pink dahlia

i can relate because sometimes im impatient too, i want everything yesterday ! but i also understood that this was a daily journey to get to my goal, and like any journey sometimes i was going to go forwards, backwards, or not move at all. but thats all a learning experiance that wont show up on your scale, but is important nonetheless. You WILL get to your goal if you follow your Drs orders about exercise, food choices , etc. it just takes TIME............................ so be patient and when you finally get restriction you be happier, but in the meantime just stick with the rules and try not to measure your sucesses by the scale. sometimes sucesses can come in many different forms, like too tight pants that suddenly fit, not getting winded as much, being able to paint your own toenails( my tummy is shrinking !) etc...........good luck !

fnicole, please tell me how vit e liquid tablets put on your scalp helps with thinning hair? my thin hair has actually gotten thicker since i was banded, i think its all the healthy protein im eating, but i'm interested in your idea ! Advice please !!!

i had lost only 12 lbs when someone commented on my weight loss (thankyouverymuch) but when i had lost 17 lbs and someone i had'nt seen in quite awhile comented " have you lost weight ? your face looks thinner !" Made my day !!! now im down 34 lbs and its really noticeable . today i wore pants and a jacket that i couldnt fit into a month ago and got a "skinny butt" comment from my hubby. Um, thanks honey , but i still weigh 190 lbs, so no "skinny butt", yet !! maybe later !

you should be so proud of yourself ! you are probably looking like" one hot mama !!!" great job ! what are your secrets ? please share ! CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!

im not a medical person either, but i dont think you hurt anything either. i know i cheated at 21/2 weeks too. I couldnt stand another liquid so i ate a little tuna mashed up with a little mayo. heaven !!!!! if you had a big meal i might be concerned but i doubt if a bite of pb is going to hurt that much.

kariew28, what kind of pain are you in ? do you mean the shoulder pains or something worse ? depending on what and how bad your pains are you might want to speak to your Dr. if the pain is worse than your hysterectomy pain you might be having some sort of issue that needs to be addressed. just sayin'. let us know, were here to help ! hope you feel better soon !

yes you have to scrape off the top but they do get softer if you let them sit out for 10 mins before you eat them.

I can only hope i get to say the same things at my 1 year bandaversary. Way to go !

To be comfortable in my own skin, to not be exhausted all the time, to not have to wear a sleep apnea mask to bed ( how romantic !)to be healthier and stronger, to not have old aquaintances looked shocked at how much weight ive gained, to look attractive and wear cute, stylish age appropiate clothes, not old lady cotton stretchy stuff that so nicely showed off my double chin and big tummy. Ummmmmmm, oh yeah, i also want to ride a horse, go running without gasping for air while i wear cute running outfits. I could go on but you get the picture.............

Im 4 months banded, have had no problems, can eat anything in small amounts and other that a "bad pulled muscle feeling" on my left side for 10 days i never had any pain . Im down 34 lbs and look and feel so much better ! The only thing i regret is i didnt do it sooner ! You'll be so glad you did this when your clothes start getting loose. Just follow your Dr.s orders and you'll be fine . Good luck !

yes there are times when ive glanced at myself and not reconized myself for all the wrong reasons (too much weight!) so Its nice lately to look in the mirror and like what I see. its a slow journey but will be oh-so-worth-it when i get to goal. Good luck to all !

we have 2-3 good 2nd hand shops nearby ,so i shop there for my clothes . ive gone from a size 18-1x to a size 16, down 32 lbs and im really loosing around the tummy and hip area, so im glad i shop 2nd hand. i like to look to look nice and stylish , and i hate looking sloppy, so when something becomes too loose its nice not to have spent alot. i get nice compliments on my outfits too ! I also pass my too big clothes onto a girl in my support group.She's happy !

finding an exercise i love was the only thing that worked for me, so it s water fitness classes for me 3x a week, and walking when i have time . i hate weights and the treadmill, BORING.................................! However some do well on them so if thats your thing maybe a good mp3 player or for the treadmill, books on tape ? Also maybe try something new, like salsa dancing, zumba, tennis, biking etc ?? good luck !

congrats ! Great nsv ! i read your profile , it shows you were just banded but have lost 80 some lbs. Did i miss something ? By the way, you look great !!

judych, Ive been banded since Dec 13th, 2011 and im very lucky that i can eat almost anything. The only things that have bothered me was a chicken breast that was too dry, a certain thick potato chip (expands) and i had a bad reaction to a couple of sips of a strawberry margarita(cheap tequila). Nothing else has bothered me including different kinds of meat. I found the turkey jerky was fine as long as i chewed it well and it was'nt as tough or stringy like beef jerky is . turkey jerky is a little softer and not as salty. i eat very small amounts of fish , chicken, steak,pork chops, hamburger, turkey bacon and sausage etc. My hubby does most of the cooking but is diabetic so almost everything we cook is diabetic friendly. Hope this helps, good luck !

im not a big meat eater either, but i dont measure my protein either. i just make sure i eat my protein 1st and fill up on fruits and veggies next. i have found a few favorites. besides eggs, peanut butter and protein shakes i also love Bruce Aidells chicken teriyaki meatballs and Oberto's teriyaki turkey jerky. i get both at Costco but you can probably get them at your grocery store. because of all the protein im getting my hair has actually gotten thicker and healthier ! Bonus ! Good luck !

great question ! i joined the ymca about 6 weeks before being banded and found out i hated weights and the treadmill, but found out i loved the water fitness classes, and i cant wait to get to those 3-4 times a week. along with walking occasionaly those classes have helped me lose 32 lbs in 4 months and i look and feel so much better !! My energy is going up while my too loose pants are falling down ! Exercise has definetly helped with my weight loss. I just plain feel better and my body is toning up better too. good luck !

glad to hear everything went so smoothly. mine went fast and smooth too. the only pain i felt was on the left side for 10 days , felt like a badly pulled muscle. hope all goes well for you. im banded 4 months ago, best decision ever ! Good luck and let us know how you're doing. you've got lots of support here !

did you mean what brand do i like ? Jello brand sf pudding cups

i like sf chocolate or butterscotch but any flavor would probably be fine.

i put a couple of sf pudding cups in the freezer every few days. but they should only take a couple of hours to freeze as they are small. It doesnt taste exactly like ice cream, but close enough ! Knowing that i have them in the freezer stops me from stopping at the local frozen yogurt place . (most of the time !)

congrats ! way to go ! what are your diet and exercise secrets ? care to share ?

why cant you go out for dinner ? have a salad before you leave the house and then have an appetizer for your dinner. skip the alcoholic drink , or just have 1 and sip water or seltzer the rest of the evening. you can still live your life you just may have to make adjustments. Also, Applebees does a weight watchers menu and most resturants have a "lighter menu" too. You're going to need your friends so dont give up everything just to loose weight. good luck !

i have a few nsv's. # 1- the other day i helped a customer in his 70's at my job, we chatted and laughed for a minute. when he left he passed my female co worker and said something to her. she came over to me a few minutes later laughing and said "That nice old man you just helped said you were quite a woman and if he was 20 yrs younger he'd go after you !" hilarious ! (Im 53 but have been told i look younger) #2 the pants i just got a few weeks ago are starting to get loose, again..........(this is getting fun, and expensive !) #3 im happily married but its still nice to have my hubby notice my weight loss and say nice things like "your butt is getting smaller !"

i tried diet pills years ago for a week or so. they worked but also made me very depressed. talk to your dr first but lap band is a slow journey to get you to your healthy weight, and im thinking you have to go through bandster hell to get to your goal (bandster hell=being banded and not having restriction yet, so you're hungry alot. This will change once you get the proper fill) Good luck !