UT LB Loser

I'm no longer just training for a triathlon... I did it!!!! What an incredible experience!!! I will write more about it later. Just wanted to send you all a note that you can do it too!!!! What a freaking rush!!! The water was cold and was definitely the biggest challenge. Afterall, you must swim. The alternative is not attractive. Good luck to you all!!! I am going to another on July 12th. Peace, out!!!

I have been on this life changing journey for 7 months now. What a great thing this has been. It has helped to change my life. I am enetered in my first triathlon on Saturday. I have been training pretty steadily for two and a half months now. I never thought I'd run 100 yds again, let alone 5k. I hope the rest of you are having great results too!!!

What stroke do you all use? I have shoulder issues that make the american crawl (freestyle) difficult. I am primarily a breast stroker, as was my specialty when I swam on a youth swim team. It is the power stroke, but it isn't nearly as fast as the Am. crawl. I also have a backward frog (inverted breast stroke) that I use on my back when I get tired at all. I got my wetsuit today and took it over to the city pool and practiced with it. It sure makes me alot more bouyant. I am getting more excited every minute!!! I hope Saturday goes well!!!!! Kat, did you have a wetsuit on when you swam in 60 degree water?

Howdy! I don't have any answers about the insurance covering Gastric Bypass after LapBand. I just wanted to give you some encouragement! 55 lbs is alot of weight to lose!! Celebrate the success you've had to date. If at all possible, avoid judging your progress by someone else's. I know that can be difficult! Please remember that the Band is your tool to weight loss. We need to remember to use it as such. Have you had any fills lately? How much can you eat? If it is a couple of cups, make an appt. to see your dr and have a fill. It is easy to get down on yourself for your supposed failures, but look at the success you've had!! If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me!!! You can do it!!!!

My ex wives would concur with you that I am a monster, Thunder!! Congrats to you on your WL. Remember, we all lose at different rates, just like we put it on differently. Your journey is very personal to you, as is mine to me. I know that this tool has enabled me to do things I thought were forever gone for me. There is hard work to getting this tool to work correctly, but I finally have a tool that will work if I work too. JFDI has become my mantra. Just Focus and Do It, Just Freaking Do It, or any number of other versions. My dad gave me a great thought when I was a kid that stays with me too... If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me!!!!! Best of luck in your journey!

Was it explained to you how your fills had aspirated?

I would have to agree that you need to focus on the Non Scale Victories until your body lets you start losing again. At least it is only 5 lbs that are yo-yoing. You can probably remember dieting a few times and yo-yoing 30 lbs. I started training for a triathlon a few months ago. I thought my weight would continue to drop. It has only slowly gone down. I can actually do more than I could 2 months ago. I will be doing it next Saturday. My new mantra could apply to any of us with the band: DFL>DNF>DNS!!! Dead Freaking Last is greater than Did Not Finish, which is greater than Did Not Start!! You're on the right track. Just keep plugging away. It will come off!!!

Holy cow!!! I just got back from the course preview of my Tri which is next Saturday. The lake that we're swimming in is 60 degrees right now. I didn't have a wetsuit with me, but I will have one for next Saturday. The water was soooo cold!! Even those with wetsuits complained. I swam with them and they thought I was crazy. Just slightly! We only swam about 400 yds. Then we rode the bike course. It does have a few hills in it. My training path doesn't have hills, so it was a new wrinkle for me. Then we ran the 5k course. There is a big hill on the course. You hit it at the 1/2 mile mark and don't really get over it until 1-3/4 miles. My training path is flat! It hurt. I am so glad I did this today. I now have a mental picture of what it is I need to "overcome" in order to be successful. I am done T - R- Y -ing and now I'm T - R - I - ing!!! I'm tired, but it's a good tired. Next week at this time, I will be a Tri athlete. You can do it if I can!!!!!! Good luck!

Jennifer (Hollins2003), Did you make a decision yet? I hope you looked at all the statistics to find that one is safer than the other, longterm. Good luck on your journey to a fitter, healthier you!!!!

Hello fellow Dec. Bandsters. It's been awhile since I posted in this thread. I've had great success since my surgery and have taken up some new hobbies. I will compete in my first Sprint Triathlon on June 21st. It is a 750m swim, 20k bike, and 5k run. My only competition will be myself. I intend to finish!! I have done it 3 times in training now. I have changed my life with the help of the LapBand! I love it and am so blessed to have it! I hope the rest of you are enjoying successes in your own journeys!!! JFDI! Just Freaking Do It!!!!!

Fo r the past year, I've really been making an effort to remove the word TRY from my vocablulary. It is difficult, but I've have done my best. So I was talking to a gal at work yesterday. I mentioned that I was going to Tri on Saturday the 21st. She corrected me. It was very cool to tell her that Tri is now in my vocabulary, just a different spelling. She was blown away. I walked away saying, "I will Tri!!!" My ankle is a bit sore yesterday and today. Slight swelling. I will bike again tomorrow, but I think the run will have to wait for the weekend again.

Way to go whosyadaddy!!! I can't wait to feel that rush of finishing!!! How was the open water swim? How was your transition? Did I catch wind that you shaved your back for the wetsuit? I am going to get a wetsuit for my swim as well. Where did you get yours? My swim is 750m. I have been swimming it weekly in a local pool. Did they have a place for you to change in some privacy? I'm getting more comfortable seeing myself without a shirt, but am not ready to spring that on the public yet!! I'm so excited to do this!! It's crazy how this has motivated me recently. I've heard that once it gets in your blood, it is there forever! Hopefully this will help me reach other goals I have set for myself. Tell us all about your "Mental experience" while doing your Tri. I know I'd love to hear what your mind and heart were telling you the whole time. Did you talk back to your inner voice? Have a great night!!!!

For the past 2 weekends, I have run/walked a 5k. I've been working out (skiing in Jan to April, stationary bike Jan to April, swimming Feb to June, and Road bike April to June). I set a goal to run a 5k within 1 yr of surgery (12/6/07). I started jogging in early May as well. Small runs and alot of walks. A week ago I ran 2.5k without walking, then walked a bit, ran alittle more and finally finished the 5k. This morning I knew I had to run at least 1/2 of the 5k to keep pace with last week. I reached the 1/2 way point and pointed to my marker as I turned around. I yelled and pointed at my marker, "You are EASY!!" Then I continued to run and pick out markers that I knew I could reach. As I passed each one, I yelled and pointed "You are EASY!!" I saw my truck in the distance and told myself, "That is EASY!!!" Guess what? I made it!!! And it was EASY!! Ok, it wasn't. But I sure had myself convinced while I was doing it. I know that so much of fitness is Mind over Matter. I am strong, I am powerful, I overcome!!! I am a 5k runner!!!! In 2 weeks I will be competing against myself in a Sprint Triathlon in Hyrum, UT. I will probably be the biggest Clydsdale in the race, but I WILL FINISH!!!!! My goal has always been about Fitness and Health, with the added benefit of weight loss. I ran a 1/2 Marathon in 1981 at the age of 15. For the past 26 years, I have let other issues get in my Health/Fitness way. I no longer have excuses! It is time to live life again. The interesting thing that I'm finding is: Working out is a blast!!!!!! Good luck to everyone else who is doing the Couch 2 5k. YOU CAN DO IT!! Yes, I am yelling. JFDI! Just Freaking Do It!!!!

I was banded in Dec. 2007. I will run a Sprint Triathlon on June 21, 2008. I am down 60+ lbs. I set a goal to run a 5k within a year of surgery. I have run 2 now. I have set a new goal... I will run a minimum of 2 Sprint Triathlons in 2008. I have always been a strong swimmer. Dad threw all the kids in the pool at 3 and taught us to swim. Swam competitively in jr high. I ran a half marathon at 15. I've been biking 40 to 50 miles per week since April. I have run 2 tris in training over the past 2 weeks on my own. I can do it competitively now. I only have 1 competition though, MYSELF! This has changed my life. I now live by a new creedo... JFDI (Just Focus and Do It, or Just Freaking Do It). You can do it too! Just Freaking DO IT!

I have had 9 fills in 6 months. My Dr. is not very agressive in doing fills. The nurses have all had the LapBand surgery and they have told me that while you can find your sweet spot by filling the band and unfilling to the point that you can drink water, it is safer and more advisable to slowly fill the band. This allows the stomach to gradually adjust to the band and lessen the swelling and possibilty of slips. I have asked how many slips they have encountered in the past year. I was told that they have had only a couple. Some of those were attributed to other factors. I understand you want to make the right decision for you. For me it was a no brainer. I am not all knowing about the LapBand or Gastric Bypass. I can only speak from my own experience. I am glad I made the decision I did. If for any reason in the future I decide that this is not the thing for me, it is reversible. I can't imagine that ever happening, however. Again, good luck!!!

Are you both serious? Gastric bypass has so many drawbacks!! I looked into that long and hard. I have friends who have done gastric bypass. While they did lose alot of weight initially, they are both struggling to keep it off. They each have dumping syndrome. That very well could last FOREVER!!!! I know a few people that had gastric bypass many years ago and have now regained much of their weight. My own experience has been awesome with the LapBand. I have lost over 60 lbs in 6 months and am now training for a triathlon. I never thought I could have results like this. I once said that the LapBand changed my life. I have now amended that to : I have changed my own life, the LapBand has made it simpler. I know of a few ladies that were banded the same day as I was that aren't having the same type of success as I am. They have lost over 30 lbs. They are comparing themselves to me and others who are doing better. Remember, we each have our own weight gain history, so we'll each have our own weight loss history. Men and women are different as well. Think long and hard before you cut your stomach away. The LapBand is reversible, if necessary. Gastric bypass really isn't reversible. Good luck whichever decision you make!!!

When I had my initial consultation with my surgeon, he told me he wouldn't do the surgery unless I cut out carbonation. I told him I would really try. Well, eventhough "try" is a weak word, I DID IT!!! It was not easy. The headaches from the lack of caffeine were the worst. I am 7 weeks out from surgery and can honestly say that I have given it up forever! I feel so much better. Crystal Light is now my "vice". Every time I have considered trying the carbonation again, I ask myself if I want to deal with the headaches of caffeine again. For those of you that continue to drink it, I would only ask that you are honest with yourselves. What kind of weight loss would you see if you gave it up? It was a big factor in my gain over the years. Now I am making it a factor in my losses. Give it up, you'll feel better!!!! Have you heard that we have become a "Carbo Nation"? I believe it is largely due to carbonation!!! Good luck to everyone!!

I found this info on the 'net and thought I'd share it: The "skinny" on the AP: Allergan/Inamed has a new band in the US called the AP band. AP stands for Advanced Platform. There are a couple of differences in this band and the previous ones: 1. Cuff - the cuff on the AP band is 360 degrees around, as opposed to about 300 degrees on the prior bands (there was no cuff around the buckle on the old ones) 2. Cuff length - the cuff on the AP band is 18mm longer/taller than on the previous bands, so the surface area in contact with the stomach is much greater, hopefully increasing the speed of weight loss and maybe reducing the risk of slips 3. Cuff volume - the AP small holds 10cc, the AP large holds 14cc Note that we do not believe that AP patients will lose MORE weight, just possibly faster. So those of you with the older models, it would definitely not be to your benefit to think about having your band swapped out! ·They are either APS (small, 10cc) or APL (large, 14cc). ·They are considered by some to be "the next generation in AGBs". ·They are considered less likely to cause blockage or obstruction than other AGP types. ·They are considered less likely to slip than other AGP types. ·They are considered to be less likely to cause band erosion than other AGP types. ·Like the VG band it is "Omniform" technology - i.e. the balloon has ribs or baffles and the band itself is curved. ·The AP has more of a 360 inflation around the stomach as opposed to the 10cm or 9.75cm (4cc) bands, which have more like 260 or 280 degrees inflation (the rest being the buckle), and the VG which has more like 280 or 300. It is understood that this was simply an upgrade to the existing band to make it easier and less traumatic to remove. ·The silicone material is much softer than other AGP types. ·They are more concentric (rounded) when inflated than other AGB types. ·The balloon is pleated to 'grip' the stomach better. ·The balloon goes all the way around the inner surface of the band, rather than missing a piece at the locking mechanism. ·The balloon is wider. ·They have an easier release mechanism to remove the band if need be. ·They have the locking mechanism isolated from the stomach. ·AP type bands have been FDA approved for the US, but will not be available until the summer at the earliest. ·We understand that there are NO plans at this time to discontinue any of the bands Allergan already makes. They still plan to manufacture and offer the 10cm and the 9.75cm (the 4cc) bands as well as the VG band. ·new : AP ( Advanced Platform ) ·APS ( small) ·APL ( large )

lachanga, no need for alarm!! We all lose at different rates! Men lose quicker than women, generally. Much of my weight had to do with diet soda. I am so glad I was given the motivation to get off that evil crap! Keep exercising. And good luck!!

I am officially off caffeine forever!!!! It has been 46 days since I had my last Diet Pepsi with Lime. I used to live to drink that drink!!! I still have a few 12 packs in my garage. I thought that I might be tempted by them. Not a chance. Now I just need to toss them! I feel so good. I attribute alot of my weight loss to quitting the Soda pop. Of course, when I would drink that crap I always had something to eat as well. This LapBand has been life changing!! Good luck to the rest of you!!!

I mean that in a good way! I'm an LDS Loser too! I was banded in December and have had a great experience! I have had virtually no pain since the surgery and love the changes that I'm seeing. Good luck to rest the rest of my fellow LDS Losers!!

I took the advicve of my boss (the VP) at work. After I discussed my need for a few days off for the outpatient surgery and explaining to him what I was doing, he challenged me to chart my goals. I do this in my job already so it seemed like a logical extension into my personal life. I went to him seeking his support and also to give him a heads up if there were complications. There were NONE thank goodness! He ended up giving me a push to do what I had already considered. I have now built a chart that shows me everything I am accomplishing. It shows total weight loss, weekly weight loss, weight loss vs. the goal my doctor has set (I've blown past that one!), my % of weight loss (both weekly and total) vs. my goal. I have a measurement tab, and also a Goal tab (where I have listed specific goals with completion dates). There are a total of 7 tabs to this excel worksheet. I shared this with a few close friends and a couple of members of my family. They can't beleive the success I have had and have commented that they wish they could chart various things in their lives. It is relatively simple! I add this to the growing list of NON SCALE VICTORIES that are available to all of us! The SCALE VICTORIES are important too. I hope you all are enjoying success and fulfillment in your journeys. Good luck!!!

I had my first fill today. I have the AP Large band. I received 1.5cc of saline. It didn't hurt a bit. Was in and out in 15 minutes (from check in to check out). I am losing at a great pace. The nurse wasn't alarmed at all. In fact she told me that while they would like patient's to lose 1 to 2 lbs per week, men often lose at a faster pace. She asked if I felt I needed a fill. Not having had one, I replied that I would at least like to see how it affects me. Liquids today (not just clear either) and mushies tomorrow. The paper she gave me said that not all patients have swelling or have a touchy stomach, but just to be safe. I will go back in 2 weeks for another fill. Gotta love these bands!!!! Nothing ever worked until now. Good luck to the rest of you!!!

I will have my first fill this Friday. This has been life changing already!! I am down 32 pounds in about 6 weeks. I realize I can't keep losing at this same pace forever, but I would love to reach my goal within 1 year!!!! The plateau will come. I lost 70 lbs on Phen-Fen in 3 months. So I look at this as a similar restriction. Then I had to force myself to eat, now I just eat less. I hope everyone else is having similar success. Sorry ladies, I know that we men do lose more quickly. Don't get down! Have a great day!!!!!

Way to go everyone! There are over 100 of us in the "Merry Losers Club"! I hope everyone is doing as well as I have been! Good luck to you all in 2008. :whoo: