Posts by granitecyclist77

lonemarlin12 said:Hey everyone! Since I’m jumping into this conversation—I did my homework on the gastric balloon thing, but after talking it over, Dr. Nikolić suggested I try Reductil instead. And honestly? It worked. I've dropped 57 pounds in just six months. You’re probably wondering how. It’s actually pretty simple—I only eat bread at breakfast, skip all juices, and don't touch dinner unless it’s just some fruit like an apple or something. In the beginning, I would eat dinner, but I made sure to finish by 6 PM at the latest, paired with one 10 mg Reductil. I tried the 15 mg dose once, but my blood pressure went through the roof. If I really crave something sweet, I'll have a little treat just to kill the craving, but that's about it. I’ve cycled through a ton of different diets before where I lost weight only to gain it all back—it’s frustrating. But this approach? I think it's actually the healthiest way to go because it doesn't feel like a "diet" and you aren't constantly fighting hunger pangs.

Honestly, major props to you for hitting those numbers—that’s seriously impressive. I tried playing the game myself using Reductil for about six months, and I managed to drop about 30 pounds while sticking to a strict diet, but man, it was all for nothing because a year later I gained every single pound back, plus interest. Look, I’m just not built like one of those people who can actually maintain their weight without constantly obsessing over food; I’ve been overweight my entire life and I am perpetually hungry. At this point, I’m basically just sitting around waiting for my call from the hospital for bypass surgery so I can finally fix this weight issue once and for all. It’s been an exhausting seven-year cycle of endless dieting, pills, and that brutal yo-yo effect, and I am just completely wiped out by the whole thing. Seriously though, huge respect for what you’ve achieved, and I really hope you manage to stick with it all the way to the finish line!👍

Walter Hall8 said:Thanks for getting back to me... I was also wondering about those pills you have to take while the balloon is actually in there?? And I guess it's worth asking if it's covered for free if I have supplemental insurance, since I wouldn't say I'm super sick or anything (aside from being overweight, obviously, haha)? Also, do they have any nasty side effects and stuff? Like, generally speaking, are they pretty harmless or are they kind of intense? (I really can't stand heavy medications)... oh, and one more thing, is it okay to play contact sports while you have the balloon in? Just so it doesn't pop and send me flying across the gym, haha... I'm talking about handball...
thanks in advance... 🙂

Alright, look, for the entire six months that the balloon is sitting in your stomach, you’re taking CONTROLOC—it's basically a proton pump inhibitor that helps rebuild your stomach lining and protects the balloon itself. There aren't any real side effects, they aren't intense at all; honestly, I wasn't even consistent with them, I’d skip a day here and there or just totally forget. As for the sports thing, I don't think it's an issue at all, though you probably shouldn't push yourself too hard during those first couple of days. After that, everything is normal—just maybe don't go trying to bench press 225 lbs, ha, ha! Look, if you have any other questions, just ask. Where were you planning on going to get the procedure done? Oh, and yeah, those pills are covered by insurance with a prescription. Cheers. By the way, I'm actually posting on my gastric bypass thread too, so swing by that topic if you're interested. One more thing, what's your BMI currently?

Walter Hall8 said:Hey there!

So, I’ve actually had that balloon procedure recommended to me too, and I’m seriously weighing my options... I honestly thought the logic behind it was just super straightforward... like, you get the balloon, eat a little bit less, and boom—the weight just melts away on its own... but clearly, it’s not that simple, is it? So, I guess what I'm wondering is, does the balloon even do much at all, or do you still basically have to stick to a strict diet regardless? I mean, what's the actual point if you still have to watch everything? We can all choose to eat healthy and go on a diet without needing a balloon... it's just that, for instance, I'm such a huge foodie. I've tried pretty much every diet under the sun and tried eating healthy, but of course, everything just comes right back after a few months....

Though, I do know this one girl who actually went through with it, and she managed to drop about 65 pounds in just six months.... I don't know, is she totally exaggerating, or is a massive weight loss like that actually realistic?

I had my balloon removed back on October 7th, 2009. I lost 14 kg with it, and look, I know there are people out there who drop nearly 90 lbs, but the reality is that yo-yo effect hits hard, and basically only about 30 percent of people actually manage to keep the weight off. For me, it made things easier without much struggle and it finally helped clear up my issues with being overweight, but now I’m just sitting here waiting for a call from the hospital regarding a bypass. If you have any questions at all, just hit me up—I'm here for whatever you need to ask.

Jeremy Cruz, you got my PM?

This thread is clearly dead, though I guess I can't blame anyone since this balloon thing isn't exactly designed for us heavyweights. So, listen, Ronald Ramos5, I actually went to see Trump just today. It’s been three months since I had the balloon put in, and I’ve only dropped 9 pounds, which honestly isn't much of a result at all. He didn't say anything about it, not that he really needed to, he just told me I need to shift into fifth gear over the next three months. For me personally, the balloon only helps by limiting my volume; basically, I can still eat whatever I want—literally everything—just in much smaller portions than before. I’m hoping to lose at least another 10 pounds by the end, and I’m going to put in the work, but honestly, I have no idea how this ends. I’m terrified I’ll end up in the exact same boat as you. I was reading what you posted on the laptop, and I’m fully backing you if you decide to go for the gastric band; I truly think that’s our only way out. I know our biggest hurdle is always mental, but damn, I've been battling my own head for ten years now and I just can't seem to get my mind and body on the same page, so surgery feels like the only move left. I’m heading to the beach tomorrow, and I am praying to God this will be my LAST FAT SUMMER!!!! ZZZ

hey lonemarlin12, just one more thing... once you finally come to after the anesthesia wears off, they’re gonna keep you on the gastro ward at the hospital for about 24 hours. honestly, the staff there is top-tier, everyone is super sweet and they actually want to help you out. when I was going through this, the pain was pretty brutal, so they were hitting me with pain meds every couple of hours—but you seriously have to be your own advocate and ask for them, don't hold back, because those nurses are genuinely kind people. plus, you'll probably find it easier to drift off to sleep since the place is constantly buzzing with activity, just people being moved in and out all day long. wishing you nothing but the best, hang in there!!!

I don't know if you've finished all your digging regarding that procedure yet, but I’m betting you have. Honestly, the actual installation process is a breeze—you just roll into the hospital, get knocked out with anesthesia, and twenty minutes later you're waking up with that little balloon sitting in your stomach. As for how it actually feels? Man, that's anyone's guess. It's totally different for everyone. Some people don't feel a thing—no pain, no nausea, no cramping at all. For me, though, I was dealing with some serious misery for four straight days, and I swear I wouldn't put myself through that again if I could. But look, every single minute of that struggle was worth it because in just two months, I've finally learned how to actually control my cravings and eat healthy. lonemarlin12, sweetie, if you have any other questions, just ask. I'm here for all of you!!!

Hey there, my fellow balloon enthusiasts, sending some love your way. Honestly, I just pop in here on my laptop whenever the mood strikes because that’s basically how this whole thing started for me. This thread was looking pretty much dead, but since I see a few of you ladies are still hanging around, let’s try to breathe some life back into it. Just to give you a bit of background, I had my 7.4 balloon installed back in July 2009 over at a shop near Trump’s place. Since then, I’ve lost about 20 pounds, and honestly, I’m feeling great about it. It could have been more, sure, but I’m not out here killing myself over it. If any of you have questions or just want to pick my brain about anything, just ask—I’m happy to share everything I know. ZZZ