ellen1224

I am almost 8 years out and I still can't eat grapes!! Does anyone have any strategies for eating grapes?? I can never seem to get the skins chewed enough!

Sometimes I think I am stuck, but I am wondering if I am really just full....though I don't feel full down in my "stomach".

It's hit or miss for me...one day I can eat almost anything then the next week I can only eat my ground beef taco no shell.... it's weird and I have been banded 6+ years!

OMG! I am going through the exact same thought process! When I was 283 lbs and a size 22 I said to my husband I will be so happy to just be a size 14-16 (so I could shop in regular stores), then when I got there I thought wow...if I could only be a size 10-12, passed that...had my tummy tuck now I am a size 6, was too tight for a while and got down to a 2-4 loved my body but my face looked terrible I looked like I was dying. Now I am back up to a 6-8. I just had an appointment at my lap-band doctor. She looked at me dead in the face and said "what are you doing here". I said what do you mean, she said, "do you know how well you've done"?....long story short I told her I wanted to lose another 20 lbs. She told me the band had done all it was going to do for me, and if I wanted to lose more I would have to do it on my own. She also gave me a referal to a therapist so I could talk to someone about why I am still not happy/satisifed/proud of and with my accomplishment. Please keep us posted on your journey...and especially if you ever figure out how to see yourself as the beautiful person everyone else sees you as! Good luck. Ellen

I also love Jazzercise, I get up early 4 morning/week and go! It is great fun and even though I am not a morning person I absolutely love getting my exercise out of the way in the A.M. If I wait until the P.M. I always have some excuse for not going!

Missy0224 - where do you get the Snackwells Protein bars? I looked on the Nabisco Snackwells website and I saw cereal bars but not protien bars. Where do you buy them?

Everyone is different, I am over 5 years out and I still have a hard time with chicken and turkey. The easiest proteins for me are lean ground beef and beans. It's all trial and error, you just have to find what works for you! Good luck!

Try not to worry, if you get your fills it will start coming off. I took me over a year to really see significant weight loss, I am now 5 years out and I have lost about 140lbs, I stuggle a little with gaining and losing 10lbs but for the most part I am stable. I thought I had failed at this attempt at weight loss too, until if finally started dropping off. Hang in there it will happen!

My band ALWAYS gets super tight when I fly...to the point I can't even sip Water on the flight! The tightness usually lasts through the day and then slowly returns to normal. I agree...would have been nice for someone to warn us about this!!

I have the same problem. I am almost 5 years out. I keep getting fills and unfills ...to tight get the tinest amount taken out then not tight enough! I am sooo frustrated!!

I get my fills done at the St. Francis Weight Loss Surgery Clinic in Federal Way. I don't know if they will do unfills for someone who didn't have their surgery done there but here is the number 253-275-6030. Good luck.

Click is a brand of Protein Shake, they have their own website, but you can also get it on Amazon.com

I have also lost over 100% I now weigh less then the amount I lost! Starting weight was 282 Goal weight was 135 weight now is 128 (still losing) I was banded 8/2006, it has taken me the entire 4 years. At 2 years I was still around 200 and didn't think I would lose any more, then all of a sudden the weight loss started again!

I use unflavored Unjury, you can order it online at Unjury.com. It's okay, not to thick.

The calcium gummys taste great they are cream/fruit flavored. I think they even have one that includes fiber now. The best assortment of all the different vitamins can be found at Amazon.com, Costco doesn't carry them all. You can get the Vitafusion gummys for every vitamin you need.

I take Gummy Vits by Vitafusion, they are adult gummy vitamins. Vitafusion has an entire line. They are soft and gummy, they taste great ! You can get them from Costco.com, Amazon.com and at Target stores, but I think Amazon.com and Drugstore.com have the most complete assortment.

I use Vitafusion gummy vitamins, they all taste wonderful... you can order them from Costco, but Amazon.com has a wider selection. You can also find some at Target stores.

I can't eat fresh tortilla's or bread but the crispy tostada shells I can do !

Hi Mimilou... How are you feeling? Has it been what you expected?

I had a tummy tuck and lift on Dec 17th, I am healing quickly and feel great, except that my band has gotten extremely tight, almost to the point where I can't keep liquids down some days. I did have a slight unfill before my surgery, but my band Dr. didn't want to take all the Fluid out. Has anyone else experienced a very tight band after TT surgery? Thanks !

That is crazy! I wish there was some way we could see inside, I would love to have a better understanding !

If it's been a while since your last "fill" adjustment, you might go in and get a small one. That might just be the kick start you need ! Good luck.

Do you know what caused your band erosion? What were your symptoms? Ellen

Congrats to you ! You will do great and be so happy. Keep us posted on your progress!

I am still losing, I have lost about 10lbs since my TT. I started out at 282 (5'4" size 22-24)-now 142 (size 6-8) goal 135...how about you? I never thought I would get to a size 6-8, when this all first started I told myself I would be happy to just get to a size 14-16 ! :-). What about you?