☠carolinagirl☠

stay motivated? with me having 100+ pounds to lose, i find just going day by day, pound by pound helps me stay motivated. by not worrying about the big picture. what works for you? i am asking because we are in this together...

dont get mad but instead of worrying about the what if it breaks or something like that, how about thinking how much better your life will be when you get healthier and lose weight?? worrying about something that may or may not happen is pointless. live in the now. all the best and good luck with your upcoming surgery.

cant say its pointed but i do have a (hard) spot where my port incision is. you can get your doctor to check it out. i am guessing as i continue to lose weight it maybe more visible. OH well. I am just happy i am losing. all the best

never heard of anyone being born obese but i guess its possible. if they dont do the sleeve which is what you want, why not the bypass? from your post: 'm sad and unsure if I should go thru with the band because of all the restriction (what restriction? you can eat whatever you want. i do.. the band helps us eat less and when fills start you will lose weight. but that doesnt give you free range to just chow down (healthy food can be fattening too)....on how you chew your food, (you chew your food until is mushy so it will pass the narrow opening caused by the band/fills. if you take big bites it may come back up or you will feel sick to your stomach....overeating will do that too) swallow the food, (we all swallow regardless of what WLS we have) you have to eat slow (most overweight people (me for one) would inhale the food. so what, you eat slower and enjoy the food. the taste. what is wrong with that?) the food gets stuck (if you eat too fast or took big of bites or you are too tight----you can work with that) you cant guzzle drinks (who says? i can)...you have to take small bits (.....and what is wrong with taking small bites? nothing. i cut my food small. its okay to do. i cant eat a huge bite no way)...you have to have enough cc's for restriction in order to loss...(i have very little cc in me from my surgery in june but am down nearly 60.....again, that is me taking control of my banded life. seems to work for me) from your post: although its simple, you can only eat 2-4 oz meals, no matter how u chew or swallow (you are instructed by the dr's to only eat a cup of food with the band or 4 oz of Protein. its up to the person follow those rules. i could eat more i am sure but i make myself not too so i can lose weight. if you cant control your food then the sleeve or bypass would work better. overeating is overeating with whatever surgery you get). since you know what it is like to be obese (as i have) you know how that feels. dont knock something until you give it a chance. quit focusing on the what if's.....the i cant have's or the (things you said is happening with the band)....it works if you want it too.....its not an easy or a quick fix. you do have to change what you eat. i hope you get what ever surgery you can and that you can be on your way to better health. you sound like a great person.

yellow rose, outstanding post. def gives this newbie bander a great outlook. congrats again on your progress YOWSA

I will say my surgeon did not say that nor even reference it. I am happy to admit my surgeon let me (choose) what I wanted. He did tell me the differences with all WLS the pro's and con's and so on. Keeping in mind that any surgery has a risk factor, I was able to decide what I wanted and what was best for me. (and that my insurance approved). So I took (the very small risk with the band (and keeping my head and watchful for anything that seems like complications) I plowed ahead. If I hadn;t done this choice, I would not be as mobile as I am now and not nearly 60 pounds lighter since June. Your decision. Your $ Do what works for you. Find a doctor to support you. all the best.

i would think anyone with a weight problem has been there and done that and sometimes back again many times. appreciate you acknowledged it and now you can just get on with your life and making yourself well. i know you can do it

you were gorgeous then and you are gorgeous now. you are doing super fantastic. you are def an inspiration to me. wonderful wonderful job

short and sweet sure the bypass will help you lose weight (faster sometimes) and so can the band. news flash---anyone with any WLS can gain their weight back if they start overeating the wrong foods again. (its up to the person with the band to do the hard work, you know eat right, eat the 1 cup required food and excercise). some people dont have manners. i hear that alot too. but you know what, i made the decision to make myself well. haters gonna hate regardless. seems to me, people who dont know sh** about the band or understand it have the most neg nellies comments. do this for you and be successful you already are in my book

like others who have posted.......who said you are banned from those things for life?? did you sign a form with the fat fairy? (please note i am joking) heck no. to my understanding you can eat whatever you want. but its up to you to make the right decisions on what to eat. i havent had a fill yet and from some other band experts, some say some things get stuck (bread/pasta etc) and then some it doesnt bother them...... i think its a live and learn how to eat process. to restrict yourself is another diet. allow the band to work and make you feel full. eat what you want and what you like (you are not on a diet) you are eating to live. the only thing my dr said for me to stay away from is carbonation. all the best. i am sure you will do fantastic

i am a black coffee drinker. i now drink half reg and half decaf. do they not have ff creamers and sugar free substitutes you could use? i am guessing a wee bit of either wont make a hill of beans if you drink one or two cups a day..sorry, wish i could offer more

its not a issue with will power this has to be your (want to power) its simple....lets get past the scared stuff, the what if's...... you and me (and everyone on here with a band or other WLS) had problems with over eating. we got heavy, fat (obese--me for one) we decided to do something about it. get help. the band is only a 3 in plastic thing they put around your stomach at the top. thats it. it will make you feel full after small amounts (when the fills start) but you have to decide what to eat. if you continue to eat junk/fat foods, you already know what will happen. the dr will give you the do's and dont's that is up to you to follow dont be scared leave the drama outside on the sidewalk where it belongs get yourself well you are the only one who can do this for you i know you can if you (want) to. ps--you are never alone on this forum. we are here for you.

are you eating over a cup of food? are you eating too fast? are you taking too big of bites?? you could be. slow down, chew chew chew and stay at a cup of food total.

bama: Carolina... You are rocking it! Way to go! Miss talking to you too! girlfriend......thanks for the nice compliment. i appreciate that more than you know i miss talking to you and kahl and the other plication bandits also

i have tricare prime north and they were super easy. congrats and welcome to the forum

when i started my pre op (all liquid) the dr said no to soda.........so after 2 weeks (day before surgery) i was able to drink all the soda i wanted.....so i took one (drink) and after 2 weeks without it, i couldnt drink it. it tasted awful and i spit it out. i have no desire to drink soda now. i am a crystal light girl now. but like the other posters said, its up to your dr and their ok or not. if in doubt, ask them. all they can say is no. (or its okay)

hm, i would def call your dr to be on the safe side as i have never heard or read of this. please call and let them know and have them put your mind at ease.

What is your main motivation to do so well or to keep going on this lapband journey? What is the one thing that you use (mentally) to keep you focused? Mine is my little granddaughter (Eryn). She is now about 4 months old. I want her to be proud of her mimi and I want to be able to walk through the stores with her or to the park or the zoo. Right now I cant, but I will.

the day i went home (i stayed overnight) i took a shower (faced away from water) and did so every day afterwards til i was able to resume bathing. i kept my incisions dry as i could but did not stress much over them. all the best ps, the hot Water def helped my left shoulder pain

well, we are not going to worry until there is something to worry about. most nurses are not suppose to tell you (or the office staff) the results of the tests. who knows what it could be. if there is something (not right) they will most likely take it again and see what happens. please do not fret over something you cant fix because you dont know what it is (yet). hang in there.

hm.......well i had surgery in june and i have lost 53 so far......and there are others on here who have lost 60 and 70 and more. the band is what you make of it (its only a tool and if you follow the diet and eat healthy and exercise, why wouldnt you lose as much as you need too)? some eat steak *i do* (and i cut all food into baby sized pieces and chew)...instead of gulping my food, i now find i am enjoying it.... and i dont drink soda (as i am now turned on to crystal light)...but there are some who do...each person and each doctor is different. i wish you all the best on whatever you decide.

i love fruit. i have watermelon and cantaloupe nearly every day. yummy. eat what works for you (if in doubt, call and ask your dr if its okay)

sounds like the scar tissue is forming around the port. when mine did (about a month out) it was very tender (it didnt hurt) just very tender when i touched it...so i assume as you lay on it, it would (hurt) somewhat. it will get better. i am just over 2 months out and it dont hurt at all nor do i realize its there (unless i seek it out with my fingers) all the best

day 8 for me when my shoulder stopped hurting. i advise to just continue with the meds (and use heating pad if it helps) i also did the whirly wheel with my arms to (help) it seemed too. hang in there this too will pass

just hang in there kahl you are doing fantastic. to me, if your clothes are loose, that is way better than what the (scale) says. hang in there