tztmama

Welcome busywoman! You sound like you are in the forty-someting mind set. I am 45 and was banded (hate that word because it "banded" is also a term used in castrating goats) on 9/26. I got braces, will get some implants for the teeth I am missing, and got the band. You are right, in another 3 or 3 decades we can kick our feet up and know our aches and pains are well earned through time and more than that, fun times. We are much too young to experience this now. Best of luck to you!

I initially lost about 17 pounds but when I started eating real foods again I was right back to maintaining the weightloss and have even gaind about 3 pounds. Frustrating. I get a fill onThursday but have heard that that doesn't always work (restriction on the first fill). I think we are all so so different all we can do is share our stories and find others with similar experiences to chat with.

I was banded 9/26 and am experiencing the same thing. I am so glad I am going for a fill next week.

Hey Darla, My name is Darla too! Not a common name, is it? I use "Cambridge" shakes because I never get tired of the taste. I think I found it by googleing Cambridge Nutrition. It is not a carb-free shake but I have lost lots of weight on the product before. Best of luck to you!

Cute! Happy Halloween!

Jack, Well written, sir. I am going to post your message on my frige just to keep focus!

You awesome little blossom you!!!!!

Wow! What an "aha" moment! You are very fortunate to have found such a great therapist! I feel like you do but do not have a good psych to follow up with it. My psych is very sweet and was quick to write my letter of approval but not much on the talking end of things. In fact, she may need a hearing aide soon because I would have to repeat (louder) things that were hard to say in the first place and to which she offered little if any feedback.

Welcome Paul! We look forward to sharing your experience with you!

Happy, Happy, birthday!!!!!!! Today (and even every other day) celebrate YOU!

Banded 9/26...............swollen for a bit but now can eat almost as if I never was banded. TIme for a fill!!!

I am going to New Mexico and will be near a hot springs place. There are 2 pools, one is the arsenic pool, another is iron, and the third is baking soda. They are pretty hot but not so much that you have to get in slowly like a hot bath. Think its ok for me to go it? I think I will definitely skip the arsenic but my wounds are doing fine and seem closed up okay.

I pretty much stayed around the 230 range (pre-band) no matter what I ate. I think that was my body's ever incresing set point. I know that if I eat more than 800 cal a day I will slow down to very slow or no weight loss right now. Since I have not had a fill I don't know what it feels like. Some have restriction without a fill for awhile. I know I don't eat what I used to because but feel like I am dieting. It isn't as hard to stick to it as it was pre-band, however. I do get full quicker.

You give me hope, Dan! I get my first fill on 11/12 and if that doesn't give me the restriction I need I know I'd be freaking out so I will keep your post in mind.

Good question. I would love to hear from some of those who have lost on a regular basis and continue to lose. I am too new to answer because I am still in the mushy stage. I can eat more than I should and I have. I have lost 14 pounds since 9/26. I would say 3 days have been "not so good", diet wise. On my good days I have 2 protein shakes and a local dinner plus a bedtime snack that is 150 cals or less.

I got down to 124 when I was about 22 years old and I remember walking down the street thinking that if anyone wanted to, they could just pick me up and whisk me away. I didn't feel "grounded" without some extra weight. There is, I believe a deep spiritual/emotional core to our overeating. I have tried counseling a little, 12 steps that are great is I work them, and many diets. Comes a time when I admitted my best thinkin' got me up to over 200 pounds. So glad I got the band. I was going after the bypass and stumbled upon the band, told insurance probably wouldn't cover something so "new" but got it anyway. I am very, very grateful.

I have the a problem with the weekends too....................last night I had Ben n' Jerry's last night (it was low fat frozen yogurt) but that still does not justify the extra helping. Now that I am on mushies I seem to really want the scrambled eggs, refried beans, and hot sauce. I do notice that if I eat too much it makes me sick.

Ohhhhhhhh Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Antonio and Richard!!!!! Very nice!

I think I made the right choice. Something had to be done and after 30 plus years of dieting hell, the band comes in quite handy. No, it doesn't "do it for me". Yes, I still have to put forth the effort. But, I have help with the band. I have a little help now, not too much because I was just banded and have yet to get my fills. Even without the fill I have lost 14 pounds so far. Gastric Bypass would be quicker but to me, it wasn't worth the risks. I am glad I did this.

Rene, Thank you for that yummy pic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Damn!!!!! Pulls me right on outta menopause ((-: Nah, kojak wasn't a real nomination. Yul Bryner may have been, back in the day!

I was on here last weekend with the same feeling........I had pizza hut chicken wings, lots of them. You know what? It is not ok to over eat. We do slip once in awhile and all we can do is get back up and dust ourselves off and try again. I know when I did my binge (if you can call it that, not really a binge compared to pre-band) I scared myself and thought I would not be able to get back on track. This is where our band comes in and this support board. Just do not let yourself do it the day after or the day after that,........no matter what.

I can empathize with you, it is not easy. I swear, one time when I was on a liquid fast I caved in and had a piece of lettuce............cell........by.......cell....it seemed. This too will pass, drink lots of water and keep busy. Also, take naps, even if it is just a ten min. catnap.

As most of us, I have been dieting for over 35 years. For me, the bottom line is this. I can not have more that 1000 (maximum but usually 800) per day or I will not lose weight. I don;t care what all the books say, I don't care what Jenny Craig, NutriSystem, Weight watchers, or any of them say. For Me personally, this is just how it is. I actually was asked to not claim to be a weight watchers person because I kept telling them I could not eat all the points and lose. I have to have my 800 (maybe 4 days a week) and 1000 cal days AND get some form of exercise a few times a week or I dont lose. period. Therefore, the calories I have must contiain nutrients. This is why I usually have 2 shakes and let the other third of my daily needed nutrition come from the food i eat.

Wow!! Thank goodness you have attentive doctors! Glad they caught it right away and that you are on your way to recovery!

I did, however have a very "sexual" dream about Kojak once. Hmmmm haven't looked at bald men the same since, kinda like that too.