Bodacious Barbie

I'm only 5 days post-op so I'm not suppose to have anything but, Jello, carnation instant breakfasts, broths and cream of wheat. My restrictions suck, but I'm doing very good. Lost almost 6lbs already. The band only works if you follow your dr's instructions. I'd only be sabotaginging myself if I started off this early in the game allowing holidays and others opinions get me off course. I'm on a mission. If I can't do it forth July 4th holiday weekend I won't be able to long term either. Sticking to my guns. But I will tell my daughter she's the selfish one.

I agree with both Sandworms and Rachel you get out of the band what you put into it. Unless the band has slipped or their is some type of malfunction, it will do its job, but your job is still the hardest. It is was determines significant weight loss from plateaus and weight gain while having it. I've noticed a trend over the last 6 months on blogs, forums, youtube etc. from bandsters who are having trouble shedding the pounds and aside from band malfunctions, they are all cheaters. Whether that be with alcohol, not exercising, or poor food choices. If your drinking alcohol on weekends, or fruit juices high in calories, snacking on Cookies, ice cream and other high calorie items you were told to stay away from, you are NOT gonna be successful losing the weight. If you put in the work and follow the diet, you will lose the weight you want. I've also noticed a trend in those who lose alot, and who are most sucessful at keeping it off over time, and that is, they've become alot more physically active. They take gym classes, do workout tapes, 4k runs, etc. Lapband isnt a magic pill, its just a tool to help you, but you've got to be willing to put in some work if you want to be successful. Good Luck, I'm sure you can do it. I intend to work my butt off to lose all the weight I want to.
If you are too, you will.

Congrats, Good luck!

I regret telling my neighbor, my 18 yr old son, my husband and my mom. But, it really doesn't matter cause I would of had to tell my husband no matter what and my husband's gonna tell anyone who asks him how am I losing so much weight. Even if I tell him not to, he just can't keep his mouth shut about things like that, unless it was him. My mom was okay with the idea for a second til my 18 protested and talked to her. My husband says I can lose it exercising, yet he is 100 lbs overweight. After my mom tells everyone in my family, I'm sure I am really gonna regret telling her. Now she says I should just work out more and change my eating habits too, and not get the surgery. She is my worst critic though, and somehow deep down, I think she doesn't want me to be smaller than her. I've been bigger than her for years, and she rags on me all the time. Calls me big drawers, says my behind is huge, embarrasses me in front of people about my weight and brags about me being to big to fit her clothes. I'm African-American and this type of surgery (any kind of surgery that isn't needed out of emergency for that matter) is not looked upon favorably. I've even had my son, who is mixed say that is surgery white people get. Can you believe it. They see it like its some sort of plastic surgery.

I was one of the first people to join myspace years ago, and Facebook. For years my husband shunned social networking and now is a member of Facebook too and loves it. It just feels that whenever I do or decide to do something noone else I know has done, I am discouraged. i was one of the first to go to college in my family while being a single parent at the same time, the first in my age group to purchase a home, each time they didn't think I would do it, or that I could do it, so Its not surprising that getting banded would be any different. I just think sometimes It would be nice if I got support from my family and friends. Its always strangers that give me the support I need. Thank goodness for this site and other forums like bandsters blogs or I would get no positive feedback from others about getting banded. The African American community is a little hesitant on any surgery that isn't a life threatening emergency. But i'm a leader not a follower, so I'm sure if they see how successful it has been with me in the future, hopefully, maybe more will consider it. Because it is no secret that obesity and the illnesses caused in association with it are high within the African-American community. I just hate always feeling like an island in my real whenever I do something different. Does anyone else feel like alone regarding their lap band or decision to get it amongst their friends and family?