Daisalana

Ohhh I decided on my first 'mini-goal' last night and wanted to share! So the day I post It happened, I'm gonna be out for a hot night on town LOL. I order my pants from alloy.com because they have plus size AND long inseams for my long legs. Well, I normally get a certain brand that is true to size for me (at least, I know my size.. the largest size they carry!!). Well, I ordered a different brand from them, and they run small. I ordered them when I was about 320lbs months ago. They were some hot jeans.. real low-cut and made me look like I have a butt (which I don't). But I could not for the life of me (lots of huffing, puffing, rolling on the bed, bouncing all over the room) button them or zip them all the way. I tried to wear a baggy shirt just so I could wear them and not fasten them-just tuck them under. Didn't work, they were too low cut and fell off LOL. So.. I kept them in the closet for 'one day'. I was obsessed with fitting into them for a while, and had forgotten about them.. but I was doing laundry last night, saw them, and it hit me. I WILL WEAR THOSE JEANS!!!!! It shouldn't be TOO far from now. I am *hoping* end of next month (May) I will be in those sexy jeans. Yay for mini-goals!!!!

Hey guys! Just wanted to warm up my seat here as I approach 'TWOterville" :girl_hug: :D

Woohoo. I tried to 'guzzle' my slimfast just now, and I have restriction. Whew. So I'm just healing! I didn't really guzzle, but I have 1/2 can left and its gettin warm so I needed to pack this baby away. Took a big swig, and felt it go down roughly.. then I got bad hiccups and hiccup/burped a couple normal size sips out. So my restriction is still there, water is just easy to drink now. I'm content with this knowledge!

Woohoo congrats Teach :girl_hug:

Wow Kat what a transition!! You look great! Ok, let's ffwd 1 year, my turn! LOL Angie-I have taken gas-x strips several times and it hasn't done anything for the pain so I stopped them. Tylenol doesn't help either. I have a small amount of REAL pain killer left, but I've been trying to save it for emergencies.

The only pain I have is this knot in my side, I'm betting it's gas pain at this point. But it's EXCRUCIATING. It's like a knife is being twisted inside of me when I take a deep breath or lay down, or bend over. But, I figured out how to.. take a deep breath so the pain is there, then push on my stomach where I feel the pain, and it pushes it somewhere temporarily (about 30 minutes, sometimes less)- where I don't feel it. Otherwise I can't sleep! Ok going to stop being paranoid, it has to be the swelling just went down. Thanks and welcome back :girl_hug:

Ok, I know I've become a darn hypochondriac since being banded, but I'm extremely paranoid right now. Pain still there, but I've learned to manipulate it around so I can get it to stop hurting long enough to fall asleep.. So I told you guys how I can't guzzle water, every sip is hard, etc. Well I have NO restriction anymore! I have been testing it, I can guzzle water..and guzzle and guzzle. Instead of being happy, I'm scared the band slipped or something?? Waaaaah! This is normal though right? My swelling probably just went down?

She Smiles- I don't have any literature, hopefully wasabubble can find some for you.. but my doctor is weary of NSAIDS also and told me to try to stick to tylenol/aleeve for now. I miss my advil lately, I have bad back inflammation due to scoliosis/overweight/herniated disk. I would love to find out NSAIDS aren't responsible for anything adverse on the band.. Of course my flip side is, I am expecting to be in a lot less pain once I lose 50+lbs!

My doctor said he wouldn't know the size till he was in there, but he assumed it would be the smallest 9.75 I think it is. Ends up he was right, so I have a 9.75.. not sure the liquid capacity.

Tracy- After I posted, I saw your post above mine. I hope you have NO problems in recovery and 4 days is enough time for you!! You've done so good this far, so good luck! 3 more days woohoo!! I told my friends at work, and originally I said I wasn't telling people (Our work has 2 parts.. the office, and the plant.. I work in the office, friends with people in the office...only see people in the plant in passing, or in the break room). My parents got the word out, so I think everyone knows now.. except maybe the people in the plant. I don't really care anymore who knows. I only wasn't going to tell people because if it's really slow, didn't want to hear how they 'knew someone who did the bypass and they lost it really quick' kind of thing. That's majority of what I heard pre-op, the benefits of bypass.. only because no one around here knows ANYONE who has done lap-band, only the bypass or stomach stapling. So.. now they'll know someone who has had the band. Nee-ner. It ends up one of our customers was talking about going to a meeting for lap-band and someone said 'how ironic, one of our sales people is having the lap-band on Monday!' (the friday before my surgery). So it made him happy and he asked for my number to see what I think.. he's still contemplating it. I believe he's in California, I've heard a lot of good doctors out there.

Tracy- I think 4 days is a bit ambitious. I planned to go back exactly one week later (today), but my horrible pain in my side started Friday night.. and I'm still trying to work on it. It makes sitting up quite painful. In case you're not ready by 4 days, will work allow you to take off more time?

Oh good, cause I like tea with sweet-n-low. I haven't had any since banding since the dietician was talking about not drinking it. She didn't mention if it was de-caf I could have it! liz- I would suggest it with sweet-n-low because that's how I like my tea (even when not dieting), but my mom said she thinks sweet-n-low is an aquired taste.. she always used sweet-n-low when we were kids, so I like the taste.. and my fiance hates it. Have you ever tried it? I have yet to substitute splenda in something and actually like it.. I wanted to try stevia too, but haven't been able to find it. My doctor told me to stay away from honey, but I think that's because it would get stuck, I guess in tea it wouldn't matter.

I've never had something 'sweet' with grits, and heard that's a yankee thang. YUCK!! Sounds horrible since I am use to it with meat, cheese, butter.. We lived in New Mexico for 2 years and they didn't sell the 'flavored' grits packs.. you could only buy it plain, was a bummer. We moved back to Alabama last year, and I was happy to have my selection of grits w/butter grits w/ham etc.. Scrambled eggs mixed with bits of bacon and grits... my favorite breakfast! (Fiance has this with a gallon of white gravy on top for his ideal b'fast). I've never heard of grits w/coleslaw and fried fish? I don't eat fish though, so maybe that's why.. Marjon, just trying to pull on the hunger strings of the newly banded? (sip sip sip my v-8!!) V-8 on ice, v-8 watered down.. v-8 with a stick of celery you can't eat, v-8 with coffee, v-8 with lettuce you can't eat..... I saw those crabcakes at Ruby Tuesdays the last time we went (right before my pre-op diet). They looked good, but I'm pickyabout my seafood so I didn't want to risk it. I'll have to try them when I'm at that point since you spoke for them! I LOVE their salad bar. I generally gorge on their salad bar, get a burger (the best burgers ever.. sigh..and I don't typically eat hamburgers), and take it home for midnight snack. Back in THOSE days. I'm just looking forward to mushies at this point. And craving crab.

Terri- My pains started Friday night, doctor wasn't open till today. I am hesitant to call, in case he says he wants to see me. 6 hour drive for them to say it's gas. LOL

Yeah, I feel like you really have to have gone through a lifetime of being overweight to understand what it's NOT about - just eat right & exercise. My fiance supported my decision to get lap band, but before I even went to a doctor about it, I asked him what his thoughts are on me getting a WLS. He said, he didn't think it was necessary, I just need to diet. I've been dieting since we met, and as I've said before I did lost 70-90lbs on Atkins at some point.. to gain it all back + about 50lbs. He keeps referring to that- 'You DID it before, you can DO it again'. I really tried to explain how, I can do anything for a little while, but then I spiral out of control and it ruins it. Then I'm depressed and go back to my old habits.. then I say I'm so big, screw it, I don't care. He finally came to terms with me, but I think he views me getting lap-band as a 'weakness' of my willpower. I think he still believes I could do the weight loss without the band. He's been fit his whole life. He keeps referring to his mom. She is overweight, but not by much. He said she use to be huge after having kids, before I knew her, and she was a 'strong woman' who was able to diet and get most of it off. Also sounds like she was not big before pregnancy. I've been big since I was a kid. I still know 110% I made the right decision.

The day after surgery, before our 3 hour drive home.. (It was me, my fiance, my mom, and my grandmother)..they wanted to stop to eat. I was hopped up on demerol, so I was up for anything. They wanted some barbeque.. I didn't like bbq pre-op regardless, so no big deal. I go in with them, they kept asking 'you sure this is going to bother you since you can't have it?' and it really did NOT bother me. The whole dinner, they had these guilty faces, wouldn't look me in the eye, and if I said something looked good, just because I thought it did, they'd think I was sitting there wanting it. I wasn't hungry post-op until the day after this and even then it wasn't a lot of hunger. I had a glass of water while they ate, and no one believed me that I was not bothered by this. This week, our family is planning a Tunica trip for May (WOOHOO) which is a mini-las vegas in Mississippi for those who don't know. When we go, we frequent the buffets for most meals, and gorge on room service. I had already thought about this, and by time we go, (End of May), I will be end of mushies or just into solid food. I figured I would browse and get things like eggs, grits, mashed potatos, etc. Not a big deal.. But my mom is already worried that I will have a problem being at the buffet with them while they eat all the 'good food'. I keep trying to explain, I'll be FINE. *I* am not worried about what they are eating and they shouldn't be either. But it seems like every day (I call to give them an update on my status... xxx lbs down and pain is feeling a lot better, still excited about the band, etc.--that's another thing, they thought I'd regret it when I realized the food I couldn't have anymore ) they bring up 'oh you can't have that, maybe we shouldn't do this' yadda yadda. Our family has a Sunday cook-out every sunday in summers at my parent's house. We started last weekend, I love it. Not just because of the food.. mostly because of the swimming pool and we have a big family so it's a lot of fun. Food is darn good though They were talking about cancelling this weekend because I can only have clear liquids!! :faint: I keep telling them I am OK with them all eating, and smelling the food, etc. Right now I only have head hunger for things like that, and I've kept it under control. But they are so worried.. and feeling guilty about eating around me. Anyone else have this, or a solution? I need them to relax and realize I made this decision WHOLE HEARTEDLY and I am not judging people everytime they eat, or worried about what I can't have. When people eat, I'm thinking about what my body is going to be in a year! :clap2:

I got my matrix from www.bariatriceating.com, I think they do have a 30 day money back thing, I'll have to go check.

I don't mean to be negative, but I'm a 24/26 right now. I don't fit in rides We went to Six Flags in Oct. 2006, and I was actually 22/24 then and I could not fit in most of the rides (that had things come down and 'lock in', etc.). I eventually gave up. But, I don't know if height is a factor also?? I am 6'0. Also most of my weight is carried in my top- stomach/chest. Hopefully Disney has bigger seats, but wanted to let you know what happened to me-- and my dad.

I always forget what it's made of, I thought it was corn or wheat, but some reason seems like last time I had this conversation someone said wheat. But now that you mentioned hominey, I remember that now. And yet I hate hominey.

Well, if what I'm feeling is a gas pain, walking hasn't helped it yet. Since I don't know what I'm feeling, I've been walk walk walking, trying to get rid of the pain, but walking does absolutely nothing for it. Some people say walking has helped their pain. Good luck!!

Due to Marjon, I think people missed the point where I said I hate chicken and good riddens to it Grits are.. I think.. a type of wheat chopped up really fine, with Water added to it. It makes like a cream of wheat texture if you know what that is? It's gooey and sticky.. You can water it down and make it more runny. It's really tasteless, but here in the south we like to put butter, ham, etc. in it. I personally like to mix it with my eggs.

Ok this is a little emberassing.. Fiance had bacon cheesesticks from Papa John's for dinner last night.. I hate pizza this is so silly, but I've been wanting it. Our youngest cat is like a dog and eats all food, so everytime he leaves stuff out, I have to pick it up. So I picked it up, and there was an edge piece left with no bacon or cheese on it, just garlicy butter flavor.. I sucked on it! For about 5 minutes I Just sucked the flavor on it. Very desperate, I know. Thank you for the compliments, now to get my body to catch up with my face LOL! I was to return to work today. I'm on salary+commission and I'm a sales person.. our customers are nationwide (record companies and movie companies), while I was out last week I just left messages for my customers to contact their customer service rep while I was out if they had an emergency and I checked my e-mail & had my cell phone at home. It's not detremental (sp) for me to be there for my job, normally I come and go as I please. Boss just called to ask if I was coming in today, I said I thought I would, but that gas pain (my next story..) is really bothering me and I may wait another day. I also get tired really early, so I don't know. She said it's ok if I want to wait another day, so I think I am. Now that huge pain in my side.. it just getting worse and worse. Last night when I went to bed, it was so painful I couldn't get comfortable laying down. So, I pushed on the spot from the outside and took a deep breath which hits it.. and instantly it was gone. I don't know where it went. For about 2 hours the pain was just gone! And then it slowly started coming back. This morning, it's completely back, but it has moved. I still feel it when I move and gives me the horrible pains, but when I take deep breaths, it no longer completely 'hits' it, so I can breathe deep again. From your experience, does this sound like a gas pain?

I am a size 24/26 currently and 6'0. So, I only shop at Alloy for pants, and everywhere else for tops. I am pretty loyal to the following: www.alloy.com (All their shirts run WAAAY too small, 3x top didn't fit my xl size friend..their pants are pretty true to size and have 32-37" inseams) www.torrid.com (plus size shop of Hot Topic- carries wide width shoes that are sexy-best I've ever found) www.alight.com (BEST hippie kinda clothes I've ever found in plus-which I like. Price is a bit steep, but I splurge once in a while) www.oldnavy.com (Yes, they have plus size and they fit really well.. definitely not too small, if anything I buy size down on some items) www.newport-news.com (OldER women styles, this is where I get my business clothes.. my mom who is size 12/14 also shops here.. they are pricey but clothes are nice) www.spiegel.com (Same info as newport-news) Other places to mention: I've also shopped at the following and still do once in a while- www.roamans.com www.fashionbug.com And lastly, lane bryant's website. They're a little out of my price range though, so.. shrug. *I've been online shopping since I was about 13 and they came out with 'cool' plus size clothes. Until then, I always wore out of men's big & tall.

Looks a little late, but for the guy with man boobs.. I had a friend in high school who was convinced he needed a reduction (I think it was all in his head), but he did have his man boobs done, and it was the same as the female (that I know of). They cut it into 4 sections, removed the nipple, took out fat, and stitched it back together. Since he's a guy and swims with no shirt, I've seen him through the years and you can't tell he's had it (amazingly). On the other hand, a woman I know who did it, she has very obvious scars.

Ok, I have a couple 'before' pics I can use. Unfortunately, anything with my body in it is MIA since I Just hooked up a new computer and my old computer (with ALL my pictures) died. Fiance suppose to fix it soon so I can get my stuff off of it. So as you can see, I don't normally take body pics.. but here's my before pics. First one I was drunk! 2nd one, is my fiance desktop icon hehe. As soon as I get the other computer fixed I'll have a good 'before' with my body (gulp). Everyone says I have a childish face,my sister says when I lose weight I'm going to look like a little kid lol.