carol285

#5 #6 & #8 should all be happening for you already!! Clearly you are a new person already, don't doubt that, which leads me to #5 & #6. I have been on the weight loss journey my entire adult life (I'm less then a month away from turning 49), only the last 3 years of which were Lapband related. Anyway I have come to some very important realizations along the way. No one will be more confident when at goal weight unless they find things to build their confidence along the way. I don't even know you but I can tell you that you should be confident for the reason you have hopes & dreams for your future (weight related or not). Even better you had the courage to come here & post them. Way to go, that is awesome & inspiring!!!! Furthermore no one smiles like you are in your profile picture unless they believe in themselves....see confidence!! Now get away from your laptop & live the life you were meant to lol :)

I did all the pre op tests needed during the 6 month supervised diet with my Primary Care Doctor. I finished all that within 4 months they submitted all & I was approved!! So you never know

So let's recap....You lost 55lbs in 3-4 months give or take & you have now been away from your doctor longer then you were with him & your weight has held steady during this time.......on what planet is that a failing????? I don't know about everyone else here but prior to banding I had never maintained the same weight for a year, it was always gaining or losing not maintaining. Even if your doctor is wrong or horrible (not saying he is or isn't) the band IS doing something. Yes, it may not be working to it's max potential if you are not filled enough but it clearly hasn't been useless. So find a different doctor if you don't feel you can face your old one, not I didn't call him your current doctor because he can't be considered current if you haven't seen him in over a year. None of this meant to hurt you & it can be directed to many many posters here because after reading posts for 2 years now I have come to realize many people who already have the band do not really get what the band can & can't do. Worse, they lie to their doctor about how much the can eat & their hunger levels to get filled to the point that the band is a strangulation device since that is the quickest way to weight loss. I will be banded 2 years on October 25th and have lost almost 90lbs, which is slower then some & faster then others. I have spent 2 approx 4 month stretches during these almost 2 years where my weight stayed the same. Being 100% honest I can say it was because I didn't do the level of work I needed to keep losing. I ate/drank to many things that just slide on through our little band buddy. Told my doctor flat out didn't try to pretend otherwise. Then got my S#@t back together and started going down again. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again & good luck :)

Long story short, boys can suck!!! You need to heal now so don't bottle up your feelings, vent to friends who have siblings and can understand the dynamics involved.

31% and still going

At GNC you can buy just 1 of each flavor in their refrigerator section, or by 4 pack or case. I started out with 1 of each flavor & quickly went back for more. Of course like someone else stated Protein shake tasted are very person specific! Good luck & let me know what you think of them Oh & a GNC bonus, if you sign up for their free discount card you get a 10% or 20% discount(I forget which sorry) the first week of every month!

I used the EAS Carb Advantage also, they sell it in many place including BJ's. However, I have since become addicted to GNC Total Lean ready to drink shakes, they are awesome! They come in vanilla, chocolate & strawberry. The strawberry tastes just like strawberry nestle quick, talk about a flashback to childhood lol!!

The diets Doctors use varies greatly! For instance I had no pre op diet except only clear liquids for 24hrs prior to surgery with nothing from midnight the night before. As for post op, I was not discharged from the hospital until I ate a small meal of mushy foods, was then on mushies for a month, then onto solids. My doctor also considered soft moist ground meats as part of the mushy phase, meatballs without breadcrumb fillers in sauce was a fave. With these small limitation I had a much easier time then most people I am sure. I have to wonder why the major differences? Maybe I have you lose faster with the stricter requirements but I have had no health issues with the band and am currently hovering jut under a 90lb loss.

I don't have a problem with liquids or soft food during my period, but must be careful with solids. I have bought a lot of high protein yogurts/puddings & shakes from the health food store for these occassions. Your daughter may just be very irratated now and may very well need a small unfill If not next month maybe she can stick to soft foods or liquids during her cycle.

I am in my later 40's so my period does what the hell it wants already so not sure if the band contributes! However, I can say now that my fill level is higher I can't eat as much during my period, just always feel a bit fuller during it.

Even with the band & especially as a women our weight rarely declines or even stays the same on a daily basis so don't beat yourself up trying to attain that! Everything and everything effects our daily weight, from the time of month, to if we ate a bit saltier food then usual, to not drinking as much fluids. You are doing great so try not to stress yourself while your tummy heals from it's trauma!

Once you get past the liquid phase things will go much easier I think!! I am about 20 months out & I won't lie to you by saying I NEVER emotionally eat anymore BUT the band keeps it down to just a few bites. I can eat 1 or 2 bites of any food so that is what I focus on if it is an emotional or pure taste need I am filling. Of course with the band there are certain foods that are not user friendly but again taking 1 small taste usually works. Plus I have truly found there are so many wonderful things I can eat that after some time you no longer focus on what you can't eat.

When I went back to work full time in January it turned out I would have a very early lunch hour so I have a protein shake every day either for Breakfast or Lunch. The meal are too close together for me to want real food for both but I also need my protein to keep me going until dinner time. I asked my doc & he was fine with it as long as I wasn't drinking them because I COULDN'T eat solids.

After being away for 11 years I found it today!!! Thrilled is not a big enough word to describe how I feel