Hazel-eyes

Hello everyone! I was approved for my lap-band today and I am very excited and nervous of course! I am a 27 year old mother of two boys and married for 6 years to my wonderful husband. I started this jouney in November when I went in to to see my primary doctor and could not hold back tears about my weight. I have tried every diet in the book, even pills that my doctor gave me. Nothing has worked and I was at my highest weight (while not pregnant) ever. My doctor told me about the lap-band and although I had never heard of it, I felt like a new door had opened in my life. Here I am 3 months later approved and my surgery is March 14th at Pennsylvania Hospital. Right now I am 235, 5'5 BMI 39.9. I will be floating around with many questions in the next month! I am in need of support as I have made the decision to not tell anyone about my surgery but my husband. It was a long thought out decision that I think is the best for me. So I am here to hopefully meet some wonderful fellow lap-banders who can support me in my journey.

How much does everyone tip at a hair salon...I never know what the correct amount should be. Is there a standard percentage like at a restaurant? Hair salon services are getting more and more expensive so I want to know what I am supposed to be tipping. Thanks!

I am wondering if there are nay March '08 bandsters who have a similar start weight to me---240 pounds? I am interested in how you have progressed and what you have done to get there. I am just hoping I get some insight as to why I haven't lost as much as others...thanks!

NAME..............................surgery date.....todays date....Lbs lost 1. SpecialK .............................3/17/08........9/7/08............53.9 lbs 2. scrappy_friend .....................3/17/08........9/4/08............54.0 lbs 3. aJoneen.............................. 3/04/08........9/4/08............31.0 lbs 4. WestCoastMom..................... 3/27/08........9/4/08............60.0 lbs 5. julietj1970............................ 3/03/08........9/4/08............40 lbs 6. SugarBean........................... 3/24/08........9/4/08............88 lbs (30 before surgery) 7. Tess415................................3/10/08........9/4/08............60 lbs (23 before surgery) update 10/8/08 65 pounds lost 8. jegtlf.....................................3/24/08........9/5/08............56lbs 9. emmersglue ..........................3/18/08........9/5/08............48lbs 10. lglenn3000............................3/17/08........9/5/08............28 lbs update 10/4/08...-32 lbs 11. Busy....................................3/17/08........9/6/08............41 lbs. 12. tp78.....................................3/13/08........9/8/08............36 lbs. update 9/25/08....-44lbs 13.potatie..................................3/27/08........9/11/08...........56lbs Update 10/5/08 66lbs :eek: 14. TKT2FLY...............................3/17/08........9/14/08...........63lbs 15. MSBoss08.............................3/06/08........9/17/08..........64lbs 16. Hazel-Eyes............................3/14/08........10/8/08...........33 lbs 17. hungry4help..........................3/3/08...........9/18/08........65lbs (10 before surgery) 18. sisterc..................................3/17/08..........9/18/08........28 lbs 19. Anniedub...............................3/6/08............9/26/08........55 lbs 20. wishin4.................................3/26/08..........9/26/08........48 lbs 21. AuntLucy...............................3/10/08.........9/26/08........64 lbs 22. nycm00.................................3/24/08.........9/25/08........60lbs. 23.Desdemona............................3/19/08........10/03/08........58lbs.

Does anyone know why it is that we are tighter during TOM? I have to practically be on a liquid diet for a few days. Just curious as to why?????

So it sounds like 20% is standard for tipping in salons......I just wasn't sure but now I know!! Thanks:smile:

Hi Shauna! We are the same age and height and in the same weight range. When I started looking into the lapband I was 225-230 and feeling really uncomfortable. I kept slowly gaining weight b/c I was scared I would not be approved. So my surgery day weight was 240. I am now at 209 and I am happy and the weight seems to be coming off slowly but surely. I was like you athletic and muscular also. As soon as I stopped really working out, all of the muscle turned to fat and I blew up like a balloon. If you are an excerciser to begin with you will do great with the band since it helps you control your food intake. Those are the 2 keys to weight loss so you will do fine. For a while I had stopped exercising b/c it just wasn't doing anything for me. Now that I have the band I can excercise again and actually see results, it's nice! Let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to help you!

About a week ago I subscribed to the hungrygirl newsletter....I had to share the website because it is amazing. I learn something new everyday and they feature great new products including a sugar-free margarita mix and other really cool stuff! I think that my fellow bandsters would love this! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Hungry Girl

NAME.........................surgery date.....todays date....Lbs lost 1. SpecialK .................3/17/08........9/7/08............53.9 lbs 2. scrappy_friend .........3/17/08........9/4/08............54.0 lbs 3. aJoneen.................. 3/04/08........9/4/08............31.0 lbs 4. WestCoastMom....... 3/27/08........9/4/08............60.0 lbs 5. julietj1970................ 3/03/08........9/4/08............40 lbs 6. SugarBean.............. 3/24/08........9/4/08............88 lbs (30 before surgery) 7. Tess415...................3/10/08........9/4/08............60 lbs (23 before surgery) 8. jegtlf.........................3/24/08........9/5/08............56lbs 9. emmersglue .............3/18/08........9/5/08............48lbs 10. lglenn3000.................3/17/08........9/5/08............28 lbs 11. Busy.........................3/17/08........9/6/08............41 lbs. 12. tp78..........................3/13/08........9/8/08............36 lbs. 13.potatie........................3/27/08........9/11/08...........56lbs 14. TKT2FLY.....................3/17/08........9/14/08...........63lbs 15. MSBoss08....................3/06/08........9/17/08..........64lbs 16. Hazel-Eyes...................3/14/08........9/17/08...........31 lbs

Congratulations!! That is really great. I hope I can do the same!

Hello~ I saw you post and I think we have some things in common. I was banded back in March and no one knows except my husband. So I guess I could use a band buddy too! Keep in touch and we can help each other through this! You are dealing with a lot of changes right now but stay positive and you will get through it.

I love wraps and they seem to go down ok for me....whole grain of course! I dd try a breakfast wrap once and I can't really get that down in the AM, but later in the day wraps are great!

No I would not have lost 30 pounds on my own without the band...you are right! I don't even think I could have lost 10 pounds on my own! I think I was feeling like I should have done better but I need to give it some time and see where I am on my 1 year anniversary. And actually I got on the scale today and now it's 31 pounds gone!!

Today I hit the 30 pound mark in my weight loss journey. It has almost been 6 months since my surgery in March. For some reason I feel like I should have lost more by now as compared to others in my same weight range here on the forum. I have to admit that I have not followed all of the band rules and if I would have I probably would have been down more by now. I seem to loose a pound every couple of weeks and the weight loss has slowed down a lot. I am 1/3 of the way to my goal, and I am wondering if I will keep loosing or level off at some point?? I certainly couldn't have come this far without the band, but right now I am not thrilled about the rate of the weight loss so far. :thumbup:

I am sorry you are going through this sad situation. I hope it comes to a conclusion soon and you can start refocusing your energy on other things. I hope you find comfort from your lap-band friends. Best wishes...

Thanks Trish...I was banded in Philly! PA Hospital...I wonder if we have the same doctor! I used to do a lot of weight training in my thinner days and it did help...I know I need to start up again. I know that if I would have followed all of the rules I would be under 200 by now.

Jacqui: Thanks for offering your point of view...I 100% believe that my body works against me and I have to fight harder than others to loose weight. I could just work harder but sometimes it get overwhelming knowing that I have to do double duty to loose weight. I guess I am just scared that I will not loose much more weight...

Today I did a 4 mile run/walk: 52 minutes, 515 calories burned.

My goal for August is to fit in some kind of exercise EVERYDAY. I am marking my calendar as I go. Even if I have a day that I don't have a lot of time I am going to make time. So far I have done the treadmill yesterday & today. 8/1: 60 minutes, 4.33 miles 8/2: 52 minutes, 4.01 miles My class reunion is at the end of Sept. so I am super motivated right now!!