Band_Groupie

Remember that besides how you carry your weight (mine's all in the hips) part of this depends on how long ago you wore these sizes as the sizes now are much more generous/larger. I have 'saved pants' in every size and at 170 (5'8.5") now I'm wearing my old size 14's and 16's and I just bought a pair of 12's I can fit into at the store- and fit into all the size 12's there (I came home and tried on my old size 12's and I can't fit into one of them). Well, the good part about this is we older women feel better about the 'smaller' sizes we're wearing (I haven't been in a 12 in 20 years!).

LOL, yeah ym, it would be really good for men's use (and thank you Tx for 'fessing up for my scientific 'study'). The shaper comes all the way up to the bra line so that's why I said I was hoping for more 'boob-top' as a muffin-top isn't possible with it on (pic 2). The jeans are already uncomfortably snug (as is indicated by my muffin top (pic 1) and stretch wrinkles...that are sadly not premade 'age lines' that we pay more for on our jeans), but with the shaper on I felt the tightness of the shaper more than the tight spots (waist mainly) on the jeans. I don't think I'm ever going to be a daily shaper wearer, but I've learned never to say never...I can't wait to see how it 'goes' on my first outing.

Congrats! You're almost there! Start stocking up on things you'll need post-op and good luck with the appts. -BG

Eggs are an easily 'stuck' food for many (they're rubbery and tend to ball up together). If you know you're chewing really well and it's still happening today...call your doc for a small unfill (sometimes a tiny bit out makes a huge difference). Best wishes! -BG

Last Spring (when I was banded) there were very few docs doing the single incision procedure. From what I've seen, most are still doing the 5 incision old method (but you can end up with more if they have problems getting things done- I've seen one person with 9 incisions). I have 2 that are nearly 2", 2 that are about 1" and the last is just a puncture. If you want the single incision I'd start researching docs in your area or do a search here on LBT. Good luck! -BG

I could sleep on my side (sorta) after the second night (I used some extra pillows to prop me into a comfortable position-mainly behind my back). I also took a nap the first few days (only times in my life I could take a nap is when I'm on pain meds). Stay ahead of the pain by taking your meds on time even if you think you don't need them (until you're sure you don't). You won't believe how much better you'll be feeling in a few days. Make sure you keep having someone help you up and down as that's really the worst part and remember the post-op mantra 'walk, walk, walk, and sip, sip, sip!' Best wishes and CONGRATULATIONS Bander! -BG

WELCOME to LBT Dawn! I'm just north of Pittsburgh...snow, snow, snow...it's freezing here! Good luck getting started here, be sure to read the 'stickies' on each of the forums; lots of good information there! -BG

A 1 night stay was required by my insurance.

*Post Deleted for Lap Band Book 　 　

Check out my update on today's blog. -BG

I just had to share…I’m an idiot…OK, you knew that. For those that read yesterday’s blog, a quick update. I was trying on some pants and decided to see how my new body shaper worked under my new too snug size 12 pants (see pics, helps the muffin-top, but I can't tell the difference on the thighs...sigh). So I’m doing my aerobics and working up my usual sweat getting the shaper on…a tug here, a jump there…my crotch is still hanging low, so I go to tug it up… GUESS WHAT?!!! My finger happens to find a hole in the freakin’ crotch!!! I’m serious!!! I’m still in hysterics laughing. OK, I’m not sure how you would manage this hole in the bathroom, or whether they intended it for that use. I looked online, as their tags on it don’t mention this, but online it says a ‘split crotch’…no details on it‘s purpose (I‘m sure they‘re not going to make any promises on use for liability/embarrassment reasons). OK, it’s really not a hole as much as it is two pieces of overlapping fabric…and they overlap more than 2”…you know me, I’m a tester… Yes, I did…well….not really. I got so far as to take off my panties (which raises the question…are you still supposed to wear your panties under these contraptions?) and put the d*rn shaper back on and I sat on the pot. I could use my fingers to get the hole to be pretty big, but not big enough for me to even…ehemmm…risk trying. *Warning TMI (OK, I‘m a little late with that one, sorry)* I’m a ‘dribbler’…after that bladder sling surgery it takes me FOREVER to pee…and after I started the Vesicare pills it now takes an act of God, some serious meditation and prayer, and at least 10 min. So not only would I have to start doing aerobic workouts with my fingers daily to work up to the point where I could sit there for 15 minutes holding this open with them, but I’d have to pee so badly that I’d have a ‘normal stream’. So here’s what I need for my ‘study’….I need a 20 year old, who hasn’t had any children to give this a try and report back to us (I‘m sure I would have figured out a way to do this when I was in my 20‘s…and out to the bars drinking). In fact I’m sure one of you reading my blog had done this, but prefers to remain anonymous…feel free to PM me and share your experience/technique (I can then post for you anonymously). You know me though…if it’s stupid, I’ll be doing it at least once…let‘s just hope it‘s not like my ‘Horrific PB Event‘ when I‘m out to dinner (and decided I could PB between my legs while sitting on the pot)…I know, you‘re all placing your big money bets now…especially after you have that ’Ah-Ha’ moment when you remember I said ’I’m only going to wear the shaper for special events.’

It has done all those things for me, with the exception of 'lose weight faster than just a normal diet'. I think this one gets a lot of people disapointed here. It all depends on how heavy/BMI you are to start, your expectations and your level of effort. I've lost weight MUCH faster on other diets and MUCH faster when I've been more dedicated to exericise (on Atkins I could lose weight VERY fast). Many banders don't lose or even gain until they get some restriction and remember after that the average is 1-2 pounds per week. Having realistic expectations will keep things positive for you as you go along...it's not a race, we're all in this for a lifetime. -BG PS- I should add that I'll take losing the weight slowly for learning how to eat everything in small amounts and NEVER HAVING TO BE ON ANOTHER DIET!!!

Call your doc now and get an Rx today. I always suggest that people not leave the hospital without this Rx. You don't want to start heaving in the middle of the night and have to try getting in touch with your doc. I get migraines (sometimes with bad nausea) and have had to use mine twice since banding and I was so glad I had those little pills. Being newly banding is definitely a risky time to be vomiting before the stiches on your band have healed. -BG

- The kids all had a great holiday…they are enjoying their favorite gifts; DD- all the new clothes, shoes, and beauty items; DS1- his new (used) desk and new comfy office chair (which he vows to somehow fit into the minivan to go back to school with him); and DS2- his new acoustic (w/electric) guitar. Mostly, they’ve enjoyed spending quality time together. - I wish I could say there was no holiday drama, but it always finds a way in. This time it was a boyfriend/break-up right before Christmas (poor timing). I’ll just say that DD is doing alright and was out with friends a lot over the holidays. She got inspired to clean out her bedroom (most of her stuff from college was jammed into her room on a shelving unit and in boxes, and under her on-lifts bed)…so we all pitched in and helped her take everything she doesn’t need out to the ‘clubhouse’ in the back yard for storage. She took off the bed lifts, bought some shoe storage boxes for under the bed and she’s almost done cleaning up. A ’fresh start’ is a good thing sometimes. - On a lighter note, DS1 has a new girl he met at college (not sure if she's an official 'GF' or not) …they have been back and forth the hour drive several times already and he’s off to see her again today. - Mom’s birthday was yesterday…I miss her, but am thankful Mom and Dad were able to visit us just before Christmas. - DH and I, although we missed seeing both our extended families, enjoyed our first holiday season without any travel. It was much more relaxing/non-stressful and provided many quality moments with the family. The kids have really appreciated it as they’ve been able to see/spend time with their friends as well (I can’t tell you how many times I was giving thanks, w/all the boyfriend/girlfriend issues that we were home). DS1 was also able to work (restaurant) over the holidays for some extra cash for school. - We took the kids last night to see Avatar and then out to dinner to celebrate our ‘last moment of the holiday’. I had a wonderful ‘moment’ watching them ‘plan’ on what order they were going to sit together at the theater (it’s nice to see that even as they get older they enjoy each other’s company). Great 3-D movie BTW…and for those of you that get sick watching IMAX or 3-D movies (I can’t even watch the ones at Epcot without feeling sick) I had no problems at all. It's a stunningly beautiful must-see movie. - Everyone (except DS1, who has another week home from college) is now back to work/school…depressing……..for them - Most of the holiday decorations are already down (I hate that job) and I’ve got a dining room table full of ornaments to finish packing up today…depressing………for me * Oh, and Kay...I'm sorry I forgot to post the kitchen tool tree pic, but I remembered yesterday when I was packing it up. Attached are a few pics of the little tree and a pic of my red handled kitchen tools (now you all know I'm clinically insane...my family calls this part of my 'rust' collection). - From 12/18 until today (the past 2.5 weeks), I’ve lost 3 pounds…it still continues to amaze me (losing weight over the holidays). I’m at 170.5, so (as Xavier would say) I’m headed back to the 60’s (yes, I remember the 60’s…I was a child, but I remember LOL). - I bought a size 12 pair of pants this weekend…yes, I can barely button them, but the 14’s were a little too roomy. I’ve got them hanging up in my closet ‘front and center‘ (in front of my shelves) as my next goal (size 24 to a 12!). I also bought a piece of ‘shape wear’ for the first time, but more about that later. 　 Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season full of time with your families! As I sit here and listen to the ‘Today Show’ with segment after segment about weight loss (ahh…January), I’m headed into this New Year with renewed hope that as much as last year was all about my weight, sometime this year…it won’t be.

Yeah, those phallic symbols must go through a dormant stage even in warm weather. Now I'm bummed that yours blooms!!! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS on taking your next step...and welcome to LBT! -BG

Pics can be added under 'manage attachments' below where you type your blog. Your ticker won't show up in blogs, but you can 'copy' and 'paste' it here from your signature. -BG

Yep, they need a 'head band'...the first step for me on that path was (after differentiating between hunger and head hunger) letting myself feel the emotions I was having when head hunger strikes (whithout stuffing it away with food)...harder still was trying to identify which emotion it was and much harder...triggers. Best wishes! -BG

You need a little unfill. You need to be able to eat solid proteins at every meal. It's been more than a month, so this won't change unless you lose a lot of weight/fat where the band is...and that doesn't happen very fast. Call your doc today. -BG

Throwing up is not a normal part of banding, however having the band makes it much more likely that this will happen if you're not careful. It's not really the same as 'throwing up' either as it's more like the food only comes up, sometimes just a mouthful (and no bile) and it's called a PB. Some banders never PB...me, I'm a slow learner so I've had my share of PB's but not often (always operator error- not chewing well enough or eating too fast). Any bander whose throwing up daily without it being 'operator error' is running the risk of a slip and they're too tight. -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander and welcome to LBT! Growling is normal BTW. -BG

Now that's some serious food porn LOL!!! Don't forget to take your 'before' measurements as well...when the scale doesn't move these can be motivating. Have fun at the pre-op! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS! There's nothing like an approval and a surgery date!! -BG

YAY Mushies!!! Congrats on the WL! -BG

Great story! I can't wait to hear the follow-up with the fast, as I'm sure you'll be leading everyone through this! -BG