Ladybandito

Bump. Great info.

Bump. Great thread, great info.

Love this info, Alex! Sometimes we get into a same-o, same-o rut (I am queen of lettuce wraps, I think!) and forget there are lots of creative options out there! Great, on-the-mark article!

Beautiful article. IMHO, should be followed by everyone who is alive. Thank you for posting this.

Bump. Because it's great info for newbies!!

Such a great reminder! I needed this today.

Soylabean, if you haven't already, you will get below your 235 level. I really believe some of us have "mental blocks" that make it more difficult to get past some certain weights that have significance to us in some way or another. It's usually an area where we will give up or give in to eating and gaining because we get frustrated. The band really heps prevent the massive regain that sabotages the weight loss. Two of my "blocks" historically were at 192 and 180 ... I'm not sure why but I know it to be true for me. I practiced "visualization" and "seeing" myself weigh less on the scale. No change in my fairly good eating habits or exercise, just sticking with it and anticipating the lower weight. If you keep with it, don't stress, it will come. I am currently at 172, and "seeing" myself at 160!

Yay for you, Westielove!!! And it only gets better!

I was banded on 1/18/2012 and since then have lost 46 pounds.

Personally, I changed my haircolor again!

Congratulations, well done!!! And so inspirational too.

Lori, will keep you in my prayers ... And Ready, you too. Thank you both for sharing your stories here because we all learn something from them. Lori, I had some similar challenges with parents and family, I think many of us who are/have been overweight have a tendency to forget our "selves" now and then while caring for others. In one of my classes, it is mandatory to recall at the end of the day at least 1 thing done just for me. It can be a simple thing (took 30 mins of alone time), but there must be something. I think it reaffirms that we, too, are important! Prayers and lots of love sent your way. You'll love the band... I put mine off for far too long!

That's great, Dee. It will be here in no time!

I was banded in January. I had pizza tonight with my family. Two pieces, mostly just the toppings and about 2 inches of the crust. Sometimes depending on the pizza place, the crust is out of the question because it's just too hard to go down. Just to let you know I used to eat 3/4 large pizza no problem, and tonight I'm very full on just the two toppings and a bit of crust. Love, love my band.

I also have an issue with people noticing or asking about my weight loss. I think that's one of the reasons I am taking it so slow even with the band ... About 35 lbs lost post surgery from Mid-Jan '12 ... Some people are just starting notice now and I find I want to munch later or the next day. It's funny because you would think the attention would be motivating. I try avoid discussing weight (anyone's weight for that matter) and dieting altogether now, except for here on LBT. I am very pleased with my slow and steady loss, BTW.

Almost to onederland! Congrats and full steam ahead!

Ha! Jake! I get that thump and then can eat more too! Now that I realize what is happening, I'll pay more attention! Thanks for sharing that ... I'm not on the challenge with you guys, was just reading the thread. Glad I did and good wishes to all of you!

I was a bit emotional, too ... Thinking I would never eat like a normal person again and really just very scared about that. But take my word for it, you DO get to eat like a truly normal person again, and with the band, it is satisfying. If you're at all like me, you're skeptical about that, but it's true. I think this is the first time in my life when a small amount of food is enough ... And not in the way of diet pills making you not hungry. Just a sense of "that's enough." Keep this in mind, there is light at the end of the tunnel! I joined this forum 2 years before I took the plunge. Had surgery Jan 18 of this year and it has been wonderful. Wish I hadn't waited so long!

Welcome, Colleen. You'll find great info here. I'm on my second completed month and love my band.

I was banded Jan 18 and just had my second fill (1 cc each time, 3 weeks apart). My heaviest was 226 and preop was around 215. I'm at 195 today so I think that is pretty great. I feel even lighter than that, if that makes any sense. I was telling my doctor the other day that I truly think this is the first time in my life that I have felt full after I eat. Really, I've been stuffed many times before, but I do not ever remember feeling satisfied with a "normal" amount of food ... I was always wanting more but denying myself on the perpetual diet. So to me, that alone is a wonderful, freeing type of feeling! I had been researching WLS for about 2 years -- my forum join date is 2010 I think. If I had known I would feel like this, it would have been much less scary to take the plunge! Sounds like you are doing very well, so congrats to the both of us, :-)

Thx for the recipe. Definitely gonna try this.

Hi LauRN, just wondering how you've been doing?

Banded 1/18, had by second 1 cc fill today (first was 1 cc, too). I'm going every 3 weeks for fills ... Lost 5 pounds since the last one, so I'm pretty jazzed.

Well, an update on my earlier post. Turns out that even though I was cash pay, doc DID bill my insurance for the hiatal hernia portion. I just got the notice from my carrier.