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Well I'll start by introducing myself. My name is Becky Noe and I live in Colorado. I just had my surgery on February 15, 2012, and just moved into my soft food stage. I've not had a fill yet and my Dr said if i keep losing 1-2 lbs a week and am not hungry that we can push out my fill. That being said, I think my scale is on CRACK LOL according to it I lost 19 lbs so far...but wait..one day i get on and it says 275, i get on the next day 275 i get on the next day 275 i get on the next 277!! What the heck!! Anyway daily weigh-in's are not healthy for you..causes too much stress...that's what i keep telling myself. My reasons for getting lap-band are twofold. One to be a healthier me. I need it to live, love and laugh with my family far into the future. I tried all the other things...weight watchers, Atkins, South Beach and Slimgenics. The latter was a decision after the devastation I encountered in 2009. I went thru Kaisers hoops..on the waiting list for a year, all my classes and tests done, surgery scheduled for Sept 2009....lost job and insurance in July 2009. Slimgenics worked very well for me...lost 44 lbs...then plateaued ....they couldn't get me out of it for NINE Months...talk about frustrating. Then of course they say..well you have used up all your weeks..you have to pay for more and I was like WHY would i do that..you haven't helped in the last 9 months. So instead of paying them, I just started dropping money into the savings account. Even after a second job loss. My husband and I decided to Self Pay so there were no excuses. The other reason I wanted to do the surgery, is my daughter and I breed, raise and show Australian Shepherds. Well for the last 8 years SHE shows them, I sit on the outside of the rings watching, taking pictures and dreaming of the day I can do it again myself. Besides that I do Web and Ad design, Photography, Jewelry making and make Braided Kangaroo Dog Show leashes. All while working full time. I am really looking forward to the new me and the next stage of my life and also looking forward to delving into the archives of this board for information and hopefully making friends. Becky Noe

You need to take care of your food issues before you consider getting banded. I ended up banded because I was researching it for my daughter, but her head wasn't in the right place foodwise, so I got banded instead and it's working beautifully!! You absolutely have to be willing to give up certain things or it won't work.

I just read that in disbelief. Why is your husband so unsupportive? You drove 103 miles while he slept? I am so mad right now! You know, some men have great insecurities. My ex use to tell me that no one would love me like he does...I use to smile on the inside, because it only meant he was insecure, though he was very convinced I wouldn't leave...until I did. I know it's hard when you are married, but you may seriously want to consider whether its a healthy relationship for you to be in. I can just see him trying to sabotage your weight loss by bringing around unhealthy foods. You are doing this for you, please continue and know that we are here to support you. You can do this!!

I get banded April 2 and I would like a buddy to take this journey with me

I know in Australia, generally speaking, the one rule we have is 'don't drink your calories'. We don't do Protein shakes. I don't do Protein Shakes. You should be able to get enough protein with the solids you eat. When I was losing, there were days where I was tight, but I didn't supplement my protein with shakes. I didn't put in any more than my band allowed me to in solids. If I was hungry, I ate more solid foods and did not drink my food.

This may come across as sounding harsh because you don't have the benefit of seeing my expressions or hearing my tone of voice. Such is the nature of the internet. Please be aware that I am not trying to be harsh. Doctors don't make rules just for the sake of it. They are trained, experienced professionals, and while it may seem that every dr/surgeon has different rules, they are providing you with the best advice they know. So follow your dr's rules. They are his/her best guidelines for you and your circumstances. I read your post as "getting away with breaking the rules". This won't last. The band is a total lifestyle change and that is what your dr is trying to guide you through. Good luck.

I agree with LovetheNewMe. I was also banded in June of 2009. I remember when you found out about the pregnancy. The best thing is you want control again. With the band you will have that control. Must remember to follow the rules. Take small bites and chew,chew chew to beat the band. Eat slow and do not drink with meals. Blog as much as you can because it helps in the honesty department. I was told people who blog tend to do better than people who don't keep in touch with others about their journey. I recommend small meals with protein first. I eat real food non of that processed junk in packages, as my body just does not know how to digest it. Water is key. You will get a ton of support here welcome back big time. Best wishes imaluckydog

Please stop beating yourself up. I think that once you get the correct "fill", things will begin to click. This is still new to your body and you and your surgeon need to find the appropriate fill amount for you. In the meantime, I think it is a struggle not to self-sabotage. I am only 4 days post op and I can kind of see that happening already! Eat healthy and try to find healthy ways to fill you up until the band starts working effectively! Also, about walking 3 miles a day, if it is a leisurely walk, that will only burn about 150 calories at a time. We can eat right past that no problem. For exercise to be effective it has to make you sweat and be at least slightly challenging. I am not sure if you are pushing yourself or not, I just know this from my own experience. Good luck with this, hang in there. And let me know how you do for my future reference. :-)

It is definitely a challenge! I find myself wanting to reward with eating, but am starting to realize that is when I need to do something else. I am just having a hard time finding something that was as instantly gratifying as eating was. I am doing good, but the whole mind game and old habits take an effort to get by! p.s.- it's not just you I just know that the chicken does have feelings! lol

Dear Sandy, Was so interested to read at the end of your post that your husband was not supportive and didn't think you would go through with your surgery. My husband was also not supportive, but did accompany me to Mexico when I had it done. (Our insurance would not cover the cost, so I cashed in one of my retirement 401Ks to cover the cost.) Since my surgery, Bill and I have had increasing problems. We are both working hard to try and work them out, but some days it seems to me that I too married the wrong man. However after 42 years of marriage, I am not ready to let go of what we have! And I have to say, I love him so much more today that the day we married! I always tell him "I love you more than yesterday, less than tomorrow"! I too get frustrated and sometimes "Blow up" at him. Then a couple of weeks ago, in the midst of one of our fights, Bill told me he was thinking of suicide! REALLY scared me badly! I thought we were making progress, and then wasn't sure we had changed the situation at all. Currently we are talking with our family physician about it, and Bill is considering going on an antidepressant. I really feel that since I have lost 100 pounds, he feels threatened, that I might want out of our marriage. He is also about 100 pounds overweight, and I think he feels that I want someone who is slim and trim now. (So NOT the case! But how we feel doesn't always make sense or follow logic!) I wish I had some "wise words" for you. But all I can say is that I will remember you both in my prayers everyday! I have to say, that in spite of all the fights, problems, words, etc that we have had since my surgery, it is still THE BEST thing I ever did for myself and my health! I wouldn't go back to weighing 258 pounds for anything!!! Thinking of you and sending you all my best!!! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)