betty_s

so, the 8th was my 2 month surgiversary. my starting weight at the beginning of this process was 303lbs. i couldn't tie my shoes or get dressed without getting winded. at age 26, and dealing with my weight since age 6, i knew i wasn't going to do anything other than get fatter. i finally made the decision to get the lapband i was offered on my 18th birthday by my dad.
after 12 months of dealing with insurance, my information was finally submitted and after the longest 15 months of my life. i headed into surgery may 8th, 2014, weighing in at 284. 2 months later, i'm 256, and loving everything about my band. i've had one fill, which put me at 4.4cc's, and i have pretty decent restriction. the only foods i've had problems with so far are quinoa and dry chicken/shrimp.i dont see the changes as much as i like, but everyone else tells me how great i look, and i know i'm my own worst critic, so i'll go by their opinions.
i was cleared for swimming/light cardio 1 week out and lifting/all clear at 3 weeks out. since 3 weeks out, I have worked out in the gym 5 days a week lifting weights for about an hour/hour and a half, and 2 days a week i incorporate HIIT cardio routines. some days my port bugs me, so i take it easy, but for the most part, my body is really handling the exercising well. i was a college athlete (softball) so being active isnt really new. i kinda fell off the exercise train the last 2 years, and thats when my weight really crept up. i ENJOY going to the gym now; i look forward to it; and if i miss a day, i make it up the next.
the only thing i miss is my diet coke, but i dont miss buy size 22 pants and spending tons of money at lane bryant because it was the only place i felt comfortable shopping, spending an arm and leg each time. i'm in almost all of my 18s at this point, including my AE favorites. even my feet are getting smaller. i have more confidence and just feel better.
this band was the best decision i ever made. i only wish i had made it sooner, instead of being stubborn and thinking i could do this on my own.

Look at you girlfriend!!! HUGE difference! WAY TO GO!! I am the same with my loss too... I don't see it unless I look at side by sides of myself. Decided to do that today and I was shocked!!

You're a daily inspiration. You've got this!!!!

You look great! I'm loosing a lot slower but it's ok.

You look great. I'll bet you feel alot better. You're young and will do great with this.

I don't think I realized at 2 months the one thing that the band was teaching me? Eating healthy! The band really opened my eyes to how badly I had been eating for most of my life. Now I love preparing healthy foods and the easy to fix, easy to eat foods taste like crap to me.
I can drive by any McD's or taco bell or even Papa Johns and no longer flinch

Congrats on your great beginning! Wishing you much continued success.

Good for you. Better late than never. Plus you're still so young! Congrats on your weight loss.

so, the 8th was my 2 month surgiversary. my starting weight at the beginning of this process was 303lbs. i couldn't tie my shoes or get dressed without getting winded. at age 26, and dealing with my weight since age 6, i knew i wasn't going to do anything other than get fatter. i finally made the decision to get the lapband i was offered on my 18th birthday by my dad.
after 12 months of dealing with insurance, my information was finally submitted and after the longest 15 months of my life. i headed into surgery may 8th, 2014, weighing in at 284. 2 months later, i'm 256, and loving everything about my band. i've had one fill, which put me at 4.4cc's, and i have pretty decent restriction. the only foods i've had problems with so far are quinoa and dry chicken/shrimp.i dont see the changes as much as i like, but everyone else tells me how great i look, and i know i'm my own worst critic, so i'll go by their opinions.
i was cleared for swimming/light cardio 1 week out and lifting/all clear at 3 weeks out. since 3 weeks out, I have worked out in the gym 5 days a week lifting weights for about an hour/hour and a half, and 2 days a week i incorporate HIIT cardio routines. some days my port bugs me, so i take it easy, but for the most part, my body is really handling the exercising well. i was a college athlete (softball) so being active isnt really new. i kinda fell off the exercise train the last 2 years, and thats when my weight really crept up. i ENJOY going to the gym now; i look forward to it; and if i miss a day, i make it up the next.
the only thing i miss is my diet coke, but i dont miss buy size 22 pants and spending tons of money at lane bryant because it was the only place i felt comfortable shopping, spending an arm and leg each time. i'm in almost all of my 18s at this point, including my AE favorites. even my feet are getting smaller. i have more confidence and just feel better.
this band was the best decision i ever made. i only wish i had made it sooner, instead of being stubborn and thinking i could do this on my own.

so, the 8th was my 2 month surgiversary. my starting weight at the beginning of this process was 303lbs. i couldn't tie my shoes or get dressed without getting winded. at age 26, and dealing with my weight since age 6, i knew i wasn't going to do anything other than get fatter. i finally made the decision to get the lapband i was offered on my 18th birthday by my dad.
after 12 months of dealing with insurance, my information was finally submitted and after the longest 15 months of my life. i headed into surgery may 8th, 2014, weighing in at 284. 2 months later, i'm 256, and loving everything about my band. i've had one fill, which put me at 4.4cc's, and i have pretty decent restriction. the only foods i've had problems with so far are quinoa and dry chicken/shrimp.i dont see the changes as much as i like, but everyone else tells me how great i look, and i know i'm my own worst critic, so i'll go by their opinions.
i was cleared for swimming/light cardio 1 week out and lifting/all clear at 3 weeks out. since 3 weeks out, I have worked out in the gym 5 days a week lifting weights for about an hour/hour and a half, and 2 days a week i incorporate HIIT cardio routines. some days my port bugs me, so i take it easy, but for the most part, my body is really handling the exercising well. i was a college athlete (softball) so being active isnt really new. i kinda fell off the exercise train the last 2 years, and thats when my weight really crept up. i ENJOY going to the gym now; i look forward to it; and if i miss a day, i make it up the next.
the only thing i miss is my diet coke, but i dont miss buy size 22 pants and spending tons of money at lane bryant because it was the only place i felt comfortable shopping, spending an arm and leg each time. i'm in almost all of my 18s at this point, including my AE favorites. even my feet are getting smaller. i have more confidence and just feel better.
this band was the best decision i ever made. i only wish i had made it sooner, instead of being stubborn and thinking i could do this on my own.

so, the 8th was my 2 month surgiversary. my starting weight at the beginning of this process was 303lbs. i couldn't tie my shoes or get dressed without getting winded. at age 26, and dealing with my weight since age 6, i knew i wasn't going to do anything other than get fatter. i finally made the decision to get the lapband i was offered on my 18th birthday by my dad.
after 12 months of dealing with insurance, my information was finally submitted and after the longest 15 months of my life. i headed into surgery may 8th, 2014, weighing in at 284. 2 months later, i'm 256, and loving everything about my band. i've had one fill, which put me at 4.4cc's, and i have pretty decent restriction. the only foods i've had problems with so far are quinoa and dry chicken/shrimp.i dont see the changes as much as i like, but everyone else tells me how great i look, and i know i'm my own worst critic, so i'll go by their opinions.
i was cleared for swimming/light cardio 1 week out and lifting/all clear at 3 weeks out. since 3 weeks out, I have worked out in the gym 5 days a week lifting weights for about an hour/hour and a half, and 2 days a week i incorporate HIIT cardio routines. some days my port bugs me, so i take it easy, but for the most part, my body is really handling the exercising well. i was a college athlete (softball) so being active isnt really new. i kinda fell off the exercise train the last 2 years, and thats when my weight really crept up. i ENJOY going to the gym now; i look forward to it; and if i miss a day, i make it up the next.
the only thing i miss is my diet coke, but i dont miss buy size 22 pants and spending tons of money at lane bryant because it was the only place i felt comfortable shopping, spending an arm and leg each time. i'm in almost all of my 18s at this point, including my AE favorites. even my feet are getting smaller. i have more confidence and just feel better.
this band was the best decision i ever made. i only wish i had made it sooner, instead of being stubborn and thinking i could do this on my own.

Where from?! I live in powhatan!

so, the 8th was my 2 month surgiversary. my starting weight at the beginning of this process was 303lbs. i couldn't tie my shoes or get dressed without getting winded. at age 26, and dealing with my weight since age 6, i knew i wasn't going to do anything other than get fatter. i finally made the decision to get the lapband i was offered on my 18th birthday by my dad.
after 12 months of dealing with insurance, my information was finally submitted and after the longest 15 months of my life. i headed into surgery may 8th, 2014, weighing in at 284. 2 months later, i'm 256, and loving everything about my band. i've had one fill, which put me at 4.4cc's, and i have pretty decent restriction. the only foods i've had problems with so far are quinoa and dry chicken/shrimp.i dont see the changes as much as i like, but everyone else tells me how great i look, and i know i'm my own worst critic, so i'll go by their opinions.
i was cleared for swimming/light cardio 1 week out and lifting/all clear at 3 weeks out. since 3 weeks out, I have worked out in the gym 5 days a week lifting weights for about an hour/hour and a half, and 2 days a week i incorporate HIIT cardio routines. some days my port bugs me, so i take it easy, but for the most part, my body is really handling the exercising well. i was a college athlete (softball) so being active isnt really new. i kinda fell off the exercise train the last 2 years, and thats when my weight really crept up. i ENJOY going to the gym now; i look forward to it; and if i miss a day, i make it up the next.
the only thing i miss is my diet coke, but i dont miss buy size 22 pants and spending tons of money at lane bryant because it was the only place i felt comfortable shopping, spending an arm and leg each time. i'm in almost all of my 18s at this point, including my AE favorites. even my feet are getting smaller. i have more confidence and just feel better.
this band was the best decision i ever made. i only wish i had made it sooner, instead of being stubborn and thinking i could do this on my own.

So, I'm about 8 weeks post-op from the lap-band and at a short stall. I know pre-surgery, this would mean I was already binging because I was pissed off I wasn't losing enough yet.
Well, I've had a few down days, and it seems EVERY DAY at work, there is food for some reason or the other. Last week, a food delivery was mixed up, so there were Bagels and muffins downstairs. Yesterday, there was cake in the conference room 10 steps from my cube to welcome the new employees. Today, bagels and muffins on the correct delivery day for an agency meeting, THEN, Cookies this afternoon to meet the employees we had cake for yesterday.
I mean REALLY. This is why America is fat. Soooo many people at my agency complain about gaining weight once they work here because there is ALWAYS food. And I just watch people; loading up their plates with 2 bagels and a muffin. A cookie in each flavor. I'm not saying I don't want one, and the availability constantly makes it hard to resist. Since surgery I have not given in, but damn sometimes I want to!
Can anyone else relate?

so, the 8th was my 2 month surgiversary. my starting weight at the beginning of this process was 303lbs. i couldn't tie my shoes or get dressed without getting winded. at age 26, and dealing with my weight since age 6, i knew i wasn't going to do anything other than get fatter. i finally made the decision to get the lapband i was offered on my 18th birthday by my dad.
after 12 months of dealing with insurance, my information was finally submitted and after the longest 15 months of my life. i headed into surgery may 8th, 2014, weighing in at 284. 2 months later, i'm 256, and loving everything about my band. i've had one fill, which put me at 4.4cc's, and i have pretty decent restriction. the only foods i've had problems with so far are quinoa and dry chicken/shrimp.i dont see the changes as much as i like, but everyone else tells me how great i look, and i know i'm my own worst critic, so i'll go by their opinions.
i was cleared for swimming/light cardio 1 week out and lifting/all clear at 3 weeks out. since 3 weeks out, I have worked out in the gym 5 days a week lifting weights for about an hour/hour and a half, and 2 days a week i incorporate HIIT cardio routines. some days my port bugs me, so i take it easy, but for the most part, my body is really handling the exercising well. i was a college athlete (softball) so being active isnt really new. i kinda fell off the exercise train the last 2 years, and thats when my weight really crept up. i ENJOY going to the gym now; i look forward to it; and if i miss a day, i make it up the next.
the only thing i miss is my diet coke, but i dont miss buy size 22 pants and spending tons of money at lane bryant because it was the only place i felt comfortable shopping, spending an arm and leg each time. i'm in almost all of my 18s at this point, including my AE favorites. even my feet are getting smaller. i have more confidence and just feel better.
this band was the best decision i ever made. i only wish i had made it sooner, instead of being stubborn and thinking i could do this on my own.

so, the 8th was my 2 month surgiversary. my starting weight at the beginning of this process was 303lbs. i couldn't tie my shoes or get dressed without getting winded. at age 26, and dealing with my weight since age 6, i knew i wasn't going to do anything other than get fatter. i finally made the decision to get the lapband i was offered on my 18th birthday by my dad.
after 12 months of dealing with insurance, my information was finally submitted and after the longest 15 months of my life. i headed into surgery may 8th, 2014, weighing in at 284. 2 months later, i'm 256, and loving everything about my band. i've had one fill, which put me at 4.4cc's, and i have pretty decent restriction. the only foods i've had problems with so far are quinoa and dry chicken/shrimp.i dont see the changes as much as i like, but everyone else tells me how great i look, and i know i'm my own worst critic, so i'll go by their opinions.
i was cleared for swimming/light cardio 1 week out and lifting/all clear at 3 weeks out. since 3 weeks out, I have worked out in the gym 5 days a week lifting weights for about an hour/hour and a half, and 2 days a week i incorporate HIIT cardio routines. some days my port bugs me, so i take it easy, but for the most part, my body is really handling the exercising well. i was a college athlete (softball) so being active isnt really new. i kinda fell off the exercise train the last 2 years, and thats when my weight really crept up. i ENJOY going to the gym now; i look forward to it; and if i miss a day, i make it up the next.
the only thing i miss is my diet coke, but i dont miss buy size 22 pants and spending tons of money at lane bryant because it was the only place i felt comfortable shopping, spending an arm and leg each time. i'm in almost all of my 18s at this point, including my AE favorites. even my feet are getting smaller. i have more confidence and just feel better.
this band was the best decision i ever made. i only wish i had made it sooner, instead of being stubborn and thinking i could do this on my own.

so, the 8th was my 2 month surgiversary. my starting weight at the beginning of this process was 303lbs. i couldn't tie my shoes or get dressed without getting winded. at age 26, and dealing with my weight since age 6, i knew i wasn't going to do anything other than get fatter. i finally made the decision to get the lapband i was offered on my 18th birthday by my dad.
after 12 months of dealing with insurance, my information was finally submitted and after the longest 15 months of my life. i headed into surgery may 8th, 2014, weighing in at 284. 2 months later, i'm 256, and loving everything about my band. i've had one fill, which put me at 4.4cc's, and i have pretty decent restriction. the only foods i've had problems with so far are quinoa and dry chicken/shrimp.i dont see the changes as much as i like, but everyone else tells me how great i look, and i know i'm my own worst critic, so i'll go by their opinions.
i was cleared for swimming/light cardio 1 week out and lifting/all clear at 3 weeks out. since 3 weeks out, I have worked out in the gym 5 days a week lifting weights for about an hour/hour and a half, and 2 days a week i incorporate HIIT cardio routines. some days my port bugs me, so i take it easy, but for the most part, my body is really handling the exercising well. i was a college athlete (softball) so being active isnt really new. i kinda fell off the exercise train the last 2 years, and thats when my weight really crept up. i ENJOY going to the gym now; i look forward to it; and if i miss a day, i make it up the next.
the only thing i miss is my diet coke, but i dont miss buy size 22 pants and spending tons of money at lane bryant because it was the only place i felt comfortable shopping, spending an arm and leg each time. i'm in almost all of my 18s at this point, including my AE favorites. even my feet are getting smaller. i have more confidence and just feel better.
this band was the best decision i ever made. i only wish i had made it sooner, instead of being stubborn and thinking i could do this on my own.

so, the 8th was my 2 month surgiversary. my starting weight at the beginning of this process was 303lbs. i couldn't tie my shoes or get dressed without getting winded. at age 26, and dealing with my weight since age 6, i knew i wasn't going to do anything other than get fatter. i finally made the decision to get the lapband i was offered on my 18th birthday by my dad.
after 12 months of dealing with insurance, my information was finally submitted and after the longest 15 months of my life. i headed into surgery may 8th, 2014, weighing in at 284. 2 months later, i'm 256, and loving everything about my band. i've had one fill, which put me at 4.4cc's, and i have pretty decent restriction. the only foods i've had problems with so far are quinoa and dry chicken/shrimp.i dont see the changes as much as i like, but everyone else tells me how great i look, and i know i'm my own worst critic, so i'll go by their opinions.
i was cleared for swimming/light cardio 1 week out and lifting/all clear at 3 weeks out. since 3 weeks out, I have worked out in the gym 5 days a week lifting weights for about an hour/hour and a half, and 2 days a week i incorporate HIIT cardio routines. some days my port bugs me, so i take it easy, but for the most part, my body is really handling the exercising well. i was a college athlete (softball) so being active isnt really new. i kinda fell off the exercise train the last 2 years, and thats when my weight really crept up. i ENJOY going to the gym now; i look forward to it; and if i miss a day, i make it up the next.
the only thing i miss is my diet coke, but i dont miss buy size 22 pants and spending tons of money at lane bryant because it was the only place i felt comfortable shopping, spending an arm and leg each time. i'm in almost all of my 18s at this point, including my AE favorites. even my feet are getting smaller. i have more confidence and just feel better.
this band was the best decision i ever made. i only wish i had made it sooner, instead of being stubborn and thinking i could do this on my own.

My last fill was over a year ago, back in April 2013... since then I've been plateauing and I haven't been losing weight until I started pushing myself at the gym.... and there was a lot of grazing for Snacks between meals, despite eating a healthy amount of Protein and watching the carbs during meals. By pushing myself, I mean showing about 700 calories being burnt on a treadmill, etc.
I had one episode where I was "stuck" on a Friday about three months ago--my fault, not the band's--and I had to go in have the band unfilled for a few seconds to let the food pass. The APRN asked about the need for another fill, but I decided against it. Too afraid, and to be honest, I was too comfortable being able to eat as fast I wanted, and being able to eat almost anything that was tempting!!
I had a follow up visit scheduled for today, and I was informed that I had lost around sixteen pounds since my last fill... that is about a pound a month loss in the past 18 months. And, there were a lot of plateaus where I'd go for several months with maybe a pound a month losses.
I'm hoping this fill will help control my urge to graze between meals!! I've been raiding my wife's Skinny popcorn between meals; and even at 38 calories a cup it adds up after several "raids!" LOL...
Long story short, the APRN gave me a 0.5 cc fill... I hope it works... and if it doesn't I'll push for another .5 cc fill next September! If the weight keeps coming off, I'd consider another fill when the time comes. I should have listened to the band when I noticed I was able to eat too fast without any restriction!

This is a dip inspired by my favorite pizza at Pagliacci pizza in the Seattle area- I recently went back for a slice and realised what I really loved were the flavors of the toppings together, and I could make it at home as a dip! So here's my creation...you can use it as a veggie dip, a topping or filling for chicken or serve with plain pita chips if you are allowing more carbs/further along or have guests/party.
3 heads roasted garlic (yep- heads, not cloves) . Roast yourself with extras for other recipes or buy pre roasted in the supermarket deli section- usually by bulk olives/antipasti. 25-30 cloves should do it if you go that route.
10 ounce log goat cheese (costco great)
1 1/2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup quartered or roughly chopped pitted kalamata olives
1 1/2 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix goat cheese, olives, olive oil & roasted garlic (squeeze out garlic from cloves if you roasted them yourself) together in a medium bowl. Place in oven safe dish with lid or top with foil. Bake for 30 minutes and top with fresh chopped tomatoes. Enjoy the flavor explosion in your mouth!
You can also serve this cold without baking, and it's almost as yummy. You can also tweak this by adding sautéed mushrooms, artichoke hearts, capers, leaks, etc- anything Mediterranean! I prefer the original combo- tangy, garlicky, cold, hot, crunch..all together. Yummy. Enjoy and let me know how it turns out for you! My Fitness pal is great for calorie breakdowns- depends on how many servings you want out of it.

love this!!! im just 2 months post op, but i seriously love my band.

07/09/14 - 201, no weight loss but I was on vacation and didn't gain

I'm finally a week out being banded. I got to steer new things and get off my Clear liquids. I fill so full and love my yogurt.
I have lost 26lb in 7 days and feeling restrictive. I hope I can chew my food just as good as I can swallow my liquid.
I am afraid of loosing the weight to fast as I haven't even had a fill. I'm only one week out. Is this normal for someone being banded?
Kay

Yep. Slowing down is tough for me, too. I was given a kit that included a one minute hourglass. I can use it to time out my bites when I find myself bolting my food. That hourglass is a huge help to me. Take a bite, chew, swallow and flip. Let it run out, I can have my next bite. Best thing ever.

I'd rather have the surgery than to waste time and money on those dangerous drugs. I hate I didn't get my band sooner, but I'm here now and it's the best thing I've ever done for myself. I love my new body and everything it has done for me.