silvers320

Welcome Been around the banded block here - 3 Lap Band surgeries - 2 plastic surgeries - oh and a gay guy.

Ran shirtless for the 1st time ever this summer - such a NSV for a former fat guy

It's true that taking it off slowly helps BUT the longer you were over weight the less like things are going to look good after you drop 100+ pounds. after dropping the weight it's as much a mental as it is working out and eating right. Plastics have helped greatly with the mental part of the loss.

Wear elastic waist pants! I went back to work at 2 weeks to a desk job - nothing really fit but I dont see anyone so it was ok. You will need someone the 1st 2 days at least. This is much worse than the lap band surgery but so worth it. Good Luck!

Should have written healing not feeling. I hear you - I battled my weight for 20+ years before the band. But take it slow, it works - just: 1. When it doubt - talk to your surgeron thats what you pay him for - adjustments are part of the process. 2. However dont rely solely on adjustments to drop the weight - the band is a tool put without a committment from you - you can work around it. 3. You dont need to be 100% perfect 100% of the time ( once you are fully recouped) - strive for 95% and accept 90%! Good luck

You're still on the mushies phase - which is about your body feeling and learning to eat - SLOWLY. Focus on that and not on the weigh loss - this is a long term lifestyle change not a diet where you should be worried about fast results.

Well - congrats to the both of you for considering making this huge life change! To answer your questions - 1. I think after my lapband, I was out of my desk job for a few days but bending was really rough - so I would think you should plan on being out (or on the desk for 3- 4 weeks for full healing) 2. Hydration - in the 4 years or so that I have been banded - I was de-hydrated twice. Once I didnt know what it was - and passed out. And once I saw the warning signs - but since these days I have not had any issues. Last week - I met with my health specialist, who told me that when he met me 10 years ago- I was dieing very quickly. Now I have turned my life around - it really hit me! So good luck and feel free to ask any questions.

Guys, I am looking for a weight training book (or app) to get me started. I have worked out with a trainer but feel its more of a “follow me – then teach me” so without their knowledge, I feel like a deer in the headlights. Much like I did for nutrition and cardio – I really want to reeducation myself so I am comfortable in my workout. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

In the hopes of getting some "action" going in the room - Anyone have any interesting travel plans for the summer?

I had a circumferential tummy tuck in September of 2011. At the time the doctor had suggested a fluer de lis tummy tuck but I was opposed to it give the potential scarring. Five months latter I am considering have the circumferential revised to a fluer de lis to deal with the sagging middle stomach, as I am still unhappy with the results. Anyone have one? What are your scars like? Are you happy with the results? Thanks

Hi Billy - I am going to try and be helpful, but some of it might be a little painful to hear - BUT please bear with me... Can the band work- sure. Can it work the way you are currently working it - doubtful. I am not going to jump on the "your doctor should be increasing your restriction" band wagon, I don't think he should be at this point. Why??? You haven't shown him that you are following the "rules" to be long term successful with the band. A full band can be cheated on just like one that is only 1/2 full. Is restriction important - without a doubt. BUT just as important is what we eat, portion size, Water intake, exercise. We don't like to focus on these things. Remember you shouldn't be viewing the band as a DIET - it is a long term lifestyle change. Just because you can drink while you eat doesn't mean you should be doing it - but you already know that. Now that the tough love portion is complete I would go back to square one - do your liquid diet for a few days - even a week. I found this really helped me lose my CARB cravings. Then measure your food for a week or so - I had no idea what a serving of anything was suppose to look like - so this really helped. Also during this period, I learned HOW to eat. What I mean by that was - I was an animal - i shoved food in as fast as possible. I took this time to really slow down, taste what I was eating - enjoy the actual taste not just the act of eating. There was a thread on here "What did you eat today" (or something like that" - I dont know if its still around but I found that really helpful all. It taught me some great food ideas. I am a realist - you can't be perfect 100% of the time - but 90% of the time make the right food choices - there is a time and a place for a good burger. Well these days I can only really eat 80% of a good burger but still! You don't say anything about exercise - but find something you enjoy doing and stick with it. Lastly - the mental part of this VERY hard and mostly over looked (just my 2cents) - you might think about seeing someone to discuss why you continue to self sabotage. Change is hard - but you can do this!!! And the rewards an amazing!!

Andy - before you hit the SamS club - check your local cvs and gas stations - many sell them as single serve so you taste test before you end up with a case of something that tastes nasty!

Andy - before you hit the SamS club - check your local cvs and gas stations - many sell them as single serve so you taste test before you end up with a case of something that tastes nasty!

I spent about a year planning and interviewing plastic surgeons. The cheapest I found was about 9,000 for a base tummy tuck to several that charged 22,000 for an extended tummy tuck. I ended picking a surgeon who charges 12,500 based on his skills, approach and the recommendation of another lap band talk guy. Scheduled for September 22!