mumof2boys

I really think that people get jealous once they see people actually lose weight. They have a lot to say when they know that you have tried everything else in the world and nothing worked and then when you finally start to get smaller...they wake up and realize that you are HOTT!!!! Oh well...they'll get over it, right. Keep up the good work. You have done a great job!

Kristi, You are not alone with your struggles with the band. We all have our own "little" things that make us depressed and drag us down. You can get through this. I, too, compare myself to other banders, but we have to try to stop doing that. Everyone is different and everyone's body is different. For example, just last week I saw a womans profile that was very similiar to mine. She currently weighs one more pound than me and she said that she wears a size 12 pants. How could that be, I thought. I weight one pound less and I'm in a 16/18. What in the world is going on? Then...after about a day or so...I realized that we all have different body types, different shapes, sizes, heights, etc. I cannot focus on her great accomplishments...I need to concentrate on myself. I have come a long way and I have a long way to go. We can do this!!! It's a journey that we signed up for when we went to the doctor and said that we wanted the lap band. Every ounce lost is an accomplishment. I can't imagine what my weight might be right now if I didn't get the band. It was a steady climb up and it never went down. food was running my life and for the first time in a very long time, I feel like I'm in control. I love the saying "Thin feels better than food tastes". Although I'm not thin (yet)...I am smaller than I was and I'm starting to feel good about myself. I notice that I hold my head up higher than before. I am actually enjoying shopping for clothes. All of these things I dreaded before. I didn't buy clothes because nothing would fit and I would settle for anything that I could get on, no matter how ugly it was. Now I have a variety...I feel like I have a choice in what I buy. I too have a bad back. I just had x-rays on Friday and I go back to my doctor this Friday to try to figure out what is wrong. It's painful, but I try to find exercises that aren't uncomfortable. It's difficult, but I manage. One thing that I found enjoyable that didn't hurt me was Water aerobics. Prior to going to my first class I thought that I just crawl into a hole because I had to put on a bathing suit. Much to my surprise, the class was filled with woman of all shapes, sizes and ages. I felt like I really fit in. Everyone was so nice and nobody judged. It was great. You should look into something like that. Kristi---pick your chin up...face the evil of food!!! I will be your buddy...I will help you in any way that I can. I'm no expert by any means, but I know how to be a friend and if that's what you need... I am here for you!!!

My heart goes out to you. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I was banded in April and I have never had the test. Fortunately, for me, I have not had any complications. Take care of yourself!

Congrats on the approval. The time will fly and your surgery date will be here before you know it. Good luck with all of your test and your surgery!!!

Hi Robin and welcome to the lap band. My question is...what are you eating? You say that you are eating less, but maybe it's your choice of foods that is preventing the weight loss. Also...are you exercising? I know that it's very frustrating when you don't lose. I tend to sit at a certain weight for a while and then boom...all of a sudden it will start coming off again. Don't worry...you'll get there. You have lost a lot of weight so far for just getting the band last month. You're doing a great job. Don't get discouraged. I always say to myself..."I didn't gain it overnight so I don't expect to lose it overnight (although it would be nice)". Well...good luck...the weight will come off...

Fortunately this has not happened to me, but I have seen stories about it on 20/20 or 60 minutes. It seems terrible. I can say, however, that during my second c-section, towards the end, I could feel everything. I was awake during the entire thing, but the numbness wore off and as I was moaning the anesteologist asked me what was wrong and I told him that I could feel them putting me back together. He told me that they were almost done. It wasn't pleasant. I'm really sorry to hear that you went through that.

Congrats on your surgery date. The time will fly and it will be here before you know it. I can't believe that this weekend marks the 8 month mark from when I started my Optifast pre-op diet. The time really goes by quickly. The lapband is an amazing tool and I'm so excited that I was given this opportunity. It has worked very well for me. I have so much energy now and I amazed myself last night when I was running (yeah...you heard right...RUNNING) on my treadmill. I'm just beside myself. I wish everyone the best of luck. Keep going with the journey!!! It is definitely worth it.

$50 co-pay for surgery $20 co-pay for fills

Welcome...what kind of complications have you experienced? I have had my band for a little over seven months and have experienced nothing but glory. I would love to hear about you. Are you doing alright now?

I'm getting there and I'm determined to do it by next weekend. As of this morning, I was 204. I have already purchased my "under 200" reward and I can't wait to use it. (I got a COACH purse as my reward). Wish me luck!!!:rockon:

Hey there...sorry I didn't get back to you guys earlier... Motivation??? Okay...it was my 33rd birthday and I decided...I am no longer going to continue to gain weight. I had had enough and wanted to put a stop to it. I went to my PCP and told him that I wanted lapband. I then had to go to him once a month to get weighed in for my "supervised weight loss attempts". I have two kids...7 and 4 and I was tired of sitting on my deck watching them play...I wanted to join them. So, basically, my kids were my motivation. After going through the six months of visiting my PCP, I got my referral to Dr. Brody. I went to meet him and discuss the surgery and was very impressed with the office, his staff and him. I was very excited. They (the office) submitted my information to insurance and sure enough, within two weeks I had a surgery date. I had to start my pre-op diet on April 16, so...on April 15 I had a "Farewell to Fat" party at my house and surrounded myself with friends, family and food. Had a great time and pigged out. The rest is history... Following my two week follow-up with Dr. Brody, he gave me the thumbs up to begin exercising. I went back to Curves and was full of motivation. However...I found after time that my heart rate wasn't getting up to the fat burning zone at Curves, so I am cancelling my contract from there. When I started the Water aerobics, I realized how much I loved it. I really look forward to it. Don't get me wrong...for the most part, I'm not a big exercise fan, but I realize that I have to do it to see my weight go down. I have set one of my goals (to be under 200) and I'm trying hard to get there. I am rewarding myself with a Coach purse. I already bought it, but I refuse to use it until I reach that goal. It's difficult to look at it and now use it, but it makes me realize that I have work to do. Well gals...it's great to chat with you all. We need to keep this thread going. This is a great place for us to turn when we need a little boost. Remember...WE CAN AND WILL DO THIS!!!! :whoo::whoo::whoo:

Hi Virginia gals....I'm from Maryland. Sosobizi...I also have MDIPA. I was approved after going to my PCP for 6 months and documenting my weight loss attempts. I was banded at George Washington Hospital Center in DC. My experience was wonderful and the surgeon (Dr. Fred Brody) was great. I wish everyone the best of luck!!!

Hey there guys. I am from Maryland. I live in Charles County (Waldorf, to be exact). I would love to chat with any and all of you all. I have done pretty well with my band, but have just recently noticed that I can get more down than before, so maybe it's time for a slight fill. I have had three so far and the last one gave me great restriction. I'll give it a week or two and if I notice that I am still eating more than I should, I'll call and make an appointment. I have stepped up my exercise, but need to increase it just a tad bit more. What do you find is the exercise that you enjoy the most? I do water aerobics, and I love it. The problem is...it's only one day a week and that's not going to cut it. Well...welcome to the lap band everyone and I can't wait to hear from you all. You're right...we can do this!!! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

I was told to eat 5-6 small meals a day. My doctor said that I have to eat that often to increase my metabolism. I have stuck to it and so far it's working pretty well. Good luck!

Hey Steve...how did your appointment with Dr. Brody go? I can't wait to hear how you like him...

I felt so bad for Kae last night. I knew that they would send her home. Personally, I don't think that they should get to vote. I think that whoever had the lowest percentage of weight loss should go home. I bet they would work harder than they do because they wouldn't have their friends keep them in the game. I was so glad to see that Kae kept going with the weight loss. I knew that she would. I'm addicted to the show.

Hi there, Moongirl. I'm not sure where you are in Virginia, but I had my surgery in DC at George Washington University Hospital. I highly recommend Dr. Brody and his staff and the hospital. Everyone and everything was great. I was banded about seven months ago and down just about 70 pounds. Life is great. As far as what to expect... everyone is different. Also...if you are using insurnace, the requirements are all different too. You will have to contact a surgeon and work with his/her office to determine what you need to do. For example, I had to go to my PCP for six months straight to have documented weight loss attempts prior to submitting to my insurance. Good luck!!!

I have been using Nioxin for about a year. It did not stop my hair from falling out. I began losing my hair at about 4 months out from surgery and it recently stopped. I continue to use Nioxin because I like the product (and thanks to my hairdresser, I get a great discount). I tried everything while my hair was falling out and nothing really worked, it just stopped by itself. It is a very traumatizing thing but it will eventually stop and you should be fine.

Hi there. I have gone to Curves for a while now, but I'm in the middle of cancelling my contract. I enjoyed going but it got to the point where my heart rate was not getting high enough and I wasn't burning fat. Don't get me wrong...any kind of exercise is better than sitting on the sofa watching TV, but I just decided to get on my treadmill at home and I know that I am burning fat doing that. Good luck and let me know what you think of it.

Man...I am addicted. I love the show. I am glad that Amy was sent home. I think it was rude that she switched from the Red Team to the Black Team. She deserved to go home. Although...I think that it's great that she has lost 100 pounds. She really looks good now. My favorite is Kay. She is kicking some mean weight loss butt. She is so determined and such an inspiration. Now, granted...I know that the show is nowhere near realistic. I mean really...who has their food set out for them and who gets to work out EVERY day all day long? The common folk must go to work and live in the real world.

Hi there. I too have suffered from migraines for many, many years. I have been on Midrin (mentioned above) and Imitrex. Imitrex did not work for me at all. Midrin was wonderful but put me right to sleep so it was difficult if I was at work. My doctor said that Midrin is an old prescription and he doesn't give it anymore. I now take Naproxen, which has really worked for me. The funny thing...since getting the band, I don't get them as often as I used to. I used to get 1-2 a week and now I may get 1-2 a month. It's kind of hard to get the Naproxen down because it's big, but I manage. I have also found one over the counter medication that actually helps...Excedrin Migraine. Believe it or not, if I don't have my prescription handy, the Excedrin works really well. Good luck to you!!!

Congratulations on your surgery. I, too, had to do the Optifast diet before and after surgery. When you move on to mushies, you can eat things like mashed potatoes, creamy soups, cottage cheese, oatmeal, etc. It sounds like you are doing well. If you feel up to it, go back to work. There shouldn't be any reason why you don't if you feel up to it. Good luck and keep up the good work.

I was able to gulp everything until I got to a proper restriction. I now have great restriction and can only sip. If I drink too fast or take a big gulp, I'm in pain. Just take it easy and you'll be alright...

Steve, Best of luck on your consult with Dr. Brody. I think that you will be very comfortable with him. He tends to put you as ease. November 16 is right around the corner. Best of luck to you. After you meet with him, let me know what you think. Good luck!

Cheeseburger? What's that? I can't handle eating that anymore. Last time I tried, it wasn't too much fun. I have never PB'd, but I don't want to get to that point either (if I can help it). Restriction is a great thing, isn't it???? Good luck!