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First off, I don't believe in being coddled. I understand people post on forums because they are looking for moral support or advice, but sometimes they expect too much. What I mean to say is if someone posts on a forum, then they need to expect to be supported even if it means being challenged! I can understand if the person posting is doing everything right to a tee and still not losing weight or hitting stalls, then yes they do need complete moral support because they are not in control. It might be metabolic, hormonal, genetic etc. The people I am talking about are those that don't get enough protein in, eat too many carbs, don't exercise enough and then complain on the forums. I see it quite a bit actually and usually just refrain from answering. In general, the same people posting and whining, are the same ones that get offended when others offer constructive criticism on why his or her weight loss has stalled or is slow. Being coddled will get you know where. If you really are in this to lose weight, then you should be willing to listen to the things you "might" not be doing right. We all know everyone is different, but when it comes to weight loss there is a general trend that works BETTER than other ways. Of course, there is a respectful way of disagreeing. I don't agree with the name calling, or yelling, or the "i did it this way and I lost this much weight". In a recent forum, I witnessed someone trying to tell the original poster that they didn't think what they were doing was working for them and offered advice. He wasn't disrespectful in any way. It just sounded like he disagreed. Well, the original poster got upset and then it all went downhill. It kind of got out of hand and everyone started chiming in. It was like the original poster just wanted to hear things that supported her, and nothing else. I think people just need to understand that sometimes being challenged and having someone disagree with you is in support. Would you want to go to the doctor and have them tell you there is nothing wrong with you just to make you feel better? Wouldn't you want the doctor to help figure out what is wrong with you and what you can do to get better? Granted, most of us are not doctors, but you get what I am saying? Having a vertical sleeve is a very personal experience. Some people get it and lose weight effortlessly. Others have to work harder and try everything possible to lose weight at a faster rate. If you have a question or a concern and post it on a forum, then you must be willing to get responses both agreeing and disagreeing, but all supportive. If you are looking for people who will simply shake his or her head "yes" to everything you say, then make a friend and send private messages. You can live happily in your bubble of only hearing what you want. *Note: I am not a "yes" woman. I am going to tell you what I did and what I helped and give you suggestions in a nice way. If I think you are doing something that isn't healthy or could stall your weight loss, then I am going to let you know because I would rather truly help you than watch you struggle and whine and complain. This is the type of friend I am and those are the type of friends I want.

Hello all I haven't been on here in a min. All is going good. Since the weather is so nice here I went running for the first time in a year. One top of me working out with my personal trainer and I feel really good. A little sore but good just the same. I haven't got anymore fills yet and I'm fine with that. But just wanted to share the I was able to do 130 sit ups with a 10 pound weight plate. It's the little things in life. Have a good day all.

PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY DO YOUR TASTE BUDS CHANGE AFTER SURGERY?????

So let me tell you about my job. I am a dispatcher for a water hauling company in the Texas oilfield. I work with 95% men. One person here knows that I got the Lapband. ONLY ONE!! I took a week's vacation and had the surgery. I am/was always the girl that baked cakes for the guy's birthdays. Made them crockpot stew on the weekends, brought chicken pot pie, you name it I have baked or made it for my drivers. In return that has made me "the favorite dispatcher"...lol. Some mornings I have had McDonalds brought to me for breakfast (sausage gravy and biscuits..they all know is my favorite) or a breakfast burrito from the local Mexican Bakery. When they have an extra ding-dong or butterfinger left over, I get it brought in to me. One driver brings me hot chocolate by the handful so I can add it too my coffee in the winter time. I get asked at least once a week, what I am cooking tomorrow or "how bout some of that banana pudding??" It has never bothered me...thats just who I am. I have ALWAYS cooked for the people in my life. Big dinners, small dinners, nothing is off limits. I remember in high school inviting 10-15 people over for fried chicken dinners. Or waking up at a friends house and cooking a huge breakfast for all of her brothers and their friends after a night of partying. If you wanted food...call Kelly!! Yesterday, I realized that this may become a problem. One of the night drivers brought me a FRAPPE from McDonalds. YUMMY!! OH how I love them. I stared at it for awhile, He was like "so did I get you the right one??" So, I took a few (yes I promise just a few) sips until he left to go get his truck. Then I ran to the sink to pour it out!!! VICTORY for me!! Today, another driver comes in with a CUPCAKE. Says "here honey I saved this just for you". This was just a few minutes ago, by the way... So here I am sitting at my desk, with a flipping CUPCAKE staring at me. And you know what??? I dont even have the slightest urge to taste it!!! NOT EVEN A LITTLE TASTE!! Oh yes, it looks good. It's in a package, so I dont know how it smells..lol. But never mind that, the important thing is I DONT CARE!!! ANOTHER VICTORY FOR ME!! So I'm thinking my drivers will be getting less...German Chocolate Cake for their birthdays. And my trash can will be getting alot more food from this gal!!!

This WLS thing is a true adventure. Just like any adventure, you have times where it is awesome and you feel amazing, then there are time when you just wish you could turn around to the comfort of home, and then there are times when you are scared pooh less. 9 months post op and I can say it has been a roller coaster. The first few months was the big exciting hill, where the weight is coming off and I am screaming hell yeah. Now I am in the boring slow moving time that makes me wonder if this ride will get better. With being a woman in childbearing years I still have the wonderful monthly cycle to throw some excitement in- water retention, cravings, ect. I am currently greatly stressed at work, which doesn't really help, apparently my band doesn't like stress- it tenses up. Last week while on vacation, eating each bite was ad adventure in it's self. One morning I wouldn't be able to get anything down but Vitamin Water Zero. Then Lunch would do great, but dinner wouldn't budge. Next day breakfast wondeful, lunch no go, dinner no go. Even though I was chewing well and chosing things that shouldn't have been an issue (baked fish- really should go down). I was also burning between 2400 and 3000 calories a day due to walking close to 8-10 miles daily (Gotta love Disney). Yet, my weight is up 4 lbs when I returned. The last two days my weight has dropped a half pound a day. Who knows what it will be tomorrow. WLS really does appear to be an adventure that you must do what the tour guide says ( the doc and NUT) and hold on for dear life. We must look forward to those days when we are feeling the sun on our face and screaming hell yeah with our hands in the air and the days when we are in dark cave and creeping slowly remember that there must be light coming. Heres to our health adventure!!

Woke up this morning and went swimming with my sister and my cousin. It felt good to be back in the water, even if I felt like a dying whale. I just hope that I improve fast and get back into the swing of things. And at 4:30 in the morning, it is nice to know that I have two other people to hold me accountable... but I found out this morning after we swam and were getting dressed that it is an equal trifecta of accountability... we all got up to go because we knew the other was. I feel like if one had faulted in not coming the rest of us would have stayed in bed. Not going to lie, I had to give myself a 5 minute pep talk to get out of bed. Which went something like this, "Get up get up get up get up." <-- Me "Get up." <--Ty "Awe! Thanks for the motivation!" <--Me "It's not motivation, it's a request. You're annoying me." <--Ty So I got up and left. Rude boys. So the plan for right now is swimming 3 times a week M-W-F and Zumba in the evenings 5 days a week and an Ab workout on Saturday, and Sunday, if I haven't skipped any days to rest my booty. Have a great week everyone! Happy losing! Shells

So, I'm excited to announce I'm over my very first stall, as stressful as it was, and am now officially down 26#! I had no pre-op diet, and was sleeved on 2/28. I'm pretty happy to see these kind of results in 5 weeks, way better than I'd been doing before with just the same ol' diet/exercise routine, The weather is also starting to break so I've been able to get out and hit the pavement...I bought myself a pair of expensive shoes I've been eyeing up for literally a year now...I walked my last pair of shoes right to pieces, and felt it was a good way to reward myself for hitting the 25# mark, while giving myself a tool to keep moving forward with the loss I'm pretty excited about it honestly. That being said- I FEEL a lot better, I'm in a smaller size jeans (Actually 2 sizes smaller from pre-op)...but I still don't SEE it. Today I was out walking with my dogs and my daugher and my own sister drove right past me, after waving and waving she finally turned around and said she didn't even recognize me! It felt great to hear that- but I seriously can't see it in myself...is it that I'm just so mentally warped on my own body image that I can't see the improvement? Is anyone else having this issue? I feel like I look exactly the same, in the mirror, in pictures, etc- I see NO change.....? Am I crazy??? lol

Welcome to Week Three. Wondering what it was all about and why. I am only down 9-10 pounds, but I have been on this journey for awhile. Quick update: I had the lapband put in March of 2012, then removed after a 6 month stall on March 19 of this year. It had slipped. I had a revision to the GVS. So, I had already lost weight the first time. Down 34 pounds. Found someone who posted this link: http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html . It completely explains why you stop losing the weight. It does make sense to me though. So, as my body stores water to make more Glycogen, I am planning on reviewing my complete plan. I know for a fact that I haven't been able to consume enough food and water. I know that I haven't really been working out and walking enough. I know for a fact that I haven't been taking the correct amount of vitamins. Baby steps. But, if I just take a look and tweak it, I think I should be good to go.