brianb

I maintained easily with just the band's help for 3 years. Band started leaking, hunger came back, staying at a BMI of 23 became much harder. I hate having hunger after years of not feeling it. I hate having to count calories when I never had to before. I hate that I wonder if I'll ever find the green zone again.
But I do have some lessons that I learned from having the band that I'm grateful for, many of which have to do with good food choices, so it's not all bad news. But what I wouldn't give to be back at that point again where being in the green zone made staying at my stable weight so easy.

I never understood how one can gain the weight back, as long as the band is still there and not changed...it does not change size on it's own, unless of course it was never fully adjusted in the first place and I was not truthfully in the Green Zone......I really find it puzzling....
I cannot imagine how I would ever gain weight, with the way things are now....if I were to have issues resulting in a un-fill, then I could see how I would be able to eat more than I am now....that's the only way....otherwise it's a constant unchanging thing....

I have stayed the same weight, within 1-2 pounds for about 2 years now without counting calories or really even watching what I eat much. I think the key for me has been getting a tiny fill about once a year. I can feel when it's time and don't wait for a big weight gain before I go get that tiny "maintenance fill."
Of course it may not be that easy for everyone......I don't have hormone issues (hysterectomy at young age).
As far as things being back to normal...... it's is a new normal. Life in general is back to normal, but my eating will never be the way it was before the band. I have not eaten a full plate of food since July of 2009. This is my normal now.

The band was the best thing I have done for myself in a decade!!
I love:
1. watching the Water completely cover my belly by 6-8 inches!!
2. being able to hike an 11 mile trail (it about killed me, but I did it)
3. the reactions of friends and family that havent seen me in a while
4.i love the self confidence it has given me
5. i love being just a normal sized person in a crowd
6. I absolutely LOVE when I feel my husbands hand trace my side and I feel it dip in at my waist instead of it bulging out.---thats my favorite.!!
7. I love the transformation not only phyically, but emotionaly and spiritually as well

Going into ANY store and buying ANY clothes in a normal to small size, and they ALL fit good....like I never had clothes fit before....ANYTHING!
Going to the Gym and run on the treadmills in the front row for all to see....and notice people checking you out....not hide in the back rows, corners...

Everyone is right my 2nd fill was too tight.. Anytime your on liquids and you can't swallow the liguids your too tight!!

Sorry you have to jump through the hoops again, but it is worth it.

It's so worth it. My weight loss journey with LapBand was almost three years, and I just had surgery on Monday.
If you're obese and have a new child who needs you, is it worth it to not go through the motions again?

Wow I think my dietitian was right. I can't be getting stoned. The munchies can really ruin a whole day of good eating. Nothing really horrible this time. Some Jerky and nuts. But I know I wasn't really hungry. I think my pot smoking days will be very far and few in the future. Well for awhile anyway.

First off, really like the name 'ireallywannabethin'!
I see it's been over a month since your last fill. Do you think it might be time for another?
I'm new to this and only recently got my second fill, but it kind of sounds like you don't have enough restriction. Of course you have to be the judge of that though! Just giving my 2 cents in hopes that it might help.

Hello! My name is Megan and I have had my lapband since March 2010. It was the best thing I could have done for myself. I was strict about everything from my portions to my food choices. The weight just fell off. I rarely exercised, which is something I really regret. In July 2011 I got pregnant with my son. My doc's protocol was to completely unfill my band. I experienced terrible all day sickness that only seemed better when I kept food in my tummy all day. I quickly gained as I had no restriction. I ate things I never ate with my band and had no control. By the time I had my son and went in for my first fill I had gained 60 pounds. I had my first fill and things were terrible. I had forgotten how to eat with the band. 4 cc's felt like 10 cc's and I started developing terrible acid reflux and sticking issues.
Everything I had been "programed" to know with the band was gone. I had completely forgotten how to listen to my body and stop when I was full.
I am now struggling to get back into things. I would like another fill, but my band just doesn't seem happy where I am at now and I worry that a fill will only upset things. I know when I had my surgery things had "slimmed down" in there to prepare for surgery and I know that needs to happen.
I am pleding with those of you who have been where I am at now. How do I get back to where I started from?

I have been working my butt off to lose this weight! it is know walk in the park. I have around 4 Lbs to make 50 Lbs. right now i'm 5 mounths post-op. I'll keep y'all posted and when I hit 50Lbs I will post Before and current pictures.

Very True.....most of the people who I looked to for inspiration no longer come around here at all....and I can now understand why....
You have the surgery, you go through the weight loss and lifestyle changes, eventually returning to that place where, after the weight has come off, your life returns to normal.....
If I did not come here on this website, I could go days without thinking I even had the surgery....just living life from day to day......
The overwhelmingly majority of people here are either just starting out, or are still loosing weight...frustrated because many think they know all the answers, (they're on my ignore list) and others frustrated not sure who to believe.....
Then there are people like me who are finished, sit back and witness it all and wonder why am I here???
The answer to that is because everyone has a success story to tell, there are always 2 sides to the story, and people need to hear it......

I don't pop on here at LBT as much as I used to because I figured out how the band works with my own body. I'm still working it. I have been busy living life and loving every moment. The band has been the best thing I have done for myself in a very long time. Believe me, this is the first place I will come if I start having any sort of problem. It's a great place to learn and a great place to find out how other bandsters deal with any problem that may happen.
I believe the band works differently for different people. We all have to figure it out on our own somewhat. I posted my thoughts on many topics over the first couple years and hope I helped many after me in some way. There have been bad attitudes and people who don't agree with my methods..... oh well....... that ignore list can come in very handy

Completely understand why you left...I have found the same problems with the high school attitude. The only reason I'm back is that I discovered that I could block posts from the "perfect" ones. It has made my visits much nicer! I don't disrespect others and their journeys. We should all be in this together instead of building ourselves up by bringing other people down. Just my opinion.
By the way, glad to see how long some of you have been banded. I'm at 31 months and counting. Glad I finally learned how to work the dumb thing!

I have been banded almost 7 years and no real problems except I can't tolerate fills! Not the ideal, but not the worst! I actually left this forumn because it was annoying to hear how "perfect" some were! If you had a ligitamite question or concern you would get blasted about how unworthy you were of the band! Then you would get blasted again by that person starting a thread about you and how they felt about your topic! Got to high schoolish for me! Now that I have returned I've learned to take the good and learn from the mistakes others have made. I'm glad to hear others problems. If I listen to EVERYTHING I feel informed, if I would listen to only half, I feel that would make me ignorant and arrogant! There is enough of both on here if you look! Just my opinion?!

I am so glad to see this post and the responses. I will be 10 months on 2/26 and I also have noticed more recently that many are having probs after 18 months or so, and im also noticing people having their bands removed because of the complications..it was starting to worry me, because prior to having the band, i only seen one more two that had been removed...i researched like crazy before deciding to have it. This thread has helped me to feel at ease again.

Banded July 2009 and no complications so far..... knock on wood. I'm still loving my band and keeping the weight off !

Muelle, I hope your girl is as successful as you!

Two years and three months later, and I still love my band. I have had no complications, and had such success with it that my nineteen year old daughter just got banded last week. I look forward to seeing her success as well. Good luck to all, and congratulations to all who have succeeded!!!

8 years. And no major problems. (I did have some small issues in the first year)

I am over 2 yrs banded with no complications and like other longer term bandsters we tend to drift away but do visit back again sometimes !

Hi Lapbandster...I did have a slip and needed surgery to revise it, but it was due to extreme vomiting and not the band at all. I would suggest to anyone to either a) carry prescription strength anti nausea drugs (my PCP makes sure I have a recent prescription at all times because I travel and get to the Dr when you start vomiting.
For me, I was travelling in a foreign country when it started and slipped all in 1 day of extreme vomiting.
Other than that...the band has been GREAT!

b... i want to join your group....lol
I have not had any that i know of. banded three years and three months
I do feel that since i had a complete unfill for my Tummy Tuck i have had a heard time with restriction. I feel it for about a week and then pretty much nothing. Before TT i had 10.5 in my 14cc band.... i'm back at 10.5, but no restriction like it was before.

I have been banded 2 yrs and 3 months... I have had no problems with slipping, leaks, port issues or anything really at all.