atgoalgal

Hestie, I just read your success story. What a great story. I struggle with my decision - band vs. bypass. I also LOVE my band. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing your story. I also watched on this board for years before posting. It's great to see more people posting real-life success stories!

How did it go with your PCP. Are you scheduled for suregery next week. (I have my fingers crossed that you do)... Gloria

Firstly, congratulations on losing 16 lbs in 2 months. You have averaged more than 2 pounds/week; That IS A LOT of weight, especially since you were not starting from a very high BMI. Firstly your early experiences sound a lot like mine. I was one of those people who felt “unbanded” early on. It took several fills to get to a good place where I was satisfied with a small amount of food and not hungry between meals. Keep relying on those of us who have bands. That’s what I did! LOTS of people start out this way and are very successful; you can be too. I am going to make a few suggestions, but please always follow your doctors instructions. If anything I say contradicts with his/her instructions, check with your doctor first. Here are a few other things that might help: 1) Make sure you are getting enough Protein. Protein helps control hunger. I strive for at least 80 grams of protein per day. 2) Make sure you are drinking according to your doctor’s guidelines. I avoid liquids for 30 minutes before meals and 45 minutes to 1 hour after meals; also avoid liquid calories. Your band does not help with liquid calories. 3) Make sure your meals are made up of good quality solid foods. Since you have minimal restriction try dense foods like chicken (without sauces – meaning avoid lubricating your dense foods), and fresh fruits and vegetables, cut up in small pieces, chewed slowly. 4) If you must snack between meals, make sure you are only eating high quality, low fat dense protein, with some vegetables to help give you a sense of satisfaction and 5) If possible try calling your doctor to see if you can get in sooner for your next fill so that you are not white knuckling it for quite so long and make sure you are completely honest with your doctor about what you are doing and how you are feeling. Please stay in touch. You can do this. Hang in there! Gloria

good luck with your PCP. Feel free to PM me if I can help in any way. Gloria

You mentioned that if the stars align you would have surgery in late January. Are the stars aligning for you?

support is so important on this journey. I'm in my fourth year and maintaining a normal weight for the first time ever in my life. Lost 90 lbs and actually maintaining it for 2 years. Feel free to ask away or PM me. It's so important to have a realistic and honest perspective. I was very lucky to find a great mentor to help guide me through the journey. Looking forward to hearing from you. Gloria

Firstly, congratulations on losing 62lbs in one year! That’s well over a pound/per week sustained for a year; that is awesome. If you are saying that you have 40 more pounds that you want to lose, does that mean that if you lose that additional weight you will be at a BMI of <25? If so, your goal is 100% EWL. All the literature I’ve read says the average weight loss with a band is 50 – 60% EWL, and it seems like you may already there. My doctor always reminds me, that if I want to be the “A” student, meaning 80 – 100% weight loss, I am going to have to work harder. For me that means journaling, making sure I get at least 80 grams of Protein everyday, and exercising everyday. I haven’t met anyone who has to exercise 1 ½ hrs to 2 hours per day, but since it’s still calories in / calories burned, I’m wondering if there are 100 calories/day that you can eliminate. My doctor measure resting metabolic rate, so I have a pretty good idea of how many calories I need to consume to maintain my weight. You may just be one of those people with a very low metabolic rate…but look how far you’ve come! I have chosen to eliminate rice, bread and pasta, because I’ve never been able to maintain a weight I am happy with while eating starches. The foods that you say are difficult are the foods people often say they struggle with. If you really want bread, have you tried toast or hard, crusty breads. Do any of these ideas hit a chord with you? Are you celebrating your success or are self-sabotaging -expecting to fail one more time? Lord knows, I have an advanced degree in self-sabotage. I’m wondering if you have a Lapband only support group where you can share what you are experiencing with others on a more personal level. Feel free to PM me. Gloria

I am confused, who are you referring to who was banded in 2001; I didn't see anything about that on this thread?

How much have you lost so far? What do you mean by a "slow loser" I'd be interested to hear more about your journey. Is your issue that you can't eatsome of the things you would like to eat, are you frustrated that you are a "slow loser"? Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss. Gloria

Where are you in your journey? So much of what I've learned on my journey revolves around always having a plan, but that plan really depends upon what's hard at the time. For example, I feel like a "normal person" around food when I am at a good fill level, but that can change a bit from day to day. I need to really listen to my band. When my band feels a little loose, ice cold drinks seem to have a tightening effect for me. I also make a point of using plain white meat chicken and raw fruits and vegetables, to fill me "pouch" and get that feeling of satisfaction that helps keep me on track. Please share where you are and what you are struggling with, and I'd be happy to share what I've learned that may help. Gloria

I find that I get a little relaxed at times and that's ok, because it's real life. The key is that I have this tool, that makes it so much easier to go back to basics, when the scale creeps up. Staying within a range is definitely a great way to approach it. Yes, years out I was still getting fills. I haven't had one in more than 6 months, but I am still in regular contact with my surgeon. I have one of the earlier bands, it only holds 4cc's and I haven't had an issue. I really don't think the capacity of your band is something to be concerned about. I've never heard of someone needing more volume than their band could hold...but it is something I used to think about too. I think maybe I was just worried that the miracle of this band would stop for me at some point, now in my 4th year, I really trust the tool. It great hearing from you; I love sharing this journey. I wish that when I first had my band there had been more successful people out there to learn from. I was lucky to find someone in my doctor's practice who took me by the hand, and I think that is a big part of why I've been so successful. Let's keep this dialogue open, so that others can learn from our experiences. It feels great to pay it forward Gloria

Congratulations! That is incredible news! What a great gift for the holidays. You mentioned that your weight loss is slow, but just perfect for you. What an important lesson. Those of us with bands usually have slow weight loss - especially if we compare ourselves to bypass patients, but we learn how to use the tool along the way, and can achieve, lasting sucess. (see my success story 3 1/2 years...). It's not about rapid weight loss, it's about achieving and maintaining a healty weight for the rest of our lives! You go girl!:thumbup: Sending holiday cheer your way. Gloria

LaBella, It's great to hear from you. I absolutely went through the same thing. This really is a journey and it doesn't end when we reach a normal weight. I call it Banded Living. Now, in my fourth year, I am finally starting to understand that this weight loss is the real thing. Like so many other people who decided to get banded I spent much of my life yo-yoing; I lost a lot of weight before, I just never could keep it off, so it was really hard to believe that this is different, BUT IT IS DIFFERENT. For me getting my band and learning how to use it has made that difference. I have to remind myself that I've been wearing the same jeans for 2 years, and they've never gotten too tight! For me, that seems nothing short of a miracle. That being said, I still have days when I feel fat. My friends tell me that means I am now normal! My doctor gave me great advice that calmed my mind a bit. He gave me a 10 lb weight range to try to stay within, so for me it's 140 - 150. I got below 140 and everyone thought I looked sick; I try not to stress at 149, because I have the tool to help me get back to the middle of my range where I am most comfortable. As you approach your goal weight you may also experience a strange phenomenon. People are getting used to how great you look, the compliments slow down and you are no longer dropping sizes quickly. That was a hard adjustment for me; coming off of the weight loss high and getting used to my new body. For me that was the time when I really needed to surround myself and learn from other people who had been through this journey. It's scary and wonderful to learn to love your body and trust your appetite. Would love to hear more from you. Gloria

Who you choose should be, in part, influenced by where you live and/or work. Plan to see your doctor 9 - 12 times during the first year. Focus on a great surgeon, who has done a lot of bands and has a practice that emphasizes aftercare. My surgeon is Dr. Billy (Ventura County). I can't say enough wonderful things about him and his practice. I'm 4 years out, and have been maintaining my goal weight for 2 years. Dr. Billy has been my head coach on this "Banded Living" journey. If you are lucky enough to live near Dr. Billy, I would highly recommend you go see him. I was cash pay; his prices are competitive and he offers cash programs that include your follow-up which is critical. Best of luck. Congratulations on your decision. Gloria

I had a very different experience with Dr Billy and his staff. I found that his office staff always goes the extra mile to do the right thing for the patient. As a doctor, I can't say enough about Dr. Billy. He is an incredible surgeon, but he is also completely committed too the success of his patients. This doctor loves what he does and is great at it. He is both passionate and compassionate. He is also on top of the latest research and trends and incorporates those into his practice. Dr. Billy has built a practice that focuses on after-care. He understands what it takes to help his patients be successful. The office staff is great too!

Hang in there! Listen to your doctor about any special diet he/she wants you to follow. I would recommend making a list of your favorite foods and looking up the Protein grams and calories per serving. Some practices tell you not to worry about calories - so listen to your doctor. It's a great time to get really familiar with your favorite high protein choices, and incorporate those into your diet. You may also want to start testing out Protein drinks to find our which ones you like and which ones you hate; you'll need those protein drinks during your post op period. You may also want to think about whether you are going to tell people about your plans to have surgery or not. That was a huge decision for me. I guarded my secret, afraid that I would fail again. Now, I'm telling everybody, because I know I have found my solution, and I feel I have a responsibility to advocate for others.

To outside looking in, Wondering where you are in your journey. For me the band made the difference of "needing to come up for air." If you are early in your journey and want to ask questions, please feel free to PM me. I really get a lot our of paying ot forward. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Dear GraciesMom, Congrats on making this decision to take care of yourself. Your surgery date is the beginning of your journey. Do you have everything you need for your first days after surgery? Please keep us all posted. I have so many tips and tricks for how to use this tool along the way.

Your band can be the tool to help you lose the weight and keep it off for life. I was fat all my life, starting in early childhood. I hit the 200's in high school like you, although my BMI never got much above 40. I can share with you that my lapband mentor, who was banded more than 5 years ago, started at over 400 lbs, and has been maintaining, in the 170's for a few years now. If we can do this so can you. I have managed get to and maintain my goal weight by working this tool and weathering the ups and downs. The first question you might want to ask yourself is how am I going to learn to use this tool, rather than asking if "it" is going to work. That's something my surgeon, an incredibly experienced and compassionate man, drummed into me from the beginning. Keeping that in mind has served me well. Feel free to PM me or respond on this board. Getting my band and learning how to work it is one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm here to help!

Dear NJBFW Life seems to go on - even with our Bands. I also went through my mother's cancer. I feel for you. Be gentle on yourself but at the same time make sure you take care of yourself. Isn't that what your mom want for you? Remember you have this tool to help you. If you are having trouble keeping solids down, and you haven't had a fill lately, you may be irritated. Have you tried going back to liquids for a day or two (protein drinks and water, mainly), then reintroducing mushies, then solids? I've been in this situation, and have found (by doctor's orders) that this can really work. When I kept trying to eat small amounts when I was laready irritated, it made things much worse - I mean really bad! If this persists you should really check in with your surgeon's office. Remember you are in this for the long haul. By all means, run, don't walk to your support group. There is nothing like the help, support and experiences of other banded people. I hope this helps. Gloria banded 8/16/2006 100% EWL and a size 4 it's not the easy way out, but if I can do this so can you!

How are you doing with your liquids. Did your doctor give you Protein guidelines. Please feel free to ask any questions? This is a great time to revisit your goals for surgery? Do you have goals other than specific weight loss numbers? Do you have health goals, or things you are hoping to be able to do. If you haven't done so already now is a great time to write those things down. A few other suggestions. Prior to surgery, make sure to stock up on things you will need for the first few days after sugery. Bring a pillow with you to the surgery. It really helps in the car on the way home, and if you are staying overnight in the hospital. Also take a full length picture, facing directly into the camera. My mentor encourage me to take that picture, and though it was painful to do, I'm so happy I have it now. Stay in touch.

What a great story! Your pics are incredible. You go girl!:confused:

It's great to find you here as a mentor. You were my my mentor for the last 3 1/2 years. I never could have been as successful as I have been without your endless support. You are the best!

Finally I’ve won the battle with my weight. I am in great shape and great health because on August 16, 2006 I got a Lap-band®®®. With the help and support of a great team, I learned how to use this amazing tool. I am maintaining between 140 and 149 lbs. Some days I wonder if the scale is broken. It’s been hard work, and it certainly wasn’t the “easy way out.” It’s been over 3 years since surgery. I’ve been maintaining a healthy weight for more than 1 ½ years, but I still have days when it’s hard to believe that this is really my body, the one that I live in. One of my goals when I had my LAP-BAND®®® surgery was to keep up with my kids. Nowadays they have to keep up with me. Looking back, I vividly recall the pain and embarrassment of being weighed in my elementary school gym, praying that the school aide would not announce my weight for everyone to hear. I started dieting at the age of 10. My days were defined as good or bad by what I ate. I have been on every diet you can think of; I took diet pills for years; I cannot remember a year when I didn’t gain or lose at least 40 or 50 pounds. My hunger never went away. I always gave in. For me, dieting was like holding my breath, eventually I had to come up for air. I’ve always exercised regularly. I was a fit, fat person. I have thyroid problems and low body temperature and it’s too easy to use that as an excuse for my weight. The irony is that except for my battle with weight, I’ve been successful at everything I’ve ever attempted. I’m very fortunate. I have a great marriage, two wonderful children, true friends, and I’ve enjoyed a successful career as an executive and officer in Fortune 100 companies. I couldn’t have been this successful without the support and encouragement of a lot of people. I hope to pay that forward. I've decided to blog my entire Lap-band® journey, from the time, I first started exploring my surgery, preparing for surgery, recovering, transforming, and finally maintaining my weight loss . You can find my blog at Gloria's Banded Living — My LAP-BAND® Weight Loss Success Story. Good Luck on your own journey.