sweetang

You are losing like crazy...congratulations! Regarding the hairloss....I am not sure that there is anything that really helps, except for patience (unfortunatly). You can buy Biotin at Target, Walmart....it is in the vitamin section.

I had a fill today and I am TIGHT! The doctor gave me a full 1 cc more, so now I have 5.5 ccs. I am going to give it through the weekend, and if I am still this tight, I may have him take .5 out. I can only get down liquids..very slowly. My husband keeps telling me to just be patient, but it is easier said than done Anyway, hopefully it will jump start some weight loss. Keep me posted on how you are doing, and keep up the great work

-Start excercising right away...it helps with weight loss, gas pain, etc.

-Really chew slowly...if you get stuck on solids, it will hurt

-You are not alone....I haven't shared my surgery with many people and often felt very alone....go on here...it will help!

-Your hair might fall out at alarming rates. My doctor told me that this only happens to bypass patients....so not true! Make sure to get your protein, buy biotin, and remember that it will stop, and will grow back. Mine started 4 months out, and still falls out (less though), but it is growing back in everywhere too!

As far as workouts, I usually do 30 minutes on the elliptical or 30 minutes jogging and power walking. I also do abs and arm weights.

Keep up the good work, and please feel free to write back if you have any more questions...we are all here for each other

Vanessa.... wow....only a week and half and 10 pounds down! That is great news How are you feeling? I remember being sore until about 2 weeks out, and then randomly after that (while the stitches were healing). I had to wait about 6 weeks for my first fill, and by that time, I felt like a really needed one. The first fill doesn't always do the trick, but be persistant with your doctor if you don't think you are tight enough. Don't go too fas though, 'cause I have heard being too tight is really, really uncomfortable.

I am certainly not an expert, but here are a few things that I wish I had know while going through this process (and I had no one to ask....wasn't on the boards).

(continued)...For me, excercise is key. If I do not excercise regularly, it is almost impossible for me to lose weight (I think I have a really slow metabolism). My husband and I have been working out almost every single mornign for the past three weeks, and I am down 6 pounds. I have an appointment for a fill on Friday. I haven't had a fill since February (which is way too long). Hopefully the fill will help me to get back on track too!

Have you had your surgery yet? You, like I are very, very fortunate. We are still really young, and are lives are going to be so much more fulfilling since we are making the choice to take action over our bodies at a young age. I wish you the best of luck, and keep in touch. I have only been on this board a couple of weeks, but it has helped! Talk to you soon! ~ Angela

Vanessa,

Hey there! This whole process has certainly not been easy for me (to say the least), but I am really happy with the progress that I have made. I have been overweight majority of my life. When I was younger, I played sports and so I wasn't really "obese", just heavier. In college, that all changed. I had a much more sedentary lifestyle, ate more, drank more...the usual.

I still have an addiction to ice cream and other sweet stuff, and do splurge on those periodically. I was banded almost a year ago, and in that year I bought my first house, moved offices (I am the office manager so I coordinated everything), got married and gained two step children, went on a honeymoon and turned 30! There have been a lot of moments or stress and a lot of occasions where I have induldged in things that I shouldn't have. (continued in next message)