Chickie

Thank you! Striver - Thank you for your kind words. Congrats on making the decision to be banded! April 8th is just around the corner!! Thanks Faith! Thank you! It's an Alannah Hill. I wub that outfit to bits. Thank you very much. It is a great comfort to me that some good came out of me doing that interview.

No, but I did (and still do) eat organic, whole foods where possible. And I became Vegetarian at about 6 months post op. I don't recall the exact number, but my highest fill was abut 3.5cc in a 4 cc band. That didn't last too long though. I didn't like that much restriction. I like to be able to eat real food. I ended up having a total unfill to stop me from losing weight. I have maintained without any fill for over a year now. Thanks Peabody, Sunwyse, Sue and She Smiles! As promised before and after; (The after is after DH and I got home from dinner tonight)

Thanks Aussiechik & Striver.

I had my op. I knew it was going to change my body, and as a result, my life, but I could have never imagined just how good it is to be "normal" I got to goal in June 2006, had a TT in August that same year, and I have never looked back. These last 3 years have just flown by. I will have DH or DS take photos of me later on today.

I couldn't agree more. Dr Copp is awesome

Unfiilling to find the perfect restriction to maintain is JUST like filling to find the perfect restriction to lose. Not everyone is going to lose or maintain at the same level of restriction. It took a total unfill for me to stop losing. And even then if I am not very, very careful, I will lose a couple of pounds. No .2cc unfill to stop me losing I am afraid.

Thanks. I do have excess skin. Not a whole lot of it, but I do have some. I did have a tummy tuck in August of 2006. My stomach was my problem area (its where I carried most of my weight, there and my ass) To be truthful, all I do is run, sit ups, push ups, chin ups and planks. And a bit of yoga. Nothing special, I just do it daily. I think that is the key.

Why would I miss eating? I mean, if I ate nothing but diet food, and Protein shakes, maybe I would... But, these days I eat far better quality food, and just slightly less of it. In fact, when I was out to dinner with my SIL, who is on a diet, I actually ate more than her. SHE missed eating! :thumbdown: So, no. I don't miss eating. And I don't miss eating junk food either. Real food is far more satisfying than junk ever was.

Ok. You are going to get a pretty one eyed opinion from most people on a banding board about banding, and the same can be said for an RNY board. People have a tendency to think that their surgery is "the surgery" and will spout myth and BS to win you over. Facts are, no surgery is going to do all the work for you. If you are going to have excess skin, you are going to have it no matter what weight loss method you use. The rate you lose at has nothing to do with it (I lost 190 in 17 month, and only my stomach needed work) Only age, genetics, duration of obesity and distribution of the fat will determine if you will have loose skin or not. You can lose as fast with a band as you can with RNY, a sleeve or DS. It is up to you to do the work to get there though. And there are potential issues with banding. The threat of erosion, slips and sometimes the band just isn't a good fit with some people's lifestyles. I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I don;t believe in putting down one thing to make another look better, if you know what I mean. You will have to work no matter what surgery you chose, and there are possible complications with any surgery.

I wanted to be an Aussie size 12 (a US 8-10) and about 60- 65kg (132lbs- 142lbs) I ended up an Aussie 6 (like a 2 or a 4 in the US) and 49-50kg (107 ish lbs) At 164cm, my current weight is well within the "normal & healthy" range.

The question is what are we seasoned with :thumbdown: A big "Hello and Congrats" from Brisbane!

Cardio. The only thing that is going to take inches off is cardio. And sadly, there is no way to "spot train" to take inches off in one place only.

Where do these numbers come from Grace? There is no correct unfill for anyone who is at goal, and still losing. To give a definitive number ("between .2 and .5") is a bit misleading. Everyone is different, and every band is different.

Define "normal" because 3 years ago, what was normal to me then got me close to 300lbs. After 18 months at goal weight, I am totally unfilled, and eat the same types of food as when I was losing, but just a little more of them. If that is the definition of normal, then, yes, I do eat normally.

Hi Michelle, have you joined the BrisBanders group? They might have some insight... I was banded almost 3 years ago, and my total out of pocket (after Medicare + private cover) was like $1800... But I am sure things have gone up since then.

There is no reason for rebound weight gain if you have changed your lifestyle. In my 18+ months at goal weight, I have never gained more than normal monthly Water weight (a whopping 2 lbs most months that is gone within a couple of days) With a good lifestyle change, staying at goal weight without a rebound is realistic.

I am more than happy with the results. But a lot of that was personal effort too. The band didn't do everything for me, it just enabled me to take control. Yes. I would do it again. Tricky question. I would always go with the band as my first choice. BUT, If I was to lose my band for whatever reason, and couldn't be re banded, I think at this point, I would go with a sleeve. No. It was some of the best money ever spent. Absolutely.

Hiya ladies, how are we both? I had to give myself a "time out". Little stupid things were pissing me off, and it shouldn't be that way.

Congrats Paula!

It is realistic to be a normal weight. Yes, it does take work (if you call eating healthy and taking the recommended amount of daily exercise work) but it is worth doing. And I don't actually know anyone who is a healthy weight who doesn't exercise daily, eat well, and take care of their health. I set my goal weight, and my Dr agreed that for a woman of my height, it was a good weight. I have maintained 107 (a BMI of 19) for over 18 months now with no "rebound" weight gain at all.

I always had a strong sex drive. No real issues there, but DH tells me I appear to be far more confident now than I ever was (in bed that is) Sex sure is a lot more fun at 107lbs than it was at 297, thats for sure...

Take it to HR. It is harassment. They should do something if she is making your work place uncomfortable. Failing that, the only thing you can do is ignore the self righteous bitch.

You know what I hate? When people post just to say "Hi" Hi!

Eh. I know in my heart and soul that I didn't "cheat". I am not sure that I care what anyone else thinks.

My fund covered the hospital stay and a huge chunk of the gap fee (when you go through your GP and get a referral, and it is medically necessary the procedure gets an item number)