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I love to mess with the waiters when out to eat I never order Water and they spend the whole time trying to figure out why are you not drinking. I have had the manager at several places ask me why they did not get me something to drink. I know it is mean but also funny! Cheri

Well Sis I just looked at your profile we are not that far away. I am in Hitchcock, close to Galveston. If you would like to maybe we could meet for coffee sometime. I also attend a support group meeting in Alvin also on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Private message me if you want to meet up or want to know where the support group meets at. Cheri

K.Boone I do not think she was judging you she was going by your own words. Everyone knows we should exercise with the Band. The Band is to help us lose the weight not lose it for us. I know my surgeon made it clear to me what I was going to have to eat and I would have to exercise. I worked out before surgery but now with the band I know I have a little help to help me lose and keep it off so I am more motivated to do it. I watch my 2 grandbadies (4 year old and 19 month old) twice a week while I work at home (Graphis) and when they go I am pooped too but I still make myself work out I just rest for a while first. It is not easy but a must. Plus it will help you feel better and increase your weight loss. You have alot going on with different meds and that might make it harder to lose also. Plus having the kids is like a full time job. My age (50) and many different meds slow me down some too. Have you tried some in-person support groups. It always helps to be around people going throught the same things you are going through. It is the best it is not like talking on the boards, you need both. Staring over might help you gain control. It is sad that the Band really does not help some as easy as it does others. Sometimes I wish I had a bypass too I was just afraid my pouch would stretch in the coming years and I was self pay and it was about $5000 more. The band has worked for me. . . but I know several who have struggled with it. Don't get your feeling hurt . . .it is so easy to do on these boards and if people were listening instead of reading the same words would sound a little different. Hang in there things will get better. Good luck to you!! SiS - That is one of the good things about the band you can go get a fill and start over. Best of luck to you. Like i said before you must find a support group it makes a huge difference. I met some people on these boards and we started our own small support group, we all talk almost everyday. Just start a thread looking for people in your area and then you all plan when you want to meet and where. It is so easy. Cheri

Oh my gosh my surgeon has dropped his price $3000 in the 18 months since I had my surgery. He is a highly respected and experienced surgeon. I was self pay and $3000 is a lot of money to me. I paid $13,000, he is now charging $10,000. If you had known when you had your surgery that the price would drop so much would you have waited a year or year and a half? I might have but not sure. What about you? Cheri

Thanks everyone! I work out on the Total Gym probably should do some cardio and see if that helps. Also varying the calories is a good idea too. It is coming off one way or the other!!! Cheri

I can not sleep until about 3:00 am or 4:00 and my husband goes to sleep at 10:00 pm. I want to eat so bad but not because I am hungry just need something to do. It is a battle every night. I have prescription to sleep but that only helps around 3 or 4 am. I try to do my workout at night as it makes me tired but the head hunger kills me. I was eating sugar free popsicle but now it is too cold no matter if I sit by the heater. Just an everynight battle. It is a lot of time alone from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am. I also have clinical depression too and that does not help. I try to read, watch TV, get on computer and just take it hour by hour. Cheri

I was banded in July 2009 was 251 lbs on the day of surgery. I am now at 167 lbs and would like to get at least 15 more pounds off. I am 5'4 and wearing a size 10 but still do not like my body's shape yet. It is like pulling teeth to get those pounds off. I have a total gym and work out every night at least an hour. I eat good 99% of the time, Water I am a hit and miss on some days I drink it all some days and some I can't make myself do it. Anyone have some tips for the last 15 lbs. By weight charts I should be even smaller than the 150 lbs I want to be but I do not see it ever happening. I get no help from my Dr as he says I far surpassed what the surgery promises Any tips?? Cheri

I went many months once with no weight loss. I finally decided to just go very very low carb and it jump started my weightloss again. Be sure you are being honest with yourself about everything you are eating. Every bite adds up. When I get lost and fall off track I return to liquids for two or 3 days to take my mind off of food. That always helps me. Just change something about what you are doing more Water, more Protein, more exercise. Please do not label yourself as a failure. I would go in for a fill if I was getting so hungry. You have a large band and it might need to be fuller. Talk to your Dr that is what you are paying him for and see if he can help point you in the right direction. Hang in there! Cheri

Total Gym is great! I had an older model and just gave it to another band buddy and invested in a new one! I work out and watch TV cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I bought a scatch and dent one on the website we have yet to find the dent or scratch. Half price for scratch and dent - scratch or dent will only be up to 1 inch long and will not be anything mechanical. Love it check out their website. I can work out way over an hour easy and still keep going if I want. Work out every night. I like to walk but it is not safe in our area to go by yourself and treadmill is boring to me. Love my Total gym! cheri

I drink them and love them. You can get less fat I think if you just get the High Protein SF but too many carbs for me, Cheri

I like Muscle Milk light too. I buy it at Sams so mugh cheaper than at Target or when you just buy a 4 pack. But my Krogers and Sam's here carries the low carb slimfast and I really like that. I thought I had drank enough slimfast during my fat days. But this is cheaper and tastes really good. They make a Low Carb one and a High Protein one also. I bought the high protein one first until I found the Low Carb it is low carb and full of protein. I always buy the ready mix so I can take them on the go!! Cheri

Hey Ross, Listen to them. Their menus sound good. I never have much hunger so I eat weird. I have 2 big cups of coffee for Breakfast. About 4:00 pm I will eat a Protein bar. About 7:00 pm I will have either tacos or taco salad for dinner. Sometimes part of all of low carb Protein shake before working out. When I was first starting out like you I ate eggs for breakfast and a measured out 3/4 cup amount of chicken salad with eggs, FF mayo and eat the same for dinner. The rest of time is drinking all that Water. I tend to pick something I like and stick with it. I did Chicken salad for 7 months straight. I bought big cans of white chicken meat at Sam's (Costco) and made enough for the whole week so I did not have to think about food just get my bowl out and fill it up and that was it. I have been considering getting a juicer because I hate vegetables except the bad ones. So I thought I could drink my veggies. I do best when I do very low carb NOT no carb but low carb. I also eat low carb yogurt love it! Cheri

1). In-person support 2). Water 3). Protein and Vitamins Cheri

I too have been sick more this last year than ever. Last year I got a flu shot if I can ever get well I will go get one get a flu shot. I think it as to do with not getting enough nutrition sometimes is hard to get all the Protein in Cheri

When I lost my 60% my Doctor said congratulations you are a sucess at this. But I was still consider overweight but he said the surgery did what was promised. Basically go home and enjoy life. But I have kept at it and lost another 25 lbs since them it is very slow and I have to workout every night. I have not had a fill in a year and could not handle one if I did. But I want to get last 15 lbs off and I will be happy. I have gone from 251 lbs to 167 lbs woulld like 15 more gone!!! Cheri Cheri

How about some meds for stress and anxiety. You can get something you take all the time or just as needed talk to your Dr. Cheri

I had all my fills under floro but only because my Doctor has one in his office. I think first fill skip the floro then . . . after a couple of fills go for the floro just to make sure everything is working good. If you have a small band they will probably go slow on your fills that is the best way. Just my opinion!! Cheri

Please listen to these people they are only trying to help you. Listen to your Dr first always if you are confused call them. Even on the weekends most Drs will return weekend calls. Mine does. If you are already breaking the rules after 4 days what lies ahead for you? Come on you went through all this just give it a month and it will get so much easier and be worth it! I for one am cheering you on, you can do this!! Start over now, the few days early you start another stage might cause you trouble. Go slow and follow the rules!! Whether the shrimp will go through does not matter you are not suppose to do it for a reason. Liquid is Liquid!! Shrimp is meat!! Cheri

I was self pay and did not have to do any pre-op tests. But I had up-to-date medical records. No diet as I had surgery 1½ days from time of appointment as I have really bad anxiety and did not want to go crazy worring about it. My Dr. is Dr Spivak in Houston and is very experienced. I say do the tests if you feel they are needed if not skip it. Just my opinion research it. Cheri

My Band does the samething after a nap. I just drink something warm to help loosen it. Hot tea, coffee, hot chocolate. It helps a lot. Cheri

My favorite is “Mary Did You Know”, makes me cry everytime. Also “Happy Birthday Jesus” sung by a child, so sweet. Cheri

Getting the Band is so worth it. Yes it is a little rough the first month but so worth it! Just follow the rules and you will do great. I am 17 months out down 84 lbs. and would do it again in a minute. I went through a period of vomiting but it passed and did not hurt my band so just follow the rules and workout and in a few months you will be so happy you did this. I wish you all best wishes and remember you are doing this for you!!! Cheri

Spent last night at Church at childen's play which my grandbabies and I where in. Saw a lot of people who only seem to come on holidays, they we so nice with compliments. One teenager from Church sent me a private message on facebook asking if I was seriously sick like cancer or something as I had lost so much weight. That was a little weird. Being with my husband, son, daughter-in-law and 2 grandbabies, 4 years old and 19 months. God had truly blessed me! Band is good but second to my family. Cheri

I went into the holidays going to lose weight lost 3 lbs which is hard for me since I am at last 15 lbs or so. But the last 2 days I have lost all control. Tomorrow is back to liquids for a cople of days till I can refocus. I did exercise everyday but all it took was one stupid carb full of sugar and I am lost. Tomorrow is a new day for all of us! Cheri

I wanted a fill so bad that I even told a little white lie that I was getting hungry too soon when I was not. So he gave me ½cc and it made me so tight after about 3 days. I waited it out to see if it was just swelling. But it was not. I spent the next 6 months always getting stuck and some vomiting. My weight loss had slowed to nothing. Another LapBand friend forced me to go in and get a small unfill. They only took out .02cc, But it made all the differencet in the world. I could eat again and not get stuck and not vomit. This is how it is suppose to be. I only have 3.8 cc in a 10cc AP Band. I could not take another drop even 4 months later. Sometimes it is good to experience what it feels like to be too filled but it is not worth the trouble and putting your band at risk and stopping you weightloss. Moral of this story do not lie to your Doctor. Cheri