readytogoforit

know that it takes between 6 - 8 weeks for sugar cravings to go away. you can do it!! I use stevia for a sweetener now in my tea. great idea to start with the crafts, I scrapbook and it has saved my life! start walking as much as you can too, it will firm up your body. whatever you lose before the surgery will feel so GOOD.

it might be easier if you have them a few months apart. I know my husband helped me so much after the surgery. we have dogs, I couldn't bend down to get their food, I could lift one of them, he did the vacuuming for me. So many other things that I really appreciated!

Whoa!! what a fun story! thanks for sharing... life is good.

thank you for sharing !! love a success story, enjoy that wonderful baby! he's adorable!

Each day is a new beginning! Start to do what you know is right, try to remember you are worth much more than food! Call the doc on Monday, I'm sure you are not the 1st person to fall off the band wagon.... I think one of the most important reasons I stay on track is my family - I feel I have made a commitment. that commitment is for me and them. Who can you put in that category, it really helps to have a person or group to cheer you on.

each day is a new one. give the cookie and fudge away....... oh and put the shame is the garbage can! get back to the things you know are important. we all make these stupid moves, but we are never going to give up now!!!!

I agree with Dave_NW use good vits. the gummy ones have wayyyyy to much sugar. Country Life has liqguid vitamins, I get a separate liquid one one for calcium. Be sure to use citrate calcium for the best absorption.

you are still on liquids aren't you? that is probably why you feel hunger! I did not worry about how many times I "drank" something at that point. It did not cause weight gain.

I didn't dare make any cookies, bar, nothing this year! I knew I would want to eat it all!! you have had ONE bad day, leave it behind and start over tomorrow!! we all have done similar things and we all feel the same when we do it!!!! your progress has been good, keep going!

that is what I was talking about. this is a journey. if it takes a while to get to the goal, at least we are going in the right direction. maybe because I am older I look at this differently. I have spent many years disliking myself, I am so grateful. I feel nothing but joy, especially at this time of year! I want to be a healthy grandma who rides bike and is able to swim with the grandkids. I want to hike and everything else that "healthy people" always do with the grandkids !!! I think this lapband thing has become a "fad" and it must be hard for docs(reputable ones) to do so many of them. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy with my band. My reputable doc wants me to lose about a pound each week, that seems low to me but I feel he has my best interest in mind.

I have had what I would call bulging by the port. doc said that was normal, it doesn't hurt, just feels weird. we do have a foreign object in our body at all!! I always have a list of questions for the doc. mine is so good, takes the time to answer each question!

hey you guys, how many people on this site get so angry when they don't lose what they "thought" they were "supposed" to lose. all my info -from my insurance co. & doc(University of Minnesota) says 40 to 60%. I welcome the comments from my doc. we are trying to get healthy not ultra skinny. do we really want to create another problem? live each day with all the gusto that thin(not ultra skinny) people live. eat to live not live to eat. this is not a race. it scares me when people get so worked up. isn't our health the main concern? are we doing this to "show them" or start to love ourselves for who WE are?

the docs usually want you to lose some weight before surgery. makes the surgery easier, they need the liver to shrink a bit. this is a really good way to start thinking as a bander does. no drinking liquids with the meal, eliminate carbonated beverages, start tracking protein, carbs and fiber. keep a journal of what you eat, you will be pleasantly surprised how good you will start to feel. check out all the great entries on this forum, lots of info. it really helped me to get ready for surgery. my commitment became very strong. the band is not a miracle, we work for the weight we lose!

thank you Humming Bird ! I just love that song. I like the Michael English version. another great song is "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant. have a blessed Christmas!!

I was banded 10/28/11, I have only lost 15 lbs since then!! Thank God I counted calories and exercised before the surgery so I lost 30 by the surgery date. My loss has been slow but my clothes have changed, I am down 4 pant sizes!!! I of course want both but, that is not how it is going today. I know I am doing all the right things so I continue on day by day.

I haven't tried it let us know if it works.

my insurance company gave me a book with all kinds of information. one thing was to take care of your issue. If food should block the outlet, mix a teaspoon of meat tenderizer in a glass of Water - sip slowly! hope it helps.

ok, start eating differently. you will start to like yourself more everyday! there is a group where they talk about what to eat on this site. get rid of sweets(candy, bakery goods, etc). start to concentrate on Protein and only complex carbs. just being aware of what you put into your body will help - keep a journal of everything you eat each day. drink 48oz. to 60 oz. Water everyday. what city are you in? make sure you find a reputable doc, just cause they can do the surgery doesn't make them the best choice. I know it is hard but start exercising. walking is the easiest and least expensive way to start. sorry if this seems like a lot to do already but trust me, you will start to feel better. it will be better everyday, keep us informed,that also helps. support makes a big difference. don't be alone in this pain anymore!

LOVE IT!!! your happiness rubs off onto me, it all helps us go on!

that a girl!

that is a lot of pressure to put on yourself. instead of looking at such a big loss, break it down to 5 or 10 lb. increments. it will happen but, is easier to visualize! you have already done so well, we did not gain all this weight overnight! it can't come off like biggest loser does on TV!! be proud day by day!!!

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry for all the pain you feel. I applaud you for doing so much research, it helps a lot to know as much as possible. I didn't like the idea of surgery either, I had heard some of the horror stories but, I had also heard some miracle stories where a person has been given another chance at a "normal" life at a "normal" weight. I want to ride a bike, I want to swim. I have not done either of these things in many, many years. we can have life and health again. this is a safe procedure! If you follow the recommendations from the surgeon and his staff,you will succeed. this forum has sooooo many stories, stories of success. don't get me wrong, it only works if we work. I think that is the biggest surprise to me. this is not the big surgery where they reroute everything from our stomach to colon. we get help with the band, we get health because we decide to change the way we look at food and ourselves. we can do anything, we can be healthy!!! thank you for sharing so much info with us. God bless you as you go through this unbelievable journey!

Wow, you have done so well! you have obviously been working hard. you are doing this to save your life, literally save your life! So much is made of food during the holidays. I think it has always been that way, but it doesn't have to be that way for us. Try to use some visual pics of yourself; healthy, active, physically fit. Remember that you are worth all this work!!!

It was 45 here today, so that helped. I hate our long winters. I will really fight them this year! I want to keep on track with weight and inches going, going, gone!

I agree with the rest. in the beginning we are in such a hurry, afterwards we have so many questions. you will have so many things answered, plus you will have a head start on weight loss. I think you have a great insurance group who want to see you succeed!