U_go_gurl68

Jenae, How did you like Dr. Gonzalez? I just loved him. Sounds like you are doing great. Keep up the good work. I also love knowing I am not going to pack on the pounds this holiday. That will be a first for me. Yay!!!!! best wishes, Stephanie

Congrats on your accomplishments. You are doing great. Band life is hard and not the "easy way out" as some people think. I had my second fill a few weeks ago and just started losing again, after several months at a stand still. I am finding it very hard to tolerate breads/tortillas and pastas. I guess it forms a dough like ball and gets stuck. I really love Jamba juice. On my days off, I go by there and get one for Breakfast, before heading off to the gym. Going to the gym is starting to become a new habit for me and much easier with less weight to drag around. I am also wearing size 12's right now, down from 18. I am so happy. I would love for the weight to just fall off, but I am so satisfied with the way things are going. Not only does my body adjust to losing weight better with a slower weight loss, but my mental state does too. Every now and then when I have the guts to look into a mirror at the gym, I am finding I don't look at all that bad afterall. The big, fat ugly whale is all I ever saw and that image tries to sneak back in now and then, but I am loving myself more and more everyday. It is so funny how we don't see what everyone else sees when it comes to our self image. People tell me I look great and I get lots of compliments, but most of the time, I just don't see it. I know I am losing because my old clothes fall off of me. Sorry to ramble on. Best wishes on reaching your goal. Sincerely, Stephanie

Sorry it is taking me so long to post. For some reason my computer at home won't load the page anymore and I can only get on when I am at work. You can reach me at smarquezrn@yahoo.com also. Where are you getting your surgery done? Would love to have some local band buddies to chat with. Please keep in touch. stephanie

BTW, I was a little worried about having my surgery with Dr. Gonzalez since there weren't others on here that posted about having surgery with him. But I had mine on 10/13 and he was great. No complaints at all and no complications! :smile2: I am sorry I didn't see your comment sooner. I have been experiencing computer problems and I am only able to get on at work. Dr. Gonzalez did my surgery and he was so nice. I really loved him. He explained everything to my satisfaction and even gave me some really great advice in relation to my job as a healthcare provider. I am sure you had your surgery by now. I hope you had a great experience with Dr. Gonzalez. Best wishes to you and to all the others here on this board. I have missed you guys. I am losing slowly, but hey, that's better than gaining rapidly, which I already know I am good at. I do notice the non-scale victories and the health benefits. I have recently added exercise and feel great. I haven't posted much in awhile, but I continue to read and get encouragement from all of you. We are all in this together. Love you guys. Stephanie---Waco,Tx

Hi kizzie, How have you been my long lost pal. Don't get discouraged. It is not good to get on the scale everyday anyway, it only makes us more discouraged. Are you losing any inches? Although, I am not losing much weight, I have noticed things are fitting looser than before. I have missed communicating with you. Hang in there and keep in touch. I am still here for you anytime you need someone to lean on. hugs, Stephanie

Hi gracie99, please let me know about your support group. that would definitely be closer.

Hey there, I am from Waco. Had my surgery on June 30th. I have lost about 23 lbs so far. I don't find many people from this area even though I know there has to be some out there somewhere. Would love to have some local for support. I had my surgery in Dallas and trying to get there for a support group meeting, with my schedule, has been hard. It is bad enough taking a 1 1/2 to 2 hr drive for a 5-10 minute visit for a fill. Please contact me sometime. Best wishes on your journey, Stephanie

I was banded on June 30th and went for my second fill on Nov 6th. I had only lost .8 lbs since my first fill. I knew I hadn't lost anything, but my clothes fill a little looser. I too get frustrated with the scale not moving, but truth be told, I think I am not following everything to a T. I could do better with my food choices and I just started exercising regularly at the gym. They gave me a fill of .8cc to give me a total of 7 in my 14cc band. I feel fine and even without the fill would still occassionally slime and pb, but was starting to get hungrier. I need to eat more Protein, I know for sure. My hair is breaking and falling out in larger amounts now. And I also need to get more fluids in. They told me, I was probably not noticing any scale weight loss because I wasn't taking in enough fluids and getting dehydrated. They said I was more than likely retaining Fluid which would account for the larger scale weight, but actually losing. I ran out of Vitamins and need to hurry and get more, so I am not feeling so tired. Best wishes to all. I hope we all start losing again soon. Sincerely, Stephanie

Great information. I had my surgery on june 30th and started having more and more hair loss the last month or so. I don't know why i didn't put the two together, but now i know i definitely need more protein. Thanks.

I went through lots of gas-x strips and used a heating pad over my abdomen. Lots of walking helps as well, as mentioned previously. Best wishes, Stephanie

Congrats on your weight loss. Looks like you are doing very well. I was banded on June 30th and have lost about 20lbs. I have my first fill next Thursday, which I am so looking forward to. See ya on the boards. Best wishes, Stephanie

Welcome to lbt. I hope you find this site helpful in your journey. I really love it here and have met quite a few people in all stages. I can't wait to read your posts throughout the process. Best wishes, stephanie

I am an rn on a pediatric unit so not too much heavy lifting except with our older kids, but i will say, the first couple of times i was accidentally kicked in my stomach i thought i was going to pass out. I was originally going to have my surgery on friday and return to work the following tuesday, but since my surgery was rescheduled for a later time, it happened to fall during my two week vacation. I was so glad i had the full two weeks off. I don't think i could have made it back in three to four days afterall. My surgeon didn't recommend it either since we are always on our feet and doing alot of lifting and turning. The other bit of information that i received from him was that we are at a higher risk for band infections if we come in contact with mrsa infected patients, as well as becoming carriers. He said he realizes how careful we (nurses) are with handwashing, but that in some cases, there have been those that have gotten mrsa, even after the incisions have healed, which caused an infection around the band and early erosion. He suggested more frequent handwashing, wearing gloves even if you don't think you need to and scrubbing with antibacterial soap from head to toe after work. He said he would recommend immediately going home to shower rather than doing other things first, like shopping, etc in our scrubs. I am sure some of you probably already know this, but i thought i would pass on the info anyway. Best wishes to all, stephanie

sorry this happened. So now does that mean you will have six new holes the next go around? I don't think they would reopen the old incisions would they? Doesn't sound good for healing purposes. Best wishes, stephanie

You will do great. I can't wait to read your posts post-op and all your successes along the way. Best wishes, Stephanie

Do you have a 401k account? My original plan fell through and I had to borrow from my 401k account. I applied for the loan the Tuesday before my surgery and by Wednesday night, the money was in my account. I knew right then and there, this surgery was meant to be. I hope you get it all worked out. I know how frustrating it is just to be waiting for your date to arrive and then the financial part get all messed up. Best wishes, Stephanie

For immediate relief, you could try something like Milk of Magnesium, but perhaps you need to add a stool softener to your daily intake, such as Colace. Taking fiber supplements are a good idea but only if you are taking in plenty of fluids on a regular basis. If you don't take enough Water in (or other liquids), you will only end up making the problem worse. Your body needs the liquids to help move the fiber through, but if you don't take enough in, you are just making a brick of fiber in your gut, which could cause a tear in your colon when you are trying to push it out. Your best bet for long term, is to get a stool softener, especially if you are straining a lot, which can cause hemorroids or changes in your heart rate and blood pressure. Also like another poster said, add prune juice, prunes, or other raw vegetables. Make sure you are moving a lot too. Lack of activity can cause constipation since we aren't moving well after surgery and taking narcotic pain medications is another big cause of constipation. Just don't take laxatives for long periods of time because you will then become dependent on them, making the problem worse. Good luck with finding a solution. I know exactly how you feel. I went the first three weeks without a BM and felt terrible.

I used Phentermine a few years ago and lost 80lbs, but when I quit taking them the weight piled on quickly. The next time I tried to do the same, I couldn't tolerate them as well. I had dry mouth so bad, my tongue hurt and my teeth left painful indentions on it from being so dehydrated dispite my high liquid intake. The doc had also prescribed a diuretic along with the diet pills. I didn't lose more than the 8lbs of Water weight and my heartbeat became irregular. I work night shift, so I felt like I never got any sleep, because I was so hyped. Once I got off the pills, I felt so drained for awhile. That experience is what made me decide to be banded. I knew it would be slower than diet pills, but the reason for wanting to lose weight in the first place was for better health and I wasnt getting healthier with diet pills. In fact, I was making things worse. Good luck, Stephanie

The clinic I went through ordered the Optifast and had it sent to my house. I didn't drink much of it as it was irritating to my stomach. I am lactose intolerant and they didn't tell me optifast had some milk fat in it until I let them know how much it was making me sick. They then told me I could drink whatever Protein drink I wanted if it had a high protein content and not just something like slim fast or carnation instant Breakfast that had lots of carbs. Good luck on your pre-op diet and surgery. Stephanie

Slinderella2b, Thanks for not getting upset with anything I said. I worried about it after I had posted because my intention was not to make you feel bad. We all fall and we all pick ourselves up again and again. We will do so until we get it right. It is just that I don't like to think of people failing when they have come so far just in making the decision to be banded. Most of the time, it is after a lifetime of bad habits and illness and many failed attempts. I know, because some of that is me too. I never post anything to make myself feel like I know more because Lord knows I don't and I am fairly new to this myself. I guess it helps keep me on track by reinforcing my thoughts with myself as well. Again thank you for being so sweet. Here's to better choices, healthier lifestyle and the benefit of being a slender, new us. Best wishes, Stephanie

First of all, I want to say I am not trying to be mean or bash you because I am not. I have read so many comments when someone pours their heart out and they get attacked. That is not my intention as I struggle just like you. What caught my attention is that you said, you eat what you want and how much you want. Even though it is hard, (very hard) the key is to change what you "want" and "how " you want. I know it is easier when you have good restriction, but the band is not going to decide what is a "good" choice for your diet. I believe when the doc says after a time we will be able to eat what we want, it doesn't mean continue the old diet, but in smaller portions. If it is bad, it is bad. Going from supersize heart attack meal to a smaller portion of the same, is not all that much different; it is still bad. Like I said, I struggle with this constantly too and I guess I am lucky in that I haven't really had any cravings for anything. But I do know what I use to eat and sometimes my head will try to tell me to go ahead and eat it, but I don't because my motivation is to be healthy no matter what the cost. I am sorry in advance if I said anything to offend you. I have just read so many entries where people are blaming the band for not working or blaming non restriction for eating what they know deep inside they shouldn't just because they can. I know because I have done this myself and for me, it is hard, but I am working on changing my relationship with food. I didn't pay $12,000.00 to fail at this and I am not going to let food beat me. This is a mental game and I have to make myself mentally stronger and that is what being here on this site is doing for me. Best wishes, Stephanie

Oh by the way, Have you added yourself to the June bandsters? They are a great bunch of people. There is also someone keeping a log of everyone's progress.

Congrats on your weight loss; you seem to be doing great. I was banded on 6/30 and have lost about 18lbs. I seem to be at a standstill that has lasted two weeks. I know I need to schedule my first fill, but haven't yet. Once I get that fill, hopefully the weightloss will get a jumpstart again. I was doing well with eating small portions and not being hungry between, but no weight loss in two weeks, the only thing I am guessing is I need to schedule that fill. Best wishes to you and I hope to continue reading your success stories on the boards. Stephanie

Has there been any significant or small changes in your life? Sometimes we get determined to lose weight at first because of a new relationship or we are starting over again. Once everything seems comfortable we lapse and temporarily lose site of everything. I am not saying this is you, but for whatever reasons we have failed on other programs in the past, could happen here as well. Perhaps it has nothing to do with food, but more of how you are feeling about something personal in your life. I fear this happening to me one day, because I have always been an emotional eater. I have always done well with diets and lost significant amounts of weight only to put it back on because I wasn't dealing with the real issues at hand. If it is just about food, then just don't buy the things that are causing your weight gain. Distract yourself from eating by getting out of the house and being active. Spend time with friends and family. Go to support meetings and share your experiences. You aren't a failure by any means. Make a new commitment to yourself and get started. Sometimes you just have to be creative and make a new strategy when the old one fails. You are a winner in my book. Best wishes, Stephanie

I was banded June 30th and there are times when I get frustrated, but not with my band. It is doing what is was supposed to do, but when I feel that way because of my stalled weightloss, I have to ask myself, "Am I doing what I am supposed to be doing?" Sure after awhile you are able to eat regular foods and they will go down much better when you are healed, but does that mean you should keep eating what you were before being banded? Some people say they eat less than before and that is great, but if eating less is just eating a "happy meal" or small portion of a bad choice, then are they really changing their lifestyles or just getting use to doing the same but in smaller portions? This is something I am learning all the time. And it is hard to make those choices when you are so use to living another way. But in order to make it work, you have to work as well. It hasn't been an easy time for me, especially since I am fairly new myself, but would I do it again? Heck yes and btw, I was self-pay as well. Best wishes, Stephanie