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Absolutely...stalls & patience. However, I look at stalls now as a way for my body to catch up to the weight loss~ I find it’s important to think about what our bodies are going through~ I already have some excess skin, however, I find that it’s not quite as bad after a stall. (Or maybe that’s just hope lol) Try not to focus on the scale, do NOT weigh yourself everyday, or several times a day! Stay focused on your path and new lifestyle, and improvements- keep moving forward! Don’t forget to do your measurements, as well! Often, the scale won’t be moving, however, inches will!!! (Woot woot!!!) My daughter keeps showing me pictures from last year, or sometime in the past to help me keep things in perspective....because I KNOW how much I have lost, etc., however, I still see myself as before- it’s difficult to let reality set in, I guess! I think we all agree that this place helps as well..no matter what you’re going through, whether it’s tailbone pain rubbing on your butt skin, the reactions of others, etc...you are NOT alone! Most of all...enjoy the process and the new you!!! ~xo~ Oh, and being able to sit at a booth or normal sized chair with arms on it without worrying about what I like to call “suck & tuck”, PRICELESS!!! Or, worry about if the chair will cling to you as you get up, making the dreaded scraping noise, while everyone turns to look at you. Keep going...and LIVE!!!

I am very glad I had the Lap Band Surgery in September 2011. My weight loss has been slow and, but in the final analysis, I am 55lbs lighter than I was a year ago! In what universe would I NOT BE HAPPY to loose 55 lbs in a year. I read so many forum posts where people are literally expecting so much that they are unhappy with significant weight loss, but it has slowed down, or they are no longer loosing 4 pounds a week like in the first weeks after surgery. The nasty secret about loosing weight is that once you loose a sizable amount of weight (whether you think it is good or not), your body adjusts, your calorie requirements just maintain your new weight go down, perhaps your metabolism slows down, and you need to to consume still fewer calories to loose weight. Also, it is very important to realize (and truly internalize) that the band is just a tool. You still need to learn how to eat less, not snack excessively, and learn to find other things to do when you have the urge to eat. As the psychologist at my Bariatric center says, most of the time we aren't really hungry, we just want to eat. And we live in a very toxic food environment, where high calorie, low nutrition food are around us all the time. The band has made it easier to not eat Snacks (hot dogs, donuts, croissants, pretzels), that I see and therefore want to eat during the day. I've pretty much been able to cut out between meal snacks during the day, but still struggle at night. I seem to still want to eat after dinner while I'm watching TV or working at the computer. So I've devised some strategies to resist that urge to eat after dinner. I guess I'm successful about 2/3 of the time, and the rest I just let go. I don't beat myself up, call myself a failure, or think about it. To me that is self defeating and makes me feel bad about myself !!!! I keep a wide variety of nutritious foods such as greek yogurt, hummus, etc so if I do eat an evening snack it is not the end of the world. I'm just thankful to realize that before my band, I couldn't even resist unecessary eating 100% of the time. To me 33% of the time that is tremendous progress! To summarize, the band is only a tool. T0 be successful in the long run (and that's what I'm interested in!), you need to figure out your triggers, and how to deal with them. The band will not do that for you. Naturally, your weight loss slows once you've lost a significant amount of weight, and your body gets used to the band. I consider myself a real (and continuing success) ! I have more to go, but i'll do it slowly, without making myself crazy, which only made me eat more. Also, the bariatric psychologist at my center has been a real help in my journey. I began to see her when I realized I did not have a healthy relationship with food (soothed me when upset or anxious, or even when I felt bad about myself). She tells me that in times of stress (like the holidays, family illness, etc), just staying even is a big victory. If your center has a psychologist, I highly recommend you utilize them. I really think she has been the difference in my success, not just the band.

I'm not sure what a mobile skin is? I do use the VST app. I have the iphone w Siri. I think it's 4G?

Looks yummy, like a nice bariatric buffet! My scars from my band aren't too bad anymore, but that was over 11 years ago. The only one that is still really visible is the one where they put the port in, it's about 2 to 2.5 inches long and still somewhat purple. You won't have to deal with that though! Other than that, there's one other scar still noticeable, but it's flesh-colored, it just looks like a different texture than the rest of my skin. I didn't use any scar fading cream, but a lot of people have great success with them if that's something you are worried about 😃 Thanks for sharing!

I'm thinking this was a HUGE waste of money!!! HUGE!!!! I am starving to death, sick, tired constantly... to the point where i am afraid i could loose my job because i can not get motivated. I can't get full... I've been trying to follow all the diet rules and eat what I was told to eat, but I can not get full on 1/2 cup or even 2 cups of food... my stomache is growling constantly. I gave up today and ate about 10 mini twix bars... and am ready to have more... damn candy dish on my desk! I called my dr in mexico he says i need a fill... but i live in WA state and can't get one with NWfills until I am 6 weeks post op... i could gain a ton of weight in the next month... loose my job, become severly depressed and hide in a hole before then... which would do my 3 kids and i no good at all. I'm a single mom and thought this would help me, but it is not... it is just making life SUCK!!! worse than ever... guess i'd rather be fat than fat and starved and sick and tired all at the same time.

Have an orange. See if it agrees with you. I usually pack an apple for a snack between my meals. But sometimes I mix it up and have a banana or grapes. Some people have trouble with the skin on fruits like apples, plums and whatnot. So you might want to cut and peel them initially. I'm 6.5 months out, so I don't have any issues with the skin (I actually never did, but some people do).

Phentermine messes your body up in so many ways, nevermind your mood, skin, and sleep patterns. Make sure you do a lot of research about it before you make a decision. As a nurse I have spoke to quite a few physicians about it, as I had thought about trying it before being banded and was advised strongly against it.

Hello im 18 years old. April 1, 2021 i had my gastric sleeve surgery.. im 5 days post op and on thursday i make a week. im wondering will i have excess skin is this something i should be worried about?

Hi! I have a scar that is 40mm x 5mm that has lowered my self esteem and quality of life very much. I have tried to read about the scar removal treatments that are avaiable, but from my understanding the science hasnt developed any way to fully remove scars yet. I know there are laser treatment, medical tatooing, scar camouflage, surgery, skin transplant available. I guess the only way to completely remove a scar is to put makeup over, but i guess there isnt any magical treatment like that available, that doesnt disapear from water? Is there any company that does medical tatooing or scar camouflage that almost fully removes the scar? Is there any world leading company that does scar removals or a surgeon you could contact for treatment? Country doesnt matter. Im sorry for my bad english. I hope you could understand what i was saying anyway. And if i have posted this in the wrong forum im very sorry. Thank you!

i had my surgery done in september 2012 i lost a little weight right after surgery where i did not eat but then after i healed i really didnt start loosing weight until jan 2013 after they started working on my fills you are doing really well being that you had an infection good luck on your journey

I had mine on the 12th...didn't poo until the 16th and that wasn't much. Then again on the 17th. Both were very loose. However, since then I haven't gone poo at all. It's been 8 days. I called my doctor and they told me to take some miralax which I did today. Hope it helps. I am sure you will go soon.

I too have had a port infection for the past 4 months and have NEVER had a fever. The area is just hard and tender to palpation. Only one day out of the past 4 months has the skin been reddened. You don't necessarily have a fever because the port infection is compartmentalized in the area, not a systemic (body wide) infection. However, it can become that way (which is very dangerous-also known as sepsis) if not treated.

OMG, I think I busted an ovary, but I RODE THE BULL! I'm so excited I'm coming out of my skin! I've wanted to ride the bull since Debra Winger in Urban Cowboy (ya gotta be damn old to know what I'm talking about.) Thanks to the band and my weight loss, not only did I get asked to dance & did the 2-step with a guy while Chris watched, but I rode the damn bull! Now go ahead and criticize how gross this picture is, but I dare YOU to try it! HA!!! (Or as hubby says, "I dare you to f-ing try it since my wife has bigger $#lls than me!"!)

if you have not been to a gym before it is a good idea to go the trainer route. I agree with Papillon Princess. Interview the trainers. You are paying them, it is a job interview for them. I would tell them about the band and what your expectations are from the sessions. If they give you attitude about the band, onto the next interview. At this point in time your core is probably pretty weak. I would talk to the trainer about what is called functional training to start building up your core. Cardio and weight training should be done on separate days. One of the worst things about the biggest loser is that it builds up expectations about how fast people should be loosing weight. The speed at which the contestants lose their weight is unhealthy. Yoga will also help to build your core and is a great way to stretch out.

You are definitely right on that one. I've lost 120 lbs but I have not lost it evenly. I am skin and bones in my face and chest and shoulders but I have fat thighs and butt and calves. I am very self conscious about this. So while I am letting go of some of my old body issues, I am developing new ones.

I had the sleeve in 2014, didn't loose as much as I would of liked...an gained the weight back. So right now I'm 7 days post opp the gastric bypass. I think it's easier to "cheat" if you have the sleeve.. But talk to your surgeon.

@ - Thank you! I'm just happy not to have any sagging skin on my face. I hope my body follows suit. @@mayasmomma - I am not anti-bypass. In fact the friend who recommended my surgeon had the bypass and has been very successful on it. She is 2 years post op and maintaining well. What I am saying is there really is a choice sleeve or bypass. Do your homework about pros, cons etc.... and take into consideration your own body makeup and needs before you make a decision.

SO excited and so scared! My surgery is scheduled for Wed Feb 12. I am looking forward to the new hotter, healthier, more active me but so very scared at the same time. I am nervous about trying to take care of my 18 month old post op. I'm nervous about being one of those people that is always nauseous and sick( it's not like they can put my stomach back!). I'm scared that I will look worse with all my excess skin than I do now. I'm afraid that my new smaller portions will somehow scar my daughter as she gets older and becomes food conscious. I'm afraid of how long recovery will take (I can really only be out of work 10 days). And of course the big one I'm terrified that something bad will happen while I'm under. Is this really worth dying for? I know that's extreme but when I look into my daughters face that's the one that gets me the most. On the bright side I finally had the first good (easy) day of my pre op diet positive thoughts encouraged please!

We all wish this surgical tool would correct what for me was a 20 year battle overnight. Why cant I be ahead of the curve? After all, I committed to the process, this is a one way street (assuming you had the sleeve as I did), why for once can't I be the medical marvel? We all have had those thoughts. Especially on the days the scale does not move. This is a marathon followed by two more marathons. My doc, like all medical professionals, talks in terms of statistical averages. Some loose faster than others, some do not loose at all. Stay the course, exercise, eat right and it will come off. In terms of my personal numbers I had surgery 4.18...I weighed in at 400 on the day of surgery, today I weighed 249.....151lbs lost.....Food for me has evolved from a comfort blanket to nourishment. As I think about it, for me, the mental transformation has been much more important than the physical. It is a journey, success will be reaching my goal weight and maintaining. Mark

Hi - I've had 1 band fill using the x-ray thingy and really felt no restriction. The clinic have phoned to schedule in my secong fill and have told me that alot of people don't feel restriction on the first fill. Tomorrow I am going for my second fill and am hoping for restriction so that I can start loosing weight again as I seemed to plateau. Can anyone tell me if they fill the band does this mean the whole that the food passes through gets smaller too? I'm presuming it does but it has taken long enough to learn to chew enough to get the food down now so I just wanna confirm if I have to re-learn how much is too much again!! Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Thnx all xx

Hi, I’m looking for advice. I weigh 11 stone 11 pounds and I’m booked in to have gastric band surgery in less than a week. As it gets nearer to the time I’m starting to have second thoughts. I have been trying to loose weigh all my life but I just can’t. I know I’m now very overweight but I really want to loose 3 stone. Am I crazy to do this?? I’d love some advice because I’m feeling very nervous. Thank you in advance

I had my labband surgery One year ago. I started at 220.. and now I am holding at 185ish. I have dropped from a size 18 to a very loose 14. I realize that my weight loss isn't as good as most posted here. I guess the reason I am blogging today is that I am a little discouraged. I expected greater weight loss. I believe that most of the reason that I am not losing is because I dont' eat eno.ugh and I am not doing the exercize I should be doing. But today I am vowing to have a much better second year. I feel the need to become a success story . I want it , so i have to work for it. i gues enough of my babbling..i will return with an update soon. tata:blink:

HELP!!! i am almost 2 weeks post-op, and i am on "mushy" foods. i have run out of ideas!!! i had eggsalad, tuna salad, chicken salad-- and that about does it!! i have 30 more days of this stage, and i think i might loose my mind!! i am hungry, and i dont want to deviate, but i've run out of ideas and recipes!! also having a hard time with the protein shakes. i can get one down early morning--its 8oz, and i basically drink as fast as possible... little frustrated today!!:sad:

This has been a busy & fun week so far! I said in my last blog that I was going to announce to my bunco group that I had done the LAP-BAND®®, but decided instead to keep it to myself. I'm just not ready to "go public". Plus, I know if they are curious, they will ask! I cooked all 16 women a great, healthy dinner and some desserts that were a bit indulgent, and that did not bother me at all! I kept myself busy talking with everyone and really enjoyed myself, the night was a success! Today was my 2 week post op appt and I am down 24 & 1/2 pounds! I feel like a new woman already! Everything checked out perfect & I was released to the "mushy" food stage...oh boy! The one thing I cannot wait for is my 4 week mark, when I can get back to the gym. I have been walking almost every day, and my body really feels like it needs more. Plus, it will help tighten up skin as I continue to lose. I am excited to go to the gym after how many years?? I am embracing every step of this journey and am loving my new life! Thank you God for my continued strength!

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. -Nelson Mandela- No man ever achieved worthwhile success who did not, at one time or other, find himself with at least one foot hanging well over the brink of failure. -Napoleon Hill-