lizzie_07

Congrats Tish!!! I'm so glad your liver is fine AND you had your surgery! That's awesome. Good luck on your journey and love the new name =)

Hey Linda, There was nothing mentioned about popcorn in my post-op package but there was another thread I read discussing this. As I recall most people were allowed to eat popcorn and had no problem with it. The link is: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/popcorn-22759/

Perhaps the U.S. government SHOULD care more about how other countries feel about them. If you want your country to be as safe as possible, thinking you can do no wrong and, for example, get away with torture when others cannot is not the way to go about it. Personally, I would feel much safer knowing my country is trying to make peace around the world than making enemies left and right by going against the UN and thinking they are untouchable and above the law. Don’t get me wrong, I like the United States. I just see the way your government is conducting itself and I worry for your safety. You have to understand, others who use torture techniques also think they are doing what they have to do to get to their ultimate goal (information, prisoner releases, etc.), so what makes them in the wrong if you are not? I feel that regardless of who is doing the torturing, it is wrong. Period. The United States is above using torture.

In my opinion it's hypocritical to say that the United States can torture (or whatever you would like to refer to it as) people, regardless of who they are or what they've done, when if another country carried out this act upon an American it would most certainly be looked down upon by the U.S. and they would want to prosecute those who did it. I don't care how many people they think it will save, it is unethical. Also, the United States looks bad in the eyes of MANY around the world, this does not help things.

Awesome poem! =)

I was 190lbs and a size 10 about 2 1/2 years ago when I lost 80lbs so I can only really go by that. Losing weight then definitely made me look a lot prettier. I was complimented on my face (and body) all the time and was hit on by men a lot more than I could have ever imagined. I have heard of women losing weight and their lines and such becoming more evident. I'm only 21 so I'm hoping I have no wrinkles hinding just yet...Also, I find people who lose weight and become unhealthy don't look as vibrant as they did with a nicely rounded face and more meat on their bones.

I actually found this forum to be an excellent source for the best and worst case scenarios. This was my primary research tool when deciding to get the band. I heard many stories that scared me to death and many that were inspiring and uplifting. When weighing the pros and cons I decided it was the right choice for me. I think if people do a thorough search on this site they will most definitely see the full picture.

Wow, I was expecting maybe one or two responses. Thank you EVERYONE for your awesome advice and support. I know that when I see the scale going up or staying the same for a while I start to be less motivated and eat worse (hence the reason I'm overweight to begin with). I have been getting more than enough Protein in my diet because I am terrified to lose my hair lol. Plus, that's one positive aspect of eating too much, it's much easier to consume a lot of protein. So I don't think lack of protein is my issue, it's no restriction plus my head issues with food and weight loss. My first fill most likely won't bring me restriction but it'll be nice to feel like I'm on my way (and hopefully not be able to eat quite as much). For now though I know it's all about healthy choices and I'm going to try to at least eat the right things, even if it's slightly more than what is ideally recommended. I feel a lot more motivated after hearing your responses (I wanted to delete my post the moment I sent it). I talked with my brother and he is getting me a gym membership for xmas so I'm really excited about that. At least with a gift you feel obligated to use it, right? =) That's my theory anyway. I hope the next bandsters in line learn from this at least that when the scale goes up a little in the healing phase after surgery don't take that as a cue to eat more out of sheer frustration like I did. You'll end up in a lovely little downhill spiral. Thanks again for your responses everyone. p.s. I changed my ticker...reality check.

I was hungry a couple days after the surgery. I don't know if it's because I heal well or what, but I was expecting the hunger to stay away for at least 2 weeks. By the 2 week period I was REALLY hungry. And now that I'm over 5 weeks out, the hunger is strong, goes away somewhat easy, and returns like magic within 5-10 mins of being full (because of the food slipping through the band so easily I would imagine).

I also have hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed in the summer so in the back of my mind I'm wondering if it could potentially be holding back my weight loss a little because the exact cause is not known and I do not get my blood checked again for a few months to confirm that the amount of levothyroxine I'm taking is still enough. Either way I've lost a good amount of weight since the surgery. I would imagine that as long as your pills are at the right dosage for you hypothyroidism should not affect your results.

Sorry, I think your name is actually KANDICE? lol...

Kandi - I've heard many bandsters say that their restriction from their fill went down a lot or away completely after a couple of weeks, so you never know. There are also people who got 1 fill and were lucky and satisfied with their restriction long term.

I'm sure you guys already heard about this but I'll mention it anyway. Apparently a couple little sips of pineapple juice does the trick when you get stuck. It makes the food go down. I bought a few little cans of them and I am going to start keeping one in my purse (after my first fill) when I go out for dinner, travel, etc.

I've always been an emotional eater combined with not being able to control myself and stop eating if there was more yummy food on the table. A good year and a half ago I started purging to try to control my weight and while I lost a lot of weight at first by the end of my lovely little eating disorder (over a year) I had GAINED weight. That was the most frustrating thing ever. I knew I was messing up my body and I wasn't getting anything out of it at the same time. Anyway, I've fought the bulima (WAY harder than I ever expected...I thought I had control and could stop whenever I wanted), now it's time to focus on my weight. One disorder down one to go.

It's interesting to me how some doctors put some saline in the band during the surgery. I always thought that was a no-no. Maybe you're just not supposed to with the type of band I have? (midband). I wonder if bandster hell wasn't as bad for them as it was for the people with nothing in their bands? It's scary to me how much I am able to eat now. I've had a few slip ups and while I can't eat as much as I could before, I can still eat quite a bit. Right now I feel as though I'm a fat girl trying to diet and eat small portions the same way I used to before the band, which I'd obviously failed at. I really hope the first fill will give me a break here and make eating smaller portions a wee bit easier. Plus getting off of this plateau would be nice...

These are my boys, Parker the Pug and Snoopie the Beagle =)

I had my surgery a little over a month ago so I am obviously still obese. Even at my heaviest I always found that I was not attracted to overweight men. I'd rather them have a little weight on them than be skinny though. I always felt like my destiny was not to live my life as an overweight person and that somehow I would change my life around. I want a man who is going to help me achieve health as opposed to setting me back by tempting me with an unhealthy lifestyle more so than I am tempted (and have done) already. That being said, my ex was his proper weight yet ate WAY worse than me. I gained a good 70lbs while I was with him and he LOST weight. Damn men. So I guess even men who are not heavy can have that impact. Either way I prefer men who are not overweight and live a healthy lifestyle.

I was told to wait an hour after I eat.

I was banded the same day as you. You're in bandster hell with me - welcome! lol It's perfectly normal and while making other changes may help you to continue to lose some weight, you're probably not going to lose it as fast as you were. I guess our bodies are trying to catch up. The nurse at the clinic said this was perfectly normal during this healing phase and that I was doing everything right. Your first fill should make a difference even though you most likely will need a couple more to reach your "sweet spot." Good luck =)

Sassy - I'm feeling the exact same way and as frustrating and discouraging as it is, from reading this forum and talking with the clinic where I had my surgery it is perfectly normal. The nurse said we will begin to see a change once we have our first fill. Hang in there! =)

My first fill is Dec. 17th. I've needed a fill since 2 weeks out! lol I want to start losing weight again. I'm envious of those people who have restriction without a fill.

Thanks Steph. I'm going to try to start having more frequent, smaller meals again starting today (1st day fo solids - YEY!). I'm still a little fearful that those meals where I had more than a cup of food did some damage though.

I'm in bandster hell as well. The lack of weight loss I'm learning to deal with, but I feel like I'm stretching my pouch and doing damage to my band. I know I'm eating well over a cup of food during each meal (I've been eating larger less frequent meals...bad, I know). Any advice would be appreciated.

My surgeon asked me how low my pants normally go because he didnt want the port to be visable. He put it as low as it can go on my stomach basically (just above the pubic area).

Forgot to mention this...Kind of off topic...but I LOVE spanx!!!! I often buy clothes for "when" I lose a little weight so spanx has been a lifesaver. I can wear the cutest clothes like everyone else and not worry about my fat bulging out because the spanx keeps in allllll in lol.