Bright

you are so right - there aren't many obese people in Europe - I have been overweight since I was about twenty - and I reckon I have been putting on 10lbs a year since then - I was 140lbs and was 315 having surgery, and I have to say I found it really difficult here - I was always the only one! My family members are all slim, my friends are all slim, and it is very daunting and depressing to live here and feel so isolated. There was only one store in Dublin City Centre which did outsize clothing and I used to visit at all the excruciating times of the year when I had to get something to wear, summer holiday, Christmas parties, important work event, etc - that was a time when I used to try to squeeze into smaller clothes and be almost in tears in the store. Then things changed (in Ireland at least - Irish people really embrace American culture, and are quite influenced about what goes on "across the pond"! I guess it's because so many Irish people emigrate to the USA, that we remain so interested in the happenings there - I heard some pundit on the radio describe us as European Americans recently!) and suddenly big malls started sprouting in suburbia, with McDonalds, Burgerking, pizza Hut etc, food courts, bagel bars, (I can actually remember Mc Donalds coming to Ireland when I was a teenager - my uncle brought me and I can vividly remember him explaining to me that we were going to a restaurant that didn't use cutlery and all the food came in little boxes! And I'm only 34!) So in the last five years, I have really noticed a lot more obese people around - Irish people are definitely getting bigger - especially the women.... Now there are three stores selling extra large clothes - up to 32, and most "ordinary" stores do up to size 20.....Sign of the times I guess! It's a different story in France, Spain, Netherlands etc - we holiday in France mostly, and I have NEVER seen an obese french person! I feel like a landed blimp there! But they do lots of lap bands there so obviously that's their little secret!? thanks for all your kind compliments - made my day!!! take care! ps sorry this is so long! Next lesson in Irishness coming up soon! by the way, all the above is just my humble opinion - maybe some other Irish person will come along and be outraged at my comments - so I apologise to all the culturally sensitive in advance!

great cut Michelle, really suits you - you have such gorgeous hair and eyes! It's so funny we're all off to the salon these days, just had about 4 inches off mine too - hadn't had it cut in about two years! i've attached a photo - (can u tell I'm having such fun with my new digital camera - hope this one doesn't come out huge! Donali told me to resize it but neglected to tell me how!) Hey Jennye, post some photo's of yours - dying to see your new hair and the weight loss! take care xx

Hi! As I had my surgery in France, they do things a little differently there so I don't have a direct comparison for you! My band is a 9cc one, and during surgery it was filled with 4cc of saline which means that, for me, getting another fill seems way off in the distance. I have always had resistance because of this but have never felt actual pain or PB'd. My resistance feels really odd because it really is a battle with brain and band - I sit down to eat, sometimes pretty hungry - my brain is going "yum yum" and I'm really looking forward to the meal! So I eat away happily, chewing madly, but always about halfway through, I start to feel like my pouch is full and the food is in my windpipe! Sometimes I get hiccups if I haven't been careful and eaten too quickly! I have to sip a little Water to lubricate the way and wait until everything settles a bit - i then sometimes get angry or pissed off - i end up throwing down my fork and going "damn, I'm full!!!" My brain is still going "yum yum" and I am still technically hungry - so the brain is sending messages to my mouth - "hey, what's the hold up down there???" And the lap band is going "sorry Brain, I'm the new boss in town here......" Ok sorry if this got a little (?) insane at the end - I got carried away - this is how restriction feels for me - and it's like this most of the day - but in the evening I seem to be able to eat more and that's when Ol' Willpower has to swing into town and take charge! So to answer your question, I don't think I really do ever get satisfied psychologically but physically, ten minutes or so after eating, I know I really couldn't eat anything more. I am pretty much at the same stage as you , and I guess it wil just take time for our heads to learn what satisfied really is. Also I do make sure I eat Protein first and have avoided simple fats and sugars which I think really helps with the craving. I don't know if this helps but wish you luck take care xx

you're too kind! Ireland is fantastic, wonderful and magical as usual (sorry, just love this little island!) but we're having typical December weather - chilly but not frosty, or snowy, but raining and muddy everywhere! My parents-in-law just came back from two months in florida and were disgusted at how muddy everything looks - all the cars are filthy! But we're used to this I guess - we almost never have a white christmas - usually get snow in january or February. But it's very christmassy here all the same! On a weight loss note, my parents-in-law really noticed my "missing" 35lbs! I was just going to france for the surgery when they left so it was perfect timing! I did not mention anything to them about the lap band, or even that I was dieting, so I was really thrilled to to have them stare at me and exclaim: "are you ill?" Another little pleasure of the lap band! take care everyone

just thought I'd share with you all, an article I read in the Sunday papers - this is paraphrased from the Sunday Times (British Newspaper) and I found it interesting - Seven Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism: 1. Stock up on soy milk - soy Protein slightly increases the metabolic rate - scientists have found that people who drink soy milk rather than standard milk have a higher weight loss result. It seems the supernutrients known as isoflavones give a helping hand by accelerating the breakdown of fat. Go for a brand with no added sugar. 2. Increase your Calcium intake - calcium has, in addition to building bones, also has some fat burning potential! Regular intakes of calcium stimulate the mechanism in fat cells that breaks down fat - aim for a pint a day - skimmed (no fat), semi-skimmed (half fat) and calcium rich soya versions provide as much calcium as whole milk - a yogurt or 30g chunk of cheese is equivalent to a third of a pint. 3. Never go for long periods without food - the very act of eating stimulates your metabolism into action because you use calories during the digestive process - skipping one meal can slow the metabolism by 15%!!! 4.Turn the heating down! - apparently we have all gone soft when by creating overheated microclimates, we move from heated housed to heated cars and offices - the result? Our metabolism becomes lazy! Turning the heating down a couple of degrees will naturally boost the metabolism as more calories are burn keeping you warm from the inside out! 5. Become a foot tapper! - People who are always foot tapping, raising themselves up and down on their heels when standing or twiddling with pens burn significantly more calories than the quiet types! Called NEAT - Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis - this continuous movement can burn off 200 calories a day! 6. Eat meat..... - or fish or chicken or lentils for that matter - you don't need to "do an Atkins" and dine on nothing else, but make sure you do include a good helping at every meal. This is because your body finds more protein tougher to digest than starch, sugar and fat. And the more difficult a food is to digest, the more calories your body uses up and the more your metabolism gathers pace. 7. Get a good night's sleep - according to sleep experts, getting at least 5 hours solid sleep helps balance the fat storing hormone insulin so that we hold on to less blubber - which has to be the best news of all - you slim when you snooze! Hope this is interesting to you all - I know we know some of it already but the soy thing was news to me so maybe someone out there will be the same! Oh and good news - I've crashed out the other side of my plateau - dropped 5lbs unexpectedly! Bizzarre, isn't it - but hey, I'm not complaining! take care y'all xx

.........for all your kind messages! My self esteem is soaring! Tragically, Linda, I worked as a technical support agent for IBM, solving pc problems so I have no excuse! I am just pretty crap on the internet and am learning the whole digital photo thing! I seem to be on a plateau (I now feel REALLY part of the banded community!) with my loss - 31lbs down in total but I haven't lost another ounce for the last TWO weeks - I am eating more carbs than I did in the first few weeks but still am only consuming less that a third of what I used to demolish! This is very frustrating, I keep feeling that I'm failing in some way - I know I'm sticking by the rules, so it strikes me as so bizzare the way our heads work - I guess I've been feeling like a failure for so long, it's hard to recognise sucess when it comes - 31lbs in almost seven weeks is way beyond what I even dreamt about losing at this stage - guess I have to have faith and hang in there!

hope you're feeling better today - wishing you lots of luck on your banded journey!

thanks everyone for replying to my post - I feel a bit guilty this morning for whining to you all... and you're right Alexandra, (love your new picture by the way, you look about 19 in it now!) I should come on line for support more if that's what I need. Unfortunetly that is typical me, isolate myself and then complain about being lonely! Oh and thanks for the complements - i look far from gorgeous but am surprised at the change in my face - I don't have as many chins now! Also my stomach has gone down a lot if you know what I mean. I am really enjoying eating - I eat so little that I can really enjoying full cream yogurts, and salad dressings - dieting used to be so miserable with all the "diet" foods tasting of additives and sweetners. I am also delighted to be at a point where I seem to have broken my bad habits - eating between meals and eating at night - I was going to bed at nine some nights just so I wouldn't snack! But I'm taking each day as it comes - next month I may be blending big macs and cadbury's buttons! (chocolate buttons!) I'm ashamed to say I am doing precious little exercise except for christmas shopping so am hoping catch the New Year's Resolution fever for joining the gym - my husband got me a great membership for my birthday! Jennye - Definitely all the weight loss is down to the flip-flops - but tragically it's bloody freezing and wet here in Ireland at the moment so I'm back to wearing red runners! Babs - hang in there - this is pretty much the hardest time of the year to stick to a rigid plan - it will all come together again in the new year! Shelly - loved your pictures too - we are going to kick super-model ass next summer! better go - must make dinner for kids - thanks for cheering me up guys xx :kiss :kiss :kiss

jesus h christ! I did everything my feeble brain could come up with to make this smaller! I now have the biggest face in the developed world! sorry.... I can't do any better! Does anyone know how I can sort this?.....hope none of you open it up too early in the morning! sigh - I give up - I'm off to bed !

Apologies - I haven't been posting much lately - I do read all the new posts every night tho. I am finding it a bit isolated here in Ireland, I feel I don't have anything to contribute advice-wise as my experience of surgery etc seems so different from all of your experiences with the american / mexican doctors. As I haven't told anyone here (except for our two dearest friends!) that I have the lap band, I feel like I am the only person in the universe going through this banded life! Thank god for this message board - it's (imho) the friendliest board and I smile every night reading the posts (and cheer for you all too!). So basically, I am feeling kinda lonely here, and having a bit of a moan! Please, you guys, COME VISIT! Well, that was the bad news (which isn't so bad really) - the good news is that I feel I am doing really well with this amazing little tool. I have lost 30lbs to date, (today it is exactly 6 weeks since surgery) and yesterday was my birthday (34 - yay!). My family know I have been "dieting" and were all complementing me on looking slimmer - apparently my face shows the most, and whoda thunk it, but I may actually have cheekbones! Who knew???!!!! I just took a photo now at the pc to compare with my little avatar photo - which was taken last summer - please be kind and bear in mind it's after 11pm here, I had a long hard day and did my make up last at 7.45am!!! I dunno if this will work anyway but here goes!

You look great - it's brilliant to be able to "know" you a little better! Can't wait to see some more! sending you love and hugs from 10,000 miles away!

you really are looking marvellous Shelly, can't believe the difference!

Glad you found this message board - I love it. Apologies but I don't have any experience of, or information about polycystic ovarian syndrome but am living in Dublin, Ireland and wanted to say Hi to a fellow european! I researched having my surgery in the UK as there are no surgeons in Ireland performing the op, and instead decided to go to France, due to their high standard of health care and also the price!!! It cost me "only" 4,000 euro there! Anyway, enough about me, welcome to the board, and I hope you find the information you need. best of luck on your lap band journey!

great to see your post - I am so happy for you - what an amazing achievement Babs, you sound so happy too, which is what counts ultimately! I really admire your attitude and hope I do as well as you - I know you posted you WOE (Way Of Eating, as Donali calls it!) before but if you have a min how about outlining for us again your sucessful eating tips??? I'd really appreciate it! Any by the way - any chance of you posting some photos???!!! take care hon, and good luck xx

Donali, just wanted to say woo hoo for you!!! :banana :banana :banana - what a fantastic goal to have reached! I have to lose pretty much the same amount of weight and on a totally selfish level it's brilliant to see someone get closer to the end of the road, especially someone so generous with tips and advice! You are such an inspiration honey! And wow about the non-elastic clothes! My god, could there BE a future without lycra?!! On a more serious note, I have read some info about the metabolic thing too and really agree with the water, spices and veg - I cannot tell you all how great I feel since surgery - now I know it's only been 4 weeks but I have not consumed fast food, white bread, diet coke, candy or alcohol since a few days before the op and I can't believe how much more cheerful and energetic I feel! I get hungry, usually at the appropriate meal times but I pretty much have whatever I want - I keep telling myself, "if you want the whole tub of Ben & Jerry's you can have it, just after some protein and veg or fruit or whatever" and then I am so satisfied after the meal that I never want the icecream! There is a tub of icecream in our freezer for so long now that they are people coming to make a movie about it - "Caramel Chew-Chew - A Survivor's Story" I know, I sound like an evangelist but WOW - I love this band - hope I feel like this in a year! Anyhoo Donali - congratulations on your brilliant achievement - I'm so happy for you xxx

welcome Billie, just wanted to wish you lots of luck with your research into surgery for your daughter - hope your insurance comes through for you - keep us posted on any news!

Hi - just wondering if you guys saw the Oprah about sagging skin? Oprah runs about 3 months later here so I'd love to know what she/anyone on the show had to say about toning up? Any magical creams I should know about!!!? :D :eek:

what a great moment Alex, thank you for the glimpse into a future world where food is just another inconsequential element of the day - hope I catch up with you!

ps please will someone tell me how to quote from another persons message? love from not-so-bright Bright!

donali, you hit the nail on the head.... "What is the real requirement? - does anybody really know?" That's the problem! I am really happy with my eating, diet whatever - like Lea was saying, I'm eating mashed potatoes, tuna salad, baked beans, risotto dishes, and it's great! I'm not hungry between meals, but I am worried about the internal "damage" I may be doing. I even had a toasted bagel with smoked salmon/cream cheese the other day - jeez, was that really stupid? I felt ready for it - I was thrilled I could only manage half of it, but now i'm terrified that I damaged my band/stomach/internal sutures or whatever!!! I went back to yogurt and soup today but did have a few forks of tuna salad for dinner.... I guess I had better find my inamed book print out and go by that - seems like the surgeons/doctors want to cover their asses and present us with unrealistic starvation programs, we lose weight, nothin moves insides us and hey presto! they look good! Have to say - much respect to all of you people who have survived on three, four or more weeks of liquids - you're better than i am!! Mind you, I have lost 14lbs in two weeks - I put that down to eating enough, so that I have enough energy to actually get up and walk!!![

Sue: Tragically i don't have the Mid-band!!! I was banded in Paris, and have the inamed band! However, it has a capacity of 9cc and was filled to 3cc during surgery! Now, am I still mad??? Tellie: I had no idea there were even so many cheeses!!!! Now i'm craving cheese I've never even heard of!!

Love your post, Sue - It seems things are completely different here in europe - the only "diet" instructions I was given was 1. eat only three times a day 2. do not eat more that a yoghurt cup amount size at each meal. My surgeon didn't see the sense of a pre surgery diet but I thought it would do me good to try to exercise more before the op and try not to actually gain weight! That's it!!! In hospital, less than 24 hours after my surgery they brought me a cup of tea, and 20 mins later a yoghurt - a french "set" yoghurt (the type that you could tip out on a plate and it would keep it's shape!) with a sachet of sugar to make it sweet! As i wasn't given any further instructions I went by the recommendations of Dr Frerings dietition (he wasn't my surgeon, but I found the info on someone's site) which suggests liquids - ie Soups and compotes for five days, from the sixth day you can eat normal food - I am eating mushy type food at this stage but it's pretty varied and i am very satisfied, and not hungry until I realise it's a meal time! I know if i was on clear liquids I would have gone mad with hunger by now and eaten my body weight in chocolate or big macs or something! Does anyone think I am mad to be eating so soon? I'm wondering if I should go back to soups now!

Glad you found this board! You must be thrilled with your weightloss so far - what an achievement! I also started at 315 (lost 7lbs before surgery tho) and hope to do as well as you! With regard to carbonated drinks, I am really missing diet coke - but I think it's probably easier to cut it out completely than to just has a little every now and then.... Anyway I'm way to apprehensive to try a fizzy drink now that I'm banded - hope I stay chicken - probably healthier! keep in touch!

hi Donali - thanks for the welcome back and your great messages - you are my official cheerleader! I definitely think I am feeling the port tubing - eeek! Weird! Not unpleasant - just weird! You know, I didn't realise they sutured the port into place (until I read your thread about your port fixing thingy) - dunno WHAT I thought they did but it is definitely reassuring to know it is anchored down in there!

Hi folks - tomorrow I will be banded two weeks and am feeling great - no pain or discomfort anywhere and no hunger yet - yay! However, I have a question about my port - I have my port on the left side of my stomach between the last two incisions, and I can feel it really easily - but it's really long!!! I thought I would be feeling a circular shape about an inch in diameter but I am feeling about a three or four inch length of - well - of hard plastic I guess! What do the rest of you feel? I know most of you seem to have the port under the breast bone, and I'm not sure I like the sensation of it "floating" around my not inconsiderable tummy!!! I am hoping to fly back to Paris for a check up next week but would really appreciate any theories/observations/answers!!! thanks