pbrown

Medications can certainly make a differance. I was banded in August 2006. I lost about 80 pounds and then stuck at that point. I was loosing every week. I was also on Topamax for migraines and it supressed my appetite. I was on that medication for 1 year and could not stand the side effects of being tired all of the time and like I was always in a fog. It didn't help the migraines so the neurologist said to discontinue it. I noticed a huge change in my appetite after I quit taking it. My appetite returned and I felt hungry alot more of the time than when I was on the topamax. I could not ever get to my goal weight that I was 20 pounds from. Now I have put on abput 15 pounds over the last three years. I was going to support groups and did have a fill two years ago when I was 10 pounds heavier than my lowest, but it never helped me to loose any more weight and since have gained 5 pounds more as of now. I think I will try to get back to a support group and really think about what I am eating, as I do think I still have restriction, but have become too complacent about my eating. Maybe a support group would help to keep you motivated and accountable, where you have to continue your medication. I guess writing down everything you eat as well. Writing down when you exercise. I tend to eat small meals, but get hungry or bored and take in several Snacks during the day , particularly unsalted peanuts.

Another remedy that I have tried at the suggestion of others on this web site is to take a small drink of pineapple juice. I think the acid in it helps to dissolve whatever you have eaten and then it just passes on down. I had read this several times and then decided to buy some in case I ever got stuck and when I did it did work. Don't drink a lot but just a couple of small swallows and then wait a minute or two. I buy the small cans and they can even be carried along in case you are out somewhere and have a problem.

I had a fill a week ago and it has helped curb my appetite a bit. So I thought I would step on the scale today since it had been a week and I did lose 2 pounds. The weight really comes off so much slower as I try to get rid of the last 20 pounds. I also went to a support group meeting here last last evening. It was a great group of people and I even knew one of the gals that was there and hadn't seen her for a long time. We sat and discussed issues that we all may be having with our journey with the lap band. It meets once a month and anyone can come that has had the surgery and wants to get ideas or ask questions etc. It is a relatively new group as my other support group met in the city where I had my surgery about a half hour away, but in the evening I really was not interested in driving out of town for that.

I had a fill of 1.8 and was banded almost 3 years ago. I hadn't been feeling any restriction, but when I went to get more yesterday I now have 2.5cc. My doctor says that 4cc is the most the band will hold?? I have been reading about people with fills over 6cc. Not sure what band I have.

Thanks for the information and I am going to try to make that April meeting. I know of someone else here in town that has had the lap band surgery and she may start to come to the meetings as well.

Thanks for the information Cyndi and I will try to make that April meeting as I have an appointment with you on the 10th. What time do you meet? I really think that the support group is kind of my "missing link" that could be very helpful to longer term success.

I was banded by Dr. Avila in Aug. of 2006. I had great results to start with and then after a year I wasn't losing anymore after my 85 pound loss. I probably should have gone back for a fill as it has been a year and a half now without a fill and I have gained back 15 or more pounds. I have been faithfully going on the treadmill 4 days a week since December for an hour and going for 3 miles at a time with no weight loss. I do have some restriction as it kicks in when I eat a piece of meat that is stringy or rice. But it seems like I can eat quite a bit of salad before feeling full. I need to get into a support group as I did attend one in Blackfoot where I had my initial surgery, but found it to be difficult to get there on a regular basis. So I have requested my records be sent to Cyndi Rice at our Pocatello fill center and am hoping to get back on track and lose my weight I have gained back and then some. I guess I am feeling like I have lost track of how I was able to lose the weight to begin with as it didn't seem all that difficult and for the last year or better it has been a struggle. I am hoping Cyndi can be of help to me. I have an appointment for April 10th and am looking forward to it.

Hi Faybe, I believe that my posting was not correct. I was banded on August 17th by Dr. Avila. I started at 237 and currently am at 153. My lowest was about 3 weeks ago at 149, but had to have an unfill at that point due to inflamation as I guess I may have been too tight. So I have lost a total of 84 lbs. I would like to get down a bit more. thanks for your work on this site.

Hi Faybie,Yes thanks for keeping the postings of everyones weight loss. Could you please change my dr.s name as it is not the dr. listed. It is p.brown Dr. Avilla Blackfoot Idaho. I am now down 83 lbs with 10 more to go. Thanks p. brown

I have been banded about 14 months now and have lost 80-85 lbs so far. My goal weight is to lose another 15 lbs. I enjoy fast walking on my treadmill. I have it set at a 5% grade and walk at about 3.2 mph. I can get in 2 and a half miles in 46 min. I walk as fast as I can as I am not a runner as I have some back problems. I usually listen to music as I exercise. I have noticed since I have lost weight it is easier to keep going and I can go at a faster pace without being winded. I try to do this most days of the week except on the weekends.

Today is October 12th. I have been on the treadmill Mon. Tuesday Thursday and Friday for 45 minutes at a 5% grade and worked out for 45 minutes and gone 2.2 miles each time. I have been trying to watch the snacking in the evening. We watch t.v. in bed and my husband likes to have a snack then. I try to drink just my Crystal Light at that time. I need to drink more throughtout the day as well. I did lose1-2 pounds this week. Trying to get back to my 151 lbs. and then head on down the scales to my goal weight which was to be about 135-140. Ten pounds to lose is not that much compared to starting out at 235. So I will keep working out regularly and try to stick to protiens and veggies.

Today is October 12th. I have been on the treadmill Mon. Tuesday Thursday and Friday for 45 minutes at a 5% grade and worked out for 45 minutes and gone 2.2 miles each time. I have been trying to watch the snacking in the evening. We watch t.v. in bed and my husband likes to have a snack then. I try to drink just my Crystal Light at that time. I need to drink more throughtout the day as well. I did lose1-2 pounds this week. Trying to get back to my 151 lbs. and then head on down the scales to my goal weight which was to be about 135-140. Ten pounds to lose is not that much compared to starting out at 235. So I will keep working out regularly and try to stick to protiens and veggies.

Today is October 8th and I have lost 84 lbs, but gained back 4lbs. I have not been watching my snacking and eating a few things that are not on the lapband menu! I need to refocus and get back to my exercise program. I am at 154 lbs and still should lose another 10-12 lbs to be closer to my goal weight. It feels great to wear a size 12 jeans and is much easier to get down on my hands and knees and get up again. I have been banded over 1 year now. Seems like a long time ago. I haven't had a fill since May or June. That would be the last fill that is for free so now any fills will have to be at my expense. My banding was done in August 2006 and there was 1 year of free fills. I am very pleased with my band!

Today is October 8th and I have lost 84 lbs, but gained back 4lbs. I have not been watching my snacking and eating a few things that are not on the lapband menu! I need to refocus and get back to my exercise program. I am at 154 lbs and still should lose another 10-12 lbs to be closer to my goal weight. It feels great to wear a size 12 jeans and is much easier to get down on my hands and knees and get up again. I have been banded over 1 year now. Seems like a long time ago. I haven't had a fill since May or June. That would be the last fill that is for free so now any fills will have to be at my expense. My banding was done in August 2006 and there was 1 year of free fills. I am very pleased with my band!

Well today is February 10th and it has been two weeks since I had my last dr.s appointment and fill and have been at a plateau. Today I got on the scales and have finally started to see them move again. I was at 175 at my last appointment by their scales which weighs 1 pound less then mine. If I were to weigh on their scales I would weigh 173 today. I am anxious to get into the 160 range. I am now able to wear size 14 pants. I ordered the Lee jeans with the elastic at the sides style that I like off of e-bay and got a brand new pair from a gal in Washington for 9.00 plus shipping so for about 15.00 a new pair!! At the out let it would cost 20.00 and I won't be getting to the out let in Boise until the end of March so that was a good deal. I also ordered a used pair that just arrived in great condition, I have to hem up for 13.00 including shippping. I have been fast walking on my treadmill for 40 minutes for 2 miles 3-4 times a week. It was tempting to eat what I wanted while on the plateau, since I wasn't seeing any results, but read where this is bound to happen and to just keep on doing as I have been and the weight loss will continue again. So that is my plan. We went out to a Thai place to eat last night and I had a salad that was good and I ate about half of it and brought the rest home. It had a watery type dressing on it so it probably will be kind of soggy today. Well I have a new book to read so I am going to put my walking feet up and take a break to read a bit for today!!

Well today is February 10th and it has been two weeks since I had my last dr.s appointment and fill and have been at a plateau. Today I got on the scales and have finally started to see them move again. I was at 175 at my last appointment by their scales which weighs 1 pound less then mine. If I were to weigh on their scales I would weigh 173 today. I am anxious to get into the 160 range. I am now able to wear size 14 pants. I ordered the Lee jeans with the elastic at the sides style that I like off of e-bay and got a brand new pair from a gal in Washington for 9.00 plus shipping so for about 15.00 a new pair!! At the out let it would cost 20.00 and I won't be getting to the out let in Boise until the end of March so that was a good deal. I also ordered a used pair that just arrived in great condition, I have to hem up for 13.00 including shippping. I have been fast walking on my treadmill for 40 minutes for 2 miles 3-4 times a week. It was tempting to eat what I wanted while on the plateau, since I wasn't seeing any results, but read where this is bound to happen and to just keep on doing as I have been and the weight loss will continue again. So that is my plan. We went out to a Thai place to eat last night and I had a salad that was good and I ate about half of it and brought the rest home. It had a watery type dressing on it so it probably will be kind of soggy today. Well I have a new book to read so I am going to put my walking feet up and take a break to read a bit for today!!

I know the feeling. I have lost 54 pounds and have hit a two week period since my last fill two weeks ago and I have lost nothing and actually gained a pound. I haven't eaten enough to gain that pound and should still be loosing and don't know why. I am trying to up my exercise to see if that will help. I hope that I will start to see the scales go down again, as I don't think that my eating has changed. I can't eat any less or I won't be eating much at all. I do need to drink more water. My body used to want more water a few weeks ago, but I don't seem to be wanting the water as much as when I was loosing regularly so I am going to have to force myself to drink more.

January 20- Yesterday I had my appointment with Dr. Avila and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had actually lost 54 pounds and now weigh 175. I did have my third fill at that time as I have been feeling a little hungry between meals. He told me I was doing great with an average loss of two pounds per week. I don't go back to see him again until I feel like I need another fill. Last time he told me to come back in three months so now I really feel like I am on my own. I will try to attend some of the support meetings they have the last Wednesdays of the month when the weather gets better, to keep up with how others are doing and to have others to visit with for support. This band has been great and will be a great help when it comes to the maintenance part of the weight loss picture that other programs cannot provide. I have not missed the foods that I have not been able to eat at this point, and maybe I will be able to add some of them back anyway in small quantities later.

January 20- Yesterday I had my appointment with Dr. Avila and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had actually lost 54 pounds and now weigh 175. I did have my third fill at that time as I have been feeling a little hungry between meals. He told me I was doing great with an average loss of two pounds per week. I don't go back to see him again until I feel like I need another fill. Last time he told me to come back in three months so now I really feel like I am on my own. I will try to attend some of the support meetings they have the last Wednesdays of the month when the weather gets better, to keep up with how others are doing and to have others to visit with for support. This band has been great and will be a great help when it comes to the maintenance part of the weight loss picture that other programs cannot provide. I have not missed the foods that I have not been able to eat at this point, and maybe I will be able to add some of them back anyway in small quantities later.

If you self pay Dr Avila will do your fills for one year for free. So I have been continuing my journey with him. After that year the fills are 100.00.

Today is January 16th. I didn't lose anything last week, but when I stepped on the scales this week I was pleased to see a 2-3 pound loss that would put me at a 52 pound weight loss since my surgery in mid August. I am very pleased with that! I have been out shopping with my Christmas money! I can now pick out medium sized shirts and tops and need to buy some new jeans, probably size 14s as my size 16s are too loose. I have gone from 230 to 178-79. I have been using the treadmill about 40 minutes at a time about 3 times a week. I need to get on that tread mill more often as my weight loss has slowed down. I am due to see Dr. Avila on Friday for another fill as I haven't had one since mid October. It is so much more fun to shop for clothes now and I don't have to try on every little thing and I can shop the sale racks with more options, which I have done since Christmas. I even bought regular flannel p.j.s with tops and pants which I normally do not buy because the pants are too small for the tops usually, in order for them to fit my body shape. I usually buy night gowns to avoid this problem. Not any more!!! I am enjoying my two pair of large pjs, but bought a medium size for next winter as I continue to lose more pounds. I can put these large in the dryer and shrink these a bit if I need to as they are all cotton, for next winter.

Today is January 16th. I didn't lose anything last week, but when I stepped on the scales this week I was pleased to see a 2-3 pound loss that would put me at a 52 pound weight loss since my surgery in mid August. I am very pleased with that! I have been out shopping with my Christmas money! I can now pick out medium sized shirts and tops and need to buy some new jeans, probably size 14s as my size 16s are too loose. I have gone from 230 to 178-79. I have been using the treadmill about 40 minutes at a time about 3 times a week. I need to get on that tread mill more often as my weight loss has slowed down. I am due to see Dr. Avila on Friday for another fill as I haven't had one since mid October. It is so much more fun to shop for clothes now and I don't have to try on every little thing and I can shop the sale racks with more options, which I have done since Christmas. I even bought regular flannel p.j.s with tops and pants which I normally do not buy because the pants are too small for the tops usually, in order for them to fit my body shape. I usually buy night gowns to avoid this problem. Not any more!!! I am enjoying my two pair of large pjs, but bought a medium size for next winter as I continue to lose more pounds. I can put these large in the dryer and shrink these a bit if I need to as they are all cotton, for next winter.

There is a definition of the true Christian Protestant religion that runs as a thread between say Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopals etc. These religions use only the Bible as the true word no other books and do not believe that good works will earn your place in heaven but by your accepting Christ death on the cross for our sins and your belief and desire to follow in his ways is how we get there, and then the good things will follow from there if you truly do follow in his ways. It really does bother me that some groups go door to door and call their religion Christian and mis represent themselves to other unchurched people and have many false doctrines underneath that are not shared at the time nor are they part of other Christain church beliefs. Their God or Jesus is not the same God or Jesus that the Protestant Christians believe in or we would accept one anothers baptisms, which we don't, along with many other things that the Christian religion does not profess. I was just approached before Christmas by two young girls on my door step and we got into quite a discussion. No their relgion is not Christian by the true defintion and I wish they would not mis represent themselves to the world as such.

Hi , I was banded in mid August by Dr. Avila. I just noticed that you said that you were banded 6 weeks ago. Just wondering if we had met. I attended the support meeting they had a couple of weeks ago there at the hospital. Have you been to any of the support meetings yet? I have just been to the one. Have you had your first fill and how are you doing? I think I am ready for my next fill. I will see Dr. Avila again in a week or so as I haven't seen him since Oct. 30th. I have continued to lose, but it has slowed down. I look forward to hearing from you! Paige

Dec. 13th _ I was to go to the Dr. On Dec. 9th, but cancelled as I didn't feel like I needed a fill, and he had scheduled this appointment just for me as he realy didn't want me to come back until Jan. I will go in On January 19th. I am weighing 184. When I get to 180 it will be a a 50 lb. loss. The dr.s scales are 1 lb. less than mine. I am trying to exercise 40 minutes a day on the treadmill. The exercise really helps to shed the pounds!! I lost 3 pounds this past week. It is nice to fit in to some of my old shirts and sweaters that I still have as I haven't had to go out and buy anything new. Maybe another couple of pair of pants in another month or two. I am not really that hungry most of the time, so the band is doing it's job. When it is time to eat I don't have to eat that much before I am full. Yea!!!