Pinkylee

Dancing Queen: Yeah! for you! You look great. So much smaller, and no more double chin, and your smile is bigger--no wonder. Bet you're dancin' now! Thanks for the pictures! and sharing them with your Junebies.

Anyone having trouble finding clothes that fit? My old 20's and 22's are passable, but frumpy looking. Plus sizes fit in waist, but baggy everywhere else. Regular ladies 18 the waist is tight, but fit (if you can find them) I still don't like to wear anything tight around the waist and I'm not fond of stretchy waistbands. Even some of my shoes are looser! I was feeling pretty smug about myself and DH took a few snapshots for before and after. FYI--white shirts don't do "thing one" for minimizing fat rolls! I'll wait to post until next month or until I can buy a more flattering t-shirt!

Everyone is different. Whatever you choose to use--use it often and massage as deeply as you can. I have opted for the cheaper drugstore products (nivea, eucerin, etc) so that I can "slather" it on. For my face I use Origins and I swear by it. ONe small $30 jar lasts me almost 2 months. I use it sparingly. I like their "have a Nice Day" line better than their new stuff. Congrats on the amazing loss!

In pre-band days--when you were under stress--did your stomach tighten or get "upset"? Mine sure did The band heightens stressed out muscles and tummies for obvious reasons. Personally--when I ride for any distance in the car with DH driving, I feel as if someone is tightening my band with a wrench! Another "tightener" is milk or dairy products. They produce more moucus in the stomach which will diminish the opening temporarily. (My PR rep at the fill center clued me in on this uncontrollable phenomenon.)

I save my viactiv carmel until after 10:00 p.m. It gets me thru the evening without snacking. I try to pretend my chewable centrum is like a sweet tart--but it doesn't hold a candle to my viactiv carmel.

Terisita: Don't you feel great? I think about how many "bowling balls" I've lost. Think about the heavy ones at the alley--12 pounds is really heavy to me. I've lost more than 2 of them. Terisita--you've lost 8. Jus think how much easier it is to move with out carrying 8 bowling balls every step you take. Thank You God!

Randi-- What comes on fast leaves fast.

Current: 213.5 (-29.5 Total since Join) -2 This week

:update: Water Challenge: Barbara465--7 Pinkylee--6 PAB--3 Poodles--1 Cathy--1 Way to go Barbara. She posted that it's getting easier all the time. A NEW CHALLENGE: The person who posts the mosts blue smiley's (total) by September 7 will receive a $5 gift certificate from Amazon.com from me. PLEASE PM ME IF I MISSED YOU OR GOT A NUMBER WRONG!

Barbara12-- I would call Patriece (our PR gal at surgi center who is our "cheerleader") and find out. I'm sure it's time and money and the fill nurses do as well (maybe more gentle) on fills as the docs can.

Houston, We Have Restriction. Fill yesterday. Floura (whatever) showed no restriction before they began. They have me at 2.7cc now. This morning--coffee went down smooth 2 sips of Protein drink--I had to quit! Too thick. Hopefully I'll loosen up. My fill nurse yesterday wasn't as adept as the nurse for my first fill. What an ordeal--not painful--but a lot of poking around. Wish me luck--I don't want to go through an unfill any time soon!

MIL's. Honestly, my hurt is too deep and embarrasing to share, but my MIL married a man 20 years younger than she and it has been an unbelievable struggle. We lived 1500 miles away from family for 17 years. I've been continually belittled since we moved back. It took a long time to accept reality--I'm nothing more than a nurse and maid. Someone to do all the "dirty work", but no one to respect. I still love her, feel sorry for her, but I'll never spend time alone in their presence again. My own DM can be a pain at times--but her heart is always in the right place. MIL's can be deliberately mean spirited and you never know when they will strike.

Care to name your favorite Protein? Someone mentioned PORK CHOPS and they were something I forgot all about! Thanks! MY FAVORITE PROTEIN IS THIn SLICED BAR B Q BRISKET FROM HEB GROCERY STORE. Pre-cooked, Lean and easy to chew to a pulp!

I had some well-meaning friends (a couple) tell me "we are going to accept ourselves just like we are". Last time I looked in the mirror the real me was hiding under a large layer of fat--built by low self-esteem, anger, frustration..... The large layer of fat isn't the real me. The real me is starting to emerge. LB has given me another chance to "accept myself just the way I was meant to be!"

Maryb Sometimes it feels like they did! LOL My pet peeve is to be compared to a gastro-bypass patient. I find myself stressing 1 - 2 pound loss per week is normal with the band.

Barb-- Great idea! I'd rather eat veggies than protein any day--I need to do better. I've added 2 snacks to my "3 small meals" plan. Can't seem to get enough food to feel good if I don't. Is anyone out there successful at the lap band's "recommended" 3 small meal plan?

ooouuuccchhh! I see myself in some of these comments. This is a juicy thread! I don't like lengthy "timeline" dissertations--I haven't had a bm in 3 days--I can't understand it because 4 days ago I ate everything in sight--and then yesterday I---blah blah blah.

:Banane49: :):Banane49::Banane49::Banane49::Banane49::Banane49: So glad to hear your good news! You deserve it Barb. I'd like in on Christmas Challenge if I'm not already. My stats are already on my signature line. Start: 215.5 Current: 215.5 Goal: 175

You are not alone. I was where you are several years ago. I began drinking sugar free hot chocolate (around 70 calories) if I had the "CRAZIES". It was just enough chocolate to get me through and the warm drink cut my appetite. I tried to drink only 2 per day. Good luck to you. What's really going on here is probably your nerves over upcoming wedding. Write down your "pits" and your "positives" regarding the big day and you may find you have more control.

I drank a glass of Water before my mushie meal and waited l-l/2 hours after my "meal" before drinking again. The trick is to keep the mushies in your tummy as long as you can. Fluids wash it out quickly! Count your calories!!! Mushies can be fattening. Eat slow and savor each bite. Remember--mushies aren't forever!

PNut-- Your new pics are amazing! What a transformation. You look so young!!! Next time you go buy wine, you may be carded!!! Telly-- I'm so glad ur back. You are one motivational gal. To everyone who posts regularly here--THANKS!!! You are brave, inspirational, entertaining, handsome, beautiful, funny, witty---need I go on? :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Congrats on the two years of success!

I have a similar story to yours. I am at 1.5 (wanted more, but didn't get it) on first fill. I quit losing for about a week and then my loss has been a little over a pound a week since then. Please check June Bandsters (4 star) thread from around mid - end of July. So many of my fellow bandsters got more than 1.5 or went quickly to get another fill when first wasn't enough. Many had some painful and difficult days. Several had to have some fill removed for a time. I really wanted to lose 8# a month after first fill--especially this early in the game, but I'm content with my loss. (lost 15# of my weight first wk pre and post op). I'm exercizing and feeling great. I'm ready for my second fill this Tuesday. Better to remain healthy and lose slow for a few weeks. Too much fill rarely brings success. Good luck and God bless your decision.

Barb-- Glad you made it back ok. Congrats on doing well. Sorry I was late posting. Is water consumption getting any easier? You seem to be doing really well. Re: Stress tightening band Do you feel like someone's "ratcheting" your band tighter and tighter when stressed? I love to drive the freeways if I'm at the wheel--anyone else (especially DH) and I'm getting tighter every mile. Frightening! Have a good week.