Hello Everyone,

I am new to this website and wanted to tell everyone about my weight loss and fills. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

I am a female 5'9" tall and my highest weight was 302 lbs.

I weighed 298 lbs. the day of the surgery (5/28/04)

I have had 3 fills:

7/9/04 - 2.0cc

8/9/04 - 1.0cc (total 3.0cc)

9/30/04 - 0.5cc (total 3.5cc)

The 3rd fill made my band too tight. I was so restricted I couldn't drink Water or swallow my own saliva without spitting up.

10/2/04 - removed 0.25cc (total now is 3.25cc)

I currently weigh 270 lbs. (11/10/04). I have lost a total of 28 lbs. in 5 1/2 months.

Hi Dallas -- It's nice to see another tall woman here! Congratulations on your weight loss; sounds like you're going slow and steady. There are a lot of Texans on LapBand Talk, and I think they're planning a get-together this coming weekend; check out some of the other threads. Welcome!

Hi, Dallas, congratulations on getting your band and doing such a great job w/ your weight! Hope to see you posting here often. ...From a short Texan (in Houston)

Hey, Dallas! Nice to meetcha! Looks like you're doing really well in your journey!

Hi Dallas! I am from Grand Prairie and was banded in Dallas too. This is a great board, browse through some of the old posts and you will gain a lot if valuable information.

Hi there, I had my surgery in May also. I am going to try to do better with water and exercise. I think that I could've lost more weight besides 38-40 so far.

Newlapper, please don't be so hard on yourself! Do you think you would have lost that 40 pounds without your band? Please come here and "talk" to us. We're all in the same boat and try to encourage each other. Best of luck to you!

What could I be doing wrong, could you give me ideas of what you eat and do?

I think you're doing great! How tall are you, your beginning, and current weight? You may have a lower BMI (less body fat). How about tracking your progress on www.fitday.com for a few days? This is very helpful to see what types of foods you're eating, calories, amount of exercise, goals, etc. Are you getting your waterload in daily (but not w/ meals or for an hour after eating - so you'll feel full longer)? It really makes a difference when I do some type of consistent exercise. (And I feel better mentally, too.)

Newlapper,

The average weight loss with the band is 5-10lbs per month. You will not consistenly lose this EVERY month, but one year out you will have lost at least 5-10 lbs per month AVERAGE. Now, remember, you're not even restricted for the first 6-8 weeks, so technically most people don't even start counting until their first fill, which makes you well into the average or above. Not counting the 6-8 weeks, you've lost an average of 6.6lbs per month so you fall smack dab in the middle of average. How much were you losing BEFORE the band? lol.

You will not lose like the bypass folks, but I can promise you that if you do what you are told to do, which is eat Protein first, veggies next and anything else IF you still have room. Keep your portions to 1 cup or less - total. Exercise 30 minutes, 3-5 times per week and you drink your Water (not with meals or 1 hr after) you WILL lose at least 50-100lbs the first year. If your BMI started out lower, you may have a slower weight loss. Many larger BMI's start out losing very quickly, but even their bodies catch up and slow down as their BMI drops. Try not to be so hard on yourself. How is your restriction? Are there foods that you are having a hard time staying away from? Like ice cream? chocolate? Desserts? chips? Are you exercising? (I'm not accusing, I'm just relaying the problems I, myself am having to come to terms with.)

Click on this link and answer this quiz to yourself. http://bigolalaskan.com/lapband/fills.htm

Chart your daily intake on www.fitday.com to see where your food falls in the way of protein, fat, carbs, calories.

Change up your exercise routine. If you go to Curves 3 days a week, add some walking on the other days. If you walk, maybe you could add some weight training or exercise bike?

If it makes you feel any better. I ONLY lost 55lbs in a year. 10 years from now, no one will care if i lost 55 or 155, all they'll care about is that I'm still around (hopefully) because I did lose SOMETHING. lol. You're doing fine, but if you want to do any better, try some of the things I've mentioned, see if they help. Let us know how you are doing! Whatever works for you might work for me.