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Just wanted to say welcome and good luck on your surgery. These ladies have really helped me when I feel low. I have spent the past 3 days in the florida sunshine. Only about 5 minutes of rain. Really getting back into the book series I am reading (twilight). Finished the book Women food and God and have another one coming by Dr. Garth Davis. It is about WLS. While searching I discovered that Muhummad Ali's daughter has a Lapband and a book out about it. I will be getting it next. My tattoo is going on my ankle. I thought with my uniform pants and socks I could cover it well while I am working. Outside School/work, I live in flip flops and sandals so I'll see it often as a reminder never to go back into myself and to 260 lbs. My son is graduating friday. I went through my closet to find something dressy and only one summer dress fit. Nothing else. I have no dress slacks or dress shirts, skirts. Nada. I will just have to buy things as I go. Not going to go out and get a whole new wardrobe yet. Good will is just around the corner.

I didn't have restriction until my 4th fill. I had to learn all over again to eat slower and chew better. The feeling I get when full changed so I had to make some mental adjustments. I was on liquids the first 5 days post fill then pbed on everything the next 5 days till I fiqured outwhat was going on. The constant pbing was wearing on my psych. Driving me to overeat. It was a cycle I had to break. I adjusted and am losing steadily. It is an adjustment but well worth it. Be patient with yourself.

I have scheduled my first tattoo session this thursday. I am so excited and nervous. I am getting a butterfly because the past year I have really broken out of my cocoon. I drew one up and the artist changed it so it would look great as a tattoo. It's beautiful. Can't wait to post pics of it. I am not a tattoo expert but I think losing weight doesn't effect the tat as much as gaining. I asked the women who will be doing my tattoo and she said not to stress about it.

Just checking in, Not much to report. Just spent the morning by the pool reading then posted a youtube video. Made ribs for dinner. Yum.

Cheri you look HOT! Way to go. Evening Ladies, I had my surgeon appt this morning. I lost 14 pounds in 4 weeks! We were both very excited. He said he would do a fill if I wanted and after discussing it with him I decided I didn't want one. I am doing great and would hate to get too tight and set myself back. Plus I would like to save it for a rainy day. In case I hit a platue. Just about everyone in the office came in to say how great I was doing. It feels good to finally have some success with my weight after fighting it for years. I am starting to grasp that the battle is in my thinking. Is comfort food really comforting if it makes us fat and guilty and miserable? Does it really taste that good to be worth all I have sacrificed for it? I think of all I gave up for comfort in food only to realize I found no comfort in it at all. I only found guilt, shame and disappointment. My leg is feeling great now. I am still waiting the rest of my 6 weeks though. I do understand it is still injured even though it doesn't feel like it. My husband was having lower back pain that sounded like sciatica. He went to a chiropractor who told him he had a bulged disc in his back. He also said it would be fine with a few adjustments and turned Don down when he asked for pain meds. The man can't even sleep he is in so much pain. I sent Don to the family doc today and now he has pain meds, anti-inflammatories, and a muscle relaxer. He went and had x-rays done and we are waiting to hear back. He is so upset he can't ride his motorcycle and we may have to cancel our vacation. We were planning to ride through the mountains over July 4th weekend. I am just worried about wether or not he needs surgery. He has been sleeping on my sons extra bed because we have been using an airbed. I wanted to go get mattresses from my inlaws but no one can help me get them down the stairs. I need to stop stressing myself out. We are just waiting on a call from the doc. ttyl

Lady, Thanks for the advice on making Definate plans. I will try that and see how it goes. Apples, No plans this weekend. Not sure if hubby will be working or not. I am trying to get plans together with my Dad but he is dragging his feet. Yesterday I went to a tattoo parlor with my hubby. He wants to get his arm tattooed. After looking at portfolios and talking to a women my age also named Jessica I decided to get a tattoo. I have wanted to get a butterfly tattoo since I got out of rehab but didn't want to stir up any trouble with the inlaws. Now I have been on this lapband journey and I have been wanting it more. I have changed so much and would like to do something besides eat to mark the occasion. Anyway I came home and sketched out a butterfly and took it to Jessica. She modified it a bit into a tattoo and I am scheduled to have it done next week. My hubby is jealous. He wants one so bad but what he wants will take some time to save up for. Can't show you a pic yet because they keep the art in the studio. Once it's done I can show you. It is beautiful. I have a appointment with my surgeon tommorrrow. I am still debating if I should get a fill or not. How do you know when you need one? I can not eat eggs for breakfast anymore. I have been eatting yogurt (slider) or cheese. By dinner though I am wide open again. I do fine all day with my portions and not snacking. Then after dinner I get into a feeding frenzy. A part of me is not wanting the fill because my last one was soo tight at the begining I was pbing every meal. I don't wanna go through that again. I guess I should look at the bigger picture. It's just 2 weeks and in the end it will be to my benefit.

I did try the greek yogurt. It was plain because the flavored ones were too many carbs. I didn't like it. Doc says no fruit too. He is really strict on the carbs. Less than 30 and only meat, cheese and some veggies are allowed. He gives specific instructions on no yogurt too The weight is coming off but once I get to maintenace I will add at least fruit into the mix. Congrats on feeling so good. So glad your appointment went well and congratulations on becoming an aunt. Morning all, Got my exercise in this morning and had the yogurt for Breakfast. It went down fine. I have an appt this afternoon with my son's teacher. She is meeting with all the parents to go over somethings with us now that the year is wrapping up. I realized (by reading WFG) that I am eatting at the computer for breakfast and lunch because I feel lonely. I am here by myself all day and am reading post and watching friends youtube videos while I eat. So I am trying to eat at the table by myself and be aware of how fast and how much I am eatting. I have been numbing myself with food for so long I am afraid to actually allow myself to feel. Loneliness won't kill me for 20 minutes while I eat and it is better than being numb and fat. I knew I was feeling a bit left out and have been trying to get friends to come over or go to the beach with me. I am not really close to anyone so I keep getting put off by people. They say sure we can get together I let you know when but they never do. One lady keeps asking me to babysit so she can go out with her other friends. My hubby told me not to sit for her anymore and I think he is right. Plus I am not the greatest person with kids. Hopefully I'll meet some people at school next semester. It just makes for a long summer for me and Jake to be by ourselves the whole time.

Thanks Apples I went on Dannons website and they say they offer carb and sugar control yogurts. I put in my zip code and the type of yogurt I wanted and the thing directed me to Publix. I got there and there was no sugar and carb control. I know winn dixie and walmart don't carry it. I'll have to try another store. For now I got some yogurt with 10 carbs. Thats 1/3 of my daily allowance but it is better than pbing on eggs. Also got some soy crisp. They are ok, not exactly like chips. More like rice cakes. Publix offers alot more variety than the store I usually go too. I will probably drive the extra 5 min to shop there.

Wow thanks everyone. When I first checked in it looked the we were having a party in here. All the emoticons. I really appreciate it. My son spilt milk in my car so I spent the morning cleaning it out. Then did my upperbody workout and am finally eatting lunch, shrimp, which seems to be going down fine. I used to be really intimidated by my surgeon. Scared to go see him if I didn't lose weight. He is very blunt about my progress and it made me nervous everytime I went in. I have learned to roll with it. My weightloss dosen't decide if I am a good person or not. Everyone has their struggles just don't give up. You will get the hang of it if you keep trying. Our life doesn't change in 45 min on the operating table. It changes through hard work over time. Sometimes I think my doc forgets that during surgery he forgot to remove my carb craver. I have a surgeon appt on friday and am debating if I need a fill. I struggle to get an egg down for breakfast but by evening I am wide open. I am so hungry and everything goes down. Maybe just a tiny bit of a fill. My doc doesn't want me eatting carbs that is why I am eatting eggs. I am thinking maybe eggs just aren't friendly to MY band. I'll try to find something else for breakfast and try to determin if I really am tight or if it is just the eggs. Welcome back Eve.

Good afternoon all, Just wanted to let yall know I finally hit the 50 pound mark. I have lost a whole 50 pounds. I am so excited. 11 more pounds and I will be in onderland. My goal is to lose 10 in the next 6 weeks. I want to be down 50% of the excess weight by my 6 month mark which is july 4th. What an independance day. Freeing myself from myself. I will be getting a smartphone for my hitting 50 down and because my birthday is not to far away. I can't believe I am here. I haven't been 210 in 6 years. I am about to pass my husband he weighs 209. It feels so good because I know I worked for it and earned it. My life is changing so fast my mind can't keep up. Just 3 years ago I couldn't get out of bed and get dressed. I had to put my son in childcare because I couldn't care for him. I was a zombie. I was hiding food around the house saving it from my family. Binging. I'm not living in disappointment anymore. I feel accomplished and happy. I don't think I could ever thank you gals enough for your guidance and love. Without you I would be lost on this lapband weightloss journey. We all know it's about more than weightloss. My attitude and emotions have changed. Anyway I am just gushing cause I am so excited. Talk to yall later.

I was typing when you posted. Just wanted to say I am happy your date went well. I probably wouldn't mention the band either until you are further along in the relationship. Did he make any comments about how little you ate? When I eat out with someone either they or the waiter comment on it. Don't really know what to say yet in that situation. One person told me that they tell the waiter they ate before they came.

That is so true, Peace is what I am truly craving. The book I am reading is all about that. Women Food and God. She tells this neat story, A lady was meeting with her psych and the psych says imagine you are surrounded by 1,000 tigers. What would you do? The lady says I have no idea. Then the psych tells her to stop imagining she is surrounded by 1,000 tigers. I can totally relate to this because I think about things that happened when I was young and it wears me down. I get frozen sometimes, scared to take the next step. The things I am thinking are only in my head and don't exsist anymore. I have to learn not to replay them in my head. Don't know if that applies to you but I belive I will find peace if I could stop the thoughts that tear me down. Things like I am bad because I made the wrong food choice or gained a pound. I deserve to be fat. I used to tell people my weight is my scarlet letter. A sign that I had commited a terrible sin. I felt like I had and that's why I was fat. I really haven't done anything worse than the thin people of the world. I didn't earn my weight. So I need to quit punishing myself for it. Quit fighting with myself. Thats my peace. I know this might not apply to you but maybe to someone here. There is alot in that book that I belive we all could pull something from it. Thank you so much Joyce, So many times I feel like I take and take from this board. It's nice to know I contributed in some way. Good luck to you. Can't wait to hear when you make it to onederland. I need to start kepping records too. Think I'll get out one of my spiral notebooks and do that. Today was Jacob's last teeball game. I am gonna miss watching him play. It was so much fun to watch. My MIL found out about my injury vis FB and called me to see how I was. I told her I couldn't do much exercise for 6 weeks. Her comment was "Thats a good thing" and I just thought how far I have come that I don't feel that way anymore. I explained to her that I had worked hard to develop a habit and I want to keep it. Exercise is good for me and I am proud of myself with every workout I complete. She was a bit surprised. Also, after teeball today the team had pizza. I overheard a mother saying she wanted more because she would be starting her diet on monday and she wanted to eat plenty today. I use to do that too but I am different now. I try to make each meal good for me and if I fail I go on to the next meal. There are no days off and days on, there is a healthy LIFEstyle. Even if the weight doesn't come off I know I am doing something good for me. I am doing better everyday. I also decided while I am out of cardio I would use this time to refocus on other things in my journey. I will focus on habits that I need like take my vitamins and getting enough water. I am gonna join along with Joyce and keep a tally. I think it would be great to compare one day to the next. I can watch myself progress with actual numbers besides the scale. That scale is a fickle thing so another goal of mine is to only weigh on Sundays. Baby steps will get me there. Think I have blabbed on enough. Hope you guys get some good rest tonite.

Evening ladies, Today I am doing well. I worked my upperbody as my workout. Totally forgot I had lapband support group. Everyone has been telling me about this book called Women Food and God. The author was on Oprah this week. I went to the book store and picked it up. It isn't reall lengthy but it should give me something to do while out of school. Haven't read any of it yet but it sounds intrestiing. I have been focusing on getting my water in and keeping carbs out. Doing really well with it. Gotta develop the habit. Hope yall are doing well today.

Laura, Thanks for letting me know my Doc wasn't exaggerating. I am just so surprised that it will take so long. Doc gave me celebrex and the surgeon approved so I took that today. I also met with the traininer in my surgeons office she had me do 5 to 10 reps of all kinds of exercises and we built a workout plan. Unfortunately my leg is now killing me because I did leg exercises. I don't think I am gonna do those. She tried to get me on the treadmill and I insisted my doc said NO. Makes me wonder if she knows what tendonitis is. I am icing it now and will do the arm exercises tomorrow. I got to make sure I keep exercise in my routine. It was so hard to get in the habit. Don't wanna have to fight with myself again. Thanks for all the love and support.

Great job. You have made so much progress.

So I went to see my doc. Haven't seen him in 4 years because we lived so far away. He was so happy and surprised by my weight loss. He says I have inflamed 2 tendons in my leg. Says there was nothing to prevent it and I need to rest it for 6 weeks! Usually this would make me happy. It is a great excuse to stop excercising but now I actually cried. What 6 weeks. I got goals to reach. He told me that my tendons could break my bone if I don't give it a rest. So I am outta commission. I will have to start my 5k training over after this. I am so dissappointed but I guess it is just a little glitch compared to some other health issues yall have shared. I am gonna have to be more diligent with my eatting plans maybe I can still reach my goal of 60 pounds by july 4th. Sorry to vent. I don't want to give up what I have worked so hard for. Maybe I will call the excercise lady in my surgeons office and see if she can give me some pointers.

I have seen a few ppl talk about this and they end up benifiting from a slight unfill. It makes sense that you are hungry in the afternoon because your on liquids all morning. It takes hard protein to fill your pouch and give you the full signal. If you can't eat just a bit of something solid in the morning you may want to back off your fill level a bit. Slider foods have more calories and you can get more in which in turn prevents you from losing. Don't just tell your doc what you want. Get his advice. You pay alot of money for his time get your moneys worth. You don't have to eat a full breakfast. I eat about half an egg just to get my pouch full. By evening I can eat more. Let us know how it goes. Good luck.

I am so glad you are not just looking good but FEELING it too. I have started feeling this way lately too. Use this time to really get those habits developed. Take advantage of that awesome feeling. Congrats I know you will reach 2derville soon cause you are doing some hard work.

I know it has been awhile guys. Sorry bout that, I have been posting on youtube under JewelJolyn. Check me out. Well This morning I hit my first 50 pound loss. I have excercised everyday for the past 2 weeks and started the Couch to 5K training. I started it in March but gave up on it quickly. Now that I am setting goals again I want to make the most of my excercise time so I restarted this week. Unfortunately I am having some hip pain so I am off to the doc to have it checked out before I go further. The big reason why I strarted working out again is because I was so close to 50 lbs I wanted to get over that hump. 60 pounds is my halfway there mark so I am gonna keep it up so I can reach 60 at my 6 month mark. I feel awesome. I am no longer taking Provigil to keep me awake. I am no longer napping during the day. I get up at 7am 6 days a week and sleep in on sunday. I feel so confident because I acheived a huge goal of losing 50 pounds. I got an A and two B's in my college course work this last semester. About school, I have completed all my prerequisite coursework for the nursing program and mailed off my application to the program this past week. I am confident in my application that I will be accepted. My grades were really good. I will hear back from the college in the begining of august and will hopefully start the program in Sept. My Pell grant is looking good and my name is in the hat for about 20 different scholarships. I will begin clinicals in Oct. I plan to graduate Dec 2011. I have started back to therapy because I was really battleing with myself over what to eat. I am addicted to carbs and I struggle with them everyday. I am making progress. I also joined a lapband support group through my surgeons office. It is great to have people to talk to face to face and it has really helpped me get the upperhand over my carb addiction. If you haven't checked youtube out for lapband videos I highly recomend it. Look me up (JewelJolyn) and also check out bandedwendy, newtoy4kt, and thesososkinny. They are my favs. Also look up Proofwlsworks on youtube and facebook. It is a great online support group.

Thank you both so much. You all have been a huge contribution to me turning around. Thank you for that. All of you.

Good morning, My best quality...That has changed since being banded. I use to feel defeated all the time and was so disappointed in myself. Now I am not afraid to set difficult goals and reach for them. Going to school, working as a nurse, losing weight, running a 5k, growing my family, huge goals...baby steps get me there. I feel successful now because I am progressing in the right direction. Before I was just afraid to live and hid in myself. My Dad posted this on FB yesterday "Never let your memories be bigger than your dreams". I was letting some terrible memories hold me back from reaching my dreams. Not anymore. I iced my hip/groin yesterday and took aleve. I felt the aleve burning in my stoma. And the taste of it started working it's way back into my mouth. I took it right after I ate so I am thinking it didn't make it's way through the band before it began working. I don't remember my surgeon saying if it was ok to take or not. I am going to the doc this afternoon to have my leg looked at. I used the stationary bike this morning to prevent shock on it. No pain. Don't feel like it was a great workout though. Only worked my legs and heart but I gotta take care of myself. Have a great day ladies.

Afternoon ladies, Not much going on here. Finished my house work and worked out. I was jogging on the treadmill (trying to build up confidence to run) and I got this pain near my groin area. I have been getting it a little bit when I walk but I couldn't continue my workout. I only had a min left anyway. I am just wondering what is going on. It feels like my leg becomes a little disjointed. If it keeps it up I am gonna have to go to the doc. Have any of you ladies had this? I am wondering if it is weight associated and if it will get better as I trim up. I know my body is not use to all this excercising. I don't want something like this to slow my progress. I like how I feel lately and what I see. Guess I should go call the Doc. Happy Birthday Great.

Hello and Welcome to LBT. Congrats on your success so far and getting your surgery behind you. I am 28 and had my surgery in Jan. I have lost 47 pounds from preop to now. I am on my 4th fill. If you have any questions ask away. If your feeling down or having a difficult timie be sure to post so we can encourage you through it. This journey has many ups but there can be down times. Let me know if you need anything.

Good saturday afternoon everyone. Welcome to the group peaches. I am not perfect either but I have made alot of progress thanks to the support I receive in here. Sorry you had a complication but glad to hear you got it fixed. The ladies here help keep me on track. If I do slip I correct it quickly because everyone is rooting for me and holding me accountable. Don't be shy just let us know how we can help. Sorry to hear you lost a good friend and that no one called you. They were some kind of large ducks. They live in the pond behind our apartment. We also have a few geese living there with their babies. They are adorable. Don't know what made me think you were coming to Florida. Sounds like you ended this busy time with a bang. You totally deserve to have some time for yourself after all you have been doing for others. Have fun at Fire Island. I am still doing well with my excercise and also with eatting. I wanna hit my first fifty so bad but my cycle is holding me up. My restriction has loosened up and I feel like now I am in a good place. I still get into the perfectionist midset though. If I slip one time a day I feel like my whole day is ruined. It frustrates me more than it should. I do intend to try some foods while camping but I do want to be prepared to cook my own. I just really don't want to get stuck and end up PBing in front of everyone while they eat. She is planning a spagetti night which I always PB on so I will pass on that. Also pancakes which last I tried was a no go. It is only a few meals so I am sure I can make it work without being a weirdo. Just making sure I have a healthy option or I will use it as an excuse to sugar up. I am good at that.

I love my band and I am sure you will too. It totally change my life and my family's life. I was so tired before I had the band. I had to take a prescription for narcalepsy to keep me awake while driving. I am now 4 months out and no longer need my medicine. I get up at 7 during the week with no problem and I even find the energy to excercise. I no longer take naps during the day. I feel great. I even think I lokk great too which is a great feeling. As far as drinks go I drink propel water, my doc also allows me to drink diet soda. You'll learn all the little tips that help us get through our day. Good luck to you.