MuffinBirdie

On a typical day I would have some chocolate milk for breakfast (or hot chocolate when it was cold). Something soft or soupy for lunch, like potato Soup and cottage cheese or yogurt. I'd have something crunchy for an inbetween meal - usually a handful of crackers and a few M&Ms. For dinner it would frequently be chicken (ground chicken is delicious and EASY to eat!) and potatos (I'm a potato nut). And then some fat free chips for an after dinner snack and some cottage cheese or something. The biggest thing is I took FOREVER to eat. Basically when I was finally done sipping breakfast I'd start on lunch and when that was done I'd start on my snack and when that was done I'd start on dinner. I've gained back some weight since they removed the Fluid from band to get rid of the acid reflux, but at my thinnest weight of 123 pounds I was literally eating all day. I honestly think that is one of the reasons I did so well. I felt satisfied all the time but since I ate sooooo slowly I actually consumed very few calories. The band allowed me to eat constantly without having to eat much to feel satisfied. And since I was always knawing on something my metabolism never slowed down. And again, I also took short cuts and ate low calorie foods along with eating less food altogether. But the eating all day and maintaining a low weight didn't happen until I was quite a ways down the road. It took nearly 2 years to get to that point.

I am going first to the Philippines and then to South Africa. I am working on a film project. The filiming is done in the Philippines but the cutting with be done in South Africa.

Have you always been able to eat a donut for breakfast since you were banded? I went from not being able to eat much at all for breakfast to being able to eat donuts. That backwards trend was the problem. If you have not had many fills that may easily be the reason you can eat a donut.

Actually, despite not much exercise I have decent muscle tone. My skin is what hangs loose. When I get a tummy tuck, they won't have to even touch the stomach muscles. My skin is incredibly white and very dry and that has a huge effect on it. For the most part the darker and oilier the skin, the better it tightens up.

I have the Austrian band. Mine slipped from excess vomitting caused by an abcess. So ya, a lot of PB'ing will do it too. I did some PB'ing when I was over restricted (which was because the band had slipped) but I learned what I could and couldn't eat and at what times. The band, for me, is very time sensitive.

Everything except fluffly breads, most pastas and any steaks except filet mignon. Oh, and McD's french fries - can't eat those for the life of me. Must be the polyester coating they put on them.

Thank you to all of you for your wonderful welcome! It's so nice to have an online support group. It can make such a difference in the long run. I know I absorbed all the information I could get my hands on when I was first banded, so I am delighted to be able to share what I have learned with others. Blessings to all! Mae

Every year that goes by they learn more and more about the band. Less bands are slipping now then 8 years ago and four years from now less bands will be slipping then are slipping now - this is of course if you get a band from a well educated band doctor. Only a percentage of bands actually slip - not all bands. Mae

A revision in Mexico cost around $10,000 unless Dr Ortiz did the original surgery in which case he only charges $3500 to cover the hospital fee. I had to take out a four year loan to pay for my original band (which was approx $13,000). But it was worth every penny. Even though it slipped I don't regret it the least bit. Mae

I was hoping that because of my young age I wouldn't need plastic surgery. But it really has nothing to do with age and everything to do with your skin. My skin has not tightened up at all like I wanted it to. I am planning to get pastic surgery when I can afford it to correct the sagging. Mae

I started having less restriction and able to eat much more. I knew there was trouble when I could eat an entire donut for breakfast! Plus I started getting terrible acid reflux at night. This was because I was actually over filled at the time but didn't know I was overfilled since I was still able to eat - by that point part of my stomach had come above the band and since I could eat more I just assumed I needed another fill and another fill. My doctor did not use flouroscopy so we did not know there was something wrong.

I will be in Knysna and possibly Johannesburg for part of my time there. Are you able to give me the name of a doctor who does fills in South Africa? I doubt I will be able to get all my fills here before I leave for South Africa. Thank you for letting me know they have band doctors there! Mae

For a couple of years my website was in the top three site if you did a search on bands - so you most likely recognize me from my site. I was also on the cover of a medical magazine that did a highlight on bands. So if you're in the medical field it may be from that. Mae

Hi Trish, I was severly ill for severaly weeks with a huge lung abcess that made me cough violently to the point of vomitting. This happened non-stopped for a long time and the constant stress on my stomach is what I believe caused the band to slip. I have known a couple others who have had revisions also for slipped bands or bands that have become disconnected from the port. As with anything its not perfect. A revision is the only way to fix the placement of the band. Aside from maintaining my weight loss the slipped band is also causing acid reflux at night which is not nice. Mae

My before and after pictures are in the thread: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=89392#post89392 Hi! I am new to the board so here is a little about me... I was banded July 4, 2001 in Sweden by Dr Lundegardh. I weighed approx. 250 pounds and got to my goal weight of 125 pounds, a size four. I have a website at www.myagb.homestead.com that has been up since before I had my surgery. The first six months after I was banded I didn't lose a pound. In fact, I gained back all 17 pounds I'd lost during the liquid and mush food phase. However, once I started getting the restriction I needed the pounds slowly started to fall off. In all it took nearly three years for me to get to my goal weight. The last 10 pounds coming off the slowest. I honestly did not expect to do so well. I would have settled for a size 10. But I'm even happier being a size four! People always ask me if I do a lot of exercise. I don't do any. I HATE exercising. However, I do make a point of moving around as much as possible. I do love to walk (but not if I'm forced to for weight loss!) so when its nice out I take advantage of the weather by walking my dogs. I don't use the closest parking spots at the grocery store and I try to use the steps versus the elevator. Those little things add up and I think they help a lot. I also always substitute low fat foods when possible. I use "Light Done Right" ranch dressing, I always use fat free or 2% cheese and light mayo with 99% fat free ham. Unless I'm really stressed out I try to stay away from a lot of chocolate. I don't eat greasy fast food often but I do get healthier foods like chicken with no skin - I practically live on El Pollo Loco Chicken. I drown myself in light healthy smoothies which taste like dessert and are good for me too! Jamba Juice's Enlightening Smoothies (get the smallest size) are the best! I was able to make those healthier food choices since the band made it so that I don't feel hungry or unsatisfied after every meal. I find it much easier to control what I put in my mouth. Its amazing the difference it made to have the "control" put back in my hands instead of my hunger controlling me. Its one of the best feelings in the world. The reason I am back in the "cyber space" band circuit is because my band has slipped and I am getting a revision August 4th with Dr Ortiz in Mexico. Having a group of like minded individuals to communicate with is a nice when dealing with something like surgery. I've gained back a few pounds since they took out some of my fill. I'm not the least bit worried about it though because I know when I have the band put back in place I'll be fine - AND it'll get rid of the acid refulx I've been suffering from (yippee!). My only concern is whether I'll have enough fill in my band before I take off for a long trip and with a six month stint in South Africa following it. I just don't think they have a lot of fill doctors in South Africa. Last few details - I'm 26 years old and I'm 5'4" Its nice meeting you all! Mae