jayres14

I use a straw all day every day. Not sure what the big deal is. If you aren't drinking carbonation, which I never do, it shouldn't be an issue. But I can also chug Water like it's nothing, maybe my band is looser than others on here.

I eat what I want, just in moderation. I have not found a food that I can not eat. I have found though that when I eat something sweet or with a lot of processed sugar in it, I crave it a lot more for a few days after. It is better for me to try and limit those types of food to keep myself from spiraling out of control.

my thought is he needs to remember he is the one who takes you home and has the "fun" with you!!! Flaunt it

Haha, that made me laugh!!

Anyone notice his/her spouse starting to change as the weight falls off?? Not the crazy screen your calls, screen your texts, play 100 questions when you go out of the room to blow your nose, nothing like that.

Let me start by saying my husband has always been supportive of my wanting to lose weight. He is not the jealous kind and not insecure in any way. Even though I am self pay, he never questioned my wanting the surgery and said to do what makes me happy. It's been almost 8 months and I am down to a pretty good looking 175 pounds. Being blonde and well endowed in the breast area, I get a lot more attention than I used to. On our bowling league, the male attention is pretty obvious, even in his face, which is very disrespectful to him and pisses me off. Lucky for them, he has a smooth temper or they'd be picking up their teeth! It just seems some people just now realized I exist.

More to the point, I have noticed when we walk around in stores, he stays by my side much more frequently than usual. If someone is looking at me, I notice him often step in front to block. He often makes comments like, "I have always loved you the way you are." He texts me a lot during the day with sweet notes and I have received a dozen roses twice in the past month, not on Valentine's day.

Now don't get me wrong, I love all this attention from him. After 11 years together, it is new spicy flavor. But I hate that he may feel, what's the word, obligated to do this. I would never leave him for anyone else, not even if Tom Brady came a callin'........ Ooh, better not stretch it that much, geez, it's Tom Brady!!

Mmmmm, okay, snap back from my daydream!! Anyways....

I know all I can do is constant reassurance that he is the only one for me no matter how I look or who's looking. Any of you experienced this? If this sounds familiar, how did you handle it? Will it change when the newness wears off?

Great article! Glad I am shivering, that means i am losing!

I used to be hot constantly! Now I am always cold. Even my students at school complain for the first time that my room feels like a sauna! I am actually excited about this change and looking forward to a new outlook and perspective of summer!

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression from reading the post that you were fed up with people whining and complaining about the band not working and wanted them to "suck it up." If I misread that.......... hmmmm........ then I guess I did miss the point.

This will probably make you mad and you will want to post hateful stuff to me, but I have been reading your responses to many people over the past few months and I have a few thoughts about what you say. I agree with a lot of what you say, and I do feel people whine on here a lot, but please keep in mind that the whole purpose of a site like this is to be able to speak what you are feeling with the hope of some help. If you are tired of the whining, skip the post. Some people need a kind word when they are mentally in the pits. Others may need a little tough love, and some a brick over the head, but all have the right to air out frustration. I also hate hearing about the band not working for some because they are not using it as a tool, but the fact remains that the band DOES NOT work for some, be it faulty equipment, body rejection, infection, mental issues with food, and may other complications. Addiction, even a food addiction, is really hard to overcome, obviously, with the obese rate in our country and the reasons leading to ALL of us on here needing the surgery in the first place. I also know that if I ate as little as you did on a daily basis (from what you have written in your previous posts), I would be as skinny as you too. You had posted that you could drink a Protein Shake in the morning with a few berries or something like that blended in and not eat again the rest of the day. It seems the band has tricked your brain into believing that these liquids you drink are filling you up. I know the band is not meant for liquids so you are very fortunate this works for you. Oh to be so lucky! You made a change, you succeeded, you are winning, but please don't be too harsh on those that struggle. Maybe they are still at the place you were years ago.

If you are not eating enough, your metabolism will go down! Get 1200 in a day, even more if you are exercising right! When I restrict my diet too much, I plateau, no matter how much exercise I do. When I eat enough to keep me fueled all day, then I lose. It's almost like your body knows it is going to eat every few hours so it doesn't hold on the the stored fat like it will never get fed again. Just make sure the calories are good ones like high Protein, no sliders. Good luck to us all!!

I feel you! I was banded in July and lost 40 pounds in the first five months. I have lingered around lower 180's to upper 170's for the past few months and can not seem to make a break through. I know it is because I have gotten lazy about watching my calorie intake, following the Protein first rule, and stopping the eating when I am no longer hungry instead of stuffed. I am contemplating getting another fill for no more reason than to MAKE me do what I am supposed to and follow the rules. Plus, I know being too tight can be a problem b/c you can't eat the solid food as much and switch to sliders and end up gaining. I guess we are both gonna have to get our heads out of our a$$es and get back on track. Summer is coming and we need to hit the beach with a "no fear" attitude! Good luck and shape up, soldier!

Anyone who asks knows about my band.

My thing is: if they compliment me, I say thanks. I don't elaborate or offer any other conversation about it.

If they actually ask me what I am doing to lose weight, I simply tell them I am eating less, moving more, and I have a lap band to help me along the way.

So far so good, no negative reactions. Even a co-worker has started the work to get one just from watching me in action. If it cures her diabetes, it was well worth my honesty.

It is strictly a personal choice, and how thick your skin is.

I hadn't noticed it myself, but my husband noticed it and told me one night. I was mortified and embarrassed. Does it ever go away or subside? I brush, floss, and rinse my mouth twice a day.

I know! It seems like all the brushing, flossing, and rinsing is not enough. Even strong breath mints don't work. That's why I am pretty sure it's coming from further down. Sometimes I can even taste it! So gross! Gonna google that medical term and see what I get!

I think you may be on to something. I don't drink nearly enough Water as I should be. I just don't like drinking in general, a reason the lap band was so perfect for me. I guess i need to step up the water intake. Hopefully that will work. Thanks.

Is anyone else experiencing horrible bad breath, frequently in the morning? The stench seems to be coming from deep inside and almost like it is in the pouch. Is there a possibility of food stuck in there, maybe around the edge that has not gone down and is (yuck) rotting? I know this is a totally gross conversation, but I am really concerned and hope someone else has some insight. Thanks

I am such a list maker, plus I believe in setting tangible goals and giving rewards...

Surgery is feb 24th... Here are my goals and rewards

Lose 25... Massage

Lose 35... New hairstyle, cut, color, etc

Lose 50... Botox

Lose 60... Laser hair removal

Lose 75... Spa day splurge: full day of treatments at spa

Lose 85... Splurge on some designer shoes and clothes

Lose 95... Trip to Ireland

Whoa! Those are expensive rewards! But you will totally earn and deserve them! Let me know if you need a partner for that Ireland trip!!

I was sick and tired of not wanting to be in pictures. I would have to be standing or be behind someone to take them. I am not at my goal yet, but every day I look a little better. I even took racy pictures for my husband for a Valentine's Day present. I almost cried looking at them and not being ashamed anymore! I am so excited for you and I hope you have success. It is great to not feel sick and tired much anymore.

I hope someone can give me uplifting news/experience. Has anyone lost 50 to 100 pounds and not need a Tummy Tuck?

I was banded in July 2011 at 218 pounds. I have lost about 40 and weighed in at 177 today, but I still want to lose 30 more pounds to be at my goal. My arms and legs are at normal size but the weight in my stomach seems to be permanently attached and my stomach seems to be just as flabby as it was 40 pounds ago. I am beginning to notice that "Apron tummy" I keep reading about. I am exercising and doing core building cardio, but I am afraid my skin might be the culprit! I was hoping at 31 years old, I would still be young enough that my skin would firm up too. It is very frustrating to be at the smallest weight i've been since high school and still feel like a fat girl!

From my research, I have read that you need to be at a normal BMI for at least 6 months before flirting with the idea of plastic surgery. I am hoping that the fat that is still in my stomach will shrink and so will the skin around it by the time I get to goal. Have any of you lost a significant amount of weight and not needed a TT or other forms of plastic surgery? What did you do or use? I still have to pay off this one, I would hate to have to spend more money!

Thanks for your time and advice

Excited to see updated pics!

Wine! I love wine! But I can only have one glass cause any more and I am DRUNK!!

No gum or popcorn but I eat peanuts like it's going out of style, especially pistachios. Maybe we are not supposed to but so far, so good, and I am in the green zone.

Jachut hit the nail on the head in the first paragraph. Nothing has changed being banded for me other than I eat A LOT less than I used to. I can eat bread, in small quantities, I can drink alcohol, although it doesn't take much to get me drunk anymore, I can go out and do exactly what I used to, i am just more careful. Maybe I am one of the more fortunate ones and am not so limited as others. I lose slower than some on this site, but I still LOSE! I had a BMI of 34 when banded with no other complications. I paid for it on my own. I didn't want to wait until problems came about for my weight. If you are not ready for what might come, you may want to wait and do more research. Good luck in whatever you do.

I guess I am different than everyone else. I tell anyone that asks. I am not ashamed by what I did, I am proud of my dedication and hard work. I could give a sh*t less if they think I "cheated" or didn't do it "naturally." Does a mother cheat if she has a baby through IV? Is my grandmother cheating life since she has a pacemaker? Is my best friend's mom "taking the easy way out" by getting a breast job after losing a breast to cancer? The medical world offers us an abundance of things to increase our happiness and health. I guess it is more of a guilty feeling to accept a compliment for losing weight when you keep the key to your weight loss a secret, and let's face it, the band IS the key. If a co worker or a friend or even a mere acquaintance asks me what I am doing to lose weight, I simply tell them I got a lap band and am now eating less than I used to. End of story!! I don't go in to details, I don't explain my decision, I don't ask their opinions. I may follow up with the comment that it's the best thing I ever did. That usually keeps the nay sayers quiet. Maybe it is my bluntness that actually catches THEM off guard. I haven't had a single person say anything negative to me and it's been almost 6 months. I'm not saying you should yell out to the world you got banded. Everyone has a preference on who they share this info with, but be prepared to hear the ignorant comments from people that you just have to soak up and can't rebuttal.

I've been banded since July. I have had PCOS for a long time and had to go on Metformin to get pregnant with my daughter 5 years ago. My periods used to be irregular, sometimes 6 weeks apart, sometimes 8 weeks apart, never regular. Since banded and lost some weight, my periods are coming every 4th Saturday. I could almost bet the farm that I would start yesterday, and I did! My PCP said to be very careful b/c I was fertile. I can tell my hormones are regulating themselves due to the weight loss. You didn't say in your post if you were banded or not. If you are, give it some time before you spend a lot of money on treatments. If you are not banded, it is definitely a good prospect for multiple reasons. Good luck and keep us posted.

Sometimes overeating without realizing it that causes pressure in the chest is a negative. Also, the daily fear that something will happen to my band is overwhelming. I am self pay so things could get pretty expensive!

When I slowly realized I was always too tired to play with my daughter who has autism. I would want to come home in the afternoons and just sleep or lay around. She would always try to get me to play and I would turn on the TV so she'd watch it and let me rest. I realized I wasn't being the best mommy for her and decided on the band. With little to no research three weeks later, I was banded and I must say this has been easy for me.