cashley

Now those are inspirational. Not just comparing myself to being about the same size as someone else but really seeing results. I'd have to say that sometimes coming here depresses me a bit because the talk is on the difficulties. (which I understand because that's what support is for) Anyway to be honest I was hoping for a few less difficulties. So to see some real results like the two above is inspirational. (I said that already huh?)

With the new title us "newbies" really look stupid and lazy for complaining about a title that isn't there anymore.... - I guess it's all and good fun! I can admitt I've been stupid and lazy more then once in my life.

Thanks for posting that... I didn't know that about being hungrey before the fill. I knew it didn't have a fill but I have had friends that had the surgery and weren't hungrey at all (I guess from swelling) for the first 6 weeks until the fill. So I was very suprised I was hungrey. As a newbie I felt this thread directed right at newbies as stupid and lazy. Sure I could have searched to see if there were any similar topics before I posted but I didn't. Just because a post is made over and over again doesn't undermine the value of the question to the new member.

I wish I was sick of food. I still think about it with loving admiration. I try not too but as the day goes I think about what I can have, I plan for it, I look forward to it etc. I'm not filled yet so I'm sure that's the reason. One thing I noticed being here on this board is a lot of people seem to still stuggle with making the right choices. Especially if something goes though the band easy like cookie dough or chocolate then it's abused. I'm scared to death I'm going to be one of those people who just spend 17,500 on a surgery and I still make the wrong choices. I knew losing wouldn't be easy (never is) but I was under the impression that making the right choices would be easier since I woudln't be as hungrey. Yours is the first post that gets me excited. I want to be sick of food!

I wish I liked them. I wish I could doctor them up. Basically I hate them. I know I need them... I try real hard to force them down but that only works so long. I think I'm going to buy some vegetables tablets or one of those nasty veggie green drinks. Life would be better if junk food was healthy! (I'm venting now - I know it's a stupid subject I just wanted to vent some)

I love that video... Maybe Day will come and visit this board. Wasn't she beautiful and her hubby so supportive.

You know what would be cool... is to see the size's before & after surgery

I ask this question all the time - and it's not because I want to feel better / or worse then the person I'm pointing out. It's that the mirror lies. Some mornings the mirror says - Uck! you look slochy fat and pale. Some morings it says.... not so bad!!! If I see someone I'm about the same as (statistics wise) I can look at their picture and say... Not so bad! Here's mine... Height - 5'3 Weight - 211 Bottom Heavy - big thighs / Belly Medium Size / Big Arms Size - 18 pants Shirt - XL (Sometimes 2X since I like really baggy & I hate tight on arms) Shoes - 7 hair - Long (heehee that's gotta add a pound or two) Bra - 38D

My doctor prescribed Cellebrix for use at home. He said they didn't like narcotics with the band. (i never got the answer of why) but the Cellebrix worked great. I think it's for muscle aches and it really helped with the gas pains and the sore belly muscles. (I thought they had me doing a 1000 sit ups whilst I was out)

I researched for about 9 months before my surgery. I knew about the surgery, the two surgeons I concidered, about the diet before and afterwards, not drinking, no colas, and lots of things. But when it gets down too it... you have this little voice in the back of your head saying "Maybe it's not too bad to drink or Maybe you can eat chocolate between meals" Hell that little voice tries so hard to sabatoge me so I have to bring it here.... look for confirmation on the right anwers - on what's actually worked and not worked for you all. Sometimes it's not like we don't know the answer; we just ask anyway for confirmation or plan ole' discussion.

I got in to your pictures... I tried again and it worked. The pics are great. You look really great. I love the ones with the brown top and the jeans.

I have my first fill date too.. It's March 21st also.... I would tell my doctor about traveling right after so maybe he/she can take that into account since you won't have a chance to try real food very many days before leaving.

I loved your story. It's so great. Really that's the type of story I was looking for. Also, I think I might be comfortable in my own skin a bit higher then the goal I sat but I wanted to go for the "gusto"... I'll see how I feel when I get close to it. I couldn't get to your pictures, I'm not sure if Photo Reflect is down but it said that website couldn't be found.

No one had any ideas? Anyone here close to goal even? Have you thought about how you will handle it?

I hear you.... I was just calculating if I lost an average of 1.5 pounds per week what would I weigh when bathing suit season comes. I'm sorry you have to wait til July; isn't that kind of far off? How come your doctor scheduled so far in the future.

So.... I'm curious for all of you all who have either reached goal or are close. What I'm most curious about is the fill issue. With most diets... lets say Weight Watchers for example when you reach goal they have you add points (or food) until you stop losing and just maintain. With the lap-band do you go for an unfill? Do you just start leveling off? Or do you still struggle right at the end with 10 - 15 pounds to go and it never comes off. One reason I'm asking is I reached goal at weight watchers a few times and it was so hard right at the end. It's like the weight wouldn't budge any longer. Even when I was supposed to add points back to stop losing I couldn't because I'd gain. (I'd stopped losing any how) My thought for the band would be if I'm stuck then I'd just get a fill but I'm not sure I'm thinking correctly? Is that what you all do? Any stories would be appreciated.

Wow! Those are good responses. I never thought about drinking and spitting like at a Wine Tasting but that's actually a really good idea. (Not the best manners) but it would I assume work. Still cool a burning mouth if that's the case. I've heard to take some honey to cool a hot mouth from spicy food but that would probably defeat the purpose with all the calories in honey. I've been trying to stay hydrated but it's actually harder then ever. I've always been a big drinker but now I've been forgeting because I'm trying to wait an hour or more after and then I forget - get busy and it's time for the next meal. I've kind of been dehydrated. I guess it's just learning new habits.

This post cracked me up... if I had a good man whore I'd probably give up on the chocolate.

I understand... I'm not going to drink! I was looking for tips for making this transition.... does anyone have any tips? My friend does ice cubes with her meal... Do you all think that is bad? I complete understand the reason and the post above both seem like you all think I don't understand.

I'm going to give up being "mean"... That might not sound like a lot but it's odd to me how many times a day I can be mean or bitchy or critical to someone else.

I'm afraid "Value Meals" will be a part of my life for at least a few more years. I work on the run and on the road. (Software Consultant) I drive a lot and don't cook... I've had lectures before on quitting the fast food and packing a cooler. I'm just not that type of planner. Plus I never know if I'm going to be on the road a day or two or a week. When I dieted in the past I'd like the side salad instead of fries with a grilled chicken sandwich. I was thinking of getting milk instead of the soda and saving it but it's still winter... summer would be nasty! How about when you eat spicy?

Didn't it say it cost $279? What was it on e-bay?

The dietian at our pre-op meeting said to let it go flat first.... uck!

Yeah.... I happened (as a newbie also) to stumble on one of those pages and it was quite scary because this place had a whole lot of people who had passed on. And it was like a blog so you could read all their post, their hopes and dreams, read their excitment about being approved for surgery etc. And the last entry would be something from their spouse or the moderator that said they passed. I feel better knowing that all of the ones on the board I read were full by-pass so I know that's much more complicated. But it was still so sad and so scary. Some passed a year or so after surgery.

That's a great mental image! I pictured it perfet in my head.