Denny_C

I had my band placed on November 19th 2008 and I have lost 101 pounds, so far. My wife had her band placed the same day and has lost 52 pounds. It has been great to do this together as we keep each other "honest" and support each other to get past it when you get the craving for munchies. I had my job outsourced to India around the same time so I've been able to exercise everyday and watch the diet very closely and that is how I've (we have) lost so much weight. It's great to buy "normal" pants and underwear now. My biggest problem is keeping a belt that can keep my new pants up. I bought size 40 jeans and found that they were too big, so, I went to a size 38, now even these are getting too loose! I have another 14 pounds until I reach my initial goal weight but I may continue to reduce my weight below that as I'm feeling very good and want to get down to a size 34 waist. I must say that when I held the size 40 jeans up I didn't think I would even come close to getting into them by the looks of things. You know, when you hold up a pair of pants and think is this the right size? I thought, "well, keep working at it and you can fit into these". But, when I got home, I actually had room to spare! It felt really good. It's amazing what reducing your weight by 101 pounds can do for your body shape.

Hi, I weighed 326 on November 1st and I was at 309 on my day of surgery on 11/19/08. Today (2/10/09) I'm down to 259. That's 67 pounds in 3 months. I work out at least 1 hour a day by walking 3 to 4 miles on an incline of 9 or 10. This keeps my heart beat below 176 but that is for me, you may need to work up to that so be careful and don't overdo. I haven't been too hungry (so far) but it's been difficult at times not to grab a soft drink during my lunch or supper. I think that has been the hardest thing for me so far. I do confess, when I start to get hungry I get up and walk for a while until the hunger goes away. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but it's a trick I use to help me. My initial target is 210 but I may lower that when I get close to that initial target, we'll see. My wife and I had the band placed on the same day by the same doctor and it's really helped both of us. She is down 40 pounds from her start of 264 and is doing about 15 minutes of walking everyday but keeps her incline down to a 3 or 4. By both of us doing the band at the same time we understand what the other person is going through and we support each other. At any rate, you will feel sore at first but as time goes bye you will feel better and want to do more and more. Of all of the over 300's I've read about I'm most impressed with Sue Magoo, Bigpapa2 and Gingerbug! Way to go!

Hi, I thought my band had slipped or something wasn't right until I found that until the second or third fill you really don't have a restriction and can eat pretty much anything. You have to work past that on your own but I'm sure you can do it. I just had my second fill and I do feel a bit of restriction now. I've got to tell you at times I wake up in the middle of the night and my hunger just screams "eat something" at me but I've managed to resist on my own. It's not easy, that's for sure. I've reduced my weight from 326 to 267 in three months by following the doctor's orders and doing a very heavy exercise program. I just past my half way mark to my goal weight and I'm feeling pretty good about my progress. I think I may be over doing it but I feel good and I'm very happy with the results. What I've found is that the band is a great help but it does not do all of the work. You have to help it by doing what you already know is right and exercise.. I hate exercise too but it's really paying off in my case. :thumbup:

Misty, I guess the best thing to tell you is that I weighed 326 on November 1st, 2008. I was banded on 11/19/08 and I now weigh 267 and I'm half way to my goal. The band is not a cure all and it does not do all of the work for you but it sure helps! Until my second fill I really didn't have a restriction and I thought maybe my band was screwed up or something. Now, after the second fill I'm just starting to feel the restriction. I've got rid of the weight by following the doctor's orders and did not eat like before even if the band does not restrict at first. I exercise at least an hour a day (I hate it too) but it is really paying off. So, hang in there and keep up the "I can do it attitude".

Hey Biker, You and I are pretty close to the same build. I'm a little shorter (5'10'') but you have me beat by a few pounds when I started this same course of action. First thing, the day of the surgery isn't as bad as it could be but it's not all that bad either. You will be really sore the first day but by the day after you can start to feel human again. You will feel the port for a few weeks and it will be sore so if you use your belly to push things you may want to think it over first. Second, the band is not filled when you first get it. You will not feel a restriction until around the 3rd fill. At first everything will pass right on bye so you have to get rid of the weight by just following the doctor's orders for a couple of months. Third, ya have to start an exercise routine. I walk everyday for at least 1 hour at a speed of 3 and an incline of 10 on the treadmill. Now, it took me several weeks to get to that level and it takes a lot of self discipline but you can do it. For the good news, I weighed 326 on November 1st, 2008. I now weigh 267 and I’m half way to my goal of 210! I’ve followed the “rules” to the absolute and over exercised to make that happen but you can do it too. Hang in there Bro you can do it and the operation is not all that bad. I won’t lie to you, the operation is not a fun thing but it’s not all that bad either. The fills are easy and really don’t hurt. By the way, I’m older than you are by 20 years, so, if I can do it you can do it!

My wife has lost 28 pounds, but, we had a lot to loose. No complications, so far, but we have been very careful to follow the diets and instructions on how to eat solids after the post op diet. No deviation from the plans for us and it's much easier when we both have to follow the same plan. I do get a bit more protine drink than she does but that was in our guidelines from the doctor. My plans are to drop 115 pounds overall and, more importantly, keep it off. My wife wants to do around the same amount. That's where we'll need the lap band. We have lost the weight before only to gain it back (and then some) so we felt we needed to get some help and the lap band seems to be the key. Being in this together really helps in the support department. Congratulations on the marriage! My wife and I have been married for almost 27 years, we got married on the 1st of January so we would always have it off. I can only hope that you are as happy as we have been over the years. (We got married in the morning on New Years day, so I could watch the football games in the afternoon! :biggrin:) My wife is very understanding and I'm sure that is why I'm happy with her. I try to be as good to her as she is to me so she may keep me; at least for now!:biggrin: This must be a very large change in your life, getting a lap band and then getting married within a few weeks of each other. How wonderful for you!

Hi everyone, I hope this note, to my blog, finds you all happy and well! I know everyone is getting ready for the holidays... and the food that goes along with it. I have to admit that my family and in-laws have been very helpful in not trying to push food toward me or my wife. It's difficult this time of year but I'm dead set that I will get past the next two weeks and not overeat! Just so everyone knows, my wife and I had our lap band surgery on the same day. We both needed to get rid of the extra pounds and figured that the best way to support each other was to be in the same boat when it comes to eating, or not eating, depending on the point of view! I'm down 40 pounds from my pre-op weight but I've been stuck at this weight for about a week now. This is discouraging as I walk 3 miles every day and have not been going off the wagon and eating. I've kept my diet going, I'm just at a stand still right now. I know it will past but it seems like it should be dropping like a rock instead of staying around. :mad: I've been reading several blogs and thought I could contribute to helping others that have become discouraged. I'll just keep the old attitude going that I'm getting my health back and the weight will come down as I continue to get better eating habits and more exercise. I can only hope that by being positive I can help someone else know it's not a lot of fun but it will get better! I took a long time to get this overweight, so, I should not expect it to drop off overnight. I do wish it would go a little faster but I'll take what I can get. So, if you are at a stand still, like me, we'll just work through this together and someday.. we will be normal size again! I would like to take a moment to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a great new year! I hope you have a wonderful week ahead with your family and friends and that they tell you how happy they are that you have lost so much weight!

Hi everyone, I hope this note, to my blog, finds you all happy and well! I know everyone is getting ready for the holidays... and the food that goes along with it. I have to admit that my family and in-laws have been very helpful in not trying to push food toward me or my wife. It's difficult this time of year but I'm dead set that I will get past the next two weeks and not overeat! Just so everyone knows, my wife and I had our lap band surgery on the same day. We both needed to get rid of the extra pounds and figured that the best way to support each other was to be in the same boat when it comes to eating, or not eating, depending on the point of view! I'm down 40 pounds from my pre-op weight but I've been stuck at this weight for about a week now. This is discouraging as I walk 3 miles every day and have not been going off the wagon and eating. I've kept my diet going, I'm just at a stand still right now. I know it will past but it seems like it should be dropping like a rock instead of staying around. :biggrin: I've been reading several blogs and thought I could contribute to helping others that have become discouraged. I'll just keep the old attitude going that I'm getting my health back and the weight will come down as I continue to get better eating habits and more exercise. I can only hope that by being positive I can help someone else know it's not a lot of fun but it will get better! I took a long time to get this overweight, so, I should not expect it to drop off overnight. I do wish it would go a little faster but I'll take what I can get. So, if you are at a stand still, like me, we'll just work through this together and someday.. we will be normal size again! I would like to take a moment to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a great new year! I hope you have a wonderful week ahead with your family and friends and that they tell you how happy they are that you have lost so much weight! :biggrin:

I use to joke that if I didn't find work in Florida at least I would be warm and hungry. Now, after being here for 11 years I am warm.. and hungry! Not because I don't have work but because I started my new changed life style. I was "banded" on 11/19 after 2 weeks of dieting. I went from 326 to 309 on that pre-op diet which shrinks the liver. Well, the liver shrank and I was ready to get started on the band but I have found that I have already stalled somewhat in my race to get rid of the extra fat. I weighed 315 upon returning from the operation which must have been caused by the dripping bag of liquid that was stuck into my right hand. That came off in the first week and I'm now at 301 after 10 days post op. However, I have been at 301 for about 3 days now. I know I'm impatient but, hey, I am ready to get going! An interesting thing that you may be interested in. My wife and I had our bands placed on the same day. We shared an overnight stay in the hospital in the same room which was unusual for the hospital as they prefer not to have people with the same last name in a room and never a man and a woman in the same room. I guess we broke several taboos but we made it and we started this life style change together, as it should be. I'm really tired of the liquid diet but I have not been too hungry or felt starved just yet. I know things may change in the next few days but we made it through Thanksgiving without falling off the wagon, so, I think we can get through the holidays in good shape (as far as the diet goes). It really helps having my wife going through the exact same thing I am. It let's us know how the other one is feeling at the time and we support each other to make it another day. I look forward to blogging my weight decline and sharing our experiences with you in the hope it helps you or a loved one. I would like to take a moment to wish everyone a very happy holiday season and wonderful new year!