JustWatchMe

Once you tell you cannot untell. I told five people in the beginning. Later as I got more confidence I told a few more close friends and coworkers. I did not tell the toxic gossipmongers in my life but they probably were told by a relative already anyway. Do what feels right. I'm the fat one in my circle of besties so I didn't have that issue. I actually now am able to do more things with my friends rather than less. This is a highly personal decision and don't be swayed by guilt. Good luck.

Yay!

Five

All good advice above. I'll just add that these weeks will be behind you soon and when you get to the proper fill level it gets so much easier. Good luck!

Congratulations !!! You look amazing!!

@@gowalking, she is right. And here's the nice thing about BariatricPal. Save off your posts and your book is already started. I may do that myself. A year from now I want to see where I was mentally and emotionally when it all began.

I'm newly green. If I eat big pieces or too fast I get stuck. If I eat my protein s l o w l y and chewchewchew then I am fine. Hardest thing ever for me to learn is to slow down that first bite and chew it to mush. I can't say it enough. I thought I was gonna be the exception. Hahahahahaha.

Never ever ever give up on yourself. You can do this and we will help. Stay connected here. The band will work again.

Amazing!!!! I'm so happy for you!

Jumping in here. I attend free WLS support groups at various hospitals. At the ones that are not my own team, I sit quietly in the back, keep my mouth shut and listen. My favorite group is the RNY and Sleevers group. Thirty or so long term patients there. The LapBand group is much smaller and I often can't get there fast enough after work. Here's what I know. After goal is achieved, EVERYBODY has struggles, as mentioned above. Emotional eating is not cured by WLS. Also, physical issues happen to all types of patients. Banders are often singled out here in these boards as having more complications than other surgeries. Funny, but I read posts on the BariatricPal Sleevers and RNY boards and there's a lot of unpleasant physical stuff going on there too. Don't take my word for it. Go read those boards. Several weeks ago I got scared here reading about long term band problems, and thought, what will I do xxx years from now if my band malfunctions? Here's what I will do. I will get my ass to the surgeon and have it handled. I cannot live in fear. I CAN take care of myself. The band has FORCED me to obey rules. I was not a rule obeyer when it came to food. I am now. I will not ignore scary symptoms. I don't want dilation of the esophagus or a band slip. But I have my big girl panties on now and I know the vigilance is up to me. My insurance will change next year after I divorce and I'm scared about having to get a new band doctor because of the H M O I will be in. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Meanwhile I follow directions and take care of my body. I've lost 102 pounds in 8 months and I have 53 left to be a normal BMI. I eat real food and I eat sugar once in a while. I don't dump, and I eat slowly and chew well. I went from half a dozen medicines a day down to one, plus a vitamin. And my big girl panties are falling down.

Lisa, a coat was my one "new" purchase. Other items have been Goodwill. A dear friend gave me a gift card to a store I like as a congratulations on my weight loss and I ran out and bought a winter coat! Like you I have no raincoat now so by spring I'll be freezing. But I hope to be approaching goal by April so I want to wait.

4 oz prune juice. That is all

Fasting day today. I brought some crockpot chicken and laughing cow cheese and a tomato to work for lunch. Small bites for the chicken for sure.

I would go back earlier due to the reflux. Also because new habits take three weeks to become routine, and a new habit of eating sliders for three or four weeks may not be a good idea psychologically. Good luck.

Great article!

"I had a really late lunch/early dinner/recent snack and it looks so good but that's it for me for now. Maybe later". Trust me. Most people don't give a rat's behind what you're eating. Nibble. Push it around. Change the subject. Nobody really cares. Be kind to yourself and eat what YOU need.

I agree with these posters. You and your surgeon both need to be enthusiastic about working together or it's a recipe for trouble later.

Congratulations, Bandista!!!! You look so beautiful. You have been a staunch supporter of my efforts since the day I found these boards and I am blessed to have you in my corner. Keep speaking the truth. It helps us all!

Kinda what I'm doing. I stop eating Sundays and Wednesdays by 7pm. I eat nothing until the next day around 1pm. That fast day meal is 500 calories and high protein. Then nothing until breakfast the next day, around 7am. Regular days I try for 1000 calories, whatever I want, three meals, protein first, healthy -- I'm still losing so that's my calories goal. But truly most days I'm closer to 1500. Good luck! DISCLAIMER: I'm no expert!!!!! Just tried it this way and it works for me.

Karate chops to the shoulders several times a day from a pal helped the pain for me.

Because I sometimes have trouble with solid protein in the early AM, I occasionally have hummus. Most days I have cheese sticks. Yesterday I had scrambled egg but chewed very slowly.

Woo hoo!

Congrats! Now take good care of yourself and have patience. The difficult first weeks will be behind you soon. We will help!

I went to a WLS support group at another hospital (not mine) last night and the facilitator reminded the group that this process is not a straight line. We will have ups and downs, and it's okay. Enjoy the ride, as he said. Wise words.

It's funny how our visual perceptions are off. I often take a hand mirror and look at myself in a second mirror from the back. It's kind of depressing because that's the angle for me that still looks quite big. When I look at the mirror face forward I suppose I focus on my face instead of the rest of me. I have mental work to do on my body image, that's for sure. No matter how much I lose, I still feel like my stomach is grotesquely large. Yep. Lots of work to do.