Holly Dolly

I agree with Missy! She does rock! My band isn't about restriction either. I hate getting things stuck. There isn't much that I can't eat now, and the band doesn't tell me when to stop eating either. I just follow the rules as much as possible. I also don't deprive myself of something if I really want it either. Life is too short for me not to have chocolate....

I totally agree with all the above posters. You have to be willing to make the changes to lose the weight. I am 2 years out, plenty of fills and I still get hungry in between meals. But for the most part, I make the right choices and follow the rules. Had I not, I could still be eating all the chips and ice cream that I used to even with the band. That wouldn't mean that the band failed me, it would mean I failed the band.

You guys are great! Thanks! Celebrate each and every size! I started in a tight 22! My goal was a 12, hoping to be a 10....and shut the front door, now in a 4! Had it not been for the lapband and all the support from all of you and my dr's lapband buddies I couldn't have done it. Many a days of struggles, I still battle the demons in my head but I am bound and determined to never go back to where I was before. I reached my goal last summer, went up over the holidays and just back on track the last couple of weeks, that's what got me back on here. Forgot how motivating all of you can be, Have a great day everyone!

going 4 hours? I would pass as well on a fill. I don't even go 4 hours between meals without feeling hungry but it's a fine line for me from being just right to being too tight. I choose to be looser.

woot, woot!

Sometimes in my head I "feel" fat but then I see myself in the mirror and think to myself, "Who the heck is that girl?" Though I have to say today I felt pretty skinny all day long, and I even posted that on my profile!

1. tying my shoes without getting out of breath 2. paint my toes with ease 3. shopping for pants in the size 4 section 4. running a 5 k just to name a few!

yep, own it and move on! Don't beat yourself up, you are in this for the long haul!

3rd time WILL be the charm!!! Good luck, don't know what I would do without my band!

oh lello, sorry to hear you are still having problems. Not good! Are they going to try and do anything for you/

I love Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal. I put 1/2 cup on top of my yogurt and strawberries.

Let me know when you figure it out!!!

Best advice ever!!! And woot, woot!!! You look amazing!!

I am 2 years out, reached my goal last summer and still weigh, measure and log everything I eat. I have accepted that I will have to do this forever if I want to keep the weight off. There's no going back for this girl! In fact, I see the 120's on the horizon! That's something I never expected, my goal was 160 and then changed it to 140.

I would agree on lowering your calories. I was pretty good for the first year sticking to 1000 a day. That's when I lost the most. I had upped my calories to 1500 after reaching my goal but then started eating even more over the holidays and gained about 7 back. Now that I cut back to 1000 or less a day, I am down those 7 pounds in the last 9 days.

you get through this and the worst is over! Believe me, I would do this all over in a heartbeat! Sure, I could have lost some of it on my own, but I can tell you it wouldn't have lasted and I would have ended up even heavier than when I started. My advice though is to weigh and measure everything you eat and log it daily. You will have bumps along the way, we all have, but if you follow the rules of the band you should do well.

Last week our dr ran our support group. He said women need on average 45 grams a day. The reason you need more after surgery is because your body is trying to heal.

holbraden

I noticed that I burped a lot in the beginning. Now I may just be used to it and don't even notice that I do it anymore.

it is and they wont mind! Looking fwd to meeting you! My name is Holly! email me at holbraden@yahoo.com and I'll introduce you in the reminder email I have yet to send out.

I meet some lapband buddies at Panera in Brea right off the 57 and Imperial Hwy on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6pm....you are more than welcome to join us next week!

2 years out and it is still the battles within my head that I am fighting!

It could be along time before you reach the green and aren't hungry between meals. It took me along time, many fills and when I did feel like I was in the green I was too tight and had to have some removed. But I stick to my portion sizes for my meals and rarely eat more than I should for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I know what you mean about wanting to feel that full sensation. That was one thing I missed at first, before the band I would always eat until I was stuffed! Now I am happy when I can walk away from a meal knowing that I ate what I should have and I feel totally comfortable.