PrettyThick1

I would bump up the calories to 1100-1200 and just make sure you are getting plenty of Protein. My Walmart just had a clearance sale of their Super whey protein shots - 26g. I got them for $1.00 per tube - they are usually $2.88 each. They are a lifesaver for me, no calories but a nice fruity pick-me-up. Change up your exercise routine and probably your eating patterns. You have to shock your body off of the plateau - you can jump start it by doing liquids for a week then going in with 1100 calories and a different workout. See if that helps.

The psych eval is the easiest thing you're going to go through during this entire process. There is a questionnaire with 344 questions (multiple choice) and it mainly wants to determine your mental state (suicidal thoughts, unreasonable expectations of the band, if you feel like you have support). Then you have a short chat with the psychologist/psychiatrist (this actually happens before the questionnaire) and you're done. Mine took about 30 minutes - mostly to complete the questions. The chat is only 5-10 minutes long. Easy. Good luck!

That is clearly infected. Please see your doctor immediately.

Just don't give up. There will be bumps in the road, but in the end your desire to be thinner has to be greater than your love for unhealthy foods. You didn't mention if you were getting any exercise in. The key is to find something you enjoy doing - that you would do even if you weren't trying to lose weight. For me that is swimming and dancing. My gym has a pool and since it's summer time, you can find a swimming hole just about anywhere around here (I'm in Houston, TX); if you aren't so privvy, go grab a coupld of DVD's that are centered around dancing - hip-hop abs, zumba, or salsa are great and the beauty of it is you can do it in the privacy of your own home. Let's face it, who doesn't like to dance? Whitney Houston's - I Wanna Dance With Somebody is a great mid-tempo tune that surely gets you fired up. Find what gets you going and make an effort to do it once a day - even if you start off with only 1 song...build it up to 2...before you know it you'll be choreographing your own monster jam. Another key is to have at least 20g Protein within 30 minutes of getting out of bed; 25g no more than 1.5 hours before your workout and another 16 - 25g within an hour of your workout. Now if you're not exercising more than 30 minutes at a time, this formula will not work - eliminate the pre-workout protein, but do get the recovery protein after working out, that is critical. Good luck to you, keep trying combinations of things until you find out what works for you. GG

Ah...not excited and anxious. Not sure what you would call this stage, but it is one of many psychological and emotional changes you will undergo during this process. We've all been there, the closer you get to your date the weirder your thoughts are going to get. But, you'll be fine. Congrats!!!

I'm glad you are okay.

After all of the going back and forth about why I'm having the surgery, if it's the right thing to do, will I end up worse off...I am now at the "I can't wait for you to see me in a few months" stage. I'm single and have a strange relationship with a guy - I guess the term is "friends with benefits" he's an electrical genius and can fix anything that breaks around my house and doesn't expect anything in return. Well, he ticked me off so badly this weekend that all I can think about is "you're not going to treat me this way 50lbs from now, but it's going to be too late." I know that's really immature and I've never approached this journey from a standpoint of vanity, it's been about my health all along. But this weekend has shown me that I need a satisfying relationship with someone who deserves me as much as I deserve him. I have so much to offer. With the same token, I know I'll wonder if the guys I meet in the future would like me as I am today - not as they will meet me after my success with the band. Inquiring minds want to know, but it's in God's hands and I trust him more than I trust myself that He will send the man that will fulfill His desires for our lives. Amen.

If you're looking for the bad, I can help you there. I'll get my band next Wednesday, but I've been through this site very thoroughly and here are the main drawbacks: Don't eat what you shouldn't Don't eat too fast Don't eat and drink at the same time Band slippage, errosion and port problems often happen because of neglegence - sometimes, it's just a bad device. These things don't happen often. Early bandsters report: Gas pains - usually in the shoulder for some reason. Wanting to vomit but can't - they've eaten too much of the wrong thing or ate it too fast. To be honest, the positives far outweigh the negatives. I have a few friends with the band and their experiences were such that I was ready to get mine as soon as I found out that was how their fat "melted" so quickly. One friend has had her band for 10 years now - she lost a total of 236 and looks like a living barbie doll now. She has had her port changed once to a newer, smaller version about 2 years ago, but she hasn't had any fills since then either. She eats what she wants to now and works out maybe once a week. I hope I've helped a bit...just wait a couple of hours, there are several experienced bandsters that can help you more than me. Misty and Carolinagirl will probably post to you shortly. They are my angels.

Yes - I usually get in a 20 - 26g shake 1 - 1.5 hours (never more than 2 hours) before the workout and anywhere from 16 - 26g within an hour of finishing (30 minutes is optimal). The one before gives your body something to start burning and it keeps you from getting hungry. The one after is for recovery - it feeds the muscles and keeps the burn going long after you have finished. If you do this in the evening, you shouldn't be hungry again, just drink lots of Water because you will be flushing out the bi-product of your burn. I use: the cheap stuff from Walmart or Muscle Milk and I always take my shake with me and down it as soon as I finish getting dressed. Add a little ice and it will be cold when you're done. I work with many "fitness gurus" and this helped me to lose 60lbs. over the course of a year, without really dieting.

You are stuck on a plateu, it happens to everyone. A friend of mine who is a fitness guru insists that you have to do something you haven't been doing to "shock" your body into losing weight again. That means introducing a new food(s) to your diet and a different workout. In doing this, you "confuse" your body and it will start burning fat again. Good luck!

WOW!!!! GREAT WORK!!!! I would be emotional, too. You've worked hard and you sure have reaped the rewards; you have taken many years off of your appearance and added them to your life. You are so very pretty, that would be motivation enough for me to keep it up. You go gurl!!!

Swimming is what you need dear...it works out every muscle in your body, it's great cardio and if you buy a set of Water dumbells, you can also do your strength training in the pool. I have designed my own water aerobics routines, so I am never bored and the water really helps relieve pressure from my joints - so if you have pain, you can work out very easilly in the pool and not hurt during or after. Just be sure to get your Protein in 1 hour before and within 1 hour after your work out. Don't be discouraged, I hope you have access to a gym with a pool - it will be your best bet.

I like it...a lot.

Excuse my language, but your husband is a selfish rat b'stard! Having you healthy, happy and adding quality years to your life is worth much more than plywood and nails - ANY DAY!!! Don't listen to the trainer - he's there to make googobs of money off of your struggle. The band is safe - I know more than a dozen people who have had WLS and by far the best, least complicated surgeries were lap bands. I wish I could introduce you to one of my coworkers. She had it done 10 years ago - yes, even the very first bands were safe. She lost 200lbs and looks like a living barbie doll - you'd NEVER know she ever had a weight problem. Meanwhile...if you continue doing what you've always done, you're not going to get very far. Some of us need help. I've done great on various programs, personal trainers, etc. and they all did exactly what they were supposed to do...for a while. The band is reversible, so if it doesn't work (the odds are in your favor that it will though) you can always get it removed. But with your comorbids, I wouldn't spend too much time pondering what you should do, every day your body is deteriorating a little bit more. I was dianosed with Type II diabetes in March - I didn't mess around, I was at True Results in April. I started my preop diet yesterday and many of my diabetic symptoms are already subsiding...even though I haven't taken my meds in quite a few days, my blood sugar is 90! My diet isn't very strict either - I get 2 shakes and 2 meals a day - more than I need, to be quite honest. You have the money in your FSA - that's your money. If the surgery wasn't safe, do you think insurance would approve you? Far too many studies show that the Lap Band works, it's safe and it's effective. I only know of 1 person that failed and that's because she drank milk shakes, at ice cream - she lived off of sliders. That's a no-no. Since you are diabetic already, you wouldn't do that anyway, so you're one step ahead of the game. Think about it, but forget the patio - what good will it do if you're sick and can't enjoy spending time outdoors anyway?

Call them until somebody gives you your date or you threaten to find another surgeon. It shouldn't take any facility more than a week to schedule surgery once the insurance has been approved.

Think long and hard about the sleeve dear...I have friends who have had that done and I would rather have band complications than sleeve complications - those are deadly. One of my friends made a TINY mistake and ate like a spoonful of Beans - 16 hours later she was in the hospital, where she stayed for nearly a month. When she got out...she was 1/2 way to her goal but not at all happy with the decision she'd made. The sleeve is serious business.

Wow, it does sound like you might be drinking too fast - I know it's something simple like that, your body is still getting use to the band. I'm sorry you're uncomfortable though! Your first fill is on my surgery day:). I

Hey Stephanie...how's it going post-surgery???

Congratulations and good luck!!! I hope you don't have to do the full 6 months of WW and are pleasantly surprised that you'll not only have your band but have begun losing weight with it by your 22nd birthday! You jumped in at a good time in your life sweetie! You have 3 quarters left to be smokin' hot! I'm jealous...

I also love swimming and fortunately my gym has a pool. Don't worry about how you look in your swimsuit right now, you are there with a purpose - not to just play around. People respect that and you shouldn't be ashamed. I wear a swim dress mostly and it hides all of my less-than perfections. It's amazing how swimming can make even the best days even better, when I'm stressed I get in and leave it all in the water. I hope you can find another indoor pool close to you - always check the YMCA, ours has an outstanding indoor/outdoor pool and there are hours reserved strictly for fitness. Good luck fellow mermaid!!!