Lanie M

Hi! I"m looking for fellow lap-banders in Chicago's western suburbs. (I'm in Bartlett.) I can never find any local support groups or even workout partners and looking for others who can share in what I'm going through. I'm 27 months out and down 100 pounds, with about 20 still to go for my soft goal and 40 for my hard goal. Anyone out there?

Trust me... my run was more of a clumsy fast walk. I figure any kind of movement is an improvement compared o what I've been doing.

I just started this today. I actually tried a couple of years go when I was 40 pounds heavier and it was next to impossible for me. Today was GREAT. I completed it with no stopping, no cheating... just did it all the way through. Is anyone doing it now or do you want to start it back up? I'd love a virtual run buddy. (And trust me, anyone can do this. I'm 5'11, weight 285 pounds, I have osteoarthritis in both knees and I'm 43 years old.... AND I DID IT!!)

Me too!!!

My food has to be spicy.... the hotter the better. I haven't had any issues since being banded. I'm a little more cautious around my fills, but generally every meal of mine is a little zippy.

I had the same pain after my surgery and I was really concerned about is at first. The doc said it was just gas pains and it went away after a few days. It just kind of disappears. Good luck!

Hey Tracy... looks like we have the same surgeon. Where are you located? I'm in Bartlett.

Mine didn't hurt at all. My doc gave me lidacain (or however you spell it) to numb the area first then did the fill. It didn't hurt one bit, only a little sting.

Not being "judgy", just stating my opinion. Every time I turn around, people are talking about "lifestyle change". (Including me.) To change your lifestyle doesn't mean keep eating the same things you ate before your surgery. I don't know about your surgeons, but mine was very clear about me changing my eating habits. That doesn't include pizza. Not all bands will work the same way for the same people. We all know that. BUT, we all use change the way we eat. If not, we'll be the same fatties we once were. (Or in my case, still am.) If the band is still not filled enough and you want to eat.... then go ahead and eat. But just try to make better food choices is all. We're all works in progress and no one is failing. We're all struggling and learning.

I have an 11cc band and I just got my first fill last week, 3cc. I can not come anywhere close to what you're eating. I can have one grilled cheese sandwich for dinner, but that's it. I can have 2 scrambled eggs for breakfast and I'm stuffed. I know we're all different but that just seems like a lot of food. Before my banding I would eat like it was my job. Now, I just can't (and won't) eat like that again. I don't mean to be rude, but I didn't have this surgery to turn around and eat pizza. It's a lifestyle change for me and pizza/fast food just isn't a part of my life anymore. Good luck!

I have 6 incisions, all different sizes. I was banded on 12/13 and none of the strips have come off yet. They sure do itch though!

I was banded on 12/13 and had scrambled eggs exactly one week later. It was HEAVENLY!!!

I had to do it. When I first smelled the stuff, I thought, "not bad... cross between lemonade and red bull". When it hit my lips, I thought, "not good, cross between motor oil and ass". It wasn't as big of a party I had thought though.