Anyone out there banded for more than a couple years? If so hows your progress?

I was banded in 2004 and have some questions..

I was banded almost 2 years ago. I have been through a lot so maybe I can help if you have any questions.

Hi - It has been 4 yrs and have fooled around and not playing by the rules but ready to get serious again and get a better fill. How are you doing??

I was banded in Sept 2004 so am 3.5 years out. Last year was a tough year for me and I lost only about 26 lbs the whole year. I have renewed my interest, went through a band unfill and am now going back up to where I have some decent restriction and am losing right along. I am hoping this is MY year to get closer to my goal, if not reach it! I have always exercised...just had to recommit to eating right. Feel free to ask me if you have a question. I would be happy to help if I can! Rose

I am interested in hearing from people who have had the band for a number of years. This is my question (as I have not had this yet). when I diet, I am successful....and then put the weight back. Does the weight come back with the band? It's as if I just can't believe that this tool will take care of that problem.

I got my band March 4, 2004- 4 years ago! I started out really well, lost about 100lbs the first year. Than I got stuck (weight wise), ended up with a too tight fill, reflux, and slightly stretched pouch in April of 2006. I got a complete unfill and the reflux completely went away and pouch went back to normal size.

That is when I should have gone back for another small fill- but I was scared, so I didn't. Fast forward to January of this year, and +40lbs when I decided to get back in the game!

I went back to my doctor, got a fill and 6 weeks later, I'm down 15lbs. :thumbup:

It is amazing to me and with the right fill- it still works- 4 years later!

Let me know if I can answer any more questions.

Melissa

3/4/04

At a bit over 2 years, I feel a lot of my worse eating habits are still hanging around there, they have to be constantly monitored and controlled. But just keeping on top of them, rather than eradicating them completely seems to be good enough - I still eat out of boredom and stress and I still tend to eat way too many carb foods at times.

I can vary weightwise by a pound or two but I tend not to really gain. However, its 10 months since my last fill and over the past month, I've begun to feel I can eat quite a lot - I do think I need another fill to keep me maintaining.

Exercise as always plays a major role in how easy it is to maintain!

Before my banding, I would go on these great diets like Phen Fen, my own creation--the yogurt and popcorn diet--and I would lose about 100 lbs. I would be at that weight for about...um...12 seconds and then I'd gain back 140 or more in a few months. Yeah, I did this over and over again! When I got my band, I started losing slowly, which was hard for me because I was used to losing 100 lbs in 4 or 5 months (stupidly!). Can you gain weight even with a band: YES. However, I have to say, during the times I ate wrong and didn't really put my focus to losing and eating healthfully, the most I gained back was about 5 or 8 lbs. If I didn't have my band now, I think I'd be well over 400 lbs (I started out at 367) and I would be one of those people who would end up weighing 600+! I believe that! I know me! The band seems to make it easier to focus on eating right, eating less, and once that frenzy feeling goes away (like Jack described above) you can focus on health and working out and I'll be you won't gain back a lot. Hopefully, you'll just keep losing and losing...that's my goal! It can be your goal, too!!! You can do it!!! IT"S A TOOL!!! Just part of the whole equation!

I had my band in January 2005.

I still have approx. 40lbs to loose. After 9 fills and almost at the limit of my full capacity (this band of mine takes 11cc and I currently have 10cc) I still have to make a big effort in terms of self control and not overeating or making correct food choices. I've been learning that the band doesn't work by itself, it's not even a fair split of 50/50, it's up to me most of the effort in staying on the right track.

Exercising and going to the gym 4 or 5 times a week has been very helpful. No pain, no gain, and most of all, no loosing weight!

niki