Ok, I don't know if there's already a thread like this but I know for one thing that I would like to band together (pun intended) with those of us who have had our bands for over 3 years and have gotten complacent.

I've always had it easy when it comes to maintaining, but now have a small slip and a leak, and very little restriction, so have decided to recommit to the bandster lifestyle to try to ensure that my weight is maintained.

Whatever your motivations for recommiting to the bandster lifestyle, you're welcomed to join me here.

So here's me:

• Banded Aug 2008
  
• Lost 85lbs
  
• now have a small slip and a leak, and no restriction, and found I could eat more
  
• As a result, I gained 5lbs in a month, pulled myself up, returned to eating well and exercising and have lost it.
  
• Looking to maintain and redevelop good eating and exercise habits.
  

I seem to be motivated best by being part of a support group, and I think it's fair, when I'm not trying to lose, but to maintain, to keep that separate from those who are trying to find the right mindset for the first time. I'm trying to reconnect with the mindset that helped me lose in the first place, so I think that's a different kettle of fish.

So, who's with me?

Best wishes tomorrow, lellow!

I've been eating better. I have a friend looking into lapband, and I feel more accountable. I've started going to my surgeon's educational seminars, he does one per month where he has post-ops come in a do a panel for pre-ops. I am the longest out that attends other than the facilitator, and she is quite anti-lapband. At least it seems that way to me.

I went with my friend to his formal surgical info seminar last night, trying to be incognito. I hadn't seem my surgeon since September, and had my hair cut off since then. He's only seen me twice in the last 2.5 years. So I didn't really expect him to recognize me. She says, hey doctor, do you recognize her? So he asked would I get up and speak for a few minutes about my experience.

Thanks, pal! At least I don't have a fear of public speaking! But all this, and this thread is helping me to eat better. I had told my friend I don't always make the best choices, but my weight is stable. But will it stay that way? So at the panel-type seminar, someone asked me what my typical eating day is like...she says out loud, "don't you lie!" Crap...busted!

I think it's been good for me to get involved, and find my roots.

Lellow I was thinking about you in regards to your surgery good luck tomorrow and I hope you have a speedy recovery!

Nothing much here to report I'm glad we have this thread and this forum it keeps me accountable. Since I had my fill on Monday I'm on my last day of mushies and will be back on solid food tomorrow. We will see how that goes.

Just got back from the gym did some light weights for my upper body I'm a little sore which is good. More c25k tomorrow then I rest for the weekend.

Hope everyone here has a great day and weekend! Thank you for keeping me motivated!

Send you good thoughts and praying that you have a good recovery. Enjoy your bed time it's gone sooo fast Ha

Best of luck for tomorrow Lellow

Hello,

I was banded almost 5 yrs ago (3/27/07) can't believe it's been that long. I also had a leak in my port after only 6 months. My dr immeditally put me back in the hospital and replaced the port. I am proud to say that I have maintained my goal wt for the past 3 1/2 years. I only need to go back for a refill about every 18 months and it's usually only a small amount. I've never actually fallen off the wagon and gained a significant (more than 2lbs) amount of weight. I have severe RA and whenever I think about eating something I know I shouldn't I just think about all the pain I was in prior to my surgery. It works for me. I think everyone is so different that you really just need to find one thing that will really help you stick to the program. Good Luck and keep going toward the negative numbers.

Welcome JPS! So, they didn't say the RA was contraindicated for a band? Just curious if you had to convince them. My surgeon doesn't like a band for auto-immune patients.

Congrats on your success. I have maintained very easily myself. I want to be sure it stays that way!

Hi JPS and welcome! I have to admit I too maintained easily and only began to worry about not having been committed to the lapband lifestyle once I sprung a leak in my band about 3 months ago now. Once I no longer had any restriction, I was amazed at how much the band had done for me in terms of portion control and hunger. Even so, in the last three months, I haven't gained, which I'm happy about. But it's been very very hard work.

But my leak was hopefully fixed yesterday with a port replacement. My band, as I understand it, currently doesn't have any fill in it, and won't until my first post op appt on the 16th of March. So I'm still going it alone. I'm on liquids for 2 days (today is the second day) and it's not easy without a band, even after all these years of being a bandster.

Well, time for me to make a shake for brekkie. I'm sore still and my tummy is swollen but nothing like it was yesterday. So on the mend now, thank goodness!

Glad you are Ok.

Cocoa I also thought that the band was contraindicated for autoimmune problems.

I have just got back from a w/e away for hubby's Birthday and have a million emails etc to catch up on. Will pop back into LBT once the backlog has been cleared.

Lellow, glad your surgery went well, I am sure you can't wait to get refilled.

Ok my fellow veterans...I need some advice. I am so good at dishing it out...but here I am asking

I had my last fill in September. It has been a good level for me, a bit on the tight side. I have looser days and tighter days, as we all do. The last couple of weeks I have been getting stuck more often. My habits haven't changed. The only thing I can identify is perhaps drinking less Water, so a bit of dehydration, I am pushing water now.

I just took my morning meds, they are sitting like a rock..you know the stuck burn?

My plan is liquids today, let things calm down, maybe again tomorrow.

Can dehydration tighten up a band like this? I am tossing around a slight unfill, which I don't want to do, since this just started...but dang, I don't want to cause a slip with all this stuckage, you know?

Thoughts?

Getting excited got first of a six-month program appointment on Thursday; having to use new followup surgeon as my lapband surgeon quit doing them and providing followups for lapband. New doc requires u attend 6-month program will be good for me as will be new accountability every month to them and hoping will kickstart my weight loss and break my plateau!

Hope everyone is doing well today here.

That sounds awesome sometimes its good to go back to the Dr for that accountability. Right now I go once a month and then we will see what happens.

Started the second week of c25k its tough and I don't think I'm running fast enough. I'm going to try to amp it up tomorrow.

How is everyone else doing?

Lellow' date=' glad your surgery went well, I am sure you can't wait to get refilled.

Ok my fellow veterans...I need some advice. I am so good at dishing it out...but here I am asking <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I had my last fill in September. It has been a good level for me, a bit on the tight side. I have looser days and tighter days, as we all do. The last couple of weeks I have been getting stuck more often. My habits haven't changed. The only thing I can identify is perhaps drinking less Water, so a bit of dehydration, I am pushing water now.

I just took my morning meds, they are sitting like a rock..you know the stuck burn?

My plan is liquids today, let things calm down, maybe again tomorrow.

Can dehydration tighten up a band like this? I am tossing around a slight unfill, which I don't want to do, since this just started...but dang, I don't want to cause a slip with all this stuckage, you know?

Thoughts?[/quote']

Well it could trigger tightness, but u could need just a slight unfill as after first week of sdjustment it should be ok for ur pills but i have always crushed my pills as i am always afraid of them being stuck; if i get a stuck feeling i push hot tea or coffee to help ho down

hope u are better today did u get an appt to get it checked?

Lellow' date=' glad your surgery went well, I am sure you can't wait to get refilled.

Ok my fellow veterans...I need some advice. I am so good at dishing it out...but here I am asking <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I had my last fill in September. It has been a good level for me, a bit on the tight side. I have looser days and tighter days, as we all do. The last couple of weeks I have been getting stuck more often. My habits haven't changed. The only thing I can identify is perhaps drinking less Water, so a bit of dehydration, I am pushing water now.

I just took my morning meds, they are sitting like a rock..you know the stuck burn?

My plan is liquids today, let things calm down, maybe again tomorrow.

Can dehydration tighten up a band like this? I am tossing around a slight unfill, which I don't want to do, since this just started...but dang, I don't want to cause a slip with all this stuckage, you know?

Thoughts?[/quote']

Well it could trigger tightness, but u could need just a slight unfill as after first week of sdjustment it should be ok for ur pills but i have always crushed my pills as i am always afraid of them being stuck; if i get a stuck feeling i push hot tea or coffee to help ho down

hope u are better today did u get an appt to get it checked?

Hi everyone, I am doing better. Got slightly stuck today (made a bad choice at lunch). But I stopped eating and it went down. We went to a Mediterranean restaurant and there were no explanations of the dishes on the menu..so I had to guess. Not feeling as tight as I have been.

Maybe it is just this crazy changing weather!

Hi everyone I was banded in december 2009. I was doing so well I had lost 90 lbs and then after to unfills I have gained about 30 back. Now I don't feel restriction and there might be a problem with the band. Waiting to hear from doctor. I am very disappointed in myself I swore I would never go backwards and look what happened. So I am looking for support too. I never realized till after the band that I am truly addicted to food. Scary!!