Fauxnaif

At this point, over 3 years after banding and with not much left to lose, I am very happy if I lose 2 pounds in a month!

Not gone out Not played sports Not even attempted to date

Mine's a BMI of 27. I figure I am probably never going to be skinny. But I could be really happy with a BMI of 27, especially since I started with a BMI of 47.

She got the band indeed!

I did. I had morning sickness for about a month. I think it usually was from the top pouch (not much stomach acid) but sometimes it did come from the bottom area of the stomach. It wasn't fun. But my band wasn't damaged.

Mine doesn't seem as flat anymore either. But I've never had trouble getting a fill. I wonder about it too.

I have definitely sabotaged myself and think I am in the midst of it now. I have lost 115 pounds but need to lose at least 30 more. I am getting so close to being normal and that scares me. I have always had issues with feeling I deserve good things-a nice home, a good relationship, to look and feel good. I have the first two but the 3rd one is kicking my butt. I need to go back to therapy; it has helped me in the past.

I waited about a year and a half before getting pregnant. Everything went great in the pregnancy!

1. Does the lapband slow down your metabolism. I've read that it holds food for longer... No it doesn't. It doesn't do anything to your metabolism. 2. What can I expect to be able to eat after the surgery? Will I forever be eating soup and what not or will I be able to eat normally again? You will eat like a normal person. Very few people know I have a band I and have had it for years. You just eat like a person who chews his food well, stops when full and enjoys his food. The only things I don't eat are bread and Pasta. 3. What is the best thing about the Lap Band? The adjustability. And being able to take a year off and have a baby. Then get a fill and start losing again! Weee! 4. What is the worst? Sometimes I miss my bingeing days. It was easier in a lot of ways when I could just eat away my feelings. It is sometimes challenging to find appropriate ways of expressing feelings. 5. What do you wish you would have known before getting into this? Not really something I wish I had known, but something I wish I had had-more patience. For the first 6 months was difficult and just plain hard. But things are much better now.

I need to join this group! I sincerely hope you start it!!!!

I started eating like a fat person at about 10 years old. It didn't catch up with me till I was about 15. Been obese since about 17. I'm now 34 and about 3 pounds from no longer being obese.

All I can say is it can be really really really reallly hard at the beginning. It takes time to get this thing figured out. But it does get easier. Forgive yourself, rejoice in your successes and move on.

I eat slowly but I take too long to eat generally. Let me explain. The band does cause me to eat slowly. Anytime I am out with people I take longer than everyone to eat much less than they eat. However, supposedly we are supposed to stop eating after 15 minutes. I often eat longer than 15 minutes if I am out and talking and having conversations. If I didn't make an effort, I could still be eating after an hour. I used to be able to guzzle a cup of water. Now it would take at least 5 minutes of sipping. This morning I ate 2 small pieces of sweet and sour chicken and a fried wonton and a piece of shrimp and it took about 10 minutes. That's typical. Another piece of info. At lunch I get 30 minutes to eat and I can rarely finish lunch (which is often something like oatmeal or cereal).

Good points Jack! Hungry now means no longer conscious of hunger pangs. No longer being told to eat by the lining of my stomach. It has really helped to think of it that way.

At your stage about 1 cup or so at a time might be a good starting point. Tweak it from there. Also depends on the type of food. Then eat again when you get hungry.

Most skinny women I know over 25 either deprive themselves or exercise like crazy.

I must say my worst sin (and I rarely do it anymore) is PBing then immediately eating some more! Horrible thing to get in the practice of doing!!!

I tend to agree with you and I promise to stop responding.

And...this is not how most of us choose to live. We get a good fill level and we eat high Protein foods and we feel satisfied and don't live on liquids.

You are risking your band. You say you don't have tons of money, well what about the money it might cost to remove your band if it slips? You need patience, you need an unfill, and you need to take a month or two off from trying to lose weight. Fauxnaif

As another bandster with quite a bit of experience and success, I second that. YOU ARE TOO TIGHT. You need to get some saline removed and learn to eat normally. Your body is becoming malnourished (even though you are not losing weight) because you aren't getting Vitamins, etc.

Went to Mexico and borrowed the money from our 401Ks.

As am I. We see posts bashing Mexican docs often on band sites. I don't think the death rate is any higher in Mexico. I just find it interesting that this person only has two posts.

Pray, meditate, think positive thoughts-whatever comforts you. I remember feeling nervous too. It will pass.

Fitday rocks! Been using it for years!