diznediva

Well, I jumped in the car and drove a thousand hours to see my new 2 week old nephew... We just decided to do it spontaneously. I feel great these days and am able to do alot more. I was supposed to have my monthly visit to my surgeon yesterday but had to cancel when we decided to come back home for a visit. I am from Philadelphia and the Flyers are playing in the Stanley Cup this week so lots of family get togethers and BBQ/pool parties to pass the time. I used one of those scales that they have where you give it a quarter and they give you the "bad news"... well, in my case it was good news... this last month I lost another 16 pounds... :smile2: So 60 pounds total, a long way to go to goal but I'm on my way. I don't know how accurate those scales are but since I'm not going to the doctor again until July1st.. I'll take what I can get. Please follow my other more detailed blog at mybigfatbandgeeklife.blogspot.com *Maria*

i was confused for a long time about which procedure to have as well. I decided on the Band because it is adjustable. If you need a little extra restriction... you can have it. If you decide you lost enough weight and want to eat normally you can have some taken out of the band or stop getting fills. I had no one in my life who has a band but quite a few who have the gastric bypass but they absorbtion only lasts for 15-18 months and then you could start gaining weight back...like Carnie Wilson from Wilson-Phillips and Randy Jackson from American Idol(He had a band put in over his gastrc bypass)... I wanted to learn to eat right and I am still learning. I am thrilled with my decision and excited that I have lost 44 pounds so far... and counting. It is a difficult decision to make but once I get this weight off, I need to have the band's support to keep it off and I will keep it off. Every pound that goes...Is not coming back. Alot of doctors are putting the band over a gastric bypass when they begin to gain back but I wasn't going to take the risk of getting my insurance to pay again... It was alot of hoops to jump through... to get here. The slower you lose weight, the less loose skin....bonus.:tongue2:

I feel great these days. I don't own a scale so I can't tell you how much I've lost since over 2 weeks ago when it was up to 44 pounds... I love this band life... I don't eat alot of carbs and instead mostly protein. That diet is giving me energy galore and i feel wonderful. I know it's a long road to get where I'm going but every day I see that I am headed in the right direction. It's amazing! I've only had one 4cc fill and I think I'm ok for a while. I can't wait to check out the rewards of my hard work. The energy and overall improvement in my health is my biggest reward. The weight loss is just a bonus. :thumbup:Check out my other more detailed blog at mybigfatbandgeeklife.blogspot.com

Thanx Christine... What you said is true... The band is a tool used to help be successful in dieting and in keeping the weight off. There is no miracle cure for Obesity. You need a hammer to build a house, but a hammer needs you to get the work done. It can't build the house on it's own, right?Gastric Bypass patients lose the weight faster but also gain it back faster... If they don't change their eating habits, that is. Once they are past the 15-18 month period of non-absorbtion... You are on your own. It would be nice to have that long to learn good eating habits but our bands can be adjusted forever. When you start to gain weight, or decide to lose more weight you just get an adjustment. If you decide that you've lost enough weight and want less restriction, you can have some of the liquid in your band removed. The band is adjustable so it changes with your changing body. I have lost 44 pounds as of 2 weeks ago and in 2 weeks when i visit my surgeon again, I will have lost more. Maybe it will only be 5 or 10 pounds but a loss is a loss... I feel better, have more energy, I'm off all my meds, and I feel like the Monkey(Carbs) is finally off my back.... I am a recovering carb/food addict and I treat it just like a drug detox... I don't eat alot of carbs mostly Protein and some green vegetables... I thought it would be hard but so far it has been wonderful. The hardest part for most of us to overcome is the psychological part... We eat to fill a hole inside us because of something that happened to us, a trauma or depression that has us confusing food with comfort or love. I miss the feelings that the food gave me and have to find comfort in other things. I eat to live now...I no longer live to eat. :thumbup:

i am glad you said that... although i agree that this forum is for people who are discouraged to come to get back on track too. I got banded on March 23rd and my progress has been wonderful, I am thrilled with my band and my weight loss. I work my diet each day to get to the point where it's a lifestyle and about good nutrition and moderation... I was well informed about the band and it's usefulness. It is a tool not a magic wand. It helps those who help themselves. I think mine is a godsend. Losing weight is hard work with or without the band. The band is just a supportive friend who urges us to stop eating when we are full. Believe in yourself and You can accomphish anything! Check out my blog "This one time at Band Camp" at mybigfatbandgeeklife.blogspot.com

I am not sure what my problem is today...I've had other days like this... I feel hungry? I think... It's like I can't get full even though I'm full. Weird? right? I guess I should think about what I ate or did to trigger this... I am so tired of analyzing my diet, or lack of it. I am doing well and really want to continue to do well. I need busy work to keep my mind off of food. I started a more detailed full length blog about my life and journey... check it out! http://mybigfatbandgeeklife.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much, Kelli... You are the first one to tell me that I've inspired you... It tastes good, being an inspiration... Better than chocolate... Lol... I appreciate your comments about my blog. I wasn't sure if you meant the one on here or my goggle one... The web address is mybigfatbandgeeklife.blogspot.com. I'm new at blogging so I'd love your feedback. I'm excited about our journey together... I'm so glad that I have you all for inspiration... And I can't believe that I can be an inspiration myself.... I am glad I took the lapband leap ... To good health.

I started a more detailed full length blog about my life and journey... check it out! http://mybigfatbandgeeklife.blogspot.com/

I started a more detailed full length blog about my life and journey... check it out! http://mybigfatbandgeeklife.blogspot.com/

Amazing! That's incredible and such a blessing that he found and removed the tumor. I wish you many more successes. Live it up! We have a second chance at life!

That's wonderful... What a great milestone. I hope to be where you are 6 months from now... I love my band and believe it was the 2nd best decision I've made in my life... my first was marrying my husband... I only wish I did it sooner, but 6 weeks after my surgery, I feel great and healthy. I am off all my medications and have more energy than I have in years. I had alot of weight to lose but I'm on my way now... and even though I just had my first fill... I've lost 44 pounds so far. Here's to more great success for both of us! You're an inspiration!

Definitely... In the hospital they gave me Maylox and mylanta but they hardly helped... so I told them they weren't working. They gave me chewable gas tablets called Simethicone... They really worked well. I think they're like Gas-X. So everybody is different. Thank goodness they have so many options. I'm glad you found some relief... the gas part was the worst part of recovery.

Mine was also 6 weeks after my surgery and that is the norm... I think. My first week after surgery I wasn't hungry at all... The second week I was hungry all the time. The 3rd week I switched from clear liquids to full liquids... and that helped a little. The 5th week I switched to high protein/low carb... then at 6 weeks after surgery, i had my first fill which was 4cc. I feel great and keep losing weight so like JuJuvee said... If it ain't broke don't fix it. Besides the time goes by pretty quickly.

Well, today was my first fill. I was nervous about not knowing what to expect and being forced to drink til i choke...LOL. I couldn't believe how easy it was to get through. I took photos... well, my Mom did. It wasn't painful or a struggle of any kind. I still feel great but will be on clear liquids again for the next 2 days. I got 4cc put in my band today. I look forward to seeing how much restriction that gives me. I am glad to be on the next part of my journey.... And I lost a little over 10 more pounds which makes 44 pounds lost so far all together. Yippee! :smile:

Well, today was my first fill. I was nervous about not knowing what to expect and being forced to drink til i choke...LOL. I couldn't believe how easy it was to get through. I took photos... well, my Mom did. It wasn't painful or a struggle of any kind. I still feel great but will be on clear liquids again for the next 2 days. I got 4cc put in my band today. I look forward to seeing how much restriction that gives me. I am glad to be on the next part of my journey.... And I lost a little over 10 more pounds which makes 44 pounds lost so far all together. Yippee! :thumbup: