Jill_S

Your body could be in starvation mode. If I were you, I'd try upping my calories for a few days then slowly going back to 1000 and see if it helps. I lose weight consistently on 1300-1400 a day and 20 minutes of exercise bike 5 times/week. I don't lose it fast, but when I stick with it, it does come off.

I've only had one fill, and haven't had any problems with my periods except some extra pains I'm not used to. I always cramp, and my flow is always extra heavy (the older i get the worse it gets...), but the first day this month, I had some odd pains on my left side, down between my stomach and my ovary. Dunno if they are connected or not. I'd like the restriction. Please pass it over

I can eat bread just fine, provided it's toasted and doesn't have cheese on it. I can't eat ravioli (go figure) and I have trouble with chicken if I do not chew-chew-chew. I am a bread person. I have low-carb dieted off and on for 7 years, and I missed bread. Now, I have it if I want it, I just chew good and do not drink while I'm eating it.

The chocolate/peanut butter ones remind me of a desert my mom used to make called "Special K Bars". This is what I have for Breakfast every morning - I love them. I also like the Atkin's Chocolate/Peanut Butter bars, and the Almond Brownie ones. Most of the Atkin's flavors leave me cold, but these two are better than most. They make a nice change for me sometimes.

I waited about a month after surgery. I'm back on fully leaded coffee now, though since I rarely drink soda now, it's the only caffiene I get.

I try to stay under 20g a day, but it doesn't always work. Most of the protein I like comes with fat as well. I don't watch it as closely as I probably should, but as long as my weight continues to move, I don't complain much

Did you contact them yourself? If not, I'd do that first.

TriCare is the same all over the country - Prime and Standard are different of course (I have standard), but they paid for all but my deductible for my band.

Tri-Care paid for all but my deductible for the lap band. They were just super.

Huepenbecker was my surgeon in September as well, and I really like him. He's very no-nonsense - gets you in and out quickly, but if you have questions, he will answer them for you. I had my first fill in November, and it was a 15 minute visit with no pain and plenty of laughter. Dean has been very good to me. I highly recommend them as well.

If you want to travel to Madison, Dr Huepenbecker at Dean West is my surgeon, and I'd imagine if you had a meeting with him, he'd agree to fill you. He's awesome.

At my heaviest, I could not wear my engagement or wedding rings. Today, I can wear my engagement ring (size 7.5) but cannot wear my wedding ring (7.5 also). I have long fingers - and when I am below 200 pounds, they are skinny, but right now, they're still pudgy.

I found I could drink one soda a day, but what I also found out is that while I was having my 1 a day, I kept gaining/losing the same 4 pounds :/. I quit drinking them on Sunday, and am down 3 pounds - going to see if the trend continues.

Had my first PB/slimey last night. *shudder* Hope I never have another but I know I probably will at some point. I just didn't chew well enough - easy to identify, and the pain and discomfort should keep me in check for a good while.

In the morning after my first pee and bm (I'm regular as they come - I typically have a bm about 15 minutes after I get up every day). Nightgown and sometimes sweats, depends on what I wore to bed. I try to only weigh once a week, but if I *feel* up or down, I usually weigh then, but still only in the morning.

I lost 19.5 pounds between surgery (9/19) and my first fill (11/2). I haven't weighed since then as I keep myself on a schedule with the scale. My doctor was pleased with the weight I had lost, and told me if this fill didn't make much of a difference, to come back before Christmas. Digging through the freezer the other night, I found a box of the Light Hot Pockets I had bought way pre-surgery. I made one. OUCH. Severe pain when I ate this. So, yup, I have a little more restriction and I'm pleased with that.

Tricare (military insurance) covers like one plastic surgey in your lifetime without any questions. There are some restrictions, but not many. I've been planning on mine when I'm close to goal as well (Navy wife here)

St John's Bay from JC Penney also has a stretch version - love those.

I saw my husband last week for the first time in many months. He is in Virginia, stationed on a submarine, and is looking at being sent to Guam in the near future; that's why I'm in Wisconsin, closer to my folks. We thought he'd be gone by now, but he's still here, and I'm not complaining. One thing that he said to me is that even though I haven't lost a ton of weight, my self-confidence and my whole attitude has made him remember exactly why he fell in love with me, and he couldn't keep his hands off me the whole time we were there. The band for me gave me that self-confidence, and even though it hasn't manifested itself entirely physically, it certainly has mentally. I took control of my situation. And in doing so, changed my entire attitude about who and what I am. I feel sexy, hence, I am sexy. It's a fun lesson to learn. *smile* Learn it~

I had my band put in on 9/19. The only time I've ever felt it was when I didn't chew enough, although when going out to dinner with my husband when I went to see him last week, I defintely FELT when to stop eating my fish and chips (well, 2 french fries = chips I guess). He hasn't seen me since before I had the band, and his comments were that I looked better, carried myself higher and smiled a LOT more.

oversized jeans that were too big to start with and a big tshirt. Came home in the tshirt and jeans without the bra and panties. Luckily, I had some bras that were too big as well and wore those starting the next day.

My hair has been every color under the sun from platinum blonde to blue/black. In my 20's and 30's I played with my hair color constantly, and frankly, I loved the really dark red-almost purple (Hybiscus from Hydriance) that I wore for awhile. Everyone else hated it, but I loved it. After dying my hair black for a year or so, I developed an allergy to hair color and am now stuck with my natural dishwater blonde with a pretty grey streak. DeLarla, hair is the one part of ourselves we can almost 100pct control. I say - be creative and fun with yours. If you have the choice to "be someone else" for six week, go for it. Have fun with it. Enjoy it to the max!

Banded 18 days, still have this too. Has started to be less sore, but I can certainly still feel it.

Defintely not roach clips. I'd say show curtain holders, but the gap isn't round enough. Possibly curtains, but that'd be silly. Since some of them have the card symbols on them, I'd say they have to have something to do with games of some sort.

My doctor said no caffiene for the first six weeks. He also said that some people don't tolerate it well after the six weeks. But I'm gonna try it I miss my coffee