blklab70

RM, that is so totally cool! You had a wonderful doctor who cared about you not just you being a paying patient. Wonderful words for all of us to live by. Thanks!

I believe we have all been there. You are still very young and I know exactly how you feel cause I did too. Being young you can do it alone, but can you stay with it? I kept thinking I am losing so well before my surgery that I did not need it. Well, how many times have I said that to myself and then I would lose a pound or two and get a little lax with my eating and pretty soon everything I had lost was back and then some. For me, I wish I would have done this months or years before my 10 Feb 2009 surgery. If you are uncertain, then maybe you should not do it. But for those of us who can admit we needed extra help, this was the answer to so many prayers. I am only down 55 pounds at this point, but I find it much easier to move and to play with my grandkids. For me,it was the best thing I have ever done for my health. Good luck, keep researching till you are comfortable and keep us all posted.

I say who cares if they want to talk about you. It won't stop your weight loss and it sure won't stop your eternal progression! Be proud of who you are today and where you are going. You don't have to wear a badge that says you have a lap band, but if they ask, then I say tell them. I have only lost 51 pounds, but it is enough that people are noticing and one of my clients said he wished his girlfriend would loose too, so she later called me to ask me how I did it. I always say that if people have nothing better to talk about than me and my weight, well, we should feel sorry for them! LOL Good luck to all of you, let me know how you are doing on your weight loss.

I remember watching a show, Oprah or something, one time when they were trying to show that you really are racist even if you say you are not. The test went like this: your car breaks down and you are in a town where you do not know anyone. Outside of their houses are two people, one your race the other a different race. Which one do you go to for help? They were trying to say that if you did not go to the one not of your race then you were racist. My thoughts were, what does the house look like, how if the person dressed and which makes me feel more comfortable. I think that most of us would think the same way. You are all so smart and I wish you could go on a talk show to educate others. I am proud to be associted with all of you!

I have also noticed a change in how I am treated when my hair color just turned blond (ok, I helped itturn). People treated me different then when I was a brunette. Aren't we all funny!

You said that so beautifully, he was good enough to die for our country. There are so many good men and women of all color fighting for our right to be racists if that is what we choose to be. Sad if you ask me. As for my house, we judge people for who they are not what color they are. I have met people of all colors who are good upstanding citizens and in the legal business, I have defended people of all colors who are not so upstanding. Hey people, it all starts with us. So far I have met some really good people here.

I have had two things happen in my life that stand out and I will never forget. One was in the military. My husband was an officer and I had made a friend of an enlisted man's wife. She was black and I am white. We had not seen eachother for a few weeks since we had moved onto Post, and we met at the commissary where we greeted eachother with a huge hug. Boy did my husband, who was in uniform, get a look from an upper class officer and his wife. To me it was who cares, this is my friend, but the military did not look at it that way. Back then it was not just that she was black, but she was the wife of an enlisted man! OMG! I would do the same if I saw her today! Then, a couple of summers ago my husband and I were walking on the wharf in San Francisco and a group of black women were walking behind us and making comments about me and threatening me. I had done nothing to them but be white! So folks, it goes both ways. We need to stop looking at each other as any color and just look at each other as members of the same human race. I grew up in a home that was racist and I will not stand for that in my home. Thanks for the thread, may we all learn something.

I know what you mean, there are people like that here too. Ours is a small ward, and we have two wards and a branch here in Gilroy CA. Seems that some people need something to talk about! LOL I am just not one of those people who care if they talk about me. I have better things to do than worry about them. I understand what you are saying about being private. Sometimes it is not easy to have your life be your own. Best of luck to you. I am glad you found us here. BTW, I can't imagine a small ward in UT! It seems to me like there is a ward for every block. I think you are lucky to have so many around you, even if they want to talk about you. Would love to visit the area again myself, has been a long long time since we have been there.

RUkidding, RUkidding? I am very proud of being LDS and of having the band. I told my friends at church and now those who did not know are finding out cause they are saying how much I have lost. I have only lost 50 pounds so far but they are noticing. I guess I don't understand why you are worried about the "connection". Anyway, welcome to the thread!!!

Barb, hope my computer does not get a bug from those sick people in your house! I am so sorry you got hurt. I know about those stars, I have been there for sure. I gained a little today. Guess I need to stop getting on the scales everyday, although it does make me work a bit harder on the treadmill.

Indio, I kind of knew you would say that! LOL Been through Indio before. Had the most memorable experence with a CHP there on Hwy 10 between you and Palm Springs. We are driving along when he comes up to my daughters car behind us and tells her on the loud speaker that the speed limit is 75, not 78, not 77, it is 75! Then he comes up to us, says the same thing, goes on to the next car etc. It was so darn funny but it was well taken and more effective than him stopping one of us and everyone else flys by seeing him busy. Anyway we always stop in Indio to get dates. You are so lucky to have such wonderful dates there. Right now we are in cherry season and I hope I can eat a few before the season ends. Hot, you got that right!

Long, that sounds so fun. What wonderful memories you have made. If you ever get the chance the Greek Isles are just beautiful and the water is so clear and blue. We totally enjoyed that trip. Now I am looking forward to Amish country trip in the fall. That is one I have always wanted to do and go shopping. I am not that excited about flying and have a hard time sleeping too. Julie, I too have a bread problem but just decided I would do without. I have had a bite and really chew it, but I know exactly what you mean, it tastes so darn good. As for the grandkids, well they are my realy weakness. My grandsons told there mom that if mom won't buy it, grandma will! LOL Well that is no exactly true, but they know I have a hard time telling them no. When I am down more I plan on riding the horses on the beach. Something I have not done for many years. A fat girl on a horse just does not look very nice! Our weather here has not been helping with the outside exercise either. It was a hot, hot, hot weekend getting to 93. Today we are back to normal and so much cooler from the ocean breezes. Nicer sleeping weather too.

Well Barb, if you are ever here on visit we will have to meet for lunch. I know some great places as you probably do too. Monterey, Carmel, Santa Cruz, what more could anyone ask for? And of course, let's not forget The City, we love San Francisco. I am very lucky and lucky to have met such wonderful people here too. Anyone coming this way, let me know! Garlic Fesival is end of July, yum garlic ice cream! Really, I have never tried it but my daughter loves it. I have never been to any place in NY except NY City.

I am more comfortable with eating now, not so scared as I was. Hubby and I were in Carmel yesterday and had lunch at From Scratch, I had a yogurt parfet that was to die for. Was able to eat about 1/3 of it and still able to let the rest go back. This in itself is an accomplishment. So today I realized that in the past food was eaten to the max to make me feel full and comfortable. Now I eat and enjoy the flavors by eating slowly and chewing so well that I have time to think about what I am eating. Had fish and hush puppies in Santa Cruz today, ok, half a fish and a hush puppy! It was wonderful but you can not go into any place to eat and ask for a half piece of fish, so I brought the rest home for dinner. Have learned so much from all of you. I am enjoying my learning and who says you can't teach an old dog!

Phenry you are so right in your thinking. I was banded on 10 Feb 2009 and although I had times before my surgery that I wondered if this was the right move, I know it was and would not have done anything different except I wish I had done this before. It is a hard decision but we all have traveled this same road. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. It is not easy but it is worth it!

Ok my experenced friends! At a 1/2 cup a meal three times a day, I am losing about 1/2 a pound a day right now. This is only since my fill (or maybe over fill). We had our date night lastnight and went to dinner. I had an egg over easy and a piece of bacon. I just could not eat anything else. I feel fine, no hunger and my energy is up there. What do you think oh much wiser than I friends? Am I losing too fast now? I have lost a total of 46 pounds since I decided to start this short trip on 22 Dec 2008. My surgery was 10 Feb 2009. Thanks!

Linda, thanks so much for that. It is so nice to know someone else is going through that. I will try to remember to slow down. Right now I am staying full on very little food cause I am so darn afraid to eat! That is an awesome diet being afraid of food! LOL

OMG Parrothead, that is awful. I can't imagine that. My gall bladder was terrible infected yet they could still do the little bitty insecsions. Then the infection was trying to come out where he cut, so in his office on the table he just decides to cut me open in a couple more places to let it drain! My band was soooo easy.

I went through the same thing, lose 3, gain 2, lose 2, gain 3, just back and forth. Some very smart people here said just let it heal and after the 2nd fill I would start losing. Well, the 1st fill was no restriction but I did manage to lose about 10 pounds in 6 weeks. Then my second fill was Monday, 11 May and now, oh boy, do I have restriction! I am stayin full on very little food and I am losing everyday. So just hang in there, it will happen. I know it is hard to get to this point and not see any movement of the scale, but remember if you are exercising you are building muscle too, and muscle weighs more that fat. I noticed a change in my clothes even when the scale was telling me dirty filthy lies. There are some really great people here who can answer all your questions, so be sure you share your feelings with them. Good Luck!

I can no longer eat broccoli. It gets in my throat and make me gag! I chew it up really good but I still can not swallow it. I had scrambled eggs this morning and they don't like me either. It actually hurt when they hit the band part. I am afraid to eat anything now. LOL Guess I will lose by starving to death!

My gall bladder was infected so for me that was the worst. Three months of recovery, first time in hospital was a week but when they finely took it out it was overnight. Lap band was over night, a couple of days of uncomfortable and I was good as new. Yup, can't compair the two for me!

Thanks all! I am able to eat later in the day, if eating 1/2 cup is eating!!! LOL I am not hungry, so I can not complain about that. I think I will watch how it goes for another few days then if it still hurts to eat I will call the doctor. I am lossing again, so I am very happy about that. Losing about 1/2 pound a day, but wasn't losing well before at all.

So, here I am again. I have survived since my fill on Monday and the killer pill I took Monday night. Now I just am afraid to eat and when I do, it hurts. Not for long, but it is like in the middle of my chest. I stayed on soups and mushies like you said. Lastnight I had a piece of bacon with my mushies and that was fine. This morning I was trying scrambled egg and a really thin piece of ham, eating very small bite, chew, chew, chewing, and ouch, there was that pain. I remember someone saying they are tighter in the morning. Is that normal? Usually for morning I just have a protein shake but I was out of milk this morning and did not want to drive to town then back home and then to work again. So I bought a breakfast burrito knowing I would not eat the burrito and most all of the insides. So I have had two bites of egg and some ham and WHY DOES IT HURT? Can anyone relate to this? Thanks.

Thanks Apples, sometimes it is just hearing it from someone who has been there. I do feel kind of sore today. Went and bought some Chamomile and some Peppermint teas hoping to easy the hurt a bit. This morning I broke the pills in half but may smash them next time since I am so afraid of getting that stuck feeling again. So, does it get easier a few days after a fill? I mean this "stuffy" feeling, or do you just get use to it? Thanks for your help!

I need some of my experenced friends to help! Yesterday I had my second fill and something just does not feel right. I had soup for dinner, took a pill that was huge cause I forgot I can not take it whole anymore. I don't know if that plugged me up or what, but about 11 lastnight I got up and checked my sugar. Since my sugar was very low and I was feeling hungry, I tried two small bites of chicken. I now know what slimming is! But then I lost everything. Oh man my chest hurt too. Kind of like I needed to swallow but couldn't. Anyway, can you tell me what you think? Was it the pill? Was the band too tight? I don't want to go to the doctor since it is a two hour drive both ways. This morning I am drinking a protein shake very slow, so far so good. Thanks for any advise.