1019Joanne

don't be afraid of the needle! really! it's ok! you will hardly even know you are being poked! I was terrified when I had my first fill, and that nervousness was for nothing! Best wishes on this journey!

Best wishes to you! I will be cheering you on from here! You can do it!

Happy Birthday to you! today is the day to celebrate your new life! Have fun at the beach! and I wish you many more birthdays to celebrate!

Hang in there! Day 2 and 3 are just around the corner! I agree that you need to call your doctor, just to check in and make sure all is going well with your recovery. You really do need to try and get some liquids in you - SF popsicles are an awesome suggestion - and water! Sip it, and just keep on sipping. gasX strips helped me with gas pains after my surgery - but it might not work for everyone. My suggestion is to talk a little walk around the house every couple of hours, and get that gas moving around. The good news is, that day 1 is just about done! Keep up the good work!

one you learn your band, you can eat just about anything - in moderation. Chew everything well, and just be comfortable with what you order when you go out, and you are going to be just fine on your work trip! Best Wishes!

sixteen pounds and no fill yet! You are awesome! Keep it up! So proud of you!

love love LOVE the dress! You look great! So happy for you! Isn't shopping so much fun now! Enjoy every minute - you deserve it!

It's been almost 9 months since my surgery, and just over a year from when I started the whole band process. Lately tho, I thought I was stuck in a holding pattern, a plateau of a huge magnitude. I went to my regularly scheduled appointment with my surgeon yesterday, and dreaded the walk to the scale. I even told the PA that I knew I had not lost one pound over the past 7 weeks. and he agreed with me.....since I had lost 3! I am not going to disparage the weight loss, since every single pound I lose is another one off of me. I talked at length with my doctor over my eating habits (and it helps that I track my food intake daily online) and I was totally honest with him - including a stop at Dairy Queen over the weekend - and my exercise routine. We decided to up the cc's in my band ( I had 6 since February) and now I am at 7 cc's in a 9cc realize band. Today, I feel full. Really full. I am following my doctors 4 day after fill diet, and I am ok. I know this weight loss plan is a journey - and not short one at that. and I am so happy I really did lose weight over the past few weeks....so here I am....keeping up with the "band"wagon!

Congratulations! Yahoo! ONEderland!

best wishes!

CONGRATULATIONS! You really ARE a lucky god! LOL - but seriously, when you think back to where you were one year ago and compare it to where you stand today, I am sure you are healthier, happier, and 100 lbs lighter! I wish you continued success!

Congratulations on this journey! I wish you a quick recovery! I am almost 8 months post op, and I know this is the best decision I made for myself in a long long long time! Here is to the rest of your life!

you did it! You made it to ONEderland just in time for your birthday! I am so proud of you! Keep up the good work!

I work in telecommunications, and I agree that yesterday was a BAD day! But, back to the reason why we are here.....sometimes a short lapse in the way we eat makes us realize what is important, and gets us back on track - with more focus on the long haul. Best wishes! Have a better day today!

you need to get a reusable water bottle - and drink drink drink all day long! I work in an office setting, and I drink at least 24 oz of water while at work -sometimes more - since I know that is the only way to keep my body going, and stop the hungries, never mind the dry lips, etc. Hang in there!

In a year, you are going to be so happy that you did NOT chicken out. This is the start of a whole new you, and congratulations! You are going to be just fine! Best Wishes!

Yum....I cannot wait to try this! Thank you for sharing!

Happy Anniversary! Thank you for your inspiration and encouraging words. This is really a journey we are all on, and I am so proud of all your have accomplished over the past year. Best wishes!

it's a trip, isn't it! LOL....one day something goes down well, and then next day you can't tolerate one bite! My best advise is to chew well, put your fork down between bites, and only put more food in your mouth when that last bite has been swallowed.... I made chili the other night, and made extra so that I could pack lunches for the week....the chili was fine on Monday, Tuesday it was choking after two bites, and tonight, it was ok. Best of luck...take is slow....and keep sharing!

you are certainly on the right path! Congratulations on your surgery, and taking the steps to regain control of your life! You are in what we read about on here all the time - Bandster Hell - which is when you have had the surgery, have little to no restriction, and little weight loss. Hang in there - since this is the time your body should be healing, and not worrying about what the scale says! Best wishes!

keeping track of your food is a great idea. I just started using myfitnesspal.com to keep track of every single thing I eat, and it has really refocused my diet plan. I would also talk to your doctor when you see him/her and be honest! The physician is our partner in this journey, and maybe he/she can help you get back on track, and losing again. I wish you the best! Keep us posted!

I,too, wish I had not waited years to get banded. I am so happy with the positive change in my life since my surgery - I am healthier, I am happier, I have more energy, and I know that my life is only going to get better with the more weight I lose! I wish you much success!

There is no pity-party here! I seem to be in a holding pattern with my weight loss, but I know why....IT'S ALL ABOUT ME! The scale is not moving...and why might that be? Well, lets talk about it.....my hours have changed this month at work, making it harder to scheduled in gym time ( I am down from 4-5 times a week to 1-2), I am eating later at night (since I am home now at 8 instead of 6pm) and some of my food choices really are not the best for me. So, NO pity party for the scale not moving, no blame on my band, no blame on my doctor (who is wonderful by the way) - the responsibility for all of this falls directly on MY shoulders. I have one more week on this horrible schedule - and then my life will be back to normal, as will my gym schedule. I am committing to returning to the gym 4-5 times a week, and I am also promising myself that I will eat at a regular time, and eat the foods that are best for my body. I had this surgery for me...and I have to lose weight for me. No one else is going to be impacted by my good and bad choices, and I need to get back in control of my diet. Gastric banding is not a magic wand....it's a life changing journey that only works if you work with it, and for the last few weeks, I have not been a good bandster. I am getting back on the "band"wagon, and re-committing myself to this way of life.

Hi there - I think you are losing focus here....you have lost 25lbs since March....so, that is about 10 lbs a month, and when have you lost 10lbs a month on any other weight loss program? This is life long commitment - I am sure it look more than 2 1/2 months to put your weight on, and it is going to take some time to get the weight off as well. Be proud of your weight loss! 25 lbs is AMAZING! Congratulations. Most people do no do so well in the first months, because of the low amount of fluids in the band, and really start to see the pounds falling off after a few fills. Hang in there - give this time to work, and give yourself time to heal, and get used to this new way of life. You are doing really well!

Congratulations on a new and heathier you!