Cindy C

I thought you had to be over 18 to be banded. Your profile says you are 13. Is that accurate?

That's great. WTG!! I had a similar experience with my doctor last spring. After almost 3 years of him asking me what my goal was and me refusing to set one, I finally told him I wanted to lose another 25-30 pounds. (I was in the low 190's at the time.) He said, "You don't need to lose anymore. You look great." I said, "My BMI is like 28. It needs to be under 25. How can you tell me I've lost enough?" He took me by the shoulders and led me to the full length mirror, pointed and said, "LOOK AT YOU! You've done incredibly well. You don't need to lose any more weight." I know that I've had great success but I think that just made me more determined to show him 162 pounds!

Mostly coffee, iced tea, Water and koolade made with Splenda. I was banded 6/10/08.

LOL...don't want to be fat in Hell either!!!!!

I honestly don't miss it and I used to drink at least 6 Diet Pepsi's every day. It was difficult in the beginning but I got over it pretty quickly. My daughter was drinking one the other day and I grabbed it and took a sip and thought it was the most disgusting thing ever. Wondered how I ever drank it before.

No and No!

I think I'm going to put it in my will that it goes with me. I don't want to get fat in heaven.

I don't see a problem with it a long as there are no chunks.

I think that generally, night time reflux is caused from the band being too tight. Could it be that after your hysterectomy you just never found your green zone again. It's been 4 months. Maybe you should try getting your fills again. Whatever was going on 4 months ago may not be happening now. BTW, a six week vacation to France? I am so jealous!

I hear ya, Sister!!!! We had a 106 degree day a few weeks ago and I was in Heaven!

I agree. Deli meat is not a mushy!

You can have it removed if you want but I don't know why anyone would. I plan on going to the grave with mine.

I came home from St. Louis early so I started my liquid diet today. Darn, this is so much harder than the first time. I keep walking into the kitchen and then remember I'm not eating. Maybe its because I don't have the discomfort of surgery as a constant reminder!

I've had mine for 3 years and have had no problems. I've lost 145 pounds. My BBF (best banded friend) has had hers for 8 years and lost 150 pounds without problems. It's going to work as well as you work it. I think, for the most part, the people who it doesn't work for expected a magic bullet and didn't do what they needed to do.

Don't let the gym intimidate you. Everyone is there for the same reason.

At least its the cat's food and not the cat!!!

The more water you drink, the less you retain. It helps keep your bowels regular and also helps the skin keep its elasticity so as you lose weight you wont have as much sagging skin. Not to mention if you don't drink enough you can easily become dehydrated.

I've heard of a lot of surgeons only putting in 1cc at a time. Personally, I think that's nuts for a first fill. Very few people hit any kind of restriction with less than 4cc. I think you should ask him to start you out with at least 3 and then gradually add to it.

That's great. Congrats. I think you better order a size 6 wedding dress!

24 pounds since May is about 3 pounds a week. That's certainly not too fast. I think you are right on track. Another 10-12 by October should be a cake walk. The goal is not to feel full. You want to feel SATISFIED! I hate the feeling of full anymore.

When my step father passed away in 1996, I inherited his 1994 Grand-Am. I drove it for several years and then bought a minivan right before my surgery. I gave the car to my son. When I drove the car I always had the seat all the way back because I have long legs. At least that's what I thought. Yesterday I got in the car to move it in the driveway and couldn't reach the gas peddle! I had to move the seat up 2 notches. It finally occurred to me that it wasn't because of my legs, it was because my butt was so big I was sitting closer to the wheel! LOL, who knew?!!

TOO FUNNY!!!!

That's funny. Most of my life when I looked in the mirror I saw my father looking back at me. Now I see my mother and I love it. She has always been a beautiful woman, Even now at 79 years old with Parkinson's Disease and Dementia she is still one of the most beautiful women I know. I'm honored to see her in the mirror!

You really did your homework. Those are excellent questions. I'm sure your list will help alot of people doing their research. Good job!

I doubt that there's anyone here that hasn't been able to lose some of the weight on their own. Maintaining it the hard part. The band makes that part much easier.