TulipStar

I think the key is finding something that you like to do. When I was growing up I never liked exercise....hated it hated it hated it, but I did it just because I was always trying to lose weight. I started going to the gym and found that I love group exercise. I like step aerboics, spinning classes etc. I need the trainer at the front, who is pushing me to move. Otherwise, if I am doing it on my own, I quit too soon (treadmill, elliptical) bc I get bored. Once you start, you will find that you feel good when you exercise and it's kind of like a high that you feel. It becomes addicting. I go to the gym and work out every single day. And I love it!!

Some people have problems. I fly about 1-2 times per week and I haven't had a problem at all. Some of these have been 10+ hour flights and I eat and everything with no issue.

I eat a lot of salad. I get something with like grilled chicken salad and eat the chicken first, then the lettuce. I know some bandsters can't eat lettuce, but I haven't had a problem. I avoid bread. A lot of restaurants have items that are "low carb" on the menu. These items avoid bread/starches which I have been told not to eat. These restaurants are big chains like: Cracker Barrell, Applebees, TGI Fridays, Bennigans, etc. Also, if the restaurant serves Breakfast all day you can get breakfast food like eggs and ham (Cracker Barrel serves bfast all day). I travel a lot for works, so I eat out a lot. the key is to PLAN. Know where you are going and decide even before you get there what you are going to eat. Look at their menu online. This will help you from being tempted when you get to the restaurant and see all the yummy food, bc you have already made up your mind.

Sue, Isn't it great? I want to say THANKS too!

When I have some restriction, I was eating 4 times a day. Now, I don't have any restriction and I eat like 6 or more times a day! I can't even imagine only eating 3 times per day. Even when I had fill, my stomach would start growling so loud at about 4 hours after the last time I ate. Hopefully when I have proper restriction, 3x per day will work for me too!

Wow, what a bad day!!!!!!! Once you get banded and the weight starts dropping you will be amazed to notice things like: arms on chairs aren't a problem you can sit in a booth people don't stare and the list goes on!!! hang in there!!!

Clara, I too overdid it on Thanksgiving. It's ok. Move on. However, you must face the scale, just to keep yourself in check. I just actually totaled the calories that I ate for Thanksgiving dinner... a whopping 900 calories!! And that is only for dinner. Then every night I have been having leftovers...so those meals are averaging about 700 calories. For me, if I avoid the scale or avoid logging my food, it's as if it doesn't exist and I continue to overeat. The scale and food log hold me accountable.

Smiley, I am familiar with your story. Rememer the band is a tool to help you through this, so you should definitely get more restricition. Secondly, you must be honesty with yourself about what you're eating. You should track all the food that you eat, even on binge weekends. 3500 extra calories equal a pound. so, if you down 2 bags of chips in a weekend that is almost equal to an extra pound. I have no restriction right now because of a leak and a flipped port. I can eat whatever I want... not that I should. I really ate a lot on Thanksgiving, but I put myself in check and logged my food for it. That turkey dinner was 1,000 calories alone!!! That is all I am supposed to have in a day....oh well, we all slip sometimes and I must move on. Also, try to get more active. Start with a 10 minute walk and then gradually move to 30. I am maintaining by doing 1 hour of exercise a day.

My first fill was at 5 weeks. It was really nice to finally have some restriction. during this time, just try to focus on eating right and exercising/drinking your Water. Keep a food journal to track your calories to make sure you aren't eating too much. This is "bandster hell" and I remember it all too well. You can do it!!!!

You're fine. Just sleep it off. I felt funny a lot after sugery for about 3 weeks.

I quit, but every once in a while I still want one. I wasn't a heavy smoker before surgery. I smoked about 2-4 times per month. About a pack a month. I used to smoke 2 packs a day 10 years ago, but weaned myself off to only be an occasional smoker. I decided that I am not going back. The last time I smoked was a week before surgery. I feel really good now. You can do it, if you want to!

I did learn this very quickly. I often get food stuck becuase I eat too fast. I have learned (painfully) to not eat too fast. Hunger seems to creep up so fast now, that before i know it I am ravenous. You will learn it too!

Stacy 73… 43 TulipStar…32 Mdicurn…30 time4me…27.8 Magooz07…11 Caresarn…16 Klpdbl…47 Lapband4me...32 Sirusman…56 Allisarin…23 Tishamarie…49 EL1…23 Juliacleone…24 Kimmie…45 dsmit13…23 ScareDcat…32 Lapitup…22.5 mandi78…23 andrea71…28 Thinmom…23 Kellymovingon...35 flipper64...30 kagoscuba...37 Lucylu...15 Gurlygirl....23 Amber...39 suzygayle....31 Linda E......24.5 lbs Texrose 575 .....24.0 lbs Jennie1976...18 lbs itstime....23 lbs eastxnurse....30 lbs wannabthin...26 lbs

At first I didn't want to tell anyone. Prior to my surgery the only ones that I wanted to tell was my hubby, my boss, my dad and my good girlfriend. I really didn't want to anyone else or my in-laws bc they trash talk wls so much. My in-laws live in a different state, but they visited me 2 weeks prior to my surgery. I ended up telling my mil, but first started off the conversation with...."I'm going to tell you something but I want your full support and confidentiality..." In the end it made her feel good that I would confide in her. I think the main reason I didn't want to tell anyone was bc I didn't want people to judge. Now, 2 months after my surgery....I really don't care who knows. I find myself telling people randomly. It's not bc I have lost a lot of weight (i really haven't). I just feel more comfortable with it now.

I went to a seminar and the Dr. said that at one point that he would have said "it will last forever". However, now he hesitates to say this because there have been a couple cases recently from those who were banded over 10 years ago in Australia/Europe that have had to have it replaced. IMO, it is no big deal if you have to have surgery many years down the road. I have to have revision surgery on a port flip bc it came unstitched from my muscle. Things like this just happen, but the good results from the band outweigh potential complications.

My port flipped and I am having revision surgery on the 28th of November. I had only my lapband for 7 weeks before it flipped. My dr said the recovery time should be quicker. I have to go back in the hospital to have it done. He said he will just reopen my port incision. Remove the port and put a new one in, stitch it to the muscle and sow it back up. you will be fine. Good luck!

Hi Sharon, Thanks for the well wishes!! Happy Thanksgiving to you too. I was not so good today. I did go to the gym, but I am way too full right now.... But, I can say that I haven't had any candy/chocolate since August...made it through Halloween and everything. Good for you being so good!!

Most of the time, it's not so much the food as the time of day for me. If I try to eat anything cold or bread in the morning, then I will get stuck. The first stuck food that I had was a mini-muffin. You just have to wait for it to pass. It's either going to go down or come back up. It can be a painful process. Someone once posted on this board to hold your arms straight up towards the ceiling and that will help it pass. that works for me if I am starting to slime and it doesn't want to go down.

WOW! That is great news! Congratulations

My hubby was so AGAINST me getting the lapband. When I first wanted to go to a seminar about it, I asked him to go with me. He asked "for what?!" I said that I needed his support and he asked me "like how". I told him that just him being there with me was support enough. He really didn't want to go...he is against all wls. However, he went with me and he was "sold". He thought it was a good idea from then on. It is hard to verbally say the kind of support you need. YOu just need that person to support you by listening and being there when you need them. I said the same thing to other members of my family.

I've only been banded for a short time and now that my fill leaked out I can eat anything. However, during my brief restriction I could not eat dry chicken or doughy bread. I could not eat anything cold in the morning.

I have been using mine for 6 weeks and have lost 18lbs since I started using the bug. My friend wants to buy one. Does anyone know of any discount codes that work??

You can drive as long as you are not on pain meds. Be careful though, I still had pain if I took turns too fast or bumps. Also, getting in and out of the car was a slow process.

Introducing Sassy Sue....

That is so bizarre. She obviously has her own issues and is putting the blame on your situation. I think that afeter 25 years she could at least pick up the phone. Hang in there. You only need positive people in your life right now! (((hugs)))