ajay43

that is interesting - I've been banded for a little over a year. I didn't start experience the band tightening with my TOM until I got to my "green zone" - now when it's that time I can expect to be extremely tight for at half the time it's on...

My doctor says the band does tighten during our TOM and I often experience it...

I love Dr. Ram too! He's the best as is his staff!

I was banded June 2010 as well and can wear now sizes ranges from 10 to 12 (depending on the cut). I have the same problem though - I have a hard time seeing what others see - they say I'm skinny (some even say too skinny) but I still see fat. One thing that someone told me to do was to try on something that I wore before surgery (I put on a skirt that I had before surgery - size 22) and was amazed at how big it really was and that I actually used to wear it - doing that really helped me begin to look at myself differently. I still struggle with it sometimes. Whenever I pick up something that's my size I have a hard time believing that it will actually fit - I have to make myself try it on before I leave the store or I may convince myself that it's too small when it's really not. I was shopping one day and was in the plus sizes (cause that's where I was used to being) and the sales associate said - "you know you can't fit anything on this side - this stuff is way too big for you - you need to look on the other side" (she was really nice about it too).

I purchased a car a couple of months ago and hadn't had my picture on my license changed yet. After I purchased the car the dealer told me that he and his other associates were discussing whether the picture was really me or not (that's why he kept coming back asking a bunch of different questions) - they thought it might be a case of identity theft. I thought that was hilarious!

that's so awesome to know and such a relief . My friend got her first fill yesterday and she told me it didn't hurt (mine is not scheduled until Aug 19th). However she also knows I'm a real big baby :ohmy: and am more afraid of the needle than I was of the surgery (kept saying I was going to have to fake my mind out or something cause I didn't know how I would get through it)...

my doctor says up to 30 minutes before a meal and 30 minutes after. It is hard but I find if I really get thirsty sucking on a piece of ice really helps...

awesome! congrats! brag away! you deserve it! :biggrin:

Our heat wave is started back up for the 5th time this season - Saturday is supposed to be the "hottest on record" but I love summer so I will not complain :thumbup:. I'm so excited because I will be able to go back to the gym on Monday & I lost a pound this week - that puts me up to 15lbs lost since surgery (yay me!)

I found this site @ a week ago and have been lurking ever since. I started reading this page yesterday and decided to join - you guys are so positive and supportive of each other and have so many interesting stories to tell! I love reading everything. I am a new bandster - June 23, 2010 surgery, no fill (1st one isn't scheduled until Aug 19th). I've lost 14lbs since surgery but haven't lost anything in @ 1 wk. So funny, yesterday I was in my office and felt this pain in my stomach and realized it was a hunger pain - my stomach growled and everything - I haven't felt that in over a month. I guess this is what you call bandster hell?