gowalking

Good job Liz. I too was away for a few days and ate out a couple of times when I got home. I still managed to lose a half pound and I feel great....I feel in control. What a change for me.

You can try to plan to go back in five days but know that it might not be enough time for you. I had a pretty good recovery....not lots of pain or gas but no way was I ready to go back to work that soon. I was fortunate in that I was able to work from home. I didn't go back into the office for two weeks.

Just so you know, you can eat out and still be successful. I eat out at least once a week, sometimes more. I look to make good food choices and I usually stick with fish because it goes down easy. Besides which, I've found out how good fish really tastes. No one pays attention to how and what you are eating. That was my big worry but honestly...no one is watching you. I've gone out with plenty of people who are not aware I am banded and no one notices a thing. Oh, and I've lost over 70 lbs. since the beginning of the year so like I said...you can eat out and lose the weight. For me, it's very much a social thing and I refused to give that up...and didn't have to..

70 lbs. down and I went from a 46 D (and should have really been a DD) to a 42C. Problem is....the breasts didn't just get smaller, they deflated just as another poster described. At some point, I'll have to have surgery because they just hang so badly and even a good support bra goes just so far. I have to keep pulling them back in place when I wear a bathing suit.

Spectacular Karen. What a success you are and an inspiration as well..

I'm banded six months and have lost over 70 lbs. If you listen to your band, you will be able to distinguish between hungry and not hungry. You have to eat slow and small bites and that means you can't mindlessly eat anymore. I would wolf down a bowl of Pasta and get a second helping without even thinking about it. You will learn to eat differently and the sadness from not eating to excess will not compare to the pleasure of your successes like getting off meds, or buying smaller size clothes, or getting compliments, or all the non scale victories you will experience like fitting into plane seats, fitting into a booth in a diner, putting on only one gown at the doctor's office..not wearing two to cover everything. The list goes on and on. Good luck on your journey...read these posts, ask questions, and help mentor other newbies once you become a veteran and realize all your fears and worries were just based on the unknown.

Very normal. And if it's going to bother and frustrate you that much, don't weigh yourself daily. As Missy said, if you work the program, you will succeed. Good luck to you!

I had Dr. Ren and was very pleased with her. Welcome Jim and congrats on taking the first step. Sugar is not my vice...carbs are. But eating at night was always an issue for me. Between the band tamping down the hunger and some good old fashioned will power, I do OK at night. FYI, I'm down 70 lbs. since the pre-op diet in early January.

They sure do. I'm not even in the 'lean' category yet....I'm regular overweight and not morbidly obese anymore after losing 70 lbs. What I notice is that no one notices me. I'm not talking about friends, family, co-workers. I'm talking about strangers who don't know me. No one stares..no one looks at me with those fearful eyes pleading silently that I don't sit next to them on the train or bus. Now..as far as folks who do know me...no...they treat me just the same because I'm still the same person I was before the surgery.

I'm sure a small piece of chicken won't screw up the process but now that it's done, don't do it again. I'm sure that if you adhere to the pre-op diet for the remainder of the five days, you'll be OK for the procedure.

what about skinny cow pops or sf pudding/jello? that can ease the sweet tooth and not do much damage in terms of calories. or...those 100 calorie cookie packets perhaps?

like when the kids were little....mix the meds with some applesauce.

Just goes to show you the numbers mean nothing. You look like you've lost twice that amount. Not sure if you can even see it...we seldom do but you are not overweight anymore. Congratulations!

I was at a spa the last couple of days that I've been to in years past but not recently. I suspected the robe would fit better and it did. I didn't need the extra large and the regular robe closed just fine. However...what I didn't expect and didn't even think about was that I could put my arms at my side and they would stay on the massage table. LOL! In years past I always had to stick my hands under my butt to keep them in place. Wasn't even really aware of that until I didn't have to do it anymore. It just reminds me how we adapt over the years to our size and how that impacts our lives in a negative way. I am so grateful that normalcy is slowly coming back to my life.

Hi Aviva, I agree with Missy. You need to let it go. My parents knew I was getting the lapband and while I didn't specifically ask them not to say anything, of course my mother went and told her sisters and they in turn told others in the family. I too got an email from a cousin asking how I was doing and thinking...how the heck does he know about this? Then I realized my mother was the source. I couldn't undo what had been done but I did let her know that I was selective about who I told and I think she got the message. As an aside though...all comments so far have been positive so that's at least a good thing.

Right now you just can't imagine what it will be like when you lose the weight. Believe me, you will feel like a different person in that regard. I'm suffering from severe arthritis and because I am in so much pain, it's hard for me to exercise and move around but having said that, even I can see a difference. I've dropped 70 lbs. and can walk more, I swim now, and yes, getting off the couch is easier. Lots of people say their aches and pains have gone away so you should be able to look forward to that as well. Oh and by the way, you'll be better way before you hit that size 6. Even a few pounds will make a difference.

We'll support you. Good luck and see you on the other side!

It's onederland and all it means is that someone is under 200 pounds...hence the 'one' as in 199 or less.

Bring healthy Snacks and if the junk is what you are craving, remember those bad choices are what got you here in the first place. I'm not sure how long you are banded but you should be OK with things like yogurt and soft cheese...if you are able to eat all foods, some fruit or a handful of almonds...and drink, drink, drink. Have fun on your roadtrip!

Hahahaha...good one Quahog!

Missy is right. If ice cream is a dangerous food for you, keep it out of the house. If there are others at home who eat it, well just make them go out for it. It won't kill anybody to make your life a little easier. I understand how you feel...my dangerous food is pasta. Fortunately, I've been able to avoid the temptation so far but it's always a struggle. Good luck to you...here's hoping you can conquer this challenge.

Wonderful! I'm sure she was just scared for you and didn't know what the future would hold. And now she knows everything is OK and is supporting you. Well...guess what? Turns out we were there at the same time. I had a 1:20 appointment. We were both sitting in the office together and didn't even know it.

Even more reason to stay away from the scale. Nothing you can do about monthly bloat...it is what it is. Good luck with your surgery..see you on the other side.

Stay away from the scale, stay away from the scale...oh and stay away from the scale. I cannot say that enough times. I'm presuming you are newly banded as you mention bloating....which is very common after surgery. Do yourself a favor and don't weigh yourself especially as it seems that you are negatively affected by what the scale says. Just follow the program and I can virtually guarantee you will be successful. This is not a sprint, you didn't gain it overnight and you won't lose it overnight either. Good luck!

Same here. Like Aviva, I have Cigna and had to have three months supervised doctor visits with my PCP where my weight was documented. Include psych evaluation, cardiac and lab tests, you are likely looking at around 6 months. If you are self-pay, it will only takes a few weeks at most based on what self-pay bandsters have written.