jlg

Thank you very much. I am still baffled that he would cheat on me, and do me the way that he did. He lost he weight and literally was messing around with any woman he could find. Now he is regretting what he did to me and our family. But I have definitely come to peace with it. Believe it or not, the divorce was the best thing that ever happened to me. I've definitely come into my own and no longer hide anymore. Since losing this weight my circle of friends has increased and my kids are so much happier. Its crazy to me that I am able to gain support and care from total strangers v. those that are supposed to care for us the most. In either way...I am happy to be in a "better place" with people who understand what it means to struggle.

Actually it did. It's not painful at all. It's just like "starting back over again". But in the mean time you may want to do liquids like in the very beginning to get your stomach to shrink. Keep in mind that if you do get the "unfill" that you will be able to eat whatever you want, so that is where the will power kicks in. It's nothing to be scared about, you just need to be mindful though.

Hey, I used to get that as well, but realized that I over eaten and it was stretching my pouch. You may need to get an "un fill" like I did and wait a few weeks. This will allow the enlarged stomach to shrink back through the bank and go back to the smaller pouch. I am so glad that I went and had the ECG done, because my pouch was really stretched and I had a lot of gurgling sounds and a hard time eating. Don't ignore it. Make sure you speak with your doctor or the "fill" nurse and let them know. Wish you luck!

Hey, it's been a while, almost a year actually and I have had several setbacks. Despite starting this journey to weight loss with my husband, I am now divorced. If you remember we had the surgery done together and he was at a high weight of 312, well now he is down to 212 now and we are divorced. He lost the weight and lost his damn mind and cheated. Needless to say, it really took a toll on me and I literally ate myself back up to 213 lbs :w00t:. After all of the crying and yelling and then finally the divorce in June 2010, I am starting to get back to me. While my recent pics show that I am doing great, that scale isn't giving me the number that I need. I actually got down to 176, but through this painful experience I literally had to have an ECG done where the doctor had to take everything out of my band back in August of this year. I had expanded my pouch and it was swollen like crazy. I had my first fill since then just last week and I am headed in the right direction. I am now weighing 206. My biggest turning point was when I had some extra cash and wanted to go shopping and realized that I had to SQUEEZE into my size 16's and actually had to go shopping for some size 18's:cursing:. I actually broke down in Lane Bryant. I just knew that I was finished with them. Needless to say, I am refocused and determined to get to 170 :smile2:. WHile I know it will take me until around January to do that, it will be fine with me. Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers. I have also decided to have a photo shoot of myself every 4 months, so I can see the progress and continue to celebrate myself in pictures. :smile2:

Ladies, I know exactly what you are dealing with. I am actually a year out and I have noticed that my hair has been thinning. I have gone ahead and started taking Biotin and gone back to drinking my Protein shakes. I have realized that while I am dropping the weight (70)lbs with no real effort except occasional workouts and eating less that, that my hair is paying the cost. I actually starting using some Indian hair powders which is stregthening my hair, along with a multi Vitamin and the biotin each morning. Keep yourself in shape (whole body and mind) and you will be fine.

OMG!!! You have had an incredible amount of weight loss in a pretty short period of time. Congrats! You're my inspiration!

We are all in the same boat here. I had my last cycle in July of last year right after I had my surgery which was June 2008. My doctor had to prescribe me progestin to regulate it, but for some reason that still didnt' work. She refused to prescribe me any kind of birth control pills because heart disease is rampant in my family. I have gone from 267 to 204 and just recently has my cycle return. Needless to say it hit me by surprised, I had gotten used to not having cramps and back pain, but it's nice to feel like a woman now. Good luck.

Hey, My sister lives in the bay area and is interested in having the surgery as well. She currently has Kaiser and they are taking her through a long drawn out process in order for her to get the lapband, but she wants to cut through all of this and pay cash now. What doctor are you using?

It's December 30, 2008 and I am on a mission; a mission to change my life, improve my health and to be happy for 2009. It's time for me to find the inner skinney girl who has been dying to come out for so long. I've gone from a high of 267 to 204 which is where I am now. I am so proud of myself. I no longer have a double chin and I have gone from a size 22/24 to a loose 18 and almost a nice fitting 16. Can it get any better. Yes, it can, because I will eventually get to at least a size 12. My ultimate goal is to get to goal weight of 150lbs. Wish me luck. Jen

It's December 30, 2008 and I am on a mission; a mission to change my life, improve my health and to be happy for 2009. It's time for me to find the inner skinney girl who has been dying to come out for so long. I've gone from a high of 267 to 204 which is where I am now. I am so proud of myself. I no longer have a double chin and I have gone from a size 22/24 to a loose 18 and almost a nice fitting 16. Can it get any better. Yes, it can, because I will eventually get to at least a size 12. My ultimate goal is to get to goal weight of 150lbs. Wish me luck. Jen

I can't lie, I am so jealout of you right now, but you know something, I know that I will get there. I was a size 22/24, and I am now down to a loose 18. I have gone from a high of 267 to 204 right now, and I know that by my wedding anniversary, I will at least be 160, that is only another 40lbs, but my ultimate goal will probably be 150. My only question is, what about the skin? Do you have a lot of loose skin or has all or at least most of it gone back to size? :huh2:Just wondering what I have to look forward to. Thanks,

I had been looking for a book as well for me to read. I was banded back in June 208, and have lost quite a bit of weight, but I am looking for some tips to help me continue on in my journey. Jen

Ladies, I am recommitting myself to myself today. I have been slacking lately and I know that I am capable of doing more. After I had my surgery in June I was working out everyday. I felt great and was more confident about myself. I have gone from a size 24 to a size 18 and I am estatic, but I have gotten comfortable and haven't been doing that I need to do at this time. So i start todayl. Right after this post, I will do the elliptical machine for one hour and then walk on the treadmill. I have to wash my hair today, so I will enjoy this shower afterwards. I promise that I will work out every morning before work and do something in the evening after I pick up the kids. I want to hit 199 by Christmas. I am 213 now and I should be able to hit that definitely as long as I keep up the work for the next couple of weeks. Actually my real goal is 190 by Christamas which would be 23lb loss. So here I go. Email you when I get off the machine. Jen

Skee Wee, My Soror, Skee Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Trust me we are all in this together. When I read your post, I felt like I was talking about myself. It's been up and down over the past few years and I just can't keep it off. It's hard to have to admit that this item that you place on your "To Do List" just can't get done. I've always been able to set a goal and achieve it and move forward. Keep your head up and move forward. Trust me, it's not that you failed in any fashion, but our lives as women are so busy that we fail to care for and love the one person that we should....ourselves!!! I know that you are weary of the surgery, but I know that it will be a great move for you. I'm not sure where you are located, but if you need a friend or better yet a sister, then Soror I am here. My husband and I both had the surgery done in June and he has already lost 50+ lbs. I'm at 30+ right about now, but I'm thrilled at the weight loss. I have gone from a 22-24 to a size 18 in this short time. I can't wait until December for Christmas, as I have promised myself a brand new wardrobe. It's time to put yourself first, and that first step might include saying "I can't do it alone" and that's ok. That's why this forum is here. Soror Jen

Skeeeeeeeeeeee Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee Sorors!!! Glad to know that we represent everywhere. Soror Jennifer Dean-Glanders Pebbles #7 Golden Girls 1995 Beta Xi Chapter (Central State University)

I am having the same issue. I just hit 30lbs lost and I can't seem to move that needle anymore. It seems like the fat girl in me has come back. I find myself snacking on all kinds of crap! But when I try to eat healthy with chicken, salad, or tuna it gets stuck. I chew and chew and chew and it's like "damn, I need some water" to help it go down. It just seems so dry. I have even had to have some Fluid removed. I have 6.2 in a 10cc band. I know that I need to work out more often, to help facilitate the weight loss, but I need some help. Advice Please!!!:thumbup:

Ladies, I am with you on this one. My husband works overnight and I am at the house with the kids. I was doing great in the beginning either going upstairs to work out or working from home while they ate dinner, but the fat girl in my has reared her ugly head:cursing:! I find myself eating the Snacks for their lunches. I've stopped working out too. It's like I can't stop myself. I have finally gotten back in the right mindset, but the idle time at home is driving my crazy. Eat a handful of raisins, Jello, pudding, yogurt, or those 100 calorie snacks. Some of them have high carbs, but it will curb that itch to have something crunchy. Jen

Girl, Go shopping now. I am having the same issue. I haven't really felt like I have lost a lot of weight. I went from an original high weight of 267, then pre-op was 249 and 238 the day of surgery and I am 219 as of today. WhooHoo:thumbup:. But with that, I want from a tight 22/24 to a size 18 now. Don't get me wrong, I love the weight loss. I really don't see it until I try to put on clothes though. The problem is, I lost my butt. My husband had the lapband too and his pants fall off him, (he never had a but though):bored:. But I am looking like I am wearing a saggy diaper that leaks :smile2:. Hubby thinks it's funny when he said it, but I was like "damn, where did my ass go". So it gave me a reason to go shopping. Let that be your reward. Go shopping, and make yourself feel better:wink_smile:! Plus, that's the worse thing that you can do to yourself, is continue to dress yourself in large clothes. My doctor even suggested either giving them away or donating the clothes. That way, you will have nothing to wear if you start to gain weight. Think about it, that's how we as big women hid ourselves, we started to buy larger and larger clothes and we eventually began to "fit" into them. Go shopping and have a ball:thumbup: You Rock!!! Jen

What convention? I didn't know that there was a convention, can you provide more info on this. Thanks,

My stomach has been doing the gurgling sound and I have been bringing food back up as well if I don't chew properly and it's too big to go down. So I am going to get some Fluid removed at my next fill appointment on the 3rd of September. jlg

Oh hell yes, how did I forget him.

Ok, Terrance Howard, Morris Chestnut, L.L.Cool J (them damn lips)! Can I say it any better than that. Jlg:thumbup: