More2Love

Dr. Larson is such a wonderful doctor! He's very personable and he listens and takes notes whenever you're in his office. His staff is always willing to take calls or call back as soon as they get a chance. JFK offers two meetings a month to get together and socialize with fellow bandsters. The whole office is completely laid back and I'm never nervous or anxious before check-ups. I would recommend them 100% - not a doubt in my mind!

Hey! You're doing great! My band is definitely tight in the morning so I bring a protein shake with me on my way to school/ work. I have to sip, sip, sip but it goes down better than actual food. Then around lunch time I'll eat some solid food just to tide me over. But I definitely know what you mean - it feels like you're having a heart attack when you're stuck! UGH! I was banded in May and still have those episodes every once in a while! Yuck. Anyway, good job with everything and it really seems like you're completely dedicated so that's great.

So basicially I've been up and down with my emotions as of late. My thoughts always revolve around my weight and what others are thinking of me. I had my surgery May 18, 2011 and have lost 73 lbs. I went from weighing 316 to 243! That's great, but I still have way more to go. I would love to get around 170 lbs. And because I've put that number in my head I still see myself 73 lbs heavier. I notice that my jeans went down from a tight 22 to a 16, but my mentality hasn't changed yet. However, today at the gym, i caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and hardly recognized myself. I'm 5'9" so 243 is heavy, but it's definitely better than 316. I just kept looking at myself! I think that it's finally clicked that I'm no longer 316 lbs. I'm beginning to realize that I look good and I'm going to continue working hard just to keep this satisfaction going. 170 lbs is just a number and it shouldn't really be my goal. My goal should be when I finally feel well and when my health has improved. So in Charlie Sheen's point of view, I'm now definitely "winning!"

I watch newtoy4kt religiously on youtube. She's actually one of the main inspirations I had in the process of deciding if this was right for me. She's brutally honest and a true encouragement. I started watching her when she first started making videos - almost 2 years ago. Her change is remarkable and she's still making videos!

A lot of surgeons tell you how much you'll lose but they're only going by statistics. Be more than a statistic. My doctor told me that I was only going to get to 224. That's not okay to me. And I'm only talking for myself. I personally want to get a lower number than that. So I'm going to shoot for 170. I know I can do it. My surgery was May 18, 2011 and I've already lost 65 lbs. I'm going to keep going until I reach his goal. And then I'll keep going until I get into the 100's. And then I'll keep going until 170. And you know what? I'll keep going until I am comfortable. I do plan on losing more than 100 lbs. Because determination and hard work goes a lot longer than just a few statistics. Besides, you're young... you only get this life once so why not make it the best you can? But here is some truth: The band isn't going to lose the weight for you. If you've been going to the gym religiously and havne't had much success then the band isn't going to drop the weight. Eating veggies is going to be a way of life because most foods (starchy) aren't going to go down the "pipe." Fruit, veggies, and lean meats are my daily foods now. Maybe meet with the surgeon and your dietician and tell them about the situation. They'd love to hear about it. I wish you the best with whatever decision you make!!

I think it varies from person to person. Some people don't lose much because it's only been a couple weeks since surgery. But some people lose a whole bunch. It just depends on if you cheated, the amount of weight a person needed to shed, the way your body responded to the surgery, etc. I personally lost 25 lbs before seeing my doctor again, but every experience is different

Hey Karina! What a difference! (In your profile picture) Looking good, girl!

mmmm...cheez-its sound so good right now It's not a point of "cheating" persay, it's a point of your body trying to heal. Your stomach just got squeezed and is trying to pick itself back up after being "abused" so to say. The guilty feeling is probably coming from the fact that you know it's not the best snack food you could have had (no matter how delicious!" If that's the case then just realize that this is a lifestlye change not an overnight change. Not only that, but you can have a few of them. Just because you got the band doesn't mean you can never eat again. Though later on down the road cheez-its might not agree with you! However, this early into it it may not be that great of a choice. I probably wouldn't start eating carrots and steak but a few cheez-its will not hurt you. If you're more concerned about the band itself and if you ruined it - no. Unless you feel extreme pain and discomfort you're fine.

I have a 10cc band also. I now have just a little more than 4 cc's and think I might've finally found my "sweet spot." I would think that you should feel at least something.... whether it be tighter in the morning or something. I think you should probably call your doctor and just check in. Never hurts to just talk to him about it

Congrats!!! This is one of the best decisions you could make!!

Hey! My surgery was May 18 and I'm down 60 lbs. I wouldn't mind losing another 40 lbs before Christimas. Everyone says that I look much thinner, but I can't see it at all. I used to be able to see it, and then my mind suddenly changed... or at least my eyes changed. All I see are the flaws. But maybe I'll be happier after 40 more lbs.

Hey! This post was extremely helpful because I now know that I'm not the only one out there with this problem. I was banded on May 18 and have lost a good portion of weight also (down 60lbs). I was doing so well with my diet and then all of a sudden I just didn't feel like doing it anymore. The band doesn't seem tight enough because I can eat everything (including the things I was told I wouldn't be able to post-op). I actually gained - on purpose - 3 lbs and then started drinking 70oz of water per day. Now I'm back down 2lbs in 2 days so I think I might continue that. Do remember to drink your water because it will semi-fill you up and will help you shed fat. Good luck!

WOW!! That's absolutely amazing!! Congrats!!

Well, I can honestly say that I've been much more irratible these last couple of months. No, I take that back. I was great for the first 3 weeks and then something changed in me that made me become the way that I am now. I think that the realization of the fact that I can't eat is getting to me. Oh, I can eat just fine (trust me) but I can't eat whenever and whatever I want to. I never realized just how much I truly crave food. And I'm not talking about that fuit nonsense. I'm talking about FOOD! Driving past a Chinese restaurant just about kills me. And then even looking at a Pizza Hut...well, you better start digging my grave now! Then again, before I had this surgery I had no self control. On my drive home on Saturday nights (about 12am) I would stop in at Pizza Hut, get a large stuffed crust pizza and eat *almost* the whole thing in one sitting. I used to go get chinese takeout almost every single day off that I had because it made me feel good... I had extremely poor eating habit before May 18, 2011. No wonder I was 316 lbs when I got this surgery done. And now (July 8, 2011) I can proudly say that I'm 262 lbs. I mean, for most people that's still a lot of weight. Sure, I know that. But I've got to remember where I started from. I started over 300 lbs and that was less than 2 months ago. And now I'm almost in the 50's. It still blows me away. Sometimes, when I'm driving alone at night, I just want to pull over and eat. I've been feeling a bit depressed about it because I can't do that. I can't just pull into a McDonald's and have a large Reese's McFlurry (Extra Reese's of course!). Or my parents have a friend that loves to cook. Sometimes he comes over and makes the best smelling and tasting food you could ever imagine. Just staring at the rice and the curried chicken makes my mouth water right now. And I find it funny that my parents ask me what's wrong while they are eating dinner. Yes, my attitude changes, but mostly because I'm trying not to listen to them rave about how good their meal is while I'm eating boiled veggies. But then there are days like today that I feel great. Honestly, I was so proud of myself when I stepped onto that scale this morning. I wasn't quite sure what it was going to read because I did splurge and have a little extra yesterday, but the scale stayed steady. So far, a lot of this work has been because of me. I've only had 1 fill so far and I didn't feel much of a difference. I'm hungry all the time and know that I can eat alot still. However, the band has given me something that I haven't ever had before: will power. The band is the only thing that makes me want to stay focused. Without it, I would have never gotten this far. I'm a size 18 - coming from a tight 22. This band is giving me the confidence that I never knew existed before. So yes, sometimes being banded can feel like the heaviest burden a person can have. There are so many restrictions - and a lot of it revolves around the only thing that I know/ do best: eating. I can't eat when I'm sad. I can't eat when I'm angry. And that's usuallly when I want to eat the most! But the true question is here: Do I regret my decision of getting it done? And my answer is a big, fat: NO! I will never regret that I got it done!! No matter how much I complain, and complain, and complain...this band had changed my life for the better. I'm walking out of the house and not looking at my shoes. I'm feeling better about myself as I'm walking through the mall. I'm shopping at places that I'd never even considered before. I'm feeling great when going to the gym. I'm the happiest that I've been in probably my whole life. I will BEAT this disease! I will be the one to bury it, not the other way around. So here's my question to you::::: Do YOU regret having it done?

At least a week...I'm pretty sure I was able to lay on my stomach after a week and a half. It does make life much, much easier!

TMI - but I had my period and let's just say they gave me a blood thinner TWICE in one day. My poor sheets had to be changed because I couldn't get up fast enough to use the bathroom in time. And this is coming from someone who is so careful when it comes to bleeding through clothes. Oh, I was mortified! But 6 weeks later, i don't care!

That's SO great!! Congrats!!! What an inspiration you are to us all!! Keep on bragging!

Ugh. Sliming is very uncomfortable. It's gross, but common. Watermelon did NOT work for me! Bailey explained it really well.

Oh, yes! I'm definitely looking forward to crossing my legs. I've always only crossed my ankles and I usually get asked the same question: "Why are you sitting like that?" When the other lady has her legs crossed. It's embarrassing. I just want to be "girly!"

For a lot of people (including myself) we are on here to get support from others. Not always positive support, but sometimes support to make us feel like we aren't the only ones who feel a certain way. Such as someone who has a port flip or a band slip. We just need advice sometimes. There are positive things on here, but sometimes people just need a place to go where they feel like they "belong" and that they're not alone through this whole journey. Try to read this forum and put yourself in their places. Sometimes encouragement is what they need. I know that I've even complained about a few things, but usually when I'm feeling my best I don't get on here. It's not until I'm feeling stressed, or discouraged do I finally retreat here in order to get some advice. But definitely keep coming back...it really is encouraging even if you don't feel like it is.

Your doctor will tell you. Sometimes it's things that are required by the insurance company - such as a Thyroid test. However, my doc required an EKG and chest x-ray. Both are simple and kind of fun! Definitely talk to your doc about it.

Hey! Yes, I know. But I want to actually walk into an American Eagle store and put on a pair of 14 jeans. I don't want to shop online anymore. Too many years of that...now I'm ready to actually buy things that day! I can't wait

Hey - I'm really looking forward to the day I can put on a pair of American Eagle jeans. I've always been a big girl and need been able to fit into the "cool" clothes. For just one time in my life, I want to walk into that store and leave with a pair of jeans. I will cry that day. lol...it's been my dream since I was a freshman in high school. However, I just went to Old Navy today and tried on a size 18. A bit snug (then again they were "short" when I'm quite tall) but I was able to zip them up. I'm getting there. Almost 50 pounds lost! Woooo hoooo!!!