josephine

I wonder if chemical peels would help this. Question it on the internet. It is supposed to remove dead skin and that is what I assume it is. Josephine

I have been working with a personal trainer now for two full months. I have a question that maybe someone else out there would know because they are not well versed on the Band. Yes, I have excess skin and trying to measure Fat percentage is almost ridiculous. In fact, My fat percentage went from 23% t 24% in 2 months. They have to pinch skin or use a hand held machine that they personally say isn't a guarantee it is correct. I started at 136 and I am now 143. I can only keep on thinking that it is muscle gain and that is it. I am watching to see if my clothes are getting tighter and I am not noticing that but when I look at myself in the mirror it feels as though my hips are getting wider or just myself in general. My mind is my enemy because I am terrified to gain weight and I am not knowledgable enough to understand that muscle gain is a good thing. My husband says he isn't noticing any difference in me except that my chest is looking tighter. He used to see my rib cage a bit on my chest. I am an extremely healthy eater and if I have gained fat weight I do see that I just eat a bit more during dinner and that is it. I eat a salad though for dinner with Protein and other veggies on it. I have not layed 1 piece of fried food in my mouth since Nov. 2005. Is there any reassurance from anyone out there? Does anyone know the extent of pounds gained for muscle weight? Help Me Please Josephine

I was wondering if anyone has heard of or has had experience with the PS in Plano, TX. I will be having a TT and Breast Lift on May 9th and would like some feedback if anyone has any. Thanks Josephine

Julie, I reached goal in July 2006 and only began to really exercise 7 weeks ago. I am with a trainer and I had no clue how out of shape I was. I walked my dog everyday and when I began exercising, I wondered where did those muscles go while walking the dog. I think I was stronger heavier than I am now but you know what? You will begin to get stronger and stronger each and every day. The tread mill is excellent for weight lose. You should do that 5 days a week if you do nothing else. If you are going to lift any weights, I go to the gym 3 days a week and work with the trainer for 1/2 hour and then at home I use my tread mill 3 times a week for 1/2 hour. I have become addicted because I feel SOOOOOOOOOO good. I even quit smoking over two months ago. When I started at the gym I weighed 136 and I am now 142 and my clothes are fitting the same so it better be muscle weight that I am gaining because I am not eating anymore than normal. My first month I lost almost 5 inches but because of the excess skin it is hard to measure my fat percentage. I feel incredible and wished I would have done this while I was losing weight maybe I would have had less skin. Keep up the good work. Josephine Surgery 11/10/05 251/142 At Goal 7/06

Claire, I had my surgery on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday. I would have preferred Tuesday but that is all I needed. Josephine 251/142 Surgery 11/10/05 At Goal 7/25/06

I also heard at one time that burned patients need our skin but they found that streched out skin does no good for patients. It makes sense to me. Josephine

On Monday it will be three weeks for me too. I can't believe how I used to smell, now that I can smell other people. My house stinks but I can't do anything about it unless my husband gets the urge to quit. We are just getting more and more healthier aren't we. Josephine

:omg: Last night I was at the Emergency Vets office and found out my dog needs surgery on her knee (ACL). While taking her xrays they noticed she has a stone of some sort. They can't be sure if it would desolve unless they find out what kind of stone it is. I need to bring a sample of her urine in the morning of her regular vet visit to see for sure if surgery is required. Last year at Thanksgiving time she had surgery on her other knee. I guess her body choses holidays to break down. Last year, Nov. 10th is when I had my band put in and then she had surgery on top of that. Now this year, thank God, I am maintaining, since July 2006 (-115), but today was my day to quit smoking. It is now 655pm and I haven't had a cigarette yet and I am doing pretty well but I am so worried about my dog because she looks so depressed. If I go nutso, I will grab the cigarette before I grab the food, that is for sure. I am stressing really bad right now. It is xmas and all my family is out of town and I only have my husband here. I tell you, there is nothing like a mothers comfort. I hope everyone had a beautiful holiday and the happiest of New Years to come. Josephine Surgery Nov. 10, 2005 -115lbs / No Fills Will maintenance be a success? I am terrified of that.

I received the low profile port after getting the regular one at first. I asked him to move it upwards because it was in my waist band area and the pants were bothering me. Now the low profile port is above my waistband and still sticking out like crazy. He said I have no choice because of how thin I am. What ever that means... If he knew it was going to stick out because of my weight loss then he could have suggested some place else, don't you think? Josephine

I hope you will be feeling better soon but the question I have for you is how much is too much Protein? I drink 72oz. of Water a day so that should be good. Josephine

Bret, Welcome to LBT! Don't worry about port replacement just yet. Be good to yourself and nothing negative should happen to you. I had port replacement too and that was only because I needed to go to a smaller one because I got to my goal weight and it was sticking out too much. It was no big deal. Keep the POSITIVE attitude and you should do GREAT! Josephine

Is there a list anywhere to find out what medications we are not allowed to take? When I called the doctors office the nurse said you can take anything but you have to be careful with the size of the pill. Is that all it takes? Thanks Josephine

I know for sure every doctor's pre op diet is different. I only had to do this 5 days prior to my surgery and all I ate for the 5 days was unlimited amounts of sf popsicles, any kind of broth that I wanted to drink and sf Jello and yes I drank my coffee and started to get used to my Water drinking. With in those 5 days I lost 12 lbs. and to me that was a hell of a jump start. Good Luck to you because it sure has been a hell of a ride. Josephine

If you have the desire to lose weight you need to start eating healthy. Frosties are nothing but sugar. Eat some yogurt. I think you may be sabotaging yourself. Remember your band is just a tool to help you eat less but your change of diet is the most important for you in the long run. I know it is hard to change a life time of bad habits but you need to nip it in the bud. You may even enjoy eating healthy foods if you give yourself a chance. Trust me, it will work if you are on the right track. Josephine 251/136 Surgery Nov. 10, 2005 No Fills

You are way to close now. I only had to be on liquids for 5 days prior to surgery so this must be very rough for you. You don't want to eat anything right now since pre op diet helps the liver to shrink so it won't be in the way of the probes. Congrats on quitting and after 4 weeks it is out of your system so keep it out. That will be my next task, to quit. You had alot thrown at you at once and you are doing great so keep going. Take a walk and smell the fresh air because I am sure it smells better than my air since you quit. You are almost there...........I think I can, I think I can.........choo choo!!!! You are the little engine that could. Josephine

To everyone that kind of responded to my reply on "To Fill or Not to Fill" post. Yes, I lost 115 lbs., and with no fill. It wasn't a game to me to see how far I could go without a fill, I just so happened not to need one. 1. I lost my appetite after I got the surgery. 2. I went on this site to see how people were doing and the capabilities once people received their fills scared me because people would PB, Slime and whatever else people did once they received their fills. I haven't had any problems since my band and I can eat everything that I chose to eat. The thought of throwing up scared me because of the band possibly moving. There is alot of negativity on this site. 3. I am an excellent dieter and I was in that mode and still am. I, as I am sure other people, have a problem keeping the weight off. Since I didn't need the fills while losing weight I may need it down the road if I begin to gain weight. God forbid........ I have now chosen to use the band as my maintenance program. I am so thankful to my doctor who said to me right before going into surgery, "Just remember, it is 20% the band and 80% you." I know with my weight loss it threw him for a loop. I lost more than 100% of my body mass in 8 months. I am now going through something else though and it is an eating disorder of the opposite kind. I have began to seek help because I am terrified to eat the things that will help me maintain my weight. On this journey I never expected to become the person that I am now. Did you ever think one of us would be terrified to eat and I am terrified to gain a pound. I was suppose to lose 106 lbs. and I have lost 115lbs. We all have our issues and our own reasons for everything in this world. Just be proud of EVERYTHING you have accomplished thus far. I know 4-8 lbs. a month is the healthy route to lose but if we don't chose the healthy foods to fuel us then what is the purpose also. To lose is good but to make the right food choices along with weight lose is even better. Josephine

Carol, That isn't the site that I was talking about. Josephine

I never had a fill and I lost 115 lbs. You can do it if you set your mind to it. Eat healthy and you have no choice but to eat smaller quantities if you eat slowly like you are supposed to and not drink while you are eating. The key though is to eat slowly because you do get fuller faster. Josephine

HAPPY BANDIVERSARY TO ME!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN ONE YEAR FOR ME TODAY. IT HAS BEEN A HELL OF A JOURNEY AND VERY VERY SUCCESSFUL................................ I met my goal July 25, 2006 and I lost 115lbs. I went from a size 22 to a size 4-6. Thankfully I have been maintaining since then. 1. No Fills 2. Never got sick 3. No PB'ing 4. No slimming Would I ever do this again? IN A HEARTBEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My only regret is losing my bodacious Ta Ta's.:embarassed: BELIEVE AND YOU CAN ACHIEVE!!!!!!!!!! Good Night Everyone and God Bless Josephine

Kimberely, I believe I have an eating disorder and I am going to look into it. This is probably why people go for a psych evaluation and it wasn't required by my insurance. In all honesty by reading threads from people on this site and other sites it is very difficult for me to relate to people. I had my surgery Nov. 10, 2005 and I lost 111 lbs. by July, 2006 with no fills and I had surpassed my goal at that time. I am able to eat everything as others are not able to and I now have figured out it is because of the fills they are receiving because I can't think of any other reason. When they speak of PBing and not being able to eat bread, rice, Pasta because they throw up it terrified me, just the thought of throwing up so I stayed away from it. I began my journey eating very healthy and staying away from everything I am addicted to and this is why I lost my weight the way I did and also losing my appetite with the band. I now have to eat almost 500 extra calories a day to keep my weight on and it is very difficult. I am slowly putting into my diet breads, rices and other carbs in hopes that it will help to keep my weight on but they are so filling that I can't eat the next morning. I am terrified to gain a pound and I think it is hurting me in the long run by trying to maintain. Gaining, losing, gaining, losing has been my life as I am sure others can relate to this but now my mind has gone the opposite direction and I think I need to seek help. You have done so well and doesn't it feel wonderful, the weight lose you have done. Just keep up the good work and strive for a healthier you. Josephine

I don't have any fills at all but I have only taken chewable Vitamins (Centrum), sublingual B12 Vitamin that you put under your tongue and liquid forms of any pain meds of any sort. With your fills I believe you could possibly get stoppage from your small stomach to the bottom portion of your stomach. I wouldn't take the chance. Almost everything comes in liquid form now and I think it would be helpful if you guys readjusted your pill swallowing. Josephine 251/139 Nov. 10, 2005 No Fills - At Goal

Randi, Look at the inamed website. inamed/lapband/low profile and pull up #5. It isn't an actual name but it should be of some help. Josephine

:clap2: Well, A year is almost around the corner for us I would like to congratulate everyone for making it this far. I would love to hear the STATS on everyone if it is possible. Let's all shout out how well we have done! It has been an incredible journey for me! I can't believe I made it to my goal in August. Relearning how to eat has helped me so much in respecting what I put in my mouth and in my system and being able to eat healthy food and enjoy it, every morsel, is incredible to me as well. I never thought I could survive without fast foods. Maintenance has been a little difficult for me. It is actually hard to keep the weight on. I lost my father on Sept. 16th of this year and I can't believe I lost 3 more pounds. Under stress I have only ever gained weight and now the tables are turned. I believe I AM ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY! My Stats Surgery November 10, 2005 Starting Weight : 251 Ending Weight: 139 No Fills I reached my goal in August, 2006 God Bless, Josephine

Betje.................................. WAY TO GO !!!!! :clap2: :) Determination will keep you going. You are doing great! Josephine Ps: Thank you about my father, I miss him so much but he has no more pain and now he is watching over my mother. :cry

Randi, My doctor is not Dr. Spivak but I just had a port replacement in August. Originally my port was placed right at my waist band and I had the original one put in. They try to figure out probably where your waist is but with the weight we have on us it is hard to place it properly. I lost 110 lbs and because of the loss my port was sticking out pretty much and it was bothering me because it hit right where the waist band of all my pants were hitting and it bothered me alot especially if my waist band moved and rubbed on the port to go under it. I asked my doctor for the low profile port and to move it above my waist band so it wouldn't be in the way of my pants in which it is but the damn thing is still sticking out. I asked him if it will always stick out and he said it probably would because of how thin I am. So, it has it's ups and it's downs. If you are true into getting the band put in and losing all the weight you need to then I would still recommend the low profile port. It is a bit more expensive but in the long run it will be better for you. It won't stick out as much as the regular one. Be sure he places it though below your waist band. The only disadvantage to the low profile, if you need a fill they may have to stick you a few times to get the solution into the right place. I have never had a fill so I don't know how that procedure goes. Good luck to you! Josephine 251/139 Nov. 10, 2005 No Fills