Bergdorfblonde

Jovi, you look gorgeous! You look like a totally different person! Before lap band, I was 2x on top and 26 on the bottom. Now I am a size XL or 1x on top and size 20 jeans. Its really exciting going down in jeans sizes. I can even sqeeze into size 18 and 16 jeans but know that is totally way too tight on me. I can also fit size L shirts but not to the point where they look good. It's just amazing to me I can get my big arms into size L jackets. I can't wait till I fit into a size 16 jeans for real. It would just be nice to get out of the plus size section once and for all (without yoyoing up and down!) I think its good to buy some new clothes. My size 26, then 24, then 22 jeans kept falling down on me, so I bought 2 pairs of new jeans. If I buy jeans that arent expensive (from Marshalls or Target) I don't feel guilty if I am a different size in a month. I figure, you can buy jeans for the price of a lunch at Panera, it is not such a big deal to buy new clothes.

I can't really notice weight loss in myself, partially because it has come off slowly. But I notice my jeans sizes going down. I went from a size 26 at the height of my weight to size 24, size 22, and now size 20! I can even fit into size 18 and size 16 but they are extremely tight, so I know that is not really my size. It will be nice when I can fit into a size 16 comfotably. Now I go try on jeans for fun. Its a good barometer of weight loss regardless of what the scale says.

order soup and diet iced tea

I weigh myself once every couple of days. When I weigh myself every day, it gets confusing. I could eat 2 letuce leafs all day and gain weight. Then I could pig out and lose weight. I think it takes a couple of days for your body to process weight loss. So don't be discouraged if you have been dieting your butt off and the scale isn't moving. It will. Just keep doing what you need to do to limit calories and watch what you are eating. I have been trying to stick to 1200 calories a day. When I stick to that I lose weight. I cheat a lot and those days I don't lose weight. But the cool thing about the band is it makes it a lot harder to binge eat so if you get sidetracked, you can just get back on track with your weight loss.

She sounds like she messed up bigtime. You dont want incompetent people operating on you. This is not like buying a pair of shoes that you can return. This is your body, your life. You were lucky enough to survive the first time she messed up. Definitely change doctors and get a second opinion on any damage done. You are too precious to let someone mutilate you because they dont know what they are doing. Take care!

I havent really told many people. My mother has told the whole western world. Its not that I am embarrassed about it. I just don't want to have to deal with judgements about it. Also, the people who my mom told, see me and say "How much did you lose" and I am not becoming a size 2 overnight! The only thing that gives it away is the scars all over my stomach. I told one guy I was dating because I was sure he saw the scars and I didn't want him to think there was something horribly wrong with me. He didn't like that i had it. I would really love to get scar revision of the big scar (where the port was inserted). The little ones seem to be getting smaller but the big one isnt going away. I really think you shouldn't hide it but also you don't have to tell everyone, in that it is a personal decision and you don't want to have to deal with judgements.

She still looks good but is a little chubbier now. I think gastric bypass is too extreme. It takes really fat people and deflates them to quickly, leaving lots of skin. Then a lot of people gain the weight back after. I think the lap band is healthier because there is no cutting of your stomach, you can take it out if you have a problem, and the fill thing keeps your stomach small so its harder to regain the weight. Also, I think its healthier to lose weight gradually instead of getting skinny overnight. Its not instant gratification but I think it's safer and better.

Whether you are fat or thin, you need to start loving yourself this very second. You need to know that you are beautiful no matter what a number on the scale says. You need to do nice things for yourself like manicures/pedicures, wear cute clothes, make plans with friends, buy something extravagent once in a while, etc. Treasure yourself and it is much easier to lose weight. I say take the glam pictures now and at goal.

I tried the bali bra on yesterday. It didn't really fit differently from my avenue bras. So I had an epiphany. I shortened the straps on my existing bra and it lifts them up now. Also, I found these jeans at Walmart called Lee Ultra Fit Collection-Instantly Slims You. I think they work because they made me look skinnier than the jeans that I walked in with (plus they were a size 20 and my old size was 24/26-yipee). I didn't want to buy new jeans till I hit a size 16 but for 20 bucks I have a pair that fits and supposedly makes me look skinnier.

I'm from Westchester and the UES. I would love to meetup with you guys if you do a support group in Westchester or Manhattan. I have never attended a support group for WLS and it would be nice to see other girls who are going thru the same thing as me:)

I told my mom only and she told a lot of people! I dont like telling people cuz it's embarrasing. Also, god forbid I spend all of this money and have the surgery and it doesn't work. All of the family friends that know question me about how much I lost and its annoying. I also told a guy I was dating, cuz I didn't want him to see my stomach scars and think there was something medically wrong with me. I am very picky in who I tell.

Congrats!! I have been feeling the same way. I only lost 20.5 pounds so far, but suddenly my jeans are falling off of my body. Before, I was sqeezing into a size 24 jean (and sometimes 26). Now they are falling off my body. My tops seem loose too. I was a 1x before. So I went to target while i was shopping for curtains and tried on some jeans. They were tight but I got into size 20 jeans! I was like omigod, I went from a size 24 to a size 20~! No wonder my jeans were falling down. I didn't buy them because I want to see if I can get to a size 18 or 16 before I buy new clothes. Then I went to Marshals and tried on a size 14 jacket just to see if regular sizes fit my top. The sleeves fit perfectly and the body was tight. Just the fact that I could put something on from the "regular" sizes was an accomplishment. I think I will hold out till I am size 16 to buy new clothes. Its just such a nice feeling for my clothes to be falling off my body. I am so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:whoo:

I think a lot of celebs have the band and don't go public with it. If there is a person who is really overweight their entire lives and all the sudden they are skinny, chances are its a lap band or gastric bypass.

I had given up diet coke and gum because the nutritionist said so. Then she went on maternity leave and I talked to the nurse who did the fill and she told me I can drink diet soda and chew gum. So I am back to it but not as addicted to it, as I like other things like diet snapple and diet citrus green tea.

You should try Avenue. They are for plus sized girls and have a broad range of sizes. There is one bra that I love because it lifts and supports really well without underwires. I have it in black, white, beige, pink and lavender. It looks really smooth under tight shirts and give great lift and support. Its called the Allure Balconette Bra.

"You would be really gorgeous if you lost the weight." -So does that mean I am ugly now? "You have such a pretty face." -This one kills me because it sounds like, "if your head were disembodied from your hideous body, you might have a chance at being attractive."

I just noticed my boobs are kind of deflating and I have stretch marks on them. I have been dieting like a mad woman lately and I think the rapid weight loss is messing them up.

I am the same way. I thought that by having the band I can eat whatever I want and it will somehow prevent me from getting fat. That is not the case, however, as it is very easy to eat a lot of calories with the band. So it was embarrassing because I was banded at the end of August and didn't lose more than 10 pounds. Now I am motivated and counting calories and it seems to be working. I lost 17 and a half pounds so far. I am trying to eat 1200 calories a day. I eat whatever I want, just stick to 400 cals 3 times a day. If I skip Breakfast, I can do 800 calories for lunch. The cool thing is, I am eating whatever I want. I go to McDonalds and order a small chicken mcnugget happymeal. It has 4 mcnuggets and a small french fry and is only 420 calories. Because of the band, I am totally full after and I still have the taste of food that I like. I also eat Cereal, veggie burgers, Soup, so it is not all a fast food diet. But I think knowing what the calories are that you are putting in your body gives you a certain amount of control of your weight loss.

I wear them all the time! They make you look 2 sizes smaller. They are really good if you are a pear shape and want your bottom to look smaller. I buy a kind called Hanes Body Enhancers No Hose Shapers. They are way cheaper than spanx and I stock up by the caseload. They dont hurt your port. They are stretchy. They are a little tighter and thicker than the control top part of control top pantyhose. You have to try them to believe them. I have been wearing them for years. I look forward to when I get down to my goal wait so I don't have to wear them anymore to look good!!

Get a boyfriend! Sex is so important to your happiness. If your husband was gay before he met you, he is attracted to men. Even though you are religious, you can't change who hes attracted to. I am not saying divorce him, if you guys get along well and have been married for so long, but you should take care of your physical needs.

I was banded at the end of August and really haven't felt any restriction. I just had my first fill last week of 1 cc. How many ccs does it take to really feel full? I am working on listening to my body and my fullness but it is seriously hard. I am worried I am not losing weight fast enough.

I feel the same way. I've only lost about 10 pounds. Ive had one fill and dont feel a lot of restriction. I need to diet but I havent really been doing it. Maybe after my 2nd fill next month it will get better??

Hi Karen, I had the same fear. It would suck to go thru surgery and not have it work. The thing you need to keep in mind: lap band surgery is a tool. It's not an instant solution. It will help you eat smaller portions like a skinny person. You still need to work at it. You need to think about limiting portions/calories, etc. The thing that is great about lap band surgery is that it gives you an internal compass when you do overeat. It makes you feel ick and reminds you that you shouldnt be doing it. Its hard because most of us use food as a drug and we need to now turn to other coping skills instead of stuffing our feelings. I think if you really really really want to be thin (and honestly, who wouldnt?) I think its worth a shot. Just believe in yourself. You can do this. You can lose the weight. This is another tool in the struggle to lose weight. Just be committed to yourself and know you are a strong person and can make this happen! Best of luck to you.

Congrats Dave! It's like it makes all of this worth it. I was never on meds like that but scared of getting obesity related diseases, so it really shows that the lap band is really worth it. Way to go!:car:

I am dating a guy who likes chubby girls. He got really upset when I told him I got the lapband a month ago (before I met him). Then he asked if there was any way I could take it out. Its really funny that my whole life I have dated guys who liked me in spite of me being overweight. Now I find a guy who likes me cuz I am overweight and I am losing weight! I told him I will still be overweight for at least a year so he can relax! He still tries to get me to eat fattening food/milkshakes.