Marycusa29

Today is my 2 month bandaversary. Yippee!!!! I have lost 18 pounds so far. Its been slow but Im getting better at this. Tomorrow I will have my first fill. I have 5cc from surgery in my 10cc band.

Today is my 2 month bandaversary. Yippee!!!! I have lost 18 pounds so far. Its been slow but Im getting better at this. Tomorrow I will have my first fill. I have 5cc from surgery in my 10cc band.

This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band.
The ALLERGAN protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band.
Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band.
Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week.
The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows:
1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to 4 weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to 4 weeks after the fill. That is why the ALLERGAN protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill.
2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band.
3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food.
4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient.
5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again.
6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food.< /span>
7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again.
Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater.
It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

Its been 6 months since surgery & 1 yr since I started losing weight. I have lost a grand total of... 94LBS IN 1YR! 54 PREOP & 40 POSTOP & I'm STILL losing! I'll NEVER BE THE 372LB LADY I WAS NOVEMBER LAST YR! I even wore the same shirt for comparison wOW what a difference a year makes

I'm SO happy I did this. Look at my fitness pal graph that displays weight loss in the last 30 days! Who wouldn't love this?

Hey everybody! I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to post with being back in school working on my Ph.D and taking care of my mom who was recently diagnosed with cancer. But all in all God is good and she's going to pull through this...
I have been steady in the gym even when I don't eat that good, but I stay true and faithful to my Fitness Pal. I have so many successes . Here they are:
I have gone from a size 26 to a size 16. I actually bought a 14/16 jacket ! I almost fainted when I looked in the mirror. A pair of size 18 skinny jeans are just falling down now. I bought them just last week.
To some it may be small, but I was able to lay on the floor with my honey and he wrapped his arms alllllll the way around me and I was so comfortable . He's 6'4 and like 225 and I felt so small. It was a cute feeling. He still can't believe I am so dedicated. One of the most supportive things is that my honey comes to the gym with me after he gets off work at 5 am. I think that is so super sweet. He would just come in his uniform and even work out with me sometime.
I work out 5 days a week at 5 am for 45 - 60 mins . I do strength training and ab workout too ! But more than the weight loss, my energy level is thru the roof. I feel so good abt myself and confident again. I feel sexy, cool, vibrant and all that other good stuff. When I look at pics now I still can't believe it. Although I have a way to go, I have come a long way as well.
I'm in the process of planning my wedding in June 2014 and I want to wow everybody! I mean I want especially my Husband's mouth to drop. I want them to tie that corset until I can't breath, well enough to walk down the aisle at least. Lol But even more than that I want my mom to be in good health to see me. She's always been supportive in my weight loss and just wanted me happy. She loved on me at my biggest and told me how beautiful I was .
I thank God for the support on here and have made some great friends. The journey continues! Stay motivated and if you mess up just get back at it. Don't beat yourself up.. Consistency wins all the time !
Sorry so long ...
Stats:
Highest 2013: 331.0 lbs
Pre Op: 319.0 lbs
Day of Surgery- July 5, 2013: 306.0 lbs
Current: 266.0 lbs
Goal Dec. 2013: 246.0 lbs
1 Yr Bandiversary Goal - July 2014: 206.0 lbs

You guys made my morning :-)

Not sure the exact amount but yes. Mainly, as the fat around it contracts back you do gain additional length. The rumors are fantastically true!

Figured I'd get hump day started with a question.
Is it true when they say that for every 35 pounds you lose you start showing an extra inch on the ole wedding tackle???

nothing wrong with batteries.......because when hub is wore out and i want to keep on going......comes in handy.......just a saying especially if one thought i was referring to me preferring plastic to the real deal......as there is a big reason i am still married to love stud for 29+ years now..

How awesome is it to have a forum where people can go and talk about gas, burping, flatulence and BM's and actually get supported and congratulated on it. At least I know where I can find the real people in this world.
Congratulations to all my fellow bandsters on your burps and so on!!! Hope you're feeling better with every release

Finally did it for the first part of my weight loss journey! I'm so excited. Today my husband said he could really see the difference . I feel so amazing . I took this picture and thought I was dreaming. I have been working out at 5 am like crazy and I'm not going to stop.
I have 109 more to go and I know I can do it. This lapband is amazing and I'm going to work it to the fullest .
Highest 2013: 331
PreOp: 319
Day of surgery: 306
Current Weight: 269
Goal Weight: 160
Height: 5'8

Catfish - thank you for your post this morning. Beautifully written, and well received. You are a testament of what this is all about. Great job! And I truly believe that slow & steady wins the race, and that the band is not "set and forget" device.
Thanks again for this post......really good advice AND encouragement

It's been four years today since my surgery and I can't imagine where'd I'd be without it.
The changes, both physically and mentally, are hard to put into words. I suppose Euphoric would be the best description of how I feel...to know that I am never going back to where I was "back then".
As I was going on a short run before work this morning, I thought about so many of the fine folks on here that have helped/encouraged/motivated me. I could not possibly remember to name you all if I tried. But YOU helped me get to where I am today. The advice from this site CAN be incredibly helpful...because of the wide diversity of knowlege/experience covering many topics.
And for that, I offer my sincere Thanks.
For the newer folks starting out:
I often read on here, "I'm not losing fast enough, my weightloss has stalled, what am I doing wrong, etc". I've been through those emotions...many times. I have been frustrated, mad, upset, disappointed, ready to quit, etc...
My loss certainly hasn't set any speed records! I just did a quick math check. I've AVERAGED .65 pounds lost per week. Not much when you think about it in a week timeframe. Even less than "average". But then when you look at 1, 2, 3, 4 years...it really adds up!
These are some of my OPINIONS....maybe they will help someone.
I don't believe in the "starvation mode" for people with significant body fat...when I eat less calories, I lose more weight.
I do believe exercise (any type you choose) is critical to not only physical health, but mental well being.
I don't believe everyone wants or needs the same restriction level to be successful.
I do believe my band PREVENTS me from overeating now, and I like it that way.
I don't believe the band is a "set it and forget it" device.
I do believe regular, committed followup care, is just as important as the initial surgery.
And most importantly, I do believe YOU can be successful...Provided you NEVER, EVER give up!

The third fill is doing the trick.
TODAY I STEPPED ON scale AND SAW THE FIRST NUMBER WAS A 2!!!
I am below 300 for the first time in years, feel great. Puked the other night when I ate too fast, and boy was I happy!!
275 here we come !

I am 10 days postop and as of this morning down 18.2lbs! Pretty excited about that! Can't wait to graduate to full liquids/soft foods next week!

Ok I'm a week out and can honestly say I would punch a baby for a ham and cheese sandwich right now! Does this get any easier or should I just suck it up? I have another week of thin liquids then 2 weeks of puréed liquids before I get solid food! Good news is I've lost 16lbs since surgery day (9/17) so I can't complain about that!!!

Today is my post op appointment (6 days since surgery) and I know the doctor scales aren't ever the same as the ones I have at home so I decided to weigh in my bathroom on mine. 13lbs!!!! Holy crap!!! Motivation right there! I know weight loss will slow down eventually, but for now I have my party hat on!

Hi friends! My six-months postop bandiversary was Friday. While I thought I'd hit -40 pounds that morning, I'm still stuck at a plateau, where I've been for a week or so. I'm not upset, however; I weight 39 pounds less than I did six months ago. I'm so pleased with what the lapband has brought back to my life: courage, self-confidence, mobility, energy, happiness even during the most stressful of times (my BF had to undergo an emergency quintuple bypass three weeks ago, and these days are just crazy stressful for me right now). I feel great and what I've accomplished with the band has translated over to all other areas in my life..pushing up against my comfort zone in so many ways...including realizing a lifelong dream trip to Morocco coming up in October! This is something I've wanted to do forever but didn't feel the confidence to undertake.
One of the best lessons I've learned from my band is to be brave and stretch beyond my fears. I'm so grateful I braved this life-changing surgery. The rewards unfold before me each and every day.
Thank you all for being my support and motivational system.

Sweet revenge!!

Yesterday I was out and about and ran into an ex-boyfriend. His greeting was "OMG...look at you, you're tiny!" After he finished showering me with compliments, he wanted to know if I was single and if he could call me sometime. I was a bit ga-ga over this guy for about a year and he didn't treat me as well as I deserved, so it was soooooo nice to tell him, "it was nice seeing you, take care". Then walking away without answering his relationship questions or giving him my phone number. Well, he turned Facebook stalker on me late last night. Even though he's not a FBF he was still able to send me a message, it was late so I didn't reply and he sent another one this morning.
I am now thinking of ways to let him know how I feel about our shot at a relationship the first time without sounding bitter - or coming off as conceited that I've changed so much since then, not just my physical appearance - I've done a lot of "me" work over the past 5 or 6 years and I think the lap band is the icing on that multi-layer cake.

Me too. Feeling a lot better. Cant wait to sleep on my belly :-)