greytz

Congrats on being banded! Hang in there! it will get better. It can be discouraging in the beginning. As time goes on it has been better and better for me. Good Luck!

Hey Mike! Good Luck to you. I love my band also. Keep us posted.

Good for You! Keep us posted.

Wow! you are lucky to have insurance that pays like that. I have good insurance and it paid 85% and I feel lucky with that. It is difficult to wait but it happens all of the sudden. You will get the call and before you know it you will be banded! Good Luck.

You are doing fabulous and I felt the same way about eating solids. So much so that I kept putting it off and stayed in the mushie stage. When I told my surgeon that she was like, no way you have to begin solids. So I did and I am still losing weight just like she said I would. I just stick to the guidelines and don't cheat. It will work for you.

I think you are beginning to do what you need to. You are going to get a fill and coming here for some support. I would find a support group you can go to physically too. Get back on the band wagon and get the weight gone again. You can do it!

Ok, so I guess my point of view is a little different and I hope no one gets upset with me but here goes. I did come so very close to death. In a bad car accident last year due to a heart condition I didn't know I had. I am very lucky to be here today. I still could go at any moment and each time I black out, it takes a little more from my heart production. I look at each day as a true blessing and I really try to enjoy every moment of it. I really hope you all can get past the skin issues and see yourself for the beautiful women that you are. Try not to obsess over the little bit of extra skin. Look at what you all have accomplished? Think about how you felt when you first began your journey and how hard you have worked to be where you are now? You should be so proud of that! I am 51 and have already begun to see the little wrinkles. I am trying little harder to take care of my face and ramped up my skin regimen but at the end of the day I am what I am. I had a friend who is very large and a little older than me tell me that she did not want to lose the weight because being fat kept her face blown out and the wrinkles didn't show. She was kidding herself. I saw wrinkles plenty but didn't tell her that. The point is be happy that you have come so far and enjoy the thrilling things you get to do in your life that you couldn't do before. You are worth it.

Congrats! Keep us posted once you are up to it.

Congrats! Please keep us posted once you get to feeling better.

I totally agree with HH. My surgeon at her seminar only showed her individual statics and success and not success. She did show a map of the obese percentages as released by a firm (I don't remember who) but that is all. Everyone's experience seems to be different and yours will be too. To me, it seems that it isn't even about what you put into it or don't put into it. Your own physical makeup, medical history, genetics and stubborness will decide the experience for you. I plan to put everything I have into it and I have so far. I don't know what the future holds but I have given myself a good shot at it and I want the best outcome obviously. If down the road I have problems I will have to face them when I get there.

Yeah for you!! I am so glad you are feeling better and where you should be finally. Keep us posted.

I am suprised you lasted this long without a fill before being so hungry. Good for you but I would say time for a fill for sure. I was banded 06-17 and was in bandster hell by the week before my first fill which was on 08-04.

I meant to say both told me it should NOT effect my weight loss. Duh typo.

I have thyroid and was banded on 06-17-09. Before being banded I had a blood test every quarter because my thyroid really gets out of whack if I am not careful. I was concerned about losing weight after being banded because of thyroid issues and I spoke to my bariatric surgeon about it and my PCP. Both told me it should effect my weight loss as long as I continue to have the blood test and adjust the medication accordingly. I have decided to take the blood test a little more often during the time I am losing the weight due to the fluctuation. I take a compound for my thyroid because the synthroid gave me so many side effects that I could not live with. I use Armour Thyroid and it really works well for me. So far, (fingers crossed) I have had no problems losing weight. Good Luck.

I can feel my port and know where it is but to me that is a good thing. I don't want my surgeon having to hunt for it. I had my first fill on 08-04 and she found it first try.

It is so difficult when someone close to you isn't supportive of this decision. I have been very fortunate and most everyone in my close circle has been behind me. But recently since I have started to show obvious weight loss one of the people in that circle has decided to turn and be negative. I know it is hard but it is your body, your mind and your spirit. You are the only one that can decide what is right for you. It is so hard to go against family but what is best for you is what counts and it feels soooooo good once you begin to lose the weight and all the doubts go away. Once that happened to me, I knew I had made the right decision no matter what anyone else thinks. And by the way, I was at BMI 34 and had no problems getting approved. Of course, it makes a difference what insurance you are with and what physical problems you have, but just hang in there and don't give up. You are so worth it!

Ok Good. Just don't worry about it too much right now and eat to make sure your stomach isn't growling.

I think it is a very good idea. I have some clothes that are hardly worn and could really help someone. I am already looking at having to get new clothes. The one part of the journey that sucks is pulling out money for new clothes.

I meant to say not as restrictive as I hope it would be. Jeez. Typos.

I am at the beginning of my journey and I do weigh my food. Mostly to teach myself how much I should be eating. I don't keep journals or anything like that but my personal concern is that I don't put too much on my plate. I have my first fill but it is as restrictive as I hoped it would be so I made an appointment to go back to my surgeon on 08-25. Until then, I will measure my food and watch myself carefully. Right now, I don't eat anything but meat protein and veggies. Only because I want to lose it as quickly as I can so I don't add anything else to my diet. I think once I reach my goal I will be able to relax a little bit and not be so strict on myself.

I am 51 and I know I will have some hanging skin. I would rather be healthy and thin that worry about that before I even know how I will look. I guess your perspective changes once you reach a certain age I don't know. My skin has already started to show little wrinkles but I just keep on truckin' and smilin' because I am losing the weight. I do know from all my earlier days of the gym (I used to be an instructor at Elaine Power's) that it does help if you had really good muscle tone and skin before. But, as said above, genetics and your personal exercise will make the difference. That is one of those, I will wait and see how I look and cross that bridge when I meet it.

You may want to try Nectar by Syntax. They have a website under the name Syntax. You can google it. The powder's are called Nectar and they have several different varieties. I love the truffle because it is chocolate of course but they are so smooth and creamy it is amazing. I drink them with skim milk.

I agree with Restless. I wouldn't settle. I really had my mind made up for exactly what I wanted. I personally did not want any cutting to my stomach involved which is required for the sleeve and obviously bypass. I just did not want any part of that. My own personal choice. I have absolutely no regrets and I am so happy with my choice. Please be sure what you really want so you can say you have no regrets later.

It is what it is. I am fat therefore I am what I am. It is just a name to me. But I'll sure be glad when all the fat is gone. Here is the definition of the word Fat: The ester of glycerol and one, two, or three fatty acids. Any of various soft, solid, or semisolid organic compounds constituting the esters of glycerol and fatty acids and their associated organic groups. A mixture of such compounds occurring widely in organic tissue, especially in the adipose tissue of animals and in the seeds, nuts, and fruits of plants. Animal tissue containing such substances. A solidified animal or vegetable oil. Obesity; corpulence. The best or richest part: living off the fat of the land. Unnecessary excess: "would drain the appropriation's fat without cutting into education's muscle" (New York Times

I have heard other posters say they have lost hair also. Are you taking a good multi-vitamin? Also, you may want to have your thyroid checked. I have thyroid disease but had it before I was banded. It causes some hair loss but I keep my thyroid under control and have it checked regularly. If I remember right and someone correct me if I am wrong, when you put more protein in your diet and take out too many carbs, hair loss is one of the side effects. But, I would check with your surgeon just to be sure nothing else is going on that needs to be corrected.