Chickie

Not everyone eats as little as that. I for one eat a hell of a lot more than that. Brekky was an organic muesli bar, a fruche and a half a banana. lunch was a veggie burger, almost half of one anyway! (wholegrain bun, veggie patty, cream cheese, onion, tomato, cue, beetroot, avocado, and grated carrot *drools*) Afternoon tea was a coffee with some home made biscotti. dinner was a broccoli Pasta pesto creation! (so very, very yummy!) And after dinner I had some watermelon with the boy-child. Granted, most people eat less than me, but not everyone lives on a half a teaspoon of food per meal.

They must be *very* good. Because even my (very old school) bra maker MIL, 3 bra fitters and a handful of tailors tell me it is not easy (or cheap) at all to make a bra fit once it's too big. Maybe I just went longer between bra's than you are, and that might have been my problem. That there was just too much cup and back-strap to deal with (even with bringing in the sides and middle of the bra) Anyway. A new bra and undie set (or 3) make me feel all girlie!

Don't the cups and underwire end up wrapping around the ribcage rather than sitting under the breast?

I had a tummy tuck a year ago on the 15th. And when they did the tuck, the pubic area was lifted to a degree. For me, that's all it needed. It doesn't stick out any worse the other women my size (not that I am looking on a regular basis!) I think getting down to a healthy weight usually takes care of the pubic area fat.

Being skinny. Dammit it sucks! (totally tongue in cheek people) I would have to say a nasty PB I had about 18 months ago. Apart from that, I have had it pretty easy. I still eat out with family and friends, I still attend family functions with no food issues (issues with the family, but I can't eat them, so they are not really a band / food problem) I don't think I have had any real problems.

My boobs are not too bad, considereing how freaking large they were (a HH cup at one point) But you would never know that they do sag! I go to a boutique for my bra's (I am in a 6 DD / 28 DD, so I really have no choice) and they have the best bra's.. Oh, my! They really are amazing. They are costly, but worth it. Totally worth it. I love my new (est) uplift bra... It really does the job. (forgive the goofy look... I am so NOT photogenic)

I think you are too hard on yourself.

Thank you for your honesty. I actually wondered if people felt this way.

The "after" is a few months old now... "But here is a before and after"

(Bold mine) I honestly never had the sorts of issues you are talking about. When I was getting to know my band, after every fill I was on liquids for at least 24 hours, then mushies for another 24, and slowly introduced new solids into my diet. I took things very slowly, and perhaps that's why I never had problems. Have I ever PB'd? Yeah. But I worked out why I did it (eating a bit fast) and I avoided the actions that resulted in the PB. I guess what people are taking issue with is the fact that what you are talking about is being touted as fact, and as normal for every single bandster. And it simply isn't. Not 100% of bandsters will have these issues. But a lot will. If the wording had been slightly different, maybe that reaction would have been different. Have you given thought to going on full liquids for a week or so to see if any swelling will settle down before trying mushies and solids again? You might find that that you will have better luck eating, and keeping food down.

Really? Any time I have seen a photo of you, you look fantastic.

Yes. Very. I am two and a half years post op, and have been at goal for a year. Without my band, would be where I am today? I highly doubt it.

Congratulations Susannah!! Hiya Dazey! I am in Brisbane too. Good luck on the 28th!

(bold mine) I hate to disagree, but I still rather enjoy food and eating. Its just that I eat far, far less now, and a higher quality of food. Eating *is* important. As is *what* I eat. But the main difference now (when compared to my morbidly obese days) is that I don't eat all the time. I ate without thinking. Now I think before I eat. Before I just inhaled my food, now it sit down and savour my meals. What I had to do to enjoy my life was to fill it with other non food related thing I enjoyed (running, knitting, swimming, photography, gardening - maybe that is food related! It's a veggie garden!!) Basically, I am living my life rather than eating it.

I actually enjoy food more now than I ever did before. I savour my food rather than inhaling it (pre band days) and I enjoy high quality foods rather than quantity. It's an individual thing I guess.

Just another thought... Perhaps you are so swollen from PB'ing all the time, it has created a nasty cycle where you PB because you are swollen, causing yet more swelling, leading to another PB and so on. Maybe if you stuck to liquids for a week or so, allowing any swelling to go down, then start trying softer solid foods before trying any "solid" solid foods. Just a thought.

I didn't want to die. I was 24, almost 300lbs and was sicker than my 94 year old FIL. I knew that if I did get to 30, I would be a very sick person. I had a young son, and I wanted to be there to see him grow up. I wanted to be a good healthy example for my child. I didn't want him to be ashamed of his mother. Oh yeah, I wanted to be hot too.

Congratulations!! You look fantastic!

Was an 8.5 now a 6.

I have been at goal for over a year now. And by this stage, I just feel normal. And normal is fantastic.

So many of us at, or dammed close to goal! Congratulations to all!

Really? I can't say that this has been true at all for me. And I have been banded over 2 and a half years now. Perhaps you are just having a slightly rough time adjusting to banded life, and thus your perception of the band is a wee bit skewed?

Congratulations on your loss Green! The band isn't exactly free here either. If an Aussie doesn't have a fantastic private health fund (which can cost up to 5k a year alone, and you need to be in for 12 to 18 months before you can have elective surgery) they pay anywhere up to 20k for a band, or they can wait 5 to 10 years on a public waiting list for a band, which is free, but chances are you will be in such poor health by then they will refuse to band you. I had fab private cover, and one of the cheaper surgeons and it still cost me more than I cared to part with at the time. Cost Vs result is another debate entirely, really. But cost does not always reflect the result of the patient. But I am sorry if people are scared off by my result. I have debated with myself about posting here (or anywhere) because of that, and with the healthy amount of PM's I get accusing me of photo shopping my pictures, or flat out lying I do tend to keep my posts to a minimum. Thank you for your honest answer. Who are we supposed to show as the "before and afters"? People who have lost 50 or 60% of their excess? Would you think I would be unsuitable to be shown as a before and after for the band because I lost all my weight in about 18 months??

Hi ladies! I just skimmed the new posts.... I have to say, while I know Spanx are far from sexy, the name sounds as kinky as you can get! I am alive and well (haven't faded into nothing - yet) I have just been really, really busy, and I will catch up with everyone real soon.

Hi Carmel! Congrats on the 10kg so far!! :clap2: