JoJo1

I swore my husband to secrecy also because his daughter is a doctor and I went to Mexico for my surgery. American docs do not like Mexican docs! He didn't mind because secrets run rampant in his family.. An amazing thing happened though after I lost weight, many of my ideas changed. Now, I don't give a rap what anyone thinks least of all his family. I get raked over the coals by them all the time behind my back also. I can not ever change them. I live in a small town so if I worried all the time about what people think, I would be in the looney bin in no time at all. I choose to shrug it off. Period. Best of luck in you journey!! Hugs!!!

I wondered about that too, but I was under the impression that I did not need it because I only needed to lose 75 lbs. The literature said that the reason for the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver. I guess it can get in the way when the put in the band. If they haven't advised you about it, you prob. don't need it. They say the only stupid question is the one not asked, so if you are worried by all means ask!! Hugs!!!!

I did not want to tell anyone I was having surgery because of the same fear. Afterall, nothing has worked before so why should I believe it will now? It did work, and now I don't care who knows. I tell everyone who asks and many people do ask me now. Attitude is everything and you will have success!!! Just Believe!!! Hugs!!!!

Water, Water, Water!! Just sip on Water!!! Hugs!!!

Generally, 2 oz is 1/4 cup, 4 oz is 1/2 cup, and 8 oz is one cup. If you wanted 4 granola bars, I guess you could do it, but does it feel right? Try eating one, and then see, you may feel like something else by then. One granola bar, some chicken, and some vegs would make a good meal. I never eat them at all, because I have to stay away from carbs, but if I could, I would try one and see if I actually want more. Hugs!!!!

I am a September bandster!! No problems at all. I am walking 5 to 6 miles a day and am excited to see my goal by my first Bandiversary!!! Sorry about all the trouble, unfortunately it isn't a 100% sure thing any more than anything else is.... Hope it goes well for you!!!! Hugs....

If you expect to keep losing a pound a day, you will be very disappointed. A pound a week is what I expect, and it is what I get most of the time. In the beginning, though we do lose a ton of water and we get excited because we think it is going to keep going. It never does and we should actually know this after hundreds of attempts at losing weight over the years. Yes soups can cause weight gain because of the salt, depending on how salt sensitive you are. Don't forget to drink all of your water every day. Hugs to all!!!!

Sugar alcohols or Malitol (sp?) do wreak havoc with many people. I can use one or two pieces of sugar free chocolate and then I have to quit or it will gas me up terribly. The Sugar free Jello puddings use Aspertame, so it is easier to digest. Some are sensitive to Aspertame also. I tend to look for things sweetened with splenda, but it is more expensive so it is hard to find things sweetened with it. You are right to be leary of food labels though. I am diabetic and can tell within 30 minutes if a food label is a lie. Many are, so just listen to your little voice inside. It will tell you if something isn't right!!! Best of luck!!! Hugs!!!!

I also lost hair after the birth of my kids. I had read many posts about hait loss before my surgery so I started using the Nioxin products 6 weeks before my surgery. I am a hair dresser so I was well informed about the product. I am over 6 months out from my band surgery now, and I have not lost any hair. Personally, I think an extreme protein deficiency can produce this, but it is far more likely to be the reaction from the surgery BetsyB talked about. The worst thing you can do is worry about it. Go get some Nioxin Cleanser and Scalp Therapy and it will stop within 30 days. I promise!!! Hugs!!!

Well I make my self weigh only about every two weeks, but I do understand this. If you think about it, If you are drinking all your water etc, you will weigh more in the evening. My fill doc does take off for clothes. I love it because I weigh exactly the same on his scale as I do naked in the morning before I leave the house. My general practice doc does not though and it is a 6 pound difference. Damn I hate that!!! Hugs!!!

You are going to find a ton of different ideas about this one. You should prob. ask your doc, but from reading these posts, I think it depends on you and your ablility to handle it. I drank a beer last night, a Michelob Ultra, and it was fine. I pour it in a glass and let it go a little flat before I drink it. I also drink wine. You may get a lashing for even asking on here, but it is my opinion that each of us need to figure out what works for us. I would drink the Guinness!!!! Hugs!!!!

I am one to work with whatever comes along, so I would have a protein shake during the 10:30 break and schedule lunch at 3:30. My personality is just that way. I would rather do that than talk about my health issues at work. Now that I have lost more than half of my weight though, I don't care what other people think. For once in my life, I really don't care. I tell people now that I have a band, and I get a variety of responses. "Wow that is cool" "Really"? etc. Some act like I now have the plague, and I just think it is funny. A woman who works near my place of business came over to specifically ask me how I lost weight. I told her and she turned around and headed back out the door so fast it made me wonder what the heck she thinks about it. She didn't say and I really don't care, so there we go again..... Hugs!!!!!

I got brave and tried V8 juice a few days too early. Wow, there was no way.... I decided that I need to follow the doctors orders to the letter..... Your body is going to let you know, so don't be too hard on yourself!!!! Hugs......

Most of what you lose that first week is water. I wouldn't worry, it won't continue that way, so enjoy!!! I lost 9 1/2 the first week and thought it was huge until I watched Biggest Loser and saw that many of them lose that much every week. Oh well I don't see myself working out 8 hours a day ever so I will take my one pound a week. Congrats on your weight loss and congrats on your new chapter in your life. Hugs.......

I have full restriction now, but before, I had some trouble with this issue too. It changes over time. For awhile, I stopped when it wasn't tasting good any more, and for awhile, I could eat too much, and for awhile, I had a pain in my chest. Now with restriction, I get a feeling like something is not quite going all the way down, kind of like before banding when something wasn't well chewed. I also simultaneously get a slight tightness in my chest. I can eat different amounts at different times and no two days are the same. My hungry times surprisingly enough are usually about a half hour after dinner at night. I started walking another 2 to 3 1/2 miles after dinner about a week ago and now when I get back, the munchie thing has left for the rest of the evening. Water helps with this also. Hugs to all!!!!

The slider thing is true and so is the Famine Control mechanizm. We think that if a little restriction is good, then a lot is better, if reduced calories is good then no calories is better. It is the reason we got where we were in the first place. It is ok to eat, but there is another thing to think about. How long ago did you get too tight? You could be swollen and after it goes down you will be able to eat more. In the mean time find a protien shake that will go down, so you don't starve...... Hugs!!!

I work in a Beauty Salon and have many sweet clients who like to bring me treats. I just say thank you and then as soon as they leave the salon, I put them in the waste basket that I throw away hair in. That keeps me from dragging them back out at any point. One lady always wanted to bring me a fancy Latte from the local coffee store, and I know those are expensive, so I just explained to her that I can't have them. She has not brought me any more of them since then. If your friend wants to waste her money, let her, she thinks she is doing something nice. Hugs!!!

Congratulations on you journey!!! Here you go!!!! Yippee!!! Hugs!!!!

I also sometimes buy the cooked Tyson Fajita chicken breast strips and keep them in the fridge at work so on the days I am lazy or in a hurry, I can eat them for lunch. I put them on salads too. Sometimes I make a small wrap with a low carb tortilla. Those chicken strips are very good and very nice and soft. I also eat canned tuna and canned salmon. I love to make a salad with the canned salmon and avacado, and a small amount of ranch dressing. A little seasoning and it makes my day. hugs!!!

I do count a little bit now that I have less weight to lose. I am doing it for information as well as weight loss. I watched Biggest loser this year for the first time, so the "calories in-calories out" thing is interesting to me. Obviously I can't work out 8 hours a day, but I can increase my walking time now that the days are longer. I have a lot of restriction now too but there are times when I seem to be a bottomless pit. I am working on strategies to get this stopped. I just need to stay busy, so the extra 3 1/2 miles of walking I am doing in the evening is helping a lot. I have been surprised by the calorie content in some things. Like I have used a low carb Icecream bar for years made by breyer. It lets me have a treat without screwing up my blood sugar. I read the calorie content on it last night for the first time and was shocked. It is 180 calories and 140 of them are from fat. Then I looked at the sugar free pudding cup I get from the store, and it is only 60. I guess it is a no brainer huh? I am doing three 250 cal meals and two 150 calorie snacks. Time will tell, but for some reason I need to be doing this right now. Hugs to all~~~~~

I had a few days of thinking I was too tight, I felt like a freaking bulimic!! I went to my daughters house and told her I was too tight. (She has been banded two years longer than I have) She told me about something she read in one of her forums. She said the first two bites are the most important. If you make sure those two bites are chewed until they are the consistancy of liquid, the rest will go down much easier. I decided to try it. Lo and behold, it fixed the problem. I no longer think I am too tight. Education is the key to everything......

This is so true!!!! Good point!! One of the earlier posters on this thread suggested that the thread starter rlynn, posted a scam! Maybe but either way, we have to assume that since rlynn has never replied, we must have chewed her up and spit her out enough that she is likely not reading these any more. My hope is that we planted a seed of hope. Today is my 6 month bandiversary and I am so happy still that I made this decision. I am getting a hold on my food issues, and I am caring less and less about food. It is true that it is not a picnic all the time, but I have learned so much. Here is to the next 6 months. My goal is to be at goal by September..... Here goes............ Hugs........

Today I ate my half sandwich that I brought for lunch, but then felt like I needed a little something more. I made a small salad and after about three bites, I realized I had over done it. Damn it!! I hate when I do that. I have been miserable for over an hour now..... When will I learn?

I am not sure but I read in a different thread about something called "First Bite Syndrome" I understand it is fairly common. The knowledgeable person who posted it said that if you start the meal with a few swallows of warm liquid like tea or even Water, it helps. Hope it helps you, but other than that I do not know. Hugs

I have actually heard of this many times on here and other forums. The highest I had heard until now was 109,000. I know it is amazing what they get away with. I was 7000.00 plus plane fare. I am self pay.