coachramz

Thanks for getting this going lellow. I forgot how beneficial this site could be. I already feel a motivation I had not felt in quite some time. We all got the band for our own reasons and I feel this thread is just the right medicine to get us all back on track! We can all do this together.

Kepp me posted if you find a thread on that too! Or someone can start one. I need to re-commit.

It's been a while since I have been in here. I am starting to have some problems with my band and am seeking answers. Within the last six months or so, I started experiencing reflux at bed time. I can't sleep on my stomach because I find myself waking up coughing and choking on what I think is stomach acid. Now I am starting to experience reflux during the day as well as burps or gurgles. I don't think that my band slipped cause I am able to eat and and drink. Some days are better than others. Other days my stomach feels iritated and i'll spit up thick saliva. I started using TUMS and they seem to work, but now I find myself using TUMS everyday more than once a day. I had my Surgery on March of 2009, had a fill 2 weeks post op and a second fill 1 week after that. I hear stories of people experiencing my problems after fills but i havent had one in nearly 34 months. The band has still gives me restriction but I must confess that I sometimes eat more than someone with a band should. Anyone have any advice? Thinking of going a week of liquids to see if it helps before seeing the doctor.

Hey group, It's been a while since i've been in here. Activity seems to have slowed down quite a bit. I hope everyone is doing well and will post their successes. This site serves as a great tool for everyone who gets banded or considering getting banded. As for me, things are going well. I'm 14 lbs away from my goal weight. Things have slowed down quite a bit for me. I'm losing about 1 pound a week, which is still really good considering how close I am to my goal. Football season is right around the corner which means the running and jumping around will help. Not to mention the 105 degree temps we've been seeig around here. On another note, my wife was recently banded herself. She had her surgey on the 2nd of July and she is already seeing major success. We have been each others support throughout. We are already planning another cruise for the summer of 2010. This time I won't be shy about taking the shirt off around the pool.LOL Keep your eye on the prize!

Hey Group...Looks like everyone is doing pretty good. I am feeling great. The weight is slowly and steadily coming off and I feel the healthiest I have felt in years . I have been pretty busy as I'm sure you guys have too. My wife is now on her pre-op diet and she is scheduled for the 2nd of July. She said that watching me do it first has really helped her. We are pretty much each others personal support group. I can't believe the amount of money we are saving on groceries. I might just have to start remodeling the house (the kids really want a pool). We'll just have to see. Keep your eye on the prize!

NO MORE 2'S IN FRONT OF MY SHOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey Guys, I just wanted to check in to let you know that I am now officially in ONE-derland! I weighed in this morning at 199.5 lbs. I can even remember the last time that happened. I finally went to buy a new belt and it felt great. My wife convinced me to try on some LARGE (NOT XX-L OR EVEN XL) shirts and they look and feel great. The only place I have some loose skin is under my chin where my double chin was. I look at some picture from the beginning of the school year and can't belive I actually looked like that. But, I refuse to look at the past and am only looking towards what is to come. For those of you in Bandster Hell, Make sure you get your protein! I found that when I don't have my Protein shakes, my body goes into starvation mode and the weight loss slows down. I don't know why but it does. Keep your eye on the prize! Mine seems to be looking closer and closer. All the best to all.

Hey The BigBossMan is back! Good to hear from you. as well as the others. I have been doing really good and feel like I want to just walk up to people and start telling them about the band. I think Gregnlr was feeling the same way a few posts ago. I felt the exact same way as spiritdriven71. It all slowed down but now seems to be picking back up. I am now a full 64 lbs down and in desperate need of a smaller (yes, i'm saying it again SMALLER) belt. I joined the nail to the belt club and I think another hole just makes me a cheap guy. My doc is really impressed and my support group coordinator wants me to be at the next meeting so she can brag about my success. All is good and a lot better is to come. Keep your eye on the prize

Hey Group...Just to keep you guys posted on my progress. Now down to 60.5 lbs. Its all been good! Steady and a bit slow these last few weeks, but good. Been adding foods slowly but I have to really chew! I'm glad everyone is doing good. Keep it goin!

Hey Guys....I thought I was gonna be able to be here more often this past week but the wife had a "honey-do" list that would not end. Things are going well. Went to the doc on Tuesday and he gave me another fill. I really didn't think I needed it but he recommended I get it anyway. Let me tell you, it has been something else. I know exactly what restriction means now. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of chewing food but now I really have to puree everything with my own teeth and saliva. On the upside, I am feeling less hungry throughout the day and only eat the three square meals and my protein, protein, protein. All the best!

Hey guys....great news from gregnlr. It feels good to step on that scale and actually look foward to what it is gonna say. I hope everyone is doing good. I should be on quite a bit since my school district cancelled classes for the next two weeks due to the swine flu. I am still weighing the same I was the past few days. I started lifting weights and some light jogging. I'm hoping I have built some muscle these past 6 days. I had forgotten what soreness felt like. My waist is at a 38. This is pretty amazing for me considering I was at a very uncomfortable 44 a few months ago. I'm with waylayer73....we need an update from the BigBossMan. My doc wants me to get another fill on Monday. I don't feel like I need it but then again he is the one with the big diploma on the wall. Keep your eye on the prize!

deed87... I'm no expert but I think you are kinda going into this with the wrong mindset. You have to understand that this is a tough deal. Too many people call this "the easy way out" but its all but that. This is tough. The job you seek will serve as great motivation but the are many posts in here about people who don't have sucess with it. However, when you do reach your goal weight, you can stop getting fills, have some Fluid removed from the band, etc. I think once you get close it will motivate you to go further. I also get the feeling that you are like many of us that LOVE food and you are thinking that you will never be able to enjoy the good stuff again. Many people on this forum talk about how hard it is to maintain when you reach your goal. To take fluid out will only give more hunger and you will want more food which will give you more calories which will eventually lead to weight gain. Hope this helps.

Hey guys... I actually have a bit of free time to post. It has been going good for me. The treadmill is like a walk in the park and the amount of sweat draining out of my pores has minimized drastically. I think i'm actually getting into shape. I woke up this morning and hit the scale at 214.5. I can't even remember the last time I was at this weight. I keep surprising myself daily. My clothes feel great (actually a little too loose) and my friends are giving me compliments on a daily basis. I heard a funny (well maybe not so funny) thing the other day. An old friend I hadn't seen in about three years ran into me and asked how I was recovering. I asked her what she meant because there was no way of her knowing of my surgery. She said that she heard some people talking and that they said I had lost a lot of weight because I had had a hard attack. Rumors.....gotta love em.

Hey Deed87... I understand your concerns but did you ever think that all the drinking may have contributed to that weight gain? Lol I know it did for me. After a late night of partying and hitting the breakfast buffet at the kettle or the taco bell tacos, it took its toll. The thing you have to ask yourself is am I ready for this commitment? It is ok to drink occasionally. I've hit the vodka with V8. its pretty good but I weigh myself often and notice a slight weight gain. Ocean spray has a 5 cal diet cranberry that you can drink with vodka that is pretty god too(but a little to girlie for me in public). I would personally stay away from all beer. #1, you are making a huge investment, both monetarily and emotianally. #2 if you are here, you already decided to make a life changing decision. don't blow it for yourself ! Hope this helps. Keep you eye on the prize!

Hey Guys....I'm at 50 lbs. This is too awesome. I am off the blood pressure meds and next (hopefully soon) I can get rid of my CPAP machine. Things are good and I am able to move a lot better on the football field with my kids. I don't sweat like I used to either. The compliments keep coming and that is all the motivation I need. Lucky for me that I kept a lot of my old clothes that didn't fit. I always knew that one day I would wear then again. And that time is now! My best to all!