medicrn

Cannot find a true "before pic". Actually these before pics are still afters in that they were both taken after I'd lost about 50lbs post op.

That's easy. Don't look at the needle.

I didn't tell some at first because I didn't want to hear "oh you don't need that" or "that's the easy way out". So I waited till after and some I'd just say at first when asked what was I doing "I'm just cutting back" which wasn't a lie. Eventually I became proud of it and became a spokes person per say because I truly believe the band doesn't fail you, you fail the band.

I knew I had tried to get it at gnc which is our only local supplement store years ago when I first had surgery and they didn't carry it. I did order me some today.

I think it also helps to have a great surgeon that your not "afraid of". I personally do. My mother, sister in law and two co workers however see a different surgeon and they all say they are scared to go back because he "fusses at them". I recently told my doc about them and his words were "we try not to be to hard on our patients because we feel like they are hard enough on themselves". Like I said-great doc! We all need encouragement not condemnation. With that said we also don't need to be handing out bad advise on here either. If you've just started out on your journey not a good idea to be dishing out bad habits to others but instead maybe people should listen to ones that have been successful. Sorry that wasn't even about this post but is a rant I wanted to go on. Lol. Good luck!

Honestly it's less much less than an iv. The pain is sharp but very very quick. Once needle is in it doesn't hurt at all for me. My doc is good too.

Thanks!

Yea I didn't like it when my surgeon told me he doesn't fill until 2 months after surgery but I know why now. I'm not the surgeon but I am a nurse and I don't agree with them filling immediate post op because of the swelling and I firmly believe they should gradually increase you until you learn the stages. Just my opinion.

Girls-and guys, lol, QUIT SAYING "ONLY" and start saying YEPPIE I'VE LOST ____!!!! Your on your way and you will get there!!! Your 6 and 5 and ect ect down from what you were. Y'all will get there. BELIEVE IN YOURSELVES! I do

Just remember with fiber you HAVE to drink plenty of water otherwise the fiber makes constipation worse in that it will swell up and stop up the bowels.

I can eat chicken, fish, red meat cooked medium or med rare, some ground beef but depends on how gristly it is. I can eat pork as long as its not overcooked.

Also with my last full a month ago I was pretty tight as in could only sip water and maybe get a bottle down a day for a few days. Then gradually weaned it back. After about two weeks I was perfect. Now I am happy I waited it out.

Thanks! That's alot of cosmetic also. Lol. Although i was a model for my surgeon years ago for being a success story. Was on billboards, magazines and newspapers. That was cool. Yea I've been we're I can eat rice, bread, biscuits ect ect. Now I can't for most days. I can however eat rice with lots of sauce or gravy on it on special occasion only because of high cal content. Like hibachi rice with yum yum sauce or Chinese fried rice and I will get the gravy from beef pepper steak and just eat slow. Like I said in spec occasion only.

And yea my hub knows my "look" I don't even have to do the finger anymore lol

I think everyone has their definition of too tight or what you can handle. Like someone said if you want to be a bit looser and not experience that occasional pb get some taken out. Or if you wanna loose more and are able to go without certain foods such as bread stay where you are. I learned along time ago my preference is stay on the tad tight side. It helps me maintain. If I allow myself things such a bread I fall into bad habits again. Again it's up to you.

Stress makes me too tight. When I was going through divorce my doc refused to fill me. Yes I think you are a a new stage of fill and remember at each fill you learn more. I get to that hiccup stage and if I stop eating it usually goes away but if I eat more its coming up. Also you may be one that can't do bread now. Some can. I Cannot. Saw where you said you ate tuna sandwich. Stringy vegetables don't cut it for me either. Also I find if we eat out I tend to talk and don't focus on chewing as well as I think I do.

If you add it to your total cals and that's what you want and can handle its in your court. I still have a drink or two now and then but I add it into my total cals and don't go over. The carbonation I think may be your biggest prob. My fav is cayman jack margaritas and they are carbonated. Some days I can and some days I cannot.

I still (4 1/2 years out) will get a compliment from someone that hasn't seen me in awhile. While it still feels great, I also wonder-will they always remember the heavy me? I've been this size for 3 1/2 years now.

I never had that initial problem with drinking before my band was filled as some others had. They still want you to sip because you don't know when the big gulp is going to be too big of a gulp and you might have to get it up which with a newly stitched band can cause slippage. Yes when I go back for fills now and drink broth it runs straight trough (sorry for the gross visual). Good luck. Remember you might feel that you can go fast now but trust me its better to learn slow habits now and have better results than stay in bad habits. Remember its a learning tool. This is your first few lessons. Don't ignore the teachers. (The DOCS AND NURSES that is not us!) ))

Also I couldn't find "chili oil" so I just used regular oil. Same cals. Still tasted awesome!