BayougirlMrsS

I too was a slow loser. It took me one year to lose the first 60 and another year to lose 20. At first i felt the same way... Why am i not losing fast like everyone else... Then i got a message from a friend that explained that.... EVERY LB story is different and every one losses at a different pace. So i excepted that even though i was only losing 2-4lb per month... it was still a lose and i learned to embrace every pound. Remember.... Slow and steady still finishes the race. You friend is correct... water, protein and exercise. Keep positive....

What a wonderful read.... I also agree with the above that you will do great. Going in with a great frame of mind and good expectation will be of great benefit. Sounds like you did your research and are ready for your life change. It is a LIFE change you will from now own have to watch how you eat everything... that is the most important thing. Everyone's LB experience is different, so don't compare your self to any other. If you have a low BMI you probably will be a slow loser like i was. But, slow or fast... it's the journey. If you don't already, you may want to start looking for a good all-a-round gym. I stayed away from the weight at first. It was just too intimidating for me. So i joined the YMCA and started with Zumba classes and walking. I would continue the support group... and I would get rid of all the summer clothes as you won't fit them by next summer anyway. I would keep one outfit that you can take progress pictures in and keep one pair of each size jeans so you can really see your changes. I know for me the mirror didn't change. I still saw and continue to see the fat person in the mirror. My BMI was 40.8 when i started and weight was 223lb at 5'2". I had my LB 11/09 and it took me two years to get to where i am now which is a healthy size 7. This past Feb i had a Tummy tuck and i have to say i am so pleased.... but i will also admit i have gotten lazy and gained 5lbs.... but i have made my mind up that i'm not going to let it get me down. I embrace all my good changes and except me for who i am. Good luck with everything and i wish you all the very best. happy Losing...!!

Ok, So last night i had the strangest dream.. I dreamed I went to a doctor, not even sure who this doctor was.... but i was put to sleep and for some reason..... he took out my band.... I woke up and he was saying... I took it out for you. I was like.... WTF dude. Ran to my doctor with my band in my hand and was like..... Look at what this man did to me. WTH was that all about?

congrats.... to you....i wish you all the luck in the world

So this is what i do for smoothies..... First i don't use ice. I go to sams and buy the precut frozen fruit and i put 2 cups of fruit in blender with my liquid Protein and one container of yogurt. If it too thick, i pour in a small amount of juice until it the thickness i want... I know this will sounds strange... but i get the juice in the baby food isle.... they are a little more expensive, but you only open one at a time and the rest doesn't go bad. When i get fresh fruit, i take the time to cut it all up... apples, bananas..etc and i put lemon juice on them and bag it up and put in freezer.... hope this helps

Rahrah.... you just described over half the situation on this LB site. My husband was one of the ones that sabotaged my diet efforts in the past and still does to this day. He is 6'4" and has no weight problem. Will eat and i'm not kidding a half gallon in one sitting and not gain anything. Yesterday he polished off half bag of oatmeal cookies and 1/4 bag of Oreos.... then was still hungry and ate a plate of Pad-ti noodles. They want you to be thin, but are afraid of you finding some one else. He makes commits all the time about me wanting to find other men. I tell him, if i wanted another man i could have one and could have had one at 223lbs. A lot of relationships don't survive WLS. The "other" person usually can't handle the attention that they are getting now that the weight has come off. my average was 2lb a month..... but i don't care. i now weight 145 and i'm happy and i feel great.... And so will you....

Most doctors place the band in but leave it empty. this is do to the swelling that happens after surgery. My first fill was 9 days after surgery. He only put in 1cc. If you look at my weight dates in my signature, those are also the days i got fill. I never had an unfill....well until the Tummy tuck.

Might i as why you are only eating 300 cal. a day? Just like with any other diet, you are throwing your self into "starvation" mode.... your body is storing. I found when i ate a more "balanced" meal...and had my lite Snacks... i lost better then the days i ate less cals. So maybe eat more Protein and see how that works. Log in what you eat this way you will have it in writing what worked and what didn't. don't beat your self up over this.... my weight loss was slow, i was worried at first that i had failed again.... but then i started exercising and i started losing inches and building muscle..... Have you started exercising? If not, start slow with walking and or a class like Zumba. That's what i did, then i worked up to the elliptical (aka the devil) and then weights.... Oh.... and stop weighing your self everyday... Good luck and think positive.

One word answer to your question... how often do i mess up............... Everyday. No one is perfect, and if someone tells you they got the band and followed everything exactly... well they would be untruthful... Everyone slips....So don't be hard on yourself. Learn from what your doing and/or what you did and try and do better. that's the most we can all hope for. We didn't get to be "large" people by being able to follow all the rules. Having the band doesn't change that. Don't be so hard on yourself and expect perfection... you will only be setting yourself up for disappointment. judge yourself on other mini goals... and reward yourself for reaching them. I got a mani and pedi for every 5lbs i lost. When i reach a bigger goal, like fitting in a smaller size pants... i rewarded myself with a new pair or something else. good luck and happy shrinking

Patience.... you are so right. I was not always a fat girl.... up until my early twenties... i was a size 0..... 100lb is the most i ever weighted not being pregnant..... I use to not see the "fat" girl..... now i can't see the "thin" girl.... what the hell is up with that..... Thanks you guys for being there

You guys are so wonderful. Knowing i'm not alone is comforting. But it has me worried too. My pych eval never mentioned the roller-coaster ride this journey would be. How i might still look at my self in the mirror and still see that Fat girl looking back at me. Every once and a while i do catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and see a thin person... but she quickly disappears. How do i get her to stay? How do some people look in the mirror and see there true self? I really think that more study needs to be done on people with WLS and the mental effect it has. So i think i will get an appointment with a shrink and maybe i can get some help and start excepting who i really am.....

So it been 2 1/2 years since i got my LB. I have done well. Not as well as others. I really thought i would be down to 125-130 by now.... but can't seem to get past the 143 mark.... Well i got to 139 for a brief period of time right after my Tummy Tuck... Got back up to 149, but now i'm back to .... 143. I guess it's my number. So i was talking with my husband and i asked him.... what do you think about the way I look? Was i not thinking right or what....lol..... But to my surprise he said he thought i looked perfect... Wow was not expecting that. Then i said.... I would really like to lose another 10lbs.... He said why are you so focused on the "number" on the scale?.... I was completely caught off guard by that question. So i asked my self..... Why am i so consumed by the number on the scale (aka the devil)? And i really don't know why. I got the band to stop the cycle of Heart attacks and diabetes in my family and i wanted to be able to run and play with my grand kids. I also wanted to stop having to shop at Lane Bryant.... I wanted to feel good and look good, i wanted to be pretty again... You would think being a size 6 and 143ish pounds would be good... Enough. Why is it not? My first goal was to be a size 10, got that. Then i said... well if i could only be a size 8 then i will be happy, got that.... then it was... i hate this stomach roll... boy if i could just get that taken off.... i would be happy and not need another thing, got the Tummy Tuck. Now it's my face.... What...? Yes my face, now that i lost the weight, i can see all the lines and wrinkles that the "fat" face hid.... So at dinner the other night... i brought Botox..... my husband of coarse rolled his eyes.... my son the RN went thru all the horror stories about botched Botox..... But none set in as much as my 6 year old Grandson when he said..... Nana... i think your beautiful just the way you are....(insert tears)... If a 6 year old can see it... Then why can't I?? So that's why i ask..... When is Enough... Enough?

If you have time..... go to Chat after dark.... you will see what i mean. During the day we have nice clean conversations..... At night... it's no holds bar.... i don't go on at night anymore.

Sorry for doubting you... but glad you set it straight. You have to know that we have people that come in here for all the wrong reasons... congrats on the weight loss

You doing great... 6lb's a month.... I understand the meat thing. I can only eat steak if it's cooked Med. Rare or white meat chicken if it very moist. I stick with the dark chicken and I ate a lot of Wendy's Chili in the first few months. For some reason, it always goes down. Walmart has frozen Talapa that are individually packed. One filet cooked with Extra virg. olive oil and some lemon pepper season is great..... or get the low sodium cream Soup and pour some on top of fish..... like cream of mushroom. Slice Cajun turkey from the Deli is great.... have them shave it for you. I do turkey roll ups with pepper jack cheese, have them cut very thin... yummy. If you are having trouble still..... get some liquid Protein and mix in smoothie. I go to Sams and buy the pre-cut, frozen fruit and blend that with some yogurt and protein (no ice, frozen fruit enough cold). Protein is important, i didn't listen at first and lost a lot of hair in the process. Have you started exercising? Some type of movement is necessary for optimal weight loss. It took me a few months to get that thru my thick head.... So i started doing Zumba 2-3 x week..., treadmill and the elliptical (aka the devil).... Started slow and them add more time... YOU CAN DO THIS..... Don't get down on your self.... and don't compare yourself to others. Every bandster is different. You just do YOU.....

Not sure.... go to your profile, Edit my profile, under my setting there is a blue line, click on photo, creat a new album.

Cazzy is right..... I have the Lap-band AP system. At least that's what my card says....

hey Mis73.... i had my TT 19 weeks ago and my experience was great. I too was expecting the worse and chose not to have the Breast reduction at the same time because i heard it was so painful. But it turn out not to be the case for me. I equated it with my 2 c-sections. Mine was from hip to hip and dips down into my pubic area. I didn't want a scar straight across my stomach.... my dr listened and i am sooooo happy. I was back at my desk job in 12 days. The worse part for me was the compression garment. I had to pay out of pocket for mine, but it was the best $8800 i ever spent. and would do it again in a heart beat.

Girl, you nailed that one.... goood job.

I wish i would have taken better before pictures.... and continued taking them in the same outfit. Most of us "fluffy" people avoid camera. My husband is a part-time photographer.... and every time he would take one i would make him delete it..... Now i'm glad he kept a few. I remember after i got approved.... i ate every thing i could....lol..... it was another version of the good the bad and the ugly....hehe. I will chat with you later.... have a great weekend

Congrats to all of you on your weight-loss...... My three year is in November.... can't be leave it's been that long already. I started at 223... got down to 139.....then back up to 149....143 now gained a few back after my Tummy tuck.... because they removed all my fill and went 8 weeks with an empty band got 5cc, then at 17 week i got another 4cc... so i'm back at 9 in my 14cc band. i'm so great-full for my band. My Tummy it the only thing i have had fix .... so far. I would love to have a reduction and lift, but i have to wait. My insurance would not cover my TT, so i had to pay for it. I work a few job and im able to use some of that "extra" to pay for my TT. I was going to get a personal loan but opted for a Chase Slate care at 0% interest for 15 months. Hope to have it paid by then, but if not i will transfer the balance to another 0% int. card until i have it paid. Total for everything was $8800. It was the best $8800 dollars i have ever spent.... i would do it again tomorrow if i had too. The pain for me was very minimal and i was back at work in 12 days. My stomach i now flat-as-a-fritter (as my friend says) and i can see straight down ... after i move the boobs out the way.... lol. i have now replaced my addiction of food with VS panties.....lol

that's wonderful news...

Hey Jim, Call your insurance carrier and have them help you find a new doctor. That's what you pay them for after all. We had gotten a letter that our old insurance was going to stop covering our local hospital.... i was so scarred, but they worked something out and signed back on... but i lost my job and got different insur that doesn't cover WLS at all so now all my fills are out of pocket. Hope everything works out for you.

OMG..... Sharon... i am so happy for you.... i'm glad you never gave up. I feel your joy.

congrats on taking the steps to changing your life. Few things you didn't mention: your height, your weight, have you had kids? natural or c-section? Theses are my reasons: I find that the taller people that don't have a huge amount that have not had kids do better with the skin issue. I on the other hand am 5'2" weight 223 had two kids via c-section. I have lost 80lbs ... give or take a few. I exercised and lost weight slower than most. My underarms, legs (inner and outer thighs) have no issues, no problems with the neck either...... But, my stomach was different. Even though i worked out i still had the stomach apron, mostly due to the two c-sections. So at two year and three months out i went and had a tummy tuck. :) I'm so happy....for the first time in 20+ years i can wear a bikini in public. Like the rest, i would rather have the loose skin then be back at 223lbs again. Others are right, every person is different with the band and so is every person's insurance. I started my process in Aug. 09 and was having surg. nov. 09. I had the seminar, visit with nutritionist, heart dr., swallow test, sleep study, I didn't have to do any diet as i was right at 40.8 with no co-morbid s..... in fact i purposefully gained 10 lbs to meet insurance of 40 BMI. I'm not ashamed of that and would do it over again. At one point i was at 230 and dieted with WW and got down to 213. But could not go below that.... so when i started research and found out i had to be at 40 i gained 10lbs back... Gain 10 to lose 80... hell yes and i would do it again. My PCP sent in a paper with my medical history and so did my GYN... to show my progressive weight gain over the years. that was it... approved first letter. I wish you all the luck....