La_madam

That is great news! I am one of those whose fills kick in days later

you most likely still have some swelling. I had the same problem with not being able to burp after surgery. I was told it was from the swelling in my diaphram from surgery when they placed the band.. the air is trapped. I still to this day have a difficult time burping and I am 15 months post op

Vines, you can go to any make-up counter at and major department store ( Macys, Robisnson's May, ) they will do a make over for you and tell you what colors are best for you. I just did this at the Lancome counter. I have not been a big make- up person either, as tom boy ofsorts, but in thelast few months I havereally branched out with eyeshadow, foundation, powder, I used to only wear eyeliner lipstick and mascara bout at a local drug store off of the maybeline rack

What beautiful pictures Penni, I especially like the picture of you feeding the deer. It is amazing how the deer is eating right from your hand, and not afraid of you.

Who would of thought all us crazy women, we'd be celebrating just being overweight instead of obese huh? LOL Great Job Zoe, fantastic news! That's a big SV in my book

I reccomend both of these or Gas X, got your Protein drinks yet?

Sensy, try tracking your calories for a few days at www.fitday.com, you may be suprised. Yes definately up the watyer, water plays such an important role in all of this.

That is great news Kathy, Iam very happy for you I know this week has been hectice for you so I hope you get some well desreved R&R time this holiday weekend

SO sorry to hear this, I will definately keep her in my thoughts.

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery, it is great that you will have your son to go through this journey with you. Flying home , you should be OK, I would take along some Gas X and liquid Tylenol Adult strenght, in the event you have some uncomfortablness on the flight home. I have several friends who fly to Mexico for fills and they have to fly home with plane changes, it just makes for a long day but they all make it home safe, just tired Good Luck on Monday

Vines, this is great! Thanks for posting it, it is thing we all ready know but to have it in plain black and white is going to help me..I am going to print it and post it on my fridge, and a few other places in my house and give a copy to a few of my new bandster friends

My surgery was April 2005, my first fill of 1.1 cc's was June 7th 2004, my 2nd fill of .9cc's was August 17th and my third fill was Jan 2005 of .5 ccc's for a total of 2.5 cc's I was unfilled in APril of 2005, and just got a fill on June 20 of 1 cc, at fisrt I saw no difference but now a week and a half later it is tighter, my fills take a week or so to kick in. Iti s advised to stop eating after 20 minutes or otherwise thepouch is emptying and you will keep eating. When you say you are still hungry is it mental hunger or true hunger? I ask becasue when I eat, I really focus on getting nutritional sustainment instead of food sustainment, I know I could eat more then I do but I stop becasue I know I have had enough food to survive on. It is also true that the first fill may not be enough and you will need a 2ndd fill sooner. SOmetimes your fill takes a few days to kick in..give it atelast a week or two. Like I said to day I really noticed a difference in my restriction and my fill was 10 day ago, I was planning on going back to Tj July 11th for more fill but now I am not going to

Some foods are not restricted by the band, rice krispie treat are one of those foods, they basically dissolve. Harder proteins restrict the band. Junk food doesnt. I can eat junk food all day long with no restrition but give me a peice of chicken breast and I can barely eat half and Iam only filled to 1cc

http://atkins.com/ Or the Atkins diet Or the slim fast plan http://www.slim-fast.com/index.asp?bhcp=1 Or the South Beach Diet http://www.southbeachdiet.com/landing/index_sbd5.asp?promo=7BA99B16-34DE-438F-8F0D-D9B4A75063DB&gcid=S14058x001&keyword=south%20beach%20diet

Lisa, try it with some Vodka, it is almost like a sea breeze

I really started upping my does after my bowel obstruction surgery, prior to that I only took 4 oz a day In my opinion, I beleive it has helped me with my weight loss as well below is a link of testimonial, I personaaly like the one aboutthe child who had leukemia, which is what my son had http://www.naturalhealthland.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=623

I drink 6 oz a day, 3 oz in the morning and 3 oz at night, a bottle doesnt go far with 3 of us taking it two times a day ..it does work there is no doubt about it, both hubby and son have immune system problems, I just take it to feel good and keep my innmune system strong. Lisa there are other versions of Mangosteen juice that is much cheaper, Below is a couple other versions, lot less money http://www.mangosteen-juice.info http://www.naturalhealthland.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=623

I take Xango everyday..have been for almost a year now, I started taking it soon after I was banded. I have a friend who makes alot of money selling it,he is my distributor my husband and my son who had cancer both take it as well, I have noticed my son does not get sick as often so it has helped his immune system. Honestly I have not been sick with anything like cold or flu since I have been taking it also. It is much better ice cold

Today I was an Angel for a new bandster. She is a customer of mine and has watched my transformation over the last 14 months and has picked my brain and researched the Lap band for over a year now.. Today was her day to have the Lap Band with Dr. Quebbaman & Dellal out of South Coast Medical here in Laguna Beach. I wanted to be there for her and show her my support, I know from the tears in her eyes when she saw me that she really appreciated me being there for her.I brought her a gift basket from Bath & Body Works to pamper herslef once she is up to it.. It felt so good to be able to help a new bandster today

Teresa , my next door neighboor has a dog withan attitude too, they have tried everything, i kept telling them theyd better be careful before the dogs bites some one else, well guess waht, this past weekend the dog attacked their neighboor while hwas over for a BBQ, the man was rushed to the ER where he recieved 147 stitches in his leg, needless to say the dog is now quarantineed by law from the hospital,they had toreport it to animal control, they are going tp put the dog down. they do not want it to bite anyone else especially one of their children pr their friends. It is a hard thingto do, i love my dogs but if any of them showed aggressive tendencies towards my kids or friends I would have to make a very hard decision..good luck on your decision

Sensy, even though you think you may be eating less, it may be in what you are eating...proteins first? 60 grams of protein a day? Both of those are important for bandsters. Also eating a salad in a day is not enough calories, if that is allyou are eating it is no wonder you are not losing. eat more calories, try to eat 1200-1800 calories a day see if that helps. Hang in there

Have you been checked for Diverticulitis? Yesterday my brother was diagnosed with it, he was experiencing the exact same pain on his lower left side, he is now on aan antibiotic..it is worth going to your PCP to bechecked out ..Dont you think? http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw251743/aa41288 Or does it feel more like a side ache like when we were kids and ran too fast?

I'm so happy to hear that both of you Legallyblonde and Kansascitygirl are taking action. Please keep us posted we are all here for you with support and encouragement

My band is the best thing I have ever done for myself..my entire family reaps the benefits of my success