Cindy C

I wish i had started working out sooner but I was too embarrassed to drag my fat tush into the gym!

After being on a 2 year plateau (I lost 21 pounds in 22 months) I quit my horribly high stress job April 5th. That day I weighed 188. This morning I was 177. 11 pounds in 3 months!!! That's what I'm talkin' about!!!

Just like everyone else.....Grew up being told "Eat everything on your plate. There are children starving in the world!" (I remember offering to mail it to India.....They weren't amused! LOL!) I got it under control in my late teens/early 20's but then was in a horrible marriage, then a nasty divorce and finally 2 kids to raise with no help from their father. The weight just came and came. But those aren't excuses. There are no excuses! The bottom line is we all got fat because we consumed more calories than we burned. Thank G_d (and Dr. Bhesania) that it's under control again and it's gonna stay there!!!!!!

You can also try mixing the powder with applesauce, pudding or yogurt.

G-ma, just like for anyone, we only lose weight if we consume less than we burn. A nutritionist who specializes in bariatrics is a great place to start, especially someone who knows lap band. I imagine you spent a bunch of money getting the band so it would be worth getting the help. I also can't eat in the AM so I drink a Protein Shake, it gets me started on my Protein and keeps me from getting too hungry later. Do you know for sure you are getting at least 70 gms of protein, 64oz of Water, and my doc has me eat less than 1200 cals a day. On top of that I get between 1/2 hour and 1 hour of exercise a day. There is no magic to this, it's hard work.

My doctor's rule is NO CARBONATION~PERIOD!!! According to him, it has nothing to do with stretching the pouch. Unless you have something stuck, beverages go right through. The problem is...your stomach fills up with carbonated drinks and the bubbles pop which can cause the band to slip from the pressure. While, small amounts aren't likely to cause a problem, his thought process is this....Most of us in our obese days drank a crap ton of pop and telling us that it's ok in moderation most will start drinking more and more and eventually work our way back up to 3 or 4 2-liters a day.

Sometimes the idiotic things men say astounds me!!!!

If you had truly done A LOT of research on the band as you claim, you wouldn't be writing this right now. All of your excuses aren't going to melt the fat from your body. You don't need encouragement, you need a good swift kick in the ass. You might as well get used to being the fat person in the room because that's what you're going to be unless you decide to put in the necessary effort.

You just had surgery 5 months ago and lost 40 pounds. I'd say you were off to a good start. So you hit a plateau...SO WHAT? We all hit 'em. You just have to stay on the horse and keep riding. Did you think you were going to lose 150 pounds the first week and then maintain it the rest of your life with no effort involved in the process? You need to grow up and be accountable for yourself. Nobody is going to build the house for you.
Sorry if this isn't the response you were hoping for but I too am outspoken and as you said we are allowed to say what we want.

If you had truly done A LOT of research on the band as you claim, you wouldn't be writing this right now. All of your excuses aren't going to melt the fat from your body. You don't need encouragement, you need a good swift kick in the ass. You might as well get used to being the fat person in the room because that's what you're going to be unless you decide to put in the necessary effort.

You just had surgery 5 months ago and lost 40 pounds. I'd say you were off to a good start. So you hit a plateau...SO WHAT? We all hit 'em. You just have to stay on the horse and keep riding. Did you think you were going to lose 150 pounds the first week and then maintain it the rest of your life with no effort involved in the process? You need to grow up and be accountable for yourself. Nobody is going to build the house for you.
Sorry if this isn't the response you were hoping for but I too am outspoken and as you said we are allowed to say what we want.

I don't have a problem with chicken but I can't eat beef, pork or lamb. Everybody is different with what they can eat. You will find that what you can and can't eat can vary from fill to fill. There was a period of time when I couldn't eat potatoes. It didn't matter how it was cooked...baked, fried, boiled even mashed...I just could not eat it. Next time I went for a fill all of a sudden they didn't bother me anymore. I swear my band has a mind of its own!!

People are always quick to criticize what they don't understand. Do your best to explain it to her (or him) but don't feel like you have to defend your decision. You are doing what you feel is best for YOUR health. Opinions usually change as the weight starts falling off. In the meantime, tell her you respect her opinion but you are doing what you feel is necessary for yourself and really don't want to hear any negativity...then change the subject!

My 3 year bandiversary is tomorrow and I have no serious complications (knock on wood), I've had great success and couldn't be happier about my decision. It's alot of work and you have to stay dedicated to it. Don't dwell on the "what ifs". Just follow your doctor's instructions and you'll do fine!

I was in the local gas station/pizza joint today and they had supreme slices in the case. I thought, "Boy, I can remember when I would have eaten the whole darn pizza. Now the sight of it makes me nauseous!" So I guess my answer is NO. I don't miss it!

Lost it?????? Heck no! I FOUND it!!!!

You can have several symptoms including: Muscle weakness, edema, more easily sunburn, difficulty sleeping, headache, nausea and my personal favorite.....hair loss!!! Get your protein!!

I know exactly how you feel. I started at a 28 and am now a 12. What a feeling!!!!!

Here's my trick for chocolate cravings. I keep a bag of Hershey kisses in the freezer. The rule is I can have only one and I have to suck it...no chewing allowed. It takes a long time to suck one til its gone when its frozen and its only 25 calories. It cures my craving every time.