khlut

I was banded April 2 an got first fill this past Monday just wanted to share my success in hopes to encourage someone else. I'm unsure of the inches but the start weight was 225 now I'm 201. I can see a big change already.

You seem to be losing really fast. Good for you. I am losing very slow but I am fine at least I am not fat anymore. Well as fat.

Thank you...... That link was helpful. I've been waiting for something to signal to me to stop eating, lol. This makes more sense. I am losing 1-2 lbs a week. I'm so close to my first goal, I think I'm getting impatient.

Have a look at this link, I think it does a great job explaining what to and not to expect from the band. I found it to be very helpful and maybe it can help you too http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

You might be a bit tight...failure to lose, maladaptive eating go hand in hand. Try getting a little unfill and you might be able to eat the way you're supposed to...

I agree with msmacchi. If you're already struggling to eat properly, I doubt you need a fill.
Please keep in mind it doesn't matter how tight (or loose) the band is, you won't lose weight if you're not burning more calories than you consume. Perhaps examine your daily calorie intake, see if changes can be made?
Talk to your surgeon, he would know what is best for you.
Best wishes.

Yesterday I got tired of my super baggy pants...and since I wasn't sure of what size to get I went to Walmart (thought since sizes change so fast I don't want to spend a fortune on clothes). I was so surprised that the size 18W slid right on--no "sucking" in or dancing around to get them zipped...I was amazed because pre-banding I was wearing a size 28W...never thought I would be able to wear a smaller size again. I tried to explain this feat to my husband but he just didn't get it. I am excited and needed to share my excitement with people who will understand and join me in this simple celebration!!!

Today is the 9 month anniversary of my Lap Band surgery.
Since then I have lost 152 pounds.
I still have considerable weight to lose but I am SO happy with my results so far. It's definitely work and I've had to change my entire lifestyle but I am happier and healthier than I have ever been in my adult life.
I absolutely love my band! It's the best decision I've ever made for myself!

HAPPY DANCE!!!

Post away girl!...if people don't like it they don't have to read it...you are encouraging many others..sooo let the haters ride out...blessings to you my sister!

It almost surreal.... But I am 10 lbs from goal. And it only been 21 months.... Such a short time considering the amount of weight I needed to lose ....
But i am almost there and i have lost 207 lbs! I just wanted to post this so anyone having to lose 200 lbs or more might realize IT CAN BE DONE!!!!!

checking in at 272.4! 6 pounds since last week!!! That's what a combo of a fill and upping exercise did for me

I would keep a record of what you're eating & what the effects are so you can see if there's a trend. That's how I figured out it was the dairy. Its a bummer but better than being miserable. Good luck!
Banded 7/31/12 Pre op weight 344, starting weight 324

Costco's Premier Protein shake, 11 0z and 30g of Protein. Love the chocolate shake.< /p>
18 each for $24.99 ready to drink. I stick mine in the freezer for 45 minutes and it comes out like a thick smoothie.

It has been 8 weeks since my surgery and i have had one fill and I have lost 15 lbs. I would think the higher your starting weight the faster it comes off. My surgeon told me that Water is major to losing fat. That fat is eliminated from the body through urine. It is hard to get so much water in and I feel like I am constantly taking Vitamins. I have a friend who had her surgery 4 years ago and she is still losing. Everyone is different and remember this is a marathon not a sprint. Good luck!!

I didn't cheat on my Pre surgery diet either. My Surgeon and nutritionist insist on a dinner of a lean Protein and vegtables or a frozen diet meal under 300 calorie for dinner and liquids the rest of the day. My surgery was text book and my liver was beautiful. I read some of these posts and I don't see the purpose of making someone feel horrible for making a mistake. I come from a place of pick yourself up and get right back on the correct diet. Being fat we have all been torn down our whole lives, so why not be supportive and encouraging. This is going to be a long slow process with mistakes. I say kudos to all of us for making the decision to have the surgery and make ourselves healthier!!

I didn't cheat on my Pre surgery diet either. My Surgeon and nutritionist insist on a dinner of a lean Protein and vegtables or a frozen diet meal under 300 calorie for dinner and liquids the rest of the day. My surgery was text book and my liver was beautiful. I read some of these posts and I don't see the purpose of making someone feel horrible for making a mistake. I come from a place of pick yourself up and get right back on the correct diet. Being fat we have all been torn down our whole lives, so why not be supportive and encouraging. This is going to be a long slow process with mistakes. I say kudos to all of us for making the decision to have the surgery and make ourselves healthier!!

My biggest changes:
1. No longer have high blood pressure.
2. Went from 2x to 16 in clothes.
3. Always cold in the office, instead of sweating!
4. My boobs stick out further than my stomach. Lol

It's really hard and I never thought I could make it the two weeks. Even my family was shocked when I did not cheat. Not one iota. My surgery was textbook and my liver was beautiful. My surgeon told me he knows by seeing your liver whether you cheated or not. I just felt like if I couldn't make it two weeks how would I make it the rest of my life. Good luck and hang in there!!

I was banded in January 2012, and within months of me, two of my real life friends had Gastric Bypass. One had it in October 2011 and the other February 2012. We all started out with over 200 pounds to lose. I was originally scheduled for Gastric Bypass, too. But, I canceled the surgery because I simply couldn't justify permanently rerouting my internal organs without trying something far less drastic first. So, I got the Lap-Band instead.
Like so many others on here, I heard endlessly how I was a fool for choosing the Lap-Band over Gastric Bypass. "Oh you'll be lucky to lose 50 pounds with Lap-Band"... "You should have Gastric Bypass, you'll dump a ton of weight much faster"... "why don't you stick with the sure thing, Gastric Bypass, rather than waste your time with Lap-Band?". Believe me, I heard it all, so much so I even began to doubt myself and my decision. What if they were right?
But I researched not only the Lap-Band but the Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Bypass thoroughly. I knew the pros and cons of each, I knew what the surgeries entailed, and I knew that regardless of which one I chose the work would be mine to do and I'd have to make diet changes for a lifetime. I knew Lap-Band was right for me, so despite the naysayers, I went through with it.
Fast forward to now, July 2012...

My friend who had Gastric Bypass in October 2011 has lost 64 pounds. She lost all that in the first 3 months and hasn't lost anything in the last 6 months. She never really changed her eating habits because she figured she didn't need to with the Gastric Bypass. She did cut back on portions in the beginning, but currently she admits that aside from vomiting occasionally from eating fatty foods or sweets, she eats pretty much like she did before surgery.
My friend who had Gastric Bypass in February 2012 has lost 14 pounds. She hasn't changed a single thing about her eating habits and is vomiting multiple times daily from trying to overeat.
I, who had Lap-Band in January 2012, have lost 121 pounds. I am far from perfect, I struggle with head hunger almost daily, and I definitely have times I eat unhealthy foods. But the majority of the time I eat very healthy and follow the portion and nutritional guidelines my nutritionist gave me.

My point isn't to gloat, or to say "See, Lap-Band is better!" My point is the fact that it doesn't matter which WLS you choose, you MUST DO THE WORK YOURSELF. I don't care if it's Gastric Bypass, the Sleeve, or Lap-Band. The surgeries are tools not magic pills. If you don't change your eating habits to healthy ones for a lifetime you simply will not get the results you desire. Period, no exceptions. I hear people say all the time "Oh I got the band because I don't want to diet". Of course, we all did, but guess what? You do have to eat healthy, not just for awhile like a diet, but for a lifetime.
Ultimately, no matter which WLS surgery you choose, your success or failure depends on you not the surgery itself.

Hi there, I am Jennifer or Jenn. 35 year-old female, single and working as a computer technician. I've been overweight my entire life and made a couple of attempts to get healthy with varying success. For a long time I steered well clear of WLS, but sometime last year as I heard more about the lap-band, my attitude changed. I think part of it is my perception that there is less re-plumbing going on, that there is more flexibility with the band (i.e. that it can be tightened or loosened as needed) and that the procedure is laparoscopic.
My goals are not attached to numbers-- I don't have a perfect weight in mind. I want to be able to go shopping with my friends and not have to stop off at the fat girl store. I want to be more confident socially, I don't want to be single my entire life. I want to board a plane, sit down comfortably, buckle up and not wonder if they might toss me off. I want to go to Six Flags and ride all the rides. I want to ride horses and not worry the poor thing is going to collapse under me. lol. When I'm ready, I want to get pregnant. (I have PCOS)
I don't want to be a diabetic, I don't want to die young, and I'm tired of being a statistic.That's why I'm here. I tend to be a bit of a lurker, although I will speak up when I feel I have something interesting to add.
So, the journey thus far... went to my first seminar back in February. From there went to a first appointment a few weeks later. Waited almost two months to hear about insurance and it turns out mine requires the doctor to be at a Bariatric Center of Excellence. Okay, time to start over.
Procrastinated a bit, but finally went to another seminar in June, this time for Dr. Ronnie Keith at Oklahoma Weight Loss Options. (I'm in OK in case that didn't tip you off. ) Requirements met, insurance gave prelim approval, and I went in for my first appointment on July 11th. Being very efficient souls, they also got me in to see the dietician that same day. Now I am journaling what I eat, sampling the Protein Shakes a few times a week, and have my second dietician appointment, my psych appointment and an EKG scheduled for July 31st. Oh, and I'm supposed to go bleed somewhere in there.
Things are getting real. I'm a little nervous, but excited.

Katiecakes: I was banded 6-18-12 and dont get a fill until 7-26-12 . Hang in there. My nutritionist said you are able to eat normal amounts because there is no restriction yet without a fill. Unfortunately it is all willpower without a fill. When I started getting hungry I drank more Protein shakes, Jello, sugar free Popsicles, yogurt and eventually cottage cheese. My weightless is at a standstill and I assume will be until my fill. I'm down 24 lbs since pre op diet started, which I'm fine with. It's a marathon not a sprint.

It's really hard and I never thought I could make it the two weeks. Even my family was shocked when I did not cheat. Not one iota. My surgery was textbook and my liver was beautiful. My surgeon told me he knows by seeing your liver whether you cheated or not. I just felt like if I couldn't make it two weeks how would I make it the rest of my life. Good luck and hang in there!!