J_BandRanger

It is always more expensive (and more time consuming) to "eat healthy"!!! that's why we (americans) are overweight....even not obese people are still overweight (i cant "weight" to be just overweight and not obese!! LOL!) I also cant "weight" to buy a beautiful Victoria's Secrets bra (w/matching undies!!! LOL!)

you have restriction b/c there is a band around your stomach that wasnt there before. you just dont have any fill in your band to make it tighter yet.. LOL! your story is funny (now I want some hot, fresh bread!!! curses!! will there be fresh churned butter as well??? LOL!)

I too felt like "surgey is the last thing in the world I would EVER do to loose weight!!!" but then i found out that to be fat is even MORE deadly than smoking!!! I thought about all of the stuff my extra pounds were holding me back from doing....then i realized that my eating is a disorder, an addiction...if they made a band for smokers, drinkers or drugsters, I bet they'd be standing in-line.... After i did finally have the surgery, I discovered that this is NOT an easy fix! by no means did i "give up"!!! if anything, I am working harder at weight loss!!! trust me!!! BTW- I had my doubts even as they were rolling me down the hall to the O.R. and even as the "sleepy needle" was going in!! I AM 100% GLAD I DID IT!!! banded: April 27, 2010

80 pounds in 8 months is FANTASTIC!!! you should have asked that person how long ago she had her Lobotomy!!!

thanks jmunks!! if its something you can type up or scan in, i'd love to read it! if it would be easier to send as an e-mail attachment, let me know. maybe i do need another jumpstart? i read your blog today-----great minds think alike!!!

i was banded on a Tue and rtnd to work the following Monday (6 days). No heavy lifting and nothing overly physical but i was able to walk, talk and function (smile). I didnt start exercizing until about 3 weeks after surgery and i started very lightly.

i've never heard the "no fly" rule? I told the Doc that I would be flying after my fill and all he said was "have a nice trip".... my doc is also very strict w/a lot of rules after each fill....clear liquids/3days, liquids/1 week, mushies, 1 week, etc... so it takes like 4 weeks after each fill to return to "normal" eating...My doc has a lot of "do not eat" on my list...but the Doc you found doesnt sound reasonable. It almost sounds like maybe he/she doesnt really know a lot about banding....? (just my thoughts - dont mean to upset anyone out there....)

thank you! I needed this push this morning!

36 pounds sounds great! i started at 238 in April... I''d love to see 204!!! you have passed me by 14 pounds! excellent!!!! I''ll see you on the otherside of 200 real soon!!!

we were thinking alike today!!! as my post is about the exact same thing!!!! LOL! [$120 sounds great! my fills are $900.00 each! at least that's what the doc charges my insurance! (I dont have to pay anything!) I should have been a doctor!!! LOL!] I too feel like "Im just about there and dont want to go over to the RED (as you put it)" ... I am exercizing, eating right, etc.... BUT i my thoughts are that i went through so much to get the band, so i want to use it to its full potential and not rely on myself to "diet & exercize" (if i was good at that, I wouldnt have gotten the band to begin with:ohmy:) I heard it takes (on average) between 3-5 fills within the first 6 months of surgery before the band "starts working" ... so it hasn't been 4 months since my surgery and this would be my 4th fill..... hmmmm....???

i'm considering a 4th fill next week....I've had 3 fills to date, 10.75cc total. I have good restriction, as things do get stuck, BUT i am still able to eat a LOT! as long as i chew it very well, it goes down w/o a problem. I never feel "completely full". I was under the impression that w/the band, I would not be able to eat so much food. Even the nutritionist at my last visit said that i shouldnt be able to finish one of my 2.5oz protein bars at one sitting, and i can! in fact, at times i find myself reaching for one b/c i wasnt quite full after a meal. I wait the 30 minutes - to be sure the signal reaches the brain that i'm full, but the signal doesnt come. What's your opinion? note: I am still happy w/my weight loss to date and i am not complaining. I just want to use this wonderful tool to its optimum ability.... and i know in order for it to "work" it has to be at the proper fill level. I am still doing my part - healthy foods, proper portions, exercizing, nothing to drink 60-90 minutes after eating, etc.....

LOL! you're funny! (but true!)

no..but i'll be in Tampa this week!!!:-)

-yesterday I went to a pool party with my husband. I went in the water. I ddnt feel too selfconscious...I kept the towel wrapped around me when i was not in the pool though. -I ate pretty well...chicken & pineapple shish kabob (grilled)...a little dip here and there as the conversation ran on...I even nibbled a pc of my hubby's choc chip cookie (my so called friend made them homemade!! extra chips!!!! she's no friend of mine!!!:angry:LOL!) -The hostess made this WONDERFUL dessert: fresh fruit and yogurt!!! It was fabulous!!! i pretended it was ice cream!! LOL! :thumbup: -I figured all in all I probably went over 1000 calories, but my new motto has been: ITS WAAAAAY LESS THAN I WOULD HAVE EATEN BEFORE I WAS BANDED!!! and that's true! so i'm going to just keep moving forward. Happy Sunday All!!!!

EXCELLENT!!!

i agree w/all of the above. my band was too tight for a few days but i didnt know what was wrong at the time! i thought I had done something wrong so i was afraid to tell my Doctor (silly me) i just sipped VERY teeny tiny amounts...a little warm tea, a little italian icee... i was fine in the end :-) but above all else, call your doctor if you feel bad!!!

yes, how sweet it is!!!

I too noticed in the beginning that i wasn't loosing much. I wasnt counting calories either. Then i started writing EVERYTHING down that went into my mouth - even gum, mints and drink-- WOW! i was WAY over!!!

I think you will still loose weight, just maybe a bit slower. also, if its ok w/your Doc, maybe you can do some upper body stuff, like Sandra said.....

EXCELLENT!!! whatever works for you!!!

2 pounds per week is "right"....so you will breeze right pass thhe 220!!! you will not get stuck at the 25 pound mark!!! see you on the otherside (of the scale that is!!!) we can do this!!!!

i was on prescription diet pills. i stopped taking them once i had my surgery. the pills DO curve your appetite but i am still leary of them b/c i think that they are bad for you. so my vote for you is NO PILLS! I am SO glad to be off of them!

yup! every one is different...."average" i've heard is between 3 - 5 fills. I hit my sweet spot after my 3rd (aggressive) fill...that brought me to a total of 10.75cc... up til then, i could eat any and everything!!!

i doubt very seriously you'll be feeling up to anything more than a stroll to the couch 48 hours after surgery....plus you'll still be on pain meds, which made me SLEEP! and you dont want to dance your incisions back open.... give yourself time to heal...you will really have a lot of explaining to do if you get out there and have "complications" .... best of luck! it will all be worth it in the end!!

ha! ha! such a funny "visual" ----> pants falling down! ....and isnt it great to look for our long lost friend, Mr. Belt?! Love it!! ..... aaaannand this is a good reason for your hubby to laugh at you!! yay us! PS-very nice of you to share your clothes too!