Sharpie

You look wonderful. I know you feel better and you look very happy.,

I did muscle milk and GNC Lean shakes while on my pre-op,, I don't think ensure was on my list.. I know it has protein but too much sugar for me..

yes Karen I am very excited. it's 7 night cruise out of Seattle.. can't wait.. it will be nice in August . I have always wanted to see the whales and glaciers.

Really great ideas for rewards on here... I love jewelry and I don't need an excuse to get it.. lol Ilike manicures and pedicures too.. my biggest reward was to be able to ride my beloved horse again..I know he appreciated not carrying around my extra weight.. I think I heard him say thanks Mom.. lol.. I am working towards my goal so when we go to Alaska in August I will be healthy and fit.. This is the trip we have wanted to take for years but due to health challenges for both my husband (who is cancer free) and myself with diabetes, etc. we were afraid to take the chance.. It's onward to Alaska and that is a good reward..

great goodness Cheryl you have lost a person.. You did good ... I think it does take time to realize that it is possible to get to a healthy weight.. I am now 15 lbs or so from my goal and I am not stressing about it.. I will get there I just have to remind myself that it won't happen overnight... thank you for posting your pictures..

I played softball with my youngest grandaughter for about an hour.. it's pretty cold here in Sunny Florida... lol so I haven't been out walking as much as I should.. Zumba classe are on Wed.

good for you Walking..it's a good feeling to be smaller.. You are doing wonderful.

Happy Birthday to you... I hope you live to be at least 100... I thought I was too old to get my band too but my Surgeon encouraged me to go for it... I had diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.. I am 67. I am totally off of all meds... Your story is encouraging and hopefully other older people will be inspired to get the band...

I did the liver shrink diet with GNC Lean shakes and Muscle Milk.. they are not bad.. are not thick at all.. I could substitute a protein bar for a shake if I wanted ... I would alternate,, breakfast bar, lunch shake, dinner bar, then lean cuisine.. You need to call the Dr. and ask if it is okay first....Good Luck, it will all be worth it..

Jaimilyne.. what an accomplishment... You should be so proud and happy... I know you will be at your goal before you know it.. Best of luck...

yes the peanutbutter chocolate thing is my nemisis.. over the Holidays my grandaughter made Peanut Butter chocolate balls.. I could not resist them.. I ended up throwing them out of my house so I wouldn't eat them..I'm back on track.. starting my New Year off with eating good and started Zumba.. Part of the band life is willpower but it is easier to control what you eat with the band..

I love the sayings Jack.. Wag More Bark Less is a good motto...Sometimes we are our own worst enemy... I try to read all of the positive post so I will stay positive.

Hey Chris I just noticed you are from Ocala.. I am in N. Florida up near Lake City.. I come to Ocala often maybe we can get together sometime.. I will be glad to be your support or band buddy... let me know you can private message me...

I have to start the day with protein.. eggbeaters, turkey sausage, wheat toast, coffee.. lunch is either chicken salad with some wheat thins or chili, vegtables and sometimes fruit if I have room.. cottage cheese with fruit is a good go to.. if I am out and about I eat chic filet, chicken tortilla soup.. dinner is meat , veg and fruit.. sometimes I have a snack of greek yogurt or protein bar.. I try to keep my calories to 1200 a day.. it takes time for you to realize that you don't need huge amounts of food to keep you satisfied.. satisfied and full are two different things.. I made homeade beef vegetable soup last night.. and it was really good by dinner time.. there are so many choices and you will develop a taste for things as you go along...

Your Dr. is orchestrating your care.. that is what you paid for.. I think you meant you had a fill which didn't allow you to drink and then you had an unfil then went back a month later and had another fill.. but I could be wrong.. some people love to argue and always want to be right so, I don't care about them.. I hope you figure your band out and will be comfortable.. it's no fun being too tight.

so in reality your band has not failed... Getting re-motivated is difficult but you can get a fill and restart... Best of Luck to you in the future.. We are all here to help you.

Super Job Blue... I know that made your day.. Sounds like you have a great hubby too.. keep up the good work..

You are not wrong for wanting to improve your health.. obese is obese and you know how much you need to lose to get to a normal weight.. I was told by the nurse who took me into the surgical suite that she was surprised that I needed to have weight loss surgery... well at 5' tall and 200 lbs I'm pretty sure I needed it.. I had tried every diet ever invented and I failed every diet.. The lapband surgery was not the easy way out and it certainly requires constant care.. You learn to eat slow, chew good, and don't try to eat til your stuffed.. It works and if you do what your Dr. tells you you will be successful.. Other people don't live in your shoes so do what is best for you... do your research...

woo hoo girl... my bandaversery is tomorrow... I feel the same way as you.. I have lost almost 60 lbs and I am so happy and thankful that I made the decision to reverse my health... No more Diabetes, High Cholesterol or High Blood pressure.. Shopping is definitely a happier experience than before @ 200 lbs on a 5' body it was torture..Can't find petite XXL clothes very often.. I went to my Surgeon's office yesterday for a checkup.. I wore my "skinny" jeans and black boots . My Dr. gave me a huge hug and told me how proud he was of me and then showed the staff my "outfit"... When he looked at my bloodwork and saw how good it was he grinned really big and said I knew you could do it... It is a life changing event and like you I was petrified of what my future would be without food.. I am the head cook here on the farm and we have big dinners to Celebrate everything so I was scared I would not be able to do that anymore.. But you know what I am still cooking but just eating smaller... Great job Gowalking and I am so very proud of you...

I used to work in a office that celebrated everything with food.. I am happy that I work at home and I can kinda control that.. however, my husband is a huge junk eater.. he's rail thin too.. disgusting... anyway some people do that on purpose cause they want to see you fail.. it's a sabotage. I would stay out of the kitchen or bring some Protein bars and eat one so you won't be tempted.. I know during the Holidays I had to finally throw out Cookies, candy and cheesecake out of my house.. it's so hard to ignore it.. dont' get down on yourself you are human. Just remember the way you wan to look and feel is worth all the sacrifice.

Keep us posted on your cruise.. I am contemplating doing a Alaskan Cruise this year.. always wanted to go and my husband has finally agreed to go.. I am about 15 lbs from my goal and I wouldn't want to go crazy on a cruise and push my goal back..

No Matter what... We live in a very visual society... look at who we idolize. Movie Stars have to be perfect.. perfect bodies, perfect teeth, perfect hair.. even our political figures have to be good looking. I have owned my own business for many years and have had to meet with company buyers and Presidents. When I was younger and cuter I had more confidence and as I aged and got heavier I lost my confidence. It affects your ability to do your job sometimes.. There are all kinds of discriminations in the world, you can choose to not work for a company or you can choose to make the best of it. Sometimes the advantages outweight the disadvantages. As my Mother used to say "Is This the Hill you want to die on?".. In other words pick your battles carefully. Let's face it ,. we all want to look great and feel great. This is why I got my lapband.

Everyone of us has had that fear of failure.. After multiple attempts to lose weight and admitting defeat each time you become afraid to believe you can be successful... however, I do not regret my decision to have lapband... the first few weeks post op you think "why in the world did I do this?" but after you start feeling better and start eating some real food you realize how good you feel and will be thrilled everytime you reach a new goal... I have lost 55 lbs and have never felt better.. I am sure you will do great...

You will be fine.. first thing you need to do is relax.. sip water or liquids as often as you can.. take something for constipation. milk of mag or something.. that bloated feeling could be gas and or constipation.. don't overdo it.. if you have a physical job you might want to take a little more time off.. if not, just do what you have to.. it takes about a week or 10 days or so to feel pretty normal..I used a heating pad on my shoulder pain and rested as much as possible... Good Luck you will do great...Follow all of your Dr's instructions...

Bless your Heart... My Husband has lost two of his children.. There is nothing worse than to lose a child.. He also was diagnosed with Cancer after losing is son it was a double punch... The good news is, he survived and is living life day by day... You are ready to get your life back on track.. You will have good days and bad but remember that your Son would want his Mom to take care of herself first and foremost... You do not know what God has in store for you, be ready for the rest of your life and with a healthy new outlook.... I will keep you in my prayers and please reach out to any of us here.. We all have our own crosses to bear, none of us have a perfect life and the desire to get healthy can be your life saver.