flaggirl

Agreed. I used to find this forum a great source of support, and am disappointed. I am 4 years post band. i am doing well and have stabilized at 125. Would love to be 120, but can't stay there without intense daily exercise and don't have a life that allows it. Love to hear fromsome really long term banders.

Banded Nov of 2008 at 194 lbs, now 120 lbs. Couldn't be happier, healthier or look better. Best thing I ever did, just wish I would have done it sooner!!!

I have problems with chicken a lot, doesn't matter how much I chew it. I just avoid it, not worth it.

So I've been at my goal for a little over a year now. No unfill. I eat regularly like I did when loosing. I just sort of stopped loosing. I have to admit to a glass of wine here and there and a bite of chocolate now and then. I don't weigh myself but once a week and have a 5 lb range that I allow myself to fluctuate in. If I get to the top, I just watch what I eat for the next week and up my activity a little. Has been pretty easy so far. Enjoy your new body!

Lol, Linds, I actually went up a cup size after dropping 80 lbs. Don't ask me how that happened. It is a good and a bad thing. I do have a lot of back pain now because my waist is so much smaller than they are. I am going in for a fill on Saturday because I have been eating sooo much. I feel like I am eating more than half as what I used to before being banded so I am due for a fill. I am a few pounds away from the goal weight Dr. Miranda set for me and want to lose maybe 20 more. I hope this fill helps me get there, but I do also have to admit I need to up my exercising. You look amazing girl. It feels great, huh? Keep it up!!

I think the hair loss is related to lack of vitamins. I don't remember Dr. Miranda saying anything to me about taking vitamins, but a short time after starting 1 centrum chewable vitamin in the morning and the evening, the hair loss has stopped. Hope that helps.

118.8

119.4

Ballew,

I would love to hear more about your experience with the band and any experiences of those banded for more than 1 year. The challenges of those with long term bands are different than the newly banded. I have had my band 19 months now, and have been at goal for about a year. I fluctuate 3 lbs, but can see that my eating habits have changed, and worry that the weight will just gradually start creeping back. Any long banded people out there?

I had a 1cc un-fill today before leaving on vacation. I've been pretty tight, and tend to get tighter on vacation. It was amazing to see the contrast material just sit in the pouch and not move until peristalsis (the normal contractions of the GI tract to move food along) pushed it through the stoma. What I was feeling as the gurgles or reflux, was peristalsis pushing food or liquid through. It didn't seem to move along without that little push. Now with 1cc in my 4cc band I can drink without sounding like a sink unclogging with every sip. Was told to do liquids for 24 hrs as my esophagus was very slightly dialated. I feel great and really well hydrated for the first time in a while.

I have this problem as well in that I can gain or loose 3-5 lbs in a day. My theory is 1: The extra fat cell thing, 2: The amount of fluid I drink and 3: What's going on with my colon. So I religiously weigh my self daily and let myself fluctuate 3-5 lbs and don't get too worried unless it's more than that. If so I adjust with better eating or more exercise. So far so good as I have been 5lbs under goal or at goal for 6 months.

I drink what my DH fondly calls "poo coffee" every morning. This is aprox 8 oz coffee with 1 packet of fat free hot chocolate mix (25 cal), mix in 4 oz warm skim milk and a heaping tablespoon of benefiber. Just remember to keep up with the water during the day or it turns to cement in the gut. Works like a charm for me.

This also happens to me from time to time. I am currently just under my goal weight, and have been maintaining for 5 months. Every once in a while (like every 2-3 months) I will have a day or 2 of reflux, solids go down hard and I PB. Usually I take zantac 150mg twice a day, and Maalox. Stick to mushies and sip water all day and it passes. I agree - what's up with this? I haven't had a fill or unfill in close to a year. 1.8cc in a 4cc band. Any ideas anyone?

Wow! what a super response to being banded. So glad that you are doing so well and following instructions to the letter is contributing to your success. To those who have not experienced such a rapid loss: don't be discouraged! Slow weight loss allows your hormones and enzymes to adjust to the change in body size and hopefully decreases the amount of excess skin, hair loss and fatigue that occurs with rapid loss.

This is a question for Dr. Ortiz or associates. Call OCC directly for the best advice. I live at 7,100 feet and don't have problems going to sea level. Would that be a similar situation?

3 wks in Maui!!!!!!! You lucky dog!, My band is always fickle on vacation, and I think you did the right thing with the unfill. In my opinion it is better to gain a few pounds than get into trouble, PB all the time, feel miserable or worse while away from home. The weight will go back down quickly, so give it a little time and let your body adjust. And husbands - well can't live with them and can't live without them You look great in the bikini!!

Those are 2 foods which I have just had to give up. Chicken is doesn't work for me regardless of how much I chew it up, and rice sort of forms a plug in your pouch and gums up in the stoma. So sorry, this happened to you. After I have a PB episode I try to take it easy for at least 24 hours. Liquidy oatmeal, soup and yogurt. Don't worry too much. So much of learning to live with your band and the limitations it gives you is by trial and error!

Remember that NOTHING tastes as good as being thin feels.

As a size two I can attest to that! Hang in there. It will come to you also.

a

I get bad heartburn from time to time, can't really tell why, but if I take over the counter Zantac 150mg twice a day for a while it goes away, and I don't think it has anything to do with being too tight, more with being stressed. Try that for a few days and see it it helps.

Yes, I claimed mine last year - What a bonus!

There are chewable birth control pills (Femcon) if you are really worried about it, but you should be able to swallow regular pillls as they are pretty small.

I am almost a year banded and can't eat anything like that. No donuts, muffins, cake, tortillas or bread. No matter how much I chew, it seems to form a plug in the stoma and I am either in unbelievable pain till it passed or it vomits up. Best to just avoid it all together!

Hi navy girl. We were banded the same day. Congratulations on your success! I'm down 75lbs and at goal. Keep up the good work!

"It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you keep moving" Confucious

lunges! lunges! Lunges! they will not only get you a booty, but a beyonce booty, at that!

So how exactly is a lunge done?