garfield461

Everyone is different, so you will have to go with what your system can handle. I drink V8Fusions for my daily serving of fruits and vegetables, I also eat canned spinach, and green Beans. Anyother type of beans, corn etc (starchy veggies) are very difficult to eat. I cannot eat iceburg lettuce but I can eat romaine. It will be trial and error for you. Experiment in small doses and see what works and you will have to adjust.

Everyone is different, I thought something was wrong with me because most people I had talked to had very little pain. It took about 2 weeks for it to start going away for me. Hang in there.

I have been banded for almost 7 years and have the same problem with drinking hot tea in the morning. I can only take very little sips throughout the morning. By mid morning it does away. Not sure why, but you just deal with it.

That is great, it is always so motivating when you start losing the weight. I was also one who lost a lot of weight right off the bat, then it slowed down after a few months and was pretty slow but steady until I reached the weight my body decided to stay at. Keep up the good work. I was banded almost 7 years ago and lost and have kept off 100 pounds.

Went through that at about 3 months post op. I thought I would go bald. Your body s trying to adjust to the rapid weight loss and it throws everything out of whack. A Vitamin called, hair, skin and nail does help. It will grow back, but may take a month or so.

It is hard not to feel angry or hurt by thoughless comments, no matter how long it's been. I have heard "so you took the easy way out" a few times and "why couldn't you just do it on your own, without surgery" for another. It has been six years now since I was banded and don't think I will run into anyone else who has not seen me since, but if I did and they said something similar it would still be hurtful. You have done great and it is not easy to just dimsiss these comments, but you know how successful you have been at this journey and fo every one of those thoughtless people, I am sure there have been many others who cheered you on.

I definitely know what you are going through. I went to three seminars, did a lot of research online, tried and failed so many times I lost count and finally buckled down and had it down. Afterwards I feared I spent the money and had the surgery and would not lose any weight or at least just a little then gain in back like every other time I tried. It has now been 6 years, I lost 90 pounds and have kept it off. I am no longer diabetic, I can exercise without pain and have never regretted it one day. Everyone is different of course, but if you really want a permanent solution and a tool that will get you the results you want, I would definitely recommend it.

I was banded in August of 2007 and never regretted it. It does require a new way of thinking but if you are mentally ready to accept the change you will do great. For me there was always one more diet to try which always failed at some point. Now I am diabetes free, no more joint pain when walking and not embarassed about my appearance. I wish you well.

I was banded in August 6 years ago. I started out at 263 and now stay right around 175 and have maintained that weight for three years. I went from a size 24/26 to a 14. I would probably be a size smaller if I could afford the tummy tuck, arm lift and thigh reduction, but I am who I am and don't stress over it. I exercise daily with at least a two mile walk each day and usually more on the weekends and work out with weight 2-3 times a week.

I totally agree. I was banded 6 years ago and now instead of dreading and stressing out over the holiday food, I look forward to it. I still eat the same things only in much, much smaller portions but still get to enjoy the foods I loved, only with out the guilt.

I was banded in August of 2006 at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way Washington by Dr. Srikanth. I was 263 pounds at my heaviest and while my weight fluctuated over the years I am now at 170 and have maintained this weight for three years. I certainly have not regrests, shopping in "normal" clothing stores, exercising without being out of breath after just a few minutes, energy, no more diabetes and I could go on. It was a hard decision to make, because there was always, one more diet to try, but I have to say I don't regret it at all. The crazy thing I miss the most is still being able to "pig out" when we go out for family dinners or at the holidays, and I know it does not seem like a thing I would miss, but I believe there is alot of emotional ties to food, and it comes out during those times. I am so much healthier and happier now, and have more confidence than I ever had when I was very over weight. I still watch what I eat, I still give in to cravings, but I know that I can keep the weight off and the band was a great tool to get me where I am today., I have attached a photo of what I used to look like and another of where I am today.

Way to go, that is fabulous! It is sometimes hard to stay on track and I go through my days of not eating right and feeling bad when I do, but I keep a picture of what I looked like before at my desk and on my fridge. I never want to go back there, and I know that even on the days when I give in to cravings, I will be able to get back on track. I never had that feeling before, it was always I ate bad and just gave up trying, so this has been a good experience. I think everybody has their bad day or days and for most people they are able to get back with the program, that was not always the case pre lapband for me. I also think about the work I put into getting approved, going through the surgery and how much my health has improved now, and that also helps to keep me motivated and focused. I wish you well in your journey and before long I know you will be where you want to be.

Yes are't those fun! I had one done in January and the clear diet wasn't too bad, it was trying to dring the nasty concoction that I had a real hard time keeping down. At least I don't have to go through it again for several years and maybe by that time they will have developed a safe pill.

Wish I could go, but that is a distance from Tucson and I work. If you ever have something in the evening that is close to Tucson or on a weekend, I don't mind driving an hour or two that would be great.

Well I wish you all the best for success. I really think that if people keep in mind, this is not some miracle cure, but a tool to help you get the weight off and keep it off, you will have alot of success with this procedure. There is absolutely no way, outside of some medical condition, that you could not lose weight with the band. The trick is keeping it off, once you have lost the weight, and I think each persons body will naturally come to a weight that is right for them. I have been at this same weight now for several years, I exercise regularly and enjoy it now, mainly walking and three times a week I do weight training. I eat what I consider to be normal foods, but you will find many foods that you used to eat, which now you will not be able to. Keep me posted on your success.

I cannot eat white meat of any kind, it is too dry but dark meat seems to be fine. I think everyone is different. I cannot eat bread at all unless it is toasted very well, but since I have not eaten bread in a long time, the first time I tried it, the taste just wan't what I remembered.

Make sure you have your Dr OK first before adding anything. I know it is hard to stick just to liquids and pureed food but there is a reason for it. I went from puree to cottage cheese and soups that had small pieces of meat or larger bits of vegetable. YOu have to give your body time to heal and if you force larger and more denser foods than it is ready for, you could end up doing some damage.

Do not live by the scale. You cannot expect to lose weight every day. You body will go through a lot of adjustments. There may be weeks, maybe even months when you don't lose but don't give up. If you do what you are supposed to do ie; eat right, and get some exercise the scale will move again.

Those are definitely valid fears given that it has been going on for some time now. I think though, if you are thinking long term with this guy you need to tell him. I was an average weight person, I was even in the army, then after kids I gained a ton of weight due to diabetes and never lost it. I kept gaining and eventually ended up at 263 pounds, from the 145 when he first me me. Now I have lost almost all of it and my husband has found it (lol). He is proud of me and is always telling me how good I look, but he also has fears now that he didn't while I was fat. When we go out he says he notices guys looking at me, I guess because I didn't have anyone really looking at me for so many years I honestly don't notice most of the time. He has also said that he is afraid someone will take me away from him or that I will leave him because he has gained so much weight. I just smile and say, you didn't leave me then, why would I leave you now. We have been married 30 years this July. You don't have to tell everyone you meet but those you are close to, I would encourage you to tell.

It's been 4 1/2 years for me and I don't regret the decision at all. Things will change in more ways than you can imagine.

Take home. I usually order appetizers or share a meal with the hubby. Most places don't mind sharing anymore. If it is a place that serves a lot of starchy or dense foods, they usually have something on the appetizer menu that will work.

You have an image in your mind of what you look like and it is hard to get that image out of your head. I look in the mirror now and there are still times when I think I am way too fat and start getting down on myself. Even though those around me complement me on how I look and I now get attention that I didn't when I was heavier, I had 20 years of putting myself down and seeing myself in a negative way. Even though logically I know what I look like the psychological part of me tends to take over. As for alcohol, stay away if possible, you will now be able to eat only a fraction of what you did before and alcohol wil hit you harder. Good luck and try to do positve things for yourself to build your self esteem. Remember this is a journey not a miracle.

It has been 4 1/2 years since I was banded and I have had a variety of ups and downs with my weight. I have remained the same weight now for the pat two years and that is 87 pounds lost since I started this journey. I do miss eating a lot of things I could before being banded but I definitely don't miss the weight, the way I used to feel and all the medications I used to take, so I guess it is a good trade off. I still find myself falling into old eating habits at times and hopefully some day I won't do that any longer. I am no longer diabetic, I don't have high blood pressure, I can walk without my ankles and back killing me and have more energy than I know what to do with. Some have asked if I regret my decision to take this course of weight loss, my answer.....I miss some things but I definitely do not regret for one minute my decision. I keep a picture of the "old me" on the fridge as a reminder that I never want to go back there again.

I would like to lose another 25 pounds but at this point if I don't I am now going to worry about it as long as I maintain the weight I am currently at. I went from a 26 to a 14. A size 10-12 would be good. I had lost 28 pounds more two years ago, it just fell off after hitting a plateau for a year and then it came back and here I am and this is where I have been for two years now. Thanks for your comments.

I was banded 4 1/2 years ago and hae never warmed up since. I used to be hot all the time, never wore a coat. Now I have coats and sweaters around all the time.