annieM

I agree, and some people also have luck using "gas-x".

I make Christmas cookies, band or no band. The kids love them. (even though they aren't little anymore). We also set up multiple trees. We have four this year. It's very festive. Merry Christmas!

Wow, 12 classes. What do they teach you? As for motivation, the healthier you are going into your lapband surgery, the sooner you will be on the road to a new you! Who wouldn't want that? What's a little sweat to stand in your way? Go for it!

Welcome! Dayton, Ohio here. Merry Christmas and good luck on your journey!

I just have one three year old grandson so I bought him duplo's and books. My kids got clothing and my DH got one of those new coffee makers.

I don't know why, but since they remodled the website I haven't been getting email copies of new posts. I have to come looking for them. So I'm sorry for the delay in answering. You are really doing great! Maybe you'll just skip a size or two if you wait to buy new stuff. It's fun to buy new stuff, but since you can expect to go through many sizes it's OK to put it off as long as you can. Besides, then people really notice your progress when your clothes are kind of hanging on you! Do you have restriction with your Mexican fill? How is the hunger issue going? Don't worry about the speed at which you lose; one to two pounds a week is fine. Unless you workout like the people on biggest loser you can't expect more. Slow and steady wins the race, right? It is boring though to lose slowly which is why you need to distract yourself with lots of other pleasurable activities. Like hobbies, and time with your kids, husband, and friends, etc. My exercising has stalled because of my hip bursitis. The cold we're having has made it a bit worse so I made an appointment to get the injections. (freak me out) After that I'll be good to go again. I also got myself a dorky long down coat that will really keep me warm. I even wore it out of the store yesterday! I will be back to yoga and walking in no time. We are thinking of moving to where my DH works. The daily commute for him is around 40 minutes in good weather and they just had a merge with a new group that will lengthen his working hours so we are thinking it's a good time to take the plunge. I'm excited about it. Talk about distraction! Now I can think of nothing else, not even food! Maybe I'll get off this silly plateau. I keep perusing the real estate sites. We will look at a bunch with an agent tomorrow. My son was promoted to lance corporal! I'm so happy for him. He was so excited. Keep up the good work!

Welcome! I wouldn't worry about a tiny cheat on your pro-op diet. What they want is to shrink some of that belly fat, esp. around the liver, so that it's easier to work on you during the surgery. Do the very best you can. I wasn't put on any pro-op diet at all at 230 lbs. so I was lucky. Don't worry about your Christmas being spoiled by your new diet. I had my surgery right before Christmas too and things taste better when you know you can only have a tiny bit. A whole lot of something doesn't even have a taste after a while... A new Year a new you! Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! You are about the same as I was when i started my journey. I ended up being self-pay because my insurance wouldn't approve me. Best move I could have made. Now I stay around 150, and all of my health problems are gone. I'v e gone from a size 20 to a size 6 and can wear all the latest styles. What fun. Every insurance is different so do try and get approved, your doc's office should help you get a list of what hoops they want you to jump through. Most want a 6 month supervised diet, a psych eval, ekg, nutrition interview, and referral from your general doctor. If you can't get approved, consider self-pay. Your doc's office may even have some financing info available. Or you could go to Mexico for cheap. Lots of possibilities. Good luck on your journey,

Welcome! Sorry about the bleeding trouble. I'm sure your scars will fade to nothing-much. Mine did. I had 5 incisions twice and only about three of those are visible. Don't be in too much of a hurry for that first fill, you are still healing. It's important to let yourself heal completely to avoid trouble down the road so follow your doc's instructions about exercise and foods to the letter. (please) I'd bet you will bypass your goal weight and keep going. I'm 5'7" and 150 and you are just a tiny thing. (soon to really be tiny) I'm four years out from my surgery and the best advise I can give is to be patient with the process and with yourself. You are attempting a major lifestyle change and that is SO difficult. Cut yourself a break when you falter. Just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back on the "bandwagon" without recriminations. It takes a long time to lose a pound of fat. That's a deficit of 3500 calories. Unless you workout like a mad fool, losing 1-2 lbs a week is just fine. The band really helps with the patience. It keeps you from the "oh what the heck" moments that wreck a weeks efforts. Good luck on your journey,

Welcome! I guess by now you both are banded! Welcome to bandland! I hope your post op experience has been smooth. Now you just have to follow the rules of healing. Liquids, then mushies, then solids. Don't worry too much about losing during the healing phase, although most do. I hope you get restriction sooner, rather than later, 'cause it's hard to wait. Some people need many fills before they experience restriction, others have some right away. It's a crap-shoot. Just remember to be patient. Unless you are working out for several hours a day like on biggest loser, you will only lose a pound or two a week. The band will keep you from saying the heck with it, and overeating. Just be patient... Good luck on your journeys,

Welcome! I'm glad you have come back to the band. It's a great tool to achieve lasting weight loss. Your teens will be so proud of you! Good luck on your journey!

A half compliment is better than none. Right? But I know what you mean. I used to crave a compliment when I was heavy just to counteract what I knew was the truth. That I didn't look so hot. Now that I'm thin, I still don't get many compliments but I don't crave them as much 'cause I know that I really look OK. A size six looks much better in clothing than a 20, right? My face looks better too, even though I'm not a looker. People react more kindly towards me, which I take as a compliment. Clerks in stores don't ignore me anymore, people hold doors open for me, crack jokes to me, flirt with me, and it feels really good. Strangers will always be shallow and judge you on your outer appearance, 'cause they don't know your insides. Someday, with the help of the band, you can experience that too. I hope you'll get more "full" compliments than i do. In part it's the company i keep, and i may just need more complimentary friends. I give out lots of compliments, only the full kind.... Good luck on your journey,

Welcome! Type II diabetes is nothing to mess with. I'm so glad you are taking it's threat seriously and turning your life around so you can live for your kids. Many congrats on your weight loss thus far, terrific work. How much do you have to lose? I am four years out from my surgery and have done very well. I'm maintaining about 10 lbs from my goal and all my co-morbidities are gone. It's wonderful to feel healthy! Keep up the good work! Good luck on your journey,

Welcome! January is right around the corner and you will be able to start your new life as a healthy person. It's a big decision not to be taken lightly because it's so difficult to change old habits. The band is an amazing tool to realize these changes. Good luck on your journey!

You are doing just great! Getting through a major holiday and still losing is so wonderful! Have you changed sizes yet? Getting into new clothes was where the fun began for me . It's so fun now my DH threatens to take away my credit card! We are having our 23rd anniversary today, how time flies! My son will be 20 on Tuesday and that really seems impossible. He is training out in the California desert for war in afghanistan. yuk. He deploys in January...still wet behind the ears. Good luck with the Christmas shopping. Maybe santa will bring you some pants a size or two smaller!

Welcome! It's unusual for a doc to say "you need surgery". I take it he has been very supportive of you getting the band? Or is he pushing for gastric bypass ( boo , hiss )? You could ask your surgeon to get your gall bladder taken out at the same time you are banded. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! It would be great for you to start off your new married life being healthier so you can live longer together. Is your fiance' overweight too? Is he supportive of your banding? Hope so, 'cause it's a life style change that he won't be able to ignore. My husband had the gastric bypass and can and does eat everything in sight. It's hard to have so much food around that I can't eat, but I've gotten used to it. His biggest complaint of my surgery is that when we go out to eat it's "a waste" to buy me dinner because I have to take most of it home. I counter with "I don't waste it, I get more lunches out of it..." It's great for me 'cause I always wanted to be a dainty eater as opposed to a mindless shoveler. I wish you the best of luck on your journey. Losing weight isn't easy, and ,I'm sure you've heard it before "the band is just a tool" you are the user of the tool and you can make it work, or not work. It took me a while to change my habits, and now I just have ten pounds more or less to go. (size20 to a 6) I am four years out and still needing to work.

Welcome! There are many hoops to jump through, some insurance co's invent more than others. Hang in there and keep jumping, soon you will be in bandland. Life with the band does take getting used to; it's a total life changing event so of course it's difficult. It can be done, and if you have a positive outlook towards it it can become your best buddy. I don't know where I'd be without mine! (well, yes I do, I'd be fat and sick and miserable again...) My journey took longer than most, I'm four years out and still have that pesky last ten pounds to lose, but I've gone from a 20 to a size 6 and it's so much fun to buy clothing my DH is going to take away my credit card. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! It sounds like you are on track and jumping through all the necessary hoops to get into bandland. December is right around the corner! It would be great to have a band by Christmas. What a great gift that would be. You'll feel and look so much better with being a normal weight. I'm 51 and now have a normal blood pressure and normal blood fats. It can happen! Obesity is a disease state and the sooner you can return to optimal health the better. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! You don't have long to wait! Your surgery is timed well, you'll be feeling fine by Christmas. By next Christmas you won't remember being so fat and you'll be wearing all new clothes. You'll have more energy and fewer aches and pains. Sound good? Get ready to work!!! Make this year really count and make the plan a reality. With the band you can do it! Good luck on your journey!

Wow, why Belgium? Who will do your fills then? I hope you will spend a little time there looking around, it must be beautiful. It will be incredibly cold though. Don't fret if your band gets very tight on the way home on the plane, airplane travel makes everyone tighter and it will pass in a day or so. What an adventure. Be sure to post your story when you get back. Good luck on your journey,

Welcome! Indeed getting a band is an awesome Christmas present! You will be much lighter by summer camping and riding season; by next Christmas you can ask santa for a new wardrobe. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome to bandland ! I'm surprised you are on mush already, most doc's recommend at least a week of clear liquids for healing. It could be the cause of your cramping. Try gas-x for the gas pains as well as some gentle walking around the house.

Three months actually isn't too bad; most require six. Welcome to the wait though, it won't be long 'till you can start your new healthy lifestyle! Good luck on your journey.

Welcome! I'm glad to hear that you are not too uncomfortable. Most bandsters are like you and sail through without major pain. Now all you have to do is follow your surgeons directions for healing and then start to loooose! Good luck on your journey!

Hi! Sorry it took me so long to respond. The site was down for remodeling and it wouldn't let me in. I thought it was my password so I changed it and now I have a 16 character password! lol I'll never remember that! So glad to hear that you are on solids. Much easier to plan meals that way. Then you can enjoy Turkey Day! How is your restriction level? I've never gotten a fill with fluoro, can they hit the sweet spot much easier that way? I have been going to yoga and it has been good for me. I could swear my hips feel a bit better, but time will tell. We change insurance at the first of the year so i need to pretend to be healthy at that point. My daughter is home for the holiday and the other comes home tonight. yea! My son is in California and won't make it but he will be here for Christmas. How are the Holidays shaping up for you?