Jenn1214

Hey all, I'm back from my honeymoon in beautiful Hawaii...now it's back to real life. I did have a strange experience, and maybe someone else has had this happen. Here goes: Pretty much the entire time I was away, I had a tough time eating. I got stuck on a lot of foods that normally wouldn't give me a problem, so I had to be even more careful than I usually am. Sometimes even drinking liquids felt icky. I also had a lot of GI upset for most of the trip, but I chalk that up to eating foods that I'm not used to. Anyway, the second I got home, no more problems. I still get stuck occasionally if I'm not being careful, but nothing like on my honeymoon. What gives? Was it the air travel? Stress? Dehydration? I'm going to check in with my surgeon about this, but I was just wondering if anyone else had issues like this.

When I get stuck it's usually because I'm talking to someone and not paying enough attention to how big of a bite I just swallowed. This is how it usually is for me: 1. Swallow too much 2. Oh crap. 3. Pressure in chest/sliming/sweats 4. Where's the bathroom? I've only actually thrown up a couple times. After a few minutes, the stuck feeling passes, but it feels like an eternity. I did try pineapple juice once and it helped, but I took tiny sips. Big gulps probably would have made the problem worse.

I have averaged about 5 pounds a month since being banded. Not amazing, but slow and steady wins the race!

I had SILS so mine is about two inches below my belly button...I don't know of anyone else who has theirs in the same spot so I guess I'm the weird one!

The only thing I would change is the consistency of restriction. Some days I hardly want to eat anything, other days I could eat a horse!

EVERYONE tried to talk me out of getting the Lap Band. Everything from "You can do it on your own" to "Oh you don't need that, you're not that big" and beyond. My fiancé's cousin had it years ago and is still morbidly obese because he eats around the band constantly, so of course he told me "it doesn't work". I let everyone have their opinion and did what was best for me...I have never regretted it. I feel better physically and mentally, and I never get tired of the compliments!

I love the Boca Chik'n patties but today I wanted to dress it up a little. I microwaved the pattie for about a minute, then took it out and topped it with a little fat free pizza sauce and low fat shredded cheese (I like the Kraft Italian 3 cheese blend). Then I put it back in the microwave for another 40 seconds to finish heating the pattie and melt the cheese. I finished it off with some dried oregano and two slices of chopped turkey pepperoni. Yum!

Yesterday I went shopping for a dress for my rehearsal dinner. I saw a cute one but they only had it in a size 8...I figured "What the heck, it can't hurt to try it". It fit! I don't think I've been a size 8 for my entire adult life. I assumed that when I fit into an 8, I would cry or something, but I'm just happy and glad I made the decision to have the lap band. It has really changed my life, and I wouldn't be where I am now without it!

I always love to read success stories from long term bandsters...thanks so much for sharing and congrats!

I have three...two are one my upper back and one is on the top of my right foot. After losing almost 100 pounds, I haven't noticed any changes in them. But if you have a low pain tolerance, stay away from foot tats. I almost broke the damn chair when I was getting it done!

I find that when I don't have good restriction, I weigh and measure more often. When I'm "in the zone", I let my band tell me when to stop eating.

I love not hiding from cameras anymore!

Good - being able to work out 45 minutes or more without feeling like I'm going to die. Bad - still thinking I'm fat even though I've lost over 90 pounds.

I never eat chicken now without some kind of condiment to help it along...otherwise it's stuck city!