NSV

Since the appointment a couple of weeks before my lap-band surgery (in October) to yesterday, I have lost 34 pounds. I had hoped to lose more, but I’ll take that. But I have lost 26 inches from various parts of my body (21 ¾ inches just in my chest, waist, and hips!) and I'm getting into extra Large when I previously was 2X and 3X. Even better, my BMI has gone from 44.2 to 37.8! That’s all good news, and the weight loss has allowed my doctor to halve my blood pressure medicine because my blood pressure is so much better. He likely will take me off the Pradaxa at my next visit (the Pradaxa is the more effective but more expensive version of Coumadin, and it does not require the weekly sticks to keep me regulated). At some point I expect to be taken off Metformin, the diabetes medicine, or at least be given a lower dosage due to the weight loss. All good news.

It looks like I am right at the optimal fill. The doctor added just  0.25 cc yesterday, bringing me to 7.25 cc., I think. As I have said previously, I finally have a better understanding of the process (I wish this had all been explained earlier, but better late than never). I was expecting something called “restriction" to look a certain way, and some people do experience that, but I never did. That is, I was expecting that the band would “restrict" my stomach, and when a certain amount went in, my stomach would say (figuratively), “Whoa! OK. That’s enough." That wasn’t happening, and because I could eat, I was eating. Never to excess, but more than I needed.

What I've discovered is a better definition -- with the band, when I’ve eaten a smaller portion, I feel satisfied and not hungry until the next meal. So as I have restricted how much I eat – and I’m doing way better at that, as well as eating slower, taking smaller bites, and chewing more – I do find that I am satisfied with smaller amounts.

I really think I'm on the verge of a real breakthrough. Yeaaaaaa!

The misunderstanding about "restriction" is common.  I wish that it was better explained that what would happen is appetite dimming.  So glad that you figured this out fairly early.

Congrats on the 34lbs and the 26 inches.  You are doing well!  While I don't know your exact surgery date, from Oct to June is 8 months.. avg loss with the band is 1-2lbs a week, which is 4 to 8lbs a month.   4x8 is 32.. you are right on schedule!

And while numbers on a scale are important, they're not the only measure of success.. others are getting off of meds, more endurance, smaller clothes, etc.  ( I won't go into the BMI as I have some issues with it).

Again, Congratulations.  You're rockin' that band!!

 Thanks for the encouragement, Lisa. I hadn't thought about it like that -- that I'm actually right (about) where I should be. I know I shouldn't compare myself to other people, but I do look at/hear from people who lost much more in a shorter period of time, and wish I could have done that. But I know that my own bad eating habits have hindered me, and I am working on that, so am hopeful that I can pick up the pace a little. And I'm not exercising, and need to start doing that. I have knee problems, and I let that stop me. I belong to a gym with a pool, so as soon as I get through with my next class, I'm going to start going there several times a week.

Actually, there is a part I like about the slower loss, and that is I think the fast way leaves you with more wrinkles, saggage, etc. (I don't know that -- I just suspect it. Maybe somebody can enlighten me.)

You are doing great! Keep up the good work.

Congrats!  Getting healthier for me is the most important benefit of the band.