chickatee

I'm in too! Also trying to reach onderland. July - Labor Day 2007 Challenge Name.............................Starting….Current…...Goal….....To Go losingjusme........................293...........2 93............266...........27 juliegeraci...........................226......... ..226............206...........20 areellady.............................251.5....... .247.5.........230...........17.5 punkeyb88..........................306...........2 38............225...........13 Chris_NJ.............................326.......... .326............290...........36 PaulaD................................222......... ..222............200...........22 MM.....................................248........ ...248............230...........18 sdakotaRN...........................255........... 255............230...........25 Babygrl1234.........................224........... 224............199...........25 faithmd.................................312....... . ...312.............285...........27 SWEETY.............................217............ 217.............199...........18 Banannie..............................182......... ....182............162............20 chickatee..................217..........217.......199........18

I was also really bloated and stayed that way for nearly a month. It is normal. Everyone is different on the amount of time it takes for their swelling to go down. I know it is frustrating, but just know it does get better.

My doctor said the same thing but also said if you don't have a problem swallowing pills you can take regular vitamins. I take 2 flinstone vitamins everyday because I do have a problem swallowing pills, but my cousin, who also had lbs, not only takes regular vitamins but swallows all her pills at one time with no problem at all.

I just had my first fill last week. It's nothing to worry about. You'll be fine.

Congrats on your upcoming surgery, and Good luck with your dancing

It took me 5 months. It seemed longer.

I'm in too. So far I've only exercised once. It's time to get my butt moving.

Welcome and congrats on your surgery!

I also had to pay out of pocket for nutritionist and psych. but not until I actually saw them. The only thing I had to pay for the first consultation with the Dr. was my insurance co-pay.

Thanks! I go back to the Dr. June 22nd. I should find out then when I get my first fill. I have lost 20lbs. so far but that is with no restriction.

I thought about this surgery for two years. During that time I decided to give it one more serious try on my own. I joined weight watchers. I lost 45 lbs. Then the weight loss stalled for a while. After that came the lose a couple, gain a couple phase so that i was just maintaining. Finally i wasn't losing at all just slowly gaining and getting more depressed by the day. I started seriously thinking about the surgery. I called my insurance to see if they covered it. I started researching the hospital and surgeon but I was still on the fence. Then I went out one night with a bunch of friends. One of my friends emailed me pictures from that night. One look at the pictures and how bad I looked in them did it for me. I picked up the phone and made my first appointment and haven't looked back since.

I didn't have to do a pre op diet. Post op I lost 15lbs. during my liquid phase.

I have only had my band for 5 weeks. So it's really to soon for me to be answering this. But I'm going to anyway. Yes I would do it again!

I had my surgery on May 3rd at the Univ. of Penn. :clap2:

Anni Welcome to the board and good luck!

My surgery was at 8:00 am. I didn't go home until around 5:00 pm the next day. I had the choice to stay that next night or not because I was still in pain. I chose to go home. At that point I just wanted to get out of there and go home where I could sleep through the night without someone waking me up every couple hours to poke and prod at me. But I can't imagine having the surgery and leaving a few hours later. God Bless all of you that did it.

I remember when I only needed to lose 50lbs. I felt as bad about myself then as I do at 100lbs. overweight. It was just as hard to lose 50. obviously I wasn't able to do it or I wouldn't be sitting here now needing to lose 100lbs. If you have a dr. that is willing to do the surgery, and you feel that you need the surgery in order to succeed then go for it! The decision to get this surgery is very personal. Everyone has their own path to follow. There is no reason why you wouldn't be able to lose only 50lbs. you may just lose it slower. Good Luck.

Hi Laura Welcome and Congrats on your surgery! I was banded in May also.

I am 40 and I got the band a month ago.

I am from South Jersey. I don't think there are to many of us. Seems like all the jersey people are from North Jersey.I am from Gloucester County. Where are you going for your surgery?

Hi Deb I haven't been on here much lately. I was wondering how you were doing? How was your surgery? How are you feeling besides hungry?:hungry: I wasn't hungry for a couple weeks but I was really swollen. I'm happy that my swelling is finally going down. If your hungry you might not be as swollen. I hope you feel better soon,keep me posted!

Thursday will be 4 weeks post op for me. My swelling has FINALLY started to go away. It is frustrating to see the numbers on the scale going down, and your clothes that fit before surgery are to small.

woo hoooooooooooooo

I was on weight watchers for along time also. I did plan on going back after surgery,but now I'm not so sure. W.W. does not stress protein at all and for us it is very important to get our protein. You could go back just make sure while your counting points your also getting in your 60 grams of protein every day.:eek:

I was on liquids for 8 days. They take you off the liquids at your first post op visit. while on liquids I had the same thing everyday just to keep it simple. breakfast: sugar free carnation instant Breakfast with half a scoop of Protein powder skim milk and ice mixed in the magic bullet (highly recommend the magic bullet) lunch: vanilla flavored muscle milk (Protein Powder drink, I found it at target) skim milk, ice, and a banana mixed in the magic bullet dinner: tomato Soup made with skim milk and I melted south beach 1% cheese in it. all day long I sipped Water from a 32oz. cup. (left over from my weight watchers days) This gave me all the protein and all the liquid I needed for one day and I was never hungry. I'm just now starting to get back to normal but everyone is different and I have to say my life is kind of insane lol. Tomorrow will be my first day home alone without someone here to help me. I have 4 kids the youngest are 2 and 4. I still can't pick them up and that's the hardest part.