kslessar

In reply to your post stl, try not to be too down-hearted. I'm sure it's hard for you to read our success stories and not be embarrassed or peeved off that you are not in the same position as us at the moment. Something for you to contemplate is that while majority of us have lost a substantial amount of weight, we haven't faced the hardship you have. If you place it in a different perspective, you are where we were in January/February this year, and I know I hadn't lost a HUGE amount by this stage. I feel so sorry for you that the beginning of your journey did not run smoothly, it must have been terrible to go through. Don't worry too much about the fact that you don't have much restriction after your second fill, I didn't really start to feel mine until the 3rd fill, but each person is different and you may take a couple more. Having said that, I did quickly realise that I still have to exercise my own personal control as well. As soon as you feel that feeling of becoming full, whoa nellie, otherwise it can turn ugly (in the form of pain). I think that while you have faced something that most of haven't, you're still trying and that's the main thing. You could have opted to have the band removed and stop trying altogether, you didn't. Give it a couple more months and I'm sure you'll find that you have started sailing along (or rather down) those scales. I find that when I think positive, or try to when i'm on a bit of a downer... it makes eating better and exercising easier. I don't come on here so much anymore, but if you want you can drop me a line in my email (kaseyslessar@hotmail.com) Happy to support you through this rough patch! :cursing:

Just looking for some advice from fellow bandsters. I was banded on December the 4th. I have a gym membership which runs out early Feb. I am currently looking into another gym to go to because the staff are really horrible where I currently go. They are belittling bullies and don't seem to understand that the tactics they play don't work with all members. I have tried going back twice in the past year (which I stayed a couple of months the other times), tried again today and couldn't bring myself to enter. I know some people will see this as weak, but I just can't, OK? For Christmas I purchased the Wii Fit Plus and am planning to use this daily 6 out of 7 days a week along with walking a couple of days a week (probably 4 out of 7). I was just wondering if any bandsters have successfully used the Wii to help them lose weight? :smile2:

I'd love to join!!! I'd like to lose 20lbs which would make me 197.8 lbs. :thumbup:GO TEAM!

Hi Jess, You are such a sweetie. Thanks for the Christmas and New Year wishes. :biggrin: I have much enjoyed watching your progress. Your vids and posts calmed me down a lot (I've just been banded also- on the 4th December in fact). You certainly helped answer some ?'s I had and also showed that the recovery process isn't 1/4 as bad as what I imagined. I've lost 22lbs so far :sad: Thankyou so much for all you've posted and I wish you and Jason and the puppies a wonderful Christmas and great success in the New Year. :biggrin: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND HAPPY NEW YEAR :biggrin:

lol! don't you love this time of year?! It always seems that people telepathically know when you are trying to lose weight and that is when you get the most desirable foods that you can't eat. You're doing very well by the way, holding out on eating all these lovely presents. I can understand what you mean that you can't tell people that you would prefer not to receive the presents. People tend to get offended when you refuse their gifts, much easier to grin, bear it, chuck it or pass on. Breathe and remember it's only 7 more sleeps :biggrin:

Yes, we are doing this to help ourselves and there will always be temptations but this lady's life partner - who should understand better than anybody the reasons she made the choice to have the band is tempting her at weak moments all the time. I don't think he is doing it deliberately, and I think once she talks to him it will make a difference. Not everyone has the strongest willpower, we are all different.

Ohhh, if only the first number had of been right, but if you're going like me you will be down that much shortly anyhow. You're doing a great job staying away from the goodies Melinco, I feel really proud of you. Stick with it, you have the right idea and eventually we will be able to have tiny bits of stuff like that. :eek:

Oh dear! At least you were in the right place and are back on the road to recovery. Hope you are feeling ok, look forward to hearing from you :scared2:

I'm sorry for your loss ElfiePoo. This post made my day, envisioning grabbing and hanging on, hilarious! You are a very comical lady

Hi Ocracoke, I'm not saying this is advice as such, this is what I did. I ate what I wanted to, but in lesser amounts. (Not a lot less in the end). A lot of people find the last stage before the liquid diet is when they say 'goodbye' to foods they love. I know I did. I put on some weight, but I lost that plus more on the liquid diet and my surgeon said that my surgery went perfect and they didn't yell at me for putting on weight before the liquid diet, they said most patients do. They also advised me that with the liquid diet, the first place you put the fat back on is in fact the place you are trying hardest to get it rid from... the liver. So even if you only cheat once, it may do more harm than good. In the end it's your choice... a few people who are in the group started diets before the liquid diet and have done really well. Good luck with everything

Hi Terri, Firstly, congrats on your surgery date. December 09 are a great group of people to talk to, WELCOME As for things to take with you to surgery, take a book or some magazines or something to keep you entertained before surgery in case you're not straight in. Loose clothing and a chapstick (lipbalm- OMG Lips are so dry after operation!) apart from that... the nurses have everything there for you. What has helped me at home... a triangle pillow (it's fantastic!), a heat pad for gas pain, straws, food processor/blender for shakes, stock up on soups, custard, jelly (if allowed, i'm not), liquid multi-vitamin, paracetemol (i have been able to take tablets), Gas-x strips seem to be a big thing for most people. As for taking the trip, it is up to you and how you feel but i know i wouldn't have handled it due to fatigue, gas pain, and sitting in a car for that long would have ended up causing worse pain to my stomach area. Also, I found being in the car I was nauseous and I normally don't feel car sick. I would definately have a back up plan in case you don't feel like it. GOOD LUCK

Hello Everyone, I'm officially banded :wink2::biggrin::biggrin: I have a bit of bruising pain in the stomach area and some gas pain but all in all it is very bearable and i'm happy with the outcome. Probably the thing that is annoying me most is the dry, sometimes sore throat. Drinking is helping with that however. The surgeon said my procedure could not have gone any more perfect which was lovely to hear. Thinking of all you pre-bandsters getting ready. I'm normally a bit of a sook, and i'm ok, so i'm positive everyone else will be. Won't be on here for a couple of days, staying at my mum's who will be looking after me as my fiance is playing sport. Will post a.s.a.p. to let you know how it's going. :wink2:

T-Bird, I know exactly how you feel. I'm soooo nervous. I can't wait to wake up and see it's all done though :tongue2::biggrin: Just having my last Breakfast Optifast shake. Now that excites me!!! Terri, so glad to hear all went well. Sounds like you've started off to a speedy recovery, I hope that continues.

2 sleeps till banding and the anxiety has kicked in BIG time. BREATHING sLowLy..... Still excited!! Good luck to those banded today and those being banded tomorrow. Thinking of you all :tongue2: (((HUGS)))

Fantastic news! Hope all is going well and look forward to hearing your progress. 2 more sleeps for me!!! :thumbup:

As long as you try and keep positive thoughts happening, it makes it much easier. It also helped me to imagine waking up without the band being placed if i cheated. I only have 2 and a half more days of liquid diet! Good Luck

So happy for you! Congratulations and can't wait to hear your progress :thumbup: Only 7 more days for me before Band-Day. YAY!!!

Hey guys, I quoted you all to grab you're attention. This thread isn't exactly running anymore. There is another thread entitled 'December Bandsters 2009' created by Illuminationlady. People still post quite a bit there. Thankfully, Illuminationlady has already created a group for all us 2009 December losing machines. Probably the easiest way for you to find this is to click my name, go to my public profile. Once you are in my profile, scroll down so on the right hand side you can see the groups I have joined. If you click on the December Bandsters 2009 square with the tree on it, it will take you to the page so you can join with the rest of us, YAY! Sorry if you have already done this and i'm giving you TMI! :ohmy:

Ok Honey, I'm sure we all go through this at some stage. What is even less helpful for you is that you don't have any support outside this site to talk to. What you said is right, you need to take DEEP breaths and CALM down. While doing this, think of how you have lived life to this moment. Think of all the times you have hurt not only on the outside but on the inside because of your weight. Once you have done this, think of all the reasons YOU came upon the DECISION to have the surgery. Imagine yourself at goal weight. It is a hard road we travel, but the rewards in the end will be worth it. Think of the extra years you will live. Think of the extra time you will spend with your family/friends. Think of the wonderful way you will feel being able to go into 'that' clothes shop. Think about the self love and respect you will gain and how much happier this will make you. In the end, it's not our decision it is yours. But we all got to this point for a reason and if we could have done it by ourselves and maintained it, we would have. HUGS:wub:

I'm on the optifast illuminationlady. The flavours I have available are: Chocolate (Yum), Strawberry (Ok), Vanilla (Ok), Coffee (Horrible, I actually felt like vomiting), Chicken Soup (YUM!) and Hearty Veg Soup (Ok). Hope this helps! Great job on the non-smoking :redface:

Sure do! The lady at the surgery told me that when it all began they made patients do 6 week liquid diet, but since have found people can only handle 3 weeks. Thank god, 6 weeks of Optifast shakes would kill me. The chocolate tastes not too bad. I'm really looking forward to my bowl of vegies tonight.

Decided I would have my morning coffee by partaking in the coffee shake. I'm hoping i tried the one i'm going to least like first, i find the coffee one horrid! :biggrin: Fingers crossed for lunchtime!

Hi Everyone, Congrats on quitting smoking illumination lady, that's fantastic :tongue2: Well, I'm 3 weeks away from surgery and I had my last appt at the surgeon's office today before the big day. I start my liquid diet tomorrow! I'm super excited I'm also getting more anxious as the days go by. I'm a huge worry wart by nature and i'm getting a little nervous about the surgery. Don't get me wrong, I still want it done, I'm just being silly I guess. So at my surgeon's office, I had the options of the following shake flavours: chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, coffee, chicken soup and mixed vegie soup. The office lady there gave me samples of each to take home to try before I buy the rest of my three week supply. I thought that was pretty cool, try before buying. I'll let you know how they taste for me. Everyone's tastes are different though :wink2: In preparation for the surgery I quit smoking in September. Haven't looked back on that one. I've purchased some little containers for the mushy stage so I can make one big lot of food and freeze it. I'll have to look into a multi-vitamin. I found out today I have to take 6 fish oil tablets a day before the surgery. A bit excessive, but it's to help tissue repair after the surgery. Good luck to all with their upcoming surgery and I enjoy reading all our stories.

Bren, I'm excited about heels also. :thumbup: It has been so long.... That has been one of the things which has definately contributed to me feeling less feminine. From reading other posts, beer is apparently out for most bandsters. This makes me sad, I love beer. :eek: But, if I was going to stop getting the band because I love beer too much, obviously i wouldn't be ready for the lifestyle change. I must admit though, I'm going to try to fit in a couple of beer sessions before the liquid diet. I've only got a week and a bit... better get crackin'! P.S. I'm not an alcoholic, us Aussies love beer :tt1: