lawismylife

I would do it for 50 lbs... The point is that if you follow a few simple rules, you will keep it off. That is precious. Good luck to you!

There is an active PCOS thread elsewhere on lapbandtalk that is very informative.
I have the band 1.5 years and have lost 70 lbs. I would like to lose 25 lbs more to be 155 at 5 6 but am very happy with my progress to date. It has been slow and relatively easy to lose the weight until 190 lbs without exercise, but I realize to get to goal I really have to incorporate the exercise. I am on 1500 mg metformin and it really helps the weight loss. I am also on BC pills.
I must admit I am not that strict on limiting carb and sugar. I try to eat a well balanced diet but I do like a treat every day.
If you prefer to lose fast and lazy, gastric and its cousin the sleeve is better. The band you will have to work for success. But definitely not as hard as trying to lose without the band, which I couldn't ever do. I would try and try for nothing. I am very happy with my decision, particularly since my father in law had gastric and had crazy complications and looks "deflated." band people lose more gradually and look more normal to me.
Good luck! .

Incredible!!!!! Now you are stunning inside and out thanks for sharing!

Mesh panties aren't just for the ladies. I rocked them like a champ though!

I would do it for 50 lbs... The point is that if you follow a few simple rules, you will keep it off. That is precious. Good luck to you!

Like someone else said, when everyone is used to seeing you larger, it is shocking to see you in a normal weight and it is easier to think someone has gotten too thin. Take it as a compliment.

Funny, but also true! I just wouldnt waste my money on a nutritionist - they're not medically qualified the way that a dietician is - and are prone to giving you advice based on THEIR personal beliefs and current fads and fashion. Ditto your doctor - he's a surgeon, not a dietician and what he tells you will be based on what's given clients good results, and what will get the best results for his clinic - so worth listening to, but definitely not gospel.
I even went to a dietician recently - I was made to by my colorectal surgeon, who was worried that my weight was too low - and what did I get? A photocopied sheet. No personal consideration, no real discussion about what was and wasnt working with my digestive system since my surgeries, just a photocopied sheet of a low residue diet. I didnt even bother to point out I already had that sheet and had done the diet for six weeks following surgery, and that it wasnt proving effective for solving my issues. Why bother?
You dont need a nutritionist to do well with a lapband. We are not idiots, we are perfectly capable of researching various styles of eating/diet and working out what works well for us. There's no magic to it, eat less than you burn and you will lose weight, but for many people, low carb works, and for others its not necessary.
Personal trainers are much the same - get a good one that thinks along the same lines you do and they're a great support. But sifting through all the bad ones is quite a job.
I wonder what your nutritionist would say about me - I eat bread, rice, Pasta, nuts, chocolate, wine. I eat 3 meals a day, not five. A personal trainer would freak that I do heaps of cardio and not a lot of strenght training. I'm open to trying stuff, but I have and a basic diet that is simply reduced in quantity and a lot of running are what work for me and give me the body I want (which is not a muscular one thank you all the same).

The pre-op diet is not normal and very difficult. You have a regular stomach and you have to drink just a few shakes. Not fun. So you cheated. Just get back on track and get your liver in the best shape possible.
The pre-op diet helps you to get your liver more solid and less fatty, which helps the surgeon place the band because he has to lift it to reach the stomach. However, each surgeon has their own protocol. Some say liquids 3 weeks prior. Some say a week or less (I had 5 days). My mother only had one day Clear Liquids and she definitely had a fatty liver and was ok.
Do your best and be honest with your doctor as to how you cheated. You will likely be ok. Just try to give yourself the best chance for success from now on.

Cons of sleeve (why I chose band):
Stomach can be stretched over time and no adjustments can be made to it.
I can go back to eating a lot if I choose to on a cruise (do I, no, but before surgery I wanted to know I could if I wanted to)
No control over how much or little you can eat - band is more controlled
Less potential complications.
Also, losing slower is better or you and loose skin. Fast is worse.
I like the idea of restriction. With sleeve its often too late to tell when you are stuffed - you can eat fast. With band you can tell you are getting there("soft stop").

Cons of sleeve (why I chose band):
Stomach can be stretched over time and no adjustments can be made to it.
I can go back to eating a lot if I choose to on a cruise (do I, no, but before surgery I wanted to know I could if I wanted to)
No control over how much or little you can eat - band is more controlled
Less potential complications.
Also, losing slower is better or you and loose skin. Fast is worse.
I like the idea of restriction. With sleeve its often too late to tell when you are stuffed - you can eat fast. With band you can tell you are getting there("soft stop").

Cons of sleeve (why I chose band):
Stomach can be stretched over time and no adjustments can be made to it.
I can go back to eating a lot if I choose to on a cruise (do I, no, but before surgery I wanted to know I could if I wanted to)
No control over how much or little you can eat - band is more controlled
Less potential complications.
Also, losing slower is better or you and loose skin. Fast is worse.
I like the idea of restriction. With sleeve its often too late to tell when you are stuffed - you can eat fast. With band you can tell you are getting there("soft stop").

Cons of sleeve (why I chose band):
Stomach can be stretched over time and no adjustments can be made to it.
I can go back to eating a lot if I choose to on a cruise (do I, no, but before surgery I wanted to know I could if I wanted to)
No control over how much or little you can eat - band is more controlled
Less potential complications.
Also, losing slower is better or you and loose skin. Fast is worse.
I like the idea of restriction. With sleeve its often too late to tell when you are stuffed - you can eat fast. With band you can tell you are getting there("soft stop").

Thanks to all for food for thought! Really helps. I spoke with hubby and told him he can go Di whatever he wants one night a week and I will put kiddies to bed. We'll see how that goes.
I will note that I posted this in the "powder room gone wild" and a man who chooses a monkey avatar is coming in here and telling me I have no class. So draw your own conclusions as to that.

Never thought this would happen, but since I lost weight and am close to goal, my face has changed very drastically. I always has a "thin" face even when I was at 40 BMI, but now at 30 BMI it's very different from I ever remember looking. Even when I weighed this same weight before. I feel in a way I am reluctant to lose more because I don't like my face as much... Anyone feel the same way?

I am part of a WLS family - hubby, MIL and I have the band, FIL had gastric bypass. We all did it within 6 months of each other in 2010.
I can tell you that in the beginning the weight will fly off with just limited portion sizes and by adjusting the band. Then you have to figure out to eat better food, and exercise. My MIL lost about 50 lbs but honestly is lazy about it and not tracking what she is eating in any way, and not really exercising. She floats in a pool like once a week. She lost 50 lbs and that is a great result considering the effort she puts in. She not psychologivally willing to adjust the band as tight as she should because she is not ready to let go of eating larger amounts. So anyone looking at her 2 years out will say she is not successful, as she has about 80 lbs excess weight. But she is not putting in effort.
My husband is the same way except he has adjusted his band as much as possible and he is not willing to change his eating habits or exercise. He lost 120 lbs and has about 80 to go.
I had 95 lbs to lose, have lost 76.5. I watch what I eat 80% of the time. I don't track what I eat, I just make good choices most of the time. I work out 4-6 days a week for 45 min or an hour at a shot. I am very pleased with my weight loss. I know it's not coming back. I can maintain it. I have a metabolic disorder and I feel I am beating it now.
My FIL lost 140 lbs with bypass in 6 months, he is at goal. Had horrible complications for life that can't be addressed. Seeing him go through that constantly reaffirms my decision to get the band.
So if they say lapband only loses 55% of excess weight, it's not that they can't get to goal, it's usually "won't". People are more in control, which often leads to people doin what they want...

I am part of a WLS family - hubby, MIL and I have the band, FIL had gastric bypass. We all did it within 6 months of each other in 2010.
I can tell you that in the beginning the weight will fly off with just limited portion sizes and by adjusting the band. Then you have to figure out to eat better food, and exercise. My MIL lost about 50 lbs but honestly is lazy about it and not tracking what she is eating in any way, and not really exercising. She floats in a pool like once a week. She lost 50 lbs and that is a great result considering the effort she puts in. She not psychologivally willing to adjust the band as tight as she should because she is not ready to let go of eating larger amounts. So anyone looking at her 2 years out will say she is not successful, as she has about 80 lbs excess weight. But she is not putting in effort.
My husband is the same way except he has adjusted his band as much as possible and he is not willing to change his eating habits or exercise. He lost 120 lbs and has about 80 to go.
I had 95 lbs to lose, have lost 76.5. I watch what I eat 80% of the time. I don't track what I eat, I just make good choices most of the time. I work out 4-6 days a week for 45 min or an hour at a shot. I am very pleased with my weight loss. I know it's not coming back. I can maintain it. I have a metabolic disorder and I feel I am beating it now.
My FIL lost 140 lbs with bypass in 6 months, he is at goal. Had horrible complications for life that can't be addressed. Seeing him go through that constantly reaffirms my decision to get the band.
So if they say lapband only loses 55% of excess weight, it's not that they can't get to goal, it's usually "won't". People are more in control, which often leads to people doin what they want...

Can you please call dr back and ask why he thinks over 5 lbs a week in insufficient?!?! Maybe he was looking at someone else's chart or something. It doesn't make sense. If you have clashes like this in the early days when arguably you are losing quickly, I would be concerned for this doc to be your partner in this journey.
If your doc says something "off" you have to question him. He is not God. Speak up! It takes 3500 excess calories burned to lose 1 lb. what does he think your base metabolic rate is to lose any more than that ?!?!? What is his rationale? Maybe that is his shtick and he says that to everyone for them to keep up the loss. Who knows? But ask!! You paid a lot for this, ask!!

I feel for you. Remember a few things - you will not likely feel restriction for a while even with regular fills. You didn't mention how much fill you put in... Some docs are more aggressive than others.
The eating with anxiety thing won't go away though... Even when you have restriction if you choose the wrong foods you can still eat a ton. Ie crackers, chex mix, carbs generally. You can drink calories.
I have also worked crazy hours... This stinks but you will have to fold exercise in somehow. Either during a lunch break or 4 am or 12 am. Or find a way to change your work lifestyle to support your health. Might sound extreme, but I left a large law firm to make less money but have normal hours for my kids. Make your weight loss your baby. In the long term you will be happier for it. Good luck you will be as successful as you make it for yourself.

I feel for you. Remember a few things - you will not likely feel restriction for a while even with regular fills. You didn't mention how much fill you put in... Some docs are more aggressive than others.
The eating with anxiety thing won't go away though... Even when you have restriction if you choose the wrong foods you can still eat a ton. Ie crackers, chex mix, carbs generally. You can drink calories.
I have also worked crazy hours... This stinks but you will have to fold exercise in somehow. Either during a lunch break or 4 am or 12 am. Or find a way to change your work lifestyle to support your health. Might sound extreme, but I left a large law firm to make less money but have normal hours for my kids. Make your weight loss your baby. In the long term you will be happier for it. Good luck you will be as successful as you make it for yourself.

Well what you both have to also understand is that you are both on your OWN weight loss journey. You are both banded which is great! However, the bottom line it is still personal for each of you. Neither of you should dictate, push, judge or try to fix or improve what the other is doing unless it is asked for. That is just my opinion, and not trying to judge either of you.
I got the band in 2008, and filed for divorce in April 2009. My ex was not banded, but cycled and I had joined a gym to which he then also joined. He wanted to me cycle with him, but for me I had ZERO interest in it. I never bitched about him going, just said hey your into it great i was supportive but it was not my cup of tea. He started to come to the gym with me, and always had to put his two cents in. He timed me on the cardio equipment, came over to see what I was doing, everything was watched/judged which got old very quick. We got married in July 2002, and when the band came home with me and right before.. I had to deal with him going on junk food sprees when I was on liquid phase. He would even follow me in a back room to hang out while eating this stuff.
There were alot of issues, aside from the constant parts of telling me that I wasn't exercising enough, or this or that. We did end up in counseling for a brief time, but he was set in his ways and flat out told the counselor his choices were HOW he wanted to live his life. There is alot of things that go far deeper that would probably shock on this board.
It sounds like there is irritation and anger on both sides. Honestly I would talk about seeing someone to talk about what is going on, I think it might be far more than just working out or the kids bed times. Honestly, you guys might have grown apart which does happen in life and with WLS.
I would sit down and THINK both of you where this is going, what is the underlying issues. If you do not sit down and make time to talk about it or try to figure it out then most likely you will be headed to your respective lawyers. I do not mean to sound callus for either of you guys. I know quite a few people on this site that has had it happen to them, including myself. I wish you good luck, and remember you guys have the power to work on things to change them for the better and you both have to be willing and wanting to make it work. Once again I hope this doesn't come off as sounding cold, but it is a reality of life. Good luck to you guys!

I agree. Sometimes easier to vent to " strangers" then to your spouse. Sometimes, having thT support and getting you thoughts together first helps you to be more understand and support to each other. I know you love you husband and hopefully you guys can work on something together. I think you need to see where it coming from. He may just be insecure and need reenforcement of your feeling for him. Couples therapy is good idea. My husband and I went a few years back and it helped get things out in open and understand we had a comuncation problem. Good luck.

Thanks for being supportive. People come to lapband talk for support, not to be bashed. Thanks!

Looz - thanks for your support. I think this would work really well if there were days I put the kids to bed myself, and days he did it, so we can switch off so he wouldn't feel resentful.
I guess the point is - why does he not want to work out at all? Don't understand that bit. He has a band and still has 80 lbs to go. Would think he'd understand my desire to work out. I have a metabolic syndrome and can't lose weight without working out. Apparently he can't lose anymore either without working out. He is as tight as he can get with the band. I suppose it is rather unusual that both in the marriage have a lapband. Different dynamic.
We discussed and I said that I will put the kids to bed myself twice this week (and I did) and he went off and did whatever he wanted. Maybe he needs the taste of freedom To see how much better it can work out. Thanks again for your response (very genuine there, not sarcastic as above!)

Well, this is a rant. We have a very happy marriage generally. He controls the finances and we are having a very rough time paying bills. He doesn't support using limited funds on exercise.