LittleGirlBlue

Flank lipo... Darn autocorrect! I am really swollen. Especially in my upper legs and thighs. Crazy because I had nothing done in my upper legs and thighs. The worst part to date has been the itchiness from lipo.

Bed rest... Will post pics in a few days:). Pressed send too early in my last message. Ooops!

Okay- I have been unable to sign in to LBT for four days now. I'm fine on my iPhone but cannot sign in from my laptop, the family PC, or my laptop at work. Anyone else having problems?

XiolaBlue77... Goal weight for December 29th~ 130 Weight on December 1st~135.2 Age~35 Dietary goal for December~pack a healthy lunch everyday Exercise goal for December~Improve jogging time Personal goal for December~Don't let the holidays get me down Date banded~12/23/2011 (one year this month) Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~49.8 lbs What is your favorite Winter/Christmas/Holiday Activity?~Spending time with the kids during break.

XiolaBlue77 feel free to add me:)

Just curious how all you low BMI bandsters are doing. It's been extremely slow but I'm down to 136:). Happy girl!!! BMI of 23

My doctor and banded friends think I am crazy- I travel quite often for work. I always struggle eating the day I travel. I even struggle trying to get liquids down. After a good nights rest on land I'm fine. While I know there is no scientific proof does anyone else tighten when they travel- high altitudes.

I fly at least two weeks a month so 48+ flights a year. I've been noting those "rough" days. It seems to always coincide with anxiety/stress. Let's just say I am keeping Starbucks in business on travel days. Their strawberry banana protein smoothie with non-fat milk keeps me kickin:)

Yes to both. Work is stressful and I get anxious at the airport so it could be both.

I am a low BMI Lap Bander- 5'4.5" starting my journey at 185 pounds. I lost 5 pounds during my two week pre-op diet and had surgery on December 23, 2011. While the surgeon was banding me he fixed a hiatal hernia, so the recovery was rough (I haven't had acid reflux since before my pre-op diet). Today I am down 47 pounds with 8 pounds to goal and 13 pounds to my personal goal. I didn't think I would ever wear a size 5 again and here I am wearing a size 5 with a little room in the waist. In seven weeks it will have been one year- one year with my band and in that seven weeks I don't doubt I will lose that 8 pounds. Wow, what can I say? This has been amazing, it has hurt, I’ve been over-filled and under-filled- it has been very emotional and has taken a tremendous amount of effort and dedication. I learn more about myself everyday- learning new ways to cope with stress; really, it isn't healthy to stuff your woes down your mouth... that was the hardest lesson. All that said I wouldn't take a single day or moment back. Today's reward was a call to a well-known reconstructive surgeon, I want my high school gymnast flat belly and perky boobies back. I lost them somewhere along the way.

I was told no swimming or bath (shower only) until after two week appt. and doc released me.

Added XiolaBlue77

I would like to start using myfitnesspal more often too... I've had an account for about a year but don't know anyone else that uses it so I have no motivation to open up the app. Please add me... XiolaBlue77

I'm with ya... 15 lbs by June 7th! That will leave me 15 lbs to goal:D

Interesting... We are learning every day. I realized today that stress can trigger left shoulder pain for me. I've seen some people post about stress making them feel tighter and/or they can't eat as much when syressed. Just wondering if that cam push on the phrenic nerve. I know if I have waited to long to pee (sorry if this is TMI) the pressure and fullnes pushes on enough internal stuff that I have left shoulder pain. I'm 3 1/2 months out. Please keep updating- I like learning about what each of you experience.

My surgery was on 12/23/2011... I just keep telling myself 5 pounds at a time. Five pounds is a victory even if it takes 5 weeks:). I only weigh in on Saturday morning and I am hoping this Saturday gets me to 155. Then the fight starts for 150. One day at a time- I don't punish myself for failure but rather acknowledge it immediately. I am trying to exercise 3 - 4 times a week- nothing too intense.

On surgery day I had a BMI just over 30:) I couldn't be happier... although the weight loss is extrememly slow.

Do or die- mine was do or waste your life away in a wheelchair. I have been criticized as a low BMI bander- why didn't I just lose the weight? Why? Because I have the same problem we all have- I can't keep it off. I can lose it a hundred times over. I needed a tool to help me with portion size. I couldn't be happier and and trying my hardest to learn how to live with the band. I understand your frustration with the site- last night I posted about managing head hunger and most of the responses I got were related to portion size. While there were a few great responses about head hunger I was discouraged. Especially after someone criticized me for not going through the pre-surgery counseling- the person stated it should be mandatory... What? If I had waited any longer who knows what my condition would have been. Sorry now I am venting, the point is when asking for advice you expect advice, shared experiences, not opinions.

So I had my third fill three weeks ago; 7.5 in an 11cc band. I have great restriction- not to little and not too much. The problem is I was banded on December, a self-pay patient that went through no pre-op counseling. I thought that after 10 weeks of reduced portions I would have no problem when I finally felt restriction but I do. It's like my head tells me to just try to get in one or two more bites- even when I'm full. No wasting!!! Of course that no wasting mentality makes for one or two bites too much:(. Followed by misery sometimes purging and PBing. How have each of you overcome this head hunger; the feeling you are depriving yourself?

Hmm... Thank you all. I'm struggling with the head hunger not portion size. It's knowing when how much of the 1/2 cup portion is enough. It's good to hear that some of you have struggled with the same thing and have tactics to approach it:) I'll be messaging you for that egg trick. Thank you!

I was diagnosed with MS last year and my Doctor was clear with me loose the weight or lose your livelihood. I am a low BMI lap-bander right about 32. The lack of insurance insurance coverage didn't stop me. I am a self-pay. Had the procedure at DayOne Health in Chicago (one of the best) 13K with all fills paid for the first year. Just filed my tax return and was able to claim the surgery- yeah to my CPA... my refund without claiming surgery was about $500- with the surgery a little more than 4K. 9K out of pocket for a surgery that will save my life- doesn't get much better than that.

To share or not to share... I shared with my husband who was semi-supportive, now three months post-op very supportive. My two children 15 & 12, who love watching mom lose weight- they've watched me work to a size 2 three times to always gain back plus more. They are excited that this time mom has something to help keep it off. My mom and my sister because they both struggle with weight (they were asked not to say anything to other family members). No one else needs to know. I'm a self pay low BMI patient- it's my journey, it's personal!

Good luck tomorrow! Keep your head up:)

Hot liquids in the morning to open you up... thanks for sharing!

So... Banded 12/23. Just had my third fill Monday. I have an 11cc band with 7.5cc's in it. Prior tI Monday's fill I had 6.5cc's in it. I'm close to the green zone but am hoping for some feedback... St 6.5 I had virtually no restriction, 7.5 and boy do I have restriction. It takes a couple hours in the morning to open up. I'm starting slowly with juice- one med at a time over the course of about an hour. Mid-morning carnation instant breakfast. Late lunch typically of soup, small snack (usually a mushie) and then dinner- something soft. I know it's only been 4 days into the fill do my question is at what point do I begin to evaluate whether my intake is what has been recommended by the nutritionalist (pretty close right now- just need about 200 more calories) or make the decision that I may need .2 or .3 removed? Doctors office was pleased when I called and told me that the swelling should go down within the next few days and not to worry. Thoughts?