WrenBird

Yeah. I agree with you, honey! and they want to allow prejudice against overweight people because their claim is it's 'their choosing'...The thing is, not everyone's the same and when someone's different it pisses people off. food addiction is as much a reality as gambling or alcohol addiction. Some people can't just 'stop' eating high calorie foods. They've proven that high calorie foods like fast food produce a very similar 'high' in some people as taking heroine or nicotine for other people. The difference is - FOOD IS LEGAL. It's everywhere. It's advertised like crazy!! Imagine waving a cigarette infront of someone who's addicted to nicotine. What do you think they're going to do? They['re going to want to smoke it. lol. We have it waved infront of our faces all day, everyday. Fast food is on billboards, TV ads at dinner time and it's cheap! Heroine and nicotine are not. Obesity is the leading killer of people in Australia and they ban nicotine advertising over fast food advertising? What the heck? This is why I think fast food advertising should be illegal to a certain extent. Before I was on my diet, I would watch TV and see a McDonalds ad and crave whatever food they were advertising for days. It would literally drive me bonkers until I went out and got it. Now when I watch TV, I have to look away or turn it off when a junk food ad comes on. I was that bad, and I was addicted to refined sugar too - luckily that's sorted itself out. Some people are overweight for medical reasons, some people eat emotionally and need treatment for it but it's not available, and some people just don't have the drive to lose weight that others do - but it's ok to classify them all in the same category!? How is that ok? Gah. My rant is over.

My scars at the moment are red. I was banded 21/09/10 Has anyone had theirs fade to white or pink? I've been putting Vitamin E cream and Bio oil on mine to make them fade but it doesn't seem to be working. I'm hoping in time they will fade. Do you put any creams or oils on yours?

Nope. I'm staying off refined sugar - I was showing signs of addiction towards it...That and junk food...a little scary, so I'm avoiding it. It sounds like it would be nice to have after a workout though.

Congrats! So inspiring! I almost always ask people who've lost so much weight to post up a before and after shot :sneaky: It inspires me so much to see them. If you don't want to, that's fine. It's just so motivating to see someone come so far when I'm only just beginning my journey.

:sneaky: If I'm craving sugary food and if I haven't had my Vitamin for the day, I'l have that - it tastes very sweet and it's cherry flavoured! Its actually sugar free but it does the trick nicely. If I am craving junk food or savoury food I think abot how sick I'll feel afterwards and go for a walk.

Ahhh, I see. Mine goes for 3 years. Not excited about getting it taken out though...I heard if you've exercised a lot with it the muscle grows over it. It was hard enough getting the damned thing in.

Hello everyone, Sorry to the men here, this is about birth control (implanon) and the effects of it when you lose weight. I'd love to hear your stories or stories you've heard! My friend just lost weight and is on Implanon as well and her aunt flow started to visit monthly again, and she told me it was because the fat around the implanon disapears so it releases more solution, so the body counter-acts by producing more hormones. I'm starting to get pimples. and I haven't had pimples since I got the implanon, or my period (though my period hasn't re-started...Thankgod for that). Is anyone else experiencing something similar while on birth control? Has anyone gotten pregnant from becoming more fertile while losing weight, and been on birth control at the time? The girls at my surgery said when I lose weight I need to take extra precautions, which is fine with me. Sorry if this offends anyone. Cheers, Lauren.

I know you've been a little upset lately <3 Don't worry, things will get better. Whenever I'm in a situation like that I always just say, "I've gotta be quick because I have to pick my mum up from the hospital" :sneaky: My mum is always in and out of hospital and the ladies at the front desk know that, so it always seems to work out. When I went for a referal my doctor told me that lap banding meant they cut open your bowel and they did one big incition...It was obvious she didn't know what she was talking about...I think she got lap banding mixed up with gastric bypass and stomach mixed up with bowel...I was holding back laughter. In the end, they're just humans.

Oh, yours are hardly visible. You've got a nice belly!

:sneaky: Oh wow... I don't even know what to say to that... I've been on diets since I was 7 years old...I've been a swimmer all my life and was the only overweight girl to make it to state championships...I ate the best food ever and I was still fat. - My large weight gain in my teens came after a period of when I'd lost a lot of weight from depression. When I couldn't lose all of the weight I put it all back on again and more. This women is so sad...I feel so sorry for her. Attacking a group of people with blanket criticism like that is an obvious prejudice that could've stemmed from years and years of self-brain washing. She's the one with the problem.

No no - 6 weeks to feel fantasticcc!! This is when you start to notice you have more energy. On average anyways. Everyone's different. Just keep your chin up and you'll feel right as rain soon enough :-) I know it might be difficult, but stay positive, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. In the end the main thing with this surgery is to lose weight and become healthy - so keep your eye on the prize. :drool: and if you ever need someone to chat to, send me a message! I went through the same thing :sneaky: Feel better soon :w00t:

At first - ABSOLUTELY. Now - Nope :sneaky: In the 1st 3-4 weeks I had some horrible depression. My band still doesn't work like it's meant to because I haven't found restriction. I sometimes think I should've gotten gastic bypass or the sleeve...But I know I probably would've regretted that and wanted lap band instead lol. I'm silly like that. All in all it's about how much weight you lose and how healthy you become because of it. When I look at all of the crap I've been through, it doesn't matter. I'm losing weight and that's what's important.

I envy you! I wish I had that :-)

Ahhh, yes I'm pale too and mine are quite red. I don't think I'd ever be able to wear a bikini...It would take a big psychological adjustment to do so :w00t:

Depression is common. It comes with not being able to medicate yourself with food. Your brain eventually gets used to it and you find other ways to cope. Sometimes you don't even realise you're an emotional eater until it's all taken away from you - food can make you happy, so when you depend on it to do that for long enough, it become a part of your life. Good thing is though, it gets better. Just keep staying positive. :sneaky:

It's normal to feel depressed. Whether we realise it or not, we often medicate ourselves with food. I was cleared by a psychoanalyst as someone who doesn't do that, but after I got the band I was depressed for about 3 weeks because I couldn't just go and eat a croissant, or a pack of chips or a kebab. Good thing is though, your body adjusts to it eventually. You just have to stick with it and after 6 weeks or so you'll be feeling FANTASTIC. It takes about 2 weeks for your body to heel, but your brain takes a little longer - time flies if you focus on something else and it is well worth the wait.

I honestly have never enjoyed exercise until I discovered aqua aerobics. I do two classes in a row. The first class works on your legs, the second on your arms. It's difficult and I love it! I wait for the days that I get to do Aqua Aerobics rather than walking. I hate walking, but because they only have Aqua Aerobics on 3 times a week at my local pool, I've gotta walk for 4 days a week. Is there anything similar to Aqua Aerobics that won't hurt my back? Prefferbly free? :thumbup:

You haven't noticed anything change? Is the IUD thing the one that goes in your uterus? I have one in my arm that's surrounded by fat. I'm not looking forward to getting my period again - noooo way.

Awesome :-) Thanks everyone!

:laugh: Sweet! I'll keep putting the vitamin creams on them.

Ahh, I see. But it's only been a week since I had my fill. I'll be finding out soon (gosh, I really have to check when that appointment is :biggrin:). When I got my fill the first time he put the needle in I felt a pop - it was obviously in the port. The needle was too small though so he took it out and got another one. The second time he had trouble finding the port and put it in wayyy to the left - there was no pop...I didn't feel anything, but he got liquid in it. I'm guessing there's a possiblity that there may be a leak in the tubing. Since he did that it really bothered me and I had this weird feeling there might be a problem, so when I gradually could eat more, I got a little bit worried. No matter though, it's an easy fix if there's a hole. I really hope there isn't and I hope you're right. I think I lost a little less than a kilo this week, which may have made the band a little looser, so as you said, there may be nothing to worry about. He told me I have a 'little band'...He put 3ccs (apparently, I can't be 100% sure on this though) in the band...If it's a little band, it should be a 4cc band, right? That would mean it's almost full! :laugh: I need to clear a few things up with my surgeon, me thinks. I'm writing down a bunch of questions to ask him the next time I see him :w00t: I'll have to add that one. Cheers, Wren.