kittyforet

Just added an "after" picture...I forgot that I had already uploaded the 2 pics I took the day before surgery...

I've gone from a 42DD to a 40C..... To me they still look huge, and I TOTALLY fill the C cup!! Wearing my new bras that now fit makes them look like Dolly Parton's tiny twins. I could still lose a little more of the girls.... so far I've lost 3 inches since June.

Although I can't really tell that my girls have lost weight, my bra sure shows it! My regular bras are getting too loose at the top and having a big gap....so I cut the tops of the cups off one so the gap doesn't show.... went from 42DD to 40C. Hoping to go even smaller!! My girls won't be mad!!

Oh Roziecakes I am so sorry to hear this. I cannot imagine what you are going through. Praying for you to remain healthy and happy. You've got the best attitude!! Hang in there!! Hugs.

Great NSV!! Here's mine... I've noticed my bras getting a little loose at the top and the straps kept falling off my shoulders. Finally went to Soma to buy a new one since that's where I bought my last one... Had to try on several to get one that fit properly.... Went from a 42DD to a 40C!! Havent seen a 40C in the last 10 years, since before I started having kids!!! I've been a little down that the scale has been yo-yoing the last few weeks but now I can see that I may not have lost pounds but I can see where the inches came off!!!

Hi Lisa. Would you keep me in mind when you're ready to part with your capris? Those are all I wear since I'm super short!! I don't mind helping with shipping. Email me anytime. Kittyforet@yahoo.com Thanks!

feel free to add me... kittyforet

My first fill had very little bruising but my 2nd one looked like I'd been punched. Took 2 weeks for the bruise to go away. It started small but it got to be the size of a fist before it finally started to get smaller. Hoping fill #3 doesn't look too bad when I go tomorrow.

Woo hoo!!! You go girl!! You look awesome!!!

So, it turns out she was being nice with her comment...she was glad I got to eat more than a few bites.... On Labor Day, we all went out for lunch at a new BBQ place; mom usually grills but said it was too dang hot and we all agreed. So, we all ordered and mom paid (that was really nice!) and I ordered the plain sliced turkey breast, a corn on the cob, and a small side of beans. Gave my 4-year-old the corn...well, actually she stole it from me!! LOL I ate a few pieces of the turkey and a few bites of beans and took the rest home. Mom looked at what I had eaten and said "Are you sure you had enough to eat???" When I said yes, she then said that she was glad I got to enjoy what little I did eat. Thanks again for all the encouragement!

So my mom made a comment yesterday that I took as hurtful, but maybe I am reading too much into it....not really sure how to take the comment, maybe I am too sensitive. Me, my mom, sister, and niece went for pedicures and then to eat lunch at a Mexican restaurant. I ordered a platter that had a taco, chili con queso puff, rice, Beans, enchilada, and a tamale. I ate less than 10 chips (a HUGE deal for me to stop at less than 10!) and salsa and took baby sips of my Water when needed. I wasn't planning on eating the entire platter, but wanted a few bites of everything that I could handle. So far I can eat rice, tortillas, etc. No problems with any food yet, thankfully. Our food arrived and I pushed away the taco shell and only ate the meat, then most of the ccq puff (ccq is my favorite!) and about half of the tamale. At this point I didn't want to over-do it, so I pushed my plate away. I intended to take the rest home to hubby. When I pushed away my plate my niece asked if i was full, and I said no with a little laugh, thinking I was going to win over the hunger monster.... And then she said it..... My mom said "wow you ate so much" I took it as "wow you cow you ate so much!" maybe she meant it as "I can't believe you were able to get so little food in" Pre-banding I would have eaten the entire platter plus a bowl of chips by myself. Post-banding I eat small portions that are pre-weighed or pre-measured, unless I am going out to eat, and then I only eat up to half or order a kids meal....The band doesn't stop me yet, I stop myself to prevent PB, etc. I've been stuck a few times and don't want to chance that. Was I tummy full? Not sure. Head full? no way. I did end up eating the rest of the tamale, it was small....but lost my appetite after the comment. So far I have 3.9cc in my band and work every day not to gorge myself....I have fill #3 in 2 weeks. I struggle every day to change my eating habits and track my food and exercise online. My mom has been very supportive of my surgery, even asking people at her work (huge medical center) that have had the surgery and will share their success/failures with me. I've never been super close to her, so that may play a part in why the comment has me confused. I'm finally in onederland, right now betweem 196-197 and 195 is in sight. Haven't been under 200 in at least 14 years, if not longer. My sister is a little older, 40, and after 4 kids, she still weighs 95 pounds soaking wet. I am the only one in my family with weight issues...... I did watch what my sister ate yesterday (we ordered similar plates) and I ate about the same as she did and she eats like a bird. She even had 1 full Dr Pepper plus drank half her refill, while I sipped on less than 1/4 of my ice water. Anyone else deal with anything like this? Am I being weird? I'm a little hurt thinking the comment was meant to be mean, but again I am sensitive..... blah.....

You can also use www.myfitnesspal.com to log all your food items....lots of people that are on LBT are also on there. You can set your food log to be private or where only your "friends" can see it. You can comment on your friends' status and food log, as well as see what works for them. If you decide to join myfitnesspal, feel free to add me as a friend. Don't judge my diary though! I don't always make the best food choices and am working on that!!

I was told that using straws was not a good idea, but that if I needed a straw, to bite the end of it while drinking, so that I wouldn't take in as much air. When I don't use a straw, I tend to spill the drink all over myself, usually when drinking iced tea or Water. LOL That said, I occasionally use a straw and bite the end the entire time I take a sip. Even if I forget to bite it, I've never had a problem with taking in too much air. I didn't start using a straw until after about 8 weeks post-op, but even now don't use one all the time for every drink like I did pre-op. I know a few banded friends that use a straw all the time and don't bother biting it, and they don't have any issues. You'll find what works for you.

Wishing LBT had a "LIKE" button!!!!! Maybe I'm too addicted to Facebook!! I drew inspiration from all of the comments....even though they were directed to FeFe, everyone in this journey can take those words to heart. Thanks!!!!

Hi FeFe. I'm not where you are, but girl I am in a slump too!! Not gaining, but not losing either!! I too have made poor choices here and there and I know that to do better I must eat less and exercise more! I applaud you for at least going to the gym!! I am debating which gym to join (I think I'd like to choices and classes at the YMCA, plus my kids could play and work out while I do too) but it's really expensive compared to the crappy Bally's and 24-hour fitness. So girlfriend, we both need to exit the pity party and put on our SMALLER GIRL panties and deal with it to get back on track!!! Let's go!! The good news is, tomorrow is a new day, and you DON'T HAVE to repeat your mistakes!!

Hey Banded Annie!! I was banded June 20, 2011 and can buddy with you. I'm far away in Texas, but I have 3 kids and I'm 38... busy mom and full-time teacher!! Cheri (above poster) is a great resource!! I've been communicating with her since I joined LBT and get to meet up with her tomorrow!! She's always given me good advice!!! Good luck!!

Hi! I'm in League City and would like to find other people in my area that have been banded or are in the process.....I will be banded June 20, 2011 at True Results Houston with Dr. Reilly. I noticed that in the current forums, there are no recent posts (within the last year or so) from anyone in my area and would love to join forces with people in the Clear Lake/Southeast Houston/Galveston etc. area! Anyone out there????? kristi

LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW!!! I might have my kids!! Someone order my margarita now!! LOL See y'all soon! 281-734-5612

I've used the Unjury chocolate splendor and it was good, but I really like the Chocolate flavor from The Ideal Chocolate Milk Diet (www.chocmilkdiet.com) better. Tastes yummy! They have chocolate and vanilla flavors, both good. If you like vanilla, I really liked the Jay Robb vanilla better than the Unjury vanilla. I've also bought Unjury unflavored to add to different things, and the Unjury chicken soup flavor to use when on liquid diet. Sometimes I add the unflavored to my cup of soup/soup at hand and it ups the protein without tasting funny. You really have to experiment with different flavors. Both the Unjury and the Ideal Chocolate Milk Diet sell sample packets...and my local grocery store sells many flavors of single-serve Jay Robb. I'm not a fan of the fruit flavored ones, to me they taste too sweet, but I know a lot of people like them. Maybe I've tried the wrong ones! Syntrax sells a sample pack of their fruity flavors but you don't get to choose, they just send you a few different ones. A few I threw away since they weren't things I'd normally like. I've also only bought powder, never the pre-made. Some people swear by Isopure but I've never gotten brave enough to try it. I'm so scared to waste money!! I stick with what I know I like!! Good luck!!

I can meet anytime on Sunday. I might even be able to get away without kids!!! Woo hoo adult conversation!!! Y'all let me know!!! Kittyforet@yahoo.com or 281-734-5612

My period started 3 days after surgery, even though I was on birth control and it wasn't time for it to start yet.....how fun!!! NOT!! At that time I was using nuva-ring. Then in late July, I started new birth control and during that had a normal period but haven't had one since then...had a pregnancy test at the beginning of August during my period (a requirement to get an IUD) and haven't started yet....I'm debating getting a pregnancy test, even though I know I'm not..... but I am guessing that between the surgery, weight loss, and new birth control that my body is thrown off and is now whacky....I'm not sad about lack of a period, though!!

I've had the same problem trying to eat dry Fiber One's version of frosted mini wheats!! Both times I've gotten stuck after eating without milk, and one of those times I slimed once. It finally went down but man that hurts!!! I haven't been brave enough to try cereal with milk...I've only eaten it dry as a snack, but not anymore!!!

It depends on what the package says....most of them you bake in the oven, but then you could put them in a crock pot afterwards with some sauce. I usually just bake them and then sauce them and put them in a foil dish to keep them warm for as long as possible. You could try to crock them after baking, but they may fall apart or get tough if the crock is too high. I have a chafing dish that I bought at the party store pretty cheap and use that often...you just bake the chicken and then put it in the foil chafing dish, then put the fuel under it and it stays warm for a while. You can also buy a small chafing set at WalMart. I try to re-use the foil pans as often as possible... Good luck!! Now I'm craving wings!!!

I know it's labor day weekend so I bet people can't meet but just in case, I am available Sunday night (September 4) after 6:30. If you're available, let me know!!! 281-734-5612 If not this weekend, how does next weekend look?? I'd love to meet y'all!!