Is there anyone who is over 350lbs? I will be banded soon but only see people on here that are 200's . I would like to hear successes and problems. What about exercise? I have heel spurs really bad and it hurts to walk and of course i get winded.

Well, my DH is a success so far. He started out at 600 pounds and he's within spitting distance of the 300s. He's yet to break out of the 400 pounds, but he's sooo close.

Have you tried Water aerobics? Pilaties is good too.

Water aerobics is good but only one place does it here and it is expensive. I have thought about buying a pool but the weather doesnt always cooperate.

I started at 340 lbs, is that close enough for you?

Exercise is one of those things that everyone approaches differently. I didn't even start thinking about it until I got down to 280 or so, and then it was a whole different ball of wax. Now it's part of my life and it's a LOT more fun than it used to be.

I started at 317, now it's just be been 6 weeks and I have lost 40 pounds. I didn't ever think I would see the day that I would see 250 again...that is my first mini goal. I have started the water aerobics at the YMCA and I love them. Right now that is all I feel comfortable with...one day maybe I will venture up to the cardio area and weights...

I started at 362 lbs. Before I knew it, I was already down in the 200's. It has been slow going since getting under the 300 lb mark but I'm happily plugging along. I consider myself a success at this point.

I am just about 350 and will be banded on August 17th...can't wait!! And I plan on being a success story;)

I started at 386 and I am now around 330ish I was banded in April. THe biggest problem I had was getting up/down right after surgery..

cant say that I excerise but I'm a lot more active than before and I know once i get some more weight off I'll be starting my exercise.

Obviously... the bigger you are the more skin you have. Down 60 lbs I am starting to notice it.

ajack- believe it or not, chair exercises really work and you can be do that now before surgery. You don't have to take a Water aerobics class, you can just go to the pool and walk back and forth or just play around. Exercise is movement just like prayer is a conversation with God. It is easy, just go with a friend or two.

I started at 459 and now I'm 427. Slow and steady is the race. I can't weight to see 3HUNDRED AND NINTY NINE POUNDS...YESSSSSSS

I am 377, and I will be banded in Sept. It is encouraging to see people reaching the 200s! woooo hooo, we are going to be a thin and healthy bunch before we know it!

I had my surgery April 18, 2005 and was 353 I am now 284 a 69 lb loss... I'd say I'm on my way to success.

My highest weight was 327 on a 5' 2" frame. That was September 2004. I dropped 24 lbs and have kept it off. I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and switched from Regular to Diet pop and started consuming Splenda instead of Sugar and alot low cal/low carb stuff. I just weighed myself the other day and have lost an additional 6 lbs on the liquid protein/protein bar diet. I am having surgery this Friday. Oh life is only going to get sweeter! (I also try to walk around the block at a high pace atleast once a day.)

WOWEEE you all rock !!!

I'm so glad I found this site

I'm just under 200 now and was 228 when I got my band, but 6 years ago I was 312# so I have a litte idea of what it's like at 350+ size. I lost 150# on an Optifast type of program and managed to stay below 165 for several years. THen I had bunion surgery last Aug, couldn't exercise and gained a bunch back. I just could not seem to get a handle on things and knew I would end up over 300 again and that's why I got the band.

BUT as far as your question about exercising... when I started out at 300+ I would get whatever the OPPOSITE of catcalls is while out walking--so I put an enormous amount on the credit card and bought a gym-quality elliptical trainer to be able to workout in private. The ellipticals are very easy on the knees. I put a fan right in front of it to hit my sweating face, put on some music and started out using it just 5 minutes at a time (just one song) several times a day. That machine was a life saver for me. Worth every penny.

One of the nice things (I know, there are NICE things???) about being that heavy is you can lose REALLY fast! I remember how cool it was to lose 4-7 pounds a week. That just doesn't happen when you're under 200. BUt for me the key at ANY size is EXERCISE. Believe me, I hate it as much as the next person but very few of us can lose and keep weight off without it. Ever read Oprah's workout schedule? She does a miniumum of an hour of cardio (plus weights) 6 days a week. With all her money and smarts I think if there were a way to lose and maintain a weightloss without exercise Oprah would have found it.

ANd remember, even there aren't a LOT of people over 350 who have lost that much successfully--YOU CAN! Even if you were the very first person to ever do that someone's gotta be. What an opportunity you have to be a success and ENCOURAGE others who think it's hopeless?

It is totally doable--and YOU CAN DO IT!!

I started at 319. Almost 350. I have had my band 3 years this week. I took time out to have a baby and am at a total of 108 pounds lost. Got a good fill again after not having one for over 1 year or 1.5 years. I am still losing. I have about 30 pounds to go! It can be done!!!:glasses

I was banded in January 2005. I was exactly 350 lbs when banded. I have had problems with my port flipping & having a doctor who is as new to this surgery as I am. So although I have lost only 25 lbs. I feel soooo..... much better. Now that he has hired a nurse that came from the Lap-band clinic in Dallas, who knows all of the ins & outs of fills, I think we are finally on the right track. I started out just sitting on a blanket on the floor & stretching. Just look up stretching exercises on the web. My husband also bought me an exercise ball that is shaped like a peanut that helps with my stretching also. I always felt like the round balls would shoot out from under my big booty like a missile. LOL!! I have a very bad back & was scared of trying exercise. But this works for me. I recently started walking on my treadmill about a half a mile at least twice a week. I have also been taking my 2 cousins swimming a couple times a week in my Mom's pool. I can lose 5 lbs. overnight just by swimming with the two war whoops. I highly recommend swimming! My Mom has an above ground pool. It's awesome! Well good luck!