pink dahlia

Iim guessing that some people feel fat no matter what because they see and have to deal with their bodies 24/7 and they dont feel "healthy." Feeling " healthy "is just not what i felt 47 lbs ago. I now feel just a little overweight but not "fat" in a bad, negitive way. i think its all in an individuals mindset. i still have about 40-50 lbs to go, but i appreciate the nice compliments i get, and know i feel MUCH "healthier !". Does this make sense to anyone ??In other words i dont feel because i feel so good !!

You will be sooooooooooooo glad you did it ! My only regret is i didnt know about lapband 10 yrs ago. But i do now and im down 47 lbs in 7 months and the time has just flown by ! Good luck to you !

congrats cbarreto ! Way to go ! you're on your way ! And carolinagirl, you WILL get there too ! You did'nt get that weight on overnight, and it wont come off overnight either ! So hang in there !

I just saw your before and after photos ! You look great ! Congratulations and keep up the good work !

My surgery came up a little faster than i expected, but im glad it did. I started my paperwork last Sept 8th, jumped through all the insurance hoops ( they paid 100 % , and yes, im extremely blessed and gratetful to BCBS) and scheduled my last appt w/ the surgeon for Nov 22. After all the paperwork was explained, the Assistant said" How about Dec 27th?" and i heard my voice say "Do you have anything sooner ?" Next thing i know im being banded Dec 13th ! Surprise !!!! I was so ready !!! Im so glad i got it done, the last 7 months have flown by and im down 47 lbs ! I hope yours goes as well as mine did ! good luck !

i have never heard of Boost making someone vomit ! I drink one almost every morning. Could you have eaten something else with the Boost that made you sick ? Just wondering ..............check the health food store for individual packets of a protein powder called ( I think )" Spir u teen" , or "Spirit u Teen" or spelled something like that. They had several yummy flavors and then you could try 1-2 without buying a lot. Just mix with milk . Good luck !

Congrats on your weight loss !!!!!! Im 7 months banded and also down 48 lbs, and while mine has taken a little longer, i'm thrilled too with the lbs coming off ! It sure makes shopping for clothes alot easier , doesnt it ??? What else is easier for you now ? Hope all continues to go well for you, good luck !!!!

And do you reallllllllly think you're the only one who ever cheated and ate something they should'nt have ?? No, most of us just dont tell on ourselves ! A week or 2 out of surgery i could'nt stand one more liquid, so i ate a couple of spoonfuls of tuna mixed with a little mayo. Heaven !!!! Nobodys perfect, we all probably did it, so dont beat yourself up over it. I love my sweets too, so i keep a couple of sf chocolate pudding cups , or TCBY frozen yogurt bars or weight watchers ice cream bars in the freezer for when i HAVE to have ice cream. Having a couple of emergency healthy treats in my house for when the cravings hit has been a big help. good luck !

try visiting your local library to check out exercise videos. they're free for 2 weeks and you get a lot of variety. If you dont like a particular video, you have'nt paid money for it. This will give you alot of variety in your exercise routine so you wont get bored and will stick with exercise. i dont care for weight machines but love swim classes at the Y and walking outdoors. I never get bored with those exercises ! Also check your local Goodwill or 2nd hand stores for exercise videos and books. Good luck !

Um..................#1- Youre awesome !!!!!!, #2- way to go on all the hard work !!!, and #3- im right behind you ! I was banded Dec 13th, 2011 at 225 lbs. Now im 177.7 lbs, only 3 more lbs to get to my 1st 50 lbs weight loss ! Go us !!!

i dont have any problems with the already cooked chickens that are in the grocery store deli, you know the hot , smells so good,ready to go whole chicken ? Those go down easy. But thick , dry chicken bites from the deli ? no way, too thick.So try different textures of chicken, because it is a good protein source. Some one asked" how will i know when im stuck ? " Oh, you'll know alright ! Mine feels like heartburn in the middle of my chest, then it goes to my ribs and feels like a baby inside trying to push on my ribs with his feet ! Uncomfortable !

tmf - you can stand on your head ? awesome !!!!

tmf, that was me that said " Im so stinkin' thrilled with my weight loss i dont care what i cant eat !", and i still feel that way ! The protein shake/liquid phase is just that, a phase. But the weight loss/healthy body ? Honey, thats the rest of your life !!! If its any help. im 6.5 months banded, have lost 45 lbs and i still can eat 95 % of what i ate before. I cant eat raw broccoli, dry meats at all and only about 3 bites of potatoes, tortillas, white breads , and chips before they expand and make me uncomfortable. Other than that i can eat anything. The difference is I CHOOSE not to eat certain foods because since i only have room for so much food i have to make it count . So its mostly protein, fruits, veggies and nuts. Every day or 2 i have a treat, but i really dont miss anything. And if i reaaly want it, ill have a little and im satisfied (Ice cream !) Your old relationship with food is what got you here in the 1st place , so say hello to your new ,healthier ,yummy realtionship with food !

tmf, im laughing as i write this................. please tell me you're not refering to what i think youre refering too ! Ahem .................on that note .................( Did anyone else catch mr smartypants's comment ? Hilarious !!!!) Im doing well,down 45 lbs since December , look and feel 100 % better, roughly 40 -65 lbs to go. I exercise 3x a week, eat better and much smaller meals, and all my clothes are literally falling off of me ! (Oh happy day !!) Thank goodness for 2nd hand stores and friends outgrown clothes ! Down from 225 lbs, frumpy size 18-1x, to a cute size 14 ! (Co-worker "your ass looks amazing !!!" Ummmmmm, Thankyouvery much !!! ) I had hope to have lost 50 lbs by my end of July birthday ( my 1st big goal), only 5 more pounds to go ! Best bday present ever !

The reason you're not losing anymore is because you're not supposed to be losing much at this point. The 1st 6 weeks are for HEALING, not LOSING . Your body has had a shock (surgery) , now its in recovery mode. This is all completely normal, and you're right on track for a healthy body, with a healthy weight loss. Big restriction wont come in until you start getting fills. I had steady and slow weight loss since getting banded last December, then I hit the Green Zone with my 3rd fill, that lasted about 12 days. The Tech said that was completely normal, sometimes that happens. I had no restriction with the 4th or 5th fill, but with the 6th ? Muuuuuuuch better !!!! Now i eat smaller amounts, track everything on Myfitnesspal.com, exercise 3x a week, and the weight is coming off, again. Down 45 lbs so far ! I was patient, followed the rules 95 % of the time, got regular fills and watched myself go from 225 lbs to 180, size 18-1x to a size 14. So be patient, and hang in there !

good for you ! Im looking forward to this ( short ) summer too. Im down 47 lbs( about 50 to go ! ) and can really feel the difference as far as how comfortable i am in the heat, the clothes im wearing , and how i feel. This will be the 1st summer in a long long time that i dont feel uncomfortable in alot of ways. Good luck !

i think you're doing great ! It takes alot of courage to start a journey, and you're already off to a good start. Keep it up ! As far as the scale goes, i think it might put alot of unneccesary pressure on you right now. The scale can change daily, which might upset you until you realize it can be water weight, hormones, digestive issues, etc. i DO weigh myself daily , but i just look the # as a general guide. I dont stress over a pound gained, but the log helps me see the progress ive made. I use my clothes as a guideline too. the bigger they get, the more im losing !!! Good luck to you !

if i figured this right ive lost 47% of my excess weight since last December. yee haw !

Last fall, I also asked my Dr. if he had ever lost a patient in all his years of practice. He truthfully replied that he had never lost a patient due to the band , but 2 had passed away not too long after they were banded due to other health problems. Fair enough answer. I dont assume that just because somebody has the letters MD after their name that they know everything. I did my homework, researched and asked questions, so when i made my decision, it was based on knowledge, not just assumption. i think if you have done all your homework, you'll be less likely to worry about problems. Personaly, Id rather take the tiny risk of dying during surgery than the huge risk of dying from obesity related problems. So, my getting banded ?? Best decision i ever made. Good luck !

No disrespect intended, but................. to me looking "better" is just one of the many bonus's we all got with the band. Yes, we all got banded to get slimmer and healthier, but if you're going to lose excess weight you kind of have to expect that you're going to look "better." That just goes with the territory ! Diamonds rings are nice looking but when you have them cleaned and polished, they look even better ! Nothing wrong with the diamond in the first place, it just looks better when its polished. Well honey....................... you're a diamond too !!!!

congrats ! I have the same problem. Ill eat healthy and exercise and the scale wont budge ! Then ill do the exact same things and the scale will drop 2 lbs for no reason. Cant figure it out !

Im doing the Happy Dance for all of you ! Way to hang in there !! Iv been banded since last December, down 47 lbs ( and still losing ! ) and feel 100 % better. Wish id known aboutt the band years ago, its so worth it. Recovery and surgery was a breeze, the last 6 months have gone by so quick and easy. Hope yours goes well !! Good luck !

Oooooh Jachut, i love your comment about being able to call yourself a runner ! Way to go ! I cant wait until i can call myself a runner too ! I have a loooooooong way to go before i can call myself a runner but im looking forward to it. Funny story------ a few months ago i was slowwwwwwly jogging on our local walking trail when a toddler wandered into my path. His mom pulled him aside and gently said "watch out for the runner, honey !" ( Me!??? A "runner?") God bless you lady, you just made my day !!

my stitch lasted for about 10 days after being banded. It felt like a badly pulled muscle. Other than that I felt fine. My Dr said it was perfectly normal and would go away in a week to 12 days or so. He was right again !

Tough love comin' your way honey............... i think you're very, very smart for researching, doing your homework and knowing what you're getting into BEFORE you get banded. I did all that too , and so I was very comfortable and relaxed about being banded 7 months ago. I also had a very good idea what to expect after surgery, so i think that added to my overall easy time so far. I learned a very hard lesson years ago that just because somebody had an M.D. after their name doesnt mean they know what they're doin'.(Different procedure all together .) That bein said, YOUR research is for YOUR journey, not your Dads. HIS research (if any) is done for HIS journey. He may or may not have different issues, problems or success's than you, but at least you'll know what to do for YOUR body. Im down 47 lbs, look and feel 100 % better. Best decision ever !!! Good luck !