Donna113

I'm always on a plateau. I usually plateau for 2-3 weeks then I lose 1/2 pound every couple of days for 2-3 weeks and then plateau again for 2-3 weeks. It's been this way since I first got banded. I've averaged about 5 lbs loss a month.

It's going to be 29° F in Houston tonight! American Idol starts in 1/2 hour! Now when Medium returns on Februar 2, I'll be all set for my TV shows!

green, I am OBSESSED with the scale. I weigh when I wake up, when I use the bathroom and before I go to bed. If there was a scale at work, I'd be visiting it hourly. While on vacation during Christmas, I was practically having withdrawal symptoms because I didn't have access to a scale. I'm afraid if I don't keep a close eye on my weight, it will creep back on me. The last time I put the scale away a year prior to surgery, I put on 30 lbs. I know it wasn't because of the scale, but I feel if I had kept better tabs on the weight gain, I wouldn't have been in so much denial. This is all probably an addict's way of justifying an addiction.

WOW -- what a name. Not one I'm likely to forget anytime soon.

I posted this on another thread, but I thought it would fit in equally well here. I didn't feel much restriction until my 4th fill about 4 months out; that wasn't quite enough and my 5th fill about 5 months out finally gave me enough restriction that I began to understand what people meant by the "sweet spot". You will stay hungry for about the first 2-4 weeks until your stomach gets adjusted to the new limited amounts. After that, you will still have head hunger issues and/or desire to eat larger portions than you should, until you reach the "sweet spot". Once at the sweet spot, even if you crave something and give in, just a small amount goes a long way. Of course that doesn't apply to "liquid" food. I had a lot of questions and doubts initially because I really did think this was the easy way out prior to surgery. I was self-pay so I didn't have to jump through all the hoops and go through all the classes, etc. Had I done so, I might not have gone through the surgery. Now, I am so glad I did go through with the surgery but I admit I went through it blind. In looking back, I realize the first 3 months were the toughest because the band isn't working at its optimum level (at least for me). Don't fool yourselves into thinking you can get bigger fills to get more restriction early -- that's a dangerous road to band slippage or even worse, erosion. Let your mind, body and band have the time it needs to get to know each other and become a healthy team.

babbs, I love the quote at the bottom of your sig.

Congrats! Welcome to lapbandville.

Veronica, what a touching post. I was truly moved. My story doesn't mimic yours as I've never worked as hard as you to lose in the past but I've had the same struggles and difficulty with food, dieting and losing only to regain plus some. That's why I finally realized that I had to get medical intervention if I hoped to ever have a chance to successfully lose it and keep it off. Although I've only lost 32 lbs in the past 6 months, I've never lost consistently for 6 months before so now I'm hopeful that I will reach goal and once at goal, I'll be able to maintain.

Hey, hey, hey! Beating down on FallOutGirl because she doesn't plan on getting the lapband is no better than those who've had bypass or sleeve beat down on lapband patients because we opted for the "least effective" surgery. FOG, I've enjoyed your many posts and I hope you decide to stay. BTW, I thought lapband was the easy way out and learned afterwards that it takes as much work to lose the weight with the band as it does without the band. The difference is that the band is an extra tool in my arsenal to help me not only control portion size but also the types of food I eat as some are simply not band friendly.

Here you go: The Texas Weight Loss Surgery Summit is an exciting and educational two-day conference for weight loss surgery patients. The Summit features informative speakers, topical seminars, interactive workshops and keynote dinner. Attendees can explore the vendor exhibits and clothing exchange, and meet and share ideas with other Texans who are on the weight loss journey. What: 2009 Texas Weight Loss Surgery Summit and Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery Meeting When: January 23 and 24, 2009 Where: Holiday Inn San Antonio – Riverwalk located at 217 North St. Mary’s Street, website address: www.hi-riverwalk.com Hotel reservations must be made through the hotel by calling (210) 224-2500 or (888) 615-0726. Ask for Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery group Room Block. Reservations received after January 14, 2009 will be provided on a space available basis at the hotel’s current selling rate Individual reservations must be guaranteed for late arrival with a credit card or one night’s room and tax if guaranteeing with cash. Should cancellation of an individual reservation be necessary, cancellation must occur no later than 48 hours prior to arrival date to avoid a cancellation fee of first night’s room and tax. Download the Agenda here. I'd like to attend but it's too short notice. I'm in Houston and have young children I'd have to coordinate/schedule around so short planning outings are still a few years away for me.

With the exception of fillings, all the rest freak me out when I think about it so I try to listen to my surgeon's advice, live your life, eat healthy, exercise and try not to focus on the band.

*sigh* sometimes one must simply walk away.

Many who have coverage for WLS through insurance still have significant out of pocket costs. Most surgeons and hospitals charge double, even triple the costs going through insurance than they do for those that are self-pay. I'm not sure if that's because of all of the insurance requirements and paperwork or if they charge insurance more to make up for the lower profit margin with the self-pay patients. In any case, I've read on here that out-of-pocket costs for those that were covered under surgery were anywhere between 2500-6500.

I posted this on another thread, but I thought it would fit in equally well here. I didn't feel much restriction until my 4th fill about 4 months out; that wasn't quite enough and my 5th fill about 5 months out finally gave me enough restriction that I began to understand what people meant by the "sweet spot". You will stay hungry for about the first 2-4 weeks until your stomach gets adjusted to the new limited amounts. After that, you will still have head hunger issues until you reach the "sweet spot". Once at the sweet spot, even if you crave something and give in, just a small amount goes a long way. Of course that doesn't apply to "liquid" food. I had a lot of questions and doubts initially because I really did think this was the easy way out prior to surgery. I was self-pay so I didn't have to jump through all the hoops and go through all the classes, etc. Had I done so, I might not have gone through the surgery. Now, I am so glad I did go through with the surgery but I admit I went through it blind. In looking back, I realize the first 3 months were the toughest because the band isn't working at its optimum level (at least for me). Don't fool yourselves into thinking you can get bigger fills to get more restriction early -- that's a dangerous road to erosion. Let your mind, body and band have the time it needs to get to know each other and become a healthy team. As for what helps when during the mushy/healing stage, drinking Water, jumping jacks (when you jump up and down and feel how uncomfortable it is to be in your own skin, it's a pretty good deterrant to not feed the oversized skin) and anything else that helps get your mind off food.

PG, in most of your posts, on this thread as well as others, I have not read an opinion from you. You've been prostelizing. I don't find it offensive when someone prostelizes but you do it in a way that reminds me of the Southern Baptist preachers from the South who scream and yell with spittle flying out of their mouths. What they are usually yelilng while pointing out at the parishoners is "You are sinners on your way to hell!" FYI, I grew up a very devout Catholic, converted to the Episcopal church in my early 20s and then joined a nondenominational church in my late 20s through my early 30s. I've read the Bible cover to cover and then reread it again 2 more times. I've also read the Catechism from cover to cover. I've studied Buddhism, Paganism, Wicca and am currently studying Islam. Somewhere in my mid 30s I realized that all living things are comprised of divinity. Most religions today can trace back their beliefs back to Pagan practices. Most religious texts, including the Bible, were written by men claiming to have been directed/guided by God. If a new religion popped up today and its leader wrote a religious text based on directives received from God, we would assume at best, he was schizophrenic or at worst, a con artist with ulterior motives.

Down 32 lbs and 1/3 way to goal. Prior to being banded, the most I'd ever lost on any diet was 25 lbs at a time so I've already broken my own record. :laugh:

Wind has the opposite effect on me. I love it! I love it whipping my hair about, stealing my breath, bending over trees and even the late night winds that howl and shake the window panes. Even when they remind me of banshees and make me quail a bit under the covers, I embrace the uneasiness and fear. Wind makes me positively giddy! Wait, now that I've reread your post, was this some sort of sarcasm? Oh well, I still want to share my feelings on wind. :laugh:

Madam! You as good as told her she'd fail and that she was insane to boot!

Steph, you look wonderful! You and your niece definitely inherited the same pretty genes and bone structure.

ANC - Have you been checked out by your band doctor? Please let us know how you're doing.

Disclaimer: I've never been a person who paid much attention to other people's opinion of me or my actions. I did tell a few people of my decision prior to banding and now tell anyone who asks. The prebanding reactions were mixed but the post banding reactions have all been positive (as in I'm proud of you for taking decisive action). I think most people (unless they've been living under a rock for the past 5 years) realize that weight loss success rates are somewhere between 1-10% without medical intervention. The ones who had negative reactions were mostly due to the fact they didn't understand the lap band procedure is not the gastric bypass procedure. Once I explained the difference, there were even some with less than 40 lbs to lose who were wondering if they could do it because they haven't been able to take the weight off on their own. I have been banded just shy of 6 months now and by some standards, am a slow loser. I'm OK with it but the first 3 months were really tough and I had my doubts. What I know now is that everyone loses at their own pace and not to compare myself to others who lose faster. If I had the chance to go back and reconsider, I would do it all over again.

CeraDad, I thought the "slippage" poster meant to say "have had one or two slip ups" -- as in eaten something they shouldn't have. But maybe a majority of long term banders have had slippage? For those on this thread who've been banded longer than 1 year, please let us know if you've had any slippage. Perhaps this is a lot more common than us "juniors" realize.

Ooh, ooh! Can I answer for her? Clearly, she'd pick condemnation as it speaks to her. Those who condemn usually do so because of a sense of superiority. Therefore, they are clearly drawn to any organization that they can interpret and tweak to use as a weapon to condemn others while silently or not so silently congratulating themselves at their own superiority. p.s. Does that sound a bit superior?

Beth, in case you're still in an a$$ kicking mood, check out this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/10-days-post-op-eating-85173/index2.html#post1116602

Unsure15, I haven't read a single post on this thread that sounded like a "know it all", I found most posts to be those of concern. I believe most LB patients want all LB patients to succeed. You posted: "I was also banded on the 30th... and ate a hamburger today :S I couldn't finish it or the fries... If it didn't feel bad, is it bad to continue on solids?!" If you didn't want an answer, you shouldn't have asked a question. If all you wanted were for people to tell you that it's OK you're eating as if you're not banded, then you should have asked that only those that will respond to you in that manner post. If you knew a drug addict who went through rehab and within 10 days of coming out went straight back to their dealer to get a hit, would you tell her it's OK, tomorrow you can kick the habit? The best kind of love and support are those that hold you accountable for your actions. It sounds to me like you're looking more for enablers. Having said all that, if you fail, you fail yourself so it's really no skin off my nose.