tanqueray

I am adding my two cents here. FF--get ready to raise your blood pressure again because you anger is RADIATING off the pages. Yes, your band did not work for you. We hear you. BUT you are allowing your less than satisfactory experience taint your view of others and that is simply not right. No one said you were in the wrong and no one commented on your experience. What people here were asking was more follow up to a post that said "my band does not work" but then offers no more details. Talk about dropping a load in the forum but with no information. So people asked follow up questions--there is nothing wrong with that. So, you jumped to the conclusion that people were picking on Swirl which is simply not the case. I too have to ask (because someone asked before) why do you stay? To continue to share your bad experience and be mean spirited in this forum? I get you want people to know the band does not work for everyone but truly folks--you are embarking on major surgery here with a doctor cutting open your intestines. You should know all the risks and the failure rate before you allow yourself to lay on the operating table. If people do their homework, they will find articles and statistics on the success and failure rate on this surgery. Second, if someone comes into this journey saying "I want cheeseburgers" and they want to eat cheesecake, cake, and Cookies but in limited portions, then they are setting themselves up for failure. There, I said it. NO LIFESTYLE CHANGE WILL WORK UNLESS THE PERSON REALLY WANTS TO CHANGE. That's like saying to an alcoholic "well I am apporaching soberity as I can have one drink a day instead of none". Or the drug addict can have one joint a day. NO--doesn't work that way. Addicition comes in many forms but overweight people are addicted to food. You can cure an addiction by saying "well I can have just a little" because a little is never enough. Sorry but that's just the truth. So, FF and Swirl, yes, the band doesn't work for some but for others it works but people self sabatoge themselves by saying it doesn't. So it didn't work for you. We get it. But for the majority of us, it has and enabled us to have totally differnt lives. Don't diss the people that have made the effort to get the most out of this journey. It's insulting and rude.

Awesome! Great news. Thanks for sharing!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I too use Lose It. I have been using it for over a year and love it!

Sex.

I use Lose It on the iPhone app. I keep track of my proteins and fats. Calories yes, but not as important for me as the other two. Exercise is the key with me and I do try to do that at least 2-3 times a week.

I used liquid laxative. I also tried prune juice. Both worked. It was over 6 days after my surgery before I had a bowel movement.

Gotta love the internet. You can find any answers there. http://ezinearticles.com/?Bad-Breath---How-to-Lose-Weight-Without-Getting-Bad-Breath&id=925480 Many people in the past few years have found great weight loss success by following the low-carb, high-Protein diet plans such as Atkins, South Beach, and many more. There is a lot of scientific basis for this- carbs break down as sugar in your system and are often stored as excess fat. However, these plans left people wondering how to lose weight without getting bad breath, since this seemed to be a common side effect of these programs. To really understand how to lose weight without getting bad breath, you need to understand what is happening on these diet programs to cause it in the first place. When the body has excessive protein in the system, it finds it very hard to break down and digest. This is actually one of the reasons that these high-protein plans worked- the body feels fuller longer when eating protein because it's working harder to digest it. Breaking down this protein is one of the reasons that there is usually bad breath, as the digestive system is often reflected in the breath. Think of when you eat onions or garlic- can you not tell that on your breath for hours afterward? However, just knowing that this is what is happening does not tell you how to lose weight without getting bad breath! Let's explore that a bit further. If you are following a high-protein diet, there may not be much you can actually do to stop that chemical process from happening and from being reflected in your breath. However, in order to consider how to lose weight without getting bad breath, you may consider some steps you can take to help eliminate the resultant odor. Many people have found that chewing peppermint leaves and parsley help to cut down on the odor coming from their mouths during digestion. Making sure you get plenty of Water also helps, as this aids in digestion and keeps your mouth moist. Another key in how to lose weight without getting this is to take care of your oral hygiene. Make sure you are flossing to get the food particles out from between your teeth, and rinse well with a good mouthwash. Keep some gum on hand at all times. You can learn how to lose weight without getting bad breath, if you are willing to take these few extra steps to take care of your mouth along the way.

One more thing--what really keeps me accountable is that I document everything I eat. I use Lose It in my iPhone. By logging everything you eat is the only way to be held to the standards you want to meet. Lose It also has a web based version for those that don't have iPhones but there are other sites too like Spark People and Livestrong. Good luck on getting your ball rolling. You can do it. Lastly, do NOT be ashamed. You are taking control of your diet again and should be proud for all you have lost so far!

Yup, that was me too! I had lost 70+ pounds after I was banded in Sept. of 09. Then in June of 10, I got lazy--was traveling for work, enjoying vacation, etc...Dessert--why not? So, I didn't gain but I didn't lose either. I had NO motivitation to continue. However, after almost 4 months, I realized I wasn't doing what I set out to do and had a "come to Jesus" talk with myself. Purchased some books on lapband success stories to keep me motivated, went back to the gym and this week hit the 100 pound loss mark. I think this type of behavior is fairly normal throughout this journey. We have to rebel and then learn to give up what we used to go in order to proceed forward toward a new life.

As others have said, you are NOT the only one going through this. I was there, fourteen months ago. Sitting on my sofa wondering what the fu*# did I do? I just got rid of my best friend, my companion through life--FOOD. My life would never be the same. Now, I sit here over a year later and say, you bet ya! My life is NOT the same it is SO much better. Focus on the future and don't beat yourself up over the past. It is productive for us to learn from the past because it shapes who we are, but we can overcome our past and change our habits and behaviors. By no means is this easy and for me, it is a daily struggle. I posted this yesterday. I finally lost 100 pounds and the most difficult part of this journey has been in my head. I have had set backs, ups, downs, and all in between but the bottom line for me is that I have an addiction. When I am in a down place, I come on this forum and I also have a stack of books on lap band success and several WLS magazines. Good luck on this journey. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After 14 months, I have finally figured out I can't keep my trigger foods in the house. I too have kids ages 4 and 6 and they have favorite Snacks like cheese Its but I can't keep them in the house. If I do, I can't just eat a portion. So, I switched to Whole Grain Goldfish which I do not prefer. Kids don't care. But some things they love and I refuse to bring in the house--candy, Doritos, Nutella, and other things. In order to help me with my recovery, unfortunately, my family is forced to make sacrifices too. But it is better for them too!

Since it is snowing and I can't scream from my roof, I thought I would "scream" in this forum. Only people who have experienced this procedure and are on this journey can really appreciate all the effort that losing weight via the band! (and f%$# those people that say "its the easy way out) I never anticipated all the emotions I would go through and I will say the emotional part of this journey has been harder then the physical part. But I am now down 100 pounds as of today!!! As I was reflecting about this, I have been dealing with that number in my head--I never thought I was that heavy before and remember arguing with my GYN that his scale was wrong. I'll never forgot the look on his face--can I say DENIAL???? Even visiting my surgeon for this band I was still not owning my weight. What world was I living in? In my Fellowship every Sunday we do "joys and sorrows" for members that have either. So, my joy today is that I am down 100 pounds and my sorrow is that I let myself get into that weight in the first place. However, I can't live in the past and need to move forward on my lifestyle change. (I hate the word diet because it implies depreviation) 15 more pounds to go to get to goal and if I lose more after that great, if not, remaining at a consistant weight more than a few months will make me happy! (since that never happened in the past)

Congratulations on your weight loss! I was so thrilled when I could finally tie my shoes!

I have been banded for over a year. I am very tight now and the only steak I can eat is Filet Mignon. Go figure. The most expensive cut of meat. Anything else is too tough no matter how much I chew it but Filet is very soft and goes down okay.

I joined this challange immediately--soon as I read the thread starter I wanted in! I finally lost the 5 pounds that have been hanging for the past three months and hit 100 pounds lost today! 16 more pounds to go! And I WILL do that this year!

Snowed last night. No school for kids here in Philadelphia. High of 31 today. I used to love the cold weather but as I get older, I am less tolerant.

Well, not necessarily on my stomach but yes, I have skin condition that is related to stress. I itch in one consistant spot and will eventually itch myself until I bleed. My dermatologist gave me a special cream for this and it handles the problem almost immediately. I also say I didn't think I was under that much stress but upon reflection, I was!

Yup, you have described my life. Lose 3 pounds one week then go four without anything. I have grown used to it and I will get to my goal soon but I have not attached a time line for that. It will happen when it happens. KUDOS for losing 100 pounds. You go girl!!

I agree with VLP. This is something you should get out into the open. Have a civilized discussion (not a heated emotional one) about how this makes you feel. There is nothing wrong with feelings--they are neither good nor bad but just are. However, if you allow these feeling to go unaddressed, they fester and make you unhappy. There is nothing wrong with telling ignorant people about how their behavior is affecting you. In fact, it may help you in determining if you want to be involved with these people anymore. Just because they are family does not mean you have to put up with their abuse. Think long and hard about whether you want them in your life or not. Do they bring anything positive to your life? Because if not, I would tell them goodbye. I too had a Grandmother like this. I have struggled with my weight all my life. I remember being 12 and vacationing in FL with my parents and my Grandparents were living in FL for the winter. I wanted to go swimming so I changed into a swim suit. My grandmom saw me and said to my mother "you're going to let her go out in public like that--in a swim suit?" I will never forget that humiliation. And it kept up through the years and I finally did what someone above said--I told her if she could not treat me with respect and acknowledge that I was a unique individual that thought different from her, believed differently, and simply wanted her to treat me with respect and if she could not do that, I would not visit again. She would not agree and I never saw her again. I can not allow that kind of toxic person in my life--I don't need their criticism and abuse and because she was my Grandmom did not excuse her behavior. She delighted in terrorising me and I finally decided to cut her out of my life. I have never been sorry for that--even after she died. I needed to live my life for me. My Mom wasn't that bad, but close. We had a scale in our kitchen and had bi-weekely weigh ins. 700-900 calorie diet all during my teenage years. Because of that, I snuck food and ate away my pain. I was never accepted by my Mom because of my weight. Eventually, after I spoke with her as an adult, I told her how she hurt me and she never did anything like that again. She was very supportitive of my surgery and has been wonderful throughout the past year. But I had to have a painful conversation to make this happen.

Unfortunately, the advice from me is you need to wait it out. It will go away. The first week after surgery was the worse for me but it gets better!

drinks? You bettya. I don't drink every night or every week, but I will go out and enjoy with my friends or husband. I usually stick with wine but also will occassionally have a beer. I did some internet searching and vodka is the lowest calorie and I will have that with club soda or have a vodka gimlet. (vodka with lime juice) Answering some questions above, sure alcohol is empty calories. Sure, you can compare it to eating Cookies but there isn't FAT in a vodka and club soda. Plus, depriving myself feels like a diet and I am not on a diet. I am changing my lifestyle and that for me means not having a drink with sugar like a Pina Colada and instead changing to vodka and club. People with WLS can't live in a bubble--we need to learn to live in our society which would occassionally mean going to a social event. It's how we maneuver though these social events that makes or breaks us. So, I say bottoms up, with limitations. (meaning I would not do that every night)

I know! I have to say, when I saw it in the thread about "success stories" I immediately read it. I do believe it should be a must read for those considering surgery. Copies should also be given by bariatric centers. Welcome MSheli19. I am glad you joined for forum but especially glad you got your lapband. Good luck on your journey. I am banded 15 months and even with all the ups and downs I have had, this is the best decision I have ever made.

I have always been clumsy! In fact, during my colleage years, my sorority had a "purple foot" award for the person that did the dumbest/clumsiest thing during the year. I won four years in a row. Addicent prone? I have fallen off horses (which led to an ACL knee tear and surgery), broke my tail bone (again on the horse), fell off a bar stool and tore my knee (again) fell down steps so many time I lost count, broke my small toe on my right foot 4 times (the last one last summer when I walked into the corner of the sofa), broke my small toe on my left foot two times, tore by nail off on my second toe by opening a door on it. My newhew broke my nose when we were playing "upsies"--he was a toddler and I was raising him above my head and he dropped his head and it landed on my nose (really? how does that happen), and it goes on and on.... I have been heavy all my life but I am now "just overweight". I am still clumsey. Obviously losing weight didn't help me in this regard. (but it helped me in many other areas!)

I agree with all the others about emotional eating. The band does not stop that. The best thing I think I did during my journey (I was banded in Sept. of 09) was to invest $50.00 in cookbooks. My favorite is "Eating Well after Weight Loss Surgery". I remember being able to move from Clear liquids to Soups the week after my surgery. I made the chicken Artichoke Soup from the above cook book and I still fondly think about it as one of my best meals ever. I adore soups but HATE them from a can or bottle. They are high in sodium and low in flavor (for me) and I always make all my own soups. So, that was such a treat for me. Also, in this book, they have flavorful recipes that are just as good pureed. The authors break it down in terms of how much you should eat based on what surgery you had. 15 months later and I still use these recipes. Another good thing I did was join this forum and also search around on the internet for information. Lastly, I am a visual learner and I still like books. (you know, the old fashioned kind with words on paper) I just purchased Bandwagon--Strategies for Success with the Adjustable Gastric Band by Jean McMillan. I pull this book out for motivation when I need it. One of the most important thing the author wrote, which I repeat to myself daily, is "obesity is a chronic disease for which no cure currently exist. Weight loss surgery is a very effective treatmen tfor the symptoms of obesity but it does not guarantee recurrence of the disease itself. If your body fat exceed 25% for men or 30% for women, obestiy is your incurable disease. If you dont' take ownership of it, you will never take control of it, whether or not you have weight loss surgery". So, my personal journey is accepting there is NO cure for this disease I have. I am a food addict, I eat when I am upset, I eat when I stressed. The band makes that more difficult but does NOT prevent me from doing that. Only I can do that, which sometimes I have the wherewithall to ignore, but sometimes I don't. I avoid beating myself up for slips because that was my entire existance before banding-eat, beat myself up, feel bad, stress, then eat again. So, if I chose to eat something I take responsibility and acknowledge it for what it was and move on and eat healthy again. I can't live in a bubble and I can force perfection on myself. That won't happen. What has really rocked my world was reading the above quote and acknowledging the truth of it. I have a disease which has no cure. I was one of the fortunate ones that was given a tool in which to deal with the symptom of this disease (excess fat) but the true "treatment" lies in my head. Hard thing to deal with. However, I am on this journey and will not ever let this gift (my band) I have been given slip through my fingers. So many people in the world want and need this surgery and by some miracle, I was given the opportunity to have it paid by my insurance. It if a life saver since I started at 309 pounds as was probably aiming for a heart attack. (my father had his first at 50 and I am 9 years away from that) I am down 95 pounds and although I sometimes think if I had bypass I would have lost that weight in 6 months instead of 15, I am on my way to my goal. I have 28 more pounds to go. My confidence is up and my health is better. My brain on the other hand, is harder to deal with, but I continue to try to "rewire" myself. But remember, there is no cure....my mantra!!!