Hey all! For anyone that needs a buddy or mentor I wanna help! my name is ashley I am 27 from NJ I am married and dont have any children yet... I am 9 months post op and have lost about 100 lbs woot! (still cant believe it) I have gotten a lot of help and support in, my journey and want to help someone else out too! Look forward to meeting some new friends

I'm willing to answer any questions you may have

I would love the help i need to learn how to eat and portion size

i too need help with portion size....HELP !

Check out MyFitnessPal.com - it will calculate calories for whatever you eat. You'll soon discover what amount is OK. For example, I eat this really healthy butter -- Land 'O Lakes Spreadable Butter With Olive Oil. I was shocked to discover that 2 tsp. had 200 calories.

sorry it took so long to post again it's been nuts! anyway, some helpful things for me with portion size is: use a small plate (a cake plate), and i like to use baby forks and spoons it helps me take in smaller amounts at a time, split the plate into 3 sections: protein, starches and veggies , always eat your protein first, measure things out remember your pouch will only be the size of an egg and eating too much can stretch it out

Hey there! I am in Salem county very near the Cumberland county border! We are not far from one another. I am having my surgery on April 6th and having support would be awesome.

DISCOURAGED AND DISAPPOINTED PLEASE HELP!!! I'm in need of a buddy/mentor. I had surgery 1-31-12 had first fill March 6 and have no clue as to how much was inserted. My problem is I feel no restriction and hungry a lot of the time. I live with 9 other family members who are not supportive. I know I need to make better food choices,but what do I eat? I have a 11 yr old girl and a 2 year old boy but they eat what is made by family as I do,but shouldn't.its difficult getting around to make myself food since things are sctttered all over the kitchen from them cooking their dinner I have no space and if I did. What do I make? I don't know what to do because I don't want to offend anyone by not eating what they prepared,but I can't keep eating these foods and expect to lose weight. I also don't excercise like I should and no longer have no excuse to take a walk since its been so beautiful outdoors. My goal is to run,yes run a 5k but I've never ran in my life,but it looks calming to run I just don't know where to start with that either. I'm lost . I've got to lose this weight. Please help me get through this. I need to be held accountable and have someone or people check on me often for me to report on my progress so I can make this a success.any suggestions will help.

DISCOURAGED AND DISAPPOINTED PLEASE HELP!!! I'm in need of a buddy/mentor. I had surgery 1-31-12 had first fill March 6 and have no clue as to how much was inserted. My problem is I feel no restriction and hungry a lot of the time. I live with 9 other family members who are not supportive. I know I need to make better food choices,but what do I eat? I have a 11 yr old girl and a 2 year old boy but they eat what is made by family as I do,but shouldn't.its difficult getting around to make myself food since things are sctttered all over the kitchen from them cooking their dinner I have no space and if I did. What do I make? I don't know what to do because I don't want to offend anyone by not eating what they prepared,but I can't keep eating these foods and expect to lose weight. I also don't excercise like I should and no longer have no excuse to take a walk since its been so beautiful outdoors. My goal is to run,yes run a 5k but I've never ran in my life,but it looks calming to run I just don't know where to start with that either. I'm lost . I've got to lose this weight. Please help me get through this. I need to be held accountable and have someone or people check on me often for me to report on my progress so I can make this a success.any suggestions will help.

DISCOURAGED AND DISAPPOINTED PLEASE HELP!!! I'm in need of a buddy/mentor. I had surgery 1-31-12 had first fill March 6 and have no clue as to how much was inserted. My problem is I feel no restriction and hungry a lot of the time. I live with 9 other family members who are not supportive. I know I need to make better food choices,but what do I eat? I have a 11 yr old girl and a 2 year old boy but they eat what is made by family as I do,but shouldn't.its difficult getting around to make myself food since things are sctttered all over the kitchen from them cooking their dinner I have no space and if I did. What do I make? I don't know what to do because I don't want to offend anyone by not eating what they prepared,but I can't keep eating these foods and expect to lose weight. I also don't excercise like I should and no longer have no excuse to take a walk since its been so beautiful outdoors. My goal is to run,yes run a 5k but I've never ran in my life,but it looks calming to run I just don't know where to start with that either. I'm lost . I've got to lose this weight. Please help me get through this. I need to be held accountable and have someone or people check on me often for me to report on my progress so I can make this a success.any suggestions will help.

hey congrats on the surgery! the problem is you don't feel restriction until your 5 or 6th fill usually... each time they put more saline into your band and with each fill you feel a little bit more restriction but for me i didn't feel a lot of restriction until the 6th fill

with the family thing I hear ya.. i live in a house of 5 other people who don't always eat the healthiest. I find something helpful for me is to use a small plate and baby fork and spoon... it helps me to take smaller amounts at a time and also keeps within the proper portions. I know you don't want to offend everyone but maybe offer to cook dinner once in awhile that way you will know what is in your food and you can show everyone that healthy can be yummy too. You need to look out for not only yourself but your kids as well. You didn't go through all those tests, diets and surgery to fail now so take charge and make some serious changes.

Let me ask you does your family support you ? if so then they will have no problem changing or allowing for you to cook your own meals. YOU have to make this work and it's an every day battle but take initiative to change the way you eat and you will see the pounds fall off ...where are you from ? would love to talk more

How would you know if you streached it out? thats always been a concern of mine

I'm in Omaha ,Ne. I have 2nd fill the 27 and I'm so excited about it. Hoping i'll feel something. No,they don't support me and constantly make comments about what I choose to eat and not willing to try my foods.I guess they are to healthy for them. Sometimes I wonder if I should just live on protein shakes. They're easy to make,not much clean up and provide me with protein I need. It's so much easier that way until I get my own place. I agree with what you said. I didn't go through all this for nothing so I need to make these changes for me and my health. Although its Easier said than done ,but no one said it would be easy. In fact there are warnings everywhere that it isn't easy. Thank you for responding. That meant alot. Hope to hear from you soon.

Hey y'all - I find so much support and inspiration from a group of banded women who blog. We all put our successes and struggles out there and talk to eachother about it. Here are some links to some of my favorite blogs:

http://www.andreasweightlossjourney.com/

http://bandedintheburgh.blogspot.com/

http://bandedwithfavor.blogspot.com/

http://jazzingupjackie.blogspot.com/

http://justawallflower83.blogspot.com/

http://lalaloses.blogspot.com/

http://rockbandbarbie.blogspot.com/

http://steffeelew.blogspot.com/

http://jennxaz-talesfromanarizonalapbander.blogspot.com/

http://saucybandster.blogspot.com/

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

And my blog is in my signature. There are a ton more bloggers out there that I read often, I just wanted to give a sampling of what's on my reading list. I can't even begin to explain how wonderful it is having this group of people to talk to. I've been to support groups put on by my surgeon and what I get from that pales in comparison to what I get out of the friendships I've made with these women!

unfortunately i found you don't feel much until the 4th or 5th fill...that's when i really felt restriction .. but that is exciting!! hey message me i will give u my cell number if u wanna text