crzytchr

I never wore shapers either until I started losing weight. Now, I wear one almost daily. I have the most horrendous legs known to man (at least I think so), therefore, I wear the capri shaper under my pants I wear to work. Hanes puts out one that has good control for 8.50 at WalMart. If you ever decide to try the Spanx-type line, the same woman makes the Assets, but they cost less. I find mine at Target. Oh, and yeah, getting them on the first time IS aerobic exercise. Heck, I think we ought to be able to log that time in our calories burned.

This is exactly my approach. I have my band looser than most people. I can eat most any food I want, and I do. I just eat less of it. I did not get banded to starve or drink protein drinks for the rest of my life.

I followed your blogs at the beginning and then for some dumb reason, stopped reading. What was I thinking?! You are one smart cookie!!!

Welcome and congratulations on your decision. lf your insurance requires the 6 month supervised diet, I suggest starting it asap. Get your pcp to find out what is required and do it. Also, on the dl, ask the bariatric surgeon what weight you don't want to go below. Although, you may find that on the 6 month diet you are able to lose. I could always lose, the problem was keeping it off, which, with my band isn't so hard anymore. Good luck!

Ok, most of the rules sound like what I follow. I stop liquids 30 min before meals and I don't drink for an hour after. Now, the 3 min chewing "crap". NO WAY. I chew well and I pause maybe 20 seconds then I eat another bite.

I eat consistently 1200-1500 calories per day and I log everything that goes into my mouth on fitday.com to make sure I am honest. I normally take 15-20 min to eat.

For instance: If we go out to eat I can eat about:

-1/4-1/3 of a regular cheeseburger and maybe 7 fries.

-Pizza- would be 1 slice of a 10".

-2 chicken tenders and maybe a few fries

-1/2 cup refried beans with 1 serving of chips (yes, I count them out) with cheddar and ff sour cream

Also, I drink a Starbucks venti non-fat caramel mocha no whip (2 pumps mocha, 4 pumps sf caramel ) every day

Good luck going through the process. This is the single best thing I have ever done for myself. I feel so much better. I get up every morning and I am not in pain. I look better in my clothes and after losing 80 lbs so far, my self confidence is much higher. I haven't experienced any negative effects and hopefully never will. I LOVE MY BAND!!!!

I have been where you are now and I will tell you that when your stepdaughter is older she will understand more about what is going on. No matter how angry and unfair things seem, try to not bash mom in front of her. Your stepdaughter will thank you. My stepdaughter is now 25 (married her dad when she was 7) and she calls me mom and doesn't speak to her own mom.

We went through everything you are going through and lots more. My stepdaughter wanted to live with her dad and myself but her mom wouldn't let someone else raise her child. She was more worried about what people would say than about what was best for her daughter.

But on the issue of the myspace, just REALLY supervise if you think she should have one. It can get dangerous. Also, please don't let your stepdaughter think she can start playing y'all against one another. She is entering the teen years and will definitely try. Hopefully her mom will wake up and you can start working together to raise her instead of separate. Unfortunately we were never able to get to the point.

It sounds like you are totally getting screwed. I bet if you checked for the self pay fee, it is less than 20K. They totally inflate what they charge because we have insurance.

All I can say, good luck. I will send a little prayer for you. If it is any consolation, you probably couldn't enjoy the food anyway, with the stress you are under.

I totally love the porthole! Good luck tomorrow and update when you get a chance.

I have never slimed for that long, but I have had birthday cake stick on me. I drank a little coffee and it made the cake go down. Try a warm beverage next time, or like me now, just avoid that dang cake! :/

Trina, congratulations on your weightloss so far and changing your eating habits. If you feel you need another fill, go for it. You may, however, not want to get a lot put in. If you do have some restriction, you risk becoming too tight. Many people say sometimes just getting .5ccs put in is enough to tweak their band.

Good Luck

Many say that the band feel tighter when your cycle is close, but you may need to go see your doctor to make sure there isn't anything else wrong. I just recently found out during my routine check up that my uterus is swollen twice its size due to fibroids and I am having a hysterectomy on Monday. Just get it checked out to make sure nothing is wrong. It sounds like you are experiencing bad problems during your cycle. Please go get it checked out.

Congratulations on the Grandma news! I am 40 and my stepdaughter just gave birth to my 3rd grandchild, all girls!!! Sorry to hear about the work new, though. That really sucks. Good luck with that.

Congratulations on your surgery! I was told I HAD to consume 60-80g of protein each day. The first week they had to be clear. I chose the New Whey protein bullets (42g). I bought them at GNC. They are only 3 oz of fluid, so they are easy to get down. If you think they are too thick, then mix them with sugar free kool aid. You are still supposed to consume some calories. I may have gained weight at first, I don't know. I didn't have a scale, but at day 11 at my post op visit I had lost 15 lbs. Please start getting the protein calories in you so you don't get too weak.