DiSanders

Looking at your pic again, I can't get over how much YOUNGER you look! Congrats to you!

My husband got me a BMW X3 as a gift for finishing my master's degree. We also have a BMW Z4 convertible (his baby ), and another BMW 325 with about 180,000 miles on it. It still looks great-and we love it! I never had a fancy car before this one, so I really enjoy it!

I had my surgery on a Tuesday andw as back to work (I am a teacher) the following Monday. I was fine at work, but looking back over the month to six weeks after my surgery, I realize I was very tired and less active than usual. I was banded on Nov. 29, and I even had trouble getting all of my Christmas decorations together last year. However, the fact that I am raising twins, coaching cheerleading, and working on a second master's degree may have more to do with being tired than the surgery! Hmmmm....

I haven't been on the board in a few months-can anyone fill me in on the controversy?

Congratulations to you! You look great! I am about 8 pounds away from you, and am fitting comfortably into size 16-s. Those 14's are calling me, though

I, also, was discouraged by my slow weight loss. I was only down 30 pounds in the first 9 months. Since I got a fill two weeks ago, though, I have dropped another 10. It might be slower than I had hopes, but still quicker than I would have done it without surgery!

I was banded at the Molding Clinic in Tijuana last November. It wasn't fancy, but I was very happy with the level of care I had.

I switched from white zin to red wine after the surgery because I drink it slower and it has fewer calories. Beer doen't hurt-it just doesn't taste as good as it used to...

I was banded on November 30th-have lost 24 pounds-but have really slowed down since Chritsmas. I am still seeing differences in my clothes, though. I can't have a fill until I get an upper gi on jAN 29, but I really think it's time for a fill!

SlimFast Optima-especially vanilla! Lots of vitamins and protein

I agree that weighing in once a week seems to work best-I am weighing myself on the day of my surgery...

I also lost 13 lbs the first week-I'm sure it's mostly water weight, because it has deifnitely slowed down!

I am trying hard to instill a sense of gratitude in my two stepsons-ages 13 and 15. It has to start young-Part of me also wants to give up the whole gift giving experience because they never seem to like what I get them-One year the oldest actually sold the wallet I had just got him to one of my daughter's friends on Christmas night! How's that for a slap in the face. The younger locked himself in the bathroom because he got an mp3 player that wasn't an IPod. We have tried the whole charity thing and they do it very grudgingly. Oh, well-ever the optimist, I'll keep trying!

I was banded in Tijuana on 11/29. I was impressed with the entire procedure. I was the only patient in the clinic, and the level of care was great. The Molding clinic was very clean-and three weeks out I have had absolutely NO complaints.

I think the whole idea behind the band is portion control. Although I have only been bended for three weeks, I am eating normal food-just not very much of it! My birthday was four days after surgery and I had french onion soup-cheese and all-with no problems. I have tried a copule things that didn't go down so well, but overall I am amazed at how "normally" I am eating. As long as I stick with small portions and very lttle bites, I think I'm going to be fine!

I NEED to start exercising. I am not going to wait until New Year-my break starts Friday and I resolve to be up and at the gym before anything else. Even though I will be tempted to sleep in, I KNOW I'll feel more energetic if I work out. Last year I worked with a personal trainer and he really helped me-when I did it...

I am another Mexico alumni-just banded 3 weeks ago. I am down 19 pounds, but I have sooo far to go! Welcome!

I was banded three weeks ago-my doctors did a .5cc fill with my band, but I am able to eat and drink way more than evwryone else here talks about. Should I be scheduling a fill for after the frist of the year, or is it too soon?

I am not sure if my mood is related to my banding, or just general depression. I was warned about being depressed, but I thought I would be too excited about losing the weight. I was banded 3 weeks ago today-I am down 19 pounds. I am having no real problems with my band and am eating small amounts of pretty much whatever I like. So what's the problem? I am so down in the dumps. I can barely get myself out of bed. I haven't even sent my Christmas cards or finished decorating for the holidays-let alone wrap all of the presents for my family. I can barely force myself to go to work, even though we only have 2 more days until Christmas break. No matter how much I sleep, it's all I want to do. The only thing I can think to do is try to get more protein-I'm not using the powder like everyone recommends. I kicked caffeine before my surgery-so it's not withdrawal. I am just generally sad-apathetic...Is this part of the banding process-part of holiday stress-or a combination of both?

There is a better life waiting for you on the other end of a bad relationship! I got divorced a few years ago and was devastated to be going through it with small children, big bills, etc....like so many of you. It was a very lonely time. HOWEVER, when I least expected it, I met a wondeful man. No one can describe the difference between a relationship that works and one that doesn't until you have experienced it-but we ALL deserve to be happy!

I think another important ppoint to add here is that even gb is not maintenance free. It IS possible to regain weight, even with a gb. There is no one surgery that is a cure all-they all require diligence and maintenance to be successful in the long run. I also concur with another post that said we read a lot about slippage, erosion, and such on this site because it is THE place to talk about it. When people are living successfully with the band and continually losing, they may be less inclined to share on a regular basis.

I had a tummy tuck four years ago-it was a great decision. After a csection for twins, my stomach was never the same. The recovery is much worse than having the band, though. My only warning is that the surgery has a "rolling pin" effect...all of your weight gain travels upward. I gained all of my weight in my arms and upper body. So...it doesn't make the weight disappear-it just shifts it!

I know the 25% failure rate is daunting-but that is 75% success! What other weight loss effort can boast that? I still think that the success or failure is more determined by the human factor than anything to do with the band. If course there are complications, but those complications are still a small per centage of the reasons for failure. I have been on this site reading exhaustively for the past few months, and I've yet to read a post that says the instructions for diet AND exercise were followed to the letter and no weight was lost!

I gained BIG time! Once I made the appointment, I quit even trying to regulate myself. I was eating creme sticks for breakfast, fast food for lunch, and snacking all night. I gained at least 30 pounds-but now I know it will be the LAST 30 pounds I ever gain!!

I think the band was created for people like us who do not stop eating when we're full. There is a physical reminder when we have eaten too much that is just not there without the band. I am even getting that "uh oh" feeling after drinking too big of sips. So yes-it WILL work for you!