Jenn1214

This won't provide instant relief, but make sure you are getting the recommended amount of water each day. That always helps me.

Yup. Welcome to Bandster Hell

I'm actually more worried about gas pain in my pouch or lower stomach...gas coming from either end is just a fact of life now

Does everyone take a fiber supplement? Which is the best choice for a bandster to avoid excess gas and other GI problems?

I've lost 43 pounds in 4 months, which I think is pretty substantial, so I figured my fiance would be jumping me at every opportunity. My libido has gotten pretty low due to the weight loss (that can happen sometimes due to hormones), but his hasn't increased at all. His has been pretty low to begin with (for a guy anyway) and I thought that shedding all this ugly fat would make him want me more. If anything, we're having sex less. I confronted him about it today and asked if he wasn't attracted to me anymore. Better to know now than after we get married, right? He insisted that he is so happy being in a relationship with me that he doesn't feel the need to have sex with me all the time, because he is so satisfied with every other aspect of our relationship. I didn't believe him at first, because what guy in their right mind doesn't want to have sex all the time? I'm a little jealous of other women bandsters who say they're having sex almost every day now and their s.o. can't keep their hands off of her, but I can't rely on my fiance's libido (or lack thereof) to make me feel sexy and good about myself. Hopefully your husband will feel differently, and if not, pipe up and talk to him. Good luck!

Like most people who are trying to lose weight, I've hit some bumps in the road. My weight loss has slowed and even stalled a few times, and sometimes it's hard not to get frustrated. I will never go back to my old mindset of just giving up, but I do beat myself up occasionally when that scale just won't budge. Not as much as I used to, but sometimes I feel like I'll never reach my goal weight, and I have just so much farther to go. Even my weight loss of 43 pounds seems like nothing when I started out over 100 pounds overweight. Last weekend, my fiance and I hosted a BBQ and we went to a beer distributor to get ice. We got a "party pack" that weighed 42 pounds and I thought to myself "Wow, that's about how much I've lost so far." I asked my fiance if I could carry it to the backyard when we got home so I could see how heavy it felt. I picked it up, walked a few steps, and put it down. I couldn't do it. Just imagine, I was carrying that around on my body all day, every day! It really put things in perspective for me. My journey is far from over, but I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far...I've lost a giant bag of ice! No more beating myself up and thinking my weight loss isn't good enough. Soon enough, i'll have lost two of those bags...and I'm sure as heck not trying to carry those!

Tomorrow will be my 4 month bandiversary and I've lost 43 pounds (33 if you don't count the pre op diet). I love my Bandy and I'm so glad I have him!

I think old people just don't realize that it's no longer appropriate to assume a woman is pregnant. I got a comment like that years ago when I was at my current weight. I could just imagine if the same guy saw me at my highest weight...he would think I was carrying triplets or something! Don't let it get you down. You're doing great.

Pretty cool! Thanks for sharing!

Since I had the SILS procedure my port is located on my abdomen below my belly button. When I first had the surgery I couldn't feel it at all but now that I've lost quite a bit of weight it's more noticeable. I can't lean against counters because it hurts, and somehow when I'm laying down my cats know exactly where it is and step on it constantly. Ouch!

Can't wait to try it! Thanks!

Tonight I had a thought but I'm not sure if it will work...has anyone ever tried making ice milk with their protein shake? It's so hot in my apartment I'm dying for something cold!

You show him! I bet he feels pretty dumb right about now!

OMG if I took a bite that big I would be crying in pain! What kind of irresponsible surgeon would put up an ad like that and make people think so negatively of us? I want to call them up right now and yell at them!

Glad to hear you had a good experience! Keep us posted on your progress, and definitely don't worry about not being able to walk around Walmart right now. I could hardly get in and out of bed by myself because I was so bruised!

That's not a dumb question at all, I wondered that myself at first. I don't have a problem with spicy or sour foods, but everyone is different. Try a little bit and see how you feel. It shouldn't hurt the band, but depending how far out you are from surgery you might get a little stomach upset if you haven't eaten those foods in a while. Good luck!

I'm so sorry your mother isn't being supportive of you during this rough time. I guess it is easy for her to forget what it was like just after surgery and how miserable the recovery can be. Please talk to her and tell her how you feel, I would hate for you to keep this bottled up inside. Good luck with your recovery and I hope you're feeling better!

Down 1 lb today at 208

What a great post! I don't use the word "cheat" in regard to my food intake because I'm not on a diet. I have made a lifestyle change and choose to eat healthy foods most of the time, but an occasional treat won't hurt my weight loss in the long run. This is a journey, not a destination!

Try drinking through a straw. You'll quickly learn why you're not supposed to

The fill usually happens so quick that it's not really worth it to get the lidocaine. It's uncomfortable, but not horrible. Usually I'll ask any questions I have while the PA is doing the fill to distract myself so I'm not thinking about the discomfort too much. You'll be fine!

I have one called "Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery" by Patt Levine and Michele Bontempo-Saray. I've tried a few of the recipes and they're pretty good. I also get a lot of my recipes from the Lapband.com website.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I have never slimed, PBd or been stuck, and I have vomited only once since surgery (not due to food issues, just too much Johnnie Walker). I have lost 42 lbs since my surgery on March 14th, including the pre op diet. I find that my success is 50% band, 50% willpower. I eat way, way less than I used to, which was pretty much like a bear storing fat for the winter, but I was never told what kind of volume of food I should be eating. I just do what my nutritionist told me, which is the basic bandster mantra we're all told; small bites, chew it to death, and go slow. You have to really "listen" for the subtle signs of fullness, instead of obvious pre-band fullness: "If I eat one more bite I might explode!" For me, I either get shoulder pain, hiccup, or heave a great big sigh and I know I'm done. One time, after just getting an adjustment a few days prior, my fiance and I went to his friend's house for a little get together. I wasn't listening to my body and just kept eating, and oh the pain! I thought someone had stabbed me. Not wanting to experience that again, I'm much more diligent about not eating more than the band allows and stopping as soon as I'm satisfied, but not necessarily "full". As you get more adjustments, you will probably have more restriction and feel some of the signs I mentioned earlier. It took about 3 fills for me to get there.

I've lost 42 pounds since March, so my size 20 bathing suits no longer fit me. Can you ladies recommend a place where I can get a halfway decent bathing suit without spending 50 bucks a pop or more? I'll just grow out of it by next summer anyway (I hope!)

I would still go to the appointment anyway. The fill nurse will talk with you and determine if you need a fill or not. If you don't need one, you won't get one, but at least they can see what kind of progress you are making and you can ask them any questions that you need to.