Jenn1214

Congrats! I can't wait to say goodbye forever to Lane Bryant too!

Count me in!

Today I went to Lane Bryant shopping for a dress for my engagement party next Saturday. I didn't find one thing I liked, but as I went past a jeans display I decided to try a size 14 just for the heck of it. They fit, but I am not paying big bucks for jeans that won't fit me in two months, so I put them back. I was just happy I could zip them up. Then I got brave. There's a NY&Co. a few stores down from where Lane Bryant is, so I decided to stop in and see what they had. I could feel some anxiety as I opened the door, since I can't remember the last time I shopped in a "normal" store. I tried on a couple of dresses in XL that also fit, but I wasn't crazy about either of them. Just the fact that I got up the courage to even set foot in there was a huge accomplishment. Yay me!

Here's how a fill goes for me: Fills in my surgeon's office are done by a surgical PA. She calls me into an exam room, weighs me, then asks me questions about my hunger (portion size, satiety, etc.) and any food restrictions or intolerances (so far I have none). If she determines I need a fill, I lay back on the exam table while she sets up for the fill. She opens everything, then puts on sterile gloves and cleans the port area with some alcohol or betadine. The first fill for me was a little painful just because there was so much fat in front of the port so she had to really push to find it and missed the first time. I've had two or three fills since with no problems, it just feels like getting a vaccination. Then I sit up and drink some water to make sure there are no problems with it going down. After that I get a bandaid and a "See you next month!"

I haven't had soda since the surgery and I don't miss it. I will have a couple sips of champagne that I've let go flat at special occasions, but other than that no carbonation. My surgeon was very adamant about that and I found out why!

The Depo shot is notorious for weight gain. Can your doctor put you on something else? I would go see your surgeon and tell them your situation. Then they can suggest the best course of action. Good luck, and hopefully you can get off that Depo!

Since you are only 2 weeks post op, don't worry so much about actual weight loss at this point. Your body is trying to heal from surgery and it's normal to gain some weight during this period. Make sure you are getting enough protein so you can heal and make sure to hydrate with plenty of water or calorie-free, caffeine free liquids. The weight loss will come!

Try this: keep a food diary for a week and write down every morsel that passes your lips in a day. You might be surprised that you are eating more (or less) calories than you think. Either way it will slow your weight loss. Also make sure you are drinking enough water and getting plenty of exercise. And yes the band will limit your intake but you still have to make the right choices. Good luck!

Down two pounds to 206 today!

Like most people who are trying to lose weight, I've hit some bumps in the road. My weight loss has slowed and even stalled a few times, and sometimes it's hard not to get frustrated. I will never go back to my old mindset of just giving up, but I do beat myself up occasionally when that scale just won't budge. Not as much as I used to, but sometimes I feel like I'll never reach my goal weight, and I have just so much farther to go. Even my weight loss of 43 pounds seems like nothing when I started out over 100 pounds overweight. Last weekend, my fiance and I hosted a BBQ and we went to a beer distributor to get ice. We got a "party pack" that weighed 42 pounds and I thought to myself "Wow, that's about how much I've lost so far." I asked my fiance if I could carry it to the backyard when we got home so I could see how heavy it felt. I picked it up, walked a few steps, and put it down. I couldn't do it. Just imagine, I was carrying that around on my body all day, every day! It really put things in perspective for me. My journey is far from over, but I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far...I've lost a giant bag of ice! No more beating myself up and thinking my weight loss isn't good enough. Soon enough, i'll have lost two of those bags...and I'm sure as heck not trying to carry those!

I still enjoy eating, just not as much as I used to. I also have a newfound love of cooking so I love to try out new dishes on my fiance. So far there are no foods I can't eat so I just try small amounts of everything, making sure I eat more protein than anything else. As for going out to eat I will usually just get an appetizer or just stop eating the second I am satisfied and get the rest of my meal wrapped up.

I've never heard of Spider Surgery. What is it?

I stayed off coffee for six weeks to let everything heal. I probably could have added it back sooner but I didn't want to take a chance. I also read recently that it would take 4 cups or more of coffee a day to start causing dehydration. Not sure if that's really true so I always replace my caffeine intake with water anyway.

OMG yes! I haven't had acne since I was a teenager, except maybe for a zit here and there. Since I was banded I'm breaking out constantly!

Great post, I think it's very easy to forget that the lap band is not a magic wand (at least for me anyway). Too bad they couldn't band my brain too! Great pics by the way, you can really tell just from your face how much you've lost. Keep up the great work!

This won't provide instant relief, but make sure you are getting the recommended amount of water each day. That always helps me.

Does everyone take a fiber supplement? Which is the best choice for a bandster to avoid excess gas and other GI problems?

Yup. Welcome to Bandster Hell

I'm actually more worried about gas pain in my pouch or lower stomach...gas coming from either end is just a fact of life now

I've lost 43 pounds in 4 months, which I think is pretty substantial, so I figured my fiance would be jumping me at every opportunity. My libido has gotten pretty low due to the weight loss (that can happen sometimes due to hormones), but his hasn't increased at all. His has been pretty low to begin with (for a guy anyway) and I thought that shedding all this ugly fat would make him want me more. If anything, we're having sex less. I confronted him about it today and asked if he wasn't attracted to me anymore. Better to know now than after we get married, right? He insisted that he is so happy being in a relationship with me that he doesn't feel the need to have sex with me all the time, because he is so satisfied with every other aspect of our relationship. I didn't believe him at first, because what guy in their right mind doesn't want to have sex all the time? I'm a little jealous of other women bandsters who say they're having sex almost every day now and their s.o. can't keep their hands off of her, but I can't rely on my fiance's libido (or lack thereof) to make me feel sexy and good about myself. Hopefully your husband will feel differently, and if not, pipe up and talk to him. Good luck!

Tomorrow will be my 4 month bandiversary and I've lost 43 pounds (33 if you don't count the pre op diet). I love my Bandy and I'm so glad I have him!

I think old people just don't realize that it's no longer appropriate to assume a woman is pregnant. I got a comment like that years ago when I was at my current weight. I could just imagine if the same guy saw me at my highest weight...he would think I was carrying triplets or something! Don't let it get you down. You're doing great.

Pretty cool! Thanks for sharing!

Since I had the SILS procedure my port is located on my abdomen below my belly button. When I first had the surgery I couldn't feel it at all but now that I've lost quite a bit of weight it's more noticeable. I can't lean against counters because it hurts, and somehow when I'm laying down my cats know exactly where it is and step on it constantly. Ouch!

Tonight I had a thought but I'm not sure if it will work...has anyone ever tried making ice milk with their protein shake? It's so hot in my apartment I'm dying for something cold!