valarie kk

Thanks ya'll and for anyone getting discouraged please be patient. I would go weeks without losing but I didn't gain so it was still a victory. Listen to your band and the closer you get to the green zone the easier it is to notice the signals your band gives you. Good luck to everyone on this same journey!!

Finally made it to onederland!! It's taken perhaps a bit longer then I would have liked, but I'll take 41 pounds in 4 months. I'm snaking up on the green zone and it's only going to get better. Getting my band was the best decision I ever made.

Thanks for the input guys. My next fill isnt for 4 more weeks. I figure that will give me time to see if a fill is needed or if I'm good right where I'm right. Wow what a difference it makes to finally have your band talk to you and tell you to stop.

So I was banded on march 10th 2014. I've lost weight every month, but it's been all me - no restriction in the band yet. Then I got another fill june 18th. Knowing that I'm getting close to finally feeling some restriction I've been extremely careful and paying attention. I now know immediately if I take one more bite I'll be sorry. When that happens I stop eating and get the hiccups. Im not stuffed, I'm not hungry. Im just not hungry if that makes sense. I've timed it and even after 3-4 hours I'm still not hungry. Could I possibly be close to that mystical green zone? It sure feels like it.

This past Tuesday was exactly 8 weeks since the day of my surgery and I couldn't be happier! I'm down 25 lbs, have 3cc's in my band, and I'm feeling great! I love my LapBand and I feel like I'm living a whole new, positive life. It's really easy to get caught up in posting on these forums when something is going wrong, but sometimes, you just have to stop and take a minute to Celebrate what is going right I posted some side by side comparison pictures on my blog of my progress so far. Here is the link if anyone would like to take a look. http://blissfullybanded.wordpress.com/2014/04/18/2-month-bandiversary-pictures/ Thanks for all the support fellow Bandsters! I wish everyone the best of luck, no matter what stage of your journey you are on.

I love that you had the courage to do this!! Also it give me hope, and by that I mean we had a pretty similar starting weight, pretty similar weight loss so far and you look amazing. So you give me hope that maybe I'm improving as much as you are! It's so very hard to look in the mirror and see anything other then what you are used to. I wish now I had taken before and after pictures. Keep up the great work you are doing and awesome job

Shopping for a new suit is a horror show all by itself for me, but I did purchase a wonderful suit at alwaysforme.com. kind of pricey but very well made and it definitely held in my middle section. Also they offer helpful hints on what size to purchase.

I have 2 boxes of those things sitting on top of my fridge. When people talked about their taste buds changing I laughed it off. Oh ha nothing will ever dim my desire for chocolate. Since my surgery I constantly crave meat and just the thought of sugar turns my stomach. I never expected this and must say I'm pleasantly suprised by it. Has anyone else had a major change in the foods they crave?

Just wanted to drop in and check on you. Keep us posted on what the doctor says. We are all here for you if you need to talk

I think it depends and its different for everyone. I experienced no pain. I didn't have to take anything for pain. Woke up feeling great. Had surgery on Monday, sleeping on my stomach again by Wednesday and went back to work on Thursday. Im pretty sure im the exception and just down right lucky. For now just rest and recover. In a few short weeks life will start getting back to normal, well a new normal I guess I should say good luck and hope you feel better soon.

Yum valarie please dish out the 411 on the pinto bean chips. What are they called and where do you buy them;)

Well here in Texas one of our major grocery stores is HEB. They carry chips made from pinto Beans, white beans and black beans. All 3 are pretty good and corn free, gluten free, no trans fats, and cholesterol free. They are called beanitos and have a website. Beanitos.com. They are kinda pricey, but if you actually eat a single serving (yes I actually eat real servings now it's not to bad.

Yum, this should go well with my deep fried crinkle potato chips jk

OK, so what do you stick in this tub of mush? Sorry, I had a bad experience with a couple of greek yogurt cups and I cringe when I think about it?

I mix the powdered hidden valley ranch in my greek yougurt. 23g Protein per cup ( I know who eats a cup) but still its Protein and a healthy dip. I also have found chips made from pinto Beans and they actually taste good

The best advice I can offer is do not look at the scale. I made that mistake when I went from liquids to the mushy stage. I had gained and I wasn't happy about it. Your body is still healing. Focus on that and learning how to eat with a band. Also pay attention to how your cloths fit. I put the scale away and decided I would not weigh again until my first fill. At my appt the doctor was happy I had lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks. For some people the scale just discourages you, don't let that happen.

I didn't have any kind of pain after surgery. I didn't even get my script filled.

Good luck!! Can't wait to see you on the banded side. Keep us posted ok.

Goal 210

April 1 - 220

April 10 - 217

I've never had crawfish. My husband and I need to make a run one weekend to la. I habe so much energy now I'm ready to start doing things.

Im not even sure what my first meal will be yet. Just know I want CHICKEN!! Not the canned mushy chicken but an honest to goodness piece of grilled chicken. Hoping I notice some restriction, but I already have an appointment for my next fill. Even though I would like to see the weight come off faster my doctor was thrilled with my progress and actually prefers if I lose slow and steady. Here's to real food!!

I know for a fact if I had not been reading all the post here I would have been discouraged, but I know I've still been healing and any loss right now is a victory. Now 2 more days of liquids and 2 more of mushies and I can have my first solid food since February 23rd. I can't wait for some chicken congrats on your fill and all your success so far!!

Ok so I've been reading how everyone's first fill went. All the way from painful to easy. Yet again I'm a lucky one. Easy as pie didn't even feel it. My band was primed with 2 ml during surgery and the fill today was 2ml so I have a total of 4 ml. Today was the first time I've weighed since my post op appointment and down 8 pounds. Of course I wanted a bigger number but im pretty damn proud of 8 pounds in 3 weeks. My cloths are getting looser and my energy is soaring. Getting my band has certainly been a life changer and I would do it again in a heart beat

Hey there! Thank you for asking

Things went GREAT!!! My surgeon was SO proud of me and told me that I've lost 14 lbs since January! He said I went down 2 BMI points!!! Woo hoo!!! I love that I am able to be honest with him and very vulnerable! He's very upfront with me and told me that my safety is his #1 priority. I shared with him that I did mess up in my liquid diet a few times, but he told me that the important part is that I followed through and didn't give up. He gave me a high-five and told me that it shows on the scale that I didn't give up!!!

I am scheduled for surgery bright and early on Friday morning @ 7:30 AM (California time)

Im so glad to hear this!!!! I'll be thinking of you on Friday. Update us when you feel well enough.

Just wanted to check and see how the appointment went. Keep us posted amd congrats on the weight loss. Super proud of you!!!

I had the same feeling when I first got banded (3/10/14) Once swelling went down from surgery it subsided some. I still get that feeling. Usually tells me to stop eating right now or I'll be really uncomfortable.

I know how you feel. Im still on mushie food and ironically enough I can switch to regular food on april 9th, but my first fill is April 9th so 2 more days of liquids and 2 days of mushies before real food. I dream of real meat and veggies. At this point thats all im craving.

Oh honey I'm so sorry that you are going through this. I would recommend calling the surgeon keep him updated on everything that's going on. If you need someone to talk to or just listen I'm here.

Thank you. I feel like canceling this altogether. I don't think I've lost weight on the liquid diet and just know I'm setting myself up for failure. I need peace and help.

This is not easy!! Wanna know a secret. I cheated I had 2 tacos while on my preop diet, but I picked myself up and jumped right back on it, and my doctor said I was one of the easiest patient' he's ever had. Do not give up on this. Remember what made you do this in the first place. It does get better and you will eat again. That's what scared me. I was like oh my gee I can't do this forever. You won't have to I promise. I know your discouraged but you have all of us rooting for you and I believe in you.