Holly Dolly

She sounds like she will be in for a rude awakening! I too loved my bread, thought that was going to be the hardest to go without. But I really don't miss it, and I am actually one person with the band that can tolerate bread pretty well too! For the most part, I follow the rules and stick to my protein, veggies and only 1/4 cup starch. This band is a tool, it wont do all the work for her.

I know the feeling when it comes to chocolate! I write down all that I eat and keep track of calories. If I am having a bad craving I will eat 1, 2 or a few hershey kisses. Just all depends on how much calories I am at. I do try and keep on hand TigerMilk protein bars that are good. Also at Target I found a new Luna Bar that has peanuts, honey, and pretzels. Wow, do I wish I had bought more! As long as I am keeping track of what I eat and I am accountable for it, I don't have a problem with it. For me, life is too short. I am a good bandster, not a perfect one!

I am a week away from my year anniversary and I still don't think my fill is at the right spot. So to answer your question if you made a mistake, NO WAY! I have followed the rules and hoping my visit on the 7th will get me to the green zone. Hang in there, some people take longer than others.

Welcome Shawnte! Good for you for getting the ball rolling! I can tell you this has been the best thing I have done for myself. This will be my last weightloss journey! I was self paid, so it took a month from my first seminar to the day of surgery. I wish you a speedy process!

I've had things get stuck and kept to soup for the next couple of days. Sometimes when you get something stuck, the stomach around the band gets irritated and swells up. Hopefully it will pass. I had something get stuck, and couldn't even keep saliva down. Had to have a slight unfill and it was instant relief!

Wow, you are doing awesome! Nice to hear your story! I understand the clothing situation, that's for sure. But I go to Marshall's, Ross and TJ MAxx. My friend came over yesterday and I unloaded alot of clothes to her. She asked me why do I have so many clothes if I am going down in size. Well, for 1, those stores aren't too expensive. And secondly, I'm gonna look cute in whatever size I may be!! I don't want anything frumpy anymore!

I have complete faith that THIS is my last weightloss journey. Like you girls said, for most people that fail with the band, it isn't the band. I eat my measured and weighed portions and I stick to that. Sure, in the beginning sometimes I would eat a handful of chips while making dinner, get that pouch stuffed, then come dinner time and the meat would get stuck and up it came. But after 20 or so times doing that I finally learned! Yes, I am a slow learner! People ask me all the time if I will get the band removed once I get to my goal. I don't know what the heck they are thinking! This has been a godsend for me. No longer can I have a huge plate of food, 3 iced teas and roll out of a restaurant! Sure, I could prob eat twice the amount of food that I put on my plate, but do I really want to sit there for an hour and half to eat it?? NOPE!

I had shakes that I mixed up from my dr's office. They were larger than one fluid cup once blended. Didn't your dr give you any post op info? I had a booklet to take home with info regarding what to do after surgery.

Way to go NYdad! You are doing awesome! And honk, 8 hours between lunch and dinner is way too long for anyone to eat! Why don't you bring a piece of string cheese and maybe a couple slices of lunchmeat to have on the way to the gym. I wasn't making it from breakfast to lunch, and that's what the PA recommended for me.

Regret getting the band???? NO WAY! So what are you implying with your post of , "Bla"????

There was a earlier post that I read today about someone who had their surgery in Mexico and can't find someone to do her fills. Well, she had someone who she didn't like and was considering doing her own fills! There are a lot of people on here who had their surgery in Mexico and are happy with that. I was self paid as well, $13,900. But in that fee included the nutrionist and pyschologist appts for the first 6 months, 3 months of fills and the ongoing weekly support meetings that the office offers and I fully take advantage of. For me, the ongoing support is a huge part of my success with the lapband. If I ever have a problem, I know they are close and always available. I had an emergency one time while camping. My physician asst. came into the office that night at 9:30 for me. For those reasons, I would reconsider having your surgery close to home. You don't just get the band and it does it thing! I am almost a year out and still waiting for my sweet spot. I have had many fills, on the other hand my brother had 2 fills in the very beginning and he has been good since. You just never know how the band will work for you. Everyone is different. But why take the chance?

I am one person who never drank my calories! Even when I was chubs, I still preferred to drink iced tea or water. I guess rationed that I could eat more food that way! If I could make it through the 2 weeks, I'm sure you will be just fine! I only had the shakes from the doctor's office and had a couple slimfast low carb drinks too. The whole time I was on the liquid diet, all I kept waiting for was to eat some salmon! Let me tell you, I think I may enjoy the taste of food more now that measure out what I am supposed to eat and stick to just that.

My doctor has the same philosphy. If you eat mainly soft foods, the band wont work like it is supposed to. By eating meat, your stomach has to squeeze numerous times to get the food down. This squeezing is what sends impulses to your brain to tell you that you are full. I am still waiting for that to happen for me!! I eat my protein first, veggies and 1/4 cup starch at dinner. I still get hungry about 2-2.5 hours after eating though.

I'm excited for you Chastndeb! You will be amazed how fast this year will go for you and where you will be!

At 5 weeks out, I was down 14 pounds. I was discouaraged too because everyone in my 6 week emotional eating class seemed to be losing so much more! But I would tell myself if I wouldn't have had the surgery I would prob be even heavier than I was before I had it done! Fast forward almost one year and I am down 82 pounds. It will come off, some weeks/ months slower or faster than others. As far as restriction goes, I still can eat bread and other things some people aren't able to get down. I avoid bread for the most part and limit my mashed potatoes or rice to 1/4 cup servings. I still struggle with hunger. I am hoping my next visit that the fill will put me in the green zone.

I ate so much salmon in the beginning too! Good idea on looking at the menu ahead of time. I do that every time I am going to a new restaurant. It's interesting to see sometimes what you think might be low calorie is actually pretty high and vice versa!

8 days from 1 year, woot, woot!

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

I think that the continued support that I get from my doctor's office on almost a weekly basis is a huge factor to my success. So for me, I would have never wanted to go far.

wow, look at you! Just got home and already on the boards! Support is a huge thing and will help make this a successful journey for you. Good luck to you!

Where is your pain at? I had shoulder pain for about a week and then it went away. Will be praying you feel better soon!

I would def get the lapband over the bypass! I was about your height and weight and I am down 82 pounds. I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary and I know I couldn't have made it this far without the band! I still struggle with hunger, hoping my fill next month will take care of it. But one thing for sure, I could never eat the amount I ate before and finish in 5 minutes like I used to.

My doctor has now said we can take small sips while eating. As long as it is a little sip and you wait the 30-60 seconds as you would like eating then it should be fine. I don't have any problems with it. I don't feel any less full than I did before not drinking. But what works for me, may not work for everyone!

I think the reason they prefer you to sleep on your back is because you are more likely to have apnea episodes in that position. I have had 3 studies before. Fell asleep within 5 minutes each time, which I would have guessed longer! I am off of my cpap machine, but I still take medicine for my legs.

Jennabe, have you tired eating some sugarfree popsicles? I ate a lot of those the first couple of weeks. My dr also sold some high protein soups, though honestly they weren't very good!