TulipStar

Jeni, BC is the only way that I was "regular" as well. However, since I have been banded I have had 4 periods in 6 months which is what I usually get in 2 years! I think the weight loss is really helping.

Ok, here they are finally... my "before and during". For some reason I only take my pictures after I come home from the gym. :smile2: I can't believe I am actually posting these here.... Look how much of the door I took up before compared to now. Taken 11.4.07 (1.5 months post op and down 20lbs) These are from 3.8.08 (6 months post op and down 66 lbs)

Tina, That is exactly what I did while I was in bandster hell...I ate salads all the time while I was waiting for the restriction to kick in. Great job!

I can eat soft fruit and salad. Raw veggies are ok, especially when there is some dressing to dip it in. It helps it go down, I just have to chew really really well.

That's a great NSV! I too can now cross my legs.... I love it...it's such a great feeling.

IT's normal. I did it...a lot of us did it. I called it the "last supper syndrome". At the time I thought I would be glad I did it... eating all the foods that I may never be able to eat again in the quantity that I could. However, in all honesty, I am not glad I did it. It was weight I gained, that I ended up having to lose. I often think of the true weight I would be right now if I didn't have to take off those extra 20lbs.

There will always be negative people when you are doing something to better yourself. The fact is that your friend may be concerned about your safety or she may be concerned that you will change or that you may grow apart. If she doesn't act more positive, I would say something about it. Tell her that you really need her to be supportive through this...you have made a tough decision that will change your life and can only succeed with a strong support network. Good luck!

I always buy clothes that are a a little tight in preparation for losing more weight. The trend has been that I buy 2 pairs of jeans every other month. My work pants is another story...luckily I still have some clothes from when I was a size 14, so I have been recycling those. I have bought new blouses just to keep things fresh. I hate looking sloppy. I am a clotheshorse and always have been. I used to spend $300 month on clothes. Now I spend about $200 every other month.

Mine showed up 3 months post-op. But I have PCOS, so to get it more than twice a year is rare for me.

For me it was being there for my Dad when he had the Gastric Bypass 6 years ago and almost died from it. Also, he never did get to his goal weight and has gained back about 100lbs. He ate around the bypass and has stretched his pouch out and there is nothing he can do about it. I like the fact that the lapband was less invasive and the fact that it was adjustable. I also liked that it was reversible if needed. Since I had a complication and know how it feels to have to go back in for surgery, I have thought about the fact if I ever have to go in to have something repaired again. I think that it will be worth it. I finally have something that is helping me lose the weight. It is WONDERFUL!!

some people can't eat breakfast. My dr told me not to eat it if I wasn't hungry. The truth is that now that I have restriction I can't really eat it. I have to be up a few hours before I can even attempt or else I PB. I also have a book about lapband and it says that you don't have to eat breakfast, that it's just a "myth". But of course, you should check w/ your dr.

I can't wait to see my collar bones!! I lay in bed a feel my hip bones...so does my DH and we are both like "WOW!". lol

Yes, this is normal. It is only a few weeks of your life and then you will be able to eat most foods again. Hang in there!

Congratulations on your new band! The answer is yes, of course I would do it again in a heartbeat. Just like many of the others on here, I wish that I would have done it sooner instead of waiting, dieting losing weight, gained it back, etc. Finally this is helping me to put a "safety" so I don't fall back in my old ways. I love it!

it's good that you are letting your emotions out. Even after the band I continued to try to stuff mine down whether it be with food or just resistance to recognize I was having emotion. There is a great workbook about this very topic that I have been reading. It's called "Don't diet, live it!" and it's amazing how spot on it is about why we stuff our feelings and how to fix it.

I was on 1500 mg metformin for 10 years. Intially I had the soup butt effect, but it wore off as I got used to the medication. I haven't taken the metform since my surgery bc the pills are so huge. This reminds me that I need to make an appt with me RE to discuss this!

I keep updating my weight, but for some reason the old list keeps coming back up I have lost more than 22 lbs, lol. Stacy 73… 51 TulipStar…61 Mdicurn…30 time4me…65 Magooz07…11 Caresarn…16 georgia girl…65 Lapband4me...32 Sirusman…67 Allisarin…23 Tishamarie…49 EL1…23 Juliacleone…32 Kimmie…45 dsmit13…23 ScareDcat…50 Lapitup…22.5 mandi78…23 andrea71…28 Thinmom…23 Kellymovingon...35 flipper64...30 kagoscuba...37 Lucylu...15 Gurlygirl....27 Amber...39 suzygayle....40 Linda E......24.5 lbs Texrose 575 .....24.0 lbs itstime....23 lbs eastxnurse....30 lbs wannabthin...36.5 lbs Queenp....28lbs Chocolate_Snaps....52lbs Bekiboo26....58lb Jennie1976...49 lbs Hazeleyegrl1...45.9 lbs.

Oh, one more thing. Does anyone notice that when you have to input that you were "showering" (when the band is off), it puts that you burn a ton of calories showering. I think this is unrealistic as I know I don't burn more calories showering than I do brisk walking.

Living the dream, I agree with you. I was easily burning 3000 calories a day, now it is hard for me to hit 3000 since I have lost 60lbs. I do love the ability to keep track using my bugg!

Glouster you are looking fabulous!! I posted a before and during in my blog.

My calves have always been large but they are all muscle. My hubby has always joked that he wish could get calves like mine. I am down 60lbs and have only lost 2 inches in my calves. They went from 17 to 15inches.

I have felt that way. I am trying to learn to be nicer to myself and not feel so much shame for what I am. I have PCOS too and since surgery I have been getting AF more frequently. Don't be so hard on yourself. Your are a beautiful person on the inside and out. Reinforcing yourself with positive thoughts vs. negative thoughts will help you to reach your goals faster.

For some reason it is easier to follow when you are banded. Pre-op, I thought this would be the HARDEST rule to follow. I have always drank about 2-3 glasses of diet coke or tea with my meals. However after I was banded, it came easily to not drink with meals. At restaurants, I started ordering Water and might sip it bf my meal arrives. However, most times I don't even touch it. I have only felt the need to drink once during a meal and that is when I was eating some spicy chili, I needed some water relief! I took a few sips and I was ok. My dr said that if you have to drink while eating you should sip only (bc of something spicy or to cleanse palate). however he doesn't recommend it. I think it will be easier than you think. Good luck!

You should also try Torrid. I was there the other day and they had a bunch of suits. I was shocked to see that they weren't "granny" like and were actually nice.

It will definitely take more fills before you feel restriction. My first fill in my 10cc AP band was 5 cc's. It wasn't until me 3rd fill that I really started to feel it.