mauraclegg

I tend to use a baby spoon, it definitely helps. And lately (I'm 3 yrs out) I am much more aware of my chewing and making sure at least 20 times.

Could be scar tissue stretching (a guess). Call dr to voice concerns. That's my best advice

I would guess scar tissue- normal. But I would recommend checking with your dr

Sabotaging yourself is so hard! Even with an empty band you CAN do it. Start tracking foods again for sure. That will help u see where ur mistakes are happening. Is it head or true hunger? I still have head hunger 2 yrs later. Many are here to help.

It's funny my band and my thought process stops after 6 too. I tend to treat myself at night to a small bowl of my fav ice cream with a small whipped cream as a treat. It works and keeps me on track

Username: mauraclegg

YES. Even now 2 years later it happens to me when I am not eating enough protein and staying hydrates.

I got my TT done a year ago. It was approved one year after banding when I had lost 85lbs. I had hanging skin, etc.

It's your band and therefore your business. Personally I wouldn't lie. I am DAMN PROUD of what I was able to accomplish with the help of my band.

First congrats on your success. I think that you are doing so well. I too didn't feel restriction for quite some time, but managed to lose an average of 10 lbs a month. I think much of it is in our heads. I still struggle with head hunger (2yrs out). And I still have sweets - just something small everyday so I don't feel I am depriving myself. You are doing fantastic.

Congrats you look great

Good job & congrats

Congrats! I look a good success story

That is awesome. Congrats on your success. You are an inspiration

IMO that seems like a lot of calories. I still (2 yrs post band) average 1,000 a day.

So I am 2 years banded and 1 year post TT. In that time I have lost 100+ pounds (idk how many inches). Gone from a 22w to an 8/10. And yet I still struggle with my body image I just don't see what others see or what the clothing size difference says. Eureka!! Today a huge lightbulb (100 watt) when on above my head. My problem is the number on the scale (isn't that what brought most of us to banding). Seriously though I mean I am relating how I think I look to that number that glows at me when I step on that scale. Has it changed - hell yes it has. 262/3 pre banding to 159 this morning. Somewhere in my brain that number tells me I am still fat! If Jennifer Anniston and Angelina Jolie are like 120 or less than I MUST still be fat. And forget when I watched Kirstie Alley on DWTS. I felt like a beast. I never wanted to be a size 2 and I still don't want that. I would look awkward especially since I am a 36dd. I know now I need to separate what I see from what Hollywood tells me. Heck Marilyn Monroe was a 12 and she was perfect!! Am I a success. Yes I am and if u are trying your best and u like u than u are too

I have a bunch of tattoos. Got them all pre-band and have lost 100 lbs. ink on ankles, back, shoulders, foot. None spread or look incky after the weight loss. You could always do top of your foot - wont chane with weight loss.

Was looking here because I've had some reflux for about 2 days whenever I have dairy. I can still swallow pills w/o a problem and no vomiting so didn't really think slip. It is strange though. I went back to liquids yesterday and still feel reflux with dairy. If it continues will call surgeon, but can't afford any problems since I have new insurance and nothing bariatric is covered.

You may not want to tell everyone, but why is it a secret. If these are your friends then they will support your WLS and efforts to do better for yourself. I just got back from vaca - if my family or friends were eating something I couldn't I found an alternative or just didn't go out to eat. My husband and friends drink, but I don't. I'm still social- but no alcohol. I think your friends could be a great support. Low carb dieting could be a valid excuse but in this case when they see u losing fast u could be caught in a lie.

I really don't like to exercise either. I do like to walk, but with 3 kids it's hard to get a walk in. I have lost and maintained my 100 lb weight loss with limited exercise. I have tried the gym. Working out with a neighbor who is a personal trainer. I just don't like it. If I even think about doing it I can talk myself out of it.

Okay, I have a horrible body image. I still look at the plus sized clothes when I need something new, WHen I shop online I am drawn to plus size thing. My t-shirts are still XX and above; my sweatpants I still by XL. I just can't see the new me. It doesn't make me eat more, I don't want to be that size again..... .....yet, I can reconcile what I look like to the world to what I look like to me in the mirror. I have tried tucking shirts in; wearing tighter clothes, telling myself I look good - all to no avail. I just can't see it. Now it's been 2 years... I don't have a better grasp on self-image than I did before. I will tell you though that I felt I looked pretty good before (until I saw the pics). Now I think I look BAD, even in pics.... lol I am a hot mess

Okay, I am going to say it. The weight loss was relatively easy for me. I hate to say it because I've read about and know personally people that have struggles after their band. I lost 85 lbs within the first year with 3 fills. Now that you hate me for saying it was easy let me explain WHY I think it was easier for me. WHen I was allowed mushy food I tried out all the yummy carbs that I was missing (rice, pastina, mashed taters). I couldn't tolerate the rice so I eliminated it from my life (not my family's but mine). I never minded making the husband and kids something and having something different myself. I think that my losing was easy because I changed my mind set. I gave myself about a cup of food and convinced myself I was full. It has worked for me. That being said, I still need to have a little sweet when I am done eating (a Dove Promise or 2) and I think the fact that through all my fills I have been able to eat popcorn has been my saving grace. I love popcorn!! It's a perfect snack for me. I still have some food struggles - I still want to eat french fries and they really don't work with my band (maybe 2 or 3), but then I get a bit stuck. If I eat too fast, or I talk when I am eating I tend to stick and vomit. But I stand by my saying that my weight loss was easy. I barely exercised - bad I know - but it's the truth. I love what my band has allowed me to do for me, but I think the mental part of seeing yourself different has been the hardest part for me - I still see a fat chick in the mirror (I'm between a size 8 and 10). I don't want to be a size 2, but when I look in the magazines at people who are my height and weigh 115/120 lbs I am convinced I am still as big as a house. I think part of my blog is so I can get more of these negative feelings out there into the universe and maybe, just maybe I can see me the way others see me

I guess I should qualify what I said. Yes, once getting the band I found the weight loss to be easy, but I had to make sacrifices - and I continue to make them. I can't eat cakes, there are some veggies that I am nervous to eat. I can only eat a tiny bit of pasta - and really NO BREAD. Trust me when I tell you that I LOVE bread. I have a long standing love affair with bread and compared to other things I really miss white squishy bread. I am 43, have 3 kids and I stay home. By my youngests nap time I am too wiped out to exercise (he has ADHD, my 5 yr old is PDD/NOS and my 11 yr old has RAD) They were all adopted from foster care so the are exhausting most days. I still would like to lose 15 lbs to get to my original goal of 140, but pre-surgery my doc said 160 would be good for my height/build. I know I can do it, but it would be a lot of work, I have maintained my approx 100 lbs loss (with a 4 lb leeway) for 10 months. I wasn't trying to brag, just saying compared to my previous attempts at weight loss it was easy

HI! Personally I lived on tuna for a few months after I had a fill that was a little too much. I love tuna. I mix it with a little shredded lettuce and some ranch dressing - yum! I still have exercise (2 yrs banded in a few days). I love to walk though and I do about 3 miles when I can - hard with 3 kids. My youngest and I (he's 3), will walk about a mile some days. My entire circle of family and friends have been supportive. Except maybe my aunt who when she found out I got my band said something like, "Are you really that fat" Well, yes at 5'7": and 262 lbs I was that fat! I still love my band, as too foods that I can't eat - it's RICE. Some people have different. I think things are subjective for everyone.