Spaness2012

Couldn't agree more! I like the way you look at this! Good luck!

Yay! Happy Bandaversary! Nice success story and words of wisdom!

There are horror stories everywhere! And then there are just as many success stories. Seek out the success stories......apply it to your own life. Can you do this? Can you give up soda? Can you eat smaller portions and bites? Can you chew, chew, chew? This is all an indvidual decision and journey! Having this surgery is the best thing I ever did for myself. But I was "all in" when I had it. I gave up control to the process and surgeon's rules because my rules made me morbidly obese. For me, the risk of being fat...far outweighed the risks of the Lapband. Good luck with your decision!

This was a great post! Thanks for sharing. I am going to start asking myself "why" more often.

I love, love, love this feeling too! It's a great motivator when the scale seems to move at a snails pace!!

Yay! Welcome to the other side. Be good to yourself. Rest up, walk often, sip plenty of water!

Congrats on your decision! I would like to add that The Wizard of Oz really ends up being YOU! Like he told Dorothy, "You have had the power to return home all along." There is no magic with the surgery. It will help you stay "not hungry" with less food. It's up to us to eat small portions, make better choices, add in exercise when your body is ready, etc. Read, read, read as much information as you possibly can about what to expect. Take this 6 months to try and eliminate soda from your diet, take smaller bites, chew your food like you have never chewed before. I don't share this info to scare you...only to inform you. The band is the best thing I ever did for myself...but it doesn't work without my contribution to the process as well. You can do this! I know you can.

Before my first fill, 5 weeks after surgery, I totally wanted to eat my arm. The first few months after surgery is all YOU....... Good luck and be good to yourself!

You are a very brave girl! Congrats on your weight loss. Talk to your parents about your situation's...have them help you with suggestions and options. Good luck to you!

Ha, Ha! That's right! She wears Old Navy and looks super cute too!

I promise this is normal and by this time next week...you will feel entirely better! Hang in there.

I went to the mall to pick up a couple of pair of shorts (I live in Florida and it's already hot and I have nothing that fits...a nice problem to have...but still a problem.) My thought was to just hit JC Penny's and pick up a few things. On my walk to the dept store, I passed by Old Navy which was having a nice sale. My inner fat girl voice said, "you have never fit into anything in Old Navy...keep walking." But I stopped in and checked out their linen shorts. Super cute! I pulled an XL shorts off the rack and tried them on. TOO BIG!! My mean inner fat girl voice said, "a Large will never fit your fat butt...put the XL back and come back another day when you lose more weight." But I grabbed the Large and a large tshirt and they fit fabulously!!! I was shocked. I thought I was looking at a different girl in the mirror! I'm not going to lie....I almost cried. I bought 3 pair and 3 tshirts! That shut that mean inner fat girl up!!

This is incredible Missy! I am speechless. Thank you for sharing.

Use this time to eat slowly, take smaller bites, listen to when your body is full vs when your head wants to be done. I learned quickly after banding that my body was the boss now....not my mind! And thank goodness for that...because my mind got me to be very fat and unhealthy. Good luck to you!

As I was reading this, I wondered if she was properly informed on how the band works? Did she go to support meetings, meet with a nutritionist, etc. She really is the "poster child" on who shouldn't even bother with the surgery. Although you really don't know the day to day life with a band, until you get one, I was completely aware of the basics......small portions, small bites, eating slowly, listening to your body, putting the work in to assist with weight loss, etc. But I guess I did my own due diligence on all of that info. I am always suprised on the very little info people get (or what they don't hear) when undergoing this surgery. Having SURGERY for weight loss was a major big deal for me. One that I didn't embark on lightly. I was aware that it wasn't a cure...that I had to do the work and then I marinated on this lifestyle change. Could I do this mentally, could I commit to this, could I follow the rules they enacted? The answer was YES but I really had to soul search to make that a YES. Thanks for sharing this article.

I only had one fill...but no...the hunger didn't vanish. I hope the second has the same affect yours did.

I too had to stretch out my calories with mini meals every few hours. Please discuss with your Dr but it was the only way I got through it as well. The good news....this too is not forever. As you receive fills this should ease the pain a little. Even with just one fill...I can defintley stretch out the hours before going crazy hungry like before. Good luck! Don't forget to drink lots of water!!

What a great post!! Thank you for sharing. The biggest complaint I have is also that I put something on from day to day and it is pretty much falling off of me! A nice problem to have I say! Keep up the great work.

I read somewhere from one wise bandster's post....."it IS just a diet until you have a properly adjusted band." This is where OUR want and desire comes into play. We have to do the work, play by the rules, see your doctor regularly and be honest with them....so that they can adjust your band properly! Good luck......you will get there.

Just count them in your calories but I agree....a banana holds me over for a long time. I put them in my morning protein shakes (on the days I do shakes).

Ohhh......nice! I have about 5 pounds to go to get there. I am going to work extra hard the next few weeks to make that happen!!

Holy crap!! You look awesome! Lately, I have been struggling with the attention my weight loss has brought on. The..wow's you look great....or OMG you are wasting away. My mind is grateful for the compliments but my "old fat girl self" is so sad that I must have looked terrible to get this type of reaction. I want to hug that girl and apologize to her.....tell her that I didn't mean to get her that way. Such a psycological transformation!

I swear by it!!

I am sure alot of us have this fear in the beginning. As long as you stick to your docs plan, follow the rules, and believe you can do this....then you will. I promise!

Adding the fiber (Metamucil) will also help the "runs" if you have been getting that too. For me..it was all trial and error. It's a nuisance but I seem to have "leveled out" now. I find that adding some Beans to your diet helps as well.