La_madam

Yes I know you can not have WLS surgery and be on the show I was just kidding

Get the band and then go on the show and you'd be sure to win LOL

Nancy I can so relate, I have been struggling for the past month but this past week I seem to have gotten my focus back. I have done so well with my Water and my food choices, I really expect to see a loss this week. I do think it is typical to become complacent once you have reached your halfway point, I know it is true for me.. getting back to basic is what has helped me, I also set a small goal each week, this week was NO chocolate and so far Iam reaching that goal I have purged all of the crap food from my system with tons of water, I feel so much more alert and more energized when I make better food choices. I have really focused on the basics this week, Protein first, water, low carbs, You are ahead of the game if you say in your post you know why you have fallen off the wagon, that is half the battle. You know what to do, its a matter of doing it. Many of us here know what you are feeling, COme on Nancy, you have come this far, you can do this, call me if you would like, we can get through this tough time together. I think for me my focus has been summer is coming and it will be shorts, bathing suits and cute capris weather ..this will be the first summer I am looking forward to wearing summer clothes in years. Maybe you can set small weekly goals for yourself and just take it one day at a time, once that goal is achieved incorporate another goal for the following week, that is what I am doing and so far it is working. One of my goals is I do not allow myself to eat any food in the morning until I have drunk 32 oz' of water, seems to help flush me out and curb my appetite for when I do sitedown to eat. My other goal is no chocolate this week. I'm 2 for 2 and it is Friday! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!! GET BACK TO BASICS!!!

It has been said that bandsters are tighter in the morning and a hot cup of coffee or tea can open you up a bit to make you not so tight. Also remember you still most likely have swelling from your surgery, which will make it feel like you are extremely tight. I remember whn I first went from liquids to mushy I felt the same way..it took a couple of days to get used to it and each day my swelling was less.

Congratulations Wade, so glad to hear everything went well for you This is the beginning of the new and improved you!!!

I have had 3 fills..in the beginning protein bars were easy,,not so easy anymore with 2.5cc's in my band. I just eat my chicken , eggs, cheese, lunch meats, tuna now to get in my protein, it seems to stay with me longer in my pouch. Every now and then I will have one but only nibble on it. So to answer your question it all depends on your fill level, everyone is different and has different opinions on protein bars.

Yes , But try it, seems like it is not much but 1 minute of consecutive exercises w/ 5lbs , your muscle burns. Then I switch arms. Then do a different arm exercise so when I am done I have actually done 5 minutes total on each arm without rest. , it is plenty, my arms are shaking afterwards. And I do this every night, I just followed what my fitness magazine said, it was an article on toning arms in just 10 minutes a day..so far it seems to be working

Paula I use a 5lb dumb bell weight and do all kinds of arm exercises while Iam watching TV...I do 1 minute on each arm without stopping and 5 different exercises., when Im done I have put in a good 10 minute arm workout, I have noticed a difference..The Fitness magazine March issues has a good arm workout page . The fitness magazine every motnh always has great exercise's to do with minimal time and effort that target certain areas. I have been enjoying my subscription to it.

Teresa, Great NSV! You have done amazing

Mike, Best of Luck to you on your upcoming surgery with Dr. Ortiz, he is a wonderful doctor in my opinion. He is very experienced and very caring. Dr. Ortiz and his entire staff will take good care of you and please your every need while in TJ. You are in very good hands I am an extremely happy Ortiz patient.

What a great post ! I'm printing this one...it will be very helpful to me with my OCD

I lost in my face first, but that is usually the case for women. We lose it first where we need to lose the least, the places we lose last are the places we need to lose first..for me it started at my face and has worked it's way down..

I get the left sideach everytime I get a fill, then it goes away after a few days but oddly as I read this post I had a sideache today for the first time in months...My Dr. said this is normal as your body gets used to the foreign object in your bodyand it can also be trapped gas trapped around the port area. .

SUsan, glad to hear you are feeling better. I have had 4 PB's in 11 months and my last one was the worst. SO I now take it very very slow..As Marie said, with your filllevel you will always need to be careful..good luck to you

Nicole the pain you are having is very normal for alot of new bandsters. I had it too, exactly how you explained it here and according to Dr. Ortiz when I called him to ask what it is from, he told me it is caused from the swelling of the placement of the band with a possibility of some trapped gas . Mine did not go away for almost 4 weeks post op but each day it got better and better. I felt like I constantly had to burp but couldnt' because it was so painful. Hang in there it will get better

I'm with Betty & marie I just eat my mini wheats daily ( dry), ithey keep me regularand they are yummy too. They have a french vanill flavor now that is so good. Too much fiber for me makes me hungrier, dont know why but it does

Teresa my husband was rear ended 9 years ago and still suffers from it, in the last 9 years has had 3 neck surgeries, lives on fentynal ( narcotic pain patch) he also needs back surgery a;ll stemmingfrom an accident 9 years ago, wegot 25,000 which is nothing compared to the money we have put out over the years and for what my husband has lost, emotionally, physically and mentally. I would never have imagined we would still be seeing a pain management doctr 9 yrs later, still going to PT 9 years later, still waking up in pain 9 years later. This has changed my husbands life dramatically and our families. Think long term Teresa, because you never know how this will affect you later. My husband is living proof

Hey Babs, sure sounds like you had a great time at the Casino rollin those dice. Isint it nice to just get away from hubby and kids. I love vacationing on my own Nice to see you back safe & sound

Welcome to the world of a bandster Norma..LOL I have had more gas in the last 11 months then I have had in my lifetime . I have gas everyday, there is a great thread here I started way back titled Burping & farting, do a search and you will see that you are not alone I was told by my Dr. that the band works as a one way valve hence the reason for the gas. I wasalso told that bandsters are air swallowers since they haveto eat so slow now which can produce more gas, and I was told that chewing gum and drinking through a straw does not help thegas either. I have avoided the straw and cut back on my gum chewing so it is not as bad as it was. Maybe try and see if you eliminate those things if you do them if it helps.

One thing that many of us bandsters forget is that we will never experience that " Thanksgiving" unbottun my pants " full feeling in your stomach again.You will ge the tightness in your chest and an occasional hiccup. This is where some head works come in for me. Waiting for that full feeling in my stomach never happens. I just convince myself, Ok I have eaten a 1/2 of chicken breast with a small salad I'm not full but Iam satisfied. I will not die of starvation. I have gotten nutrition. I only give myself 20 minutes to eat, no matter what. After that I push it away regardless. Strange enough I have less restriction with my 3rd fill then I had with my first or second, but I'm making this fill work, I'm doing alot of head work. The band is my tool to help my head. I can not rely on my band to do it all that is not what it was designed to do. It is a struggle and I wish you all the best. Do not get discouraged, think of how you were pre band ..this is a victory is it not?

Jenna, I feel your pain. We just put our beloved family dog to sleep last month. It was a horrible experience,she was only 6, had a stroke, could not walk anymore my husband was like you he had the be there until the very end. Our other dog is suffering from loneliness as well. We have been debating on getting another dog to help and "try and fill the void" of Roxy, I'm sorry you are having a hard time of it right now, Hang in there

Kathy, it all depends on who your cell phone carrier is. I have Sprint and my cell phone worked just fine anywhere I was in TJ , my husband has Cingular and his would not work at all anywhere in TJ. Costco, sells a great phone card. I but it all the time and it is rechargeable. 670 minutes for $19.99 and you can use it for international calls. Also Kathy you can call your cell phone company and tell them you are traveling to Mexico, some companies can give you a code to dial or download something to make it possible to use your phone in TJ, it all depends on your carrier.

Alice , Happy to hear all went well foryou

9 days will be here before you know it.. We are all excited for you

Hi T Congratulations on your new band... Its the beginning of a new life for you..so rest up and take care of yourself