pink dahlia

YOU. ARE. AWESOME !. CONRATULATIONS AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !

Don't mourn that hamburger yet ! I can eat hamburgers (with the bun ) steak, bacon , any kind of red meat etc. Just a few bites and im satisfied. The only thing I cant tolerate is broccoli, dry chicken breast, dry pork chops, and eggs, (sunny side up is fine) and I can eat only a bite or 2 of thick noodles. Most of everything else is OK.

When I go up a pound or two I ask my myself, " Do you want to see the scale move back down 1-2 measly lbs and work at getting it off ? Or do you want to work at getting 10 big lbs off ? Either way you're going to have to work hard !" I always choose the smaller amount of weight to work at, and since it comes off fairly quickly I don't feel like my work has been for nothing. I like to see a little progress fairly quick.

I have a Magic Bullet which I use for my daily smoothies,. When it wears out im considering getting a Nutri Bullet. Does anyone else have one of these ? What do you think of yours and would you recommend one ? Thanks !!!

CONGRATULATIONS !!!! As I read your story it started sounding somewhat familiar ! Im on the other side of Mt Rainier (North Kitsap area), Dr. Neal is also my surgeon, and one of the many reasons I got banded was to someday be able to get back on a horse too ! {grew up riding the neighbors horses a lot ) Last time I rode , 3 years ago I was 225 lbs, weak core , and not a really pleasant ride like when I rode as a skinny kid ! We'll see this summer/fall if a horseback ride is in the works, should be a lot more fun 65 lbs lighter ! WAY TO GO !!!

NSV= Non Scale Victory, like when pants that didn't fit 2 weeks ago suddenly fit, or being able to climb stairs that you couldn't climb before, basically anything that is a success towards a healthy fit body, NOT just a # moving down on the scale. PB = Productive Burping, sometimes needed when food gets a little stuck, and a good burp clears it out. Hope this clears up the confusion, whats your best NSV so far, or what do you hope for one to be ? My 1st one was when I was 2 months banded, I ran into an old acquaintance who said "Have you lost weight ? You look thinner in the face !" ( I was down 17 lbs then ) Oh boy ! that made my day !!!! Good luck !

Wow ! You are AMAZING !!! Way to go ! I hear you on the before and after situation , 18 months ago I too was a huffing and puffing 225 lb size 18 TIRED feeling person ! Today im at 161, and for the 1st time in maaaaaany years , slipped on a pair of SIZE 10 JEANS , TOOOOODAAAAAAYYYYYY !!! WOOOOHOOOOO !!! KEEP IT UP !!

, Everyones band is different, so like me you may be able to eat meat and rice, potatoes and pasta too. Also I can eat pineapple , celery , apples etc. I can only eat a small amount of them before im full if im in the green zone. The only things I really have trouble with is raw broccoli, (major stuck and then .........well , it wasn't pretty !) and dry chicken breast and dry pork chops. Im having steak right now with baked beans, no problems ! Good luck !

I don't know about the chest bubbles. As far as your liquids you are still swollen 5 days out and that MAY be why you fill full so quick. As far as the shoulder/neck pains ? A lot of people get that as its the leftover anesthiesa gas (spelling ?) that will eventually leave your system in a week or so. Just to be on the safe side , and so you feel better, id call your Dr. so he/she knows whats going on and can put your mind at ease. Good luck !!

When your Dr gives you the OK for swimming I hope you'll like it as much as I do ! I started taking a hardworking water fitness class after i was banded and oh boy, what a workout !There are all shapes and sizes in the class, so I didn't care what others thought about me. Its very easy on my joints but you're definetly working out ! It helped me drop 50 lbs in the first 7 months and I continue to go 3x a week, down 64 lbs total , 20 more to go ! Hopefully you'll love it too !

Any protein like steak or chicken ,but my favorite snack is a little peanut butter on apple slices or a little oatmeal with milk and brown sugar .MMMMMMMMMMM !

WOW ! You're awesome ! Keep going, you can do it one day at a time ! I found MYFITNESSPAL,COM to be a big help ! Good luck !

Do I get treated any different now that im thinner ? Yes , yes, and yes !Before I was overweight wearing dowdy old lady clothes , mom jeans , and baggy t shirts or something that just wasn't "me". (The big girl clothes aren't always the prettiest!) Now I wear attractive age appropriate modern clothes and because I LOOK more attractive , Im treated better by men AND women, and part of it its human nature unfortunately. People just naturely respond better to something or somebody that is their version of attractive. Think about it , if you're looking for a kitten, a dress, or a rosebush, which one do you automatically go for ? The pretty one or the ugly one ?

I was banded 12/13/2011 at 220 lbs, highest weight was 225. Im 5'3, currently at 162 with a goal of 140. I lost the 1st 50 lbs in 7 months , now the weight loss has slowed down so I hope to be at 150 or below by Christmas.

Everything is better ! I can wear cute smaller size clothes, I can do my own pedicure, I no longer use a C-pap breathing machine, I can jog, people find me attractive, as does my hubby, I have lots more energy, I look and feel 10 yrs younger, , I live, not just exist, I look and feel better in my own skin and no longer feel like a skinny girl trapped in an old womans body etc etc etc......lap band literally gave me my life back !!

that's up to you and your Dr, but I would clean your house before you go to surgery, not the week after. You need to rest , walk and go slow . . I drove to the store on the 3rd day after surgery and walked VERRRY slowly , it felt great to be out in the fresh air after 3 days of being inside (December). I went back to work 7 days after surgery , went slow but felt great ! no problems ! good luck !

CONGRATS !!!! This is a lot of fun, isn't it !! You and I are roughly around the same weight loss area (Im down from a size 18-225 lbs to a size 12, 162 lbs , with a goal of 140 lbs )I think one of the funnest things is to be able to just look at a size 12 and go "Yep! It will fit !!!" Woohoo !! Glad to see you have all those cute clothes to wear, im glad I shopped at Goodwill and bought a few outfits at a time to "grow into " ! Save me a lot of stress to do it a little at a time BEFORE I was banded. Do you notice that your shoe size has changed too ? Ive gone from a solid 9.5 to now a 9 and some 8.5 's. ...... totally weird to have to buy smaller shoes, just couldn't wrap my mind around that one for the longest time......CONGRATULATIONS again, way to go !!!

skb, I guess my question is WHY is your daughter so unsupportive ? Is she thinking she's going to loose you in surgery, or is she not knowledgeable about the surgery itself and thinks it a big major surgery ? ( It's not, honestly Ive had root canals that were more work and pain !) Just curious as to why shes not more supportive when shes seeing you struggle so hard on a daily basis with your weight. Does SHE have a weight problem ?? Probabaly not, so maybe she doesn't realize how hard it is to struggle ?? Does she have all the details or is she in the dark about what to expect ? maybe she should go with you to a seminar/Dr.s appt to see for herself ! I think you're making the right decision WITH your Dr.s support , so good for you ! Way to go to get on track to get healthy ! And 200 lbs that you lost ? YOU"RE AMAZING !!! I say go for it, you'll be SOOOO glad you did ! Good luck !!

Nope ! Check with your Dr but as far as ive heard they're not necessary. My Dr had me on liquids 48 hrs before surgery which took care of anything in my stomach. Never heard of anyone having to have an enema before being banded. Good luck !

I used to use a bi-pap too (No more , NSV !!!!) and was gassy too because healthy food or not, I just have trouble digesting things. I do notice im less gassy now, but the protein shakes/ high protein diet contribute a lot to the gas problem. Oh well, I just chalked it up to a minor inconvenience on my way to a bigger payoff ! ( Healthy weightloss !) Check with your Dr , ask about a chewable fiber pill from the drugstore and see if that helps. I love mine ! Good luck !!

Does'nt that 1st compliment feel great ? I felt like I was floating on air ! When I had lost about 17 lbs I ran into an acquaintance I hadn't seen in a few months. He said "have you lost weight ? You look thinner in the face !" Ohhhhh, that just made my day !! I knew that the band and my hard work was paying off !! Congratulations !!! Trust me, those compliments will just keep happening ! good luck !!

Sorry for the last "post", computer issues , again ....... Play rider, what makes you think that you can never have your favorite foods again ? Some foods may be an issue like chips or fries because they mush up and expand, but a lot of people have no problems with most of "slider foods", ones that "slide" down easy like cake, candy, cookies etc. The band , with the right amount of fill, makes you feel fuller quickly so once your stomach is full, you stop thinking about food, healthy or not. When I have the right amount of fill (and this changes with time) I eat a little protein and veggies or fruit, and then I cant eat anymore. I don't think /obsess about food because im comfortably full on a small amount, and trust me , I have a sweet tooth !! Im banded 18 months now, down from an unhealthy 225 lbs to a healthy 162, goal is 140 ! hopefully soon ! Good luck to all, you can do this !

MMMMMMKKMNNNNNN

Hi ! Dr Neal banded me December , 2011 and I highly recommend him and his staff. Great team ,all very helpful and supportive. I was banded at Harrison Hospital in Silverdale, so if you're ever in the area we have our support group meeting the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 6:30 pm at Harrison Hospital in the Iris Room downstairs. I just saw Dr. Neal today in Bremerton for a slight unfill due to a minor issue. He's always so encouraging and thoughtful ! I started at 225 lbs, and I lost 50 lbs the 1st 7 months, and then it slowed down a bit , but hey Im down to 162 now with only 22 more to go !! Best decision ever ! Good luck !

I didn't ever have that feeling , I just looked at everything as a temporary stage and when it was the right time I would move on to the next stage. ( but I have heard its not uncommon to feel you made a big mistake, a "what have I done ?" feeling ) I took everything on a day to day basis, followed my Drs rules 95% of the time , read everything I could, followed this forum and listed to my body. 18 months later I still think it was the best decision I could of made. I literally got my life back !!! Good luck to you, you can do this !!!