krtork

I love my band. I have the Realize band and think it is the perfect fit for me! I did not want the more invasive surgery and I wanted to lose weight slower, I think, for me anyway, it is healthier. I had an easy surgery and very quick recovery. I have currently had two fills and I am feeling pretty good restriction with this second one. Since I started the process and had the surgery I feel much healthier and am finding that I have more energy and enjoy exercising! I hope you find the option that is best for you! Good Luck!

I was really tight when I first had my fills. It seems to loosen up as the weeks go by. I have had two fills, the first was really tight for about 1.5 weeks, then it loosened up. By my second fill I was getting really hungry. I have been pretty tight with this one and it seems to be working fairly well. I hope it doesn't get loose! My doc said to call in and get my next fill as soon as I was not feeling full when I ate. That was pretty nice - I won't have to wait a set amount of time!

I agree with the head stuff! I will smell food and want to eat, I am not hungry, but I really want to put it in my mouth! I still want to stress eat when I get home from work - I know that I should not be doing it, but it is hard. I am not hungry, food just makes me feel good. I try to head home, change my clothes and go exercise if I can. That really seems to help! This is not an easy journey, but nobody promised it would be. I am just glad to be dropping the pounds and learning new habits!

Make sure you are measuring out your food. That is the key for me. I can easily eat more then the recommended amount many times. If I have it measured out, I know what I get to eat. I also agree with exercise. You will feel so much better and it will help relieve the stress. Hang in there, it will get better. I know how you feel with the emotional eating, that is my weak spot too!

I sleep on my tummy all the time. I was able to move from my back to my tummy at about week 3 from surgery. I also have to finagle around my CPAP, too!

I totally understand about the new image! I was so impressed to see my toes and not my belly when I looked down, I wanted to do a back flip! I was looking at some of my pics from right before surgery and cannot believe how much my body shape has changed - it makes my so thankful that I made this decision. I feel like I will be getting back my life!

Yeah! Good luck. I definitely have felt restriction with my fills. It is nice to not be hungry!

Down 3 lbs this week after my 2nd fill! Woo Hoo!

I take Benefiber everyday. It mixes in almost anything and you can not taste it. I also like the Crystal Light Live Active. Easy to take and keeps things movin'!

Shamrock~ Wish I could do jeans and t-shirts until the weight was gone! I have bought some new work clothes in a smaller size, I was starting to look ridiculous in my old clothes! I wish I could go closet shopping. My dd made my throw away a ton of my clothes a couple of years ago, so I could update my look and not embarass her at school! LOL! I think I have been the same size for the past 15 years! I did buy a new bra and undies. I could no longer fill out my old bra cups - it was pretty funny looking. It is amazing when I go to try on clothes, I think, no way will that fit me, and it does! Pretty cool! I have just purchased a few necessities to get me through each size as I pass through!

It is great that you recognize the choices that you made could have been better. Don't beat yourself, move on, tomorrow is a new day! Isn't it funny how we can "binge" on some foods and think how much we have eaten, but it is not even close to what we could have downed in a sitting before. We even recognize and admit the poor choice. Where before most of us would not have even really recognized or acknowledged the fact that we had made a poor choice. Keep up the good work, tomorrow is a new day!

Claudine~ Keep up the good work. The slight gain is nothing, that will be gone the next time you step on the scale. Being down 2 dress sizes is great! I noticed that I could look down and see my feet today, not my stomach! How weird is that - my husband thought that was a very weird thing to say. It was pretty fascinating to me! You are my exercise motivation - you are great at keeping moving! I admire that. I just started exercising fairly seriously this week. I have to keep moving, I am impressed at how you fit that in each week - wtg!

I like the turkey meatballs that are ready to eat. I just put some marinara sauce on them and pop them in the micro for 1.5 minutes and I have an easy dinner. I also use the grocery store deli to get easy, ready to eat foods. Our deli has grilled chicken breast and veggies, very easy! They also have some vegetarian selections that are doable. What about Lean Cuisine? I just don't eat the rice or Pasta when I have them. They are not to bad and very easy to pop in the micro and have a quick meal. You can keep them in the freezer and it gives you a quick easy option that is good for you. Keep working at it - it does take time to make these changes. It is a challenge that you have to face each day, there will be some bad choices along the way, but just make sure you look ahead to the positive outcome and make a better choice the next time! You can do this!

Okay, I started this past week. I have done two runs and have my third tomorrow. I am feeling pretty good and surprised at how much easier it is to run versus a year ago. I like the program, it has been pretty easy to keep going for 1 minute. The only challenge has been the hills. We don't live in a flat area so I have had to run a couple of up hill sections - man, it is very challenging! I still have been able to push through. I am excited about this new choice I have made. My husband has been running again and I think it would be nice to have something that we can do together! Of course, he is way ahead of me, but he did say he would run the 5k with me!

Hmmm, I will not miss Shopping at Lane Bryant Not being able to ride my horse Not being able to paint my own toe nails Not being able to fit into booths at restaurants Wondering if the plane seat belt will fit

We all will have set backs and make poor choices, we are human. Don't get down, just make a better choice the next time. My guess is that you did not eat as much as you would have pre-band, so that is a positive. Recognize your successes and learn from your poor choices and move past it!

Make sure you are getting your calories and Protein. If you aren't getting enough your body retains instead of losing. I would ditch the protein drinks and eat food, that will help you feel full and satisfied after meals. Have you been exercising? That is the hardest part for me. I really have to schedule the time or it will not happen! I am sure you know all of this, but sometimes a reminder will help you get back on track! Keep working, talk to your doc and keep us posted on your progress!

Everybody will lose weight at different rates. I feel fortunate, I have been losing a steady amount since surgery. Right now I am down 27 lbs post-surgery, with another 20 gone pre-surgery. I am almost at the 50lb mark and really excited. I have also lost inches - 5 from the hip, 3 from the waist and 2 in the bust. I am down 2 clothing sizes and a bra size. I am exercising and feel better than I have in years! It has not been easy, but I really want to make the change and get rid of the weight for good! You can do this. I thought I would get the surgery and never lose weight, I think it is a common thought pre-surgery. Follow your docs instructions and it will happen for you too! Good luck!

I stayed the same this week. I am not too discouraged I have my 2nd fill on Wed this coming week. I have lost inches and another size, that is really motivating! Glad to hear that others are doing so well!

Momx5~ Hang in there! I know it can be hard. I am surprised at what I can eat somedays! I have tried to have my own shelf in the fridge, where I keep the foods that I can eat, so I don't have to rummage through the rest of the food for the family. This will usually keep me from wanting to put the wrong things in my mouth. I hear you on the exercise. I knew that would be the hardest part for me, and it has been. I need to get busy and get moving more. I started the couch to 5k this week. I have a goal of running (well mostly the whole way) at the local Jingle Bell Run in December. I thought if I had a goal it would help me be more motivated. I hope you are feeling better. I find that coming to this forum is really very helpful. I have a chance to see what others are going through and sometimes I find that just typing out what I am going through really helps me feel better. It is my therapy!

What a great feeling! Isn't weird to look at smaller sizes. I too think, oh, that can't fit me - and guess what, it does! I cried when I tried on the 20s and they fit the first time. I was all alone and did not have anyone to share with. Way to go, keep up the hard work and you will soon be in a 16! Can you imagine! Woo Hoo!

b: 3/4 cup oatmeal, 1 tsp honey l: chicken veg Soup, 1/2 cup romaine, 6 bite mini-tomatoes, 1 tsp parmesan, 1 tbs lite ceasar dressing s: 5 stone ground crackers, 3 tbs cream cheese w/chive d: 3 oz chicken, 1/4 cup potato/mac salad 870 cal/60 g Protein

My fill was really tight when I first got it. I could feel the restriction right away and had to be pretty careful the first week of eating so I did not get stuck. Now I can pretty much eat what I want. I have had to fight the urge! I get my second fill next week, can't wait!

I am supposed to have 3 meals and 2-3 snacks each day. Snackes are pretty small - yogurt, nuts, sf fudgcicle etc. I have a hard time eating at all of the times I am supposed to eat. So I usually eat 3 meals and have 1-2 snacks.

Maybe I will get motivated. We have the Jinlge Bell run in December, I don't know if I could be ready, but I am willing to try! Thanks for the motivation! I need something that will make me get up off my butt and get moving!