Before you know it, November will be here. I am 4 months post-op and down only about 30 lbs so far, but my doctor took fills really slow so I could adjust my eating habits. I feel much better already and you will too.

Thx Patty, it just freaks me out, how quickly time is flying by... Congrats on your 30lb weight loss, I can't wait to be on that wagon:)

I wish you a lot of luck. The band is the best thing I ever did. I was banded 7/30 and since my highest weight in March I am down 52! I am very different than you, I weigh myself way too many times a day. One son told me to throw the scale away. I just can't part with my friend.For chewable vitamins I use CVS and Caltrate gummy bites for calcium and vitaminD. You will do great, November 7th is my 42nd anniversary. Great date.About hair loss, just make sure you get in all your protein. I had a cousin who did by pass over 25 years ago when still on the newer side and they didn't know about protein then and she went bald. It's the protein that keeps you with hair. My dietitian said to have protein before the other foods when eating. I use 1 1/2 scoops of protein when I make my shakes.

Enjoy the weekend.

You are off on the right track !!

I was SOOOO happy to read that you were going to weigh yourself once a month.

I don't own scales.

Before I was banded I had a complete physical with my family doctor 1 month before my surgery and I decided that when I come and see he every month for my regular visit for bloodwork I would get weighed and measured every month.

I am so glad I did this. This kept me so motivated to stay on track. My doctor kept an spreadsheet with my weight, chest, hips and waist measurements for 14 (that's how long it took to reach my goal).

When it came to for my monthly doctor visit I was so excited to step on the scale. Some months I think my family doctor was more excited than I was. I had 4 fills during my lapband journey (no de-fills) when I had to go to clinic for my fills I did get weighed there but that was the only time I stepped the scale.

I knew I was losing not because of the number scale but because the inches. So many people in the 2 coffee groups I host tell me that they may plateau for 1 or 2 weeks BUT they still lose inches.

You will read again and again that the band is a "tool" and I am a strong believer in that. Take it one day a time. Don't compare yourself to others... don't go into this journey saying... "I'll never be able to eat this or that ever again." I can eat anything except rice or apple skins... and carbonated beverages. Follow the guidelines given to you by your doctor.

I've complied a CD full of lapband friendly recipes and articles that I used to email to people but now it's too large to send out.. I'd be happy to mail you a copy if you like.

Also, I’m not really a “diet” book type person but I recommend you pick up two books.

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle – by Dr. Michelle May

I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. May speak at a conference when she came to Toronto and her book and guidelines really work well with the lapband journey.

The second book is:

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite – by David L. Kessler

Lastly... if you have problems with "head hunger" I have document called the “Egg Timer Distraction”. It’s kind of difficult to explain here but I’d be happy to email you the .pdf document. It REALLY helped me with “head hunger. I can’t tell you the number of people in my lapband coffee groups over the years that have said how helpful this “trick” has been in dealing with their head hunger. Just this past Wednesday 2 people came up to me and said they used the "trick" this past month and 1 person was down 11 lbs.. the other 8 lbs.

Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

Tom, Toronto

Banded July 6 06

Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

tomander@bell.net