PattyGirl66

Same to you too Dee! The reason why we all stay is because I beleive it helps to keep us motivated. Everyone helps eachother out, we all have been there and know exactly how it feels. We are by far the best supporters for eachother! Stick around, read and post we would love to hear from ya

B52 is so accurate about the exercising and weight. I too was one of those people whos weight was too much to carry around, walk, exercise, really moving around all together was a struggle. I started little by little moving, I got out my old edge gazelle and was only able to do 10 minutes, and believe me this is not a hard machine to do. The more weight I lost the more I was able to increase my activity. Today, I am at 45 minutes (non-stop) on my gazelle and 10 more extra minutes focusing on my upper body by stretching with an elastic stretch band, and lifting 2 lb weights. Its still work in progress, but beleive me its a whole lot better than where I came from.... Nice post B52!

I haven't had a stuck episode yet! (thank god), however I have felt discomfort if I eat too fast or drink something too soon after eating. I practice the same guide lines as everyone who has been banded, smaller bites, and chewing my food as if my mouth was a mini food processor. I stick by the golden rule, never eat more than a cup per meal. I can tolerate anything when it comes to food.

I haven't had a fill (yet). Doesn't mean I will never, just that where I am at now in my weight loss my surgeon feels there is no need to touch me (in his own words). I see him again in 2 weeks, ya never know when things will change....

Mis73, is the one who got me hooked on laughing cow in the tuna

suuuuuuuuuuuuuuper awesome!!!

Its a sweetner you add to your foods/drinks/teas, etc. I beleive they come in little packets like the other sweetners come in. I am waiting to try it myself, its the only sweetner I haven't tried yet. I really hope it doesn't make me sick. I will post soon about it....

Hi Loren, Welcome to our second home! Looking forward to hearing all about your journey. We are all here for ya

I am wondering this myself tmf...

Natalie gives great advice, as you can tell from her ticker she is another success weight loss story on this forum. Now, for starters you have to keep in mind that the band does not keep you from over eating, you do! The band keeps us feeling satisfied on less food. We can not go over a cup of food per meal. We must track everything we put into our mouths to be successful. Most everyone I know on this site TRACKS everything. I firmly believe this is what makes us all accountable for what we eat and put into our bodies. Cleaning house, you know what that means? If you feel it will sabatoge, throw it out and don't bring it in. Keep healthy alternative Snacks in the house. I purposely look for delish snacks that are low in calories/carbs just for those moments. You don't have to deprive yourself really, its all about self control. I have learned this through my journey. I too have ate Cookies over the holidays, but I stopped after 2. That was it! When I felt I couldnt' deal to see it in the house anymore, I litterally made phone calls and gave it away, and the last of it got thrown away. Its just not worth it! Holidays are over, officially! Its a new day, a new year! You lost 39 lbs, and that is a great start! Believe in yourself, want it, want it sooo bad enough to make this work for you, because YOU are the only one that can do this for you..... ((hugs))

Meeeee too!!

GREAT Job! Congratulations and have a wonderful time on your vacation

No meds unless your doctor tells you to do so... some are even off meds, such as cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc because of the weight loss. I know for myself I use to take a dosage of 175 gm of meds daily for my high blood pressure, now with all the weight loss I am only on a 50mg (betta blocker). I hope to be off that down the road but my PCP does not want to take me off of this until he is 100% certain before taking me off that last dosage, it is hereditary and almost every one in my family has HB pressure. But that is! I don't take anything else but a multi-vitamin and Vitamin D (I have been Vitamin D deficient for 3 years). I get blood work in 2 weeks to see how the rest of my numbers are doing. Before surgery, all my numbers were excellent the doctor said, so we shall see.......

It really is the surgeon. They all are soooooo different. If you look around this site you will see there are many on here who had surgery with a very high bmi, including myself.....

Hi Connie, Your profile wasn't filled out so I will assume you already had surgery and are eating solids. You should eat no more than a 'cup' per meal. We usually break it down to this : 3-4 ounces of lean meat (protein), 1/4 cup veggies, 1/4 starch/carb. Or if you don't eat starches or carbs you can make up the other 1/4 with more veggies. Rule of thumb is never to eat more than a cup per meal. Hope that was helpful....

These are going to be tough times for you dalia. Only because you are now on the 'smaller' side. Listening to the same lapband patients on here it takes more than time and patience to do what you are doing. I have taken some very good advice from a personal trainer who happens to be a friend of mine. Do you work out at a gym?? speak to a pesonal trainer there for some pointers. You are building muscles now, and muscle mass weighs. Your body may be very comfortable at the current weight. From looking at your picture you don't look 164 at all. Speak to your NUT and let he/she know what is going on and what you can do to lose the weight you are striving for. I am sure you both can come up with a plan suitable for your lifestyle while you continue to work out. You look absolutely fantastic!

I will take one of what shes having please...........LOLOLOL MsRhonda we love ya girlie!!

It's a new year ladies/gent - roll up your sleeves and grab the bull by its horn.......

That is the one sweetner I haven't tried. My friend is going to give me a few samples. I hope it works would be nice to make some sweet tea, LOL Thanks Chez

Found these last week while shopping. Very good, really hits the sweet tooth! Calories for 1 Thin Square is 80 Fat - 4 grams Sugar 6 Carbs- 11 Protein - 1

I took a pic of the Ice pops I love and buy all the time The carb for one pop is 12 grams

I agree with Bayou, I too spend a lot of money on great lotions because I have a 6 inch scar on my hip where it was replaced. I purchased an Italian Almond Milk Lotion and swear it did wonders, my scar is invisible. Now, my lapband incisions, I have just been using lotions with aloe/vitamin E I have here at my house. anything really, just moistures. rubbing on daily, Another key is to drink a lot of Water, you would be surprised what water can do for the body Here is my before and after pics of my incisions... first pic is taking 2 days after surgery, the other one is 2 days ago on 12/31/2012 Only 5 months out remarkable healing I think.... BTW, these pics of are me 'laying' down on my bed, I wish my stomache was this flat standing up, LOLOLOL