steph_co

It's quite common for the band to loosen as you lose weight because there's less fat pushing on the band. I would just talk to your surgeon about more fill. :puke:

Keeping you in my thoughts, Kendra. I hope your appointment goes well - I'm really glad you got one. Keep up the good thoughts!

I have it on DVR - I'll probably watch it tonight. I'll let you know. His book is very interesting, though - I agree with his theory as I've seen it work in my own life. I just haven't used the audio CD that comes with the book, yet. So who knows what I can get from this program - I may be pleasantly surprised.

4 miles per hour. Divide 60 mins by 4. That would be 15 mins per mile. :mad2:

I don't know - I'm still able to eat anything, just much less than I used to. Everything goes down. LOL The only thing I can say I'm turned off of since getting banded is Wendy's french fries. Goodness, I used to love those things. The first 3 months after banding I was so good and didn't have any fast food at all. Tried a Wendy's combo and the fries were so greasy, I felt like I was drinking from the grease vat. Oh, it was gross...I thought I was going to be sick. LOL As long as I remind myself to chew a ton and take very small swallows, everything goes down okay.

I fully and completely agree with this. I could get a fill and be at ^that^ point, but WHY? I want to learn to eat NORMAL.

You are definitely going to get a range of answers to this question. As for me... My sweet spot is where I am at. I have no food restrictions (IE, nothing gets stuck if I chew it as much as I'm supposed to), but I eat around a cup of food and stay full for at least 4 hours (if I had some good, solid protein). I'm eating like a normal person and I'm losing weight.

I had my first fill at 5 weeks. But even that did nothing. It wasn't until my second fill about 2 months after my surgery that I got good restriction.

It's not a bad idea. But honestly, as the months have gone by with this band, I have gotten fed up with having to diet. I did all of that before the band. I paid $10,850 so I wouldn't have to be stuck on a diet for the rest of my life. The past couple weeks, I have eaten whatever I wanted and started running. I've lost 7 lbs that I had regained when I went bust off of yet another diet. My portions are in control because of the band...I'm so glad I don't have to worry about that anymore. You may want to consider Paul McKenna's book, "I Can Make You Thin." Very interesting and I think it is truly turning around how I look at eating (and has contributed to my 7-lb loss). I don't want to spend the rest of my life obsessing over food - this is making it possible. He is also starting a TV series on TLC that started tonight. Everybody has something different that will work for them - this is simply one suggestion and I'm not implying that it is the cure-all for everyone.

I never thought I would have heard myself saying I'm so happy my pants fall down. LOL I SO feel you on this one, Cindy. You are doing so great! I bought a pair of stretchy-type track pants before the surgery to wear to my surgery since it was comfy clothing that could easily be put back on. I love those dang pants. I have been wearing them running and that's turning out to not be such a great idea because I have to keep hiking my pants back up or I'm going to end up by the side of the road with my pants around my ankles. So I'm wearing a pair of black yoga pants that used to be tight...they are so saggy on the butt. I LOVE it! I guess I don't mind having to hike my pants back up because I get to say in my head to the passing motorists, "See? You see how skinny I am? My dang pants are falling off!" LMAO What'll be big for me is hitting "normal" for my BMI. 21 pounds, dangit...21 pounds. *sigh*

You are doing so great! Holy moly @ 88 lbs in 4 months!!! That is incredible!

I wanted to add my newest tool - running! I can't believe how much better it makes me feel. When I'm feeling kind of down in the dumps, nearly any kind of exercise helps out tremendously.

Oh, gees. I've been gone from the board for way too long. I felt my stomach drop to the floor when I read your post from the 3rd, Kendra. I had to catch up through the posts. I am really saddened to hear about all you're dealing with. I couldn't even imagine. You are so strong. I am jumping and kicking all over that tumor! It has no chance! I am sending the strongest most vibrant healing light to you that I can muster. If you don't mind, I think I'll get one of those LiveStrong bracelets and wear it for you so that whenever I have a down moment and I touch the bracelet, I'll remember to kick the crap out of that tumor and send you love and light to heal. My heart goes out to you, my dear.

HAHAHAHAHA...that's awesome! What a great compliment! LMAO Not much further, I bet! Keep up the great work!

But I am learning something more valuable. And that is to trust myself. I started reading a book called, "I Can Make You Thin" by Paul McKenna. I read it about 75% of the way through, put it away for awhile, then I've read it again about 50% of the way through. It's kind of short, so that's not that big of a feat. But my point is that it's starting to get into my brain. And I don't WANT to diet anymore. That's exactly what this book is about - not dieting anymore and just trusting yourself. I got down to 180 on my weight loss ticker and gave up and gained about 7 more pounds back. I have struggled with myself since then because I'm seriously fed up with dieting. I can lose the weight fast, but I know I can't keep up that way of eating. I'm not very organized, so that makes it harder. I haven't applied all the tools from the book. My biggest struggle is focusing on JUST eating. No distractions like TV or radio or...uh...internet (as I sit here eating dinner). I am forced to eat slower because of the band, and I do stop when I'm satisfied because of the band. I have some work to do. But anyhow, I've been eating whatever I want and after the initial rush binge that comes after breaking a diet, things have evened out. I started running and I've done 2 weeks of the Couch to 5K (but I'll be starting week 4 this week because I accidentally skipped week 2 and ran the week 3 schedule this week). I'm back down to 180. I'm relaxed and not stressing about what I eat. If anybody's interested in that book, you can find it pretty much anywhere. AND - he is starting a series on TV by the same name. It runs on TLC and the first one starts tonight. I'm sure the time will be different depending on where you are, but for me it starts at 7p. I'm DVR'ing it since I'm stuck at work tonight. But I look forward to applying the tools...ALL of them. I'm going to catch up on the posts - I've been crazy busy with work and home life but I've dropped in now and again. Hope everybody is doing well.

I wasn't heavy enough for gastric bypass. But in all seriousness, I had heard enough about gastric bypass that it was just something that I wouldn't have considered even if I HAD been heavy enough. I like the band because I didn't have a permanent re-routing of my gastrointestinal tract. The fact that it seemed a simpler procedure and carried less risk of complications is what made the idea of bariatric surgery even possible at all in my mind.

This is a good post and the "Who's in charge?" really is something to consider. I did have to chuckle, though. When I first read that, it reminded me of that line in "Night at the Museum" when Robin Williams asked Ben Stiller, "Who's evolved?" LOL But I do agree with you. I think it does come down to being an adult. I am also dumbfounded at people that eat whatever the heck they want and then make posts about why they aren't losing weight. It's becoming a little difficult to not repeat the line in Jachut's signature. :rolleyes2:

Wow. That is just insane. I would seriously appeal to them about what a good employee you are. And also, I would be pulling up every last stat you can find about morbidly obese people having more sick days than normal BMIers (Seriously...I've heard this). Do they really want to risk losing an employee to an obesity-related illness because of such a silly requirement? On top of that, you'll most likely end up costing them LESS in the long run because people of a normal BMI tend to be healthier (I.E., less doctor visits). Oh, you can so fight this. Fight the good fight, girl - you can get past this. If they seem to be unhelpful, I would seriously consider talking to an attorney (at least a free consult) to see if they can even DO that. I don't get how the heck they can do that.

I'm with FairyFacade on her #4! I love being able to put my knees up to my shoulders, but my hips used to get so tired. Found out yesterday that they go further and they don't hurt anymore. hahahahaha I just altogether FEEL better. I feel more of my bones which reminds me I'm thinner. I have parts of me not bumping into things anymore. I'm just really starting to feel like a normal person - it's incredible. I'm not sure what women's size I started at because I was so in denial and didn't want to buy anything. I was probably a 22. I'm into 14's. Medium tops (no boobs...haha). I started at a men's 42 (I wear them for work) and I'm a loose 34, eying those 32's. :rolleyes2: Everything just feels easier to do when it comes to moving my body. I LOVE it. Can hardly wait to get to goal and see how THAT feels. Haven't been there in 10 years.

I have lost a bale of hay and a human brain. Just skin and a guinea pig until I get to the penis!

This could explain it better than I could: Fitness Articles ::: Beauty & Fashion :: Skin brushing for Detox MAKE SURE that you use a brush with NATURAL BRISTLES. That's important so you don't damage your skin.

If the doctor doing the video didn't have his own agenda in advertising himself to perform your MGB, I might be more inclined to believe him. Besides that, I'd like to know what Mr Expert would recommend for those of us that didn't qualify for GBP? My BMI was not high enough. Would it have been a good idea to have gained more weight just so I could qualify? LapBand gave me hope to be able to do something more permanent than yo-yo dieting. I knew going into this that it might not last my whole life. But in the 10 years that apparently he is giving me for my band to fail, hopefully my habits will have changed enough that I won't be able to eat myself to death like I was working towards before. Besides that, why does he not mention any failure rates and complications for GBP? There are plenty out there. The possibility of dying on the operating table from GBP is higher than LB. Also - there is a greater possibility of regaining with GBP. The pouch can stretch. With the band, you can go back for adjustments. I could get hit by a car tomorrow...I better never leave the house so I'm safe.

I wish I could have gotten my band at 19.

As long as you don't take the Vicodin, I don't see why not. I went back to work 4 days post-op (security patrol).

My 36 work pants are way loose. I'm considering going next week to try on 32s. I had an acquaintance that I haven't seen in quite awhile (and even then it was for a very short time before) comment on how much weight I've lost.