MeganA

I think Hoodia is different than Metabo- whatever...it's been used in Africa for a zillion years by tribes people. I can't wait to hear how La Madam does on it... Sure, I'm banded, but that doesn't mean that I'm not hungry. Megan

Well, I think we just found out which Mexican surgeon I'd be going to if I had to pay for the procedure. Some may disagree with some of the things he said, but at least he had the guts (no pun intended) to come on our forum and relieve some anxiety for a lot of people. Megan

Geez...I lost count a long time ago. That doesn't mean I do it often, just that it's not something I never counted.

I've been thinking a lot about this the last few days. I went to my counselor last week and I was recounting an event that happened the weekend before with my brother's friends. They treat me differently and flirt with me while before they were always kind but distant. This makes me feel strange. My extended family tells me every time they see me how fantastic I look and that I have a glow about me now. Strangers tell me that they love my hair or that I have beautiful eyes. This REALLY makes me feel strange. All of the attention- from men or women- I receive now is wonderful, but again, it makes me feel strange. I think I figured out what "strange" really is. I used to be so ashamed of myself. I was always looking inward and judging myself more than anyone could ever judge me. I felt so much shame. Now, I feel pride. Pride is a new feeling for me and I am uncomfortable. I have also found that some people are uncomfortable with me feeling prideful. Huh? I know! I have some friends who get squeemish when I tell them about something exciting that happened to me...it's almost like they would rather not hear it. So, I've stopped telling the people that react that way to me things. I thought it was me- was I getting a high and mighty attitude about myself? Was I braging? No- I was just trying to process this new feeling, that's all. What I have discovered is this. Shame looks inward and sucks the life right out of you. Pride looks outward and fills you up. Megan

I have changed in so many ways. Here are a few examples. I am no longer judgemental of people, nor do I think I know how to solve their problems. I'm too busy solving my own now, instead of eating them away. I used to stay home all the time; venturing out to go out to eat or to a movie was about it. Now I have plans almost every night and have had to learn to say no to some offers. I flirt like crazy instead of sitting in the corner watching the boys go by. I can now find flattering, hip clothes that make me feel sexy and fun, so I act sexy and fun in them. I stick up for myself. I ask for what I need from friends, family, coworkers, and men. I no longer take the crumbs that are offered. I know I deserve more than that. The other day I bought a candybar and ate it while I was walking through the parking lot. This was new for me. I used to eat in such isolation- my car, my house...the booth at a restaurant sitting in safety with the people that loved me. Now I eat when I'm hungry and if it's in public, so be it. All this, and I still weigh 227 pounds. Don't tell yourself that you have to hit a certain number on a scale and then your life with change. My band is a tool that literally forced me to change my habits-thus, my life changed. I could go on and on about how I have changed. I love who I am now. I love my life. It is now MINE. Megan

I'm here too. Just turtling along and enjoying life, for the most part. People are saying that I look like I've lost again, even though the scale doesn't show more than a 3-4 pound loss. I'm constantly surprised by how my body reshapes itself. I only have ten months left for my FDA trial and then it's over. When it's over, I may have to pay for aftercare out of pocket so I am going to set up an appointment to check my band health and my mental health. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the roll call, vines. Megan

Ok, so the two bowls of Cereal diet was interesting, and I only did it one week. I didn't lose any weight, and it was kind of nice not to have to think about what I was going to eat for Breakfast or lunch...but I craved Protein like crazy every afternoon. This tells me that my body needs more protein earlier in the day. I should try doing one bowl in the morning and one for dinner but I decided that it sounds like to much work :-). How's everyone else doing on it? I like the apple jacks and fruity pebbles version a lot better :-) Megan

I was reading a magazine and there was a woman in it that had lost 125 pounds in a year by eating two bowls of shredded wheat with milk for two meals a day, and eating a balanced meal for the third meal. I thought to myself- that sounds too good to be true...so, today I'm trying it. I need more Fiber anyway, and shredded wheat actually has some Protein in it. But, I knew that if I was going to eat Cereal it wouldn't stick with me very long, so I decided that I would need Snacks. So, If I need a snack I am going to eat either fruit or veggies. That way I can get in those, too. Today is day #1, and I was surprised at how full the cereal made me at Breakfast. We'll see how it tides me over at lunch. I'll keep you posted. Has anyone else tried this? Megan

When I was less restricted I would indulge in a soda once and awhile. Now I feel gassy and bloated if I drink more than a few sips. I do so miss my amaretto and sours and diet pepsi with lime. But I don't miss feeling like I'm going to burst, either. It's all a trade off, isn't it? It's good to hear a respected Dr.'s opinion. Megan

Kel- How exciting! Did the doctor say anything about losing more weight before you have the surgery? I'm going to start looking into PS when I hit 200- but is that too early? What have you found in your research? Thanks for sharing your story! Megan

I'm fighting my third cold this winter and I've had it! I think I need more nutrients in my diet. My brother got me a juicer for Christmas and I just took it out of the box and juiced 3 apples. How yummy! It's hard for me to eat a lot of veggies...and I'm wondering if anyone has any good juicer recipies? I don't want a ton of sweet Fruit drinks, but mostly veggie ones... Anyone? Thanks in advance! Megan

This used to really bug me a lot too, right after I had WLS. Now, 2 years out, I can see why people say and think the way they do. Most of them are just terrified and want to dog on anything they don't really understand. I've become much more compassionate since WLS, and now I just smile and say, "I understand" and then inside I know that *I* know the big secret and they'll figure it out for themselves if they are ever ready. It's not about you. Once you become more confident in your choices and know that you made the correct decisions for you with the information you have, you learn that what everyone/anyone else thinks or does is only about them and not a reflection on you. Megan

I have had the opposite problem. People have always thought I was younger than I am, but now I get carded everytime I order a drink and I've had people tell me they thought I was 23 or 24. Yeah right...I'm cruisin' in on 33. Megan

You're considering the RnY to lose your remaining 17 pounds? I think you need a reality check and to count your blessings at this point. You have been a huge weightloss success, and you have a healthy band and digestive track. Have you thought about why you feel so frantic about this? Megan

I used to get rashes all the time in my skin folds and then I started using Dial Antibacterial Deodorizing body wash and I haven't had any trouble since. My doctor and I have even discussed me not using it when it's time to get some plastic surgery done so insurance will cover. Sad that it may take that but I'm willing!!! Megan

I have the Swedish Band and am part of the FDA trial. When I met with my surgeon after he placed the band he said that he wished this band was already FDA approved because he liked it so much better. He thought at the time that there would be less risk of complication with it. I'll ask him what he thinks now that's been a couple of years. Megan

Mine was hard to access so it was moved. I was awake (but felt drunk from the sedation) during the whole thing. I was a chatterbox during the surgery and kept asking them if I could see what they were doing but they wouldn't let me. The recovery was about a day...but my belly was a little sore for a few days. No big deal at all. Megan

Hey guys. I think it's great to read all the different perspectives. I'll weigh in on Monday, so for now I don't know if it is working or not. My head feels lighter- which is were I always feel weight loss first. Isn't that weird? And I've had people tell me I look smaller again. It's not the easiest thing to do...there are so many temptations- especially at lunch time. SO, today I am going to lunch with some girls from work and I'll eat a normal lunch, and then I'll just have cereal for dinner. I am finding that I crave Protein in the afternoon. So instead of a piece of fruit I am eating some lunch meat or some cheese and that is working ok. I do think I was less hungry when I was eating cottage cheese in the mornings so maybe I'll try another experiment with that in a week or two. I just want to get the scale moving again, for Pete's sake. Megan

This is exaclty where I sit now. I've lost half of my excess weight with the band. Now it's up to me to get the rest off. But a little excercise and diet adjustment and I'm back on the weightloss wagon. The best news is- odds are pretty good that you will NEVER gain back the lost weight. How many people who diet and diet and diet can say that. Megan

I think you were beautiful 76 pounds ago. And now....you're the definition of FOXY!!! Megan

Update: Day 2 of the "experiment". I refuse to diet ever again so I'm being creative in my wording. Today is easier than yesterday. I felt full- I forgot how filling shredded wheat is. I drank regular 2% milk yesterday and had a little heartburn so today I switched to organic 1% and didn't have any issues. Yesterday at about 4:30 I was really, really hungry. So I ate a nice bandster dinner of mostly Protein and some veggies and a little rice. I had a meeting last night where there was popcorn and I had a cup or so. Today I had my cereal about 8:30, half a pear at about 10:15, and another bowl of cereal at about 1:15. I am full, which is unexpected because the cereal gets washed out of the little pouch by the milk...but I also know that my big stomach has shrunk so maybe that's why. I don't want to get as hungry as I was yesterday afternoon, so I will eat the other half of my pear this afternoon when I get hungry again. It's kind of nice to have the pressure off of me about "what am I going to eat" for Breakfast and lunch. I even passed up a donut this morning...which I never do but I was stuffed from my silly shredded wheat. I'll keep you posted :-) Megan

I use it when I get a migraine and nothing else works. Tylenol just doesn't seem to cut my pain very well- while Advil works like a charm. I always drink a bunch of Water after and haven't had any problems. Good luck! Megan

Bright! Welcome back!!!!! I'm so glad to see you post and I hope that the dark clouds have lifted enough for a little sun to peak into your world. I went through an episode of depression myself this fall so I can relate. Fill us in on your life...how's your family? School? Etc!! Megan

What happens if you get the band taken out and that wasn't the cause? Megan

Banded in October 2003. Lost 50 pounds the first year, 25 the second, and 5 so far the third. Megan