Chickie

I'll swap you your B for my FF if you like? Big tities are highly over rated (even more so if you are a runner)

If you don't feel it's right for you at this point in your life, don't do it. I knew about banding for years before I was ever ready to go ahead with it. You have to be in the right place in your life, at the right time... Best of luck to you!

3 years February 22. No problems. Still happy.

:spit: Oprah says, huh? Yeah, I am afraid I am just not that deep. I was fat because I ate too much, and moved too little.

I will be 8 months PO on the 15th. The pain is long forgotten, healing is done, and the result is being enjoyed.

I got to the mid range of a normal BMI, and I looked pretty good. Not fat, but not a (Aussie) size 8 either. I was still sort of, for a lack of a better term, dumpy. I am actually really glad I ended up losing more weight after getting to "goal". I am at anywhere between 105-107lbs. It's a good weight on me. At 5ft 3, I am short enough to carry that little weight, and still look healthy and athletic. I wouldn't want to lose any more weight, but I am happy where I am.

Sweet heart, you deserve nothing but the best. Believe me. Once you are over your news (It will happen, and I am here for you!) You will pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back to it. ((huge hugs))

You cannot stretch your port. The port is the bit they stick the fill needle in to fill the band. You can stretch your pouch, but as you have only had one fill, that is unlikely. What is likely is that the swelling you had from the first fill has gone down, and you are able to eat more again. It's not a bad thing to be able to eat food while banded, provided you are losing weight. So if you are still losing, it's not really a problem. And if you are not losing, before heading to the doctor, you need to have a look at what you are doing in the way of exercise (are you doing enough?) and what you are eating (are you eating the wrong types of food, drinking with meals and so on) If you are really worried, talk to your doctor.

Try exercising a lot more, and eating more real food. You would be surprised at how few calories are in veggies and lean meats. Swap the glass of wine and popcorn for a few veggies and a small bit of meat, and you might notice a change in your weight.

It's not a starvation diet before surgery (although it might feel like that for some people) It's usually a liquid diet, Optifast or similar. So it's not like you eat nothing.... And post op, again, you are usually on liquids for a couple of weeks, then mushy type foods for another two weeks or so, then on to real food (although the length of the post op diet varies from surgeon to surgeon) It's really not as bad as it sounds.

coffee itself is not evil. It's what people ADD to the coffee. Sugar, cream, creamer ect. that makes it not such a wise choice. Personally, I drink a lot of coffee, either black, or with a splash of skim milk.

I am completely unfilled, and have been for close to a year (by choice, no medical reason behind it). Haven't gained a thing. I concentrate not on how much I am eating, but what I am eating. Eat good low fat / calorie Protein, lots of veggies and some carbs if you can fit them in, and make double sure you are not drinking with meals, and you should be just fine. And yeah, you likely will gain a bit (if not all) of that 6lbs back, because you are surely dehydrated from the PB'ing. Don't be too disappointed. Good luck with your follow up appointment.

I am 27 now, but I was banded at 24... One of the best things I ever did for myself!

I would rip heads off without coffee. I still drink it by the bucket.

I was in hospital for 3 days 2 nights when I was banded... Here in Oz we don't usually get to go home the same day! (although I wanted to go home after the first night, desperately, and would have coped just fine, but 2 nights were Dr's orders...) And I didn't have the pain that a lot of people talk about. I guess I was just lucky.

4 weeks?!? I would have died (or something) I didn't even wait one week after my tummy tuck!

I started running about 4 or 5 months post op. It took me that long to "find" running and fall in love. It was a super, super slow shuffle at first, but I was really running by November-ish of 2005.

((ssshhh! You will blow my cover... I am trying to act like a non-know it all)) Ouch! Broken toes hurt!

My love for running keeps me moving. I found that I had to love what I was doing to stay motivated. Perhaps you could try out a few different types of exercise, and find one that you enjoy?

That's the one! Thank you!

I waited till I was out of the hospital...

I am not doing the C25K, but I wanted to cheer you all on! Way to go Ladies and Gents!

I was very careful to not put my whole being into losing weight. And even then. It's kinda like a mountain top experence. You get to the top, look around and say to yourself "Now what?" Now what? I have to get on with my life. I have to make my life the best it can be. Find new challenges, make new friends, discover things about yourself you never knew... It's all out there. I found what I was looking for. I was, and am very lucky in that regard... Life is waiting for you, you just have to find your direction.

How exciting Neil!! When is your date? I am thrilled to bits for you! Thanks so much! I kinda like my family too, but I am rather biased! :biggrin1:

Thank you! I am sure that you can do anything you set your mind to! Good luck.