vlynnfogg

I guess the ONE thing that is better than getting the band is HAVING A BABY:baby: I am really excited for you Blondy...glad you found out now before you really got started on the Band-wagon... I've noticed how wonderful all of you are doing and am so proud to see all of your successes...Our Spring Break begins today and I am soooo ready for it...got lots of cleaning to do, but ready for a little R & R...Just hope I can keep on track while I am at home near a refrigerator all day... My first fill didn't do much for me either as far as hunger goes...but the second has definitely proven a much needed difference...before, I really wasn't sure if I was stopping in time to consider it to be NOT overeating, so I just would judge for myself...now, after my 2nd fill, I can tell when enough is enough...I drink a slimfast for Breakfast and about 2/3 of it is plenty...glad to have a STOP point...

just a quick note while my students are out of the room for a minute... Got my 2nd fill yesterday and can already tell a difference...just ate two crackers and already feel like I have ate too much...hoping this will help...I am trying really hard this week to do a lot of drinking (water, of course) and walking... I am really proud of you Sugarbear and Blondylocks for the efforts that you are both putting into doing everything...you will not regret it, I promise...it may be a little difficult now, but in the end, you will prevail... lo2us...I am sure that you will have a tube, I have had a lot of surgeries in the past 2 years and each time they are put in after I go to sleep and taken out before I wake up...yea, you might have a little tenderness in the throat, but I am not sure it is the tube or the oxygen drying your esophagus out...with a little water, or chipped ice, that goes away pretty quickly...please don't worry too much about the surgery itself...it really isn't bad...about 30-45 minutes and that's it... talk at you guys again soon, Hello Lisa...

Hey, ya'll...sorry I haven't been on for a few days...had lots to do and just haven't had the time... Glad to see everyone doing so well...I go tomorrow for another fill and so looking forward to maybe start losing good again...I have slowed way down in the last 3-4 weeks...(1-2 lbs a week, if any at all)...I know most of my problem is my walking and drinking the water...I don't do enough...what motivates you guys to MAKE time for these things...I have good intentions, but a lot of times don't get around to doing them for having other things going on... Also, do you think it is possible to be losing even though you aren't losing by the scales? What I mean is, I feel like I am losing more because my clothes and things that I can do are easier...but the scales only said 1lb this week...kinda getting discouraged I guess...I have lost so well up to this point that I am expecting a good loss every week I suppose...

Hello to you all...it has been an awesome day today...ready for SPRING!!! Blondylocks...wishing you the best on your pre-op...keep in mind the things that we have all shared about this experience...it is for but a short while and then life will change for the better...hang in there...remember to not sacrifice nutrition for lack of taste...drink the liquids you need so that you don't get weak and run down...keep in touch with your progress...when is your surgery date again? Sugarbear...sounds like you are doing wonderful...it took about a week for the pressure of the gas pockets to disappear for me...the walking helped a lot, but I seemed to get more in the upper part of my chest and shoulder area...it too will "pass"..LOL Lisa, how are you doing? hopefully well...I go for my 2nd fill on Monday...you should be getting one soon too, right?...I am feeling the need for one and getting more weight off... lo2us and Melanie...I encourage you to ask any questions you have about the band...I think most of us on this thread are fairly new to the band, but I think we can give you a fresh outlook on what to expect...unfortunately, I don't know a whole lot about the insurance portion of the band (I am not real clever on those types of issues...Thank God for Betty), but I will try to do my best to help...I do know that the Texarkana Team has been a great experience and I will recommend them to all who are interested from this area... We (Texarkana Bandsters) have grown together as a "Banded Family" because we have so much in common and that is worth a lot when you are looking for support in such a major decision as this...I am glad to have these ladies to talk to and to get advice and support from as well as comfort...Obesity is a disease and it is not easy to overcome alone...

Hello, lo2us...welcome to our thread... First, you are on the right track...I researched and read about the Lapband for about 6mo. to a year before I had it done...I wanted to know all there was to know...It prepared me for what I was to expect and what I would be changing about my life...of course there is no reality factor more evident until you have it done, then it is more real to you...you can tell from our tickers who has had it done longer and our progress...this is a great place to start your research...just about anything you want to know about the band you can find already being discussed or you can ask someone...all I have ever gotten have been straight, to the point, and unbiased answers...that is what you need in a deal such as this...you don't want any "sugar-coating"...hope we can help

Paula, how are you doing??? Haven't heard from you in a while...hope your doing great...let us know.

Remember..."Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life..." I was the first to surgery, too...they will get all of your prep work done and out of the way early, and then you wait. . . it didn't take long for them to come take me back (seems like it was around 7:15 or so) and they were all really nice, too, at the hospital...when you go back to your little cubby area, they will give you some water and as soon as you feel like it, get up and walk...I was home from Texarkana by 11:30 AM (and I live 1 hour away)...it really is a breeze... Do you have to wear the Nausea Patch?...if so, I had trouble with my mouth and lips getting extremely dry...I almost felt like my throat was closing up...I had to finally suck on some ice to help with the dryness...they said it was normal, so be ready for it...

Good luck, Sugarbear...can't wait to be hearing from you on the other side of Banded Land...So right on the money...walk as soon as you can...helps with the gas too...by the way you also get to wear those SEXY white leggings for a few days too...

Hello...December Bandsters in March... I suppose my goal is going to be to lose 10 pounds for the month, walk at least 3 times a week, and DRINK MORE WATER!!! (in case you don't understand, Water is my worst "non-habit"!!!) I go for my 2nd fill in a week and I hope I will be able to tell a big change as a result...

Sorry guys, my computer is down and not quite sure what is wrong with it, so I probably won't be on much for a few days...don't worry, I won't be gone long...you guys are addictive, I couldn't stay away too long...get back to you when I can (I am on my computer at school right now...just in case you thought I had gone nuts...):notagree

Hey guys...just finished reading everything and enjoy seeing us all become close friends and have never really formally met in person...it's something how you can get to know someone without visually meeting them and feeling like you have known them for a long time...really, we should do all of our relationships that way so that we don't become judgemental based on physical aspects first...ANYWAY!!!! Glad to see you are all doing so well, the weather is great and I am ready for another fill (my 2nd)...have really had trouble with wanting to eat often...seems like I stay hungry more than I did...I go in on Mar. 12th...I have slowed down on losing and I get discouraged and start wondering "what am I doing wrong?"...I have even thought that I wasn't eating ENOUGH...go figure...but I wasn't getting even the 800 calories they recommend, so that is why I thought that...Oh well, it will get there, eventually... Sugarbear, I was told that "liquid" meant anything that was the consistency of drinking through a straw...even if you watered down your mashed potatoes...creamed soups are good, but you need to wait at least a week after surgery, because even though it is a liquid consistency, it is still thicker than clear broth...it is important to allow your band to heal and develop its own stitiching around it so that it won't slip...I think of it as it needs to scab over so it will stay in place...(gross, I know)...so don't push too early...about a week and you should be able to handle some creamy creamy soups...but, again, don't try to do too much more than that until you are supposed to...It will still be hard, but it won't be SlimFast...hahahaha.... My fill didn't hurt BAD, but it smarted a little...I reallly think she didn't give it time to deadin' before she started and it just wasn't quite numb enough...Yeah, DON"T LOOK AT THE NEEDLE!!!

GREAAAAT...8 pounds is wonderful in a week... I understand, you are feeling the same "jitters" I did...I am going to look for that "cranberry apple"...it sounds good...That is my weakness, WATER...I don't drink enough and anything I can use to get me to drink more I need to try...Countdown is on...5, 4, 3, 2, 1...SURGERY!!!!

Blondylocks, if you can find a support meeting close enough you need to go...you will get a lot of support as well as information to help you...I have really learned a lot from going...and I have met a lot of new people that I didn't know had this done ...(Idabel, Okla.) We always are in need of support...I don't think you can ever have TOO much!!! Sugarbear, wondering how you are doing...6 days to go!!! How much have you lost so far? if I may ask...more than happy to respect if you don't want to share!!!

Hope everyone is doing great... Glad to see you are getting along on your pre-op Sugarbear...can't wait until next week... Congratulations, Blondylocks...always glad to hear when someone else has decided to change their life for the better... By the way, I can now say I have lost "40" pounds...40 just seems like so much more than thirty-something...still not down to the "I weigh a hundred and something" phrase yet...but getting there!!! Have a prosperous and splendid week, ya'll....

Alice...I understand, too..."have been there, done that"... Please don't let other people convince you that "you wanted this done, deal with it..." It is an issue that is worth wondering about...It seems you have only had one fill (like me) and I am doing some of the same things...I really don't want anything in the morning, I seem to scarf down my lunch at noon, and by 3:00, I am feeling like I am starving to death (I teach school, so NOT snacking through the day is easier, because I can't eat in my classroom)...but boy howdy, when I get home, I am looking for something...anything... I have started making sure that I have things to eat that if I need something to eat between meals, it is healthy and I like (cottage cheese, small fruit cups, PB crackers, veggies that I can grab like olives, little tomatoes, carrots, etc...) that way, I can eat something, but it's not going to give me a whole lot of extra calories either... As far as eating too much of it, I just have to make myself say "this is all I can have..." Also, you may not be getting enough in during the morning time to keep your body from being hungry...I can usually tell that when I get the hungriest, I usually hadn't had much that morning... This is what helps me...hope it helps From what I have read, it will take a few fills to lose this "hungry" feeling...I am hoping so, because its getting harder and harder to convince myself that I don't need to eat anything...

"finding out how much I lived to eat"... so true...when I began all of this, and of course, it had to be during the Christmas holidays, it was an eye-opener to me, too...I had been trying to get this done since May 2006 (through insurance)...I had gotten out of school for Christmas break on Friday, and on Tuesday of the following week (19th) they called and said the ins. had approved, start pre-op tomorrow, surgery will be next Thursday (28th)...BAM< BAM< BAM..It was "all of a sudden" here...I didn't have time to work up to it or get prepared for it or anything...My husband and I were basket cases (cried a lot) for that whole week, not knowing if this was the right thing for me to do, would it change me, how would it effect my kids, didn't tell anyone that I was having it done because I didn't want people to think it was a cop-out to trying to lose on my own, etc...(he worried that if I get thin, I won't like HIM anymore and will leave him...he watches too much TV I guess...), just lots of worry that we had made the right decision since it was going to be such a life change... I had a Cheeseburger that night for supper...hadn't had one since... After being on the pre-op diet for the 4th day...I started realizing how much food had ruled over me...(and my family)...it's like an addiction and when you can't have it you start going through withdrawls like a drug addict or alcoholic would...you catch yourself thinking that you need something to satisfy you and you really don't, but being used to just grabbing it and not thinking about it never seemed an issue, UNTIL NOW>>> My husband was a huge support...he did the slimfast 3-4 times a day with me, so I wouldn't be by myself...even during Christmas (and his mother is a wonderful cook), but he stuck it out right along side me... I am glad that your husband is supporting you and helping you, because that is what will get you through it all... I promise you, you will KICK THE HABIT, so to speak, and if you won't think about it, make it a way of life, tell yourself this is my routine, now...it WILL become easier and easier...

Same here, Sugarbear...you CAN do this...I was weak for the first few days as well, then it seemed to get better...don't cut back, though...you need all the nutrition you can get...remember you can have up to 4 slimfast a day...I know that they aren't the greatest, but don't sacrifice nutrition and calories for taste...this will help on the weakness too...We are all rooting for you because we all know that you are strong-willed and are going to make it...you wouldn't be on this website if you weren't

HAHAHAHAHAHA...LOL....just thinking how funny that we all think the same things...YUCK!!! on the strawberry and cream slim-fast...I could take the Chocolate a whole lot better, and like you Sugarbear...had to be ICE cold...if you have a blender, you can add crushed ice and it makes it more like a "slushie"...just a different twist to it... I also started using the BOOST chocolate drink...its thicker and more like a chocolate milk...I like it a lot better...its a variety anyway... Just keep going...before you know it, two weeks will be gone and it won't even seem like it has been that long...Remember, we all have been where you are and we understand...Lots of love to you and am still thinking about you...let us know how you're doing:typing:

Sugarbear...just remembered you started you pre-op today...you are going to do great...just keep busy doing things and you will do fine...the liquid isn't so bad when you start dropping 5 and 10 and 15 lbs...can't wait to hear that you are "having surgery"...I am thinking about you often and will be praying that it goes easy for you...Be glad you don't have to go through a major "eating" holiday like me (Christmas)... I'm cheering for you:clap2:

Hi, Kathyb...Thanks for the insight...I am hoping that I get another fill (2nd) that I will get more weight loss...I have gotten discouraged the past couple of weeks because my loss has gotten so slim...I know I have lost quite a bit so far, but I think losing fast can be discouraging when you don't meet the expectations you have put on yourself afterwards...I am feeling more hungrier and it seems that I can eat more than before (I really have to monitor the amount, or I would probably eat way too much) so you have given me hope that my next fill will be a big difference

Hello and welcome Paula... You are perfectly normal with what you are feeling...the fill will help for a little while but be prepared because you will go back to being "hungry" again even after you have had your first fill...remember...the band is not a "fix all"...you have to retrain yourself on how to deal with your hunger...we have to keep asking ourselves, "am I hungry?" or "do I THINK I am hungry?"...if you just "THINK" you are hungry, then walk away...until you get enough fills (and from what I have read it is at least 3-4) you will continue to get the feeling of being hungry...don't worry about how much you have lost...if you are feeling the loss in the way your clothes are fitting then that is what you need to be focusing on...whatever makes you feel good and wanna keep working at it... Good luck to you and keep in touch...

Hi everyone, hope all are doing great...I have been posting some on the "December Bandsters", but haven't forgotten about you guys... Haven't had much weight loss the past two weeks and beginning to get a little discouraged...I really haven't changed alot about how or what I am eating, but my exercise routine hasn't been much to speak of lately, so I am hoping that is part of my problem...My husband and I have been working out a bit, but my walking has slowed down (mainly due to weather)...I am gonna set me a goal for the week to do my strengthening exercise and walk, too, and see if there is a difference. Again, hope all of you are doing great and hope your week goes well...

Thanks for the insight, Beth...(One of my favorite names...it's also my daughters name)... I do the same thing...While I am at school, I don't seem to think about munching or anything...but as soon as I walk in the door at home @ 3pm...I get this feeling of "what can I eat?"...I really think that if I can find something to keep me busy I will be able to shake this feeling...I am ready for spring because I love to plant flowers and work in my yard and my daughter will be starting summer softball soon and my son will be in soccer, so I am hoping this will help...It has also been cold here, so I haven't been walking like I should...I know that has a lot to do with weight loss, because I have lost very little the past couple of weeks (being that is how long I haven't walked)...but, I am not wanting pneumonia either...so....

You know they always say that whatever questions YOU have, there may be someone else that has the same questions but are just not sure whether to ask them or not?... wellllllll....thanks...I am having the same problem...I seem to want to eat a lot more lately...not really at a meal...but like I am craving something and can't quite figure out what it is that I want, so I have to try everything...I usually have more trouble in the evening (from 3 pm on...) It's frustrating, because I don't want to eat and I don't think it's really hunger...but I find myself nibbling on something and thinking, "I don't really need this", but TOO LATE>>> Something that has helped me stay on track better is a website I found to keep a journal of my meals and what I am eating...It has really motivated me to keep up with it and actually SEE what I am eating and the nutritional values...it is www.my-calorie-counter.com It is FREE, but you can get more access if you pay the fee...it lets you put in what you ate and then will tell you how many calories, carbs, sugars, protein, etc...that it has and will total up the day for you also...try it!!! The good thing about having you guys is when we are feeling uneasy or unsure about the band, we can get on here and ask these questions, and usually there is someone else that is or has felt the same things...it helps put us more at ease that what we are doing is normal with everyone and not just ourselves...:rockon:

Same here...my ultimate goal is when school starts back in the fall and I have to go to the first teacher inservice meetings...everyone is amazed at the difference...that will be about 7 months post-op...I am anxious to see what I will look like... I seem to be getting the munchies quite often...is this a problem? I don't go for another fill for 4 weeks...it's been 2 since my last...this will be my 2nd...