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Update: I am using http://www.myfitnesspal.com and finding it to be amazing, a little time consuming (I'm still learning it) and eye opening! It's kind of fun. Except when I find that what I already ate had to be weighed, not counted (like shrimp or baby carrots). I just have to learn AS I prepare or eat my food. Did you know that SF popsicles have carbs?! Not many, but WOW. I have a feeling I'm gonna have more WOW moments. Bandster living is always an evolving experience. Whew!

Awwww... Give them some food, on me.

Here is a picture of Stevie (Lynn Nicks)...Rescued her from the SPCA. Her Mother is a purebreed Basenji (African hunting or herding dog, and we assume her slutty Mommy done gone out and canoodled with a Beagle. Here is a puppy photo from her crate at the SPCA, and another pic taken last year. She is my life.

Here is a picture of Stevie (Lynn Nicks)...Rescued her from the SPCA. Her Mother is a purebreed Basenji (African hunting or herding dog, and we assume her slutty Mommy done gone out and canoodled with a Beagle. Here is a puppy photo from her crate at the SPCA, and another pic taken last year. She is my life.

I have what I call hiccaburps, when either I eat too fast/much or somethings on the road to being stuck. But I don't feel any pain. Are you new to the band?

Boy, you have quite the zoo at your house! How does an iguana or bearded dragon or lizard show "sweetness?" I've only worshipped them from afar and think they are cool, but how is one sweet? That's really sad about hundreds of iguana's freeze to death during cold snaps. Hell, I found a dead bird in my driveway, and I'm going to bury it in the yard I feel so sad. No iguana's or bearded dragons for me. I live near Buffalo, NY where it is cold a good part of the year. You're so lucky to be in Florida. But as I watch Animal Planet on cable, I notice that you also have alligators, boa's on the loose, and some animal that "shouldn't" be wild in Florida, they resemble Giant Monitor Lizards but are extremely viscious. I LIKE my 25lb dog being safe in MY yard! I'll take the snow up here over the various wild reptiles you have down wandering around down there! Nothing against Florida mind you, just an irrational fear of wandering alligators, etc. Me thinks I watch too much Animal Planet! But your bearded dragons are gorgeous, I wish I could reach out and hold one! How do the pugs and dragons comingle?

I feel for you, I really, really do. I got banded in 07, took it seriously for about a year, then the experience that you are having realy hit me hard. I became disillusioned, got an unfill and spent the last 4 years eating like I had no band at all. I gained some weight during that time. 3 years ago I was hooked up to my umpteenth therapist, and we hit it off big time! 4 or 5 months ago, I realized that I was in a BAD way and needed to change that. We discussed my food addiction, which I will always have, and I decided to go back to my WLS clinic and start over. They took me back with open arms, re-taught me, gave me a teeny weeny fill and I joined this site. I am now 25-30 pounds lighter (I forgot what my last weigh in was, oops!) , struggling my way through and never giving up. I was once told that if I can't do it (lose weight/change lifestyle) for myself (I don't like myself much)...then do it for someone who loves you. Well, I whittled that down to my Dad, my Husband and all the people here on LBT. I do it for them, until I can do it for myself. "Fake it till you make it." I tell you this because I was disappointed with my life and the decisions I made after being banded. I was responsible for my weight, ie. fate. I hate to see you feel the way you do, and eat the way you do. You're a bright girl, you will make your own decisions, I just hope someone's words will make sense to you, you take action and become a successful Bandster. I'm rooting for you from afar, and I wish you all the self love you can dream of! Polly

Thank you, Honk. I will. But it'd have to be reduced free at this part of my financial status!

JennyBee... I opened your post, expecting (hoping) to see a picture of two iquana's! I saw a picture of a beautiful woman, no damn iguana's! Until....I had a DUH moment (I have lots of those) and clicked on your picture. Suddenly there was a BIG picture of a beautiful woman, but with two awesome iguana's attached to her! They're so cool! I always wanted an iguana. The stuffed animal iguana I got while in Aruba that sits on my TV just doesn't cut it, you know? Don't your babies want to run away when you go outside? Do you have other pets as well? Thanks so much for posting your beautiful picture, albeit small at first.

Hm...My surgeon picked mine. I thought 140, he said lets try for 160. I'm just going to shoot for 160 and go from there.

On http://www.myfitnesspal.com , how do I input things like a very hearty, beany chili? Or other foods that have a great deal of ingredients? I'm still trying to figure out how it works.

Thanks FLORIDAYS, Is 1000 a day very hard to do?

I told her of the same worry, but she just said to eat what fits on a small plate. My band is only .05 cc's filled, I can eat medium sized meals, but often do not. I was banded 5 yrs ago and unfilled 4 years ago. During that time, I ate everything, even bad foods in large amounts. I wonder if my pouch is stretched, but don't really know the facts of what a stretched pouch is. I just can't eat a cup of food and be satiated. That's when she said to count calories and eat on a small plate. We're open about a fill next month, after she see's how I'm going to do this month. It's taking a long time to straighten things out.

Pools are not in my imediate future, but thank you!

So I went in to see my NUT today. I only lost 6 pounds last month, so I asked for more advice. She said I am eating too little (get that!) and I may be eating too much (not alot, but just over) judging by my journaling. I'm on the South Beach-ish Diet. I notice many of you eat a Cup of food at a meal. I asked her if I should be doing that. She said, not really and that my Protein could fit into a cup alone and my diet technically calls for two cups of veggies (I eat only one cup). So where can I hunker down to lose MORE weight? Well, she explains and hands me a stack of papers outlining how to eat the way she wants me to. I'm to eat 3 proper meals and two small Snacks to keep my metabolism going. I admit I don't always eat all three meals or both snacks which can sometimes put me in starvation mode where I won't lose weight. I haven't read through these papers yet (too worried about the election). Then she said she wants me to start counting my calories, eat 1500 to 1600 a day. She aims for 1-2 lbs a week loss, I want more. Then she asked if I had ever heard of myfitnesspal, well, uh, YES! So I'm going to give that a try. She wants to wait until I see my PA next month to see about another fill, as I'm hungry past the point of what I'm supposed to eat. I have .05cc's in a 10cc band. I think a little tweek is in order, don't you? I'm walking every day, not very far yet, but that will come (Thank you Missy)....success MUST be around the corner, RIGHT? I'm a proud Northerner, but I'm gonna let it slide to say, "Love Ya'll!"...I do.

I looked into the Auquafit classes, can't work it around my schedule. I have Medicare, and am waiting for the YMCA by me to open (it's new) to look into what it might cover. Thanks for the advice, I love this thread too! Missy got me to walk (it's killing me, but I'm doing it!)

aswaffor....You GO girl! You are a very pretty woman! Yay!

Nini......boy, reading your description of the state of your body (parts) reads like a medical journal. Some of it was French to me. But I get the jist. I'm not willing to try any other WLS, I prefer to work with what I've got. I'm on a high Protein, low (bad) carb, reletively low fat, no processed flours, sugars or foods, diet. I am doing pretty well, but I'm sure there's room for improvement! I'm seeing my NUT today, after I VOTE, to tinker with my plan. I have .05cc in a 10cc band, and want more of a fill but I don't have an appointment for that until next month. I started walking a block a day, on top of my everyday walking. So, the weight loss "should" pick up. I can't cycle because my knees won't fully rotate. I really wish I could go back for more physical therapy, but I hit the insurance cap months ago. I might try to pick it back up when the cap goes back to zero on January 1st. IDK. Thanks for helping me out!

To my Fluffy friends, your progress and openess to post pics shows bravery, pride and success! I only had the one picture of me and my late Mom that I posted. But I think I'll take a pic of me now, then later, then later....just like you FLORIDAYS! I can be brave like you and Jlynn!

Yeah, I was surprised he did the replacements, and at my age. But I couldn't walk and my osteoarthritis put me at bone on bone. I tried all the various shots, physical therapy pre-surgey and meds. Nothing was working. Now I have just changed from one type of pain and disability for another. The YMCA costs $540.00 a year, and I don't have that. But it's my goal, believe me! I was going to switch to the Sleeve, to lose weight quicker (helping my knees out), but I won't do it. I like my band. Slow and steady wins the race in the lapband's case because you change you in that time. If I ever have to lose the band, I'll have at least learned how not to live in that time. Win/Win!

I'm 46, having had my TOM in almost a year. They say I am peri-menopausal. I am happy not having my TOM, I hope it never comes back! My Doc also said it could come back. Who knows?

Acknowledging that you've made poor food choices in the past is a good step, knowledge is key. But labeling yourself a failure is a bit harsh. If you fall into that trap, you'll believe it and then think to yourself that "since I'm already a failure, why bother trying?" You are not a failure, you're off course, in need of a nutritionist to explain proper eating, and you need a solid re-education of lap band living. Posting here was a wonderful first step!

Thanks FLORIDAYS... it's refreshing to hear from folks that were over 300, learning to walk all over again. If you guys can do it, then so can I!

I suffer from actual cravings as well as emotional hunger. You, you're only 2 weeks post-op, you have a world to lose if you give at this point. Later, through your journey, you'll find cheating on rare occassions won't be as dangerous as it would be now. I like to eat at night, so I do these things...log onto LBT and find that you're not alone and can always ask for help, I took to crocheting this massive blanket (not enough yarn, ahhh!...to keep my hands busy, read an inspirational book, go on facebook, play with my babies (cats and dog). It only works some of the time, I'll give in to a healthy snack like fruit, yogurt, etc. But I can most certainly relate to your craving! especially since your diet is so restricted right now. You automatically want what you cannot have. Create coping skills, use them and move on. Good Luck!