FighterGirl

Congrats!! Avoid the television post-op (especially those first few days) and get you some good books because boy does watching tv make you want to eat.

I wore mine everyday for four months. I had a seroma which is a build up of Fluid into the now empty space. I hated it, but boy is it worth it. I was allowed to wear Spanx that were a few sizes too small at work and for events after my 2 months which was a relief. It got to the point that I got accustomed to wearing it.

I have lost 200 lbs and I did it very slowly. I work out drink tons of Water and my genetics have left with me with tons of excess skin. I had a tummy tuck in October. I am planning to get a breast and arm lift, also I need a inner thigh lift. I am one of the unfortunate cases. It is hard for me to deal with what I look like under my clothes, but at a size healthy I love my life so much more. I had planned for the need for a breast lift and tummy tuck, but not everything else. The hardest thing however, is intimacy. It is a whole different type of insecurity now.

I used Dr. Sayeg in Troy, MI. He is amazing. He specializes in reconstructive PS and understands the special needs of weight loss patients. He is very attentive and supportive.

i would add some coconut milk and curry with a little lemon grass, boil, remove the lemon grass and drink up. i also would add a little cornstarch if i wanted to thicken it up a bit...any broth really. oh and hot and sour Soup broth is yummy

Awesome idea!

in my case it is quite a bit more. since pre-op i have lost 200 lbs so i need the works, lol. tummy tuck, arm lift, lower body lift, and i even have excess skin on my back!

I am sure there are people around here who do. I know that my surgeon had patience with type one and two whose blood sugar got under control and they healed well. My mom is diabetic, so naturally she asked about all the issues with diabetes and getting banded.

Congrats! I am in SE also, keep in touch.

Welcome to LBT, Lou! A lot of your questions can be answered by exploring the board. Enjoy your stay.

GET IT GIRL! Go ahead do a dance for us, lol. On the UTI front, keep drinking that Water...drink it as though you could never have enough. Oddly enough, I found he alka seltzer helped me with the pain when having to tinkle.

Looking good chica!! Is amazing the changes that you see outside of just the physical. Like how much more room you have in the car or how much easier it is to get through a turn style. KEEP IT GOING SLIM!!

I replace all mayo based recipes with plain yogurt or sour cream. Sometimes if its really hot and I have a craving for chicken salad I will use fresh lemon and lime.

I have excess skin, I don't like it but I have decided to get it removed. Keep moving chica, don't let this get you down...you are in the midst of a beautiful transformation.

I experienced the same thing. I had to get unfilled a bit and also stop eating 3 to 4 hours before I went to bed.

I love them too! To avoid the issues we can have with digesting foods I began making them at home with ground turkey or chicken and simmering them in homemade sauces...that way I could control the sugar.

Learning to eat while being banded is hard. When I was first banded I refused o eat out because I just did not know how my body would react. What really helped me learn how to eat was using bowls, baby plates and baby spoons to eat my meals. It got me used to eating slower and taking smaller bites. When i began eating out I would always order a full menu and tell them to bring me the carryout box with my meal. Didn't really work because I wanted to eat everything there..lol. However, eating appetizers and ordering off the dollar menu made me have more enjoyable meals. You have to "fail" to reach success! Stay positive and don't give up.

Hot fluids really help and heating pads. Keep moving and try to say relaxed.

Yes, I had a slippage due to a lack of proper information from my nutritionist. First, she deflated my band and we tried to see if it would go back to normal. After a month, it hadn't so I was rebanded with a newer band and everything has been wonderful. I was really scared, however, because I knew there was a chance that I could wake-up and not be rebanded. Be happy that it was found before things got bad. Good Luck!!

CONGRATS!!! It is all a learning process, we have to feel a little pain to know what we can and cannot eat. Keep us updated.

I was banded when I was 19 and rebanded at 22 due to a bad slippage. I decided that the band seemed a lot safer. Yes, there are issues with infection and erosion, but if you visit your doctor regular and do not ignore your body you should do well. One of the hardest things about WLS is that it is a form of malnutrition, you must stay on top of Vitamin supplements and watch any wounds as they do not heal as easily as before. Just as Jasmine stated, this is not the magic bullet. It is an aid that along with lifestlye changes will help you achieve your goals.

Do you mean the kind you get after a tummy tuck or a plain ole girdle? I wear a girdle whenever I want that smooth all over look.

First, I love your name! I was told that it depends on the Protein source and then based off of weight. Like an ounce of meat or fish usually has 7 grams of protein in it. However, eggs, dairy, Beans and nuts vary.

I learned to never deprive myself, yes I want to lose weight, but I want to enjoy life. I never ever buy more than one serving and if I do, I take what I can handle and give the rest away. The lapband is about a change in lifestyle, no a complete reprogramming. Find healthier alternatives and remember portion control.

Long story short, it was easier. It had fewer complications and I was told if it did not work for me then I could try gastric bypass. I was very young and knew that I was willing to take a slower weight loss.