lotzasunshine

Unfortunately the more negative stories get a lot of attention. But look around at people's weight loss on this site alone and you will see the difference it makes. I know for myself starting at over 300lbs that this is changing my life! Yes, you do need to eat healthy and exercise, but with the band you are eating smaller portions. I'm sure that most people who try to lose weight eat "healthy" and exercise, but eat too much of healthy things. As long as you follow the rules and follow your surgeon, and get fills as needed you WILL lose weight. It will take time. You will get frustrated, we all do. But that is why we come here. To hear other experiences with the lapband, and to find out what way works best for our bodies. This is an amazing site. I wish you luck in this journey!

This challenge is for the whole year. I put that in the first post, maybe you missed it.

Name_________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal________ToGo *****<v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" filled="f" stroked="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe">:cool2:</v:shapetype>************************:tt2:*********:thumbup:****** *** Brandy.............198............198...........???...........? Ebonie.............307............307...........200...........107 Lindar172..........246............246...........150...........96 lotzasunshine......270............270...........180...........90 Loveislovely.......216............216...........175...........41 vzghj3.............202............202...........150...........52 Ok, just trying to get this looking more uniform

I'm glad I could help Meghan. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions, or if you just want to talk.

Your story is just like mine! I had never had a surgery before and was nervous too. My husband is very supportive and I was doing the surgery so that I could be healthy enough to get pregnant (haven't used protection and have been married for 2 years but no luck). It IS a scary thing to go through. But I did a LOT of praying and tried to follow my feelings. Ultimately I decided that this is what I was supposed to do. I have had ups and downs and questioned my decision, but I am still glad I did it. The scariest part for me was when I moved from the bed on wheels to the surgery table and realized that I was really doing it. Of course the drugs could have emphasised those feelings This is an amazing place to get questions answered and you can PM me anytime you need to! Good Luck!

Dr. Kirshenbaum is wonderful! I was banded by him in July. He charges $9950 for the surgery, 3months of post op care, and fills for 3 months. After that the fills+visit are $15. He seems to be doing this to help people and not to make a ton of money. He is a sweet man and his staff are GREAT! He also says that if the band or port are damaged in any way by him or his staff that he will fix it for free. He has only had 3 or 4 complications out of the hundreds of patients that he has banded. I fly back to Denver for fills. You should really look into him. Here is the link to his website. Lap Band Surgery in Denver Colorado | Lap Band Surgeon in Denver | Gastric Band Surgery Denver | Bariatric Surgery Good luck with your decisions wherever you go!

ok, here is the link to the new challenge thread. brandy~ I already put you on, but you need to change your stats. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/2009-weight-loss-challenge-84680/#post1106743

This is a continuation of the last of 2008 challenge. I have pretty much just copied our format over here and hopefully it will work. Everyone needs to put their weight as it is when joining the challenge, then put your current weight, and then your goal and how much you have to go. Do the quote from the last person who posted add yourself in alphabetical order and update your stats. Good luck everyone, and here it is! Keep in mind that this is for the whole year. Name_________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal________ToGo *****<v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600">:w00t:</v:shapetype>***********:thumbup:***********************:cry_smile:****** * Brandy.............198............198...........???...........? lotzasunshine......270............270...........180...........90 Brandy~ I just put you on because I knew you wanted to join, you'll need to change goals and stuff.

I saw another challenge set up, but it was not near as organized as this one. I can set up another if people want me too.

This is so awesome! I just decided to check, and this is exactly what I need and I can pick it up when we meet! If that is ok with you? Let me know!

I'm not sure about that, but I know he charges something like $150 for people that were not banded by him. That plus a $150 plane ticket and a whole day traveling may not be worth it though.

Plus I have heard that they charge an initial fee of something like $400 on top of the first fill.

Ok, after having my protein shake and helping my SIL move for a couple hours I weighed myself again, and I am only up 1.5lbs. Guess the water weight from TOM is going off. Anyway, so I made my gaol then, and am setting my :heart:Day goal as 13 pounds. That way I will be halfway to my mini goal.

So my TOM was this week, and, big surprise, I GAINED 3lbs! AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!! I am so frustrated right now. I had made my goal, and extra, and then this happens. I HATE my TOM!!!! I really want to get to onederland by my 1 year mark, but if this keeps happening every month I'll be lucky to make that by next Christmas! Sorry to complain here, but 3lbs is a lot in my mind. I have so far to go! I am going to be more strict with myself for this goal, and maybe even go back to the preop diet. This sucks.

Well, thought I would wake up this thread. I am now the size I was when DH and I got married. I am going to get my wedding dress out so I can try it on again. Soon I will be smaller than I have been since DH and I met and got married!

Yeah, it was awful!

Congratulations on getting approval for the surgery from your insurance! That is amazing! I was banded just before I turned 24. I am 5 months out and 40lbs down. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself! I am glad to do it while I am young so that it will not bring me down the rest of my life. You will have ups and downs, just make sure that you have open lines of communication with your dr. Let him know if you have any problems or worries. This is one of the best places to pick people's brains and to mentally prepare for what you are going to go through. I wish you luck on this amazing journey!! Feel free to send any questions my way!

Merry Christmas to me!!! I am now 40lbs down since surgery!!! Name_________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal________ToGo *****<v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600">:youcandothis:</v:shapetype>***********:tt2:*************:Banane21:**********:sad:****** :thumbup: * agreatknead........204............187...........180............7 areellady..........189............189...........159...........30 BIGB...............342............342...........300...........42 BellaPerdente......253............197...........195............2 Boos02.............258............226...........200...........26 Brandy.............221............199...........191...........8 BrownBear..........240............235...........200...........35 Bunkey1965.........194............167...........170...........(-3) Cadets71...........223.4..........220.4.........189...........31.4 Charlietuna........210............167...........150...........17 Claudine...........250............231...........225............6 CubsGirl17.........172............150...........150............0 Cutiew/booty.......251............225...........220............5 cQQlgirl...........195............183...........180............3 crzytchr...........276............253...........246............7 Donna113...........199............183...........160...........23 Ekat...............527............172...........152...........19 feefee57...........262............212...........180...........32 FeliciaLevy75......240............202...........190...........12 GillieBean.........304............296...........264...........32 HeatherO...........150............143...........130...........13 Hollie ............l54............154...........125...........29 janesays ..........244............232...........225............7 jazzyywan..........239............239...........190...........49 Jeni85.............182............182...........160...........22 Jillbeme...........235............203.5.........185...........18.5 Josie74............260............255...........215...........40 judy1023...........231............231...........199...........32 klmsilva...........216............212...........190...........26 legster............183............183...........160...........23 linksmom...........251............231...........200...........31 Lindar172.............257.8.....................245.2...............24 0...................5.2 Liquidbluegal......225............214.6.........199...........15.6 Liz_hager..........161............158...........130...........28 Long2BThin.........253............214...........215..........(1) lotzasunshine......292............268...........250...........18 Luu2008............230............199.5.........153...........46.5 Lunabeane..........244............197...........187...........10.0 Mamanmidwife.......295............268...........260............8 Melissa Aguirre ...266............233...........160...........73 Melody2006.........223............223...........173...........50 MiniPearl#2........???............???...........???...........?? Minxz..............299............287...........270...........17 neefam.............238............189...........158...........31 newby23............242............242...........212...........30 odizzzydori........242............242...........199...........43 paige65............252............238...........220...........18 rainer.............236............222...........210...........12 Redtulips3.........180............171...........168...........03 reif78.............294............195...........140...........40 RichardCranium.....338............276...........200...........76 soontobehottie.....201............175...........165...........10 srknepler..........285............249.2.........255..........(5.7) squale.............353............353...........325...........28 SueAZ..............198............193...........150...........43 Sunshine2..........177............166...........160...........06 Suzzzie............305............305...........285...........20 stevegoad..........370............341...........267...........74 Terilynn112........240............224...........215...........6 Truediva...........299............285...........235...........50 thininside28.......255............255...........215...........40 Turler.............219............203...........194............9 youcandoit!........196............182...........165...........17 bjbstoney..........321............153...........140...........13 Dfox3325...........265............213...........150...........63

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! So today I hit 40lbs down! My present to myself! That means for the challenge I have lost 2.5 this week.

Congrats to both of you getting to Onderland!!!:party::youcandothis::thumbup::sad: :target::woot::Banane10::Banane21::tt2::Banane52:

Congratz on being in onederland!!!! That is AWESOME!!! Can't wait till I get there too! Soryy about the overfill, that sucks. But at least it got taken care of quick! Merry Christmas!!

Name_________StartWeight___CurrentWeight______Goal________ToGo *****<v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600">:w00t:</v:shapetype>***********:cool2:*************:tt2:**********:eek:****** :thumbup: * agreatknead........204............187...........180............7 areellady..........189............189...........159...........30 BIGB...............342............342...........300...........42 BellaPerdente......253............204...........195............9 Boos02.............258............226...........200...........26 Brandy.............221............200...........191...........9 BrownBear..........240............235...........200...........35 Bunkey1965.........194............167...........170...........(-3) Cadets71...........223.4..........220.4.........189...........31.4 Charlietuna........210............167...........150...........17 Claudine...........250............231...........225............6 CubsGirl17.........172............150...........150............0 Cutiew/booty.......251............225...........220............5 cQQlgirl...........195............183...........180............3 crzytchr...........276............253...........246............7 Donna113...........199............183...........160...........23 Ekat...............527............172...........152...........19 feefee57...........262............212...........180...........32 FeliciaLevy75......240............204...........190...........14 GillieBean.........304............296...........264...........32 HeatherO...........150............143...........130...........13 Hollie ............l54............154...........125...........29 janesays ..........244............232...........225............7 jazzyywan..........239............239...........190...........49 Jeni85.............182............182...........160...........22 Jillbeme...........235............203.5.........185...........18.5 Josie74............260............255...........215...........40 judy1023...........231............231...........199...........32 klmsilva...........216............212...........190...........26 legster............183............183...........160...........23 linksmom...........251............231...........200...........31 Lindar172.............257.8.....................245.2...............24 0...................5.2 Liquidbluegal......225............214.6.........199...........15.6 Liz_hager..........161............158...........130...........28 Long2BThin.........253............214...........215..........(1) lotzasunshine......292............269.5.........250...........19.5 Luu2008............230............199.5.........153...........46.5 Lunabeane..........244............197...........187...........10.0 Mamanmidwife.......295............268...........260............8 Melissa Aguirre ...266............233...........160...........73 Melody2006.........223............223...........173...........50 MiniPearl#2........???............???...........???...........?? Minxz..............299............287...........270...........17 neefam.............238............189...........158...........31 newby23............242............242...........212...........30 odizzzydori........242............242...........199...........43 paige65............252............238...........220...........18 rainer.............236............222...........210...........12 Redtulips3.........180............171...........168...........03 reif78.............294............195...........140...........40 RichardCranium.....338............276...........200...........76 soontobehottie.....201............175...........165...........10 srknepler..........285............249.2.........255..........(5.7) squale.............353............353...........325...........28 SueAZ..............198............193...........150...........43 Sunshine2..........177............166...........160...........06 Suzzzie............305............305...........285...........20 stevegoad..........370............341...........267...........74 Terilynn112........240............224...........215...........6 Truediva...........299............285...........235...........50 thininside28.......255............255...........215...........40 Turler.............219............203...........194............9 youcandoit!........196............182...........165...........17 bjbstoney..........321............153...........140...........13 Dfox3325...........265............213...........150...........63

MINI!!!! You are more than halfway to goal now!!!! CONGRATZ!!! :w00t: :tt2: :thumbup: :cool2: :eek: And you look as beautiful in your pictures as your daughter does!!

I AM FINALLY IN THE 260's!!!!! YAY!!!!

I had a harder time than some when I was recovering. My gas lasted 2 weeks, but eventually I got better and am so glad I did this!!! You might have her call her Dr to see if they can help with the constipation. I didn't have a BM for like a week after surgery. Tell her what everyone has been saying, that it will be over eventually and she will be even better than normal!!!