♕ajtexas♕

Don't know where you are located, but I was self-pay through True Results. They also offer financing. My band was the best $10K I spent on myself. Good luck to you.

Congrats you are doing great, girlfriend!

One thing I did at the beginning of my journey was I took a notebook and logged EVERYTHING. What I ate/drank, how much, what I was feeling at the time, what was going on in my life, etc. Then I could see in black & white everything that was going on. I learned what triggered my head hunger, what foods didn't satisfy me. You might try this cause it helped me. Now I still have good & bad days, I think we all do.

The band will not stop head hunger. Only you can control head hunger. I have blogged about trying to get a hold of this several times including just yesterday (http://www.lapbandtalk.com/blog/7232-ajtexass-blog/). As for stretching your pouch, if you eat too big a bits, too fast all the time then over time the pouch will stretch. This is why it is so important to eat by the band rules: small bits, chew until mush and wait about 1 minute between bits. Learning the band does take time, but I'm sure you will get a handle on it.

Thanks Alex! You're the best!

I agree with Missy. I measure & log all my food. Still do, even at goal. The reason I continue to do this is when I eyeball a serving it is always more than what I think it is. And a little here, little there will add up quick.

I eat 1200 calories a day, high protein (60-70g) low carb diet. I have followed this throughout my loosing weight as well as maintaining for the last 6 months.

Sharon congrats on 1 year! You are so right on here. Eating right & exercise...it's what it takes.

You can set different settings up on your blog, friends only, all comments need approval, etc. Sounds like the user who wrote the blog has used some of those settings.

Good luck to you. We'll see you on the other side.

Great post, Sharon. Needed to read this today, thanks.

I go in my hot tub all the time & have never noticed a difference.

I'm in the great state of Texas! Bet you would of never figured that out, lol. Austin, Texas.

Story would of been better if, say Tom Cruise was soaping you up in the shower & found your ribs.... j/s Congrats on your NSV. You rock this girlfriend!

Lost 80 pounds in 10 months. Holding my goal weight now for 6 months. Love my band!

My post op diet was 2 weeks liquids, 1 week mushy foods, 1 week soft foods. Every doctor is different and the post op diets change all the time. My best advise is to do what your doctor says, don't rush it. 11 days out you stomach is still swollen and needs to heal, eating too soon causes your stomach muscle to have to work and that could dislodge stitches and/or the band. (not trying to scare you, this is just what my doctor told me) I know it is hard, I remember well. But, it is only temporary and it is important to let your body heal.

It took me about 8 months to get to the "green zone" and by then I was 20 pounds away from goal. What worked for me is I changed my lifestyle completely. I logged everything that went into my mouth (I use MyFitnessPal) and I stuck to 1200 calories a day with a high focus on Protein (60-70 gram a day). I also got a pedometer (FitBit) and started walking, I goaled for 10,000 steps and 25 flights of stairs a day. The band will help you, but you have to do your part. Don't compare yourself to others, your journey is going to be unique to you. I have a friend that say's it's all about WANT power, if you want it bad enough you will make it happen. It sounds like you want it, so make it happen!

Why wouldn't you? GO out with friends, have a burger (you might only eat the meat or meat & half the bun) or have BBQ. The only difference is the amount you eat & the way you eat (bit size, chewing, slowly, etc) I can eat anything and I do eat what I want. I've had hamburgers, bbq, cake, ice cream, etc... I measured my food & counted my calories. Most important is to not deprive yourself, learn to have what you want in moderation.

Yes I drank during my pre-op diet, however some doctors restrict alcohol during the pre & post op diets, my doctor did not. Always follow your doctors orders. Alcohol does give you munchies, it also makes your band feel looser. This is something that you have to manage, "the munchies" is head hunger and the band will not stop that. I still eat around 1200 calories a day. When you reach your goal and you want to maintain nothing really changes. You need to eat the same healthy meals, same volume of food, exercise the same, drink the same amount of Water. If you don't the weight will creep back on. This is why I call it a lifestyle and not a diet. It is for life.

I lost 80 lbs in 10 months. I drank a glass a night, counted the calories into my 1200 calorie diet. I have been at goal/maintaining for 6 months now. I still have my wine & eat about 1200 calories a day. So, yes I still lost weight.

You don't look like the same person. Congratulations!!!

I am so sick of playing by the band rules; I just want to break one or two of them. Eat a big huge meal, take big bites, or wolf food down in ten minutes flat. Wish I could have a break and not think about my food choices, my portion size, how I eat, my water intake, and exercise, ugh…. Calgon take me away! Do you feel that way some days? I’m sure we all do. So how do we get past this? There are some who have reached their goal and have been maintaining for years. They say they think like a thin person. They never think of food. Will I ever be like that? I reached my goal in December and have been maintaining since then. Has it been easy? NO. It has been the most difficult part of my journey so far. But, I won’t give up because I look in the mirror and I really like the person that looks back at me. So, I will continue to play the game. I will make health food choices, take small bites (hubby calls them band-bites), drink water and exercise. I will do this for the rest of my life because I am worth it!

You will see that everyone's doctor and post op diet is different. I know it's had (I had 2 weeks of liquids, then 1 week of muchies). Drink a lot, lots of sugar free popsicles. And know that each day it will get better. You are doing great! Before you know it this will be long behind you.

Quitting smoking on top of this journey, wow cud-does to you! When I quit smoking I had to keep myself busy, especially my hands. I did a lot of crafts. With this journey I found that I was a boredom eater, so again I kept myself busy. When I wanted to eat I got up and did something, walked, sewed, got online, anything other than head for the kitchen. My best advise would be find some new interests. Something that you have always wanted to do or just wondered about. Try it, you might like it.