Twinkles

I do about 2 days liquids, then 2 days soft foods. My Dr recommends 48 hours on liquids. I extended that on my own because I baby my band something fierce.

Same as above for me. I've had 3 fills and one slight unfill. I feel I'm good and right now am in no need of a fill. I'm about 5.25cc's in a 10cc band.

I'm around 800 per day. I track everything as well, it really helps me keep a grip on what and how much I am eating.

I was banded on 7/29/10 and I'm down about 109 pounds. About 15 left until goal. Starting weight was 274, currently at 165.

My birthday was on the 1st! I had a tummy tuck and breast lift, lol. So, there was no fun celebrating for me.

Well, I just had a tummy tuck and breast lift on Thursday (Sept 1st) and I would do it again. I'm pretty sure anyways. I mean, I'm only 5 days out, the pain was not nearly as bad as I expected. I haven't had any pain meds since Sunday. Since my posture is rather hunched right now and I'm swollen like the dickens, I can't really comment on my results. He did remove 10 inches vertically of skin, so, I can't wait to see how that all looks. LOL.

Thanks to you all for your posts. It is encouraging for me and I'm sure others to see everyone in different stages of this journey. To those who read my story and find it inspiring, that is the biggest compliment of all and one of the things that makes this so totally worth it. If the last year of my life has done anything to change the lives of others or make this decision easier, then I'm happy.

Thank you for the kind words and I'm happy that my success has had an impact on your decision. It is a tough decision but one that I don't regret at all. *hugs*

I know, my success wouldn't be where it is without my exercise. About 2 weeks after surgery, I started speed walking, then within in two weeks, I was hugging and puffing a mile. I increased from there. I alternated between my TreadClimber and running, but I commit to doing it 6 times a week, about 45 minutes a day. Now, I generally run most of the time, unless it is too hot outside, I'll get on the TreadClimber. But, now I'm generally running 3-5 miles a day, depending on time. I still, religiously, measure, weigh and track all of my food intake. I track calories, etc on The Daily Plate. I drink 1-2 servings of OptiSource Bariatric Protein Drink a day. I can tell the difference in my weight loss if I don't keep my protein up. If I slip on my protein for a few days or what have you, my weight loss stops. For Breakfast, generally, I'll have EggBeaters with a slice of deli ham that I've chopped or I'll have greek yogurt. I'm have 4oz Protein Drink mid morning, lunch is generally 2-3 oz of chicken with some Beans, or I'll have some chili (I eat a lot of chili, lol), another protein drink mid afternoon, then for dinner, whatever I've cooked for the family with changes if necessary. With that said, I have cut out, breads, pastas, rice, stuff like that, another thing I attribute to my success. Good luck, it is easily one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Hugs to you! It is so hard, my poor husband, I'm sure thought I was spiraling out of control. What is weird, is, I "think" I felt okay. Him and my mom kept saying, it's got to be the lack of food, the surgery, I was in complete denial. But, looking back on it now, with a clear head, I can see it clear as day now. I'm a firm believe that, I think counseling appts should be required AFTER surgery, once a month for at least the first 6 months. That pre-op psych eval is a bunch of hogwash. We go through so many changes, emotionally, mentally, physically during the first few months, that no wonder some of us go completely bonkers. To be honest. I went crying to my OBGYN because I didn't know what was going on, he fully understood where I was coming from, I thought it was an insane case of PMDD. I did end up taking liquid Zoloft for 2 weeks a month for about 4 months, through December anyways. It helped a lot. In that time I was able to deal with all the changes and I took myself off of it in January. Good luck! I know it is hard, boy do I ever.

I actually have a TT and breast lift scheduled on Sept 1st. Which is my birthday, lol. Not sure if it will be the best or worst present yet, but nonetheless, I'm doing it. Thanks all for the responses. I wish you all the best. If you have any questions, just send me a message, I'll be more than happy to share my experiences, highs and lows with you.

Thank you so much for posting the pics!!! I can't believe you look that good at 4 weeks. I'm excited and nervous, my tt is scheduled for 9/1.

My tt and breast lift are schedule for 9/1. Not everyone has the problem, but some do. Personally, I more or less expected it, if it didn't happen, that would have been a pleasant surprise, but I was prepared for it before I was even banded.

LOL - well, I can't complain and my husband DEFINITELY can't complain about "things" in the bedroom, we have lots of fun. Feeling better about yourself will, or should, help out with that.

I think we all go through this to an extent. During the pre-surgery stage, I was a mixed bag of emotions that would change at the drop of a dime. One moment I'd be excited, the next moment totally dreading it, the next feeling like a total loser, etc etc, so on and so forth. It is a tough decision. I know I was constantly thinking that, I've tried everything else there was to try... WHY would this work? In fact, a few times I almost convinced myself that there would be no way this would be successful for me. However it was and I couldn't be more happy with it. With that said, you do have to make a personal commitment to yourself. As I'm sure you've read and hear a million times, this is a TOOL, it is not a cure all and it won't be successful unless you do your part.

In a heartbeat! One of the best decisions I've ever made.

I remember the first time I got stuck... Oh man, did I ever think I was going to die! I think I was almost 5 months post op the first time, such a horrible horrible and scary feeling.

Thanks ladies, for the responses. I still have some decisions to make, my gut is telling me to go through with it, however, the logical side of me is still undecided. I go in to talk with my PS again in a couple of weeks. So, we'll see.

So, I have my tt and breast lift scheduled in about a month. I'm 18 pounds to goal and I've got some decent hangover, lol, in the stomach area. Preliminary estimates from my Dr are about 10 lbs of skin/flab/fat will be removed. I went to my surgeon today for my regular check up and told him I was scheduled. Which he already knew because I told him at my last appointment. Anyways, when I brought it up today, he gave me the third degree. Saying that when I lose the remaining weight, I may get "flabby" again. I can see his point, that is fine. However, I feel that this mid section spare tire is completely hindering me now. I want it gone and I seriously do not think that 10-20 pounds is really going to make a difference. I'm fine with "flabby", I can deal with something that isn't THIS. If you know what I mean. I would like to hear from any others who had a tummy tuck before hitting their "ultimate" goal weight. How far were you away from goal? Did it make any differences that you can tell? Do you wish you would have waiting to lose that extra 10-20 pounds? Thanks!

Awww... Thanks! It was pretty emotional writing it. And, thankfully, my husband is and has always been very appreciative of me. He's been my rock through all this. My mom too. If I hadn't had them be as supportive as they are, I'm not sure I could have been this successful.

I promised myself, that when I hit a year, I'd post a "success" story. A year ago today, I lay in the "big" hospital bed at 274 pounds and completely miserable. The two days prior to surgery were the worst ever. I called my Dr's nurse the morning of surgery and told her "I think I need to cancel, I can't do this." She told me that she wasn't going to listen to me and that she expected to see me at the hospital in a few hours. I'm so glad I did. There are very very few things in my life that I'm more happy about than my decision to have Lapband surgery. I was 32 and miserable. Couldn't stand to look at myself, even more, couldn't stand to have my husband look at me. We got together when we were 17. I was fit then, always the bigger girl, but very active. Softball, cross country, track, etc. Almost immediately after HS, the weight just piled on. When we got married at 20, my wedding dress was a size 16. I hated my wedding photos, they are horrible. To this day, very few people have actually seen them. I still have them in proof form, in a box underneath my desk. I have no pictures of my wedding out on display. For that matter, I have very few pictures of myself in the last 14 years. We have two kids, two boys, who are very active. It was so hard to want to do anything with them. My husband, thank goodness, is one of those people who could eat the world and couldn't weigh more than 160 if he tried. So, while I always took the pictures or sat on the sidelines, they had the fun. I spent my 20's with no sexual drive whatsoever. I was disgusted with myself. If I couldn't even look at myself, how could my husband want to. It made him sad, he always said he didn't see me the way I did. I couldn't believe him. So, after three years of research, I initially tried to get the band in 2007. My insurance changed at year end and no longer covered it. So scratch that. In 2010, I went to my GP and he asked if I'd thought about it. Yeah yeah, I did, but insurance. He encouraged me to call and check again. Unbeknownst to me, they covered it again. I cried and cried and cried. That was in Feb 2010. I quickly researched the two Dr's that I had chosen and decided on one. Went to the seminar, got my 6 month supervised diet in, all the other pre-req's and next thing I knew, I'm laying in the hospital bed seriously thinking I shouldn't be doing this. Recovery was HARD, not hard hard, but not what I expected. The first week, I was sure that this was the worst decision I had ever made. Only a clinically insane person would put themselves through this, I was sure of it. However, things started getting better. I was losing weight and I was losing it quickly. When I was around 3 weeks post op, I started walking/running. Eventually, I was running a mile, then two, then three. I was actually able to RUN and ENJOY it!!! There have been some bumps along the way. Mainly mental. Around September, I was sure I was going insane. I was okay, but, it wasn't until then, that I actually realized my crutch, my addiction, was food. I was going through a "detox", lol. It made me for one very very grouchy and irritable woman. I believe, I finally hit onederland on December 8th. 75 pounds gone since July 29th, a little over 4 months. By the end of 2010, I was down 80-85 pounds. Now, today, I'm down 106 pounds. I still have 15-20 pounds until I reach goal but I'm happy. I'm so happy! I'm plateaued, but I'm happy. I run 5k's WITH my kids and husband now. I have energy. I'm the person, I think I always knew was inside of me. Make no bones about it, it is difficult. It is a huge mental mind screw. There are days I look in the mirror and I don't see me now. I see me as I was a year ago. It's hard. But there are days, I look in the mirror, with the biggest smile on my face and I see me as I am now. I've made it and I've done it. Hugs to everyone who does this journey. It's well worth it. I was going to post some pics from my gallery, but they were insanely too big. Here is the link. http://www.lapbandta.../7195-new-pics/

I have a few "rewards"... My mom, a few years ago, bought me a Tiffany charm bracelet that I was never able to wear because my wrists were too big. About a month after surgery, I tried it on and it fit. So, I set little "mini goals" and after I met each goal, I got a new charm for my bracelet. I am planning on a TT and breast lift in the fall, lol, but that isn't a reward for me, just getting rid of some skin. Other than that, I got married 13 years ago in a size 16 wedding dress, which in hindsight since I was a size 24 on the day of surgery, I should have been happy about the size 16, lol. When I got my pictures back, I cried for DAYS and sadly, nobody has ever seen any of my wedding pictures. So, already booked, next June, hubby and I are going to Hawaii and renewing our wedding vows on the beach!

I absolutely agree here. I've cut out breads, pastas, rice, pretty much any white refined anything. I attribute that to my weight loss. I'm not a year out yet and have lost 106 pounds. Plateaued currently, but despite that fact, I don't think I would have gotten this far eating those things. Good luck!

Like I said, I still religiously measure my food and I record everything I eat on Livestrong.com. Do I maybe, once in a blue moon, have an extra bite of something, lol, sure. So maybe I'll amend that for you and say 1/2 cup plus 1 tsp. I'm glad you can assume why I am supplementing with protein shakes... No, I'm not supplementing with protein shakes because I am concerned with only 1/2 cup food portions and no I'm not drinking protein shakes, they are too filling for me. I drink a 4oz serving of a drink, similar to milk. I'm drinking them because of my workouts, as stated before, I run 3-4 miles a day, 6 days a week. Even people who are not banded and work out heavily drink protein shakes. They make me feel better, plain and simple, I'm not drinking them out of concern for my nutritional intake. Again, you assume too much. My Dr mandates for the first year, all his patients get blood work done every 8 weeks. Not once, in any one of my results have my results ever been less than great. I didn't have any medical problems before the band (except being overweight) and I don't have any now. I have no desire to wean myself off of my Protein drinks, as stated before, I'm not taking them as supplements or Meal Replacements. I'm taking them from a fitness standpoint. Not doing anything more or less than anybody on my running team does. We go for a run and have a Protein Drink, not a big shock there. Since when is it wrong to take daily vitamins? I've taken daily vitamins for many many years. I take a multi, Calcium and B12, nothing more than I have ever taken before being banded. Did I switch to a bariatric brand/vitamin, yep, but I've taken those three vitamins/supplements for as long as I can remember. Also, who is to say what a regular size portion meal is? Sure as hell, not any of of us here, it is a very individual thing. I'm shocked how many have come on here forcing there beliefs with a sense of "my way or the highway". We're all experts, right? I don't think so. Every single one of us is going to react to everything differently. I have 1/4 cup of EggBeaters in the morning, and well, I'm FULL for 4-5 hours after, does that happen for everybody? I seriously doubt it. If I was sitting here hungry all the time, yeah, I'd be looking at way to increase my food intake, but I'm not, I'm VERY VERY satisfied after I eat my 1/2 cup meals. So, yeah, this WORKS for me but it won't work for everybody, just like what works for you, will not work for everybody.

I've been banded for almost a year and still my port area gets a little sore during sex sometimes, sometimes it is sore for a bit after sex as well. The more weight I lose, the more tender it seems to get, which I attribute to a bit, or rather a lot, less "padding" for protection, lol.