FighterGirl

I rarely eat traditional American breakfast foods, for breakfast, anymore. One of my favorite things to eat in the morning is different stir-frys or sautees with things like black beans, veggies and brown rice. It really helps me stay satisfied

I have been banded for almost 7 years. I did have an issue with slippage, but apparently it was a common issue with fills and the older model band I had had. Since I have been rebanded, almost 4 years now, I have had no problems.

I agree 100%. You have to keep variety and balance in both your exercising and diet. However, as you build muscle, your weight loss may seem to be slowing down, but you may be at a stage where the inches are coming off. I suggest to everyone who is being banded try at the most to only weigh yourself once a week, on the same day, at the same time.

Great attitude. I think it is hard to stay uplifted with the band sometimes when you look at others who have had the bypass also. You sometimes want that overnight result. It took me almost 4 years to reach my goal weight, but the best thing about it is that I have maintained it for the last 3. I think discussion boards and groups are one of the best tools to accompany the band.

Straws are like taking large gulps because of the amount of air and liquid that you take in while drinking may overfill your pouch.

Get unfilled! Do not put yourself through that to try to lose weight. It will come off! It takes awhile to figure out your perfect formula. It took me 4 years to reach my current weight and I had the same ups and downs. I had to constantly go in for fills and reached a point where from being overfilled I had a slippage. The slippage led to rebanding, so find someone local who can help.

Go Ice Prince, Go!

As far as steak, I have learned that rare to medium rare are digestable...especially the higher end cuts. My surgeon suggested something that really works. When I go out to eat, I will have a glass of red wine because it suppose to help relax the esophagus.

Your swelling will be on and off for about a year. I suggest not buying any new clothes and watching your sodium intake. I used bromelain supplements to help with the swelling. It contains the same enzymes as pineapples which help with inflamation and bruising.

Apple skin, orange membranes, well done beef and celery

I have spent my entire life fighting my weight and that was one of my biggest battles. I was a kid and while my family ate fried chichen I was expected to eat salads. You need to honestly tell him that you have not reached the point in your journey to handle the temptation when it is so readily available.

I decided to only tell those closest to me. My parents and my closest friends. The weight loss journey has been a tough one for me. I have failed and had people comment on it or my eating habits just because they knew I was trying to lose weight. I wanted to keep it to myself because I was not strong enough at the time to go to such an extreme and possibly fail. It is all a personal choice and there is no right or wrong here.