NJGirl32

Alex- thank you!! That was a great read!
Could you also give us some options for dining out, BBQs and handling social events (parties)? I agree I would love some ideas on options for loose skin. Thanks again!

Alex- thank you!! That was a great read!
Could you also give us some options for dining out, BBQs and handling social events (parties)? I agree I would love some ideas on options for loose skin. Thanks again!

I told my husband and just 1 person at awork who sort of lead me to the band. That's it! I am SO glad I didn'ttell more people because 6 weeks after surgery I am not losing that much weight at all! I am hoping with fills the band will kick in. I can't imagine not losing weight and everyone knowing I had the band-they would all be thinking "Hey I thought she had the band and she's not losing?" or watching what I eat at every function-no thanks...I don't need that additional pressure right now!
Once I start losing I might open the circle and tell a few more (or maybe not). This is a hugely personal decision and what fees right for 1 person might not for the other person - so it's totally YOUR choice. ONe size does not fit all. For me, I am so happy I didn't tell everyone.

Congratulations on your awesome weight lost!! That's amazing- I think maybe your goal should be losing 100 pounds by your year anniversary-that alone would be a huge milestone for one year! Good luck to you!

New Jersey's in the house! Welcome!! Who is your surgeon and when is your surgery date? I am from Central Jersey, but I chose a doctor in North Jersey-Dr. Storm. I had my surgery May 25th - still sore but I am back to work today! You will LOVE this site! Everyone is super helpful and friendly. What part of Jersey are you from? Good luck!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

It seems you are eating sliders in the morning and for lunch-I am guessing this is making you hungry in the evening. Try packing some Snacks that aren't mushies or liquid. I do know they go down easier and are a lot less trouble to deal with-but maybe you need to be eating a little more substance througout the day. You might be hungry and eating too fast or too much becuase you really haven't had any solids, I pack a yogurt, nuts, granola, banana, and snack throughout the day. This week I packed some watermelon-thank God no one was in my office because my stomache sure did make some crazy noises! lol Sounds like you are doing an awesome job-congrats!!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

Wow! What a shopping trip! I fit into a size 12 skort!! A fricken size 12!! Really? Who is this girl? I range from a 14-16 and have been getting into 14s lately so there was a cute red skort on sale - but only a size 12 left. So I figure why not? It not only fit-but it wasn't tight either! I think at the weight I am now I don't need to lose as much to go down a size-whereas when I was heavier I could straddle a size for a much greater weight range. SO I headed up to the bras- and I am a 38C-Whoa! I think this time last year I was a 42D or more.
It's hard to go down sizes (mentally). I still gravitate to the bigger sizes. Last year I was a 22-this year a 14 and that adorable size 12 skort! To all of you starting out-just wait until next summer comes-you will feel and look so different and yes, it will definitely be worth it!

My understanding is that they unfill your band completely and see if it settles into place-this could take several weeks. I am not sure if you wentt a Center of Excellence but I believe they now stitch the band in such a way to try to avoid a slip. Lots of people have had slips on this forum-consider it a bump in the road not the end of a journey. Wishing you well!

I also opted to keep it from everyone. The only one that knows is my DH because he had to take me to the hospital and pick me up. I am glad I told him because at east I have 1 person to talk to about it. I did not tell my 2 daughters (ages 19 & 24) mainly because I didn't want to put the burden on them of keeping it a secret. One woman at work knows too.
I have to say I am SO glad-really glad I didn't tell evryone. The weight loss has been a lot slower than I ever imagined. I feel a olt less stress not having to worry what others might think about my weight loss. This is MY journey-not theirs. I will tell my daughters and my mother once I have lost around 50-60 pounds, but I don't plan on telling anyone else.
Many people think this is the easy way out and that is so far from the truth! It takes a lot of work and determination and I want credit for all my hard work. I don't want people to say "Oh she had WLS that's why she lost the weight."
You will need to be very patient until you have the right amount of fills and start feeling the true effects of the band. Good luck to you!

I posted on this before but this month it happened again so I did some research.
Last month I couldn't keep anything down 2 days before my period-it was crazy! I mean I had yogurt and had to pull over on my way to work. Then after I got my period I was back to normal. This month same thing but it lasted longer into my period. I thought I had a slipped band because I was PBing and simply could not get any solids without PBing or just feeling stuck. Today I am back to normal! I can eat!! I found an interesting article about banding and that time of the month. Before you rush to the doctor's for an unfill you may want to wait a couple days (if it's that time of the month). I never had this problem until I lost around 40 pounds and the article actually addresses that-it's worth a read:
http://www.beyondtheband.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9:lap-band-and-your-period&catid=3:news&Itemid=19

I have found that my "Draino" is wine! Seriously! Especially red wine - small sips helps unclog you or prevents you from PBing. The key is small sips and you can actually feel it declogging. Now I realize this might not be a good solution for work, but in the evening it would work

Oh I have definitely been in your shoes! I had my surgery on May 25th and a week or 2 after surgery I lost some weight but then I barely lost anything-a very slow process! I started all this self-doubt thinking that maybe this surgery wouldn't work for me. I still could eat pretty much anything and was becoming discoraged. Slowly after each fill I could sense myself inching towards the "Green Zone" and out of the stage they calle "Bandster Hell" (<--the period of time that weight lost is low and hunger is high). Then my 4th fill did the trick -3 months after surgery! I still get hungry but I simply can not eat normal sized portions and my weight loss keeps going down (slowly-but steady).
Yesterday I was trying on coats-last year I was a 20/22 or 2x and yesterday I stood in front of the Macy's mirror with a size 14 coat on!! A friggen 14!! I LOVE to go clothes shopping now! I actually feel sexy now and I haven't felt that in many, many years.
My point is-you are still in the very beginning stages and you don't have the correct fill to get you into the green zone. With each fill you recieve it will get you closer. Before you know it you will be looking in the mirror and thinking "Wow, I look good!" Keep summer in mind-by summer time you'll be looking fabulous and feeling so much healthier! Meanwhile try to eat healthy foods and get out and take walks, drink plenty of Water, vitiamins, get your Proteins in so you don't feel the hunger monster as much. You will get there son enough!