FemmeOne

Rae, your doctor will tell you when you can start exercising. Everyone's doctor seems to be a little different in what they recommend, too, so just ask if they don't tell you. About the extra skin, I bet at your age you won't have a problem. I'm 56, and have lost 69 lbs so far and my arms are a'flapping! I'm not terribly concerned about it though, and would probably never have plastic surgery. That's always an option though for people who do have a lot of extra skin.

Dewberry, thanks for that chewing technique. I need to do something because either I eat too fast, or I have first-bite syndrome (not sure). I get stuck a lot, especially at the evening meal when I'm particularly hungry. Sounds like you're doing just great on the weight loss! Congrats.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem, but I'm curious...what made your doctor realize the slippage? Were you having symptoms? Or do they always do the fills with a fluoroscope?

I used to say that I had "reverse anorexia"---I look in the mirror and think I'm thin. Photos are a different matter...for some reason the mirror lets me stay in denial. but when I'd see a photo I'd cringe at how fat I was. Same thing with catching your reflection in a store window. Weird.

Hi, I was banded 9/18/09 and have lost 55lbs so far. I was a little tight around Christmastime and had to get some Fluid taken out of the band. So I'm not sure just how much I have in there now. It's not very much. I've been losing more slowly now and it's getting a little frustrating. But I'm very happy with my loss so far. I'm upping my exercise: I do Pilates and ball exercises for an hour about 3 or 4 times a week, plus I do 40 mins on the elliptical about 5 x a week. I walk outside when it's nice enough, too.

Oh, I forgot to add that a small addition of Cytomel can help if you don't feel good when your TSH is at the "normal" levels. It's another component of thryoid, T3, and can really make a difference.

I've been hypo for a long time, and my TSH level NEVER reflected how I felt. Mine is very very low, and I still have many hypo symptoms. Depression and lethargy are at their worst right now. My PCP finally upped mine a bit just this week, even though I had to beg her...so I hope it helps. When she checked my reflexes I had NONE, so that convinced her. Sometimes you have to shop around for a doctor who will treat you instead of the numbers.

I'm hypo too, but I haven't had a problem so far losing. As a matter of fact, I even had to change thyroid meds right after my surgery, because they are no longer making Armour thryoid. It did cause a change in my energy level and caused me to be slightly depressed., but did not seem to affect my weight loss.

Hi, Amanda. My hair is getting thinner too, and it has me worried. Just the other day at our support group meeting, my surgeon's PA said that she's noticed people complaining about hair loss at about month 3 or 4, and that it usually continues until month 7 or 8. She also said that protein intake doesn't seem to affect it.

I've been in AlAnon for years (rampant alcoholism in my family), and I'd say that there are a lot of people who have been affected by alcoholism and other addictions that have weight issues. Also childhood sexual abuse. I'm addicted to food---it's just like a drug for me. It helps me to comfort myself and push down all those emotions that I don't want to deal with. I notice now that I'm controlling my addiction with the help of the band that I've become more depressed. I think part of that is that some of those feelings are beginning to come to the surface. I know I have to deal with this stuff, and it isn't easy. I haven't felt the urge to pursue another addiction yet...not shopping, not sex, not alcohol, and I hope I don't.

Hi, everyone. It's been a while since I posted here, but I wanted to check in. Looks like you all are doing great. I was excited this morning when I weighed in...I've lost 50 lbs! Getting close to the halfway mark to goal. I'm very happy with that amount.

Hi, everyone. I had to get a 3/4 cc unfill yesterday, as I couldn't eat anything without PB'ing and then it was hard to even get liquids down. i'm still swollen and on soft mushies so i hope that I still have some restriction, but I can't tell yet. Lost 8 lbs in 2 weeks. Although I'm glad for the weight loss, living without being able to really eat sucks big time. I'd almost rather do it on will power! But if all goes well, I can go back in for a mini fill in about two weeks. That is, if I need it. I'm happy with the amount of weight I've lost so far, just hoping it continues.

I've been married for 20 years, and have gone through periods where I couldn't stand my husband, didn't want him to touch me, and so on. We've had our ups and downs and have come close to divorce a couple times. Over a long relationship, though, it seems that you can fall in and our of love with your husband. In the past few years, I've fallen back in love with mine, and now I'm so glad that I didn't leave. Just my 2 cents.

It's funny. I'm just on my second fill, and have only 3 ccs in a 10-cc band, and I'm PB'ing at least once a day! Yesterday I even had problems with very mooshy tuna with mayo. I'm wondering if I need a tiny bit unfilled. I am losing more, but I don't know if it's worth it.

I bought an inexpensive elliptical off Craigslist and could only do about 5 mins (and that was on the lowest setting and with resting every minute or so!). Now I'm up to 15 mins, but it's harder than heck. I'm not thrilled with the machine, but I figure if I can keep at it, it will definitely help the weight loss.