Cindy C

Count your blessings. Most people get constipated during the liquid diet. Take some Imodium.

Wish I made $900 for 45 minutes of work!

I don't usually bother with breakfast. Just drink coffee and save the protein shake for lunch.

Welcome, Stephanie. Congrats on the start of your journey. (I have to agree with you...teenagers suck!)

I've been a serious chocoholic my entire life. When I started my journey I adopted a "chocolate rule". I keep Hershey Kisses or something similar in the freezer. If the cravings reach uncontrollable levels the rule is: I can have one (only one) and I'm not allowed to chew it. By sucking it from frozen until its gone it stays on the palate a long time...long enough to cure the craving and it only has 25 calories (20 if its dark chocolate!)

The other option is to call your doctor and ask him to release you with no restrictions. Tell him the situation and promise to restrict yourself and be careful. With no restrictions, your company will have to let you return to your full time responsibilities.

Just because he's not on a list for Illinois, doesn't mean he's not on list in the state he came from. If you can't find him that way try googling him.

Your employer is not required to accommodate your restrictions. They don't have to let you return at all until the restrictions are lifted. However, you are entitled to up to twelve weeks of FMLA. They don't have to pay you for that time but they are required to let you use any available sick or vacation time.

Congrats on the new baby girl. Maybe starting over is exactly what you should do. Pretend you were just banded and just start the whole process from scratch. It will probably help to get your mind back in the game.

Congrats on your success. You're doing great. The closer you get to your goal, the harder it is to lose and the longer it takes. I had my surgery 3 years ago. I lost 115 the first year, 12 the second and 17 the third. But when you don't seem to be losing pounds, you are still losing inches. You are probably exercising and gaining muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat so the scale will slow down. Just keep up with what you're doing and the scale will eventually catch up.

Most everybody has to be on liquids for a while after a fill. I usually eat something before so I don't get too hungry after, but if my stomach growls, I have learned to ignore it. It stops eventually!

For most of us, popcorn is a slider food!

You will find after a couple days of liquids that you will have a horrible taste in your mouth. Drink Minute Maid Light Lemonade. It knocks that right out.

Happy Bandiversary! Congrats and here's to your continued success!

Salvation Army!

Its a very hard habit to break until the first time you get stuck. Then it becomes much easier!

if your insurance has already approved you, your good to go. Go ahead and lose. If it makes you feel better throw on some ankle weights when you go for your weigh in.

Totally normal. Just keep following the program. Your body will adjust.

Sheer determination. I didn't make my journey my number one priority...I made it my ONLY priority. When I had my surgery, my kids were 17 and 19. The youngest had just graduated from high school and the oldest was just finishing college. When my son said he wanted to go to a college 600 miles away, I was all for it. It meant I wouldn't have to cook or grocery shop for anything I wasn't going to eat. It was great...no temptations in the house and no one but me to focus on. I did absolutely everything that my surgeon and his staff told me to do. I never cheated on my liquid diets, watched every bite that went into my mouth, exercised like crazy. I faithfully went for my after care appointments every 4 weeks whether I needed a fill or not. The support I got from him was great and really helped me stay focused. I kept my band as tight as possible without pbing (many) issues. I didn't set a long term goal. My only goals were to lose 100 pounds and then to get to Onderland. I hit the first one in 10 months and the second in 15.

Do you have a chiropractor? I found that mid back adjustments worked wonders. I see you live in Keshena. My aunt and uncle live in Shawano. It's beautiful up there!

I never heard of Slimband but you might want to try the lap band center at Port Huron Hospital. Dr. Bhesania has been doing lapband since about 2003 and was actually born and raised in Toronto. It can't hurt to ask.

Fresh fruits and veggies are in season now so they are very inexpensive. Go to a farmers' market or a road side stand. You can get a whole turkey breast of $6.00. Buy one and cook it in the crock pot. It stays juicy that way. Freeze it in small servings and take them out as you need them. It's alot cheaper than easy mac and actually has some nutritional value. You need to expand your horizons and try things you may only think you don't like. I always thought that I didn't like cream soups until I was in the mushie stage. My aunt passed away and my cousin took everybody out to her favorite Italian restaurant after the funeral. The only thing on the menu I could eat was cream of chicken soup so I ordered it and discovered it was awesome! You have to leave that "picky eater" mindset behind you or you aren't going to be successful in your journey. You need to start eating to live instead of the other way around. Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.

Good luck, David.

When I switched from my clear liquid diet to mushies I gained 5 pounds. When I went from mushies to solids, I gained 5 again. Don't worry. Your body needs to adjust to the changes. It's normal.

Sophia, I think it's great that you are putting your daughter first. I hope your insurances will pay for both of you. You are still very young with a long life ahead of you too.