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Thanks Denise! Yes well I've lost a lot in such a short time and I want to slow down a bit and enjoy the holiday season more. I am going to pick up seriously, really seriously, after the new year. On Jan 8, marks my 3 months post op and I can do hard core exercises instead of the low impact and walking I am now doing. I've got the itch soooo bad to do the harder exercises....but I KNOW I need time for the band to heal and adjust to my stomach for another month. I CAN DO THIS! Today marks my 2 month anniversary and I lost another 2 lbs. Tonight I am going to measure myself and take pictures...ugh!! But, I need to do this so I can look back at my old self and compare to the preveious month to inspire myself more!!!

Hey Jazzy Jude,

thanks for your kind words. as i was reading your post, i noticed that you said that we are not suppposed to do the hard workout until about three months? i thought it was the abs that we couldnt do. i started my hardcore workouts 10 days after surgery. i began swimming 7 days after with the approval of Dr. miranda. anyhow, just a thought since i wasnt sure.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I am so happy for you. I bet you feel and look like a million dollars. Way to go...

thank you. i feel like my old self, just a bit frustrated with the belly area, but i know ill take care of it as soon as i have the money. thanks

WOW that is just awsome. I am glad you posted this today as I was feeling a little depressed this morning. I am at 6 months and have reach that plateau. I have had that obsession with the scale and had my husband hide it and only bring it out on Monday mornings. I drink plenty of water. I excersice everyday either on my treadmill or my ecliptical machine. I guess I need to add my bike to this. I also go out to eat once a week on Saturdays thats my treat. I am down 61lbs and im very happy, I figure slower is better because I know now that its going to stay off for good. Thanks for this post. It has put me in check. I know now that I have to not give up.

Hey Denise,

Ive been there when you are so frustrated with everything. But trust me your hard work will pay off. everyone is different so it might take you a bit longer but maybe you wont need surgery. 61 lbs is awesome, so keep up the good work

Hey everyone!

i have been missing for a while due to my busy scheduled(doctoral student, mom and wife). So after 7 months i reached my goal, and i am actually 1 lb under my goal. I believe that my goal weight is higher that what my body actual weight could be, but i am not worried about it since i am looking pretty small. I will need surgery due to my two pregnancies (my daughter was 10 lbs one month early, and my son was 11 lbs 2 weeks early). So here is my story:

I have been normal weight all my life until i got pregnanat about 7 years ago. Since then i have struggle with weight loss. I decided to have the surgery since i was fed up with being overweight and not feeling good in my own body. The band was the best decision that i have ever made. For the first 4 months, i was pretty strict with all i ate and watch all my calories and work out. after that time, i decided that i was going to take it easy and not worried so much since i was only 20 lbs away from goal. I have had 2 fills so far amd yes i reached my sweet spot. I had good and bad days. i reached a plateau around 5 months, but was able to get out of it by alternating my calorie intake. I work out 5 to 6 times a week. I alternate my work out almost daily. About 2 months ago, i started a high intensity step class where i burned around 750 calories.

For all those of you that are starting or near the end, keep it up. you will get there. have a day where you weight in so you dont get obsessed with the scale(i did in the begginnning). do measurements since you might be losing inches instead of weight. if you want to eat your favorite meal, go ahead and have it, but make sure that you cut your calories for the next day so you are not over for the week. Drink plenty of water (80 to 100 oz), and dont drink soda not even when you are allowed. i used to wait the hour after a meal but i was not getting enough water so now i drink 45 min after(it doesnt mean that you shouldnt follow the doc orders).

So i started the 5 day test, and i was wondering if you exercise while doing it. The first 2 days we barely take in 1000 calories so i dont think that i should, but i was wondering anyone's opinions.

So i recently discover that when a meal that i had before decided to not go down, i chew gum and somehow the slimming goes away.

I was wondering if anyone else does this? i have no idea why it will work but somehow it does so i am not complaining. it doesnt mean that i can eat right after i chew gum, but at least i dont have to suffer.

That is so great that you have lost so much so quick. I had my lap-band done on June 6, 2007 and have lost around 70 lbs. I still have about 40 pounds to go to reach my goal weight. I have only had two fills and need a nother but can't afford one at this time. As far as willpowwer, it goes out the door with peanut M&m's. As far as other food, I'm okay. I just try to limit what I eat, trying to stick to Slimfast and Special K protein water. Any suggestions? I'd appreciate your advise or anyone's advice.

Rhonda Gabriel

Hi!

As i get closer to goal and my body enjoys staying in the plateau area, i varied my food. i do eat candy and other items, however i one day i have 900 calories and on other days i eat 1200 calories. it helps to keep your body guessing. it is the same thing for exercise. i used to drink slim fast but stop since it was going right through my band.

Good luck and keep goind you will get there.

Hey everyone!

For the last few weeks i have tried really hard to reduce the amount of food that i eat. With that said, my body is not liking it. i am not hungry, however my body acts like if i need food. I drink tons and tons of water so i know that is not dehydration. the way i know this is happenning is because i feel weak and at times dizzy.

Is this happening to anyone?

Oh my goodness, that is fantastic!! Can I ask you a personal question? Are you a man or a woman? I am really struggling right now. I was banded on 07/01 and have lost 17 lbs since surgery, but the majority of that was lost the first 2 weeks. I have lost 51 lbs to date through diet and exercise prior to the surgery. I just lose so slowly. I find myself getting a little frustrated but in reality I have only just started. I haven't had my first fill yet so I hope once I get resitriction that will help too. I do a lot of cardio and strength training so I can tell a huge difference in my body shape which is good.

Again, congratulations on this huge milestone. You should be really proud of yourself. Know that you are an inspiration for those of us who are struggling! It can be done!

Hi!

I am a proud mother of two little ones. My husband has lost over 80 lbs without the band, and i always felt that it was easier for him to loose the lbs than me. I had always had issues with restriction and what i eat, just keep up the good work and you will get there. I exercise a lot on a weeekly basis, however unfortunately i am going to need a tummy tuck. Not because of how much weight i have lost, but because with my daughter i gained 100 lbs ( i used to be 120 lbs and a size 5) which stretch my skin to the point that the doctor had to induced me. It has help but i can not be a size 5 again until i have the surgery. I try to stay positive and not give up.

Wow, How inspiring. I too am within a pound or two of where you started and where you are finishing. I was doing so well, until I could eat. I've put back on 3 lbs. I have basically no restriction and my will power really stinks at timesand I wont be able to get a fill for another month or so. I'm scared as will power was never a virtue I possessed when it came to eating, though I can be highly disciplined in other areas. I'm not sleeping well so I often feel too tired to exercise. I'm in a bit of a cycle. What exercising are you doing? Did you go through any of this? Looking for guidance. Thank you and congrats on your success!!!

Hi!

I have been blessed regarding my weight. i have not gain any weight during my journey. However i have struggle loosing on a weekly basis. I have always exercise even when i was overweight, so that has been a great help. I alternate exercises, for example, i have a day where i do volleyball for 2 hours, and other days i do racquetball and then cardio. i do weights three times a week which has really help shaping my body. Dont give up, you will get there.

so proud of you!! I weigh a little less than when you started and I'm looking to reach my goal within 6 months....did you go through a tough time between the surgery and first fill?? That's where I'm at right now...scales havent moved and I'm hunry all the time!!

I did indeed had a hard time in between fills. However, my fills really never kick in. I was still eating large amounts of food, however i will stop myself. I continue to do that and at times is frustrating since i want to eat until my band tells me to stop. So in reality i dont know what "good" restriction is since i have never experience that so called "chest pain" as a way to stop eating. Keep up to good work, and you will get there. Dont get discourage if you dont loose weight in some weeks, it will eventually happen.

Help? I was banded by Dr.Ortiz 8/17/07 with a 10 cc band. I have lost 60 lbs and have 60 more to lose. I had not lost any weight at all for about 9 weeks even though I have been doing everything right. - I thought 9 weeks was a long time for a plateau so yesterday I went in yesterday to see if I needed a final fill. ( I had my first fill at OCC and have 8.3 cc total in now) My fill doctor uses flouro

and yesterday she told me I had stretched my pouch "just slightly". She recommended liquids only for 5 days- little drinks at a time- and after 5 days to go back to eating what I was before but

never more than 1/4 cup of fod at a time. She is a wonderful doctor but I trust Dr.Ortiz more. What does he suggest I do? Also, should I go back to my fill doctor after a month or two to see if I was able to shrink it?

Hi! how were they able to tell that your pouch is stretch? I think we all go through that stage when we think that our band has stretch.

thanks and good luck!

I just want it to share with everyone my milestone. I finally left that plateau stage and reach over 70lbs in 5 months. I am only 15lbs away from goal, and i know that those will be the hardest lbs. I am really proud of myself since i had three fills and never had good restriction. I had to use more will power than the band to reach my goal. I will admit that i am a bit obsessed with what i eat and how much, however i eat whatever i want whenever i want which i think it help me get out of my plateau stage.

anyhow, thank you all for the support.

I was wondering if anyone's heart rate when they work out is elevated, and if this has change since your surgery. As we all know a good workout means that your heart rate needs to be between 135-160 for 30 minutes to help with weight lost. However, since i had the surgery, my heart rate has been at high as 198. i work hard 5-6 times a week, sometimes racquetball and sometimes machines, however i dont see how the band could have cause this. Yet i didnt have this problems prior to the surgery.

Thanks

At what point after you got banded did you hit your first plateau? (I realize everyone is going to be different)

This is the point when most of my sabotage starts and I end up throwing in the towel of what ever diet I happen to be on...I guess to be able to plan ahead could save me some self defeating behavior.

Way to go for those of you who were able to push past that point.

~Kim

To answer your question, i lost weight steady for almost 5 months. I am not sure if since i only have 20 lbs to reach my goal that i went into plateau, but i have been for the last month or so. Also, after my 2nd fill which lasted about 1 month, i used will power in order to loose more pounds. Finally i decided to get my 3rd fill and see what happens. I am hoping to loose those 20 lbs before i go in vacation in december. Regarding exercise, i work out 6 days a week for about 90 minutes. I do change my exercise routine, but it didnt help.

Okay, so now that the scale are finally moving, i am afraid of plateuing again if i am unable to eat 1200 calories. i tried to eat more but i really couldnt. What have you guys done when your fill is so tight that you can only eat a small amount. I told the doctor that i was visiting with TOM and therefore to make me as tight as possible. Well, he did, and i can only eat very little.

Any help, suggestions will be great.

Thanks everyone.

Finally after a month and half of not moving the scale moved. I drop 5 lbs in one week, which i personally think is too fast, but it has happenned before when i plateau. I took my husband suggestion of having a blow out day where i eat food that i normally would not eat(not all junk), and apparently my body got confused and started to react to the amount of food. For all those of you that plateau, KEEP GOING!!!, you will get there.

When i went to get my third fill, which is as tight as it can get, i talked to the doc about the different foods that will go trhough your band. SO i was wondering if we can do some kind of list of foods that will not fill you up since they cheat the band.

1. Chips

2. food with sauces

3. snack cakes

4. ice cream

5. candy

AM i allow to drink water before my fill. I know about the 4 hour waiting, but how about water? thanks . i am going today at 630

I never had a fill at the OCC, therefore never received the guidelines. I was wondering what the guidelines are for the 3rd fill. i believe tha you can eat right away, but how long before hand do you stop eating. thanks.

I was just wondering if anyone reached the goal weight that Dr. miranda recommended. She told me 165 due to my body shape, however i feel that i need to loose more. Yet i have been sitting on that weight for over a month. Im thinking is this the most i will be able to loose until i have a tummy tuck and they remove all the excess skin from my pregnancy? I have been overwieght for 6 years and that happen when i had my daughter gaining 100 lbs and the skin stretching to the point of bleeding.

thanks

Hey , Its funny that you post this questions since for the last month and half i have been struggling as well. i am a workoutholic my whole life, but lately i have being pushing it even more. i decided to try to trick my body with various calories per day and then see what i have. However, i went to the doctor's office, and according to their records i lost 13 pounds in a month. sometimes it also depends on your scale, and apparently my is off. let me know if anything helps since i will be trying different things as well.

I dont eat enough chicken and other protein items, so i am looking for protein supplements. the slim fast dont have enough and yet too many calories. i thought about the marathon bars which have about 38 grams of protein and 220 calories and they taste like a snicker bar. SO i was wondering what everyone takes to supplement their protein. i think that could be one of the reason why i am having a hard time losing my last pounds

I was wondering if anyone knew how many calories should we burn daily. i exercise (running, bike, weight, the whole nine yards) 6 times a week. when i dont do racquetball to warm up and go straight to running, i burn about 300 calories, however when i do racquetball and then running, i burn about 650. that is not counting the weight room three times a week.

Justwondering if anyone reallyknows. i asked the trainer and he told me not to focus on calories but the work out as a whole.

thanks

I was just wondering about how long everyone's full feeling last. i had two fills and lately it seems that soon after i eat i get hungry. i can eat a whole lean cuisine and about 2 1/2 hours later i am hungry. i dont give in and drink tons of water, but i was wondering if anyone is going through this. also if anyone went through this and then got a fill and everything was better.

Thanks