domino4now

Started at 330 lbs Nov 2009 due to a Dr. office error I was told I needed to loose 30 lbs before surgery. Lost 30 lbs in 25 days on Protein shakes. Banded on Dec 17th 2009 at 300 lbs March 31 I am at 266 lbs in 15 weeks I am down 64 lbs from banding alone. I have only been filled 1 time (3cc) I will be going for my second fill next week. I feel my quantity of food has increased so I feel I need more restriction. I have only worked out 1 or 2 times a week. I even had a 2 week vacation in there that I gained a few lbs and have lost it already. I have lost so much weight so many times by killing my self at the gym, this time it is coming of with just smart food choices and the help of the band. Once I hit my plateau from band only I will add in more cardio and weights. My goal is 195 lbs. I am looking to start P90X once I get more weight off, another huge limitation is my back problems, though 64 lbs has helped there are days that it takes hours to get the soreness and stiffness out. I read so many stories of people who are struggling even after being banded my sympathy goes out to you. I was never a bad food eater "ie" high in carbs and fat, don't get me wrong I did have Micky D's once in a while. I would alway eat huge quantities, regardless if it were salad or fish or steak and pizza it would be a portion to serve 4 or 5 people. Now I have no food limitations I just eat for 1 person or less. Good Luck To All Banded Dominick

Pick a day off the week and make that your weigh in day. You can weigh in every day or every other day if you like. Just wright it down and count it once a week. I weigh in on wed. because it mid week and if you had a little extra during the weekend you have a few days to work it off. I started Nov 09 at lbs and last Wed. Feb Th I weighed in at 272 lbs. I also chose Wed. because that is the day I see my Doc. and weigh in with him. I weigh in at home then at his office and to see if my scale is correct. Look for 1 to 2 pounds a week. I have been very lucky I only work out 2 times a week and have had great success with only 1 small 4 cc fill. I know it may not be that easy for everyone put stay focused. I think that I hit my sweet spot just after the first fill. If you weigh in every day you will drive your self crazy always remember calories in calories out. Keep a journal of what you eat every day. Good Luck Dominick

Here’s my story and maybe it will help! I have been struggling with my weight since I got out of high school 15 years ago. With all the activities, i.e. football, baseball, weights lifting, ending I started to watch my weight start to clime. In Nov 2009 I weighed in at 328 pounds and my goal is 200. If you have to loose more than 50/60 lbs this is a tool that can help. I did every diet/program you can think of and I lost 40,50,60 even 70 pounds and then put it all back on plus a few extra. Five years ago I was averaging between 280-290 lbs and I was in very good overall heath; just over weight. So I put weight loss on hold and decided to stop smoking 3-4 packs a day. Well, that was great in so many ways except ONE. I went from the 280-290 to an average weight of 320-330. Two and a half years ago I went on Nutra system and lost 70lbs. I felt good but killed my self to get there. I was going 2 times a day to the gym for 2 ½ hours a day at my peek. Then my back went out and I stopped the gym for nearly 2 months. By the time I finally got my back fixed I just didn’t have it in me to keep going. All my efforts for 1-½ years only got me to 70lbs lost. So for over a year I kept saying I am done with diets. My biggest problem was that I was great when I was on them but as soon as I stopped, I was like “thank god that’s over”… Then I would watch what I ate but it wasn’t the quality of food it was the quantity I ate. I went back and forth with the lap band for over a year and finally made the appointment. My insurance would not cover a dime so I found a well-recommended doctor who worked with patients that had to pay out of pocket. I made the decision to go through with it. I had some issues with having my surgery and it was postponed 3 times, (i.e. my other posts). It made me really think “should I do this, was the postponement a sign not to do it?” In short I had to loose 28 lbs before surgery, which I did in 25 days!! I had the surgery on Dec. 17th 2009 and since then I have lost an additional 11 pounds. Will it continue? I will have to wait and see, but so far it has helped fixed my main problem-- OVEREATING!!! Instead of having 8 or 10 pieces of French toast this morning, I had 1-½ pieces . I feel that this is the tool I have been in desperate need of. I am solely responsible for my weight loss but hoping this tool will help me. Think of it this way, they used to build houses with hand saws and hammers and nails, but today, there are power tools to help do the job. The house got built either way, however, the houses today are using the right tools and it just makes the job bit easier. Good Luck Dominick

Well my journey has begun. I was banded on 12/18/09! I am a 33year old male. With 2 postponements because the Dr’s office did not inform me of their weight limit (300lbs). Yes, they have their own surgical suite in their building but you must weigh 300 lbs or less to have it done there. (That’s why it only cost $12,000, (I had to pay out of pocket) I lost 27lbs in 25 days. The worst part of all was I called a week after I made the surgery date to ask if I needed to diet prior to surgery. I was told no, just no big meals 3 days before surgery and eat lite the days leading up to the surgery date. So I said good-bye to all my favorite restaurants and my huge portions. The Friday before my scheduled surgery I got a call that there was an inner office problem and that the person who handles scheduling will call me Monday. I was wondering all weekend what could be wrong. I started reading and found out about shrinking your liver. When I got the call it was really a weight limit issue. I has allot of work to do! I was living off 3 protein shakes a day and maybe a salad to replace 1 drink and I made weight in 25 days. So I wasn’t sure if I was going to make weight so I didn’t have much time to be nervous about the surgery. Once I made weight, I only had 20 min till surgery so the nerves came on quick. Dr Wards staff was all very nice and comforting. During the procedure I began to lose more blood then they like so as a precaution I was rushed to Morristown hospital. Needless to say this put a good scare into my family and friends. With an 8-hour wait in the recovery room I finally got a room. I was in over night at the hospital for observation but was progressing fine. I was released Saturday morning just a few hours before that Nor’easter hit NJ. The biggest problem has been the GAS. I did not realize they pumped our inner cavity with gas during surgery. Well that has been the worst pain of all. I have been resting and walking as much as I can to get the gas out. Hoping that most of the pressure will subside by Christmas day. I did this for me first and foremost for me, but really wanted to enjoy the future years with my 3year old son and wonderful wife. I’m not a big poster but mainly read for support and knowledge. I posted tonight to share my story and say “Thank You “ for this site. Everyone needs some support one way or another. I feel this sight points you and helps you find your way with this life changing procedure. Starting weight 327lbs 10/1/09 1st scheduled surgery date 326lbs 11/24/09 Day of surgery 300 lbs 12/18/09

Well my journey has begun. I was banded on 12/18/09! I am a 33 year old male from NJ. With 2 postponements because the Dr’s office did not inform me of their weight limit (300lbs). Yes, they have their own surgical suite in their building but you must weigh 300 lbs or less to have it done there. (That’s why it only cost $12,000, (I had to pay out of pocket) I lost 27lbs in 25 days. The worst part of all was I called a week after I made the surgery date to ask if I needed to diet prior to surgery. I was told no, just no big meals 3 days before surgery and eat lite the days leading up to the surgery date. So I said good-bye to all my favorite restaurants and my huge portions. The Friday before my scheduled surgery I got a call that there was an inner office problem and that the person who handles scheduling will call me Monday. I was wondering all weekend what could be wrong. I started reading and found out about shrinking your liver. When I got the call it was really a weight limit issue. I has allot of work to do! I was living off 3 Protein shakes a day and maybe a salad to replace 1 drink and I made weight in 25 days. So I wasn’t sure if I was going to make weight so I didn’t have much time to be nervous about the surgery. Once I made weight, I only had 20 min till surgery so the nerves came on quick. Dr Wards staff was all very nice and comforting. During the procedure I began to lose more blood then they like so as a precaution I was rushed to Morristown hospital. Needless to say this put a good scare into my family and friends. With an 8-hour wait in the recovery room I finally got a room. I was in over night at the hospital for observation but was progressing fine. I was released Saturday morning just a few hours before that Nor’easter hit NJ. The biggest problem has been the GAS. I did not realize they pumped our inner cavity with gas during surgery. Well that has been the worst pain of all. I have been resting and walking as much as I can to get the gas out. Hoping that most of the pressure will subside by Christmas day. I did this for me first and foremost for me, but really wanted to enjoy the future years with my 3year old son and wonderful wife. I’m not a big poster but mainly read for support and knowledge. I posted tonight to share my story and say “Thank You “ for this site. Everyone needs some support one way or another. I feel this sight points you and helps you find your way with this life changing procedure. Starting weight 327lbs 10/1/09 1st scheduled surgery date 326lbs 11/24/09 Day of surgery 300 lbs 12/18/09

Dr Ward Allied Surgical Group Morristown NJ $12,000.00 Includes everything and fills for the first year. In house surgical suite only thing you have to weight 300lbs or less to have surgery in house. If over 300lbs Add. $4000.00 Surgery then performed at summerset meddical.

Getting banded on Nov 24, looking to see what did you eat the first days after. Thanks D

I have my surgery scheduled for Tue Nov 24th paying out of pocket not allot of hoops to jump through. Scared that I have tried everything out there and what if this tool doesn’t help. 5 11 male at 325lbs any words of hope from successful banded patients. Have lost hundreds of total pounds in the past with hard work but never can keep it off. Thanks D

Thanks They say nothing makes a job easier then using the right tools. I really hope there right D