MeganA

Happy Birthday. I hope you have a great day and that your husband gives you a nice present. Megan

Nykee, You replied before you read mine, I think...so now I have something to add to your latest post. You need to buck up, lill' camper. Knock it off. Grow up. Tell yourself whatever it takes to shake yourself out of this funk. My guess is that you are mad for many more reasons than that your band is too tight in the morning. You're probably experiencing emotions that you haven't allowed yourself in a long time (if ever). Run with it. Feel them. Get pissed. Yell, Scream. Whatever it takes. But don't you dare give up on your band. The bypass is no magic bullet either. There is only one thing in both of the surgery options that determine success and that's you. Maybe you should just chill out a little bit. Take the pressure off of yourself. Think of this time as learning to live with your new band. Learning to make new food choices. If you lose weight, great, if not, you're still learning and you will soon. I know what I sometimes say doesn't make me very popular...but know that I say things because I have been there. Megan

Nykee- Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but with this attitude, you are SOL before you even start. What you are experiencing is pretty typical. The band is only one part of the tools you have to lose weight. You know this. You are fighting it. My guess is that if you put as much effort into creating new habits in the evening as you are in fighting yourself and beating yourself up and telling yourself you can't do it- that you would surely succeed. Why are you drinking juice? Why not just dissolve some sugar in a glass and drink it? Better choice in the morning would be some milk...bring it to room tempature and it will loosen you up a little. Try some warm tea (decaf if you are prone to heartburn), or some yogurt brought up to room tempurature. Drinking/eating anything cold will only make it worse in the morning. Maybe you just don't eat until a little later in the day. I typically get up at 6 but don't eat Breakfast until 9. The night time thing is tough. I still struggle with it, and I'm 2 years out and pretty resticted. What I found that I had to do was change my habits. If I used to eat while I watched TV(Which I did!) I now do my nails, cross stich, don't watch tv, take a walk, do laundry, work on an project around the house. These things all seem very silly until you try. So maybe set a goal for just tonight. Tonight you will do _______instead of eating. If you are still hungry after you do this thing, then have something to eat. Eat something that has lots of volume without a lot of calories- light popcorn or veggies for example. No one EVER overeats broccoli. You can do this. You are strong and have decided that you are worthwhile enough to have the surgery, now decide you are worthwhile enough to require more out of yourself. Best of luck, Megan

I've lost 71 pounds in 102 weeks. I'm a total slow loser. 50 of that was my first year, so I'm pretty sure I qualify. I can be the old wise one of the group, if you have such a position. Megan

Shelly- I'm glad to learn that you've had as many fills/unfills as you have (I'm sure YOU aren't glad it's taken as many as it has!) But I've been struggling with the notion that I need ANOTHER one and what the heck is wrong with me! Oh yeah, the band doesn't work unless you have the proper restriction. Duh! Thanks for the reminder. Megan

I don't know how it will work with you, but as the amount of saline in my band gets closer to the size of my band (7 5/8 cc's presently in a 9cc band) It takes smaller amounts to make a more significant difference. Don't give up, make good choices, drink Water, exercise and get another fill. I've heard of doctors filling beyond the band capacity because no one is ever sure exactly how much is in the band...Don't lose faith. Megan

Shelly!!! I was just thinking about you the other day and wondering how you were. Thanks so much for checking in. I'm so happy to hear that things are going well. Don't be such a stranger! Megan

Everyone is different. I know it was about three months before I felt human again. I had no idea how much I had always relied on food to make me feel better- and how pissed off I was when I couldn't use my "drug" anymore. Something that really helped me was walking. I would want to eat and i would put on my tennis shoes and go for a walk instead. I walked in the rain and the snow and sleet...anything to try to run away from what I was feeling. WHat I ended up doing was actually learning to feel again. I'm worried about the use of valium at this point...is it really that bad? I'm just worried that you're going to replace one bad habit with another bad one...instead of a good one. Please be very careful. Remember that you're supposed to feel things...although it feels foreign it's actually normal. I'd suggest some counseling if you can. It helped me understand that I had a right to be pissed at how I had allowed some people to treat me, some situations I had found myself in, and my response to these things. Even though the band is around my stomach it has mostly changed my brain. Good luck, and it will get better, I promise. Megan

First, Congrats on the great weight loss! Second, I'd sure suggest following through on your doctor's suggestion before I met with him. Third, I'd tell him that you can eat too much and aren't losing weight and you need a fill, please. Before I get a fill, I always make sure that I'm making good choices at least 80% of the time. If I am and I'm still not losing weight AND hungry all the time, then I get a fill. That's the way the lapband works. Otherwise it simply doesn't. Good luck, and don't be too hard on yourself about this. You just weren't ready, and now you are. Megan

Oh my god I need to start reading lapbandtalk.com more often. I didn't know there was a new cute *GUY* here...and I bet he even has an accent! Sorry, Andy, that I'm talking about you right in front of you. How rude! I have been going through a drought in this department myself and am just sick and tired of it. Then again, I did it to myself by doing that "raising my standards" thing. Greeeaaattt. Megan

I am so happy for your daughter. It makes me so happy to know that people really see her in her school. Megan

Let's just say that you're really new to this, and haven't yet realized that pretty soon there is going to be less swelling and you're going to be able to eat more. You won't be in ketosis for 6 months like your friend. You must chill. I know this isn't going to make me popular, but really...you are very restricted right now because of post op swelling. I"m willing to bet that we get another post from you in about two weeks that says something along the lines of "I CAN EAT TOO MUCH!". This is a process. Believe me when I say that with the band, nothing is ever predictable or long-lived. Sometimes you *can* have too much information and worry yourself to death. Megan

Stop peeing on strips, follow your surgeon's plan, and quit worrying so much. Drink Water, eat Protein first, veggies second, and carbs third. Stop when you feel satisfied or full. Period. Geez, you would think this was rocket science or something. Megan

Lisa, I just checked it all out and I'm so excited for you! You've worked so hard and your passion is contageous!!! I so hope all your dreams come true... Megan

Lisa- You are very inspiring! Do you know if there are very many reps in Minnesota yet? If I was going to join you, can I do so under you or do I or should I- find someone in this area? M

Nicole- So sorry for your loss. I'm glad you came back here for support...let us know how we can help. Thinking of you, Megan

Crap. I suppose I should really recommit too. Except the booze part. I'm not ready to give up the wine yet. Lisa- what is your reward going to be for each of these goals? My goals for this week ( I need really short goals or I get frustrated) drink at least 4 glasses of Water a day (so, I only do about two now so that's a good start) no eating after 7 My reward: new clothes this weekend! Thanks for getting the momentum going Lisa! Megan

I so miss french fries. I think they become glue when chewed and chewed. I have found that I can eat a few fries when I dip them in mayo and ketchup. Yummy!!! But that's not exactly the best choice, so I only indulge once and a great while. To think I used to eat a large and barely even taste them! Megan

I'm so jealous of all of you that are on your way to Vegas. Lisa, you're one of the most real people I know so don't go calling yourself a fraud. Frauds don't open up thier homes and lives to strangers from an online forum! I sure hope you and Penni work out whatever issue you have unresolved. You two have seen each other through way too much to not work things out. Do I sound like a mom? I'm going to call and check in tomorrow. Maybe I'll have a cocktail while I'm on the phone with you so I can feel like I'm there. I certainly am in spirit. Megan

Schel, Welcome back. It's a tough decision to make, and I'm proud of you for deciding to improve your life! If you have any questions please let me know. You're doctors advice about support groups is right on- I think bandsters need to keep in contact with each other! Best of luck, Megan

Two answers come to mind... 1. Rice has little nutritional value and is all carbos. 2. It get stuck easily. Megan

I forgot to mention a couple of things... Look every man in the eye as you pass by him. At first, just look. If you're uncomfortable, look away. As you become more comfortable, maintain eye contact and smile. You will be amazed at the results- men will smile at you! When I first tried this, I was shy and realized that I have spent 31 years of my life looking at my shoes. It was soooo hard!!!! Now, if I pass a man on the street or in a bar...anywhere really- I ALWAYS look them in the eye and smile. Sure, some guys are dicks and don't meet your eyes, some guys are shy and look down, but man, when you make eye contact with a man and he smiles back- ZING!!!! Instant confidence. The other idea is to flirt. Flirt like crazy. That doesn't mean act like a floozy. It means little things...like gently touching a forearm to get a man's attention, holding a handshake just a second too long, catching a man's eye, then looking down, then back up again really quick...then letting a sweet little shy smile creep across your lips. This might sound really bad, but it's true and it worked for me- but start by flirting with guys you don't find the least bit attractive. That way, it's about perfecting your skills, and not anything else. Once you get more comfortable, you'll find it that much easier to do when you actually see something you like! This works, I swear! I practiced these things in front a mirror for weeks before I actually tried it in public...practice makes perfect! Megan

Something I've noticed since I've been losing weight is that it really is about attitude. I have friends/coworkers who weigh the same as I do and bitch and moan about how fat they are and how nothing looks good...while I revel in my new body every day and feel sexier than I ever have in my whole life. I get hit on all the time, men run to open the door for me, I have more women that want to hang out with me than I ever have. My take on how to feel sexy: Find something about yourself that you think is really sexy...not what you think a man will find sexy, but what YOU find sexy. For me, it's my eyes. I know that I can make a man melt just by how I look at him. Before I walk into a room where I know there will be single men, I take a minute and think about making out with that guy from my past that was SOOO good at it...not the bump and grind stuff, but the passionate kisses and the labored breathing...all of a sudden my face is flush, I'm licking my lips, and feeling very friendly. It's amazing what it does for me. Get some freekin' clothes that fit. Even if it's one pair of pants and one shirt...when you want to feel sexy- wear it! And for Pete's sake girls, get some cute shoes,too! I know it feels weird to buy clothes when you know you're going to lose more weight- but you deserve to look and feel sexy NOW not just when you're a certain number on the scale or size of pants. I'm an open book so if anyone has questions, please ask anything. Megan

I feel your pain. The only way I've figured out how to do this is to concentrate on making really good decisions during the week...that's when I have the most structure and willpower. My weekends are filled with restaurants, friends, booze, boys...I'm sorry, but I'm having way too much fun to feel guilty about any of it. As long as my weeks are clean, my weekends can be dirty :-) Megan