Kelliebelly

I have the big VG band also. My Dr will only use these now, he says it is less chance of slippage and they are also more adjustable/flexible?? Something like that not sure of his exact words. I was around 260 lbs when banded and it has taken me 8 fills and 8.9mls to get good restriction. Once at this stage it is only .1 or .2 tweaking every now and then. My friend has found good restriction with 9.1 mls, another 9.4mls. So alot of ppl arent getting good restriction till about 8 or 9mls but it does happen. Dont be discouraged, everything will work out. Good Luck

After 3 weeks out I was pretty much feeling back to normal, and it will give you a great time to relax etc. Make sure they will have the foods you can eat etc, whether it be liquids or mushies. Keep your fluids up and you will be fine. Have a ball!!!!

Hey, Here is the site, if you are going to go let me know so we can meet up there. http://users.tpg.com.au/adsl50pe/

I too have started in the last month not eating until Im full. I eat till I am satisfied and then I walk away. In the first few months I wanted to eat till I was full and couldnt understand why i didnt lose for 7 weeks Duh:). Now I am changing the way I am doing things and working with the band more, the scale is moving. It is soooooo true about protein...I could eat so much and thought I needed a fill until I started eating hard proteins first...I discovered I really do have good restriction. I stick to the half cup through the day, but at dinner sometimes I have a little more. If I snack through the day it is generally only something small and it is usually about 4pm when I get the afternoon hunger pangs.

I have no problems with rice at all, I make stir frys 3 times a week most weeks and serve it on a little mound of rice. I dont eat a lot of it, but I do it and I do like it.

I am different..I would just go ahead and do it without mentioning to her again, you gave her the chance to give you support. As you start losing weight and she starts gaining it again mention it to her that you had the band put in X amount of months ago and it is going wonderfully for you *voice dripping with sarcasm*. I know I am a biatch, I cant help it lol. Good Luck

Great News!!! Makes you appreciate the band even more when things like that happen. I am glad it all turned out well

My BMI was 43 or something like that and I was 118kg when I was banded. I had the large band put in and it took 8 fills for me to get to the right spot. I have 8.9mls in and I think I have about as good restriction as I am going to get as I suffer form reflux now I dont want to get anymore fill and maybe make it worse. My weight was really slow too, and I even plateaued for 7 weeks, I am on the move again now tho as I am starting to work with the band instead of fighting against it. Good Luck

Hey Samee, I dont do ozband either, and yes I know what you mean. There are people from all over the place coming and not just ozbanders. I think it will be a really good learning experience...have booked into the hotel, hubby is having kids and I am going to PARTAY!! Well I spose I wouldnt call it party at a lap band conference lol. I hope some of you can come as I would love to catch up with you.

Any of you Aussies going to the lap band conference in October? I am, I cant wait.

Ditto!! What Kathy said.

Hi All, I am just needing some advice and opinions. I have lost 20 kg so far and still have another 20 kg to lose. Unfortunately my stomach has been so terrible for so long that this time around losing weight it is just hanging terribly. We are coming into summer here in the next couple of months and I dont think I can go through another summer of sweating and really grose stuff because my tummy hangs so much. Anyway my question isif I get a tummy tuck now with still 20kgs to lose will my tummy end up saggy again when I finish losing weight? Has anyone had a tummy tuck before losing all their weight and gone onto lose the rest? If so how did you tummy go? Im sure some of you can understand the issues with having such a hangy tummy, especially in the summer months. I shower a few times a day in the heat as the sweat is so bad and begins to smell a little, and then I end up with really yucky rashes. Please give me advice and your opinions on this. Thanks Guys Hugs

I wasnt in a private health fund when I was banded and I didnt want to wait the 12 months so I self funded but all my visits to the Dr and fills are all covered by medicare. I havent had to pay a cent after the surgery.

I have a few of those faint veiny things in the back of my thighs. They are ugly, I hate them.

Hi Suzii, I was exactly the same, I had my self in a state the week before and leading up till they took me into surgery. I know this is really hard but everytime you think about it, think about the end result, dont think about the fear or the pain etc, just the end result. Honestly when I woke up I was in pain, but nothing like I had imagined...It is also a pain that improves very quickly. You will be in my thoughts and I know no matter how much anyone tells you everything is going to be ok etc you are still going to panic because I was the same, just think END RESULT!!! It is going to SO worth it. Good Luck

I had my first visit with the personal trainer from the gym today, she took all my measurements, weight height etc. She also did my body fat %. OMG I nearly passed out when she told me. I am 57% boday fat and she would like to see me at a normal level of 28%. I was horrified to say the least. I didnt want to talk about it anymore after that just move onto something else. Does anyone know how this body fat thing works, and how does it come down, does it move down the same way lbs or your BMI does? Shhhh dont tell anyone

I am in too, have started the gym today to kickstart the weight loss. I will post a pic in an hour or so. Weight this morning - 99.8kg/220lbs 10 week challenge - 10 kgs/22lbs Would like to be in the 80kgs or under the 200lbs Good Luck everyone, we can do this.

Mine was great in the beginning too, then slowed off and stopped for 7 weeks. I will never be someone that loses 2 to 3 pds every week, or even every 2 weeks, I lose that maybe a month. I am still happy tho, slow and steady wins the race.

Im in!!! Just joined the gym today finally, hope that helps.

Same here, the first few I had lasted a few days to a couple of weeks. The last 2 have lasted around 6 - 8 weeks. Not sure if you are spose to keep getting fills every couple of months or if a time will come when you wont need fills again for a LONG time. I am hoping so since I already have 8.9mls in...least you have some to play with Jess lol

Congrats, thats an awesome amount to lose in that time!

Update April Bandsters!!!! Do you have good restriction yet/now? How is the weight loss going? Are you still happy with the band? I was banded 4th April and have just come off a 7 weeks plateau. I have lost 19kgs/41lbs...a little on the slow side, but hey its not a race I have 8.9mls/ccs in the VG band. I have started working with band and find I do have good restriction eating correctly. I am still extremely happy with my decision to have the band. Only draw back has been some reflux that has developed when I get the band. Let me know how you are all going, I am excited to know.

I second all the WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWs. You have done amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! The difference is soooooooo huge. You look so great WTG!!!!!!

Sarah, That new pic you have posted looks great, you can REALLY see how much weight you have lost compared to the other one. Great Work!!!!!!!!

Wow you say you will ravel...is Australia too far??? lol J/K Thanks everyone, I am still on top of the world.