va_viv

No longer in the 20's!!!! OK, so I had a minor meltdown in the dressing room today. I have been a size 20 something for YEARS!!!! I mean like forever! I never thought anything would go over my butt again that wasn't a 20, 22, 24, 26, 28...yes, 28, that is what I WAS before surgery. NOW, I AM AN 18!!!!!!! OMG! There were TEARS! BIG ONES!!! I know people were staring when I came out, but that is SOOOOO OK! I had tears but I was grinning from ear to ear!!! I am sure they were quite confused.
Lap-Band = BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE!!!!

October 6th, 2010, I have lost 55 lbs so far...40 lbs to go. I didn't have any issues besides sleep apnea...that's all gone.

Vicky reporting in at 274.6 - down 5.4 lbs thanks to my first fill this past Wednesday! I also hit the 50 lb loss mark so I am VERY happy!!!

Down 5 pounds to 198! Yea! Onederland

May 2010; 112lbs or so with 12 more to go. I didn't really have any comorbidities, just my BMI was above 40 though I do think I had sleep apnea as I always woke up with headaches/migraines and I was always tired; that's gone now! But, I can now exercise for hours on end, run to no end, go up stairs within feeling winded, wear size 4 jeans, wear 4 inch heels with NO problems...and so on.

My weight today is 289.4 (name on the chart is Vicky) - down 4 lbs from last week and 9.6 lbs from the start of the challenge...and all this with no fill...WOO HOO!!! :D

I have to get this off my "chest". This issue has been bothering me since last night when I read some threads that people posted.
This is just my opinion here but I do hope some of you will agree. This is a open forum for people that have had (or are having) a major operation in order to help assist (but not cure) obesity. Because there is no cure for obesity--the band is simply a tool to deal with the symptoms of obesity. In order to become healthy, the users of said band must make lifestyle changes that are not easy. We cry about these changes, morn for our old lives and eathing patterns, and either chose to overcome these obstacles or go back to our old habits. That's our choice and we need to live with it. Addicts never have an easy course but we need to own up to it and make changes.
When we sign on to this forum,, we are looking for help, support, guidence, and sometimes a kick in the butt to answer our question or motivate us. Sure, most of us are supportative but are also offering opinions. Because that is what people are asking for!! We should not have to monitor ourselves or hold back if we feel strongly about a subject. I am disheartened to see replies like "well, that was really supportative" because someone offered a different opinion than what the writer really wanted to hear.
Folks, sometimes being supportative means giving people a reality check. We should not all be expected to be cheerleaders and only be positive and say "it's okay". No, if the situation is warranted, we offer opinions and feedback and sometimes that may not be receptive to the writer. If you perceive that as people being rude, that's your own feelings and you are entitled to them but then don't write "you were rude and not nice and not supportative". You might as well say "you didn't say what I wanted to hear so I am taking my Barbies and playing in the other corner".
If you write "I am not losing weight and I go to Burger King twice a day and don't exercise--why am I not losing weight?". My response might be "because you are eating junk food and not exercising--that's why you are not losing weight". However, if we are to believe certain people on this forum, we are only supposed to be supportative and say "it's okay..you just need to get on track". Sorry folks, but here a reality check is in order.
We can have disagreements and have civil conversations when we don't agree with someone. However, I disagree that the only thing we should be is positive and supportative. Sometimes peolple want to offer a differing opinion and that's OK! This is an internet forum and all opinions are warranted. It's up to you on how to perceive it but please don't make those of us that disagree with a writer feel guilty or bad because we disagree with them. There's too much of that in politics and we don't need it here!

I am so thrilled! I I have achieved a long term secondary goal. Evertime I go to a doc's office with the non-digital scale the nurse starts with the little metal slide weights for 200 lbs., then realizes she has to use the 250 lb start point. For the first time in 10 years I was below 250! 249.6 to be exact. I am so pumped!!!!!!!!! Well on my way to my January goal after a long stagnant period. Thanks for the motivation.

No...your bitterness read that into it. All one has to do is read the posts on the LBT to know that many people have the wrong expectations of the band. They *expect* the band to stop them from overeating or choosing the wrong foods and that is not what the band does.
The band, with the addition of the food sitting in our pouch, puts pressure on the vagus nerves, which tell the stomach to stop producing ghrelin, the hunger hormone so that we can go 4 hours or so without being hungry. We still have to *choose* to put the fork down and not overeat just because we can. We still have to *choose* not to eat the wrong foods. We still have to *choose* not to graze. Yes, we still have to use self-control *BUT* if the band is doing its job in removing the constant hunger, our self-control stands a chance.
Yes, there are people who never get that cessation of hunger...maybe even when they are overfilled...but I also think that a lot of people who claim the band is a failure really don't understand what the band's role...and what their role...is in the whole process. If someone truly believes the band has failed them, then I would suggest they get a *complete* unfill. They'll either find no difference in their eating...or discover that the band really was working...just not according to their previous expectations.
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I haven't read all the responses, so I don't know what kind of turn the thread has taken. But in response to the first post, I have to semi-disagree.
It's true that many of us are hungry at first---but as we approach and achieve restriction, the hunger is usually very well-controlled.
Yes, I am hungry before meals. I'msupposed to be! You're supposed to be! It's an important signal our bodies are supposed to have!
When I eat, the hunger abates. I am never stuffed. In fact, I am never FULL any more. "Full" does not exist any longer, because when I get to that point, I am terribly uncomfortable. But I am satisfied.
And I stay that way...until I am appropriately hungry again.
Hunger is not the enemy.
Uncontrolled hunger is. And the band has 100 percent removed that, for me.

Most of we members of the *Tribe of the Morbidly Obese* spent much of our lives 'consumed with consuming' while 'hunger' had little to do with our eatEatEAT habits.
I experienced 'hunger' in a far different sense than preOp, and have learned to actually enjoy aspects of it, rather like an approaching storm front in spring.
Now often only a bite or two is plenty to banish 'hunger' for considerable time.
Most of our time we have all responded to 'hunger' with EATEATEAT.
Normos have a different approach to hunger.
They get hungry. They eat. They stop.
They recognize 'hunger', 'satiety' and 'full' as being very different.
As a *MofTotMO*(see above) my response to food for far too long, was to equate 'full' with 'not hungry' and 'not full' with eatEatEATEATEAT until I was 'full'.
That of course doesn't work very well.
Success for shrinking my BMI from 47.5 to 34 was coming to recognize the important difference in 'hunger' vs 'sport eating'.
Food satisfies physiological hunger. When I recognized the difference it became far easier to enjoy 'being hungry' as I could enjoy 'eating' rather than 'eatEatEATing'.
cheers to all of us this year on our journeys

Oh my gosh...I love this! This will be on of my shopping rules!

Actually, LBT kinda does have a "like" button. Look at the + / - signs near the reply button.. Those are kinda a like & dislike.

LOLOLOL, thanks for the serious crack up! LapBan needs a "like" button!

I must say this is the dumbest post I've read on LBT, No wait the second dumbest. I have read one even dumber than this if you can imagine.
There must be something terribly wrong with me b/c when my fill level is right I'm not hungry or hungry or hungry, hungry, hungry.

Thank you for your post Dave. As a person who just got the band 8 days ago, I'm not interested in reading anything remotely hostile at this point (I'm just trying to settle in and adjust to my body's changes) and your response was kind and informative.

Yea..there is a handful of people on here that have major personal issues...posts like this are just not necessary and do no good...it makes me wonder if people that post these types of things just do it to get a rise out of the bandsters..cause they have no life.....do us all a favor and take your negative energy somewhere else

Well done, Dave. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Fluffy, I am by no means an expert, and while I'm still relatively new to all of this, my experience is different than yours:
I find if I eat properly, I'm not hungry for several hours at a time. My doctor tells me that's how it's supposed to work. I'm not hounded by unending hunger. And that's a pleasant feeling. Oh yeah, and I'm also actually losing weight, which is supposed to be the entire point. I may be newer at this, but for now, I'm very pleased with my progress.
I'm not at all bothered by the newbies asking the same questions over and over. How would they know their questions have been asked a zillion times? This site is very hard to navigate, and searching for a specific topic is quite difficult. So it's easier to just ask the question and hope for a reasonable reply. I've done that, and I'll wager so have you.
If I find a thread that asks the same questions I've asked as a newbie, and grown tired of answering as someone on the other side from surgery, I don't reply to the post. I know there are a number of newly-educated semi-newbies who are fresh from learning the answers who are itching to answer posts like that. Its something they CAN do for someone else, and it's empowering, because it validates that they themselves are learning enough to begin giving back. In the name of support for fellow bandsters who are following in their footsteps, it's a nice feeling to be able to think, "Oh I know the answer to that!" And they hit REPLY and offer advice and support to someone on the journey behind them. That's an excellent feeling.
Because this site is relatively anonymous, it's easy to pass judgment on others, and to criticize others for whom we have little or no respect. I try to not unduly judge anyone, as I try to respect everyone for their hard-fought opinions and experiences with this topic. But I also find it unconscionable to stand in total pronouncement of others, and declare something as being THE WAY THAT IT WILL BE. Nothing about banding is so cut and dried as that, and no such be-all and end-all is so widespread as to be the same for everyone. Yes, SOME people will be hungry. But many others will NOT be hungry. As we have read here many times, everyone has a separate journey, and what works for one may not work for all.
I had the typical aches and pains I expected to have after my surgery, but they went away within a few days. I also had a few speedbumps during my recovery, but I kept at it, and I was soon feeling quite good. Now, nearly five weeks after surgery, I'm feeling better than I have in years. I've lost 46 pounds as of this morning, and I'm celebrating both my scale and non-scale victories. I have the solid support of my family, friends, and coworkers, and I have to say, I'm delighted to hear the praises from others about how good I'm looking these days. I internally giggle like a kid when someone calls me "skinny." I'm far from that, but God love 'em for saying it.
My larger point in replying to your post is to suggest that maybe you should back up a step or two, and consider how blanket-pronouncement posts like yours aren't all that effective. At best, people are going to be unduly stressed out, expecting something that may never happen. And at worst, it paints you as an opinionated extremist who others won't take seriously. Neither is a good place to be.
You have solid experience with being banded, and as I recall, you work in the industry. So maybe the best approach is to offer your comments prefaced with a "in my experience" kind of thing. YOU may be hungry all the time, but there is no reason to expect everyone else will be, too. Just my feelings on the matter.
Wishing you a kind and successful New Year.
Dave

thank you Iowaguy. I am still newly banded and I appreciate every peice of advice the posters to this board give us. I have read a few of fluffy's replies and posts and I must say if she were the first person I encountered here i would have never came back. It is people like you and others who make this board great. SO from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU for every minute of your busy life that you give to post to this board. Sometimes all it takes is someone saying the right thing at the right moment to change someones perspective,

Its not that Im tired of people asking questions its the repetition of the questions. If you search the forum you can find all the answers to any question that everyone keeps asking. Its just being lazy to not look to see if someone else posted the same question. I think I give enough to my fellow man every day of my life. If you are not hungry then that is great but you are probably one of the few that wont be. If you look at all the post op forum there are probably a million times posted HELP IM HUNGRY come on its not hard search the forums to find your answers.

Well we are all new and unsure about the band and come here to ask questions and get answers. We haven't been on here for a year or more and are still learning. You have the most sour attitude that I've ever seen. If it bothers you what we new bandsters say then don't read it or reply to it. We are new and aren't sure how often or how hungry we are supposed to feel so we come here for help from experienced bandsters not to get bashed by you. (and you seem to bash new ones regularly). Get off of your high horse.

Kinda have to disagree, I do not get hungry. as for all the pain I had it for about 3 days post op but have felt wonderful since. I really doubt that is the main reason old bandsters leave the site i would think maybe it is because they are moving on in life and no longer need the support they have gotten here, which is wonderful. I would say if you are tired of people asking all these questions maybe you should think it is also time to move along. I have found the questions here very helpful as alot are the questions i myself have had. So smile and don't let life and the actions of others stress you out. and always give to your fellow man and you will find most will be grateful and return the favor.

No, you are not alone! I am sick for the 2nd time in less than a month! I rarely get colds! But, since my surgery in February I have been sick more than ever! I think it may have something to do with getting in less vitamins than I would if I was eating like I use to. I will admit I don't take my vitamins like I am supposed to.

Just 'food' for thought since your band is already giving enough restriction that you're getting stuck on some things. Are you eating because you're truly stomach growling hungry...or eating because you have no physical restriction to limit how much you can eat?
I ask because way too many people end up overfilled because they're looking for the physical restriction...which doesn't happen for everyone without being overfilled (as evidenced by regular 'stuck' episodes)...and some of us never had it even when we were overfilled.
What we should be looking for is a cessation of that constant 'hungry' feeling.
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