endzone

I was such a restrictive dieter for so many years that now I find the best thing for me is not to be on any kind of regiment but rather to just listen to my body's true signals and respond appropriately. That said I have always been a healthy eater; I just ate way too much. The band allows me to enjoy small portions and to experience the wonder of a dimmed appetite. If I disallow foods it sets me up for the old on or off behaviors.

Thanks everyone, nothing works for me lol, I agree with B 52 I can not even drink when stuck.....I will not be having Fluid taken out either I will eat smaller bites and eat slower ....learning curve!

Go to Goodwill every week or two and try on jeans. Once you get a pair of two that fit you (and ignore the size because different brands are all over the map) you'll love wearing good fitting jeans. I didn't even own a pair of jeans at my top weight of 302. My jeans from 280 pounds are in a drawer for posterity. I kept them and my winter coat. Everything else I donated.
Kick them to the curb!!

Thanks everyone, nothing works for me lol, I agree with B 52 I can not even drink when stuck.....I will not be having Fluid taken out either I will eat smaller bites and eat slower ....learning curve!

Thanks everyone, nothing works for me lol, I agree with B 52 I can not even drink when stuck.....I will not be having Fluid taken out either I will eat smaller bites and eat slower ....learning curve!

Thank you for describing your green zone, I am not there yet, but close I think ........sometimes I can go 4hours and other times about 3 other times maybe 5 ....still all over the place but when I go the 5hours I eat too fast and get stuck...still learning....also still learning the one cup portions LOL

Hi @lynneanne. I'm also 56 and was not in shape either. I've lost 150 lbs. and I have alot of loose skin. Having said that, between body shapers, and certain clothing styles...no sleeveless, no shorts or dresses above the knee, I look just fine. As far as more intimate situations, I can only give you my experience and for me, my fella also has a band and is still about 40 lbs. from his goal weight so neither of us fixates on the things that are far from perfect. We simply enjoy the intimacy. Hope that helps you some. Oh and one more thing. The loose skin is worth the weight loss. I've never felt that being overweight was in any way advantageous over the skin issues.

. I had mine done at the same place..they are great!

I know!
I work with some great people and they have been very complimentary about my weight loss. Only 3 people where I work know I had WLS and they have kept it private.
But even the sweetest people are now asking the numbers questions.
Nope. Not going there folks.
I decided long ago I was not going to give ANYONE outside of my circle of trust the numbers ever.
So my reply to these questions is as follows:
How much have you lost?
A lot.
Wow I know. Like how much?
A real lot.
How much more do you want to lose?
I don't know really. It's slowing down and getting harder so I need to bump up my exercise.
Well you look great. How much more do you want to lose?
A couple more sizes if I can.
A couple more sizes? Really?
Yeah, if it works out that way. If I exercise more it will eventually happen. I'm not in a race.
This was a conversation in the office bathroom this week. I smiled and walked away as I answered.
People will treat me as I allow them to treat me. That includes how they speak to me. I take charge of the conversation and divert it as I can. If I can't then my fall back answer is:
Come on now. You KNOW I'm never going to tell you that number, don't you?

I still drink diet soda..usually ginger ale, my nurse said it was fine

Hang on @endzone. You're almost there. Like I said in my post, it took about 50 lb. to go down 1 or 2 sizes. Now, 10 lbs. or less can put me in a smaller size.

Thank you for describing your green zone, I am not there yet, but close I think ........sometimes I can go 4hours and other times about 3 other times maybe 5 ....still all over the place but when I go the 5hours I eat too fast and get stuck...still learning....also still learning the one cup portions LOL

Thank you for describing your green zone, I am not there yet, but close I think ........sometimes I can go 4hours and other times about 3 other times maybe 5 ....still all over the place but when I go the 5hours I eat too fast and get stuck...still learning....also still learning the one cup portions LOL

Thank you for describing your green zone, I am not there yet, but close I think ........sometimes I can go 4hours and other times about 3 other times maybe 5 ....still all over the place but when I go the 5hours I eat too fast and get stuck...still learning....also still learning the one cup portions LOL

I also wear a uniform and had time off.....I told people I had a minor surgery, .......no one asked what it was but I was ready with a ulcer, or some other excuse, gall bladder .....whatever ....my uniform is getting big on me now, but nobody has asked and when they do I will say I am watching what I eat

I also wear a uniform and had time off.....I told people I had a minor surgery, .......no one asked what it was but I was ready with a ulcer, or some other excuse, gall bladder .....whatever ....my uniform is getting big on me now, but nobody has asked and when they do I will say I am watching what I eat

Relax sweetheart. We've all been where you are. This is very new for you still and it will take time for you to get in the zone and work your band to it's optimum. You said yourself you've done diet after diet and it didn't work. Don't worry about your brother because I guarantee he'll gain it back....and you won't.
Surgery is not the easy way out, it's not cheating. In fact, what's easy about trips to the ER that you have experienced. Nothing, right!
Hang in there...come here for support....talk to your doctor and nutritionist. They are there for you...make sure you use them.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Breathe. You've made a lifesaving choice. You've been through so much and you're still healing and OMG the liquids are hard. I was on liquids for six weeks. You can do this.
Please cut yourself a break and be gentle with yourself. This is a healing process. But I guarantee that once it settles down and the weight starts coming off and you are able to move better and be more active, you will be so happy with your decision.
We are here for support. My life has returned after walking around dead for decades.
Congratulations. You've chosen life.

I've verified and this person is not a troll and is pretty real. Let's try to offer him some supportive advice......

Hi all,
Just want to share my experience with the lapband during the last 4 months.
It is a great tool but you still have to exercise. It wouldn't work without it. I have stalled for the last 2 months because I was always eating out and drinking wine. Sure enough I didn't lose weight but it stayed the same for 2 months with the cheating. I went to my surgeon 2 days ago and he said I lost 8 lbs from my previous appt. This motivated me so much in concentrating on what I eat and to go to the gym. In the past couple of days, I have managed to go to the gym and look at my food intake, and when I weighed in, I have been losing 1 lb everyday. I have lost a total of 25 lbs in 4 months, seems slow as compared to people who had other type of surgery but this is 25 lbs I would have not lost if I didn't do the surgery. I am very happy with my result and I know that once I start focusing on the intensity of my exercise and watch what I eat, I will make it to my goal.
Word of advice to people who are thinking of doing the surgery, just do it! You'll see great results but you just gotta be patient.
Thanks for your time.

So yesterday was all about spoonfuls for me. I wanted stuffing....I wanted sweet potato, I wanted the greenbean casserole, I wanted gravy. I took my roughly 3 oz. turkey with a spoonful of gravy, and took a spoonful of everything else. Was it more than I usually eat? Yes. Did I stuff myself like the turkey? No.
I made several conscious decisions during the meal. I had alcohol...more than usual but I wanted it. Won't repeat that tonight so it was simply a one off. Had dessert and not of the 100 calorie or sugar-free type. Again...a one off.
Didn't even bother to get on the scale this morning. If I gained a bit, so what? Back to eating as usual today. Did not go nuts yesterday...all is well. Hoping this is my new normal for the rest of my life.

Hi there and congratulations on having the surgery in the rear view mirror. You are doing great! I could eat that much in cottage cheese, too, and you know what? Your body probably needed that. Don't worry! When your band is adjusted properly (remember, this is the whole idea of an adjutable lapband procedure) it will feel very differently. Take it easy, thank yourself -- you've done an amazing thing.

Congrats!!!!!!!!

EndZone,

Next time that happens and IT WILL! We get in a hurry to eat and feed the need and before we are aware of it, you have swallowed that little chunk too fast and once it's gone - it's GONE. I have found that drinking something warm helps to open the band a tad and helps whatever to slide on through, IF it isn't too large.
I can NOT do pop corn not warmed over chicken. After an episode you will need to do liquids 2-3 days in order for all the irritation to properly heal.
If you have a BAD EPISODE your Dr. can call you in some medication that is a soothing liquid- kinda like a coating to help you heal. I would be afraid to go to bed with soemthing stuck as I have heard of people swalling the BP back into their lungs. "Very Dangerous"
Good luck and take it slow.

@@SteinLaFemme doesn't sound weird at all -- the fill is where it's at as far as I'm concerned. I hoped I'd be some one who never needed one but those are rare (and mostly band plus Plication peeps). I had my first fill at four weeks, the second at five, third at six then I was good for a while, dropped a bunch and needed another fill. My surgeon did small fills but was aggressive with them.