NJGirl32

I had mine too-no undies and no tampon allowed. I had to stick a pad between my legs for the surgery. You'll be fine! Good luck!!!

Nope! I won't miss one ounce of fat at all!! My hubby fell in love with a skinnier version of me (not thin-but about 50 pounds less than I am now. I'll be hapyto reunion with the skinnier me-I have missed HER for a long time! I miss feeing sexy and I miss looking in the mirror and feeling happy with thereflection staring back at me.

You're right- I need some nagging! lol And I know the vitamins are important. Today I was better with not drinking after a meal. After reading your response I am going to take my vitamins! I need a small vitamin-I take 2 huge chewable now so that's why I don't like them. I need to get a small pill or I heard some people say gummy vitamins are good.

I agree that GNC Total Lean Swiss Choc. is great tasting! Not thick, like some shakes and not that horrible after taste either! You can try 1 to see if you like it before purchasing more-some GNCs even have a fridge with a cold one in them! You can bend it with ice and a half of a banana for extra Protein (althought it has 25 grams of protein already (plus 23 vitamins). When I blend it with ice I put a dollop of cool whip on top to make it like a shake! I have found carnation instant breakfast packs great in the blender with skim milk and ice - if you wantto up your protein and a half scoop of unjury powder. I think the GNC brand tastes like the best and I am not one to mess with powders-I want something I can just grab in the mornings and go.

In my mind, based on my research, I am thinking it will take at least 8 weeks post surgery to get the bal rolling with the band. I watched a few YouTube videos of peope whio post every week and they all seem to have gone the 'Bandster Hell" period for an extended period of time. The all reached that frustration stage too where they doubt the band process. In the end they all lost lots of weight-lots! I am not sure how many fills you have had so far. But another Bandster posted that her doc. said it's like blowing up a balloon-once it has air in it -it only take a small amount (fill) to have a greater impact. .5 cc can be just enough-some people had that much taken out because of problems and it made a huge difference. If it was your first fill I woud say it's not enough...but if it's your 3rd or 4th fill that sounds right. Hang in there-your ride is just beginning and this time next year you'll be skinny!!

I have a low threshold for pain. When I woke up in recovery my first thought was "I'm aive!" then my next thought was that I was in a lot of pain. They woudn't take me to my room until the pain was managed. They really worked with me to increase the pain meds (morphine) which helped. But I was thinking this procedure is NOT reversable because I couldn't imagine gong through this pain again. I had the pump and used it all night which hinders the ability to really get up and walk around a lot, plus the pains meds make you sick. 24 hours later I was feeling so much better and had no trouble sleeping (with the help of pain meds). Within 2 days I wasn't taking pain meds and was feeling good. I had no gas pains at all.

I had my first fill via xray on Thursday. I could tel I couldn't eat as much, which was great! Today I made a framer's omletter for my DH and another one for me using egg beaters. This was at 12 noon. We had errands to run so around 4pm my DH wanted to go to the Texas Road House Resturant. I wasn't hungry at all! I was thinking that the fill must be working!! I manage to have him wait and 45 minutes later we were sitting in the Roadhouse. I mean it can't always be about my needs and this is the firsttime we ate out since my surgery. I ordered the petite filet (6oz) and only ate half...gave hubby the rest!! Whoa!! Only half? I ordered veggies and couldn't finihed them. I had salad and just a few bites! I did have 2 tiny pieces (very tiny) of bread then removed the basket. If this is restriction then I am loving it!!! I ordered a Margarita and could not finish even half of it. I really felt the band helping me today-it was awesome!!! I do realize the first fill's effect could diminish at anytime, but I did have an idea of what the band is capable of!

I had my fill last Thursday and I feel full after eating much smaller amounts. Not full like I am stuffed, but rather the kind of full that I don't need or want to eat more. Depennding what I eat I am full for several hours. I think it's important for me to remember to eat solid proteins and avoid sliders. I am so use to sliders that I have to stop and eat protein first. I hope it lasts until my next fill in 4 weeks, but that's not the way to bet! Good luck to you!

What is a Pandora? Is there a link? I have decided once I hit Onderland I am getting some nails! I use to have them and thought they added to a sexy look! I am also going to get myself to a sexy pair of knee high leather boots-once the calves are skinnier! Victoria's Secret-matching bra and panties- wow, that will be an accomplishment for sure! I told my hubby that he needs to buy me a new wardrobe once I get skinny-I am saving him a lot of $$ by eating and drinking less! Once I reach goal I think a tatoo would be great even though I am 48! For my 50th birthday I plan to be skinny (a year and a haf away) and take a trip to Italy!

I just received a "Save the Date" card for a wedding next March,. I can't waitto get a skinny dress for that wedding!! That dress will be my WOW dress! When I was a lot thinner I had a beautiflu red dress with no sleeves that I wore to a Christmas wedding- it's a size 12 and I would love to fit into that again!

Head shots were fine, but body shot-no way!! My Hubby is a big guy (6'4) and I always tryto tuck half of my body behind his for any pics!

I LOVE the fact that you named your band Stanley! lol 8 months? Wow! 2-3 lbs a week is terrific!!!! Congrats!

Which fill was your Ahhh ha moment - the moment that you thought "Now this is what I signed up for?" How long did it take post surgery to reach that point?

Thanks everyone!! I had very little expectations for my first fill-BUT I really do feel a difference! I can't wait until I have had several fills! I din't lose any weightthe last 3 weeks but suddenly the scale dropped 4 pounds!! (I haven't updated my ticker in a while)

Hi Donna! We are about the same (I started at 248 and I am down to 228-banded May 25th). Congrats on such a great victory!! I love my band too! I can't waitto get to 212!! It's that much closer to Onederland!!!!

I had my first fill 4 days ago and I definitely fee a difference! When I went outto eat I could only eat a very small portion of what I ordered and gave my hubby the rest. I am not as hungry between meals either! From my understanding the eefcts if the first fill are short lived, but I am enjoying it so far. My doc used the fluro. xray for the first fill and maybe that made a difference in ensuring the right amount? Congrats on making such great changes in your eating habits! As far as when you can see a difference- well I guess that depends on your starting weight and how much you have to lose. At 20 ponds down I can feel a difference and my waistline is being more defined. Good luck!

I haven'ttold my mom-I am waiting to lose some significant weight first. She's a worry wart so I rather tell her later-but I think she will be happy for me. I think it's probably harder to get support from someone who never had to deal with weight issues in a big way...even if it's your own mother. We are women now and don't need our parents approval. We get to call all the shots and take control of our own lives! The best way to handle this is to get skinny in spite of it!!

I read that it can take a couple of weeks after a fill to feel it. I sure hope so! That's why many doctors space out the fills 4-6 weeks. I hope others reply because I'd really be interested in their experiences!

Get out the machete girl-you don't want the doctors to be distracted during the surgery!! LOL

If you haven't brought this up with your doctor please schedule an appointment ASAP. How do you sleep at night? Maybe your meds need to be adjusted. Feelingtired all the time can be related to how well you sleep at night. Your meds may be keeping you up at night (my DH takes them too). It could also be related to stress or depression. Are you getting enough protein and drinking enough water? There are SO many things that could be causing you to be tired that a doctor realy needs to rule out first. I think most people on the lapband have energy due to the weight loss-the only thing I can think of is a lack of nutritants. Hope you find your energy !!

Order it from Amazon-it comes in a few short days. I haven't seen much of anything at bookstores. You could call your bookstore and see if they have it in stock. I have the book and it was worth the money. I really wish I had purchased it early on since it gives a lot of info on al the pre-surgery visits.

Why am I fat? My father had a drinking problem and was never the warm fuzzy type. But when he was drunk he would bring Chinese food home-that was one way he showed attention to the family. He would bring soft pretzels home (a Philly thing) and that showed me he loved us and thought about us. He took great pleasure in cooking amzing breakfasts-so food was my father's way of showing that he loved us. I guess in my brain I relate feeling loved with food. My 3 brothers are average weight and so is my mother. My father was about 40 pounds overweight. 11 years ago I was in a medical study and I took Meridian and lost a lot of weight. Meridian stimulates the serotin in the brain. I never thought about food. However the pills stopped working (I guess I got use to them). I eat when I am nervous,sad, worried, lonely or anixious. I need to refocus those feelings into something other then food.

Yep! I reay try to eat 3 meals and 1 larger snack. It works for me. If I get really hungry between meals I might have a small piece of fruit or a spoonfulof trail mix-but I look at the clock and say I can wait until __ time. On the weekends I try to delay my breakfast as much as possible. I enjoy reading the paper and having coffee.

Awesome!! It feels great doesb't it?!! I had 2 people tell me how great I look and asked what I am doing and they have no idea that I had surgery or that I am dieting-so that made me feel good. I think at the 20 pound mark people begin to notice! And the good news is it only gets better!!

Get the book Bandwagon on amazon and read everything you can! There are several surgery options out there and you have to find one that works best for you. You are young and have your entire life ahead of you-losing weigh can help make the quality of your life so much better! When you go to the tab "Lapband Form" scroll way down and find your age group and see if you can find support there as well. The Lapband takes a lot of work. The 1st day of surgery you will be sore, but each day you feel better. Some people get terrible gas pains-but I didn't. Expect to lose a little pre-surgery and directly after surgery, but for the first 2 months you will be questioning why you did this. Then, hopefully, you will ave the right fill to your band and your weight loss journey will finally seem worth it. For some peope it takes months before surgery, but for me it only took 6 weeks after my first doctor's visit. You will have to get lots of tests done. The lapband isn't a magic bullet. It takes educating yourself every day and patience and determination. I wish you lots of luck on your journey!