*susan*

Karel, I am so sorry to hear about all the difficulties you are having. I hope that everything gets straightened out soon for you and will keep you in my thoughts. Have you done weight watchers before? I have been on it many times and of all the weight loss programs out there, I honestly feel they are the best. They have such a healthy approach and advocate slow weight loss is healthier. Their program is very easy to follow. And like you already mentioned, you buy, plan and eat your own meals, none of that processed, frozen stuff. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Jaclyn, what an amazing accomplishment! It helps us all to know that it can be done. I don't suppose you would be willing to post some before and after pictures, I would love to see them, hint hint.

Hi Heidi, I really don't have much to add, as I agree it depends so much on your height, build, etc. However, I did want to comment that I love your signature with your two beautiful babies, that is so cool!

Molly, that is fantastic! Congratulations on hitting the 50 pound gone mark, that is a huge accomplishment and one to definitely be proud of. Now, do you have before and after photos for us yet?

Kat, I am so happy to hear that your grandaughter is doing better, that is wonderful news. LapBandit, I order stuff from the homeshopping network all the time. On most of the larger items, you can purchase in one lump sum, or monthly payments. I bought it using the monthly payment amount. It would cost me about the same as joining a gym, except everything will be paid off in 5 months, and I will be more likely to keep using it as opposed to going to the gym.

My surgeon had me on a one week restriction from driving. After that, as long as I was off the pain meds, I was free to drive again. That worked out for me fine, because I didn't feel like going anywhere for a week anyways.

This thread has so motivated me. I already have a Proform Treadmill at home, that I workout on with ifit.com. Hubby and I were talking about joining a gym, but knowing us, we would sign a year's contract and never go due to conflicting schedules, etc. So, we have a den with nothing in it but our computer server and the treadmill. We decided to turn it into our own personal gym. I just ordered the ProForm Elliptical Machine and Tony Little Ab Lounge Xtreme with Workout DVD from HSN.com. I am so excited. And, I am shocked to realize that after I work out, I am not exhausted and worn out for the day. I actually am full of energy and ready to go. This is so exciting!

These look good. I have MasterCook, so I am going to download them into that and see if it will break them down for me and give me the nutritional information.

Thanks for posting this, I had never even been to that website. I am going to order a few samples though. I am very tight in the mornings and can only get liquids down first thing. Right now I am drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast, but it is a bit high in calories.

Awww, what a great NSV and a great day to have it on too! Happy anniversary!

Fabulous, a beautiful transformation!

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/238/150 - 25 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/271/150 - 29 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/225/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/178/130 - 30 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/190.5/134 - 43.5 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/277/150 - 81 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/184/135 - 55 total 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 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/212/140 - 36 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/200/145 - 17.5 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/207/140 - 35 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-18: LapBandit - 392/369/347/336/324/308/298 - 94 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/188/130 - 32 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/253/156 - 35 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/226/150 - 47 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/248/150 - 62 total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/106.6/69 - 18.4 kgs/40.4 lbs total 4-24: Ceparano - 255/270.5/230/170 - 40 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/233.5/165 - 55.5 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/241/160 - 21 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/244/145 - 26 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/204/145 - 60 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 - 283/267/249.4/145 - 31.5 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/268/145 - 65 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 224/214/175/135 - 49 total 4-28: MomofSixKids - 240/238/210/150 - 30 total

I agree that the best thing to do is talk to your surgeon and take everything into consideration. I do think it would be very difficult taking care of a new born while you are recovering from major surgery yourself though. Would you have help at home for a while?

9/1: None 9/2: Ice Cream instead of exercise, bad me. 9/3: 30 minutes on the treadmill! 9/4: None 9/5: 30 minutes on the treadmill 9/6: 45 minutes packing and moving heavy boxes 9/7: 30 minutes moving boxes and 30 minutes treadmill 9/8: None, was sick all day :sick 9/9: 30 minutes on the treadmill

I love the costume, it is so cute. Did that have anything to do with Pirates of the Carribean? Your son is adorable, what a sweet smile. And, it drives me nuts how early the put out the Christmas stuff. My goodness, at least let us get past Halloween and into November first. They start with all the propaganda so early, that I find I am sick of Christmas a month before it ever gets here. It is sad that it has turned into such a money-making thing.

I am so jealous that you can eat rice! One of my favorite places to eat is our local Japanese Steak House, I love fried rice with shrimp sauce on it. But, ever since I have obtained good restriction, rice is not my friend. It only takes about two bites and I am running off to PB land. Oh, how I miss my rice!

I think it depends on the individual person and their doctor. I saw my doctor quite a bit in the first few weeks after banding. When I had my first fill, he told me to keep him posted on how it went. He requires that we wait 4 weeks between fills. So, basically, if and when I feel the need for a fill, I contact him. When I go for my appointment, I tell him how I am feeling, whether or not I am experiencing hunger, how long between meals before I get hungry, how much I am able to eat at one time, etc. He also weighs me to look at how much weekly weight loss I am averaging. After taking everything into consideration, he decides if he is going to let me have a fill and how much.

There was a bunch of stuff that was really bad about two weeks ago and many of the threads were locked, and I think even removed. However, the members that were involved were all banned from LBT. Everything has died down and everyone has moved on. LBT has gone back to being the wonderful support board it was meant to be, thank goodness.

Not to get too personal, but is it that time of month or close to it? I have found that when I start PMS'ing, until shortly after I start, I am so bloated that I get extremely tight. Also, if I have not been drinking enough Water, I tend to retain it and get tight then too. Just a couple of possible reasons.

I also have never been given any food restrictions prior to the fill. Only afterwards. I am on liquids for 24 hours, them mushies 24 hours and then back to normal. Fills are not bad at all. In fact, I find it kind of amusing when the doc has you sit up and you still have this needle poking out of your tummy. But, they really don't hurt at all. Good luck.

It should be something that is determined by both you and your doctor. Basically, you will let him know how you are feeling, such as, are you hungry, how soon after eating do you get hungry again, how much are you able to eat at one time, etc. Your doctor will take all of this into consideration. He/she will also look at how much weight you are losing and what it averages out to per week. After taking all of that into consideration, a decision will be made as to whether or not you need a fill, and how much. I would say, seeing you are six weeks out and have not had a fill, you will definitely be getting one at this visit. After all, the band is designed to work with fills, not without them. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Yep, that is the golfball. If you find that you are having difficulty with full on solids, maybe you should go back to mushies or liquids for a few more days. It is difficult to get used to taking tiny bites and chewing to mush, but it really is so important that you do so. Someone suggested this to me when I was having problems and it worked for me. Have you tried getting baby utensils. By using them, you will be able to get about the perfect sized bandster bite. I just used them until I really learned how small of bites I needed, and it worked wonderful. Also, put your fork down between bites, chew, chew and chew so more, and wait about a minute before you take that next bite.

Becky, those are wonderful NSV's, and you are having so many of them, how exciting! I think the NSV's are just as great as the SV's.

First off, I want to wish you good look with your surgery. It is the day after tomorrow, are you getting excited yet? I remember two days before mine I couldn't wait. As far as hot and cold drinks, I have not been able to tolerate anything cold since getting my band. I have to let everything I drink get to room temperature, otherwise it causes me pain. I have no idea why, it just does. Everyone is different though, and everyone's bands tolerates different things.

9/1: None 9/2: Ice Cream instead of exercise, bad me. 9/3: 30 minutes on the treadmill! 9/4: None 9/5: 30 minutes on the treadmill 9/6: 45 minutes packing and moving heavy boxes 9/7: 30 minutes moving boxes and 30 minutes treadmill 9/8: None, was sick all day :sick Kat, I hope your grandaughter gets to feeling better quickly! I know how hard it is when the little ones like that are not feeling well. They are so helpless and we would do anything to be able to take their place. And Hulia, welcome to the group!