.Maria.

Yuuummm!!! I love pickles. I don't really have an answer for you, sorry. But I have been craving milk, I drink like 3 or 4 cups of the 1% everyday which is weird cause I never drank milk like that before and I know I take enough of the chewable Calcium daily. Hmm, Im going to ask my surgeon...

Congrats!!!! And I love the idea of the charm bracelet!

But I'm back!!! Hey guys... I've been out of the loop for a while. I guess I've just been busy getting to know me . I've been spending a lot of time at the Y and around the city with my family. I just want to be everywhere all the time. And thankfully that "emotional roller coaster" is coming to a stop. But I will tell you that getting stuck is no joke, lol... when they say chew, chew, chew...DO IT! I've had my fair share so far, lol. Oh, another thing... My confidence is peaking. I don't want to sound conceited but I LOVE looking at myself. I love fixing myself up everyday and taking pictures. You know, If you look good, you feel good. So I take that extra time for myself everyday and fix myself up, even if its just a coat of mascara and lip gloss. Its a huge confidence booster . For those of you who want to know if you'll be able to ever drink again: Yes, yes you can . For those 20 somethings who still have yet to experience life and the club/bar scene doooooo iiiittttt!!!! (Just know you're taking in a large amount of empty calories so plan your day accordingly) I had a blast this past weekend at my cousins bday party. Although I can't hang like everyone else anymore, its ok. Before it would take a good 9/10 shots of tequila to get me... now, sadly, its 3..lol. But its cool, its way cheaper now, lol. So quick update: NOTHING in my closet fits ( not even my bras & panties...tmi i know) but its freaking amazing. Last week I went to see Pauly D (yumm!) and I had to buy a whole new outfit. The only thing that really bothers me is the extra cash I have to put up to buy and buy and buy. I went from a size 24/26 to 18/20 so I need the clothes. Ay dios mio, tengo muchas problemas... (in my sarcastic voice) As far as eating goes... I really don't have much restriction anymore. I go for my second fill tomorrow so I'm excited about that. P.s: Im living life... who would have thought? "If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good" -The incredible Dr. Seuss

How did your 1st fill go?!?!?

I was told to take them 4hrs apart....

It shouldn't be. Just make sure you tell the nurse while they are prepping you. They will give you like a mesh panty and a pad to wear during surgery. P.s: Congrats on your surgery!!!:thumbup::thumbup::laugh:

How about a Saturday? Does that work for everyone?

Hi Katy, We have yet to pick a date... What works for everyone? I can do Mon- Thurs.

Don't you know people die from that surgery? (Really?! Give me some names...)

Hi Ebony... How has this journey been for you? Btw, How far west are you? 2 of us are getting together for lunch and maybe you can join us? And everyone else is welcomed... that is if there is anyone else reading this thread :rolleyes2:

Wow...70lbs is amazing!!! Can't wait till I can say that I lost 70... Im at about 33 now... its coming off slowly but its still coming off. So I have no complaints, lol. lunch would be great... its the easiest time of day for me :thumbup: (my son is at school and my hubby is @ work).

Wow... they are obviously jealous. Don't let their negative actions bring you down! And if it were me @ my job then management would definitely be involved. No one should have to deal with that at work. I say put you pride to the side and do what you gotta do. Green is an ugly color my friend...

How exciting!!! Im thinking of getting my husband (*insert fake cough here*) this game counsel for xmas :frown:. That zumba game sounds fun... maybe I should get me, i mean HIM that game for xmas as well .

Just take it a day at a time... before you know it you'll be hitting up that cardio again like it's nobody's business. Sending prayers your way :cursing:

Hi fabulous@fifty... Welcome! Im Maria and I have been banded since September :frown:. I live near Humboldt Park in Chicago. How have you been doing since the surgery?

So I had my very first fill yesterday (11/4)!!! The Doc put in a total of 4.5ccs and I feel pretty comfortable with that :laugh:. Here's my story: So I wake up in the morning a nervous wreck just thinking about the fill. (For those of you who don't know, I have a needle phobia! :crying:). The whole time I'm feeling sick to my stomach convincing myself to go to this appointment. So I get dressed, brush my teeth and go. Once I get there the Doc has me lay on top of the machine which by the way has a really thin table. My only thought at that moment was "OMG, am I going to brake this?! Is it going to hold me up?!". (It was able to hold me, lol) So there I am... laying on this table trembling. Not because it was cold but because I was terrified. "Theres really nothing to be worried about" he says while taking x-rays (yeah, ok). He then explains the whole process and I'm just laying there wanting to $h1t my pants :sad:. He goes to clean the area with like a wipe and I jump , then he assures me that there's nothing to be worried about, to just breath. So I put my hands behind my head and I just breath (eyes closed at this point and sending God like 500 prayers at once :cursing:) Now here comes the scary part , well, for me at least. He pokes me with a needle and injects the anesthesia... the whole time its going in I feel the pinch from the needle and a burning sensation. He said it was normal and does it again (Ay diosito santo! :crying:) The worst part is OVER!!! HOLLA!!!! :thumbup: He the does his thing with the fill needle and all that good stuff. Meanwhile Im still looking up at the ceiling and feel nothing . He puts in 7 ccs then has me drink from that chalky liquid... I felt this intense burp trying to find its way out along with the liquid (FYI: too many ccs). So he takes out 2ccs leaving me with 5. I still kinda felt the burping sensation so he took out 1/2 and I felt fine. He then sends me to the waiting room and says that I can't leave until I finish the cup of water that he gave me. It took me a little while but I did it. And off I go. I feel good... not really hungry anymore. And I guess I kinda over reacted . It's not as bad as you think its gonna be. Oh, I and have to do 48hours of stupid clear liquids! Blah! Then off to explore the new and mystical land of Real Food, yay me!

You know... yesterday was a new day and it actually went pretty well. I followed my diet to the T and that evening I went to my Zumba class. I feel pretty good about myself. I just have to take it a day at a time and today sounds like a great day for Hatha Yoga (and of course my usual liquids). Thanks guys... You're the best!!! :cursing: :)

Just wanted to say hi and see how everybody is doing :thumbup:...

Being 5 weeks out the Doc says I'm fully healed. Because the swelling of the surgery went down now my stomach can hold more food (I haven't gone for my fill yet). And yes, it made me sick. I've been fighting the urge of vomiting only cause I'm scared to death of my band slipping. My surgeon has us do a total of 6 weeks full liquids post-op. Then on the 7th week... real food. *sigh* But I get my first fill next week which means more restriction & less hunger

I also heard that it causes erosion... the carbonation leads to increased stomach pressure. Reason enough to keep me away!

I freelance so I took all the time I needed

@Oceangirl: We are here for you... take advantage!!! I hope you get your surgery date soon. I know it was torture for me waiting to find out. @Cathy: Good luck with your journey! It has its ups and downs but its totally worth it!!! I only had to do 5 days which isn't so bad... I cannot imagine doing 14!!! Wow! But you just have to keep your eye on the prize and give it all you got chica. You can do it!!!

So I planned a Halloween party for my students today (I teach sunday school) and I did some very bad things :tongue:. First off, there was a Kit Kat calling my name... I swear it was telling me "eat meeeee". So what did I do?...*sigh* I ate it. Then I swore up and down... telling myself its ok, everyone has a slip up, I just have to be really good the rest of the day. So that was the end of that. We then went to mass and when we got out of there the left over pizza slices were calling. At that point I was super hungry :tt1: (all I had in the AM were a protein shake & that dumb kit kat). So what happened? A slice of Pizza found its way to my mouth... and with that... a Reeces Pieces...Ay dios mio!!! We get to my moms and a few hours later another slice magically finds its way into my mouth. Why do I do this to myself?!?! :drool: A few Hours after that... another sneaky slice makes its way :ohmy:. Total Stupidness Consumed = 3 slices of pizza, 1 Kit Kat, 1 Reeces Pieces All this during the end of my 5th week on the FULL LIQUID DIET!!! :thumbup:. Im so disgusted with myself...I hate myself for doing this . I've put so much damn work into this journey so far just to F*$% up the way I did. I know I'm stronger than this. I let the old me take over and I just gave in :sad:. How can I give in so easily?! Has anyone ever slipped up this bad? Am I being too hard on myself? I just can't believe the way this day went down. What was I thinking?!?!:wub:

41 LBS!!! Wow, thats amazing!!! Keep it up chica :thumbup: Im a little over a month out and I get my first fill next thursday... And you know what, Im a chicken too :thumbup:. I'm absolutely terrified of needles :thumbup:. But I just keep thinking to myself: If I was able to get through freakin' labor, then this is gonna be a breeze :smile2:

So I went to the surgeons office today and I'm officially down 30lbs!!! YAY! He says everything looks great and I'm doing a great job, "yay me" :tt1:. Best part: I finally got the ok to start working out :drool: ... Zumba: Here I come!! I also get my first fill next thursday... I'm scared!!! :tongue: But the Doc says they numb the area first... so we'll see how that goes :thumbup: P.s: I LOVE MY BAND!!!:wub: [ATTACH]437[/ATTACH]