SoCalCass

Lauren, I think that it all depends on the situation. For me, I was honest with every person that I came in contact to the minute I chose to have the band. I felt that this helped with certain questions after my surgery. I was banded 5 months ago yesterday, I have lost 70 pounds and I am so excited about this new, alternative way to lose weight, every person that tells me I look good, I go nuts talking about the band. Of course your friends will have reservations. What I try to do is give them each part of information that I can. And for those that still think it is the "lazy" way out - I tend not to talk to. They usually are the skinny minis and don't understand the lifelong battle that I have had to overcome.

Okay everyone - so I am down almost 70 pounds and all my girlfriends, my mom, sister, and every other person I know in my life, has asked me when I am going to start dating. It's not that I don't want to, I just don't know how to bring the band up in conversation. I mean, seriously, what do you do when you go to restaurant and the date asks why you have barely eaten anything off you plate, or what about when you have decided to take the relationship to the bedroom and there is a scar on your stomach. Is this something that you want to bring up on the first date? But I feel like it has become such a huge part of my life and I am very excited to talk to just about anyone about it. Thoughts and advice please! I need some lovin' ASAP!

HALLA! I got the same feeling this past weekend! I was so excited to have a normal bra that I went buck wild and bought far too many! LOL! I was also stoked becasue I was able to get a pair of PINK pants!!!!! Are you kidding! My sister, the bean pole, wheres that brand! I was so excited! I nearly started crying when I was trying everything on. Oh, but don't worry, my sister cried for me when I walked in wearing an American Apparel Shirt and my hot new PINK pants! I looked bangin!:tt1::thumbup::cool2::tt2::thumbup:

I myself had the same thoughts - I did a little research and went online. You can google "Clear Liquid Whey Protein" A bunch of sites will pop up and you can chose any - they are viles of liquid protein. Doesn't taste the best, somewhat like watered jell-o, so I cut the portions in two and added some water so the consistancy wasn't so thick.

Oh honey! Hang in there. I know that right now, it must seem like the pain is not goin to go away, but it really does - I swear. I remember that I really couldn't tell if I was full or not so I just stopped eating too, which is good, because you don't want to eat too much and then have to get sick. The GasX strips were my lifesavers through the gas pains and every now and the, still a few months later, I get bad gas and it cures the pain. My advice, you MUST keep walking around. I know it hurts, but it the only thing that will get the gas moving and get you healed faster. Please keep me posted on your progress. We are in this together!

:cursing: Okay so I am so happy to have lost almost 70 punds in five months - my face and my overall health has changed all for the better - but truth be told - my arms and legs still look funky! I would love to start wearing cute summer tops but my arms - oh my! Do any of you have any hidden workout secrets that have helped your arms look good? - Or legs for that matter?

That is so funny that you came up with Girdy! I named my band on the 2nd week of recovery and it was Girdy - I figured girlde was a old-fashioned so I gave it a little spice!

Hey girl! So excited about your surgery! Congrats on making the first step on changing the rest of your life. I myself stayed far away from coffee for about three months after my surgery. Every now and then I get myself a Skinny Vanilla Latte from Starbucks. I believe the calorie count on those bundles of goodness are 110 for a grande. Don't quote me on that though. I only have those for the really bad mornings when I can't get myself going. I wouldn't drink too much as they are wasted calories, but every now and then it would kill you.:confused:

Okay so something has been going on with me since my last fill. I had my surgery Oct. 8, 2008 and have lost 70 pounds! I really am proud of myself and have not had issues up until this point. Since my last fill - three weeks ago - I have really had issues eating. After I eat, I sometimes have to make myself throw up because the pressure is just horrible. Here is my worry - am I just over filled - or do you think slippage has occured? I just left a message for my doctor and have an appointment for a followup next week. I guess I am just letting my mind run a drift. My port flipped during the healing process, which is something that only happens in like 2% of people, but now I am thinking this is just bad luck. I am somewhat getting dicouraged which is not like me at all so I would really love to hear some feedback from all of you and get a concensus of what might be going on.:confused:

I am a little discouraged this morning. I was supposed to go and get my first fill! I have already lost 25 pounds since my surgery October 8, 2008. Then disaster seemed to ruin my morning. The doctor had problems filling the port. He tried for about 15 minutes to find the proper place in the port to fill but had no luck. He is optimistic that it may just be the scar tissue around the port and wants to try one more time next Monday. Has anyone here had that problem? And if you had to replace your port what was the downtime? I really can't take off any more work so I am really upset by this. HELP!

Hey all! I was banded 10/8/08. I have been feeling incrediable, but today I am having some port pain. I am not sure where this has come from. Did any of you find that a few weeks later that the nerves started getting back in gear? Or is this something that I should start getting worries about?

Thanks Cyndy! I am never giving up hope on this one!

Cyndy, Can I ask where you found a local lap band support group. I have researched like crazy for one here in Southern California but have found only those that are a combined weight loss surgery group. I know that the support on here is unbelievable, but I wanted to kind of go to a group. Any thoughts on where to find some?

Hey all that are being banded today, I just wanted to say good luck and I know that we are all looking forward to hearing what has been going on for you! We can all be each others teachers. My thoughts are will all of you today! Show them how us October Bandsters do it! LOL! Cass:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

It's really simple... I have a Protein Shake in the morning for Breakfast, one for lunch, and a sensible dinner. I try to make sure that I incorporate 1 Protein, and then a salad for dinner. It was pretty tough the first two days, but I feeling great now! I really suggest it!

Wooohooo! I got moved up a date! I am so excited. I am now on the 8th! Yesssss! I am nervous and excited all at the same time. Working on my Fatty Liver diet and I am getting used to it. I figured I had to... Seen as how in 12 days I will not be eating anything! LOL! I am so excited for all of us!

NICE TO SEE ALL THE NEW FACES! Welcome newcommers! I am so excited for ALL of us! WE are almost there... I can't believe that after all the months of debating, and waiting, WE ARE ALMOST THERE!

Hello everyone! Just checking in to see if any of your started your pre-ops yet? How are all of you! I can't believe that October is right around the corner. I must admit - I went out this weekend with all of my bestest friends. We went to this CRAZY sushi bar where you Saki Bomb and dance on the chairs - their liability insurance must be through the roof! LOL! Anyways... in the beginning of the night I was introduced to one of my friends co-workers. She was having such a great time. I didn't realize it at the time, but found out later that she had weight loss surgery. She is one year post-op and had already lost 100 pounds. Looking back I noticed that she said she didn't drink beer nor the chamange in the limo earlier. I didn't think anything of it, but once she told me she had the surgry I knew why. She did order a glass of wine and explained that she has turned into a really cheap date. We both laughed and went on to talk about our stories. I just wanted to share with all of you this story. I was really worried that I would miss out on these crazy nights with my friends after the band ans she just proved to me that you can still have fun - just in a different way.

Vicki - you will like him. I was originally going to see him. My good friend that got me turned onto the LapBand had him and she loved him and the hospital staff there. Good luck on your journey!

Thanks everyone for all of your input! I really appreciate it.

Gabi - I have read three but really enjoyed two of them. The first is Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band, b y Dr. Robert Sewel the other is Before and After by Susan MAria Leach. Before and After is geared more towards those with Gastric, but she did touch base on the AGB. Also, it was nice to read something from a patients mouth rather than the doctors.

Hey everyone! First, let me start out by saying I hope that you are all doing well with your post-surgical lives, I myself am having surgery in a little over three weeks! So excited! But having a few issues wrapping my brains around this one... Have any of you found it hard to live with roommates after the surgery? I have read about three books thus far, and have really overwhelmed myself with information, and within this information I am finding that many people suggest taking all the junk food out of the house. Even though we really won't be able to heff it down like we used to - the temptation for a bit is still there. I know with families it maybe a little easier, and all of the books have been providing some great recipe alternatives for the whole family to enjoy... but my two roommates eat junk food like crazy. They are both bean poles so it isn't effecting them (yet) but do any of you have suggestions for me on this subject? Do you think that it would be wise for me to distinguish a shelf in the pantry and the fridge for me so I can focus just on one shelf and not the entire unit?:confused::wink2:

My pleasure! Like I said, there will be more to come... When you go to BB&B make sure to sign their mailing list. This will ensure that you get those great 20% off coupons once a week. Plus the greatest part - THEY NEVER EXPIRE! Although there are expiration dates on them, they will always take the. TRUST ME! LOL! BB&B is like my home away from home. I love it there and I am sure you will enjoy it. Take care Karen.

Karen - I have read and heard from a lot of people that the blender becomes their best friend for the first few eeks of surgery and after. I am not sure if you have a Bed, Bath and Beyond or a Linens and Things near you - but these businesses are always offerig 20% flyers in the mail. Way cheap. I also purchased a mini food processor. It was funny really - I was debating between the large which holds 6 - 8 cups and the small one, 1 - 3 cups. I really was sitting there thinking about - and suddenly it hit me - HELLO!!! YOU CAN ONLY EAT WHAT THE SMALL ONE OFFERS. It is so funny to me that I actually thought about picking the big one!:rolleyes2: