Meekie

Hey, So glad you're now in Bandland! I would love for you to get in touch with me as I'm in Wiesbaden. I work at Aukamm ES. I'll share my experience so that you don't make the same mistakes I've made. All the best to you on your journey!!!!! You can do it!

Congratulations on your weight loss and success so far. I'm glad you're back to work! I would suggest low fat yogurt cups. I add Protein powder to mine to give them a little boost. They are filling and no smell or mess. Also, I snack on no salt sunflower seeds to satisfy my need to have something in my mouth. I wish you all the best!

I still do enjoy all kinds of food. I just don't enjoy as much of it! I live with the motto of moderation not elimination. Whatever you take out of your diet to lose weight is what you'll have to keep out of your diet to maintain that weight. I have a little, tiny bit of everything. I just can't eat all of it. That is the purpose of the band, to help with the amount of food you eat. I do exercise a lot! I do my part. I don't eat sweets for every meal but if there is an occasion where there is a dessert, I'll have some. I won't have 2nds or 3rds as in my previous life before the band but I do indulge in moderation. I don't want to live on a diet forever. I, personally, don't find that pleasurable. So, yes, I still do enjoy food. All the best to you on your journey!

I don't want to scare you but you need to see your doctor right away. It could be a slipped band or something else. You shouldn't wait around or guess based on "maybe" or "could be". Go find out for sure! Acid in the throat at night is a sign of slippage especially after throwing up constantly. You can recover from a slipped band so all the best to you on your journey!

You ask how do you get back on track. For me, I just look at my old pictures. I see the old, depressed, disgusted, tired, happy on the outside but miserable on the inside me. It snaps me back everytime. I hate what I used to be so much until I don't ever want to go back there. Get an appointment immediately to see your doctor. This way you can see how much restriction you have and how much of a fill you need. We've all fallen off the wagon at one time or another. You are not alone. Life's situations do give us some hard blows sometimes but you must know that you can overcome them. Only 10-20 pounds is not bad at all. Beef up your exercise and Water intake. Get your old mindset back and go forward. You still have a lot of life ahead of you to live. Put yourself in a position to enjoy it. All the best to you!!!!!

Thanks for the advice. I usually do try to mix it up but I was just giving her a generic run down of what I was having yesterday! I do mix turkey instead of chicken and tuna. But, for me, just so that I do eat Breakfast, I stick with the yogurt or eggs. Nothing else stays down. So, that I don't skip, I change flavors of the yogurt and Protein. That's all the variety I can take right now. Any other suggestions for a breakfast that will stay down or that will go down? Bars are a no go. oatmeal made me vomit before banding, I can only imagine now. I do work and need it to be quick as I'm on the road by 6:30 am.

Hi, I went through the same thing. I was tired, couldn't get up, couldn't stay up, etc. I was hard-core exercising (still am) but had no energy. I looked at my diet and decided to change it. I began to add Protein to my yogurt (which had 6 gms). This boosted my morning amount of protein. When I didn't want yogurt in the morning, I had eggs with cheese. For lunch I changed to a salad with grilled chicken or tuna. And after working out I have a small, drained can of Water packed tuna. (This saves me from buying the $5 Protein Shakes at the gym). The tuna has 18 gms of protein and 80 calories. This fills me until dinner is ready. It helps me eat a smaller dinner. I have whatever my family is having for dinner; just a much smaller amount. I usually find that if I have nutritious and healthy meals for breakfast and lunch, I am satisfied in the evenings much easier with something more healthy or in a small amount. (Like Sunday, I had spaghetti but just a very small portion). All the best to you!

That is almost 1/3 of the cost of the surgery with most practices. What kind of insurance is this? Call your insurance company and see if you can go elsewhere.

I agree with everything Jachut said. Pull yourself up. Stop having a pity party and MOVE FORWARD!!! If you don't like the doctor; find another one! You are the customer. Stop them when they want to run out of the room quickly. I had to do this to mine. I had to say "Wait, I have more questions and if you've got something else to do, I'll be right here waiting for you when you finish!". They knew then, I was one they were going to have to take their time with. He turned around and smiled and asked, "What's on your mind?". I then began to tell them that I'm a 25% payer and I don't have the time to continuously come there for small fills and then file the claim, take off of work for both, etc., etc. SPEAK UP, they will listen! Build a rapport with whatever doctor you choose. You are so close to your goal ( according to your ticker). Don't you lose heart or hope. Remember, the band is a tool. No tool ever works unless you grab it and use it! We've all had setbacks. Join the club, honey. But, be a part of us who move past our setbacks, weight gain, and self sabotage. You can do this!

I'm so sorry to hear that you have had a relapse. But, you've got to look at it as just that, a relapse. Get your self back up and start again. You have already proven you can do this once! Do it again. Start by finding a doctor. I know what it is like to have a change in insurance as I had a slight one. My husband retired from the military and we are overseas. Military clinics do not do the band (I had mine done by a German doctor). I have to pay 25% now when EVERYTHING was free at first. I paid $0.00 for my band. No co-pay, NOTHING! Now, paying 25% can be a hefty amount. I have to pay 25% for fills. But...this is the best money I can spend for MYSELF! Find yourself a doctor!!! Get back to the band rules you already know! Follow them and commit to yourself to improve yourself. You are worth it! Don't let yourself just go to the dumps! You've worked too hard to throw it all away. The longer you wait the more difficult it is. So, get back on the bandwagon. There is room for you here! Don't beat yoursefl up as we've all had setbacks. You are normal! Welcome aboard, again!

You did not lie, it is a longggggggggg post! LOL! You poured out your heart and feelings. First thing to answer your question; I chose the band because I wanted to start with the least drastic weight loss surgery. Seeing and reading that you can always go more drastic, I decided to start with the band. It fit what I needed. This was something to help me control the portions while I did my part, exercising and making better choices in the type of food I consumed. I was willing to do that; my part, that is. I chose the band because there are people who have been successful with it. They may not have lost every pound they needed to lose, but they lost weight. They proved that this tool does give you the assistance that it says it does in most people. I chose the band because the side effects, (slimming, pbing, getting stuck, losing restriction) can be somewhat controlled with my choices. However, side effects beyond my control, (erosion, slippage) were possible but minimal. I was willing to take the risk. And finally, if I failed with the band, I could have it removed. (But, thank God, I've not failed.) One thing I will tell you, the band does not cure, solve, resolve, do away with, heal, diminish, delete, deplete, or erase all the reasons why you eat and got to the weight you are! It does nothing to deal with your emotions and feelings of low self esteem. It doesn't ward off rejection (as this still happens to skinny people as well). That is something you're going to have to own up to and not blame (even the divorce, ankle, etc, etc) others or life's situations. Once you look at them head on, you were overweight before these events. What made you fat then? What are you willing to change? What are you willing to do consistently for YEARS? So, with that being said, I think the all weight loss surgeries work to some degree. The INDIVIDUAL must know themselves and what they are willing to do to make them work. Hope this helps. Just my humble opinion.

I had no restrictions just the amounts. I'm really interested in how your 9 year out banded friend is doing!!!! Please give us an update, if she or he doesn't mind!

Hi, I'm banded and live in Wiesbaden. I was banded here and can share my experience with you, show you befores and afters. I've lost 129 pounds and will be happy to give you the raw truth. It's the best thing I've ever done!

I did the same thing. Turns out I had slipped my band. Please go see your doctor ASAP!!!! They may only need to unfill you and it may go back in place and then refill. Or you may need to have surgery to re-fit. Hope this helps.

I buy mine at the military commissary. You can probably find it in any health food store or major grocery chain. Believe me, it works!!!

I highly recommend that you get a personal trainer. This was the best money I've ever spent!!!! She trained me for the long haul and educated me on what I needed to do in order to get certain results. Now, I'm very educated as to what I need in order to lose, tone, and get overall healthy. I would recommend that you assess where you are in your weight loss, physical abilities, and please ensure you have no restrictions from your doctor. With that being said, I would start with walking. I would take a brisk walk in the mornings and in evenings. I would start out with 20-30 minutes and then build up to an hour or more. I would incorporate some light weight lifting after about 3-4 weeks (no more than 3-5 pound weights doing things like bicep curls, chest presses, triceps, and deltoid raises). I would do this after walking 3 times a week alternating days. I would find routes with some moderate hills after about 4-6 weeks. I would see how you react to this start up and then build. Then, explore some of those other high impact things like aerobics, since you've never worked out. Some of those classes will butcher you if you're not in some sort of shape to take your heart rate being up. That always discouraged me and I would never go back because others in the class could keep up and I just couldn't do them. So, with all that being said. I would suggest that you build your workout and not start out high impact. You've got to build up your heart rate, resisitance, and so forth. So, getting the trainer and getting an assessment might be a good idea. You don't have to keep them forever but at least 5-10 consultations could give you the education you need for 'you' as we all don't know what your heart rate should not be elevated above, how much pounding your knees can take or what sort of endurance you already have. This way you don't waste time! All the best to you. Let us know what you "end up" liking. For me, I love running and spinning. When I was 310 pounds, never thought I'd be saying that!!

Organic smooth move tea is the thing that works for me.

Most of our congregation knows about my band. (I was banded August 2008). Those who were there then know. We are a military community so our flock changes often. Newer people who come in usually don't ask until they see a picture of me or someone notices I don't eat much. I don't hide it but I don't blast it from the mountain top either. I also am willing to share my success with others who struggle. Many times believers feel guilty that we haven't prayed enough, fasted enough or whatever to get the weight off. I always share that God has different methods for different people. He instantly healed some as for another, he made a clay out of spit and put it on the man's eyes and then he was healed. So, as the Lord leads, I share. Yes, I am on the ministry platform as well.

I am also an August All-star, banded 29 August 2008! I have had success with my band. I have lost 129 pounds so far. I am 25 pounds from goal. This has sparked some fire in me to reach that goal!!! I have had set backs. I had gastritis in July 2009 and had to be unfilled. I gained 22 pounds but I pulled it together and got my fills and got back on track. I exercise regularly. I do many different types. I'm now a gym rat! Right now, I'm going to have my gallbladder removed and my doctor will reposition my band as it has some slippage. I am now unfilled but I'm okay with that. I went straight back to liquids. I've lost about 10 pounds so far. My surgery is Wednesday, 25 May 2011. I will get back on track and reach my goal by summer's end! I knew before getting this surgery that there were risks and I won't whine about them now. I'll just pick myself up and re-committ to my health and not complain. I have no regrets! I feel so much better since getting the majority of the weight off. I cannot imagine going back so I will continue to work hard to keep my success a success.

Go see your doctor. Start with an evaluation and fill. Stay on these boards and see what others are doing to achieve success. Eat protein, exercise, get plenty of sleep ( I know it's hard with a baby) and stay encouraged. You can do this!!!

I will say this...Every weight loss surgery is different. One surgery may work for one person and may not work for another. We each have to be open and honest and find out what are our issues that are causing us to be overweight and then with professional help, decide on a WLS. I picked Lapband. it has worked for me. A friend of mine decided to do it after seeing my success. It has not worked for her. She can't get her eating and portions under control. A colleague of mine asked me what was I doing to lose weight. I told her I had the lapband. She opened up to me and told me she had a gastric bypass 6 years ago. She is more than 300 pounds now. She says she lost most of the weight and then gained it all back. I don't know. I'm only 2 years and 9 months out. I don't know what life will be like for me in 6 years. I can only hope that I continue with my success as a bandster. I wish the original topic starter much success with your bypass. We should not get negative (not that I'm saying anyone has been on this thread) when someone switches from what we have (bands). We should be grateful they are still encouraged enough to fight and take other avenues to get the weight off.

Yep! It's FANTASTIC to get to the 100 pound mark. I've lost 129 as of today and I'm looking for the finish line. I've got 25 more pounds to go and I'm determined, focused, and ready to cross the line! All the best to you in maintaining!

All of God's blessing for a speedy recovery and success with your weight loss!!! Thank you, Jesus for this tool to help us. Use your tool. It's like having a way to get in touch with God through prayer and His Word and not using it. So, don't just let your band sit! Make it work for you!!

Hi Gordana, Welcome to LBT. You will find a wealth of information and nice people here. There are many different perspectives and experiences with the band. But, let your experience be your experience. My family has not seen me as well. I sent some pictures via Facebook for mother's day but they have not seen my 123 pound loss in person. I can't wait to step off the plane in December. I want to lose 30 more pounds to be at goal by then. I live in Germany and will go home to the States for Christmas. I wish you much success on your journey.