NJGirl32

I just received a "Save the Date" card for a wedding next March,. I can't waitto get a skinny dress for that wedding!! That dress will be my WOW dress! When I was a lot thinner I had a beautiflu red dress with no sleeves that I wore to a Christmas wedding- it's a size 12 and I would love to fit into that again!

Head shots were fine, but body shot-no way!! My Hubby is a big guy (6'4) and I always tryto tuck half of my body behind his for any pics!

I LOVE the fact that you named your band Stanley! lol 8 months? Wow! 2-3 lbs a week is terrific!!!! Congrats!

Thanks everyone!! I had very little expectations for my first fill-BUT I really do feel a difference! I can't wait until I have had several fills! I din't lose any weightthe last 3 weeks but suddenly the scale dropped 4 pounds!! (I haven't updated my ticker in a while)

Hi Donna! We are about the same (I started at 248 and I am down to 228-banded May 25th). Congrats on such a great victory!! I love my band too! I can't waitto get to 212!! It's that much closer to Onederland!!!!

I had my first fill 4 days ago and I definitely fee a difference! When I went outto eat I could only eat a very small portion of what I ordered and gave my hubby the rest. I am not as hungry between meals either! From my understanding the eefcts if the first fill are short lived, but I am enjoying it so far. My doc used the fluro. xray for the first fill and maybe that made a difference in ensuring the right amount? Congrats on making such great changes in your eating habits! As far as when you can see a difference- well I guess that depends on your starting weight and how much you have to lose. At 20 ponds down I can feel a difference and my waistline is being more defined. Good luck!

I haven'ttold my mom-I am waiting to lose some significant weight first. She's a worry wart so I rather tell her later-but I think she will be happy for me. I think it's probably harder to get support from someone who never had to deal with weight issues in a big way...even if it's your own mother. We are women now and don't need our parents approval. We get to call all the shots and take control of our own lives! The best way to handle this is to get skinny in spite of it!!

I had my first fill via xray on Thursday. I could tel I couldn't eat as much, which was great! Today I made a framer's omletter for my DH and another one for me using egg beaters. This was at 12 noon. We had errands to run so around 4pm my DH wanted to go to the Texas Road House Resturant. I wasn't hungry at all! I was thinking that the fill must be working!! I manage to have him wait and 45 minutes later we were sitting in the Roadhouse. I mean it can't always be about my needs and this is the firsttime we ate out since my surgery. I ordered the petite filet (6oz) and only ate half...gave hubby the rest!! Whoa!! Only half? I ordered veggies and couldn't finihed them. I had salad and just a few bites! I did have 2 tiny pieces (very tiny) of bread then removed the basket. If this is restriction then I am loving it!!! I ordered a Margarita and could not finish even half of it. I really felt the band helping me today-it was awesome!!! I do realize the first fill's effect could diminish at anytime, but I did have an idea of what the band is capable of!

I read that it can take a couple of weeks after a fill to feel it. I sure hope so! That's why many doctors space out the fills 4-6 weeks. I hope others reply because I'd really be interested in their experiences!

Get out the machete girl-you don't want the doctors to be distracted during the surgery!! LOL

If you haven't brought this up with your doctor please schedule an appointment ASAP. How do you sleep at night? Maybe your meds need to be adjusted. Feelingtired all the time can be related to how well you sleep at night. Your meds may be keeping you up at night (my DH takes them too). It could also be related to stress or depression. Are you getting enough protein and drinking enough water? There are SO many things that could be causing you to be tired that a doctor realy needs to rule out first. I think most people on the lapband have energy due to the weight loss-the only thing I can think of is a lack of nutritants. Hope you find your energy !!

Order it from Amazon-it comes in a few short days. I haven't seen much of anything at bookstores. You could call your bookstore and see if they have it in stock. I have the book and it was worth the money. I really wish I had purchased it early on since it gives a lot of info on al the pre-surgery visits.

Why am I fat? My father had a drinking problem and was never the warm fuzzy type. But when he was drunk he would bring Chinese food home-that was one way he showed attention to the family. He would bring soft pretzels home (a Philly thing) and that showed me he loved us and thought about us. He took great pleasure in cooking amzing breakfasts-so food was my father's way of showing that he loved us. I guess in my brain I relate feeling loved with food. My 3 brothers are average weight and so is my mother. My father was about 40 pounds overweight. 11 years ago I was in a medical study and I took Meridian and lost a lot of weight. Meridian stimulates the serotin in the brain. I never thought about food. However the pills stopped working (I guess I got use to them). I eat when I am nervous,sad, worried, lonely or anixious. I need to refocus those feelings into something other then food.

Yep! I reay try to eat 3 meals and 1 larger snack. It works for me. If I get really hungry between meals I might have a small piece of fruit or a spoonfulof trail mix-but I look at the clock and say I can wait until __ time. On the weekends I try to delay my breakfast as much as possible. I enjoy reading the paper and having coffee.

Awesome!! It feels great doesb't it?!! I had 2 people tell me how great I look and asked what I am doing and they have no idea that I had surgery or that I am dieting-so that made me feel good. I think at the 20 pound mark people begin to notice! And the good news is it only gets better!!

Get the book Bandwagon on amazon and read everything you can! There are several surgery options out there and you have to find one that works best for you. You are young and have your entire life ahead of you-losing weigh can help make the quality of your life so much better! When you go to the tab "Lapband Form" scroll way down and find your age group and see if you can find support there as well. The Lapband takes a lot of work. The 1st day of surgery you will be sore, but each day you feel better. Some people get terrible gas pains-but I didn't. Expect to lose a little pre-surgery and directly after surgery, but for the first 2 months you will be questioning why you did this. Then, hopefully, you will ave the right fill to your band and your weight loss journey will finally seem worth it. For some peope it takes months before surgery, but for me it only took 6 weeks after my first doctor's visit. You will have to get lots of tests done. The lapband isn't a magic bullet. It takes educating yourself every day and patience and determination. I wish you lots of luck on your journey!

I had soup too-don't feel guilty. Okay so it's not a clear liquid but still a very good choice.

This makes a lot of sense and I think I read in the book Bandwagon that it works the same way-stomach muscles are constantly at work and food doesn't really 'sit' in the stomach. I agree with the 3 meals a day-it works for me. I eat at 8-1-6 and have a snack at 9. My NUT told be to have breakfast (snack) Lunch (snack) Dinner (snack). The train of thought is that this keeps the metabolism at a higher level.

It's the long scar to the left of your belly button (your left) - not sure if it's the same for everyone.

[quote name=)' timestamp='1308793841' post='1629489] I just got home today and had surgery yesterday. I am a teacher and so I don't have the problem of anyone at work knowing about it. I go to teacher related things all the time so I told my immediate family that I had a conference to go to overnight. I just happened to come home with the flu. The only one that I told is my husband and one friend at work since I don't want anyone to find out. The Lapband is just a tool and I think this will take a lot of work. I don't want people talking behind my back or watching what I eat or thinking I took the easy road. My parents, kids and siblings have no idea. It is my little secret and I want to keep it that way. That is why this forum is so nice. I am the same way-I don't care much about peope at work knowing but I ony told 1 person there. No one in my family knows (not my mother, kids, or even my best friend). I feel perfectly fine without my family and friends knowing!

No, it's wrong! I now have a ot less respect for Dr.Oz-I thought his team would give more accurate info than this! I mean really!! I ate this much maybe the first few days post surgery. I am eating regular meals now!!

I watched the first clip from the dr. oz show and I can't figure out how this woman is eating only spoonfuls of food. Are we suppose to eat solids? I thought she said she was 6 months post - op , unless I heard wrong. I eat more than that and I am almost 1 month post-op! http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/life-after-lap-band-surgery-pt-1

Wow! That had to be an amazing feeling! Congrats on a great weight loss!!

I go for my first fill tomorrow too! Let me know how you make out! I know I need a good fill, although I know it may take a few to get to that 'sweet spot'

I go for my first fill tomorrow too! Let me know how you make out! I know I need a good fill, although I know it may take a few to get to that 'sweet spot'