DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Have you been to a nutritionist? Do you count calories? If so, about how many calories do you eat in a day?

Congratulations! It's an amazing feeling!!

Yes, that's gas pain from the air they pump into your abdomen during surgery. It can be rather painful. Some find a heating pad helps. Walking helps your body to reabsorb it faster.

I would request a barium swallow to check for a slip. Just because you can still eat doesn't mean the band is fine. Plus, if it is a slip, the sooner you catch it the better chance you have of being able to have it fixed.

Well, that depends. Are you satisfied with a cup or less of food? Are you satisfied for 4 hours between meals? Or, are you hungry and currently just going on sheer will power to lose despite the hunger? If it's the first, then yes you are doing great with restriction. If it's the later, then you need a fill. You shouldn't have to white knuckle it through hunger when you have a band that you can fill to help you. Best wishes

Oh what a cool idea! Be sure to take a pic of it for us to see!! And congratulations, you're doing so great!

I agree that your band sounds too tight. Something else to point out: The band isn't supposed to stop you from eating anything. It isn't even supposed to make you feel full. If you are expecting the band to do either of these things, that's likely how you ended up too tight begin with. The only thing the band is supposed to do is help you to feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. Being satisfied simply means not physically hungry and it has nothing to do with a feeling of being 'full'. Also be sure to stick to a cup or less of food per meal. Just because you can physically eat more doesn't more you should and the band isn't meant to physically stop you from eating anything. Best wishes to you.

I use the fat free Hidden Valley Ranch, and I swear, you can't tell it's fat free. It's so good!

I'm not sure what a red flag food is? I eat salad all the time without a problem. In fact, I crave them big time so I tend to eat them a lot.

"oh hell what have I done?" *laughs* I woke up in considerable pain, feeling like I'd been hit by a truck, and immediately started to question my decision. ...needless to say, I got over that fast. I love my band

I agree with Karen. I bet you're still swollen from the fill. Plus, a lot of us are tighter in the mornings to begin with. I'd go gently with small sips and tiny bites. Give yourself time to adjust to the fill.

Congratulations! You should reward yourself with a new outfit, to show off your new body

I am wary of them. Like others here, I use Stevia. It's more natural and doesn't have all the nasty chemicals. It doesn't give me headaches, either.

Granted I'm only 39, but I don't think it's every too late to make changes to improve your quality of life. I say do your homework thoroughly, know what you're getting into, and if it feels like a good decision then go for it.

I completely understand that overwhelming feeling. I started this journey on January 6, 2012 at 421 pounds. Currently I weigh 287 pounds. So, I've lost 134 pounds in about 7 1/2 months. I still have a long ways to go, but I recently passed the half way to goal mark so that was quite a biggie. Even with still having 120+ pounds to lose, I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel since losing the weight I have already. Even if I stopped losing today, this would've all been totally worth it. You can totally do this!!!

LOL!! If it makes you nervous, just clip it next to the skin with nail clippers. The part left in the skin will either dissolve or continue to work it's way up through the skin little by little.

Yes it's totally possible, in fact I have had that happen with two different surgeries, one being for the Lap Band. It's really not a big deal. Normally they dissolve, but once in awhile one will work it's way up through the skin. I just tugged gently with tweezers and it came right out. If it won't slide out easily, just use nail clippers to clip it as close to the skin as you can get.

I eat around 1000 calories a day, give or take a 100 depending on the day. I stay within that amount calories regardless of when or how often I eat. If it doesn't fit in my daily calorie allowance, I don't eat it. My meals are always a cup or less of food, no exceptions. I don't do low carb, it's just not realistic for me. I eat potatoes, Pasta, rice, and bread all the time. It's never hindered my weight loss. I also am sure to get in a minimum of 60g of Protein every day.

That's awesome, congratulations!

I honestly haven't heard of that before. Are you you hungry all the time? Not satisfied on a cup of food or less?

Since you don't even have much of an urge to go and don't sound constipated, I would take a stool softner, not a laxative, daily until you go. It won't cramp you up or have you running to the bathroom but it will help that first BM pass easier. When I have surgery, I take Colace from the time I'm discharged from the hospital until I finally go.

My nutritionist told me not to exceed 1200 calories a day, I usually average between 900-1000 calories a day. I use Lose It, which is very similar to MFP, and it also tries to give me an insane amount of calories. Like 1800. So, I just adjust it down to what I need.

I was told I could have all the coffee I wanted so long as it wasn't loaded in calories and fat. A good example, things like cafe mochas and lattes are nothing but empty calories and lots of them. But regular coffee with just a splash of skim milk is fine.

I'm sure it's possible, but it's highly unlikely you'd keep your weight off. In fact, I know of a couple people who have met their goal weight and for whatever reason had to have their band removed, so they opted for another WLS in it's place. They knew maintaining their weight loss on their own wasn't going to happen successfully.