Jenn1214

No offense to your doctor, but that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. How can anyone eat that way? My doc says not to spend more than 20 minutes on a meal. As long as you take small bites and chew them well, you won't stretch your pouch.

Congrats! Can't wait til I'm there with ya!

I don't think I had one until a week after surgery. It was weird but perfectly normal.

My sweet tooth is much better than it used to be. I don't have to run into a convenience store on my way home to buy candy anymore. I still do have sweets on occasion and I'm fine with that decision. The lap band is a lifestyle change, not a permanent diet, so if I feel like having a sliver of cake at a birthday party or something, I'm going to. I just don't crave it like I used to. There are bags of peanut butter candy in the pantry that have been there for over a month along with boxes of Girl Scout cookies. I haven't touched them and don't really care to. Pre-banding I would have demolished them in a few days. The lap band has taught me that food is fuel, and I need to put the right stuff in my body to nourish it and keep healthy. The more you focus on getting in protein rich foods to meet your daily goal, the less room there is for sugar. I never thought I would be saying that but for me it's true now. It will get better for you too!

Are you getting enough water? You could be dehydrated...I know I had that problem before surgery and felt better once I started drinking the recommended amount.

I find that what helps keep me motivated is setting little mini goals for myself. The overall goal seems so far away that sometimes it's nice to have little milestones to look forward to. It could be scale related (mine tend to be) or not. See if that helps. How much water are you drinking? If I don't have at least 64 ounces a day (and that's the bare minimum for me) I find myself being hungrier and eating things I shouldn't. Also try remembering why you got the band in the first place. I know personally I didn't go through all the pain of surgery and recovery and that horrible post op liquid phase just to go back to how I was before. I don't have that all or nothing mentality anymore that used to make me fail in the past. I don't have to be "good" all the time to lose weight and reach my goal, but most of my decisions should be healthy ones. Maybe that's what's getting in your way too. Don't give up! You will find your motivation one way or another...good luck!

Wow! That must have felt pretty darn awesome...congrats!

Mine is a few inches underneath my belly button...I can't feel it but luckily my doctor can!

I've done Nutrisystem. The food wasn't terrible for the most part but it was horribly expensive, plus you had to add your own groceries to it. I lost 60 pounds on it but once I couldn't afford it anymore I gained all the weight back anyway.

I get hiccups all the time for some reason...it's usually my cue to stop eating, but sometimes they are random and happen out of nowhere. Sometimes I'll hiccup and then let out a huge belch (which my fiance seems to think is hilarious). The hiccups never last long and I just chalk it up to the new configuration of my stomach.

I found this recipe on the Lapband.com website. I'm eating it now and it's pretty tasty! Mexican Breakfast Casserole Serves 12 16 eggs, well beaten with 1/4 cup Water 1 bag Morningstar Farms frozen sausage crumbles (I couldn't find these so I chopped up a box and a half of the patties after defrosting them) 1 medium zucchini, peeled and sliced into half-circles 2 cups salsa 2 cups 2% reduced fat cheddar cheese 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees 2. Spray a 9x13 baking pan with non stick cooking spray. Spread the frozen sausage crumbles over the bottom of the pan. Top with zucchini slices. Pour beaten eggs on top. 3. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from oven and spread salsa over casserole. Top with cheese and return to oven for 5-7 more minutes until cheese is melted. 4. Cut into squares and serve hot! Nutrition facts: Serving size: 1/12 of recipes Calories: 190 Fat: 9g Carbs: 7g Protein: 18g

I've definitely noticed a difference after my first fill, but my band can still be finicky. There will be times that my stomach is growling after a few hours, and then there are times that I can go four hours or more without eating. Sometimes I notice that I can eat more than at other times. Bandy gets what Bandy wants!

I would love to try Zumba but I am so afraid of tripping over myself and falling on my face!

Before the band, I was a serious coffee addict. Tons of coffee, Red Bull, soda and any other form of caffeine flying down my throat all day long. I couldn't understand why I was so tired all the time. The more caffeine I had, the more tired I was, so the more caffeine I wanted. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of exhaustion. I could literally drink a cup of coffee and then go right to sleep. After the surgery, my nutritionist told me to avoid caffeine, or at least replace what water I was losing from drinking it. I thought "Oh god, how am I going to get through the day without my precious coffee?" So I started drinking lots of water to flush out the caffeine and whatever other nasties were hanging around in my body, and I couldn't believe it...I actually had energy again! I mean, I wasn't bouncing off the walls or anything, but I definitely noticed an improvement. I should have realized with my medical background, but my exhaustion was coming from dehydration. Duh! Nowadays I definitely notice a difference if I'm not getting adequate water. I feel down, like I'm dragging myself to do anything or go anywhere. Instead of reaching for the coffee, I'll have a few glasses of water and I feel better almost immediately. I love you water! Where have you been all my life?

Drink plenty of water in addition to your full liquids. I was told to avoid caffeine since it's a diuretic, but I don't think a cup every once in a while will hurt. Good luck!

I had some routine blood tests done last week and got the results today. Before surgery my cholesterol was about 225, now it's 191. It may not sound like much but that's the first time I can remember it being below 200 in a very long time. The good to bad ratio was good though, so that's even better. I'm on my way to a healthier, happier me!

Last Friday I found out that my grandmother passed away. She lived in Oregon and I'm in NY so I didn't get to visit her often so of course the guilty feelings I always have about everything rose to the surface. I was happy to find out that she got the flowers I sent her for Mother's Day before she died, so that made me feel a little better. Still, the impulse to run out and stuff myself with every form of junk food on the planet reared its ugly head. I just told myself "That's not going to make me feel any better or bring Grandma back, so what's the point?" Instead I spoke with my family about my feelings and found out they felt the same way about the situation, so I knew I was not alone. Then we talked about happy memories that we had with her and that we were happy she was with Grandpa again. I felt better and didn't want to eat anymore. You didn't win this time, food! Boo ya!

It hasn't affected my family much at all. I get lots of compliments from them and they aren't bothered by the fact that I can't eat that much anymore. It's like I never even had the lap band sometimes (except when it takes me 3 times as long to finish 1/3 of the food they are eating!)

It's nice to go shopping in your own closet, isn't it? Congrats!

Thank you for being one of the well-meaning butt kickers!!

Beautifully said! There is nothing "easy" about the lap band, no matter what the skinny minis think. Not only is it major abdominal surgery that leaves permanent scars, you have to completely change your eating habits or risk getting stuck or throwing up. Plus it's not a magic wand, it's a tool. Anyone who accuses you of taking the easy way out should stuff it! If losing the weight lowers your health risks and makes you feel better, what do they care how you did it?

Actually I've gotten nothing but compliments from people. Are these men only attracted to heavier women? That could be where the "ewww"s come from. I'm sure you look great! If you feel great too, then don't listen to the naysayers.

Welcome! You will find these boards are a valuable resource during your lap band journey (I do!). I would wait until the mushy stage to blenderize solid foods. Double check with your nutritionist just to be sure though. Mine gave me a list of good food choices to eat at each stage, so don't be afraid to ask. Keep us posted on your surgery and good luck!

Because we have to drink on a empty stomach, you'll probably notice that you get drunk faster. After I have two small glasses of wine I'm ready for bed, so I don't do it often.

After a few well meaning kicks in the butt from my fellow bandsters (thank you!), I realize that I'm being very impatient. My weight loss has been a lifelong struggle and I will not win the battle overnight. The purpose of getting the band was not so I could wave a magic wand and instantly be at my goal weight, it was to give me a tool to help me where I've failed so many times before. Besides, how will I learn anything if all I want is rapid results? I'm supposed to be learning how to fuel my body with the right foods and exercise, not whining that the scale isn't moving or I'm not a size 2 by now. My ultimate goal is to live a healthier life without all this weight dragging me down, and that's not a simple goal. I knew that when I decided to get the band, but I slipped back into my old mindset for a little while there. No more of this all or nothing, "I want results NOW" bullcrap. Slow and steady wins the race!