ChicagoRose

I'm a chips girl. I. LOVE. THEM. Still do after being banded but everything is okay in moderation. Treat yourself to a hershey kiss every night if you have reached your goals. The 25 cals or whatever they are won't derail you. You have to still be you and still enjoy the things you like to stay on this lifestyle. I work hard on my diet all week, then I allow myself some chips on the weekend and count them in my calorie goal on myfitnesspal.com and it all works out. Good Luck!!

We are all different but are all the same "banded" together. Listen and learn from each other but listen to yourself and your instincts first. I am someone who can eat any item I want, doesn't matter if it's a bag of chips, but if I am over that calorie goal, I won't lose. I can eat all fruits and vegetables all day and if I don't stay in my range, doesn't matter, I gain. But I know me, and I know that I got banded for the maintenance portion of my weight lose more than the losing portion. Good luck everyone!!

That's HILARIOUS that you call her your "valentine"!! I'm on the fence but I get my eyebrows done every three weeks (I'm ITALIAN, okay? So just imagine...) and my skin doesn't flinch so I should be good to go down there with a wax. I have also considered lazer hair removal but that may be a Quest if i ever get that tummy tuck, free or not. Which, by the way my bikini line extends over my c-section scar hence under the flap of shame. Love you guys!

I'm a total scale junkie but as we all know, sometimes it's not about the numbers on the scale. Have you been taking your measurements? I log everything once a month and one month had only lost two pounds but lost a few inches around the body. Good luck =)

I was going to say the same exact thing. My new healthier lifestyle is more expensive than my 5 bucks a day lunches at McD's I used to eat but that being said it's WELL WORTH the investment. You owe it to yourself to eat well, regardless of the price. Cut corners elsewhere if you can =)

My fav is Victoria's Secret Body by Victoria Full coverage...exactly as you described needing but super comfortable also, cute prints and make the boobs look fabulous! They are kinda pricey but I buy them during their semi-annual sale and they have great sizing options too. Good luck =)

HELL YES!! I just had the same NSV just this week, isn't it amazing how the little things add up to huge victories?? Keep it up girl!

You guys are the best. Thanks for the advice and what's more I got a huge laugh out of it!!!

Good luck!! You got this!

You can do this! You are in the right place, just like you we have all been in your shoes, with no where else to turn, with hopes and dreams of a better life. Ask as many questions as you can and take all experiences in. Many of us have blogs...READ them!! Good luck =)

I was still on mushy foods 3 1/2 weeks out but each surgeon is different. Even still lettuce is hard for some people and maybe it's something that won't work for you. If you are that uncomfortable already I would give a call in!! Good luck.

Isn't it crazy how things change so quickly! Good things are about to keep changing too! You can do this. We have all been there, and aside from very RARE circumstances, most of us are very happy with our decision. How can you be happy and have as little side effects as possible? FOLLOW THE RULES...it's that simple. You can do the pre-op it's not as bad as it sounds!! You got this!

Yes, yes, yes!! I have to almost give him a break here and there when I know he's tired but will do it anyways LOL......keep lovin' ladies <3

isn't it funny how a LOT of things get more accessible as you get thinner?? Enjoy your new bod. I said I would get a brazilian when I hit 100! LOL!!

you lose weight "everywhere" that's true. That being said when I hit 100 lb I'm getting a brazilian bikini wax...I have been too embarrassed because of being fat LOL

4 days and it was fine. ( I don't need bc because my hubs is snipped). I was on my back and don't think that was the best way because I could feel my port so I panicked that I had ripped a stitch or something LOL...but six months later it's better than ever!!

I had sex in about 4 days and it was fine. I notice that when I'm on my back even now I feel my port so i prefer other ways but other than that it was fabulous....and keeps getting better and better as you lose weight!! Good luck!

Popcorn is a "slider" which only means you may be able to eat WAY too much of it without getting restriction signals or being able to stop, and it really doesn't have any health benefits. That being said, I have been able to eat some in moderation (like a handful with my kids at movies) and it hasn't been a problem.

I am six months out and the only things I didn't imagine are POSITIVE!! (You can read my blog for more specifics) So far nothing has been too terrible to wish I hadn't done it and if you follow the band rules like you are supposed to it's a great journey. Good luck and do what's right for YOU!

Hmmm...I still get a soreness around my port site here and there, especially when my stomach is full, but now I know when to expect it. If it is enough to worry you give a call in the morning, that's what they are there for!!

I get the FEELING that I need to burp, but I don't actually burp. I have also gotten a tighness in my chest (not painful or scary just a sensation) and when I have really over done it just a few times I get a sharp pain in my left shoulder. Congrats on your success...awareness is half of the battle here!!

Sloppy Joe is a good mushy, but only if you chew really well and take little bites some ground beef can go down weird. I used to eat a lot of canned tuna and chicken, fat free refried beans, or buy soups I like and drain the liquid and grind them in the food chopper. Good luck!!

Couldn't have said it better!!

It's a lengthy process but well worth it. It took me 11 months to get my surgery and I found out I had severe sleep apnea at my sleep study. I am now almost 6 months post-op and feel amazing and you will too. This is the hard part, trust me...so hang in there!

After a fill my instructions are the rest of the day on liquid, followed by a day on softies, followed by the regular chopped diet. You prob don't want to eat a big lunch after your fill because your insides could be a tad swollen.