Stephanie MG

I live in Bonney Lake. (30 miles south of Seattle) Dr Earl Fox did my band. I just got a letter that he is moving his practice to the Tri-Cities, BUT Dr. Ross (his dad) will be staying in the area, moving the Tacoma office to Auburn. Dr. Ross is so wonderful, he has been doing weight loss surgery for 35+ years. The best thing is his charming warm personality. He has done 3 of my 4 fills with perfection and no pain or problems. Then makes me laugh. Any how.... I have not been on for 7 or 8 months so it is very nice to read the posts and to keep in mind Iam not alone in my journey

That is SOOOO Beautiful...... You are great at expressing yourself. I feel that fits the way I feel alot of the time. This journey is a strange one on alot of different levels. Id love to read more

GOOD JOB you really can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep it up and dont be too hard on yourself. A few pounds you can always lose. Your health is another thing. GOOD JOB!!!

I totally WANTED to do it..........I have NO regrets and I feel like a new person. I feel like I have control over my weight issue. I have never felt in control of it and now, I CAN and WILL be healthy..........

Well, My insurance doesnt cover ANY weight loss surgery. I really thought long and hard about the $$$$ and, I took out a loan, my payments are like $200 a month. Total was about $13,000. We will pay it off sonner with tax refunds, I look at it as....a car payment. Instead of a newer car I'll drive my 1999 beetle a few more years. TOTALLY worth it to me and me families budget. Good luck to you :girl_hug:

A side salad is good at any resteraunt. I eat a bite of my husbands, or friends food (whoever im out with) Try to look at it as a reason to be social and not so much a reason to hog out...........(like many of us used to) I was banded in June, food is "sorta" starting to be my friend again. :girl_hug:

I thought that too, I tried to have that perspective for a year....I thought, "I have a awesome Husband that loves me" "i have great job and make good money" "I have friends that think Im so fun and they love me" "im a good Mom and my kids love me" BUT~~~~ I wasnt loving MYSELF, i felt.... BLOATED, TIRED, DEPRESSED, SAD, PHYSICALLY UN HEALTHY. all those things that I delt with INSIDE my own head, I just coulnt get happy, even though I had such great loved ones and lots of reasons to be happy. NOW 52 POUNDS LIGHTER, Im happy on the inside and I look great on the ouside too :girl_hug: NO REGRETS 4 ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

** It feels soooo GREAT to be able to pull out the drawers of my dresser and find jeans that I shoved way in the back because they were too DAMN TIGHT....then slip them on and OH MY GOD THEY ARE LOOSE!!!!! ** It feels great to feel like I DO have control over what I decide to eat, and that I can and will make GOOD FOOD choices, if Im home alone or in a social setting!!! ** Every new day with my band has been a learning expereince, and I feel sooo much better and happier these days!!!!

Have you tried sugar free popcycles? Warm herbal tea seemed to make me feel a little fuller than cold drinks. The protein shakes really helped me stay full longer. I still drink one to two every single day. Good luck...u can do it, its hard though. The weight willl start melting off and once you feel that~ it really does get easier.

Wow, I havebt had a PB yet, Im so sorry so many have! I do get very uncomfortable and feel like full and crappy if I eat too much, ususally lasts like 4 hours or more. Good luck to you with this PB ing problem!

Hey Juners, I got in for a fill on Saturday, was funny cause my Dr was teaching like 5 other docs how to do a fill so I had plennty of attention! And they gave me 1/2 off!! Im feeling way better and have lost a few pounds so all is well with me for now. Im home from work today with a sick little son Take care

Yay Carlene hahaha!!!

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT here, and very proud of it!!!

I was really surprized how much pain I had in my left shoulder as well. I think mine lasted like almost a month! My Dr. said ICE is better than heat. Hang in there, I know that feeling really sucks, it will go away, eventually! CONGRATS on your band!

I was really worried about hair loss, I have thin hair anyways. But I havent had any problems. I have always used nioxin scalp therapy. So far so good!!

Im doing pretty good, Im still calling and trying to get a fill appointment hopefully this week. I have lost 3 more pounds and have kept it off. We went to the fair yesterday and I decided before we left i would eat a roasted corn on the cob...yumm. Then i decided to splurge and got a carmeled apple and the first bit....it pulled off one of my crowns. Ouch! glad i didnt swallow it. The good thing is I work at a dental office so we will fix it in the morning. Stupid carmel apple anyways. I will do good this week!!!!!!!!! Hope you all do too

leila!!!!!! you look awsome, I love your new hair too :Banane45: I dont know how to make my pics samll enough to put on here. I tried once but it doesnt work im not too computer saavy GOOD JOB HOT MAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool, I love tats!! I have one on my arm that I drew!! I want more... Good for you!!!!!!!!!!!

well, i am happy to report that my "lull" in weight loss has passes and I lost 3 more pounds. I had bad PMS this month and my period was like 4 days late? Dont know what that was about. Am still trying to get in for my second fill, am on the cancelation list. Good luck to the fellow Juner's.........

regarding Bush-----------IS IT 2008 YET?????????????????????? Todays events 5 years ago are soooo horrible its like it couldnt have actually have happened. I just cant imagine living through losing someone that way and my thoughts and my heart goes ouy to all that were affected. Really puts things like my lap-band adventure on the back burner and makes me feel so lucky to be alive and to be in love and to be a Mom to my 2 wonderful kids.

My husband wanted tacos....and he cooked them tonight I have been trying to stay away from carbs, so I had like 2 big tablespoons of the taco meat, No tortilla, and FF refried beans with some lowfat cheese and 2 slices of tomatoes. (ok....and about 7 corn chips) Im a sucker for the crunchy stuff. Was yummy and now I feel very full.

NO problems with adding 3 or 4 frozen strawberries to my protein shakes. Yummy

I had surgery Friday and went back to work the following Thursday. I also have a "desk" job. I was uncomfortable, wore baggy pants, brought a pillow for my lower back. Good luck to you

IAM ALSO sooo glad i read this I had one fill and it seems like it didnt do anything. I felt very....full I guess for like a day, then nothing. Ive been getting really discouraged for the first time so far, as Ive been snacking a bit and just feeling hungry alot of the time. I havent lost in like 3 weeks. I want to get in for a 2nd fill but my doc has NO appointments open for like 3 weeks. Pisses me off , I paid sooo much $$ and now to have to just...kinda suffer because he cant see me SUCKS. I think Ill start calling everyday and see if theres cancelations. THANKS for all the words of encouragment, it helps so much to hear people with experience and that other people are having the same issues!

Weekends can be hard to recover from. I have hit a stopping point in my weight loss, I havent lost for like 3 weeks I have noticed that Ive started picking up little hanfulls of chips, or crackers....I like the crunchy salty snacks. (Too much wine on the weekends doesnt help either) Old habits die hard, but I have been good the past few days. I made a Sept. list of GOALS and hung them in my bathroom. Also tried writing down the things I eat....kinda makes you think twice about the snacking when you have to be accountable for it.