laurigee

91vert Congratulation on your upcoming surgery! This is site is going to be your support during your journey! Remember to use it! As far as asking questions about weight loss you will learn that everyone is very different. Don't ever let your experience be reflected upon what others may experience. There are slow loser, fast loser, and people that wish they have never gotten the band. Your journey will be JUST YOUR OWN. Don't use others to define your path let them help you along it. Your body and your dedication to healthy eating and exercising will guide you. Having said all that, WOW only 2 days down with gallbladder surgery. Everyone I know had a hard time with that one. I think lap band is a walk in the park compared to that. I think you are going to do GREAT! Don't make yourself nervous over it, be excited to start your new life. I will be thinking and praying for you on the 9th, please let me know how it goes!

I am not telling anyone not to listen to their doctors, but for this reason is why I am unable to eat just 3 meals a day. I had the same experience in my 1st year. I, right now, eat maybe 6X's a day. I nibble all day. I eat protien for my 3 meals, with some veggies. If I make 1 chicken breast for lunch and I can't finish it, I will nibble on it throughout the day. For those of you who can only eat a couple of bites at a time, it's not like your getting alot of calories per sitting. Your calorie intake is what really counts, not how many times you eat. Of coarse the doctors don't want you to eat full meals more than 3 times a day. This can be difficult because you can't drink with meals, 1hr. before meal, or 1hr. after, but I learned to figure it out. They say that you should only need 3 meals and some say no snacks, but don't be afraid of tweeking your food and times you eat to your body and lifestyle. When I started to do that I began to be more successful. I truly think that if you are only eating a couple of bites of food for a meal it is not very healthy. I exercise alot and need the energy and stamina food gives me. That is why I think that the anorexic type eating that some doctors promote is not healthy. I personally leave my band on the loose side so I am able to eat over a cup of food for meals. You will find your own way, just don't be afraid to experiment.

I have been thin, obese, now normal size. When I would be shopping(obese)I would never get help with doors or offered to help with anything in stores. Now, and when I was thin(younger)I never had to open a door, and have been offered by strangers(usually men) to help get something or carry something for me. I have always dressed well, even when heavy, and I can say that in higher end stores and jewelry stores I get helped immediately now when I walk in the door, which was not the case when I was obese. I have walked in both shoes and I can honestly say that I believe obese people get treated differently. And for that reason it effects your self esteem, and for that reason you become less assertive and confident. It doesn't take everyone to treat you poorly to effect you, it only takes one, that's the one we always remember. But on the other hand when we have confidence in ourselves heavy or not, that one person doesn't bother us anymore. I love this question! Can't wait to read more thoughts on it!

***NAME***********START WGHT.*****CURRENT WGHT.********GOAL**********LBS. LOST ***:thumbup: **************************:tt2: *********************:w00t:* 1000words..........237............235............220............2 1dayatime..........259............250............239............9 aJoneen............213............210............199............3 alliemorris73......229............229............199............0 Ariel..............193............193............183............0 Barb12590..........207............199............187............8 Bea1129............198.5..........198.5..........183............0 Brandy.............208............203............198............3 CQQlgirl...........188............186............170............2 crzytchr...........265............259............250............6 JasonR.............366............366............351............0 Jodi_620...........174............168............159............6 KikiVal315.........229............223.5..........215..........5.5 Kirsty39...........237............234............217............3 laurigee...........170............162............158............8 Leslie2Lose........215............214............199............1 LilMissDiva........244............244............225............0 lindar172 .........257.8..........250.6..........240..........7.2 LisaB..............189............184............170............5 mamanmidwife.......275............268............255............7 MegMegs13..........266............260............250............6 mominlv13..........282.4..........275.4..........270............7 noosagirl..........138............138............124............0 Renee74............198............195............185............3 renewedhope........162............161............150............1 SailorChristy......251.5..........248............230..........3.5 southernmissy......209............204............195............5 __________________

I think if any of us would choose, we would pick sleep over workouts. The only thing that gets us up and moving is we know that it will improve our health, weight loss, and energy level. It is the same for eating, we would rather eat whatever, and as much as we want, then to have to watch what we eat, but that too, is not going to get us to where we want to be. You just have to decide what's more important and then JUST DO IT!

Just get yourself together and do a RESTART. You know exactly why your not losing and your honest about it. That is over half of the battle. I have been banded since 2006, and am just finally reaching goal. So I can honestly say that I have slipped up on occasion. The thing you have to do is just not let it continue for too long. You know that everyones body is different and you know that you shouldn't be comparing yourself, so don't. I know that's hard. I even stopped coming to this site cuz I was so discouraged by comparing myself. Try to do challenges that are here. This is how I started losing my last 30lbs. It keeps me on track and keeps me motivated. You want to be able to move that ticker. Good Luck and I know that you can get back on track!

yljones: You will always have good and bad with everything, even the lap band. In the beginning alot of people have difficulty with hunger and pain. I did not. Everyone is different. You will get through it and realize that it is all worth it. Follow your rules. That is the biggest key to sucess. I am 41, had my surgery in 2006, and am close to goal. I was a slow loser, but I let my body do it's thing and it has finally got there. Remember, it's not a race, don't compare yourself to others, listen to your body, and remember this is about health, not the size you wear. The band has changed my health, and I would do it over again in a heart beat. Good Luck to all of you, and yljones, please let us know how it goes on 12/03, I will be thinking and praying for you. Good Luck!

Well, at my meeting in Dec. we are having a clothing exchange. I was told by my surgeon and nurse(who I love to pieces) that maybe I should not bring in any of my clothes under a 12 because it could seem discouraging for others, because the majority may never reach or not currently at that size. When I first got the surgery, I was told not to share my story about how easy and painless I thought the surgery was because it would not sit well with the patients that had problems. So, kinda in a strange way, I think that people like to hear others whinning and problems more than they like to hear the success someone else is having. I feel like others in group can be more honest than I can, because I feel like I may rub someone the wrong way and insult them. I think everyone is so different. Some, may look at people as an inspiration that are successful, and others view them as a threat or maybe a way of measuring what they have not, or think they can't achieve. Congratulations on your success and don't let others devalue the work you have done to achieve it. Remember for certain people there is always an excuse for everything, we have all heard someone say.....it's because she's younger, because she's smarter, because she has more time, because she has money, because she doesn't have kids, because she isn't raising kids by herself, ect. Just be proud, your doing great!

So many things in life that create who we are or how we behave. Unfortunately, I can't pick out one thing that is the key to my eating. No huge tramatic experiences like others. Sorry to all of you who have experienced so much pain. For me, I love the taste and the comfort food gave me.

***NAME***********START WGHT.*****CURRENT WGHT.********GOAL**********LBS. LOST ***:cool2: *************:ohmy:*************:tt2: ***********:thumbup:**********:w00t:* 1000words..........237............235............220............2 1dayatime..........259............250............239............9 aJoneen............213............210............199............3 alliemorris73......229............229............199............0 Ariel..............193............193............183............0 Barb12590..........207............199............187............8 Bea1129............198.5..........198.5..........183............0 Brandy.............208............204............198............4 CQQlgirl...........188............186............170............2 crzytchr...........265............259............250............6 JasonR.............366............366............351............0 Jodi_620...........174............168............159............6 KikiVal315.........229............223.5..........215..........5.5 Kirsty39...........237............237............217............0 laurigee...........170............163............158............7 Leslie2Lose........215............214............199............1 LilMissDiva........244............244............225............0 lindar172 .........257.8..........250.6..........240..........7.2 LisaB..............189............184............170............5 mamanmidwife.......275............268............255............7 MegMegs13..........266............260............250............6 mominlv13..........282.4..........275.4..........270............7 noosagirl..........138............138............124............0 Renee74............198............195............185............3 renewedhope........162............161............150............1 SailorChristy......251.5..........248............230..........3.5 southernmissy......209............205............195............4 __________________

I am alot like you where I am tighter in the am hours. What I will do is eat smaller portions. Something warm may open your band a little in the morning. I eat my largest meal and the most calories at night. This has always been my hungriest time, even prior to the band. Now I have just accepted that and worked with it. If I am hungry between meals I have never thought twice of having a piece of fruit. Bananas work really well for me, they are very filling. I have taken this journey as a healthier lifestyle and I just don't think that getter more healthy food into your body whether its 3 meals a day or 3 meals and 2 snacks makes much of a difference. You will learn what your body needs to maintain your lifestyle. I personally, like my band a little loose so I am able to eat enough to maintain my stamina throughout the day and be able to exercise 1-2hrs 5x's a week. Don't be afraid to play around a little bit and find what's comfortable. Good Luck

I don't have kids that young anymore, but I do have a wonderful energetic dog that likes to pounce on me whenever I am sitting or laying down. What I did is whenever I was in those positions I put a big fluffy down pillow over my stomach and that way if I got jumped on by accident it wouldn't hurt. Worked like a charm. Good Luck!

Spicey foods never bothered me before the band and they still don't. I can basically eat everything I did before the band. Of coarse in smaller portions.

When people say its a quick or easy fix, neither is true. I have been banded since 2006, and can tell you that if I would have worked this hard prior to the band I don't think I would have been so overweight. The band has been my lifesaver, because it has given me the extra push that I needed. But it is Work! You should start feeling better physically every day. But, you will go through a tons of ups and downs as far as emotions and weight go. Don't put a time line on anything, remember what one persons body does may not be the same for you. If you remember that it will make things easier. Good Luck and keep us informed on your progress.

The only advise that i can maybe add is that you may want to make sure you get off all caffiene. If you don't you may end up with a massive headache from withdrawl, and trying to recover with a horrible headache sucks!

I'm 5'9' and weigh 165 and people just started to realize that I looked different about 10 pounds ago. And I started at 267. Wait until you get the wonderful questions like "have you been sick"? Someone asked me the other day how much weight I have lost, and I said over 100lbs. and my son who is 14 said, "no you haven't". Of course I have, but to him, I'm just mom, and haven't changed a bit. Gotta love 'em.

17yrs ago when I got married I weighed 135lbs. For 10 of those years I weighed between 200-280. Never once did he say anything about it. He always told me I was beautiful and how much he loved me. When I decided to get the surgery he was supportive and understanding. Now that I am about at goal, I can tell how proud he is of me. Nothing has changed, he still tells me he loves me everyday and that I'm beautiful. I will say that I do enjoy that he brings me home new clothes all the time, and he has better taste than I do. I can honestly say that I found a keeper. Sorry if I sound like I'm bragging, but I adore my hubby.

I don't think it sounds like you need another fill. If you are eating after you feel your pouch is full, I think this is just a part of compulsive overeating. We can still do the over eating like we did before, it will just be more uncomfortable, or it may come back up. It our job to listen to our body, and when it says full, stop. Head hunger can be hard to overcome. Good Luck

I have horrible problems with migranes and have had knee surgery, and swelling of the joints. I have to take naproxen twice daily to function. I was told to take prilosac with it and it should take care of any problems that it would cause. I hope this is right, but I guess I don't have a choice. Naproxen is the only way I can exercise daily, I have tried to stop and then I had a hard time even bending my knee because of the swelling. I guess only time will tell.

Isn't it wonderful that our husbands notice when our hair thins, but they never notice the new haircut or haircolor.lol

It funny because everyone is so different. I can eat anything. But at our support group there are people that are now vegitarians(not by choice) because they can't eat any type of meat at all. The band is very finacky.

Actually, its great advises (lol). To bad I can't always follow my own advise. I want what I want now, also. We seem to have similiar stats. I left the site for about a year when I got frustrated that everyone was doing much better than I was. What a mistake. I just started losing weight again since I came back. I get motivated by joining the challenges. It's great for support and inspiration. Well, keep me informed on your progress, Good Luck. And congratulation on your baby! Is it your 1st?

Actually, after I got it removed it was almost immediately. Before that I was really considering whether I could live with that pain. Trust me, when it's gone you are going to feel like a million bucks. Good Luck and let me know how everything turns out. I truly feel for you cuz I know how horrible it is. Good Luck.

Gman: I had the exact same problem! It was horrible! The only thing that worked for me is when they removed some fill. I had no problem with food going down either. I was very worried about gaining weight so I put it off for to long. If I would have known what I know now I would have done it sooner. I had some removed, then 6 weeks later they put back in exactly what they took out, and I never had the problem again. Doctor has no clue to this day why, but it worked. Good Luck!

Alot of time people feel tighter in the morning. Don't try to eat solid foods if it is too tight. Some people will drink warm liquids, and that will help open the band. If you are more hungry in the afternoon, I suggest that you eat a healthy snack mid morning between breakfast and lunch. That way at lunch you won't be famished. I had the shoulder pain also when things would not go down right. Very painful. Don't drink when this happens, it only makes it worse. Don't base your fills by the calendar, base them on how your able to tolerate food. If you are tight in the morning and at night, I personally wouldn't think I would get a fill. Being overfull is alot worse than not being full enough. But that is a personal preference. I like to be a little loose, because I exercise alot and I like to have enough nutrition in me to get the most out of my workouts. Let me know how your feeling.