anniedub

I am as well actually, getting my postgrad qualifications in early primary teaching! Are you undergrad or postgrad?

That's gorgeous! I too have more tattoos as one of my goals - I'm going to extend my back piece once I get to goal, and i've got some more plans for my wrists and ankles as well. The problem is,my family only knows about one of my tattoos (I currently have four), and my mum is super traditional, she hates it! I've been brought up in a way that, even though I absolutely adore my tattoos, I also have a tremendous feeling of guilt and shame about them at the same time. I know, F**ked up! But I'm still getting more... I have big plans for my body/canvas!

Hi clover, I would also have to say Dr Bowden - his aftercare is brilliant, his team is faultless and his skill is second to none - after all, he was trained by the best (George Fielding). When it comes down to it, the choice is yours, but personally I would rather wait and be banded by the best than settle for another surgeon just because he is faster and cheaper. I personally would never put my health in the hands of a second-rate surgeon, which is why I waited for the best - Dr Bowden. Whatever you decide to do, good luck! You're at the beginning of the greatest journey of your life. Cheers, Annie.

Ha ha I finished by lit. assignment 2 days ago, now it's a maths one i'm putting off! :thumbup: This is my last post today, i promise!

Hi ladies, Sounds good! Looking forward to reading up on your progress! My GYN told me that just losing the weight would help my (severe) PCOS, so i'm looking forward to getting it off! But a specific diet plan would be good, I think! Does it seem fairly compatible with the band, in terms of the things they actually want you to eat? Cheers, Annie.

Nikki, Fat or skinny, you're still the same person. Any of your friends who treat you differently (in a bad way) if you lose the weight, are probably jealous. These sorts of negative people are not the people you need in your life. I had the same fears -- "But i'm the jolly fat girl. What happens when i'm not fat?" Then, I realized that those people who are my true friends will still treat me the same way, and who knows? Maybe i'll find out that some of my friends aren't really "friends" at all - just having me around to make them feel better about themselves. If that is the case, they are not worth it. Keep being your beautiful self - those who love you for the person you are will love you no matter how you look. And who knows, maybe you'll find some extra "lovers", if you get my drift :thumbup: Annie

I agree with many of the above posts - if i'm really really craving something, and my craving is still there after half an hour, and after 2 big glasses of Water, then I have some. All in moderation. Corn chips (Doritos) were always my big weakness. I used to have a whole 220gm pack, smothered in salsa, cheese, avocado and sour cream, when i had a craving. Now, I have about 5 chips, with no "topping". The craving generally passes. Distraction is a big thing -- and getting on LBT is usually the winner - I can spend hours on this site, it's really interfering with my university work! Hooray for transfer addictions! Hee hee.

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE, OI OI OI! :thumbup: :eek:

Mike, Congratulations on putting yourself first. It sounds like you have done the research, and you're doing this for the right reasons. Your daughter deserves to have a healthy father who will be there for her, not one that can't run around the park with her, or can't walk her down the aisle at her wedding. There will always be negative people who think that they know what's best for you, but in reality, YOU are the only one that knows what's best for you. Sure, the procedure may be "expensive" for some, but can you really put a dollar value on your health? As for those who say you're taking "the easy way out", or you should do it "the old fashioned way", just remind them that the "old fashioned way" of performing surgery was without anaesthetic. If there is a new and better way available, would they be volunteering for the old way? Didn't think so. Besides, if they truly love you, they will support your decision. And if they can't do that, then maybe they're not the sort of person you need in your life. Lots of people keep the surgery a secret from all but their closest family, I myself am one of these people. We do it for lots of reasons - mostly to save ourselves from the judgemental and narrow-minded views of others. But rest assured, you will always find support here. Good luck in your decision, and remember that your health is the most important thing. Cheers, Annie.

I'm with you, Manda - my ultimate goal weight reward is a whole new wardrobe. Can't wait!

Sounds.... um..... delicious....

What are these Apple Bottom jeans i keep hearing about everywhere? Is it a particular style, or a brand?

I gather the elliptical is fine, but (according to my surgeon) the bike is a no-no. Puts too much pressure on your abs, and you can dislodge or flip the port. I have to wait 8 weeks post-op before I could ride my bike again - and I'm having serious withdrawal symptoms! I don't do exercise bike, but i'm a BIG road-bike fan. Maybe try swapping the bike for the treadmill, at least for another 2 weeks or so. You've just paid a s**tload of money for surgery, don't jeopardize it by doing too much, too soon!

I gather a body bugg is something a bit like a pedometer on steroids -- you attach it to your upper arm and wear it all day, and it basically tracks how many steps you're taking, kilojules you're burning, and i think it does things like heart rate as well. The website is BODYBUGG :: HOW IT WORKS (i think), you can get more info there. They are quite expensive ($400+) but most people who have them seem to love them. Not 100% sure on any of this, they're not available in Australia so i don't have all the info. But check it out if you think it's something that could work for you! Nothing wrong with getting all the help and support we can -- after all, that's why we have the band, right? :biggrin:

I LOVE MY BAND! I'm only one month post-op, but already I feel like this is the best decision I've ever made. Sure, sometimes when I have to stop myself from eating chocolate, or if I PB something, I start thinking "stupid lap band, wrecking all my fun..." but then I WAKE UP TO MYSELF! If i didn't make a serious lifestyle change like the band, then I would have been on the fast-track to serious health problems - type II diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, just to name a few! I'm lucky in that I got in early enough (i'm 22) to prevent these things before they happened - I didn't need to have a heart attack before I realised how much I was slowly killing myself with food. My only regret? That I didn't do this 5 years ago!

I've read this a million times on the boards and you really must take it to heart. Remember, the first 6-8 weeks post-op are for HEALING, not for weight loss. I know you get impatient (trust me, i'm the world's most impatient person), but you've got your whole life to be sexy and slim! You're only 2 weeks out, concentrate on healing first. Once you have a fill you'll start losing more. You probably shouldn't be "busting your butt" at the gym, as if you put a strain on your band or the muscles it's attached to while it isn't healed (and after two weeks, yours DEFINITELY isn't healed) you risk a port flip, dislodging the band, slippage or worse. You could end up having to have the band removed! So take it easy for now, you've just had major surgery. Let your body heal, and leave the butt-busting for a few weeks. The weight WILL come off, in it's own sweet time. Cheers, Annie.

Ha ha I absolutely love it. It cuts the B.S. and just tells it like it is. While I would LOVE to be a vegetarian (as the book espouses), i have been vegetarian before and I always become severely anaemic -- so that rules that out. I absolutely need red meat, for some reason. Back to "Skinny Bitch". If you want a wake up call from some no-holds-barred authors who won't tiptoe around the issue and "nurture your feelings" then it's a great read. Definitely shocks you into submission :biggrin: But I can understand it being far too confronting for some, as they do swear a lot and present you with some uncomfortable truths about the food we eat every day. So, have a flick through before you buy it, make sure that you're not offended or anything by the terminology, then buy and enjoy On another note, their cookbook "Skinny Bitch in the Kitch" has a lot of lovely recipes. Highly recommended! (obviously all vegetarian).

Hi, All surgeons are different, of course, but mine hasn't given me any "not allowed" foods or drinks, and he was trained by the doctor who invented the lap band, so I trust his judgement. Then again, I never swallow my gum, but I could imagine it would cause big problems if swallowed. I've never been a gum swallower, as my grandma told me when I was little that if you swallowed gum, it took your body 7 years to get rid of it... freaked me out! As for carbonation, my doc told me that the "stretching the pouch" thing is utter B.S. But, he did say that carbonated drinks can cause incredible discomfort if you haven't been able to burp post-surgery. Me, i've been belching like a sailor since 2 days post-op, and I drink a sugar-free carbonated soft drink (soda) about every 2 days. It's up to you, really. If you feel more comfortable giving it up "just in case", then by all means do it, but it's not essential. Hope this helps, Annie.

Hi there, My first mini-goal is to lose another stone (6.5kg, or 14 lbs) by the end of April. That would take me down to 84.5kg (185 lbs). I think my reward will be a new charm for my charm bracelet!

Back into my old jeans..... size 14 Australian (i think it's size 12 US)... woo woo! And only 4 weeks post-op! Mind you, they are SKIN TIGHT, but i'm not letting that faze me!

169 Shrinking Shamrocks? BONANZA!

Hey Fenton, Well done! Sounds like you're going brilliantly! I think that if you're not feeling the need to eat your whole house, and you're having little bits and then feeling like it's time to stop, then the band is working for you right now, and you probably don't need a fill. But i would advise you to keep the appointment for now -- when i went from feeling restricted post-surgery to feeling hungry again, it was literally ONE DAY between 24-7 satisfied and ravenous. So you never know what will happen between now and the 14th. Otherwise, sounds like you're doing great! I had stopped losing weight before my fill last week, but now i'm going again since the fill (another kilo this week). Phew! I've also joined weight watchers, just because i like the support and the vibes of the meetings. Not sure why, it's just always been very helpful for me. Even better, now that I have a tool to help me along, the weight loss will be much smoother than it has been in the past! Hooray for the band! Annie.

Hi, probably best to try on another thread -- maybe in the general threads, or regional ones? This is a thread specifically for people banded in March 2008, so unless you're lucky enough to have someone in here with the same doctor, you're out of luck! I would probably start your own thread in the "General" or "Pre-Op" section with the doc's name. More likely to be noticed :thumbup: Annie

Ha ha ha I hear you! I'm in the middle of a drought - it's killing me! :thumbup:

Ha ha ha I have had no gas pains, even been drinking carbonated drinks since 10 days post-op. No worries! So it's all good. I was eating baked beans on mushies as well, so i knew i haven't had problems. 1 day post-fill, i'm more restricted than i was, but I can still eat more than half a cup. I'll see how I am this time next week, but i might be back then for another fill. I am super-keen to get to the sweet spot! I was starting on the slippery slope, and i'm still on it, but i've joined weight watchers to try and get my ass into gear. No more cheating! It will help after i go to the nazi dietician tomorrow, as i'm hoping she'll give me some amounts -- ie recommended calories / Protein grams / carbo grams each day. That will really help, at the moment i'm just guessing, and going under the weight watchers points. And, as all ladies will relate, this is also that special week in the month when i'm bloated like a sponge and wanting to eat everything in sight! Bad combination! :thumbup: Annie.