Ladybandito

pizza. Pizza and spaghetti used to be trigger foods for me. I could eat barrels, once I got going. Seriously, like portions 3 large starving truckers would eat. Or else I would eat a moderate portion, and feel "deprived." Lol Now, they have no power over me whatsoever!!!!! (.... Happy dance .... )

My band will let me eat just about anything, but I do miss biting into a big hoagie sandwich... A good beer now and then ... And champagne mimosas. Oh well! :-)

Nothing is impossible; even the word itself, says "I'm possible!"

That's quite interesting. I'm gonna google it.

I, too, have the same "compliment" reaction. Weird, huh? That said, you look OK as you are now. I personally think you would look better if you lost more like 50 pounds more, instead of 25. Then you would be hot! :-)

The 5 day pouch test is comprised of liquids in the beginning, then mushies, then solids. Similar to how we first started. You can search it on here, there are lots of threads that explain it. Nicki, so glad you took my comments as intended; I was starting to get worried! Otaku am, I think the six-day liquids is a great idea. I might try that myself sometime, just to get that "light" feeling all-liquids give! :-) Oh, btw, did I mention that you are an inspiration to all?!!! :-)

Wait it out; walk, walk, and walk some more. Don't drink anything. Like Cheryl said, it may never happen. Above all, be very, very careful with your first bite of food ... Especially if you are very hungry. That's what got me early on .. Even when I thought I had chewed well. Ugh! I am still very careful with my first bites of something when I am very, very hungry. Oh, and after it happens, go back to liquids for the rest of the day (believe me, you won't be hungry anyway) as your stoma may be irritated.

Yes, I would do it again ... And I would do it sooner. I spent too long in research! Pros include eating like a normal person now (I am 2 years out and at goal), feeling healthier and more confident, no yo-yo dieting anymore, no CPAP machine requirements, finding clothes that fit, oh...so many pros. At this second I cannot think of any cons. Very early on I remember being scared it would change my whole way of life (in an upsetting way) and that has not happened. I really thought food and eating ALOT was way more important than it turned out to be. I was a slow but steady loser, and that helped me adjust and not draw to much attention to my weight loss while it was happening over the course of two years. Believe it or not, people's attention was another fear of mine... And I've told very few people about my surgery for that reason. I was also self-pay. I had a few "stuck" episodes early on, but learned quickly. I also took my fills very, very slowly and followed doctors rules. I really don't think about my band that much anymore; just more about maintaining healthy eating. Good luck to you... I wish you all the success in the world with this wonderful tool!

Great job! I'll go watch your video too.

Add a few minced raisins to this tuna salad recipe and yummo!

You are beautiful AND articulate! Great representation!!

Ok Nicki, you need some butt-chewing! For ONE complete week, stick with solid healthy Proteins. Eat on a regular schedule, and get all of your Water in. Just for one week, girl! You can do this, and I can almost guarantee when you can get to 198 you will be enlivened for more and easier losses.i am so familiar with the self-sabatoging thing, I do commiserate, but really... If I Did it, you can too! Now get with it! No excuses! One foot in front of the other! (Please please know that I am in your corner, not trying to be offensive in the least! X) I just know how good it feels to get to goal, and wish I hadn't fiddle-farted for as long as I did. :-/

I think I have 3.8 in mine. Started with 2 cc about 2 months after surgery Juan 2012 and had .5 and .2 fills after that to to my current total. I've lost slowly but continued losses into my second year. Not sure the breakdown of when I lost (I should go back and calculate) but I would guess about 40 the first year and 25 the second. I am at goal now and happy. My numbers here probably don't add up correctly, but my point is, I am not "tight" at all and it is working fabulously for me. Watch your nutrition, watch your activity level, and watch the continued changes. It takes a while to realize that it is a lifestyle, and then it "clicks." Congratulations to you.

Love this info, Alex! Sometimes we get into a same-o, same-o rut (I am queen of lettuce wraps, I think!) and forget there are lots of creative options out there! Great, on-the-mark article!

Congrats! Onward to all your goals this year!

Whoop-whoop!!

Chrissylu, yay for you! 100 pounds is SO good, and maintaining is even more awesome. I also agree that fruit juices are very acid-filled. I used to like orange juice, but not anymore. If I do drink them, I take a tums. Otaknam, great to see your update! Plastics, oh my. Tell us how that goes. I've toyed with the idea, but thinking I probably won't go that route. Would love to know more about it though. And congrats on your maintenance, that's awesome. Nicki, keep with it ... You are there! As you know by my slow slow progress, I also dealt with self-sabotage at weights of 200, 180, and 160. It was like when I broke 200, I got to 180 with not much problem. And then struggled. Then then the same at the other weights. Not sure why, not sure of I want to delve that deeply, lol. What I found that works recently is weight lifting. I do very little cardio, although I'm much more active (walking, moving) than I used to be. But I lift light weights regularly, and that really did something to help me burn more calories/fat. I also take a Pilates class (on the reformer machines) between 2-3 times a week. That has been a miracle and I love it. It is not hard at all, but gives results very quickly. At first I just lost inches all over, and not a pound, but then the pounds started adding up too. More people actually comment that I'm getting smaller now than when I was losing all the weight to begin with. Go figure. A typical eating day is Greek yogurt with flax or chia seeds, or some fruit, for Breakfast. A Protein (lettuce) wrapped cod filet from Carls Jr, or a taco salad, or Wendy's Chili, or a small sandwich when I'm at work for lunch. I still love Soups, but they don't always "fill" me unless they are chunky too. dinner is any number of things. I try to do protein and veggies usually. I don't really count calories, because I'm so horrible at it, but I still monitor amount with my band. Sometimes I'll eat Pasta and bread and the like, but I am very aware because then I'm not getting in enough protein. I would say that I now eat like a normal "thin" person. (Who would have ever thunk?!!!) Eating now is WAY easier than when I was actively trying to lose. And with my exercise program and the band, I find that the scale doesn't go up 5 pounds if I indulge in something heavy on calories once in a while. Wow, this is a long post for me. I'm so very proud of all of us. It wasn't that long ago that we were all starting out.

Happy Anniversary!!!

If it's too high, yes, it sounds like slip... Or if you're newly banded, it was placed too high to begin with? Did he say how they would adjust it?

Just tried this tonight and OMG it was heaven. I had Greek yogurt that a little mix in side of cherries. I scooped out the plain yogurt, added a very chocolatey protein powder, stirred until it was like pudding, and topped it with a little of the cherry mixture. Tons of protein, still low on carbs, and what a yummy, yummy treat! I suppose you could do it with any flavored protein powder ... So, so good, I don't know why I never did this before!

Nicki!!!! So glad to see your post! I've been keeping your in my prayers that all is good, and looks like it is! Onederland here you come! I'm proud of you, too!

I think I was 33 BMI ... 216 on date of surgery, 226 highest weight, at 5'6.5. My 2 year bandiversary is this month, and I now weigh 145. I was a slow, slow loser but continued to lose all during my second year. My doc said that's what he likes to see ... At every appointment my weight is less (even if only a few pounds) but it is not up and down. I hit months-long plateaus that were frustrating, but I've kept plugging along at my own easy pace, and it works!

Happy Anniversary! What a nice, open, hear-felt post that so many can relate to! Wishes for everything good for you.

Usually the hospital will want you to have someone with you to drive home after out-patient surgery, since you will have anesthesia. I think that is just most hospital's protocol. If you're staying the night, then I don't see why you couldn't manage OK on your own. I, too, am a private person and can totally understand your desire to keep this under wraps. I had only my husband with me, and told my closest friend after I had been banded. If I were single and staying the night at the hospital, I would probably go it alone ... But that's just me. Even pre-band, I couldn't stand having people "monitor" my eating, and sometimes that would actually lead me to drop the diet altogether. (Hey, we all have some type of food issues, right? I was also scared of not being successful and everyone knowing I couldn't even do it with WLS) Since I've reached goal, I have shared my surgery story with obese people who ask me about my weight loss (it just doesn't feel right not to share the help I've received from the band). Surprisingly few people comment on my eating habits or my weight loss, since they've seen me lose weight so many times before (and then gain it back!) I have had a few back-handed comments that I'm doing a good job keeping it off... I just smile and say thanks! As far as the green zone, you have some great answers above. BTW, are you going to Dr Simpson in Arizona? I love his website and all the information he shares!

Cutlass, all above mentions are true. Having said that, I hear the fear of failure in your question, and I have to say: I was so scared that I would not be successful at this that I told only my husband and one close friend that I was having the band placed. I felt it was very possible that I would be the only person who did not lose 1 pound after surgery. I'm basically at goal (a few pounds to go), and I have loved this journey. Simply because it is NOT another diet. You will understand after surgery, and it wish you all the success in the world! You can do it!