Gone4Now

I was okay. BF couldn't take off from work (we worked in the same dept at the time and couldn't both be out.) So I was home by myself and I LOVED IT. I just hung out and slept all day/watched tv. I was pretty out of it, but it was nice to be alone and just get better. I am a doter, and don't do well being the dotee. :smile2:

Niecyrenee - this reminded me of a time in McD's that my mother tells. She had lost a lot of weight and was "normal size". A very large woman walked through the door and the two kids behind the counter said to each other, "Here comes a large order." My mother gave them an evil look, but didn't say anything. Just makes me think what is and has been said about me. All you can eat buffets were my fav - preband, of course. :smile2: To answer the OP - I have the card, but haven't used it. I either don't like anything on the kids menu, or can order w/out having to explain it. Or, like others my bf will eat it later. It's gotten to the point where he won't order much and I'll say, "Aren't you hungry?" He just smiles and says, "Yes. But I plan on eating yours later." :tongue2:

I'm down an elephant's penis. I was trying to come up w/a funny combo, but nothing beats a 60 pound penis.

Shrimp! I have had shrimp ONCE since the band, and I didn't chew it properly. Not only did I slime and pb, but it came up through my nose. I'll never look at shrimp quite the same again.

You look great! The picture in the door is a great idea! You can see the inches difference. ...Amazing!

GeorgiaGirl, You're eyes pop! They're gorgeous! Kimmie, You're smile is contagious - in every picture you look like you're having a ball!

Thank you! I really, really love the band. It was the best choice for me. I can't wait to get to goal and post those pics!

I had surgery Sept. 5, 2007 - here are my before and during pictures - I hope. [ATTACH]12181[/ATTACH] This was taken in March, 2007, at my highest weight (nearing 300 pounds) [ATTACH]12182[/ATTACH] This was taken tonight, at 233!!!

I second what Jack says. There is a big difference between eating until you're satisfied and eating because you want to. I was trying to explain what the band does to my mother the other day. There are so many times when I WANT to eat, but can't because I'm full. Whereas, pre-band, I could eat and eat and eat and just NEVER stop. I still have close to 100 lbs to lose (60+ lost so far) and so I *feel* like I have time to conquer the head hunger vs stomach hunger issues. The band just helps me contain my eating to smaller amounts. Like your pizza. Before, how many slices could you have eaten? One slice really isn't that big of deal, is it? Before the band, I could have eaten the whole thing, and the side order of wings. So, one slice in the grand scheme of things is still pretty cool. And, the slower you eat it, the better, too. Taking 15 minutes is good. It will make you think you ate more than you really did - conquering your head hunger and satisfying your tummy hunger. win-win

I can't believe it! I love the band!

Will do! I've been eating the oatmeal and Soup diet the past week. Tonight my friends had a tea party, complete with tea cakes and goodies. I did go, sipped the decaf tea and ate some fruit. It was tough watching them eat stuff and not being able to do it, but pain is a good deterent. I wish getting fat worked as well, or I wouldn't be in this position.

Good! I am getting used to the idea...the pain of the attacks was horrible!

My doctor did a sonogram to see them. She also pressed on my belly (pre-sonogram). She wanted to rule out gall stones w/the sonogram, but I've read that sometimes you can't see them even then - if they're small. If I could turn back the clock, I think I'd have mine checked the first couple times I had the attacks. The last one had me in tears. Also, I couldn't get comfortable. I was taking Gas-Ex and thought it was gas pain, but it just wouldn't go away. That was different than any band-related bloating I'd had before.

Wow...six weeks for an ultrasound - I think I'd have died. I didn't handle my attacks very well at all. Right now I'm waiting until Monday to see my surgeon to schedule the surgery...and I'm scared I'll have another one between then and now. I'm eating lots of oatmeal and low-fat Soups. I do not want another attack! How did you manage to wait that long until surgery? Did you eat around it, or just bear it through the attacks?

It sounds like what I was going through recently - gall bladder issues. At first a couple attacks lasted only a few minutes (and I attributed it to over-eating and the band letting me know). But, then, after a month the pain escalated to several hours. I took some of the codine based medicine I got at the time of surgery and that didn't even touch it. Turns out it was gall stones. My pain began on the right side, but ended up wrapping all the way around and up my back. I was also throwing up acidic fluids. It wasn't like a pb. I called my surgeon's office first, since I did think it was the band. The nurse that I love answered and asked if I'd ever had gall bladder problems and suggested I go to my primary doctor. I would definitely suggest that you schedule an appointment with the doctor as soon as you can for a diagnosis. And, the fat content of my food recently has been building. On the wake of Christmas and V-Day, my fat consumption probably outweighed the last 6 months worth. I did read that fat is a trigger, and losing weight will bring on stones, too.

I am so glad for this poll! I had excruciating pain over the weekend, and finally went to the ER. I have stones (ha!) and the gall bladder needs to come out. It wasn't infected, so it's not a RIGHT NOW surgery, but a SOON. But, man!!! It hurts!!! I can handle pain, but this was bad. What is the surgery like? Recovery time, and all??

I was banded in Sept - I'm down 60 pounds and went from a tight size 22/24 to a now loose fitting 18/20. When I start missing my sushi, or chinese buffetts, or huge burritos from Chipotle. (Mmmm) I just think about how healthy I feel and how much weight I've lost. My way of thinking about food has to change in order for this to work. Instead of pigging out when I've had a bad day, I have to do something else (exercise, or read if I'm feeling lazy) - but NEVER do I turn to food to make me feel good. My smaller and baggier clothes make me feel better than the food ever did.

I've lost over 50 and I'm down one size -from a 46DDD to 44DD. I hate them! People have asked me if they're real...Hello! They hang to my waste! If they weren't real they'd at least point to the sky!

My WallyWorld story: I admit, I like Walmart and am there often. We have a nasty one near the house and a nice one a little further away. I think it just depends... One time I was browsing the clothing section and I heard a women yelling, "You better shut up or I'm going to smack your bottom. Shut up! SHUT UP!!!" I turned the corner and saw the lady yelling at a BABY. The baby was in a car seat in the shopping cart's upper basket and she was just crying and crying and the lady kept yelling. I said, "Are you serious? She's just a baby." The woman just stared at me like she didn't understand me. I said, "You can't hit a baby." Again, she just stared at me. So, I stared back, making sure she didn't hit the baby. We just sat there, for about a minute. Then she walked away, and I didn't hear her yelling anymore. But, still...it was creepy.

I eat out a lot, more than I should. I like Wendy's 4 pc chicken nuggets, minus the breading and a baked potato, mashed up. Also, Chic-Filet has good chicken noodle soup that went down easy. I have attempted a small hamburger at McD's from the kids menu, but it didn't work and I gave up 3 bites in. The meat is too - unmeat like - in order to process. Salads work - sometimes. Quiznos has soup, and I've tried their salad but the meat is too dry. Hope this helps.

I have used sesame seeds in a dressing for salad and didn't have problems...but I have had rice and I can't do too much of it. Maybe a couple of bites. Also the breading in the chicken would have caused me problems. But, like Beeblers, I have an okay time with some food one day, and the next not so much. I take it one small bite at a time. :biggrin: I am curious, though...How much did you eat? Sesame chicken was my favorite and I haven't tried it since banding.

I passed this on to my friends...we're just wondering about what they'd do to anorexic people? Force feed them?

Why can't they put the effort and money into good food in schools? I've had lunch with my daughter a few days this year when I had time off, and it's ridiculous. Adults should be able to be accountable for what we eat, and I'm sure this bill won't pass...God help the US if it does. I guess my point is: if the gov wants to get involved, get involved in the areas that they have the control - public schools. Cut out McD's in the cafeterias, rather than forcing adults to be humiliated by being turned away at restaurants.

I'd like the Pats to sweep it! :frown:

Just my .02, but when I take my pic, I'm sometimes higher/lower, depending on where I can put the camera. I'm the one in the family that takes the pics...and I'm the ONLY one taking the naked progress ones. I haven't posted any - and probably never will - but I notice I'm always sticking out my neck. But, I'v been doing that since I was in grade school. I hate the double chin looking back at me. It's not so much trickerery, but just a habit from being fat forever, and having to rely on my best angle judgement when taking my own picture. If my daughter is taking the pic, then God help me - I know it won't be flattering from that angle! :rolleyes2: