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Wpmen are such emotional eaters, so we do get down when we don't have the Ben and Jerry support system. Try getting a Victoria Secrets catalog and pick out clothing you will wear with your new body. The gas will go away soon.

Welcome Cedar, There's a lot of great information here. Wow two years. Be sure to share your experiences with others if you can. Many of us are new bandsters

21 pounds in a month is a very great, and a little faster than normal. Weight loss is slower with the band so, don't feel bad if you slow down to 2 pounds a week, which I believe is the average. I'm currently at 3 per week, and thats eating about 1.5cups of food per day. Congrats on the weight loss

Why aren't the ticker showing?

I chose the Lap band because the side effects of the Gastric scared me. I was worried about losing teeth an hair, and worse being unable to control the amount of weight I was losing. I know I would rather had no surgery, if the alternative was to look like Paris Hilton. I personally think that with the GB because the weigh loss is so dramatic in a short amount of time that the head and facial areas stay large, while the body shrinks. So I didnt want to look like a lollipop.

I didn't have a medically suoervised diet. My surgeon did ask me if I had receipt for programs that I have tried, which I did not. On top of that I did not have any weight related medical problems so it was a challenge. My PCP physician was great in writing a detailed history of the prescriptions that I was on, and she also provided my weight going back 3 years, so the insurance co could see it was an onging struggle. It took an entire year, but I eventually got approved. So I would say get as much documentation as possible that you have attempted to lose weight on your own.

I don't know a lot of people who had the gastric, but the few that I do know, lost a lot of weight rapidly and gained it back within 2 years. I think with both surgeries you should learn how to eat better, but with the band, because we are restricted with feels, it's impossible for us to over eat, and also knowing we can only get a cup of food down (1/2 c for med), we don't want to blow it on some crap. To be honest, I know that if i didnt have the restriction, i would start that slope of having this here and there, until it ate certain things regularly, so I'll take my slow consistent loss any day.

Thanks ladies. I'll head to Ross or Target for right now to supplement. Then once I get close to goal I have to find a place to shop, because I'll be don with Lane Bryant. lol.

I have a question about clothing. I started out at size 24, and now I wear 20's and some 18's. The thing is I have been a terrible clothing horse, and now I find myself not looing as tailored and fashionable as I was as a bigger girl. Should I go on a shopping spree although I am a ways from goal weight or just rough it out. There are some things that I just had to get rid of? It may sound a little superficial but I'm almost down to nothing.:smile2:

Yes the band can always be adjusted, but many people who have gastric stretch the pouch out and get big again

Congratulations! That date is soon enought, it gives you plenty of time to make preparations

The first appointement should be all educational. Read over the board, the good and the bad threads and take all your questions with you to your appointment. I joined her 2005, but was not banded until 9/2007. My first appointment was around nov 2006. It was a long process, but for me worth it now Congrats on your first steps!

I just went back last week, so it's been a full year. It just took me that long to get back to the gym. lol. I would say give it a while for your band to heal in place befor you do any exercises that stretch muscles in that area. Maybe 3-4 months. But I would think that you can walk or work the treadmill after a week or two

LOL! That's appropriate since more time than not the band is in control

Chicken is very tough on the band, but if you eat before you really get hungry you wont try to eat as fast. Even now when I am starving, and I call myself throwing down on some "soup" lol it will come back up, and then I no longer want to eat anything.

Too Funny!:thumbdown:

ok I'm done. I found him

Welcome and good luck on your surgery. Just to give you honest expectations, the day after surgery may be painful. I personally was holding my stomach because the band initially is a weird feeling, and for me I thought something was gonna fall out. I was banded 9/11/07, and it took until this June to get to a restriction where I was able to lose weight. At this point I now watch what I eat, not because I particularly want to all the time, but because if it's something that I shouldn't have my band will get rid of it real quick. I can't overeat, or eat fatty foods if I wanted to. This is just my experience, and each person's band can be different. But once you start getting fills, you will get to know your band real quick. I hope this helps, and I hope I didn't scare you, cause I love my band right now.

I will be praying for everyone's safety. Please try to let us know how everythimg is going. God Bless.

My largest incision has turned into a keloid, and on my next visit, I am going to find out what I can do about it. It's now hard, so I don't think anything topical will work. I may have to have it removed. I had one removed on my ear a few years ago, and it has not grown back

I've seen Greatglam.com and they do have some fierce items. They have some plus sizes too. I used to like NY& co, so I think I will hit there again. Luckily many designers have a plus size collection. Except for Vikie's which may be a good thing

Saying I use weight watchers is a method that I use now. I heard people make judgemental remarks about people getting surgery for weight loss. And no matter what procedure it is most people do lump everything under gastric bypass. That also is the reason I haven't put a pic up. With the exception of a few people I don't think everyone has to know

I can't wait to learn how to swim. Can you believe weight kept me from learning because I didnt want to put on a swimsuit. I didnt think sweat pants and a t shirt would go over to well/