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Ok about Scentsy... If you look at my website it will be alot easier to explain, it's like candles but it Warmers that use a light bulb, the wax goes in the top of the warmer and melts. The wax never gets hot enough to burn anyone. We have 3 different size warmers with sooo many different styles. We have over 80 scents!! Also we have Scentsy Buddies.... They come with a Scent Pak. The scent pak looks like a little bean bag. They smell sooo good!! I have one of the scent paks doen in my purse and whenever i hand someone a catalog they say oo this smells so good. We also have Room Sprays, Scent Circles ( for your car), Travel Tins (purse etc) Fragrance Foams-- I love the fragrance foams!! They are alcohol-free foaming hand sanitizer. I have been selling Scentsy since November of 2009. If I had known about it before then I would have signed up sooner!! I have so much fun with it! It's a home party company but you do not have to get sales from home parties!! I usually only have home parties around the holiday seasons and then maybe like 1 or 2 a month on other months. You can also do Basket Parties-- thats where I get most of my sales. I take a scrapbooking bag and put a couple catalogs, order forms, and the scents and a few other things and give it to the hostess. she collects all the sales for like a week and then gives me back the basket. Now after the baske party I have sales and I havent worked all week You can also do online parties! There are just so many great ways to sell scentsy!! I really love it!!

Men tend to lose faster, just like any other weightloss program. Other things will make a difference as well like your starting weight, how much you exercise, what types of food you eat, how tight your band is, drinking alcohol.......... If you start out at 400 pounds, your weightloss will be faster than someone who has only 70 pounds to take off. I lost 100 pounds in the first year.

Ladies, if you buy only one appliance this year, I have the one you need...a steam mop!!! ShopKo had them for half off so I splurged and got one. OMG, my floors feel so good!!!! Just make sure you buy extra pads, because when you are part way done, you are going to want to change. It even takes caked on hairspray off the bathroom floor. Now understand I probably haven't mopped my floor since January. But it is fabulous!!! Little homework tonight, yeah!! Found out an old neighbor of mine has been moved to a constrant care facility and the family never told me. I found out she has been in the facility 1 1/2 blocks away from my house. So I stopped by and visited. Unfortunately she has dementia, but remembered who I was. Got me mixed up with my girls once in awhile. But I am so glad to know she is near by. I use to go over every week and give her shots, have coffee, and do any chores that she couldn't do. With last year being such a wreck I lost touch...my fault. Now maybe I can take her out for coffee once in awhile or have her over. I'll have to check with the family before hand thought. Hope you all have a good evening. Janet, what work out is tonight? Phyl, enjoy your visit. Candice, hopefully you found alcohol!!!

I know crazy right! But I have tried and tried to quit drinking Diet Coke- and just couldnt-don't get me wrong I had the strongest urge to pull up to Sonic and get me a Rt 44 today - I was a very serious addict to doing this- more so than alcoholics I think- I couldn't go a day without it- I would even sneak out of the house and go get me one and just sit and drink it lol Anyway- - but my headaches are gone and I am on day 3 of my preop diet- also I get two shakes a day and a smart ones for dinner- so it has been really not to to hard- I can have jello or broth and my new favorite is diet snapple- I never had it before now- so anyways- AND I am after 3 days- down 5 lbs. (Well Sunday all I could have was clear fluids cause I had my EGD yesterday) but I am thankful!

So, Friday is it! Back to solid foods! These mushies are ridiculous. To find anything good and sensible in a mush, you have to be on Top Chef Masters. I have spent the last 2 weeks eating pureed soup (gross), ricotta bake (this is a must) and mashed potatoes. And my doctor keeps trying to get me to eat meat out of a can… meat out of a can! I'm not a cat!! I mean tuna is ok every once in a while, but not every day or you turn into Jeremy Piven and can't go to work due to mercury poisoning. Let's move on to the hiccups. I hiccup twice when I'm hungry and once when I'm full. Insane. I hiccupped walking down the booze aisle (which was also the bottled water aisle) at the market and this guy looked at me and I just shrugged and said, "I should really stop drinking during the day." How else am I going to explain these random hiccups? People are going to start thinking I'm a high functioning alcoholic! Now on to the nitty gritty. The weird slime that creeps up every once in a while. I haven't gotten anything stuck nor have I had any pain. It's just this weird little bits of slime I have to spit out (I'm not a spitter by nature, in fact it horrifies me). All that said, I'm looking forward to vegetables and salads again. It's been so long, I actually miss them. Just more lap band insanity. See you all on the other side! p.s. dirty little secret, during the mushie stage I ate frosting out of a can. Shame on me. But it was gooooood :-)

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I have to admit that I'm puzzled by the mindset of some of the families who don't want to 'sacrifice' but then the majority of people see obesity as a character defect. We're lazy and have no willpower (their view) and all we need to do is practice a little self-control. If we were alcoholics, they'd understand and accept that having alcohol in the house is counterproductive to the person's healing. Yet they don't make that same connection to our addiction to certain foods...and it is to 'certain' foods, not all. If you notice what people 'cheat' on, it becomes clear that we aren't addicted to all food...just those wonderfully carby foods...and, like the bottle of alcohol, need to be put out of our reach. I guess I feel blessed by my husband because the first thing he asked was, "How can I help?" and when I said I needed to remove all temptation from the house, he helped me clean out the pantry. Oh sure, he still eats the things I can't have, but he does it at work or his mom's.

It sounds like part of the problem is that on the weekends you have more time on your hand to think about food. Find a new hobby...something that keeps your hands busy. I find that I need to keep my hands busy even when I'm watching tv or they (my hands) want to go into the kitchen and find food to shove into my face. Also, does an alcoholic feel they must keep the bottle in their house to prove they've overcome their addiction and that they have willpower? Nope. They recognize that it's a temptation best avoided. If at all possible, clean out the temptations in your own house. That way, in order to give in, you actually have to go to the store and that requires more effort and time to talk yourself out of it...and time for the willpower to kick in. Be patient with yourself. It takes time to change the relationship you have with food...but you can do it. .

Hey everyone!! I haven't checked in on this thread for awhile even though I am an August Bandster as well! I was banded on 8-10-10 and am currently down 63 pounds and am absolutely thrilled about that! I feel better, I look better, I'm able to move better. It's great. I am desperately needing to refocus myself and my health, though. I've been going up and down with the same five pounds for six weeks now, mainly because I'm loosening up on my eating habits. So I have planned out my menu for this week and plan on sticking to it. Another downfall for me is drinking alcohol. I don't do it as much as I used to, but still probably more than I should. Again, that's a focus fo the week -- no drinking. Lastly, I know that I need to step up on my exercise. I had been doing so well and have falled out of that habit as well. So I am vowing to exercise three times this week. All these are things that we know we should do -- now it's just time for me to do them!! It's great to hear success stories from all of you -- let's hope we all keep moving the same direction and keep losing whatever we need!! )

Hope you find alcohol soon!! Can't believe you don't have your own "stock"!! Clamato juice and beer????? BTW.... "Colorado BULLDOG", not cowboy!! LOL! Did you get the mocha mix or whatever it was??? Hey... if you can get a SF, FF coffee creamer, diet pepsi, then all the calories are in the Kahlua and vodka! Vodka isn't too bad! HAHAHA!! Shut up, Janet!!! LOL Won't be drinking much here. Jacki can't have alcohol... I think because of the chemo drug she's still having to get every 3 weeks, and Stan must have quit, too. So when they stopped in last night when they got home from Temecula, he had crystal lite and she had a cup of tea. Zoey usually sleeps between us, too. But when I came to bed last night she decided to curl up on my chest... her rear end was over my shoulder, sort of, with her head just about under my chin. I tolerated it while I read my book on my iTouch for a little while, but I can't stay on my back for very long, so eventually I had to turn over on my side. So then she planted herself on my back! Half way???? Not by a long shot! Jacki and Stan are 320 miles from Sky Valley, and not exactly on the way! It's about 30-40 miles back to Hwy 99 and then a couple hundred to our son's in Mountain View. We'll stay there until the day after Easter and then it'll be another 3-4 days home. We're not stopping at my sister's in OR this time because they'll be in Salt Lake. Sounds like you had a busy day! But boring!! HAHAHA! If you drank you coffee black, you could go to the lab anyway! My 2nd cup had to be Via this morning. I slept until a little after 7:30 a.m., almost an hour later than usual, so all that was left for me was 1 cup. Of course, I DO use a 16 oz cup, so I shouldn't whine about having to use instant for my 2nd cup because Earl drank the rest! Hope you have an OUTSTANDING week, you and Karla, too... working girls!! You would not have liked the roads we traveled yesterday!! I-5 through Tejon pass is just AWFUL!! We bounced around more than we ever had... not to mention a SPEED BUMP in the Flying J parking lot right in front of the RV pumps!! HUH????? WHY would you need a speed bump there?? Cupboard doors flew open and dishes were deposited all over the floor, among other things!!

Obviously, there are lots of different answers for this according to the doctor. My doctor is OK with caffeine and carbonation as long as you are OK with it! He does recommends limiting sodas, alcohol, and other things with carbonation mainly because they're not usually the most healthy things to drink, but doesn't forbid them. I drink coffee just about every day, but don't drink sodas nearly as much as I used to--I often go weeks without as I don't have much of a taste for them anymore. If I do have one, I sip it--gulping can be a bit of a problem. Most of the alcoholic drinks I like don't have much or any carbonation, so that's not usually a problem.

great job - you look fabulous! Question - I think on your last pic you mention 'no makeup and hung over' - can you tell me more about alcohol after banding? (Please everyone no lectures about wrongs of alcohol, calories, lowering inhibitions - exchanging one addiction for another etc.) - truth is alcohol is the only liquid with calories that I ever drink - and I know if I'm being realistic I will eventually want my weekend drink(s) here and there after banding. You mention sorority and drinking - are about my age and build (pre-op) - so we have some things in common and I just wanted to know how alcohol and the band have mixed for you. Thanks!

I. too, get hungrier before and the first few days at TOM. When is your next lap band follow up? I didn't have hardly any restriction until my 3rd fill. When is your next follow up appt? Are you drinking any calories like alcohol, smoothies, juices, shakes...? Follow up care is crucial to success. Hang in there! Before I reached the correct restriction I wasn't losing much at all. Now I am losing 2-3 pounds per week. I have "BIG" news! I have reached ONEDERLAND! I weighed in at 198.2 this AM! Joan

LOL, I read your title "Diet Coke When?" and thought to myself NEVER AGAIN!!! Well, I probably should never say never, but I gave up diet soda 7 months ago (a month before being sleeved) and I just don't miss it all. I also haven't had an (alcoholic) drink in just as long, and so far I haven't missed that yet either. But my surgeon's NUT said the same thing, let it go flat (but then I've heard people say what the point?...why drink flat soda ...sorta takes the fun out of it, IMO!) But hopefully you can find a way to get rid of the craving.

I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I read on another thread that someone had been told by their surgeon it was ok as long as you stir some of the fizz out with a spoon before you drink it! I was most afraid of giving up fizzy drinks out of all the changes I have faced, I would get through 8-10 litres of pepsi max a week until my surgery, and I have to admit that I have had a few sips since (when no other drink option was available) and its just soooo uncomfortably gassy!! I found a bottle a few weeks ago which was so old it was completely flat, and it was nice, but it didn't particularly make me want more of it. I guess that as time passes and habbits change the urge does reduce significantly. The biggest problem I have is finding suitable mixers with alcoholic drinks (cranberry juice all the way now!). I do on occasion allow myself a beer or a cider, but some of those tend to be more bubbly than others (I do do the stirring trick, which looks a little odd in a pub), but I've found some ar emuch more gassy than others, so if I find one that goes down nicely I'll try that again in future, and slowly avoid the ones that didn't suit. wow - I just re-read my post and realised how much it sounds like I drink!!! he he!

I was put on a 4 week pre op diet, and the first 2 weeks went by not to hard at all, but the second two weeks oh man they were awful, i got just so bored having to eat basically the same thing over and over again, I hate eating the same thing like that, and then also the list of foods i was allowed...i didn't really like most of the veggies so it was really hard.. My surgery is on tuesday, and i've lost more then the required weight that they wanted me to loose so hopefully my cheating i did (was on the weekends when i was out and about mostly, and one of the days having to waitt 7 hours at the airport cause my mom's flight got delayed....ugggg cheating with gross vending machine sandwhichs just sucked but me and my husband were so hungry) doesn't hurt to much since i still lost the weight....but I know i should have been good, i just wish i had only had to do the 2 weeks that would have been so much easier cause it went by so quickly and i did so well those first two weeks.... They put me on the slim fast diet for the 4 weeks, had to do 4 instead of 2 because of how high my bmi is....unfortionately i'm not that much of a chocolate fan...(I mean yea i like chocolate but not as 5 meals a day...thats just overboard) .so yea slimfast products are like almost all chocolate especially the bars....i'm suppose to have 5 slim fast products a day including bars and shakes, and then i can eat 1 small meal, of 5 oz of lean meat and 2 cups of veggies. I guess the slimfast diet is better then just a liquid diet...but it still sucked.....I just started getting so sick to my stomach eating those dang slim fast bars, some of them are ok, when your craving a candy bar, but other then that, its not a meal fix its a craving for a candy bar fix......i found one of the shakes at least that i liked the cappacino one, but only suppose to have 2 of the meal items a day the other three had to be the 100 calorie basically candy bars...with only 1 g of protein, i don't know what thats suppose to do.......and reading about the surgeries getting cancelled cause the dang liver didn't shrink enough, it just seems pointless i don't think i would be able to go through with it again if that happened.....i'd think it wasn't meant to be, and i'd be extremely pissed....I may have cheated some, but i stayed away from mostly everything i was suppose to stay away from, i traded some of the meals with similar calorie and higher protein items, and for the most part stayed within the 1200 calories, and i didn't touch a soda not once, and i lost 5 % of my weight like they required plus an extra couple of pounds......so regardless of my cheating i think i did good, so yea for all who cheated....damn it we need food to live, we're not alcoholics who don't need the damn alcohol to live, but we need the food to live so its really alot harder to give up i think we have it the hardest of any addiction, you can't just stop eating.....you need food to live....so be proud of yourself if for the most part you did good, or you think you did good, and other then that, well screw it.....i'm just kinda rambling right now...its 2 in the morning and i don't usually stay up this late so who knows if what i'm writing makes any since...but anyways just a ramblings of a girl who wants a baby and is getting her stomach cut out to hopefully get pregnant......so anyways good luck to all you pre ops out there, don't give up, try to stick with the damn awful pre op diets....and keep your heads up high, and be proud of yourself for doing your best and taking this next step into a healthy better happier longer life

so sorry its long.... I'm so scared and confused... Well, it goes something like this... day 1- mess up... I tell myself... I'll do better tomorrow....day 2- start well, mess up, I'll do better tomorrow.... fast forward to the end and 3 out of 14 days I stayed under 1350 calories. I never stayed under 1200 like I was told to. Holy cow if I had the ability why would I need surgery?!!!! There were a few days when I panicked and ate a lot... a lot... thinking... I'll never be able to do this again!!! Wow, I thought I was so so so ready! I've been in counseling for my eating disorder for years. I've told myself... I AM READY! But, If I can't make it through the pre-op diet, am I?! Tomorrow my fasting starts...liquids only. Wednesday a.m. is my surgery. I'm wondering if I shouldn't go through with it. Most of my friends say... don't worry, you will do fine because you KNOW you can't mess up after its done. I made the mistake of reading postings where people had written that they had no pre-op diet. That was all I needed to tell myself... if they didn't...then why should I? I had other friends tell me... omg! go out there and eat whatever you want! its your last chance!! Again, all I needed...someone gave me permission to cheat...so I did. If I can't make it on this liquid fast for the next 3 days... I'm postponing the surgery. Obviously its some sort of sabotage. Am I just scared? IS there some part of me that I haven't acknowledged that doesn't want this? I was so sure, so convinced I was ready! Why am I doing this to myself? Why am I so scared when all I want is to be healthy! For goodness sakes I work out like crazy and am even in TWO nutrition classes. Why can't I keep the dang food out of my mouth!!!??? My counselor says I'm addicted to food... that it is my comfort. I lead a very stressful, often lonely, life. Food has always been my friend. I have to say goodbye and yet, handle it EVERY day of my life and not take part in it (at least most of the stuff I like anyhow and very little of every thing else). At least alcoholics and drug addicts can stay away from it, keep it out of the house, not go to clubs, etc. I can't escape food. My husband, I swear he's been sabotaging me as well....bringing home all my favorite things....allowing me to cheat.... Maybe he doesn't want me to lose weight? I'm terrified...absolutely terrified. I'm very angry at myself for failing repeatedly over the years...that I couldn't do it on my own. OMG I think I'm resenting this surgery! I'm pissed at myself. Angry for failing, angry for being weak, angry for being angry. this sucks. Last week a young woman died at our local hospital. The doctor that told me (my ortho...btw I now need knee surgery and have arthritis in my upper spine... grrrr)...that that woman had had the Lap band surgery a few weeks prior to her death. That scared the crap out of me. I have children to take care of!!!!! I can't leave them! Is this selfish to take that risk? What the heck am I doing?

I had a tough time with clears (first 10 days for my doctor). Hot tea, chicken broth, apple juice, and Gatorade in the hospital. Propel Zero, Gatorade G2, Vitamin Water, unjury and nectar Protein powders (only certain ones, and with water only) at home. Some drink Isopure, but I found it revolting. Any clear liquid was ok by my doctor, as long as it was low carb and/or sugar free (and alcohol free!). Due to gas discomfort and swelling, I didn't hit my recommended Fluid or protein intake levels until I got on "full liquids" (days 11-20). Once I was allowed to have milk and once the gas disomfort subsided, hitting my daily protein goals was easy. I still have problems hitting my 64 ounces per day fluid goal, however that's only because I forget to drink when I'm sitting at my desk at work. The key (especially early) is small, frequent sips - max 2 oz. per 15 minutes according to my surgeon. I always have some sort of protein or water drink in front of me, as I'm still not on mushies yet (day 18). My best day before day 11 was 48 ounces, and I felt like that was pushing it. Some have an easier time, some tougher. Just be patient. As for protein powders during my clear phase, Unjury strawberry sorbet mixed with lemon Propel Zero or Crystal Light wasn't too bad, kinda like pink lemonade. Also, I liked a couple of the Nectar protein powders (I bought a sample pack from bariatricpantry.com to get me through the clears and to try them before buying a tub). Oh, and you might find plain water boring now. I used to drink 3/4 gallon of ice water per day, now I don't like it. I must spruce it up with lemon, Crystal Light, or drink one of the aforementioned bottled brands. Good luck and welcome to the post-op world!

Thank you!! I am having fun! But I really do stress out still when It comes to food. I have been getting online trying to look at menu's of the restaurants we are going to prior so I can have an idea of what to order. Like you said I didnt want them to think I was afraid to eat in front of them... so I have tried the taking small bites and moving things around on my plate. I just don't feel like these men that I am not that close to yet need to hear about my weight loss and band. I want them to know me first... for once in my life, i dont want a focus to be on weight. I'm sure if I get serious with someone I will tell them, but until then, no one needs to know. To me this is a personal journey that only a few people need to know about. But this whole dating thing is tough because it seems like most dates revolve around going to lunch or dinner or out for a drink (which I have given up all alcohol too). Hopefully with Spring here the weather will be nice enough so that a date can be putt putt golf or a walk in a park or something that doesnt involve food. I'm not complaining... I am loving my new lie just trying to figure some things out.

I am licensed through my state as a drug and alcohol counselor and the first thing we learned as counselor's is that every counselor needs a counselor. Talking to someone you don't know is easier sometimes and the goal is to be able to admit things to yourself that you may be to embarassed to tell others. Sometimes we don't want to admit things to ourselves and a good counselor will help you through the process. I can also tell you that sometimes people don't always know things that are bothering them until you start asking them questions. The good thing about it is that if something is too painful for you to discuss, you are in charge and can choose if you go there or not but it may also give you food for thought. I can tell you that a few years ago I was losing weight on my own and doing good before my band. I had lost 73 lbs. Then one day my dad told me that my sister was coming for a visit and he warned me in advance that she had gained a lot of weight. He told me how much she weighed and I realized that I had lost so much that I weighed less than her. Something clicked in my head and even though I still wanted to lose some more weight, I started sabotaging myself and started gaining. No matter what I did, I couldn't get back on track. A few weeks ago, after I had my band, I was talking to that same sister and she told me how proud she was of me for having surgery and that she hoped I reached my goal. I was talking with another one of my counselor friends and she asked me if that sister had always been smaller than me. The answer was yes. Not only that, it was the same sister who used to constantly make fun of me when we were younger for being overweight as she was always naturally thin. I did not make the connection until then that subcontiously, I was putting weight back on when I heard she had lost because she had always been the smaller sister. Even though I am grown now, I had to work through the process and allow myself to be ok with my own decisions about being the best I can be, despite her weight issues. Now that I am aware of what is going on, it's not as much of a struggle any more.

My surgeon asked me very specifically not to change my eating habits at all pre-op -- no dieting, no overeating or bingeing. (Of course I couldn't eat anything after midnight the night before surgery.) There are also very few post-op restrictions, and liquids only for three-four days post-op. The rules post-op mostly are don't eat sugar or drink alcohol at first, wait till four weeks post-op to eat raw fruit/veg, and eat 'circle-wise' -- one bite Protein, one bite veg, one bite carb (preferably not white carbs), repeat -- and drink 1.5-2 litres of Water per day. There is quite in-depth training and examples given about how to eat post-op, it's just full foods right from the start, with no liquid or mushy phase per se, though they advise a lot of joghurt and quark and very well-cooked veg during the first couple post-op weeks. This is all from a very experienced and academically respected hospital and bariatric team, who've led a number of studies and are well-published. I'm not saying that their rules (or perhaps relative lack thereof) are any better than all the liquids pre- and post-op -- I am just saying that, knowing what they know and how much experience they have (particularly with VSG), there is clearly huge variability in what is actually okay, or safe, pre- and post-op, from a quantifiable, replicable, medical/scientific evidence perspective. And all that is prelude to the following: I believe that, without seeing the evidence or knowing the medical rationale firsthand (e.g., actual fatty liver is certainly not present in every heavy person and can be determined through a simple blood test), I personally would have had a hell of a time staying on any extensive liquid or other severe diets. I need a very good reason to feel that shitty for two weeks lol. And now THAT being said, one very good reason many of you mention, is that your surgeon requires it for you to get the surgery -- that would be quite motivating I'm sure. Anyhow, best of luck to all of you in getting through the challenging times!!

First, I think you should take your time deciding. This is something that you don't have to do today, or tomorrow, so make sure you're 90% confident in your decision before you do it (there is always some doubt, even in the highly motivated- that's normal). I don't know if, at 23, I would have been motivated to succeed in the same way that I am now. My life was just very different then-- going out with friends was a much bigger portion of my lifestyle than it is now. That said, I know reverie is a young and successful bandster so you may be more like her than me To address some of your points: Fills-- unless you are truly phobic of needles, I seriously wouldn't worry about it. My doc uses a numbing something or other and the needle feels like pressure- no pain for me at all. I just don't look at it and it doesn't bother me Some people have issues with finding the port, so I know that the experience CAN be worse for some people, however, the no-pain/no-problem fill experience seems to be more common. Band Slippage-- yep, that's scary. But it happens in 5% of cases and it does seem to be associated with band abuse; either being too tight and thus vomiting a lot, or perhaps with continued over-eating after band placement (I'm a little less sure about that one). It could happen. But it's against the odds. Carbonated beverages-- this is the thing I was most upset about pre-surgery. Post-surgery-- it is seriously no big deal. Look, I used to have a major Diet DP addiction and I LOVE beer. But, weighed against obesity, it was no contest. Giving it up ended up being a total piece of cake. I'm really surprised now about how much I cared before. However, that said, I'm 35 and my drinking is almost entirely about taste and enjoyment and is not as much about socializing and social lubricant as it was when I was in my twenties. Not that there is anything wrong with that! But it would have been mentally harder for me then, I do think. Now I drink wine and some liquor (mostly wine). Since wine is my favorite alcoholic beverage anyway, this worked out for me. Not Being Able to Eat Certain Foods-- This one seems to vary greatly. The tighter the band (in general), the more this is an issue. My band is not tight-- it is just enough to allow me to have less hunger and hunger satiation with smaller portions of food but it doesn't STOP me from eating. I can still overeat if I don't put my fork down. So I do have to exercise some self-control, but in trade, I can eat pretty much everything. I've never been stuck. I've never PB'ed, slimed, or vomited. And here's hoping I never do! Excess Skin-- You're young. I bet this would mostly take care of itself. In any case, to me, it's no less attractive than fat and you can hide skin with clothes. I don't love the excess skin. But, it's 1000 times better than where I was before. Failing-- This is where dedication comes in. This is where education about what you TRULY can expect and not expect from the band comes in. This is where educating yourself on what you will have to bring to the table comes in. There are some people who the band doesn't work for. There are more people who don't work the band, and there are the most people who significantly reduce their excess weight and become healthier. I will tell you, though, that 40-60% of excess weight lost is the average. My surgeon was very clear during the education process that if you were going into this expecting to be skinny at the end, you were setting yourself up for disappointment. The odds are, you will not lose all of the weight you want to. The odds are, you might even still be overweight when all is said and done. You should be aware of that, and be ready to accept it as a possibility should you go through with WLS of ANY kind. That said, just as there are some people who don't lose anything, there are some people who lose everything. It's probably a combination of luck and motivation. I've beaten the odds so far-- I've lost 73% of my excess weight and I'm still losing, but I don't know if I'll make it to my goal of "normal BMI". We'll see! But I do believe that I've been pretty lucky because 2 small fills have gotten me to my sweet spot, my body is cooperating me despite my copious wine consumption and relative lack of exercise to this point, and I haven't had complications to struggle with.

Everyone has a different level of what is acceptable. Even Stevia has 'issues': "Stevia is controversial, however. The United States' FDA has not approved it as a food additive because of toxicity concerns. Xylitol and other sugar alcohols are non-toxic, but can only be consumed with careful restriction of quantity because of their laxative effects when the body's daily threshold has been reached." So pick your poison...none of us are getting out alive anyway. I no longer use the powdered splenda (in little packets or in bulk) ever since I found out that the powder is mainly maltodextrin and other fillers and, as a diabetic, the maltodextrin is a problem for me since it causes blood sugar spikes. Now I order sucralose tablets and just crush them when I want a sweetener although these days that's rather rare. .

TONS MORE ENERGY!!! BEAUTIFUL hair (at least for me that's what it does) and shiny too! LOADS OF INCH LOSS GO ON VACATION - DON'T COME BACK 10 POUNDS HEAVIER. p.s. My band is not at restriction. I was in Puerto Vallarta last month at a resort that had the most delectable food. I didn't want to gain weight so I didn't have any bread, Pasta, rice or refined carbs, no fruit either. I know from low carbing in the past that this was the only way i could not come back with an extra stomach roll and I certainly wanted to get my money's worth and enjoy somebody else cooking for me. I ate like Henry VIII - I mean tons of bacon in the morning with eggs, salsa, guacamole. I think you get my drift. large greek salads with a good amount of feta on top and olive oil. or salads with creamy dressing, bbqd meats, deep fried fish that was lightly battered, deep fried chicken wings, duck, huge salad everyday - you name it - every conceivable decadent food. The only thing I left out were the refined carbs and fruit. I packed in about 2500 calories a day including about 7- 10 alcoholic drinks a day. I came back 2 pounds heavier after that completely indulgent pig-out week. I did drink about 8-10 glasses of Water as well which was easy because of the heat.

I came across this article a few months ago and it helps a lot to keep things in perspective for long term success. Top 10 Most Common Mistakes WLS Patients Make I will also post it here just to make it easier... ----------------------------------------------------------- While weight loss surgery (WLS) is considered the most successful treatment for morbid obesity, it is just the first step toward a fresh start. Weight regain is a common phenomenon, as is illness when weight loss surgery patients do not follow recommended guidelines. Breaking old patterns, establishing an effective post-WLS lifestyle, and addressing the emotional issues that often complicate obesity takes more than commitment; it takes support, information, and resources. The National Association for Weight Loss Surgery (NAWLS) helps WLS patients shape new lives. We teach people what they need to know and help them makes the changes they need to make to achieve long-term WLS success -- physically, mentally, and spiritually. In a November 2005 poll conducted by NAWLS, the following were identified as the top 10 mistakes WLS patients make: 1st Mistake: Not Taking Vitamins, supplements, or Minerals Every WLS patient has specific nutritional needs depending on the type of surgery you have had. Not only is it a good idea to ask your surgeon for guidelines, but also consult with an experienced WLS nutritionist. Understand there is not a standard practice that all surgeons and nutritionists follow in guiding WLS patients. So, it is important to do your own research, get your lab tests done regularly, and learn how to read the results. Some conditions and symptoms that can occur when you are deficient in vitamins, supplements, or minerals include: Osteoporosis; pernicious anemia; muscle spasms; high blood pressure; burning tongue; fatigue; loss of appetite; weakness; constipation and diarrhea; numbness and tingling in the hands and feet; being tired, lethargic, or dizzy; forgetfulness, and lowered immune functioning. Keep in mind, too, that some conditions caused by not taking your vitamins, supplements, or minerals are irreversible. For example, a Vitamin B-1 deficiency can result in permanent neurological deficits, including the loss of the ability to walk. 2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity A "pink cloud" or honeymoon experience is common following WLS. When you are feeling better than you have in years, and the weight is coming off easily, it's hard to imagine you will ever struggle again. But unfortunately, it is very common for WLS patients to not lose to their goal weight or to regain some of their weight back. A small weight regain may be normal, but huge gains usually can be avoided with support, education, effort, and careful attention to living a healthy WLS lifestyle. For most WLSers, if you don't change what you've always done, you're going to keep getting what you've always gotten -- even after weight loss surgery. 3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals Yes, it's hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating. 4th Mistake: Not Eating Right Of course everyone should eat right, but in this society eating right is a challenge. You have to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Eat all your meals--don't skip. Don't keep unhealthy food in sight where it will call to you all the time. Try to feed yourself at regular intervals so that you aren't as tempted to make a poor choice. And consider having a couple of absolutes: for example, avoid fried foods completely, avoid sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once a week. Choose your "absolutes" based on your trigger foods and your self knowledge about what foods and/or situations are problematic for you. 5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day will help you avoid this risk. Adequate water intake will also help you flush out your system as you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. Drinking enough water helps with your weight loss, too. 6th Mistake: Grazing Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It's one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It's something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned Snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up. Eating enough at meal time, and eating planned snacks when necessary, will help you resist grazing. Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food, but are not truly hungry. For example, take up a hobby to keep your hands busy or call on someone in your support group for encouragement. 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight weight regain. Not only does exercise boost your spirits, it is a great way to keep your metabolism running strong. When you exercise, you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even at rest! 8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) Let's face it, refined carbohydrates are addictive. If you eat refined carbohydrates they will make you crave more refined carbohydrates. There are plenty of complex carbohydrates to choose from, which have beneficial vitamins. For example, if you can handle pastas, try whole grain Kamut pasta--in moderation, of course. (Kamut Pasta doesn't have the flavor some people find unpleasant in the whole wheat pastas.) Try using your complex carbohydrates as "condiments," rather than as the center point of your meal. Try sprinkling a tablespoon of brown rice on your stir-fried meat and veggies. 9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda Drinking soda is controversial in WLS circles. Some people claim soda stretches your stomach or pouch. What we know it does is keep you from getting the hydration your body requires after WLS--because when you're drinking soda, you're not drinking water! In addition, diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. The best thing you can do is find other, healthier drinks to fall in love with. They are out there. 10th Mistake: Drinking Alcohol If you drank alcohol before surgery, you are likely to want to resume drinking alcohol following surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery. And it is in your best interest to understand the consequences of drinking alcohol before you do it. Alcohol is connected with weight regain, because alcohol has 7 calories per gram, while Protein and vegetables have 4 calories per gram. Also, some people develop an addiction to alcohol after WLS, so be very cautious. Depending on your type of WLS, you may get drunker, quicker after surgery, which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations. If you think you have a drinking problem, get help right away. Putting off stopping drinking doesn't make it any easier, and could make you a lot sicker.