JulieNYC

Well, I was on vacation for a week and ate literally everything I wanted. It was my birthday week too and I ate the icing off of about 6 cupcakes over the week (no cupcake itself as I don't like it and it's probably not band friendly). Anyway, I was ready to come home and face the scale and low and behold, everything I wanted still let me lose 5 lbs in the 10 days I was gone. WOOHOO! (No worries, I'm back on a good eating plan of protein and veggies now....) My other news is that I'm trying hard to move my gym time to the mornings. I've never been able to do that in the past, but I'm giving it my best for 6 weeks, then I'll see how I feel about it for the long term. If I wait to the evening, I just feel like I have no time for anything else. by the time I leave work (around 7 or 8) and get to the gym, it's well past 9 before I get home, so dinner, bath and bed is all I have time for. I'm trying to do it in the morning so that I can get home and have dinner by 8 then have a few hours before bed to do things I want to do. We'll see how it goes. Eficka, you're a GODDESS. I'm still pissed that they won't fill you for a while (what in the heck is the point of a band with no fill!!) but I'm glad you're making it work for you. Susan, I'm so sorry about your port flip. Had you noticed something was up before you went in for that fill, or was it a complete surprise to you? LapBandit, a hearty congratulations on Twoterville!

Molly, It's ok to let your head catch up with your body. Twoterville is a big deal. Give yourself some emotional room to be ok with the change. Cut back on the scale time and just really listen to your body's signals of hunger and fullness. I bet you come over the border in no time. You're doing great.

Leona, I'm from Alabama but now living in Manhattan. Throw bandland on top of that and we have a lot in common!

I wouldn't recommend getting a scale that only weighs a few lbs over your weight because though they claim to be accurate to X lbs, my experience is that they're less accurate the closer you get to the high end of the scale's capacity. I bought my scale, which is consistent with my doc's scale every time, off ebay. Type in "obesity scale" and check out the scales sold by "Old Will Knott." They're inexpensive and very accurate. They talk to you too, if you like that feature. I turned it off myself. Good luck!

I couldn't find a picture from high school, which was the last time I was thin (though still felt fat) but I found one from 5 years ago, which was the last time I lost a significant amount of weight and was feeling pretty good about myself. I weighed about 200 in this pic. I'm the one in red, with the crown on (long story), on the right....

Joyce! That is FABULOUS news! Congratulations on reaching the 60's. You'll be in the 50s before you know it. I make my goals based on BMI too. My first goal was 337 (BMI 59) and my current goal is 274 (BMI 49). May seem random to some people, but it's very significant to me. Hugs to you,

I love my lap band. Liek everyone, I considered RNY, for years in fact, but it just felt wrong for me. I just wanted a little push downhill to weightloss. I didn't want something that I couldn't control. I felt like RNY was a free pass for about 18 months (free pass being a good thing) but that if you didn't learn proper habits, so many gain it back. Whereas, with the band, I'm in CONTROL of my weight loss, for better of for worse. I have major control issues and being able to turn it on and off is very important to me. That said, like many of you have said, I'd likely convert to RNY or VGB if I had a complication and couldn't be rebanded. Good luck to everyone on your journey. Goodness knows, no matter what route you take it's a hard road.

You might be a redneck bandster if... ...you're having dinner alone with your banded husband and your brother says "geeze, hon, I sho' miss drinkin' beer with my dinner." (I'm from Alabama, I can make these jokes!)

I have the 10cc band, which feels so different from what I read about the 4cc band in that I don't feel different restriction from the morning to night, don't really have pain with golfballs, etc. BUT that said, stress is the one thing that really makes my band differ in restriction. If I get stressed (usually at work for me, no small kids yet), it tightens up to where I just cannot eat. It usually takes several hours (i.e. overnight) to release as well. Oddly, I kind of like that about the band. I guess I was a stress eater before, so it makes me feel like I'm in control (even though the band really is).

I'm so sorry you were treated so poorly. The flight attendant will get what is coming to her in another way, I'm sure. I'm flying on a small plane this weekend, so I'll be sure to take my extender. Thank you for the warning. I think older planes have smaller belts too. The belt fits on a 777 every time, even at my heaviest, but not on a 1980's 747. Boeing/Airbus must know that people are getting bigger.

Danie, I felt like the job interview was for the surgeon, not for me. That said, I think a LOT of people feel like you do! My surgeon requires that new patients bring a spouse/friend to the consult with them because --in his words-- you're usually so nervous and all you care about is hearing that, yes, you can have the band. So, you're definitely not alone. If you think it'll help your nerves, type out your list of questions and bring a copy for the doctor. He'll be glad to see you're serious about the process and it'll make sure you get all your questions answered, even if you're nervous. Good luck!

This is exactly how I feel about it. I've been seeing a therapist since I decided to get the band, who helped me with the emotions of the banding process and is helping me with the changes in my life. For me, this has helped with the emotional eating, as has the band itself. What the band does is keep me to eating a reasonable portion of whatever I'm eating. It also cuts out the noise that used to be in my head that was always thinking about food. I still have pockets of noise, but it's only about 10% of what it used to be. 10% I can usually quash on my own. And if I can't, well, now I give in to the unhealthy food 2% of the time instead of 98% of the time. The band doesn't go to the gym for me, but losing weight is a motivator itself. It's like a drug you want more of! I really wouldn't trade my band for anything. For me, it's a life saver and it helps, but doesn't cure, emotional eating.

Debbie, I'm glad you've found us! Your stats are very close to mine. If you haven't seen it yet, check out the April 2006 groups as well. We have a chat thread as well as a number of lbs lost thread. I enjoyed your blog. Your husband is precious! I loved your list of things you want to do on your own again once you've been banded a little bit longer. I've recently started being able to paint my toenails without having to hold by breath on certain toes. Also, I flew without a seatbelt extender for the first time in forever last weekend. Exciting stuff. Take care,

Wonderful idea LapBandit! I love this thread. It was the first place I came to share the news.

You've done amazingly well! I have no doubt that you'll reach the goal you've set for yourself for year 2. I look forward to following your progress, which is an inspiration to all. Take care,

Thanks Bluehill! I had a 2 week plateau, but it finally broke....

The big difference is that the mini-bypass is reversible. However, I've only seen one group of doctors doing it. I'm sure there are more, but there's no one in NYC who does it. I wasn't willing to do something where the aftercare wasn't local for me, so it wasn't a real consideration. Before I gave up on the band, I would change fill doctors. You might think you have proper restriction, but if you're not losing weight and you're not making really poor food choices, my money would be on not having the right level of restriction (in either direction -- too tight or too loose). In any event, here's a link to one of the mini bypass sites I found in my research. I don't specifically recommend it (as you know, I chose the band), it just might give you a head start in your research. http://clos.net/mgb_drawing01.htm Good luck!

Marc, I'm so glad you've lined up Dr. Ren for your follow up care. I was banded by Dr. Fielding, her partner, and they have a wonderful after care program. I'm kind of surprised they are handling your aftercare because someone in my information seminar asked if they would take transfer patients banded in Mexico and she said she couldn't because it violated their malpractice insurance, but there must be an exception for your doc (perhaps he's certified in the US as well -- I know several of the prominent Mexican docs are). Anyway, aftercare is SO important in the banding journey and I'm glad you've gotten that lined up. You're going to do GREAT and you're going to feel so much better in no time. I'm only 3 months post-op and 6 weeks post-fill and I've lost 60 lbs and a whole world has opened up to me (flying without worrying about encroaching on someone else's space, no seatbelt extender, not worrying about finding an aisle seat for whatever theater production in the City I want to see, etc.) Come to the support group Dr. Ren's practice holds on the 3rd Wed of every month, if you can. You'll meet a ton of people at different stages in the process and it'll make you feel like you're not the only heavy person in Manhattan. FYI, there's a patient river cruise coming up the second week of August. Check out their website and go if you can! Take care and PM me if you have questions about the Ren/Fielding practice.

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/248/150 - 15 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/271/150 - 29 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/239/150 - 72 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/225/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/188/130 - 20 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/205/134 - 29 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/298/150 - 60 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/184/135 - 55 total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4:11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 28 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/212/140 - 36 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217/201/145 - 16 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/222/140 - 20 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-18: LapBandit - 392/369/347/336/324/308 - 84 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/202/130 - 18 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/253/156 - 35 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/234/150 - 39 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/270/150 - 40 total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/108.7/69 - 13.3 kgs/36 lbs total 4-24: Ceparano - 255/270.5/240/170 - 30 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/258.5/165 - 30.5 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/241/160 - 21 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/244/145 - 26 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/208/145 - 56 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 Total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/267/260.2/145 - 22.8 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/285/145 - 48 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 224/214/182/135 - 42 total

I've read about the sleeve with the band. The theory is that there are emzymes that the stomach produces and that cutting out a portion of the stomach (and these enzymes) facilitates weightloss. Then, a couple of years after the sleeve, you start getting fills. The band is like a back-up for the sleeve. I considered the mini gastric bypass (the reversible one that's done primarily by one doc in NC) but then I learned about the band and wanted to stay local. The band was the right choice for me, but new techniques are certainly interesting and I'll follow them in case something ever goes awry with my band.

I know exactly what you mean, LadyTonya. And in this last gain, when I thought I was getting close to the number I said I'd never let myself pass, I just quit weighing. Obviously not an effective strategy, but now I have the band, and you will too! I'm so excited about your appointment and can't wait to hear how it goes. Can you call ahead to make sure they don't have a weight limit -- just so you know you're with the right group for you?

Ahhh, despite a not so perfect food weekend (I was traveling), I had a soft landing into Twoterville this morning, when my scale gave me the friendly number of 298. I feel really good and not at all depressed that I've got a long time to get to know Twoterville. I was prepared for a little depression (I'd heard that it's common), but I feel good. Come on, Elisabeth, LapBandit, BPM and the rest! The line on the left at the border moves faster, but the attendant isn't as cute. Wink,

What top 3 songs actually make you go faster during your workout because you're so excited that they're playing/the beat is "goldilocks" (just right)? I'm looking for more of them to put into a playlist! My top 3 are: Wild Boys - Duran Duran Pretty Vegas - INXS Come As You Are - Nirvana

I have the 10 cc band (which my doc regularly fills to 14+). I had 4 ccs from surgery. First fill took me to 6.2 and I felt NOTHING. My second fill took me to 7.6 and I, again, felt NOTHING. Third fill, they had me drink Water while filling me and they took me to 10.0, which is just right. I'm freakin' Goldilocks right now. I worried at first that I needed to much to feel restriction and that I might have to change to the 4cc band at some point, but my doc assured me that wasn't the case -- that he could get equal restriction with both bands. Pshew.

Go Marcy, Go Marcy!! Woohoo! I'm so happy for you! I'm coming around the bend though. I was at 300 even this morning. I'm going away for the weekend and I hope to be 299 (or less) when I weigh again on Monday morning. Talk to yall soon. Hey Marcy, do you get a present for reaching Twoterville? I need a new wallet and I'm going to spend more than I normally would, I think, and get something fancy.