steph_co

I didn't follow that thread, but I would think the bodybugg would be more of a longterm solution. I'd rather learn how to exercise for my caloric intake than learn how to avoid even the HEALTHIEST of fats to include lean fish cooked in olive oil. That was what turned me off of Alli when it first came out. BTW - you can look into Actitrainer - it's similar to the Bodybugg, but cheaper. I got one. Just starting to learn how to use it.

Glad to hear things went well, Renee!

I'm self pay. Had my initial consult October 18th and my surgery scheduled for November 15th. So, just under a month. Good luck with your journey!

Yay, Zippykat! I'm excited for you.

starry - Congrats on the band! Yeah, dieting is rough, I know! I know you can make it, though. Keep up the good work! 20 lbs is awesome!

I go back and forth and my surgery is in a week. I wonder if I can really do this and achieve what I have seen others do. But I KNOW that I can and I know this is right for me because I look at all of my attempts in the past that have been unsuccessful and I just can't face that anymore. Besides the statistic about 98% or something like that that try to lose the weight on their own end up gaining it back in the long term. I need something that's going to keep me accountable to myself for life. Good luck with your decision!

I'm pretty sure I got mine at a regular grocery store. I can't remember - I actually bought it awhile ago.

LOL!! :pound:

Sounds to me like you need another fill.

I don't know about you guys, but apple juice works REALLY well for me as a natural laxative. I had no idea of this until I got the flu, started downing tons of apple juice as my Fluid and developed another problem that wasn't part of the original illness. LOL Once I stopped drinking it, the problem cleared up. You could try that to get things moving. I know it's a lot of sugar, but they do have the light variety and I think a little bit of sugar wouldn't upset me too much if I wanted to get moving that bad. How cool to get to see your band! I'm jealous. LOL

kandiceb - Thanks for sharing your experience. LOL@ the drug comment. Straight up hydrocodone makes me ill - I hope they give me Vicodin instead. Sounds like you're doing pretty well if you're going back to work on Friday! Wow. Keep us updated on your recovery!

There are some great threads around about why people chose the band over GB: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/why-band-43800/ http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f15/my-first-group-support-meeting-37474/ This is just MO, but if it were me, I'd see if I could get a different surgeon - one that is confident in the abilities of the band. How discouraging to have the person that is making such a change in your body not even have faith in it. I can understand your frustration with family and friends on top of your own surgeon. Just do your own research so that when the doubts come up from other people, you can come up with the answers to hush them up.

Huh. Very interesting! http://www.core.monash.org/assets/documents/research-papers/2005-52.pdf

You guys are all doing so great! This is a great thread - it's giving me a glimpse of what's in store for me. LOL On a side note, I wonder why it's the left shoulder that hurts with the gas pains and not the right? I'm probably going to end up googling out of sheer curiosity.

Well, for myself, I'm glad I got to see your success pictures before you took them down, Chickie. I can at least say I have seen amazing transformation with this band and that is what inspires me and drives me forward every day to get closer to getting there! Really, the quote in my signature says it all. I see no reason for somebody who is successful to shrink out of sight so that people don't feel uncomfortable. If you feel uncomfortable when somebody is happy with themselves, then you need to take a good hard look at why that is. You better believe that once I get skinny and looking as damn good as Jacqui, Chickie, puddin, etc, that I will be obsessed! If you don't like it, then don't read what I have to say. Does this board not have an ignore function? If you don't like seeing people's success pics, then block the ability to see pics (I know other forums have this option, I'm not sure about this one). I think that's crazy, though! I can't even imagine telling somebody that I'm sick of hearing about how well they have succeeded. The ONLY way I can think of that feeling coming up is if I have settled for mediocrity and don't want to push myself harder - then I would be pissed that somebody else had the drive that I just couldn't find. And yeah - I'd probably be sick of hearing about it. But why in the heck should she have to hide her success so that YOU can feel comfortable? If you want comfort for your smallness, I think you're in the wrong place. And if you're on this board for any reason other than motivation, WTH??? This whole thing makes me so angry. I know you guys don't know me well because I'm new here, but I've followed for a few months and I feel like you're fair acquaintances and I hate seeing people attacked. Grow up! Seriously, I had the thought cross my mind that if you want to stoop to their level, you could always post a picture of your skinny ass in response to their thoughts that you shouldn't be posting your success pics. But why bother? They'll probably get pissed that their momma didn't give them a proper one. It looks to me like you have 100% agreement that the pics and stats should be here. The haters, however, should not.

I looooooove: FreeRice I can easily spend an hour there.

I think the breaking point came for me after my miscarriage. DH and I have never used any kind of birth control since we've been together (5 years) and only got pregnant this one time this past July. I miscarried Sept 2nd. I'm so sick of wishing and hoping and praying that I can get pregnant and then once I did get pregnant, I was all worried about the complications they say are possible when the mother is obese. I felt like the worst person on earth. Then I miscarried at 10 weeks and knew I had to be skinny before we got pregnant again because I didn't want to feel like I was doing something wrong. I considered dieting again, but was tired of the roller coaster and not getting anywhere. I had been considering the Lap Band for a year, but seriously looked into it and here I am - just over a week out from being able to get banded! I can hardly wait for the health benefits, too. I'm really tired of hurting when I walk, being out of breath, not participating in anything that's remotely physical because I'm embarrassed.

OK, so my nutrition class was scrapped. I had assumed I would be on a liquid diet because of the comment the finance lady made, but I guess not. I only have to be on a clear liquid diet for 3 days prior. No red liquids. So...next Monday the 12th, I'll be joining those of you in exercising my will power.

From what I've read, you don't really truly start losing regularly and steadily until you've had a fill. The band is just placed on your stomach - it's not giving any restriction.

It's great reading the stories, ladies, keep 'em coming!

Congrats, Phil! Sounds like you're doing pretty good. I would say, though, that if it were me, in spite of what the doctor said, I would NOT eat solid foods for at least two weeks. The point of that is that your stomach has to "work" at food by churning...muscle contractions around the stomach. The harder your stomach has to work, the more likely it'll be for the stitches holding your band in place to tear and possibly cause slippage. Drinking liquids makes this less likely to happen because your stomach doesn't have to work as hard. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/liquid-stage-recipes-17636/index12.html#post592236 Of course, I'm not your doctor, but I would choose to be on the safe side, if it were me, and err on the side of caution. Ann: *hugs* You'll do great! I'll be sending lots of positive thoughts tomorrow!

Yikes. I wonder if that includes my ass. If so, I'm going to be in trouble. LOL

I just about went through withdrawal, too. I'm so excited for you! I'll be sending many positive thoughts for you tomorrow. You'll do great!

Yes, yes! I would say get rid of them. Once I have my surgery, I plan on going through my clothes and getting rid of things that'll never see the light of day on MY body again!

I noticed the same thing around on the board and I feel frustrated for them that they're not better read-up on the matter. I won't say, though, that I won't *hope* for some weight-loss just because I'm so antsy to get on with it. LOL I really liked Wendell's thread in Fills about how the band really works.