BayougirlMrsS

i too was a slow loser..... two years to lose 80lbs... well now 84 after the TT. I also, only lost 63lbs in the first year. the remainder came last year. I too wanted to lose 100lb in a year, but now im glad i didn't. Losing the weight slower meant my skin went back better. My PS said that besides my apron, my arms, legs and back has gone back great. He did do a little lipo on my sides, back, hips.... but it was for contouring. Good luck in your next years.... and if you haven't already... get to the gym. It will help. I started with Zumba...

Didxo..... this question has been asked many time over the years and the "majority" of us will say the same thing..... YES!! it was worth it and YES!! my expectations were EXCEEDED.... But like the above have already said...there is a lot to go along with getting banded. You will have to break up with food. Most of us will say that was a hard hurdle to jump. Not turning to food for sadness, happiness, anger, love.... etc. You will have to make time for you to exercise, you have to make sure your hubby is on board. Lost of marriages don't survive ones new found confidence and attention....... we have some people that come on and will tell you ..... they never watched what the ate and never exercised and still lost.... well ok. But for most of us it was hard work. So like Toddy said.... if your head and heart are in the right places... then continue your research and make the best decision for you and your family. And i say your family because they are a big part of this journey.... I understand the money part, i just recently had my Tummy Tuck that i had to pay out of pocket. Went back and forth with the same.... but then i thought. My kids are grown, i have worked all my life (most of the time more than one job at a time)... plus being wife, mom, housekeeper, cook, driver,.... etc.. I deserve this....I'm so glad i did it... good luck

Wait... I just had my tummy tuck two weeks ago. the muscles will be stretched and will be a waist of your time to do the tummy tuck or anything now.... But that's just me. How old are you? You may also want to got for a check up with your GYN to make sure everything is good for you to be able to have kids. congrats on the Amazing weight loss

got banded with my 14cc band nov. 09'... went for fills like i should have and last Dec. 11' i went for a fill. Felt like i really needed it. I asked.... how much do i have in "tina" aka my band..... he said you should have 10.9.... i was like ok, that's what i thought also. He stick in the needle and pulls out 10cc......im like .... were did my .9 go. he said some time over the years it evaporates.... i was like .. Really. So he put in .5cc.... now i'm back up to 10.5cc right.... wrong. Went back the next day because i felt no difference and in fact was very hungry. so he stick in and pulls out......10cc.....What? what the hell is going on.... he said... I don't know so he put in .5 again. Two months later Feb 15, 2012 i have my Tummy tuck and guess what.... they have to pull it all out... so now i'm back to 0cc in my band... and i have to start over. Today i ate my first slice of pizza with crust in two years.... OMG.... It was so freaking good. But, it to shall end... going get a fill as soon as my swelling goes down.

oh sweetie.... im so sorry. Really wish i could help. You know i would. But you made a good point.... why will it take a week when they should have all that together already? That looks like a RED flag to me on your doctors office part.

the good thing is you are aware of the fact that you are eating more than you should be able too. I just don't understand why doctor/Rn/Nutritious aren't telling people that the first few month are HELL.... We all have or had it in our mind that we are having LB and we will come out and not ever be hungry again....... SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH. This is the time period that for me was the hardest. Had the band in but i was still so hungry i could eat the paint off the walls..... But then my dr. said,... you have a 14cc band and you only have 2cc in it..... I was like what the hell. fill that puppy up. He told me that the first few month that he fills slowly is because this is the time to train you bran and stomach to listen to each other. So I started listening.... sure nuff... i was eating out of board-um .. like i was doing before. I started eating only what i was supposed to eat and taking my time eating it.... waited my 30 min to drink and if i was still hungry, i would snack on cheese or something some what healthy. This is what i like to call the "self monitoring time" Were it's up to you to watch, learn and train for a life time with the Band... I wish you all the luck in the world and good luck with the Zumba..... it was my first exercise and i fell in love with it... But if you can get to a class and do it as a group, you will see better results. OH and if you can find one get one of those belly dancing jiggle belts...it help to...... and Try Body combat or body pump... they are great too.

I hear you Jenni....... i was so freaking mad i was yelling at the tv..... i wanted to say ... why are you doing this to all of us who LB has worked for. I was yelling ... saying not wonder it didn't work for you... you didn't fellow the rules... and wan't ready for it to work......AGGHHHHH

wow... that is a great question. I would call the doctor..... you may just have to do "something" else.... lol i'm waiting for my few weeks to pass after my Tummy Tuck.... only on week 2... 2 to go.

no.. i've never felt like that. But i do miss certain foods... Mags... next time you feel like that .... take a look around. Especially at buffets. Look at the people eating there, look at their plates.... Than think... that's what i'm doing all this for... so i don't end up like that... or so i stop being like that. Ok.... tell me how mean i am and how can i say that because i use to be that.... but it's true....

congrats on the weight loss...... I got fills even when i was losing... My dr asked are you hungry.. i said all the time. He said, ok, then let do a little fill You are right about the first few months after. It's a lot of self monitoring and discipline. I felt no restriction for a few fill. So don't get discouraged if you still get hungry. I have a 14cc band took me to two years to get to 10.9... lost .9 along the road (dr said it evaporates) so in December i was back at 10.5cc.... until the 15th when it all came out for my Tummy Tuck. So i'm back at point one with no fill at all. Surprisingly ... i'm not that hungry, but my stomach is still swollen and i know that as that goes down, my hunger will go up...

Mine did not cover. I paid 8800 for the TT. I put it in a no intrest credit cars for the next 15 months. I am feeling great today. I would equate it to the c-sections and not they hysterectomy. That was a breeze and so was the gallbladder and LB. my stomach is still swollen and it fills a little tight. So tomorrow is my one week. Will keep you posted

Hey guys.... Things are going great. I go for my one week check up tomorrow. My first night was my worst, but I had no pain meds. My friend picked up my scripts and thought the phenagin was pain meds so she was giving me that I stead of Percocet . :-( today is day six and I'm walking a lot down to two pain meds a day. Stomach is still swollen but it looks great. Thanks for all your well wishes. Will have pictures soon One other thing.... Does you stomach still feel kind of numb

So every thing went great. Surgery took about two hours. Stayed the night discharged at about 4. Pharmacy forgot to give me the percocet. Last night was pretty painful. The compression garmit ups on the sides and was rubbing the incision. But now I have the pain meds and put maxi-pads to stop rubbing. Will keep you all posted. Thanks for everything

Girl.... those are some great pointers. Will try and updated as soon as i can.... Thanks again

Hello everyone, So tomorrow is my big day... i'm getting my tummy tuck and boy am i nervous... but excited too. I'm looking for pointer, and tips to help me get through this. I do have a high tolerance for pain.... but you never know. So to all my fellow Tummy Tuckers..... What helped you the most with your surgery? Thanks..

I eat popcorn.... no problems here. i keep it to only when i go to movies. Same thing with candy. I can make one bag of m&m's last a few days. I buy the bite size candies and i keep them in my co workers desk so i only eat one every few days. Biggest problem for me is still Ice cream.... i love ice cream.... it does not matter what flavor... i will eat them all. So my solution is.... i buy the blue bell party cups and when i just HAVE to HAVE it.... i eat one cup. Then all is right in my life again....lol Tracy... every one is different. Every LB patient goes thru this journey on a different path. Just because i can eat or can't eat something does not mean it will be the same for you. For me it was trial and error... i would try and if it error ed... it would come back up... Then i learned my lesson and said... well guess i can't eat instant grits anymore... or bread, rice, pizza, etc.... Good luck with your journey and walk your path....

ok... so for me i just wanted to be thin again. In my twenty's i was a size 0 and weighted 100lbs. My husband and i got married 21 years ago and year by year... i got fatter and fatter. But i never saw myself as big as i was in the mirror... in my mind i still looked good.... then one day i was looking at pictures (husband is a photographer) and i said... who is that, then i looked again and it was ME... OMG i thought, do i really look like that. How did i let myself get so FAT.... I was not and i'm still not ... "un healthy"... never had HB, heart problems, diabetes, sleep app... ... nothing... just FAT... My first goal was to have the surgery and take charge of my life again. Then to fit in a single digit paints.... size 8 and not a size 18-20. Buy... pretty sexy panties from VS. Be able to walk up a flight a stairs with out having to stop and catch my breath. As far as seeing my toes....my boobs are too big for that...lol. I wanted to look sexy and feel my confident about my self and not hide and be ashamed of what i had let myself become. and last but defiantly not least.... i wanted a better sex life with my husband. So two years later and 80lbs gone.... Wednesday i'm going in for a TT. It's not for everyone, but after two c-sections, hysterectomy, gallbladder, and LB.... my stomach apron is bad, it get sore and irritated when i walk, and exercise and i'm tired of having to wear "girdles". I didn't go thru all the watching what i eat and exercise to still have to do that.... so going get it cut off. What would i do to stay thin.....? Every damn thing i had too. someone posted on here a while back about "self fills" and people tore her up.... if it meant me being able to stay thin.... hand me the needle and saline.... But luckily for me my son and daughter in law are RN's.... but i still go to my doctor at least once a year.... yes i still gripe about the rapping he does each time charging $235 for a fill... but i will do what i have too. Today... i woke up and weighted 143 again....

Ali, First let me say ... you are absolutely stunning. You have do obviously fa-nominal job with your band over the years and looks like you could defiantly give out of pointers. B-52 is correct with everything he said.... by the way... B52 Looking great!! Again... WOW I had to go to your profile because when i saw your picture i said..... no way this woman was ever Fat.... You must live in the gym. And running 10K. I'm still have issues with running. Can you give me some pointer on how you started and how you got to were you are now. My issue is my breast, i still have large 36FF and can't find anything to keep from hurting after i attempt to jog. It will be a while before i can start because i'm have a TT Wednesday..... excited and nervous at the same time. Keep up that great work....

C9.... i also had UHC.... my BMI was on at 40.8 for one year with no co-morbidities. approved on first letter with in a week or two. Maybe your dr. is not submitting correctly. I would try again, don't give up. I would go further up the ladder there and plead my case again and again...

Great tips..... i will keep you all posted.

you all have been so encouraging...... it really means alot. How long ago did you all get your band, what was your weight lose, and sizes....As you all know i started a 223, 5'2" size 18-20. Now i'm at 145 and a size 8 fit very comfortable, but size 6 fits. Hoping to be a size 4 by the end of all this. but mostly it's about losing this apron and the rashes and soreness from the rubbing when i walk or exercise.... So Laura...Monday is your big day... Wow... 4 days out. How was the pain? How long are you going to be out of work? My doctor does not use drain tubes, so i'm hoping to be back on my 12 day. surgery on the 15th and back to work on the 27th. Did you stay overnight? Who changed the port? I would love to see pic if you feel comfortable showing one day. Thanks for the prayers......

Bridget, i will go check it out. One of my favorite bloggers to fellow is Amy.... Go read hers.. She too is a veteran banster and is awesome..... Hers is...... Once Upon A Time...In the Land of Cheese and Sunkist She has so much knowledge and is incredibly funny and inspiring..... She's also a friend on here..... under.... Makulafamy

Thanks you guys...... I really think most of the anxiety is coming from the fear of losing my job in the process. two years ago when i had my LB, on the day i went back i was laid off from the job i had for 10 years.... I was devastated. I know i would have lost it any way, but it's still in the back of my mind. Not only do i have my "regular" job here, but i also do the cleaning and the extra money i make doing that is going to pay for the TT. If i lose my reg job, i then lose the extra job ....meaning I'm ... screwed..... But, I have to put this in Gods hands and let things happen the way they are going to happen. and i will go check out that site Beach... thanks for the info.

So i just made my appointment for my TT for this coming Wednesday the 15th...... and boy has the anxiety hit. I have been wanting and anticipating this surgery for the past two year and now that i'm a week away... i feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest. I need advice and reassuring..... Please.... from people who has had the TT and felt like this right before.... thanks.

listen to Ladybug..... and stay away from the bad stuff....i'm one of the ones that can not eat Bread, Rice... etc even in small bites. I've been that way from fill #4. I have the 14cc band and i have 10.5cc in now..... at one point i had 10.9... but the doctor said over the two year some has evaporated... humm well that's his story and he's sticking to it.... So if you break it down.... you have lost 28 in 4 months. that's an average of 7 per month and 2 per week..... you are right on track. What was your start weight. In my opinion .... the first few months are the hardest. Most of us have very little fill in our band and this is were you need SELF DISCIPLINE.....not saying you don't have that, but.... if you are still eating the "bad stuff" you need to rethink how you are using your band. Your plate should be 3/4 protein, 1/8 veggies, 1/8 carbs. But, by them time you eat your protein and then the veggies.... you probably should not even be hungry for the carbs....My nutritionist said i should eat all the protein first then veggies then carbs... I will admit that i still do eat carbs, potatoes and some pastas about once a week or so. I try and stay with the sweet potatoes and whole wheat, but not all the time it is available. I do eat crackers... 90% of the time is the Crunchmaster multi grain crackers... but that's about it. When i got it thru my thick skull that she is right.... i started losing and when i got off my ass and started really exercising.... i started really losing. So good luck