MammaJamma42

I am also unsure as my doctor doesn't tell me - not even sure he knows the total without going through all my records and adding it up, but I would guess around 7cc in a 10cc band? I have had probably 7 or 8 fills, all pretty small. He worked me up very gradually over the first year and a half after my surgery (which was in July, 2013). My last fill was last spring, March, I believe. I think I'm in the green zone, but that seems to vary from day to day. Some days I can only get down Protein shakes and Soup without getting stuck. Other days, I seem to be able to eat way too much. About the time I decide I need to go for a fill because I'm eating too much, I start getting stuck every single time I even take a bite or two. It's definitely a balancing act, and I have not been as careful as I should. I know if I was eating the right things and not letting myself get too hungry before eating a meal, I probably wouldn't get stuck as often as I do. I need to get back to the basics!

Good to hear from you, @@Zingythingy! Just check in whenever you can.

You can do it! Let's motivate each other again!

I'm still here! I'm down about 85 pounds - been stuck here for several months now, but I'm ready to get going down again! Need to up my activity level, I think, as most days I don't get too many calories. I had a fill about a month ago, and it's still pretty tight, so I mostly only eat Soup. I'd love to hear from @Zingythingy. I've been worried about her ever since her last post. How's everybody else doing?

Thanks @@Elode for remembering my eBay auctions and for mentioning them! Unfortunately, I sold all my pants and jeans last week. I still have some auctions going on for career tops/blouses and some dresses. Here's the link if anyone's interested: http://www.ebay.com/sch/danlsmom1961/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from I don't have everything uploaded yet either, so if anyone would be interested in buying a large lot of mostly size 2X, some 3X career tops, blouses, and sweaters, with a couple of jackets, I would love to sell them all at once! Thanks again, @@Elode! So sorry, @@newlanashegog! Cheryl

I have several items listed for sale on eBay right now in sizes 22 & 24 or 2X, and one lot of tops in size 3X. I still have a bunch of career tops/blouses and a few dresses that I'd like to sell, but haven't listed yet. I might be interested in selling them all as a lot if anyone would be interested in buying them. I can post pictures, if you're interested. Here's where you can see all my current auctions on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/danlsmom1961/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

I have listed several auctions today on eBay for sizes 22-26 dress pants, dress capri pants, capri jeans, jean shorts, nightgowns, robe, pajamas, and bathing suits on eBay today. I have listed everything so far in pretty large lots because it takes so long to get it all uploaded. I haven't been on here recently, but have lost 85 pounds since my lap-band surgery, and have been cleaning out closets this weekend. I will be listing even more career tops, dresses, and blouses in the days ahead. My seller ID is danlsmom1961, but if you need any direct links to my items for sale, please let me know. Thanks! Cheryl aka MammaJamma42

I agree with what several others have suggested - seems like you should qualify for disability due to your PTSD. It's at least worth a try. And I also agree that you need a new psychiatrist - he should not just blow you off. He needs to find the right combination of medication and therapy to help you get past the trauma you experienced. That's what he was trained for. Good luck, sweet girl - I wish you all the best!

I had lap-band surgery a year ago, and have not regretted it even one single moment since. My typical day looks like this: Breakfast - chocolate Peanut Butter banana smoothie made with 2 scoops of chocolate prograde Protein powder, coconut almond milk, PB2 powdered peanut butter, and a frozen banana lunch - a scoop of chicken salad from the deli in our building, which I have with a few club crackers; or a frozen weight watchers or lean cuisine dinner. Afternoon snack (if I get hungry) - Dannon Light & Fit Greek Yogurt or laughing cow light cheese or mini babybel light cheese Dinner - we eat out a lot, but I usually share a meal with my husband, so I'll have a few bites of his grilled steak or chicken or a skewer of grilled shrimp, a few bites of potato, and some veggies. I rarely ever get hungry, now that I think I'm in the green zone. I do treat myself occasionally if someone's having a dessert, I'll have a few bites because I don't want to feel deprived. But, that's the great thing - I'm completely satisfied with a few bites of anything. I average about 1200 calories per day, and have lost 83 pounds since my surgery (which is a little over 1.5 pounds average per week, definitely a healthy rate of weight loss). Good luck with your decision! I'm very happy I decided on the lap-band. It took me years to make the decision, but in the end what convinced me was the fact that it's all reversible if needed (and I hope it's never needed because I hope to keep this tool for the rest of my life)!

I think my port must be really deep, because you definitely can't see it (except for the scar), and it's still hard to feel, even after losing 83 pounds. I know that my surgeon apparently had a little trouble with mine during my surgery because it apparently came loose, and it's supposed to be attached to the muscle, so he had to go in again and attach it more securely to the muscle. I always have to do a crunch in the office when I'm getting a fill for him to be able to even feel where it is. I guess I'm lucky. Maybe I won't be someone that has to have it repositioned after I've lost all my weight.

3,122 + 83 = 3,205

I paid $12,400 all-inclusive (including the first year of follow-ups and fills), and I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Great medical care before, during, and after, and worth every penny!

Oh gosh, @@terrydumont46! I'm so sorry this happened to you! It sounds horrible. I want to thank you also for sharing with us. It's good to hear others' experiences so we know what to look for and what to beware of. I'm thinking it's probably time for me to do one of those 5 day pouch tests too. I know it'll be hard having to go through bandster hell again, but you can do it! You did get to keep your band and I'll be praying that all works out well after you get through this whole process. Just hang in there!

Welp, today is my bandiversary, y'all! It's been one year! I really can't believe that at this time a year ago, I was fretting and stewing and worried to death about this surgery. I was scared to death I was going to be in horrible pain when I woke up (I wasn't - in fact, very little pain, just a little discomfort) and also scared I'd never be able to eat anything I like ever again. I was worried I'd be throwing up all the time (like my mom with her gastric bypass), and I'm sure I had all the normal worries that everyone has. But, hallelujah, I have been blessed, and I have had a wonderful year! As of today, I have lost 83 pounds, and more importantly, I feel SO much better!!!! One of the main reasons I had this surgery was in preparation for a knee replacement, and I'm probably going to have that in the next couple of months, and I know my recovery is going to go so much better and easier than it would have prior to losing this weight. The biggest surprise for me has been how much easier this has been than I had anticipated. Now, I'm not saying it's easy - I'm just saying that I had envisioned the worst, because my mom has had so much trouble with her gastric bypass, but I also have to clarify that she has done absolutely everything wrong that you could do. I haven't much trouble at all getting stuck until my last fill, and that is only when I eat incorrectly, or eat the things I shouldn't be trying to eat in the first place (bread, pasta, etc.). It has been a learning process for sure, and the rate of weight loss been much slower than I had hoped, but I can definitely live with this. I had hoped to lose 100 pounds in the first year, but considering all that I'm still able to eat, and considering that most days I try to stay at around 1200 calories, I'm pretty happy with the 83 pounds. And, most importantly, I don't ever feel deprived or feel like I'm missing out on something because I'm on a "diet". There are really not many things of which I can't at least have a bite or two and be completely satisfied, and I guess that's the biggest positive for me. I can be completely satisfied and happy with a few bites, and I can participate in the meal and not feel left out. We still go out to eat a lot, but I share with my husband, or I share a kids' meal with my grandson, and I'm totally okay with that. It still blows my mind that I am okay with that! LOL!! Anyway, I just wanted to write a positive post on my bandiversary because I'm really happy with the decision I made a year ago, and wish I had done it years earlier. Although, who knows? Maybe I wasn't ready mentally before then. I think that's part of the process too. You really have to be ready. So, to all you other July 2013 Bandsters - we did it! If we remember where we were a year ago, look how far we've come (some more than others @@Zingythingy, but that's okay)! Happy Bandiversary, everyone!

That's awesome about your surgeries, @@Zingythingy! Good luck with them. Please be sure and let us know how everything goes. You have done so amazingly well! You're my inspiration! I'm sure you'll do great, even with your band completely deflated. You've worked out so much, you've surely increased your metabolism so significantly and changed your eating habits, it'll be a walk in the park for you! Take care and be sure and post before and after pictures of your surgery. Can't believe how hot you look already!!

So great to hear from you, @@Zingythingy! You are totally amazing!! 165 pounds! You have inspired me. I really have got to start some type of workout plan. I somehow lost contact with you on myfitnesspal, so I have missed seeing you. Glad to know all is going so well with you, and all of you other July bandsters. We can do this y'all!

I'm chpease on Instagram and I'm from Tulsa. I think we had the same surgeon - Dr. Atkins! I requested to follow you. I don't get on there too often, but will follow everyone on this post to get some inspiration too.

Exactly, Patiently! And thank you - you've done great too!

Glad to see some of us still checking in from time to time! Can't believe it's already been almost a year. In some ways, the time has flown, and in others, it seems like ages. I'm down 77 pounds, but let me tell you, it seems like the last 10 pounds has taken at least 3 months. Things have really slowed down for me too, and I know it's because I need to start exercising. I use the excuse that I need to have a knee replacement (I have no cartilage left in my left knee, so it's bone-on-bone), but there are activities I could do that probably wouldn't bother it too much, and would probably help me kick-start the weight loss again. I am happy with my weight loss though - thrilled actually, when I think of where I was a year ago. This is such a wonderful tool to have. I just keep thinking that this is a life-long process - it's a marathon, not a sprint, and we're all making positive changes, so we'll make it to goal eventually. And it's not like we have a time limit, right? I hope more of our group checks in. I'm really interested to hear how @@Zingythingy is doing. Last I heard from her, she had lost over 150 pounds already, and I think that was in April. She is a workout machine!! I wish I had even half her energy. So, let us hear from you, July 2013 band buddies! How's everybody doing?

I would tell my pre-banded self to look at this whole process as a life-long journey, not a quick fix, and to be patient as I learn to adjust to all the changes; that even if I have weeks, or even months, where I don't lose much weight, not to worry, because I have a wonderful tool and if I use it correctly, I will eventually be at a healthy weight again and then I will stay there! I also wish that I'd done it at least 10 years earlier!! Haven't regretted even one single second since doing it.

My surgery was on 7/18/13. I think I have about 3 cc's in my band right now, and I'm down 72.5 pounds. I go in for my monthly visit today, but I doubt if I'll get a fill. I think I'm probably in the green zone. I can't eat certain things or eat very fast or I get stuck. I know people have lost much faster than I am, but I can definitely live with this rate. People are finally starting to notice!

Final check-in at 242.3! Didn't make my goal of 240, but still happy with my progress. Way to go everybody!