luckyfive101

Hey Livin4Jesus! Good going! I was banded on June 20 and have lost total of 48... I am 51 years old, and losing weight used to be easy for me.. i would put on 20-30 pounds in a year and take it off in relatively no time at all.. Metabolizm and time changed all that and I had to resort to the band (after being obese for the last 12-13 years).. and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I have learned: 1) that food does not control me 2) God answers even what we consider frivalous prayers ("God help me not eat that piece of cake" lol!) 3) a healthy lifestyle begins with 2 adjustments... "attitude adjustment" and THEN life change adjustments! 4) no one is alone in their journey 5) I can do anything the Good Lord gives me the strength and the means to achieve! Hope to see Less of you all soon!

Bless your heart! i wouldn't worry about 7 pounds right off.. the important thing is you are back on track... keep me posted! Love to hear these success stories!

i live just east of you (Mosheim/Greeneville area) and I travel to North Carolina Fill Center (GERALD AHIGIAN ).. He is very aggressive with his fills and very competent... I am self pay and was banded in Mexico, so there are some docs/hospitals that will not accept me as a patient. Fill Centers USA; 866-345-5872 - Just in case you decide to call....

Bless your heart! I have been in your shoes! I didn't have any restriction until my first fill. If you are throwing up or have pain, you should call your surgeon. I started eating mushy foods about the 4th day and had no problems. The first time I had any PB or anything was after my first "good fill".... My doc told me before he put the fill in, "your life is about to change!" And brother did he know what he was talking about! Important thing is to get back on track as quickly as possible! Good luck to you! And don't be too hard on yourself, we all know where you are coming from!

Enjoyed reading this! What I love about my band is when my willpower is zip.... the band steps up! I am 6 months out from surgery, and I am still in the "learning" stage, but I have learned to recognize my "stopping point"........... which is a BIGGIE! Good luck all! and hope to see "less of you" soon!

Congrats all you guys on the big and small losses! The small add up to big! My 6-month anniversary is coming up Dec 20. I can't believe it has been 6 months! I am really starting to enjoy life again! I find myself being more active and actually looking forward to trying on new clothes again! I have learned I ate more than I thought I did because now I throw a lot more out and have some FAT DOGS! lol! Keep up the good work!

Don't give up on the band! You have the tools at hand to get to your weight! Just need to get back to business! And by the way, 75 pounds is NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT! Good luck and Hang in there!

I never had to do the pre-op diet myself, i believe you have to have a BMI over 40, and I was borderline, but I am a big believer in Atkins myself. I am in the medical field and I know that bad cholesterol goes down while you are on the diet, so i don't think it is as bad for you as the bad rap it gets! Congrats to both you and your husband for making this decision! i am only 5-1/2 months out, but i love my band! Just remember, you won't lose as fast as you think but it is consistant! Hang in there, and you will get there! My doc told me to expect to lose between 1 to 1-1/2 pounds a week.. On my followup visit exactly 3 months, I had lost 21 pounds... Seems like it should come off faster, but I know I am on the right road now! Good luck tomorrow!

i can tell you that i have lost 40 pounds, which is a drop in the bucket as to what i need to lose (and intend to lose!).. but i FEEL SO MUCH BETTER! The energy you regain is unreal! i am back to swimming regularly in the summer and have started horseback riding again! I wouldn't get on the poor animal until i got some of the weight off! lol! You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders! You'll make the right decision! Hang in there and good luck!

good for you Keisha! i am 5 months out of surgery, have lost little over 40 pounds now, ready for my 2nd fill. It feels like I finally am back in control and on the right path! good luck!

i had the surgery on Friday and was back to work on Tuesday, but i have a sedantary job. However, I was back to a pretty regular schedule *including swimming daily* within 2 weeks! would talk it over with my doc... by the way, as the mother of 2 police officers, I want to say "Thanks" ... we appreciate what you guys do out there! good luck!

it seems in the 5 months i have had the band, i have experienced ALL THE SYMPTOMS mentioned on this site! LOL! At times, I am unable to eat anything... others, i can eat pretty normal. Those "normal meals" make me think I need a fill, and the "eatting nothing" meals make me feel I am too tight. I realized quite early in my journey I cannot eat when i first wake up. I usually have only coffee for the first 2-3 hours after i wake up, then i have a mushy meal to ease into a "real meal" later in the day. I have lost 40 pounds in 5 months, so this obviously is working for me. I am still figuring things out, but I still believe the band has been the BEST THING i could have done for myself at this time in my life! Hang in there....... we'll get there together!

oh.. forgot......... link to a person who can help you at "beliteweight"... they do all the paperwork for you right over the internet! was approved and ready for surgery in less than a week! terri@beliteweight.com Terri has had surgery herself, and she is a WEALTH OF INFORMATION!

i went to Mexico (Dr Lopez), financed... payments are right at $200 monthly. I loved the hospital in Tiajuana! The whole experience there was WONDERFUL! The place is clean as a pin and they treat you like a queen! The language barrier was not a problem either.. they give you a "cheat sheet" LOL! And they have bi-lingual workers if you really need to talk with anyone... You can also chose to stay an extra day in teh hospital at no CHARGE! I did this since I had an 8-hour flight back to Tennessee.. I highly recommend Tiajuana, MX!

Buying my clothes from the "Plus Sizes" Sharing clothes with my "plump" friends/family Wearing ONLY DARK COLORS because they make you look slimmer The T-SHIRT that is 4 sizes too big Sitting on the front pew during prayer INSTEAD OF KNEELING because I know I can't get back up from a kneeling position!

I didn't tell anyone but my husband and my sons at first. AFTER I had surgery, I told my mom (who was the worst critic there is.. actually called me "ignorant")... I guess I am the exception to the rules.. Don't think I have any skinny friends.. All my family and all my friends are big... The slack I get, I believe, comes from jealousy on their part because they couldn't or are not "adventurous" enough to do something for their own problems. Hang in there! ONE DAY, WE WILL BE THE "SKINNY FRIEND" LOL!

Hey! Just a note to give my 2 cents worth.. Getting the band for me was one of the best things I could have done for myself. I have struggled with my weight ALL MY LIFE.. and I know the band is working.. It is slow going, and as they say, "not a quick fix, but a tool," but I believe I am on the right track! Good luck and God Bless!

80 pounds! That is great! How much would you have paid BEFORE you lost 80 pounds to get that off? Think of how much more healthy you are now... The rest will come! You keep hanging in there! I have been getting pretty frustrated myself lately.. 1/2 pound to 1 pound a week... TAKING FOREVER.. and since I am a NEWBIE, not many people have even noticed a weight change .. have only lost 37 pounds, but I feel GREAT! Don't give up on yourself! ........ and I won't either! Hope to see LESS OF YOU soon!

man! you hit the nail on the head with this one! I have been having a really hard time for about 3 weeks... then today, all of a sudden... I could eat!... and eat I DID! still didn't overeat, but I ate more than I normally would have, and it felt good! Still, it gets frustrating trying to figure out why the band seems tighter at times... When I try to eat something and I feel like I am going to PB, I sneak off by myself because I don't want my "well-meaning" loved ones to know that I am doing that; I know they will say something, and what am I to do? I wanted restriction.. well, I got it... and I am in it for the long run! Is it worth it? Ask me after the first 100 pounds are gone!!

hang in there! you'll get there! I am only 4 months into this thing, have lost 35 pounds, and I envy 115 pounds you have lost! I really look forward to buying clothes and not having to go to the "Plus Size" department! lol

Got a great start there! Keep up the good work!

I see you have some of the same problems I do... I can ONLY eat eggs from the Omlette Shop (CHEESE OMLET...they are fluffy and go down easy).. I have found that the Cracker Barrel is a good place to eat on the go. You can always find some mushy vegs if you are having a bad day; I find the Chicken dumplings filling and they go down easily, just be careful with the chunks of chicken. I have the PB 3-4 times a week, and I am constantly worried about damaging my band, but then I get back on track and I have no real abdominal pain........ trying to stay on top of things. Good luck! 70 pounds is a BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT! congrats!

Sorry you have had such a bad experience! I had my band in Mexico and I live in Tennessee.. I was very fortunate, however, to get into the Fill Centers USA... They have been wonderful! They call for followups after my fills.. They call between times just to ask how I am doing. I do have the PB, but I just figure it goes with the territory. I guess I am just DETERMINED to get this weight off and get back to living life to its fullest! I have only lost 36 pounds, but it has made a major difference already! I am enjoying my German Shepherds, which we raise, breed, and train. I also just purchased my first Tennessee Walker horse, and I have been riding every day! I am loving life! Hope you find your place and happiness! God Bless!

I know your frustration! I have plateau'd after my first fill. I still have restriction but I have been guilty of "eating around" the band. I eat what I know will not get stuck and end up eating too many calories.. Finally started counting calories again, something I had hoped would not be necessary, but I did not come this far to fail now!