Congratulations to all bandsters! May we all have continued success this 2008.:tongue:

It is a happy new year for me... I am down 100 pounds! There are many of us who have met this mark, and we continue on our journey.

Cheers- here's to us, and the many "losers" that came before us, and to those who shall follow. :wink:

IF YOU ARE EVEN THINKING ABOUT GETTING A BAND, GO GET INFO NOW NOT LATER..

My Mom was scheduled to get her band Dec.19th 2007- she instead had a triple bypass heart surgery, followed by many complications, blood clots, bad reactions to meds, etc.. and results are that the triple/bypass needs to be completely redone when/if she gains enough strength back to make it through such an ordeal -again.

I will continue to count my blessing, I have had the opportunity to lose 100 pounds... before her story, became mine.

Keeping you all in my thoughts daily, Kimberly

You're off to a great start and I commend you for your efforts thus far!! It is tough going at first, but you'll get through this with that kind of determination!

Hang in there!

Thanks!! Todays been better. I found some info on the site that talked about making a soup and straining the broth off, so I added some beef broth, carrots, zuchinni, and onion with some ground ginger and a teaspoon of soy sauce. Cook for an hour and then drank the broth. That seemed to be the trick. I had that for lunch and so far so good.

Thanks!! Today's been better. I found some info on the site that talked about making a soup and straining the broth off, so I added some beef broth, carrots, zucchini, and onion with some ground ginger and a teaspoon of soy sauce. Cook for an hour and then drank the broth. That seemed to be the trick. I had that for lunch and so far so good.

Great idea! One of my July 07 lapband friends highly recommends doing just that.... make your own broth/soup and strain or pulverize in a magic bullet or something. So much tastier than stuff out of a can or bouillon cube! There are several recipe threads here. Glad you found some good suggestions. Later you'll want to look at the "mushy" stage recipes.

My BMI is over 50 and I'm just a little over a week from my banding date. I've almost hit the 50lbs lost mark before surgery but I'm finding that the 'liquid diet' is really hard. I had started exploring the protein drinks about a month ago and have been doing 1 or 2 meals for most of the past month using the drinks, but for some reason when the call came and I was told 'only liquids', I'm having some sort of a melt down moment. To this point, I've given up pop, steak, bread and been fine with all that but I'm finding now that I'm starving. Labs are Monday, this is Saturday...I don't want to blow this and being well prepared for surgery day is my top priority. Anyone have great words of wisdom and how they made it over the hurtle of liquids. I'm really feeling discouraged cause up to this point, it's gone great, I haven't had the urge to snack or cheat and the weight and slowly and steadily gone over the past 5 or 6 months. .....

Boy I think you are doing great. My surgeon had me only lose 5 lbs before surgery. I did have a liquid diet for 6 weeks after surgery. I am at 10 months post surgery. I have lost 72 lbs. but have 75 left to lose, so not quite 1/2 way there. I have had 3 adjustments in my band and think it is working well now. I hava had several set backs, but still lose a pound about every 12-14 days. It is slow, but I am much healthier. No more diabetes drugs, all with diet now. :cool: Hope to hear from more of us who have so much to lose, Dot

My BMI is over 50 and I'm just a little over a week from my banding date. I've almost hit the 50lbs lost mark before surgery but I'm finding that the 'liquid diet' is really hard. I had started exploring the protein drinks about a month ago and have been doing 1 or 2 meals for most of the past month using the drinks, but for some reason when the call came and I was told 'only liquids', I'm having some sort of a melt down moment. To this point, I've given up pop, steak, bread and been fine with all that but I'm finding now that I'm starving. Labs are Monday, this is Saturday...I don't want to blow this and being well prepared for surgery day is my top priority. Anyone have great words of wisdom and how they made it over the hurtle of liquids. I'm really feeling discouraged cause up to this point, it's gone great, I haven't had the urge to snack or cheat and the weight and slowly and steadily gone over the past 5 or 6 months. .....

I've been where you are. My BMI was just over 50 when I started two years ago. The thing that kept me on track before the surgery was knowing that by having only liquids I would be safer during surgery. I hope that this helps! My only regret about being banded is that I didn't do it alot sooner!

I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue

I've been where you are. My BMI was just over 50 when I started two years ago. The thing that kept me on track before the surgery was knowing that by having only liquids I would be safer during surgery. I hope that this helps! My only regret about being banded is that I didn't do it alot sooner! I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue

Hi, Sue! I totally agree! Would do it again in a heartbeat and I, too, wish I'd done it sooner!

Congrats on reaching your goal. I have a way to go yet, but I'm making progress.

Were you ever part of the July 07 thread...Lucky #7's??

Hi, Sue! I totally agree! Would do it again in a heartbeat and I, too, wish I'd done it sooner!

Congrats on reaching your goal. I have a way to go yet, but I'm making progress.

Were you ever part of the July 07 thread...Lucky #7's??

Phyl:

Thank you. You have made alot of progress and you'll be there before you know it!

I never joined the Lucky #7's because I didn't know anything about LBT until a few weeks after I was banded. I have enjoyed reading yours and your friends threads over the past two years though. I still read it often. It is so nice that you've found some friends that it seems will be lifelong friends for all of you.

Good luck with your knee surgery.

I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue

hey all...... I'm over 50 BMI. I hope to get banded on 10/26 but only if I weigh less than 350 by 10/2. Right now I'm 367 and am working with a nutritionist. Any encourage ment or words of advice will be greatly appreicated. Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Ericka

hey all...... I'm over 50 BMI. I hope to get banded on 10/26 but only if I weigh less than 350 by 10/2. Right now I'm 367 and am working with a nutritionist. Any encourage ment or words of advice will be greatly appreicated. Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Ericka

'Ericka, My advice is protein, protein, protein. My BMI was 54 when I started and is 40 now, 10 months after surgery. I still have a long way to go, but it seems manageable now. I drink a lot of Propel. I was a diet coke addict, but I think they were involved with my not losing. My best to you, Dot:thumbup:

hey all...... I'm over 50 BMI. I hope to get banded on 10/26 but only if I weigh less than 350 by 10/2. Right now I'm 367 and am working with a nutritionist. Any encourage ment or words of advice will be greatly appreicated. Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Ericka

Thought - Ask your doctor/surgeon about the prescription drug, Phentermine. It worked wonders for me. In roughly 3 months I lost 78lbs. I committed to the Atkins Diet/exericise along with that and I just melted away! Best of luck to you on your journey.

Jason

hey all...... I'm over 50 BMI. I hope to get banded on 10/26 but only if I weigh less than 350 by 10/2. Right now I'm 367 and am working with a nutritionist. Any encourage ment or words of advice will be greatly appreicated. Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Ericka

Hi Ericka,

My BMI was over 65 and my Dr wouldn't touch me unless I was under 60. I went on Protien shakes 3 times a day and lost 41 pounds in 3 months so I could have the surgery. I can't tell how happy I am now!! The band is one of the best things that ever happened to me! I got the shakes from a Nutritionist, but you can buy them online too. They are called VHP shakes (Very High Protien) They have 35gm or protien so you don't feel hungry. You can do it!! I never thought I would be under 300 pounds and never in my dreams under 200 pounds! I wore a size 32 to my sons wedding 3 yrs ago 3 weeks ago I wore a 14 to my daughters and I looked BEAUTIFUL! I felt like a princess that day. It is worth every thing in the world to me!! Good Luck!

Edited August 20, 200916 yr by Wishes4444

Hi Ericka, My BMI was over 65 and my Dr wouldn't touch me unless I was under 60. I went on Protein shakes 3 times a day and lost 41 pounds in 3 months so I could have the surgery. I can't tell how happy I am now!! The band is one of the best things that ever happened to me! I got the shakes from a Nutritionist, but you can buy them online too. They are called VHP shakes (Very High Protein) They have 35gm or protein so you don't feel hungry. You can do it!! I never thought I would be under 300 pounds and never in my dreams under 200 pounds! I wore a size 32 to my sons wedding 3 yrs ago 3 weeks ago I wore a 14 to my daughters and I looked BEAUTIFUL! I felt like a princess that day. It is worth every thing in the world to me!! Good Luck!

Hi, Gals! My BMI was nearly 64. I got it down to just over 60 before surgery. I'm flirting with "Onderland" right now and hope to make that mark by the end of the year. I'm having knee replacement surgery next week. After recovery I'm planning to be able to ramp up my exercise and hoping the weight will start coming off a little faster!

Way to go...I actualy am FINALLY in the 200lb range!

298! No more 300's for me! I am super excited!

Way to go...I actualy am FINALLY in the 200lb range!

298! No more 300's for me! I am super excited!

CONGRATS!!

That's GREAT!

I remember when I passed that mark and it was a wonderful feeling!

Had my knee replacement surgery a week ago today. Doing in home PT and making progress. Pain control is a challenge.

I just had my first visit with the doctors at Duke in Durham, NC today. I knew going in to it that the doc would recommend bypass since I have so much weight to lose (about 150 lbs). But she was supportive of whatever it is I want to do. Also had dietician consult and bloodwork.

However, my visit with the psychologist did not go as I had anticipated. I thought that they would be more interested in why I overate, not what I ate. I was told that because of my eating habits and amount of weight I need to lose I won't be successful with the lapband. I left the appointment in tears.

I was so proud of myself for finally going to see someone about my weight and felt rejected when I left. I am conflicted over what to do and was hoping someone out there might have some advice. I really, really don't want to have bypass but am now questioning whether or not I have what it would take to be successful with the band.

Any thoughts?

I just had my first visit with the doctors at Duke in Durham, NC today. I knew going in to it that the doc would recommend bypass since I have so much weight to lose (about 150 lbs). But she was supportive of whatever it is I want to do. Also had dietician consult and bloodwork.

However, my visit with the psychologist did not go as I had anticipated. I thought that they would be more interested in why I overate, not what I ate. I was told that because of my eating habits and amount of weight I need to lose I won't be successful with the lapband. I left the appointment in tears.

I was so proud of myself for finally going to see someone about my weight and felt rejected when I left. I am conflicted over what to do and was hoping someone out there might have some advice. I really, really don't want to have bypass but am now questioning whether or not I have what it would take to be successful with the band.

Any thoughts?

Hi:

I lost 148 pounds, 38 before my banding, and 110 after banding. I lost 125 of it in one year. So, if they think the band won't work because you need to loose more than 100 pounds, would seem like it can work, and there are alot of people on this website that would agree with that.

However, I was a very big meal eater. I could eat 2 to 3 platefuls at supper time. I could eat big at every meal. I wasn't a grazer (spelling??). I think it would be hard to be successful with a band if you're the type that eats smaller amounts at a time, but all day long. If that is your style, please speak with your surgeon about how you eat and see if he agrees that the band might not be your best choice for weight loss surgery.

I'm glad that I never had to see the psychologist after the initial consult, because I didn't feel comfortable with him. He did approve me though, thank goodness.

I hope things turn out the best for you and that you conquer your weight problem. I'm so much happier since I conquered mine.

I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue