LadyHR

Hi, everyone - I've been traveling a lot but keeping up with the posts when I can. I think we are all settling in with our bands now. The weight loss is getting fun - I went to a luncheon yesterday and saw lots of people I haven't seen since getting banded. They were all very complimentary and noticed the weight loss. I bought a new outfit for the luncheon in a size 18 (2 sizes smaller!). I can't wait to buy in a regular size department. I'm going on vacation this week to see my daughter in Minneapolis. I can eat too much right now so will probably not do so well with losing but I have a fill scheduled the day after I return. Wish me luck!

I use DietPower. I did not try any others first but I like the features of this one. They let you try it out for a couple of weeks then you have to decide to purchase.

Hi, everyone: Last night I posted that I was on the coast on business and expecting a lot of rain. Well, that storm turned into Hurrican Humberto! During the middle of the night, the wind started howling and the power and phones went out in my hotel. I was on the bottom floor and water started coming in under the air conditioning unit. Without any communication, I didn't know it had developed into a hurricane until morning when I finally ventured out of my room. A very scary, sleepless night! Anyway, I got out of Beaumont as soon as the roads were okay and drove to Austin - I could barely stay awake. I can usually decline the amenities they give me at the hotel but today when they offered me the warm, fresh-baked cookie, I took it! Since I haven't been eating sweets, I felt miserable for hours. What a day!

Stepanie and Big Baby - Thanks for the "heads-up" on the fill center. I will call tomorrow. I have been getting my fills in Hurst - will that location still be available or do we have to go to Richardson? I'm disappointed in my 2nd fill - I can eat too much! Seems to be a common thread for all of us. I can't wait to reach that "sweet spot". I have 7cc already and was told me large AP has no maximum capacity! I'm on the road for two weeks and down on the Texas coast where the tropical depression is heading for land - I hope it doesn't get too wet tonight!

I love this site! Tonight I was reading all the posts of frustrations and challenges with no restriction or weight loss and I was about to cry. Then I read Waters' post and just died laughing! Waters, I could feel every emotion you went through and it was cathartic for me today. Thanks to everyone who bears their soul here and finds support from the June Bandsters.

We'll be thinking of you, MistyMoon! I went for my 2nd fill today and was pleasantly surprised that this one didn't hurt at all. I asked the NP why the first one was so painful and she said she must have hit a nerve! So now I won't dread the fills! I got 2 more cc's for a total of 7 so I hope my restriction will be good again. I'm doing liquids for 24 hours. What's the longest your fills have worked well?

I guess I'll be ready for pictures in three more months. I seem to be losing from top down to middle and from feet up to middle - but everything in the middle is still seems to be there!! I can't wait for my fill on Tuesday - maybe that will speed up the loss again. I exercised tonight for an hour - wish I had the time and energy to do that every night. I admire those of you who are managing your exercise well - I know it will make a difference in the long run. Have a great weekend!

NM Sunshine - I was only at the hospital 4 hours. My doctor told me that he only keeps patients overnight if their insurance requires it. I was self-pay so didn't want to incur extra expense. I was fine at home but I did need to sleep in a recliner for about 4 nights because it was uncomfortable trying to lift myself from a prone position. I was terrified of pulling my port site loose so I was very careful the first couple of weeks. You should plan to walk a lot from day one. I walked 5-10 minutes every hour to help with the gas pains that seemed to "travel" around my body! My post-op diet was 3 days clear liquids, 4 days full liquids, two weeks mushies, then progress to solids. He wouldn't fill for 4 weeks. You will find that every doc is different so it's best to follow what your doc says to do. One thing I stocked up on was liquid protein in plastic vials - I got the New Whey brand at The Vitamin Shoppe and I got the Protica line online. I still carry them in my purse in case I need a "pick me up". I am still very careful about getting enough protein so I don't lose my energy or my hair! Good luck to you and New Life - you are in for a fun ride!

My NSV is that on a recent flight I didn't need a seat belt extender! I bought my own a few years ago so I wouldn't be embarassed to ask for one. I have decided that when I reach goal, I'm going to frame it in a shadow box with some inspirational message as a reminder of where I never want to go again! Steph, hope your DH got home safely. I live in the area and had to drive in that awful mess today! My standard breakfast is now 4 oz. of Activia yogurt. It is only 110 calories, helps with digestion, and is just the right amount to fill me up. I can usually go to lunch without getting hungry. And - it tastes yummy!

Stef - Thanks for that great story. It was very timely for me today as I had a stressful work day and I was letting it affect my evening. I choose to be positive the rest of the day!! (But I'm ready for a three-day weekend).

Hi, everyone - I have enjoyed reading about all the surgical procedures. I saw an infomercial recently on that Lifestyle Lift and I was ready to sign up! But I'm always a sucker for those late night infomercials!! Green, good luck and I hope you'll keep us all posted throughout your adventure. You'll have to post some before/after pix for us. Welcome to the new posters and let us know how your banding procedures go. I'm scheduled for my 2nd fill next week - hoping to get just the right amount of restriction again. The first one was great until a few days ago and I started being able to eat more and I get hungry quicker now. I guess I've lost enough that the band has loosened up so that's a good thing. Everyone have a great week!

Hi, all: My travel schedule has really gotten in the way of my posting time! It takes me forever to catch up on the reading when I can but I feel like I know you all. The "utopia" of my first fill starting wearing off a few days ago. I can eat too much and don't stay full as long anymore. And I only lost 2 pounds last week. So I have made an appointment for a fill next week. I hope that will bring some restriction but not too much. I still haven't gotten stuck or had any sliming and I'm not looking forward to those experiences! I've lost 36 pounds now and people notice it in my face. I can tell in my hips and legs also but this darn belly is still right out front!! How many pounds did you all have to lose to be able to see it all over? Frustration!

Exercise is always a struggle for me, too! Now that I am newly motivated I find myself out of town on work three out of four weeks and it is a challenge to exercise. This week, though, I have gone to the fitness center in my hotel two nights!! Baby steps.... I laughed so hard when I heard a comedian say last week "I don't like to exercise because I hate to punish my legs for something my mouth did!" Welcome to the newest members about to be banded!

I have to stop when I start feeling the least bit full. Otherwise, it just continues to get worse - a totally miserable "stuffed" feeling that lasts for 2-3 hours. It happens after about 3/4-1 cup of food for me. I haven't gotten anything stuck yet so I feel very fortunate. I do take small bites and chew, chew, chew. Haven't tried white bread, steak, or shrimp yet.

Reading the last few posts would be making me hungry for bad things except that I am so full! My band is working like a charm right now and after I eat, I cannot even think of eating anything for hours! I don't know how long this will last but I'm not even considering getting a second fill right now - I am able to eat about 3/4 cup and am losing 3 pounds a week. Someone please tell me this will last forever!!!!

Hi, everyone: I have been traveling a lot lately and haven't posted but have now read all the past ones. I always gain so much by the sharing everyone does. For those of you who haven't been banded yet - I am so pleased with my decision to get the Lap Band. I admit I was pretty miserable for a couple of weeks before my first fill as I was "really" hungry and could still eat a lot. But since my fill, this tool is working wonderfully! I still think about bad things I would like to eat (ice cream) but most of the time I'm simply too full between meals to snack! The Band makes this so easy -all I have to do is to make fairly good decisions about what I eat at meals. (I eat my share of pasta though). I have lost 3#s per week since my fill and I'm very happy with that level of loss so I'm not even considering getting a second fill at this point in time. I can usually eat about 3/4 cup of food at a meal except breakfast when I usually only eat 1/2 cup of yogurt or cottage cheese and it fills me up until lunch. I hope this lasts! I don't believe I will miss not being able to eat a lot at Thanksgiving because now I feel "Thanksgiving full" if I eat one bite too much at a meal and that's not a comfortable feeling! I love all the ideas given for dealing with the "head" hunger. I have to admit that peer pressure is working for me - I told everyone I know about the Band and they are all watching and asking me how it's going. It's great to have such a large cheering section but I definitely feel the pressure to do well. The money also weighs heavy for me as I was self-pay - I figure it's costing me $150 per pound lost if I reach goal! Good luck to all of you and continue to post - this site is a great support group.

IndioGirl - So nice to hear your good news! To those of you who share your PB experiences and let us know what causes it, I thank you! I have had no problems yet but your posts have made me extra careful about the size of my bites, my chewing, eating slowly, etc. It also makes me cautious about getting a second fill. I think I'll just wait until I'm not losing enough and not tempt fate!

Sweets have always been my downfall. I hope this doesn't tempt anyone but this is what I have been doing since I was able to go on solid food. I have two dark chocolate Hershey kisses at night when I start "wanting" something sweet. So far I have never gone beyond just two and I tell myself that based on a recent study that dark chocolate has some health benefits! I also take my chewable fiber and my calcium chew at night so they even feel like a treat! I hope I will be able to contain myself in the future but I really haven't been tempted by sweets. (I do miss my Diet Coke though!).

Ladies, I use something called Roux sticks when my gray grows out too fast. You wet it and roll it on your scalp. It covers gray and scalp flesh. I get it at Sally Beauty Supply and it comes in several shades. Also, ask your doc if you an take Biotin supplements. It's supposed to help prevent hair loss (or so says my hair dresser!) Good luck - mine is not shedding yet!

lessofme and IndioGirl - I'm thinking positive thoughts for you! ckbw - I had a hiatal hernia that I didn't even know I had and the doctor repaired it when my band was put on. My recovery seemed pretty consistent with everyone else's so I don't think it's a major problem. Maybe because of the extra swelling from its repair, I didn't get hungry after surgery for days. Good luck!

I use DietPower online. It was recommended by someone on one of the threads. I really like it. You can use it for two weeks before you have to decide to subscribe.

Diann, Big As Life, and Margi - Way to go on your big weight losses! IndioGirl - Doesn't it feel great to be able to throw away something we know we shouldn't eat? I travel with my job and I would destroy the "treats" they put in my room prior to check-in. Believe it or not, the last trip I left the treat in the room for three days and didn't even want it (post fill)! DynamoMini and Margi - You have inspired me with your talk about exercise. Count me in the group that doesn't really enjoy it. But my DH finished setting up our new exercise room today, so I guess I better get in there tonight and work hard! I've also heard that we should be eating at least 1000 calories a day but I can't follow all the "rules" and get that much in! I am trying not to snack between the three meals and most of the time I am just not hungry. I'm averaging around 700-800 calories a day. I think I'll stick with this until my weight loss slows down, then kickstart it with more calories if I think my metabolism has shut down. I have been recording everything I eat using DietPower, an online website someone recommended on one of the threads. I really like all the info I can get from it. One of the hardest things for me has been to wait 45-60 minutes after a meal to drink. Anyone else having trouble with that?

I got 5cc my first fill. I have the large AP band - does anyone know its capacity? I can still eat rice, but I haven't tried bread, beef, or pork yet. I am 12 days post fill and still get very full on 3/4 cup of food but I get hungry after 3-4 hours. Those cherries look good - must buy some soon!

BigBaby - How awful about your port! Do let us know what they are going to do. Danbo - My doc told me I could drink wine after 4 weeks. He told me about a new study that showed that bandsters that drank 7-10 glasses of red wine per week lost more weight faster. So I'm giving it a try when I'm not on the road. I haven't had those "blues" yet but I imagine it is fairly common. We are all so excited at first and the new band demands a lot of our time and thoughts. It takes a lot of energy to sustain that kind of positive outlook all the time. Maybe our mind finally says to "take a break"! Anyone a therapist out there who can weigh in??

Hi, everyone. Thanks for all the feedback on my questions about fills. I'm really enjoying the restriction I have now. Friday night we went out to a restaurant and I got a dish with grilled chicken, spinach, and couscous. I ate three meals out of it and finally gave at least half of the remaining veggies to my DH! Unbelievable and then I'm stuffed for hours after. I sure hope this lasts a while. IndioGirl - You are in my thoughts which are VERY positive on your behalf. I had a very stressful day at work (I'm an HR Director) and kept reaching for the drawer where I used to keep my candy stash - not there anymore! Old habits are so hard to break. I travel all the time and I think this is the first full day I was at the office since banding. But I just kept drinking water until time to go home. Now I'm going to get on the exercise bike and see if I can take that stress away!! How long do they say it takes for new habits to form?? Everyone have a good evening and welcome to the new Over 50 posters!