PrettyThick1

So Chantix worked for you? I commend your husband on doing it cold turkey and I completely understand sleeping it off. I wish I could do that. It's good for him anyway ; ). Congrats on 3 1/2 years, you are an inspiration and I appreciate your reply!

I did misread your post, sorry about that! You sound like you're where you need to be actually. Enjoy!! Not sure if you read my whole post. I'm pretty restricted. Def not in bandster hell anymore. It's not that I KEEP eating. I eat very little and am not hungry often at all actually. It's just that everything seems to go down as it should (pretty much) I have had a few uncomfortable episodes but no stuck episodes

Yes, that happened to me. Your fill is now "settled" and you have to learn a new way of eating with this one. I would guess this is either #2 or #3, correct? Each one is different!!! You will not be able to tolerate some foods you could before the fill, you also have to eat differently (much slower and smaller bites), you probably shouldn't try to eat until late morning or early afternoon and you HAVE to follow the drinking guidelines right now. If you're cold, stressed, just finished a vigorous activity or are anxious don't try to eat or drink anything until you are back to normal. Never wait until you are actually hungry to eat and don't expect to eat your normal amounts - it could be reduced by as much as half, so find another way to get your calories in, like Protein shots. Your next fill will result in something totally different and you will have to adapt to how that will affect you the same way you have to do now.

Yay! You've discovered your "soft stop" that is a MAJOR milestone on this journey!!! This is the part of the story where Suzzie's weight starts melting faster than a snowman in downtown Houston. Kudo's to you for noticing something was different.

Thanks Ms. Vickie! I was supposed to go get the fill yesterday but didn't go in. I'm loving this lower fill level...I hope not too much though, LOL. I'm going to see what happens over the next couple of weeks, if I start gaining or see that I'm eating too much of the wrong thing I'll ask for .25 of it back...I think I was too full and losing too fast to be honest.

You're in bandster hell right now. You aren't full enough yet, so watch what you're eating until you get to the right fill level. 5.0cc's (10cc band) was enough to put me in the green zone for several months. I developed stomach flu and had .5cc's removed two weeks ago, I'm surprised that while I can eat whatever I want I still have a stopping point and have not gained much weight back as a result.

I'm trying to quit...again. I'm on Chantix and it's helping, I've done other things that have me terrified at the moment but I just can't give up the urge to go and buy a pack. If you are a former smoker, how did you quit? How did you deal with the cravings? What did you do with your hands? How did you get your mind off of smoking? How are you now?

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans And miss it both night and day? I know it's wrong, but this feeling's gettin' stronger The longer, I stay away. Miss them moss covered vines, the tall sugar pines Where mockin' birds used to sing And I'd like to see that lazy Mississippi hurryin' into spring The Mardi Gras, the madness A creole tune that fills the air I dream about magnolias in bloom and I'm wishin' I was there Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans Cause that's where you left your heart And there's one thing more How I miss the ones I care for Just as much as I miss New Orleans The moonlight on the bayou A creole tune that fills the air I dream of oleanders in June and I'm wishin' I were there Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans Cause that's where you left your heart And there's one thing more I miss the one I care for Just as much as I miss New Orleans No place in the U.S. like it.

First off, you're a great friend to be so concerned with her well being and recovery - we should all be so fortunate to have someone like you in our lives. She has been through quite the ordeal and has a delicate road to recovery ahead and by far the best thing anyone can do is to let her rest and recouperate on her own time. She will let you guys know when she needs something, but I'd safely bet that what's most important now is that she's comfortable. There isn't much you need to do for her now in terms of being an emotional support other than when she is in pain, remind her of why she went through with the surgery - then follow up with all of the rewards she will begin reaping very soon. Lastly, let her know that she has some great surprises in store...no one can completely prepare you for the "evolution" that takes place as the weight begins to drop, but that would take the fun out of the journey. It's the little discoveries that will make it so much more worthwhile.

Sexy pic...not at all goofy.

How much Protein are you getting in? If you're on a plateau, I would recommend at least 80g a day for 7 days and drinking plenty of Water. You should also take your measurements and see if your progress isn't hiding there.

Suddenly, I'm not feeling the love that fat Gwen felt. Suddenly, I get the feeling that others are talking about me behind my back. Others who have always normally been in my corner through thick and thin. I'm wondering if it's my attitude that has changed? I certainly feel more confident, outgoing and attractive, but does that resonate as cockiness, egoism and/or grandeur to the outside world? We're told not to give too much credit to how others interpret us, I try to deal with it by thinking: Some may regard me as an angel, others the devil. I will give no merit to either perspective because their assessment is based upon their life experiences and not my own. Anyway, I have to be honest that with the weight loss, I seem to also be losing "friends". It could be a coincidence. It could be God's way of helping me to declutter my life: physically, emotionally and socially. Who knows? I'll press on nonetheless because I realize there are many people out there waiting for me to fail. To see the weight added back on, so I can be the fluffy, cute one in the bunch who makes everyone else look smaller and sexier. Hells to the naw! I'm one of the sexy now...deal with it or deal without me. #drops mike and skips of stage

Most of us don't need to be told this, but it's clear that some do. This is a WLS forum and for the most part your posts should be something that a majority of the group can gain from or contribute to. Going off-topic is fine, we all need a diversion. However, posting information about illegal activities you have knowledge or involvement in, mean spirited thoughts/deeds/actions and or displaying disregard for the well being of others has no place here. If that's what you're into, I think I speak for a majority of the group when I say you are in the wrong place. Decorum, decency, respect and moral values are always encouraged and welcomed here and a big reason why I look forward to reading posts every day. The Blackmailers and Opportunists Coalition meets next door, super easy mistake! Please don't pick from our fruit and cheese tray on the way out, we know your type and you don't wash your hands. Thank you.

I had the same fear...that I'd lose my job before the insurance claim could be processed or during after care and I couldn't afford to pay out of pocket. It's normal and you're going to be fine. You've wanted this a long time, it's finally happening...trust the process and don't allow it to stress you out too much.

Go at your pace. As long as you aren't feeling too full or think it's backing up, you sound like you're doing fine. The smoothie was pretty big, so I'm not surprised it took you that long to finish it, especially if you are a newbie. Drink or chew ice chips to help get your Water in without getting so much that you're flushing your nutrition through your system too fast.

I can eat whatever I want to, too. This is the scene where will power and determination lead you to making the right food choices. And...Action!

Your husband's band is too full and he should get a tiny bit removed. I had a stomach virus last week that caused me to vomit (violently) so I had .5cc taken out to prevent damage from occuring. It turns out that .5 was a bit too much as I don't even feel like I have the band anymore, I can eat as much as I could pre-band and I'm making horrible food choices. By all estimations, I was looking too thin, too. It didn't take but a couple of days for the weight to start coming back and I'm glad I have an appointment next week to get a tiny fill. Rather than getting the full.5cc back, I'm going to ask for .25cc's which should have me just about perfect. Not so tight that I can't eat or that it comes back up but not so loose that I can go to a buffet and get my money's worth either. Good luck to you both. I think getting a tiny unfill is your best option and it will make a tremendous difference.

You were definitely tight after your workout. Combine that with being hungry and rushing to get your food ready in time and you have a recipe for getting stuck. I resume eating (often the same food) once the episode is over and I don't have a problem because by then my stoma is wide open.

Welcome to banded life! Don't worry about being able to eat more than you think you should right now. It sounds like you've healed well and your swelling has gone down and now the hunger is kicking in...you're right on schedule. That's the good news. For the bad news: During this time, unless you had a fill during surgery (3cc's is popular) you're just in the stages of adapting to the band and it's not "turned on" yet. You're going to be hungry, you're going to be able to eat a whole lot of food and you'll worry that the band isn't going to be right for you. Sound about right? Quiet those thoughts, what you are experiencing and what is to come is normal. To fill up without doing too much damage I ate: Cream of wheat Oat meal Green Beans Broccoli (crown only) Salads Tuna Boiled chicken Crab meat String cheese Peanut Butter Cottage cheese Berries It's been a while, I'm sure there were other things but this is a pretty good idea of it.

Six weeks. Don't worry, it will go by faster than you think. Not being able to get in the pool was one of the hardest things I went through in the beginning.

No it was a young woman who worked at a drug treatment facility, but found a wrapper with "a white powdery substance" that had been dropped by her supervisor in the bathroom. It appeared the supervisor knew that she found it and started being extra nice to her. She mentioned that at first she discarded it, but later retrieved it and was going to give it to someone she knows that sells drugs, so that they could profit from it. Meanwhile she is also considering using her new found knowledge to blackmail her supervisor. This chick is all the way gutter...which is the lowest point in the ghetto.

I personally messaged her, just in case she wasn't aware of the storm she started.

You go girrrrrrlllllll! Congrats on size 4...that's awesome sauce for sure!

I smell B.S. Something is wrong with that figure, if the US cost was actually $35k, there's no way you could get it in Mexico for less than $15 - $20k. It's not THAT much of a cost difference.

You have to be sick and tired of being sick and tired. You have to have tried it all, succeeded and failed a few times. You have to have fallen and not wanted to ever get up again. You have to be fed up with being controlled by something meant only to sustain you. You have to have a serious fear of your life being cut short. You have to be ready to draw the line. You have to want it so bad you might have to forsake some. You have to plan for the days you need a lot less to do a lot more. You have to dream of the day you fit into... You have to look forward to reaching your goal, maintaining and inspiring someone else. You have to be willing to lose not only some of you, but some others. You have to consider what's next now that you know you can succeed when you try. You have to reflect on your past while remaining focused on your present and dreaming of your future. They say having WLS is the easy way out. They say it will kill you or do irreparable harm - I have arguments for that all day long, but I digress. From my standpoint, it looks like a lot of work and some are just not equipped to handle it. Furthermore, some may not be equipped to handle the new you either. Be prepared. You can only plan for so much on this journey, trust when I tell you there are surprises along the way. Mostly pleasant, others not so much but all very necessary just the same. In case you are wondering if it was all worth it to me: yes, indeed it is.