JosieK

One last thing.... I drank gallons of water... I still do. I felt like I was drowning ha!

Hi, let me start off saying this is the best thing I've ever done for myself. It wasn't easy...but so worth it. I think a few key things for me were: 1. Look at the band as a tool and not a magic cure. 2. I used this site for information. I did not get into any debates with anyone. (back when i was banded there were some pretty nasty people on here. It seems to have gotten much better...people are more supportive) Each person's opinions and journey are their own. -I tried to follow people that were banded before me that we're successful. These people journaled their food (myfitnesspal is a good one), they exercised and when they fell off the wagon....they worked to get back on track. -i was concerned before being banded because I noticed some people hadn't lost weight after having the band for a pretty long time. But after investigating I noticed they talked a lot about dairy queen, taco bell, etc. and they thought the band was a magic cure. You'll be able to see the people that are working hard at it.... Connect with them My plan was: 1. Journal food 2. Exercise (3 aerobics/2 weight training per week) although when I started out I could barely do one class a week) I had to build up to this. 3. I only weighed and measured myself 1 time a month. I did both (weigh/measure) because I was losing inches fast. So I could see a complete picture. In the beginning I was weighing myself a lot and it drove me crazy. I actually put my scale at my sister in laws house so I couldn't get to it easily. 4. I wrote down my NSV's (non scale victories). Like the first time I rode in an airplane without the belt extension or when I first saw my collar bones. These helped me to keep going. 5. I also met up with other bandsters in my area as support. 6. I read LBT stories for support. Anyway let me know if you have any questions or need more info Best of luck in your journey... Josie

Hi Cmarie, Regarding foods you won't be able to eat....I can relate to your feelings. The day before my surgery, I walked around Target saying goodbye to twizzlers, peeps and other such candy. I thought I wouldn't be able to eat them for the rest of my life. But fast forward I can eat them..l.but I dont want them anymore. One thing to factor in... When you start losing weight, and your clothes are smaller, and you get compliments from friends and family.... You may not want to eat these things because you love your new life. This happened to me... Don't get me wrong..I would fall off the wagon....but get right back on. There's nothing better then to be able to fit in a plane seat without an extra belt. Plus the first time my collar bones came out....I was ecstatic. Regarding soda.... I didn't drink some for the first 3 years. The first year I couldn't drink it without it bubbling back up. But then I got out of the habit of drinking it. I do drink soda now and it's fine. If I eat too much... I have a PB (productive burp) and/or it starts to hurt. Before the band... I thought about food 24/7. After the band...I would only think about eating when I was truly hungry. If you want this... You can do it. Some of the things that helped me was to journal everything I ate. I did it on my fitness pal. There are many good APPs to journal calories, etc. I also only weighed myself once a month. The scale was driving me crazy and I exercised. It helped me to reason not to eat junk if I did it. Ice cream was a big issue for me as it is easier to eat then real food. Anyway I hope this helps..... Joanne

Hi I had this issue in my first year. I increased my Protein intake. I even started doing protein liquid/shots. Plus I started taking Biotin. Eventually it subsided. Best of luck Josie

One more pre op photo....

Here is a pre-op photo.... I'll post the doctor's post op next. 6 weeks post op

I agree with Karen....better to take time to recover ... Otherwise it takes a long time to get back to normal. I think I just managed to stand up straight at week 3. What does your doctor say? My doctor gave me very accurate advice as to when it was ok to do certain things. TT is a very intense operation compared to the others i had. Best of luck. Josie

Well said! Love it

Hi These ladies have given a lot of great direction..... Main concept for me: The band is a tool but we still have to put effort into it. I was banded 3/30/07. I lost 120 lbs. and key for me was what many have said in the previous posts: 1. Journal my food in myfitnesspal APP. Calories add up in little bites and licks. 2. Drink lots of Water 3. Eat Protein first 4. Exercise 5. Only weigh myself 1X a month. The scale was making me crazy and made me eat if it didn't say what I wanted it to say. And of course I wanted to lose 20 lbs if I was good one day (just joking) but y'all know what I mean. 6. Followed people on this website that went before me that we're successful and tried to follow what they did. I also saw people that weren't successful and tried to avoid what they were doing... I didn't wait for the band the be a "magic" cure. 7. I stayed always from negative/argumentative people on the site. We are all in this journey and there are many paths to follow... Not just one right way. When I did fall off the wagon (ice cream being the main culprit) as I did in my journey.... I would immediately start journalling again and tightening up my meals. I still struggle up and down with 10 lbs.... So recently I started coming on the site again for strength from people on here. It seems like the people on now are more positive then when I started. That energy can be contagious in a good way. Best of luck and keep on keepin' on in your journey Josie

Hi, I have to say the scale was one of my worst enemies in my weight loss. If it went up... I was upset and ate. If it didn't go down enough...I was upset and would eat. So pretty early into getting my band... I only weighed myself once a month. I could tell from the way my clothes fit all month long...that I was losing weight. It really helped me. In fact I had my sister in law hold my scale so I didn't cheat in this goal. It really helped me to keep going and not get on the emotional roller coaster the scale would produce.... Best of luck everyone Josie

Thanks sue. Hope you're doing well.... It's nice to "know" one person (you) on this board. Seems like a whole new crop of people on here Be well Josie

This is last Christmas. I don't have pre-op photos yet. My arms look like thighs. Once my doctor sends pre-ops I'll send on.

Scars 6 weeks post op. I need my husband to take more pics. It's hard to take good ones by myself.

Post op 6 weeks

Oooops sorry kbells. I thought this was the thread I started. I didn't mean to hijack your thread and I can't figure out how to delete.....

Post op 6 weeks

Hi kbells, I had a tummy tuck and Brest reduction 2 yrs ago and brachioplasty (arms) just 2 mos ago. I am also fairly light skinned. I also had a concern beforehand because the 4 little dots my lapband surgeon made still are brown. So I thought the big operations would be the same way.... Well they aren't. They healed very well. The processes they have for scars get better and better. TT/breast lift: back then, my doctor gave me Maderma to pain on like nailpolish each day. I also drank alot of papaya juice (in 2002 i had a small eye surgery and that doctor said papaya had alot of healing properties). At about the first year anniversary of the operation, I noticed visible different. The surgery line is flat. Now it is really faint, especially the breast lines. And the missing skin was worth it 1000 times over. Arms: now they have silicone strips that I think are even better then maderma for the scar healing. Those go on 12 hrs a day and I put them on at night with the compression garments. Last week at my last post op appointment the doctor was even impressed as the results are faster then the last one. Parts of the line are disappearing. He said part of it is genetics but he really believes in these silicone strips. For the arms... My doctor did a great job of where he cut. You can't see the scars front or back when I have them at my side. Sometimes I would look at other brachioplasty's and am very surprised at how poorly placed the incisions are. It seems simple. I think key for recovery is following the doctors orders especially in the beginning. I wanted to do a lot more in the beginning but my sister in law is a nurse and she was like nurse ratchet in terms of making me follow doctors orders..... Anyway... I would do each and every one over as they really help with gaining confidence. Best of luck in your weight loss and eventually plastics. Josie

Bumping this up....

Hey misty. Re: which surgery to do first... Whatever is bothering you most is probably the one to do first. Seems like you have identified that. I did the tummy tuck because the skin there was so much...it bothered me most. It's funny because I only did the breast lift as a secondary operation because I was going under for the TT and it's been my favorite. But I'm happy with all 3 Re: being at goal. For me... The TT was very important to be at goal. But 15 lbs is not a lot so you can start the process. It takes a little while to get to the actual operation due to research, planning etc. I recommend to see at least 3 doctors to get good input. I had a few twists and turns in my research. My lap and doctor suggested one plastic surgeon. I was thinking this may be good because my lap band doctor was great. .. This plastic surgeon was willing to do 6 procedures at once...so I knew that wasn't good. Also I saw a picture of someone he worked on and the results were not great. I then booked a well known celebrity surgeon down here that was on a tv show at the time. he would've been ok. But I then looked at some Lapband girls plastic surgery. I found one girl that looked amazing and went to see her doctor. I moved my surgery to him and have been thrilled. My point in all of this is to do thorough research. And since it takes time....you could be at goal by the time of the operation. Best of luck in whatever you decide. Josie

Had my 6 week post op appointment yesterday. I'm totally cleared to go back to do everything-no restrictions. Dr. said healing is best he's seen in this amount of time. Part of it is genetics but part is the fact I still use the compression garments and the silicone strips at night. If you anyone lives in Texas... I highly recommend dr Adam. I'll post pics in a little while. I'm done with elective surgery. .... I will say my least favore part has been lipo. I only had a little done to support the main surgeries but it hurts like heck.

Thanks Cheri for your help.... I appreciate it Josie

Hi, Since Dr Spivak moved back to Israel, I was wondering what Dr. his former patients are now using? And any experiences (good or bad) that you are having with them. I felt so lucky to land on Dr Spivak's doorstep and now I feel lost. I am having some small issues and want to get this checked out. Also do you know where they left our medical charts? Thanks for your input Josie

Hi everyone, I was banded 5 yrs ago. I would be interested Ina Facebook page and/or meeting up. I live in eagle lake but I'm in Katy/Houston at least 2 times a week. So count me in. Josie

For me... Some of my top offenders chicken, shrimp or lobster, soft breads, hotdogs, leftover meat. I can eat the first day beef or pork cooked medium rare (not well done). ***Once in a blue moon I can eat the things listed above (except soft bread) but 85% of the time... I can't

hi i am in the process of deciding on a doctor for my surgery and would like to know if ayone heard of him. i went to the seminar in the physician-surgi center. 2 previous patients gave the seminar but no doctor. i thought that was weird. when i investigated this in NY...one of the top lap band surgeon's there gave her own seminar. anyway any suggestions are greatly appreciated thanks