piercedqt78

Just don't cover it with a waterproof band aid for long term, or use bandaids. Use a simple tape and gauze as mentioned above. You don't want to hold moisture on that area. The band aid does not allow enough air to get to the area and it will not stay dry. I put a waterproof band aid on mine for my shower, then removed it and washed it at the sink with clear dial liquid soap, patted it dry with a paper towel, and then put on clothing as normal. It healed in about 10 days.

I know people that took out the underwire in their bras, and replaced them with lead fishing weights. They also put extra weights in their shoes.

I started at 244 8 years ago, and had a lapband. I had major complications, and had a revision on May 8th 2013. I was 206 the morning of surgery, and I'm 120 now. I went from a size 22 to a size 6 in 10 months. Today: A few months before my revision surgery:

I'm at goal. I was 244 8 years ago when I had my lapband placed. Then I was 206 the morning of my revision to the sleeve. I am 120 pounds today.

I haven't tried them, but we make our own. I prefer the homemade ones, as they are not frozen just chilled. I use fresh strawberries and banana slices. I get the bakers brand microwavable cup of chocolate, all you have to do is heat it for 30 seconds at a time until it is smooth. Then dip the fruit, cheese, or Cookies. I have dipped strawberries, bananas, mangos, pear slices, apples, and used the leftover chocolate to drizzle over cressant rolls.

We really like Singleton's, it's near a wonderful state ran park, Hannah Park. Perfectly clean beaches, and cheap camp sites. It's close to our hometown since we are also in North Florida. We live in the west burbs of Jacksonville. My surgeon is in Jacksonville, as is the hospital that he works in. I'm loving the weather now, and can't wait for summer. And Gman, I agree that Universal is amazing. We can't wait for the new Harry Potter area to open in June! We are 2 1/2 hours from Universal, 3 hours from Disney, and only 2 1/2 hours from Cape Canaveral for cruising. We can do the last minute deals with no problem. I was born here, but spent 17 years in Chicago. Every year I swore I was going to move back South, and finally due to medical issues with my daughter (now 12) we moved back just over 2 years ago. I love being back close to family, but more then that being back with my piggies in the sand.

I swear by warm apple juice/cider. It works like a charm for me everytime.

I didn't read the entire thread, but maybe you didn't need a Whoa! moment, maybe you have always been beautiful?

Beginning weight 244 Current weight 123 (12 pounds below my goal)

By before I weighed 244, I'm down to 123 in my current pic. It was taken last week by my daughter. I went from pics of myself being as rare as a bigfoot sighting to signing up to do a pinup girl style photo shoot.

I'm with you on the liquid being gross. I have started shaking my little yogurt cup before I open it, problem solved.

I'm in Jacksonville, and it was too cold for me last week, so I did a last minute deal on a Bahamas Cruise. I was born and raised at Jacksonville Beach, move to Chicago in my teens, and lived in the freezing cold hell for 17 years. I moved back here 2 years ago to help with my daughters health issues (the humidity is better for her) and I'm in heaven here. Love having the beach just a short drive from home, and only being 2 1/2 hours from Orlando. Also being able to throw a bag together and do a last minute weekend getaway cruise for 80% off rocks!

Something else to consider, a 14 regular vs a 14 tall or 14 petite all fit differently not only in length, but also in the waist/hips/butt. I am 5'5 and need the regulars, but have found the talls fit better, so I just take them up to fit length wise. I have found that the talls seem a bit more forgiving in the hips, and stomach. Also remember that same brand, doesn't mean same style. I know that old navy for example has boyfriend cut, flirt, tomboy, regular, low waist, etc. I range from a 6-10 in old navy depending on the cut.

I THINK I LOVE YOU I'm crazy for my dogs. They are my fur children. I do have a "skin child" too. She gave herself that title, and says the pups are her siblings. We work very closely with the rescue that Kammi came from. My daughter, she is 12 1/2 volunteers on adoptions event days, walking pups, and cleaning up after the littles that aren't house trained yet. She is just as much of an animal nut as I am. She also has a rescued red footed tortoise, and we take in unwanted sugar gliders. it's like a small zoo in my house. This is my daughter with Leo the Cavalier King Charles, he's the newest member of the family. This is Me in the purple (pre-op) holding the English Toy Spaniel Mix, my daughter Abigale in the middle, and my husband holding Kammi, the mixed breed that was brought back from death's doorstep.

I also had surgery with Dr. Uchal, and he is a terrific surgeon. I LOVE the staff at his office, they make sure you are set, and understand everything along the way. My surgery was an emergency situation, I got the ok from insurance at 4pm on tuesday and had surgery at 6am on wed. When I lived in Chicago and was banded, we had a group that met monthly, it was informal, usually at Panera, or Sweet Tomatoes type places, and it was more the chance to know people that had the same type of surgery, and also had to follow a similar diet. It was more a group of people developing a friendship, and less about the support group setting. We discussed surgery, and progress but it was also a chance to discuss our lives, work, kids etc. I have issues getting to the support group at the hospital, since I have a middle school aged child, and between getting dinner done, help with homework, and then getting to the meeting from the westside, and back I don't have time to get everything done. I had surgery in May, and am past my goal at this point. Last time I saw Dr, Uchal, I was still 140, and he was thrilled. When I said I wanted to lose another 5 pounds, he almost fell off his chair. I told him I didn't do this surgery to squeek my way into a healthy BMI, I wanted to be in the middle or lower end of healthy. That way if I over indulged on vacation, or over the holidays, I still would be ok. He was glad I am so motivated, and said most people only want to get to the "healthy" range and then they are happy to stop. I've always been one of those people that is not happy with being average. I'm a perfectionist, and an overachiever so he was surprised that I was so determined to get to a size/weight that I would be happy with. I wanted to be a size 10, and now I'm approaching an 8 and couldn't be happier.

If you don't mind me asking who did your surgery? I was a band to sleeve conversion or revision and have also had amazing results. I had a little more pain than you, but I think that was mostly from them having to dig out a port that had been attached to a muscle for almost 8 years. As I posted before I am in jacksonville (Fleming Island actually) and would love to get a monthly support group together.

I'm in a size 8 in most brands, but I have 2 pair of size 4's that fit in one brand. I joke that I only buy that brand because I can fit into a 4.

chicken salad with crackers? lunch meat and cheese roll ups? Fruit cups? Boston market frozen bowls? (they have grilled chicken or turkey with veggies and mashed potatoes. by the time I get to the potatoes I'm usually full) Grilled chicken strips, I buy family packs of chicken, cook for my family and then use leftover pan seared seasoned chicken for lunch the next day, with leftover veggies. Salad with grilled meat, lunch meat or chicken. Make homemade meatballs and reheat them at work. Soup, beef and veggie, or chicken soup. It's easy to pack lunches if you make a little extra for dinner and then pack leftovers for lunch.

Another great trick, I made sugar free Jello and before it would set I would drink it warm. It made me feel full, and was still sugar free. It's an old trick my mom used to use when we were sick, and dehydrated to get us kids to drink more liquids.

I wish we had Aldi's and Trader Joe's here in Jax. Sadly we have neither. But I stock up at Aldi when we go to Orlando for a day at Universal, or Disney. And I'm planning a Trader Joe's trip next week before Christmas.

I did atkins to lose the 20 pounds I had to lose before surgery. It helped shrink my liver, and also got those pounds off to get me qualified.

I am dealing with some MAJOR medical issues right now, and I had to see a rheumatologist for the first time yesterday. He was reviewing my medical history and saw that I have had WLS, he questioned why I did it and I said I was 244 pounds, at 5'5 and morbidly obese, he looked me in the eye and said, that is the average sized American why do something so drastic? I was floored. I have never had a doctor ask me why I didn't want to be morbidly obese anymore. I explained to him that I wanted to be healthy, and extend my life. I said the average American also smokes, and drinks alcohol on a regular basis, but I don't do either of those things either. He dropped it, but still I was stunned that he said at 244 pounds I was average for an American, and he was surprised I had surgery. I'm glad I did it, and I think it will help me deal with the problems I'm facing now, but it was still shocking to hear. I am 5 pounds under my goal, and I have had several people tell me that I need to stop losing weight, or ask me if I knew how to stop losing now that I'm at my goal. My mother lectures me all the time about getting too thin, or not eating enough. I am in a size 8, and I don't think I'm too thin at all, I'm very comfortable at the size I am right now. I would love to have the access skin removed, and that will probably make me a size 4, but I'm not doing it for the size, I want to do it to help with the constant rash, and sores that I'm dealing with in the folds of my skin. I am however affraid that when they take off all the extra skin I WILL be underweight. I'm 5'5 and 130 pounds now, is that going to put me in the underweight catagory? That is a question I NEVER thought I would have to ask.

When I first had my lap band surgery there was a doctor that really pushed for Gastric Bypass. He had a commercial that said one of the major issues with the band is that you can always eat Cookies and ice cream. He had an entire commercial just bashing the band. We did some digging and found that he didn't do the band, and for whatever reason he was unable to preform the lap band surgery, due to the fact that the only band manufacturer was not willing to sell to him. (no idea why) My point is, that sometimes people that are so passionate about something usually have a reason for their behavior, weather it's based on money, or the chance to fame. who knows, and unless she gives you more info on the blog, or is willing to explain why she is so anti-WLS. Like others have said maybe they work for a fitness place, or they sell equipment, or some kind of diet plan. Why know?

I'm in Jacksonville.

This is my first holiday season with the sleeve but I have gone through 8 holiday seasons with the lap band. Before my lap band I would have a plate of dinner foods, and then a plate of dessert foods, plus whatever I picked at on the appetizer table along the way. And whatever my daughter would take and decide she either didn't like, or was too full to eat would end up on my plate. A holiday party could easily be 3000 calories in just food, not counting any mixed drinks I may have had. Now I will have a bite or 2 from the snack table (usually cheese, or meat and cheese roll-up type things. And then a bite or 2 of the things that look good and seem like the best options to me (again meat, cheese, veggies) and then if I have room I will have a single cookie, or a 1/4 slice of pie and I if I drink at all it's a vodka cranberry 80% cranberry 10% vodka and 10% Water. (no one wants to have to carry me home lol) so in all I might take in 600-800 calories. And I don't think it's a problem to go over my calories once in a while. I have said it many many times, I didn't get sleeved to give up everything that tastes good, or to give up my holiday traditions. I will gladly modify what I eat, but I will not be miserable and end up resenting my choice, or those around me for being able to have a good time, and eat what they want. I don't use the holidays or "special occasions" to "cheat" or over indulge. I eat what I want, in moderation, and I have not only hit my goal, but I am actually under my goal by 5 pounds, and I'm still losing. I don't do fitday, or mfp, I decided to relearn how to eat, and that is what I did. I make good choices, eat only when I am hungry, and drinking plenty of fluids, and my primary doctor, surgeon and most importantly I am happy with my progress. I'm not saying eat whatever you want, and just throw good judgement out the window, I am saying look over your options, and make a healthy choice, eat only until you are satisfied, and then stop. This works just as well at holiday parties, as it does at the family dinner table. If I know it's only finger food and dessert I will eat before going, but I eat a few hours before, so I can still partake in the treats, but that's not my primary source of nutrients for the day. I also made my recipes just like I have done for years, I didn't try to reduce the calories, fat or increase the Protein, and I had a small bite of the ones that are favorites of mine, and was happy that I was able to have a normal, albeit small Thanksgiving meal. I will do the same for Christmas, and New Years.