laurigee

I still eat pizza. Not as much as I used to. I don't like to think of foods as taboo otherwise I obsess over them. Moderation is the key for me! When I don't put things on the "naughty list" and I know if I want them I have to work them into my daily calorie total it doesn't appeal to me as much! My weakness is chocolate! Now instead of eating a whole regular size Hershey bar I eat 1 mini size bar! I still get my fix, however, I didn't just blow all my calories for the day! I found that my pizza urge be curbed by baking a chicken breast, melting low fat mozzarella cheese and putting a little spaghetti sauce on top, then I sauté onions, green peppers, and mushrooms in a little olive oil and put that on top of the chicken. My kids and husband love it to! Good luck on your journey!

This is the time with the band that you have to decide to work with it or fight against it! You HAVE to change your eating habits, portion size, and get some exercise! Until you hit the correct amount of fill it is a struggle! You will still have to eat the amounts and calories your given by your nutritionist or surgeon or nothing will happen! You will be hungry, but you can get through it! It's time to change your lifestyle! If you don't, no matter how much fluid you put in your band it won't work! You will get to a spot when the band will start helping you and it will get easier! Remember, the band isn't intended to do it alone! You need to look at what you've been doing, see it hasn't worked, and have a change in plan! It takes a lot to understand how our bodies work with the band because we are all so different! I have had the band for 6 years now and I'm just starting to get the hang of what works and doesn't work for me! It can be a long process. However, in the end our goal is to be a healthier version of our current self! Therefore, don't obsess with the scale and use that as your marker of success! Start eating right and moving and the weight will follow! Good Luck to you and I hope you start to get the results your looking for!

Had surgery on Thursday and back to work on Monday! If you do heavy lifting in your job that could make a difference!

To me there is no greater bond than "THE GIRLFRIEND CODE"! All my girlfriends know that if I smell, have boogies hanging, lipstick on teeth, food in teeth, or any thing on my body that is offensive or hilarious it is a MUST TELL situation!!!! Think of the embarrassment she could have avoided with others if you just told her the truth! Start the conversation with, "I care about you and I don't want to hurt your feelings but.......your breath would knock a buzzard off a sh*t wagon! LOL.. Okay, not the second part! LOL! Terrys comment is still cracking me up! She's not going to be mad at you for telling her, if she does get mad it will probably be because you didn't tell her sooner! Help a girlfriend out!

Laurigee (Laurie) Weight on February 1st~ 193 Age~ 45 Dietary goal for February~ eat less sugar Exercise goal for February~ had hysterectomy on Jan 29th, start slow, again! Personal goal for February~ stay focused Date banded~ September 2006 Weight Loss Goal~ 188

I had my hernia repaired when I had the lap-band. My surgeon said it was a great time to get it done. I know a lot of people that have had it done at the same time with no problems! Good luck!

Once you start you will find you have more energy! I understand you want to relax on your days off, however, if you excercise for just an hour you still have 23 more hours to relax in that day! LOL. You may also find it relaxing to exercise! I love walking early in the morning when there are very few people out! The world looks so different at that time! When I first started I told myself if I wanted to crawl back in bed after my walk I would let myself! I gave myself permission, but honestly, I don't think I ever did! Start out slow, just give it a try! Good Luck!

Are we starting a February challenge?

Welcome! This is a great site to come to before having surgery! Look at as much as you can and see the questions that are asked frequently so you will have in mind some of the things to expect or not to expect during your journey! Of course every person is different and we all have different experiences, however, some things are pretty common. The people here can be very supportive and helpful! It's great to have a support system that you can rely on! It really is an important part of having success. Good luck with your upcoming appointments, I wish you the best!

If anyone asks how I did it, I tell the truth! Watch what I eat, eat smaller portions, and exercise. I don't care if anyone knows, however, I don't share personal issues with people. I like to keep my private life private. I don't share detailed information with acquaintances. That's just my personal choice. As far as waiters and waitresses go, I have been asked if I enjoyed my meal and I just smile and say "my eyes where bigger than my stomach"! Which is the truth! LOL...

Donna....how could you look dumb to anyone??? You weren't the one being dishonest, disrespectful, and acting like a fool! You were the one that was trusting, loving, and supportive to a man that didn't deserve your time of day! Everyone deserves to be with someone that is devoted to the marriage and loves their partner. He should be ashamed that he wasted your years with him when you could have been with someone that cherished you the way they should! That is something that makes me so angry with men or women that cheat! They are depriving their spouse of finding that person who will devote themselves to a relationship where 2 people are happy! Everyone deserves this in their lives and I truly think people that prevent this for their partners are selfish and will never know what giving yourself to another and trusting that person with their lives feels like! I don't feel sorry or bad for you, you will find true love, because you now know what it is not! I pity him, and the person he will hook up with in the future, he obviously has nothing in his heart, therefore, he has nothing to give! Stay beautiful and true to yourself and love will come!

Checking in at 193! Missed my goal by 3 pounds

It will be so much cheaper to see your surgeon once or twice than to have major complications that could put you into the hospital! I know when your not insured or insurance doesn't cover doctors visits a lot of us tend to stop seeing our doctor. However, I think this could be the difference between being successful with the band or not! I hope all goes well with you and there is an easy solution to your problem! please let us know how it turns out!!

I definitely sympathize with you! I've had a lot of problems myself in the last 6 years! It's hard to decide when to just throw in the towel and say enough is enough! I wish you the best, and a speedy recovery!

I was addicted to soda! I NEVER drank water! I would go through at least 8 cans a day! I stopped when I got the band, then 1 year ago I started drinking it again! BIG MISTAKE! I felt like when I was drinking it I had less restriction! I started getting horrible stomach pains after about 6 months, and thought the band had possibly slipped. I went back to just liquids for 5 days and all my symptoms went away. That was enough to scare the crap out of me! I havent had even a sip since then! I HATE water! The only way I can drink it is with crystal light! I love the lemon iced tea! Now I drink more water than is recommended per day! I actually crave it! Maybe give it a try!

Funny how a towel or a chair can put a smile on our face for the rest of the day! Think of what a bikini could do! LOL

Sara....I can understand your frustration! I have also had problems with the band. I'm unable to receive fills. As soon as I get one I experience shoulder, jaw, back and neck pain, with headaches! I have been told by many it's something I'm doing wrong, however, the doctor now thinks it's a nerve that's being pressed on to heavily. I have felt like a failure because my band doesn't work like others, and I can't get to the "green zone" that everyone raves about. You are the only one that knows if you are doing everything your suppose to do. The eating healthy, chewing well, and eating small bites. If your doing all that, and are still miserable, no one should have to live that way! You shouldn't have to justify or explain to anyone why you can't live like this! I choose to live with the band. Even though it is not filled I still feel less hungry than I did prior to the band. I give it credit for helping me lose a lot of weight and keeping it off. However, it is very hard to get to the weight the doctor advises for my height. I definitely do not feel satisfied off a cup of food three times a day! I've just been working on modifying my needs and working on how the band works for me. Maybe you need to do what I have been trying to do in this past month. I regrouped! I have decided not listen to anyone and how their band works for them. I decided to see how my band works for me! I eat 1 1/2 - 2 cups of food per meal and sometimes eat snacks in between. However, I stick to my 1200 calories a day! Some days I graze all day on the food I have allotted for myself that day! I have lost 11 pounds so far this month by doing this! What I'm trying to say is, you can do it with little or nothing in your band. Stick to your calories, exercise, and figure out what foods seem to stick with you longer! We may have to listen to our bodies a little more than some and be a little more creative! If you have any questions or want to talk about anything just message me. I've been there, it's been 6 years for me and I'm just figuring a lot of things out about maintaining a healthy weight long term. I wish you the best of luck!!!! I know what it feels like! It SUCKS! But there is a bright side!

Is there anyone else out there that cant handle even the slightest fill? The smallest fill of even .5 seems to make me miserable! I get shoulder, neck, and jaw pain, along with a nice headache! I have tried to leave it to see if it will settle down but it doesn't! I know the band has helped me to lose over 100 pounds in the past. I have gained back 40, but have recently lost 11 of that. However, I am concerned that I may have a hard time maintaining my weight longterm. I have never been able to eat only a cup of food and stay satisfied for very long. Because of this I have to graze all day. If I stay within my calories of course I still lose! I'm so confused!!!! I love my band and what it has done for me, but I struggle when I read when people talk about being in their "green zone". And to be honest, I get very jealous!

Don't take it to personally! I would be very happy that they thought enough of me to do something. A cake is just a pretty standard thing to bring to work for people leaving, retiring, or any other celebrations! Don't think they were evil and trying to sabotage you! Sometimes when we are trying to stay away from something it seems like it is more in our face than it is! Kind of like when your dieting and all of a sudden it seems like every commercial is about your favorite foods, when in reality the commercials are being shown as much as before, we are just more sensitive and aware of it. They may not have been trying to shove junk at you, but just were being kind and offering it to you like they did to everyone! Or on the other hand I could be completely wrong and you could have been working with a bunch of B******! LOL

There are so many things that make people's band feel tighter and being sick is definitely one of those! Hope if your sick you start feeling better soon!

Have you ever had the band checked to see if it is placed correctly, doesn't have a leak, or is disconnected?

The doctor said there is a nerve that runs from the stomach up to the back and neck and can cause a lot of problems if being pressed on. He is pretty sure that's the problem!

Awesome!!! This made me laugh because I remember the first time I was shoved in the back of a van! When we were deciding where everyone was going to sit, they had the door open and we were all standing there. My friend said all the skinny ones in the back. I stood by the door as the first 2 went in. Then I realized no one was moving and everyone was looking at me! Go figure! I was being assigned to the back of the van!

I haven't tried a fill in a while, the pain is so crazy I'm kind of scared! I'm not thinking I ever tried just .1cc. I know when I had the .5cc and it didn't work, we just took it all out. As soon as I recover from my up coming surgery on Tuesday, I think I will go in and try just a .1cc fill. Maybe if that works for you, I still have hope! Thanks for your advice, you seem to always know what to say and how to help and support people! Your such an asset to this site! Thanks again!

At least 6-8, this made a big difference for me! You aren't getting a balanced diet. I don't like to do soups for supper, they don't seem to stick with me for long. Get in a piece of meat and some vegetables! I'm going to really stress the water thing! I use crystal light packets, otherwise I don't like to drink water at all! Water is so essential for your skin also. I don't have any excess skin hanging and I attribute that not only to exercise but to keeping my skin hydrated! it's amazing what water does for your body!