vlb11752

I still eat the foods I like (except bread & buns). I only miss really chowing down now and then. A big juicy burger hot off the grill is not as much fun if you cant take a big ol' bite of it. However, losing 60 lbs (30 since surgery) is way better than any big ol' bite of anything I've ever taken. The liquid phase is killer...but you will soon be over that...hang in there it gets better. Good luck on your journey and keep coming here...these people are the best!! Oh the bathroom thing will take care of itself when you start regular food...liquid in...liquid out.

That is such a wonderful feeling!!! Tell him congrats!!! About 3 yrs ago my DH and I lost weight on Weight Watchers...he lost 90 lbs...I lost 50...(we both gained it back)...Hugs were VERY good...other aspects of our life were VERY VERY GOOD!!!! Keep up the good work!!!

You have my deepest sympathy. I have always looked younger than I am. Even with my double chins. Now I'm losing this weight which makes me feel GREAT...but the face is suffering. I have 16 years on you...I want abdominoplasty really bad....but I'm beginning to want face work more. Do neck exercises it could help if there is just a little looseness (is that a word?)

Let me clarify. October 2005...diagnosed with diabetes...weighed 287 lbs..dieted...lost 13 lbs February went to Lapband seminar 3 weeks before surgery went on 500 cal/day liquid Protein diet March 14, 2006 had surgery...weighed 257 lbs I haven't lost 60 lbs in 3 months...I've lost 60 lbs since my journey began last October. As far as eating plan...I do what my doc told me...eat what you like. He doesn't give you a plan. I try to get in protein first like everyone else, then veggies. I don't count anything. I do take a very good liquid Vitamin supplement. Some days I feel very little restriction...other days like yesterday....I have a bunch of restriction. Thanks for all the congrats from everyone...you're all the best!

I've been overweight for 44 YEARS I've lost 45 lbs before.....(gained it back...plus) I've lost 50 lbs before....(gained it back) But I've never lost 60 lbs....UNTIL TODAY....and it's not coming back...not this time....I LOVE MY BAND!!!!....happy dancin' all over the place!!!!

Have you or do you now go to Curves for exercise? What was your experience? What is it? How much did it cost? I'm really having a hard time finding the right time at home for my treadmill. Hubby works strange hours and it wakes him up when I'm on the treadmill.

I used to be a hairdresser....go ahead and color your hair. You color the hair that is already grown...if there are any effects from medications it would affect what is under the skin. The only difference you could see is possibly needing some extra conditioning after the surgery. Go ahead color away...make yourself feel fresh and new!! My daughter is a hairdresser and we completely redid my look. Went from mousy light brown to golden red with lighter highlights and a very cute sassy cut....gave me a whole new attitude...I felt so cute I could hardly stand me....lol!!!!

For about 3 weeks after my surgery I had really strange sounds coming from my stomach. Loud growling rumbling sounds. My husband would say "Watch it she's gonna blow". It got really funny...so I warned the people at work that I may make funny sounds during meetings. It went away for the most part now 3 months out it only happens occasionally. The day after going under general anthestsia I always have a crying jag (I have to have a general to do major dental work so I've been under several times.) Anthestsia depresses me, but it goes away in a day or two. Not major depression just a sad down feeling. You "fresh from surgery" bandsters will be fine before you know it. I haven't regretted this for even one minute. WELCOME TO THE BAND!!!!

I'm doing GREAT! So well the doc wouldn't give me another fill this month. I've reached my first goal of 50 lbs. Now I'm working on my 75 lbs down before I go home to see family in Indiana. I probably won't make it, but I'll still be cool with that. I've pb'd too many times to count. I've been a slow learner on technique. Everyone has noticed I've lost 58 lbs. All my friends and family know I had WLS and are very supportive. As far as exercise goes...could someone kick me in the butt and get me started. The treadmill has been moved to the livingroom and I still ignore it...tomorrow hasnt come yet. Yeah March 2006 bandsters....what a bunch of losers!!!!

Just wondering how many bandsters there are that had their surgery in Jacksonville Florida! Who did your surgery? When was it done? How are things going in general? I was banded at St. Vincent's by Dr. Herrera on 3/14/06 have lost 55 lbs. (13 was before pre-op diet). Love Dr. Herrera and his staff they are the best!!!

We eat out alot. Every family function is centered around food. We all get together to eat out when someone is in from out of town...we go out to eat for every birthday. My son-in-law is a vegetarian in a family of extreme carnivores...now I have the band...we don't obsess over where we are eating...other people do. We can find something everywhere we go. appetizers are great for me, or I eat something from my husbands plate. I'm a really cheap date....well inexpensive. Enjoy your vacation....don't obsess...there is something anywhere you go.

I'm still kind of new, I was banded 3/14/06, but I have not regretted it one minute. Not even when I pb, not even when I slime (I've been a slow learner with new habits). It's the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Oh no Jacksonville to Chicago...I feel your pain. I'm originally from southern Indiana. Though I would love to go back to the farm (Jax is getting sooo big), the one draw back is winter. I'm not sure about the San Pueblo apts since I am from the Westside (Cecil Field area). And I work around the San Jose & University area. Jacksonville is GROWING...I used to live on the outskirts of town...about 10 housing developments have gone up out here in the 6 years I've lived in this house. I've been in Jacksonville for 25 years though. Enjoy the summer...I will give you all the winter sympathy you need...lol

Susan, Dr. Herrera called me (that impresses me that a doctor actually calls) and said they were going to start a support group soon for the people that have been banded at St. Vincent's Hurry back jenMomTo3....I can understand not liking Memphis...pretty cool to visit...I wouldn't want to live there...except I could go to Tunica...that would be a bad thing tho...lol

Way to go Vegas! I went for my 3rd fill Thursday, but the Dr. wouldn't do it. He said I had lost 10 lbs since my last visit 5 weeks ago and that was fast enough. I really wanted to lose about 20 lbs more before going home to see the family in August. He wants to see me in 4 more weeks. He said that if I hadn't lost 5 lbs by then he would put a fill in. One reason he didn't fill me was because I swell pretty bad in the summer time and he said when your hands and feet are swollen...everything is swollen and that he would rather me wait than have to come back in two weeks to take some out, because everytime you put that needle in there it is an opportunity for infection. He said the chances of infection are very low, but it could happen. I love my doc and I trust him completely. I didn't like it much...but I'll just have to work harder. If I could only get the motivation to get on that treadmill.

Magnesium Citrate will clean out your intestinal tract...I mean really clean it out...stay close to the bathroom...really close. I didn't have to drink it, but I was on a liquid Protein diet for 2 weeks before surgery...not much in there to clean out.

If you are having second thoughts...CHANGE!!! Gut instincts are often the best. My doc had a seminar and the price was quoted up front which included pretesting, surgery and a year of after care for fills...$17,000. $500 down and the balance a few days before surgery. I was mistakenly billed by the radiologist and all I had to do was send the bill to the surgeon and he took care of it. You should know up front.

I have alway been a big fan of sandwiches. I could have lived on them. My doc suggested pita bread. We had a party last weekend for my daughter's birthday (24th). I ate a turkey burger (made with ground turkey and onion Soup mix, grilled) in a pita and latter that night had a Nathan's skinless hot dog in a pita. Everything worked fine. Try pita bread, works for me!

I've been banded since 3/14/06 and still eat out. True my family and close friends know, but I made a point in the begining when someone said "where can you find something to eat?" to tell them that this was my thing and I could find something anywhere. Like my son-in-law the vegatarian that married into the extreme carnivore family...don't make a big deal we will find something. It has worked very well. I order off the appetizer menu usually, or split something with someone, and use to go boxes. The only thing I have to watch is to remember I'm banded and not eat and talk at the same time....take a bite...put the fork down...chew chew chew...wait a few seconds (I count 15 seconds after I swallow)...then do it again. Nobody notices...I'm still there...still in the conversation. The only time I had trouble out is when the food came, I forgot I was banded, picked up a french fry, popped it in my mouth took a couple of chews and swallowed. As soon as I swallowed I knew I had made a big mistake. I excused myself, got rid of the offending french fry, went back to the table sipped Water and got a to go box. Don't forget the band!!! You have to make the choice to not let the band change the good parts of your social life...the spending time with good friends, and good conversation. It should change the bad things about your social life..the absent minded overeating...the miserable feeling after a meal!!! Work with the band and it will work for you.

I have a wonder PCP. He will talk and talk and talk about your medical problems until you understand all the complications that could arise. When I told him I was going to the seminar about the band, he was very supportive. After the seminar we discussed the fact that the insurance would not pay..period. He went on and on for about 30 minutes about insurance companies. He can't understand why some will not pay for a relatively safe procedure that will save them money in the long run. He's great. I have an appointment next month to discuss my first round of blood work since surgery (03/14/06). I hope the cholesterol and triglycerides are way down...I've lost 53 lbs since I last saw him.

I haven't had mine slide that far down, but the other day at work my best friend said...I think someone moved out of the back of those pants...they went in the "not going back there" pile of clothes I am collecting. Yesterday I noticed I was occasionally stepping on my pants...I've lost so much in my legs my pants had gotten too long. Ah NSVs the best part of this. Paper clips...I'll remember that...lol...good one!

Wheetsin, I liked that phrase "chuck the stuck"....that's good, I think I'll use that.

Total loss 53 lbs. 13 lbs before looking into band, 17 pre-op liquid diet, the rest since being banded 3/14/06. I've had 2 fills, 1/2 cc each in a 4 cc band, total 1 cc. The only people that don't say much about my loss are the ones that thought paying $17,000 for WlS out of my own pocket was ridiculous. I figure they haven't said anything because they are being proven wrong. My best friend keeps telling me to go shopping because someone moved out of the back of my pants. I've had several pb's..yuck. I think maybe I have trouble telling when I'm full. I'm still in a learning phase. Sometimes I do great...some days I eat VERY little. I'll get it right. Bottom line is...I FEEL WONDERFUL!!! I know my doc doesn't think this is an NSV but...HE SAID I WAS LOSING A LITTLE TOO FAST...now how many times have any of us had a doc say THAT..lol

I had my surgery March 14th. There is a thread on the general lap band discussion for March bandsters.

I was wondering if anyone else maybe had this problem...or if that's my problem at all. It seems that when I eat I take a few bites and its like there is a gas or air bubble and I can't eat anymore. I get kind of a burning sensation and have little burps...then sometimes the slime comes. I have to wait an hour or so and then I can eat again. I take gas-x before I eat but that doesn't seem to help. Now that I've had another fill it seems worse. The really strange thing is, when I eat alone in front of the tv (I know you shouldn't) its better than when the hubby is around or when I'm at work. My friend says it sounds like I am swallowing too much air when I eat. If that is the case how do you stop? Anyone else having this sensation. I'm not sure I have described it effectively. Other than that I'm feeling great and have lost 50 lbs. Any help would be appreciated.