so..

hi FOLKS!!

My name is Patty. I was banded July 1, 2010....and I will freely admit, the band has been a wonderful tool...I have lost 120 lbs, from May '10 till about 2 weeks ago......(50 lbs pre op)

so here's my (few) things

does anyone just start to think the band is now just a Pain?? I am soo sick of it right now...(granted I have been sick with strep for a few weeks, like bad, with cellulitis) and now my cycle, so it is bound to be tighter...but DAMN (sorry) it seems like EVERYTHING gets stuck...I had to pull over to puke up split pea Soup I made myself yesterday...(like a puree) I know I am in a mood, but I right now am tired of this!!

and this one is bigger than the band

so, we are food addicts. we all have to admit that. what happens when food isnt our drug anymore?? we switch addictions to???

and what happens when we lose more than 100 lbs + and well, then nothing changes.....so like, now what??

I know I'm expecting a lot outta that little piece o plastic in there, huh??

just tired I guess, but I tell the truth, you know you all have thought these things!! share your thoughts please??

cuz, you know...even tho I've lost 120 lbs, doesnt mean I dont look (to myself) like almost 400 lbs still....that never goes away for me anyway..

thanks for reading if you've made it thus far

and, yes, before you chastise me, I know I am wrong for just not going in for an unfill..that just feels like defeat somehow to me...(yes I have issues, LOL)

It has been 2 years since I started. I lost 42 before my surgery. I had been down 104 but I gained 14 lbs over the winter and am fighting to get it off which is not going well. I think I only have shed 4...I went back to the psychologist and, my old weight loss program so that I am accountable and have finally returned to the correct eating habits. I have walked every day and done weight training 3x per week for the last 3 weeks and it is only 4 lbs!!! grrrr., I guess I need to go in for a fifill since I seem to be able to eat quite a bit of food (for us, not a normal person!) I seem to be hungry more often too...going to the doc on Thurday so we'll see what he thinks. It is amazing to think of our numbers but I still think of myself as fat...do you do that too??.

I lost my 80 in less than a year - I am happy with my size, but not the numbers that I see on the scale. Haven't lost more than 5 lbs since Feb. Spoke to the dr. at length about it - he even gave me a script for Adipex - he says though that my body is telling me something. So, while I am maintaining - well, let's just say I'll never be a 5'7" size 2 like kate Middleton. Thank you for the well wishes -

So awesome that you have lost 95 lbs - impressive!! Congrats!!

Wow---I was you a few months ago. After nearly 3 years of working with my band to lose 120 pounds and keeping it off for over a year, I finally scheduled plastic surgery--completely self-paid. I don't make a ton of money, but it was so worth the investment to me to be able to live my life as a "normal" person would. Unfortunately, that all came crashing down on me a week before my PS. My band slipped. Yep, 3 years and the damned thing gave up on me. for those 3 years, I LOVED my band. I loved how I felt (not the daily puking part....) but I loved feeling comfortable in my own skin, even the extra parts!! So here I am, able to eat bread, pasta, rice, pizza---all those foods I couldn't eat for 3 years. And in just 8 short months, I managed to gain back about 40 pounds before having my band replaced. I saved myself 12K for plastic surgery. Couldn't go forward with it. I've learned a very valuable lesson in all of this. I gave my band credit. I took away the true essence of what work I put into this process. The band certainly helped me get control of my eating, but it didn't change my life. I DID. And now, I'm working to get it back. As much as I will miss those foods I can't tolerate, nothing compares to the pain of having been a comfortable size and knowing that freedom, only to have it taken away by my lack of self control. Years ago I managed to gain weight without noticing the difference. This time is very different. I know my post-band life. I loved my body. I loved myself, and I loved how happy I was......You're not alone in feeling the hate for the band. Realize that the band doesn't give you a self control that never previously existed. It merely helped you exercise what you already had but didn't use.....good luck. I hope for better days ahead for you. We all have that band-regret from time to time, but I absolutely wouldn't give my band back!!!

Wow... so much emotion... I am freaking out right now... being banded on June 28th... I was totally looking forward to this experience, but not so sure now... . I hear most are saying it's worth it... but oh my is puking a lot normal??

No...I've only thrown up maybe 6 times in two years and am grateful when I do!! It isn't vomiting like you know it...it's a one shot deal and then relief. Not continuous episodes...at least that has been my experience. If you follow the rules of small bites, well chewed most things are fine. GO FOR IT!!! It is the best decision I ever made!

Wow... so much emotion... I am freaking out right now... being banded on June 28th... I was totally looking forward to this experience, but not so sure now... . I hear most are saying it's worth it... but oh my is puking a lot normal??

Thanks for reassuring me... I love hearing that it's the best decision you've ever made. I hope one day to be able to say the same thing.

No...I've only thrown up maybe 6 times in two years and am grateful when I do!! It isn't vomiting like you know it...it's a one shot deal and then relief. Not continuous episodes...at least that has been my experience. If you follow the rules of small bites, well chewed most things are fine. GO FOR IT!!! It is the best decision I ever made!

I lost my 80 in less than a year - I am happy with my size, but not the numbers that I see on the scale. Haven't lost more than 5 lbs since Feb. Spoke to the dr. at length about it - he even gave me a script for Adipex - he says though that my body is telling me something. So, while I am maintaining - well, let's just say I'll never be a 5'7" size 2 like kate Middleton. Thank you for the well wishes -

So awesome that you have lost 95 lbs - impressive!! Congrats!!

what is the adipex for??? hope all is well!!

Wow... so much emotion... I am freaking out right now... being banded on June 28th... I was totally looking forward to this experience, but not so sure now... . I hear most are saying it's worth it... but oh my is puking a lot normal??

sorry, love!!!

didnt mean to freak out or terrify anyone what I was terrified of was dying from diabetes the way my dad did, with amputations, heart surgeries, dialysis, blindness.....I am no longer a diabetic. I no longer have sleep apnea. blood pressure great. down 135 lbs....I actually jog now. (yikes!)

lets face it, any way we lose weight, it is a royal pain. and if you're a food addict like me, you may have issues, when you no longer have your best friend around (food) like the old days...it just is what it is, right???

it is easily the best decision I have made for myself. I would do it again in a heart beat. Previously I could eat an enormous amount of food, and not be really satisfied. My band is again kinda tight (I just had another fill) no red zone symptoms or anything, but I am satisfied on really small amounts of food. there are some foods I just dont eat because I know I dont tolerate them (mostly white carbs). and I dont really miss them.

puking a lot is not the norm...but when you first get banded, there's a lot of trial and error, then when you get fills, you may find foods you could eat previously but not with this fill. it also takes a while to change eating patterns...I was a fast eater, and took big bites, etc. you have to really be conscious of that, and listen to your body...get stuck a few times, and you will definitely pay attention!!!

I still have prolly 60 lbs to go, but I went from a size 34 top, to a misses size L. I couldnt have done it without this really annoying piece of plastic

hang in there!

sorry, love!!!

didnt mean to freak out or terrify anyone what I was terrified of was dying from diabetes the way my dad did, with amputations, heart surgeries, dialysis, blindness.....I am no longer a diabetic. I no longer have sleep apnea. blood pressure great. down 135 lbs....I actually jog now. (yikes!)

lets face it, any way we lose weight, it is a royal pain. and if you're a food addict like me, you may have issues, when you no longer have your best friend around (food) like the old days...it just is what it is, right???

it is easily the best decision I have made for myself. I would do it again in a heart beat. Previously I could eat an enormous amount of food, and not be really satisfied. My band is again kinda tight (I just had another fill) no red zone symptoms or anything, but I am satisfied on really small amounts of food. there are some foods I just dont eat because I know I dont tolerate them (mostly white carbs). and I dont really miss them.

puking a lot is not the norm...but when you first get banded, there's a lot of trial and error, then when you get fills, you may find foods you could eat previously but not with this fill. it also takes a while to change eating patterns...I was a fast eater, and took big bites, etc. you have to really be conscious of that, and listen to your body...get stuck a few times, and you will definitely pay attention!!!

I still have prolly 60 lbs to go, but I went from a size 34 top, to a misses size L. I couldnt have done it without this really annoying piece of plastic

hang in there!

Thank you so much. You have done fantastic and I hope one day to be able to help someone new out with a successful story! Looking forward to the trials and errors...

All you "senior citizens" there is a nice article in this months AARP newspaper. It tells a tale of a woman who was taking 400 units of insulin a day and she is down to 10 units after surgery. I am not sure which she had, but the article talks about both lapband and gastric bypass. Karen

It has been 2 years since I started. I lost 42 before my surgery. I had been down 104 but I gained 14 lbs over the winter and am fighting to get it off which is not going well. I think I only have shed 4...I went back to the psychologist and, my old weight loss program so that I am accountable and have finally returned to the correct eating habits. I have walked every day and done weight training 3x per week for the last 3 weeks and it is only 4 lbs!!! grrrr., I guess I need to go in for a fifill since I seem to be able to eat quite a bit of food (for us, not a normal person!) I seem to be hungry more often too...going to the doc on Thurday so we'll see what he thinks. It is amazing to think of our numbers but I still think of myself as fat...do you do that too??.

I absolutely still think of and see myself as fat. When I look in the mirror I still see that fat chick. which is really funny because when I was at my heaviest I wasn't sure I really looked that bad - but now I think I look worse. I think it's the hanging skin that screws with my mind. I am hoping the TT helps with that and that I will stop wearing oversize shirts. My doc isn't concerned that I haven't lost in months, he even told me not to stress about it. I guess there are just times when our bodies do know best. I still eat relatively right but have been too hectic to exercise - but maintaining....

I had an overfill and slight unfill in Feb. and I am just getting to a point now where I am eating a bit more. I have had trouble with breads since I got my band (I think that's a mental thing with me).

Wow... so much emotion... I am freaking out right now... being banded on June 28th... I was totally looking forward to this experience, but not so sure now... . I hear most are saying it's worth it... but oh my is puking a lot normal??

Don't freak out!!! I had surgery in Feb and I rarely throw up! It happens for some of us when we eat to fast or try and drink while having a meal. I eat very slow and chew, chew, chew!!! I stay away from breads, pasta,and rice and have no problems!!! Take it slow and follow your doctors orders and all will be fine!!! Good luck!!!

congrats!! i cant wait till ive lost that much! i kinda know what you mean im only 6 months post op and ive only lost 45lbs, i dunno if that is good or not. im sill not making the best food choices, and im a midnight snack sneaker, but ive been cutting back. if your vomiting from pureed Soup your band might be too tight? not sure, just seems odd. i havent vomited yet, hope that doesnt happen. i only have 7.5mls of Fluid in my band though. as for the addicion thing, i have no idea. i just want to stop thinking about food. its sick. i used to eat till i couldnt even taste it anymore. ugh.

well good luck and congrats, be proud of yourself!