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Lizrbit thanks for responding. I went to the Dr on Tuesday he would not give me a fill says I have to eat below 30 gm of carbs and I will lose weight. Not a happy camper. Last 2 visits would no fill. I am getting disgusted. If I wanted to do this on my own, I wouldn't have had the surgery! Thanks for letting me blow off steam. I'll figure out something.

Lizrbit thanks for responding. I went to theDr on Tuesday he would notgive me a fill shays I have to eat below 30 gm of carbs and I will lose weight. Not a happy camper. Last 2 visits would not fill. I am getting disgusted. If I wanted to do this on my own, I wouldn't have had the surgery! Thanks for letting me blow off steam. I'll figure out something.

Morbid obesity is real! You are worth everything you are doing! I agree with othr people who have posted. Do this for your own life! It is hard. I started at 378# dieted down to 325# and then was banded. It has been 11 months and I am down 100 ounds. It took about 125 before people really noticed. You life will change drastically as you loose the weight. Be good to yourself, follow your Dr's protocol, eat protein first then veggies and then fruitnif you can. Drink lots of water and sugar free beverages, try to stay away from carbonated drinks and get moving! You can do this and you deserve nothing but the best you can give yourself!

Good for you! On the smoking. Getting healthy is no easy task but it certainly is worth it! Keep up the good work, you can do it! I quit 33 years ago and am so glad I did. It takes preparation to get ready for the rest of your life!

I think I have posted here before but can't find it. I started at 378 pounds. At least that was the last time I let them weigh me at the Dr.'s office! I lost down to 284 and had my knees replaced. I went back up to 325 and decided that was enough ! I was banded july 24, 2006. I am now at 211. My BMI is33 from off the charts,well over 55 Anywayt, I have been stuck here for 2 months. Mostly because I have lost my motivation. Does this happen to other people? I guess I am tired of working out and at this point am nopt really restricted much. Went back to old behaviors and need a kick you know where to get started agan. Any words of wisdom? I do need help!

Marlena Welcome to the club! I have been banded 11 months and lost 100 pounds. It is an adventure. Just fo what the Dr. says and you will be fine! Blessings on your new life!

Ruth Best wishes for a great adventure ahead of you! Just take one day at a time and follow the program and you will do great. I love my band and am enjoying a BMI at 33! I am not just obese. lol Sounds funny to be excited about being "just obese"! My BMI was around 58 when I started! Anything you need, we are all here for youQ

Congrats! This the the beginning of the new life you will have! How exciting for you!

I think there is a lot of info about low carbs or not. My Dr. has a protocol that limits carbs to 30 gms a day, however, that does not includde veggies. So that means protein first, need protein for good tissue and healing. Then, veggies and then if there is room fruit. I do not eat any cereal, or breads, or noddles, rice or potatoes. I find that I have lost many inches around my middle since I stopped eating all those carbs. Yes, veggies and fruits are high in carbs but they are good carbs and according yo my Dr. are not to be counted in the 30 grms. Just a different point of view.

I suppose many of us think we are "cheating" by being banded. I know I did, but now I know that it is a tool I needed to become healthy. It is no different to me than taking insulin as a diabetic or meds for High Blood Pressure. I do not tell those who are not close to me because it's not necessary. People continue to look for a quick fix. I tell people, I eat healthy, and exercise. There are no quick fixes! Thank God for this little band it has literally saved my life!!!

I am 59 years old. Was banded July 24, 2007 I have lost 100 pounds. I eat like the others have said. I work out with a trainer 2 times a week and up until recently did 30 minutes on the bike 3 times a week. I have hit a hard time right now. I say that you can loss weight as slow as you want. That's the great thing about the band. consistency is the key! Good luck!

Hi I guess I am a little late in joining in on tis conversation. I too have a hard time finding things to do. Meeting guys is very hard for me because of my profession. Anyway, I don't know where you live, but I am in Florida, so the weather is usually nice. I walk in the malls, because I haven't been able to do that for quite a while, go to the movies, do needle point, go to the theater, baseball games, and this was the really hardest to do..... go to a co ed gym. At 325 pounds it took all I had to walk through the door, but I was so surprised at the support I got from both guys and girls! Join a book club sounds like fun, volunteering at hospital, museum, girls club, big sisters of america, schools... just a few suggestions. The caliber of men you would like to meet, will be that the places you like to go. Now, if I could only follow my own advice! lol Most of all, you are worth it! As far as surgery, I was shopping the next day, and working the day after. The only unpleasantness was the gas pain in my shoulder. I would be careful with suitcases. A woman who traveled alt was back traveling in a week, flying all over with suitcases and all! Everyone has a different pain tolerance and healing rate. Listen to your body!

Hi I feel for you right now. It is hard to look at that scale. I was banded July 24, 2006. I have lost 100 pounds since then. What I would suggerst and this is just a suggestion...... stay off the scale for a week. Concentrate on eating protein first, especially fish, turkey and chicken. Then if there is room eat veggies and then fruits. Stay away from all white carbs, bread, potatoes, noddles and rice. Make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of no calorie liquid ,especially water. Try to stay away from all carbonated drinks. Begin exercising every day for 30 minutes. If you can't exercise for 30 minutes begin by taking walks and increase the time every other day. Above all remain consistant in what you do. That's how I started and it worked for me. Good luck, you can do this!

Good morning to everyone. Janet, you amke some good points. As a person with an over 50 BMI now down to 33 and moving down, I would like to try to explain a few rhings from my pespective. When people talk about the lap band being "just a tool" they are right. It is a tool that allows people like me to eat small amounts of food 3 times a day. Before the band I wouldnot/couldnot stop eating. I also, ate all those really good tasting foods full of calories and carbs! Thi weight loss thing is a journey. It is life changing. As I have loss weight my life has changed. Even though I am 59 I now can walk up and down stairs, work out 2 days a week lifting weights with a trainer, and do cardio 2-3 times a week. I can shop in the ladies department for clothes and I thinnk Inlook really good! lol The biggest change is how I look at food and my life and how I relate to people. People relate to me differently because I relate to myself and to them differently. There are still unwanted advances at times, I just ell them to "kiss off". Ifeel better about myself, and self confidence and self esteem is on the rise which allows me to tell those unwanted people to get lost. The phsycial limitations from the band and the fills remind me what I am doing. Yes, I have to make the decisons to eat healthy with protein first and the veggies. There are times I miss my ice cream and do have it , but mostly I make the right choices and grieved my way pass what I use to eat. I really do not have the desire for the most part. I have found once I got off sugar and big carbs like bread potatoes rice and noddles, my cravings have all but disappeared. Would I do it again? you bet, there is a life out there I never knew existed and I like it! Good luck with your decision. Sharon

Amy, Thank you on the clothes issue. I had a "future"closet with clothes that I use to wear and then got to small. I would periodically go there and try on some. Then I would move them into my "present'closet. I got rid of all the big clothes, so as not to look that them again. That was the hard part. I had to believe that with the band I would never get to that size again. Now each time I look at clothes I still go to the women's sizes. Its like I don't realize I wear ladies sizes now. I actually had a "meltdown" I was wandering around the plus sizes then a friend came and oulled me out! lol Moved me into the ladies department and said this is where you belong now! lol So body image is a major part of those of us of plus size come up against. Somewhere I read that it takes the mind a year to catch up with the body, I'm not sure if that's right, but it makes sense to me.

Buy new clothes, you will be amazed how good you look and people will definitely see the difference then!

I didn't find my reply but then I am fairly new at this. My highest weight was 378 that I know. I stopped allowing them to weigh me at the Dr.'s office. I had knee probelms and back probelms you name it. anyway in order to get my knees replaced I needed to lose weight. So I dieted to 284, had my knees replaced and then promptly went to 325. My BMI was off the chart. July 24, 2006 I was banded and to this date I am 211pounds with a BMI of 33! I can't tell you how exciting it is to be at this weight. Yes, I do have sagging skins on my thighs and my arms and my abdomen but with clothes on it's ok lol. Anyway, I am not as concerned about the skin as I am about being healthy for my grandchildren and children. I am 59 and feel like 45 for the most! Thank God for the band!!!!!!

another thing I remember is that I limit my carbs to 30 grams a day,EXCLUDING the veggies. Vitamins have carbs remember that Anf get moving as soon as possible , if its walking that's great. Increase every day! Good Luck! s

Kadrian I am out about10 months and have have 100 pound weight loss. I am one who has not had many fills. My band holds 11 cc and I am at 5cc. For me I have a nice restriction that allows me to eat and be comfortable. My Dr. calls this "the sweet spot" The band works and yet I am not eating too much or not enough. The idea of the band in my opinion is to help us limit our amount of food. Some peole need more help with that than others. I have a friend who is at 10cc and has been there early on. Again, my physician doesn't give the first fill until at least 4 weeks out of surgery. The hardest thing for me was and is to learn how to let the band work for me. Just one pespective.

Just some thoughts about weight loss . My physician has a very strict protocol . It has worked well for me. I was banded July 24, 2006 Started at 310.5 and as of last week am 211. One thing that I know is that our bodies need protein. So the order I eat is protein first, which means meat. I usually eat chicken, fish. Fish is especially easy to eat. Chicken sometimes I need it to be very moist. Then veggies, by that time I am full. Do not drink anything 10 before I eat and 30 minutes after I eat. I drink plenty of water at least 8 glasses a day. Make sure you get enough protein. I do drink protein drinks some days in order to get enough. I make sure I get at 60 grms of protein a day. there is a formula but I can't remember it right now. I thining eating with a band is definetely challenging but can be done. I stay away from all breads, potatoes, rice, and early on fruits. I do eat blueberrys, and sometimes a quarter of apple now. I hope this helps.

I started at the physicians office at 325 with a BMI well over 50! In 2004 I was 378 pounds. I lost done to 288 and had both knees replaced. Then I see sawed until 2006 July 24 when I had lap band. My BMI is 34 now and I have started to really struggle to get the rest of the weight off! I am at 210 now. I was a 3x and now am a 14 and that feels really good at 5'7" I am in a never never land now. It is tough!

After reading your notes, I feel like a grandma! I am! lol I am 59 years old a year ago weigned 325 pounds. I am now at 210 pounds. i am 5"7' I am also single since 1884, what's that some of you not born yet?! lol anyway, it dated off and on until I got over 300 pounds I was depressed, and unhappy with myself which of course projected as "hands off". Haven't dated recently but sure have had more interestinf conversations I guess I am n more approchable since I am happier with me!