TracyNYC

I had been toying with getting the band for about a year and was doing half-hearted research and such for a while. Last June I had a BBQ for my friends from school and of course we took pics. I put them on my snap-fish account. I was scrolling through the thumb-nail sized pics and came across a picture of a very round person and said to myself "Who is that round roly-poly?". Imagine my horror when I enlarged the pic and saw it was me! Now, I knew I was faaaat, but had never seen the way my body had become round all the way around.. and that folks was my "THAT"S IT" moment! Consult in July, Surgery in October and down about 35 lbs. today!

I have always been able to feel my port under my skin. It never hurt or anything, I could just feel around and find it. Last night when I bent over I had a small pain in the port area and again this morning the same thing. I was sitting and bent over to put on my shoes and I had a pain. Not, bad but there. Sort feels like pinching under the skin. If it persists today, I will call surgeon. Any ideas/suggestions? I have not really been throwing up or doing heavy lifting lately. Thanks

Again, thanks for sharing all your stories. I am waiting til the day I can use the normal BP cuff at the doctor. My arms will be the last place to see a change, so that will be "It" for me. I joined curves years ago and after 6months of going faithfully 6x a week I lost no inches, gained weight and my arms grew 3 flabby inches each and I have never lost it no matter how much I lose. I will be getting the bat wing surgery when all is said and done, i am not doing all this suffering, growing and changing to still wear 3/4 sleeves in July!

Theat's funny since my surgeon says he does almost all bands now! What an ass. I would definitely follow upo and say something to him about his attitude.

I don't have a spouse either, but have been seeing an old BF again. (Long Story-as they always are LOL) I am 100 pounds heavier than the first time around 12 years ago. He was always supportive of me and still is. He knew about the band before we 'got back together' and his only concern was that my surgeon was reputable, etc. He is very helpful and happy if it makes me feel better.

I can eat mashed or baked potatoes, but too many, so I stay away. Last week I browned up a can of sliced potato with some onion and a smidge of margarine. They were very good and I ate about 1/3 of the can at one meal and spread out the rest over other meals. Not quite a slider but will be reserved as a treat. Pasta has been a no-no and I am afraid of rice.

Thanks for sharing. I know there is never '1' thing that prompts such a step, but was curious as to how people arrived at their decision.

I am 6 months post-op and think the moods have leveled off. The first couple of months I was crabby and I knew it. My friend at work would say to me: Eat bread! and that would make me laugh. I have found I am much more outspoken since surgery. Some I attributed to moodiness, but most is from a feeling of taking control of the part of my life that has always been so out of control and that has spilled into other areas of assertion. OR maybe I am just a BEEOTCH! LOL

Hi John, Welcome to the LB Journey! I am a stomach sleeper too. Put a pillow under your belly when you are on your side. It helps hold up the belly a bit/ I was back on my stomach in about 3 days. The gas will subside a bit too. Good Luck! The people on here are great!

I am a mayo snob and only like regular Hellman's Mayo. I have been subbing FF Ranch on my wraps for mayo and I like it fine. However, I want to make egg salad and the ranch wasn't good with that. I WILL NOT eat FF, RF, or any type of lite mayo. They are awful. Any suggestions? It's like you have to have Heinz Ketchup or why bother! Tracy

It is funny how each health care team is so different. I can not get a calorie number out of my nutritionist. I need 60-70 oz protein per day, 15 grams fiber and nothing should be over the 5% total fat or carb amount. I was never given a # of total carbs per day. It is a huge juggling act and often I can come close to the requirements, but not all. It has made me way more conscious of labels though.

My hiccup is a sign when I am too full too fast. Before my fill on Thursday, I was so starving between meals that I was gobbling the food. Since Thursday, I have taken the hiccup as a stop sign,

I was banded in October 09. I was so motivated and doing well and then..... I don't know what happened. I CAN NOT stop grazing. All day I am in the fridge and cabinet picking and picking. Each day I try to start over. I was tracking my food for 2 weeks and that was really helping. I even stayed off the scale. At the end of the 2 weeks I was UP almost 3 pounds. That really set me off and boy, did I show that scale. I started an eating spree that I am still trying to come out of. I also have not been exercising. I will be getting a fill this Thursday, but am dreading going into doc's office. I think I need more structure than eat 60 grams of Protein and 15 grams of Fiber... Any advice or words of encouragement is appreciated...... I did this for my health and also quit smoking in the preparation for the surgery and am so proud of that. I need to find my motivation....and it is NOT in the fridge...LOL

Thanks Guys. Each meal is a chance to get it right. I had my Kashi and skim milk for breakfast and am deciding on lunch. So far so good today.

My Birth control sends TOM packing, but I blame my weight gain on the birth control instead of TOM. (Depo Provera shot)

I have really re-focused and buckled down with my eating these past 2 weeks. In addition, I have been cleaning and organizing to occupy my hands and mind. House has never been so together! LOL I don't have a hobby like knitting or crafting to keep me busy, though I want to start scrap booking. What do you do occupy yourself to avoid the obsessing about food? Can't wait to start working outside. Bye Bye snow!

I was banded 10/5/09 and have not seen surgeon since the day of 1 week follow up. I saw the associate as a follow up in hospital and have seen the PA each month since then and for my fills. I was surprised but realized this seems normal. He is very nice and would see me if needed, just has the PA handle day to day stuff. The PA is nice and the nutritionist is a little dipsy, but I really like my surgeon's practice.

I have been noticing more and more new bandsters joining here who have way less than 100 pounds to lose. I know that BMI is also an indicator, but some people have "only" 70 or 80 pounds to lose. I wonder why the switch? When I first started researching ALL the literature said docs/insurance require you to be AT LEAST 100 pounds overweight in order to be considered a good candidate. Just curious as to why the change in numbers.

Interesting array of responses. I was just wondering. I agree that we should not wait until we hit the morbidly obese mark. Thanks for your answers.

My surgeon has a no soda policy, which I have had no problem with since pre-surgery... The last 3 days I have been CRAVING a full calorie, cold, coke or pepsi, the kind from a fountain, though a can would do. UGH. Won't cave, but does anyone have a suggestion? I think it is the syrupy sweetness and not the carbonation so much that I want.

We all fall off the wagon now and then. I had French Fries last night. The hiccups started and I took one more bite and paid for it. They are still 'sitting' and I feel them. I know hiccups are a trigger for me to stop, yet I kept eating. I look at each meal as way to "do it right". Good luck.

Without a doubt I consider my self an addict as far as food is concerned. I feel it would be dangerous for me to EVER say I have broken the addiction to food. Like all addicts we can be in recovery and managing the addiction, but we never beat it. In fact I feel food is one of the hardest addictions in a way. Imagine telling a crack addict to "just have what you need to survive". Food addicts need food to survive. I am more obsessed with food than ever now that I am banded. "What can I eat?" "When can I eat?" are always in the back of my mind. I had Kashi Cereal, almond milk and fruit for Breakfast at 8am. It is now 11:15 and I am stalking the clock, waiting for noon so I can have lunch. It is horrible. I hate that food has such a hold on me. I work on this in counseling all the time. So, yes, I am a food addict.

I found my ankles within weeks of my surgery. Never knew they were so lost as I have thick ankles and wrists even when "thin", plus huge calves. But when the constant bloat (which I did not realizes I had) went down I found my ankles! Still thick and always will be, but def there!

I won't have it at all and have not since August and have not really missed it. Want it with certain foods once in a while, but really was craving it A LOT the past few days. I wonder why?

I'm in NYC and it is still snowing. I too like certain things on snow days: Double stuff Oreos. Last week I did not resist and bought and ate them all. This time No way. I made pizza with my 8 year old niece. Small whole wheat wraps, pizza quick sauce and reduced fat Mozzarella with turkey pepperoni. We made three and 'surprised' her mom with it. It was really good. Niece said we should do this every time it snows. So Now we have a new tradition. I think the shoveling has kept me from gaining. LOL