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I feel like the July Bandsters are such comrades! Lol!! How are you all doing with weight lost so far? I was banded 7/13/11 and so far I'm down 16 lbs! Amazing! I can start on mushies 7/27/11 SN: I had no pre-op requirements so I ate what I wanted up until the day before surgery so all of my weight loss has been POST-op

Everyone on here has been part of this journey for me - AND THANK YOU AND LOVE YOU ALL. Just wanted to share my news.... I've hit my personal goal of 160 lbs. Lost 126 lbs in just a little more than a year. SO INCREDIBLY HAPPY and feel so good. Take a look at my blog if you have a moment: http://aleadsinger.blogspot.com/ Here's my picture for the WALL OF FAME at my surgeon's office:

SOooo... the recovery to surgery has been TOUGH and today I found out why it seems I have been sicker than most people have said they have been. I mean 4 weeks post op most people are excercising and feeling nearly back to normal right? Well I havnt. I have had constant nausea... feel so weak and so tired and have no energy at all, cant stomach much of anything and my gag reflex is super sensitive now.... so I went to see my surgeon today thinking maybe i had a slip.. They did an upper GI and said my band looks perfect. Said maybe its my gal bladder, then jokingly said "or maybe your pregnant." Being that I have tried to get pregnant for the last 15 years and underwent fertility treatments for nearly 8 years off and on, and adopted my son, I start to obsess about the thoughts of being pregnant when someone says something like that. So to stop the insanity in my brain I take a test to prove its negative and get my brain back to reality. So today thats what I did... took 4 test actualy... because one after another they all said POSITIVE! I am in complete and total shock. Based on my cycle this puts be between 6 and 8 weeks pregnant.. which means i was pregnant before surgery! I know they tested me so how is this possible? Havnt been up to much "action" since surgery so pretty positive it was before... I never would have dreamed this is even possible. I gave up on that dream years ago after I adopted my son. But 4 test cant all be wrong can they??? So from what I read its of course not in my best interest to be pregnant now that Ive just been banded, but who am I to argue with a God who has performed a COMPLETE MIRACLE??? I of course have concerns and plan to talk to my surgeon and see my OBGYM ASAP, but figured it should wait till morning... Guess that explains why I have felt so sick..... Anyways, anyone else heard of such craziness?????

Not a failure. Some people lose fast, some slower. While the slower is frustrating, you just might have less loose skin issues. AND you will avoid possible gall bladder problems that fast losers sometimes experience. One thing I'd like to really suggest is to change your lapbandtalk name. Calling yourself "Zumba-fattie" can't be encouraging psychologically. Please be kind to yourself.

What you'll find as you go forward with this is that everyone has a different experience with their band. Some folks eat a few bites, and are ready to vomit (like your coworker. Sounds like she's too tight.) Others, like me, have never vomited post-banding. I've been stuck a few times, because I ate too big a bite and didn't chew it thoroughly enough, but those events are rare, and they teach you how to live with your band. As to diet, I can eat just about anything, as long as I cut it into small enough bites, and chew it thoroughly enough. Some things go down easier than others, so I learn what works, and what doesn't. I can eat toast easier than I can eat bread. So if I'm in a restaurant and want to order a sandwich, I ask for the bread to be toasted. (Then I only eat part of it, while eating the sandwich filling with a fork. I don't have room enough for a full sandwich anyway.) Managing a meal and enjoying it is all about doing what works for a bandster. For example, if I go to Olive Garden and order their Steak Toscano, I ask to substitute additional steamed vegetables instead of the potato. When the meal arrives (a 12 ounce steak) I cut off a third, and put the other two-thirds of the steak and two-thirds of the veggies in a to-go box. Then I socialize with my friends, and eat my steak and veggies. By the time my 4 ounces of steak and that one-third amount of veggies are gone, I'm finishing my meal about the same time my friends are finishing theirs. It's a non-issue, and I have another two meals with me in the to-go box. (Hint: Order the steak one level less-done than you might otherwise, and the reheating of the leftovers won't hurt it. That works well for me.) It's all about learning how to live with the band, and what works best for you. As you go along, you'll sort things out. And if you avoid known triggers and bad behaviors, you'll do fine. Education is vital, and the key to success with the band. Learn everything you can about the band, how it works, and what others have gone through. It sounds to me like you're on track to have a great experience. Good luck! Dave

I don't usually type in all caps unless it's something that needs screaming, and this does: YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE! The fact that you've taken steps to change your life at all takes you right out of the failure category. You've done more than some ever will. And you've lost weight. AND you're looking for ways to make your success even greater. Failure? No way. It's OK to get discouraged. But don't give up. Not ever. You keep going, keep telling yourself that you deserve better. Praise yourself for the good things you do—even the little things—every day, and don't criticize or curse yourself when you mess up. A gentle reminder that you can do better is all it takes. You'll get there. Stay with it. Good luck!!

as i'm sure you all know, as you go UP in weight, periodically you'll clean out your closet in disgust, but there's usually one or two things you hold on to because you just KNOW that someday you'll fit into them again! today i'm wearing my last pair of back-of-the-closet treasures, and they're not even snug. i have reached the end of my tangible weight gain history. the next time i buy a new size of jeans - which i fully expect to be by the end of this month, given the way my 18s are fitting now - i will be buying a size that i wore so long ago that i can't even remember when it was. pretty cheerful about that, as you might imagine!

Way to go!! I know how it feels to grab something from the back of the closet and think you still won't be able to wear it...... and then amazingly it fits! I have some jeans I bought a few years ago when i managed to lose 40 lbs on my own. They were very snug when I bought them and of course I gained all of my weight back before I could even wear them a few times. I grabbed them a few weeks ago, just to see if I could even get them on. They were too big!!!

I think you are hopeless and should give up. Mimi

I bought something online that helps get you through the insurance approval and also helps you keep track of who you spoke to and when, etc. If you want a copy sent to your e-mail, post it and I'd be happy to send it to you. I hate for anyone to have to pay $50 for it, when I bought it and can share the information!!!