Bubie1916

In case this is helpful to anyone I have come back to post this.
I lost weight, but hit a point for some reason that I got really weak and sick of my lapband. At one point I felt as though I was starving and yet couldn't eat anything bc I got stuck all the time. I didn't have a slip..or anything other than I really I just did not have a lifestyle where the band fit in. I wanted a balanced meal. I wanted to not have to deal with this thing day in and day out. I was so tired and no matter how much Vitamins or Protein I took in...I lost muscle, and struggle with nutrition deficiency. Eventually I hit a wall. I couldn't take it anymore..just got sick of the lifestyle. I tend to stress easily and any stress caused constriction that made everything get stuck. This is what my physician thought. I tend to agree. I was already on meds for that too!! ffs..it was too much.
After a long fought battle to lose what I did I couldn't take it anymore and had my band completely unfilled. I gained all my weight back and realized I had to do it on my own one day at a time.
My choices were death..get my crap together or be barfing all the time and miserable or even go in for a different surgery..I just couldn't handle it. I'd been through so much fought so hard to try to save myself from dying in the middle of the night due to obesity related causes..I hit rock bottom. I had spend my whole life fighting this it felt..
So.
What I learned:
The band showed me (if just for a minute!!!) that I wanted to live. what it kinda tasted like to be normal in my size!!... to have a new life!!! I wanted what I felt the lucky ones had!! even to be 20 pounds overweight would have been fine. I wanted to not have to see another plus sized store or large online catalog for the rest of my friggen life. The world is not setup for the obese. That there is a whole exciting world out there but it only goes up to XL (if you're lucky).
So I started to walk forward. On my own. with diet and exercise. 8 yrs later I look back see how much I have gone through - multiple family members deaths, divorce, losing a home, job changes, therapy, various surgeries, and growth.
I have now lost over 100Lbs and although my life is far from ideal, is so radically different it scares me at times..I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am working on losing 27 pounds and doing more run/walk events. It is fun to work on this. It is fun to learn and research and met others who are into fitness. To learn about food addiction, depression or other soul killing things in our lives.. I get to do so much more now. People who meet me have no idea who I used to be or how large I was.
I am so much different now. I like myself and know my journey will never end and that thought gives me a big hug feeling. I finally get it.
So no I don't regret getting the band. It gave me what I needed.. even though it was indirect. My hope is to someday get it out and get a Tummy Tuck but I don't obsess over that and it isn't really the end of the world if it doesn't happen.
I hope this helps someone else bc it is not a black and white journey for everyone.
Peace.

For the vet fellas out there, did you find WLS spurred a mid life crisis? While only 35 I am married with 4 kids... so feel a bit older than my age. I have found myself making a lot of changes in the 4 months since surgery. I bought my very first brand new car... all black with black wheels. I've been shopping for clothes and not just because nothing fits me anymore, but rather because I want to. I care about shaving and getting haircuts again. Sex drive is at my 19 year old self level. Hell, I just bought a pair of retro Air Jordan IVs because I wanted them so bad as a child. Most of this I've attributed to just loving life again... but now I'm starting to wonder if I'm becoming the stereotypical middle aged man.

Here's a pic from a gala I went to with my husband at the Plaza Hotel. We were fancy fancy but inside all I could think of was wow I am actually wearing a size 8 dress! I was previously a 16 (on a good day)!

I just replied to a post, where the person stated she would need to get new friends after surgery...this bothered me.
I found the opposite to be true....
Following is the reply I posted:
I never told anyone other than immediate family....
I go out with my friends, people from work all the time...while they are devouring greasy burgers, etc, I am very picky about what I eat, and go for the healthiest choices I can. Plus I eat like a bird.
If the menu has nothing but junk like a lot of chains do, then I eat nothing...and I will tell the people I'm with why I am not eating and why the food on the menu is not good......I also stopped eating meat after lap band surgery.
And I am one who would eat an entire large pizza at a sitting...now I wouldn't (couldn't) touch it...
You will be surprised at the respect you will get from people...you will be one of the unique ones..admired for taking control of your life, being health conscious, more active with an exercise routine, looking at life from a different angle.
And, when the weight starts to come off, it only multiplies.
The lap band forced me to change my lifestyle, but no one needs to know that...I am after all the one getting educated and making the healthy choices.
As far as alcohol, well that's a hot topic around here....listen to your Dr.

Congratulations.....your story is almost identical as mine...
I had failed a stress test, found blockages, needed angioplasty with stents....while they were in there they found damaged areas from a previous heart attack....must have been a silent one which is common with diabetics and women....
Diabetic taking oral meds, and daily injections....high BP, cholesterol, tryglycerides....you name it...I was a mess....and a big fat slob on top of it....
Both my Brother and sister died young...and I was going down the same path...shows you my whole family had the same bad habits...
Fast forward...had lap band surgery....I am no longer fat....lost all the weight that can be lost safely.....I am no longer on any meds...all my blood work is normal down the middle...I run everyday and go to the gym every day....
I'm 62 years old...play softball and I am the oldest on the team, by 7 years...
I have my stress test coming up in early march....can't wait...last time I wow'd them over, and I am in better shape now as I was then.....
This surgery does work...people just have to get out of the way and let it do what it was designed to do and quit complaining....

10 months ago I started going to a pain management doctor for back pain because of my weight. After 3 heart attacks, chronic pain and diabetes I needed to do something or I was just going to end up having another heart attack or worse. For obvious reasons I didn't want that lol. My PMD told me to go check about the lap band doctor in the same building. I did. I checked to see if my insurance covered it and they did and met with the Nutritionist. I weighed 345 that day. She put me on a diet and I think I lost about 20lbs in the 4 months I had to see her before my insurance would let me get it done. I lost about 10 on the liquid diet before surgery. Went into op at 315'ish.
I joined a gym and started walking on the treadmills as soon as I could, when I started I could only do about .3 of a mile. 6 months later I'm now walking 1.5 miles a day. I've lost a total of 100lbs, 70 since I got the band. I'm down to a 2x shirt from a 4x and wearing a 38 jean from a 46. I'm feeling so much better now. I'm off all my meds except some of my heart pills. I no longer have diabetes or much pain anymore. Even had the confidence to go out and find me a new girlfriend. I know I have 60 to go till my goal but I know I'll make it.
I have my 6 month picture and measurements on the 28'th, can't wait to see a good before and after pic and see how many inches I've lost and where I've lost them.
Just wanted to share a little bit and have a reminder of this day.

^ 315 - 245 ^

I am a Toyota guy and lately I've been seeing some ads for the new 2014 Corolla and so as a gift to myself and having lost 111 pounds now... I decided that a new body should come with a new car. So I replaced my 2005 Corolla with a 2014 Corolla.
And she's AWESOME. And because I'm totally worth it.

I would ask the following questions :
Do you log your food intake (write it down, log into MyFitnessPal, etc)? How many calories a day are you eating? Have you cut out carbs from sugar, Pasta, breads, sweets, white potatoes, etc? I found out my BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) (mine is currently 1653) and I subtract 750 calories (to aim at losing 1 1/2 pounds a week), netting me around 900 calories a day. I burn approximately 650-700 calories a day doing 65 mins of cardio. I usually eat back some of those calories burned. I also choose not to weigh daily or even weekly (my choice) and every single month I've dropped from 4 to 9 pounds. I think logging caloric intake has helped. Best Wishes

Went for my monthly weigh-in/fill.... Officially 104 pounds from my highest "recorded" weight. Down 48 since surgery 5 1/2 months ago......
I am becoming a HEALTHYNEWME !!!!!!!

Losing weight with the band is not fast. Some do lose fast in the beginning but that is rare. Normal weight loss is 1 to 2lbs a week. There isn't any sense in getting upset, discouraged, or want to give up because you are a month post op or a few weeks and you haven't lost 70lbs. You didn't gain weight over night. It was a period of years of bad eating habits that caused you to gain 100 to 200lbs so getting it off in a short amount of time unless you are starving yourself is not going to happen. If there are those who lost weight quickly then good for them but it took me 3 years and of absolutely no cheating to get all my weight off. If you are a smoker and quit smoking it is even going to take you longer. Yes I know that from personal experience. You can't drop weight rapidly with the band unless you are some circus freak that lost 200lbs in a month. It's not a fast process but it works if you just allow it. 52lbs weight loss in a year is better then 52lbs of weight gain. A loss is a loss no matter how you lose it or how long it takes you to lose it. Be patient it will come. Rome wasn't built over night and neither is the road work here in Jacksonville done over night. More like a period of years. Stop weighing yourself everyday. If you can't wrap your head around the scale that your weight can fluctuate up to 9lbs because of Water weight then stop being a scale monger. Weigh yourself at your doctors office. The more you weigh yourself and get discouraged the more likely you are setting yourself up for failure. It's not a race and you don't have to be the first one to the finish line. Stop letting the scale wreck your day or month. Just do what you are supposed to and it will happen.

Hello my name is Lauren I had my lap band surgery on August 2nd 2013 and I started out at 212 pounds, I am now 163 I have lost 49 pounds and I have no Fluid in my band. Why you ask? Well it's a personal choice based on the motto if it's not broken don't fix it. I have been consistently losing weight every week since my surgery and have found no real need to get any fluid. I have been to my check ups regularly and my doctor says I'm doing amazing. Yes I still have restriction and no I cannot eat whatever I want. I do not eat any bread or Pasta if I do its SMALL amounts and it's either toasted bread or angel hair spaghetti cut really really small. I eat small portion sizes and I eat slow. I used to base my entire day around food and would eat what ever I wanted when ever I wanted it. I now eat to survive. I eat what my body needs for fuel, I no longer eat for fun. I used to live for being able to go out to eat I loved everything about it. I still love it but for different reasons, now I get excited about getting dressed up and feeling amazing, I challenge myself to leave the restaurant feeling good and not stuffed and I ALWAYS get to go boxes. I HAVE to exercise, it makes everything better. Depression runs in my family and I have to keep motivated. Doing just 20 minutes of weight lifting or cardio changes my entire mood. I am a nursing student so I am highly stressed out so it helps with that as well. I am 18 pounds away from my first goal and I'm feeling great. Lap band has changed my life in ways I never could have imagined, from big things like not having to worry about someone asking if I'm pregnant to small things like wearing a white t-shirt it's just amazing. Maybe one day I will get to a point where I need/ want a fill but for right now I like everything just the way it is. If you have any questions or wanna talk about anything feel free to message me im a very open person!

84 pounds Ina year I great!! Keep at it, this is a journey to a way of life and continued living. You will do fine and the band will help you.

84 pounds Ina year I great!! Keep at it, this is a journey to a way of life and continued living. You will do fine and the band will help you.

I think you're doing beautifully! 84 pounds is amazing and maybe your body is just adjusting to that before starting the next loss period. Don't give up! And don't forget it's February and I don't know where you live but it's a long winter here and easy to get discouraged in all aspects of life. Think spring!

Too cool!!! This is great!! Good foryou!!!

Too cool!!! This is great!! Good foryou!!!

Too cool!!! This is great!! Good foryou!!!

I just realized, 3 years ago today I was banded....and it was just as cold and snowy outside....
Nothing unusual, went through the same as everyone else...6 month diet ( which I failed at like any other diet), all the hoops I had to jump through, clearances from cardiologist, pulmonary, psych, etc, .
Went in for surgery at 7 am for prepping, wheeled in around 10am, home by 5 pm...became one with my lazy-boy recliner, a warm comforter and my pain meds for the next 24 hours....wife kept me supplied with broth and Water...(also had coffee...can't live without it)
One week after surgery, had my post-op appointment with surgeon...check incisions, few questions, released to go back to gym, etc...also returned to work after 1 week....
4 weeks after surgery went in for first fill....then had 2 more after that, all 4 weeks apart....have to say that this was the most difficult and hardest phase of this entire experience...the band was there, but not adjusted....I was as hungry as ever....I actually gained weight during this period...I was told I needed to count calories, measure portions, keep a journal, etc....all the same things I gave done over the last 30 years with every diet under the sun....I WAS FURIOUS! I did not need surgery, and all the prep work and anxiety, not to mention the $$..... Just to repeat what I tried and failed at for all those years...I thought surgery was going to be different....
Fortunately...my surgeon sat me down and explained the process, very thoroughly, and assured me that if this is what I really want, and willing to make the many small sacrifices and not retreat and back down, that it will work for me....
After 4 months and 3 good fills, it hit me like a storm....could not keep anything down, was getting stuck numerous times per day......called the Dr., he reminded me of our conversation and asked to hold out one more week....also made the point it was my old eating habits giving me the problems, not the band....he was right, I had to learn the hard way...
Fast forward.....4 months to hit the green zone...then another 2 months, at least, to learn the lessons, apply the rules, learn new habits, give up certain foods, in order to find that harmony.....my groove.
After that it just continued to get easier and easier.....and still is today.....I stopped counting calories and portion sizes, learned to live by the band...rely on it to set my portions-eating habits, and to relieve me of hunger and cravings.....food no longer interests me, and if am rarely hungry...
Today, three years later, I have learned there us a life after lap band.....a life where I don't have to remind myself what I need to do or not do....all those rules and hard lessons have become a part of me...the new me.....living a new life day to day....the new normal...
I have been at my goal at the 12 month mark, but living the new life my body simply continued to "level out" until it reached a normal body fat %..... We gradually went from normal to obese by living with bad habits, and we gradually return to normal by living everyday with new habits....
I go to the gym at least 5 days a week...even though I have lost the weight, it continues to "tone" the body and tighten any loose skin....
I have not gained, nor lost weight for almost 2 years now....I have no fear of ever gaining weight back, falling off the wagon, etc....only fear is medical complications and for that I perform certain maintenance routinely....
Absolutely the best thing I could have ever done for myself....reversed all my health problems, boosted my self confidence and social life....
Never had a single complication in 3 years with the band....I'm at the point where there is simply nothing left for me to do....
This thing does work!

I met my goal weight of 145 in August 2013, almost 1 year after surgery. Today, I'm happy to report a healthy weight of 132 lbs. I'm living life at 13 lbs below goal. I truly love my Lapband, and I'm super thankful to be 113 lbs lighter in a size 2.

This is my before and after picture, the one on the left is pre surgery at 245 lbs and the one on the right is at goal of 145lbs.

This pic is me at 132 lbs.

Put me down as a definite....MAYBE...but I am subscribing to this thread to follow it along.
I have to check with my daughter, she is planning a "food and Culture" Tour through Central Greenwich Village....it might be that weekend...
I'm in NJ, but it's a breeze taking a train in....

For those interested, we're doing our first NYC and surrounding area meet and greet. Details below. Hope to see as many as possible.
Date: Saturday, February 8th, 2014
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Europa Cafe. 1412 Broadway (between 39th and 40th streets)
If we find that we want to do this on a regular basis in future, we'll look for public spaces that aren't necessarily food related

I don't know how I missed it but yesterday was my 2-Year Bandiversary.
It's been quite the ride - loss 80 lbs in Year 1. Became complacent but still managed to lose 15 lbs in Year 2. Planning to finish this weight loss journey & move into maintenance this year!
I wish I had stayed true to the program and had the weight all gone by now BUT this was my journey & I made choices that I can't go back and change now.
One thing I know for certain is that I love my band & it was the best decision I made for myself.

Thank you for posting. We love to hear from banders with more than 10 years experience. I'm going to bookmark this thread as we do see questions about longterm lapband patients.
tmf

Hi Everyone, I wanted to tell my story. I had my band on Jan 22nd,2002. I was overweight, unhealthy and unmotivated. I had diabetes and hypertension. I was at 270 lbs. I was hungry 24/7. The day following my band I tried to drink all my fluids. I couldn't get half of them down. I finally knew what it felt like to be full. It took me 2 years to get the weight off. I feel so much more energetic. I feel like I have been given a gift. I have been able to maintain my weight loss for 10 years. I wish everyone the best of luck in their journey. Mona

Lol!!! Got to love the compliment? Congrats!!