PattyGirl66

I love it!!! that is a great idea I will deff. have to run out and buy me colorful baby spoons too.

Waiting.... it has got to be the worse part! blah..... Hang in there, I am waiting too

I had a friend of 30 years who lost weight. She lost 40 pounds on her own and had 25 pounds sucked out by getting a full tummy tuck and breast lift. With that, she became insensitive, rude, obnoxious, and crude. I can say a lot more, but won't go there. We both have struggled with our weight all of our lives. I am much taller than she is and always weighed 100 more pounds than her. Even though I carry my weight very well, she had no problems of ridiculing 'fat' women in my presence. The last two years of our friendship, I could no longer bare to be near her, not to mention be her friend of 30 years. She became difficult to talk to, confide in, and plain just be a friend. It was about her and only her and no one else in her life mattered anymore. We are well in our 40's, close to 50 and with behavior like this I could no longer deal with her and ended the friendship over a year ago. The only people who know I am getting surgery is my daughter, husband, Mother, and my precious 5 year old granddaughter (even though she doesn't understand) she knows Nana is getting a band around her stomach to get healthy. I hate to say this but, in my experience with seeing people lose weight (especially women), they become competitive, envious, and even jealous. I can't deal with these types of personalities and that is why I chose to keep my weight loss journey hush hush with only certain family members. My brothers and sisters don't even know.... Best of luck to you all and remember to always stay true to yourselves

Stateofzen really puts this conversation about 'sagging' skin into perspective. I sag now from my weight and probably will sag even more. I look great in clothes that hide my imperfections, my husband loves me unconditionally (even at this weight). What more could I ask for, except to lose weight, be successful and doing that and keeping it off. I want to be healthy, nothing more nothing less. I could give a rats azz what people think about me when they look at me (well they won't be looking at me nakid), lol. Beauty is confidence, and you would be surprised how many men love confident woman. When I was single I was over 300 pounds and had many dates and yes they saw me naked, they didn't run. Remember sexy is not how you look, its about attitude. For now, we have to learn to 'accept' and love ourselves no matter what.... PS: You look great and you should be proud of how far you have come!

I am a newbie too and still waiting on approval (3 more months to go).. this waiting has got to be the worse, but I am so glad I found this site. Keep us posted on your journey and best of luck to you

Hi Violet!!! I know the site has been undergoing technical difficulties for days. Now that the site is up and running the chat function is not. I miss my nightly chats with everyone. Its nothing on your side, so don't worry about it. Hopefully the chat will be up and running so we can all catch up! See you in the Chat soon

whooohooooo way to go!

Hi Grace, you found the right site here. Everyone is so nice and very helpful! I read every day, trying to get a good insight on what to expect once I get banded (I am on a 6 month restricted diet with 3 more months to go). I only lost 9 pounds so far, its very hard, I am limited with exercise and will be joining the Y to at least get some exercise in. I do a lot of stretching at home. Best of luck you can do it!!

Good for you! Keep going Soda is really not good for you, whether it be reg. or diet. Try water with fresh fruit

Cazzy, you are absolutely correct with everything you said. I have been doing a lot of reading on here and I beleive that no matter how much you weigh you can reach goal no matter how long it takes, its getting there. We have been heavy all of our lives if we have to wait 2-3 years to accomplish it, I would take that any day!! Nice post

I would call the doctor or just go to the ER asap as well if I were you. I mean you are telling us that you have pain traveling from your shoulder to your jaw. Is this common for banded people? Anyone else have these symptoms? I am not banded yet and would like to know.

That is good to know, thank you so much for sharing

Joining the Y this week, can't wait! I can only do water areobics as well due to my severe arthritis. I love the water so much, so this exercise I will enjoy You can do it!

You poor thing! I think people really don't think when they say things, honestly I am sure this was not to be intended as an insult to you, but I guess hearing this person saying that to you when you are feeling lots of different emotions now really hit you hard. Just think you are doing the best thing for you, and had you been 125 lbs, that person would of said the same thing and you wouldn't of taken it so personally. This reminds me when I ran into an old flame of mine that I was just crazy about, he said he missed me and thought about me often, he began to tell me what he missed the most..... My cooking he said. I just remember fighting back the tears as I tried to absorb what he said. I went home and cried, bawled like a baby, and when I stopped I thought about it... and just yelled F U Mother ......... well you can guess the rest Hang in there sweety, hold your head up high, and keep smiling...

Me too! I am so anxious but I can tell you this, if it wasn't for this site I would go craaaazy! I am basically prepared, on my 3rd month. Only did one test so far the bloodwork and I got called in already for my results by my primary doctor, so I am sure something showed up. I have 3 more test to take, EKG, Chest X-ray, and Bilaterial Venous Duplex. I am doing that next week. I saw the Nutrionist already, still have to see the phsyc doctor. My doctor will be writing up a 5 year weight history. Also, being here gives me comfort and knowledge. I have ordered a few bags of Protein replacment shakes, ordering gummy Vitamins and such, need a really good food processor (that is next on my list to buy). I am going to join a gym this week, I can only do Water areobics because I have severe arthritis, a hip replaced a few years back and my other hip is going. This leaves me pretty much limited in the exercise department. But, I will do the best I can. I have a stretching rope here and do that. Best of luck, keep us posted on your journey!

Hi Linda, I haven't been banded yet myself and I had the same questions about that. Basically as Wayne said it will come up, this really depends on what it is you are eatting. Probably something not allowed to eat or maybe eatting too fast, not chewing up the food before swallowing. I guess our mouths are going to become automatic blenders, LOLOL Dry foods may be the culprit, like breads crackers, etc.

Keep us posted on your progress, and congratulations!!!!

I can't wait for the day I can bend and actually tie my sneaker laces. If you all can relate to that.

These are normal fears. Any type of surgery is scary. You are reacting very normal. I have the same fears, if we didn't, then I would worry

I also have not had the surgery as of yet ( I am waiting on approval). This site is the best site for support you can find. You are right about something, this is just a tool (so I have also been told). We have to work with it, it will not work for us. Please talk with your surgeon and meet with other people on here, there is a chat room you can discuss everything with, I am almost in there every night for support. I can't give you the answers you are looking for because I have not been banded yet, but there are tons of people on here that have and can give you the best advice. You are not a failure, don't give up on yourself (thats my motto). Hope to see you in the chat some time,

Hi Joel, I think the first thing you should do is see your primary physcian who originally put you on BP meds. When I lost a lot of weight a very long time ago my BP meds were way too strong and every time I got up I would feel very light headed and dizzy, a very weird feelilng. When your BP drops you will feel this way. High BP would more than likely experience headaches, heart palpitations, etc. Deff see your doctor, you have lost a tremendous amount of weight in such a small time and I reckon your body could be taking a physical toll because of the drop. Keep us posted! PS: I have gained back so much weight since then and I am on a higher dose of BP meds now because it spiked. I am 4 months shy of getting aproval for the lapband surgery

Best of luck to you, and please keep us posted on your journey. Us newbies want to know all the details

Wow Wayne, that is remarkable! I have been told by so many people that the band won't help me to acheive my goal because of the weight I need to lose, but coming here and reading everyone's story gives me very high hopes. I have about 150 pounds to shed and I know that I am going to have to work very hard at this.

I am so glad I found this blog. I think every single women's worst fear is her hair falling out. Yes, we first want to be healthy that is why we are all doing this, right? I see my nutrionist tomorrow and will take notes. I see biotin and flaxseed from the comments above helps. I am over 300 pounds so I best get all the protein in as possible. Someone commented above about 150 grams of protein (is that even possible to do in a day)? I haven't a date yet for surgery, I am in the very early process and have 5 more monitored months to go.

I really am happy to say I am glad Christmas is over. I cooked and baked for weeks. I over ate, ate, and ate. Like it was the last super. I have not had surgery yet. I have my first weigh in tomorrow (blah) and really not looking forward to it. 3 days after christmas and getting weighed is not what I am looking for. I see the nutrionist tomorrow, find out my results for my blood work. I have 5 more months, its going to be a long haul and I seriously need to get myself on track here. Best of luck to you both on getting back on track.