chasingadream

You have a GORGEOUS neck!!!! Look at that amazing difference. I am truly blown away when I see before and after pics....after all pictures don't lie....unlike when we look at ourselves in the mirror! Your transformation is wonderful and I know I've said it a million times already.....THANKS FOR INSPIRING ME ....THANKS FOR HELPING ME SEE WHAT I CAN DO IF I FOCUS AND WANT IT.... I am a believer! :wub:

Hello AJ and congrats on the successful surgery. Sound like you are doing great....can't wait to see pics of how amazing (more amazing) you look now that 6 lbs of extra skin are gone....wow....that always blows my mind! Thanks for sharing your story...and good to "see" you again!

Hi there...best of luck to you! I understand the confusion about telling or not. When I started this journey and right up to my surgery date only my terrific hubby and 3 friends knew. My immediate family knows now (and I told them AFTER the surgery)....and 2 people from work know...and they were super supportive! You are so right...this is all about YOU...and no one else! I think some people, for good reasons or not, just think we jump into this like its some fleeting thought, some easy decision. This is a last ditch effort to truly improve my life....and I AM SOOOO GLAD I MADE IT. It's been a great journey so far and I've learned and am learning to take it one day at a time....and one pound at a time too! Keep us posted!

Thank you Alex....you solved this problem...It wasn't offering me the body weight option when I went to re-set up my ticker but that link worked like a charm. THANK YOU!

I "purged" my closet yesterday...what a great feeling...got rid of all of those 22/24 pants that i will never fit into AGAIN. I gave away clothes that still had the tags on them....so ashamed of the size I was...pulled out things that were too small that fit now...i had and have so many sizes...i found brand new undies....size 9 , 8, and 7....goodness how I've expanded over the years. Well, those days are over...thank goodness....50 lbs are gone and I'm not looking back....never thought I would be in this place only 8 weeks after surgery. I am feeling blessed and fortunate in so many ways.... Moving forward to a healthier AND skinnier me!

I love going out to eat now....we've never been big out to eat-ers...but since being banded 8 weeks ago I've gone out quite a bit. Been trying new foods and portions and cravings are not a problem. Eat a little bit of everything and really enjoy it....nice to leave the table NOT so stuffed that you feel like the thanksgiving turkey. No fills as of yet and love that the weight is just coming off....never felt so good....have energy and just feel good about ME! :wub: What an awesome feeling!

I agree...I can't find anyone and I want my tickers back...lol I get so excited when I fumble onto someone I'm looking for....boohoo...i miss the old format!

Ouch--hope it heals up quickly!

I got a magic bullet and you can puree anything. I did lots of egg salad, chicken salad (swanson makes a chicken in a can--size of a tuna can-its moist and tastes really good--i have it all the time), tuna salad (all of the above w/just light mayo), chili from wendys blended, even had homemade taco meat (ground in magic bullet). I loved the mushy phase...so great to eat and really taste food again. Hummus with crackers ( I was allowed saltine crackers i guess because they pretty much melt in your mouth). Those are some ideas...I also roasted a chicken and just put it in the magic bullet...it was like a paste consistency and had mashed potatoes and gravy too. Remember, some of the pureed comes out looking yucky, just get past it and enjoy the taste. Good luck, and since all docs are different be sure to follow your specific menu AND ENJOY....YOU WILL LOVE IT! PS...not sure if my above would be your "mushies"...i was liquid for 2, mushies for 2 and then solids after surgery....best to you!

You are brave! My doc said no (NEVER) so I am going to abide by his rules. But thanks for sharing...good to know it was not a comfortable feeling in case I ever get tempted....sorry you were in distress though! Great weight loss too!

Hi Lynn, Are the calcium tablets you are talking about from Bariatric Advantage...if so did they come in a HUGE bottle. I got them and never opened them and was thinking of returning them since I can't stand the Vitamins and had to switch....but you like them??? Thanks for your help....8 weeks post surgery with lapband w/plication!

Love that...and yes, I AM LOST TOO....LOL Still happy to find some old Lap Band friends while trying to navigate thru the new "school". Glad to have found you again AJ...thanks for the wise words! Support is support....and new friends are as exciting as old friends

Thank goodness....I thought I was the only one LOST ....and here in this thread a bunch of people I couldn't find before.....HELLO EVERYONE!

Like your bra clasps..LOL Love the graphics....cool to see what it should look like....plus the plication as well! Like a little banana. Glad things are a-ok at 17mos!

You look terrific and you are terrific. Congrats on 4 years of being banded and congrats on achieving such wonderful success. You are truly an inspiration and I thank you for sharing your successes and insights along the way!

I've discovered since having my lap band surgery on Sept. 19th that a whole new world is really out there waiting for me...and I am quite excited by this! In 7 weeks and 5 days I have learned so much more about myself than I ever would have thought possible. First and foremost....I can eat to live and not live to eat anymore. This is a big one....as a constant food grazer for the past 30 or so years...who knew you could really just eat to nourish your body and mind and move on with your day....with your life. My band and I are forging a whole new relationship together and we are getting along fabulously....I'm learning to stop at satisfied, chew, chew, chew, and to eat slowly. When I do this I don't feel that pressure in my chest I experienced a few times when first back on solids. I eat when I'm hungry...this is a new one for me. I actually wait when my stomach begins to growl and really get rowdy. Why one might ask. Because I havent felt TRUE hunger in so many years its actually a nice feeling. It reminds me that this is the signal that tells me....Yup....time to put some nourishment in me....and that's it! Food is not all consuming to me anymore. I dont have any cravings. I dont know if its the band or the plication but I am loving it! I realized a week ago that I can eat something like a fun-size bag of peanut M+M's and the food demon of my past will not be unleashed. I thought for sure once I had that taste of chocolate...the taste of salty and sweet...the taste of goodness and comfort and joy that those M+M's used to elicit would cause me to slip back into old eating habits and patterns. You know what....IT DIDNT. Mind you, panic over this little "snack" did cause fear in my heart and soul as I ran around the house for the rest of the night telling my hubby that I surely released "the demon". Well, guess what?...the next day was like any other banded day for me. Eating breakfast, lunch, my little snack to get me to dinner and then to my last meal of the day- dinner. Now when I see that bowl of leftover Halloween candy, I glance at it and say ....aaahhh...and walk away and onto the next thing I was going to do. Moments like that I now say WOW to. At work, no one (well actually only one person---the wonderful school nurse who helped me when I fell outside of work right before my lap band surgery and i basically broke down because of the stress of everything---knows). One girl has said I've lost weight.....many others comment on how great my hair looks and they all love the shirts I'm wearing. I find it funny....not sure if they dont know what to say or this is how they are noticing it. I've always been a loose fitting shirt girl, always trying to cover up all my baggage and now my clothes are beginning to hang even more. I know I've got to get new stuff but the thought of not hiding stuff is all new to me. I will come around...for I must...but this part is the hard part right now. I feel good...I feel light....I feel faster...I feel more energetic. I love that my wedding/engagement ring are constantly twisting on my finger. I love that my watch needs a link taken out. I love that I can eat at home or go out to eat with my family and I CAN eat. Whatever I want....sometimes better choices than others but I can always eat everything. I DO NOT feel deprived of anything. I don't miss the constant grazing, the donuts by the dozen, the pints of Ben & Jerry's, the 2 or 3 helpings at dinner. I DO LOVE that my hubby is able to reach around me better when he gives me a hug....I can keep up with my kids better....i feel better about myself....i am happier than i've been in some time.....I'm healthier.....i've lost 46 pounds and this is just the beginning. I look out my window and see that whole new world that being thinner offers and at times it is scary and seems so unknown but I wont know how truly great it all is unless I continue to travel down that road and reach that weight loss goal that has eluded me for sooooo many, many years. So, watch out....'cause here I come!

Im 7 1/2 weeks out of surgery and I still use my scale from all of my failed weight watchers attempts....love a scale that switches between ounces and grams. I always weigh my dinner Protein. My eyes are still (and will always be now) much bigger than my stomach. Good luck to you!

I thought maybe it was just me struggling to navigate around here...having a hard time finding my friends from Lap Band Talk....located a few but oh boy....its a whole new banded world out here now.....

You look amazing in those coral pants.....seeing you reach this milestone is great since you have often talked about getting into those capri's during the course of your weight loss. I hope you know what a true inspiration you are to me...and many others....there is no phony baloney here...just the plain and basic facts of banded life. And ever since I've been on this site, I've followed a few people and you have been one of them and you are making such a difference to me. I've been banded only 7 1/2 weeks and I keep your words in the back of my head...out for a walk tonight with the dog....was it cold in NY...yup...so on went the winter coat and out I went. It felt good and no one could make me do it but me!!!! I think the best thing has been making better food choice and NEVER feeling deprived. I eat everything I want and am learning to pay attention to that "stop sign" you talked about. I don't always listen or get it just yet but I'm figuring it all out....and the results are there.... I feel better....physically and mentally. My clothes are loose...even big...and the scale (which I am NOT a slave to) is down...... 46 pounds ALREADY. So a great big thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing YOUR CORAL CAPRIS....and thanks to AJ for sending them to you!

AAAHHHH.....LOOK AT YOU GIRLFRIEND! Beautiful and amazing....what an accomplishment.....you are SUCH an inspiration! Loving my band and plication too! :wub:

Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Good job on hanging tough and not turning to the one thing that can sabotage all of your hard work.

Great journey...thanks for sharing!

Congrats Bandista...sounds like you are doing superbly! Wishing you a quick and easy recovery and all the best in the coming weeks.

I am a teacher and had surgery on sept 19th....had surgery on a thursday and went back to work the next thursday without a problem. A little sore and itchy from sites healing but it was pretty good. I also stayed overnight in the hospital as per my surgeons protocol. I believed that helped a great deal in getting rest and a jump start on my recovery. Good luck and remember EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT...DO WHAT FEELS RIGHT AND IS BEST FOR YOU!

I also had both on Sept 19th....6 1/2 weeks out feel great and even was lucky enough to not need my first fill at last weeks doc appt!