evobuilder

8 weeks ago I have a posterior lift and lipo of flanks.... also had a complete front scar revision (from my tummy tuck a year ago). At 8 weks, I am still feeling swollen, but more important, my waist seems bigger than pre surgery (none of my jeans fit like I went up a full waist size. Anyone thoughts? I se my doc in 10 days, so I will know more, but just seems like I should be smaller than before, not actually have a larger waist.

so I had my Realize band done by Dr. Lauter 4 years ago and have done great... best decision I ever made. Now that Dr. Lauter closed his practice, I need to find a new Doc in Seattle who can do my fills when needed, but this seems to be a huge freakin deal just to get a simple fill done in Seattle. Does anyone have any good reccomendations.... I really have no interest in going to Tacoma, Federal Way, etc, and just want to find a doc in the city, or the east side. Any leads.... let me know. I tried to contact a doc at Overlake, but never got a call back. What about Swedish, etc. ???

congrats..... you'll do great! I was banded in Oct 08 and I am here to tell you, if you let the band do its job, it really works. I was 328 at my highest and have been consistantly 225 for the past 2 years. Do I need to lose more? Sure, who doesn't, but I am lighter than I was at age 14 and I am 40 now..... and to be at the same weight for 2 years is amazing. So good luck, it will be the best decision of your life! Eric

so I was banded in October of 2008 and have maintained for almost 2 years..... damn thing actually works! Now I am going in for a abdomioplasty (tummy tuck) in October. Yep, thats right, I am going under the knife. Its not cheap, its not covered under insurance, but its time..... my "below the belt" fat is pretty severe and its time to take care of it. I am really looking forward to getting it done, now I just have to REALLY quit smoking. Now THAT is gonna suck!

beer is still almost impossible for me, even 2 years out. I have had the occasional Coors Light, but you gotta drink it slow and it helps if its in a glass so it can lose some bubbles..... chugging or BIG drinks are gone forever though (again, at least for me). I seem to do better with cocktails..... but way more calories so watch out for that.... I am taking in way too many calories in drinks but am working on that. As for beer, if you really like it, find something with less carbonation and drink slowly.... one other thing I have learned. Alchohol does make it easy to slip food past the band (since the stomach gets numbed a little.... so you will tend to eat more than without the booze. Just my experience, so be on the look out for it. Hope that helps.

so I am plateaued (sp?) for over a year. I am banded plenty tight, but seem to have taking up some bad habits..... drinking mixed drinks with mixers, eating foods that get by the band.... eating too many calories and not working out. So, I am working through it. I was extremely overrweight most of my life, so being at a weight less than I was 25 years is amazing, but I am 25 lbs away from my ideal weight (yeah, I know, it could be 100lbs or even more) but living with the band is tougher than i tought it would be. I guess it is always a constant learning process, even 2 years out, I am learing every day. Guess I was just ranting.... The best thing I have started doing again is journaling... it is amazing what you think "I am having a good day".... journal it, my good day was 2200 calories (ouch!).

I was banded in Oct 08 and have done very well, berst decision I have ever made in my life. I am at 220 and have kept it off and I am still losing.... slowly but surely and it stays off. Anyway.... I am still having to eat Exlax to get things moving... anyone else have this problem? Maybe I need to change my diet, but short of eating prunes all day long, I am not sure what to do. Or do I just need to start bulk buying the Exlax?

interesting.... I was banded in Oct 08 and I am down to 225. My heaviest I have ever been was 326 and at 39 yrs old, I have not been under 250 since I was 16... so hell yeah, what an accomplishment right? I feel the same way.... I spend most of my time obcessing that I am not at 200 and don't take any effort to take pleasure in being the lightest I have been in 23 years... not to mention having kept it off for well over 18 months. I am not working out, drinking water and I am drinking alchohol again.... so I am pretty sure I am kinda sabotaging or at least keeping myself from hitting my goal of 200. What an interesting thread to find.. other people going through the same thing I am... the funn thing is that I still feel like the fattest guy in the room, even though I am no longer, but after 20+ years of trying not to be noticed or have my weight commented on, I am battling with how to deal with being 100 lbs less than I was. Thanks for posting this thread. -eric

preferably free. Does anyone know of any?

I have 5cc's in my realize band and I can eat normally, but find restriction after a certain point and I know where that point is. For instance... I can eat 4-5 small hot wings (not fried) and that is it! I can eat 2 eggs and some bacon... but certainly that is it or I start to get the hiccups and PBs if not careful. I can eat a cheeseburger (no bun) if I eat slowly and really chew cautiously.... so I would imagine that in my case 5cc's is the sweet spot. Having said that, I have also stopped losing, but i don't gain. I could probably start losing again if I would watch my cal intake more carefully but am pretty content where I am now. I would have to say that the sweet spot is where you can't overeat, but you are able to eat pretty much normally (for a normal person that is Just my two cents. BTW... I have been banded since 11/08 and have kept off my weight. Could stand to lose 20 more, but am the lightest I have been in 25 years, so I am in now way complaining. Be patient in finding your sweet spot, it is well worth it. Remember, this is not a race, its a journey. Good luck to all!!!!

hey Jack... I look at it differently.... you say 35# from your goal... I look at it as I am not 150lbs above my goal after 1.5 years I know it sounds strange to look at it that way, but I am at 224 today, I was at 328 3 years ago... so, I guess its all in how we look at things.