Jennifer P.

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Hi,

I was surprised when I looked at the calendar and noted that it was past my 3 year anniversary date and I didnt even give it a thought! I have been at 193 to 198 for a year or better now. Did I want to stay there, no. I just got lazy and let my day to day routines take over. So much so that when my 3 year surgery anniversary came..I didnt even notice. The band does it's job. It keeps me from overeating. I have not done my job and kept exercising and journaling and eating correctly to keep losing weight. Not once have I thought...I'm just gonna stay here..I dont mind it. Actually, its too close to 200 lbs for my comfort and if I feel this good at 193..well how would I feel at 150 or 145! I began this journey at 306. My life is very different now. I dont mind the heat and I swim and try new things and love shopping and love my life and so much more has changed for me. Now, Im back to it..not that I really left it..I just went back to being complacent. So, I began journaling, keeping track of exercise, calories, fat and protein and water intake. Began revisiting this site and just being mindful instead of mindless. My surgeon left and before he left I got my last fill and have not been back. I don't need a fill, but maybe I should call and check in. I think it has been a year. I dont drive the 50 minutes to the 1 x monthly meetings, but think I might start. Anything to get me moving in the right direction, downward!!!!

I am 1 year and 4 months out. I'm down to 198 from 306. I'm wearing size 14 work pants and jeans and large tops. I recently re-joined an exercise class I took when I was 260+ before surgery. I cannot believe the difference! Simple things are so much easier for me. I still want to lose about 60 lbs. I need another fill and Im thinking of getting one in Feb. Will see how exercising impacts my weightloss. I was pretty tight for awhile. While it has not been easy, it has been amazing and I'm so glad that I had surgery. Im focusing on the whys I want to eat and what I choose to eat now. I want to make sure that once I have the weight off, I dont let it come back. I think this has been the hardest part of my process as of yet. Finding out why I turn to food, etc. etc. I know without my lapband I would be right back where I started and then some. Its my biggest fear.

A year ago today at this moment I was in the hospital after band surgery! So much hope and fear going through me as I did hot laps around the hospital. Okay, not so hot, but laps any way. I was 300 lbs then and today I am 215. I was wanting so badly to be at 199. I really wanted to #1 be under 200 and #2 say I lost 100 lbs in a year! I will graciously accept 85lbs. a bit disappointed with myself with all the should-haves running through my mind. Like I should have exercised more, I should have eaten better, etc etc. I'm down from a size 30 pants and size 26-28 tops to a size 18 jeans and x-large tops! I have so much more energy, a better outlook on EVERYTHING, I feel better about myself and just in general feel better. It has not been easy and just when I think I have the hang of it, well, I just dont. Its an ever-changing process. every fill brings a new set of challenges. Im happy I had surgery and thankful that things have gone so well for me. I'm not sure of my end goal yet, but I know I dont want to stop here! I have great restriction from my fill in June and feel that with more exercise I will definately be able to win this war!

I Had my 7th fill today and I feel really good. There are so many things that make me so grateful for being able to have this surgery. Im down to 233 from 300 lbs. Im hoping to be a 199 by my surgery date of September 4th. My surgeon told me today that it might be possible, but I have done so well to not worry if I hit that exact goal, but I want to soooo bad!! 

I can sit in a movie theater seat comfortably. I can go to walmart and get groceries and then go home and put them away and not have to take a nap because Im exhausted. I can push mow my lawn. In fact, I dont even take naps any more!! I have more energy, I sleep better, I feel better. The pain in my knees, feet and lower back have all gone. No more GERD! I got a promotion at work and a raise. Because I had the self-confidence to put in for the promotion and got it! Before, at 300 lbs I never would have even tried for it! 

I struggled for months with pb's, (productive burps) because I didnt follow the band rule of if you PB, go on a liquid diet for 2 days then softs for 2 days. I would continue to eat and got in the cycle of PB'ing almost every day. Now, its very rare for me to have a pb. The other band rules of not drinking with meals and only eating about a cup and a half of food were not hard for me, luckily. I struggle with wanting to eat more, but being unable. I still have my demons with food. Also, now that I am unable to eat like I used to I noticed that I really want to shop and spend money. So, Im being watchful of developing an "alternative" habit. 

My journey is far from over, but Im having so much fun living and learning as I go!

Its March and I'm 6 months out from surgery. I feel great and still losing weight at a great clip. My surgeon was happy with my results at my last appointment in Feb. I had to cancel March's appointment because of my new job!! Which, Im also loving! Im down now to 243. It seems I lose 8-10 lbs a month! Because of bad weather and my new job Ive stopped working out as much, but I PROMISE next week Im hitting the gym and the weather is back to nice so out I go!! Gotta kick myself in the butt. Ive been taking measurements and Im happy to report lots of lost inches. Ive gone from size 30 jeans to 22!! I cant wait to see what the next 6 months brings.

Hi all, 

Ive been a slacker on updating. Ive read lots of blogs about how they just get sooo busy! Well, it happened to me. I'm five months out yesterday, and 4 fills. I have 2cc's in my band. I now weigh 253lbs. My 5th fill will be on Valentine's Day. I walk 2 miles a day, joined the YMCA, am currently taking a college class and got a promotion at work! I'm 3lbs away from being a total of 50 lbs. down. I'm happy with my weight loss, happy with how much better I feel and I have to say that losing weight has helped me greatly! I never would have put in for that promotion. I have much more self-esteem since losing weight. I can't wait to see what the future brings. I truly feel blessed that I was lucky enough to be able to have weight loss surgery. I know a few people that would love to have WLS, but can't afford it! 

My diet is lean protien, fruits and veggies and lots of water. My fave treat is Starbucks Venti Non-fat latte with 3 splenda!! Yummie!! I have new pics I will try to get loaded.  Take care everyone! Good luck on your own journeys!!

Consult with Dr. Dort  300.2 lbs
Surgery 09/04/2007 285 lbs.
1st fill 10/15/2007    278.6 lbs.
2nd fill 11/05/2007   278.2 lbs.
3rd fill 12/17/2007  266 lbs. 
unfill    12/20/2007  258 lbs. 
4th fill 01/14/2008 260lbs. gained a couple
5th fill 02/08/2008 253
6th fill 03/06/2008 Didnt go! I had a meeting at work! But, right now I feel great restriction and am losing good. I'm now down to 243! Will reschedule. 
6th fill 04/07/2008 240lbs. I now have 3.25 cc in my band. 
7th fill 06/12/2008 233lbs. I have 3.50 cc in my band!

December 17th I went in and Dr. Dort gave me another 1cc. It was TOO tight, but I didnt realize it until I got all the way home. I tried to stick it out, but was having trouble getting water down so I called and today, December 20th and I had lost 8 lbs. !! I was excited, but very thirsty. What was really cool, I never got hungry until this morning when I was going in for my unfill. Dr. took out 1/2 of the 1 cc he put in and it feels so much better now.  Oh yeah, I'm down to 258lbs.!!!!! That puts me down 42lbs.

Dr. Dort had me meet him at St. Francis Hospital to get my fill under fluro. It took only a few minutes and I was done. He said my port was tipped forward due to my weight loss and said he would be able to find it next time probably without the fluro now that he knows which way it is topped. I'm wondering how much that is gonna cost me? I definately have some restriction and Ive been on liquids since my fill. I'm not hungry and I have to SIP water now. I'm wondering if the restriction will stay or let up once the swelling goes down, but at least I have an idea now of what it feels like! I now have 2cc in there!! Yay!! I'm more than ready to get moving!! Its kinda funny how I learned all the band rules so many many weeks ago, but really only recently have had to start using them. I got my pre op book out and was reading to refresh my memory and make sure I'm doing everything I'm supposed to. The drinking while eating has not been that difficult for me or the waiting 30 minutes after. Now that I have some restriction I will have to be careful to chew chew chew ....I really dont want anything to get stuck!! So now I'm impatiently waiting for the pounds to start coming off. I'm still walking 2 miles monday through friday at work. Need to start doing something on the weekends and at the first of the year I'm joining the YMCA with a friend!

I went for my second fill yesterday. My surgeon is about 45 minutes from my house. It was a beautiful fall day, the kind I really love! I have not felt any restriction so I was very excited to be getting this fill. It didn't happen. He tried for a good 30 minutes, but had trouble accessing the port!! I was disappointed to say the very least. He told me his nurse would call me within two days with an appointment to do the fill under fluro. I'm sore today from him trying to find the port. He said it was possible it was tilted. I'm hoping that it won't take them too long to get me in again for the x-ray/fill.  According to my surgeon, I've only lost 22 lbs. His scale is 5 lbs heavier than my scale. So, that was another blow. I'm disappointed about no fill and thinking I'm 8 weeks out and have only lost 22lbs. Im not feeling so good right now. I was walking 2 miles a day at work and then at least 2 on the weekends, but I got super busy at work and at home was just too tried telling myself Id walk at work. *sigh* and while confessing I will say Ive not been making the greatest food choices. So, Im in the "I think I shoulda had gastric bypass surgery" mode of thinking.  I did extensive research on both surgeries and knew that LB was slower, and you had to be more accountable to yourself for food choices. I'm just really bummed out right now, but no where close to giving in or giving up. I'm also trying to put in good things with my posts if I'm feeling down and out, so my clothes are 2 sizes smaller, I can walk 2 miles at a time! I can fit into chairs with arms more easily, I eat less, I, for the most part, eat better. Until next month!! Cya!