spldgrl

Margo, I know exactly what your thinking, Although you were banded 3 months after I was, we have gone thru the same, stand still. I didn;t even think about a platu at the time because the 60 lbs went fast and easy for the most part. I did the switch from the scale to the measurements for encouragemtn sake, and only the scale when I weigh in with Dr. H. that has mad the victories more real. I list the NSV's and the inches total lost about once a month WOW that is encouragement. TRY IT! it has amazed me how the scale wont move, but the inches like 7 on month and no pounds, hell, that went from tight clothes to loose. and that is what matters the size not the scale and the deap breath and energy not the scale. Keep your head high, DAMN WOMAN youve lost a small child BE PROUD!!!

Margo, What

If there is any way you can look into a personal trainer I would recommend that even if for a few weeks to set you a plan in action. I took the plung, figured with the $$$ spend on surgery and a gym membership I should splurg to get the optimum work out. In 2 weeks I lost a total of 5.5 inches. the fat rolls on my back are almost gone. lol I have a set program now that i follow and it seems to work for me and it does not kill me either. Good luck

WOW!! this is the longest post I've bothered with in a long time, and that was only because I recognized the names of a GREAT few who walked me thru my lap questions, banding, and lifestyle changes. Things have sure changed in the past 6 months. When banded in May (HI Trish) I thought this was a great site and refer many bandsters to this site for advice, based on experience, and support. This is a great site for support, have we missed that concept??? It has been a long time and I am sure I am missing some "big deal" to someone. but where is the support? lapband, life issues relating to the changes due to the band? Penni I'm with you, you are an inspiration to me, you help others with your experiences and your heart, that is what this board WAS about and that is the board that will keep people coming back. I lurk mostly, but feel compelled to remark to the people who posted around March - June of 05, thank you for your advice,words of wisdom, experiences and mostly your support, just knowing I can get online and find a support link to this life change I chose, is greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!!! Without support where would you be? Fight at home, kick your own dog not someone elses!

I too have episodes for days wher I throw up at every time I eat almost. It happens for me around my period and with stress. I am very stressed now, and havn;t been able to eat since Mon. night. so elimitate the stress and the tightness goes. I havn't gotten a fill for months and prior was great restriction and comfortable. since the stress at work, things not so much fun. so yes, I KNOW that stress and bloating causes the tightness, I have had a gastro to check the status of the band since my last fill everythings great no slippage just perfect until monday . Just go slow, eat soft foods that will give you protein like cottage cheese and stuff and let the stress work its course then try foods. until you can get to the dr. ask his opinion on the stress issue. My doc says I need to eliminate the stress. so I asked for a job!

Hey Kim, for belly fat, I heard of a new challenge, see if it works I'm on day 5 - lay on back feet in the air, raise feet to ceiling using stomach - 3 sets of 12- 3 count rest between - 3 times a week for 1 month and you should tone up 1 clothing size. so I am gonna try it what the heck anything to save a few buck on a tummy tuck! boob job first! haha

Sorry to say, but I am glad to hear that this issue is affecting others. I cant even tell I've lost 79 lbs. yes, clothes size is 14 not 22, different deptartmetn all together but I head to the plus size. and think, Man they have some cute clothes here. I wondered if part was that the "cute" clothes I wanted to fit in are no longer around. like levi straight leg jeans always wanted to fit in those not since 9th grade, now, daughter says NO not in style staight legs yuck! I feel healthier, can actually use the treadmill for more than 10 minutes and feel good when on it!, but can't mentally picture what I've lost. A friend printed pics of me pre and post and there is a small difference to me and hugh to others, why cant I see it? Am I afraid of the sabotage I did in past diets, " lost 5 lbs now I can eat crap then gain it back??" I don't knowhy, but alteast I AM normal. For Old Navy, at this time I would tell you they run big, just bought 14's there and they fit, truth is they run pretty tru to size for me other clothes at dillards also a 14 so? your right, each body type different. Thanks for making me feel normal, as normal I as can be haha

There have been so many erosions latly, that I got nervous and spoke to my doc. we did an endoscopy 2 days later and things are fine, part of our dr.'s job is to make us feel confident and should not bat an eye if we want an endo. my insurance will pay as we filed as an ulcer check as well. I feel awful for you gals that had removal, but appreciater your postings to keep us all coutious and aware, THANKS.

Just remember during your liquid stage why you are doing this! to shrink the fat so surgery is easier. Try to keep away from situations you'll want to eat especially about day 3. I cried over an egg roll. I dont even like egg rolls but I wanted it. Hubby took me home and sat with me as I drank my dinner! yeah dont let the great guy thing fool you, he ate the damn egg roll so I would stop crying over it! For after, no one notices how much I eat. I eat it all, ok a bite of it all but I dont announce, nope cant eat that, I just dont eat it! The hardest is going out or at lunch and they ask if you want somehting to drink with your meal, "nope", thats when the waitress says "nothing? no damn it nothing move to the next person!" so I take the water, and leave it there as to not make an issue of it. People dont notice at first, then realize your loosing and watch to see how much you eat, and do the same. My friend has started sharing meals if we eat out, asks what I ate for meals and now we go to the gym at noon instead of lunch and she lost more this past 2 weeks then I. she didn't have surgery! Loosing weight is contageous, people see your changes and want to loose not knowing your a bandster, hell, give advice on portions and choices, they'll think your a genious, and you are!!

I don't think bandsters should drink as much as it would take for me to try this ! you go!! your adventures keep me going , I think I will live thru you instead of trying this myself. I've got enough bull ride in my life with work and teenagers I dont need to take it letteral! Were you sober?

Alex, You are such an inspiration! wiping the tears, I realize how much I wish this option as available when my kids were young> oh the time we miss. I have 3 teenage kids, 16, 17 and 19. 2 girls and 1 boy, oldest in college in other state. I am soo happy to see me kids are proud of me, I always worried they were ashamed of the "fat" mom. when I mentioned this after lbs lost my son was mad, ok pissed,he never felt that way. Paul is very physical and knows all about fitness, so he is my gym partner and tells me what areas to work on. he hates his friends saying your mom looks hot, says hed rather I not shop with Stephanie, my 16 year old, she keeps me in the "cool" clothes that I am now only allowed to wear. she loves taking mom shopping and invites he friends and their mothers to come along. I would have been embbarrassed to go the Plus size and shes great except wants me to wear junior clothes - can fit but- heard the expression crack kills? means when pants are too low on waise - all jr. cjeans and your crack shows! blah blah blah I talk too much, my point, you will be able to enjoy soo much with your kids now and teenage years when its the hardest common ground time and I have found a connection shopping and gym time.

16 lbs is great! I am banded 8= months and had a few slow months, I was keeping track of measurments, and the months I didn't loose, man did the inches come off, one month 3 lbs but 15 inches. that made up for no lbs. it also keeps my motivation going. 2 inches in 2 inches!! down 70 lbs and from 22 to now a tight 14 but it fits! for me the inches are better cause thats what I see in the mirror and the size I fit into. People comments just make you walk taller and the self esteem I never had before is showing too. My dr says the sexuality is gleeming and my hubby must love it! hell, I had to look up sexuality, cause Ive never had it let alone, gleeming???? So congrats and keep going I got a great idea on this site, to list the NSV keep track of all the happy exciting changes your body and mind make, its great for those times when your feeling "not so successful" My last NSV I noticed in the bathroom, soory to mention, I no longer have to flush with my hand in a public restroom, I can lift my leg all the way to flush with my foot, and continue standing with ease! hey NSV are stange too!

a friend of mine had rny about 3 month before I was banded, she has lost over 100 lbs and she looks great! She is sick tho- and has been hospitalized 2 in the last 4 months. last week or 2 ago, she was in Idaho for a work conference and had 1 bite, 1 bite, of mexican that did not agree, or got stuck, lodged, whatever and she quit breathing was taken by ambulance to hospital and then flown to Missoula with biatric experience because they did not know how to get it un stuck!! she is devestated- wishes she had the band and is envious that I have no problems, yes, it gets stuck, I throw up there ya go, she has had so many problems from day 1 after surgery and would rather be heavy then the issues of RNY. Long and short, they RNY may loose faster, but we_ loose healthy, our fat doesnt sag (too bad) from rapid weight lose, and we can continue with our lives day to day! be happy we are gonna catch up to them and surpass, its just more time for us to enjoy our successes.

I am not only my surgeons first band, the first in Montana to have performed in Great Falls. Dr. H has a great reputation for orthoscopic (sp) and I went off my comfort level with him and his tolerance for all of my questions. The first appt was 2 hrs. and he was not in a hurry to get rid of me. since, Banded May 02,05 things are great! he does 5 bands per week in addition to his practice. For fills, yep, first fill, he is great. hits all the time had 4 fills to date and no pain, fills good restriction. his bedside manner is great. with the talk of erosion on this site, I was concerned that it may become an issue and we talked about it and decided to calm my nerves we would do a EGD. yesterday did that and today appt. everything great! so long story, but, go with your feelings. remember, this is a life change and you need someone you can talk to and feel comfortable with. all surgeons must be good orthoscopic surgeons to do the band, the office staff manner and the dr manner are the deciding factor that you must feel comfortable with for a long time. also like that dr. doesnt charge for every little thing, answers phone calls and weekly weigh ins free with brief 5 min consult if not happy with scale results. Good luck

mushed up cottage cheese. amazing how much protien in 1/2 c. around 12g protein. check it out?

understand the throw up, sometimes band seems tight others not. as far as your dr. response, I agree, ask for bar. swallow or EGD. I go in for EGD Monday due to same problems my dr. was fast to schd that in town where I live its the first day. Good luck

Just a hought, but how close to your time of the month? Since banded, my "time" I gain water weight, and feel like crap. The band tightens and I have more restriction so I feel fuller faster, even on the water amount per day then I try to eat and YUCK!! good luck hope you feel better.

wow, what an eye opener. I depated the Mexico trip, and was lucky enough to have a surgeon 1.5 hours away for surgery, and he lives in my small town and practices 2 days per week in town. I can call in am and go in that afternoon. Not to mention the times I see him in town. I guess there are benifits to small towns. I will be calling him tomarrow for him to take a look for erosion. Thanks all for the advice and alittle scare makes me live the bandster rules and stop cheating. THANKS

It has been a long time since I posted. May 2nd was banded, and to date loss of 60 lbs. down to "out of the plus size" I cleaned my closet out and tried on things I didn't know for sure. I no longer have anything over misses dept. you'd think that would be fun, kinda depressing as I have very little clothing I look good in, and dont want to purchase more until closet is empty!! I have been at a stand still for a few weeks. I dont want to start "another" new years resolution but I have to exercise! so back to the gym I go. Sounds like everyone is doing great! Thanks for bringing this thread back up.

How fast time does fly. I dont get on often, and didn't even realize it has been 6 months. Congrats on the life change!! It is amazing to realize how loosing the weight (or inches) changes our outlook on life! I'm right there with ya, banded May 2,2005 - down 50 lbs and 30+ inches. I cant wait until the year, dang will we be cute!

10-26 Went to weigh in 6 weeks after fill, down 1/2 lb. ugh so I did my measurments. have a list of areas I measure evey 4-6 weeks or so, and .... 8-2 down 15 3/4" 10-11 down 11 3/4 10-26 down 2.5" did that every make a difference in the month of October only 1/2 lb gone but 14 1/4" how that happens I dont know and dont care as long as it keeps happening. yeah I know the whole fat vs muscle thing but WOW! I was almost as happy as my doc was. he jumped up and hugged me faster than I could realize. As long as I look good, the scale will catch up (or down as the saying goes!)

I use a shampoo, conditioner, scalp spray from Nioxin found in hair salons. I have lost and continue to loose alot of hair also. protein is good, might be the fat in my diet, really cut it out when weight loss slowed down, but increasing to see if hair thickens and quits falling out. hope this helps

I used my air miles credit card. this way, I can fly to Hawaii when I get skinny, for free!! payments good too, better than loan. I got a 30% discount for cash at the hospital and the ansthiologist (?sp) Dr. H is trying to get insurance to pay. they have paid for a fill already. If not, American Express all the way!

My fills are very easy. there is no needle issues. my doc feels for the port, holds between his fingers and slips the needle right in. you shouldn't worry, Ive had 3 fills and no problems. the sensation of the fill is wierd, cool yet wierd. it isnt a bid deal I promise. as long as dr. can find the port and is experienced. just relax and wait for the "fill" feeling.

Trish, It has been a long time. I have been crazy!! you have done well I see, -41 LBS you go girl!!! Do you feel like you expected? I went to Dr. today to weigh in -45 but, my little monthly visitor will be in town by tomarrow, so hope more to be gone by 2 weeks. I go weigh in every 2 wks. I feel better, thought it would be so great to get out of those clothes, heck now I have no clothes, some capris I bought that don't make me look like I'm carring something in my pants..lol and that is depressing cause don't want to buy more clothes if Im gonna lose more! I know bitch, bitch bitch. should be happy Im loosing and I am. my heart actually stays calm walking upstairs. Keep updating how your doing, dont have much time for computers anymore, but look on LBT every now and then, all new names, I'm so out of touch with, but yours.... how can I forget!! Good luck