PrettyThick1

You'll know you're in the green zone when you can eat 1/2 cup of food, you are satisfied on that for at least 4 hours and you are losing pounds or inches. I didn't notice it until about a week after my third fill.

I'm sorry for your ailments and hope that you are able to get the help you need to overcome them. But you really came to the wrong place to solicit for your free lap band cause. This isn't what this forum is about and you can't expect to pop out of the blue and think people are going to blindly do what you're asking them to do. There are scams everywhere - for all anyone knows, you've designed one that could target their victims through their IP addresses. Good luck to you. If you are a member of a church or other organization, perhaps you could get support from them. It's better to go to people you know and who know you, the internet is not the best way to approach this.

Yes, go see the doctor about it. I don't have to as often as I did, but I attribute that to the change in my eating and drinking habits. Not feeling the urge isn't normal after the surgery. Keep us posted. Have your gas pains gone away yet?

You probably need to boost your calories and increase your Protein to a minimum of 80g a day. My first 40 came of really fast, but I've slowed down to about 1 pound a week now. Be patient. Every band and every body is different, you can't compare your results with another person - to do so can make you feel discouraged...as you seem to be right now. Take it easy on yourself, but definitely boost your protein if you want to see the scale move faster.

I'm starting to get use to my new weight, but I've been having a difficult time finding clothes that I like at the prices I'm willing to pay. So when all else fails...what do we do? Hit the thrift shop! I went to the Goodwill Select store in my area and found a few very nice - nearly new pieces. One that I'm especially proud of is a Talbot's sage green short cardigan sweater, the tags were still on it - Retail $59.99, I paid $4.99 but I think the best part is that it was a size Large - which we know for a store like Talbots is a size Medium everywhere else. I also bought a sweater from somewhere in the U.K. that was labeled size 16. I looked up the size conversion and found it to be a U.S. size 14! So, here's the NSV: I have gone from a size 20 or XXL top to a 14 or M/L top! I am so happy...and I'm finally ready to shop.

Congratulations! That's extra awesome!

Hello and welcome Kelly! You've taken a huge step in the right direction and I have every confidence that you will be successful on this journey. Good luck to you and bless the life of your future precious baby!

I think we all had those fears, I even had my will done before I went into surgery. Nothing happened though and I'm thankful for that. I'm doing well and I would do this again in a heartbeat. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

I haven't read the other responses you've gotten so what I'm about to say may have already been mentioned. I was pretty much in the same boat as you: I'd eat out of boredom or because it was there. I bought the wrong things for my home, prepared the wrong meals, snacked too much...blah, blah, blah. After I got the band, things changed. I believe much of it was psychological, but a big part of it was indeed physical. I no longer crave bad foods (except during THAT time of the month) and I eat far less than I ever would have pre-band. While I don't always make perfect choices and yes, I do indulge in snacks from time to time the truth of the matter is it's impossible to consume the amount of calories I use to, therein I continue to lose the weight even when I'm not at my best. That is not to say that I can just go hog wild with eating or drinking the wrong things for days on end - I can't, I don't allow myself to do that because I feel guilty. At my worst, I've gained 2 lbs during splurges - the beauty of the band is once you get back on track, those pounds are gone in a few days and I'm on the right path again. She's not magic, but Miss Pearlie is the answer to a problem that has plagued me my entire life - the endless cycle of poor eating choices, fad diets, weight losses and equal gains. I'm happy I got the band, my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. Good luck!

Looking good boyfriend!

She's jealous of your journey to a new you. Sure, she's lost 10 so far...she might even hit a nice 50 pound loss - but we all know that it's going to eventually come back. She has shown you that she isn't a true friend. You supported her through her troubled times which shows character, but she can't support you through your exciting journey? Nah. You're better off without her and in the words of the great Maya Angelou: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them."

I love salads and eat them often. I use regular salad dressings (creamy italian, blue cheese, greek or zesty italian) and I include cheese and a protein (ham, chicken or tuna). Getting calories in is a challenge for me, so very little of what I eat is diet or low-calorie...except when I splurge on ice cream. Then I opt for Blue Bell's No Sugar Added Low Fat ice cream (Dutch Chocolate tastes like regular Milk Chocolate) or Weight Watchers Big Fudge Bar - each is 90 calories, 9g protein per serving...but the Blue Bell tastes soooooo much better than WW.

Every fill is going to have a different effect. If you can't tolerate something now, try again in 2-3 weeks. You may be able to tolerate it at another fill level as well, it just depends on the food, the fill and your band.

Congratulations on taking the steps to better health. I am very happy I chose the band and that I knew people that had both surgeries before I made my final decision. Here is why I did not choose the sleeve: - The 3 people I know that have it have aged 10+ years in the face and neck. + People I know with the band look younger. - 2 people cannot stop losing the weight and are now 20+ pounds under their goal. + People I know with the band were able to stop at their goal. -1 person had to spend 5 weeks in the hospital from complications 2 weeks after having the sleeve procedure. She almost died twice during that time. + Besides a port replacement (10 year old band), no one I know has had complications from the band. - Weight loss is so rapid with the sleeve that you have tons of excess skin. + Weight loss with the band is gradual enough for the skin to catch up and not sag. + The first place I lost weight with the band was my tummy (liver), face and neck. As a result, I no longer need diabetes medication, I no longer have sleep apnea and I don't snore loudly. Downsides of the band: 1. Sometimes I would like to eat more food because it tastes good. 2. After a fill, you don't know what if any foods have now become intolerable until you find out the hard way. 3. I use to like drinking Water before or while I was in bed, I can't do that now because I'm tight at night. 4. I use to like eating something around 10:00 am - sometimes you're too tight for food in the morning. Cream of wheat always goes down though. 5. I miss my boobs and my butt. + But I'm in proportion now and my waistline is smaller (11 inches lost) so I but I have a nice figure. I hope this helps with your decision. But a word of advice: find a surgeon who IS going to put you on a preop diet and perhaps band you with a small fill to kick start the weightloss. A very dear friend of mine didn't have a preop diet and the surgeon compensated by using a LOT of gas during her surgery. At the 5 day mark, she was still in pain from the gas. Mine was gone by day 3 and I got a 3cc fill during the surgery.

Nope...just try not to have anything to eat or drink an hour or two before and you'll be fine. I always get my fills during my lunch break, so I have cream of wheat or oatmeal for breakfast and I'm still satisfied when I go in. Just remember to stay on liquids the first two days after, it really can affect the outcome of the fill down the road.

That happened for me. I'm no longer addicted to Coca~Cola, chocolate or sweets and I can't express how happy that makes me.

Disclaimer: I am not bragging, I'm celebrating the changes in my life and giving newbies a couple of things to look forward to. I had no idea 50lbs and 3.5 months would make such a difference. I just got the news that I'm being promoted and have a FAT salary increase (after 9 years and very hard work that has gone unnoticed/unappreciated) and I'm trying to decide who to date. I know my promotion has a lot to do with the weightloss. I work in a male-dominated industry (oil and gas) and only attractive women seem to get good breaks in the office environment - just being honest, I am NOT bragging because I think I'm just regular!!! It also seems that I meet a new guy every other day and while it's easy to weed many of them out, I have three excellent prospects and I wish I could hang on to all of them. :wub: I am fully aware that two of them would not have given me a second look before I lost this weight and this will likely have some bearing on my final decision. But, it feels great to be more attractive again and to feel people staring at you from a distance...and you know why. It's also nice to hear "you're the perfect size now...don't lose anymore weight". I'm still going for 19 more pounds and hope to get there by the end of the year.

Yes! They've been doing that here in Houston for the past few weeks. Thanks for the reminder, I need to get some before the sale goes off!

I'm sorry you're feeling bad and hope they don't have to take too much out for you to be comfortable again.

Congratulations!!!

Are we separated at birth? LOL I'm just like that!!!

My secret is newfound confidence to go new places wearing things that fit . I smile more (not really, it's just that my cheeks no longer hold my lips down - LOL) and I'm open to returning lingering eye contact. Before when someone would look at me, I'd smile and look away...not anymore, I'm like "what's uuuuup" with my eyes. LOL

I weigh first thing every morning - after I potty, of course.

Wow. I'm sorry you had that experience and thanks for speaking out so others can be warned.

I told my boss the truth, I have never hidden my band surgery from anyone because there come a time when people will want to know 1) How the h_ll are you losing all that weight so fast? 2) Why do you eat like a bird? 3) Why did you just have to spend 20 minutes in the bathroom (because something got stuck and you were sliming)? It's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm proud of Miss Pearlie and I don't keep her a secret.