Danistar

You look Fabulous, Darling!!!!! Yes ditch the "Big" part of your name. You are an inspiration to all of us.

I just wanted to add that I didn't think of myself as 'older' when I had it done. Maybe that helped!

Hi I am 57 years old and had my surgery six weeks ago. Other than feeling really tired for the first month I have done fine. I would recommend it.

I was taking SAM-e for a couple of years before my recent banding. But it needs to be taken whole for it to work properly so I had to stop using it. I still miss it. I had a cheery happy mood, no side effects, and you can get it in the Vitamin aisle at WalMart. Now I have to live without it.

Yes I think we all eat for emotional reasons! Don't give up, keep on trying.

Nykee Some of your food choices are bad, but HEY!!!!!!! You are losing like crazy. I am thrilled for you.

DeLarla What do your co workers look like? Sounds like they might have a weight problem!!!! As we say in AA and NA....one is NEVER enough. Good luck, I know how hard it is to give up something you love. I had to give up pain pills, then alcohol, pot and cigarettes through the years. Clean and sober for 81/2 years now, I still can get addicted to potatoes and ice cream, etc etc etc.

Hi, I have the same problem. My Psychiatrist prescribed Effexor, which is one of the few that don't cause over eating. It works and I don't eat all day long. Good luck.

Hi everyone I have tried to get a picture of myself on but it won't accept it. I used a little computer cam with hardly any pixels in it but it still won't accept it. Any answers?

Thanks Penny I'm going to send it to you now

I am allergic to the Phenylalanine that is in all of the drinks. I get that Minute Maid concentrated lemon juice (found frozen in with the juices) and put in two or three squirts, then add splenda and I really love it. But like you I am struggling all of the time to drink enough and never make it. I am still trying.

I'm dying to know what Star Jones did. One season she was fat and then the pounds just fell off of her. I wrote to the View and asked how she had lost the weight but I received no answer.

Yes that's what I have gleaned from all of my reading...that we have to eat our meat, solid, and then our veg and carbs. So the soft food will get past the band and won't keep us filled up like the regular meat will.

I don't want to upset you in any way, however my old therapist told me that he had always discovered sexual abuse in a very heavy person. I was, and gained weight to keep from being a target. As soon as I lost the weight I too gained it back. It made me feel very uncomfortable to have men leering at me. Now I am 57 years old and there's very little chance that I would have that problem now. In my own experience, I have had to go back and go through the memories and process them, and come to terms with it. This has really helped me not to be afraid to be a normal weight.

DeLarla You had me laughing so hard I almost needed my panty liner!!!!!

Dylans' mom, I'm sorry that you haven't gotten a fill yet. When will you be able to?

I'm not going to eat one either. Ya scared me straight!

Mandy I get my first fill Nov 1st, coming right up now. I can hardly wait to start really losing and not feeling that horrible hunger pain all of the time. You sure are a great inspiratiion to me, in fact all of you are!

Great goals, all of you! I have another one too. My fiance and I were High School Sweethearts at Lincoln High in Seattle Washington. I would love to look great next year when we have our reunion too. Now it's my 40th coming up, Carl's was this year. They sent us pictures of the reunion because we couldn't make it, and so many of the people look REALLY OLD. I mean with white hair, the ladies don't bother with any make up or try to wear nice looking clothes. That's not me. I want to look as good as I can, at any age.

Hi Everyone I had my surgery Sept 12th and it says on the list of paper the doc gave me to only eat a couple of ounces of food at a time. I feel very little restriction at this point and naturally am STARVING. So of course I am eating more. Will this hurt the pouch or do me any harm? I have my first fill Nov 1st, so it will hopefully make it possible to eat less. Any advice?

Hi everyone Thanks so for your comments and insight. leadiaz, I am on solids now. Thanks again

Hi Everyone I live in Harriman, just North of Spring City. I was banded in Oak Ridge with Dr McAlexander and he is just wonderful. I would highly recommend him and his entire program.

I saw that picture of the anorexic girl on the beach and it nauseated me. What they are doing to their bodies. That girl could drop dead at any minute like Karen Carpenter. I have been so tempted all of these years to make myself vomit after over eating but thankfully I knew somehow that it wasn't a good idea. I sure don't need any more addictions in my life! I'm the kind of person who can get addicted to bake potatoes even.

Oh I am soooo happy for you! You are looking spectacular and will only get better and better.

This is such a hard row to hoe. I am sorry that you are going through all of this, sorry it's so hard financially. What a miserable deal.