new_me_2008

Gayle - are you really my mom lurking on the lbt board? ;o Thanks for the advice - I will behave - keeping mind I was a beer drinker too and diet coke drinker and have had neither since surgery. I have definately changed 180 degrees when it comes to what I am putting in my body. I am in no way an alcoholic but wondered now, with the band, if my alcohol tolerance would be lower (I assume that it is) and if that is the case what will be my reaction to more alcohol in my system. I am celebrating my 40th birthday in Cabo and plan to really Celebrate - for the first time in a long time I feel fabulous. Thanks again - I will give an update when I return.

Yes, I play at least 2x per week. I waited 3 weeks to play even though my dr wanted me to wait 4. Oh well. Love this band!

This is great. I am almost 4 months out and selfpay this means that I was able to skip the psych eval. This was probably not a good thing. I am losing steadily and I really do love this band but I wish I would have started with a stronger foundation in understanding my emotional eating. I definately eat less and I am able to eat all my old favs but it is different now. As others have said - I am no longer ravenously hungry or planning my next meal at all times. This is worth the price of admission! I would do this all over again in a heartbeat. With 30 pounds gone - I'm starting to even think about exercise! Good luck to you

KBinaz - keep your head up. I lost alot at first then slowed to a crawl and now it has started to pick. The thing that I have learned is that we all have our own journey (what gets us stuck, how much we can/should eat, etc.) It will get better for you....Good Luck. Im in AZ too.

Harley - youre completely amazing. You look great. I was a 36DD before this weight gain - went to a 38F and I am now on the way back down. Hoping to look as good as you when I am done. Please post more photos once you believe you are at your final size.

I LOVE the iced cranberry breakfast cookies - I bought a whole box!

I am doing the 2nd hand stores as well. I have to dress nice for work so I had some beautiful suits (size 18) that I could not bear to just give away. It worked out great, I took a bunch of stuff in, waited three months and went back with even more clothes. By then, I had a nice store credit built up and so I bought some basic work pants in size 14 (which I was thrilled about). These should last for a while and then I will do it all over again. My goal is an 8/10 - but we will see how it goes, as summer arrives it may be easier to get by with skirts, etc that dont look so horrible when they are baggy or full. I already told my husband that when I get to my goal weight he'd better watch out - our clothes bill is going to be crazy. I have been waiting 10 years to buy cute clothes.

Great job - How in the heck did you lose so much since OCT? I am jealous!

How can you tell if you have the low profile port? That is, without asking the dr.

I did care credit (easy) and then paid for it with savings after I saw the first payment (I hate paying interest. Best $$$ I have ever spent.

Sandy - Welcome to the BAND!!! I am glad you are doing well. steveamy- Hopefully you will qualify for ins coverage - if not there is the self pay route (either US or MEX) and I have to say it was the best $$$ I ever spent. I waited 3 years because insurance would not pay and then I realized that I was just too miserable to let this continue.

WOO HOO!!! Good Job!

This is exactly why I did not tell anyone other than my husband, mom and close friend (they all knew about my struggles.) This is a very personal surgery, there will be times ahead that you will need to summon your own strength (for me this has come up alot as I can no longer binge and resort to emotional eating.) It is for these reasons that I am doing this one myself. In the past I would join weight watchers etc and need to enlist the support of everyone that I knew so that I could be 'helped along' and motivated. This time is different. Good luck to you.

Im with Trixie!

I am down 30 now and I am so happy! I was a tight 18 (even if the material is strechy)and today I am wearing 14 pants and 14 dress shirt from Ann Taylor (which is not strechy) I feel so great. Yesterday at work people were starting to say 'are you losing weight - you look great!' Finally people are noticing which makes me feel even better. Now, the next goal is 7 pounds. Once I get those pounds off I will be halfway to goal. Amazing! Love my band.

I have 6cc in a 10cc band as well. I am probably loosing at a slower rate (I was banded on 10/08) but I am afraid to PB. This fear keeps from being too aggressive with my fills. I even cancelled my last fill appointment and will probably cancel the one scheduled for 1/28. I have really changed my eating - even though I can eat everything (brad, rice, etc) I am choosing much smaller portions. I am also not eating past 6pm NO MATTER WHAT. This is a huge change as this is when I consumed many of my calories in the past -6-10pm each night. Slow and steady - I love my band!

THE BODYBUGG IS NOW SOLD - THANKS I have a body bugg which I purchased on Dec 1, 2007. I just do not use it although it is a great little gadget. I have one month or so left on the subscription which I would give who ever wants it the pw and user name...then you would just have to purchase the plan (everyone does) either monthly ~$9 or a whole year for $100...it is that simple. There would be no activation fees. I still have the box and everything - it is definately barely used - about 10 days of use or less, I would guess. Please PM me if you are interested. I will try to sell on ebay (where they are running about $200 for used ones) by the end of the week. I was hoping to get $175 from someone here who really could get more use out of it than I do.

I have two interested LBT'ers who just responded today. Yesterday I posted it on ebay. I would prefer to sell it to an LBT'er so I have no problem removing it from ebay once someone from here commits to purchasing it. Thanks for asking

Good idea! It started to freak me out too - right before I was banded. Now, I have come to realize how helpful the advice is day to day - much better than I have ever gotten from the dr, but there is definately something to be said for not hearing too much negative stuff before hand. BTW, I sit here, 30 pounds down, with never a PB or even close, and the ability to eat all foods - I am just making so much better choices. I LOVE my band!

Last July I was in North carolina for business and there was an article in the local paper about lab band and the vagus nerve (I think that is what they called it) the study involved 'regular' lap band patients and while in surgery they actually 'snipped' the nerve reducing its ability to send a 'hungry' signal to the brain. The results were not published yet but they profiled one lady who had the procedure and was doing well - although now that I have been through this myself it seems like she lost at a 'normal' rate. She did discuss her complete lack of desire to eat - which is probably where the nerve thing comes in. The article was great to read - I actually cut it out, brought it home and then held on to it for 3 months until I got the nerve (no pun intended) to discuss with my husband. Two weeks later I was in surgery (self pay). LOVE the band - and not hungry!

I am saving alot too. I used to go to Starbucks every day for sure - now I go maybe once per week. I have actually stopped eating out very much becuase I get almost nauseous looking at all the food. I learned how to make fish on the BBQ that everyone in the family loves - so that is a great thing for us all. Where I have saved the most is at the grocery store - since I am the binger in the family I would go through the store buying everything that looks good! Now, I make a list and there are no issues - also not a lot of junk in the pantry. I am buying only the fruits and veggies on sale and learning a new way to prepare them each week - I am surprised how much my family will eat as long as I prepare it. Who knew!?

It will be difficult to trade - for example if I have size 18 to give away and need size 14, I would need to work with two different people right? I agree it is better to give your things away, but this may be difficult to get it worked out. I am almost at 30 pounds down and my old clothes are starting to look rediculous. I was thinking of taking them to a consignment shop at least then I could trade for a few things in the size I need for now, then do it again as I go lower, make sense? All I know is that I have to do something - I gathered up an entire hefty bag of sweaters this last weekend, it is a shame that I have to give them up but I am so happy to be losing - Ah, the dilemas in life.

Love this thread.... I burp much more now - my DS and DH are even appalled at some of the sounds that come out of my mouth. No gas now, which is a relief - I think it is probably due to the fact that I am not eating so much junk anymore.

I am also a person who has never thrown up, nor have I felt 'starving' - this is a tool and it has helped me stick to a healthy eating plan and lose weight. There are definately ways to 'eat around it" like ice cream and starbucks, etc, however, if you have the dedication this is the best. The first month is not a picnic but overall the experience has been wonderful. The fills are easy - I expected alot worse, but again, follow the suggestions and most likely it will be fine. I love this band.

Good Job Everyone! I am really loving the band lately. I am down 28.5 at this point and have lost all desire for food. This is a miracle. I have yet to PB and can eat any type food that I want - I either dont want anything or have been choosing healthy. Go figure. I am over a third of the way to my goal - amazing. Normally January is a rough month for me always starting a new diet - not this year. Have a great day.