*susan*

Ha, of course, that is why I got fat. Sure, I ate more when I was upset like most people. But mainly, I just love the taste of food. Mostly, junk food. But, like Faithmd said, I have had to slowly train myself to like the taste of better, healthier foods. The thing with being a bandster is, or at least for me, some of the things I loved before taste really nasty after you have to chew and chew and chew them. In the same instance, there are other foods I never really enjoyed until I started to have to chew them more and have learned they are quite tasty.

Dawn, I saw that book the other day at Barnes and Noble and thought it looked interesting. After reading your post, I think I am going to pick it up tomorrow.

Actually, I think you had two NSV's there. One for choosing the walk over the food and the other for not killing your husband.:phanvan

I have become an addict to Crystal Light lemonade flavor. I am not big on Water, but have no problem getting it in when I add a crystal light packet. And it works great because it does come in the packets, so I have them with me everywhere I go. I used to drink diet coke for Breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between. I thought I really missed it. I have been good and not had one since I started my pre-op diet almost a year ago now. A couple of weeks ago the hubby and I were out and we were dieing of thirst. All we found was a soda machine, with no water. So he grabbed a diet coke and I said I could wait until we found someplace where I could get a bottle of water. I decided I was so thirsty, that surely one sip of his diet coke wouldn't hurt, so I took one. You know what! It tasted absolutely disgusting. I didn't like the flavor, the texture (?) nothing. I actually ended up spitting it out. That cured me and I no longer feel deprived about not having soda anymore. It shows you can get used to anything.

Check with your doctor and tell him how you are feeling. My doctor wasn't nearly as restrictive as many of them. I was allowed to start mushies on day 10.

I don't really eat anything fat-free or sugar free. I eat so little anymore, that what I do eat is going to be full-flavored. I still want a little bit of pleasure out of eating.

OK, so I have said from the very beginning that I would not diet, count points, etc., ever again. However, I felt like I really needed to get a grip on exactly what I am eating. Lately, I have reverted back to some old habits of eating junk, mainly cheese balls and Peanut Butter tracks ice cream. I have had a lot going on that has been causing me stress and looked to my old source of comfort, food. While I am still losing, I am eating crap and decided I needed to do something for a while to get myself back on the healthier track. I have had a lot of success in the past with weight watchers, so decided I would do it again for a few months, not forever, just for a while. I used to get 34 points a day and hated it because I always felt that wasn't enough and was always hungry. Now, I am at 28 points a day and am actually finding it a challenge to eat that many, let alone eat my flex points and activity points! Is anyone else doing weight watchers? Do you post on their boards? There sure is a lot of negativity there toward people who opt to have weight loss surgery.

I am interested in any answers you get as well, as I also keloid very badly.

It is definitely ironic and a tough time during the banding process. I have a rule that I only allow myself to step on my scales once a week. However, during the liquid diet phase, I was on that baby every day. Seeing the weight literally melt off was a huge motivator for sticking to the liquid diet. That, and knowing my reward at the end of the road would be my band. Good luck to you, I know you can do this. And, yes, immodium will be your friend. The good news is there is liquid immodium. Oh, and after about day 3, I found the headache and hunger subsided significantly.

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/223/150 - 40 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/257.5/150 - 42.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: DeltaDawn - 358/202/179 - 156 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/205/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/165/132 - 43 total 4-5: siestaqh - 180+/177/117/110 - 63 total--NO MORE BAND :-( 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/170/134 - 64 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/216/180 - 142 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/143.5/140 - 96.5total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4-11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 - 28 total 4-11: waterlily1072 - 354/285/150 - 69 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/188/140 - 60 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/187/145 - 33 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/192/140 - 50 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: KAYBEE-284/198/180 -86 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/266/150 - 4 total 4-20: TrustUfirst - 210/205/177/135 - 32 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/179/130 - 41 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/228/156 - 60 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/198/150 - 75 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/237/150 - 73 total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/95/69 - 27 kgs/66 lbs total 4-24: Ceparano- 255/270.5/201/170 - 69.5 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/203/165 - 86 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/206/160 - 56 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/237/145 - 33 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/184/150 - 80 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/228/150 - 55 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/228/150 - 105 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 225/214/150/135 - 75 total 4-29: Momofsixkids - 238/188/140 - 50 total<!-- / message --><!-- sig --> <!-- / message --><!-- sig --> <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Yep, feet shrinkage and cuter shoes is a definite plus! I was a nine wide and am presently a 8 1/2 normal.

I was going to suggest the pillows too, they definitely help relieve the pressure.

Hi Laura, and welcome to LBT! I don't have the doctor you were asking about, sorry. As far as your first fill, it depends on you and how you are feeling. Most doctors require you wait at least 4 weeks. I think the average is about 4-6 weeks. Just remember that even after you get your first fill, you may not be at proper restriction yet. It sometimes takes 2-3 fills before you get there.

Welcome to LBT! Wow, you are almost to your date, I remember how exciting that time is. Sounds like you are doing well with the pre-op. Seeing the weight drop during that phase definitely is a big plus that helps you get through it. Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.

Hi there, and welcome to LBT and bandland. It sounds like things are going well for you so far. If you have any questions, give us a holler!

Good Morning, I just wanted to jump in and say "hello" and welcome to LBT. Although I have lived in Florida since I was 14, I was born and raised in Michigan!

When it comes to fills, one needs to be patient. Most people do not reach proper restriction until after their second or even third fill. And, sometimes it does take up to a couple of weeks for the fill to kick in. I think it is better to approach fills slowly rather than too aggressively. Believe me, I have been overfilled and you do not want to go there.

My surgeon said there is no reason to ever have my band removed, that as long as I want it, it is there for life.

I am so sorry to hear about the problems you have been having. Hopefully everything will work out and you will be feeling better in no time. Please keep us posted as to how you are doing.

Congrats Julie, that is a great NSV! Is it time to do some cleaning out of the closet? I know I had a ton of fun doing that!

Personally, I am surprised that he said 5 pounds in 4 weeks is slow. The band is designed for an average weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week. Based upon that, you are right where you should be.

I am still losing the average 1-2 pounds a week and am thrilled with it. As for 600 calories a day, NO WAY! I would probably die from malnutrition.

It was less than a month for me, but I was also self-pay. I do believe insurance takes much longer.

Sanjaya should have been gone a long time ago. He is a cutie, and seems like a real sweet kid, but he is just plain awful! Obviously, he is getting the teenage girl vote.

Glad it is looking better.