Lana24

I don't look pregnant anymore.

Yes, I questioned it...could I or would I. But the fact is I want to lose weight, I had to quit smoking, stop eating out and recover for surgery. Walking is the easy part in my point of view. Good luck

Um, yeah! I not only can't see it, the longer I stand in front of the mirror the fatter I get. I know its just my mind playing cruel tricks on me, but its the truth. Weightloss is more psycological then physical in my opinion. The mind has the power and ability to see what it wants.

oh, there is hope for me yet!

congrats, what a huge success!

I'm 16 months out, I used to burp when I got hungry. But that stopped when I had my last fill.

I say don't worry! I have never had a problem not once and the more I loose the better it gets.....

Hell no... before I do anything I listen in my head to how it would sound while I explain it to an ER doc! No thanks, to weird for me.

Hi Taz, I hate to say this but I am not so sure it exist either. This is not to discount the pain and suffering I just think there meybe a reasonable explanation for it all. Sweeteners are in over 6,000 american products, if we all had a few sysmptoms that no one could explain then there you go..someone named it fibromyalgia! What if it was all preventable, what if this was done to us? And on purpose no less. All I know is I was diagnosed and prayed for a quick death because life in that situation was not livable. Now here I am healthy, no more co-pays, no more dizziness, mental fog, anxiety, stomache pain, fevers, pain and the like. If I had not done the research I would still be suffering. Please people read your labels, taking meds that you may not need will make it worse. I've been there!

I drank too soon once and thrwe up all over myself. I never made that mistake again...it only happens once you start getting tight. If you take a bite and then drink and have no neg side effects then basically your not that tight yet. So no worries!

LOL, coins...right on! In my research I found doctors can do basically whatever they want if they don't have to go through medical insurance. Those requirements about weight and BMI are insurance requirements mostly. I read someone on here had a BMI of 35 and had it done in Mexico, it only about 8 grand...my insruance paid double! Good luck!

You'll be alright. Most of us have been there, your in bandster-hell right now. Hungry and can't eat...head hunger is getting to you. I know been there. Forgive yourself and move on. The longer you go without that stuff the more you will realize that you don't need it and it really never tasted that good either! Best wishes along your journey.

I think one of the most important things to remember is, this is not effortless. I read some posts that say things like I have been banded for 3 years and have not lost any weight and they don't know why. Well lets see if you eat crap and have an adversion to exercise then no the band will not work for you. Its not a magic band this requires thought, meal planning, cooking, eating veggies and exercise. If you can commit to those things then yes you will have a great deal of success. Remember this is a journey, it could take years to get to to your goal but getting there...now thats the journey! Its all well worth it and I wish you the very best!

Hi everyone, I was DX with Fibro- about 7 years ago. I suffered wide spread pain through out most of my body beginning 1991 while I was pregnant. I had good days and bad days, I used crutches when the pain in my legs was unbearable. There were periods that I hardly left the house I was in so much pain. Everything was a choir and I suffered. When I finally saw a doctor who did not dismiss the pain with just some Ibuprohen I strated to get a little better. I had lapband surgery 05/21/08 when I had to change my diet I noticved that I not only felt better but I sleeping better and had a lot less pain. As time went on it got better... I'm not sure how I came to this ocnclusion, but I guess I ate something or read something. But the important point is I discovered I had aspartame poisioning. Every sweet non-sugar treat I ate had it as an ingrediate. I was using it in my coffee, chew it in my gum, crystal-lite, sweetners, chewable Vitamins...basically my body felt like it was drying. I looked up the FDA regs with regard to this product, they list about a couple hundred symptoms this stuff can give the general population. I had 50 listed symptoms, to date I no longer suffer from what they called fibromyalgia. I did have a bout of pain three months ago and the only new thing I added was grape juice...although its not listed as an ingrediate I found out that companies could use the law under trade secrets to not disclose what "natural flavors" are... So I try my best to use as many locally grown fruits and veggies as possible. I stay away from sweets and I read ingrediants! Oh, back in 91 the new thing I added was diet coke...was never the same again but never thought it could cause such pain through out... Good luck everyone!

:w00t: :smile: You gave me hope, which has been in short suppy. I can't wait to see those numbers as well. I haven't seen 150 anything since I was 8 months pregnant 21 years ago! Congrats on your success, thank you for posting, you made my day!!!! Bless you

I am That is only goal one. I just don't think I have hit that sweet spot yet. Once I get done with the fills I should be right as rain. I'm getting there one friggin, slow losing pound at a time!!! :smile:

I too had cravings, but honestly as time goes on and with some new and improved eating habits cravings are not a huge deal. During TOM, I want chocolate just like before but the diff is I can eat two tiny ones and be totally satisfied. Pre banding, I craved stuff like MCDonalds, cake, sugar soda and what not. Now that I cook for myself, that stuff really isn't any good. If I HAVE to have something I make it for myself instead of popping over to the sugar isle of a store. So basically, yes it does get better. It will be as hard as you make it, at least that is what I discovered about myself.

Thank you, I'm very happy...some days more than others. Thank you for the pray it touches me...

Hi there and welcome to lapband talk. My name is Lana and I was banded 05/21/08, I remember being in your position. Curiousity, bewilderment and about to embark on the journey of a life time. I don't have any horror stories but I do have some eye opening stories with regard to the band. Pre-op, surgery and post op were all very uneventful and not really very pain for me, everyone has a different story. I started very gung ho, with the full understanding that it was only a "tool" and without me it would in no way shape or form transform me into a gorgeous size 2. I understood that I need to exercise and agreed.. The one thing, that has me discouraged are the sheer amount of fills I have to have. So far I have had 10 and with each one I was sure I was getting closer to the spot. I'm just not there yet and it hurts emotionally a little. Exercise has given me a new body, I changed my eating habits, I no longer eat out nor can I tolerate that type of food..(I just can't stand the taste anymore). But yet and still 15 or so months later I'm still hungry and I just don't know if I even want to get another fill. The whole process just takes too much out of my day at this point. I haven't lost much weight as far as the scale is concerned but I do have a shopping list full of NSV. (non scale victories) Even after all of that, I would do this over again. Those first few weeks without food were actually magical for me. I learned a lot about myself and wanted even more to be on this journey. I guess the point is, the band is not a miracle. The actual weight loss could take longer than you think and without a real change in self (diet and exercise)there would have been no progress to speak of. I wish you luck, this is a wonderful place to start. This journey is not without its bumps and bruises, lacks perfection and at times is down right ugly. But its till worth it, even on the days I doubt it (like today) its still worth it.

Hi redrum, Like the other posters I too have been in a similar situation. The way I thought about it was like this, I have love for him, but I don't think I'm really all that in love with him. So its not fair to hold on to someone else out of fear for myself because its selfish. And not letting him have the opportunity to be loved by someone who really could was in my mind mean and more selfishness. I would in no way encourage breaking up, but the truth is in your feelings for him. I also in no way would encourage staying in any situation waht you were not 100% happy with, could work with or could change for the better. Good luck, Lana

Hi Erin!, I can't tell you the technical term for what is happening but it really is a great thing! Before surgery I loved fast food, thought it was the end all be all of food. Then I had surgery and nothing is better to me now than a homecooked meal, made and flavored to my liking. When I eat at home I eat less and tend to experince fullness for longer periods of time. I will dub this period of my life as HOMEGROWN GOODNESS! :smile2:

I'm in the same boat, my DH loves um large. But thankfully his love for me is larger! At first I thought, well maybe he'll leave and then it dawned on me. Only my body is changing not my personality, so if he leaves then it was meant to be. He stayed and we are very happy!

Hi everyone, I can totally feel you guys on this one. I had sugery 05/21/08 and to date I have not lost very much weight. 26 pounds to be exact, the first year I was hurt and frustrated but I kept in mind that I was exercising and eating right so something at somepoint has to change. I have had about 10 fills my last being last month, I finally have a decent amount of restriction. If not for the NSV I would have seriously dove into a cupcake and taken up residence, but since I didn't I can cleary see that my body has changed. My cloths fit better, I am a lot...I mean a lot more comfortable. I can exercise comfortably without feeling like I'm going to die. Everything in my life is better since I had the band placed. But I still look at the numbers and wonder if I'm really failing.

Not going to happen, enjoy your pregnancy worry about the weight after the kid comes.

How: It varies with the who. Who: Those who ask.