Darkangel321

Hey DarkAngel' date=' Just added you on MFP... [/quote']

That's what's up! Pass the word. O:-)

Hello Tampa Banders!

Looking to start a support group or just activity group in the Tampa Bay area 40+. My best friend and I have been trying to find one and decided since we can't, Why not start one. Maybe get a personal trainer for the group that will meet with us. Have group walks, cookouts and other functions together. We all understand each others limitations, anxieties and insecurities. Great for all that get involved. 813, 727, 863, 352 and anyone close enough that wants to participate 40+. Msg me your contact info. We posssibly will have our own FB page as well. Suggestions welcomed.

Hi All its 3 1/2 years since I have been banded and 1 year since my body lift. And I am really pleased with the results' date=' I never though I would have abs and kind of that " V " that everyone strives for. But I need some help to see if I am just fooling myself and eating too much or If I really OK and should accept myself where I am. Its really frustrating.

My top weight was 330 - 335 in High School. Today I'm 240. i was 245 1 Year ago the morning of my body lift. I am almost 6' 1"

I did get to 233 a few months after my body lift when I was recovering. I have been around around this 240 Mark now for a few years! And don't know what I can do to get to my goal which is moving up now to from 225 to 230! I am still a big guy.

I have been heavy all my life, my dad and mom were big. So the it's in the Family. The only really thin "ADULT" member of my family is a cousin (HE's ADOPTED!) I was always the biggest guy in the class or room etc. So hear I am. Down 90 lbs from my High and 60 since the band. I work out 3 x a week for 3 years now. Yea I have built muscle but want to loose more. I keep looking for an answer and no one seems to have one for me.

My Nutritionist says that my body really likes this weight! At my thinnest was 225 when I was 25, Now I am 55 and 240. so

225 is not realistic!

My Medical Dr says I am fine! Not on any medications, labs are good. He is really happy where I am and what i have done.

My Lap Band DR says I am a success. "Because the band gets you healthy not skinny." Oh THANKS FOR TELLING ME NOW!

My Shrink says! "Live in the Now look where you have come from" Your a big guy and can't change your body type.

My Trainer says do more cardio on my off days

But I still want to loose some more. My Body lift was a year ago today, the Dr said he took off 10 Lbs but not so with the scale.

I was 245 when I had my body lift, so I should be like 235 now but I am hovering around 240. I had gotten down to 233 during the recovery of my body lift. One I got back to the gym it started to up again.

I would love to get some other suggestions too. It is frustrating, I know I am building muscle. My chest is almost a big as when I started ( NO MAN BOOBS THOUGH) but my waist went from a 44 to a 36, My Chest from a 52 to like a 48. My Shirt went from XXL to L but now back to XL Because of weight training my chest is getting bigger. Some guy friends have poked my chest and commented about the muscle so I guess that's good but not what I was really aiming for. (Yea I do kind of have abs now ! Yea I said that before)

So really at a loss as to what to do next. I have tried eating more, eating less. Low Carbs, no carbs, normal carbs?

The scale goes up if I eat too many carbs or go off my plan. A few days back on its down. I have had the tests done on the amount of calories I should eat. They say around 2,000. I actually have My Nutritionist and I agree around 1500 - 1600.

I work out with a trainer 3 x a week, doing mainly strength I really should be doing more cardio on my off days. But I do have bad knees.

Guess I am looking for motivation or something. I never thought I would have a body this good especially at 55, Yea my abs are fairly good but still see that fat guy, Yea when I look at old photos I know I look much much better but still, want to be thinner but not sure if I am willing to starve. And I can't starve and work out! Just can't do it! " I have tried it! " Any suggestions am I kidding myself or just being ungrateful. I guess I just look NORMAL Now. Better than most of my Friends , but am I just being ungrateful and unrealistic.

any suggestions.[/quote']

Come to My Fitness Pal! Some amazing people are on it. extremely motivated and inspirational. The food diaries will really help you...I believe. Give it a try. If you like it add me. I know I can learn alot from you. O:-)

Need motivation. Just got clearance to start workout. Excited but need some buddies to help me stay on track. myfitpal name is kiobenchil.

Tried to add you twice. Says username is invalid.

I'm on MFP too. Our current weight's are close. I'm around 215 / 216 now...

Did you ever friend me on MFP? Been off the radar for a while. Back in the loop as of tday.

What is MFP?

My Fitness Pal. A fantastic aid to this journey. Wonderful support! Very simplifed way to track food and fitness. People share their food diary at all stages from pre-op to several years post-op. Use on computer or smart phone app. Please check it out! If you like it add me to your MFP friends. O:-)

hi domika' date='yes please let me know what your dr. tells you ! please add me as your friend,also what is MFP? good luck on your dr vist, i was banded on july9th and starting weight was 223 my weight now is 202 ,my weight loss has been slow but i know i havent reached the green zone i have had 3 fills and have a lrg 14cc band .

Tonyann[/quote']

Did you ever get on MFP?

Wow! I feel bad for u !

I hope u get better & u get your fill on time

I'm still recovering' date=' have no restriction now in my band so I have to be carfull not to gain wight

Good luck to u![/quote']

Thank you. I have totally fell off the radar here and MFP. Been extremely depressed about this and other things. I am an emotional and stress eater. With no restriction my brain could not do it alone. Wendys, Cheetos, and fried chicken have been my best friends again. Such a miserable feeling. Gotta go post on MFP and update my friends there. UGH

My problem as I see it is:

I waited too long to eat AND I was paying attention to my children instead of my baby plate and baby spoon ( thank you very much!)

My point was to warn that it hurts like hell is running through your chest even if you have a baby spoon when you don't pay attention.

Lesson learned!

I know momma...I just slipped onto my own world. there was a trigger word in your story and I went into a dark hole....lmao. I'll be ok when I finally get a fill.

Where do I find this My Fitness Pal?? All so new to me.....

App store for phone (IPHONE or ANDROID) or MYFITNESSPAL.COM

I log my exercise' date=' but my nutritionist told me to only use like 100 of the extra calories if I need a light snack after the work out.[/quote']

Please request me on MFP.

Giggle giggle' date=' darkangel said you were raunchy heeheehee![/quote']

I meant that in the most positive way...

Banded 9/7/12 231lbs Goal 145lbs Current 216.2lbs as of 10/21/12

Oh my gosh' date=' you poor thing. Here you are so ready for this new journey in your life and this happens. WOW! 10 wks. post op and no fills. When you get your first fill that gives you restiction you will know it and learn from it. I loved when my fill was at it best. I felt so in control of my eating and it made me more positive. Amazing how feelings play such a role in our doings. I can't imagine starting off like you did. I look at this way, I try to embrace the moment and I have reaized I just need to regroup and tell myself I can do this and will get answers in the end. (I don't give up easy when it comes to my health). We all need to be our own advicates. We all know pain from an unknown source is not normal. And if you are gaining weight with a lap band and eating the right foods it means your band is not tight enough. Its that simple. I aplogize for talking about my issues so much but again just finding this site has just made me so excited. Now I feel like I can conquer this and not remove the band. i was that close to removing it. With anything, things that that we go through that are difficult take time to either deal with or heal. That we can do with all the support we have at our finger tips now. I want you to stay in touch with me and let me know how you are doing. My first fill was weird. They filled the band a lot and made me drink Water and I couldn't swallow it, and then he let it out some and it went down. So don't let that freak you out....just a strange feeling. How did your revision go? Did you have much pain or did they just flip it back over or put in a new place? I feel like I have a cavity where my old port was and its filling up with Fluid and has no where to go so it builds up and casues pain. I read on whats called a Semona. (spelling)? Fluid starts to collect and hardens or something. May mean another surgery. Not sure if I ready for that. I might have had more pain due to scar tissue of 2 years since surgery.. But if it relieve my pain it will be worth it. I just want to be that person I was a year ago. 71 pounds lighter, happier, went back to school after a stay home mom for 12 years and now looking for employment. I just felt so darn good. I had confidence that was exploding out of me. I use to be 135 pounds in HS and my jr. year in HS I went undiagnosed with depression and anxiety. I ate evey emotion. Part of depression for me was eating it. Plus my meds don't help. Again, sorry so much about me, I just wanted to tell you a little about my story and hope I can help you in anyway. What did your doc say when your port flipped so early on....unbelievable.. Can you imagian having that bypass surgery and can't turn back if something goes wrong. This is why I chose Lap Band. Just for these reasons. Keep in touch as much as you need to. I am a stay home mom and check my mail occasionally. I can do it, you can do it and WE ALL CAN DO IT with eachothers support...I want to hear about your first fill!! Please advise about your revision, I am curious. Plus I am still learing all the differnet sites on here.[/quote']

He said it's common and happens during healing. Most often only 45-90 degrees. That he said would not have required correction. Mine, of course flipped upside down. No way possible to access that. He went in, repositioned it and re anchored it. I was sent home in 6 hours. He put in 1cc only to facilitate the procedure. No fill, Full food, Zero restriction. I try hard to follow the rules but I do fall short...Food addictions plus emotional eating equal brain hunger to me. I'm trying to learn how to listen to my body and eat slow enough to feel full when I should. I Chew, Chew, Chew, but have always eaten very fast. With no restriction I sometimes forget.

Im a work in progress and chose the band over the sleeve because I wanted options. If I could do it again I would take the sleeve.

Please come sign up on My Fitness Pal. It will be alot easier to keep up with each other. You will also benefit largely from it... promise. Sign up and request me...same name as LBT. O:-)

Being a newbie to this site I can't express how thankful I am I found it. After two years of no one to talk to about my victories or struggles its been hard. Now I know "I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS JOURNEY!! I enjoy reading each and everyones stories. I was banded Jan.2010 and sadly I am right back where I started but unfortunetally having major difficulites with my port revision and fills. Me and my band worked well together. I lost 71 pounds (can't forget that one pound you know!) and then the port twisted. Since then everything went down hill. June 29th I had the port relocated and this has left me with an awful sometimes unbearable pain where the old port lied. I had major serous Fluid and alway contacted the office. Oh its normal' date=' just put pressure on it they would say. Mean time because the band was emtied due to the surgery I just couldn't wait for my fills! After 3 months of pain, gaining a lot of weight back you would think the doctor would notice some red flags. I finally demanded some testing be done and now I go for a CT Scan on Monday. As women we are usually in tune with our bodies and know when something isn't right. I basically told them if they don't get this right I will take my money somewhere else because as we all know thats what it seems to boil down too. I am disappointed in myself because I am accountable for what I put in my mouth. Yet the doctor needs to work with me too. Why would a doctor let you suffer with pain like this. Questions my faith in him. I thought going to one of the best hospitals in the country was the right choice. The nurses are wonderful, but they almost seem like they are afaid of him. Anyways, after reading all your stories you have given me hope again. I woke up this moring feeling so much better. A site where no one judges you or bashes you or puts you down for feeling sad at times about ones self. Thank you everyone for your honesty and much support I have been needing. Where I live there are no support groups. I am thinking of making one up for myself in the area. No medical advice, just venting and sharing our journeys. I have been given a great gift and appreciate the fact this is a tool to help me. Many people that suffer from obesity would love to have this but for other issues can't. So we all have to remember how lucky we are in some ways. I live in the Kenosha, WI area so anyone would like to start a group let me know....I'll be there. I am not alone anymore...Good day everyone. I[/quote']

My port flipped before my first fill. Found out when I went to get my first fill. Banded 9/7/12, just had corrective surgery yesterday. See dr again 11/19/12 and hope he will fill me then. That will be 10 wks and 3 days post op. No help from band with zero restriction. Never heard of this til it happened to me. 180° flip. Im an emotional eater especially when it comes to stress. Ya think I might have a little stress going on right now.

Im glad you are in a better place now. I come here yo LBT and My Fitness Pal. Different formats but information and support on both. MFP helps me with my eating BIG TIME. People have food diaries to share. With people being at different stages in their journey you see many different things you can do. I love it.

lets roll b*************'s

Is that a pink tractor? wow...WTF lmaorotf you guys are hilarious.

Perhaps I'm misreading something here' date=' but I find your reply to be really condescending—and rude.

I'm dealing with some pretty raw emotions right now. food is my drug of choice, the band has cut off my supply, and I'm in withdrawal. I'm obviously struggling, and this is hard for me...

If you've "made it", have everything figured out, and no longer have any of the problems with food that got you fat in the first place, well good for you and I'm genuinely happy for you. But your bandier-than-thou tone and mock-disgust really rubs me the wrong way. I come to this site for support, not to have my struggle used as a vehicle for someone else to show off.[/quote']

I understand exactly how you feel. I call what you are going through "Brain Hunger". This is a life long habit we are trying to change in a few weeks. We will have days when we feel like this. Then there are the extreme highs like the scale dropping several pounds in a week that remind us of why we did this. I haven't "made it" yet but I know if I do what I am supposed to be doing more often than not I will.

I think she was trying to say listen to your body and not your brain. That is hard for alot of us but necessary to succeed. You are in the right place for support. Sometimes the delivery is not the way we want it but the intent is there. I don't know her but I truly believe her intent was not to insult or belittle how you feel. I go back and forth between here and MY Fitness Pal. I like them both for different reason. MFP really helps me with my eating. Reading the food diaries of the successful people ahead of me helps tremendously. Check it out and if you like it please feel free to add me.

Please remember, we all really want to help each other. Don't give up on ranting here when you need to...That's what this is all about. O:-)

Oh and I'm 3 weeks post op with no fill. I call bull crap on my Dr who said I was wide open like as if I didn't have the band right now!!

PLEASE DON'T TAKE ME THERE! Been WIDE open since 9/7/12, the day I was banded, and still no fill. Being disciplined is not why I got banded. Eat slow, don't drink while you eat, have small portions, no more soda...all well and good with some damn help called restriction. lmao Sorry, I just had a moment.

Surgery went good just feel lik I wanna burp and a lil sore where the port is but other then that I'm find taking small sips of Water.....

Welcome to your new life! Conngrats on going for it. I invite you to come check out My Fitness Pal. I love it and LBT. More info, support, fun and lots of food diaries to encourage you and show you how easy thos new life can be. I love seeing what successful people ahead of me are doing to maintain a steady pace of weight loss at all stages. And I enjoy being to assist newbies behind me in this journey. Its more encouragement like here but in a very different format.

If you go and you like it, feel free to add me and pass the word. Hope to see you there! O:-)

let me say that this forum is a godsend to me

there is another forum that chewed my happy (never never land) butt up and spit it out.. why? how come? because i had the nerve to say i was getting banded...

someone referenced snide remarks to the newbies or prebies let me say....far be it from me to judge ANYONE. and if anyone thinks i have or am.....my apologies here and now.

i am one of the big bmi's. yepper...the biguns you all read about. and id kill to have only to lose what some do (the lower bmi's). this does not

give me the right to cast judgement or be a ass to them.

i do however say' date=' if i feel they are not following their dr's instructions (or suggestions) that they should be. you damn right. why go through all of this to just (eat some pie a few days out and say it was soft so what is the big difference)

take care of your body

take care of your body

eat good foods

no food is off limits but sometimes some foods just not need to ate eating those foods in the past made us need WLS

so eat what you want but dont blame the band and say its not working ...i have to hold myself accountable to me and my dr ONLY

sure i can come here and say i eat lettuce only...

are you serious?...i have lap band surgery, apparently i had trouble eating in my history.

i promised myself to be open (100%) and honest in all that i have/encounter with this band/plication new life journey. that includes TMI info at times and the good and the bad.......

this forum has some good/great people

i am honored to know them and encourage them and have them help/support me.

i will always help anyone

i will never say told you so or see what you done.....

i will however be firm in saying you need to follow the rules:

eat right

eat healthy choices

exercise (do what you can with what you have)

make no excuses

follow your dr's orders (follows ups)

if something is not right---call the dr dammit

(hate seeing posts that say should i call dr).....if you are thinking it, then you should..

well, please note i respect and adore any and all who have had this surgery

please do what you need to do to get well

if you keep doing what you always done (and needed surgery because you are fat/obese) then you will remain just that.

and that goes for me too.[/quote']

VERY WELL PUT! I don't know what happened but sometimes people just misunderstand the best intentions if not sugar coated. If you heart is/was truly in the right place don't worry about it. i've sern your posts all over the place, encouraging, explosive, raunchy, comical and everything in between. More of us luv your posts than not I am sure. Keep doong what you do. O:-)

DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OF THIS ALEX GUY? I CAN'T POST OR SEND HIM A MSG. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY SIGNATURE. IS THERE A TECH DEPARTMENT?

I RE INSTALLED THIS APP TRYING TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND NOW MY SIGNATURE, OLD OR UPDATED, WON'T COME UP AT ALL ON THE ANDROID VERSION. IT IS ON THE FULL WEB VERSION.

CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!!!

I had a different problem...Port Flipping. Went to get my first fill and found my port flipped. Most of the time flipping is at 45°-90° angle. No correction is needed for that. Mine flipped 180°. Dr went back in, repositioned & re anchored it. I see him on 11/19/12 & hopefully get my first fill. I was banded 9/7/12.

Oh my' date=' thank you! Despite my eBay finds, they are not enough, as many are short sleeved and a few r for fancier occasions. [/quote']

Hey there my friend said she is still 2x on top and just her waist line. everywhere else she is swimming in het clothes after 80+ lbs weight loss. So she's not ready to get rid of them yet. So sorry, but when she starts I will definately let you know...hopefully you will no longer be 2x by then. O:-)

I was banded on the 23rd of October. I am holding my own. Pain is minimal. Walking a lot .

Hey there...Glad you took my advice. Please pass the word. How are you feeling today?

I had a port flip because of scar tissue. Never heard of this until it happened to me. Now I hear it's very common but most at 45°-90° angle which has no need for correction. But mine flipped 180°. Found out at my first fill. Today was my corrective surgery. Dr went in, repositioned and re anchored it. Still never had a fill. Was given 1cc just to facilitate the procedure. Still on full food with zero restriction. If I could I would switch to a sleeve. For now I've just gotta find a way to make it work. Next appointment is 11/19/12, over 10 weeks post op. :-\