Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Successful Band Stories here!



Recommended Posts

This is the best thread!!

I am now just over 6 months out and I have beat diabetes and hypertension, I was on 6 meds a day making me sick and I was very moody and depressed. I had to take a sick leave before I even got banded just to deal with my medical issues. I was a size 18-20 and am now a size 2/4 depending on the clothes!!! I feel soo much healthier, and happier and hopefully my choices to live life better and eat healthier will affect the life of my 3 childern. CONGRATS TO ALL OF YOU!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Congratulations to all of you. What amazing stories. I can't wait to be where you are.

The best of luck.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just celebrated my 6th month anniv (4/7/06) and am down 48 lbs as of this morning...........love my band.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had my band a little over 4 years

 

WOW!!! I want that kind of success with my band! I hope to be 80 and be buried with it!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I enjoy these types of threads but I as a veteran Bandster, I caution us against thinking that if your band journey isn't smoothly, perfect that you're not successful.

Au contraire!

I'm proof positive that you can have a sometimes not-so-smooth journey with the band and yet still triumph.

Basically, I was about 80# or so overweight. I wore my weight well (tall, large frame, thick bone mass) but I knew I needed help because I was getting heavier each year. I wanted to look better, (I stress that because it was most important to me) and feel better. I realized surgery was my only chance for long term weight management. I got myself fully approved for surgery - using my long, unsuccessful diet history to help my case. It worked. I got approved for RnY but preferred the LapBand.

I was told that in a best-case scenario, I'd lose 75# to 80# with the LapBand in about 18-20 months versus 85# to 95# with the RnY bypass in about 12-14 months overall.

This is important - because I had a lower BMI and lower start weight, I was never going to lose magnificent numbers at high speed because I didn't have as much weight to easily lose. Mine would be the long, slow haul either way. So the LapBand would return me to 'normal size' but would not make me 'skinny.' With the RnY I'd probably get much smaller than my normal size, but I gambled that an extra 10# or 15# wasn't worth getting my intestines re-sectioned, so I went with LapBand.

(Crossing my fingers that it works out!)

The doctors goal was about a 26 BMI for my larger frame with LapBand.

So now, 19 months after getting my low-profile port, I have hit what my team (my doctor, my surgeon and my Plastic Surgeon) think is my 'normal weight'. I'm hardly thin but I hit the 26 BMI goal they set. Plus I've gotten rid of almost all the excess fat I had to lose easily, so a bit of body-sculpting and Lipo will remove the stubborn flab and excess skin that remains. That's all on my next step of this LapBand journey.

Now my new personal goal is to whittle that down to 25 BMI (wow, 24 might be awesome but unattainable) just to keep things in check. That might take months to lose those few pounds, so I'm going to try not to stress myself about it.

So I'm at doctor's goal, look great, and most importantly I've gotten down enough sizes to shop anywhere and wear nearly everything. (I need thigh lipo or "Thi-Po" :biggrin1: so I can wiggle into some little small designer things, but that day is coming soon! )

So enjoy your journeys - smooth or not - there is light at the end of the Band Tunnel. :clap2:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Posting for my husband...he was my inspiration for getting the band.

Band date: March 6, 2006

Starting weight: 303

Current weight: 230 (he's 6'2" with LOTS of muscle)

Former pant size: 40 - 42

Current pant size: 34 - 36

Fills: 6.5 cc in a 10 cc band (took five fills to get there)

Complications: None - not even the PB, slime, golf ball category

When I found this site (I was doing more research) I would come across stuff he had never mentioned...PB, sliming, golf ball, etc. He had no clue what I was talking about, so needless to say he has had a very good experience.

He's off of one of his blood pressure medicines and expects to be off the other soon....and let me tell ya ladies he is lookin good!! :-)

I've been happy with my progress too :-)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×