SanDiegoPhotog

I haven't been banded yet, but I have made the decision to tell only a few people. DH knows . . . but no one else in my family. My relationships with the people in my family (ie, mom, sister, grandma, etc.) are some of the reasons that I use food as an emotional tool . . . so I don't feel "safe" sharing with them until my journey to end my emotional eating behavior has been changed or significantly altered (like 50% to goal, or something like that--I haven't decided). The friends I have shared with are super excited for me, though. I can tell who my real friends are! As I lose, though, I know there will be questions. And flippant answers or answers without significant details are simply not going to be satisfactory for the people in my life like my mom and my sister. I need to come up with a good response.

I am new to this whole thing, so pardon me if I am asking dumb questions. My surgical eval is 4/14 . . . but in the meantime, I'm excited, nervous, excited, scared, excited . . . did I mention excited? I know that the band controls "stomach" hunger and it gives you the sensation of being full on normal/smaller portions of food. But I know that with every "diet" I've ever been on, I've felt hungry in more ways than just with my stomach . . . I get headaches, I get shaky, I get irritable. Do you get this when you are eating less with the band? I just look at my portions now and I'm questioning how it is EVEN possible to mentally feel full after eating so little. I guess my other question, too, is what size portions do you eat? I hear an awful lot of talk about 2-3 ounces of food . . . I have twin babies and their baby food jars come in 4 ounces and 6 ounces! :tongue: Makes me nervous! Thank you in advance. This place is extremely helpful!

Thank you soooooo much for your response. I see that you have lost 107 pounds . . . WOW! Good for you!!! -shawna

The patient advocate at my surgical center said that she can feel her port under her skin, but that as you lose weight, your doctor "may" be able to bury it deeper for you if it bothers you. I didn't ask about the impact question.

I am new to the board -- I have my psych eval and consult this upcoming week -- but I went to my doctor's informational seminar and, this may sound dumb to some, but was it hard to give up carbonated beverages forever??? I am a die-hard Diet Coke addict. I drink it in the mornings, at night, all throughout the day. I don't have a lot of friends in this world, but something about drinking a Diet Coke always makes me feel better. Weird! I know! I am really excited about the band and I'm ready to kick my Diet Coke habit once and for all . . . After the seminar, I decided to quit even though who knows when my surgery will be. I wanted to stop drinking soda on MY terms, as MY choice, so I couldn't have any negative energy or ill-feelings towards the "BAND" being the reason I don't drink it. Funny, I'm not as concerned about missing food as I am about missing soda. Am I alone in this? :cursing:

Thanks for all the feedback! I'm actually about 72 hours off the Diet Coke -- I'm a little cranky, but not THAT bad. I'm waiting for the clinic to call me back with my appointment time for my consult, so I'm concentrating on that and not the bubbly! LOL!

This is my first post . . . but I would like to: - cut my Lane Bryant card to PIECES. - enjoy more time with my family doing fun, physical activities (like playing basketball and riding bikes), rather than just eating. - Wear a bikini. - Go to my high school reunion confidently and in a REALLY expensive designer cocktail dress . . . I'm thinking Dolce & Gabbana. :scared2: - Be comfortable on an airplane. - Have soft feet and not cracked heels because my skin is not happy with my weight. - Be more confident and sexy in the bedroom. - Have awesome pictures taken in my wedding gown (I'm friends with some of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world now, and I'd love to have them photograph me). - Have my boudoir pictures taken for an album for DH. - Not worry that someday my kids are going to be embarassed to be seen by their mom. - Wear a tank top and shorts in public confidently.