Monica S

Now Carnie Wilson had gastric bypass, not the band. She was very open about it.

Star's weight loss matters to me! Maybe just because I love watching what celebrities do... Of course we all wish each other well, but when someone says you can lose 150lbs with pilates I just have to laugh. I think pilates is great exercise and a wonderful way to spend your time, but it will not make you drop half your weight. It burns, like, 100 calories an hour. You would have to do nothing BUT pilates to lose that much weight!

What counts as "lower BMI"?

Smoking also causes circulation problems, and that prevents your red blood cells from bringing oxygen to parts of your body that need healing. You have to quit smoking before you have ANY kind of surgery, or it will take ages to heal. I quit smoking 2 years ago by using the patch AND the gum, and I stayed on nicotine replacement therapy for 6 months (WAY longer than recommended). But it worked! And I'm so happy not to be a smoker now. Here's what I noticed after quitting smoking: I don't get colds and infections anymore. I can sit through a long movie and enjoy it. I can fly on airplanes without wanting to kill people. I get more work done at work. I don't have to live with the guilt!!! If you need help quitting, try the American Cancer Society's quitline. They are very helpful.

Pretty soon there's going to be "back-alley bandings" going on!

My doctor said it takes over 100 surgeries before someone is an expert at the lap band. Keep searching.

I thought Sharon Osbourne had RNY?

I was banded on November 23, and I have lost a total of 12 lbs. in all. I have had 2 fills (2 ccs total in a 4cc band) and don't feel much restriction at all. I guess I'm still in the adjusting stage. It is called the "adjustable" band after all! I am trying to be patient but it is hard sometimes.

I was recently buying snack foods for my hubby and his friends (not for me) at a convenience store. When I was getting into my car I heard the drunk frat boy parked next to me tell his buddy what I was buying and how could a fat chick buy junk food in public. It hurt my feelings, and there was nobody to complain to. I was thinking to myself "I don't even eat this crap! And I just had surgery, you bastard!" But I didn't say anything. Stuff like this hurts more than others really know.

My scale does that thing you talked about where you step on and it gives you one weight, step on again and you get another. I was reading the instructions and they say that the second time is the accurate one. I don't have enough room in my bathroom to keep the scale there all the time, so I move it and take it out again. Apparently, every time you move it it needs to reset itself. Hence, the inaccurate first weight.

I HATED the shoulder pain. I had it very bad for 3-4 weeks after surgery. It goes away eventually!

I can eat any food I want, steak, bread, whatever. I try to stay away from empty calories. I do not drink soda and haven't tried. Although I think my band could probably handle it (it handles everything else fine), I read that people who drink soda, even diet, are more overweight than those who don't. The theory is that, although a diet soda does not have sugar in it, it is so sweet that your body is tricked into thinking there is sugar in it. This causes the fluctuations in insulin (and insulin resistance) that contribute to obesity. I used to drink a diet coke every day. Now I don't miss it.

I'm in the same boat. I am so good all day and then at night...well, not so good. I do feel like my band doesn't have any restriction at all after 9 pm. What's up with that?

I am an addictive behaviors researcher.

I heard that Xenical, a prescription drug intended to block the absorption of fat you eat, is going to be over-the-counter pretty soon. Has anyone taken it? Did it work? Would you take it? I'm wondering if it would help us bandsters.

Yep, that's what I've gathered. I'm wondering, if the FDA is going to approve this drug as an OTC for weight loss, the studies must say it works at least a little bit for some people. Now, I'm not about to try it, given the wonderfully descriptive advice offered here. But has it worked for ANYONE? If not, why are they approving it?

I am busting up over here! You all are too much!

I had my first NSV today. My fiance and I made love, and I was in a position that, was, well, doggy-style. He said "wow! I can really tell you've lost weight when you're in this position!" So, at least from one angle, I can tell this is working

NewSho, I would kill to have a BMI of 30!!!

What is the name of the fiber supplement? That sounds good!

Who's Jack? What's the slumber thing? I think I like you.

Sex is one of the perks you may not necessarily think about when deciding to have WLS, but it's a fabulous surprise! I love the dancing bananas too!!!

Are you all able to do yoga? My port hurts a lot when I stretch in certain positions. Will this go away, or should I say goodbye to yoga?

This is all going much slower for me than I expected it to. I lost 16 lbs in the first week then gained it all back. I've had 2 fills (my last was a week ago) so maybe it will kick in soon. I did not feel much after my first fill of 2.2 ccs (4 cc band).

About 5 weeks ago I had my first fill of 2.2 ccs (4 cc band). I didn't feel any restriction. Then I got another 2 cc fill and now I feel moderate restriction but nothing crazy dramatic. I wonder if something is wrong with me.