Dianechef

Lapband for Life is an excellent book! I read it cover to cover before I had my surgery it was very helpful. It has a lot of helpful information for you AFTER surgery. If you have complications, questions about fills...etc. it gives you lots of helps & hints. My favorite part of the book are the Before & After pictures & stories all through the book.

HA!! I am lovin' all your responses!! My husband is standing behind my back saying - "See, I told you you looked that good!!!" Truly, I appreciate your comments. Gurly - Husband LOVES it!! (A little toooo much?!?!) I am very blessed to have an extremely supportive man who stands behind me 100%. He is not threatened by me one bit. He is my biggest cheerleader & best friend. He's also pretty cute. NJchick - My stomach still has a pooch AND it has some hanging skin & strech marks from the 3 little kiddos I gave birth to! (Are you still bowing down?!?!) I just happen to have some really good jeans that hold it all in & hide it. But, it is definately smaller then it used to be. If I were to show you a front undie picture you'd see it. But, I'm not sure I have enough guts to do that!!!! It could get a little pornographic. HA!!!!!! And to everyone - I swear it's only 55 lbs!! But, I have to give lots of credit to exercising!! I've not only lost fat, but I've gained some muscle. This is the first time I have worked out in my life!! I've had 3 people send me personal messages asking me to share with them my tips to success. I would be happy to & I figued I'd post them here!! I only have 2 min. right now & will have to do it a little later when I have some time. So, you'll have to come back & look for them!!

Hey Tricia - Your questions have stumped me! I'll ask my husband if we have a web server!! Ha! I have no clue. Hi Donna! You have the same underwear as me?!? FUNNY!!! I am 5'7" & the proper weight for me is supposed to be 146 which means I have 56 more pounds to go. I'm not even half way! But, we'll see when I get there. I was 175 when I got married & I thought I looked pretty good then.

Thank you Tricia!! How do you do that?!?! Is there something I can do to make the pictures show up on the first page? Is it easy?!?!? YOU ARE AMAZING!! Thanks for the kind words everyone!! You all have just become my new best friends!!

Okay, these pictures I'm posting out of the insistence of my husband. I've NEVER taken a picture in a swimming suit, much less post it to the world!!! Vin.bmp

Here's some more pictures! I can't believe I'm posting pictures of me in my underwear, but oh well!!! Most of my weight was lost in my big ol' behind. I am emberassed that this is the view people saw the most of me!!! I had no idea my behind looked so HUGE!! It was eye-opening to see this photo!! I didn't realize how much I had truly lost back there until I looked at these photos.

Here's some pictures of me trying on the same pants I wore in the first picture. (With the orange shirt!) They are a size 24 & they are falling off me. This is the first time I have tried to wear these pants in 9 months & I can't believe how big they are!! It feels so good!!!

I recently hit the big 50 lbs loss a month ago. I thought I'd post a picture here of the new me. One is taken the day before surgery & the other is yesterday. I am down 55 lbs!! Several people asked me to post tips to my success. You will find them on page 5!!

I'm 5'8 & started at a size 24. I'm currently fitting comfortably in a size 18. I would love a size 10, but I'll see when I get there!!

Okay Anne, add me to the "No fill - gained weight" club!! I am now at 205. I don't get another fill until 2 more weeks. :faint: I NEED this club!! I definately think we all should have a reward once we get there. THIS IS BIG!!! I don't know about you, but I haven't weighed under 200 in about 10 years!!! I would love to get a full day at the spa. A facial, massage, nails & toes done sounds heavenly. Gosh, not sure how much that would cost, but I'M WORTH IT - RIGHT!?!?!

Hi Jule! Same here!! I weighed 165 when we got married. I was also on Phen-fen. However, over the course of time I gained 100 lbs. My husband has never said one negative word about my weight! Of course he wants me to be healthy, but he has told me over & over that he loves ME for who I am & all that comes with it. And, in return he would expect me to love him with all his flaws as well. Reading your post was very sad. It sounds as if you have listened to him for a very long time & now TRULY believe that you are repulsive & unattractive. I am so sorry that you feel that way!! I am sure that you are a beautiful person regardless of how much you weigh. I know several people who are attrative on the outside but are truly ugly people when you get to know them. It's who you are on the inside that counts!! Your husband is missing out - BIG TIME!!! I agree that you need some counseling for this. Just because you lose weight, your problems aren't going to go away. You need a good support group who loves you unconditionally & will support you through thick & thin. If your husband had a problem, I am positive you would be right there to support him through it. You deserve the same!!! I hesitate to say this for those who may be offended by religious comments, but I'm just going to put it out there... What keeps me going everyday is knowing that when I leave this world, I will meet up with God who will love me for who I am. There will be no scales to stand on & I won't have to prove myself to him. It's what I did for others & what kind of a person I am that will count!! NO SCALES!! I wish you the best Jule!! *HUGS*

I love these bars!! I also like the Pria bars that only have 110 calories.

HA! I just bought the exact thing at the store. I hadn't opened it yet, but when I sat down to read this I couldn't believe you mentioned it!! Now I really have to go try it!!! I bought all three flavors! I'll have to tell you which one I like best.

That is pretty cool Penni!! Please don't tell me you figured that out all by yourself. You may just have to win an award or something for if you did!! I would be impressed.

You will love Dr. Ortiz!! Great doctor & great follow-up!! I loved everything about my surgery with him!! Good luck!!

I AM SOOOOO IN!! I'm been sitting on 202/203 for so long. You'd think I should be able to lose 3 lbs. by May 4th - right?!?!? I am unfilled & need a little kick in the butt. I don't get a fill until April 17th, so I will really need an incentive!! This is perfect!! I have an idea. As soon as the person hits ONEderland, everyone sends them a box of GS Cookies. (Thin mints to be exact!!!) :hungry: Oh, just kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I think!) HA!! I'm sure we'd all gain back our weight & MORE if that really happened. ONEderland - HERE I COME!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: Thanks for starting this Anne!!

Shanna, Please keep us updated on how you're doing!! I sure hope it "slips" back into place!! *HUGS!*

Well, I just downed a Marshmallow egg!!! It was sooooo good. I just added it into my calories for the day. And yep, I ate it because......I JUST WANTED TOO!!! :eek:

Hey Everyone, I just had to tell you all that the Aloe Vera juice really has done wonders!! I bought the Cherry Berry flavor & it actually tastes pretty good. I can feel it soothing my throat as it goes down. I went to the Melting Pot last night (oh.....so good!) & some of the spices of the meat were kindof irritating my throat. 1 oz. of the Aloe Vera juice & I no more throat irritation. LOVE the stuff!! Kathy, great suggestion! I will definately keep a bottle around the house permanently!!

Soup has a lot of nutrients in it, while cherry coke has no nutritional value what so ever. However, they both are liquid calories that go right through the band. So, if you have 200 calories to waste & these are your choices......DEFINATELY choose the soup. However, if you're feeling a little lose & want to just let go - definately go with the Cherry Coke!! OH, they taste so good!!! I haven't had one in a very long time!!!! :confused:

Okay, the "real" Diane is back & I am ARMED!!!! :madgrin: I went to the store today & picked up all my weapons so I could have something to defend myself. Here's what I got: 1) LOTS & LOTS of yummy, sugar-free drinks & waters. 2) Ready-made veggies to snack on. 3) Low calorie snack pria bars for when I REALLY need chocolate. 4) Lots of vegetables & fixin's for salad 5) A new workout suit (It motivates me if I look GOOD!!!!!) 6) Lean turkey & chicken for snack if I'm still hungry after lunch. I also got rid of all the ice cream, chocolate, treats, pudding, jello & sugar drinks. THEY'RE GONE!! No temptations. This is the only thing that works for me. If it's in the house, I eat it. I am still in awe that Vines can have a box of Dove bars in her home & not eat the whole thing!!!! KUDDOS TO YOU VINES!!!! (lend me your willpower?!?!?) Someone said earlier that I was having a love affair with a long lost friend. THEY WERE SO RIGHT!! Food was my long lost friend & I just wanted to indugle in it ONE more time. But, it's all out of my system. No more one night stands. I'm finished. My food affair was kicked out of the house!! I stepped on the scale & was very surprised that 2 lbs was the only amount of weight I gained. NOT BAD!! This band is still working. I CAN DO THIS!! :eek:

Just an update - I'm now on regular food. I've been here for 3 days. I am not feeling any restriction & I feel like I can eat the whole house. As someone said on another post - I am having a love affair with a long lost friend. (food!!) But, the burning & pain are completely GONE!! I am back 100%. I just need to get control of my eating. I can't wait to get my fill!!!

I just met a "friend" who I hadn't seen in a long time. She was a friend who never really seemed to be all that in to me. We did things together in a group, but we never really clicked. She is a VERY fit, energetic, beautiful woman that everyone envies. When she saw me she immediately asked me about my weight loss & went into detail about how thin my face looks. She asked me if I wanted to work out with her at her gym & seemed EXTREMELY friendly towards me. I'm not sure why I feel so funny about this because she was VERY nice to me, however; it just seems very convenient that she's so nice to me now that I'm thinner.

Miper70, please don't be discouraged of getting the band because of this post!! You have to remember that I have only had the band for 7 months. Even though I THOUGHT I had learned self-control in those short months, I guess I haven't. This is only my experience - everyone is so different. It's only because I had to be un-filled. My experience is not normal! I AM NOT NORMAL!!! My lapse has not brought on my previous eating habits AT ALL. I have definately improved since pe-band. My out of control behavior has only cost me 2 lbs!! (Not bad, I thought it would be more!!!) Had I gone off the deep end before the band, I would have gained so much more!! NO SURGERY IS going to be a miracle! You still have to work hard & eat right now matter what surgery you choose to get. I am thrilled with the little problems I have had with the band. I wouldn't trade it for a minute to have the problems some of the bypass people have experienced!! Don't be scared!! Please ask more questions if you'd like & I'd be happy to answer them. The band is nothing to be afraid of.

Hey Everyone! Vines - I actually have been eating small portions of EVERYTHING since I was banded. I have eaten ice cream & junk all along the way. I just kept in control. I didn't eat bread because I just couldn't! I agree that food is not the enemy. It is all ME baby!! I am just out of control. I'm getting seconds & thirds of everything because I know my band won't restrict me!! You are very strong to have just one Dove ice cream bar. If they were in my house, the ENTIRE box would disappear very fast. Good for you for having so much self-control!! I am SOOOOO NOT that way. Grizgirl - I felt those phsycic waves!! Thank you! I'm doing a little better today. No ice cream!! :biggrin1: Puddinpie- It's not that time of the month. Gosh, I almost wish it was so I could have something to blame it on!!!!! :heh: Sounds like there's a lot of people going through this same thing!! Let's all hold hands & give each other support!! (Take the hand of the person on your left. Now the person on your right.) Okay, everybody say HMMMMMMMMMMMM....... Can you feel the energy?!?!?! WE CAN DO THIS!! We've done it before & we can do it again!! C'mon, do I hear a high five all the way around?!?!? Don't worry Vines! I AM NOT GIVING UP!! I have worked too hard & payed out waaaay to much $$ to get here & I'm not going down that easy. This little pity party will end soon........very soon. (Just as soon as I finish this last peice of chocolate! ha!) I'm countin' the days until my next fill!!