gowalking

Check with your doctor. Some bandsters can take NSAIDs and some cannot per their doctor's preferences. Also...like any med taken, it's a question of risk/benefit. I have joint disease and was in severe hip and knee pain so for me, it was take these meds so I could walk. If your issues are not as severe, you may be able to substitute the NSNAIDs for something else. Good luck.

Just know that when you have alot to lose like I did, and people notice that you have lost a considerable amount of weight, they may very well assume you had WLS. I've dropped basically a whole other person in terms of the amount of weight I've lost and I know the women in my department are likely assuming I had WSL. The guys only notice I'm smaller...they don't wonder how I did it.. But these days, WLS is so prevalent that I think most folks make that assumption. I've had a few people ask me outright what I did and I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are asking because they see I've been successful, and not just because they are nosy. I tell them I went on a strict food plan and am staying around 1,000 calories daily. Most people I work with knew I had severe joint issues as I've been on a cane for more than two years and once they found out I had bilateral hip replacement, they are satisfied with my answer that I needed to lose weight to prepare for the surgery. It's all true and the only thing I leave out is the lapband part. And I do that because I'm not comfortable talking about it, not because I fear any negative response.

True, you will never have your favorite meal the same way again but not true at all that you will not enjoy it as much. In fact, once you are happier with your size, you may find that eating less of your favorite meal will allow you to enjoy it more. I know it does for me. I love food and will always love it. But I also love eating small portions of it and having all the pleasures of being nearly half my size when I started this journey.

Hi curiously. I can't influence you...you have to make the final decision. All I want to tell you is my experience. I love food...I don't like it, I love it. Having said that, I love being normal sized as well. And I still love food, I just have learned to eat a whole lot less of it. Yes, there are times I wish I could eat alot of it again, but it's fleeting and as long as you listen to your body and know when to stop, it actually feels good to walk away from the table without being so stuffed that you are uncomfortable. Again..I'm not advocating one surgery over another, I'm just trying to let you know that just because you love food, doesn't mean WLS can't work for you. Good luck with whatever you decide.

....and this is how grownups discuss various weight loss surgeries.

Hey nona....do you live anywhere near NYC? I ask because believe it or not, there are lots of shoe stores here in the city that cater to drag queens and they carry quite a nice selection of shoes in larger sizes. If you can get here, you may find lots to choose from.

Yes Ma'am. Went from an 8 1/2-9 back down to a 7 1/2-8. And also no longer wearing wide widths. I have to use alot of self control or I'd own dozen's of pairs of shoes.

I'm sure you don't see it...that seems to be an issue many of us have but know that the change in you is truly spectacular. you were beautiful before but you are truly transformed in the more recent pictures.

Hi starfish. gosh I love your name...gotta tell us what it means. anyway, I don't know that I'm a veteran but I am nearly 14 months post banded so I figured I'd respond. yes...protein Protein protein. I supplement my daily food intake with a glass of unjury protein powder in Water so I can keep my protein at or above 60 grams. Breakfast is sometimes eggs but also oatmeal or cream of wheat. (very convenient to bring the packets to work) lunch and dinner almost always the same in that I eat 3 oz protein, 1/2 cup veggies, 1/4 cup carbs or if I crave a sandwich, obviously no additional carbs at that meal. Bread is always a bagel thin or the thin sliced wheat bread...or low carb/low calorie wraps. I also eat mostly fish and chicken and when I eat meat, it's either filet mignon (because it's soft) or chopped meat (like a meatball or meatloaf). I also have dessert 'cause I do have a sweet tooth. usually it's SF Jello, or SF pudding, or 100 calorie Klondike bars. I also have some fruit as well. Sugar is high but everything in moderation is how this gal works it. Good luck...I'm sure you'll do great.

Hi Shel. Just saw this thread. Glad you got the shot and I hope you get relief. I was going to let you know that I got several cortisone shots before the hip replacement, and unfortunately, have had to get more in my back since the hip replacements. I've done all of them while being banded and like everything else we do or take, it's always a question of risk/benefit. Feel better soon!

Hi Pupichupi. I posted this pic on another thread on Saturday. That's me in my mother's mink coat. I haven't been able to wear it in about 13 years and I never thought I'd ever wear it again. It wasn't my goal outfit but it was so wonderful to feel the accomplishment of being able to fit into it again that I was nearly overwhelmed by it. Good luck and make sure you post a pic of yourself when you make it into that velvet gown.

My sister and I eat out quite a bit. She's making better choices because that's what I'm doing. Even last night, though we ate rich...French onion Soup and Croque Monsieur, I suggested we share it along with a salad. I know without a doubt that she ate less because we shared. Was a time we would have both eaten our own soup and sandwiches. Even with adding the salad, I know she ate less that she would have before I was banded. And I surely ate less. Even with sharing, I couldn't eat as much as she was able to. They cut the Croque Monsieur into five pieces and I took two....and ate 1 1/2.

Frozen fudge pops are surprisingly low in calories. 60 for a single pop, not the double sized ones.

Just make sure to talk to the doctor and get his/her input.

Many years ago, my mother gave me her mink coat when she moved to Florida. I got too heavy to wear it and gave it to my sister-in-law hoping that someone else could use it. That was more than ten years ago. Turns out she never wore it and I recently reached goal and asked her to give it back. I wasn't sure if it would fit...it's hard for me to really see what everyone else sees and only by trying something on, can I really gauge my size these days. I must tell you....I never thought I'd be able to wear this coat again. I'm overwhelmed....

I'm banded so I don't know if that makes a difference but I can tell you that I took NSAIDS and had cortisone shots until I finally had my hips replaced. Without the NSAIDS and shots, I wouldn't have been able to walk so I did what I had to do. I'd suggest you discuss you pain and discomfort with your doctor to determine your own risk/benefit. Good luck...I certainly know what it's like to live with joint pain.

It's called unjury. It's a Protein powder supplement. It's I think 21 grams of protein and 100 calories. I take it daily and between that, the biotin, and the vitamins, my hair started coming back and it's pretty good now.

Shakes are one way of doing it but for me, it doesn't give me the satiety I need so I take a supplemental protein powder...like Unjury. Each packet is 21 grams of protein and that gets me to or close to 60-65 grams daily.

And this is truly what a NSV is all about. Great news!!

Some people are just slow losers no matter what. Even if they follow the rules, it still comes off 1/4 lb. at a time. Ane then there are others who are slow losers and it's because they don't follow the rules. Each of of us knows which type of bandster we are.

Hi Hayley. It sounds like it may be time for you to weigh and measure your food. I've done that since the beginning and it works like a charm for me because I also have issues with knowing when it's enough. I eat 3 ounces of Protein, 1/2 cup of veggies and 1/4 cup of carbs. I used to track everything I ate into myfitnesspal so I knew to stay around 1,000-1,100 calories a day. I don't use myfitnesspal anymore...I don't have to at this point. But I still weigh and measure. Good luck!!

I know so many of us have become calorie counters, scale watchers, exercise nuts...blah blah blah. You know what I'm talking about. And...we obsess if we don't follow the rules to a T. Well, last night I went to dinner with the family and we shared several items. We do that quite often and I like it because then I don't wind up with most of my entree still on the plate. So as I sat at the table I decided to have a cocktail rather than a glass of wine...which I knew was more calories but that pineapple margarita was just calling my name. Then even though I only took a little of everything...I had everything. I weigh once a week every Sunday and was not surprised to see a gain of 1/2 lb. I thought for a moment that if I had not had that meal, I'd have likely seen a loss this week. But I had a wonderful time with my family last night and if it meant a small gain, so what. I'm eating today as I always do, knowing my calorie consumption will be back to normal. I will do the same the rest of the week and the small gain will likely be reversed. What I'm trying to get at is that we have to live with our bands (hopefully) the rest of our lives and food is always going to be a part of our experiences. I'm determined to enjoy my food when I am enjoying the related socializing. That doesn't mean eating till I'm stuffed...or till I'm sick. But if it means eating a little too much, or eating foods that are a little higher in sodium or fat, then I will. And if it means a small gain well...like my thread says, it is what it is. As long as the next day I go back to my normal way of eating, I am OK with the occasional splurge. I will not guilt myself into being miserable and I won't promise myself it will never happen again. It will happen again but as long as it doesn't happen day after day after day, I really think I can live with it. And that's the point....living with it day in and day out. I think that's how to succeed at this.

Why are you not eating food? Is your band too tight? You shouldn't be replacing food with crap. Go to your doctor and nut for help. Otherwise that terrific 40 lb. loss will disappear.

Hi Ivonne. I noticed you used Dr. Ren. So did I. I've been very happy with her so far and I hope you are as well. As far as hair loss...for me, it started about three months after surgery and it came out fairly steady but I didn't see a difference until about 6 months out. It was really bad from that point until about four months later. At times, I could see alot of scalp and it was very hard to deal with it. Dr. Ren told me to use the unjury to add another 20 or so grams of Protein to my diet. That upped me to around 60-65 grams daily. I also take Biotin and Iron and Multivitamins. I had major surgery in October and that may be why it was taking so long for the hair to come back but now, 14 months post op, it's grown back fairly nicely. It's still not quite the same but at least I don't have bald spots anymore. Not everyone has hair loss but if you are one of the unlucky ones, I can tell you that it will grow back even if it takes a while.

Oh this is good! I had a nightmare recently where I dreamed I ate three slices of sicilian pizza...you know, the real thick breaded pizza...not even the thin crust kind. When I realized it was just a dream, I was so relieved...lol.