rcain03@hotmail.com

I am really sorry I didn't get back to you sooner! I just now seen this post! If you are still around...I would be more than happy to talk with you. I am on facebook and you can add me on there. Just send me a message letting me know who you are! LOL...and yes! Life with the lapband gets so much better as time goes on. I really went through a time of anger and depression after first having my surgery. It was a huge adjustment for me mentally. The best way I could describe it to my family was this way...I felt like a crack addict that just got ambushed with an intervention and sent to rehab! I was pissed that I couldn't turn to food anymore! I no longer find "enjoyment" or "comfort" from food here almost 9 mos. post op. I have learned to treat food as it should be treated...as fuel for my body...not a reward, a comforter, a solace...but, just as a neccessary fuel. I now find enjoyment in living life..going on walks with my children...being able to ride go carts or rides at amusement parks without fear of not being able to "fit" in the seats or belts...being able to shop for clothes and not feeling like crying everytime I came out of the dressing room...liking what I see when I put on a bathing suit and not feeling self conscious...not hiding from the camera anymore...wanting to be in the picture! =) ....I look forward to going to the gym...I look forward to stepping on the scale! ...I want to get out of the bed in the morning...I want to move my body...All the anger...All the depression...All the fear...has subsided and I am enjoying my life once again. I have my life back and I look forward to my future! My best advice I can give is to "embrace" the change..."feel" the pain and the feelings you have stuffed with food...life gets better from here! You don't have to "hide" behind your wall of fat anymore...life and health await you!

My GI doctor told me to get 35 grams of fiber a day. It will do three things....keep you full longer, make you lose weight, and keep you regular. I have had horrible bowel problems since being banded. I have severe constipation most of the time. I now take Miralax once a day, Fiber One bar "oats and chocolate" is really good...once a day, two fiber gummies daily, two fiber choice chewable tablets daily, and Metamucil Pink Lemonade mixed in with my water bottle and Miralax once a day. It really does the job! You can scale it back to fit your needs...but, this is what has worked for me. Good luck because I know how miserable it makes you feel to be so bloated from poo! I lost 13 lbs. in two days just from finally being able to have a BM!

I had 6 cc's as of Jan. 4, 2011 and it was too tight for me. I had to go in on the 21st and get an unfill. I was puking and sliming everything I ate up. I even had trouble getting yogurt down. My doc took 2cc's out and I feel so much better! I am able to eat good, healthy food now. I dropped from 258lbs. on Thursday to 251.2 lbs. on Sunday night just by being able to get more calories in. I think my body went into starvation mode because prior to the unfill I wasn't even able to get 500 calories a day in and then what I was able to eat came right back up. Good luck and hope you find your spot soon! It's amazing just how different this works with each individual.

Day 2 and 3 post op was miserable for me! I was so swollen and bloated that I looked like the Michelin Man with a tire around my stomach! Gas X and lots of walking is the only thing that helped me. I gained as well right after surgery. Here I am 6 months out and I have lost a total of 64.8 lbs. I would do it all over in a heartbeat! I feel better than I have in years. I am no longer diabetic nor do I have have high blood pressure anymore! No meds for me! Just hang in there and things will get better. Be prepared for the emotional rollercoaster you will find yourself on through this journey. That is the one thing I did not expect myself to go through. I "knew" how the band worked before my surgery and "knew" that the weight loss is slow and steady...but, for some reason I found myself "expecting" entirely too much of myself too fast. I still struggle daily with that even though I "know" I have really done great with my weight loss thus far. We are our harshest critics. Once the swelling goes down in your stomach after surgery..you will find that you are really hungry and will probably be able to eat as you did before just not to the same extent. Realize that is normal until you get your fills started and reach restriction. I have a 14cc band and I was fortunate enough to have reached pretty good restriction after only my 2nd fill. I know lots of people that it took longer. So, everyone is certainly different. Take what positive you can from this site and leave the rest behind. You will learn the ropes soon enough! =) Good luck on your journey and hang on...it's going to be a long ride! =)

I get a B12 shot monthly and have started taking Centrum liquid daily. I can tell a big difference in my energy levels and how I feel. =)

I know that my husband has complained lately of me talking excessively about calories, pounds, workouts...etc. It really is so hard for me not to talk about it though. This is what my life has become since being banded. For the most part, my husband is very supportive...but, there are definitely times I feel he tries to sabotage me by bringing foods to me that he KNOWS I shouldn't have. I know ultimately it is my choice as to whether I eat them or not...but, it certainly doesn't make things any easier to be tempted like that. I can understand how hard it must be for our spouses and family members to deal with such a turn about from us WLS peeps. I really do think it would be a good idea for them to have their own support system. Unfortunately, I believe my husband would rather not ever have to talk about weight loss, lapband, calories, or exercise again! I just hope he is able and willing to hang in there with me for this journey!

I would probably bet money that it is your gall bladder. Same thing happened to me when my gall bladder quit working. Luckily, it happened before being banded. I couldn't imagine having gall bladder problems with the band! Better get that checked out ASAP. And remember even if it isn't gall stones...be sure to get a function test....I had gall stones but, my 15 yr. old daughter was having the same problems...kept having to take her to the er...they did an ultrasound and it came back fine...after several trips to the er...they finally did a HIDA scan and found that her gall bladder was only functioning at 13%...so, they had to take hers out. It is very painful and made us sick as a dog! Good luck!

Thanks everyone for your input. It is amazing how strong the mind is! I am really beginning to understand people with anorexia and bulimia. I can see now how easy it is to look in the mirror and not actually "see" what is really there. I always wondered how they could be so thin yet see theirselves as being so fat. Although, I am far from being thin...I hope that I will be able to see myself that way once I really get there! It just seems like it would be a shame to have worked so hard for it and not be able to enjoy it because of some freaking mental block!

I have got stuck a few times and trust me...it is not a feeling you want to have! I have had only two fills and the last two months I have went to my check ups...my doctor did not give me a fill either. My doctor said I was averaging 1.75 lbs. loss per week and he said that is great! I have lost a total of 51 lbs. in a little over 5 months and that is something I would have never done without my band. I totally trust my doctor and I think you should too! He isn't in this to have you fail...and I am with him when he says "if ain't broke, then don't fix it". Sometimes getting a fill can do more bad than good. Think of it like this...if you are too tight...it can actually make your weight loss stop or make even make you gain weight! If you are able to go 3-4 hours without starving and you are satisfied with your controlled portions...you are losing weight...then leave it ALONE!!! And "BE HAPPY"!!! that you are one of the blessed ones that is progressing as successfully as you are. I see alot of people on here with alot of problems and I am thankful to not have had any problems thus far. You are doing a great job! We all can be so hard on ourselves and I think we are our own harshest critic. Congratulations on your successes so far and continue the good work! Give yourself some credit! Have a very Merry Christmas and a Healthier New Year! =)

Today, I feel...profoundly happy! Since I began my weight loss journey on June 26, 2010. I have lost a total of 51 lbs. and a total of 25.5 inches from my body!!! Just sitting down here and actually calculating all of this made me realize just how far I have come! I guess in the day to day grind of everything you lose focus of how much one has accomplished. I often feel like I should be doing more or losing more but, when I see numbers like these it makes me realize I am way too hard on myself. I should be proud of myself! I AM PROUD OF MYSELF! =) It is strange because when I look at myself in the mirror...I really don't "SEE" it. Yeh, I "KNOW" that I have went from a size 26 jeans fitting too tight to wearing a size 18 now. I know my clothes fit totally different now. I know that the scale goes down each time I step on it. But, for some reason my mind has not made that connection! I still can't "SEE" it in my mind. It is crazy! I really hope to one day get to the point of where my mind is where my body is. I want to be one with myself and actually be able to put my progress into a realization for my mind. I want to "SEE" it! I know I have been extremely lucky to have had only two fills and to have great restriction. I realize I have REALLY been lucky to have lost what weight I have considering I have not really been exercising like I should for the past couple of months. I have been so busy taking care of my Mom that I once again...put myself and my health on the backburner. I am recommitting myself to myself for the new year! I am going to HAVE to put myself first, my health first! I am definitely going to get started exercising again. I feel great when I exercise! These winter doldrums have definitely gotten me down but, I will do it! I plan on making 2011 my best year yet! Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year! =) P.S. I was just wondering for those of you who have been on this journey longer than I...When was your moment that you actually could "SEE" all of your progress? When did your mind actually "catch up" to where you are now?

I just have to be honest here...Even at my highest weight...I would not "BED" a heavy dude. Now, don't get me wrong...I don't like skin and bones either. My dream guy is fit and built...with lots of stamina! Lets face it...whether you are a man or a woman sex is just better when you are both fit! You are not limited in your positions or stamina. All this talk about women go for personality and charm is B.S.!!! They are not being honest...Just like when women say "size doesn't matter"...WHATEVER! YES, IT DOES!!! The truth is this for both men and women....LOOKS MATTER, SIZE MATTERS, because no matter which way you dice it...no one comes up to you and says "WOW, you have such a nice personality"...LOL...they approach you because of looks! Whether it be a smile, your eyes, an ass, your legs, your rack, your package, whatever the case...you best believe it wasn't your personality! Not to start with anyways. Someone may start to like your personality after awhile but, that is not what turns heads your way!