Apples2

My doc recommended just a daily Multivitamin. I trade off taking Centrum Silver (chewable) and Flinstone gummies (2 for an adult dose). Good luck as you begin down the lap band road.

Had that kind of a day last Friday....and WATCH OUT....they come in 3's! #1. My new couch that I got a month ago ripped all the way across the back. The fabric actually just frayed. We spent a little extra on it because we wanted quality. #2. Went to a concert and someone stole my new jacket (just purchased that day) off the back of my chair. #3. Mother of our god daughter called to let us know our GD was is SERIOUS trouble. All this in one day. I should have stayed in bed!

Nope...no mascara on the lashes. I had the eyeliner just put at the very rim of upper and lower. Didn't want too much. Turned out to be just what I wanted. I feel so free not having to wear liner or mascara.:party:

Go for the outfits!!!!!!!! Even though I am so happy I still have done the rewards thing. I did permanent eyeliner and eyelash extensions last month and my final reward will be a tummy tuck if it is needed.

I promised myself that when I reached goal that I would buy myself a tanning booth. Well, that doesn't seem so important anymore. I am just so happy with the weight loss that I feel I have been rewarded. (I still might get the bed....I hate to break a promise LOL).

I knew from the start that I wanted the least invasive surgery. I am almost three months out and have had no troubles. I follow every lab band rule. Eat slow, chew till almost liquid and never eat anything except what is allowed. There are risks with every surgery but, I believe, a much lower risk with the lap band.

Teri...I am not part of your Sept. group but wanted to respond to this. I was banded June 17, 2008. I lined up many things pre-op so my hands would stay busy. I have always done the New York Times crossword and the LA Times crosswords daily. (I just don't have a bowl of cheetos or popcorn sitting beside me now). I picked up crewel work and cross stitch again. I have always loved to read and I make sure that I get at least two hours of reading in a day. This may sound funny but I bake a lot also. I have always loved to bake and cook and I truly believe that I do more now since my surgery. I can honestly say that I am not tempted by things I make. We farm and I have to cook for many every day and I think I enjoy it now more than ever. Go figure. My way of thinking about food has totally changed. I am only into the foods that I know I can have. Want to wish you the best of luck with your surgery and recovery. Same to all the rest of you people that have a September date. It's the best thing I have ever done for myself. My outlook on life is so different than it was a year ago. I am truly happy.:w00t:

So sorry you are going through the shoulder pain thing. That was my biggest complaint also. It was unbearable sometimes. Every time I would swallow (even saliva), I would just cringe with pain. Hang in there. Mine subsided at about 2 weeks out. At about 9 days, it started to ease. I could not take pain meds but don't know if they would have helped anyway. My surgeon told me the pain was due to my hernia repair. Not sure if I believe that since I had the same intense pain with C-section. Hope your pain subsides soon. I feel your pain!!!!!!!!!!!

I just love hearing that "Life is Great" statement. Especially from someone almost four years after surgery. Love your attitude, Jack!

I notice that smiling thing again in my life, too. I used to hide in public. Now I feel like I'm getting back to being the old, outgoing me. Your comment about the shopping basket sounded just like me. I lost over 50lbs b/4 getting the band. I started last November 20th. I had to go on the six month ins. required diet so I decided to start from day one eating as a banded person (or as close to it as I could).

Hey Jazzy Junes....just wondering if the rest of you guys are feeling like I do. With each day I feel as if the "obesity cloud" is lifting and leaving my life. I was always a happy person. I felt that I could accomplish anything and overcome any adversities in my life. With each pound that I gained over the last 15 years, that happiness slowly diminished. I cannot actually say that I was depressed, just that my happiness was taken away. Now I wake up in the morning, swing my legs over the bed and know it's going to be a good day. I even find that I sing to the radio in my truck again. There is also a certain peacefulness that has come over me. Obesity somehow ruled my life. It affected every aspect of it. I didn't want to go to wakes, funerals, weddings because nothing fit me right and I felt that everyone was staring at my fat back. I never want to have the feeling again. I just hope that my June 2008 friends have that feeling too?

BBK...What a bummer!

BBK..thinking of you today and wishing you a speedy recovery from yet another surgery.

I agree. But, don't think it has stopped. She's one that hits the bar about 4pm and leaves about 10pm chewing on a swizzle stick. Somehow she has alluded getting caught. BTW....she is not listed as a "friend" in my book. Totally self-involved and not my kind of girl. Got to know her...don't care for her and her ways.

You would think that I would be over this by now. It's been two years...not over it...so will rant about it. Maybe this will help. My dumbass, so called friend backed into my pickup, left the scene and lied about it to me later. (Her sister was with her and slipped and told me it happened). They were leaving a bar and grill that me and my DH were having dinner at. She backed her big ass truck up and the hitch took care of the entire drivers side of my vehicle. When I confronted her with what I knew had happened and that I have a $1,000 deductible, she begged me to not make her pay cuz her DH would kill her cuz she was in the bag. My DH decided it was not worth a fight and made me drop it. (Her DH is a friend of my DH). Piss. Was not ready to drop it. So, guess she can kiss my ass till hell freezes over!

Forgot to mention the eyebrows, Froggi. I don't need to have it done but the tech that did my eyes was telling me how she does them. She actually applies three or four different strokes in different colors so they look three dimensional. She showed me a photo of some that she had done and they look so damned real. One of the ladies she did them on was a person that had been bald since she was 11. (no eyelashes either). The tech told me she cried and cried because she was so happy.

Fran...It's so cool how they do the lashes. They just glue them right to your existing lashes. They fall off is one of your own lashes fall off and that's the reason for the touch up. Froggi...this sounds like something that would work for you. They can fill in spotty lash lines. There are lashes that are in thicker bunches for cases like that. I will try to remember to come back to this thread after I have them done to let you guys know how they look.:Banane37:

I decided at the beginning of this journey that when (not if) I reach goal, I would buy a tanning bed to put in my workout room. I am not a tanning junky but I do love having somewhat of a tan and I find it very relaxing. I cannot lay out in the sun (I get a rash). I have bought a few clothes. I do not use them as a current reward but as a future reward. It's just another kick in the butt to keep going and fit into them. The clothes I bought are for winter and a size smaller than I wear now. All four tops that I bought were more expensive than I would usually spend but it keeps me going thinking about fitting into them. Also, my husband said he would pay for a tummy tuck if I needed one at when I get to goal. Sure hope I don't but will wait a year and then decide. I love that guy!

I had the eyeliner done last Friday and have eyelash extensions done two weeks from today. Have always wanted it done and just made a quick decision to do it. I was in the chair having my hair cut when I looked up at the person doing my hair. Told her I loved her nice, thick lashes and she told me they were extensions. I go in for an hour session to have them applied and every two to three weeks for an update. $25 for two week reapplication, $35 every three and $45 every four weeks. I will pick out lashes that are the same length as I naturally have. I find that the older I get, the fewer lashes I have. When I was a teenager I had nice long thick lashes. This girl that does my hair does not even wear mascara anymore. She also had the eyeliner done and it looks great. I had my eyeliner done in a smoky gray color. I think that besides my band I will be able to say this is one of the best things I could do for myself. We have extremely hot and humid summers and I cannot stand the "running" makeup. It's fun to not have to apply makeup. As far as the pain....I am allergic to novacaine (and any other in the family), so I had to tough it out. Worth it though. The pain was not extreme but uncomfortable and that was without any medication applied. So if someone is thinking of doing it and can have your eyes medicated, it should be a breeze.

Have not tried beef jerky since being banded. Has anyone tried the soft types of jerky (i.e. the nugget kind)?

I spread Laughing Cow cheese on Melba Toast wafers. Easy to chew and easy to get down. The wafers come in a few different flavors and are 60 cal. for 5. Don't think I am willing to try pretzels. Was a favorite but don't miss them.

Long2bthin...I am preparing myself that I will gain when I have my surgery. I have never been in the hospital that I did not gain. Ticks me off that have to go through it and come out weighing more. Your 8lb weight gain is not unusual and b/4 you know it, it will be gone and you can continue on your weight loss journey.

Doc put in 5cc but also put some in at time of surgery. It just slipped my mind to ask how much when I had my last appt. My doc does not like to answer questions about how much goes in during fills. I think he doesn't want us to concentrate on the amount we get. I am sure he thinks our feeling of restriction is more important. I got my fill last week. I felt restriction the next day and then nothing. On the fifth day after my fill, I felt more restriction and think that I am where I should be. No hunger 90% of the time. Loving it. Weight loss is where it should be with about 2lbs lose per week. Life is good. My family is very supportive and knew that I had to do this surgery in order to live a healthy life. Friends is another story. I would say that 50% of my friends are very supportive and the other 50% take great pleasure in either being jealous and not understanding the process at all. I'm too busy with my new life to try to sit down (yet again) and explain the process. I usually just give them the name of a lap band web site so they can read up on it. I have a feeling most of them don't take the time.

Hey Gina....we'll pick you up on the way! Never been to Destin but a friend of mine who winters there steered us that way. We are now thinking of renting a house boat for the two months. So many decisions, so little time.

Lessme....my surgeon hires all banded or soon to be banded staff. I think it is great. They always know what you are talking about and have great info to questions. I am thinking that the fill I had yesterday is what I needed. I am back to feeling the way I did after and for a couple of weeks after surgery. I can tell when it's my last bite when I eat a meal. Just what the band is supposed to do. I love my band. Isn't it funny that when you don't have hunger pangs, you don't think about food. The problem I was having was that b/4 my fill, I was so hungry that I would eat fast. Not a problem now. Good luck to you and I hope we all hit our "sweet spot" soon. Won't that be nice?:wink_smile: