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Good job! And GREAT advise...there is always the next meal...no rush. Marie

I tell you, I would rather lose slow than be miserable with an over fill! I have twice had to have some removed, and was so thankful this sucker is adjustable!! I stalled a couple of times, mostly cause I got stuck in a craving and indulged it. But each fill is differnt, and sometimes each day is different, so definantly just let your body tell you what it needs (except when it says NACHOS!! ha). I am amazed everyday, sometimes each meal, how different the eating will be. But after 9 months and 7 fills or so, I am super happy, happy how I feel, my loss which is not huge like a few others but still around 70ish, is more than I would have been able to do alone. Part of it is I go in each time and am honest with the Dr....I ate badly, I didn't workout...whatever, and I do my best not to kick myself because I took THIS step to have a tool installed and it will happen. I say well...22/24...15/16... woohooo even when I only lose a little. Stay positive and expect so so many changes and roll with them. Enjoy the journey...because not just your body that changes..hopefully your brain will change, what you tell yourself will change. I think that is the hardest part of it all. Success is already here! Oh...and send me some of that Workout mojo cause I have yet to find that!! Happy THanksgiving! Marie

I am glad your family was not horribly injured. This is life--the part WE struggle with, the one we wll continue to fight, the one that made us overweight to begin with.. How we deal with sadness, stress, pain, happiness...all of it. Our new tool...is just that, it doesn't fix what is in our heads. But you can do it. I too was stalled and also due to my own wants--all the wrong things for a month, At 9 months out am actually eating a couple bites and thinking ok I am full. AND stopping! ha ha. Though I 'want' more...for the taste, for the soothing factor, whatever is messed up in my head, but it is happening. I have had several fills, and a couple of un-fills....and may have finally found the spot. I certainly do not have the challenges you have had lately and I think everyone would struggle under such stress. Do not kick yourself ! Just keep trudging along and know that you have the tool, and ok if right now is tough, it is ok, the next meal (not day) is a whole new chance. Use your tool, use the advise here. Try the liquid thing...I have been lucky, I go back to meat, ice water and low to no carbs. Best of luck. Happy Thanksgiving!

WOW!!! Congrats for the great job!! I am not at my year (Feb)...and in my head I can't even IMAGINE going from the same wieght as you (appx) to anything under 2 digits! lol Your posts are very motivating and positive...keep it up for the rest of towin' the line! Marie

Thanks guys! I appreciate it greatly...and will try both!

Ok so my last fill,,,unfill...has left me with needing to crush all my pills. After almost a year of getting away with just cutting them in half. Barfing them is NOT an option! ugh. So I crushed them...and used cookies and cream ice cream to get them down. just 4 spoonfuls, But I am looking for a better way to then get the powder down. A few taste SO bad...I had to chase the ice cream with water to even get that to slide down. So please share with me what you guys do to take your pills easier. Eww..but let me add...after my un-fill...I feel so much better and am down to 219!! HOLY COW~!! IT is amazing!

It does suck a bit...BUT after my 4 day 'withdrawl' I felt GREAT!! What saved me...BACON!! And those stupid Pork Rinds--gag..now I have NEVER eaten them before and admitted they were gross...but I guess I have a crunchy snacking issue at night, 3 of those suckers and I felt ok. That said--it is SO SO SO SO SO Worth it!! Don't give up...or give in...The BEST thing I have ever done for myself! I had surgery FEb 12 2010...down 69lbs or so...and feel great. You will do it!

I did try the hot tea before eating yesterday. But last night--I hardly slept and I can just feel it, waiting for me to open my mouth! lol...BLOOP! THanks for your encouragement--I just have to wrap my head around doing it right--that is what the "tool" is for. Hope your fill works itself out too! But I am waiting impatiently for 8am to call and get back in. Thank goodness they are only 45 min away.

SO my fill is WAY too tight. I thought I could work it and give it time to stretch...but looks as if barfing in your sleep is not normal--who knew?? (sarcastic) I hate to do it. Because I think damn now I am going to have to work hard to lose....silly huh? I am...because my brain still works the same way...thinks the same way about food. BUT I can't be barfing up my half digested meds, and burning my throat and feeling this bad. THIS is not the way I want to do it! I will try to come back on and let you all know how the un-fill went. One door closes, another opens---boy I hope so!

wow! Discouraging. My wish for you is that you find a Dr. that wants to do LapBand! I know they have thier prefernces, but I think what WE want is important in what will be succesful for us. It worries me he is changing up now. I would do this over and over! It is exactly what I expected (even thru the tough times) and I hope this works out for you. Remember if THIS doesn't happen this time, maybe there is a better Dr for you out there. One door closes another opens.

I should just schedule writing to my blog every 3 months at this rate. Geesh! Ok so lets see...I had another fill last week, and am SNUG!! but I am working with it. I fought myself , did I want one before the Holidays, going home to good ole home-cooking. But I decided--DUH!! that is my mental problem!! The last 20 yrs of my life thinking about eating all wrong. lol So I explained to my Dr. who is cautious with fills at this time of year....for this exact reason, but he agreed I was thinking right for me. For now. I told myself, I can still eat ANYTHING I want, just less, and isn't that the point of WHY I did this?? yes! Yes is my answer. If I continue to do what I did, I will continue to be what I was. I am hoping for some relaxation on the band, but it has only been a few days. So I have faith. I have actually been using the elliptical, OMG who knew I was so out of shape. Man was I in DENIAL! ha ha. let me just share, I started doing 1:10 on it..that is minutes folks! ha ha.. I eventually worked to 5 minutes in a row! So proud. Then had a set back got sick, then bruised/cracked a rib (proving being thinner isn't always good! :bored:). Which let me tell you is the most painful thing next to a ruptured disc I have felt, plus it takes so long to heal. I ordered a weighted hula hoop...came the day after the 'rib incident'. And I dont know about you guys but if there is a reason to put off excersize it seems to multiply in spades for me. I hate it! Hate to do it, hate to think about it...Even when it is fun. Ok..so I ended up with only a 2 lb loss before this last fill..I had lost 12...but two weeks before the fill, I got so hungry and just ate, and ate, and not good stuff. I couldnt keep down my protien but I sure could keep down crackers and chips. So gained the 10 back and fast. Now 5 days after this fill, lost 8 of those...but I am half miserable waiting for that stretch to come...jsut a little. I am also focusing on that protein! Trying my best to go for those first. I keep saying even if I stay right here, at 220 (from 286) I am SO happy...I feel SO much better health wise (rib excluded). Not thrilled with the naked me...but hey...it will get there, or it will get fixed! ha ha. I hope you are all doing well! Enjoying the journey.

THanks ladies (sorry for the long delay in response!) IT is FABULOUS!!! I still love LB...because of their quality (most of the time), but will soon be out of thier sizes ha ha ha...yay!

OMG...THank Goodness I can't eat French Fries!! ha ha. I love them...but not the second time around. But the thing that blows my mind is everyday, every meal is different. I can't be sure that the chicken I ate yesterday will go down today. The things I absolutely cant eat-bread. Mushy clumpy stuff. Rice, spaghetti noodles--but I can eat Rigatoni (al Dente). I am just so thankful that the things that kept me fat are not appealing when you are barfing them up. lol It certainly helps me. As Pink says "Don't let me get me"!

I swear I meant to keep up with this but I guess Life has called. So had an appt today with my Dr. Lost another 10lbs in the last month. This fill has been tough but I am going to suck it up! I know it will stretch a bit, I have good and bad days, mostly cause I eat too fast I guess. Crazy ups n downs. But hey now at 232...down from 286...I will deal with it!! Last week I bought full price jeans from LB, been wearing my 22's and 20's just trying to put off buying something...$75 later.. UGH...today...they were too big! OMG!! Last night, I switch laundry, My daughters jeans come out and I think hmmmmm...what the heck..on they went...ALL THE WAY--ZIPPED!! I had on 15/16 skinny jeans! WTH?? I came flying in and showed off to the other daughter! AND TODAY... I PURCHASED my very own size 15 JUNIORS jeans! $10 at Ross. HOLY CRAP!! I haven't been this size since my Freshman year (maybe) in 80---something! :wink: wink wink. I am in shock to tell you the truth, disbelief, dumbfounded. WOW. It is sureal. I am happy...HAPPY! I feel SO much better--physically that in itself is worth it. But to have the icing on the cake as it were is awesome! OMG I hope each one of you have this feeling someday soon.

Yes Briarrose...there is MOURNING...and you know I have had my 3rd fill and it has started over with way more restriction than I have had and a lot less food....not in a bad way...just in a learning way. I love EAS low carb protein drinks! My fav, and kept me going. And sometimes I put in protein from GNC to thicken it up.

IT is hard! But the first 5 -7 days are the worst, I think. I went cold turkey on carbs, soda, sugar...major withdrawl. But after that weekend I felt GREAT! More energy than I ever had! So stick it out. You can do it! My husband said "I can't believe you did it, I am so proud of you" I was shocked. But I could do it because I knew if I didn't I would never get to have the surgery. My secret...was if I were hungry...I would eat unlimited amounts of free stuff on my list. As I am re-reading your post, I am wondering if you are on a liquid diet only?? hmmm...could be. And in that case I can imagine it is even harder. In the end it will be worth it. This was the best thing I ever did for myself. Down 40, 2 sizes, and more importantly feel so much better than 5 months ago! Keep up the good work!

I think we have the same dad! lol I had all my ducks in a row ready to pitch my decision cause I KNEW mine would be weary...my mom had gastric bypass many years ago, and my dad (they divorced long ago) hated how thin and unhealthy she got. So I knew he would be super worried. In fact, I went thru the whole year going thru all the steps and had the surgery scheduled before I told him. He like your dad was reserved...but he has come around and the more he learned the more he was reassured that it wasn't like my moms surgery. He also knew that fat was going to kill me if I didn't do something. I am sure your dad when reflecting, and learning will come to the same conclusion. Mine hasn't come right out and said Oh it was great, but in his way he supports me the best he can, and is excited to hear of my losses. At least you got the initial talk out of the way. BEST of luck.

Oh yes..I get all of that! SHOULD stop...but oh it tastes too good. lol Don't pay attention...chew chew chew! lol My daughter says to me, Mom don't eat it, you know it is coming back up, just put it down and back away! lol I am only 4 months out, but things are getting clearer to me now...the funny bad habits I have...had...ok working on! Love it!! I am so glad I did this I can't even put into words, even as I am barfing I am thinking...ok this is ok, it will pass. 80! Wow! Can't wait for 80....I can't even invision it. Down 40 and happy, so I will just keep on. Congrats on your success! And your family for helping

That is AWESOME!! I am at the begining of my journey, and am so glad to have read your story. Keep us posted! Enjoy!

People are watching...but this is FOR YOU, and ABOUT YOU, not them. If they don't know enough about it they can't even imagine how this works as a tool. Our head baggage is still there. I totally get what you are saying, and everyday I tell myself any loss is great! Better than before. This tool of mine can only help me if I help myself. Just plug away at good choices every time you eat, and if you goof, start fresh by the next thing you put in your mouth. You won't be perfect, but as things go you will learn more, each fill is different and I am finding (only having this done in Feb) that I can see my baggage clearer and clearer and I think that is a good thing. To see it, is the first step to fixing all those things we have beaten in our heads. I hope you just keep on keeping on, have faith the tool will work for you, we didn't put on this weight over night and it wont come off that fast. Slow and steady wins this race. And remember THIS IS YOUR JOURNEY and it is a good time to be selfish.

Time flies! So, let's see, I lost 1.7lbs this last month...yep was goofin off with food. Just making bad choices too many times. I am back on track a bit now...after another fill...they gave me 1cc...so now I have 4cc (what they put in anyway). I tell you at first I thought UH-OH...there is no way I can sustain this restriction, it was SO tight I had to barf a lot...I kept liquid down in small sips, with lots of gurgling. lol very uncomfortable. 2 full days of that. Then woke up this morning, and could eat, YEAH!! Of course, much smaller amounts! which is awesome, but those head games are still right there. I do feel like I SEE them much clearer and faster now. So that makes me happy. I try my best not to kick myself for being on the learning end of this tool. But some things are really engrained in my head! Hope you all are well, and having great success! I am going to try to update my pics soon. I actually have ONE the I see the progress, and that is huge for me. Pardon the pun! ha ha.

SO I know get that every fill is different. I wsa good with the 2...3...was a whole new learning curve! Totally changed what I could eat--for the gooD...save me from myself! lol I am very pleased with it, I am hoping for one more light one I think, and I will be rockin n rolling along. Funny how we tell ourselves SLOW N STEADY...until that first 20lbs...and downsizing in clothes and then it is like MORE MORE MORE!! lol Gone again

So what has been going on? I have been very busy, with all this new energy. I am down to 239 by my PCMs scale and look forward to the Official scale at the LB Dr office. This last fill was a new learning experience. For the better, it really cut me off where I needed it. I had a lot more barfing but all because I didn't do my part, chewing small bites...that kind of thing. Other than that I feel great! I started working out, The Crunch Dance, and a few others I like....and going to borrow an elliptical from a friend. My inner thighs are just aweful, at least while fat they were solid...now just dripping puddles of chub hanging down--not liking it AT ALL!! So all bets are on the Elliptical! I fit into the CUTEST Lane Bryant bermudas in an 18 today--only to find they didn't have the style I wanted in 18! ROFL Geesh. Tops are now 18/20's!!! LOVE it. I hope you are ALL doing great out there. I hope to get on and catch up with some of you.

I think the friend you lost to cancer would want you to LIVE!! To the fullest. Grieving yes...but you went thru all this to live, not fall back into the sadness, so get to it :thumbup: (kick, kick) (ha ha) You sound like you are doing great. Funny how we still want to wake up and it be GONE! old habits and all. I too HAD to try my dearly loved Dr. Pepper--one sip...and BLAH! Hated it! So glad, cause it could be a major problem if I hadn't. Jump right back up on the track and keep on keeping on. Marie