gamyj

I really would get a second opinion... That is NOT how the band is supposed to work. Please find a new doc. good luck, amy

I have been banded about 2 months, and I can honestly say that it has been wonderful for me.. I am lucky I do not have all the ugly side effects that the article mentions or many on this website mention. I really think every person has a very individual experience with wls. I like the band because I can control how tight I want to be, I can use it as a tool in the long run, and not just a quick fix. It is not a decision to be made lightly... I thought about it for a good year before I decided to do it. It was the best decision that I have ever made for myself... I have no regrets at all and look forward to a long and healthy life with my family and friends. good luck. amy

lmfao!!!! so funny, yet sooo gross!!

lol u guys are so funny!! my friend went through the same thing... He put on ankle weights and I think even some on his arms lol, but be careful, my surgen checked my ankles and my wrists. I think lots of cloths are great, and if u can but a weight belt or something on, I say go for it. I wish u lots of luck and hope u get approved! amy

I had a miscarrige, but it was before my banding. It was easily the worst experience of my life. My heart was broken and it took a very long time to heal. how did i cope... that is a hard thing to answer. I think I took each moment at a time... I cried alot, I went into myself so to speak... I withdrew for a while. I just needed to take time for me and allow myself to feel anything and everything that I needed. I found that i didn't want to try angain t get pregnant for a long time... I think it was close to a year before I wanted to try again. that happened in feb of 05... now I have a baby boy who is nearly 2. Do I still think about the baby I lost? yes sometimes I do, but I like to think that she is watching over my son as his angel. I pray that your pain subsides with time... it is such a real loss and i found that ppl made less of it... but to me I had lost my baby and was devistated. If u feel like u need to talk please feel free to send me a private message. I know what you are going through. amy

fortunatly I have no problem saying whats on my mind... so I would just tell her to mind her buisness and to stop giving unwanted advice. good luck and don't let anyone get inside your head and try to discredit the hard work u have put in to become a healthier happier u. amy

u guys are inspirational to me! I know im making excuses and now I need to stop thinking and behaving like a "fat person". I have used that for too long now... I want to be the woman I know I can be... healthy, active and wonderful!! thanks so much for ur inspiration and pep talk :grouphug: amy

I feel like everyone goes through a mourning period, but now I feel more free. before my band I would beat myself up over everthing I put into my mouth.. it was terrible, i was sad all the time. and now I allow myself to eat anything in moderation... sometimes I feel that nagging guilt try to come back and I remind myself "amy this is NOT a diet". As long as I eat balanced meals.. i see no reason to deprive myself of a treat. and Honestly im one of the lucky ones (knock on wood) I can eat anything without getting sick or PBing. I just eat small portions and chew well. the only problem im having trouble getting used to is eating slowly... boy is that hard when u have a one year old flinging food at the dinner table lol!! good luck and keep in mind why u started this journey in the first place. All will be well, it really will. amy

ive just started using stevia... its great in coffee, but its really tricky with other things.. I find it hard to get the right amount of sweetness without making things too sweet since a little goes a LONG way... still playing around with it. I purchased mine at trader Joes. amy

honestly... I was hungry at day one! the first two weeks were the hardest and longest of my life lol. before surg everyone said that I wouldn't even think of food for at least a week... hahaha that was sooooo not true for me!! I was HUNGRY!!! I hope the time flies for u and u can eat regularly again... well u know what I mean;) amy

this is so interresting to me seeing all the differences in drs advice. Im not suppose to eat 30 min before and after meals. I eat 4 oz per meal... I think im supposed to get 60 grams of protein a day. I can eat anything that is tollerated by me speciffically. I eat popcorn and caffine.... everything in moderation. I have no idea how many calories I get a day, but im supposed to get 1000-1200 a day. i try to eat balenced meals and if im hungry then I'll have a snack. this is very much a lifestyle change and NOT diet like at all for me. good luck! amy

hey girl (snatch lol) I am so sorry for your awful experience... Luckily I had my first fill and it wasn't nearly as tramatic!! Guy u are too funny! good luck on the next one (should u need one) amy

thank u all for your input... right now im walking, but it sort of sporatic. I'm having trouble fitting it in, actually Im just having trouble establishing a routine. I find that I am so tired and put it off. when I have exercised in the past I also find that I am so exhausted afterward... when does it start to give u energy? amy

thanks ladies... it really freaked me out bc normally I have no problems with cravings. But boy oh boy what a difference a period makes LOL!! amy

Hi all its my TOM and unlike alot of women, I am certainly not any tighter than normal. I feel I have good restriction. My problem is I just WANT to eat... I am having cravings and want to graze. I have not had any problems other than when its my TOM. I definitly notice a difference. what do u all do when u are NOT hungry, but really are craving food?? I guess this is head hunger? or perhaps your body needs more calories during the tom? ( I heard that a long time ago) Please let me know your own experiences, thoughts and opinion. I don't want to eat more and "fall off the wagon". thanks in advance for your imput. amy

Jennifer I agree with u totally... i was a grazer and now I am so much more mindful of my eating habits. and its hard to feel guilty with such small amounts of food! amy

i am almost 8 weeks out, and I, like many of u, have made some changes. I don't crave chips and stuff like that, but I am a big fan of sweets. My stratagy has been to allow myself something small everyday. If I have a latte from starbucks, that is the treat for the day. My portions are only 4 oz at a time, so I try to make my meals healthy. I do on occation have popcorn for a treat, but I find that I stay away from fast food joints ( with the exception og wendys chili)... it's all about balance for me. I won't weigh in until friday, so I don't know how much ive lost this week, but Ive been losing about 2-3lbs a week, and am very happy with that. I try to keep with the "all in moderation" plan of action. I don't want to crave something and then deprive myself and then go hog wild. good luck to all, amy

I saw my doc, and all is well! he told me I was actually on the high end of losing... i guess many ppl gain or lose a little bit. He basically told me that everything is ok and takes time. so now... hello exercise and lots of water! good luck all! amy

Hi all, My name is amy, and I would like to add exercise into the mix now. I would love to join a gym, but unfortunetly I do not have the funds for that. I am really not a huge fan of exercise per se, but know that if I ever want a non-sagging body it is time. I want to know what u all find to be enjoyable exercise. I think if I find something fun, or enjoyable to me that I will stick to it. So bring it on Ladies and gents... what do u Love????:thumbup: thanks in advance, amy

I was banded on march 20th and I have lost 20 as of last wed. My doc told me I was doing great and was on the high end of losing. Remember this is not a race... it is the beginning of a new life. You are doing well. try not to compare your journey with someone elses. there are many factors and nobodys situation is exactly the same. Keep your chin up and be happy with YOUR sucess. amy

I love salad, and i have to admit tonight I had a salad with ranch dressing... concidering i can barely get my calories in each day, I don't feel at all bad about it. will I eat fatty dressing on a regular basis? no but as a treat... sure... i was craving salad over icecream lol.... how rare is that. I agree when I saw that salads are "not a good choice for the band"... it pissed me off a bit simply bc I got the lapband so I'd never have to "diet" again. If you start eliminating foods and food groups, sounds like a diet to me. As long as u are eating a well balenced diet, I see no reason to give anything up. This is a new life style, not another flippin diet. good luck to all and eat a salad... hell throw on some dressing once in a while! :thumbup: amy

You look wonderful!!! keep it up!! amy

I have aNSV... I grabbed a pair of jeans in my closet that I thought were a 16 and pulled them on and they fit nicely... I then took them off to see if I accedently took the 18's instead, i did a double take when I saw that they were a 16 lol... granted they have stretch to them , but I was so excited seeing as if 7 weeks ago I couldn't even get them close to buttoned!!! so I can offically say I am a 16/18 wooohooo from a very tight 20!! And the other day I went into New York and Co and I saw a pretty shirt... It was a large and I figured hey I might as well buy it... it will fit eventually... well I got home and tried it on and OMGoodness IT FIT, and it wasn't even tight or awful looking.. it looked NICE WOOOHOOOOO!!!!! so exciting lol. Love this thread!! can't wait to hear all of your NSV and I'll post more as they come up! amy

I have to say that the moment I decided to have the surgery I KNEW in my heart that this would work without a doubt. I also affirmed that i would have an easy time of it. I think bc i was so positive i set myself up for a positive experience. Maybe im being naieve in my thoughts, but this has been a WONDERFUL experience, and I was determined not to focus on the negitive things that I have heard or read ie... PBing or slipage etc... lots of luck all, stay positive!! amy

wow I have never heard of that.... do u know why? amy