mauraclegg

I can take any pills w/o a problem, although occasionally Advil liquigels stick and melt (they are gross btw)

I like a bad joke too- but the cancer thing crosses a line. Try tapeworm instead. Personally I say I had a band put in and watch them marvel at how good I look :-)

I have to give my 2 cents to this one- I also HATE to diet, but since I was banded (6/9/10) I haven't looked at it as dieting- it has been a lifestyle change for me. I stay away from bread and Pasta, both because I LOVE THEM and they stick in my band. I think perhaps some of it is my brain and some is my band. But if I want sweet- I have sweet. To be honest I have a little chocolate everyday or I will be like that boy in the chocolate factory and try and eat a river of it. I also snack on popcorn quite a few days a week Have I lost weight? YUP. 85 lbs in 13 months- I plateaued in February and the fact I don't take in enough calories is annoying me terribly. But like anything worth time in life it's a tweaking of the skills we learn In the 13 months since being banded I have gone from a size 22 to a 10 and from a 44f to a 36DD. Yes, it's about the band- BUT it's also about your mindset with the band. If u think u will fail or that it won't work then my guess is that it won't work

About a cup of food per meal. Sometimes a little more

My regret is that I didn't do it sooner. That is honestly it

My user name is: mauraclegg more friends the more fun

CONGRATS TO U!! Those NSV's are awesome

I agree with you Jachut. I am not looking to be supermodel thin, just to be happier in my own skin. I think that I am relatively happy now (aside from this hanging stuff). So, while I know I look so much better the numbers on the scale still bother me at times. We all see the news and discussions on how much starts weigh, etc and that is a hang up I am trying to get over When Dancing with the Stars was on and they were discussing Kirstie Alley being a size 16 I thought she looked terrible and I was FREAKING out for a couple days. I am learning not to compare myself to others and to simply be happy as "ME"

13 months out and I weigh daily, and like another poster said I only count the down's. The occasional up's don't stress me anymore- unless they are more than a pound or 2 - of course if it's "that time" I don't even stress over 3

My advice would be: Count your calories Up your Water intake Up your Protein intake Up cardio But also know that plateaus happen to all of us- they suck, but they happen.

I weigh daily and if there is a pound more than I expect I no longer freak. If I weigh any time other than when I first wake-up it's about 2-3 lbs different; also when I go to the doc it's about 2-3 lbs higher than home. I count my losses and only worry about a gain of more than 3 lbs.

Regardless of pregnancy you need more food intake. If your not taking in enough you are starving your body and becoming unhealthy

Anger?? That makes sense- if I think of the days it's been bad band wise it is when I am annoyed with someone in my house

I think that's why I never really set a true goal. I didn't want to let myself down. But I am pretty happy with what I have done thus far- maybe being at 100 lbs lost may be nice Thank you all for helping me )

Old Navy has some cute women's clothes- mainly online but their return policy is great

I am hoping the TT helps Ellie. I already promised my best friend that if it doesn't I will " talk to someone" about it. I think I look okay as long as I have Spanx on, but who wants to wear Spanx when it's hot as h^*+ outside

9 months and 110 pounds?? that is awesome!! I find my bad days are coming closer together - it's frustrating. But I am going to the dr. on Tuerday and I will see what he says about a fill or no fill

I got my band because I was scared to do a bypass - that's the truth. I had been told and read how bypass weight loss is through malabsorption.. that's not my idea of fun. I also know one woman who went septic after her bypass and almost died, and another young friend of a friend died because of bypass complications.... are they unique, probably, but 2 people within the circle of people I know is way too many people for me. I saw the commericals for the band, signed up for a seminar and promptly blew off the seminar not once but twice. Then one day it struck me that I NEEDED to do this more ME, not for anyone else. I finally went to a seminar and started my appointments. I was banded promptly 6 months later I have lost a substantial amount of weight - 85lbs - has it been easy (relatively). But I think that is because I changed my mind set when I had my band placed. Am I still an emotional eater (you betcha), but I can eat a small amount of chocolate rather than a tub of frosting. THere are foods I miss - like french fries, squishy white bread and bread in general.. but don't get me wrong - I would not change a thing that my band helps me to do. Unlike the bypass the weight loss can be slower with a band, but I will stand by the fact that it is 60% band and 40% mental. It is not about being on a "diet", but rather changing your way of thinking about food. I think using the smaller flatware and plating helps with that. The threat of puking, sliming or pb's never has deterred me - it happens and it will happen. Does it take time to get to restriction - probably - but I think if your mind is in the right place - meaning you are truly READY - then you will self impose a restriction. That is what I did from the beginning. Believe it or not my main problem these days is getting in enough calories so that I can still lose weight. People say about 1200 calories a day is good, but when you eat about a cup of food at a time that can be hard to do. I think the band is a FANTASTIC tool and I have recommended it to many people. I brag about my band. My main problem since banding is that I have some self-esteem issues... but really if that's my only problem I'll take it

I try hummingbird, I do try. Just can't see past it no matter how hard I try, but I do enjoy clothes with no w in the size and getting my bras at VS

Cell phone charger, comfy pants and a book

Right now even being in a size 10 doesn't feel good because of hanging mid- section skin. I am 42 years old, and thinner than I ever remember being.

So I was banded June, 2010 and I had a potential goal in mind before I was banded, but the PA in the office said my goal of 140 was probably too low, so he recommended 160 as a healthy goal. I started at 263 and I am now 176 and starting to think that 160 may not be low enough... I am in a size 10 and I was never looking to be a size 2 - I just want to look good. I am also headed for my TT and I know that some pounds may come off then depending on how much fat rather than just skin is cut off. I am 5'7" and medium build - if I look around on the 'net there are different ideal weights depending on what site I look at so I am looking to this community to help me have a more concrete goal. Any ideas??

right now you should be all about healing and getting your abdomen back to healthy. As far as dieting - don't think of it as dieting - think of it as change in your lifestyle. I do count calories, but I didn't start unti I was on "real food" again - and I still count now 13 months later Everyone has set backs and frustration, it's what you do it that makes your experience your own

I chose my band for a couple reasons: 1. The bypass terrified me, while I do know a few people who have had success I am also aware of a few who have had complications up to a woman dying because of a complication (no thanks - not my cup of tea) 2. I was about 262 lbs and I felt that with the help of the band I would be able to get my bmi and scale under control. I was right on both counts - have lost over 85 lbs in about 13 months and I am still losing (slowly now) - and I feel great, look better and I am ecstatic with my band

It's funny that it happens when there has been nothing to create a tighness - I wonder if it's my band telling me to chill out and eat less (lol) Well, either way - had a band band day 2 days ago, was very nice to my band yesterday and hoping to chew today... was going to get a fill next week but wondering if I should or not with my band band days compounding....