ate it slow... it would be okay... Yes... Did I learn from each of those experiences... Oh yes! I definitely think people need to Listen to their Dr's and do everything they can to follow the rules. But when you screw up..know that you are not alone and get back on it. With your medical background, you definitely could add a whole lot of insight to some of those people who make those statements. Be sure to correct people when they incorrectly tell someone poor information.. They may not be doing it intentionally and you could help them both.

Each doctor is different.. I think they do that because they are wanting you to get used to a restricted type of eating so you wont hurt your band when you finally do have a restriction. I only had restricted eating Post Op for 2 weeks... and i remember feeling starved! I feel for you! Dont beat yourself up too harshly. You will eventually have that restriction so you dont feel hungry but right now you dont. You just want to set yourself up for a great start to your journey and if you stick to it... you will lose additional weight here in the beginning and be off to a great start. I remember having the feeling like "I paid all that money.. and Im still starving...! " But it will get there.... just try to stick to it these next few weeks... if you fall off the wagon, get right back on... it happens! I ate alot of yogurt and tried to fill my hunger with grapes and healthy things... but it is difficult because you ARE hungry! Hang in there! Your worth it!