*susan*

I had ruled out bypass, and my husband said there was no way he would go along with bypass. So, I was looking for weight loss support on the internet and somehow stumbled across inamed's site.

That is a fabulous NSV. Isn't wonderful when people begin to notice?

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/248/150 - 15 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/271/150 - 29 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/278/165 - 22 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/239/150 - 72 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/225/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/188/130 - 20 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/205/134 - 29 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/303/150 - 55 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 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/212/140 - 36 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217/201/145 - 16 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/222/140 - 20 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 - 84 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/202/130 - 18 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/253/156 - 35 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/234/150 - 39 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/270/150 - 40 total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/108.7/69 - 13.3 kgs/36 lbs total 4-24: Ceparano - 255/270.5/240/170 - 30 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/258.5/165 - 30.5 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/241/160 - 21 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/244/145 - 26 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/210/145 - 54 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 - 283/267/260.2/145 - 22.8 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/285/145 - 48 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 224/214/182/135 - 42 total

That is very understandable. When I first began researching wls, I was looking at gastric bypass. My dh said no way, he had heard to many horror stories about that, and I had to agree. Then I learned about the band and spent many months researching it. I had him go to the seminar with me and he went and met with the doctor too. That seemed to help alleviate a lot of his concerns. He asked a lot of questions. Has your hubby been to a seminar and met with your doctor? If not, I would suggest that. Knowledge is power and will make him feel better. However, remember, regardless, he loves you and is still going to be worried and nervous until the doctor comes out of the surgery and into the waiting room and tells him everything is fine and you are doing great.

Did you spend the night in the hospital? How long were you on IV fluids? I spent the night and was on IV's the whole time. My understanding is there is a lot of glucose in them. Between that and the constant intake of fluids, weight gain is going to happen. I weighed 7 pounds more when I left the hospital than when I went in. The good news is, that weight will probably come off in your first week at home.

Hi Jane, When my hubby and I are being intimate, I have no awareness of my port or band whatsoever. And, I have asked him, and he says no, he feels nothing different either. As far as the scars, it depends on your level of comfort with someone. I have never been intimate with someone I had not dated for a while and had very strong feelings for. Therefore, once the relationship reached that point, it was more about the feelings we shared for one another and that erased any concerns about how my physical body looked because I knew this person genuinely cared for me.

You can eat cheese? I am jealous! I love cheese, but since having my first fill, I have found I cannot eat any kind of cheese, melted, whole, none.

Having the band will definitely change how you feel about certain foods. But you most defintiely will continue to enjoy eating, sometimes even more than pre-band. One thing I have noticed is that some things I thought I loved before now just gross me out. That is because of the chew, chew, chew rule. I used to love McDonald's french fries and shovel them in. Now, I have had them twice since being banded and after only eating a couple ended up throwing them away. I found that because I chew them more, they just taste like grease to me. Other foods, such as certain fruits and chicken are foods that I have found I actually enjoy the flavor of more because I am chewing them longer. And, I actually found I am more satisified with what I eat as well.

I love cashews and World Market. Guess I will have to take a ride up there tomorrow.

Dang, Melanie, you are doing awesome girl! You were banded two weeks before me and have lost close to 50 pounds and are now officially in onederland! That is fabulous! Congrats, and enjoy that s'more when you reach your next goal, those things are awesome. I believe there is nothing wrong with a special treat, as long as it is not an every night thing. After all, we are still human and want to live and enjoy life.

I agree with Wheetsin, sounds like a stuck/sliming episode, no PB. For me, PB is when I literally wretch and food is forced out of my stomach in a projectile episode. Wow, we have such lovely discussions on here, don't we, lol.

I believe most doctors do require that you have a psychiatric evaluation done prior to approving you for the surgery. I was put off by the idea of it, but actually found the session to go very well in learning about what triggers my eating and how to handle those emotions in a different manner. I think many people turn to food to help them deal with emotional issues. While the band is not a miracle worker, the beauty of it is, if you have proper restriction, at least when you do turn to food as an emotional crutch, you will not be able to go overboard with your eating as the band will not let you.

In terms of recovery time, I have to be honest, it seems like just about everyone on the board is different. I honestly thought I would have the surgery and be up and around in a couple of days. It took me almost 3 weeks before I really started feeling "normal" again. As far as the lifting, have you talked to your doctor about your job requirements to see what he/she suggests? It is really important you follow his suggestions. I know I was told to refrain from heavy lifting and cleaning for a full six weeks.

Actually, for me it is going very well, as my hubby and kids are my greatest supporters. I basically cook the same foods as I always have (we have never made fried foods, we mostly grill everything), I just eat less of it. I cannot eat bread, but I still make it for them. They eat larger quantities than I do, but we still sit down at the table and I finish at the same time as them because I eat very slow now.

PB'ing and plain ol' sliming is not fun. I had my first fill about a month ago and spent the first week pb'ing just about every time I ate. Now, I seem to be doing much better, although it is still a learning experience in terms of what I can and cannot eat. Just remember that after you get your first fill. Everything will change and things you had been eating that were going down fine will not necssarily work for you anymore after you are filled. I have found there are many things I can no longer tolerate and everytime I eat something new, I am very careful with those first few bites. I finally understand the chew, chew, chew rule, it is one of the most important bandster rules.

I do that too! And, my face becomes bright red like a tomatoe. It is rather embarassing.

This is very interesting to me. I am going to start monitoring how many calories I am intaking, because I am losing extremely slow. Yet, I am not eating much at all, because I just am not hungry. I had said I wasn't going to count calories anymore, because that is why I got the band, but maybe I am not taking in enough either. Fitday, here I come. Thanks for bringing this up.

I always wear my shirts a bit too large because I don't want my fat rolls to show. What I am bad about, is I find an outfit or two that I think I look fairly decent in, and I wear it all the time, everywhere. People probably think I can't afford anything else. The other really hard thing for me was when even Lane Bryant clothes didn't come in large enough sizes for me, that really hurt.

I think the hardest part is actually starting an exercise program. I certainly didn't get to the weight I am at now by going to the gym every day. I am a true couch potatoe. I am starting to get the hang of my band finally, and next week, dh and I are joining a gym. I am a bit intimidated by the idea of it, but I know I need to do it. I am inspired by those who are going to the gym and exercising regularly. Do I want to do it to the extent of which they are doing it (i.e., 3 hours a day), heck no! I don't think I could physically do that. But if it works for them, great, that is fabulous. If I can get myself to go for one hour a day, three days a week I am going to be on here tooting my horn, that is for sure!

OMG, I so need those! Since getting my first fill, I have been the queen of pb's and sliming. How convenient. It sure would beat the tupperware bowl I have been carrying around in my jeep!

I'm sure that I must dream, but I never remember them. Maybe that is a good thing.

Aw Vines, what a great NSV! Tell him that is fabulous. I assume he has the band?

Trizzy, I am so sorry that happened to you. But, the important thing is you are doing what you need to do to achieve a healthier you and next summer you will be able to ride any ride you want. I have never had that experience simply because I am so afraid of something like that happening that I just avoid those types of places all together. It makes me sad to think of all the fun times I have missed out on with my kids because of my weight.

Hi Jen, that is great news! Tell the hubby congratulations. I think it will be great for the two of you, and what an awesome support system you will be to each other.

My weight loss is going pretty slow too, definitely so when I look at how much the other April Bandsters have lost compared to myself. So far, I have only had one fill. I know I need another one, but had to learn to play nice with the first one first. I was bad and eating too fast and taking way to big of bites, so I did a lot of pb'ing the first week. But, when I eat slow and take small bites, I can eat a large amount of food. I am thinking about calling my doctor tomorrow and setting an appointment for fill number two. My daughter had the strawberry-kiwi propel fitness Water Sunday when we were at the beach. I was dieing of thirst and took a drink. I know what you mean, that stuff is good! I am going to be stocking my fridge with some. Have a great 4th everyone!