ddgalarza

ddgal~ I'm in. It looks like we are in almost the exact same boat!!! I started at 278 and am down hovering in the 175-180 range right now. I was banded in June of 09 and am ready to get this last thirty or so off! I am recommitted and have been tracking my food, exercise, and Water at www.livestrong.com using their daily plate feature. When I was really losing weight in the beginning stages, I found that this tool helped me immensely! Do you like to cook? I've been working on some recipes to make this journey easier as well. I found a website that my dietitian recommended to count the calories in each recipe www.caloriecount.about.com Just a few suggestions! Thanks for starting this thread! Good luck to everyone!

Hey Meredith~I am glad to have a partner in crime along for the last stretch. Im not to good at trackin. I have tried it before but with little to no success. I do love to cook how ecver and am ALWAYS on the hunt for things that taste good and that are good for me, low fat, help to promote weight loss, yadaya. Im sure you feelt he same way in that we have come to far to reach our goal to not just buckel down and get it done. Please share any and all recipes that you have. I will plug mine into the website you gave me and check the calories on my creations...Im excited!

Sorry for the delay, this new format of this webiste has got me all over the place. i thought I had posted a reply but apparently i was mistaken. Thanks to everyone for all the post and supportive comments. I am back on track, with the workouts, eating right "and all that jazz". Where ever you are in the process i welcome you aboard the recommitt, reconnect, re-whatever you want ot call it. Exciting 2011 ahead!

i began this journey at 280lbs, my surgeon told me inorder for me to have the surgery i would need to lose 20lbs. She sent me on my way to series of test and labs. 6 months later and down 38lbs it was time to get the band. the 1st year i lost 57lbs, and then i had a slip, a revision surgery and then a tragic death in the family that really just sent me on a downward weight loss spiral. I havent gained any of my 95lbs back but i havenet lost any either and I am still40lbs away from my goal. i have spent this last year not being committed to the process and consequently i havent reached my goal weight, but i have not given up. i am determined to finish what i started. so my question is "am i alone in this? is anyone else 1/2 way to goal and need to recommitt to the process?" i welcome the company and the support. time to refocus and put all my WEPNS in place (drinking all my Water, Exercise daily , eat enough Protein, No snacking, taking all my Supplement). i didnt come this far to give up now.

I have reclaimed ownership of my band, and for me...It's back in the gym!!! I am not going to go all kookoo crazy die hard 7days a weeks because I can't maintain a 430am wake up call 7 days a week but I sure as hell can do 5. I hit the gym yesterday and ran my little 2 miles, and it felt good. Back at this morning for 2 more and 1/2 of a StepII aerobic class.I am remotivated, recommitted and refocused. My size 12's feel pretty good, but my 8's are going to feel AMAZING!

So here I sit. Minus 93 pounds from the very first time I walked into my surgeons office. The problem is that 93 pounds lighter is not my goal and to top it all off I have been at the same weight for the past year. The actuality of all is that though my total weight loss has been good I have no one to blame but myself for not being at goal. The 1st year I was Wonder Woman, eating all the right things and at the gym 5days a week, you know doing all the right things. Then when I had that stuipd slip and the revision surgery I got lazy and got out of the habit of going to the gym. My food choices are still pretty good and my restriction is where my surgeon says it should be BUT no gym...and no gym for me seems to equal now weight loss. So for the past 9 months I have been making excuses about my band not being quite tight enough and that has been an outright excuse!!! I had a swallow test done under xray and the bottom line is that my and is as tight as it can be. They held up a straw to the xray and thats when I saw it. That tiny little opening the diameter of a straw, and the dreaded words from the doctor' "You are at maximum capacity for your band...any tighter and you are going to be in trouble"...well trouble is something that I dont want.

So now what????

Get off my ass, get back in the gym and do what I should have been doing the entire time. Workout, do the work I know I need to to get the rest of this weight off. No more excuses for me. Either I lose this last 37 pounds because I put forth the effort or I shut up and stop complaining about it when Im not doing all that I should be. I'll keep you ladies posted on my progress.

:thumbup:I'M IN IT TO WIN IT!!!!

Hey everyone. I am so glad that I found this thread. I have been banded almost 2 years (Nov. 19) and have been at the same weight for almost the last year. I was doing well with my weight loss initially, but then I hit a snag in the road and had a slip and every since then I have bouncing between the same 3 pounds. Its very frustrating, because I really want to take off another 30 pounds. I just really dont know what to do. I feel like my band isnt tight enough and that I can just simply eat to much food. I see my surgeon on Friday and I'm praying that she'll give me a slight fill. We are playing a tug o war on my restriction, my last fill was to tight and I was getting some reflux so she unfilled me. I'm hoping she will try a smaller fill this time and that may give me the extra boost I need. I hate to think of losing almost 100 pounds and still not being at goal... I'm so close I just hope that I can get there.

I was banded Nov. 16, 2009. I am almost at goal and the 100 pound mark. 99 pounds as of Sunday. I want to loose another 5 and then be prepared to gain a pound or 2 when I start reintroducing healthy carbs and fat.

WOWZERS!!! That's fast! Good job!

HEY LADIES!!!! So glad that we are checking in on one another. 2 years have really flown by. My weight has been really consistant for the past 6 months. and I know why, i havent been in the gym reularly. I still want to lose another 30-40 pounds so I really need to step up my game. The first year I was at the gym hard core 5-7 days a weeks at 4:30am then I had my slip and a revision surgery. I got discoraged during that ime, didnt gain any weight but didnt lose either. So here I am almost 2 years out and not quite to goal BUT I am extremely happy I love my band! best decision i ever made for my self as far as weight loss is concerned. i know that i have got to get back on my "journey" (btw i really hate that term). ive seen alot of thing on this site, alot of success and alot of struggle. i consder myself success . 280 down to 183, not wuite goal but a succee nonetheless.

hi coca, welcome to the wornderful world of lapbandtalk.com. this is a great site that i come to a few times a week for information, encouragement,opinions and just to plane look at the pictures! good luck to you i look forward to seeing you on here.

Hello all!I am new to this site and journey. I've been reading different post and you all seem very supportive of eachother,I think I made theright choice.

I am so sorry to hear that you are stuggling so much, you are in my thoughts and prayers! good luck to you!!

thank u all for ur support...i've decided to check back in2 out-patient treatment...although i've stopped taking laxatives and over exercising...to an extent...the thin girl and over-weight girl battle everytime i go to put a piece of food in my mouth..and i need them to call a truce...i'm still not ready for the new me...just yet....

I still go to support group, havent missed a month since i had my surgery, and i go for alot of reasons, for myself to stay motivated and to be there to answer the questions for future bandsters who are stuggling with the choice and have questions that only a current bandster can truthfully answer. its unfortunate that the "psyc" component really doesnt prepare people for the changes that come with weight loss. i truely belive that the screening is a fricken joke. fill out a questionnaire, put down what you know they want to hear and spend an hour with a psychologist asking you generic questions about your expectations from weight loss surgery and boom, you're cleared just like that. no follow up, no 2nd, no 3rd no 4th screening, no required post op session. its not surprising that so many people struggle with post op eating disorders and body dismorphia issues. the good thing is that we have a forum like this where we can discuss our issues with each other, support each other and hopefully be honest about our successes and our failures with the band. ive seen both of your threads and looked at your pictures countless times and your are both so beautiful and are so giving to share so much of your personal stories and photos of this process on this sight. i appreciate you both and i wish us all total success with our minds, bodies and spirits!

some will agree...some well disagree...i had to go in2 out-patient treatment...just like any other aneroxic/bulemic...when i was talking to the counsler...i was in complete denial of being some1 with an eating dis-order...i have a LAP-BAND® not an eating dis-order...out of a group of 33 women...5 otherz had lap bands...she said its a growing trend...no1 wantz to go public bcuz there is too much money to b made for weight loss surgeons...she calls it a surgical eating dis-order...if u eat to much...u vomit...period point blank...just like any1 else with an eating dis-order...unfortunately we will have to see a few deaths b4 the secret comes out...i'm not againist the surgery...but there needs to b a lot more free phsycological help for patients

Dam girl you have been through it. I am glad to see you back on here. I read the post about your split and I know that must have been diffiucult. You look amazing and you are in my thougths and prayers that you will feel that way, You deserve it. Take care.

Adjua....................347...............337...........240......... ....97

Amy.....................289..............237.4...........160........ .. 77.4

Angie64.................270...............270...........210....... ......60

Astrasmom............254................254...........170............. .84

Babe....................265................265...........199.... ..........66

Band_Groupie........172.5.............157.5..........0-148........0-9.5

BetsyB.................226.6..............206.8.........109...... ......97.8

BigMomma............209.................209...........135............. .74

Bklynike...............258..................258...........150......... . .108

BobbieND..............224.................207...........150..... .......57

Bree99.................259.................234...........155..... .......83

Brigette................198................198............150.... ........48

Bristlecone............157................157............130....... .....27

crzytchr................217................217............180..... ... ...37

Dana36.................233...............229.............160....... .....69

daqui26.................274...............274..............200....... ....74

DDGALARZ..............185...............183............150............ .35

destined4thinness..215.5.............215.5...........150.............6 5 5

Diamondgirl81........317...............278..............225........... . 53

ericanda1973.........198.5............198.5...........130.......... ..68.5

Fourme.................189...............169.............145.......... . ..24

Healthy-me-in-Az...242................183.6..........139.............44.6

HummingBird..........204...............169.............150............ .19

jenibeni.................224...............188.............165........ ....23

Jennih...................232...............232.............130.... .......102

Jeni 85..................185..............192..............150............. 35

KDEE....................240................240.............150...... ......90

kyleegirl01.............245................194.............160...... ......34

Lady LAP...............217................217.............125...... ......95

Lisa65...................174.5............165..............145..... .......20!

Liz........................193.4............174..............155...... ......19!

lotzasunshine..........271..............271..............225.......... ...46

MaggieGT..............238...............236..............208.......... .. 30

newdicarlo.............187...............174..............135...... .. ...39

Northernmist..........289...............265..............175.......... . ..90

ol55andahalf..........184...............184..............144...... .......40

Peggy1.................308...............308..............225......... .. ..83

RandaPanda...........194...............173..............150........ ....23

RAYNE913.............234...............225..............160....... ......65

RobinAnn.............232.4.............195.2.............160...... ....35.2

scoutmama...........270...............270...............180........ ....90

shadst8................333...............291.2.............233........ ....58.2

skinny31................261...............240..............182..... .......58

SNDYCNRD.............207...............194.5............150........... 44.5

sueinne.................220................226.............180.... ........46

swjtlongdrive..........224................224.............179......... ....45

Tabithan................244...............234..............190....... .....44

TARASGIRL.............305...............271..............225....... .....46

tdtucker................256...............256...............160...... . ....96

Teacher2010..........192...............183...............150...... . ....33

Tealeaves..............305...............289...............150...... . ...139

TeriLu....................215...............212...............150.. .... .....62

TIGGER71G............224...............224................130....... .....94

unshackled............277...............277................180....... .....97

Valerie.................190................190................150... . .......40

wonderwoman2009 175...............175................160..............15

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I was banded in nove 2008 and had pretty good weight loss the first 10 months, then i had a slip, a complete unfill, revision surgery to fix the slippage in sept 09 and have been at the same weight snce then. the same weight since SEPTEMBER 09!!!! i met with my surgeon today i told her that i am still not tight enough, i can eat EVERY and ANYTHING, nothing gets stuck or gives me any trouble at all and my protions are way to big. I work out but my caloric intake at this point is is allowig me to maintain but not lose. she gave me a virtual slap in the face and reminded me that most lapband patients only lose 50% of their excess weight. I refuse to accept that. I am about 38 lbs away from my "adjusted " goal (i originaly was going for a goal of 140 but have changed to 150) i dont want to settle for being "almost there" I signed up for total success. she gave me a sligt fill today and afollow up appt in 3 months. im hoping for a15 pound weight loss in that time frame. Recommitt to success and pull out all the stops. my 2 year banniversary is november 19 is 5 months away and i plan on being at my gaol weight. wish me luck as i do to each of you.

How accurate do you think the pedometer is?

The pedometer is dead on accurate. I have tested it. I was skeptial when it told me the it was 152 steps from my office to the ladies room, so one day I counted the steps as I walked there an it was spot on!

Do you totally love your body bugg? I'm asking because I wanted one but a friend of mine got it and said the 'novelty" wears off after a while. She said she doesn't wear it anymore because people look at her like she's crazy. (And with warmer weather I guess it's more obvious that you have it on)

I'd like to hear from bandsters to see if it helps. Because I really do want one. I'd like to have some sort of idea how many calories I'm burning.

I LOVE MY BB. I wear it all the time, except in the shower. Tank tops or turtle necks, I wear it. I was in a weddig last October (yes i took it off for the wedding) with a sleeves dress and had the tan lines to prove it. they were so prominant that I contemplated going getting a spray tan on my arm to evn it out for the wedding. Some people look and some people ask what it is and either way is fine with me. And now that I got my hot pink case and my zebra case I cant wait for the weather to improve this weekend so I can show it off.

Weight loss is simple math, calories burned vs. calories consumed and the consumed part I could always track but the BB tells me if I'm working hard enough to have a large enough deficit to yield my weight loss goals.

It can be very frustrating. Here I am, 18 months out and starting completely over. I have 3 ccs in my band and I can tell you that is NOT ENOUGH! I do remember feeling like you describe but only for about 3 days. Then my band was too tight and they took some of the fill out. I thought it would be like that with the band, just not want food, forget to eat, only very small portions. That is not how it has worked for me. I feel like I am just on another diet right now. Just think of it this way, it has to get easier, because right now is about as hard as it gets. Hopefully, each fill will make it easier. So, to answer your question, I have only had the experience you are talking about once for 3 days. I have to keep on though. It is just not the miracle I was hoping for. Hang in there. You are in my prayers.

Glammaw that is exactly how I feel, like I am on another diet. The good thing for me is that I'm not gaining, just bouning around the same 3 or 4 pounds. I feel like I need to join weight watchers or something.

Had my fill...still not where I want to be.

Am I not remembering correclty? When I had proper restriction before, I ate because I had to, because it was time to eat. Not out of hunger. Like you Glammaw I'm looking,hoping,praying for that feeling again and I still don't have it.

Thoes of you who have proper restrction and that have reach their sweet spot, tell me what it feels like for you so I can make sure that what I'm seeking is obtainable and realistic.

I am getting so frustrated!

dd, our bands are sure fickle, huh??? I hope to get started all over again with fills on Tuesday. I know it won't be fast but I need to get started. Just keep doing what you are doing and you will find that elusive sweet spot again. I think I found mine once for about three days :smile2: It was nice while it lasted. food was not even in my thoughts. I want that again....sooner or later. For now, we just have to keep working it. Good luck to you and everyone on this journey.

Hi Juliansmom...you have to seperate the "frame" from th device it self. If you hold the device facing you, bracing the outter frame with your index fingers and press on the center of the device with you thumbs,but not applying any pressure to the back it should pop (away from you ) right out.

Woohoo! Mine just arrived and I can't wait to use it! So in looking at the manual in order to charge it, it say that I need to take the face off the display to get to the port for the USB connector. I don't want to break it and I'm pressing down on the right side, but it's not budging. Any tips or tricks? I am dying to use this baby!

Thanks!

its so funny how we go through similar states at the same time. you all know i had revision surger in sept 09, and at that time i was 185, i havent been able to find proper restriction since the revision, every visit my doc will put in just the littlest bit (fearful im sure of the problems i had in the past) so my last vist 3 weeks ago i guess she was sick of me whinning about not being tight enough and she gave me 1cc which is way more than she usually gives in a visit, but the problem is i had gotten into such bad eating habits (not food choices but the size of bites and not chewing enough, not staying on liquids for 24 hours after a fill) that i did what i have been doing since september which is eating the evening after my fills. the problem was this time i think she had the Fluid amount right so when i ate the smallest amount of mahi mahi that night:eek:....it was over!!!!! instant pbing, horrible chest parin, i could not lay down i couldnt sit up. i found myself in her office the next day begging for her to take it ALL out. she unfilled me slighlty but the damage was done. my esophagus was swollen i couldnt even swallow my own spit and if i did that too came back up. i went back later that same day for more to be taken out (thank god for insurance). so now i still dont have proper restriction, my weight varies from 188 to 190 on any given day. i have another appotintment on monday so im hoping she will put back some of what she took out and this time i vow to be a better patient. im down 90ish pounds and i dont want to settle for being part of the way to my goal. i think i am at a point were my restrcition isnt enough to enable weight loss, i work out and my diet is not 100% on point but it is pretty darn good. i have been able to maintain this same weight with a consistant diet and exercise but i REALLY need restriction because i just frankly eat way to much. my calories are to high for significant weight loss due to the amount that i eat not what i eat. i am still confident and hopeful that my goals will be reached. i'm shooting for my 2 bandiversay to be at goal. goodluck to everyone, including me!

So sorry to her about the death of your nephew. I've been at a stand still for three months. I hit 173 and lost 100 pounds. But can't get more off. I need to put down the Easter candy. lol

You LookMarvelous!

Name************Starting**********Current**********Goal

DDGALARZ..............185........................185.......................150

Hey everyone, I just wanted to stop and check in and say hello. I havent been doing great lately. I mean after my nephews murder everyhting got put on the back burner, especially working out. I had gone up to about 194 (a 5pound weight gain) in the month following his death and I just wasnt really putting in alot of effort. Thank goodness I am back on track and the scale is headed in a downward spiral again. I'm at 187 as of this morning and I am just so ready to hit the 100lbs lost mark and then get the final 30lbs off. Novemebr is coming up again really soon and I really would like to reach my goal before then. That will be the 2 year mark for us and I am just ready to be done with weight loss and move on to the maintance phase of this whole thing. I hope that everyone is doing well, much love to everyone!

Every doctor is different. I was on chicken broth, isoprue and Water for 48 hours only. I then progressed to Protein Shakes (all kinds), skim milk and most things that were the consistnacy that you could easily get through a straw (just for consistancy sake, of course no straws allowed). I was on Soups by day 7, thinned with either chiken broth or milk. I wouldnt go for an egg at 3 days post op, but if your'e starving your'e going to need to add more Protein to your diet to keep you satisfied longer. Good luck!

kyoto...this far out you shouldn't have to stick with such liquidy foods in order to keep them down dear and to still be having slight issues with those tells me something isn't right.

Bridgette - you should also be able to eat solids without having issues and having "a sore throat from throwing up so much" is also a sign you're throwing up alot.

Damage can be done to your esphogus. Be careful folks! What i can't stress enough is a simple swallow study that takes 15-30 min will allow you peace of mind or at least to know if something is wrong with your band. Believe me......i've been there. I too was surviving on Soup, soft cheeses, Liquid Protein drinks and a tell tale sign something is wrong is if it's been 2-3 hours later or more and you're still burping or tasting whatever it is you put in your stomach. Not good! I had my first band in 2/2006 and a revision surgery because of a slip in 12/2008 and my band removed in 2/2010 because of yet another slip and prolasp. I know all too well what can happen. This last time was a doozy in that my band that was placed inside me in the position of looking at my left shoulder was looking at my left foot by the time it was removed. Please.....just get yourself a swallow study. As i said before whats the worse that can happen...1. You're ok and have peace of mind or 2. Something is wrong and now you know why you're burping, throwing up and can't get healthy Protein down.

When folks have the band all that should be happening is that you can eat smaller portions and feel full...not feel pain, not throw up and you should be able to eat just about any healthy food you want other than foods that group or bloat when in your stomach like bread, rice and Pasta. Any meat, veggie or fruit should be able to be eaten without too many issues or getting sick. Sure you'll have some foods that just won't agree with you but for the most part you should still be able to eat, exercise and be comfortable. If you're not then your band is either too tight or something is wrong.

listen to her!!!!