Hello to everyone in the August 2007 board! Since this is your anniversary month, I was wondering if you have any advice to offer a pre-op like myself?

What worked for you , what didn't, what you would do differently, what you wish you would have known, etc.

Thanks, and happy anniversary!

I would only say that you should not put too much pressure on yourself and not to compare yourself to other people on this board! Also, get your fills frequently - that is the key to sucess! Best of luck.

Hi Snapplegirl,

Thanks!!!

I agree wholeheartedly with what Karen G says about avoiding making comparisons and staying on top of your fills. In addition to that here are my three basic keys to sucess:

1) Fills under fluoro always.

2) Track everything you put in your mouth. I started out using Fit Day and currently use Daily Plate. I try to stay right around 1000 calories, but I'm not going to drive myself crazy trying to achieve perfection, so some days it might be closer to 1500.

3) Exercise and lots of it.

Hope this helps and good luck on your journey!!!!

Hello to everyone in the August 2007 board! Since this is your anniversary month, I was wondering if you have any advice to offer a pre-op like myself?

What worked for you , what didn't, what you would do differently, what you wish you would have known, etc.

Thanks, and happy anniversary!

Thank you! It's been a very good year!

What worked for me?: Learning how the band works IN ME. I've learned over the course of this year that FOR ME my signal it's time for a fill is when I find myself grazing between meals. With the band properly restricted, one meal lasts til the next. So, if I find myself back in the kitchen before bedtime -- uh-oh -- time to go in for a fill.

What didn't?: Thinking I still needed to plot and chart everything. It made me very frustrated because I don't lose steadily. I hit a new number, sit there for about a month, then drop 5-10 lbs in a matter of a day or two, only to sit that that NEW number for a month. (shrug) That's just the way my body works and seemingly there isn't much I can do to speed it up.

What I would do differently?: I'd be more diligent on the exercise. I'm exercising more than ever before, but still not consistent enough with it.

What I wish I had known?: Not to buy too many clothes too fast -- because some things I only wore once or twice before they were too big. :wink2: Only buy things you can barely fasten, because if it fits right now, it'll be too big in a month. :wink:

Good luck!