mumof2boys

Sorry to hear about all of the problems in Canada with the Plus Sized clothes. I don't have much of a wardrobe (yet) because I really hated shopping. The Old Navy jeans that I just got were not from their "plus" sized clothes...they don't carry them in the store, only online. I guess that's why I was so very excited. I don't care if they do run big...to me, it's a great accomplishment. I usually buy my "plus" sized clothes from Fashion Bug Plus or JC Penney. JC Penney has a great selection. They are the same clothes are the "misses", just a couple more dollars. You can see their stuff at JCPenney... they are pretty true to size too (at least I think...others may disagree). Happy shopping, ladies.

If Old Navy runs big, I would have never known it because I was too big to even go in and try. It's funny that you all are so tall because I'm always complaining about pants being way too long...I'm 5'4"...5'5" on a good day. So...every single pair of pants that I put on is about 6 inches too long. I have to buy "short" pants. I guess it don't matter if you're tall or short...there's always a problem with shopping. Well...I just know that it's getting a little bit more fun for me. I can actually go into a store now and buy something without trying it on. I never though that would happen. Don't get me wrong...I still have a long way to go, but I'm really starting to feel pretty darn good about myself, so YAHHHH for me!!! (I know...I'm quite corney):whoo::whoo:

I work for good old Uncle Sam (federal government). I'm an Associate Ombudsman.

You should have seen my chicken broth...salt, pepper, season all, garlic and herb. I loaded the spices up to make it taste better. I didn't have a problem with it and neither did my doctor. I think you'll be fine.

I have two small children and I thought that it would be difficult to slow down, but once you get something stuck, you learn really fast to chew and slow down. You'll find the time. In fact, when you eat slower, you get full quicker. I don't have a problem with gulping water except for early in the morning. The biggest thing for me to get used to was not drinking while eating. It is hard, but once you do it for a while, it's like second nature. I don't drink 30 minutes before a meal and I wait one hour after a meal. It's hard, but you can do it. This is a huge decision and I completely recommend the band for anyone who is overweight and has struggled with losing it. I love my band, I only wish that I got it years ago. Best of luck.

I didn't get gas pains until about day four or five. For me, it was a pain right in the middle of my chest...nothing in the shoulder or back. I laid around a lot and did a lot of sleeping myself. However, I opted for the chair or sofa because it was easier than the bed. I went for little walks, down the street and back to my house. Everyone is different, but if you want lots of rest, you will get it. I do encourage many small walks during the day to keep those blood clots away. Good luck.

I bought mine at Target. FYI...it tastes pretty nasty, but if you can't get a pill down, it will work. I haven't had a problem with any pills yet, but when the time comes, I have the liquid Tylenol on hand.

Hi ladies. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I had surgery on 4/30/07 and began losing my hair around the end of July. I was freaking out. Well...it has finally slowed down and almost stopped. I'm so excited. I made sure that I have 60 grams of protein a day, I take Biotin pills and I use Nioxin for my hair. The last time that I got my hair cut (about three weeks ago), my hairdresser said that she can see lots of new growth on my scalp. Good luck...it will stop one day.

I'm currently at 220...bouncing around from 220 to 221 to 223, back down and so on...My goal is to be in Onederland by Christmas. I need to up my exercise and I should have no problem getting there...wish me luck!

Welcome, Monica. I completely understand. I was banded on 4/30/07 and have done pretty good. My only regret is that i did not get the surgery years ago. You will run into supportive people and people who are very judgemental. I pick and choose who I tell about the surgery. It doesn't matter what others think...you are doing this for you and you only. I wish you the very best of luck and hope that you can join the band-wagon soon.

Here's my experience with protein. My doctor said to get 60 grams a day (it's based on your current weight/height). I wasn't getting enough so my hair started falling out. Well...I went back to him and he emphasized the 60 grams a day. Well...I figured...I'm going to get that and then some. I started getting more than 60 grams a day and my stomach was cramped very badly with gas pain. I was told that if you overdo it with protein, it causes gas and I'm a believer because let me tell you...with just 60 grams a day I'm ready to explode from behind...:doh:

For me, it was my mother who wasn't so keen on the procedure. She is very scared of surgery for any reason and I can respect that. However, she's a size 10/12 and doesn't understand what it's like to struggle with weight (although she swears that she does). I told her that I respect the fact that she doesn't agree with it, but I would appreciate her support with my decision. She was at the hospital with me during the surgery. Well...needless to say...she is SO proud of me now. I think that it's very difficult for people who do not struggle with their weight to truly understand what we go through. Sit down with your daughter and explain everything to her. Have you look around this website go get more information. Good luck to you!

OK...I had my second fill on August 28. My doctor filled me pretty good and I tell you what...after a couple of bites I can't eat anymore. My husband is amazed at how little I eat. A couple of teaspoons of cottage cheese and I'm done. Anyway...the scale keeps going UP. :cry What the hell is going on? I don't understand...how can I be gaining weight when I'm barely eating anything? I'm guessing that I'm eating about 800 calories a day and the things that I am eating are healthy items. What could be the problem? Anyone have any ideas? Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help: THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

Thanks for all of the info. guys, keep it coming. OK...yesterday I ate a scrambled egg for Breakfast (couldn't get any more down), cottage cheese for mid-morning snack, a Lean Cuisine for lunch and for dinner I had Beans and half of a crab cake (basically crab meat...no fillers). I know that I need to improve on my Protein because my hair is falling out like crazy...I need to concentrate more on that. I understand that if you look at my overall weight loss thusfar, it looks good. Here's the breakdown...two week pre-op liquid diet (dropped 15 pounds)...two week post-op diet (dropped another 15 pounds)...liquid diet after first fill (dropped some more)...liquid diet after second fill (dropped some more). It appears that I can lose on a liquid diet, but once I start eating food (no matter how much or how little) I gain weight. I do work out. I ride my bike and go to Curves. I am also registering for Water aerobics at my local college. It's really driving me crazy. I guess what I really need to do is stop weighing myself everyday. If I just weighed myself on Monday mornings maybe that would be better for me. I have tried to do that but with the scale looking me in the face in the morning, I just have to hop on it because I'm addicted to it...even though I hate it most of the time. I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who goes mental over these things. Don't get me wrong...I am VERY happy over the amount of weight that I have lost to date and I wouldn't change it for anything but it seems like when I really watch what I eat and the amount that I eat it does me no good. I'M SO FRUSTRATED!!!!! :angry Keep the advice coming.

Look in your health insurance booklet. There should be a listing of doctors in your area in there. If not...give your insurance company a call and try to locate a new doctor. Good luck!

Hello everyone. I was banded on 4/30/07 and tomorrow (6/26/07) I get my first fill. I'm having anxieties and getting nervous. I have heard that they numb the area first and that you can't really feel it, but I'm still nervous. Does anyone have any comforting words/experiences to share? Did everyone else have to wait 8 weeks for a fill? Should I be worrying or is there nothing to it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!! Tina

I think that everyone is different. I have done the Nioxin thing (in fact I was using that way before my hair starting falling out), take Biotin and a multi Vitamin. My hair has been falling out by the handfuls. I have naturally very straight, fine hair. Just this past weekend I noticed that it has slowed up a bit. I don't have as much on my hands while I'm in the shower. Don't get me wrong...it's still coming out, but it appears to have gotten better. I have also started tracking my Protein, which may have helped. My hair has caused me so much stress I have an appointment after work today to get it cut off. My hairdresser says that she thinks that I will feel better about it because it will be lighter and won't look as bad. I guess we'll see, huh? I'm having about 4-5 inches cut off. Wish me luck!!! I haven't had my hair cut that short since high school. I figured that I'm going to be a new me now...

I have a digital one made by "Weight Watchers". It has body fat and all the bells and whistles (although I only use it for pounds).

I have been losing my hair for about a month and using Nioxin for about 5 months. So...the shampoo, condition, and scalp therapy and treatment hasn't really worked for me. I went yesterday and had my second fill. My doctor harped on protein. So...I'm downing two nasty drinks a day (totally 70 grams of protein) to see if that helps. I figure it's worth a try...GOOD LUCK!!!

GUILTY!!! If I don't weigh myself everyday I will eat like a pig. I'm like everyone else...first thing in the morning, naked as a jay-bird, following my morning pee pee. I find that it's working for me...whatever works, right?

I have two children...ages 7 and 4. I told both of them that I was having a surgery to help me get healthier. I told them that it would give me more energy to play with them. I let them see my incisions when I came home and I have let them feel where the port is. I also show them the little hole from the needle following a fill. It's kind of funny because my 4 year old will be eating a snack and he'll say..."Mommy, can you eat this...how many calories is in it?" Or...he'll see a number on a package and say..."Mommy, you can eat this, it only has 2 calories".

My hair loss is driving me crazy and frankly making me quite depressed. I had my surgery on 4/30/2007. By 6/30/2007 I had dropped 45 pounds...have only lost two more pounds since then. However... although the pounds aren't coming off, the hair is coming out. It comes out by the handfuls when I wash it and brush it. My hair is very thin to begin with, so I'm guessing that pretty soon you will be able to see right through it. I did buy some Nioxin hair thicking (kind of like styling gel) and I used it for the first time this morning. My hair does feel thicker, so maybe there's a little hope. I can't wait for the day for this to stop. How long will this last?????

I too am just shy of four months out and my hair is falling out by the handfulls. I dread taking a shower because I lose so much hair. I have to clean the drain every morning and clean out my brush. The bathroom floor is covered. I have a referral to get blood work done to see if I have any issues there. I can't wait for this to stop. I had thin hair to begin with and this is getting ridiculous. I can't stand it...

I think that everyone is different. It depends on where your surgeon puts your incensions. I had absolutely no problem with pants because I have no incensions near my waist. I did, however, have a problem with a bra for a couple of days because that is where my port incension is located. It is good to go to the hospital with lose fitting, stretchy clothes because you never know how you are going to be.

Everyone is different with their band. Immediately following my surgery, I had great restriction for the first 6-7 weeks. I was loving it. I knew when to stop eating and was losing weight. Then, along came my first fill. I have NO restriction...I can eat anything and everything and can't get another fill until the end of this month. I have not lost one pound in over 6 weeks and I'm struggling to not gain any weight. So...to say that after your first fill you will be over the toilet all of the time, is the furthest thing from the truth for me. I hope that you are doing better with your band.