Numbrgirl

I drove about 5 days after my surgery - the most difficult part for me was the getting in and out of the car. All the movements were super slow!

My doctor's office charges $100 per fill. However, my package included free fills for 1 year after my surgery. I guess it would depend on how many fills you were going to have in a year.

sorry about that - hit the wrong button!

Excellent! Everything in perspective.:biggrin:

SDBEACH ~ How else would you expect those who have achieved success and the newbies, like myself, to react except in a "rah rah" manner? Otherwise what would be the point? Of course I don't think two people may approach putting the band to work in the exact same way and other factors have to be taken into consideration but I see quite a few success stories in various threads and the simple law of loss = eat less, move more - cannot very well be disregarded. This band has equipped me both mentally and physically to learn to put this into practice. Some of the success has a lot to do with outlook and as for me, I refuse to be disuaded.

You all are hilarious!!!

My doctor told me to stay away from salads for a while unless they are really, really chopped. Sometimes you can get a chopped salad that is really fine. I have tried coleslaw since it is chopped pretty well and make sure I chew and chew before I swallow it. I have had no problem with it.

I thought it was going to be sooooooo difficult to give up soda forever but I don't even crave it. When I see it on the grocery shelf I remember how much I really liked it and how I would run to it for an immediate sugar fix but now it has been more than 40 days and I will never had another one. I went to a birthday party yesterday where it was flowing freely and I just opted for water and didn't feel like I was missing a thing. These little changes amount to so much over time. I am glad the lapband restricts it - otherwise I would not have found the willpower to omit it on my own.

maybe it doesn't qualify as "eating around the band" but all the rules work for me!! and I am still learning!! 8-)

My doctor does not prohibit Protein shakes because they are high in protein as opposed to milkshakes or the like. Usually after I have a Protein shake I am full and don't want anything else. Jachut is always on the money!! My doctor did sternly warn about eating and drinking at the same time because if the food goes through so quickly.......it kind of defeats the purpose!!

I too am so happy I had this surgery. Your mind hypes it up so must but it is almost over before it starts. Today I am proud to proclaim (and have been posting it everywhere!) my scale left the land of the "300's" this morning. I go for my first fill next Tuesday. I am looking forward to a continuation of the weight loss and maintaining the exercise program. The band is such a useful tool to all who use it the way it was intended to be used. I wish I would have done it years ago!

To me it means eating and then drinking in order to push the food through the band so you can continue to eat more and more. The idea is to keep the food in place and let it slowly regulate itself through the band which gives the feeling of being "full"

If I don't weigh every day - how would I know my scale left the land of the "300's" today??!!!??? Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8-)

So good when we DON't let food control us!!

Good that you can recognize the good with the not-so-good. We all have obstacles to overcome in life. In trying to do the right thing and making mistakes along the way - I am reminded of the scriptures that says "I don't do the things I know I should and do the things I know I shouldn't" I guess this is what is a lifestyle change for me - when I start to go down that path - I have to make a conscious and sometimes forceful choice to make myself go in another direction. It is difficult no doubt about it.

Hello to all - Just wanted to proclaim that my scale left the land of the "300's" today. Encouragement to all!! Also I attended a birthday party today with a HUGE buffet as the food source. I was so disciplined - I just had to thank God. I had a few cucumbers and some cottage cheese, a dab of potato salad and a little bit of sausage from one of the slices of pizza (NOT THE PIZZA!!). Just a little dab of the soft serve ice cream while everyone was enjoying their mound of cake. When I came and honestly dumped every bit into thedailyplate.com it was so low in both cal/carbs I couldn't believe. Feels good to show some self-control. Hey I can finally add that fruit of the spirit to my list in the eating category too!! Yeah me!! Praise God!!

Thanks XX it has been a while since I have seen the land of the 200's. I get my first fill this Tuesday so I am hoping the numbers will continue to go south!!

Jachut - You are a definite role model here on this board - thank you for your strong advice!! I love that we are allowed a glass of wine!!

I am staying on plan today because today my scale left the land of the "300's" !!!!!!!

I appreciate your response. For me it is like WASA said - it is no longer a diet but becoming a way of life. I feel especially blessed to have the opportunity to use this tool to finally put away this life of obesity. Sometimes we as humans get so set in our ways and bad habits that suddenly everything turns us towards a "victim mentality" and that very thought process keeps us imprisoned. I don't mean to be harsh when saying this because I have directed it to myself as well - from the outside looking in it just appears to be a bunch of excuses (too much stress, dieting is hard, exercise doesn't work, etc.) It is unfortunate that food has such a hold on society and seemingly brings so much false comfort. I have to make this work so I can continue to travel the world with my husband, take a more physically active role with my growing pre-teen daughter and because the joints in my knees are simply refusing to carry me anymore. These things are all infinitely more important to me than anything I could ever shove in my mouth and obtain some temporary happiness or comfort from. When I had my pysche evaluation the doctor was kind enough to give me some feedback before I left. I had to do the ink blot test and look at other pictures, give some feedback, outcomes, etc. We talked a lot. Nothing out of the unusual that I was aware of. Just me. At the end of the session he told me that the some of my answers and reactions gave him the indication that I was ready to make a change and there was some growth churning in me that hadn't previously made it to the surface. That clicked with me - not only in my final, drastic attempt to find some relief to the weight - but in a few other areas and ventures I have been undertaking in my life. I sincerely hope that anyone struggling in ways that are mentioned on this thread will be able to find peace and strength to finally make a difference in their lives.

Granted I am just a newbie that has experienced definite satisfaction and success - but as I travel over this board I am continually stunned, amazed and puzzled to find individuals lamenting that they "didn't think it was going to be hard" or "they thought the band would do this or that" when clearly all of the literature I read and the forms I signed indicated that it was totally dependent on MY actions. The band is a tool that is a constant reminder to me to take responsibility for these decisions and I am relieved to say it has removed my fixation on food. So instead of making excuses and justifying bad habits, I now plan my day and do my best to incorporate both a good menu selection and adequate exercise. I love the posts from WASA and WCFG. I have printed them out so I can read over them as I continue on this journey. I simply don't want to carry around this amount of weight anymore and NOTHING will detour from this goal.

I totally agree with you Northwest Nance - you have to really want it. I enjoyed reading your original post above and thought it was right on the money. I was banded 4/30 as a self-pay and I am determined to do what makes this work for me. It is a constant reminder to me before I shove anything in my mouth and the weight loss thus far has been fairly easy. The unexpected energy I have since receiving the band is such a great addition to my life. No more being sluggish and tired and disgusted with the outlook of my future. No longer fixated on food every day. Such a tremendous blessing.

It is worth the hard work and dedication to finally achieve a substantial weight loss and maintain it. I haven't been disciplined and sat down to each and every meal and the weight continues to come off. My personal opinion is that you just have to get to a point where you are just tired of carrying it all around and the band helps me keep my eating in check.

I have stayed on the plan all day because my scale was down again this morning!!

the creamy soup was a lifesaver for me as well!!