Holly Dolly

Honestly? Because I like them. I'm not perfect. Habits are hard to break. It's a learning process, as I am sure you will find out.

My friend is doing the 5 day pouch test right now. She is on day 4 and down 5 pounds. Another friend did it and lost 9. Good luck!

Hello there. I am coming up on a year and very happy with my band. I can't say that it has controlled my hunger, hoping my next fill will do it. My horror story? Thank goodness there is only one! I ate a handful of cheese Its, packed my band full and then drank a slushy. Not even thinking that I shouldn't have the slushy after eating, I was excited because my kids wanted one and I saw they had a sugar free one. Well, shorthly thereafter I couldn't even swallow my saliva. When you do get something stuck, you will get a ton of saliva and that's what comes up for me whenever I have had something get stuck. After 5 hours of throwing up, I finally decided to call my dr. Mind you, I was camping and now it was 7:30 pm! I was atleast 50 miles away from the office and thought I could just crawl into my tent and just sleep it off. Nope, no way, no how! My physician asst met me at the office at 9:30 pm. She took a tiny bit out and instant relief! Did I learn my lesson? Well, yes and no. I never did it to that extreme but I did have Cheese Its one more time and felt them going down slow. So, since then I haven't touched them! I wish the same thing would have happened with chocolate! Good luck! Can't wait to hear your success story down the road.

Congrats on the 70 pounds! You feel or you know you are eating what you are supposed to? Maybe you should keep a food journal for a couple of weeks tracking your protein and calories and see a nutritionist. have you been back to see your doctor?

wow, you are doing great!

When I first was banded and going to my 6 week emotional eating group we were asked what one of our goals was. Mine was to weigh what my driver's licence said, 158 pounds! Funny thing is I took a new pic a few days before my surgery and I was 238! Guess I shouldn't say funny but he didn't ask me any questions. Needless to say my pic is horrendous. Going to go in soon and retake my picture, this time I'm gonna put my goal weight of 140!

When I reach my goal of 140 I am buying me some cute True Religion jeans!

Sorry to hear that you are disappointed with your band. Have you followed all the guidelines given to you by your dr?

You'll get there Kitty!

Good for you Kassie! Can't wait to hear more from you, good luck on your journey.

Hang in there because the best is yet to come! it will get better!

In the beginning I drank a lot of Crystal Light fruit punch.

Agree! 76 pounds in 5 months is amazing! Congrats.

Good for you Greekie!

I self paid also and would do it again in a heartbeat.

That's what I would do!

My weightloss goal presurgery was 160. I told my emotional eating group that my real goal was to weigh what my driver's licence said, 158. I hit that goal at 11 months!

wow, awesome job Bevsue! Congrats!

I didn't use insurance for the band, but I am sure others will chime in here. Every ins is different though. As far as what you can and can not eat? Well, I can pretty much eat anything I want? Do I? Well, most of the time not! When you get the band, your dr may or may not put in any fluid at first. You go back to get saline put in your band and they will keep doing small adjustments until you get to your greenzone. Your greenzone is when you can eat a small meal, be satisfied and be able to go between 4-5 hours before your next meal. Some people get there pretty quickly, others take longer.

Thanks, I couldn't be happier. Was thinking a couple of weeks ago how amazing it was for me to think that I had less than 20 pounds to lose! I have struggled with my weight since 3rd grade. Weighed 145 graduating high school, went to 190 in college, down to 138 before I got pregnant with my first kid and after that I have yo yo'd from 225-175. I was shocked when I went for my preop weighing in at 238! If you asked me if I thought this was possible Thanksgiving of 2010, I would have said, "NO WAY!"

Good for you Genesis! Hoping I reach my green zone next week, because I am gnawing at the bit now, I have been patient long enough!

Pictures along the way are a good thing! I just got my "before pic" from my doctor yesterday and it put my accomplishment in a whole new perspective for me! All my pictures before, reluctantly were taken hiding as much as myself as I could. The after picture, there was no stopping my big old grin!

did your insurance cover it? If not, how much $ if you don't mind me asking.

wow, you look great! Makes me reconsider getting one, but may opt for the arms first!

I drink with my meals. I don't have much,maybe an ounce or 2. My doctor has said now that as long as it is a little sip and you wait 30-60 seconds it's fine. It works for me.