1 - I chug a bottle of water after I work out. I am at 8.6 in a 14 cc band

2 - pregnancy stretch marks fade

3 - I tell on a need to know, I eat healthy and get a lot of exercise is good enough for people I do not know

4 - It is up to you and how you use your tool. Go at it to succeed an you will

5 - mine does not show so I do not know

6 - I eat chicken all the time! Some people it helps to switch to dark meat because it has more moisture in it

7 - yes, but you will always have to work with it

8 - Alcohol slows down your weight loss. you need to find other was to decompress

9 - I take adult gummy multi vitamins

10 - I have gone from a 48dd to a 38dd and mine sag, but I am 49 and started out at 304

You can do it, just do what your doctor tells you and use your tool wisely

1. Sometimes I can - sometimes not! Depends on how tight I am.

2. Mind didn't fade Everyone is different though!

3. I tell everyone that asks. I haven't had any negative feedback. (to my face anyway )

4. YES! Follow what your doctor says and exercise! You will do great!

5. I've read there is a low profile port - don't know too much about it though

6. I'm sorry to say that I can't do chicken breast. Again, everyone is different though. I eat a lot of seafood now.

7. I think so...my band limits the amount of food I can eat so I think it won't let me overeat and put the weight back. But you have keep up with your after care (fills, diet, exercise)

8. The alcohol will slow your weight loss. I count calories, so you could save your calories for it. I say whatever works for you

9. I started with centrum chewables and now take a regular multi vitamin. I have no problem swallowing any pills now.

10. I started out a 46 DDD and now am a 42 D. Unfortunately they are kind of saggy! YUCK! Oh well, I'll eventually have to get a boob job!

I have had a very positive experience. The exercise has helped me the most. Good for the mind, body and spirit! Good Luck to you!

1. Some days I can drink more at once than others. I mostly try to spread it out all day. General rule just keep yourself hydrated to the max. It helps with weight loss.

2. That just depends on your body.

3. I usually tell people I had lap band and that has helped my portion control but that I have had to change my food choices for healthier food and that I also work out a lot. Most negative people are jealous or not informed.

4. YOU WILL! Just make sure you're honest with yourself about what you eat. Track your food and exercise so you can see patterns in how you eat & exercise vs weight loss. Everyone is different and small tweaks to your plan help you specifically.

5. There is a port revision surgery available.

6. If you can't handle chicken breasts you could always try something like skinless thighs, however, I personally do not have any issues with any type of food. There have been times I have had issues but it's usually either that time of the month or me eating too fast.

7. I am down 150 lbs so far and even when i have off days I do not gain like I did before the band. You CAN gain but try to stay on top of being honest and really looking at your eating and exercise habits.

8. You CAN have alcohol but you have to think about those empty calories and sugars in it. Plus you really want to keep your cokes to a minimum for the bubbles and acid. PLUS, diet drinks can have the same reaction regular sugar does on the body in the way that it can make you more hungry. Oh and I've found through this process that my major stress relief is a hard work out. REALLY helps the anxiety levels.

9. I haven't had problem swallowing pills, but everyone is different. Not a bad idea to start a chewable. There are TONS of chewable brands out there. I use Bariatric Choice.

10. I am a 38 DDD I think i started out at like a 44/46DDD and My cup size is the same as before I lost weight I have shrunk a lot around. They are saggier even though they take up as much cup space. It really depends on how badly stretch marked your boobs are. Stretch marks are basically scars and they don't have the elasticity that the unscarred skin will have.

Thanks so much for all the amazing responses!!! I didn't think anyone would actually answer every question but I got 3 people too!!! WOOT!! Keep the responses coming!!!

<3

OK< thanks for asking all of my questions too. and thanks for all teh answers! i have been approved for surgery and just need pulm clear on thurs. I am trying to do the liquid thing so I am ready for surgery on Nov 1st (probable date). I am starting to get nervous. I did do a liquid diet in the past, was sucessfull and devoted. This time, knowing I will never get a christmas cookie or a taffy apple is killing me. I am in the medical profession and I undstand how silly this is compared to the benifits of tx of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. But when it comes down to it I am nervous. not about surgery, that is clinical. About teh "loss of food". I reallize I sound like a wack job, but I feel i need to be honest to be sucessfull. I am 207#, how do these people who are #307 or #407 go from thier eating pattern to liquid diet for two weeks and stay faithful. I want to make post of as easy as possible. astomp

I was 346 and stuck to it! It was tough too because I had to go to all these little kid parties with pizza cake and cookies and all those devil food haha. After you have surgery you can have things like christmas cookies, you've just gotta use them as a rare treat and only like 1 at a time.

!. I cant chug water (would shoot back out like the Exorcist!)

2. stretch marks are scar tissue they fade with time but not because of weight loss.

3."I am eating less and moving more" the truth

4.I was pretty hopeless and I succeeded pretty easily...but of course I was scared I would fail!

5.yes they can switch you to a low profile port...I have a big bump but I am proud of it!

6.hmmmm, chicken breast vs. lifelong obesity...easy choice!

7. For me other than learning not to get stuck or have to yak (I still make mistakes) the whole thing was pretty easy but maintaining is the easiest since I am more used to everything now.

8. I have at least a glass of wine every evening...it keeps me from TV snacking when my band is a little looser (evenings)

9. I chew a Flintstones...but I occasionally do swallow an advil or whatever with no prob.

10. My boobs went from overflowing D to between B and C but they arent too saggy. I am in maintenance and still losing but I dont want to lose much more because of the boobs. I wear a size 6 at Gap and I weigh 142 at 5'4" (normal BMI was 145, reached about a month ago).

******* Most (NOT ALL! LOL!) of my crazy food/thinness/fatness/ guilt shame etc thoughts are gone...this has been pretty easy and I would do it all again...even self pay again if I had to!

GOOD LUCK (and excellent questions!)