HeatherO

This is a great thread. I noticed that some of my friends enthusiasm for my weight loss is declining as I get closer to goal which makes me a little sad. It almost feels like it is ok to lose some, but becoming normal is too much of a change to find acceptable. I haven't got a lot of skinny comments yet, but I am sure they will come if I keep working away at it. I would take that any day over "you have such a pretty face." :0)

I am ok as long as they are cut up small to begin with. I dice them before cooking them. I can eat fruits without a problem.

If you are having trouble getting protein drinks down this far out, it sounds like you are too tight. You have already given it almost a week and if you can only ingest liquids/pureed foods during the majority of the day then I would give your doctor a call.

If you have a mass the size of a lemon, why wait for your appointment to speak to your doctor? You should at least give your doctor a call.

Wowww, what a tremendous difference. You look absolutely fabulous. Congratulations!!!!

If you were kicked in the port and, worst case scenario, it actually dislodged the port, I wouldn't think that can cause you to throw up. I don't think it would really affect the band around your stomach. How does the area feel now? Is there any bruising? Does it feel like the band is moving around more than usual?

While you are researching and deciding there are a few things you should do for yourself regardless or whether or not you have a band placed. Weight loss for most is primarily looking at calories in being less than calories burned . . . unless there are complicating health factors that you are also dealing with. Many people who are morbidly obese say that they don't eat much . . . but to really know for sure, you should monitor your calorie intake using something like fitday.com or the dailyplate, etc. You should track everything, even the occasional nibble on a piece of candy between meals. You might find you are ingesting more calories in the course of a day than you expect. Also, like was already mentioned, make sure you are tested thoroughly to ensure that there are no other complicating factors. Everyone has a different opinion on methods for weight loss. I don't like the thought of taking medications to control weight because I have heard of too many health complications over the years from these drugs. Lapband was the right choice for me because instead of using drugs that might have negative consequences down the road, I am using my own body to help in this struggle for health.

I am on BC pills and have been forever. TOM of month was maybe 2 days with minimal period and not much cramping althought I was a little moody. Since getting my band, my TOM is 10 times worse lasting 4 or 5 days and if I forget to take my pill at night and take it in the morning, it is too late and it triggers a mid-cycle period with all of the associated unpleasantries . . . just to have the normal one at the end of the pill pack as well. I have never been so sensitive to the pill and it feels like my teenage days again when I had cramping so bad all I wanted to do was lay in my bed and moan (which was one of the reasons I started taking the pill in the first place). I really don't think it is the band at all, I think it is the rapid weight loss in a short period of time. I have lost quite a bit and they say hormones are stored in your fat. I must be getting a hefty dose with the hormones that are being released. I just hope that slowing weight loss and getting to goal will put me back to normal.

The pill works really well for me in regulating periods. I think the best bet is to speak to your gynecologist and get suggestions if the primary purpose is to eliminate some of your period misery.

I had an episode somewhat like it. We grilled out at home about a week ago. We had chicken and kofte (smilar to hamburger or meatballs but more finely chopped with a smoother texture), salad and corn on the cob. I ate a little too much and wasn't feeling comfortable, but not terrible either. I went to bed and work up in the middle of the night in some pain with the worst heartburn of my life. My stomach also hurt with a little cramping. I had part of a glass of milk and an antacid and pretty much could not sleep laying down the rest of the night because I was too uncomfortable (stayed in the recliner and dozed occasionally). I was not worried enough to go to the ER but thought I would in the morning if it got any worse. It got marginally better and I went on liquids for the whole weekend. I worked my way very slowly to solid foods again because I was nervous. I am fine now and everything seems normal. I have not had picnic food since and I don't desire it either. I did not realize that having a bad experience can really give you an aversion to eating certain things.

I did the same when I moved into the "overweight" bmi range. I did not realize how much better I would look in new bras because my old ones were just not fitting very well. I had been wearing a 40D and now i am a 36DD with really good perkiness and form in my clothes. New matching bras and underwear made me feel so good. I hope you find something flattering and beautiful to wear to celebrate your success.

Did something trigger this on Wednesday like vomiting perhaps? I am concerned about the possibility of slippage as well. Call your doctor as soon as possible because this could be an emergency. In the mean time, until you are seen by a doctor, I would suggest you stay on Clear liquids altogether and nothing else. If there is a possibility that you had a pb'ing episode that has caused stomach irritation which keeps causing additional pb'ing, or if you have had some slippage you don't want to make it worse by not giving your stomach a rest. If you can not even get fluids down and are continuously having problems with your own saliva since last Wednesday, you may need to go to the emergency room. Please let us know how you are doing or how things work out. I really hope it is just stomach irritation and maybe you might just need a temporary unfill. Best of luck to you.

Personally, I would go to bed. I don't like eating directly before sleeping due to the fact that my activity level will be nothing. I also have a loud, active stomach which can keep me husband awake with all of the gurgling and shuffling inside that takes place if I eat then lie down directly after. However, if you will be up for a while and are really craving a healthy snack, it wouldn't be terrible to indulge.

I am not sure if trisuits are in aus. Basically they are a hearty, fibrous and crunchy cracker. Actually I have traveled quite a bit internationally, and sometimes when I am abroad I am looking for things that are more american to eat. I like different cuisines but I don't like to eat everything different more than 80% of the time. I have never seen triscuits abroad but I am pretty sure I would have noticed them if they were in the same shops I was in (back in the pre-banding days where my stomach ruled me instead of vice versa). I know peanut butter itself is unpopular in some countries and a little harder to find. There were times I didn't see it at all in Turkey and Germany, but there were other things like a chocolate spread and something called nutell. I didn't like these other options when I tried them. I think we just become accustomed to certain tastes. My husband is originally from Turkey and he does not care much for peanut butter. I have never met a Turkish person who doesn't despise peanut butter (this is anecdotal of course). I asked some Turkish friends what is it about peanut butter or PB&Js that they don't like, because I know they like peanuts. They said that they really don't eat combinations of salty and sweet. It can be salty or sweet separately but should never be both. Hmmm . . . I used to love payday candy bars just for that reason. Isn't it strange how we develop a liking for such specific tastes?

That is great. I really want to get going and follow through on running as well. I started and it was more difficult than I thought . . . and I thought I was in great shape to begin with.

Good luck with surgery. It is over so quickly and easily, it will be through in a flash. Afterwards I know I was thinking "what was I so worried about." With your fiance's support you are even in a better position to breeze through it. :0)

I didn't tell a soul at work because I was afraid of this. It is my journey so only those people who "need to know" know about it.

I miss good 'ol Peanut Butter and jelly sandwiches. I definitely can't eat them or I will be very uncomfortably horribly sick. I did find a yummy substitute however. Reduced fat/calorie triscuit crackers with a baby spoon portion of peanut butter and a smear of sugar free strawberry jelly. 2 of these and I am not hungry,the calories are very low and my craving is satisfied.

I think that is plenty of time. I had surgery on Friday afternoon and was working my full-time job again the following Tuesday.

Sounds like a tough break. I just hope they can get it fixed asap so that you are back on the road to losing.

I think you will be fine. Just don't get a fill until you get back.

I would tell him now. You share your lives together and this is no small secret. You may really hurt his feelings and damage the trust factor in your relationship if you don't share such a life altering decision with him. It is also a stressful time for you as well. It would probably make it easier for you if you could share this with someone close to you. As far as the added drama and stress is concerned, do you think he would tell you not to go forward with the surgery? Are you afraid that he would be unsupportive? Maybe the key might be to find the best way to cover the subject with him in a way that he might be more open to. You could probably feel around for a good path that might minimize his discomfort with the situation.

I think we all have been there, done that in one form or another. The day before my second fill, I knew I was relatively "open" and was dying for a little french fries with melted cheese, chives and sour cream. I thought, I'll splurge this once but take it easy and tomorrow is a new day. I was so horrifically sick it wasnt even funny. So we all know the rules, but some of this is trial and error as well. A bad experience makes us avoid certain foods in the future. So all we can do is chalk these up to experience, put it behind us and make different choices going forward.

I found that before i started exercising, I would loose 0-1 pounds per week. With exercise it is 1-2.5. Exercise really helped me to kick in the loss and keep it in gear. I am also finding that after losing most of my excess weight, even though I have a little excess skin, I am toning up really well and have good definition in my arms and legs with only my belly looking a little worse for wear. Even with excess skin on my belly, some medium control undies and you can't see it when I am dressed. I also found that if I do make Protein my focus, and keep vegetables second and fruits third, I lose more. I don't lose if I eat a lot of highly processed carbohydrates. I avoid crackers, chips, rice, potatoes. Potatoes in various forms were the hardest for me to give up because I reallllyyy love them and they were a dietary staple for me in the past. I follow the guidelines and try to avoid straying (it happens but infrequently now). Also I can be satisfied now with .5 to 1 cookie instead of a box of them. Just a taste is OK. I think as a power eater, you will definitely do well because you just can't eat like you used to. I was a power eater as well, and I just don't have the inclination to do it anymore. Plus, weight loss occurs primarily when calories burned are greater than calories consumed. A significant calorie reduction should contribute to a good rate of loss. In my opinion the keys to success are to follow your doctors instructions, avoid high calorie liquids such as ice cream that flow easily through your pouch, avoid slider foods like chips and crackers that are easy to eat in quantity even after banding, and get plenty of exercise.

Welllll . . . I went shopping yesterday. To summarize my closets: I only have one pair of size 14 jeans and a pair of size 14 black slacks (and a bunch of skirts because size isn't as important for certain types of skirts). I have a few things in size 16 but they are giving me the saggy butt look and the waist is very open. I don't have to unbutton them to get them over my hips, just a little tug will do. I have a million things in sizes 18, 20 and even, woe is me, size 22. I look really comical in a size 22 right now. Shirts aren't so much of a problem, I have tons in different sizes. Well, I thought I need at least one more pair of pants because I keep wearing the same things over and over and over again for pants and am constantly washing clothes. So I pulled a few pairs of jeans of the rack, and I noticed some 12 P's and I thought, what the hay, I can try them on, right. It is not a crime to see if I can button them when I am just seeing how much further I have to go before I can . . . and guess what. Not only could I button them, but I could button every one of the 4 different pairs of size 12 petite jeans that I tried. I moved another size and didn't even realize it. About half the pants looked flattering and the other half gave me the oh so sexy and flattering muffin top roll that I see so many young girls sporting today :0). Needless to say, I passed on the muffin top pants and am wearing a somewhat form fitting but reasonable looking pair of SIZE 12 JEANNSSS. What is even more shocking to me is the thought of what is coming next down the road, isn't a size 10 squarely in the realm of a reasonable, normal size that I can be proud of??? So, what a journey . . . moving from xxl slowly to xl a little faster to a large and, omg . . . can that actually be medium approaching??? Anyway, I am feeling really good in my jeans today which is a great nsv for me.