babsintx3

Hi Flower, With proper restriction, the expected average weight loss is 1 to 2 lbs a week, so this would equate to 50-100 lbs in a year. It really depends on how much you have to lose and how compliant you are. I lost 120 my first year, but I worked really hard and had a very high BMI of 53.9 when I started. Babs in TX 334/180 -154

I am sure that I am not the longest but its been 2 years and 2 months now. Babs inTX 334/180 -154

Hello! Yup!!! And look at me now, 154 pounds lighter and very happy in my size 12-14's...... Down from size 28!!! Babs in TX 334/180/170 -154 Banded 6/23/03

Hi, I dont miss much. MY life is pretty good as a thinner healthier person. Although, every once in a while, I wish I could inhale a hamburger with the bun ! Babs in TX 334/180 -154

Hi Alex, I had the same problem right before my PS surgery for about three weeks prior. Started getting reflux. Had to sleep sitting up etc... I knew the surgery date was coming, so I had my plastic surgeon remove .50 while he was doing my abdominoplasty. I now have somewhere between 1.75 and 2:00 in my band. Yes, I am eating more, but WOW what a difference.! I am eating things I normally wouldnt eat like a sandwich for lunch everyday. i use the 40 calorie bread, toast it to death and put tuna and letttuce, tomatoes etc... Its really great to be able to eat a sandwich. I even had a hamburger and a big piece of London Broil which is something I would only eat on rare occasions cause it was too much chewing!!! MY esophagus is rested, but I am going to wait a little while longer before I add any back. I really dont know if I am gaining any weight. I wont weigh cause I have so much swelling from my thighplasty and abdominoplasty. I am guessing I am at least 7 pounds heavier than my all time low, but some of this is swelling/edema and will take as long as 6 months to completely go away. My goal is to keep my weight in the 180's. I will eventually drop the last 20 when I get another fill. You have done so well, so taking a break to give the ole esopahgus a chance to rest is a good thing!!! Babs in TX 334/180/170 -154

Hi Michele, Glad you posted this. I get lots of emails from bandsters asking me how I lost so much weight and if I have some secret up my sleeve. I can assure everyone that I dont and I struggled in the beginning like everyone else. Slow and steady wins the race. I am learning something new everyday. Right now, I have very little restriction. I do need a fill, but I am trying very hard to eat healthy and make wise food choices. Yes, I am eating more, (I can actually eat bread and hamburger again!) but I feel it is an important part of my journey to allow myself a little time to try to make more of the decision for myself about what I eat and how much. The band is a constant learning experience. Babs in TX 334/180/170 -154 August 5th 2005 - PS Medial thighplasty and abdominoplasty

Hi Everyone, Went out to dinner last night at Fuddruckers. I dont think I have eaten a hamburger in about a year or so, so I was up for the challenge. To me, it is always too much work to eat it and I actually have a preference for turkey or chicken. Since I am in the house all the time since my PS, I was thrilled to get out and about. Since my partial unfill during surgery, I have little restriction. I am not too worried about it, since the majority of the time, I have been pretty good about sticking to the bandster rules and I do need the extra Protein and the slightly bigger portions to help me heal. My surgeon said that I could have a fill within the next two weeks after my next visit if I am still doing well. I ordered a 1/3 pound hamburger which is the smallest on the menu with fries. I added mayo, mustard and catchup, lettuce, tomato and a little honey mustard sauce. I cant beleive that I was able to eat the whole thing minus half the bun. I could even fit 5-6 french fries with nacho cheese sauce on them down the gullet. I was mortified!!! But it tasted so gooooood. OK, now that I have indulged in my bad girl once a week pure evil hamburger, I will go back to my regularly stationed program and behave..... No wonder I have a band....... Babs in TX 334/180 -154 or something like that Dunno since my PS. Very swollen.......but I got a flat tummy and nicer thighs if you dont look at the scars...

Hi Karinsky, I hardly know my band is there at all. I cant feel it, but if I eat too fast it lets me know it is there. After a few years there is a sense of normalcy for me to be able to go out and eat normal portions in restaurants. I know I have a band but its really not a big deal. Lisa: I heard that the French docs take out some of the bands when a patient can demonstrate that they can make smarter food choice and not regain for a period of time with an unfilled band. I still believe that most of us here have a satiety disorder. Once the band is unfilled, it becomes a question of being hungry all the time. ITs a lot harder to make smart food choices when you are starving all the time. Babs in TX 334/180 -154 new goal: 170 or less...

Frankly, I can never understand this 6 weeks liquid thing. Do these docs just assume we have a lot of restriction and have the will power to go 6 weeks only on liquids. I realize that the first few weeks should be liquids to allow the band to achor properly without food disturbance. But I recall being so hungry by the end of week one that I wanted to eat my own fingers. All I can say is that it is tough, but doable. I only had to do liquids for two weeks. and I was eating mushies by week 3 and solids by week 4. i dod not have a preop diet and ate right up to 12:00 midnight the day before surgery. All I can say is do the best you can, listen to your docs post op food plan as best you can. Its sort of a rite to passage and it is definitely in your best interest to follow the post op plan the best you can to insure good bandster health.! Babs in TX 334/180 -154 new goal: 170 or less.....

Hi, I have always been like that guyWimpy in Popeye. "Ill gladly pay you tomorrow for a hamburger today" LOL I love hamburgers, so this could turn into a big problem for me. Perhaps I should give myself more credit for self control....... I actually feel like eating some veggies, shrimp and tilapia today, so there is hope still..... Babs in TX 334/180 -154 or something like that Dunno my exact weight cause I am swollen!!! PS August 3rd 2005

Hi, For some reason, I was not able to post and had to set up a new account. I could not remember my pass word and when I asked it be sent to my email address, nothing showed up. So where did my ole account go? I even had a picture and stuff. I am not tech savvy, so this is a disaster!!! WaaaaaHHH! Babs in TX 334/180/170 -154 ish PS August 3 2005

Hey Lovebug, Sure but steady wins the race. Heres my take on the situation: Before you were eating too much and were gaining. You probably only need a 1/3 of what you ate in your formal life of eating to lose. When you are on liquids, you lose a lot. Once you start on solid food, the weight comes off slower. I lost 154 pounds over 19 months. It was pretty steady weight loss though at the rate of about 7 pounds a month. So give it time, keep track of calories, carbs fats... etc. I know its tedious, but the truth is band or not, people like us will always have to eat less. I only eat about 1100-1200 calories a day. Any more than this and I gain. Babs in TX 334/180 -154 PS August 5th 2005 I am so swollen so I have no idea what I weigh!!!!

I cant remember my password, so I guess I will have to try once or twice a day til I do...... Oh well, this is disappointing.... Babs in TX 334/180/170 -154