dolphintattoo

A friend turned me onto this service, it's sort of like Netflix for clothing! You pay a monthly fee and get to "rent" clothes in size 10+. I was skeptical but since practically nothing fits 43lbs down, I figured it was cheaper than buying new only to find those too big. I have only had 2 shipments but so far so good, if you really like the piece you can keep it for a discounted price. Years ago there was a consignment shop in my area for people who had WLS but it has since closed and I don't seem to have good luck at consignment stores so I figured this was perfect, as I shrink I just change my profile and get smaller clothes. If anyone wants a link please PM me, I don't think we are supposed to post them here, but you do get referral credit if friends join. (That is not why I am posting, just wanted to share the concept).

Yes and it got to the point post op that my doc switched me to eating 1-2 plain potatoes a day vs. all shakes because I was not able to keep anything inside me which wasn't good for healing.

Donuts are in my past too! I am a little sad as it is apple cider donut time here in New England, but oh well. I suppose I could cut it up into tiny pieces, but really it's not the same as dipping a big chunk into hot cider.

I will have to try them out, we have a Lee outlet not to far away. Nordstrom did have some great Not Your Daughters Jeans...but at $130 I can't possibly justify it when I am still so far from goal. 80lbs from now I will have no problem with that!

I went a few months, my doc attributed it to swelling from the surgery. 9 months out I am at 9cc in a 14cc band. I actually had the green zone for about 6 weeks but then all the sudden found myself starving all the time so more saline had to go in.

Oh the number doesn't matter to me, and the gal at Nordstrom was great, she was going back to the "regular" sizes and then to Encore where I was trying to find something, anything that fit me. I have really really big calves, bigger than most women my size have for thighs (they are almost as big as my thigh) so it seems to make it even harder.

Ughhh I am a 14W....not a regular 14, but a woman's 14 but they are darn hard to find. I can't even squeeze into 16's yet at Old Navy or Ann Taylor Loft becuase I am too round but yet the pants in the women's dept are generally still too big. ughhh I am worried when get smaller and they don't even have W's what I am going to do!

I miss grinders! (or subs/hoagies as others might call them). I can't eat that sort of soft fluffy bread anymore so no more Subway for me. While I can get it on flat bread or in a pita it's just not the same so yes I do miss it. I could cut it up into dice size pieces but even then I can't really do the bread for fear or being stuck. Thank god Diet Coke works just fine with my band!

I like the gear at JC Penny, ditto on tight fitting capri/yoga pants, I usually wear a sports tank with a built in bra, I need the extra support from the regular bra + built in bra. I do prefer pants that come up higher to hold the belly roll in, but they are harder to come by.

Yes my plan is up to $150/yr per family. We belong to a Y with a family membership so it covers about 2 months worth of membership but it's a great extra benefit.

Mine is below my left ribcage and it does usually hurt when I run (which isn't often it's not my thing). I end up having to "hold" the port in place by pressing on it with my hand.

Mine hurts if I am running or doing ab work at the gym, if I am running I often have to hold it in place.

I am just getting over the 40lb plateau but wanted to mention that my NP said it's the most common plateau for her patients, it generally happens when your body has really adjusted to the new lifestyle. I am currently cutting back from 1600cals to 1400 and adding an extra set of weight training to my cardio. So far down 2lbs in 2 weeks finally!

I have seen this on some of the online boards but had my first experience today with someone who basically couldn't understand why I would have the lapband vs. bypass. There seems to be this general idea that the lapband is going to be a failure or you won't lose as much weight by people with the bypass. It certainly seems to come off slower but I don't see that as a negative. I had my first in person experience with someone who had bypass and just basically told me I am going to have to have a bypass if I really want to lose weight. I just replied that it was the right decision for me, I assume everyone who goes down this journey makes the right decision for THEM.

I do feel like I can go 3-4 hours depending on the meal, but a cup of food doesn't cut it, I need a chicken breast plus veggies and maybe cheese or fruit to feel full at a meal but then it lasts.

BTW i am at 9.5CC in a 14cc band. I was in the green zone before, so I know the feeling, but now I sometimes definately have more issues with getting food to go down/blocking (not sticking) etc...

My breakfast protein is usually from an egg or greek yogurt. morning snack is usually almonds, lunch is either tuna or chicken breast, afternoon snack of yogurt or cottege cheese, dinner is a meat protein, using a solid steak/chicken breast/fish item plus veggies.

Reposting here, since we are all at the same time frame. I was banded on 1/31/13. Down 43lbs to date, but the first 40 pretty much came off easily between Jan - May including 2 fills, then I stalled all summer at about 40lbs lost. I held stead for 3 months, had 1 fill but it didn't do much during that time. After meeting with my NP 2 weeks ago she suggested a drastic calorie cut (1000 vs 1600 I had been at) and up my cardio to 60 mins 7d/wk. (I was doing 40mins/5x/wk) She explained 40lbs tends to be a big sticking point for people. So far, with my fill 2 weeks ago and 5x a week 1hour+ cardio sessions things are starting to move, down 3lbs in 2 weeks. Very much struggling with my food though, I can't seem to get below 1400cal without being starving. My food choices are good and I am hitting 80g+ of protein. I just feel like since I burn about 1000cal with my workout, to eat 1000cal/day which would be a net of 0 cals/day is unachievable.

I was banded on 1/31/13. Down 43lbs to date, but the first 40 pretty much came off easily between Jan - May including 2 fills, then I stalled all summer at about 40lbs lost. I held stead for 3 months, had 1 fill but it didn't do much during that time. After meeting with my NP 2 weeks ago she suggested a drastic calorie cut (1000 vs 1600 I had been at) and up my cardio to 60 mins 7d/wk. She explained 40lbs tends to be a big sticking point for people. So far, with my fill 2 weeks ago and 5x a week 1hour+ cardio sessions things are starting to move, down 3lbs in 2 weeks. Very much struggling with my food though, I can't seem to get below 1400cal without being starving. My food choices are good and I am hitting 80g+ of Protein. I just feel like since I burn about 1000cal with my workout, to eat 1000cal/day which would be a net of 0 cals/day is unachievable.

My doc and his team emphasize healthy eating and protein over calories. I track on MFP and pay more attention than they do. I work out 60 minutes a day and usually burn 700-900 calories Nd have found 1400 is a good number for me and works well if I am in the green zone.

Ughhh still starving, unlikely I can get a fill until the 12th. I am so frustrated that I am losing progress because the scale is going up even though I am doing strength and cardio. My stomach is growling every 2 hours or sooner. I honestly have not felt hungry this often ever even pre band. It seems weird to me that I went from the green zone to this in like 2 weeks, I really hope there isn't anything wonky with my band. I am slightly frustrated that my doc can't squeeze me in at all until the 12th .

I am also being careful to avoid drinking for the full 2 hours vs the 60-90 minutes I was able to do before so I can try and "stretch" my full feeling longer but I am barely making it to 2 hours after eating before I hear the grumbling. It's just so strange, I'm not used to being this hungry anymore!

This is real hunger, my admin commented on my growling stomach yesterday because she could hear it across the conference table. I am drinking more diet coke because I find the bubbles fill me up, and eating extra Protein (primarily chicken and tuna but also greek yogurt). I also chew gum. This has just sort of come out of no where in the past 3-5 days. It's not that time of the month either. The hunger has been constant now for about 36 hours, no matter what I eat it only goes away for an hour tops, I ate 1600 cals, 108g of protein yesterday so I am definately eating more than normal. I am on the cancellation list but they are closed Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri next week so not much chance unless someone cancels tomorrow or Monday.

I was in the green zone and was doing great (10lbs last month) but the last 5-7 days have been hungry ALL THE TIME and unable to feel full for as long as I could before. I am not scheduled for another appt until July 12 and called to see if I could get something sooner, sadly with the holiday they are crazy booked. I have had 4 fills to date (I had the band on 1/31). I am of course still trying to stay high Protein and do my normal workouts (down 38lbs since starting in Jan) but this hunger is going to kill me. I haven't had hunger like this since the very early post op days.

Walking doesn't do anything for me (other than be a cool down tool at the gym). I need the intensity of cardio either in the form of a machine (stair climber, ellipitcal, arc trainer etc..) or something like a TRX class/cross training. My HR is up to 150/160 at those activities, I can never seem to get above 130 with walking. Jogging on the other hand does work for me, I just am not very good at it (darn flat feet). I went from 20 minutes on the stair master in the weeks following my banding to an hour a day now, I do each machine for 15 or 20 minutes each. I often watch something on my iPad while I am working out to pass the time.