swjtlongdrive

Greg, I just posted in the men's room almost the exact same problem and dates you are experiencing. I'm headed in for an adjustment fill with no X-ray next week and hope to get back on the horse. I've decided to start respecting my band and all the effort I've put into it over the last 5 years and let it do what I wanted it to do. Restrict the foods to that I eat to ones that will fuel my body rather then just take up space. I've spent the last 2 years trying to find things to eat as I enjoy eating rather then eating the things I know I can and should eat. I'm back to being excited about the band and the future rather then pissed off that I can't eat what I want. Come and join me for the rest of the summer and let's see how we can do. I'm getting up 45 minutes early to do 30 minutes on the treadmill. My goal is to go .25 of a mile further every week in that same time. I'll start off walking this week and try to finish with a walk/sprint combo by the end of the summer.

So, without being long winded I was banded 5 years ago last month. I love my band but I don't always respect it. I started at 242 lbs and got down to 198 lbs about 18 months ago but am back up to 207 lbs this morning. I haven't had a fill in about 2 years and am wanting to get back on the horse and get down to 185 lbs. I don't have any questions, I don't have many comments but I will say that this forum has re-motivated me to get going again and get to where I wanted to be a long time ago. I've scheduled a fill for next week and am so looking forward to be "tight" again. My main reason for writing this is accountability as well as appreciation to everyone who posts on here as it is great to read the struggles and successes. Thanks again and I look forward to reading more.

Great write up bandedinbama. I'm 4 years post op and have lost 40 of the 75 lbs I wanted to lose but I've been at or around the same weight for 3 years now. I eat comfort food or slippage food as I call it. I eat around the band and throw up when I don't. Feel like crap all the time. Just not fun. Today starts a new chapter. Liquids first then back to the rules. Thanks again for writing this. I'm not alone and that in itself helps.

wow, similar situation to say the least. Lost 40 lbs in the first year and have stayed the same weight (within 5 pounds) since then. I'm determined to get the next 35 pounds off before christmas to prove to myself I can do it. Any motivational techniques? Food is the biggest player in weight loss but exercise matters also and time is always short. Just went for my first "run" in about 2 years. Hurts, sore, tired but ate a good dinner and am ready to get going again. Advice is welcome.

One year down and I still love my band. I'd like to have lost about 15 more lbs during the first year but I am happy so far. I haven't been exercising yet, just some walking and such. So, year 2 is all about the exercise. I love my band and am getting another fill tomorrow and I can't wait. Restriction is the best. Hope everyone is doing well and wish everyone good luck.

Hello all, I know this topic has been discussed at great length but sometimes it can help to write it down and get specific direction for one's self. I have stalled and have adapted some bad habits. I find myself eating Cereal for Breakfast rather than eggs, slider foods for lunch instead of grilled chicken, etc. I just recently had my most "aggressive" fill so I am excited about that but still the 9 months of hard work has paid off but I just need to get back on track. I've tried doing just liquids for a couple of days to get free from the carbs or bad habits only to find myself starving after the days of liquid. The scale hasn't moved for over 2 months and I am ready to get it moving again. I know I just need to start eating right but any other ideas? Also, as I add cardio to my routine I find myself even more hungry than when I don't work out. I know this is normal but it is a different hunger that I am not a fan of. I really want to eat a large portion after working out. Basically, just venting and looking for "here's what I have done with success when I am where you are" experiences as I know what I am going through is normal. My one year anniversary is coming up in less than 60 days and I'd like to finish the year strong and get below 195 before March 3, 2011. Any and all advice welcome.

Ok, I'm fast approaching my one year anniversary of the band. What a great experience so far. I'm not a fast loser but I never have been. The greatest part of the band is not the weight loss but rather the knowing that I won't gain it back. I love losing but I also love when I think I have been "bad" for a couple weeks and I get on the scale and I've gained 2 pounds instead of 10 or 15. It makes losing that much easier, knowing it's not coming back. Sorry, long winded, I just love the band. My question is, what is a good expectation of % of excess weight loss in the first year? I've seen studies that show anywhere from 30%-70% of the excess lost. Anyone with an opinion weigh in. I'm just looking for a guideline and anyone else's results of what their doctors told them. My Dr. is awesome and I would recommend him to anyone. Very laid back. He happened to weight about the same as I did and have had the band a few months before me so its been great to see his progress. Dr. Trace Curry in OH. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and please keep up the good work everyone.

Hey all, I wanted to put my two cents in. Everyone is right on. This is a tool and you still have to do the work. I'll fall off the horse one day then get back on for a week. That's part of living with the band. I accept I'm a slow loser and I'm ok with that. Goal was to get to a healthy happy weight and I am half way there in the first 7 months or so. No complaints. Unsolicited advice: Listen to your band. There are no get stuck foods, there are only food that get stuck in you. Some can eat bread some can't. Some eat donuts some don't. Best part of the band: Freedom, I now can choose to have a good day or a bad day with food. Used to be that food ruled my days. I was a low BMI patient and thus paid out of pocket for the surgery. I saw where I was headed and didn't want to go there, so I took control and have gained my freedom back. Good luck to anyone making this choice becuase it is just that, your choice. It's not easy and it's not for everyone. I love my band and look forward to many years of weight loss under my terms.

I'm in the middle of what I think will be my biggest losing month since being banded about 7 months ago. I was/am a low BMI user to begin with but this month I have lost 11 pounds in 3 weeks and thinking I'll end up at 15 or so for the month. Two things have helped with this. I got a fill that finally gave me restriction but as important as that and maybe more is I have started running. Not walking fast but running. I can't go long distance so I sprint from one light pole on my street to the next then I walk to the next light pole, then sprint again. Wow, what a difference it is making. It's fun also.

Here is my update Adjua....................347...............337...........240......... ....97 Amy......................289................228.9..........160........ 68.9 Angie64.................270................270...........210....... ......60 Astrasmom.............254................254...........170............. .84 Babe.....................265................265...........199.... ..........66 Band_Groupie.........172.5..............157.5..........0-148........0-9.5 BetsyB..................226.6..............206.8.........109...... ......97.8 BigMomma..............209................209...........135............. .74 Bklynike.................258...............258...........150......... . .108 BobbieND...............224...............207...........150..... .......57 Bree99..................259...............234...........155..... .......83 Brigette................198................198............150.... ........48 Bristlecone............157................157............130....... .....27 crzytchr................217................217............180..... ... ...37 Dana36.................233...............229.............160....... .....69 daqui26.................274...............274..............200....... ....74 DDGALARZ..............185...............183............150............ .35 destined4thinness..215.5.............215.5...........150.............6 5 5 Diamondgirl81........317...............275..............225........... . 50 ericanda1973.........198.5............198.5...........130.......... ..68.5 Fourme.................189...............168.............145.......... . ..23 Healthy-me-in-Az...242................183.6..........139.............44.6 HummingBird..........204...............164.............150............ .14 jenibeni.................224...............188.............165........ ....23 Jennih...................232...............232.............130.... .......102 Jeni 85..................185..............192..............150............. 35 KDEE....................240................240.............150...... ......90 kyleegirl01.............245................194.............160...... ......34 Lady LAP...............217................217.............125...... ......95 Lisa65...................174.5............165..............145..... .......20! Liz........................193.4............174..............155...... ......19! lotzasunshine..........271..............271..............225.......... ...46 MaggieGT..............238...............236..............208.......... .. 30 newdicarlo.............187...............174..............135...... .. ...39 Northernmist..........289...............265..............175.......... . ..90 ol55andahalf..........184...............184..............144...... .......40 Peggy1.................308...............308..............225......... .. ..83 RandaPanda...........194...............164..............150........ ....14 RAYNE913.............234...............210..............160....... ......50 RobinAnn.............232.4.............187.2.............160...... ....27.2 scoutmama...........270...............270...............180........ ....90 shadst8................333...............291.2.............233........ ....58.2 skinny31................261...............236..............182..... .......54 SNDYCNRD.............207...............194.5............150........... 44.5 sueinne.................220................226.............180.... ........46 swjtlongdrive..........242................217.............179......... ....38 Tabithan................244...............234..............190....... .....44 TARASGIRL.............305...............259..............225....... .....34 tdtucker................256...............256...............160...... . ....96 Teacher2010..........192...............183...............150...... . ....33 Tealeaves..............305...............289...............150...... . ...139 TeriLu....................215...............212...............150.. .... .....62 TIGGER71G............224...............224................130....... .....94 Tinksmom..............256................213................145....... .....43 unshackled............277...............277................180....... .....97 Valerie.................190................190................150... . .......40 wonderwoman2009 175...............175................160..............15

Adjua....................347...............337...........240......... ....97 Amy.....................289................239.9...........160........ .. 79.9 Angie64.................270...............270...........210....... ......60 Astrasmom............254...............254...........170............. .84 Babe....................265...............265...........199.... ..........66 Band_Groupie........172.5.............157.5..........0-148........0-9.5 BetsyB.................226.6.............206.8.........109...... ......97.8 BigMomma............209.................209...........135...........74 Bklynike...............258.................258...........150.......... .108 BobbieND..............224................207...........150..... .......57 Bree99.................259................234...........155..... .......83 Brigette................198...............198............150.... ........48 Bristlecone............157...............157............130....... .....27 crzytchr................217...............217............180..... ... ...37 Dana36.................233...............229............160....... .....69 daqui26.................274...............274............200....... .....74 DDGALARZ..............185...............185............150............ .35 destined4thinness..215.5.............215.5..........150............65 5 Diamondgirl81........317...............281.............225............ 56 ericanda1973.........198.5............198.5..........130......... ..68.5 Fourme.................189...............169............145........... ..24 Healthy-me-in-Az...242................183.6.........139...........44.6 HummingBird..........204...............169............150............. .19 jenibeni.................224...............208............165........ ....43 Jennih...................232...............232.............130.... ......102 Jeni 85..................185..............185..............150........35 KDEE....................240................240.............150...... .....90 kyleegirl01.............245................194.............160...... .....34 Lady LAP...............217................217.............125...... .....95 Lisa65...................174.5............165..............145..... ......20! Liz........................193.4............174..............155...... ......19! MaggieGT..............238...............236..............208.......... 30 newdicarlo.............187...............174..............135...... . ...39 Northernmist..........289...............265..............175.......... ..90 ol55andahalf..........184...............184..............144...... ......40 Peggy1.................308...............308..............225......... ..83 RandaPanda...........194...............173..............150........ ....23 RAYNE913.............234...............225..............160....... ....65 RobinAnn.............232.4...............210.4..............160...... ....50.4 scoutmama...........270...............270..............180........ ....90 shadst8................333...............291.2..............233....... . ....58.2 skinny31................261...............240..............182..... .......58 SNDYCNRD.............207...............194.5............150.......... 44.5 sueinne.................220................212.............180.... ........32 swjtlongdrive..........224................224.............179..........45 Tabithan................244...............234..............190....... .....44 TARASGIRL.............305...............271..............225....... ......46 tdtucker................256...............256...............160...... . ....96 Teacher2010..........192...............183...............150...... . ....33 Tealeaves..............305...............289...............150...... . ...139 TeriLu....................215...............212...............150.. .... ....62 TIGGER71G............224...............224................130....... .....94 unshackled............277...............277................180....... .....97 Valerie.................190................190................150... . .......40 wonderwoman2009 175...............175................160..........15 __________________

Thanks for organizing and I look forward to the success that comes in the next 27 weeks before the end of the year. It'll be tough but exciting. Name************Starting**********Current**********Goal swjtlongdrive.................225..........................225.....................179

Guys, I think we are all in the same boat and I have found that finding someone that is about 2-4 months ahead of me helps a bunch so here goes. March 8th bandster 1st 4 weeks I lost 15 pounds because of restriction from surgery - felt great and was ready to go. First Fill at week 4 2nd 4 weeks I lost nothing but didn't gain - no restriction and felt like I was dieting. Second fill at week 8.5 3rd 4 weeks - same as 2nd four weeks, I felt like maybe the band was never going to work and I'd wasted time and money. 3rd fill at week 13ish - 7.5/14 (capacity of the band) HOLLY COW. RESTRICTION. WOW. ANOTHER WORLD. - I can eat 3/4 of a chicken breast and one more bite and I think my lunch, my Breakfast, and my dinner from last night are going to come up and my chest is going to explode. Not kidding at all. It is a great feeling. Point of all this is the band is a tool to help you but until you feel restriction take it easy on yourself and what the scale says. I am now excited to get on the scale next week because I can feel the restriction and thus am excited to workout, not eat much and still feel full and great. Without restriction I feel like I am dieting. With restriction I feel like I am making choices as to what to put in my body to fuel it for the days activity. BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Good luck to all and don't hesitate to PM me as I finally feel like I am on my way. I'm no expert but I'll share what I am experiencing.