*New&Improved*

I will be one year on August 28, at that time I should be about 90# lost with 50 more to go. I am hoping to reach my goal by late winter or early spring. I am still losing about 6# a month.

WOW- 6 lbs a month?? That is outstanding! Keep up the GREAT work!!

Good, good!!!

twirl, I think the 32 lbs is pretty good for 7 months- WAY TO GO! Keep up the hard work!

I do not urinate or "go potty" much anymore either. I started taking a nutritional supplement called juice Plus about 5 months ago and it has totally changed my life! I recommend this to ANY Lapband patient b/c it's so hard for us to consume the necessary nutrition.. www.bparkerjuiceplus.com

It makes me sad to hear about that. I am sorry you have not been as successful as you would like. Have you gone in for another fill or had the band checked for leakage? Are you able to consume the same amount of food? During my first year, I was stuck at a plateau for a couple of months (i wouldnt gain, but also wouldnt loose). When your body is used to the same diet and exercise it sometimes acts as if it is "content". Therefore, you need to change something... either about your workouts or eating habits. During the first year, I only ate about 850-900 calories per day. After that first year and first fill, I was able to bump my intake up to about 1,000. I still do not consume over 1,000 a day. Of course, this is differenet for all people (size, sex, etc...). Maybe take a couple of foods that you know may not be the best for you, and eliminate them from your diet. Or, instead of working out 30 mins a day, 3 days a week, bump it up to 45 mins a day, 4 days a week. You have to make a change in order for your body to realize "oh ya, i am not happy nor healthy this way"... My #1 peice of advice is to see your Dr. if you have not already. They should give you a barium drink that will show what your band looks like. If it is leaking, you definitely need a fill!!! Hope this helps!

Congratulations!!!! I love seeing people around my age getting banded! What a life changing experience! Thanks for sharing your surgery process... I wish I would have done the same when I had mine done. Keep us posted and upload some pictures with your progress. GOOD LUCK!! Main thing- NUTRITION! As you loose weight, your body starts loosing nutrition b/c you arent able to consume as much. I am currently taking juice Plus gummies (100% fruits and veggies) and I am so much more healthier than I EVER was before or even after loosing my weight. Here is my distributors internet site if you are interested- www.bparkerjuiceplus.com.

I'm w/ Heatherz- as you get smaller, it makes it better- for you and him! :biggrin: I have never had a problem w/ gag reflux before or after surgery, unless they like to help out with the "head-push".... Have fun with it! Enjoy being SEXY!! :tongue2:

I was introduced to juice Plus about 5 months ago, and wow, what a difference! juice Plus is NOT a Vitamin, instead, it is 17 necessary fruits and veggies that help your body rebuild blood and boosts all-over health. I started feeling the difference about one month after starting it, and I cannot express to you how healthy I feel. I was banded over two years ago, and I immediately realized that I was not able to get all of the "good" foods that I needed. Some of the benefits of Juice Plus, for me: energy, necessary fruits and veggies (that I am horrible about eating regularly), I go to the restroom normally now, my hair doesn't fall out like it used to, I feel STRONG!, and all over very healthy. Once I lost all of my needed weight, I started getting dizzy all the time- it even led to me fainting in the shopping mall! I have not felt even remotely close to this since Juice Plus!

I currently take the gummies (YUUMMM!!) and the Protein Complete shakes (YUMMMER!!) :biggrin:

My distributor's name is Brandon Parker- you can check out his website at www.bparkerjuiceplus.com.

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I was introduced to juice Plus about 5 months ago, and wow, what a difference! juice Plus is NOT a Vitamin, instead, it is 17 necessary fruits and veggies that help your body rebuild blood and boosts all-over health. I started feeling the difference about one month after starting it, and I cannot express to you how healthy I feel. I was banded over two years ago, and I immediately realized that I was not able to get all of the "good" foods that I needed. Some of the benefits of Juice Plus, for me: energy, necessary fruits and veggies (that I am horrible about eating regularly), I go to the restroom normally now, my hair doesn't fall out like it used to, I feel STRONG!, and all over very healthy. Once I lost all of my needed weight, I started getting dizzy all the time- it even led to me fainting in the shopping mall! I have not felt even remotely close to this since Juice Plus!

I currently take the gummies (YUUMMM!!) and the Protein Complete shakes (YUMMMER!!) :biggrin:

My distributor's name is Brandon Parker- you can check out his website at www.bparkerjuiceplus.com.

:thumbup:I was introduced to juice Plus about 5 months ago, and wow, what a difference! Juice Plus is NOT a Vitamin, instead, it is 17 necessary fruits and veggies that help your body rebuild blood and boosts all-over health. I started feeling the difference about one month after starting it, and I cannot express to you how healthy I feel. I was banded over two years ago, and I immediately realized that I was not able to get all of the "good" foods that I needed. Some of the benefits of Juice Plus, for me: energy, necessary fruits and veggies (that I am horrible about eating regularly), I go to the restroom normally now, my hair doesn't fall out like it used to, I feel STRONG!, and all over very healthy. Once I lost all of my needed weight, I started getting dizzy all the time- it even led to me fainting in the shopping mall! I have not felt even remotely close to this since Juice Plus!

Does anyone else take this??? Let me know how it has helped you- I would love to know!!

I currently take the gummies (YUUMMM!!) and the Protein Complete shakes (YUMMMER!!) :biggrin:

My distributor's name is Brandon Parker- you can check out his website at www.bparkerjuiceplus.com

My favorite is juice Plus+ Complete (Chocolate)! This stuff is extremely good- coming from a chocoholic. I mix it with either reg. skim milk or chocolate soy milk and it's awesome! You can also make shakes with strawberries, or almond extract! YUM! Juice Plus has the necessary nutrition for Lapband (or anyone) patients just because we already know it's hard enough to get all the nutrients we need... check it out... www.bparkerjuiceplus.com!

You guys look awesome. Its so hard to fathom what I would look like thin..

I know exactly what you mean! Prior to my surgery, I was like "no way! i will never be as small as i truly see myself"- IT WORKS! Keep motivated- stay healthy- You can do it!!!!

Hey there!! I had my surgery in Tijuana w/ Dr. Gabriel Gutierrez. I have been extremely happy with him and his staff. My mother had LB with him as well about 5 years ago and she has referred about 6 others, whom have all been successful! I have heard of Dr. Rodriguez and nothing has come back negative. Definitely check into it! Once you make the decision to be banded, your life will change forever!!! GOOD LUCK! :tt1:

Hey there smsithart!

This has happened to me before too. When you spit it up it looks kind of cottage-cheesy? I do not think it is necessarily spoiling in your esophogus... well I know in my case, it isn't hours later that I spit it up- normally less than 30 minutes from consumption. My mother has lapband and she has the same effect sometimes. This just means that, like anything else that comes up, that you are intaking more than your band will allow. Try a thinner milk (skim, 1%, 2%) or try not eating too much while you are drinking it.

By the way, you look awesome! Did you not have excess skin once you reached your goal weight? I am down to my ideal weight and have excess skin on my stomach area- how do I get rid of it?? :w00t:

Oh yeah, I know the feeling- Those days I'm like "please, please, please, let me eat a flippin' peanut- dang!" The best advise for these days is to drink liquid- sometimes your body needs a day to recover if you made it sweat the day before. Spicy food, liquor/beer, etc...- these things make your band stress a little bit. (I know... it sucks.. being 21 and not able to drink someone under the table like I could when I was 18? WHAT?) Just teasing... LOL Sometimes the day after having these foods/drinks you will notice your band resists about everything but water! Take the day to enjoy juices and Water, chick, because that band ain't gonna budge!!

I do not count calories as much as I used too... My main concern now is to get the nutrients/vitamins I need. Once I got down to my goal weight, which was 111lbs, the weight kept falling off- literally (got down to like 95 lbs). I tried eating more to gain some weight back but it didn't help. I had an extremely small amount of my band taken out just so I could get some nutrients in me, which helped a lot. When I got that small, I ended up fainting while shopping at the mall- by myself! YIKES! Now, I eat whatever I want- just small, small amounts of it. My friends say I'm "grazing"...The only way I can do this, keeping health in mind, is by taking a multi Vitamin (chewables b/c pills are NOT my friend) and by taking juice Plus! <- This is God's gift to banders!!!! This supplement is pure fruits and veggies in a pill or chewable. When I make a Protein shake or sometimes just in juice, I empty the pill into the liquid and drink it down. I get my fruits and veggies in the supplement! It's awesome!!!!

Added you as a friend... I am not on here much but I have a Myspace if you want to be friends there too! www.myspace.com/dallasbabejt

Keep on rockin' girl!! You will be lookin' fierce VERY soon! Watch out ladies- better hold on to your men!!

pmcclen2, You go girl! I love seeing people my age getting banded to change their future. You should feel so happy just by making the commitment to do the surgery... I have told myself for the last 2 yrs that once I reach my goal weight, I will NEVER have to worry about being fat again! I am at my goal weight now and would never, ever change my decision to have surgery. You just have to learn your body and what foods are easily consumed... everyone is different.

Milk is good for you! Throughout my surgery, that is the last thing I stressed about consuming. I was not able to eat much Cereal because, like other carb-full items, I would have to "spit" it back up due to over filling. oatmeal was great during my weight-loss. I tried all different types- I would make it wil a little milk, cinnamon, and sweetener.. Also tried it with a little bit of raisins or fruit. But I agree, it can definitelty get boring! Nowadays, once I 'got to know' my band (crazy thing has a mind of its own!), I realized that it's harder for me to eat anything too early in the morning. For Breakfast (a couple of hours after getting up) I eat yogurt, a Protein shake, or a Protein Bar. Even on my worst band days (when my band doesn't want anything), I can keep down a Protein Bar. The Special K (chewy) bars are yummy and easily digested... so are the Power Bars (any flavor).If you don't like that "protein" taste, definitely try the Special K! If you feel the milk is going right through you, try having less of it. I am overly-obsessed with milk now, but I do not have the 'poops' or anything afterward.

Keep up the great work- please feel free to ask me anything you need regarding your progress.

Milk! -YUMMM! I drink milk everyday! When I was going through my weight loss, I made sure to drink Skim milk, only. However, I am now at a weight where I fluctuate +/- 5 lbs almost weekly. I have come to learn how many calories I can eat per day and milk hardly ever affects my other decisions. You have to remember.. your body needs nutrients, nutrients, nutrients... I put milk in my Protein Shakes and mix it with my juice Plus+ Vitamins. (Those are the BEST supplements EVER- I highly recommend Juice Plus+ to all pre and post banders!) If you are at your goal weight, try some of your favorite things and see how it affects your body/weight. Of course, keep the vitamins and nutrients as a #1!

Hi to all of you! I am so excited to hear that yall are considering Lap-band surgery!! I was banded in March of 2007, and all I can say is WOW!!!! I have a brand new life that I could never have had without Lap-band. I was 19 years old, 4'11, and 191 lbs~ How can one live a young, energetic life while being so unhappily overweight? After finding out I had high cholesterol, risk for high blood pressure, and on the road to diabetes, there was no doubt in my mind to be banded. I reached my goal weight of 111 (80lbs) 1 week before my 21st birthday! It took 16 months to loose 80 lbs. Now, almost 2 yrs after being banded, I weigh 101 lbs (90 lbs lighter) and could not be happier! I get the chance to live a normal life for a 21 yr old female and you know what is best?-- You will never have to "fight-the-fat" EVER, EVER again! Take good care of your band- yes, it does have mood swings- and it will take care of you! Have faith!

You Go Girls!!!!!!:laugh:

~Jamie~