PrettyThick1

RUN!!! If a doctor says you have no pre-op diet, then they are going to pump your body full of gas to get between your liver to place the band and you're going to be miserable afterwards. The preop shrinks the liver so there is less gas needed during surgery. A friend of mine had no preop, they pumped her full of gas and she was in pain for 2 weeks until it finally went away. My surgical gas was gone after day 2 since there wasn't as much needed as my friend. Two weeks of dieting or two weeks of SURGICAL gas pain? Find a different surgeon.

Congrats! Good luck and we'll see you on the other side!!!

My band's name is Miss Pearlie. I thought I might as well name her since she is such a big part of my life - she's on my mind everytime I have to make food and beverage decisions and she's responsible for so many good things that are happening in my life. She deserves a name.

I use to have regular stuck episodes, too. I'm glad I've learned how to eat correctly now, I had it all wrong in the beginning...even after all the research I'd done and all of the advice I had gotten from experienced bandsters. I've learned many lessons: don't eat when cold, don't eat and drive, don't eat fast, if you look at something and you get the idea that it's going to get stuck...then it will. So much more, I'm just glad I figured it out and have more control over stuck and sliming episodes.

I've had three fills: Banded with 3cc's. Six Weeks (First Fill) - 1cc (not enough, still hungry...went back) Six Weeks and 2 days (2nd Fill) - 1cc (Total 5) August 2013 - .5 cc (total 5.5) GREEN ZONE No fill since, average loss in green zone: 12 lbs. per month.

Welcome and enjoy the journey! You'll find a group of people who are overwhelmingly supportive and can make you laugh on your worst day. If you have questions...you'll get better answers here than you will from your doctor beause it's coming from so many different perspectives and types of people who have gone through where you are in your journey. This was the best decision I've made in decades and I'm never looking back. People are reluctant to say this, but I'm not: The band IS a miracle device! Nothing else would have stopped the mean, brown eating machine I was. Thank God for my "Miss Pearlie" the sweetest, kindest lapband in the world.

I hope you feel better. Band, Sleeve, Gastric...doesn't matter, we're all WLS patients and we are all connected in that way.

Be grateful this period doesn't last very long and before you know it it will be a distant memory that seemed like "nothing".

No worries Frantic Frannie - you haven't done any damage. I'm not going to share my story with you because it might make you develop bad habits for the duration of the preop. Just do your best and don't sweat it. Seriously.

You really hit the nail on the head! I have gotten a $20k salary increase...out of nowhere. I've been here 9 years...you can't tell me it's not because I'm suddenly much more attractive, and self-confident!

I read the article. She's full of it. She's not happy being fat, no one is - if they are honest with themselves.

So...I went from a comfy size 10 (12 for small cuts) to a size 6 in days. What's my secret? Ask Miss Pearlie, she's calling all the shots and I have no idea what she has up her sleeve (ha, ha...a band with a sleeve) these days! Not complaining...I'm overjoyed!!!

I'm glad you're still finding a way to lose the weight and it sounds like you're getting better.

I've always been a happy person, but the band has given me even more confidence and I look and feel so much better that I can say "yes" I am happier now that I am thinner. Without a doubt.

Miss Pearlie is the name of my band. LOL

I wish I could hug you sometimes...now is one of those times!

Lisa, it's something you bring this up. He says he loved me before and was happy with my weight - he just had a crazy good poker face! I knew he had feelings, I just wasn't comfortable enough to feel like I could have and keep him for myself. : )

Oh my what a big difference a small amount of weight loss made on you!!! You might want to rethink your goal...you look smaller than your weight!!! Keep up the good work!!

I'm so excited...I woke up this morning and after a couple of weeks of plateuing and teetering with weight gain I'm losing again, pretty big time too. I am now the weight I was during my sophomore/junior high school years. Yay me!

It is the holidays, right? Can someone tell me how I've lost 7 lbs. in a week? I'm only 6 lbs. from my goal, but I'm going to drop another 11lbs and get a slight unfill to stick and stay at 150. Yes, I'll still be technically overweight, but I'm about as small now as I think I want to be. My 14 year old and I are now wearing the same size - 8/9's. Funny thing is, I haven't worn this size since I was 8 or 9 years old, LOL

Thank you so much Bandista!!!!

I got my third fill (total 5cc/10cc band) in August and it brought me to the green zone, I decided against additional fills because it's obvious I am where I should be now. I hit a plateau about 6 weeks ago and the scale didn't budge for nearly a month, then out of nowhere the weight starts coming off again. I've lost 6 lbs. this week, 2 overnight last night alone. I know I'm not eating or getting the amount of Protein I need, so I am going to make a serious effort to do better. I have the feeling that I am now anemic because I am cold almost all of the time. I won't go into any other details, I'm happy about seeing the finish line but I am aware that I have to do better about my nutrition to stay healthy.

Thanks Lisa!!! You look amazing lady!

Thank you!!!!