FarmerE

I've never been a big popcorn eater. But at the movies, I have to have some! For some random reason though, I have absolutely no issues with popcorn. I can eat a whole friggin movie bag full and not have any issues getting stuck or sliming or whatever but heaven help me if I don't chew a piece of chicken well....Go figure.

I have a hair catcher that I bought from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It has suction cups that go over the drain so it should work with any type of drain. I started getting these after I clogged the drain before being banded with my long hair. After banding and a major haircut, I still use them. The only problem I have with them is that they seem to get gross kinda quickly and it's just me in that shower. I just stocked up on them and trade them out pretty regularly.

I totally agree with the above posts. Yeah, I have lost a lot of weight several times over by doing Weight Watchers, LA Weight Loss, etc....but about a year later, the weight would be right back where it was. Just my opinion but the ones that lose a lot of weight and keep it off...are not the norm. You shouldn't feel sad that you had to do it a different way. Be happy that it's going to stay off.

At least you guys have boobs. I'm kinda on the flat side to start with...I don't want any more boobie weight coming off! Why can't it come off my badonkadonk instead?

Sheila: I felt restricted before but thought that a little bit more might take the in between eating out of play. I'm still only on liquids and go to mushies tomorrow but I've noticed a huge difference. I almost want to say that I feel like I'm too tight but I want to give it a few days to adjust. If it's too much I'll go back in for my first unfill.

I think Thera-flu has tea like stuff that you can mix and it's medicated. That might work with the steam. The other attempt is that there is something called Shower Steamers (or something similar). I think it is made by Vicks. You throw it on the floor of a hot shower and it opens your head. Hope you feel better!

If you do a search on packing list or something similar, you can find a lot of good lists that have been created already.

((hugs)). It took you 30 some years to create the habits...not something that goes away easily. I hope tomorrow gets a little better and a little easier for you.

Name ..... start wgt .... current wgt ...goal .... To go Dakota1984 ..... 246 ....... 242 ....... 234 ..... 8 MJSafari ....... 237 ....... 234 ....... 227 ..... 7 Wombat712 ...... 162 ....... 161.4...... 150 ..... 11.4 SueMagoo ....... 243 ....... 243 ....... 230 ..... 13 Missrhondalynn.. 255 ....... 255 ....... 235 ..... 20 MM ............. 211 ....... 211 ....... 199 ..... 12 BeckieT ........ 248.8 ..... 248.8 ..... 240 ..... 8.8 Suzzzie. ....... 312.1 ..... 312.1 ..... 299 ..... 13.1 HUNTERSMOM...... 170 ....... 170 ....... 165 ..... 5 LULUC .......... 182 ....... 182 ....... 170 ..... 12 SWEETY ......... 188 ....... 188 ....... 180 ..... 8 Joeygirl........ 226 ....... 226 ....... 220 ..... 6 FarmerE......... 182 ....... 182 ....... 172 ..... 10 I just need to get my butt back into working out. Just got back from the doc's. Lost 7 this month with not much working out. Hopefully 10 won't be that big of a stretch! It's really impressive to see everyone's numbers going down. You guys rock!

I was banded two months before my 28th birthday. So far it's been great. It is difficult to adjust when, as someone previously posted, your friends are all out "living their life" (or something similar quoted). I was initially going to keep my band quiet and not tell many people but I found my friends were more understanding than I thought they would be when I told them. I also always felt like I never fit in right because I was always the fat friend or the really good wing man at a bar. I know I've only lost 30lbs and still have a ways to go but I'm starting to feel like I fit in a little better. I still keep going out with my friends like nothing has changed. At restaurants, I try to split a meal with a friend or I doggy bag it or I order something smaller. Makes for great leftovers! Be careful with alcohol though. You tend to get tipsy quicker. My friends are also understanding enough that when I occassionally run off to pb, they don't make a big deal about it. If the conversations switch to why you aren't eating as much, say you are full and switch the topic. Us girls can switch topics on the fly if you get a gaggle of us together talking at once. I'm still maintaining this was a great decision for myself.

Hey sweetpea...it's different for everyone. My doc has a patient that has lost something like 70 lbs without a fill. There are some that have had great success with only one or two fills. It just depends on your body and I think a lot of it also has to do with your habits. Sounds like you are doing well. I wouldn't risk that either. I know it seems like it sucks because you feel "cheated" for lack of a better word but I'm sure at some point, it will happen for you. Keep up the good work though. Back on topic...you are just like the rest of us. I haven't learned either. I keep hoping that one day I can eat a decent breaded sandwich but I'm slowly leaving that idea. Switched to wraps instead. Also I've gotten to where it just plain hurts to keep doing that to myself...but that's a slow lesson too. LOL.

So, I thought I would share with y'all. I've been kinda jealous that everyone seems to be getting aggressive fills and so it seems like it makes sense that everyone has pb'd or had issues with food. Here I thought I only had 2.8 in a 10cc band and was wondering why I was having problems with foods too with so little in my band. Was also wondering why my doc wasn't doing bigger fills. Was I that big of a goober that I couldn't handle it? I had been thinking along those lines. Went to the doc's today for a fill. After talking with him, he put .5cc in and stated that it was considered an aggressive fill. I was sort of like WTH in my head. Well...it turns out that I had misunderstood the doctor in the beginning. I have a 10 CENTIMETER band that only holds 4cc. Duh. :faint:So now it makes sense that I feel I have restriction. But now I'm paranoid I'm going to be over-filled. Random how that works eh? Just a moment of clarity for me today. Thanks for letting me share.

I'm sorry for those that have just had their first PB. Really sucks doesn't it? But it has helped me learn how fast is too fast and how big of a bite not to eat. Now, the randomness of the food I pb on...well, that's just a whole new ball game. I can say though I haven't pb'd the last couple weeks on something I did wrong. Welcome to the new club though. BigBaby - that is awesome! I'm waiting for the day I can go down sizes...

My parents drove me to their house in a Trailblazer. I thought it worked well because I didn't have to bend over so much to get in and I was able to sprawl out across the seat. Take a pillow regardless of which car. You can hold it against your stomach if you have to move and it helps. I would have felt ok enough to drive two days after the surgery but I too was on pain meds once in a while so I think I drove on the 4th day

I bought a Magic Bullet - a mini food chopper. I've thrown in anything from egg salad to chicken to steak to hot dogs in that thing. Several people recommended it to my at my doc's office and now I use it all the time.

Hmm...half fizzy/half flat. That could work to wean myself off. Thanks for the idea!

I dispatch for a police department and have been there seven years. Was an officer at one point but didn't like it so I went back to dispatching. Now looking at also becoming a volunteer EMT.

WTG Lucy! That's sooo awesome! Welcome back Steph BB - Happy Belated Birthday...apparently I wasn't paying attention. ja9va: They were concerned at the time but now they are railing me left and right with the Capt. Morgan comments and sent me flowers to work in a margarita glass. LOL. In speaking with a nurse after the whole debauchery, she believes that yes part of it could have been due to the band but it could have had a lot to do with me donating platelets a couple days prior to drinking. I donate platelets pretty frequently never had a problem so it never occurred to me that it could be an issue. Oh well, live - learn - and get harassed by my coworkers. :car: I think I'm still the only one that is stubborn and not giving up carbonation yet. It's not so much the cokes, cause I don't drink much of those but I'm addicted to club soda. This last restriction, I've noticed a huge difference and I think the next one might force me to quit.

LOL Jack. I had a driving situation like that. Luckily mine wasn't as far as your's seemed to be. I seem to be doing ok with most foods now as long as I take my time and listen to myself. When I first started, I had a really hard time with bread, rice, lettuce, and any sort of meat that was very dry. Now lettuce is not an issue and meat works if I chew well. Bread depends on the type of bread...sandwich bread sometimes works, sub rolls usually don't. The other issue I have is with very surgary drinks. I slimed over a McDonald's Large Sweet Tea. That was definitely the grossest sliming incident I had.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/banded-15th-bleeding-45402/ Ok...I'm usually nice and am the one quietly laughing and agreeing while you guys post about your peeves...but I couldn't help myself on this one. How the hell is your band attached to the blood vessels in your nose? The only thing I can think of is if they had some sort of assisted breathing at the hospital but from my experience, I had a tube down my throat. I didn't know they were now banding the nasal cavity. Oh...it is way too early for this!

Whosyadaddy: I totally agree with you! I learned from experience that I can't eat fast and after a couple times of either sliming, pb'ing, whatever you would like to call it...it just plain hurts. I don't like to hurt so therefore I've learned to eat slower and listen when I'm full. All about learning from experience.

Thanks for the advice. I too thought I was out of the woods but now that I'm over four months out...I'm starting to notice I'm shedding a heck of a lot more. Looks like I'll also be the next member of the Lapband Hair Club.

Oh, the other thought is... You only ate a six piece nugget combo. Would a normal meal at McD's been something bigger? I know mine would have prior to being banded. So if you are like me and it would have been a double cheeseburger or something, hey a six piece isn't a bad trade off.

It takes a while. Like previously posted, just keep following the rules. I'm four and a half months out and I've had three fills. Your doc might not have put a lot in for your fill just to see how you start doing. My doc seems to be adjusting mine slowly. The first fill I had, I only noticed that it seemed different when I was full...but I was still eating a lot. I know I'm still not at the sweet spot yet and am going back again at the end of this month. This isn't an overnight thing. I've also heard people say that it takes them about a full two weeks to feel the actual restriction. Keep working at it though.

I like pickles but there is absolutely NO WAY they are going in lemon yogurt! That is just plain nasty!