Looking for bandsters who are 2+ years post op

I began my journey in 2004 at starting weight of over 380. I am now down to 279, but struggling to get the rest of this weight off. I have the vg band and it is filled about 5ccs. I have started walking again and making sure that I have no junk in my house only healthy choices. Any more advice? I have another fill this week. I also am having trouble finding a good therapist that deals with food issues. By the way, I'm posting from the US because I am having a hard time finding bandsters who are into their third year and in my situation of having started so heavy. Thank you for any and all suggestions. Thanks! Janet in the USA

Hi Janet. I had a lap band procedure 4 years ago. I was 152 kg (335 pounds) and have been able to get down to 86 kg (189 pounds). I have started back at the gym recently as I still would like to lose another 10-15 kg (22-33 pounds) if possible. Unfortunately even with lap banding losing weight or maintaining it, is always a constant in your life, but well worth it. I am more than always happy to chat. Marita

Hello! Thank you so much for posting! I really appreciate it alot! I have gotten back on the band wagon with walking 40 minutes a day and I'm also doing light weights 3 times a week. I have been stuck at 279 pounds since July! I really want to be smaller. Now that I know you have done it, I believe that I can as well! I have the VG band with 8 ccs! I'd love to be down 20 pounds by Christmas! That is going to be my mini goal! Oh, I have a very good friend that lives in Buchus Marsh(I know that I did not spell that right)! He and his wife work in Melbourne. I guess It really is a small world sometimes! Have a wonderful day! Janet

Hi Janet. It is a small world isn't it. Bachus Marsh is on the other side of Melbourne to where I live but I am familiar with the Bachus Marsh area. I live in the new suburb of Lynbrook with my gorgeous american husband, which is in the south east area of Melbourne. We are lucky to only live 20 mins to the beach, 20 mins to the mountains and 40 mins to the Melbourne city. We couldn't ask for much more. I wish you all the very best luck with the exercise and weight loss, I am sure you will be down a further 20 pounds by Christmas. If you are determined to do it, you will I am sure. I have been sitting at 86 kg for the last 19 months and lost the majority of my weight in the first 2 years. I had the adjustable gastric lap band put in back in March 2002 and have about 5.5 cc's, which I had put in 2 years ago and thought that would be sufficient. I have gotten a little lazy actually, probably alot lazy and complacent and have decided in the last few weeks to get back into the exercise. I am hoping at this stage all I need to do is get back into the exercise and watch what I eat, rather than putting more saline into the band. I don't eat alot at this stage and am quite limited in what I can eat and am a little nervous about restriciting my diet even further, particulary with the loss of alot of vitamin and minerals I am already lacking. Do you have any issues with low iron, zinc and B12? I go to a gym 4 times a week for an hour or more to do alot of cardio and weights and am really watching what I eat, so hopefully I can work off a further 10-15 kg in the next 3-4 months. I am in no hurry and am prepared to increase the workouts rather than have more saline put in, but I will just monitor over the next few months and see how I go. Do you have any issues with getting enough fluids in between meals and are you limited in what you can eat at all? Do you have to take supplements or have any injections for low iron or B12. Tell me if I am being nosy, but I am curious how other lap banders are managing and if we have any similarities etc. I live on alot of very soft vegetables, rice, eggs, fish, chicken, yoghurt, milk, rice crackers, vegetarian sausages and patties and when I have been very good occasionally chocolate and ice cream which I really do try to keep to a minimum. It great chatting with you. Take care and good luck. Marita

Hey there! Yes it sure is a small world! What state is your husband from? My friend is a native of Southern California and I live in Missouri. I used to live in Michigan and I was only 10 minutes from gorgeous Lake Michigan. Now, I'm land locked with no real water! I love the water! It is like therapy for me! Anyway,, back to the lap band. I can pretty much eat what I want just not the amounts that I used to. I try very hard to eat solid protein although in the early morning my band is tight so I have a protein shake instead. I then will eat veggies and if I have room I'll have fruit. I try really hard not to have junk food in the house.It's really hard though! I love junk food and that is my downfall. Anything Chocolate! So, I bought Power Crunch Bars (www.bariactriceating.com) Love them! They taste really good. I have been walking everyday. I have just started doing some small weights as well. I hope we both reach are goals although you are way ahead of me! You are doing great! I have 8 cc's in my VG band. I'm a little tighter than I prefer, but not too bad. I like a looser band and I'll work out to keep the pounds off. I feel like I made a good choice with the band because it helps control me so atleast I haven't gained back what I lost. That has always been a problem with me until the band. I take 2 children's chewable vitamins a day. They have Iron in them as well. I used to be very low in Iron. The vitamins have eliminated that problem. I also take 2 calcium chews a day as well. All of my bloodwork comes back fine every time. So this regamin works well for me. I constantly sip water all day. So I don't have problems getting in my fluids. I cannot take huge drinks of water like I used to. Sips work much better for me. Well, I guess I'm off to walk the dog now! It is freezing cold here today, but lot's of sunshine! Enjoy the beach! I wish I could! Janet

Hi Janet. My husband is from Michigan, would you believe it. He is from Lenawee County. I have been over to the States a couple of times and have seen a bit of Michigan which does have some beautiful lakes. I loved the upper penisula and Mackinac Island, just gorgeous I could have stayed and lived there to be honest. I loved it in Summer, but I must say when I was over there last November it was cold... too cold for me. My parents in law thought I was pretty amusing playing in the snow and complaining about the cold, which to them wasn't so bad. I did try to tell them I come from an Island in the southern hemisphere which is weather wise very mild and we just dont get down to -20 temperatures. The snow was gorgeous and a bit of a novelty for me as we dont have snow where I come from in Melbourne. My husband and I are planning to go back next year but I have already warned him it has to be in summer. Anyway I am amazed you can pretty much eat anything you want just in smaller amounts. My food always needs to be softended and I am a bit limited in what I can eat. I always tell my husband I would love nothing more than a plain sandwich with peanut butter, but bread is so hard from me to eat if at all. Although I do believe not eating bread has really helped with my weight loss and made a huge difference in how much weight I did lose. I find the morning incredibly difficult to eat anything and will usually have sustagen or up and go (protein drinks), as that seems to be all I can manage in the morning. I can eat a little more at lunch, but dinner is the best time for me, as eating does come easier and the band then doesn't feel so tight. I do try and drink through the day but I must admit I am not too good at that. I try not to have too much junk food in the house, but I do find if I have a peice of chocolate or ice cream when I get the craving which is not often, I only need a little bit and then I am over it. When I refrain from anything sweet for too long I then can get a bit crazy and abuse the food and I think my weight shows I am not abusing those foods. I think my weight gain has mostly been from lack of exercise as my diet and quantities have not changed in the least. I am glad to be back exercising and even though I dread going to the gym, I always feel so much better after my work out and I know it really is doing my heart, body and mind good. I have regualr blood tests and my B12 is always low and requires me to have shots every couple of months. My other levels have come down, but is being managed with diet and not requiring further shots at this time, thank goodness. I have taken supplements in the past and taken them if necessary. Even though the last 4 years have been difficult and challenging at the time, making the decision to have the lap band procedure was the best decision of my life and I would do it again and again. In fact I wish I had made the decision to do it much earlier than I did. Although I can see for some people it may not be the right procedure for them. Anyway I need to get going, have plenty of chores to do. Take care and speak to you soon. Marita

Hi there! It is so funny that your husband is from Michigan! I grew up in Zeekand which is in Western Michigan. Pretty much right across the Lake from Chicago. I went to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. Excercise update: I walked the dog for 20 minutes and walled on the treadmill for 35 minutes. I also did some upper body weights. Whoo! I'm going to keep doing this routine and adding to it. It sounds like you are doing well! Good job on the working out at the gym. I understand about the chocolate! I ate 2 of my daughter's mini candy bars from her Holloween bag from school. She hates chocolate! She can't be my child! haha Well, I have to run. Bedtime for my daughter Hannah. I have parent- teacher conferences in the morning. She is off the rest of this week from school. It's always a challenge to find things for her to do when there is no school. She is 7 and gets bored easily! Take care! Janet

Hi Janet, how are you? As you said in an earlier post, it's a small world with my husband being born in Michigan. I'm just lucky we ever got to meet and then marry, who would of thought it. Anyway I have just had a re-assessment with my exercise program and wow i'm going to be busy and tired, but hopefully alot fitter and lighter on the scales. I just have to maintain sticking to the program. That was my problem last time, i just get bored then lost interest. My workout starts with a row machine for 7 mins, then chest presses, shoulder pressess, using free weights for triceps and biceps, crunches and lunges with the fit ball, 20 mins on oliptic machine, 20 mins on bike and 5 min cool down on treadmill. I'm also thinking about going along to Yoga classes as i very much enjoyed those classes a few years ago, which really helped with my flexibility and core strength. It sounds like you are also doing well with your walks with your dog and workouts, not to mention an active daughter Hannah, which must keep you on your toes. Chocolate, chocolate chocolate....hmmmm i love it. I could live on it quite easily. White chocolate filled with raspberries is my failing, but only in moderation of course. Ha ha. Anyway take care. Good luck with coming up with ideas to keep Hannah entertained. Marita

Wow! You are an inspiration to for me! I'll have to step up my workouts! Good job! Hannah is not feeling well today. She isn't running a temp, but she has layed on the couch all day with a blanket. She never does this unless she is ill. She is a very active child. We are suppose to goto the circus tonight, but I'm not sure she's up to it. My dh is in pharmacy school. He usually studies alot on the weekends so Hannah and I do things together. Maybe she'll feel better tomorrow. I didn't get my walk into today! Hannah didn't feel up to going with me. I couldn't leave her alone. I love white chocolate anything!!!Yum! Chat later Janet

Hi Janet. I'm sorry to hear Hannah may be feeling unwell. Just take care of her and your exercise time may have to wait for a bit, but you will get to it in time. I hope Hannah does feel up to going to the circus that sounds like alot of fun. Let me know how you go. Take care and long live white chocolate (in moderation of course). Marita