pink dahlia

i had hot tea to open my band , then a had a little 4pk of sesame crackers. After my am swim class ill snack on some mixed nuts and a piece of turkey jerky. Gotta love Costco !

wow ! great story ! Congrats ! Im glad your band is working so well, mine too !Im down from 225 lbs to 162, i was banded Dec 13, 2011. my goal is 140 lbs, but im happiest that i feel so good. Im havent been this strong or healthy in 20 years ! Best of luck !

No, im not having lapband Dec 4th, i had mine last year Dec 13th ! But if its any help , ive gone from 225lbs to 163 and down from a size 18-1x to a slim size 14, look and feel so much better, and feel so much better in my own skin. (the almost daily compliments dont hurt either !) this band really works as long as i follow the rules 95% of the time. good luck to you , it is sooooo worth it !

good grief ! sorry you are going through such a rough time, i know you're struggling. i dont have the problems you're having , but maybe i can add a little to the excellent previous posts ?? My dr said if i follow the rules 95 % of the time , i would be successful. ( make good food choices, take small bites and chew well,dont drink with meals but get plenty of water and protein 1st, fruits and veggies 2nd, carbs last) Well , he was right ! I was banded Dec, 2011 at 225 lbs, im now at 163 ! i rarely eat soup or salad, just other healthy foods as i refuse to " diet!" i also make sure i have something sweet towards the end of the day when i get my craving for chocolate. sometimes its a skinny cow or weight watchers ice cream bar, or a mini snickers bar. this way i NEVER feel deprived, as i also eat something healthy every 2-3 hrs. i also exercise 3-5 days a week which has gone a loooong way towards the weight loss. hope this helps, you can do it ! good lucks

everyones different, i hit the 50 lb mark at 7.5 months. i was VERY happy !!!

i just saw my band Dr for my 10 month checkup. ive lost 57 lbs and hes thrilled that ive taken up running !!! i think you need to find another Dr who is a little more understanding and open minded. ive never seen a study like the one your dr is talking about, and who wouldnt encourage a healthy exercise ?? you go girl, and you go get healthy !! good for you !!!

some might be depressed some wont, but dont back out because you think youre not going eat again. you'll eat , just less food and you'll want to make healthier choices because you will start seeing the weight fall off ! when your pants start sagging off your rear end, suddenly all those cookies wont look so good ! i was banded 10 months ago at 225 lbs. tired all the time joints hurt , sleep apnea etc. yada yada. now im 167, lots more energy, swim and run (!) no sleep apnea and feel so much better ! yes i still have a treat everyday, a cookie or piece of chocolate, but i eat much healthier because 1. i can only eat so much and try to get my protein and fruit in first, and 2. a little sweet goes a long ways for me now.3. i love the results ! i wore old lady frumpy size 18-1x to much cuter slim size14, and i can still eat 95% of the foods i ate before ! So hang in there, and dont give up, im very happy being banded because it literally gave me my life back ! Good luck !

im glad i had a big bottle of water and chapstick ( for horrible cottonmouth), Propel water, Campbells chicken noodle soup, without the chicken or noodles. i found even low salt chicken broth too salty. popsicles, Boost protein drinks. slip on shoes, warm socks, loose sweats . By the 3 rd day home i was sooooo bored i went and did some lite Christmas shopping . A hot shower and a little walking in the fresh air did wonders for me. good luck !

hi there, if this is any help for you i was banded Dec, 2011 at 225 lbs. im now at 168 lbs, (goal is 140 ) feel and look 100% better. my sleep apnea is gone, my joints dont hurt, i have lots more energy, and i feel really strong and healthy ! i followed the Drs eating rules 95% of the time, swam 3x a week, walked 1x a week, made mostly healthy food choices, and watch the weight fall off, about a lb a week or so. I can eat 95% of the foods i ate before(Including steak,pizza , chicken , pineapple etc) and didnt have to make alot of huge uncomfortable changes , just healthier ones. i joined a Running Club 2 weeks ago , and love it ! 10 months ago i couldnt of ran a mile, well now i can ! it just keeps getting better and better ! I HAVE MY LIFE BACK !!!! there, i hope this helps you, and i hope you have a good trip to Mexico. dont forget the Chapstick, you'll need it on the airplane and after surgery.( cottonmouth) Good luck to you !( lap band = best. decision . ever. )

I have the same answers to your questions as everybody else pretty much, except i can eat 90 % of what i used to. i cant eat raw broccoli, thick chicken or thick pork, but thin is fine. after more than 4 bites of biscuts, potatoes or thick pasta, i get a little heartburn and stop eating them. . I eat steak, pizza, pineapple , thin pasta , all meats, fruits and raw veggies and everything else with no problems . i have no problems with ice cream, candy cookies etc but limit myself to a small portion every day . (Sorry, but a little chocolate never hurt anybody ) i could care less about the few foods i CAN"T eat, because of what i CAN do now ! I ran 2 miles today, swim 3x a week, have lost 56 lbs in 10 months and wear a slim size 14 skinny jean ! ive gone from 225 lbs to 168, My sleep apnea is gone , my joints dont hurt, i feel really good, im happier and more comfortable in my own skin, i get nice compliments daily etc etc etc ! Need i go on ??? my only regret is i didnt know about lapband sooner ! i dont have a single regret, the positives FAR outweigh the negitives , and i cant wait to get to my goal weight of 140 ! So GO FOR IT !!!!

WAY TO GO !!! you have to start somewhere ! you'll get stronger every week and before you know it you'll be walking a block and a half with out even thinking about it. 10 months a go when i was banded i weighed 225 lbs, so i started swimming 3x a week and walking 1x a week. i kept it up, got stronger, lost 57 lbs (so far !) and strted with a running group this week . ( ran 2 miles today !!) you can do this ! one day at a time ! good luck !

best decision ever ! ive been banded 10 months, lost 57 lbs, look and feel 100 % better ! i went from 225 lbs wearing a size 18-1x to a slim size 14 at 168 lbs and im still loosing ! i get compliments daily, my sleep apnea is gone, my joints dont hurt, i feel great etc, etc , etc ! i swim 3x a week, and this week i joined a running group (I ran 2 miles today ! last year ? couldnt of run if i had tried !!) never in a million years could i have guessed that i would feel this good after only 10 months !!! my recovery was easy as pie, mild gas pain , switched to liquid tylenol for the 3rd day and then didnt need it anymore. I followed the Drs rules 95 % of the time (choose healthy foods, small bites, chew well, exercise 3 times a week minimum, limit your sweets and get fills as needed ) and im really happy i got banded !!! BEST DECISION EVER !! GO FOR IT !!!

i like that you value your BFs opinion, hes important in your life too. that being said , YOUR life is the MOST important, and if you are'nt healthy and strong mentally and physically, you start putting your feelings behind everyones elses feelings. You have to be #1 sometimes ! So, educate your BF on the lapband and see if he supports you or not. All i can say is , i was banded 10 months ago, im down 57 lbs and feel fantastic ! BEST DECISION EVER !!! good luck !

hang in there. it does get better ! Ask your hubby if he had had a root canal, would he want you to be supportive for him ? he should be supporting you 100 %, just as you would do for him if he had any type of surgery. My hubbys 100% support has made this journey alot easier. hope all goes well for you ! you can do this !

way to go, hot stuff !!!!

hi there, its normal to waiver back and forth but i found that when i had done my homework, i felt very secure with my decision to get banded. i was a thin child too, but started having a little weight gain around 30 yrs old and it just went from a little to alot. im 54 now, i was banded last december starting at 225 lbs. i followed the dr.s rules 95% of the time and have had almost no discomfort at all. (the 1st 10 days felt like a badly pulled muscle, i didnt use the pain reliever after the 3rd day, didnt need to) im now 170 lbs, and my days just keep getting better and better ! i swim 3x a week, and im starting with a ymca running program ! (tommorrow ! Me ? a runner ?? No way !!!!) i no longer have sleep apnea, my digestive problems are gone, i get compliments on how i look all the time, ive gone from frumpy, stretchy old lady size 18-1x clothes to size 14 skinny jeans and cute attractive tops. need i go on ? My only regret is i didnt do it sooner ! You MUST make a decision for YOU, not based on others feelings , cause its not them that has to live in YOUR body. hope all goes well for, good luck !

ive lost 53 lbs since being banded Dec 23, 2011. sometimes its 1.3 lbs a week ,sometimes nothing. im very happy with my weight loss , i have about 30 more to go. ive found exercise is a huge help, i swim 3 x a week and im starting a running program next week. (i sure as heck couldnt of done that 50 some lbs a go !) the lapband has been a lifesaver ! good luck to you !

you can do this ! i was home in 5 hrs, rested for 3 days and by day 3 i was so bored i went out and did a little lite Christmas shopping. by day 7 i was back at work ! The surgery itself was a breeze, it just felt like a bad pulled muscle on my left side for 10 days. Dont forget your chapstick and a big bottle of water, you'll need them after surgery for " cottonmouth." Good luck !

depending on where im at in my green zone (going for a fill next monday) i usually have a Boost protein drink and then snack on either a few almonds or turkey jerkey, or a slice of cheese or maybe eat half a protein bar. Easy, portable and i dont have to cook !

way to go ! its a great feeling when your pants start sliding off your rear end, isnt it ???? suddenly it was , i cant wear that anymore, its too big !!!! wow !!! ..............it was beyond shocking when i went frm a size 18-1x to a 16, now 14, and some 12's ! unbelievable, but it WILL happen to you too ! iwas banded Dec13th, 2011, down 55 lbs with about 30 to go. So, start shopping at Goodwill or other 2nd hand stores. i get 90% of my clothes there, shop once a week, and try to look for clothes that you will grow into this winter, not that just fit now. Then on a morning when you are standing in your underware because NOTHING fits, you can be very happy "shopping your closet" for smaller sizes. I get LOTS of compliments on my nice clothes (Im 54!) and how i look, and trust me, it never gets old !! (im happily married, get lots of support and compliments from hubby, but the first time a male aqaintance noticed my weight loss and said "girl, you are smokin !!!!" i just about wet my pants !!!! ) It will happen to you too , so keep up the good work !! Good luck !

im 9 months banded, lost 55 lbs so far with about 30 to go. I followed my drs rules 95% of the time (which my dr said was fine as nobodys perfect, and he's very happy with my weight loss so far). Protein 1st, choose foods wisely, small bites and chew well.no drinking at meals. have healthy foods ready to go and prepared so you have some thing healthy around when you do get hungry. find some healthy substitutes for snack attacks and cravings. If you are eating too much or not loseing, come in for a fill !!! dont be shy !!!. find and exercise you like and can stick with !(for me, swimming and walking ) most importantly, listen to your band !!!! good luck !!

you look stunning ! both before an after !! congrats !!!

Amen to listening to your band !!!! Congratulation on everything, and yes you do look good !!!!! (and yes, you should give yourself a big pat on your back !) it takes alot of work for you to get to where you are, so way to go !!! keep it up !

i cant live without ...... Bruce Aidells chicken teriyaki meatballs (already cooked ! Yummy!) , Oberto's turkey jerky, raw nuts, any protein bar, Boost protein drinks, frozen sf chocolate pudding, for when im craving ice cream. all of them have been lifesavers for me.

yay for you !!!!!! congrats !!! I have BCBS too, i had a bmi of 40, with 2 co -morbities (high BP and sleep apnea.. ) they approved me last Nov, , paid 100 %, so i was banded Dec 13th, 2011 weighing 225 lbs, wearing a size 18. tired all the time, hated the way i looked etc. Im down to 169 lbs (this am i hit 169.5 !!! Me !!!! i havent been 169 in 20 years !!!! ) I wear a size 14 , no more high BP or sleep apnea , and love the way i look. I hope your journey is as easy as mine has been. Good luck !!!