tonya66

Her friend seemed very believable to me. Anna asked her to be the God Mother, sounds like she was a good friend. She even warned Anna about him, Anna would say he was harmless. I think Howard Stern is bad news. There is just not ONE person, but many, even her ex manager said what a bad guy howard was, how controlling. He controlled her with drugs. Her friend tried to go see Anna after her son died, to be with her, and she heard on the intercom (it was left on) Howard telling the guy, Anna was not allowed to have visitors. She flew immediately from the US to be with anna, but her calls, her visits were all intercepted by Howard. It's just a sad story, and the one who now has to suffer is this poor baby. Call Anna what you want, but she was a mother and I know she loved her children. I think she was a sad & lonely person who was taken advantage off. She obviously had an addictive personality and was addicted to drugs. A person who truly loved her would have gotten her help, NOT cut her off from her friends, family and give her drugs. I tell you, seeing Anna's life makes me appreiciate mine, my marriage, my family, my friends, and my children. I don't have the huge house, the fancy cars, clothes, etc, but what I have is priceless, Happiness - true Happiness!

I've heard this happens to a lot of people. I'm only eating around 600 cal a day. I can't seem to eat more yet. But I'm only 4 weeks post op. How about inches? Have you been measuring your inches lost? Sometimes we might not be losing weight but losing inches. And is your friend heavier than you? She might lose faster because of that. Your doing great!

What a jerk! Kiss his butt, have the surgery - lose the weight, and watch whose butt will be kissed then - YOURS. Hang in there, sounds like you just have 3 or 4 months to go. A loving husband should not be treating you like that! He needs to be more supportive, that is what marriage is about, not blackmail! He might be going thru a lot of emotions too. Scared, worried, insecure? Counseling might just be the the answer. Anyhow, I wish you the best!

Andrea - first of all your father must love you so very much to give you the band. Enjoy his gift of love and DO NOT feel guilty! I would do it for my child too. Your mother sounds like maybe she has some other issues going on, maybe her and your father are having some problems? So try and keep your chin up. You cannot control your mothers actions, words, or thoughts, you can only control your own. A new environment might be what you need. You don't want the negativity to get inside you, and going to see a theripist is a wonderful solution. Not turning to food in a time like this is so hard, so a theripist will help with the emotional turmoil and frustration you are going thru. Just hang in there, and give your mother some space. Like I said, she obviously has some other issues she is dealing with. PS - sometimes a good cry is what we all need!

I've started measuring my food out now, I stop when I get to 1/2 cup of food. This has helped me tremendously. I just thought I would not have as much restriction as I am only 4 weeks out now. I still have no fill in my band. But measuring my food out really helps me in not over eating. Thanks for you great advice. And wow, you look good!

I am under the impression that you really can't stretch your pouch at this point, because you don't have one. The band is not giving you any restriction, so everything is going right thru. Once you start on your fills, thats when you want to be careful not to stretch. At this point, you will just be surviving off pure will power. Which mine sucks. lol.

i'm 26 days post op, and still get the pain in my left shoulder. I was trying to figure out if it was gas, but I noticed if I eat over a 1/2 cup of food - i get it. It's weird. But the heating pad really does help. I have one pluged in right by my bed. I have used it a lot!

Audrey - Try to focus on the future for now. It looks like your only 17, and right now, I don't think any US doctor will operate on a 17 year old. I know your day will come - so try and stay positive. Being a mother of two teenagers myself, I worry about my kids health and try and make sure they healthy Snacks. I wanted to make sure they didn't grow up to be fat, or become fat children like I was. Both of my kids are in perfect shape, so I understand what your saying. I do believe it is the parents responsibility to teach their children about being healthy, and provide for them emotionally. You sound like a bright and intelligent young woman, so I know that eventually you will be able to make it on your own and then your day will come. So keep your chin up. And in the mean time, try eating the bandster way. There will be days you don't, and thats okay - but practice makes perfect. And the more you can practice eating the bandster way, the more successful you will be when you finally get your band. Good-luck sweetie!

Maria - how can that be cheating? You lost the weight, so YOU deserve to count it. I know I am counting every pound I lose! Pre-op and all! I've worked hard for it and by Gawd, I'm counting it! LOL. And, anything you lose BEFORE surgery, you darn sure are ahead of the game! Congrats, your doing great!

Well, you probably over did it a bit. I know when I walked on the treadmill, I was swinging my arms and doing it at an incline, then the next day I had horrible pain in my port area. It lasted for about 3 days. Just take it slowwwww.

Sorry I missed you, you are now officially added to the master list. I send emails out on Monday to Angy (Jen) to edit her first post, so next week you should be on the list in this thread. Welcome!

Welcome! I've added you to the master list. Our list are usually updated in the forum on Mondays.

Chris - I totally agree with you about the tape measure. I measured before my surgery and I'm going to measure on the 18th to get my 1 month post op measurements. I've also heard that as your port heals, that you sometimes get some sharp pains, these are the nerves healing. I had an ulnar nerve transition in both my arms and I remember about 6 months post op, i started having shooting pains and it was the nerves coming back alive. Gigi8 - you got some major will power not weighing. If my family didn't hide the scales, I would be on it 5 to 6 times a day. I become obsessed with it.

What a wonderful month!

I was in the same boat as you. I didn't tell very many people either. Only my dh, and a few close friends. You'll do fine.

Hey all you January Bandsters, I'm getting lonely on here today....lol.

You can also create a journal in this forum. This will help you yourself and you can see your entire eating program in a flash and you can see where you can tweak it ect. At the bottom of my signature is a link to my journal if you would like to view it. But feel free to post your menus here too. I love hummus, I make it at home a lot.

I sent another email to Angy to add you to the list, however, I've also updated my list, if you look under my name on the 1st page - you will find the latest list. Sorry I missed you!

oops sorry - I've added you now. I will send another email.

My doctor took a picture of me too. They just like to keep in your file - when you come in on your post-op visits, then can compare how much you have changed. I also took a before picture of myself for my own sake, front, side and back view. I also took my measurements. You'll appreciate those "before" pics one day.

Please let us know what you find out.

My doctor requires liquids for 24 - 48 hours after a PB eppisode. I'm not looking forward to my first one either. I'm glad you survived it!

I'm 25 days post op. I was an emotional eater, I ate when I was bored, I ate just to be eating. I loved food, and I still love food. The band does not fix your head. That is the hardest thing about staying on track is your head hunger. I've learned to pick up my book "Weight loss for Dummies" and read the chapter on Head hunger when I find myself wanting a cookie. The book says every now and then is okay, but just eat 1 cookie, not the bag. Also, a piece of candy bar instead of the entire candy bar. Everytime I want to eat something that I shouldn't, I remind myself that I just went thru a WLS to lose weight and I refuse to fail! I refuse to sabotoge myself. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Head hunger is something you will always have to work on. But it can be overcome, I promise you. There will be times that the head hunger wins, and thats okay, tomorrow is a new day. The key is - don't let the hunger control you, you need to be in control. I wish they would make a band for our brain, then we will all okay. Some suggestions for Head Hunger - 1. Go for a walk 2. Pull out your "before pic" 3. Ask yourself, am I really hungry, if yes, grab a light snack - SF Jello, SF pudding 4. Read a book 5. Call a friend/support person 6. Brush your teeth 7. Sip on some Water 8. Sip on some hot tea 9. Take one bite of the head hunger food - cookie, chocolate, etc. Don't overdue it 10. Keep unhealthy Snacks out of sight - they will more likely be out of mind Good-Luck!

TO ALL THE NEW MEMBERS - I have updated the master list. I've emailed the thread starter Angy12314 and asked her to edit her very first post. But, I've also edited my first post as well. If you look on the very first page, under my name, you will find the latest January bandster members. If I missed anyone, please let me know. Oh, this is going to be a fun year, I just know it is! We are going to have so much fun!

travelbug, I have lost a lot of weight, but I'm counting my pre-op. I lost 20 lbs BEFORE I even had surgery. I started really trying to lose weight the second I got off the scales at the doctor's office in November, I didn't have my surgery until January. So I had 2 months of dieting before my surgery. I know some just count their day of surgery weight, but to me, I've worked hard at losing every pound, so I'm counting them all. Pre-surgery and all. Now, as for slow loser's, let me tell you, I lost a lot my first 2 weeks, I was only on Clear liquids, so who wouldn't lose. Then I gained my 3rd week. And then I lost this week. I think what happens is your body has to catch up to you, once it realizes your not going to "starve" yourself, it will release more poundage. Also, drinking Water is so important. I also was put on a c-cap machine for sleep apnea, and I really think this has sped up my matabolism. I know it is frustrating, I was depressed my third week when I gained a pound, so I had my DH & DD hide the scales from me, now I'm trying to only weigh 1 x per week, or 1 x per month. My next weigh in will probably be 2/18, my 1 month anniversary. I'm also only able to eat 1/2 cup of food per meal, I know many are able to eat more right now. But so far, I'm still really really restricted. If I eat more than 1/2 cup of food, I get a horrible pain in my left shoulder, kinda like the gas pains. I have over eaten twice, and both times, ended up in bed with a heating pad on. Now I just measure my food out and eat really slow. Please don't be disappointed in your own progress, sometimes slow & steady really will win the race.....And congratulations on 10 lbs lost forever! Also, the older we get, (over 40) we start losing muscle every year. The less muscle we have, the slower our matabolism moves. I firmly believe weight training is very important with anyone over 40 (or younger) because this will help us lose weight. I plan on starting my weight training as soon as I can (after 3 months). I'm hoping to hire a personal trainer for 1 month, 3x per week to help me out.