karen_karen

i agree with the last reply whats done is done.... but the weight gain i dont. anytime you have surgery you are going to swell and you are going to gain weight even if you didnt eat a lb because your body went through a surgery the weight will come off in about two weeks maybe less depending on the swelling. its normal to gain weight. i gained like 13 lbs after having a tt and a breast lift within two weeks or so i dropped back down to what i was pre op. so don't stress so much it will only make it worse. in the mean time heal and get some rest..

i didnt do the 360 i didnt think i could live with the scar on the back as well. i didnt have implants sadly i'm bigger in the chest two main places i didnt lose is my breast and stomach area. i did the tt and lift because it was such a deal i was going to just go in for a tt. i saw a doctor in austin texas and i was quoted 14k just for a tt. and i think a full 360 for around 20k. and when i moved to virginia the doctor advised i didnt need a 360 and just a normal extended tuck should be fine and i got quoted for a lift and tt less then 13k so i did both. now i wished instead of doing the lift i would have done some Lipo in my love handles to compliment my stomach more. its flat yes but i have a bit of a overhang on the sides i think if i done the lipo on the back it would look alot better. i didnt need implants. if anything i was thinking about getting a reduction but once i see all the lose skin gone it looks awesome. with the lift you are going to look alittle smaller but you have the same mass so you will be the same size for the most part. they will just be perky... im really going to have to take some pics of it so you can understand. i would recommend if you do have a tt and have love handles get those done at the same time it really does make a difference i think. i just wish i knew that before i did my tt.

dont be scared.... i thought it was going to be really really painful and unmanageable and actually besides being able to move around freely for about a week or two as long as i was sitting around hunched over there really wasnt much pain. i did have a pain pump and i would really recommend having one for the first 5 days or so. the drains arent that bad just very irrating from poking you. i really do enjoy my new breast since i got them lifted they dont giggle very much. my doctor didnt know much about my port either i pointed where the port was and he circled my port before surgery so that would remind him not to mess with it. everything went fine. i still got some swelling but things are looking up finally back in my jeans again. alittle tight but every week seems to get loser. i lost half my weight gain since i quit smoking the month before as well. so got about alittle more to go. i see that i am alot flatter and my pouch is gone but my sides of my tummy overhang alittle. i think its due to swelling and some fat still. when i dont exercise for the day and hang around the house i really dont swell up much but when i exercise and run around for the day i swell up like its no tomorrow but its getting better and better. not as frustrated as i once was.

its really up to you what you want done. if you think you can live with just doing your tt and not doing the around the world go for that. or if you think you just have to much lose skin on your back do the around your body. one doctor said if you can grab a good chunk of fat on your love handles then it will prob be good to do all around or atleast get Lipo back there to compliment your tummy. its really what you want and think you need and what you will be happy with. i dont know if your anything like me but i carried alot of weight from the extra skin and fat that i couldnt get rid of in my stomach and breast and getting a tt and breast lift actually helped out my back. i dont have back issues anymore which is great.

i had drains after my surgery had a tt and a breast lift but i was freaking out at first after i got out of surgery because i didnt have a garment on i thought i was suppose to i had the nurse call my doctor and ask about it. and he said no. i didnt wear a garment for the first 4 days. when i went in for my follow up they put me in a garment and i tell you that was one of the hardest things to do. the nurse had to help me in it. i really didnt think it was going to fit. now the garment (actually wearing it right now I'm about 5 weeks post) is alot looser.

ok guys things are looking up!!!!! i can get into my jeans they are tight but im getting there. i find myself more swollen as the day goes on since im moving around but when i wake up its not to bad. seems to work for me if i exercise about 3 or 4 days a week and then resting about 3 or 4 days a week no exercise. i've lost about 6lbs in about a week and a half doing this. hopefully in about another week and half or so i will be less swollen and my pants fitting loosely again that would be nice.

thanks for your replys guys. im am just freaking out way too much right now about this Tummy Tuck everyone talks about tt's as the best thing in the world and here i feel like i traded one issue for another. the only way i know how to deal with things is exercise or eating. and sadly i know i was wrong to eat the way i did the month before the surgery because i quit smoking. i kept telling myself i quit smoking and its ok to satisfy myself with food. figured once i had my surgery and about 6 weeks later i can go hard core on losing it again and should be able to lose it in about two months. and now the only thing that keeps me sane is the exercising. looking at myself i dont feel satisfied and im just happy im not turning to food. i haven't done weights that hurt my body i have done a lot less just making sure i move my hands and feet. more for toning and not losing to much muscle from not working out. and with the eliptical and treadmill i have been going a lot slower then what i would normally do. i know i can push myself harder but i know i haven't since i haven't been breaking much of a sweat even with my garment on.

im just stressing a lot it will be 4 weeks on monday and right now i still cant fit into my jeans. i just dont understand why. the nurse thinks im just one of the few lucky ones that swell alot more then usual and takes alot longer to get rid of.

i will call my doctor on monday and see about weights and the eliptical. but from what i got on my last visit about two and half weeks i was ahead of schedule (besides the swelling) basically told me to take it easy but can do what you want. not in those words but that is how i took it. but again i will call and make sure im not going crazy about the exercise. im just more freaking out and dont know how to take this issue and how to overcome it right now.

thanks for listening it helps alot just to be able to express myself and worries i have. i know i have to wait it out. hopefully it wont be too much longer.

ok here goes i had a Tummy Tuck and a breast lift on april 12th about 3 weeks post op. i lost 100lbs quit smoking for this surgery. went cold turkey by the way so its been a bit hard on that part... either way i dont know what to think of my results. my breast lift i am totally satisfied and my tummy tuck well im bigger then before the surgery. they say its due to sweling and i hope it goes down. im alot flatter but its sucks not being able still til this day to be able to wear my fat jeans. the sides of my stomach over hang and to me that looks disgusting. my question to others that had this when does the swelling go away and when can i expect to be able to wear my clothes again.

as for the surgery i wasnt in much pain i had a pain pump for 5 days and i slept on the couch since i couldnt get comfy in my bed. slept on the couch for two weeks actually i had some killer pain meds too and i think the trick was to keep taking even if you wasnt in pain so that way the pain dont catch up with you. i had a really bad swelling issue on the 5th day or so went to the emergency room my knees feet and legs and everything was so swollen that my lower body couldnt take it and was pounding so bad. wasn't in pain but just throbbing like my legs and feet were going to explode. after alot of walking and getting check for a blood clot and 5 hours in the er i was finally able to go home. the swelling went down and it didnt happen again so i was relieved about that. i walked hunched back for about 2 weeks. forgot to say i did have drains in for about a week. i think that was the most frustrating part. having those drains in your side and it would itch and sting alot i was so happy to get those things out and finally able to take a shower. i think that was my highlight taking a shower. haha. so since im still bigger then before especially without my compression garment i have been going to the gym everyday building strength in my arms and legs havent done any core excerises and i been on the treadmill and eliptical. i gained about 15 lbs the month before the surgery from stop smoking so i have to lose that 15 lbs. now since the pain is pretty much gone and im able to move around again normally for the most part i've being hitting the gym everyday for about 2 hours. an hour of cardio and a hour of weightlifting. ive been getting stronger everyday and im hoping with all this excerise it will help the swelling go down. well i hope my info helps someone and if you have any questions ill try to answer the best i can.

im having a Tummy Tuck with some Lipo and a breast lift just under 13k hope that helps... having the surgery in virginia.. wish me luck will have surgery in 4 days^^

im not sure what the down time is but i will have a Tummy Tuck with the new laser Lipo and a breast lift here in two weeks and ill let you know a few weeks after that how it turn out and if the laser lipo is any good...

im sorry i think you guys are taking things to literally..... i dont think the band lost my weight for me i think the band motivated me i got this surgery for what to eat whatever i want? and the band to do all the work... not right... when i first started to lose and i got the band i was a complainer and said why isnt this working why cant i lose weight? and i realized im in control of my life and what i do... so with that and being determined i learn to eat correctly and exercise... alot of people say they exercise but do they really? one thing i would suggest is try a bodybugg.

bodybugg.com you would be surprised that you are not using your all on a machine and you will need to work a bit more harder. i see so many people at the gym on a machine but they aren't even breaking a sweat... but to them its exercise... but i do think the 10 percent thing is prob pretty true... its all in our minds and its about being determined and changing your life... dont knock what people say sometimes being "rude" or "mean" is something people need to hear i know i did when i got banded and it help me alot.

its pretty simple look at what calories you burn and look at calories you intake i promise you you will lose weight with a food journal and burning a good amount of calories a day and sticking to healthier choices. give you an example Cereal do you really want to eat special k or kashi? special k has less calories but has alot of crap in it. kashi has more calories but it has the calories to fuel you into helping you feel fuller last longer and even help you burn calories faster. its hard to know these things. but it well worth learning about it it will be a tool you use for the rest of your life.

good luck on your journey and please dont get upset..... its your body and your choices think about what you want and make it happen

ok i been reading these post and i have to reply to what i think is best eliptical is a great machine but i do have to say the treadmill will burn more calories and if you think that is wrong im sorry you are wrong.... running is the best form of cardio you can do because it burns more calories and your not holding onto anything. you are going to build your core and also your legs and if you knees and calves are hurting you really need to stretch before you get on the treadmill to run and also get the right type of shoes. i found that when i first started i did the eliptical and i also have a bodybugg the calories burn on the machines are always off. so on my body bugg i found that i was losing about 8 to 9 calories a minute at a rate of 170 strides per minute which i did for about 30 to 45 minutes a day. then when i felt good i started the treadmill and started running with my bodybugg i saw that i was burning around 14 calories a minute which is alot more then the eliptical and the weight was coming off faster in about two months i was running about 40 minutes non stop at the rate of 5.9 mph which is pretty slow compared to most people but i was running. the eliptical is great for people that have knee problems but the way you work on one is the key as in dont hold on and move your arms to improve your stability and your balance and you will be working you core muscles to keep up. i like both but if you are looking to burn more calories i know that the treadmill running will be the way to go. there are programs out there where you can burn calories faster as in intervals which is the best way no matter what machine you use so your body does not get use to the machines and you will work that much harder. also another thing that will set it apart is the incline the more of an incline the more calories you burn but the main thing i can say for people is they hold onto something you are not burning as much calories holding on to a treadmill or an eliptical because your not using your full body.i see so many people on the treadmill at the gym walking as fast as they can holding on with a crazy incline of 10 plus and it shows them burning 1000 calories for doing that for 45 minutes to an hour. which i dont believe because of them holding on and if you get a bodybugg you will understand what i am talking about i have tried it all ways to see the results and i am really frustrated to see that people believe they will lose more on a eliptical then a treadmill. only way that is the case if you walk on the treadmill and not run.

there are alot of factors that will determine how saggy you are going to be....

1. how fast you lose

2. how much you have to lose

3. if you tone properly and excerise

4. if you had a baby

5. your age

6. and how you eat

i have lost 100 lbs and my arms and legs look great but i can tell you my mid section stomach and boobs are saggy.. i know that this is because of me having two kids and being so overweight. i know i can lose all the weight i want but it will not help my stomach or my boobs. my boobs finally do look portioned now but i can see the wrinkles in them and they do sag more then i want. my stomach is where i carried all my weight so i knew i would need a Tummy Tuck after i lose all my weight which came out to be true. i can tell you i have had a personal trainer since i pretty much got banded and worked my ass off in the gym 5 or 6 days a week. and my arms and legs came out pretty toned. i see her 3 times a week and we work on core and muscle tone and i do my cardio on my own. in my opinion with you losing 140 lbs and at your age i do believe you will have sag. im not trying to be mean or anything so please dont take it the wrong way. its mainly going to be where you carry all your weight. doing toning excerise and cardio and also eating correct will greatly improve it which it wont be as bad as you would have if you didnt do anything.

good luck on your journey and i wish you the best....

i have lost 100lbs and my shoe size went down a size i went from 9 and half to 8 and half and some shoes i have to wear an 8 so no worries on that part you will eventually lose from your feet as well.... good luck on your journey

800 calories for dinner is alot if you have to stay in the 1000 calories why not try to just eat lunch and dinner and have your shake in the morning. you can have a lean cuisine or even go to subway they have some good sandwiches there or even flatbread sandwiches around 300 calories. and then for dinner stay around 500 which is pretty easy to do. one thing i can suggest is maybe get a eat this not that book its a real good book they have a supermarket guide one and also a restaurant guide one not all the restaurants are in there but a there are alot of popular ones in there that will help you if you do eat out alot. another thing is what ever you eat for dinner just try to keep the sodium and the fat calories down as much as possible and just see what the calories are if its like over 500 split it. eat half only. if you want you can also switch them get 500 calories for lunch so its easier to burn it and eat 300 calories for dinner since its at night and soon enough you will be going to bed. anything with a slow cooker is good usually if you like that sort of thing. but basically eat what you want but try to eat healthier and not alot of fat calories or sodium since sodium retains Water. just remember to drink alot of water throughout the day.

i totally understand what you mean. my body gets very hungry after a work out even if i ate before the workout. i think before since we had so much excess our bodies were like yeah not really hungry i got some fat to burn off. and now getting smaller i seem to get hungier faster. me i just snack on fruits or something healthy like a cliff bar maybe half of one or so. since i am losing weight i will be alittle hungry and just deal with it. but yes i totally understand where you coming from on that point i do get hungier faster and easier and its not hard to eat but i do try to keep myself from eating or if i do i grab a bananna or a apple or something like that. the last fill i got was 1cc about a month and half ago and what i ended up telling my surgeon which was the truth and i actually had my hubby back me up. i told him that i could eat a 10oz ribeye steak from roadhouse and a piece of bread or two and the sides usually green Beans and veggies. lol he took my answer and gave me a 1cc fill which helped alot but i still feel hungry no matter what right after i work out. i dont think there is a way around that but maybe there is im not sure.

i dont go by stats. i think its really all about the individual its that person choice to make the band work for them or not. and by that i mean are you commited and ready to start your new phase in life? are you ready to learn to eat correctly and leave all the junk behind. are you ready to be positive instead of looking at the negative things about weight loss? all these questions change your outcome. excerise and eating healthy is going to improve your stress level your, make you a happier person, and you will see those lbs come off. you have to want it you have to work for it and you have to be dedicated if your not 100 percent there then you will not achieve your desire goal. getting banded is not all about physical state but mental as well.

im not sure how tricare standard works but did you ever think about seeing if you can qualify for tricare prime. they pay for everything.

i had my surgery done with them southwest in austin and i drive 4 hours each time to go see my doctor i havent heard of your doctor but i have Dr. Sherrod supposely he is the best they have and he is really great. they call him the go to doctor if there is any issues in the operating room since he knows just about how to do everything. i really cant say enough about him. he really does try to help you in any way from what i have seen. i remember when i was going in for my band there was a another Doctor having complications in the OR and he was in there helping him before my surgery. plus he has a great dietian on staff there named Jared that i have called a few times asking for some information and advice and he is a great guy as well. overall i had a great experience with them and wouldnt go anywhere else.

i didnt have any craving for along time but i know about 6 or 7 months out i wanted a junior bacon cheeseburger from wendys and i ate that and i can tell you my body wasnt use to the grease anymore so i was in the bathroom for the rest of the day. and so there goes my craving issues lol....... i think when you start eating healthier and you make better choices you will find yours not liking the crappy foods anymore. i can say the burger was still good though but at the same time i knew it was to greasy for my taste. i think once your body gets use to eating healthier you will see that you will choose them over the bad foods.

honestly if you are feeling run down the best remedy is excerise. it takes about a month to feel good but its the best thing for you. it will make you feel happier, less stressed and give you more energy throughout the day as well as you will sleep better at night.

it matters all about your bmi

if your at 40 bmi you need to have one co morbity

if you are at 50 you dont need any

if your not at 40 bmi then i suggest you to make yourself weigh more at the doctors office. depending on how far you are from that and if its 10 lbs you should get away with having a full bladder and some heavy clothes and some weights maybe (lol) you might still have to gain a few lbs. but when your on your pre op diet you will lose it all.

i know what you mean and no its not suppose to be painful. i remember back in january they tried to give me a fill tried so many times and moving the needle around in a circular motion all around your stomach. at the end my stomach looked like a pin cushion. what he ended up doing was giving me a bigger dose of pain meds to numb that area and worked pretty good. usually when this happens you might ask for an xray maybe your stitches popped out and you need to get a port revision that is what happened to me i actually had my stitches pop out due to my muscles growing and they popped out the stitches and the doctor couldnt get to my port easily.

i had surgery to fix that problem and now no issues at all went in to get a fill and was in and out. but i do understand what you mean

I think the doctor don't understand your needs and not very supportive I believe it's better for u to find a new surgeon

there are complications for some people and the lapband is not for everyone. but you have to think are you ready to make a change in your life? i have never had any pbing or vomiting or any of that. and i can say if it was not for the band i would be here writing this letter 85lbs heavier and when i go to sleep at night i feel so much better with myself. when i started this and before i started this i would go to bed having trouble breathing sometimes and i felt so horrible about myself and couldnt believe i got as big as i did. now i go to sleep thinking to myself im 85 lbs lighter (and that number will only go up) and i sleep so much easier and better and wake up feeling so good compared of being so tired and drowsy back then. only you can make the band work for you. and there is a commitment of excerise and eating right. you have a choice to change your life. so for me yes im happy i got banded and im am happy how far i came and i will reach my goal.

everything has its down side and its upside you just have to find out if the upside out weighs the downside. having alittle pbing or vomiting and having surgery and doing the post op and pre op diets is only a small fraction to the rest of your life being healthier, happier, and less stressful.

i dont know if this helps but the skinner you get your lungs capacity grows. because it has more room in your chest instead of having all the fat cells around it. that is why the bigger you are the harder it is to breath normally from walking up a flight of stairs. your lungs only actually get like half the oxygen then a normal bmi person gets.