btrieger

Elcee, I usually agree with you 100% but I happen to be one of those people refuse to give the band any credit for my weight loss. The band is just a tool and if I wasn't using it as it was intended, it wouldn't work as prescribed. Therefore, I am doing ALL of the work.

Mine was liquids for a week and mushies for another. I was giventhe go ahead for "normal" food after 2 weeks.

Excellent points!! Besides what has already been mentioned: Make sure you have some kind of support network to keep you honest and help you out. Whether it be family; friends; a weight loss support group or lapband support group. You can do it alone but it is so much easier with others.

Hijack all you want. 90% of the reason I am having this done is physical. It is very uncomfortable when I walk; it gets irritated and sweaty underneath. Another 5% is how I look and the last 5% is that I want to have a waist. I appreciate the answers here too. I have a pretty high threshold for pain and no problem with "discomfort". I've been 200 pounds overweight and uncomfortable for so long that I grew used to discomfort.

If I couldn't drink Water, I'd be at the doctor's door the minute they opened. You do not want to become dehydrated. How much was the fill on Thursday?

You look great! Keep it up!

I don't see it as smug and superior. I think of it as honest and direct.

As the title of the thread states. I feel those that are complaining are hurting themselves. I could just sit back and wallow in my success but I feel obligated to try and pay it forward by letting them know that changing their attitudes can and will help.

BUY IT!! It is worth every penny! I attribute a lot of my weight loss to it. Counting calories never made sense until I could actually compare the calories I was consuming to those I was burning. * Note: I am a geek and love numbers. That may have been a deciding factor.

The weight loss journey is not "easy" for any of us but the whole point of my original post is that I think people are making it harder on themselves by concentrating on the negative. I think that no pain should go unmentioned. All pain should be diagnosed immediately. However, hunger and the rate of weight loss are different I have not been hungry since I started this and I think a lot of that has to do with mind over matter. I tell myself over and over that I am not hungry and remind myself of my success. What you see as a relief that you are not the only one hungry, could remind others that they may be hungry after they've put it out of their heads. Shortly after my original post in this thread somebody started another thread apologizing for whining about being in pain. That was never my point.

And don't forget good, old water-aerobics. Many gyms have pools if you don't have one at home or it is too cold.

They look great. I am waiting until after my panni to post a G-string pic. :tt2:

Melody, Work with a dietitian if you have one handy. It could be just regular fluctuations or you just need to tune your eating differently. I don't count calories per se but I keep a strict eye on how much saturated fat and sodium I ingest. With others it is carbohydrate; sugars or all out calories. Just keep your head up and don't let it get to you.

I would not be able to contain myself. I would embarrass myself and the presenter. Once is a typo, more than that is idiocy!

In REAL life if you walk into a room full of bandsters and say, "I'm starving", the majority of the people in the room are going to roll their eyes and think, "suck it up and get over it!" Of course, some of us will actually say it. You'll always get sympathy from a couple but the rest won't care to listen to anything else you have to say because they don't want to be brought down. Once again, I am not trying to control what anyone posts and everybody will always agree or disagree with whatever they want. I just want people to take 2 seconds to think about what they will or will not gain when posting.

Try cutting the meats smaller and chewing them longer. Also, cheat, undercooked or overcooked meats can all cause issues. I have a harder time with fish than I do meat. A 6 inch sub is not in any shape or former a slider. So, I don't think you are too tight. It just takes practice. You don't have to be strict about it but it does help to read the nutrition facts on foods before you buy them. Kraft mac & cheese is basically garbage. The macaroni won't kill you but that delicious orange crap just may. Weight-watchers and Lean Cuisine have better alternatives in the frozen food section and they're already portioned perfectly.

My surgeon strictly stated before and after my surgery, "Do NOT do sit-ups because they can cause your port to flip." No a slipped band but a flipped port.

I understand life is not a bowl of cherries and we all have positive and negative experiences. I think everyone should feel free to post openly and honest. I just want everyone to think about what they're saying. I am a very skeptical and cynical person by nature. By keeping my attitude towards this journey positive it has really helped me succeed so far. "I ate solid food soon after surgery and it was a mistake" is a constructive post. Others can learn by your experience. "I just started my liquid diet and I'm starving" is not so constructive but it could be if phrased differently. Like, "what did some of you do to fight the hunger during your pre-op diet?"

Happy Birthday Denise!!!!

I should've mentioned that it is often quoted and always wrong. Loose skin has many variables and how fast you lose weight is not one of them. Age and amount of stretching being the two most prevalent.

That is a horrible, horrible misconception. The speed at which you lose weight has absolutely nothing to do with how much excess skin you wind up with in the end!

And a good pee weighs twice as much as a good crap :thumbup: Also, too much sodium or too little water will cause you to retain fluids.

I am going to start compiling some of the best statements from this site. Only one so far but it's a keeper.

It was in response to somebody posting about hating their band because of the pain. Although, it would be funny in almost any context.

I was banded March 2nd and drove to the store and got my supplies March 3rd.