pink dahlia

i guess it all depends on each persons mindset. Im 6 months out too, down 44 lbs , and beyond thrilled with the weight loss! I look and feel 100 % better, have more energy, sleep better, my clothes are falling off, and im getting lots of nice compliments too. I look upon this as a slow but steady journey on the way to Healthyville. "Rome was'nt built in a day and neither was your butt !" It took time to gain that weight, and it will take time to lose that weight. So, hang in there ! wewill get there when we are supposed to ! good luck !

Oh , and no changes in your activities as far as i know, same as usual unless your Dr says otherwise.

i would check with your Dr as to what they do and dont want you to do before the fill as every dr is probably different. Mine just says no food for 4 hrs before the fill and no more liquids for 1 hr before the fill. The fill itself is easy, they just have you sip this yucky tasting drink and watch on a screen as it goes down . You are laying down on a table or recling chair , then the tech puts the needle full of saline in your port, you say ouch and you're done. Kinda like being at the denist for a cleaning, its no big deal. my Dr says liquids only for the next 48 hrs, then carefully try out solids to see how you react. (After my 5th fill i couldnt get near raw broccoli, i miss it but i dont miss the extra weight !) Anyway , its easy....... so good luck !

Ohhhhhhh, it only gets better !!! Its not egotistical or vain to want people to notice your weight loss. Not only do you look better, but you're feeling better too and you've put alot of hard work into yourself . Way to go !

and you should be excited !!!! its a huge accomplisment ! way to go ! you're on your way to a healthy body and you make a good choice for yourself, no body else. congratulations on the hard work and the weight loss !

my dr also told me "protein first, then veggies or fruit, then carbs." I was also told to stay up on fills, meaning if i was eating more than a 1/2 cup to 1 cup per meal, and really hungry in between meals to come in for a fill. Well it took my 6th fill a couple of weeks ago to hit the green zone , but i finally got there ! Now im full after about 3/4 of a cup with a couple of small healthy snacks in between meals. The weight is now coming off much easier, so get those fills ! Makes all the difference ! ( down 45 lbs in 6 months !) Good luck !

my pain was hardly noticeable. i took the horrible pain meds for 2 days, then didnt need them. It felt like a badly pulled muscle on my left side for 10 days. i went lite Xmas shopping 3 days after getting the band. The only foods i really have trouble with are raw broccoli, dry chicken or dry pork and can only do about 3 bites of potatoes, bread or chips. . I had a bad episode after 3 small sips of a strawberry restaurant margarita ( Low end tequila ?), other than that , rarely any probs, just have to remember "eat slowwwwwwwwwly !" ( I 'm so stinkin' thrilled with my weight loss i dont even care about what i cant eat ! 42 lbs since December !) Good luck to you !

a pillow in the car for your ride home, you might be still groggy and need a nap. Good luck !

i didnt have alot of restriction until my 3rd fill, then it only lasted about 12 days. The tech says that happens sometimes. My 4th and 5th fill didnt change my restriction alot , but i was still loosing weight, just slowly, about 1 lb a week. My Dr was pleased, so was I , but i was still eating too much so i went for a 6th fill recently and finally hit the Green Zone. Im down 42 lbs since Dec 13th, 2011 ! I eat my protein first , then fruit and veggies, then carbs. I seem to do best with small meals or a snack every 2-3 hrs. i eat alot of Bruce Aidells chicken meatballs, turkey jerky, hb eggs, peanut butter, ground turkey, fish, and some red meat. i keep track on My fitness pal. com. i avoid fast food exxcept for Wendys chili, and the very rare bite or two of a cheesburger and fries. I started a swim fitness class 3x a week last fall. That and walking have made a huge difference with my weight loss. hope this helps ! Good luck and be patient !

Since ive lost some weight i have lots more self confidence because i look and feel better. the compliments dont hurt either, especially from men ! ( Im married , not dead !) The cuter clothes are in a smaller size, i have more energy , im sleeping better and am able to run a little. Im wearing a belt ! A cute one ! etc. One day after i had lost about 30 lbs i had an unexpected nsv. I sat down on the couch to paint my toenails, and i very easily pulled my heel up to my rear where i could easily reach my feet . i had not been able to paint my own toenails comfortably in many , many years because my big ol' stomach had been in the way ! Not anymore ! So im looking forward to hiking, riding a horse , being a runner, dropping more weight, having my pants get too big again, getting rid of my sleep apnea machine, climbing in to our fishing boat without rocking it, etc................im saving money because i eat less, so i spend it at Goodwill on clothes that will fit my shrinking body !

good question ! I never thought of a reward, as i felt my newly slim healthy body would be my reward , but i love the idea of a ring as a reminder of my accomplishment. Great idea !( I do love silver and diamonds !)

Look into some different forms of exercise and see what interests you. I dont like weights, treadmill, or dance classes of any kind, but i love the water fitness class i take 3x a week. That , plus walking and a little jogging has helped alot . once i lost some weight i felt i could try something new, so 2 weeks ago i tried Spinning, and i didnt do too bad. It was kinda fun ! So , keep an open mind and try something new ! Good luck !

Leave a roll of lifesavers and a bottle of water in the car for the ride home. Surgery and recovery was a breeze except for the cottonmouth i had all day. Lifesavers and alot of water helped . Good luck ! Im so glad i did it !

I was banded about 6 months ago. BEST. DECISION. EVER. Last December i weighed 225 lbs. , was unhappy in my own skin, tired all the time, wearing a size 18/1x , yada yada yada..................you know what im talking about . Today i weigh 182 and am still losin about a lb or so a week.. My energy is way up, i love the healthier and happier me, and im wearing a size 14 skinny jean ! (Me !!!) The extremely minor problems have been my own fault, , like eating too fast or too big a bite. No big deal . The positives are far outweighing the smaller negitives , which in my case are i cant eat raw broccoli or dry chicken. Um, oh darn................ My surgery was so easy, i went Christmas shopping 3 days after surgery. Other than feeling like i had a bad pulled muscle on my left side, i had no pain. I could go on and on about the positives but you get the message. The only thing you'll regret is not getting banded sooner. JUST DO IT !!!

Give it about 10 days, you'll feel lots better ! I found hot tea ( decaf), and lots of water, and hot chicken broth ( Campbells)helped.. Im down 44 lbs in 6 months and i have no regrets ! Good luck !

im thinking your diet is too boring and the same ALL the time ! I understand that you do better when you know what you're going to eat so you dont have to think about it, but i think there's a better way to live than just the same 3 foods ! You might want to look at some good healthy foods, and then prepare them 1-2 x a week. Put them in small tupperware containers marked "Protein", "fruit" "veggie" and "carb." Then when you're ready to eat, its all ready to go. Others might have better food ideas, but heres mine. Protein = chicken breast, hard boiled eggs, salmon or turkey burger ,fish, turkey jerky, sliced steak, and my all time favorite Bruce Aidells chicken teriyaki meatballs. Mmmmmmmmm..... Fruit and veggies are what ever you like, and carbs = brown rice, whole wheat noodles, yukon gold potatoes. (My hubbys diabetic, so most of our meals are diabetic friendly.) Its all grab and go, a no brainer ! Hope this works for you. Good luck !

Keep the appt. The only thing you'll regret is that you didnt get banded sooner. It is sooooooo worth it ! Im down 44 lbs (started at 225, now 181 ) in 6 months, i cant believe how much better i look and feel. Ive gone from a size 18 to a 14, have lots more energy, my pants are too loose (again !) im getting lots of nice compliments, i like what i see in the mirror, im getting stronger and like seeing my belly disapear, etc.... ( Ive dealt with depression, its not pretty, all the exercise and healthier food helps alot ,............. so Keep. The. Appt !!!

i dont live anywhere close to your state but as far as" the struggles and failing again", well being overweight is a struggle too. And who hasnt "failed" on diets ?? If diets worked for everyone they would of never invented LapBand. Look upon the band as gift that does take some work, but what doesnt ? Weight loss isnt easy, but my dr said if i stuck with the rules 95 % of the time , i would do fine. (making good food choices, small bites, chew well and exercise 3-4 x a week )" Thats it ? Thats all i have to do and i'll really loose weight ? Seriously ? " Well , guess what ? I was banded last December and im down from 225 to 181 as of today ! (Me in a size 14 skinny jean ? Unbelievable !) I look and feel 100 % , i(Only 50 lbs to go !), my pants that fit fine a month ago were too big yesterday, ( whiny voice here......Shopping againnnnnnnn ??????????) i have lots more energy etc......, Oh honey , it is sooooo worth ! Get banded !!!

Hang in there ! It does get better, it just takes a little time . As tmf said, your body is recovering from surgery , it usually takes a week or so for your body to get all the anesthsia and stuff out of it. Try sucking on ice cubes and popsicles for your water, or hot drinks seem to go down much better, so try some Campbells chicken soup (minus the noodles and meat) or some hot decaf tea. You'll feel much better. You need to take it one day at a time, Im 6 months banded and sooooooo glad i did it, its been so worth it ! Hang in there !

lots of things....................riding a horse again, running more than 100 feet w/o getting winded, not having my muscles ache and breathing heavy. not being tired so much, sleeping better, wearing cute running clothes, feeling comfortable in my own skin.....................

I love Propel drinks or Vitamin water. Both are slightly sweet with a good taste, no calories , carbs , sugars or sodium.

I was banded Dec13th, 2011 and ive lost 42 lbs, 5 of them pre-op.

You. Are. Amazing............. Congrats and best of luck ! ( I never thought i would be so happy to say "I weigh 199 lbs !!!!" , but hey, it felt pretty damn good when it finally happened !!! ) Way to go ! Keep up the hard work !!!

i agree with SageTracey, its healing time, not neccesarily loosing time. I just had my 6th fill 8 days ago and FINALLY hit the green zone. i hit the green zone for about 12 days with my 3rd fill, that went away and i ended up getting a 4th, 5th and a 6th. I hope this sticks around for awhile ! Loosing slower means your body has the time to adjust and keep it off ! Good luck ! ( Fills are pretty easy , they're not a big deal.)

great question !! i honestly dont know, i never even thought about it . Hmmmmmmmmmmm.............If this is any help i never had a weight problem until around 30 years old (Im almost 54) i was a skinny muscular kid right through late 20's. Im 5'3, always weighed about 120-125. When i got married at 29 I weighed 143, had a child 18 months later and thats when i started having trouble with my weight. My metabolism slowed way down around late 20's, and I think i inheirited my 1 grandmothers and my 1 great grandmothers weight problems. Both were between 4'11 and 5'3 and were heavy. My mom and dad and brother are all normal weight. So i dont think losing weight is easier or harder, as im going through the same struggles as everyone else (dieting, weight watchers ,etc, with poor results, hence, Ta-da !!!!! The Lap Band ! So far , so good !! Down from 225 to 184 and hope i can get back to 143 !