April

Hi MOM, Nothing to report here. No loss, but no gain either. Tomorrow is my third fill. I hope I feel restriction this time!

Hi MOM, Lost another # for this week. I just can't seem to loose more than one # a week:doh: Oh well, Every # counts!

Hi Wendiss, I'm here too! I don't ever see any new posts so I almost gave up on coming here. Hi again juno610, glad to see you're hanging in there, I know its a little late but I hope everything went well at your consultation.

Zet, You are the only one that knows if this is right for you or not. I told very few people I was having it done, not work, not friends, not even my Mom. And they still don't know. I knew I needed to do it for me and my 3yr old son. I know once the info is out there you can't take it back, but I agree with Susan, tell them you need their support not their criticism and if they are not willing to give you the support you need then the topic is closed. Do all your research and get all the facts, you'll know what's best for you. Before surgery I was so nervous I almost wanted to cancel everything and not get it done. It's natural for you to be scared. Just don't let your fear feed on the ramblings of people who are not helpful. As far as I know, my band is for life. It's not a temporary foreign object.

Hi MOM, I lost 1# for this week. Had my second fill last Tuesday and still don't feel much restriction!?!? So I scheduled another one for 11-28-06. Hope I get it right this time around. But I have had some wicked awsome NSV's! I put on my winter coat and I could ZIP the thing with room to spare!

Only YOU know what's best for YOU. If your nutritionist is pushing you to do something you're not wanting to do there are other nutritionists out there, get one that will work WITH you & not push you. I was also a snacker, and thats putting it lightly. I would eat from the time I got up to the time I went to bed. Mostly breads and sweets. I've had a hard time with head hunger, and I've not had much restriction yet. I (unfortunately) can eat bread, pizza, candy, cake, Cookies, etc... But I'm slowly learning to get past the head hunger. I'm finding myself loosing interest in those foods because it takes sooooo much effort to eat them and it's really not worth it. I have to chew chew chew chew chew chew so much that before I can swallow it has lost all flavor and I really don't even want to eat it anymore. It is not easy. I'm not gonna paint a pretty picture for you, but if this is really what you want to do, you have to put your heart & soul into it and make it work. The band is a wonderful tool, but it's only a tool. YOU have to be the one who does the work. Its not impossible there are a lot of us here that are snackers or shall I say reformed snackers, and we are making it work.

Hi MOM, Weighing in for the Christmas challenge. -1# for this week. This week was a rough one, I was PMS-ing, Halloween chocolate everywhere I turn, and the company I work for was sold and I'm out of a job. Thank God for the # loss, I thought for sure it would be a gain.

Hi Mom, Just weighing in for th Christmas Challenge. -1 lb this week.

Hey everyone, I don't know if I should post this here or not but I figured I would since we're all in the September boat together and some of you might be having a NSV for the first time yourselves. I went over my DH's Mom's house and when I sat down in one of her Kitchen table chairs.....(you ready).....MY ARSE & THIGHS DID NOT TOUCH THE SIDES OF THE CHAIR!!!!!!!! I always practically get stuck, I mean I really had to wedge my corpulent cheeks in there, and now not even a rub!!!!!!!!!! :whoo::dance: :rockon:

Hi FullofGrace, I did the optifast liquid diet for 4 weeks prior to surgery. The first 3 days are horrible but the best thing you can do is stick to it and DO NOT CHEAT! Cheating will only make it worse. After 3 days your body goes into something called "Ketosis" (don't know if I'm spelling it right) which is where you will not be hungry or headachy any more. If you cheat during the diet your body will not go into Ketosis and you will continue to be hungry. At first I thought I'd never make it 4 weeks, but by the end of it I was proud that I did it and it really wasn't that bad. I started calling it my "Liquid Boot-camp" and to tell you the truth I was glad for it because I think I would have had a harder time with recovery because you literally can not eat anything. You should ask your Doctor but I was able to have clear non-caloric liquids, i.e.. water & crystal light. Honey, you CAN do it. Only one more day before you start feeling better. Good luck & take care.

252, down 1# for this week!

Ok, I was banded on 9-18 had my first fill on 10-17 and I'm still ravenously hungry, is that normal? I'm not sure this is working. When did you start to feel "restriction" and what exactly does that feel like? I've had no problem eating, no PB's, no nausea. I guess lucky for me, 'cause I don't want any of that. I'm thinking I should feel something different, but I don't. Anyone out there in Band Land thats had the same thing and how'd it work out for you? :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help::help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help::help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help::help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help::help: :help::help: :help:

But of course! Whether we admit it or not isn't that the goal of most everyone on LBT?

OK , I gotta know...what is the Christmas Challenge, how does it work, and can I get in on the action? Sign me up Baby!

Hello, I'm from MI too! What Doc are you going to? I checked out a few before I chose my Doc. I hope all is progressing well for you. Good luck!

Hi everybody! Its been a long time since I posted, I think since the day of my surgery. Well here's what I've been through... My surgery went well, I had to stay in recovery for 18 hours because they didn't have a room for me, but that's OK 'cause they kept me pretty high on Delaudid (spelling's not my thing). I took 2 weeks off from work to recover. I went back to work on Monday 10-2. I had my first fill on Tuesday 10-17. So far I've been pretty surprised at the lack of weight loss since my surgery, and for the past 2 weeks I have been ravenously hungry. Even now I've had a fill I'm still hungry. I think there must be a trick to this lap-band thing that I'm missing. Either that or I think I need to join a OEA group 'cause it must be head hunger. I've had some moments where I stopped and did the whole "Holly S**T what the Hell'd I do to myself?" But mostly I am positive and hopeful, just getting through the emotional attachment to my friends, Sugar, Starch, Carb, and Saturated Fat has been hard. I'm trying to make new friends with Veggie, Fruit, and Lean Meat but they aren't as easy to get along with as my old friends were. But seriously now, I'm still scabby, sore, red and puffy but my jeans do fit better! And the best part is I'm starting to get comments on how people can SEE a difference. That feels GREAT!

Chula, I was just banded on Monday and even though I probably could have went back to work in 4 days I took 2 weeks off. So far my recovery hasn't been that bad. Keep in mind it is SURGERY so it's no walk in the park. I spent the first 2 days so high on drugs I don't remember much of it. Then after coming home I slept a lot the 3rd day. And yesterday, the 4th day I was in a bit of pain. Today is going well but still painful. I don't mean to be discouraging but you may want to consider taking another day or two. If your work can wait, but your band can't. Take time to heal properly. I wish you all the best!

Ok, I'm freakin' out! I have a surgery date of 9-18-06. I am currently doing my 4 weeks of pre-op liquid diet (yuck) and it's driving me crazy. I'm excited to finally have my surgery in sight but I'm scaring the crap out of myself. I keep reading all these horror stories and I think I just need a little reassurance from people who have had it done. I know this is the right thing for me because I have tried everything else out there and each time I try it gets harder. I am currently 147 lbs overweight, I have high blood pressure, sleep apnea, GERD, heart problems, etc... and I'm only 33. My dad died at 59 and I can see myself in the same boat if I don't get a handle on it soon. I have my stress test tomorrow and hopefully everything goes well because that surgery date hangs in the balance depending on this test. I have only told my Husband, Brother, Sister, Mother In-Law and 1 friend. I still haven't told MY mom, and I don't think I want to because she's hard to deal with. I told work I'm having a hernia operation, and I feel terribly guilty about lying, but it's none of their business and they would not be helpful. Have any of you told work something besides lap-band and how did it play out for you? Do any of you have difficult Moms that you didn't tell and how'd that work out for you? Any words of encouragement, or even constructive criticism??? I need all the advice you can give. :omg:

Well it's 9-18-06 at 4:40am and I'm on my way to the hospital. All of you who pray please remember me in your prayers, all all of you who don't please send me good thoughts and wishes. Thanks everyone.

WOW, I like that. Maybe a little corny, but as soon as I read that I felt a little more at peace with my decision. Just a little update for those of you who are interested... I had my pre-op appointment today. Everything is on track and I am all ready for surgery on Monday. Thanks all of you, for all of your replies.

Thanks jj & 91, I'm just getting nervous the closer it gets. I still haven't decided to or not to tell my Mom, guess I need to hurry and decide huh? Do you truly feel it's the best thing? I guess I keep thinking 'what if I'm making a huge mistake?'. I've been looking into this for over 3 years now and I keep hearing good but also bad, and the bad scares the hell out of me. I really appreciate all the comments from everyone. Thanks.

Hi Juno610, I am one of Dr Deol's pt's. My surgery is this Monday 9-18-06. I had a BMI of 52. She put me on Optifast for 4 weeks. I thought that was crazy, and I didn't think I could do it. But here I am 21 lbs lighter, and only 6 days left. It's truly not so bad as long as you have a lot of support in your household, and keep in mind how very important it is to stick to it. I was told that some people who didn't stick to it got to the surgery and was cut open but the band was not installed because the liver had not shrunk and the Doc could not get around it. I tell ya what, if I am operated on I sure as hell want to wake up with the band! But anyways, CoachBuckley's right, after a few days you're really not hungry you just have to convince your brain of that. If you have to go on Optifast I suggest the drinks and the soup, especially the tomato (and I hate tomato soup) be sparingly with the bars they are NASTY! Best of luck, hope to see you at the support groups.

I'm scheduled for Monday 9-18-2006!!! I wish all you other September bandsters good luck.

Thanks to all of you for giving me some good feed back. I appreciate the help. I'm ready! Still freakin' but ready. I have 3 days left to work, then the weekend, then the first day of my new life. Thanks again!

Sorry Ladies, I got a little ahead of myself...