Lillyanne_M

Is it happening at "that time" of the month? I always get tight when I'm retaining water- which is usually around that time- but not always. If I go a little crazy with the carbs I retain water then too and have noticed I have been tight. The next time it happens, you might want to try going back to protein drinks for the day (or two) and see if you start shedding some water and things loosen up. Like Jay said, warm liquids help too- I always have to have something warm in the mornings when I'm tight before I can eat. I hope this helps.

I am always tight when I am retaining water- especially during my period- and I know alcohol commonly causes water retention. That would be my assumption if it happened to me anyway. It should resolve itself in a day or two.

They don't get it, sigh. BUT YOU ARE FANTASTIC!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!! I'm so proud of you!

Graham crackers, marshmallows, fruit juice and bananas?? I'm sorry, these foods should not be included on a Lap-band diet, and most likely any bariatric surgeon would agree. Most bandsters are told not to eat any refined carbs or high sugar fruits for a reason. MANY bandsters are sugar addicts, but once they get through the sugar-detox they can stay off sugar pretty easily. These recipes could undo all of that progress and cause a relapse. In reply to the gentleman who said we need simple carbs after a workout, I say they are not necessary. I drink a very low carb Protein powder shake after my workouts (without Cookies and candy in them) and am doing just fine. Even if that were the case, not everyone drinking shakes has just had a strenuous workout. This is not advice any bandster should follow.

Hi all, Well I did it. I had surgery on Friday – upper arm lift, liposuction under my chin and tightening of my neck muscles. The first couple of days were pretty painful, but I’m feeling pretty good now. Or rather, I look worse than I feel. The incisions on my arms go all the way down to my elbow, but I’m happy with the size of my arms now. Judging from how my other surgery scars (LAP-BAND® and c-section) have healed, I think the scars on my arms will be barely noticeable after a year or so. Also, my surgeon did a great job putting the incision where you can’t see it unless I lift my arms straight up. My neck still hurts and is swollen and the damned sharpie marks won’t come off! If it wasn’t for that, I’d have no problem going out in public. Maybe next week. :tongue2: I feel pretty good about it, all in all. I’m planning to wait a few months and then do the upper and lower body lift too. Now that's going to hurt:scared2:

Ok - Surgeon #1 is a great guy. Many, many reviews from WLS patients who adore him, great references, great before and after photos, great staff. Very sweet and sensitive. Mr. Perfect. Surgery would be about $40,000 for 3 procedures. The Bentley of plastic surgeons. Surgeon # 2 is also a nice guy. Very straightforward and realistic. Good, friendly staff. Not as experienced with WLS patients as the first guy, but a good all-around plastic surgeon with lots of general experience. Can't find much about him on the web, no reviews, but no complaints either ( I checked). Surgery would be about $25,000 and he would do it in 2 procedures, not 3. The Honda of plastic surgeons. Both were recommended by my LAP-BAND® surgeon. I'm not really a Bentley kind of girl. I would be if I were really rich, but, sigh, that's not the case. This is a no-brainer for my husband. What do you think? :mad:

Hi all - quick check in. Going to see the 2nd plastic surgeon today. I can't find any patient reviews anywhere on the web about him, but he was recommended by my bariatric surgeon, so I guess he must be ok. Wish me luck! :thumbdown:

Thanks :thumbup: I thought about it, but my band is kind of on a very fine line between almost no restriction and way too much. I don't PB more than once a week, but it sure sucks when I do! Sliming is the worst. My problem is that even though the band keeps me from eating too much at one meal, it doesn't keep me from eating a bunch of small meals throughout the day, which is where the calories come from. I'm doing good now- I'm staying at or below 1000 cal a day and I think I'll get to goal before the end of the year (fingers crossed!) What happened with your first band?

22 months post-op and doing pretty good. I still have 30 pounds to go. I did have to have my port sewn back down because it came loose and flipped, but no problems with the band itself. I am at maximum restriction, meaning as full as i can get and still eat. I can't eat anything solid before about 11 am, and then I still have to be careful at lunch. By dinnertime, I'm fine, but there are things I can't eat at all, including: -any beef unless it's ground or super super tender like fillet mignon -plain chicken breast - bread, unless it's toasted and in the later part of the day - I usually stick to whole wheat crackers if I want something like that. -pasta - sometimes gets stuck, sometimes not (I usually just avoid it) -rice sometimes yes, sometimes no (ditto) Also, I'm really tight in the week before my monthlies, so I have to watch it then, too. Sometimes it really sucks - especially when I have to hop up and run to the bathroom to PB in the middle of a meal - but if this is what I have to do to be thinner, I'll do it.

Also, one thing that's worked really well for me is to give up sugar completely. I don't get those terrible carbohydrate afternoon cravings anymore. It took 4 or 5 days of withdrawal, nervousness, crankiness and bad cravings, but once I got past that, it was so much better. I just always felt a little out of control with the sugar thing.

I was stuck for 7 months! I'd gain and lose the same 4-5 pounds. I have about 30 lbs to goal, so that's really frustrating. Finally I decided to go back to Weight Watchers and record absolutely EVERYTHING I eat. Also, I did a one week full liquids diet to jump start me. The scale has started to move again and I'm doing really well. :tongue2:

Just got back from seeing the plastic surgeon. I absolutely loved him! He said I'm a good candidate for everything I want to get done and I'm excited to schedule the first surgery (it's going to take 3). I was in a great mood until I talked to my husband. He pooped all over my parade by insisting I get another consultation. This is a man who literally won't buy a toaster unless he researches it online and checks out Consumer Reports. I'm not kidding. So, now I have to see at least one more surgeon, even though I don't want to and it's a big pain in the a** and I have to get someone to watch the kids and drive all the way down to Hollywood again and get naked in front of him and blah blah blah. I was so excited and now I'm bummed.:biggrin:

Welcome Katie!!! Good luck - WW is a really great combo with the band. If you journal absolutely everything you eat, you can't NOT lose. Well ladies, I officially made it from OBESE to just OVERWEIGHT this morning. I almost cried. My BMI is 29.9. OMG I just don't know how to feel :biggrin: I've been overweight my whole life and obese since middle school, I guess. I was in Walgreens yesterday and two employees were talking about, a "heavyset girl". In the past, I would automatically assume they meant me, even though they probably didn't. I realized yesterday that I actually didn't think they were talking about me. It's hard to explain. It's like a complete mind-shift. I'm not the "fat friend" anymore. At least in my own head I'm not :smile: Going to see a plastic surgeon today at 1:30. My stomach is doing flip flops! :biggrin:

Hockeyson, all surgeons are different, but I think 2 or 3 years is a long time- more so than most doctors would say. Mine said it's fine to do it now, even though I'm only a year and a half out. It took so long for most of the weight to come off that I'm confident it's stable. The plastic surgeon thinks so too. When you're at a point where you are comfortable with the idea of doing it, have another conversation with your lap-band doc and see what the plastic surgeon has to say as well. Good luck!