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thank you - it's all relative I guess. I weigh in once a week to check my weight progress but I couldn't do it every day because I'd go crazy:) I am now wearing an xl in old navy which is a huge nsv for me because when I got sleeved - I didn't fit into any thing there. . Small goals are helping me along the journey.

I had a terrible time getting down fluids and Protein after surgery and also became depressed. Everyone told me it would get better with time, and it did! And it will for you too Congrats on your weight loss too

I turned 43 today. I'm three days into my pre-op diet--I'm on the road to a thinner, healthier me. This is the best gift I can give myself. It will last the rest of my life. I'm sticking pretty much to Isopure protein shakes, chicken, tuna, cheese, cottage cheese, and almonds. I'm getting in about 100 grams of protein a day; my minimum is supposed to be 70. I'm doing great. My carbs are supposed to stay under 30 a day; this is soooo not a problem. Hubby took me out for dinner to celebrate. We went to Outback Steakhouse and I got the center-cut filet (medium rare) with a Caesar salad. I enjoyed every single bite, because I know it will be quite awhile before I can eat another steak or salad. It was delicious! We're looking to buy some riverfront property on the San Marcos river here in Texas. I went out and stomped around on the piece we're most interested in--most likely it's in the flood plain. I wish it wasn't. It's gorgeous. We so want to live on the San Marcos river after I graduate from dental hygiene school in May 2008. George retires from the phone company after 30+ years in December 2009. Life just keeps getting better for both of us. We celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary on July 4. We've been together for almost seven years. After several failed marriages between us, we took our time getting to know each other. We are perfect for each other. Anyway, back to the lap-band. My sister had a band placed five years ago and has done very well, despite having stretched her pouch. She's lost all of her weight and has been training daily and running marathons for about three years now. I started investigating different weight-loss surgeries for me about a year ago. At first I thought I'd do the vertical sleeve gastrectomy with duodenal switch, but since I have Crohn's disease, my gastroenterologist wouldn't approve it for me. Then I thought the Rouen-Y--same response from my doctor. Well, then I figured that the lap-band would be okay, because it could be reversed, if I had a life-threatening flare-up of my Crohn's disease. My doctor said he thought that was a great idea. In April, I went to a bariatrics seminar held at Seton hospital here in Austin, Texas, and Dr. Mark Sherrod presented all of the information, pre-qualification factors, etc. and he was so personable. I enjoyed the presentation and spoke with him for sometime afterward. My husband came with me and enjoyed it as much as I did. He really liked Dr. Sherrod too. I made an appointment and saw Dr. Sherrod for the first time on a doctor/patient basis in May. With a BMI of 43, I was definitely a candidate for the surgery. There was a ton of paperwork to fill out, questions to answer, future appointments to schedule, etc. that kept me very busy. I went back on June 25th for a meeting with anesthesiology (for an EKG), the psychologist (to make sure I had realistic expectations), an exercise therapist (to give me ideas on what kinds of exercise was reasonable for me), a nurse with the bariatrics team (to discuss the actual surgery, possible complications, etc.), and a dietician (to discuss my eating habits, the pre-op diet, and post-op diet, and lifetime eating habit modification). My gallbladder decided to go bad, and after a couple of gallbladder tests, that came back strongly indicating a malfunctioning organ, Dr. Sherrod was kind enough to take it out for me on June 29. Whew! I feel so much better. I had my gallbladder removed at the Central Park Surgical Suites on 38th St. here in Austin. And I had such a terrific experience that I've canceled my lap-band surgery at Seton hospital, and have scheduled to have it done at the Central Park Surgical Suites. Dr. Sherrod raves about the staff there, and I can certainly understand why. I had my very own nurse who made sure that I never felt any pain. She was priceless! I don't really have any misgivings about the upcoming surgery. I know that I will mourn the loss of my best friend (food), but honestly, my best friend has let me down for 20 years. It's a sick, sick, sick relationship. Food doesn't make me feel better about myself, it hasn't made me healthy, it turned my mom into a type II diabetic, and I know I'm next. If I had a human friend who treated me the way food has, I sure wouldn't have kept that friend around for 20 years! So, the lap-band goes on July 19. It's a tool to help me control how much I eat. And since I will have such a tiny stomach, I will have to be super smart about what I put into my body. It's no different than when George stopped smoking four years ago. He used the patch, the lozenges, and the gum. They were tools to help him curb is addiction. The band will help me curb my addiction. I'm very excited about starting my new life. I'm only 43, if I treat myself well, I could live another 40 years and enjoy my grandkids and their children, and maybe even their childrens' children. How cool would that be? I'm going to commit to posting here once a week. I sure I can do it once school starts up again. We shall see.:kiss

Fills fills fills... SOO important! If we could do this without restriction, we would have. But we are a population that needs the restriction to lose weight. You have to do your part, you MUST get appropriate restriction. When that is good then you need to do the band basics such as eating the right foods and eating them in the right order if that is what you need to keep you satisfied. That means Protein first, then veggies, then carbs. You need to do all the right things to make your tool work better. That includes attitude. You just have to have the right attitude, the attitude that YOU can do this and the band will help you reach your own goals. It isn't going to do it for you. I think another important aspect for you is identifying when you are actually hungry vs. when you want to eat. Those two concepts are not the same. Head hunger vs. stomach hunger. You write that you think about food and then get hungry. Is that really true? Do you think about food and then you FEEL hungry or do you think about food and then want to eat it? I can talk myself into an entire bag of Fritos without much effort, doesn't mean I am hungry. It means I want to eat a bag of Fritos. See the difference? I didn't, not for a long time. I'd see those Fritos calling my name and I still have to stop and think, am I hungry or do I just want to cram food in my face? It's prevented the need for many useless trips to the grocery store to feed a craving vs. actual hunger. Bottom line, get down to basics. Start with the fill, go from there. You can do this. This is hard but it really is the kind of hard WE can do.

the doctor wants you to loose fat from around your liver. Some people do the liquid diet some do adkins or what ever works for them. Talk to them about diet alternatives. I didnt have to loose weight before my surgery, i did loose 10 pounds before i even went to see the doctor. I went to a meeting about the band and they said no more soda, so i stopped drinking it and boomb 10 pounds gone. You can do it!!!

As the Turtle Spokes-Model, I have to point out that some of us are model bandsters--following the rules obsessively and still lose next to nothing, certianly not the 1-2 pounds a week. Hell, I'm losing an average of 1 pound a month. But I'm still plugging along. I don't know where or how they determin the inital amount of "excessive weight." We have some people who put on muscle mass to the point where the amount of weight they need to lose changes. They don't need to lose as much weight because they have changed their metabolic rate, as well as their physiologies. This could partially account for the statistic that folks only lose 50-70% of their excess weight. It could also be that many of us start out with higher FFM (fat free mass) than folks who've never had a weight issue, especially if we are active. It takes more muscle to move us around than some 98 pound weakling. Also, this statistic is going to include people who've lost weight but could not deal with the consequences of being thin. Many of us are running for something and find that being fat is a wonderful shield and armor. Or we think it is anyway. I know the last time I lost weight I was freaked out by all the sudden attention of men. Freaked Out.

It's hard to lose wieght after the plateau and frankly my personal opinion is that people quit trying b/c the weight they've lost is "good enough" for them. I think everyone has the potential to lsoe all the weight but when they speak statistics they have to factor in everyone with the band - which means they will factor in people who have to get the band taken out due to a complication and they don't lose all the weight, and people who never get a fill b/c they have refulx so they never lose all the weight, and people like some people I've seen at my docs office who just don't try! For example, one woman I saw in the waiting room sais she didn't do the pre-op diet b/c she "didn't feel like it" and ate fajitas and margaritas the night before surgery - I'm sorry but if you have no self control the friggin' night before surgery you probably won't be as sucessful. Then also take the 2 other women who had surgery tha same day as me. One said she refused to give up oreos and chocolate milk, and the other said the only protein shakes she would drink was Boost b/c she liked the taste (HELLO FULL OF SUGAR!!!!) and she said that losing 1/2 the weight was "good enough" for her. May I also mention that I had to pay for my own band yet these people had Medicaid pay for it! Tax dollars hard at work right??? Anyways, when you look at statistics they factor in EVERYONE - and I don't worry b/c I know I don't need chocolate milk and oreos, I do exersize, I can follow my docs instructions, I will get fills, etc so I believe in my heart I can lose 100% and all I need is that faith in myself - not statistics!

I don't know -- I worry about LapBand taking over GB and then it turning out to have serious problems as well down the line. Sue's comment about band removal being a booming business in Europe (where they've had the band for years longer than here in the US) gets me worried. I guess what's really bugging me is that now that I have my first fill I can "feel" my band. I wasn't able to before and assumed that people didn't. But I feel it there all the time now -- a slight ache. I guess it's just fear that something's wrong. /sigh I guess it'll be awhile before I feel comfortable recommending the band to others. Maybe once I lose a bunch of weight with it.

Liz, during your second fill, did the doc take out all of the first fill you got, before he/she put 1.4cc in? How much came out? Here's some feedback from me...sometimes the first fill doesn't work at all and you need another, or another! to start feeling the restriction. The size of your band also plays a role. Folks with the VG Band tend to need more fills, not always, but usually. You will know if this fill is too tight if you get any reflux symptoms or if you are not able to eat small quantities of regular food after a few days of liquids...moving to mushies, slowly working in the real foods. Be very careful of PBing as that causes swelling and then you are really in need of a small unfill. When you get filled, some folks experience a bit of swelling in the stoma from the "squishing". After a few days, and eating carefully, it usually goes down and you are able to feel your new level of restriction. As for needing another fill in the future, when you lose weight, you lose it from the inside, too. You have less fat surrounding your internal organs (whew!) including your stomach. The fat goes down, the tightness of the band descreases, but you can bump it up again as you lose. It's not a matter of stretching the pouch...you shouldn't do that!...and you can't, really, eating small quantities of liquid/soft mushy foods. It's a matter of losing enough internal fat that the fill loosens. If you go another few days and are still only able to take small sips of liquids, you may be in line for a small unfill. Keep posting and getting feedback. Too tight is not good and it's miserable! Keep sipping, see if the swelling goes down and you open up a bit. Good luck!

Yep. He doesn't seem to be concerned at all. I've read before on other Bandster boards where somepeople have to be filled this high and the band can actually hold more then 4 cc's. I just happen to be the unusual one. I'm sure it is not crimping my stomach as I have no problem eating and the doc would have seen the tightness in the video esophogram. I don't have a big stomach when you look at me so maybe my weight loss was from my innerds and that's why the band needs to be so full. LOL Just a thought!

i started walking the day after surgery. I asked my doctor when i can start kickboxing, she said until i get a bit more weight off she didnt want me doing high impact so i dont mess up my knees. You have to go by how you feel, i would not go body building right now but im sure you can walk and do some stretching. I have port pain off and on, i just take motrin and it goes away, i also have some shoulder pain if i eat to fast. vicky

Hi, I live in Mesquite, Texas (a 'burb of Dallas). I'm investigating the entire lapband process. I've been referred to Dr. Richard Anderson at the Surgery Center of Dallas. Has anyone used him? Can anyone tell me anything about him? I admit, I'm not thrilled at the concept of "going under the knife," even if it is a minor procedure. I've looked into gastric bypass in the past and have seen several doctors, but after only a 30 minute or less talk with them, they've all told me the usual "you're fat, go home, lose weight," and don't want to remotely help me. I'm absolutely terrified I'm going to be told the same thing. I've had 2 of my doctors tell me lately, that unless I do the lapband or gastric bypass, I am going to die. I do NOT know how to talk to new doctors any longer without getting really angry at their attitudes. PLEASE ... any help would be appreciated. I am disabled, but not because of my weight, although I *do* know that losing weight would help with my medical conditions. I'm absolutely desperate at this point as diets do NOT work for me, no matter how strictly I follow them. BTW, traveling to another city for this procedure, regardless of whether it's Waco, Ft. Worth, Houston or wherever, is close to impossible due to my disabilities. It NEEDS to be Dallas. Any advice and help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Laura

Oh man Darcey, I know if it was me, I would get the new band. Even with all my whinning and crying, pissing and moaning about how I'm not losing any weight, I would still get a new band. I would just know I was a slow loser.

Hello all, Most of you know my story, but for those who don't. Last year I refinanced my house to pay off bills and have money to pay for my lapband. I was banded December 21, 2004. Was thrilled with it, but had a little trouble because I seemed to be too tight a lot of the time. Then caught a nasty stomach virus that had me throwing up violently and it shoved my band down around the middle of my stomach. Had to make a trip to my wonderful doctor in Mexico and he ended up having to remove it (port and all). He said if I wish to get rebanded I would have to wait about 6 months. Well...that was 3 months ago and I miss my band terribly. Anyway, I am planning to be rebanded hopefully at the end of January 2006. I've even taken out another loan and am stashing it away in preparation. Going more in debt scares me and I wonder if I'm doing the right thing. But then again...my band was the one thing I've done for myself ever. It gave me control, hope and I felt good about the direction I was going. Now, I find myself out of control (eating and weight gain) and feeling panicky. But I'm also afraid I'll have problems again although my plan is to take fills very cautiously and slow. Thoughts and suggestions anyone? Thank you!

I'm sure that in general it's true that the more one has to lose the faster it comes off. You don't hear of people who only have 70 or so pounds to take off losing 30 in the first month, but people who have 150 or more may indeed lose that quickly in short bursts. But that's just nature at work, and perfectly understandable. As for how much weight "we" lose each month, that's a function of too many variables to say. The desired rate of loss is 4-10 lbs a month.

I had the band on 3 weeks ago and all of a sudden the weight seems to have stopped coming off . did I just hit a phase will it last long . I am going good with eating and exercise . is this normal ?? any advice ? thanks ...

I know where you are coming from. I was banded on 9-7-05 and I was at 219. Now I am at 207. Those 12lbs can do alot for you. I was able to put on a shirt that I was never able to wear because I never tried it on before I bought it (duh). Plus, this past weekend my husband and I went out on the motorcycle and I used to feel like I was wedged in behind him and the back rest and I felt different on the bike Saturday night. He even told me that he was able to sit back a bit more and that made me feel good. I carry most of my weight in my tummy and that has gone down and I feel more confident that I can do this and get to where I want to be. Congrats on your weightloss!

Problem is..when people see overweight people, they only see the weight, POUNDS, nothing further. They don't assume we as a group have the same thoughts, cares, concerns, needs, and problems they do. What can I say, they're idiots.

sleepyjean..... what i can say about this is that i was extreamly fortunate that my insurance approval came through very very very quickly! i didn't have time to second guess the whole surgery and weight loss issues. im greatful for that! however, i have had to remind myself several times why i had surgery in the first place. there are times when i just wanna eat and eat and eat and eat......and this is when i gotta start with the second guessing and mental battle of good and evil basically~ i know i couldn't do it without this surgery. time proves all! i am now 33 years old and have been overweight my whole life. ive done pills, powders, shakes, programs, support groups...yadda yadda yadda.........nothing ever worked. now i am 6 months out of surgery and down 57 pounds!!! THATS A LOT OF POTATOES!!! any time you gotta go through red tape for anything it gets fustrating~ you just wanna give up...but thats exactly when you need to keep on keeping on!! (Joe Dirt)ehehehe the end result is soooo worth it! so get in there girl and kick their butts!!! get that approval!! you can do it.....and this has been the best thing that i ever done for myself and my son! if it weren't for my son, i dont know if i would have had the surgery.

I'd like to say thank's to all my many friend's at LBT & evry one word's of encourgement!

I was banded last summer. Since my last fill less than a month ago, I have had numerous problems getting down Proteins. I need to drink Water to help get food down or I PB alot. I am eating alot less than my last fill but I find I am gravitating to softer foods and now have gained 2 lbs. Why am I going wrong direction? I am getting pretty frustrated since most of my weight was lost pre-op. Is this because my fill is too tight?

It will get better!!! The first days I felt like a truck hit me lol with the days going by, I started feeling better. Don't worry about weight now,your stomach still swollen.

Interesting Clip from MSNBC about teen's getting surgery to basically save them from problems as they get older with obesity... [ame=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25510923#25510923]msnbc.com Video Player[/ame]

How long has this been for. In my past life, the first week of any diet I'd just pee and pee and then pee some more. All that water weight you lose. Perhaps if you've just had a fill, dropped calories markedly you're having a burst of that initial just on a diet water loss again?

Hey fellow bandsters. I got my band in June 2008 and need your support and encouragement. I am in the process of starting over and have an appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday to get a fill and see whats going on. I havent been to get a fill since October 2008 and was very discouraged from a discrepancy between me and my surgeon as to whether the band was filled enough. Every since I have been able to eat anything without many problems, and of course have not lost any weight. I am motivated and have started a workout plan, and will be going back to the things i used to eat post band when i get my fill on Wed. I will gladly accept any suggestions or thoughts on what worked and didnt work for you all. I read that the best results are within a year of surgery and im clearly past that. Is there anything else I can do?? Thanks everyone! I look forward to your replies