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2 week surgiversary today and I lost 10lbs first week and for this last week I've been bouncing between 228.4-230.2. Today I was 229.2. I'm getting in all my water and some plus all my protein. Doctor said to experiment with foods and I have, no problems with anything! My caloric intake has not been more than 720, but mostly between 550-650. I've also gone back to the gym and have been walking 30 on the treadmill. Just so frustrated seems I'm working harder and loosing weight now that I was before surgery and now weight won't come off! Thanks for letting me vent :/

vitamins and other supplements - I get my vitamins at Walmart. Citrical chocolate chews and Centrum chewables early on, (now I just swallow pills) but get a "petite" variety when I can. Protein shakes - Syntrax Nectar Iced Lemon Tea, later, Quest bars and PowerCrunch bars. I lost my taste for milky, thick shakes for a while and preferred a water mix product. Skin products for sagging - I try to remember to moisturize with a product containing cocoa butter daily. Not sure if it's helping but it smells nice! Exercise IS helping some especially around my arms and legs. Hair products for hair loss - Been taking a biotin supplement since 3 months pre-op. Never really saw much hair loss and my nails are in GREAT shape!

HI there...I'm 10 months post-op... Vitamins and other supplements Bariatric Advantage chewables (don't give up after the first few tries - you get used to the taste), essential fatty acids, Vitamin D Protein shakes unjury vanilla and chocolate Splendor (try sugar free Torani syrups to mix in - they have tons of different flavors) Skin products for sagging Nivea Skin Firming Body Lotion (honestly, I don't know if it helped, but it made me feel like I was doing something productive and my skin is much softer) hair products for hair loss Biotin and Folic Acid (approved by doc), Nioxin shampoo & conditioner, Toppik (to cover the hair loss - works just like their on-line videos) My doc says there's nothing you can do to stop the loss, but you can help it come back.

OH great. I was just banded Dec 31st and will be 60 this year and want to loose 100 lbs or more if possible. I hope you get some answers from your blog. It will be interesting. Judy

I just went to the doctor and asked him this question...And he said sleeve patients loose about 77% of there excess weight..were full gastral bypass patients loose approx 80% of there original excess weight..I've never had the band so I'm not sure of there outcomes...My question is what stops us from loosing 100% of our excess weight? My eye is on the prize ! No one is telling me that I can't loose 100 %..

I've discovered since having my lap band surgery on Sept. 19th that a whole new world is really out there waiting for me...and I am quite excited by this! In 7 weeks and 5 days I have learned so much more about myself than I ever would have thought possible. First and foremost....I can eat to live and not live to eat anymore. This is a big one....as a constant food grazer for the past 30 or so years...who knew you could really just eat to nourish your body and mind and move on with your day....with your life. My band and I are forging a whole new relationship together and we are getting along fabulously....I'm learning to stop at satisfied, chew, chew, chew, and to eat slowly. When I do this I don't feel that pressure in my chest I experienced a few times when first back on solids. I eat when I'm hungry...this is a new one for me. I actually wait when my stomach begins to growl and really get rowdy. Why one might ask. Because I havent felt TRUE hunger in so many years its actually a nice feeling. It reminds me that this is the signal that tells me....Yup....time to put some nourishment in me....and that's it! Food is not all consuming to me anymore. I dont have any cravings. I dont know if its the band or the plication but I am loving it! I realized a week ago that I can eat something like a fun-size bag of peanut M+M's and the food demon of my past will not be unleashed. I thought for sure once I had that taste of chocolate...the taste of salty and sweet...the taste of goodness and comfort and joy that those M+M's used to elicit would cause me to slip back into old eating habits and patterns. You know what....IT DIDNT. Mind you, panic over this little "snack" did cause fear in my heart and soul as I ran around the house for the rest of the night telling my hubby that I surely released "the demon". Well, guess what?...the next day was like any other banded day for me. Eating breakfast, lunch, my little snack to get me to dinner and then to my last meal of the day- dinner. Now when I see that bowl of leftover Halloween candy, I glance at it and say ....aaahhh...and walk away and onto the next thing I was going to do. Moments like that I now say WOW to. At work, no one (well actually only one person---the wonderful school nurse who helped me when I fell outside of work right before my lap band surgery and i basically broke down because of the stress of everything---knows). One girl has said I've lost weight.....many others comment on how great my hair looks and they all love the shirts I'm wearing. I find it funny....not sure if they dont know what to say or this is how they are noticing it. I've always been a loose fitting shirt girl, always trying to cover up all my baggage and now my clothes are beginning to hang even more. I know I've got to get new stuff but the thought of not hiding stuff is all new to me. I will come around...for I must...but this part is the hard part right now. I feel good...I feel light....I feel faster...I feel more energetic. I love that my wedding/engagement ring are constantly twisting on my finger. I love that my watch needs a link taken out. I love that I can eat at home or go out to eat with my family and I CAN eat. Whatever I want....sometimes better choices than others but I can always eat everything. I DO NOT feel deprived of anything. I don't miss the constant grazing, the donuts by the dozen, the pints of Ben & Jerry's, the 2 or 3 helpings at dinner. I DO LOVE that my hubby is able to reach around me better when he gives me a hug....I can keep up with my kids better....i feel better about myself....i am happier than i've been in some time.....I'm healthier.....i've lost 46 pounds and this is just the beginning. I look out my window and see that whole new world that being thinner offers and at times it is scary and seems so unknown but I wont know how truly great it all is unless I continue to travel down that road and reach that weight loss goal that has eluded me for sooooo many, many years. So, watch out....'cause here I come!

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">My chiropractor said he was going to write mine up as a medical necessity because I am sway-back from all the extra weight and skin pulling on the front. Same idea as a breast reduction: it's effecting my spine, results in rashes, etc. You will have to see how much skin you have...and then petition your insurance. Good luck.</TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I'm having a hard time too :/ i feel like i have to loose at least 20 more lbs but everybody tells me i'll disapear =/

It's not a gaurentee you will get a fill. MY Dr. weighs me in, checks the difference from last visit, divides by # weeks to determine how much I have lost per week.....if it is good, then NO FILL. It's all about loosing weight !! Although he can also be concerned about hunger cravings too. My laqst fill was last May. Have had acceptable weight loss every month since then, up untill last month. Then he gave me a very little fill as maintence. Next time I see him, in April, I may ask to have that taken back out.

okay...so Im flying to MX on Friday to be banded by Dr. Sanchez.........and Im so worried. I know that Im doing the right thing!! I also know that life changes are coming....and Im excited..scared..and a whole lot of other things I cant explain. Im also going this alone...Im worried about silly things like...loosing my glasses between pre-op and recovery...Im worried about loosing my passport and getting stuck in MX with no way home....My head is full of so much stuff!!!!!!!!!!! I need a little clarity a little .....bright light of hope...lol.

Hey Crazy Ate Sistas & Brothas! Can you believe we are coming up on a year since we had Lapband surgery? To Celebrate and to thank all of my faithful and supportive readers, I listed 52 of my fav things (the Crazy Ates made the list!) that I came to love since my surgery. And....listen to this...I am having a shoe giveaway! Yes, that's right....I'm asking readers to share a comment...including their shoe size (please!). So, PLEASE comment....say something! Celebrate yourself...sing your praises...shout about your successes! Tell the world you are a sassy and sexy Crazy Ate! I'll be headed to the beach and I will pick up a pair of those hand painted pink crocs (that match mine!) that I wore to the hospital the day of my surgery! So, please......I want to thank everyone here....you are all a part of my journey! OMG....remember THOSE very first days???? Now look at us!!! So, if you are faithful reader and haven't had a chance to say HI...please do so during the entry period. If you just email me (instead of comment)....please be sure to comment on the blog (you don't have to have a Google account...you can just comment using the "anonymus button". You will have to identify yourself in some way so that I can announce who won on my blog and you'll know you are the winner!) And, of course, I'd love to have new blog reader freinds too! So, you are more than welcome to bring your NON Crazy Ate friends....a friend of yours is a friend of mine!!! The more the merrier! Come on...it's a party! I might even serve up some Margaritas or Martini's....you just never know (they are both Lapband friendly...right?) And, WE ALL DESERVE IT!!!! Come one, come all... you might find a few things that you come to love amongst my 52 and of course...there's a SHOE giveaway! What could be better? (Well, we know what could be better...loosing weight!) Here's the address.... Stories from the road....... It runs from today through July 28. The drawing is on August 3...I will announce the winner on my blog and I will get the shoes to the winner by August 10 so the winner and I can wear them on my Bandiversary! And, you can comment as many times as you wish during that timeframe! I hope to see all of my Crazy Aters THERE! It wouldn't be party without my wonderful Lapband mates! Judi

Exercise wont shrink them, time might to a small degree. At your age, I'd go for it, you've got lots of years to be young and show off your body and why waste them being sad about a part of you that you can change? I feel a lot differently about it for myself because the reality of sagging, wrinkling skin is a lot closer. I need a boob lift, but I kind of figure, what's the point. The rest of me will be heading south faster than I can blink!

Hi everyone i have been a banded since 05/2003 i have lost alot of weigh but skin is every where looking to have a tummy tuck has anyone had a tummy tuck:help:

Actually.. I have always been able to feel the port, from the inside and outside. And when I lay on my stomach, I have a pain on my left side where I image the band is.. I asked my doctor about it last time and he said it's likely the band pushing on something. So I do feel that.. And when I eat, sometimes I get a gurgling or glug glug glug as something moves down, so I feel the band from the inside. I don't constantly feel the band, and except for the pain of laying on my stomach, it's not significant.. When my port was on my abdomen, I could push and feel every side of it.. now it's under my left boob, and it's on a not-so-fatty part of my body, so it feels like it's right under the skin.

i wouldnt say ps was inevitable, but probable.. congrats on your weight loss, that is amazing. your skin may shrink a little, but doubtful back all the way. that depends on so many factors, age (which you do have on your side), how long you've been heavy/obese, where you carry the weight, etc... after just going thru an extended tummy tuck and lipo, i cannot determine which was better for me - the band or the PS... best of luck to you.

Anyone experiance gall bladder issues after loosing a lot of weight?

I have PCOS and with it, the requisite beard and mustache. Ugh! I'm sick of shaving. So... I went in for my first laser hair removal treatment a couple weeks ago. OMG it hurt like h*ll. And stank (burnt hair, yum) My chin was swollen and red for a couple days -- I iced it like crazy. What was weird was that the hair was still there, and I was still shaving every morning, and then it wasn't anymore -- took a week or so after treatment before it was gone. I've got at least 4 treatments left, and then maintenance after that. Anyone done this and have tried-n-true suggestions besides icing that will help with the pain during the treatment? The girl who does it says that the numbing cream doesn't really help because it's put on the surface of the skin but the real pain is down in the follicle. Will ibuprofen prior to lasering help? My leftover Vicodin from surgery? :knockedou Is the technician wrong and I should try rubbing in some cream with lidocaine? All of the above?:paranoid

So tell me your story, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly! I am trying to gauge how the revisionistas are doing long term after the actual change over. My revision is scheduled on September 17th, which is exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. (A little Bandster history: Banded in 2007; Lost 127 Banded; Gained Back 107; issues started with hiatal hernia, etc., been struggling with fills ever since...always too tight or too loose.) I have never met or spoken with anyone who has the sleeve, so feel free to lend any advice and/or insight. Looking forward to hearing from you!

That would be a fascinating and worthy study! I agree with the earlier comments about pros and cons. However, self-pay banders also had to show certain levels of commitment before getting the band. Perhaps not a 6-month pre-diet for insurance approval, but I had several steps I had to go through too, like several evaluations and a two-week pre-op liquid diet. Since I was self-pay, I'm definitely motivated to stay on top of this and try my best to finally loose the weight!

Hi! there your off to a good start it's nice that you have your husbands support it. It took me a while to finally decide to have surgery i had been thinkng about it for years until i finally got surgery n Jan 14,2010. I feel so good about doing it, I am loosing slowly only 26lbs since surgery but i feel amzingly good. Don't get discouraged along the way. good luck Chachis

oh cuddlebug we have all been there! me perhaps more than others. I will say what I always say to myself...one day at a time. there is always tomorro. I have so called 'cheated' heaps (although cheating post lapband is far different from cheating prelapband) however, so far so good am still loosing weight and still feeling no negative affects to my band. I am a calculated cheater though! I think...if I eat this I will probably have to do a 10k walk tomorro! let me tell you sometimes that alone is more than enough to stop me from doing it!!! Best wishes. :bananapartyhat: becky

yeah, I have lost a total of 52 lbs including pre op weight loss. Before the weight loss my jeans were SO tight, I refused to go up another size!LOL! but, not they are so loose on me everywhere, except my waist! Its looser, just not loose enough and I too, dont want to buy new clothes yet, cuz, I dont want to spend the money on clothes just yet cause I am only 5 weeks out. Maybe I will give myself a goal when to buy 1 pair of new jeans. Maybe every 20 lb. milestone I will buy another pair of jeans that fit good from walmart! Until I get where I want to be and buy more expensive clothes when my weight loss slows down and I am at goal!

I can really relate with you on this one. People, like my husband, just can't understand why I am still unhappy with the way I look in the mirror. Sure, it is fun to shop for new smaller size clothes (now a 10, before a 18)- but to be honest, the second I take my clothes off to get in the shower & I see my self in the mirror, all is see is fat! I am 144lbs and you would think by loosing 75lbs, I would be ecstatic. However, I really was happier fat- as bad as that sounds. I never thought I looked fat when I was fat- it was everyone else who thought I was overweight. Now... everyone thinks I look great & I feel like crap! I know this sounds so ungreatful and maybe it is, but I can't relate to myself anymore. I look in the mirror and pick every little thing appart. Now, don't get me wrong, there are days when I feel on top of the world (normally weightloss days) and the second I gain even a half a pound I feel like crap again! So, I'm going to tell you as an outsider looking in...you look AMAZING and you have done a phenominal job, but I do relate to you and understand where you are coming from. We can only hope with time, we can relate better to ourselves and start to accept our "new" flaws. Great job & congrats on your success.

My figure is exactly like yours and I hate it. I think the small waist big hips, even if the woman is heavy, is more girly feminine than the thick waist!! I am at 187 and also 5'4" so I am fatter than you but very same shape and the side view is the killer. Here's what I think...I still want to lose a couple of more jean sizes and want to get into the normal range which I think is 145. From there if I still have the tree trunk waist...I seriously may get a tummy tuck, lift or whatever! I might need it anyway for loose skin! The other thing is I have a tall sister who has always had a small waist but has also been thin (yes, I hate her for it and she knows it) anyways she quit smoking once and gained around 50 pounds and , guess what??? Tree trunk fat waist! So then I think that area is just going to be the last to go and I really hope it does!!! I hope that helps....incidentally you look pretty fantastic to me! Diane

You know I want to start out by saying that I am going to get a little whiney and for those of you who cannot sympathize with Goal Limbo then you are going to hate this post. But I come here to voice my NSV, my SV and so I will post my whining too. I will attach a couple of pictures here. These are my 1 year full body pictures. I have my pre-op pics on my profile page if you want to see. I'm not at my home comptuer or I would upload those. I am so very not happy with my body. I'm not talking about the drooping girls in front. I have to expect that after losing 115 lbs. I am talking about my "big" tummy and the fact that from the side I have no waiste. AT ALL! How depressing is that? When I see myself in the mirror and in pictures (which is the real test) I am actually pretty happy with my front view. I have never had to worry about hips like one of my sisters. I am broad acrose the back, but that has gotten more propotionate lately and with my "sucker-inner" as I call my cami-body hugger I don't have a lot of loose looking skin and it help keeps the girls up. (without the sucker-inner it isn't quite as pretty ) From the side I have absolutely no waste. Infact I think my belt in is direct allignment to the girls up top. People at work call me skinny, which doesn't tick me off like it used to when I thought they were kind of making fun of me. I had a girl at work that thought I weighed 130 lbs. Okay that made me wonder if she was making fun of me again, but I don't think she was. I weigh 170 and I told her so, but I am pretty fit and wear a size 11/12. I would LOVE to go down one more size and hit a 9/10 comfortablly. But I digress..... What is wrong with me? What is wrong with my body. I am a short little thing. Only 5'4". I know that makes a big difference in the way I carry my weight. I know that one year ago when I was wearing a size 22/24 I would have swore when I fit into a size 11/12 that I would be estatic with my body. Now all I see is fat when I look at my profile in the mirror. Oh another thing on these pictures is that I still have a !@#$% double chin! WHAT? I thought I got rid of that. I will have to walk around with my nose in the air so that thing isn't as noticable! Oh I know what some of you are thinking....."What is she complaining about? If I could lose that weight I would be so happy I would never complain" Yeah, I hope that is true because it is what I thought a year ago. Maybe this is good. I have been so happy with my weight and my body that I have gone into maintaince mode. I guess maybe I needed to get to point where I am not happy to get my weight loss moving again. I am so frustrated, but on the bright side it makes me want to go to the gym. It is funny when I first hit this weight and this size I thought I looked good. I am starting to see how skinny girls can actually with a straight face say they think they are fat. I always kind of thought that it was a ploy to get attention, but they actually look in the mirror and don't see a nice figure. Oh this sucks. I guess I will ride the rollercoaster, hopefully get a few more pounds off of my body and hope for a waist line. I have to wait another 4 years before my surgery is paid off and I can get a tummy tuck/ lipo and a breast lift. I hope the next four years seem to go as fast as the last one!