paula

WOW! I cant imagine how good this feels! SO happy for you. And Im another one that is rooting for the gross pictures... come on, post em', please? We're family, remember? lol

All I can say is..... mmmm mmmm good! How in the world could ANYONE resist that???? making my mouth Water just seeing you eat it!! Oh - and Happy Birthday to your daughter!

Ha! That means I ASK for the margarita!!! (We're getting to be such cheap dates!)

Hi Darcy! So thats where youve been?! B I G (((((hugs))))) to you. You did the absolute right thing at the right time. And Girl, you are so right - you have learned ALL the tricks of banded life - eating small portions is the key! We are all here if and when you need us. So please dont stop posting - you are just as valuable to us now as ever before!! God bless~

Hi everyone, and Congratulations to all July/August bandings!! Pre surgery, I didnt have much time to think about it - with 3 little ones running around. Didnt do much home peparation either. I knew that IF I needed anything, hubby or my mom could just get it. Then as the time got closer, like the day or 2 before, I started getting a little nervous... the "what ifs" started. And BE CAREFUL not to have too many "last suppers". I think I had SO many that I gained 5 pounds the week prior to my surgery. That was a little depressing because that was an extra 5 pounds that I had (have) to lose. but this is normal for all of us to go through. My family made me more nervous then anything else... the phone calls "How are you? Are you getting nervous?" at least twice a day. Sometimes I even avoided answering the phone! THEN - the surgery. I spent the morning (before I was taken to surgery) in prayer and deep conversation with God. This helped my nerves most. Im not sure how I wouldve handled it any other way. Once I was home, I was the same. Same size, same clothes, same me - just groggy and sleepy and a little sore and VERY hungry! I remember thinking prior to sugery that this was going to be some major drastic IMMEDIATE life change... but its actually very gradual. Good luck everyone! My suggestion is to try NOT to think about it too much. It will be here before you know it.

Sometimes I allow my tummy to start grwoling before I actaully eat someting. This helps me figure out of its head hunger or actual hunger... notice I said sometimes! easier said then done. But if you CAN do it, you will reap the benefits (quicker weight loss)

Hi Helen, Welcome back! Congratulations! you just took the first step "getting back on that wagon". What about a nutricionist (sp?) ?? Do you think talking with one will help refresh you to the bandsters rules? Or what about your surgeon... maybe make an appointment with him so he can give you a kick in the right direction. You have this tool to help you lose weight - so you are one of the fortunate ones! Do you know how many people out there would LOVE to have your band? You can do it - youve done it before!!!!!!

I always think of a bathtub drain. All that Water going down that little drain... and the different noises it makes as its "draining". Well? thats the same as our banded tummy. There is NO pain involved, just a little noisy at times! Most of the time my kids and hubby can NOT hear it - only me. But every now and then they can... like when everything is quiet and we are lying in bed, going to sleep. Sometimes my tummy is making digestive sounds, but the new sounds are a little different then the "old" sounds your tummy made. You get used to it! No biggie!

Same here... no diffrence for me either! BTW - if you guys LOVE this humidity/restriction thing... just move down here to Louisiana. You'll get this feeling 12 months out of the year!

I agree with you, that does seem a little slow. I didnt realize the weightloss depended on the size of band. Are you getting 80oz's of water in?

Sarah! :eek goodness... I probably wouldve started crying right there! He obviously was full of his own pain, so he had to "share" it with others. God bless him.

WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!! You changed your original post after I posted my reply! YIKES!!!! PLEASE disregard my reply!!!!!!!

Gosh Lauren! NO FILL???? I couldve seen him give you the fill AND recommend you to the nutrionist.... -37 pounds IS good. But he just expected more. Dont get discouraged! The nutricionist will help you - NOT hurt you! Just think of this as a great opportunity to "start over". And in a month, you will go back to Doctor Asshole, and get that fill!!!!!!!!

Hi Anne, Wow! You sure have a full plate. I have 3 kids too! 9, 4 and 2 - my 4 yr old daughter is named Anne as well! My suggestion is maybe trying an afternoon walk with the little ones. That should help tire them out as well You may not be able to power walk and burn tons of calories, but it will be more beneficial then NOT doing it. Its a bonding experience for you and your kids as well. Or what about trying to take a walk during your lunch time? Another idea is to "use" your kids as weights... lift 1 kid 10 times, then the other 10 times. They will think youre just playing - but you are truly getting 2 benefits here. Theresa mentioned Water. Great idea! Try drinking ONLY water after 8pm. And most of us aim at drinking 80 oz's a day. LaMadam suggested that we use a 20oz Aqua Fina bottle and just re-fill it through out the day. Thats another "trick" we found useful. Just remember... the reason for having the band is restrict our food in take. NOT dieting, but reducing our calories! This is what equals our weight loss. Have you had a fill yet? Getting a fill may be another "solution". ((hugs)) to you Girlfriend! Its only gonna get easier!

I love all of you too! You guys are the best!!!!

My guess is the Vitamins too. Are you taking a multi Vitamin? and what about your BM's? I know thats a bit personal, but when I havent gone in a couple of days, I start feeling drained. Seems like I hit a sluggish part right about that time as well. Maybe its the body trying to adjust to a new size? dont know. Good luck!

awwwe... (((hugs)) Ruthie! Dont ever feel bad for "unloading" on us. Thats what were here for . And WOW! 6 weeks and a total loss of 15 pounds? is that right? heck you are about 3 pounds ahead of most of us. Just about everyone I know has lost 12 pounds in the post surgery/pre fill phase. Dont worry about this band right now. Sounds like you have lots of other "irons in the fire". The weight will come off. I promise!

Bobalooey, is the words to the tune something like, "Dr Spiegel knows what youre going through... lap band may be the answer for you... " ? ? ? ? ?

Mine stayed the same as well. hormone's seem to be a little out of whack, but cycles are still the same!

Hi Deb - welcome back 6 pounds in 5 weeks??? heck, I can gain 6 pounds in 1 week! you did very well considering your travels!

Theresa, You look amazing! It is so obvious that you have lost 100 pounds! woo hoo! girl, you are looking good!!!! And that lake is beautiful. wow!

FYI For those of us that are still fortunate enough to eat wheat bread, try Nature's Own Double Fiber - it has a purple heading. 40 calories per slice 4 grams of Protein 5 grams of FIBER 10 grams of carbs so if you eat a Peanut Butter sandwich - the bread alone will give you 10 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein. Thats good news!!

Wow! This is great for the newbies (and oldies) to see. you feeling ok?

I need some opinions here... my 2nd and last fill was in late November. From what I remember, my fill level is around 1.6. Shortly after this second fill, I started having nighttime reflux. With many different suggestions for relief, the one thing that helped was not eating after a certain time 7:30ish pm. Well, Im eating quite a bit more then I should be able to. And the reflux ONLY happens if I eat right before bedtime.... so? should I try getting a tiny fill???? whats your opinion? I already have an appointment to get a fill/discuss this with my surgeon, but I just needed some input from you

Thanks everyone for the responses. Alex, we're not alone in this. I was really analyzing this after I talked with my surgeons office. Wondering what to do. I have to drive an hour away for fills - thats inconvient b/c thats 2 extra hours of child care. Could be worst. After my earlier post, I called my surgeons other office (located in a larger city) and spoke with another person who was also banded. She has nighttime reflux as well. So, Im thinking this is waaay more commen for bandsters then we realize. And those that dont have it - count yourselves as the lucky ones! Went and ate at Chili's restaurant Friday nite- ate an entire order of nacho's - loaded! I NEED A FILL! :nervous