Jennifer Hathaway

I have been banded since may 25, 2010 and hit 20 lbs BELOW my drs goal for me in april 2011. She wanted me to be 169 (started at 262) but I weigh between 147 and 152 now and have since april. U can do it, don't be intimidated or discouraged, have the surgery u want. Good luck!

The premier protein chocolate at costco taste like chocolate milk and are ready to drink. They have 30 grams of prot in 11 oz and only like 160 cals and 1 or 2 gr of sugar. I know what u mean about the smell, these don't do that to me. Good luck. And I am a year and half out and my band is so tight I have to drink a shake for breakfast cause I can't eat then. So the ones saying u shouldn't drink them later are not completely correct. My dr says it is perfectly fine and almost all her band patients only tolerate liquid breakfasts. I have been below goal since april and I am not starving or anything.

Oops I added wrong. Lol!

I haven't experienced this at all. I was told absolutely NO carbonation before my surgery a year and half ago and I haven't had any. There are rules for a reason and if I don't follow them it will put back the 115 lbs I lost and my surgery will have been for nothing. Please cut back and drink things like diet snapple and green tea. When u get away from it, it is easier. I was a 3 bottle a day regular dr pepper girl and weighed 262 lbs I now weigh 153 and wouldn't have it any other way. Good luck.

I find my gurgling comforting. It means my band is nice and tight! It is like a funnel and I can hear my food or drink slowly draining. By the way I noticed a lady that is naturally thin was also gurgling when she ate. So there must be something to it.

I can tell you I got my band in May 2010 and lost all my weight plus getting 24 pounds below my drs original goal for me by April 2011. I barely exercised and really just watched what was going in my mouth and how much. From april until last month I maintained within 1 pound. BUT now I have started slipping into bad habits and eating less protein then I was, more fattening creamer in my coffee, regular things rather than light and I have put on 5 pounds! My band is extremely tight but I slacked off just like I always have when I dieted and got to goal cause I thought I was done with the "dieting" part and could add more calories and just maintain. Haha that is a big "FAT" joke! I am back to watching my intake and I dropped 1/2 pound, but I know now this is a lifetime of eating this way not just until u get to goal. It was super easy to lose my weight but I will always have to work at keeping it off. If u don't think u can get your head in the game yet maybe u should wait it out. But if you are ready to follow the rules and learn along the way then anything is possible. As far as I am concerned this "work" is totally worth it to me. I may get bored with foods I can and can't eat but I love how I feel and look and that is what keeps me going. Good luck!

My worst stuck episode was on leann chin bourbon chicken. That stuff is covered in sause but it is grilled beforehand. That makes it hard, dry and charred. I have been sticking with FRESH out of the oven or crockpot chicken that is very tender and moist and things are so much better. Don't put chicken in the microwave either, that really sucks out the juice. Good luck, u will figure out what u can and can't tolerate.

If beer is something you can't give up then u shouldn't be banded. Most doctors say no carbonation as it can cause the band to slip and also beer has a lot of calories and sodium. I used to drink beer and vodka with diet coke. I haven't had or even bothered to try any carbonation since before my surgery in may 2010. You really need to talk to your doctor about their specific requirements though.

Drinking with food is a BIG NO NO! If you can't tolerate the bread then don't eat it! You will stretch your pouch over time or cause a slip. I can't eat sandwiches with 2 pieces of bread anymore, I have to eat them with only one piece or not at all. A lot of bread is just carbs and fillers.

I have to agree that it will be different for you. But I am 22 lbs below goal and have lost 117 lbs. I had 7.65 and then had .10 removed and I am pretty good right now. Good luck!

Oh yes! After 117 lb loss and sitting 22 lbs below goal...My shoes have gone down at least 1 size, my ring size went from 9 to 6 1/2, my bra size down a couple sizes and I went from 22 pants to 4's! I love my lapband!!!!!

My doctor says 1 cup of food for each of 3 meals and a glass of milk between. I can only eat about a cup of dense protein anyway or it is too much. I have been 22 lbs below my doctors goal weight since april and staying steady for the first time in my life. Good luck!

To original poster: I was heavy when I married my 1st husband who was abusive. I lost about 80 pounds and felt great, I cheated on him with my 2nd husband who then proceeded to cheat on me! I have now been with my soon to be 3rd husband for 4 years and I have vowed NEVER to cheat again even though the first one kinda deserved it. What goes around does come around, I was totally in love with my 2nd husband and he was my everything except that he cheated. My now fiance met me when I was thin, I then got comfortable and gained weight and then pregnant with our daughter and gained even more weight. He was always in love with me and wanted to be intimate all the time no matter how big I was. I am now thinner than I was when we met and our relationship is so awesome now! I can't even imagine leaving. I guess what I am saying is really think about what is causing you to feel that way, were there already issues before surgery and weightloss? For me it was a controlling and slap happy husband and I basically woke up when another man chased me. I have definitely learned from my past. But I am at a good place now and I pray everything continues that way. Congratulations on your weightloss, just don't let it get the best of you. And also you have kids to think about. I still have to deal with husband 1 because we have a 12 yo son together.

I am at goal and eat 1 cup. Anymore and it hurts.

Chobani black cherry all the way!

I still am afraid of certain foods. I am more than a year out and have only had 2 sliming episodes. One was dry chicken and the other was rice. So now I just don't eat rice, not healthy anyway. Bread is another hard one, I have to always take off a piece from a sandwich because it will get stuck, one piece with something on it is usually ok.

Yes you can set that goal. I lost all my weight of 117 lbs in 11 months. I have been at below goal since april. Just follow the guidelines and you should be able to.

Oh chinese, rice is not my friend anymore either. I think my problem with popcorn is mostly in my head though. I just don't feel that I get it chewed enough because of the kernels and husks. But cookies and ice cream slide right through dang it!

And happy birthday and continued success!

I love numbers like that too. My boyfriend was born on 22, I was born on 24, my son 26 and our daughter 28. And it goes in order of age oldest to youngest and boy girl boy girl. I am weird!

I am more than a year out and at goal, no popcorn for me. It doesn't work well with my band.

If u have a costco I highly recommend the ready to drink premier protein in chocolate. They are 11oz and have 30 grams of protein and only 160 cals and 2 grams of sugar. I have one everyday for breakfast. That is the best gram for the lowest cals I have ever found.

I am 13 months out and still can't sleep on my stomach. My port sticks out too much.

U need to get a small unfill. Those are definite signs of being too tight.

When I got to goal I had a small unfill so I could eat better foods and without fear of getting stuck. I have been maintaining within a 4 lb range since. And have added back a few more calories to allow for some treats. Natural born skinny people have treats every once in awhile and I feel it is normal and if I allow myself a few now and again I won't binge. Before band I would diet and never allow for a treat and then I would get stressed and binge on them. My mind and body work so much better together now its amazing. That is great that u never needed a fill. I did but not as many and as much as others. I think just knowing we went through so many things to end up with surgery that it almost immediately motivates us. And knowing we are accountable to the drs and the people around us that have been supporting us helps too. I have so many people in my life cheering me on that it really keeps me going.