dylanmiles23

​ Congratulations!!!!! Good luck with your new life.

​I feel sad for you. You made a commitment and the doctor was suppose to, also. Well Congratulations on one year and the weight loss and having no problems. Keep up the great hard work.

I think you're great to go back to work so soon. As for the shakes, I use a lot of ice cubes in mine and make into a very thick shake. The shake fills me more and it makes like you're having something naughty. I only drink chocolate and add decaf instant coffee and/or peppermint extract for an added change. Think of it as a McDonald's thick shake. Keep up the good work.

Happy Wednesday/Hump Day, My son sent me an email that Lisa Lampaneli had the sleeve in the spring and her husband also had it. The picture on TMZ made Lisa look great. The sleeve is too drastic for me. I wish them a lot of luck. I think the Band is the best. It can be removed if there is a problem and no staples that pop or be stretched out. At my support group not one person had the sleeve, just a very few the by pass, everyone seems to love the band.

Hi, I was banded July 30th and have not had a fill yet. My weight has been within 1-3 lbs. for over a week. I have been trying on a pair of pants for over a month and today they zipper!!!! So my body has gone down in inches. I finally took measurements on 9/6 for the first time. My highest weight was in March. I have no idea how large I really was. Be patient, the weight took longer than one month to put on. At my support group last week a man who was banded last November is down 90! That is very encouraging.

When I go out to eat, I eat out a lot for dinner, I order from the children's menu. I have been very strict with my eating. I hope it lasts.Yesterday I had a lunch order of turkey tips and mashed potatoes and had more than enough food. My biggest concern is this week coming up. It is the Jewish New Year and eating at other's homes and an engagement party. I haven't eaten with people who do not know about my banding and I am very nervous when people see a very small amount on my plate, it is buffet dining. My husband said to just say I am watching what I am eating, that is how I lost 51 lbs. since March! I do not plan on telling others about my surgery, too much privacy for me. I know most people are very proud but I feel like a failure and this was the only thing that can help me. A doctor told me that I am not a failure because I went for help by being banded. Do any of my fellow banders feel this way? Have a great Sunday. Super weather in Boston.

Happy Saturday to all. Last night I made sweet and sour meatballs, love them. You mix equal parts of sugar free grape jelly and chili sauce together in a pot and let it come to a boil. Make meatballs,(I bought 1 lb.) I use 90% lean meat with some spices and some panko. Make the balls and put them into the mixture on low for about 1 hour. They are so good. Soft to eat. I have 3 for my 4oz. Have a great Sunday and a Happy and Healthy New Year to all.

Fitbits is a small thing that counts your calories, exercise, sleep and just keeps track of your new life. The woman showed us hers on the screen how much she ate, exercised and it told her how many more calories she could have for the day. The woman brought hers and showed us the web site. It cost $100. So is it worth the investment?

Hello again, I just came back from my support group. One bander brought and showed off her Fitbit. Has anyone bought one and do you like it? Also, the same person does body wraps and swears they take off inches and she says her 4 chins will be gone by next month's meeting, She was banded in July, just like me.

Happy Thursday. My question is-do you tell everyone how you really lost your weight? I have only told a few people other than a few family members. Next week I have the Jewish holidays and my nephews engagement party and I don't know how to answer people. I am thinking of just saying I am dieting with the help of a dietitian. I hate my husband's sister, so she will never know about me. She's a long story and I've been married 42 years and she has been mean to me almost all those years. Today I went to Kohl's and tried on a size 18 misses not womens jeans! They fit and looked good. Tops I still need womens 1x, better than 3x I was wearing. Have a great weekend everyone.

Thank you for sharing a wonderful success story! I was banded 6 weeks ago and it's the best thing I ever did for myself. Since my highest in March I am down 50lbs!! I don't really see it but my clothes do. Reading about a person like yourself, helps me a lot. Thank you very much.

I was rereading my food list for phase 4 and saw Soy Chips. I bought cheddar cheese ones last night at Whole Foods and they are great! They have protein in them. I had some for lunch with some lump crab and loved it. I am always looking for new foods to try. Tonight I am trying for the first time pork. I hope it's not too tough to chew-chew-chew.

I feel sorry for going through everything. I hope you can make it through 6 more weeks of liquid. After my surgery (6 weeks ago) and I could finally eat real food, I found that food doesn't mean the same to me anymore. Weird. With the shakes you don't have to think. I still have a drink for breakfast, I hate breakfast foods. I add decaf coffee and or peppermint extract for added flavor to the chocolate. Keep using this site to help you get through this period. Just remember the weight took longer than 6 weeks.

Very nice to hear that someone else had the hernia repaired. My stomach was also in the wrong place so both got fixed and a large cyst was removed from my chest. I have 6 scars from everything but without the hernia and stomach repaired I was taking 6 pills a day to eat without pain or coughing. Walk as much as you can. I don't do it enough. I drink a lot of iced decaf tea with Splenda. That is a down fall of mine. I drink 6-10 glasses a day.Keep up the work. I am down 50lbs. from my high in March and was banded 6 weeks ago. Best thing I ever did!

Wow! In and out in 5 hours. Very lucky, I stayed over night. Before I went home I had to drink a protein drink at the hospital. I had strong meds for pain. I still get gas after 6 weeks and the hic cups when I eat or drink too fast. Good luck. I love reading the blogs of other banders. I learn a lot.

good for you and new life coming up. I was banded 7/30/12 and since starting my diet (sort of) in March I am down 49lbs. I feel better and smaller clothes now fit, which is always fun. Sorry to hear you lost a wonderful best friend/husband. That stinks.Good luck.

Icestorm-I like what you wrote about your husband sewing. Many moons ago, I made all my clothes. Haven't touched a sewing machine in years and don't want to. I use make a dress in 1-2 days. I worked in one of Boston's largest fabric stores, closed now, and never sewed then either. Have fun with the clothes. The hospital where I go doesn't have enough people for a clothes swap and I am too fussy to swap. Have a great weekend,

Good luck. I find that putting a lot of ice cubes in with the shakes makes them like a McDonald's thick shake and they fill you more. I use some instant decaf coffee or peppermint extract to change chocolate flavor.

Great story!!!!! Keep it up. You were banded one week before me. I know what you're talking about with wearing a smaller size. I just keep going clothes shopping in my closet. I was in either a size 18 or 20 jeans and now my small 18's fit well with room. My husband has been telling me almost every day how great I am looking. I really don't see it except with clothes but my face went down. I slipped up yesterday and ate too fast. Never again. It felt awful.A woman in my support group said to buy clothes at consignment stores because you change sizes so fast. I haven't done any shopping yet. Have a great weekend.

So I just ate too fast for the first time. Awful!!!!!! I did not throw up. I walked around my house about 10 times until I felt better. I was told walking helps. I never will do that again. I read somewhere on this web site to take your measurements. I finally did this morning after losing 46 lbs. I know by my clothes I have lost a lot. I found somewhere on line the outline of a female body and made copies. I don't know how often to take measurements, does anyone know? Thank you. have a great day everyone.

love what you wrote! Makes me look forward to getting smaller and wearing clothes not from the fat section anymore, just like you. I was banded a month ago. Keep up the great work! you are worth it.

I love clothes shopping in my own closet! Yesterday I put on a pair of jeans I forgot I had. They fit with a little room. My dream is to fit into my Warner Bros. jeans with the Taz and Bugs Bunny on them. I have saved them for over 15 years. Wow! over 15 years since I wore a size 16 and in my 40's then. I hope in my 60's isn't too old to wear fun clothes like that. I even have a 't' shirt to wear with them. I am running out of smaller clothes and will have to buy some clothes. In my support group one woman said because you change sizes so often go to consignment stores. I will have to check them out. I have my nephew's wedding in November and hope to fit into a size 14-16 and was thinking of buying at the consignment store to save money on a dressy outfit. Do other people save too small clothes hoping one day they will fit again? One pant suit I love, I waited too long and the jacket is way too big. Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone. Drive safely-the nuts are out there.

Good luck! You're having more real food than I was so soon after the surgery. I couldn't have any real food for 3 1/2 weeks. I have been on real food for about 10-12 days and love it! One food that I am allowed is crab meat and I love lump crab. I eat it a lot and it goes down great.I have the hip cups when I eat too fast or drink too fast. I get them a few times a day. Burping, I have always done and passing gas I think is from my shakes. I use a blender with lots of ice to make a really thick shake.

I totally understand you. Many many years ago I lost weight by some crazy diet center and when I hit under 180, I stopped everything and regained and regained. I looked great and felt great but I couldn't handle it. This time around, I was banded 7/30, I am trying to accept the comments about how great I am looking. I no longer take any medications other than vitamins. I fit in clothes that I haven't worn in years and my nephew is getting married in November and I can't wait to maybe fit into a size 14 or 16! That will be a first in over 15 years. My eating was bread, pizza, fried food and ice cream. I am being so perfect, I hope it lasts. I want my grandsons not to have a fat grandmother anymore. Think positive.

Good luck-you're doing great! Keep drinking protein shakes, that is what works best for me. I use skim milk in them, add some decaf instant coffee and sometimes peppermint extract and lots of ice cubes and it comes out as thick as a McDonald's shake. It fills you and gets in the protein which you need. I started phase 4 last week and it's going great. I just had crab meat for a protein snack/lunch.