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Hi my name is Austin, I am 21 yrs old and my surgery is set for Jan. 5th. When I entered into the process I clocked in at 428 lbs with a bmi of 58,I really let myself go, which my surgeon won't allow anyone over 60bmi to have the surgery... it wasn't until I hit 400 lbs that I ever really let it sink in that I was to far gone. You see I always convinced myself that oh I'm young I can loose weight if I really tried. But after several,upwards to 12 different diet and exercise programs, slimfast, nutrisystem, Atkins, south beach, etc. I finally broke down, and admitted defeat until my doctor uttered his best advice. Gastric Bypass. I went for my seminar and it opened my eyes to the possibility that I won't die young that I could live a long happy life. I changed the way I looked at food and I got down to the real root of my eating problem and just stopped making excuses and got off my fat buttnd now I'm around 410 and less than 2weeks away from my liquid diet. I would love to find someone who is close to my surgery date to be friends,mentors, a confidant if you will and together we can support each other to conquer and keep each other strong through what will ultimately change out lives for the better

Congrats to everyone keep up the great work I now can wear a size large women's dress from a size 3x I too love the gym and go 5 times per week . I still have about 75 pounds more to loose but I know I will get there I'm swimming in my old clothes and I am only buying clothes second hand because they cost so much doing this transitional period. Tomorrow I will be 7 months post opt my my how times fly when your having fun .

:glare:So heres the deal i have no motivation and really need to get back at it. I lost a bunch of weight but reached a place where I dont have it in me any longer to fight the good fight (my give a crap is in the shop L:tongue2:L!) I just need to get back on the "Band wagon":lol:I crack me up... Im actually not eating enough and not getting the right amount of protien so im not loosing any weight. working third shift is crap. when i was on first shift i had a schedule i could live with and got in the gym when i was supposed to... Blah Blah Blah:angry:. I just need to get off my tush and get at it. I wonder if I am the only one that is discouraged by my own lack of commitment to my self??? HMMMMM???:thumbup: P.S. Tag you are it!

Found this data. Hope it helps. This is for a 1/2 chicken breast, no skin, and boiled. www.nutritiondata.com

I'll be six weeks out next Monday. The first few weeks do suck. I never got even close to my daily protein and fluids for several weeks. I tried so many different things and just felt like nothing tasted good!! One way that I get about half of my daily protein is to make a smoothie for breakfast. I mix 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries, a scoop of unflavored protein powder (I like the genepro), a couple of dollops of strawberry cheesecake greek yogurt, 2/3 cup of the fairlife milk and a little zero calorie sweetener. I have a Ninja blender and that really works great! f you can tolerate a smoothie at this point that might help with the protein and also add to your daily fluids! I also added the unflavored protein powder to things like broth, cream of chicken broth, no sugar added hot chocolate, sugar free chocolate pudding, etc. I know bone broth has a good amount of protein if you like that. Not eating with your family is really hard. I just keep telling myself that this is not forever and things will be better soon!! Loosing my extra weight is motivation for me!! The hives could be from stress to tell you the truth! My daughter gets hives when she is REALLY stressed. The dr told her to take pepcid. Works like a charm! Keep drinking what ever tastes good to u and know that things will turn around soon!!! Oh, sugar free popsicles and no sugar added fudge bars are really good too!!! You can do this!!!!!

You are probably feeling much sexier from having the surgery and you need to hold onto that. This man is interested. Stay focused on the sexy feelings you get when you're with him and try to push the self-consciousness away. Sexy is all in the mind. I've always maintained a sexy attitude even at my heaviest. I'm much more self-conscious at this high weight but when my husband says I'm beautiful- I believe he definitely sees that- even when I don't. So- if he's worth it- your skin won't matter- what's inside it does. You really have to risk it for love. :wub: Good luck! In related and funny matters, read the thread that starts "This may be inappropriate but.." in post op. (warning: it's explicit)

I haven't lost any more hair or thinned hair more than it already was due to thyroid issues. I didn't have dry skin either post -WLS. I've tried everything: biotin pills, Rogaine, Nioxin . . . none if it helped.

Hi thankyou for the response , I hear so much about people reaching their sweet spot / green zone , but for me I have had several fills and unfills but either felt things to loose or like now , I don't now ever really feel truly hungry which is amazing really but that doesn't bother me , what does is the worry I don't manage Proteins easily especially as most say to concerntrate on them first in the diet . I dread eating out amongst others unless having something like Soup anything else generally causes me to bring it up or despite chewing well pain in my chest / port area which makes me feel unwell - when this happens I dare not even drink until the pain feeling goes , have you ever had this ?

Excuse my language but Screw Them. People just want something to be nasty about. People dont' have the right to complain I'm fat and then complain when I loose weight. Choose a side you can't have both.

...thats so right. i told my husband last night that he wasnt to expect more beauty from me as a result of weight loss but that i would better health. im 65, i dont know how weight loss is going to affect my muscles, my face, my neck. reading these posts i can see that protein is an essential part of diet, to the point where it is encouraged to be taken by powder or liquid. im assuming that this is to help with the muscles in the body... not sure about that one. Im certainly going to try and keep a healthy skin, im not going to neglect my appearance. does anyone have any advice here for maintaining a smooth skin after surgery?? weight loss can cause havoc with the face and neck.

So this week I went to my surgeon for my 3 month post op visit. 3 months!!! ALREADY! Wow, I cannot believe how fast the time goes when you are so focused on a goal! So, I went there and first off got weighed by the nurse. She says to me, "Wow, you are down another 26.3 pounds since the last time we saw you just over a month ago!" So I tell her about the hair loss and the little bit of worry that I have about the loose skin, and she gives me some fliers about what other Vitamins I can be taking for the hair loss (BY THE WAY, ANY ADVICE IN THIS AREA WOULD BE GREAT!!!). She then tells me to ask the Dr. about the skin and what he thinks. So the Dr. comes in a few minutes later. Says to me, "Hello, Kim. I'll tell you, you used to look like someone I would perform surgery on, but not anymore!" So I smile and turn beat red (i'm sure) and then he looks at the chart again and says, "Kim! Do you realize you have lost 90 pounds in 4 months!?! NO ONE has ever lost that much that fast in our program!" Thats when it hit me. I have officially "lost" my 12 year old niece. WOW! Now for the bad news... My hair is 1/2 gone. Thank goodness I had a really thick head of hair to start or I would be bald by now. It's horrible! Every time I touch my head I loose a whole hand full of hair. I am really starting to worry about it but don't know what kind of vitamins to invest in so that it at LEAST slows down. HELP!!!! More bad news: I'm on another stall. I wanted to start the new year off in Onederland. I haven't lost in over 2 weeks. I am 10 pounds from Onderland and am stuck. Go figure. I just hope I can be within 5 pounds of Onderland at least by the New Year. Over all, I am happy as a lark and LOVING my new life! Thanks to the surgeon, their wonderful staff, and the sleeve I am happier than I have been in a very very long time. I finally feel good about myself and therefore am able to tackle the everyday things that used to tax me to even think about. I don't have a lot of full body pictures to post but I do have just a few to share. The first two pics is from a wedding I was in this last June (5 months ago). The last three were taken just this week. I will do my best to find some full body pictures this week and get them posted. ONDERLAND HERE I COME!!!!!!

Yes! I was sleeved on the 18th. I'm taking Benadryl, too. But I naturally react to a lot of stuff, including adhesives... So my IV site is worse. Is your skin yellowing around the incisions, too? I assume it's bruising, but... Sent from my Pixel using BariatricPal mobile app

I have always had super dry skin, especially in the winter. I will get dry spots. I always drink plenty of water and use PRESCRIPTION lotions too. But, since surgery I have had a quarter sized dry spot right in the middle of my back that I can't get to go away. I don't know how it would be from surgery but it is weird that it happened all at the same time. I showed my doctor last time I was there, he confirmed it is just dry skin and to keep applying the lotion to it. Usually they go away but this one has been there for 5 months now..🤷‍♀️

Howdy Sleevers!!!! I haven't chimed in for a couple of days due to the fact that I was trying something new. My company provides probably one of the best weight loss surgery benefits I have ever seen. Granted you have to pay a $5000.00 deductible, but you get that money back over the course of 3 or 4 years provided you meet the doctor's weight loss goals. And to top it off, if I hit 40% of my goal, my company will give me a $5000.00 cosmetic surgery benefit to help address any "skin" issues that could potentially arise. They did have a couple of pre-op goals that I had to meet beyond the traditional 6 month diet and weight loss. They required attending a 12 week course on mindful eating (which they paid for), 1 pre-op psych eval, and attendance at a surgical weight loss support group. Post-op they require 5 meetings with a psychologist at certain intervals and that I attend 6 support groups in the first year. Being a student of Psychology myself, I didn't mind the requirement of the psych visits; it was the support groups that I was dreading. Well...I went to my first 2 support groups this week and my opinion of them has completely turned around. The first group I went to was for people who had the sleeve or bypass and it is run by the surgeon himself, with a stand-in when he is unavailable; which is rare. The room was packed!!! I am glad I got there early. There were people in all phases of their recovery and subsequent weight loss. I got to hear them talk about many of the same issues I had been having or could potentially face in the future. They talked about their successes, roadblocks, stalls, changes, etc. Nothing was taboo and I felt reassured that I was not alone. I know that I have my family and friends who support me 100%, but sometimes it is hard for them to understand just what I am going through and being able to talk to a group of people, face to face that have or are going through the same things as me...well it made me feel really good about my decision. In this group we mostly talked about the physical elements of the surgery and even though I found the group engaging, helpful, and motivating, I wanted more. The second group I went to was held the very next day by a psychologist. It was the emotional support group. Now I know what you might be thinking...a bunch of people crying, hugging, etc. Well it was nothing like that. We sat in a circle and talked about the emotional impacts of the surgery and weight loss on our lives. I talked about the fact that I was unprepared for the emotional roller-coaster I experienced (and am still experiencing though it is much better). Others talked about their partner’s reaction to the change and how some of their relationships had become strained, how they were unsure how to address questions from people about the surgery and dispel myths, and several talked about struggling with the decision to tell people at all. When I talked about my issues, I was reassured to hear that I was not alone and that many in the group had experienced the same emotional impact that I have been dealing with. My overall experience with the two supports groups were so positive that I fully intend to attend both on a monthly basis. One other thing I have done differently that I didn't anticipate I'd do is get a Sleeve Buddy. I met a fabulous lady during the 12 week course who ended up having her surgery the day before me and we hit it off right away. We call ourselves Sleeve Buddies, but it is so much more than that. We motivate each other, talk to each other when we hit a rough patch, we work out together, and much more. The best part is that she lives in the same city so we are close enough to get together whenever we want. Aside from the support groups, the relationship I have developed with her has been so helpful. She has become by sleeve confidant. I guess the moral of the story gang is that the more support we have the better chance we have of succeeding. I strongly encourage you to try out a support group and see if it helps you as much as it does me. Ciao 4 Now!

I chose lapband for lots of reasons: 1) not a major overhaul of my insides; 2) recovery time; 3) if a problem can be reversed; 4) it helps me learn how to eat properly with a better chance of keeping the weight off. 5) slower weight loss giving my skin a chance to catch up. All in all, it is a matter of personal preference. I feel for me I have made the best decision...and my PCP agrees, even though I didn't see him until after my decision had been made. Good luck!

If you can keep a protien drink with you. My doc gave a fill at surgery. I have problems swallowing things. I think I am hungry and for god sakes I do not want to loose my hair due to not enough protien. are you eating enough protien? I was banded 9/28 and am down 12lbs also make sure you do not drink up to 90min after you eat your protien. Hope this helps

Has this week started over?? Is it Monday again?? Still?? Ok I now know why I am bitchy and craving. I haven't had "the visitor" for years.... Thank you ablation!!! Today I am sick with bronchitis, feel like I have coughed my band loose, can't poop, get stuck... I mean stuck!! For the first time and start!!! When I am done fishing I am going home to bed!! Lol. Just thought I would share.

What amount of carbs do you loose the most weight on ? I have heard 20 gms is the ideal amount for Ketosis but I have found it nearly impossible to keep my carbs that low. I am at 60 gms daily. I continue to lose weight but I am very worried that it will stall due to that high carb amount. But 20 gms is not only not achievable but not sustainable either. Please share your carb counts & experience. Sent from my SM-G920P using BariatricPal mobile app

If you don't know where your port is, please make sure you find out where it for future reference. Today, I went in for my 3rd fill. (The Nurse Practicioners do them at my office). I laid back on the table, she numbed me up, and we were just talking and it was over. I drank the water to make sure it stayed down, and I went on my merry way. I made a couple of stops along the way home, and I happened to look at my stomach, and I was shocked to see that my band aid was NOT where my port is!! I knew that my port was not in the 'normal' location because my surgeon told me that mine is epigastric because I had a lot of scar tissue. I immediately called the office and they told me to come back. Luckily, I live close to the office! What she thought was my port was actually my incision, and she mistook it as my port because it was hard and got fluid out of it because it had a cyst!!! She drew the fluid out of the cyst and put fluid into the correct location of my port. Now, I'm worried and a little paranoid about future fills...it really makes me wonder if they're getting the right spot! What if they put a hole in my tubing or somehow damage my band? Will I have to get surgery again to correct a mistake that was made? So, know your port!! If I didn't know, I may have been wondering why I didn't loose any weight!!! Next time,I will also check things out before I leave the office!

Wow, you have lost 10 lbs per month! That's great! Here is a little reality check, people are more interested in themselves and seldom pay attention to what others are doing. And if they are paying attention and criticizing you, then kick um to the curb and move on because they are not a loving part of your life. You will lose more weight and have less loose skin to boot! It will happen, just give it time. Now it may be time you start eating adult food though. Like lean meats and lots of other Protein based foods. Try to avoid sugars and carbs for a while. You should be at a stage where you can eat regular food now. I eat a lot of chicken, fish, pork and beef. I will then eat a little bit of veggies if i have room. The baby food you have been eating may have too much sugar and is also processed. I try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible. Hope this helps.

Congratulations on your 50 pound weight lost. I know how it feels to be able to loose that amount in this time frame. I lost 50 pounds in 4 months our of surgery and I have been with the same weight for a month now...I think I need a more agressive fill. Hopefully this thursday. I have 6.5 cc on my 10cm APS Band. Keep up the good work... Are you exercising? I am, and since I started I noticed I stop loosing but I haven't gained either....Could be muscle? Keep me posted, Regards, Vicky

Hello Everyone For years I have been strugling with my weight, I have tried every diet and pillS known to menkind,so when i heard about the lapband i was exited I reseached it and made the desicion to have it done. I had my procedure on january 20th 2009. at first everything was great not too much pain and the weight started to come off, then i just stop loosing weight i called my Dr. and was schedule fo a fill, I had my first fill on april 24,2009 and i was so excited that i was going to start loosing weight but it just not happening I don't know why, I'm watching what I eat and I'm exersing not as much as I should but Im trying. When I read the success stories of some of the member makes me feel like a looser, like im not trying hard enough, I feel like I let my self and my family down :thumbup: Im questioning my decision on having the procedure done. Can it be possible that the Procedure work for some people and not on others?

And I am so hungry... I have completely stopped loosing weight; and have actually gained 1.5 pounds over the last two weeks I feel hungry all the time...and I am craving lots of bread- which I have actually been eating quite a bit of on some days It has been so hard I'm also not feeling any restrictions anymore... I am eating between 1,000-1,200 calories per day; though I feel I can eat more. I am exercising 3-4 times per week. I'm starting to feel really bummed... Help?!

Blah... I feel like I have a whole person to loose.. I am about to step my game to lose atleast 40.-50 lbs ad quickly ad possible so it won't seem like such a far away goal.. any tips on really good.work out programs??

Thanks for responding so quickly. Last week I had a morning where my saliva would not go. I had to go in for an partial unfill on the 5th and I do follow your advice. You had told me before that you would rather have a patient a little loose than too tight. When the nurse removed some she told me that is good advice. In the practice I go to in KC they have had 4 slips. She said all 4 had been puking/PBing and not telling them how tight they were or how many of these episodes they were having. So less is better. I will try another fill on Nov 01. I am only at 1.6 cc now in a 4 cc band. But if they make it tighter then I am clamped down too much in the a.m. I can't stand not being able to drink. We will keep trying to sneak up on my sweet spot but I think I am just a difficult case. I will just deal with my issues day to day and I just may have to use the band as a tool in the evening and work harder myself. Thanks for all you do for us. I think the world of you. Kay in St Jo Mo