1/7/07 = Officially one year ago today had surgery

Well I am a year out fell a little shy of what I wanted to lose but I will definately not be sad about losing 76 pounds in the last 12 months. Currently weigh 232. I have been on a plateau for the last month or so doing the lose 2/gain 2; lose 2/gain 2 == over and over again. I am down from a size 3-4 x in pants to an xl (16-18). In tops down from 3x-4x (24-26) to a xl (16-18). I can cross my legs, walk long distances without difficultiies, off diabetic pills, down to 1 high BP med from three and have reduced my cholesterol med by half. I have so much more energy and sleep much better at night. I exercise at least 3 times a week.

12/7/06 = 11 months @ 237

Really no change in last 2 weeks just took some new pics.

11/13/06 - 10 months 1 week

As of today I am a little over 10 months out, after my last post gained a couple pounds back and hit another plateau so had another fill on 11/6/06, since then I have lost 5 pounds back down to my lowest of 237. My bandiversary date is 1/7/07. Hope to be down another 15- 20 pounds by then. The last week, since my last fill, has been tough really tight but it is starting to loosen up, actually managed to eat solid proteins yesterday without getting anything stuck, almost everyday for the past week things have gotten stuck and I had to help it find its way back up.

10/18/06 -- MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY - UPDATED

SURGERY 1/7/06 - Dr Joya PVR, MX
(11cm/9cc capacity band placed)
Starting weight 308 (Christmas 2005)
Current weight 237
Goal weight 175

Day of Surgery - 297
2 wks - 287.4
1 month - 285
2 months - 279.4
3 months - 277
4 months - 270
4.5 months - 268
5 months/5 days - 260
6 months - 253
8 months - 244
9.5 months - 238
10 months/1 weeks - 237 (had gained 3 back)
Total lost = 70

FILLS - Normal Saline placed in Band to give better restriciton
2/21/06 --> 1st Fill (3.0cc)
2/22/06 --> +1cc=Total fill 4cc
3/22/06 --> 2nd fill (1cc)
3/27/06 --> +1cc added = total 6 cc
5/15/06 --> +.5 cc added = 6.5cc
7/12/06 --> +.3cc added (able to withdraw 5.3 prior to fill)
8/28/06 --> +1cc added (able to withdraw 5.7cc prior to fill)
10/18/06 --> Barium Swallow done to verify patency and tightness = all is good (NO FILL ADDED)
11/6/06 --> .5cc added

9.5 months after surgery

Today is 10/18/06, I went in yesterday to get a check up on gastric band as I had been having this strange feeling/discomfort in the left side of stomach, where band is located. So today I went back in and had a Barium Swallow done to check patency and tightness of band. All came out well band is still were it is suppose to be and it does not appear to tight, which could cause this discomfort. So the only thing that maybe causing the discomfort is the fact that I have lost enough weight that when I sit down my rib cage is putting a little pressure on the band and stomach. I DID NOT HAVE TO GET A FILL TODAY... I had my last fill done 8/28/06, it was a perfect fill and have lost 15 pounds in last 7 weeks. I am now down 70 pounds plus lots of inches. I have been having issues with my blood pressure being a little high again, so did go back on one of my pills. Having a little stress going on so for the time being will stay on the med for blood pressure. My diabetes, however, has remained in remission and I am medicine free for that. Below is pictures taken today.

8 months of band life

I am 8 months from the day I had surgery. I had another small fill 8/28/06, the week following I lost 8 pounds and this week I have lost 2. Things are going really good. Hope to be down another 35-40 pounds by my bandiversary on 1/7/07.


I got this picture taken last week of August, downtown Anchorage. They brought up the subway and National Guard Nascars for our fair.

SIX MONTHS Post-banding

Well 7/7/2006, marked 6 months since I went to Puerto Vallarta Mexico and had my lap-band surgery. It has not been a walk in the park, it has been lots of work. Unlike the gastric bypass patients, the lap band is for much slower weight loss, which is healthier. As of today, I am 55 pounds lighter, 55 pounds that are gone for good. I have dropped about 3-4 sizes in pants and 3- 4 sizes in shirts.

6/12/06 - Update on Weight Loss Journey

Well its been 5 months and 5 days. The last week and a half have been a rather challenging time as I wasn't able to exercise for about a week due to moving and work. I had actually gained 4 pounds and then with a little hard work lost them plus another 2 pounds in the last 5 days. Its back to exercising today and a normal routine. I don't have any new pictures maybe next week.

Update on Journey 5/17/06 -

5/17/06 --> As of today I have lost another 3.2 pounds for a total of 40 pounds to date...YEAH...

5/15/06 --> I went in this morning and got a fill of .5cc for a total of 6.5 in my band.

Well its been 4 months and 8 days since surgery. I am down only 37.4 pounds. I believe its time for another small fill, as I have gained 1.4 pounds in the last 10 days. However, it could be muscle gain, inch loss as I exercised 3 times at Curves last week and then 2 evenings Pepper and I went for long walks. (I try to exercise about 3-4 times per week, but up here alot of the places , like Curves will be closed on weekends during summer). So today I went and the doctor placed another .5cc to my band for a total of 6.5cc in the band. Now its a wait and see if this is enough when I go back on solid food after 24 hours on liquids today.

Its finally summer time in ALASKA, YEAH!!!!!!! 6 More weeks and Gene, Cindy and Randy will be here....

4 months post op

Hello,

Well I am 4 months post-op this week (5/7/06). I have lost a total of 37.4. I am right on target with my wait lost. I should average 8-10 pounds a month, slower weight loss is expected with the lapband, slow is always better. My hair has started growing back in and getting little thicker. I am almost off all my pre-surgery medications. I feel a lot better and have so much more energy. I am now able to get into clothes that I have not worn in some time. Below is an updated picture that was taken 5/2/06.

MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY - UPDATED

SURGERY 1/7/06 - Dr Joya PVR, MX (11cm/9cc capacity band placed)
Starting weight 308 (Christmas 2005)
Current weight 238
Goal weight 175

Day of Surgery - 297
2 wks - 287.4
1 month - 285
2 months - 279.4
3 months - 277
4 months - 270
4.5 months - 268
5 months/5 days - 260
6 months - 253
8 months - 244
9.5 months - 238
Total lost = 70

FILLS - Normal Saline placed in Band to give better restriciton
2/21/06 --> 1st Fill (3.0cc)
2/22/06 --> +1cc=Total fill 4cc
3/22/06 --> 2nd fill (1cc)
3/27/06 --> +1cc added = total 6 cc

FRUSTRATED

Well I am 3.5 months out and for the last month have been on a major plataeu. Keep losing/gaining the same 2-3 pounds. Plus my hair is getting real thin on top, thinner then it was which apparently is common with all weight loss surgery. Nothing much else to report. I do have some restriction and eating what I am suppose along with exercising. So hopefully this plateau will go away soon.

My boy Dale Jr is doing great thus far this season.

March 21 - 3 month follow with PCP

Well went in for my 3 month check up with Dr. Kohl, PCP, today. Have not seen her since early December 2005, she knew I was considering the lapband but wasn't aware I had actually gotten it. Well due to good weight loss and starting an exercise routine = CURVES, I have been able to cut my diabetic meds in 1/2 and can start cutting blood pressure meds in 1/2. Over the last couple weeks my blood pressure has been dropping to low and having symptoms of HYPOtension (low BP). Hopefully when I go back to see her in June we might be able to go completely off diabetic meds and blood pressure meds. Its been 2 1/2 months since surgery and over the last couple weeks hit a plateau so going tomorrow to get another fill in my band, so hopefully can get over the hump and back to losing about 2-3 pounds a week. I feel so much better, except for head pressure from low BP. Paul and I are just working hard so we can take time off this summer when Cindy & Gene come to see us.

YIPPEE!!!

Well I am 8 weeks out and have lost another 2.6 pounds this week. For a total loss of 28.6. I cant believe I am losing so good. Some days its a real struggle to not snack in the evenings, I am doing better of trying to snack onhealthy stuff if I must snack. Hopefully things will get better as Paul starts his new job/career this week, with his good pay we will be under a little less stress regarding money issues... Its been a long winter with him being unemployeed. Heads and chin up, lets be positive ....

Weight Loss Photo Album #1 Pre-op - 6 months post-op

1st picture taken in December, 2006 1 month before surgery

2nd picture taken the day before surgery in PV

3rd pic taken day after surgery n PV, MX















4th picture taken 2 weeks post-op














pics taken at 7 weeks post-op - 26 pounds lost so far















2 1/2 months out - 28 pounds gone forever, 1st fill in band 2/22/06
















4th Month post -op total weight loss = 37 pounds




















6 MONTHS POST-OP Weight LOSS = 55 Pounds

My Journey Begins 1/7/2006

Pre-op - loss 11#
1st week - loss 7#
2nd week - loss 2#
3rd week - loss 2#
4th week - loss 1#
5th week - no loss/no gain
6th week - gained 2#
7th week - loss 5#
8th week - loss 2.6#
9th week - gained 2.4#
10th week - NO Change
11th week - loss 3.2#