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Howdy dsmit13 and welcome. You know the saying "slow and steady wins the race"...well, you are doing it and you will be the winner:) Keep on rockin',

Yep...just made it barely...lol

Woo-hoo!...Welcome to One-derland:)

I either do a Carnation Instant Breakfast or an EAS AdvantEdge protein shake for breakfast. I am not a breakfast person and since I got the band even more so. My doctor doesn't want bandsters to drink their calories because food does keep us fuller in the long run, but it is what is working for me. Do what you need to do.

Hey there Darie, Congrats on the banding...How are you healing? Little over a month:))

I have come to the realization that I can not eat and drink at the same time...I can eat WAY too much. I revert to old behavior...stuffing my gob. My doctor hands out this sheet called the Prescription for Success After Weight Loss Surgery...#10 reads "Never, never, never forget where you started. Your old lifestyle got you to the point where you needed a weight loss operation and returning to it will get you the same result." So, follow your doctor's orders, it may be different for some bandsters, but believe it or not there is a reason for the "silly" rules. I don't want to be the fat girl...or the fat friend...or the fat anything. Also, drinking alcohol is another trigger..for me alcohol equates to eating for me. I never drank without eating. For me, alcohol goes hand in hand with food. So, for now, I am not drinking. Maybe when I learn how to identify hunger signs and have a little more self control I can have a beer, gin and tonic, or margarita with my meal.

OMG, Dr. Stegemann in San Antonio puts all his patients on 6 weeks liquids...no mushies...I thought I would die, but it actually was helpful. Yes, of course I cheated...2 twice...and paid for it. Got a roll stuck and PB'ed a donut...I am a slow learner

Ok...I am celebrating :scared2:. I have officially hit the coveted prize of one-derland. In my whole adult life I have never been under 200...until today. So, I am celebrating by buying a red bra that actually fits! I was trying to think of how to celebrate...old habit was to do it with food. So, I was thinking why not get something for me, myself, and I. I have always wanted cute bras...I haven't bought any new bras on this journey because they are so expensive and my boobs keep getting smaller. Damn, gravity sucks...deflated is more like it. So, a good fitting bra will make the girls a bit perkier:blush:.

I love this site...and my fellow bandsters....your support is awesome...I hope the red bra is as supportive!

OMG...I wonder if I could get my band repositioned in Mexico...I am self pay and totally broke due to student loans for my Master have come out of forbearance...ugh. Mine is at a 45 degree angle and the doc said in a couple more fills that it will need to be repostioned.

About how much is it going to set you back if you are self pay?

Not enough protein is the main culprit...I am losing mine...not so much, but enough to notice in the hairbrush in the morning.

I use straws and I have had no difficulty. I also wonder what the reasoning is. I think it is during the healing phase...maybe to quick on fluid intake, or air bubbles???

Beans, beans, the musical fruit...the more you eat, the more you toot:))) Also consider soybeans (edamame)...the have it all...protein, carbs, fat, Fiber, and a nice buttery taste. Milk products, nuts, beef Jerky

Good luck Annika...let us know your progress

Maybe do something that involves the whole family...just a thought, but probably not a reality:)

Hey Jamie, I am so sorry you are having it rough. We were banded on the same day. I have gone through some rough Patches, but if you have a support group...go to it. I don't go to a support group, but I do use this website. I visit it daily. BTW, you are not rambling on...this is real...you are experiencing some real life issues and this is HARD! Yesterday, I had my worst lap-band experience...no nothing got stuck...I did not PB. Simply, I went to a party and stuffed myself slowly...cheetos, potato chips, almonds, crackers with spinach dip, a hotdog with its bun, I kept getting up and doing this...I knew exactly what I was doing...I was behaving like pre-lap band...I gorged and grazed. I felt so uncomfortable, and while I was doing it, I kept asking myself WTF...but I couldn't stop...but today is a new day, I would like to beat myself up over it, but I know it is counter-productive. Also, it really sucks to have an unsupportive roomie... Keep on fighting...my goal is to be a success...you read on here about the struggles...and I want to be one of those who makes it to goal or pretty damn close... Good Luck

When I could start full liquids (cream based soups), I also started on protein shakes. I still drink them because I need to get in more protein and for breakfast I don't tolerate food that early sometimes. I tried a few, but have settle on the EAS shakes...right now HEB has them for 4.99 for a four pack, but there is a coupon for a dollar off. which make the 3.99 I think SAM's has a 24 pack for about 24 dollars, so price is pretty close. Start researching your protein shakes now...and don't buy a bunch until you are satisfied that you like them. I tried 4-6 and price gauged whether I bought it, as did calories, carbs, and protein amount.

Anyone seen a reduction in unwanted hair...facial, belly...anywhere else? I want this hair gone, and I am holding out hope that having lapband will help this problem some. I started laser hair removal on my chin before lapband and it really hasn't changed much...and this is after 8 treatments! Has anyone had it on the bikini area...is it as painful as a friend claims?

Frickin' hilarious...already forwarded it to my girlfriends:)))

I weight through New Dimensions (self pay) with Dr. Stegemann. He is a sweetie, but the thing that chaps my hide is the fill appointments...Plan to take a half day for something that takes all of 5 minutes...total pain in the ass. Oh, and BTW, this doctor's office will have you on 6 weeks of liquids...no mushy stage...6 weeks of pure hell...but, it is worth it. Follow your doctor's advice:))

What is Kosh? A supplement, shampoo, or...?

I thought that not drinking while eating would be the hardest thing for me, but it isn't. Mine unfortunately is the speed. I eat my meals like I am in prison and someone is gonna take my food away from me. So, I am trying to chew, chew, chew...and wait, wait, wait before filling my gob:))

Just to let you know...a lot of people are very emotional after surgery...this is a major life change which equals stress...you are experiencing stress in your mind, but in your body, too...this is huge for our bodies to slow down from 100mph...to 10mph...one day at a time...it gets soooooooooo much better. Keep coming here for encouragement. I stopped coming here and lost my way for a bit, but I am back with a vengence...lol. I want to be a success...I paid too damn much to throw in the towel. Yes, it sucks...like tonight I am going to a friend's new house-she closed today and got the keys. We are having a painting party...beer, wine, and pizza. I frickin love pizza, but am bringing my own dinner...I want this so bad...I will have a small piece if it is thin crust, but I need to concentrate on my Protein (hair started to go this weekend)

Gas -X and popsicles