alicelopes

I have 10 pounds to go, I'm 135 pounds , lost 55 pounds in 7 months. I'm a size 6 US and 10 UK

Hello that's amazing! I will do 1 year in January 27th! I have to start going gym lol. I'm a size 8 uk now and was a massive 18!!! Was 14st4 and now 8st13! Feeling great

Got banded 28th January 2013! Was 14st4 now at 8st13, from size 18 to 8!!!! Can you believe it? Was keen in starting a support group !!

If your bmi is over 30 in uk you can go private, it really is no ones business if you decide to do it or not, at the end of the day is a decision only you can make and take in consideration perhaps what your family has to say. My experience I believe I was 32 bmi, I'm only 5ft1 and always struggled with my weight, I was 14st4 when I decided to have the surgery as I really tried everything in my power to do loose the weight since I was 10. Sometimes we just need that extra push and the band done that for me as been a very hard process but very rewarding I went from size uk 18 to 8!!!!! From 14st4 to 8st13!!! I am glad to say I have no extra skin and really happy to have done the surgery when I was 21! Not even one year on and I already lost all the weight and I am now with a healthy bmi!! Good luck to you all, and do what feels right but remember is a tool not a miracle, you gotta really work on your nutrition, for 3 months I did not touch chocolate or anything bad at all!! Will power!!!

Thank you so much for your info. I will be calling them as well if I need to know anything, making our money worth. Did you get interviewed by Julie? She is really good just wondered. And how's the surgery so far? How you getting on?

Well I am 7 months from surgery and down 69.5 pounds with no preop diet. This band has been the biggest blessing. It has definitely made this process easier although it is still hard work. I think the difference is the hard work is actually paying off when it didn't with other methods.
I still struggle with seeing myself as small from time to time and I am still 35 pounds from goal but I feel so much better. I wonder if at times I have a harder time believing I was actually that big before surgery or that I am actually this size now lol

thanks for sharing this true and amazing tip. i hope the people that need to read this will and learn (just like you)

Hurray for a great report from a newby who has learned a valuable lesson for us all! Karen

Glad you figured this out and you're doing very well.
I hope newbies read this and follow your example.
First thing my bariatric staff stressed was "you have to drink a minimum of 64oz a day".
Not only does it help with hunger, but the toxins it flushes from your whole system is amazing.
You notice your skin becomes smoother and soft. I keep feeling my face and can't believe the difference.
Good luck on your continued success!

Hello, I have been banded since January 24th I was a low bmi and have lost so far 13 pounds with no pre op diet. On the first week of my post off I felt full all the time most probably because I was swollen. I knew as well that the surgeon put 4cc on my band of 10cc, the reason I think he done because normally he doesn't do, is because perhaps my stomach wasn't too big, so to be properly in place I needed a bit of a fill. The reason of the post is, that after my 2nd week post op I started to feel really hungry, and I wasn't drinking enough at all, that was always the problem. So I thought to myself I'm going to commit drinking Water because I kinda wasn't loosing anymore, so I did and omg do I always feel full, when I go to eat I feel full and is all because I started drinking properly, as well I reduced my carbs intake to maximum of 100 grams a day and I can feel the difference to, since doing those two things I'm 2 pounds lighter.

Hello, I have been banded since January 24th I was a low bmi and have lost so far 13 pounds with no pre op diet. On the first week of my post off I felt full all the time most probably because I was swollen. I knew as well that the surgeon put 4cc on my band of 10cc, the reason I think he done because normally he doesn't do, is because perhaps my stomach wasn't too big, so to be properly in place I needed a bit of a fill. The reason of the post is, that after my 2nd week post op I started to feel really hungry, and I wasn't drinking enough at all, that was always the problem. So I thought to myself I'm going to commit drinking Water because I kinda wasn't loosing anymore, so I did and omg do I always feel full, when I go to eat I feel full and is all because I started drinking properly, as well I reduced my carbs intake to maximum of 100 grams a day and I can feel the difference to, since doing those two things I'm 2 pounds lighter.

Hello, I have been banded since January 24th I was a low bmi and have lost so far 13 pounds with no pre op diet. On the first week of my post off I felt full all the time most probably because I was swollen. I knew as well that the surgeon put 4cc on my band of 10cc, the reason I think he done because normally he doesn't do, is because perhaps my stomach wasn't too big, so to be properly in place I needed a bit of a fill. The reason of the post is, that after my 2nd week post op I started to feel really hungry, and I wasn't drinking enough at all, that was always the problem. So I thought to myself I'm going to commit drinking Water because I kinda wasn't loosing anymore, so I did and omg do I always feel full, when I go to eat I feel full and is all because I started drinking properly, as well I reduced my carbs intake to maximum of 100 grams a day and I can feel the difference to, since doing those two things I'm 2 pounds lighter.

Hello, I have been banded since January 24th I was a low bmi and have lost so far 13 pounds with no pre op diet. On the first week of my post off I felt full all the time most probably because I was swollen. I knew as well that the surgeon put 4cc on my band of 10cc, the reason I think he done because normally he doesn't do, is because perhaps my stomach wasn't too big, so to be properly in place I needed a bit of a fill. The reason of the post is, that after my 2nd week post op I started to feel really hungry, and I wasn't drinking enough at all, that was always the problem. So I thought to myself I'm going to commit drinking Water because I kinda wasn't loosing anymore, so I did and omg do I always feel full, when I go to eat I feel full and is all because I started drinking properly, as well I reduced my carbs intake to maximum of 100 grams a day and I can feel the difference to, since doing those two things I'm 2 pounds lighter.

Got my second fill yesterday, so back to liquids today. Weight myself in the dotors office and it would seem I LOST two pounds over Christmas, so that was a nice surprise.

Hey guys my op is for 24th of January I'm feeling anxious, scared, happy, frighten haha I don't know mixed emotions and you all help a lot! Keep me posted. I'm doing mine in manchester uk? What about you??

Very well put
Lap band is SO much different than gastric bypass for this reason. It requires much harder work and the results aren't as magical (quick weight loss). This may be why it has a bad rap.
My mom had gastric bypass and we watched as the pounds literally melted off her without her doing ANY exercise. For me, with a lap band, I am going to the gym and at least 4x a week and REALLY working (not just strolling on the treadmill while reading a magazine for 20 mins), and my weight loss isn't nearly as fast as hers.
I guess some people just simply don't wanna do the work, which is cool, but certainly not for me

My doc told me he didn't like doing lapbands, mostly because the population of patients he had couldn't be successful with it, or at least as successful as they would be with other surgeries. And he openly admitted it has to do with motivation and the willingness to work hard and make major life changes. Most of the work is on you with the band, unlike bypass, for example- that magically drops weight (initially) just simply by altering the body's ability to absorb calories.
In my case, I had already changed my diet and become very active with exercise before the surgery. After the first year post-op, I was hiking regularly and I had climbed a volcano, the second year I had started running and finished a 1/2 marathon.
And I've lost about 90 lbs- with about 40-50 lbs to goal. So I am not dropping pounds lightening fast. And my band is about half way filled, but I hardly notice it. I am trying to do as much as I can before it has to be "tight". That's my last resort. At this point, what it does for me, is keep me from regaining when I hit a plateau- which had always been my problem in the past.
You have to know yourself and especially know your relationship with food. When I was losing my pre op weight, I kept a food diary- but I also journaled a lot about why I was eating, how I felt about food and I explored my emotional relationship with food- and found that I didn't think I had much of an addiction to food emotionally. I didn't eat to deal with things, I just ate because food is yummy. So it's a little easier to control than if i was really turning to food for emotional support- and in that case, any WLS will be challenged to work. I did know I needed to be aware of when I did eat emotionally or binge in rare cases, because those where the things that would sabotage me.
So basically, I think if people go into any WLS knowing why they were big in the first place- the WLS will give them the tools to take control of the issue, but it won't solve it. For me it was Portion Control, and luckily the band helped with that, but I also had to ramp up my physical activity and be more aware of foods that were just not worth eating.

Carolina and Susan I do agree with both of you, you both made very good points. Bad news travels fast isn't it? Bad stories sell more! Thank you for all the support. And thank you for the remark. I will make sure I make my own success story!

Hi Everyone! I'm getting my band on Jan. 24th in Houston, Tx!! I like many of you have mixed emotions as well. I'm excited one minute and then I get nervous the next. The excitement however out weighs the nervousness. I can't wait to be banded!!! Good Luck to all of you!

I like my band "Tight".....after my last fill it took me 3-4 weeks for ME to adjust to the band....
I feel the band can be put on a scale of 1 to 10....1 being no band at all....and 10 being ridiculous!
People who are always complaining about being hungry, overeating, not loosing any weight, etc, are down around 2-4 on the scale, mostly newbies just starting out. No restriction at all other than post-op irritation, etc.
The majority of people on this forum are in the 4-6 range, 50% band, 50% self control, discipline....these are the people who say it is hard work, the band is only a "Tool", takes discipline, need to follow the rules, measure food, count calories, etc.....I also feel it would be just as easy for people to fail, as well as succeed in this category because much of their efforts is based upon themselves, as well as the band....
These people are still "Dieting" and use the band as a deterrent....
And then, there are people like me (not many here) that would be in the 8-9 range on the scale....
I CANNOT overeat...it is physically impossible without pain and spitting it all up.....
I have NEVER felt full as has been mentioned, it is something different.....
No matter what you put in front of me.....I will only be able to eat 2-4 swallows and I am finished....
I do not diet.....I do not worry about calorie counting......I have NO CONTROL over what the band is doing to me....what I needed to do is learn to live with it...change my lifestyle..."LISTEN" to the band.....
Since my food intake is very, very limited...it is important that whatever I do eat it is Good Food Choices....there are foods I simply cannot eat anymore, not that I care....red meat, rice, flour products, deep fried breaded foods....ALL of which is not good for me in the first place.....
Get all my daily Protein, even if liquid, daily Water requirements, Vitamins, supplements and exercise.......all essential....Food takes a back seat...
It would NEVER be my place to tell other people what they should or should not do.....but over the years I have witnessed many people who, after a few fills, panic the first time they get stuck and run and get a un-fill....then 2 -3 weeks later these same people are complaining they are not loosing weight....
If people are not willing to let the band do what it was designed to do, and if people are not willing to change...then these people will never be successful....unless of course they have good self discipline and fall into that middle category.....good dieters! ( I have never been good at dieting)
I have not gotten stuck in over a year now....but in the adjustment phase I got stuck quite often until I learned my lessons.....
I cannot imagine how on earth I can ever fail at this....short of getting a un-fill, or some medical emergency I have no control over....
I cringe every time I read "The Band Does Not Work"...but it is not my pace to tell othr people they are right or wrong....I can just state what is true for me......
And lastly...there is a entire different population of people on this website when I first joined....they have all moved on, completing their journey and being successful....they have no reason to come around here anymore so you don't hear from them.....
I can understand why...this forum is made up of "newbies" with the same problems over and over again....it is very hard to hear the same thing everyday........ I stayed away for a while, and will probably need to take a break again...but I do belong to other groups where the people have been banded for a while, and we support each other on a different level......
Ok, so much for venting on a Monday Morning.....