Hotenuf2

I think the ladies gave you great advise. I have them as well, but I will say I did not for this. I KNEW in my heart it was for me. To save my life, save me from myself. That was 4 yrs ago!! Best thing I ever did for me! For my family. The surgery was easy. Recover was easy. Fills--I worried about--EASY! Do whatever you need to do to calm yourself. Music, positive self talk, meds if need be. Berating yourself will do no good as we have all learned being heavy, we berate...we eat...then start that cycle all over. This is a new begining, a new world, a new way of thinking. A positive attitude is a must I think. Hey! A Patti LaBelle song! ha ha. When you are on your way to your new habits--follow the rules. It is easy when you do that. I am not saying it is perfect, but I would do it over and over again! This tool is amazing! Best of Wishes!

Good job! And GREAT advise...there is always the next meal...no rush. Marie

I tell you, I would rather lose slow than be miserable with an over fill! I have twice had to have some removed, and was so thankful this sucker is adjustable!! I stalled a couple of times, mostly cause I got stuck in a craving and indulged it. But each fill is differnt, and sometimes each day is different, so definantly just let your body tell you what it needs (except when it says NACHOS!! ha). I am amazed everyday, sometimes each meal, how different the eating will be. But after 9 months and 7 fills or so, I am super happy, happy how I feel, my loss which is not huge like a few others but still around 70ish, is more than I would have been able to do alone. Part of it is I go in each time and am honest with the Dr....I ate badly, I didn't workout...whatever, and I do my best not to kick myself because I took THIS step to have a tool installed and it will happen. I say well...22/24...15/16... woohooo even when I only lose a little. Stay positive and expect so so many changes and roll with them. Enjoy the journey...because not just your body that changes..hopefully your brain will change, what you tell yourself will change. I think that is the hardest part of it all. Success is already here! Oh...and send me some of that Workout mojo cause I have yet to find that!! Happy THanksgiving! Marie

I am glad your family was not horribly injured. This is life--the part WE struggle with, the one we wll continue to fight, the one that made us overweight to begin with.. How we deal with sadness, stress, pain, happiness...all of it. Our new tool...is just that, it doesn't fix what is in our heads. But you can do it. I too was stalled and also due to my own wants--all the wrong things for a month, At 9 months out am actually eating a couple bites and thinking ok I am full. AND stopping! ha ha. Though I 'want' more...for the taste, for the soothing factor, whatever is messed up in my head, but it is happening. I have had several fills, and a couple of un-fills....and may have finally found the spot. I certainly do not have the challenges you have had lately and I think everyone would struggle under such stress. Do not kick yourself ! Just keep trudging along and know that you have the tool, and ok if right now is tough, it is ok, the next meal (not day) is a whole new chance. Use your tool, use the advise here. Try the liquid thing...I have been lucky, I go back to meat, ice water and low to no carbs. Best of luck. Happy Thanksgiving!

WOW!!! Congrats for the great job!! I am not at my year (Feb)...and in my head I can't even IMAGINE going from the same wieght as you (appx) to anything under 2 digits! lol Your posts are very motivating and positive...keep it up for the rest of towin' the line! Marie

Thanks guys! I appreciate it greatly...and will try both!

Ok so my last fill,,,unfill...has left me with needing to crush all my pills. After almost a year of getting away with just cutting them in half. Barfing them is NOT an option! ugh. So I crushed them...and used cookies and cream ice cream to get them down. just 4 spoonfuls, But I am looking for a better way to then get the powder down. A few taste SO bad...I had to chase the ice cream with water to even get that to slide down. So please share with me what you guys do to take your pills easier. Eww..but let me add...after my un-fill...I feel so much better and am down to 219!! HOLY COW~!! IT is amazing!

It does suck a bit...BUT after my 4 day 'withdrawl' I felt GREAT!! What saved me...BACON!! And those stupid Pork Rinds--gag..now I have NEVER eaten them before and admitted they were gross...but I guess I have a crunchy snacking issue at night, 3 of those suckers and I felt ok. That said--it is SO SO SO SO SO Worth it!! Don't give up...or give in...The BEST thing I have ever done for myself! I had surgery FEb 12 2010...down 69lbs or so...and feel great. You will do it!

I did try the hot tea before eating yesterday. But last night--I hardly slept and I can just feel it, waiting for me to open my mouth! lol...BLOOP! THanks for your encouragement--I just have to wrap my head around doing it right--that is what the "tool" is for. Hope your fill works itself out too! But I am waiting impatiently for 8am to call and get back in. Thank goodness they are only 45 min away.

SO my fill is WAY too tight. I thought I could work it and give it time to stretch...but looks as if barfing in your sleep is not normal--who knew?? (sarcastic) I hate to do it. Because I think damn now I am going to have to work hard to lose....silly huh? I am...because my brain still works the same way...thinks the same way about food. BUT I can't be barfing up my half digested meds, and burning my throat and feeling this bad. THIS is not the way I want to do it! I will try to come back on and let you all know how the un-fill went. One door closes, another opens---boy I hope so!

wow! Discouraging. My wish for you is that you find a Dr. that wants to do LapBand! I know they have thier prefernces, but I think what WE want is important in what will be succesful for us. It worries me he is changing up now. I would do this over and over! It is exactly what I expected (even thru the tough times) and I hope this works out for you. Remember if THIS doesn't happen this time, maybe there is a better Dr for you out there. One door closes another opens.

I should just schedule writing to my blog every 3 months at this rate. Geesh! Ok so lets see...I had another fill last week, and am SNUG!! but I am working with it. I fought myself , did I want one before the Holidays, going home to good ole home-cooking. But I decided--DUH!! that is my mental problem!! The last 20 yrs of my life thinking about eating all wrong. lol So I explained to my Dr. who is cautious with fills at this time of year....for this exact reason, but he agreed I was thinking right for me. For now. I told myself, I can still eat ANYTHING I want, just less, and isn't that the point of WHY I did this?? yes! Yes is my answer. If I continue to do what I did, I will continue to be what I was. I am hoping for some relaxation on the band, but it has only been a few days. So I have faith. I have actually been using the elliptical, OMG who knew I was so out of shape. Man was I in DENIAL! ha ha. let me just share, I started doing 1:10 on it..that is minutes folks! ha ha.. I eventually worked to 5 minutes in a row! So proud. Then had a set back got sick, then bruised/cracked a rib (proving being thinner isn't always good! :bored:). Which let me tell you is the most painful thing next to a ruptured disc I have felt, plus it takes so long to heal. I ordered a weighted hula hoop...came the day after the 'rib incident'. And I dont know about you guys but if there is a reason to put off excersize it seems to multiply in spades for me. I hate it! Hate to do it, hate to think about it...Even when it is fun. Ok..so I ended up with only a 2 lb loss before this last fill..I had lost 12...but two weeks before the fill, I got so hungry and just ate, and ate, and not good stuff. I couldnt keep down my protien but I sure could keep down crackers and chips. So gained the 10 back and fast. Now 5 days after this fill, lost 8 of those...but I am half miserable waiting for that stretch to come...jsut a little. I am also focusing on that protein! Trying my best to go for those first. I keep saying even if I stay right here, at 220 (from 286) I am SO happy...I feel SO much better health wise (rib excluded). Not thrilled with the naked me...but hey...it will get there, or it will get fixed! ha ha. I hope you are all doing well! Enjoying the journey.