neener1970

I not only needed new bras and undies but I went down on my shoe size too lol I have bought a bigger size for my fat lil feet for so long I had forgotten I used to have a smaller shoe size lol

Occasional wine and skinny girl cocktails are good

I take two gummies multivitamins one calcium one b-12 subliminal two iron pills day. I also take biotin as my hair was falling out and it freaked me out a bit. When I don't take them I feel it especially my iron the fatigue sets in like a plague. Everyone is different though so check with ur doc in the iron

Cook meats slow in a crock pot they are moist tender and easy to break down steam veggies and I stay with multiple grain cracked wheat or rye breads. I prefer rye lightly toasted it doesn't get stuck and it's only 70 calories a slice. I also eat veggie burgers and soy burgers and deli chicken breast. For lunch I will have canned chicken breast light mayo and wasa crackers or one slice toasted rye smeared with a wedge of weight watchers cheese and some turkey breast and I eat it like a pizza. dinner sautéed chicken breast with garlic olive oil and seasonings with stead veggies. Occasionally I will have a little cous cous or brown rice but it fills u up fast with little protein value so I don't make a habit of it. Breakfast is either two eggs with a slice of rye or special k with a banana and nonfat milk. Well that was long winded but I hope it helps:) it takes time to discover what works for you that u enjoy get creative. My rules are no whites (white bread rice flour etc) no sweets no sliders (ice cream etc) and I minimize carbs and I am a dreaded calorie counter. I was banded in nov and I am 100 pounds down. Just remember we are all different get creative and experiment .

If diets worked for us then none of us would have gotten big enough to need the surgery. You do what's right for u. I am almost 8 months out 100 pounds down and if I had to have it out tomorrow I wouldn't have one shred of regret! Just follow the rules and enjoy the change it is amazing

You are so welcome! I just put a little water garlic onions and seasoning and roast on low. I even did it with tilapia and lemon pepper seasoning. Desperation made me creative lol I bought a double crock and I put meat in one and veggies and cous cous in the other so dinner is done all at once. Did I mention I was lazy ?

Crock pot the meat slow cook all day. Pork shoulder chicken and roasts. It's never dry and couldn't be more tender!

I have had more than my share of cruelty starting at over 400 pounds but I think I accidentally hurt someone. A year before I got my surgery I worked with a lady who was also big. After our training I didn't see her for awhile by the time I did I had already had my surgery and was super excited. I saw her in the ladies room and she had lost a lot of weight. I told her she looked great and asked how much she lost. She told me over a hundred pounds. I was so happy for her and then i told her I just got the lap band and I was so excited to be losing weight. I never asked her how she lost weight and she never volunteered. I think she thought I assumed she got surgery so instead of having someone to relate to she won't talk to me anymore and looks the other way when I see her. I don't know if she was mad cause she did it the old fashioned way and was insulted or she did it the same way and didn't want her secret out but it made me sad the way she blew me off

Crystal light cures the water only blues. I also started experimenting with hot and iced teas to break the boredom. Just keep trying new flavors until you find the right one.

I can tolerate rye toasted or sandwich thins toasted but other than that bread gets stuck and comes back. Even flour tortillas. That's my worst torture is walking down the bread isle and the smell of all that fresh bread, French bread sub sandwiches...but the scale keeps moving so no regrets

I take celexa as well it does kill my appetite but it also kills my metabolism so I stay on the lower dose to minimize the impact. I believe depression does contribute to over eating, at least for me so I am happy with the band /celexa combination things are going well

I got a chin strap to hold my mouth closed but since passing the 80 pound mark I sleep fine without it, no longer even snoring. Remember even thin people can have apnea and if you are still snoring you probably still need it. I would have another sleep study and see if u just need some adjustments or if your apnea is gone

I gave up white bread but until this last fill I could do tortillas. After this last fill I had the most horrible episode with a flour tortilla after a major amount of serious discomfort I realized it was coming back up. It was the first time I got sick and it was textbook sliming. I will never eat them again! I can do rye corn tortillas and orowheat sandwich thins but small bites chew well. It's all about the restriction. I also discovered chopped steak was a no no the hard way. Only been sick three times but I learned from it! That's why they call the band the general

I think it all boils down to good medical care and pre op education I was banded in nov I am crossing 100 pounds lost. It is my golden ring but I was educated about the risks, filled under X-ray and opted to stop fills when I felt like I had good restriction but minimum eating issues. Everyone has different experience I don't believe the band was the culprit. It was the doctors. It's not a magic cure I still have to watch what I eat exercise and take my supplements it's a tool not a cure. I feel for anyone who had the great expectations I did and was not able to succeed. I love my band, no regrets for me. I am sorry for anyone who has that bad of an experience and I celebrate my fellow bandsters success.

I do gummy vitamins and iron supplements but other meds and pain relievers I use a pill cutter. If I don't it causes a terrible burning feeling that's is really uncomfortable. Doc says its the meds breaking down slowly....in the wrong spot. Since I got my pill cutter no burning but check with your doc not all meds are okay to cut.

I average 1200 to avoid starvation mode when I work out I don't count it it's just healthy activity that's good for me. I was banded in November 2011 I am 6 pounds away from a 100 lost. I believe everyone is different but it works for me so I stick with it. The day I found out a single chicken nugget had 61 calories I knew counting calories was for me! Fitness pal is my friend. But as I said everyone is different.

Thanx!

Just crossed into the 290's and feeling spiffy! I was banded in November but I lost 30 pre op my goal is 140 I take it a pound at a time and try not to look at the long road ahead

My doctor has a hard time and it takes several pokes but we do it under X-ray do we know it hasn't flipped it seems I have a lot of scar tissue do its difficult to get through. Creepy but I don't have much feeling there so the repeat pokes don't hurt just creep me out lol

That is true as the fat goes the band needs tightening its actually a good thing! It will take a few tune ups until the fat on the inside goes down enough it doesn't impact your restriction

I was over 400 when I started so believe they were sooooo fugly! Lol!

It's life changing momma. I thank god for it I really do. Every time I walk into an office and fit in the chairs, buy a shirt off the rack, or bag another batch of fugly fattie clothes that no longer fit I thank the universe for my band. I can walk fast across the parking lot and I am no longer out of breath and people have stopped staring at me in amazement. I love becoming ordinary it is a gift. So happy for you and your beginning

I heard some bandsters have issues with gummy vitamins but I don't like anything else chew well ! But they do taste great the chalky chewables made me sick every time I couldn't stand them