Kelliebelly

The thing with Steve was what you seen is what you got. The man you seen on TV is how he was in "real life". There was never an act or show, it was the real him. How can we ever replace him, there will never be another Steve. All day and still now at midnight there is a constant flow of people arriving at the front of his zoo paying their respects and leaving flowers and messages. I still cant believe it. RIP Steve.

Everytime I click on the link above for all the different sections of the forum it takes me to a site called crazy soldiers???? Is this happening to anyone else or do I have a virus or something?

Totally of the subject I posted...Sammee, the weight in just dropping. You are going to be underweight shortly!! In all seriousness you are a model bandster and pretty much one of the most successful I know. You are an inspiration and yes I am extremely jealous of you :) Hugs

Sammees comparison pics made me think to get mine out and see how far I had come, I hope noone minds seeing skin, I scribbled the rudie bits out First pic is night before banding, second pic is night before TT after 70lbs lost and third pic is 6 weeks po TT and down 80lbs with some swelling still.

I was a big time sneak eater too. Trips to fast food drive thrus, ordering extra drinks to make it look like it wasnt all for me. Waiting till the family went to bed and having a binge session. I was so out of control I honestly cant believe it when I look back now. I never hid wrappers etc because the car is always kind of a pig sty with the kids so it just blended in. In public I made out I didnt eat much I was too guilty/ashamed/embaressed to. At all you can eats I would send the kids up to get mine. I am so happy to find out that I am not the only one who was like this because at the time I remember thinking I was crazy and what sane person would do this? Hugs All

Alexandra...the difference is amazing and totally mind blowing. You have done a phenomenal job. WTG and congrats.

Over the last couple of months I have gradually got myself in a really bad rut. I have been eating chocolate and alot of the times substituting my meals with it. I have my wedding in 25 days and have lost total control of myself. I have put on a couple of kgs and feel terrible. 5 days ago I went and had a chat with my pharmacist about it and he gave me some chromium piccinate to help me through....welll for the first time in as long as I can remember I have gone 4 full days without chocolate. Is anyone else game to admit how much chocolate they eat? Also, can anyone give me some substitues for chocolate...I am trying really hard and I will do this....or should I just not substitute it for anything and go cold turkey on all the crap?? I cant believe I would ever get to the stage that giving up chocolate would be as hard as giving up smoking...sigh.

Sammee I didnt see this post until now but I didnt need undies for 6 weeks with the garment. Are you wearing a garment???

Samee, I am so glad to see you back and well. The TT pain really is not what I expected either, I coped without pain pumps and such. The change is amazing, your tummy is so flat. The swell hell will bug you for up to a yr, I am 5 mths and going through another swell hell episode. As for weight loss I was heavier up to about 1 week post op then I lost 5 kgs in the next week and have lost a couple of more since. There is no way you will come out the same weight you will lose some, just have to wait for the dreaded swell hell to go down a bit. I hang out at a couple of TT forums which are great, let me know if you want the names...really helpful especially in early recovery. Anyways the worst is over and you look damnnnn gorgeous...Congrats and talk soon.

Thanks everyone, I will give all of the suggestions a try. I know I am naughty...but I really want myself out of this rut. I had this idea in my head that because I was losing weight I was healthier, but how healthy can I be eating chocolate as my meals. I went shopping and stocked up on healthy food and am going back to basics, like in the beginning. Heather - Of course I will post pics, I am so excited, yet so nervous... Hugs

I have been thinking of you and I know it is a few days away I just wanted to wish you luck. I wasnt sure whether I would be on again before to let you know. Concentrate on 4 weeks time from now because boy oh boy its going to be awesome. Youre going to look greattttttt!!! Big hugs and luck Edited to say you already look great...youre going to look better

I am on a similiar one and I had the decreased appetite but it only lasted 3 to 4 weeks then I would have to say the complete opposite happened. I was ravenous.

BigPaul always makes me feel really good about myself. He's funny and silly but really smart right when you need him to be. DeLarla TellyMelly keeps me motivated on days I think I want to slack and theres always a smile on my face when I'm talking to her, she just keeps me laughing. She brightens my day! Cutiern reminds me of my daughter. I love how she is young, independent, and willing to make financial sacrifices to change her life. Dawg is a great husband. Selfless and supportive. He lives a banded lifestyle, without the band, so that he may succeed along side his wife. Pennie always seems so level-headed and diplomatic. I really admire that. Jack cracks me up with the use of his warped sense of humour in the manner in which he offers practical advice. Humour and practicalilty...great match and I always appreciate his input. (I also like his avatar!!) The best me (Kathy) has one of the most loving and tender hearts I've ever seen. She is always caring and giving to others even when she's needing support for herself. Her love of God and her desire to be a better servant shows in every post. Paula is my sweet Band-daughter and I'm so proud of how genuinely sweet she is and how her caring heart and love of God shows by her actions towards all others Iluvharleys has a good heart and is always so thoughtful, kind and caring always thinking of others in their time of need. NJChick (Eileen) Cracks me up!!!! She brings a smile to my face no matter what the topic. Bandland would be a boring place without her : - ) VinesQueen reminds me never to give up no matter how bad things seem at the time and encourages me that I should dance my heart out no matter whos watching~and I wish she would hurry up and get back on LBT!!! Michelle, without a doubt the most inspirational person to me. Even while having her own family problems, she finds time to come here and offer her help. She's a great person! Susan (PhotoNut) is one of the most supportive and knowledgeable people I've ever known. EmileeKaye is the sweetest, most genuinely nice and wholehearted bandster and online personality I have ever met.. and I have met quite a few. The sun shines on her goodness and it feels really nice to surround myself with people like this. K@t has been my friend and support since the moment I joined this group. She listens and gives without asking in return and makes me feel anything is possible. DeLarla is my vision of independence, strength, wisdom and trust and has always been a person that speaks her mind and has gained a tremendous amount of respect from me as an intelligent and witty person. StrawartS is smart and funny, and she has the strong personality I admire, yet she's kind. Plus, her screen name is a Palindrome. It's spelled the same backward and forward. Very Cool. Kathy (best me) Jenna (princess n thep) is always honest and straight foward. And she is a great booty dancer. Kathy was kind and gentle with me when I was cursing over my first PB. I was shocked by her generous spirit at first, but now I see that that's how she treats everyone. And her baby is pretty cute. And I don't even like babies. The NJ Board: I can't chose just one person because so many have come to my rescue. They give their heart and soul and they do it with compasion and love. *Cheers NJ Board, I Love You ALL* Since I have known Mychevygirl (DeAnn), she has shown incredible inner strength, focus and determination in the midst of extremely trying times. She has kept a positive, happy attitude in spite of the stresses she has endured, and she has a smile that shines through her words because it comes from her heart. FunnyDuddies is a beautiful, intelligent, loving woman who's quit witt and sense of humor is a blessing to those around her. She makes me smile, and I feel so bless to call her my sis. She has also earned my respect and admiration for showing a deep inner strength during times of adversity. MoOrless is another one of my personal inspirers. She has lost weight all on her own. Reading her posts have been a great eye opener, showing me that weight loss is nothing more than willpower and self-control, which she displays very well. She cheers me on as I do my wild goose chases with myself and she keeps me motivated, letting me know daily that every goal I set for myself, no matter how outlandish it may seem, is very possible and attainable. I thank her for believing in me, (a complete stranger). Alex is the best thing ever...he has given us this board as a place to learn, laugh, commiserate, cry,...pretty much whatever we are in need of!! And...he just keeps making it better!!! Thanks, Alex!!!!!!! I have to have a second go at this! MoOrless keeps me going in ways I never thought I'd need. She is working and trying so hard to lose the weight on her own as well as coping with health problems. She finds positive ways around her setbacks that put me to shame and motivate me all at the same time. Kind words and thoughts for others come easily to her and she makes me smile. Alexandra seems to always be there when a thread gets hairy. She has the ability to listen with an open mind and heart, to sympathize and give a reality check in just a few short lines. I have noticed that she remains detached, but flexible. Harleynana (Pat) is one of the smartest, kindest people I have ever met. She talks like a sweet southern belle, but she's also a tough cookie who is generous and supportive without fail. And to all the NJ Chat gals who welcomed me into their midst even though I live in Michigan - your support and friendship has meant the world to me. I love this board. It makes me laugh. It makes me think. It makes me mad. It inspires me. It give me good ideas. It gives me advice. Most of all, it makes me feel I am not alone in this struggle, that I am part of a community with one goal... to reclaim our health and our lives... to live better, and be better. We may not always see eye to eye, but we are all better for knowing each other. mini_me is in my book! Nana~ (aka "plunderbunny") inspires me with her carefree attitude. Because of her, I wore my Pirate gear when we went to see the new Pirates movie. Your style and panache inspire me to be me. (Vinesqueen) Vinesqueen is an absolute treasure. She has the most amazing ability to be enviably strong yet human, in the face of outstanding challenges. She always takes time to remind that's it's health first, and that our health supercedes everything, including our weight. Plus her journal really rocks. She's a jewel! There's a lot of people on here that have inspired me and some of them have already been mentioned so I think I would pick JMO and KMO, they have both been very inspiring to me along with everyone else. These 2 rock. oooh i always read post by jack and wheetin they always have so much helpful info!!! La Madam always encourages me through her strength of will and personality. I have never for a moment doubted that she will be able to maintain even if she is "flying solo." There are people who claim to be straight talkers, and then there is the real deal, La Madam aka Michelle (Vinesqueen) Kabeerah has always impressed me with her quiet strength. She has gone against the prevailing customs of her culture in getting the Band. She’s been an amazing resource for the women in her country, translating information. (Vinesqueen New Sho whether she knows it or not has been an inspiration to me. She always posts informative well written posts and isnt afraid to say what she thinks. I admire her "online" personality.

I had a reduction/lift in March and if it was me I would do it now to make it much easier for yourself as you lose the rest of your weight. If it came down to it that they were saggy again after the loss it would probably be minimal and would be fixed with small revisions.

My Dr did my TT and BL because my belly has hung low since I was 17 yrs old. I have lost weight a few times and the belly never went back. He said with the amount of weight lost now and considering I only wanted to lose another 15 kg I could go ahead and have it done. I remember him telling me on my first visit that it would be terrible to carry that amount of skin around each day and he would do whatever he could to help me....which he did. I have lost about 8 or so kgs since the tuck and the tummy is still ok, I dont know how it will be when I am finished but if it is loose again he said it is a small procedure to have the skin removed, it is the muscle repair that causes pain with a TT and I wouldnt need to have that done again.

I keloided bad with my band scars. The TT and BL scars are really good. Nice and fine so far...hopefully they will stay that way.

Hiya all, I read this thread when it first popped up along with the other one. I have suffered badly since my TT 4 months ago and had been to the toilet a handful of times. I read the sites etc and decided to go with one that sounded great which I wont mention because I dont want to seem like I am advertising. I am on day 6 and welllllllllllll it is one of the best things I have ever done. I am really shocked and suprised what ummmm actually comes out (TMI) things I hadnt eaten in a long time etc. This one I am using really works and I feel 10000 times better, my skin looks better and as a bonus I dropped 4 kgs. I know its not fat but that was an extra 4 kgs I was carrying around backed up in my bowels and intestines etc. I love it and will continue to do it for maintanance...thanks for the post and information throughout. Hugs

Anyone suffering from this? I thought I was over it and past it. Nope, I have tried everyday for the last 2 weeks to say no chocolate today, just one day without it. I cant do it. I honestly feel like I am suffering withdrawels or something and when I have some I feel better. Any suggestions as to what I can replace it with to help me. The weight loss has stopped and it is really unhealthy and getting back into bad habits. Help me please :cool:

Another thing ... your garment is your best friend for a long time, keep it on at all times, make sure its crotchless for easy toileting haha. Also at about 4 weeks get the silicone strips - they rock.

Sammi, Just my opinion, but I dont think the pain is anything it is made out to be. My caesar was far worse but the TT has been a longer recovery as in trying to stand straight and swell hell. I am going on 4 mths out and another bout of swelling has hit me big time. I mean you would swear I am 6 mths preggers in the evening. Be prepared for insane swelling, discomfort, frustration and depression while healing....but also be prepared for waking up and looking down at a flat belly, standing for the first time and feeling tight tummy muscles and no overhang, shaving the bikini line and not having to hold the belly up, no slapping when you run, going down a size or 2, wearing hipsters and looking good...and lots lots more!!!!! I cant begin to explain how it has changed me and I am so excited for you. You honestly cannot imagine how different it will be after. Good Luck and dont worry or panic leading up to the surgery, easy for me to say I know but just focus on the after. Big Hugs

Ps - WTGGGGGGGGGG on goal...I am so happy for you, it must feel awesome!!!

Wow...I wish I had of known that 3 mths ago, I ended up about $25000 out of pocket. Good Luck for your surgery, it will be the best thing(besides banding) that you will ever do for yourself.

Hi I was banded 4th April this year and have had 3 fills taking me up to 6mls in an 11ml band. My question is how many of you with the bigger bands have found it hard to get restriction. I never imagined when i was researching etc that I would end up with so much in my band before it kicked in. Also after the lst fill, I have a huge bruise that hurts a bit...should we bruise after a fill? Thanks

Let her know she is in our thoughts...Big hugs and wishes for a speedy recovery.

I just wanted to add that it pi***s me off when I see someone who seems like they are never satisfied, and there probably is people reading this thinking "Be grateful I would KILL for a tummy tuck". I know, I used to think like that too. Like I said life would be perfect after one. It would answer all my problems. I am just stating it hasnt, far from it. Hugs