I was banded in Nov. of 2004 and initially lost 15 pounds before

surgery on the pre-op diet. I then lost about 10 pounds during the

liquid/soft mush stages. Over the holidays, I didn't lose but I

didn't gain, either. Slowly over the next 3 months I did lose 10-15

pounds with the help of 3 adjustments (about one every 4-5 weeks). I

am very happy to say that I have found the ideal adjustment and the

weight is coming off at a steady pace, now.

I have not PB'd,ever, thank God. I have some things get stuck for a

very short time and that is usually when I'm in a social setting and

not concentrating on my duties as a bandster. I still cannot believe

that I eat as little as I do. My mind tells me to eat like I used to

and my band tells me I better not. Most of the time I take home

lunch for the next day. It is incredibly liberating to eat so

little.

Being as large as I am, it will take losing about 75 pounds for

others to begin really noticing how much I have lost. But, for me, I

am greatly encouraged by the way my clothes fit, the movement I have

and the mobility afforded me after losing the 50 pounds so far.(I

have one leg a bit shorter because of a head-on car accident and

subsequent hip replacement in 2001.)As I said, I move much better

with 50 lbs. gone, I can only imagine how well I'll be moving as more

pounds drop. I feel well enough that I joined Curves last week and I

am going for my first workout today. With the exercise I expect a

very steady loss, now. I have not exercised since our accident 5

years ago.

I was discouraged about the adjustments not working well for me,at

first, but I continued to be very cautious with them, not asking for

too much fill, and taking it slow and easy. I am extremely grateful

for the information I received on this board and some of the other

forums about not being too aggressive with fills.

This tool works wonders.....but patience is key. Hang in there all

you newly banded. It will happen for you and it will be liberating.

Becki

360/310/185

Dr. Jose Rodriguez 11-05-04

Wow Becki, thanks for the encouragement! You are doing a great job, and you will like Curves alot. Slow and steady, thanks for the reminder...I'll need this a few months from now, I'm sure!

kathy , i was lying in bed last night * thought in just a few short days you will be banded i am so excited for you. you are going to mexico right? be safe i wil be praying for you. i start my process next tue. seminar on tue appointment with the screening dr on wed at 230 . i guess he determinds if i am a candiate or not i am 5;4 1/2 weigh 210 bmi 36 but i have sleep apena./ my insurance is united health care so pray i get approved i want this so bad. sandie

<quick hijack>

Aw thanks sandie! I'm leaving for MX in the morning (thursday) and surgery is friday. wooohoo!!! I'll bet you get approved, you'll be fine, just keep us posted on your progress. Good Luck!

Becki -

Congrats!!! And yes, indeed, patience is the key. Patience, and consistent practicing of healthy lifestyle changes will bring you success!

Becki thank you for taking time out of your own buisy life to post and encourage others. I being a little over 2 weeks banded really appreciate you being so positive about your band. You have done so well with your band and I just want to say congratulations and I hope with my band I can follow in your foot steps!!!!

Thanks Becki,

I truly appreciate the encouragement. Good luck to you on this next leg of your journey

Becki- What a lovely & inspiring post. I love the part about "duties as a bandster". So true, we all have an obligation to ourselves to properly use our tool & practice safety tips always.(chew chew chew)

Of course I am sure I will forget has soon as I get mine:0) Talk is cheap & I hope everything I learn stays in the forefront of my mind when my turn comes.

I haven't been banded but they told me it will probably take 4-5 adjustments to get the restriction and weight loss you expect great job.

Congratulations Becky! I was banded by Dr. Rodriguez also on February 25 am getting my first fill on April 25 so am looking forward to it. I find myself being able to eat a little more now, but still not what I did before. I'm hoping to lose, lose, lose!!

Thanks for showing us with a little patience that we can be as succesful as you!

Thanks for the post Beckidid. *sigh* I'm three weeks banded, and getting discuraged. Thanks for the post.

Great post Becki, and you are doing a great job with your band. Thanks for sharing with all of us.

Crystal -

How on earth can you be discouraged when you have lost 21 pounds in 3 weeks???? That's a pound a day... Sounds like you're doing fabulously to me... ?????????????

I'm discouraged because I've had a nagging headache for more than a week now. I'm discouraged because I cannot seem to get much more than 800 calories a day, because my fybromialgia is currently kicking my butt, because my hair seems to be falling out by the handfuls. (it sure seems that way when I wash my hair.)

I'm discouraged because I feel like that guy in the commercial--he's in a gym, weighs himself, then pops in his ipod earbuds and runs around the room once. He then pops back on the scale and is disapointed because he hasn't lost any weight in the 10 seconds.

I know I'm not being realistic. But you just can't reason with emotions... they're so darn... emotional.

I'm discouraged because I've had a nagging headache for more than a week now. I'm discouraged because I cannot seem to get much more than 800 calories a day

Can you have full liquids yet? Can you add some fruit/peanut butter and blend well with your Protein shakes? Is there some other possibility for your headaches besides low caloric intake - caffeine withdrawal, nicotine withdrawal, school stress?

The hair loss thing is normal and will stop.

I can't give any advice on the fibromalgyia, as thank goodness I've never had to deal with that, but be good to yourself. If liquid Tylenol helps with the pain and you can tolerate that I recommend it - it really helped with my pain when I tore my port sutures.

I understand that reasoning with emotions - I would also like to remind you that it is very common and perfectly normal to feel some depression after an episode of anesthesia. So even if you feel like crap, you're normal!! Believe it or not... lol