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YOU GO GIRL!!! I totally know the feeling! I FINALLY weigh 10 lbs. less than my hubby

My surgeon gave me 3 options for my preop diet, which he requires for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. I ended up choosing the Medifast option. Been doing that since 26 January, and have lost 13 pounds...that's just a side benefit to the real purpose of getting rid of the glycogen deposits in my liver, but it's nice to watch those numbers go down nonetheless! Waiting for insurance preauth in order to schedule my surgery. They have paid for EVERYTHING preop so far, except for 4 $10 office copays, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the rest of the path will be smooth.

I knew that at 5ft 10 and about 170lb for a lot of my mid teens, I was always the big fat chick in any group of people - I certainly didnt catch the eye of the boys. At about 16, I made a concerted effort and slipped down to about 154 - better but still far from the petite girl I longed to be. I knew however that 154 is a good, healthy, sustainable weight for me, so that was my initial goal.I also knew I'd want to go a bit further, which I have. But what surprises me is that 154 at my adult weight is WAY thinner than it was when I was a teen - partly perception becuase everyone around me is fully grown now, but also becuase I guess now although I was sporty as a teen, I'm now at a much higher level of fitness and I'm probably more muscle, less fat. As it turns out, I have a fairly slender body type and could easily get down to 140 without getting scary skinny, but I havent managed it and am not sure I could sustain it. 150ish suits me pretty well. I maintain it absolutely effortlessly, my weight never wavers and I'm also almost 43. For me, its a BMI of about 22, for you it will be a point or two higher, and really, what's unrealistic of maintaining a healthy BMI of 24ish? Its not really thin, its just healthy.

Starting to workout was the best thing I did. It took me about 4 months post-op to hit the gym. I got a personal trainer for weight lifting, see her 4 times a week. I do cardio about 5 times a week. I went from a slow walk for 20 minutes to a brisk walk on an incline for 45 or a jog for 30. I lost 107 pounds in 10 months. Hope this helps and best wishes.

I was banded on 6/10 and I had that happen also. If it is not much and does not continue I would not worry about it. Also is it bright red or brownish? Bright red would make me head for the nearest ER. Anne

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Maybe you brain needed time to adjust to your new body. Sometimes when things in my life are changing too rapidly for my brain to accept it, I find myself putting it aside, then when I am ready to face it again I do. Sometimes this can be a week or 6 months. Don't be sad, you only regained 15 lbs, that means you are still down 35! If you hadn't had the band would you have been down the 50 at all? Or would you be like me and had the annual 10-15 added to where you started. You said you feel lost so here is a map that I would use to get back on track. I would start journaling what I am eating so that I could take an objective look at it (I will lie to myself on occasion), start doing some exercising so that when you get the fill you will be ready to start dropping that weight (even if its just walking around the block). And check in with us. Everyone here has been though most of these things or will go through them. Come on we can do it together...

Yep you are right Betsy this was/is a temper tantrum, i think i just dont know enough about this LB biz.... I mean i have been pondering events so far, is it normal for your 1st fill to be 4cc?......... And your 2nd to be 2cc?....... I done all that i did to try and test band...to induce vomitting!!....i know this is incorrect attiude.... but i guess i just want to know it is all working!! how else can i test band.....filled today and i have eat on it straight away.....no probs...my next fill is 1/6/10 so i'm thinking this aint working.......burping a lot tho.....whadiya think?????? Rgds

Hey there Audra! Read your message just now. The nurse at my surgeon's office told me to call my insurance company every 2-3 days to check on the progress. I was nice and waited a week first...lol. Anyway, my info was reviewed on Feb. 8th and the nurse that reviewed my info at my ins. co. (BCBS of TN) sent a reply back to my surgeon's office on the 16th. I definitely understand how you feel. I'm jumpin' through all their hoops too. I am morbidly obese and have all kinds of co-morbidities and I have had a psych eval many times over within the past 10 yr. of my life. However, the ins. co. told me that they needed documentation that I had been evaluated within the past 2yr and they need documentation that I had tried structured weight loss within the past 2 yr. as well. The ins. co. has been sent all kinds of medical documentation about my depression and weight gain (and weight loss) from the past 7-8 of my life but they want more so....I'm gonna give um' more...lol. Just don't give up!

Here is my complete list of NSVs (non-scale victories) today. Since I am not seeing any change in the scale, I decided that I needed to review my progress, to see how my life has changed since March 14th, 2005. Because I was so distraught earlier this week because I listened to the damn scale, I decided I needed to list them all in one place. If you are not currently tracking your NSVs, I really want all y'all to start tracking them. Besides, when we are all invited to the Oprah show we need to have some evidence besides what the scale says, right? My most important NSV is that I haven't died from respiratory failure. 03-27-2005, 11:04 AM I finally have an NSV! my rings fit again! And I don't have the terrible edema problem I developed over Christmas any more! Woot! Two NSVs for week two! 03-29-2005, 08:18 AM This is a gi-normous NSV. I haven't used my inhaler in five whole days! As many of you know, I have terrible acute and chronic asthma. Five days before my band installation, I had to be taken to the ER via ambulance. My asthma was one of the main reasons I got the band, that whole prospect of death by respiratory failure just didn't appeal to me. (..."I want a death by misadventure) My book bag doesn't seem as heavy as it was before I was banded. (and I do almost all my walking with that book bag) It doesn't hurt to stand at the sink when I do the dishes anymore. I believe it is because I can get closer to the sink because my tummy is smaller. I've lost an inch from my waist! Speaking of inches lost, I've lost a total of 11 from my entire body. 03-30-2005, 06:29 PM another day, another NSV! I ran up a flight of stairs this evening. I didn't even realize what I had done until after I had done it! And my had my 20 pound backpack on. I wasn't even winded when I got to the top either! New crop of NSVs 4/5/05 Okay, one of the women in my math class wanted to know how much weight I’ve lost. “You’re looking good! How much have you lost?” My purple robe fits me! My jeans slide off my butt! New NSV 5/7/5 Monday will be my eight week bandiversary. All my pants have been very baggy, so today I tried on a pair of pants I haven't been able to fit for 4 years and I could button them! Size 22 black jeans. 05-10-2005, 07:44 AM Sunday night I woke up because I was laying on something hard. I figured that I must have rolled over on a book or something like that. (I sometimes fall asleep reading). I felt around in the dark, but I couldn't find anything that didn't belong in my bed. The hard thing? it was my ribs. 05-19-2005, 11:20 AM the other day the weather was on the wet side, so I zipped my jacked. Just like that, without even a second thought, zuup up the zipper went. And then it hit me. I. Zipped. My. Jacket! No wiggling, no struggling, no thought! Holy weight-watchers Batman! 05-24-2005, 11:56 AM I got a great NSV Sunday night when I got home. My sweet son wanted to know how I was doing, with the band. We've been apart since I got my band 10 weeks ago. He said I looked really good, and that my face was full of life, and that I was glowing. Then I had to chase him down the stairs and out the front door, and around the truck. I RAN down the stairs, I RAN around chasing him until we nearly collapsed laughing! 06-21-2005, 10:09 PM Today I wore a pair of jeans I haven't been able to fit into since 2002. Today I walked 15 minutes to and from the restaurant for lunch, and I wasn't winded, and I didn't need my inhaler. Today I took a walk with my son and he had to tell me to slow down (of course the silly boy wasn't wearing any shoes...) Today I went grocery shopping after work, and then DID NOT collapse on the sofa all night. 06-23-2005, 11:23 AM Another day, another NSV. Today, not only am I wearing for the first time, a shirt I got for Christmas, but I RAN FOR THE BUS. Yes, you read that correctly, I RAN for the bus. It's not like there wasn't another bus in 5 minutes... but I RAN. Me! and I wasn't winded either! Heh, sure, I'm happy with all my NSVs but a part of me is wondering when I'm going to start having some weight loss! 06-26-2005, 09:40 AM And here I was, worried that I'd never have any NSV when I started this journey... Today, I needed a belt! Now, I'm not in any real danger of pulling a Jonathan in the grocery store, but my pants are uncomfortably loose. I didn't even think that was possible! So, I dug out an old belt that I haven't been able to wear and it fit! 1 notch down, 13 more to go! 07-13-2005, 08:29 PM Major NSV time! I had to get a pair of Khakis for my trip to NY this weekend. I was told "brown khakis" which don't really exsist... Anyway, I digress. I tried on a pair of 22, thinking they might fit. Nope, too baggy. I tried on a pair of 20s! They were on the baggy side! I got a pair of 18s, and they fit! I fit into a size 18 today!!!!! Okay, I didn't buy them because they were not pretty, but I could put them on! Oh my gawd, oh my gawd, oh my gawd! A size 18! I haven't been able to squeeze my pretty little self into a size 18 since my baby was small! Oh sure, my jeans aren't a size 20, but still! It looks like I'll be bringing some clothes to the Las Vegas Bash after all! 07-28-2005, 10:17 AM Okay, I apparently gained 3 pounds but I lost another notch on my belt! Woot! Maybe the best one of all... This morning I realized that I will never go hungry again. (it's a wolves thing) 08-07-2005, 11:28 PM This weekend at the Beach I discovered that forgot a jacket. So I had to buy a new one. I picked up a 2x and it fit fine. A little roomy but that's okay. Wait a second... The sleeves are a bit long. Let's try the XL. I know, I know, an XL? That’s crazy talk. Hey! This XL is pretty roomy... but the sleeves fit. So, I had this totally insane idea... What would happen if I try on a Large? oh, it's never going to fit, it won't even zip up. Nah.. I'm too fat for a LARGE. oh my gawd, she's actually going to try to put on a LARGE jacket??? What, is she nuts? Is she a glutton for punishment? No! She's the proud owner of a powder blue fleece Long Beach Washington jacket!!! SIZE LARGE 8-11-2005 I am not hording food anymore. 8-14-2005 I just realized that on my cross country flight to Syracuse NY I did not need a seatbelt extender. Not only did I not need one, I actually had wiggle room in my seat. 8-21-2005 Well, my NSV has to do with my hording. I gave 2.5 big black lawn & leaf bags of clothes to the help house. I was going to bring them to the bash, but I felt that they were more needed here. I got rid of them while packing to return to exile. 8-22-2005 back to school, and I fit into the desks so well my tummy doesn't even touch the table! No squishing into the desks! 8-25-2005 I just realized that I didn't have any trouble with the change in altitude or the change in heat this year. For the last 2 years going from temperate Seattle to the extremes of Pocatello were very hard on me. A week after being here I ran up 2 flights of stairs in the COB without being terribly winded or needing my puffer. I also have been handling the heat just fine. Of course, having an AC sure helps... 8-30-2005 I had to go buy a big skirt for my Middle Eastnern Folk dance class... Yeah, they don't want us to call it "belly dancing" here, they feel it has "negative connotations." Yeah, what ever, it's belly dancing. :mad: I went to several stores trying to find a skirt that would match the requirements, let alone worry about the size thing... So at the 4th and final store I found one, a cocoa dip-dyed skirt. The biggest one was a LARGE, so I wasn't too hopeful. But I was brave and went to try it on. IT FIT! I just bought a size LARGE skirt. Not 2X, not XL, but just LARGE!!! Mind you, when I bought my Large jacket, I really suspected that the label was wrong, that it had been marked Large in error at the factory, an that it was some sort of cosmic joke on me. Sort of like that pair of size 18 pants that I was able to fit into (didn't buy but that's a different story). I felt that was in error as well. Maybe it wasn't an aberation, maybe it's the truth. I feel like I have no restriction at all. I still haven't lost any more weight, but I'll take my size shrinking. My other NSV is a medical one, and has to do with my leg skin graphs. In about 2001 I had a revision of one of my skin graphs from my motorcycle accedent. Every day since the revision, I had to wrap my leg in an ACE wrap to give it support so it wouldn't blow-out. I had such bad edema that if I didn't wrap it, it would buldge out quite a bit because of the nature of the graph. I stopped needing to bind my leg a couple of months ago. I simply don't need to any more, no more edema problem. 9/1/2005 My knees doen't rub together when I walk anymore. My belly roll is squishier and hangs a bit lower. This is an NSV because it is proof that I am loosing fat. 9/12/2005 This past weekend was the Bandster Bash in Las Vegas. I had to tighten the airplane seatbelt. Sure, I've lost 3 pounds since 2/29, but I'm trying soo hard to not focus on that. Focus on needing to tighten the seat belt. At the Bash this weekend, I got several pieces of clothes. Okay a whole new wardrobe. When you wear your own clothes over and over, it is really hard to notice any difference. I mean really hard. I've been working my way into several pairs of pants that I haven't been able to wear in years and they are size 22. Yet at the bash, I found size 18 pants that were comfortable. What gives with that? Anyway, I have a few pairs of size 18 that are comphy. 9/15/2005 I've been looking at my body fat % and my current Fat Free Mass. If I don't put on any more muscle mass, and stay current where I am, I only need to lose 55 to 70 pounds, not 70 to 100 pounds. I think that's counts as an NSV. Of course, if I can manage to put on 15 pounds of muscle like NanaHarly (Pat in Virginia) did, then I only need to loose 35 to 50 pounds! Woot! I know what I'm going to focus on! I was tallking to my DH on the phone and I casually crossed my legs. HOLY SH*T!!!! I CROSSED MY LEGS!!!!! 9/17/2005 As of today, I have had 46 NSVs. That amazes me. Today's NSV is that I dropped a .5% in body fat. 9/27/2005 I had an NSV this weekend of a sexual nature. Let's just say that I'm not as bulky.... My forearems and calves have amazing definition. My low belly is shrinking, and starting to gain some definition. 10/1/2005 My 50th NSV is that I am no longer The Great Crystal Dam in the bathtub. There was room on both sides of my hips in the tub! At this rate I'll have to invest in some rubber duckies... 10/2/2005 Spoke with my mom on the phone last night. She said it has been years since my voice sounded so strong. She said there wasn't any breathiness at all. I guess after years of severe asthma, I'd developed a sort of wheezy -breathy sort of way a speaking. 10/22/05 I had a fitness assessment done yesterday. While my aerobic fitness score wasn't very high, 22 out of a scale of 20-50 (needs work), my over all fitness level fell into the Fair range, and my blood pressure is in the Fit range. (mind you, I've always had good BP, except for the first few weeks I'm back in SE ID due to the altitude and heat change) 10/27/05 I am offically no longer Morbidly Obese, but simply Obese. Today my BMI is 39.6, so I might not even qualify for the surgery, if not for my co-morbidities, which are all under control. My second NSV for the day is that I have been invited to dance professionally at a Greek restaurant here in town. It will be fun to be able to put on my resume that I'm a Professional Belly Dancer. 11/5/05 All my pants are starting to look like giant clown pants, none of them fit in the butt or thighs anymore. If I didn't have this damn thick waist, I would really be in honest size 18 jeans. My black leather jacket is going to have to be retired soon. It's rediculously large on me now. The sleves alone now hang past my finger-tips and it looks like I could smuggle a medium sized ham in each shoulder. So I tried on my big winter coat, and now it really is my huge winter coat. It's about XX too big. It's fully reversable a suede stadium jacket, with lepord fake fur on the other side. I love this jacket, but next year, some other lucky bandster gets to love it. It's important for me that last winter before I was banded I couldn't zip the black leather jacket up. There was a 2-3 inch gap that just wouldn't meet. While the stadium jacket fit, it was pretty snug. Not any more! 11/10/05 Lastnight I was using my laptop. In my lap. This means that I HAVE A LAP!!!!! Woot! 11/14/05 When I sit on the floor or in a hard chair, I feel the bones in my butt. Not only my tail bones, but other bones (probably my pelvic bones?) as well. 11/17/05 Okay, time to bump the thread. Last night while Iwas talking on the phone to an old friend from high school I again casually just crossed my legs. Without thinking about it. I know I've done this before, but it's a mind thing I think. Other NSVs include belly dance stuff. My DH won a few auctions on ebay for me, a couple of B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L belts, a gorgous silk veil and a pair of harem pants. The pants looked impossibly small, even with an elastic waist. I just knew that they were NOT going to fit, but being the glutton for punishment that I am, I attempted to put them on anyway. They fit! They are too shere to wear without a skirt, so that will have to be next on my list of things to get. The other victories around dancing are some of the skinny ones are asking me for help, since they cannot get some of the moves quite right. I'm also getting really excited about dancing at the restaurant. I'll do that once I get home after Thanksgiving, and I complete my costume. I still need a top and a skirt I mean, I just bearly broke out of MO, and I'm going to be a fat professional dancer. What am I thinking? I mean, what am i thinking, other than I'm dead sexy and a fine belly dancer. 11/19/05 Okay, Thursday I passed up free donuts, and this weekend I've been busily working in my yard now that I'm home. Raking big fat soggy leaves, clearing flower beds, and the like. DH is amazined at my level of energy, and so is son. I guess I'm a little amazed too, since for the last several years the only energy I've had at this time of year has been spent trying to breathe or something aerobic like reading or playing video games. I've gotten used to a more active lifestyle in ID with all the walking and PE/dance classes I attend. I routinely walk up several flights of stairs with my heavy bookbag, where this time last year I was using a rolling bag, and needing to take the elevator because my asthma was so bad. 12/09/05 Well, tonight I make my semi-professional debute again! We had our dance department dance review Wednesday night, and pix will be forthcoming. We were great, several people told us that we were the best group on stage, so that was awesome! I went out on stage, in front of an audience of maybe 300 or 400 people, and I OWNED the stage. I wasn't the slightest bit nervous, and I'm quite amazed at that, believe you me! I made eye contact with many of the audience, and I had the biggest smile on my face the whole time. Not only did I look like I was having a great time, I WAS having a great time! The next NSV is my costume... my top was a crop tant top that I've added bead work too to make it sparkle. But the important part of that sentence is CROP TOP! Yes, that's right, I was wearing a belly shirt on stage, exposing my ample belly to the public, with my surgery scars clearly visible! And I did it on purpose! Okay, this next one isn't an NSV, not really, and it properly goes on the "Skniny Bitches" thread, but here it is We had just come off stage after doing our two numbers and we were all still amped up on adrenalline. We were talking about how we had done, bla bla bla. A group of ballet dancers were there, I mean, right there and one of the skinny blond said to another skinny blond the snottiest comment I've heard in a long time. Okay, all the ballet dancers were skinny blonds, but that's besides the point. She said, in a loud voice "well, at least we weren't shaking our Bon-Bons." In the snottiest possible voice mind you. So, I simply said, with sugar in my voice, "well that's because you can't shake your Bon-Bon." And then I smiled so sweetly at her. (then she said that I was probably right, and the group of them walked away) So, I suppose that makes me a fat bitch, but I just decided that I wasn't in the mood to take crap from anyone. So, the next part of the Bellydancing NSV is that I'll be dancing againg tonight at a local restaurant, and yes, I'll be dancing for tips, so Big Paul, you'd better leave now so you get here in time, and yes, you'll probably need to take out a second mortgage So, finally, I'm doing this when I weigh 240 pound and not waiting until I get closer to goal. I'm doing this at size 22/24 and not when I get to my goal of 12/14 12/22/05 I'm less invisible. Last year at this same time I felt so invisible when walking through the halls at school. Now guys hold the door open for me, and men and women smile more at me. Perhaps they just needed a couple of years to get used to me, or perhaps I am more self asured and confident. Confidence attracts confidence. This time last year I could not breathe. I was in and out of the hospital and making near daily trips to the ER, having several nebulizer treatments every single day. Since I've been home just about a week, I've used my inhaler much more often than usual of late. I've used it 3 times in a week. This is a weird NSV, but I finally have doctors seriously trying to figure out why I'm not having the sort of weight loss I should. I guess I had to go on the Supermodel Diet for a month before they would take me seriously. 1/4/6 Today I went skiing for the first time in 5 or 6 years! Woot! It was a lot of fun, and I fit into my ski pants from 5 or 6 years ago. I'm so happy! Okay, this was a MAJOR NSV for the DH too because he went skiing too! Spudboy and I had to talk him into it, but he did it! I'm so proud of him! I didn't use my puffer once while skiing, but was wicked cold because my gloves weren't good ski gloves. Oh, and I didn't have a water proof jacket either... So, 3 for the price of one. 1/13/06 I just got back from several days in DC, for a scholarship symposium and job fair. I have a conditional job offer for when I graduate, if I can obtain a security clearance! Woot! That's an NSV, since it would be a major job! I have a whole string of NSVs, the very most important one is that I went to DC WITHOUT AN INHALER. What's more, I didn't even need it. This is super significant because this time last year, and for several years prior, I couldn't go anywhere without at least 2 inhalers on my person. I had an inhaler in every single piece of clothing that had a pocket. Last year this time I had spent 10 days of the Christmas vacation in hospital, don't know how many trips to the various ERs. I didn't even realize that I didn't have an inhaler until the puddle jumper from Salt Lake to Pokey, AFTER my trip was almost done. I was constantly being mistaken for a much younger woman, and when I would talk about my son, people assumed I was talking about a baby or a very small boy. Oh if they only knew! 1/18/06 In class yesterday I realized that my belly wasn't even touching the desk in two of my classes! 2/7/06 I had two NSVs this week. One is that I went to a party where I only knew one person. Big deal? Yup, big deal since I am terrified of groups people. It's not like they are spiders or kittens or something like that, but I have avery difficult time with groups of people I don't know, I'm very shy. (yeah, who would believe that?) But I went to the party, and I was charming and talked to everybody. I don't think my husband would have recognized me.... The other NSV is that I've accepted that I'm not going to lose weight. Not until this Cushing's thing has been addressed or resolved. But because I've accepted it, I don't have to stress over it. I don't have to beat myself up any more. Oh wait, one more NSV, I need to take my watch to the Jewlers to have one of the links removed from the band! 3/5/6 Well, I haven't had that many NSV's lately, or if I have, they have been lost to me. I need links removed from my beautiful watch, and I can wear more of my rings. I have to stop wearing one of my rings because when my fingers get cold (winters in SE ID are COLD!) it flies off my finger! Woot! So, 3 NSVs for Feb 06!

Thanks for all of your words of concern and encouragement I went for a scheduled fill appointment today (4/9) and told the doctor all about my "horrible night." I was told to take a Phenegren if I am nauseated for more than 15 minutes again in the future. The doctor felt reasonably sure that I hadn't damaged my band b/c I was holding down liquids without any trouble. After discussing all of this, he looked at my weighloss from my last fill appt. (8lbs in 4 wks) and asked ME what kind of a fill I thought I needed. I was thinking maybe .4CCs. He told me that my weightloss was right on target and that he really didn't want to put even .1CC in my band b/c that could cause me to be uncomfortable. If I felt that I needed a fill in 2-3 weeks, I could call to make an appointment. I decided to go w/ his recommendation. In other words... I AM AT MY SWEET SPOT!!!!! :biggrin: MY SWEET SPOT = 5.1CCs/10CC band, 75lbs lost in 10 months + 1 day

Hi BetsyB I agree with what you are saying, this journey is all about making positive healthy choices but my doctor has specifically said my band is a tool to help me towards eating like a "normal" person - someone who eats a healthy moderate diet and is not obsessed by food. The reality is, if this journey was simply about good food choices then you wouldn't need a band - there is so much more at play here and for most that includes a huge emotional and psychological attachment to food so any small advances are worth celebrating - so, from a psychological perspective it is best not to beat yourself up, use every step forward as a way to build your confidence and pride because that is what helps you to make those good choices as you go along. Just as others have said, during my 10 months I have good months and bad but the good outweigh the bad and the bad days get fewer and fewer - over 100lbs lost and I know for me this has been all about my head and almost nothing about the food. Good luck everyone.

After being 340 lbs for a while, now the scales are telling me I am done to 326-330. I think maybe fear of food getting stuck is making me avoid certain foods (eg my previous habit of buying a whole chicken and eating the whole lot in one sitting). But when I get on the scales, the reading varies a bit. I bought some new scales Weightwatchers brand, that go up to 400 lbs - so I am not too heavy for the scales. They are guaranteed for 10 years and have carpet feet (and anyway, on a flat kitchen floor, I weight the same on them). My problem is that there is such a range of results. And when I get on, it takes a while to find the right result. It goes, 330, 324, 328, 326, 329, 325, and then sticks on a result. Is it harder for bigger people to get an accurate reading? You have to stand more still than smaller people, don't you? I find it inconvenient that the scales indicate such a range.

This is my first time posting on here..I had my surgery on December 11th. I started my journey at 417 pounds. The surgery itself went very well. I spent the night in the hospital and went home the next day. I had minimal challenges after the surgery itself. I did the liquid diet for a week, then the blended food, etc. My only difficulty that I have is first thing in the morning I have a hard time drinking Water when I first wake up. Having a C-PAP machine I tend to be quite parched when I wake up. I was told that there is a build up of mucus and it's usually best to drink warm liquid first thing in the morning to break that up. I'm usually not a warm liquid drinker but it's helped. Since the surgery I've had 2 fills. The first fill was challenging in the first week but after that I was eating normally but my intake was a lot less. When I got my second fill last week I've noticed it to be more challenging to eat. I've had more foods getting stuck than in the past. I've learned that I have to make sure I really cut my food smaller. (especially steak) I've been able to tolerate a soda from time to time. I pour it in a cup and stir out the carbonation and I've had no issues with it. I know that I should avoid it not only because of the carbonation but for the sugar as well. Once in a while I've just gotta have one. I'm tolerating alcohol pretty well. I haven't had a beer yet but I've been doing mixed drinks and I haven't had any issues. I haven't really exercised that much other than walking further in the parking lot to the store because I intentionally park further away. So far since I've started I've lost 42 pounds!!! My pants are falling off my butt...shirts are getting big. I'm loving it!! I want to lose another 10-15 pounds before mid May so I can go to Six Flags and hopefully fit on a roller coaster again and ride with my kids!! My goal weight is 260 and I know I can get down to that.

I'm going to be brutally honest here. I was in traffic court yesterday and there were these two very large women. One had a cane and the other a walker. They were in their 30s-40s. They had to sit down in the seats and they could only manage to turn sideways and somewhat sit on the edge of the seats. One young man in his 20s didn't even really fit through the gate to go see the commissioner. I was considering my life and how it has changed dramatically in only 6 months. This past week I reached the summit of a 10,000 ft. peak.. Seven months ago, you couldn't get me to walk down the street. I was even starting to avoid friend's parties. I wasn't rude and didn't stare, but I started looking at these people who have so much life ahead of them. Out in line 1 out of 10 people were probably morbidly or super morbidly obese. I thanked God for my blessings and just went to work. Man, I want to tell everyone about this. Eggface is going to be on Ricki Lake, but we need more info out there.

I work in physical rehabilitation and my doctor said i can go back to work after 10 days but she said no lifting more than 10lbs...lol, gonna be hard doing that but I'll just have to trade some of my patients with others and not do any lifting for a few weeks. With that being said, I took off 3 weeks, but have more leave saved up if i need to take longer. I love love love love my job and my co-workers and I hope i'm not away from them for more than 3 weeks. much luck!

I had my surgery Dec 1st on a Wednesday. I went back to work the following Wednesday. I work from home for an insurance company answering calls and processing claims. I flexed working for 10's. I did get tired very easily that first week working only 3 days. My husband had surgery on March 30, another Wednesday and went back to work the following monday but only work 4 hours a day for that week. It all depends on how you feel. I had to go as anything beyond 7 days I had to go to short term disability which would have been a cut in pay and I just couldn't afford that. Good Luck.

Good luck and wishing you much success on your LapBand/weight loss journey!! I just started one this week. I only wrote 2 posts and they are more about anxiety and other issues (obsessive thoughts etc) that I deal with, but I plan to write more about my weght loss and the struggles I go through. I was banded 11/17/08, had a new one put in 3/22/10 due to a prolapse and have lost 99 lbs. I started at 270 and am now down to 171. I'm 5'7 1/2". As I wrote these it almost felt like a diary or journal entry. Like I said, I just started so not sure how it will progress, but take a look and follow it if you'd like. Living Life

So far I've lost like 10-12 pounds.....But I found out that eating real food comes with a price......I'm sure if I did gain a pound or two, I've lost it all over again!!!!

I had your issue after my sleeve surgery, but it was worse after plastics. If it makes you laugh at all, imagine trying to poop when your stomach has literally just been ripped apart and sewn back together after a tummy tuck. It was hysterical and horrible. I have tried the stool softeners and they just don't work for me. Check with your doctor of course, but an Ex-lax is like God's gift to backed-up people. 1-2 of those and in 8-10 hours, ahhhh you feel so much better. If you've never taken one, it's really a very mild way to clear up your stoppage and it works faster and more effectively than a stool softener. I still take 1 about every 6-8 weeks or so if I haven't worked out a lot and my stomach is being uncooperative. Fast, effective, and you feel much better.

My liquid diet was at noon Jan 6 and surgery Jan 7 2019. I had no complication what so ever

I have to beat the hospital in 5 hours. But have been busy trying to get work done before I go in. I can't sleep anyway. I haven't even packed yet. I was trying not to focus on the countdown. So now I have something to do since I can't sleep. Just a little nervous since the only time I cheated on my 10 day (plus for me) liquid diet was Monday evening. I had a Five Guys burger and fries. So I'm hoping everything is digested thoroughly. I also have only told my husband (and psych) exactly what kind of surgery I am having. Everyone knows I have has health problems and GI issues so they just think that is all it is for. I just don't want to and won't put myself through unnecessary criticism right now. I'm ready to do this and on my terms. I hope all of you are ready too.

I've lost 10 lbs this month and 13 the month before...loss has been fairly steady save for a couple of plateaus here and there. I try to average anywhere between 1000 and 1300 calories daily, but am probably getting no more than 700. I drink at least 6 cups/water daily. I have one whey protein shake daily. I have a lot of food allergies, but based on discussions with my dietician I don't think the problem is quality. I think my body is just continuing to adjust to eating differently and less. I would just like the adjustment to be over.