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Well the truck is considerably higher than when he got here. I fixed dinner for them, there are only 3--one of the guys chose to stay home, get drunk, scare his wife with his ramblings, and is now sobering up in detox! He has been a serious alcoholic for a long time, and he goes on benders frequently. But when he does this trying to get to and from the reservation, while smashed, it makes me mad-------I have loved ones on the road, he needs to not be! Hope they lock him up for awhile this time. Dinner is meanwhile getting cold, because when they thought they were done and I set it out, they forgot some plate on the front of the truck......grrrrr thats ok, they get cold enchiladas, and Beans and rice and corn bread! LOL Well I am gonna eat mine while it is warm. BBL!!

Hang in there! If you have problems w/ your blood sugar dropping too low, it can make you feel sick to your stomach. When I was waking up from my surgery, I was very nauseous. The nurse had me sip on some "strong" Hawaiian Punch and put an alcohol swab over the bridge of my nose. I know it sounds goofy, but the alcohol swab worked wonders! :confused:

First of all, I'd like to say something to Angie and to anyone else to whom this might apply: You are not failing at the band - the band is failing you! the band has a specific function. it is meant to create a sensation of saiety (sp) (fullness) with less food. if it isn't doing that, it isn't functioning properly. sure, we can eat our way around this band, but that isn't the initial point. it is a point, but for later. i was fortunate to have this life changing surgery April 1st, making me 71 days post op. and for those counting, my practice looks at 90 days out to have adjustments close to where they should be. so stop being so hard on yourselves and take advantage of this adjustment period to figure things out, including your head. even if there is some serious sabotage going on, you still have a chance. because you still have the band. anyone who isn't friends with their doctor should get another doctor. do not declare defeat. fight for the results promised to you when they were selling you on this procedure. you haven't failed. (stepping off soap box) 1. WEIGHT highest 228 surgery 4-1-212 5-1 - 204 (2 lbs a week) 5-26 - 201 (you do the math) 6-8-09 - 196 (2 lbs a week) 2. FILLS-in a 10cc band 1) 5-1 - 2.5 cc 2) 5-26 - 2.6 cc = 5.1cc 3) 6-8 - 1cc = 6.1cc 3. RESTRICTION- none until the 3rd fill. i think i've got it. when i don't eat slow enough, i physically cannot eat another bite for a few minutes. PERFECT. so i slow down. i can't drink as fast as i could before. PERFECT. 4. RULES-here's where this process will be different for me than any other time i've tried to lose weight. i will break the "rules" life happens. so how do i account for the times and incidences and still make this work? THAT is the job of this medical staff that has my life in their hands (and mine in my stomach). 5. ANYTHING ELSE when i go in for a check up (and a fill) i tell them all the things i am able to eat that i don't want to be able to eat. i could down 6 Biotin pills all at once. i ate 6 oz of steak and another 7 oz 3 hours later. that's when they looked at each other and said "she needs a good fill". if you don't succeed, THEY haven't succeeded. they didn't keep their promise. i want the physical restriction promised to me. that's what i signed up for. that's what i paid for. that's why i'm doing this. there is no failing, because there are no other options for me. i hit bottom and there is no where to go but up. so stick to your guns ladies. tell them you are capable of eating in a way that will not help you lose weight. tell them you need them to make it so you cannot physically fail. on a side note, let me say this: at the initial office visit, i met with four different staff members. on four separate occasions, they all told me "ya know, you can eat your way around this band..." until i heard it (4 times) it never dawned on me to even try. I admit, with all due respect, I looked each one of them in the eye and in no uncertain terms told them : "hey, i'm not fucking around here." I'm not here to learn HOW to eat my way out of this. i'm here to learn how to use this to my advantage. on another side note, let me also say i realize after reading these posts that i am one of the lucky ones having little or no complications. the worst part of it all has been left shoulder pain post op for 3 weeks and now if i eat too much or too fast. it's a good signal for me to stop when i feel that. i am happy to say i might have found a good fill point with this last visit. i had 8oz of steak in front of me tonight and could only eat half. i had an entire box of Green Giant brussel sprouts in butter sauce before this last fill, made it again and couldn't come close to finishing. so this is good. my practice is overcautious with a very gradual approach allowing the stomach and your system and YOU to get familiar with this process. USE THEM to help you. i've had alcohol, and counted it (i'm a food log nut). i had 16 oz of 2% chocolate milk. and i counted it and didn't go over for the day. and that's going to happen sometimes. so here i am deep into week 10 (your typical weight loss program) and as my motivation starts to waver as patterns show, this is when we figure out how to live with it. someday i'll have to figure out the "why" but for now, i am still optomistic. so keep your heads up ladies, and hold the doctor accountable for some of this. work with him, be honest and let life dictate how you can use the band to help you the most. sorry for the long long post, but i felt it important since so many of you are blaming yourselves for what might not be your fault. keep your head high and we will succeed. hugs knewme

That's great! I think I can handle 1 on the sugar alcohol. I wish they would just get rid of that stuff. More things are supposed to come out with stevia.

No, they didn't seem too ... I think the sugar alcohol is like a "1"

i dont know why i am responding, i just felt truely led to do so. You are not alone in your addiction. There is a small percentage of people with thyroid problems or a screwed up matabilism but most of the rest of us are just like you, addicts. I think that food is the worse and hardest of them all. If you truely seek out treatment with drugs and alcohol the best thing in the world to do is to go cold turkey, stay away from friends that do the drugs, stay out of bars etc. with food it is different. We have to eat to live. The problem is some of us lived to eat.n when i look at the big picture, i realize this is going to be a long daily battle. But I did it for me and my family. I love love love food but I love my family more. They are worth it. I am worth it. I am 14 days banded, early in the game for me too. You feel now like you may have made a horrible quick decision, before you make another one sit back enjoy the small things like your pants fitting just a little better, 9 pounds that is awesome, Give it some time, dont jump the gun. My good friend(when I was having a horrible day and was starving and feeling sorry for myself) said to me"Girl, nothing tastes as good as skinny will feel." God bless you and I hope you get this message. I will be thinking of you

drinks to help pay for health care reform while dissuading people from overconsuming sweetened beverages. (Another proposal would raise federal taxes on alcoholic drinks). Of course, the mere fact that a tax is effective in reducing consumption doesn't by itself mean it should be enacted. Indeed, the same argument can be made against imposing taxes. Reducing consumption reduces sales, which hurts business, which could hit workers and stockholders. And soda pop ain't cigarettes. Any amount of smoking is bad for you, but as the otherwise-disingenuous beverage industry correctly points out, it's possible to consume sugary drinks in moderation without seriously degrading your health. Still, given the alarming rates of obesity and diabetes in the United States, and given the dire need to finance health care reform, such a tax may do a lot of good. I say "may" because the effectiveness of the proposal is far from clear, as is the impact it might have on the beverage industry, which is already struggling with declining sales. I don't really have a strong position on the issue (despite what happened the last time I wrote about this, when a particularly insistent young anti-tax zealot repeatedly e-mailed me to complain, as if I were trying to take money out of his bank account to give it to the Socialist Workers Party). It's also far from clear that such a tax will pass. A similar effort in New York recently failed miserably, perhaps because the rate was way too high?18 percent. The Associated Press reported that while there has been plenty of lobbying activity on both sides of the federal proposal, it has been relatively "quiet." The beverage industry and allies such as the corn lobby have not wanted to appear too zealous in opposing schemes to finance health care reform, it said. But if you look hard enough, you'll find plenty of strong language coming from the sweetener lobby. Like this gem from Neil Trautwein of the National Retail Federation: "Are they going to hit couch manufacturers? School districts that have canceled physical education?" The AP characterized his questions as jokes, but given the similarly bombastic language from other tax opponents, I'm not so sure. Last week, the New York Times editorial page came out in favor of the tax. While the Times did put some of the onus for health on consumers themselves?where it surely belongs?it also recognized the obesity epidemic for what it is: a public-health problem.

When you have a sleeve, you have a normal stomach only smaller. So there really isn't anything you can't eat as long as it agrees with you. I do find that the alcohol affects me faster and then I lose the buzz faster. I don't enjoy drinking it post-op so I tend not to. But I could if I wanted to. Some programs have long lists of foods/drinks you can and can't have at various points or forever. Except for when you are first healing and need to be on liquids and then softs, these restrictions are not based on clinical data and there isn't any scientific reason for them. This would include popcorn, caffeine, gum, drinking through straws, raw veggies, alcohol and a host of others I've seen people be told they can't have. Then we get to the controversal issue of carbonation. Most programs say not to have it and it will stretch the sleeve (or pouch, if you have RnY). That just seems unlikely to me. It seems like you'd burp or fart before your stomach would stretch out. But carbonation makes most people with small stomachs uncomfortable and soda is bad for you in so many ways and the only pther carbonated beverage I like is sparkling cider, so it's not really an issue for me. :001_tt2:

Hello hello ~~ I bet it must have been a great great transformation and a decision worth EXCITELY SHOUTING for.:eek: But *shhh* , tell you something. Other than my parents no one I knew knew. Part of it is because I wanted to "surprise" them a year later, another part of it is, it's hard to go "drink crazy ( as in alcohol )" "eat crazy" and "spend so much time going to parties or karaoke" when I have to be VERY FOCUSED to exercise after work (9-5). And "other" reasons too. Sigh. :thumbup: You're like the only "close" person that "knows" i'm "going" to have a band. Haha, isn't it ironic? :thumbup: Don't want anyone close to me know I'm going to this LIFECHANGING surgery, yet posted this thread to see whether there's someone in Toronto that's "close" to me. I'm with SWLC, in mississauga. I reallllllllly want to lose 100 pounds, I should say I can't really imagine "going back to what I was" (or lighter). Haven't really "bonded" with anyone in SWLC yet, though I would consider myself moderately active in the forum. Great resource from other patients, I also look forward my banding experience to be a positive one. Actually, "hoping" to lose 100 pounds - I am even slightly "afraid" of it, cause... over the years I gained so much, so much stretch marks across my stomach ( not even red ones, they are all plain color now, even worst ). It bothers me to think to SPEND :eek: extra more on plastic surgery after this surgery. Sigh. Well one step at a time i guess. Ay, can you be my Mentor/buddy? :ihih: I tried to look at the "support" section for buddy/mentor, but sigh, none "near" me. I'll cheer you on for the rest of 15 pounds, and you'll cheer me on for my 100 pounds? :lol:HAHAHAHA sounds like a deal? hahahah

Speaking from the sleeve experience as I am sleeved now and have been for over a year now, I was 389 at surgery, 1 year later I am 197 or a little less, There is a gland in your stomach called Grehllin or however it is spelled that sends a signal to your brain telling you when your hungary and also slowing your metabolism. (once removed it was like a miracle) (For example myself, I unfortunately have not worked out since surgery, just normal routine work walking around at different facilities) Yes I have lost some muscle mass. I find it hard to intake the amount of protein without tasting horrible protein shakes or shots and so on. I eat probably 6 times a day in small portions About the size of half a happy meal but of pure protein like chicken or fish. I have been very successful with my sleeve and feel confident that anyone who is sleeved will have some success if not meet their goal except with excessive obesity. The VSG is step 1 of a 2 step surgery for those who need it. I was told no heavy lifting after surgery so I didnt. I was also told to walk alot, no running for at least 6 weeks, I would advise against volleyball for a while :cool0:. The best advice is to let the sleeve heal inside of you, dont hurt it. I was soooo careful drinking and eating after surgery for so long because I didnt want or need complications. (word of advise to anyone.. When they tell you to go to the hotel and wash your wounds I wouldnt do that, Take some Neosporin spray, alcohol wipes and completely cover your wounds while in the shower anywhere in Mexico. I look at it like this, If it is not safe enough to drink it isnt safe at all) You can wait till you are back in the states to wash them hehe. Just make sure that you clean them with the alcohol wipes and neosporin spray :car: .. Not knocking mexico or anything, this is where I had my surgery performed in Tijuana Mexico at Hospital Angeles. I hope my post is somewhat helpful if not feel free to contact me if you would like to ask specific questions I will be more than happy to support you all in anyway I can :car: I also apologize if my typing is wrong, I am super tired from working all day in the heat but wanted to post

Alcohol is fattening but i don't know of any reason why you can't have a glass of wine.

Chris this isn't strictly true; many of us DO eat less but the body doesn't absorb MORE caffeine because we only drink 1 cup than if we drank 2, and the food stays in our UPPER stomachs longer. Most digestion occurs in the intestines. Alcohol is not digested normally so some may think they can't drink as much but actually liquids (which is the form most of us get our alcohol IN! LOL) go through as fast as they ever did for those of us who aren't so tight that we can't swallow our own saliva. So I'm getting from my 1 cup of coffee in the AM essentially the same thing I WAS getting from it prebanding.

You said it right in there this in an addiction as powerful as any drug or alcoholic drink. Just because we have the band we are still addicts which I think makes people with the lap band the bravest, strongest people in the world. Not only do we make a choice to permanently put something in between us and our addiction we make the choice through bad and good to not let food beat us. Be proud of all your accomplishments this is a journey and you'll be a better stronger person for traveling it. Good luck :wub:

Lets just be clear on what “founding fathers” means. It could mean as you have said, everyone that came here on a boat (well, except for the slaves – they don’t count) in the 1600’s to start a religious government, or it could mean the people of the colonies that revolted against Great Briton in the Revolutionary war. I take it to mean the framers of the Constitution, the men that attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Maybe we should take a look at their Moral Character: 1) Abraham Baldwin (Georgia) Slave Owner, known murderer 2) John Blair (Virginia) Slave Owner, had black mistresses 3) William Blount (North Carolina) Slave Owner, kicked out of the Senate, charged with Real Estate crimes 4) Jacob Broom (Delaware) had indentured servants 5) Pierce Butler (South Carolina) Illegal Alien, Slave Owner, wrote the Constitution’s “Fugitive Slave” language 6) George Clymer (Pennsylvania) stole Indian land 7) Jonathon Dayton (New Jersey) accused of treason along with Aaron Burr 8) William Few (Georgia) Slave Owner and breeder 9) Thomas FitSimmons (Pennsylvania) Illegal Alien 10) Alexander Hamilton (New York) Bastard son of a prostitute, Illegal Alien, criminal, died in a dual with Aaron Burr 11) George Washington (Virginia) Alcoholic, suspected of homosexuality, Slave Owner, 12) Ben Franklin (Pennsylvania) womanizer, fathers several children out of wedlock, had sex with a 15 year old These are just a few examples of the moral Fiber of the oft revered “Founding Fathers”. I don’t really have a problem with these guys, they were leaders in their day, some were good, others were downright scoundrels. The point is that these men were ordinary people, no more or less moral than the people (or politicians) of today.

:thumbup: Please help me fill out the medical history questionnaire.. I have no idea what to put or what they want me to write. 1. Musculoskeletal (Bone/Muscles) system review Bursitis Tendonitis Arthritis or swollen joints Back problems Sciatica Necl pain Muscle or extremity weakness Morning stiffness Jaw pain, popping or clicking X rays 2. Please comment on above question (14) answers. 3. Metabolic system review Diabetes mellitus Gestational diabetes Thyroid problems or disorder Are you on or have been on thyroid replacement medications? Elevated cholesterol or triglycerides 4. Do you have any of the following ? Rheumatic Fever Pneumonia COPD Pleurisy or other lung disease such as sarcodosis Pulmonary Artery Hypertension High Blood pressure Heart Attack Diabetes Mellitus GERD Esophagitis Gastric Ulceration Duodenal ulceration Helicobactor pylori infection Upper Gastrointestinal bleeding, bleeding ulcer Esophageal or Gastric Varices Congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectases (Sturge Weber Syndrome) Crohn's Disease Atresia's or Stenosis of the GI tract Cirrhosis acute or Chronic Pancreatitis Anemia Bleeding Tendencies Psoriasis Cataracts Radiation Treatement Thyroid dsease Accidents or major trauma Other hospitalizations Addiction to alcohol or drugs (must be clean and sober 5 yrs with proof) Bi-polar disorder (patients have to document compliance with medication and follow up) Have you ever been diagnosed with a connective tissue disease, such as Lupus, Scleroderma, or Sicca syndrome? Anyone in your immediate family? Are you on large doses of Steroids? Other illneses 5. Please comment on above question (20) answers 6. Systems Review General Weight loss or Gain Chills Fever Night Sweats Weakness Easy fatigability Intolerance to Cold or Heat 7. Please comment on the above question (6) answers. 8. Please comment on above question (12) answers. 9. Respiratory (Lungs) Shortness of Breath Cough up blood Pleurisy Chronic Cough Asthma Abnormal Chest Xray Last Chest X ray 10. Psychiatric Depression Bipolar disorder Anxiety (nervousness) Suicide thoughts or attempts Psychiatric trreatment Counseling 11. Genitourinary (kidneys) system review Get up at night to urinate Kidney or Bladder infections Difficulty with Urination Blood in Urine Kidney Stones Surgery Prostate Problems Kidney xrays or ultrasounds 12. Plese comment on above question (18) answers 13. Please comment on the above question (4) answers. 14. Please use this area to tell us about any of the diagnoses, hospitalizaations, or other major illness you might have in the 1st question. 15. Please comment on above question (24) answers 16. HEENT System Review Headaches Sudden vision changes Glaucoma Dry eyes Do you wear glasses or contacts Have you had any eye surgery such as LASIK or LASEK or RK If Diabetic, when was your last retinal eye exam? Ear infections Vertigo Nose Bleeds Allergies Sinusitis Dentures Bridges Mouth ulcers Hoarseness Dry mouth SICCA syndrome 17. GI system review Difficulty swallowing food getting stuck Indigestion Change in Bowel Habits Blood in stool Dark or tar colored stools Surgery Vomiting Nausea Diarrhea Constipation Irritable Bowel Syndrome Pain Vomiting Blood Jaundice Gallbladder problems Pancreatitis Stomach Xray Colon Xray Gallbladder Ultrasound EGD or colonoscopy 18. Please comment on above question (16) answers 19. Please Comment on above question (10) answers 20. Neurological (Brain/Nerves) system review Dizziness Fainting or Blackouts Irritability Seizures (epilepsy) Numbness Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) Spasm Xrays Nerve conduction studies 21. GYN History for Women Age at Menarche: Age first preganancy: Age at Menopause: Last mensturual period: Number of Pregnancies: Miscarrages, abortions?" Eclampsia or premature delivery? Number of living children: Did you breast feed? 22. Please comment on above question (22) answers 23. Heart System Review Chest pain or discomfort High Blood pressure Heart Murmur Palpitations or Fluttering Edema(swelling of feet) Myocardial infarction (heart attack) Pacemaker Coronary angiogram Angioplasty or Stent placement Recent Stress test or cardiac evaluation for chest pain 24. Pease comment on the above question (8) answers. 25. Skin Review Ulcers or Nodules Rash Easy Brusining Unusal change in Body hair Skin Cancer Recent Change in a mole Color Chnage in fingers Tightness

Well, bypass isnt really done in Australia anymore. BUT - I knew I was a good candidate for the lapband. I was the type of overeater who ate basically healthy meals (I had a family to feed afterall) but ate too much and ate way too many in betweel Snacks of less healthy foods becuase I was hungry. I didnt have to change the way I ate too much with a band, becuase I knew how to shop healthy and how to cook healthy and I already did those things. I wasnt having to break habits like living on fast food, drinking huge milkshakes, or getting my Breakfast from a drive through. I was also still relatively fit and able to exercise when i set my mind to it. I didnt realise the significance of these things at the time, banding is really the only easily available option here at present. You can get other surgeries but finding surgeons is harder. However, in hindsight, I realise I had a pretty good profile for a successful bandster. I also had only gotten to a BMI of 36 which meant I stood a fighting chance of losing ALL my excess weight (which i did and then some). Another thing which I feel was important was my "gut feel" for the procedure, pardon the pun. I have a cast Iron stomach. When everyone else is dying of food poisoning, I am unscathed. When everyone else is half dead with gastro, I have a bit of diarrhoea and that's all. I didnt get reflux, suffer nausea and I could keep down a very impressive amount of alcohol too. I never vomit! I just knew that I wouldnt have the problems I read about. I could easily have been wrong, I know, but I wasnt, I was right. I just dont get all the little annoyances with the band - my stomach isnt fickle, my restriction doesnt vary, its unusual for me to be able to eat a food one day and then not the next, I dont swell after fills etc. given all that and the lesser severity of the weight problem I had, no way on earth would I have done something as drastic as bypass. I knew I could work with a band. However, I think there's many people who are better suited to a bypass and i really think if they're honest with themselves, they probably already know that about themselves.

That is way cool. Anything that has that Malitol which is sugar alcohol makes me so gassy I have to be alone for the rest of the day. I have to be careful, cause now some of the Atkins bars have it too. I just ran out of the bars I use. I am going to look for the mud pie. I just resstocked at costco on Protein drinks. I love the muscle milk light.

Okay, the marshmallow mud pie are bars and they're great -- got them at WalMart. The Protein drinks do not have sugar alcohol in them -- 1 g of sugar, no sugar alcohol listed. Got them at Target

I have never seen any marshmellow mud pie anything of Atkins. Is this a bar or a shake? I am actually in a city that has Target. At home, I am very limited to where I can shop. I love several of the Atkins bars. Now, these pure Protein drinks; do they have sugar alcohol in them? That stuff give me so much gas. It's terrible for me. I know the pure Protein Bars have that in them.

I was banded on May 6th, and had my first fill yesterday (June 4th). I was pretty nervous going into it, mostly from not knowing what to expect. The woman was really nice though, and walked me through everything. She asked me some questions about my diet, how hungry I get, etc. Then she checked my chart and saw that I had 4cc's from surgery in a 14cc band. She decided that she was going to put 1.5cc's into it at this time. She asked me if I wanted lidocaine, and I told her I wasn't sure, what was the difference? She said if I got the lidocaine I was going to feel a bee sting, and then I wouldn't feel anything she did after that, or anything else right there for about an hour. I'll admit, I'm a big baby, and didn't want the bee sting. I asked her if I didn't want it, what would it feel like. She said well, it will feel a little like I'm taking blood. You're going to feel a push, it will be in and out, and then you'll be done. I finally decided to go without the lidocaine. I pulled my shirt up, and she put a pillow behind my back to make me "bend" more backwards, it kinda felt like I was looking upside down. I put my arms behind my head and didn't really watch her. She felt for my port, and said that it was right on top, and she wasn't going to have any trouble finding it. She swabbed me with some alcohol, and then said, ok...here goes the pressure. She said I'm going to check that there is 4cc's in there, yep, there is. I'm going to add 1.55cc's. Ok...you're going to feel a slight pull...and then...well...that's it. I was done. She was in and out in less than 45 seconds. She stuck a band-aid on me...and that's it. I was given a cup of Water, told to drink it, and that when I was ready, I could go. Could not have gone any better I don't think. I built it up in my head so much that I afterwards I couldn't believe it. Love my pre-op care, my surgery team, and now my post-op care. They've been wonderful. David

1. Don't worry about losing weight after the first surgery pounds fall off. It usually takes three months and several fills after surgery for the physician to fill the band enough such that it gives you really great restriction. Many people lose 20 lbs right after surgery, and put back on 5 or 10 lbs before the band has been filled enough. Those pounds will definately come off again. 2. Stay away from alcoholic beverages, they are enjoyable and a source of comfort, but it will significantly slow your weight gain. 3. I can no longer enjoy a beer. The carbonation is such that it prevents me from eating anything on my plate. 4. Don't view the lap band as the magic band. You still have to help it work by changing some bad habits. Here are my bad habits: alcoholic beverages, popcorn and eating while watching the television. The lap band does not prohibit my intake of either alcohol or popcorn (for that matter, anything that is crispy and crunchy I can still consume in large quantities). Therefore, I must keep the beverages and popcorn out of my house. The lap band does not prevent me from watching television. in summary, if you had bad behaviors before the lap band, you will have bad behaviors after the lap band. 5. The lap band does work!! Even if you are a horrible cheater like me. While my weight loss is not as fast as I want, I have pretty much done everything to cheat it, but I have still lost weight, and am not gaining it. Want to know anymore?

Wootsie 73: I've been banded for 18 months, and while I cheat and have not lost weight as fast as I should, I do know the lap band has been highly successful in keeping me from gaining weight! I wouldn't worry so much about gaining weight on the lapband once your third or fourth fill is complete. It really is a great behavior modification tool. I find I gain weight only if I really, really want to....which means I eat small amounts, all day long, and the small amounts are very bad foods. Soooo....again, if you keep yourself from being holed up all day and eating a pile of crap, swishing it down with alcohol and/or soft drinks, then my feeling is that the band is going to work, at least to keep you from gaining again.

I was banded approximately 18 months ago. I've lost 33 lbs, 20 of which came off almost immediately following surgery. I was frustrated like you during the first four/five months following surgery, because, like you, i was still eating pretty much what I wanted with only minor discomfort. Your first fills won't do a lot for you. I was banded November 2007, and started getting "significant" restriction in April or May, after my third fill. At that time they filled me to 6 ccs. I went in again last January, and they refused to fill me, although I wasn't losing any weight- at that time, I was still 185 lbs. Since then, I've lost down to about 177. I would like to get the band tighter, but to be totally honest, I do have significant restriction already, I just cheat alot!! Don't worry about it for right now. I paid my $15,000 out of pocket too, expecting it to be magical. It isn't, I still have to make good food decisions and let the band work with me. I drink too much alcohol and don't really make the best food choices. But here is the good thing! I may not be a size six, like I want, but I am a size 12, down from a size 16 and I AM NOT GAINING ANY WEIGHT!! That's pretty much a miracle for me!

Absolutely not chica.. No alcohol before.. I wax for a living and those two do not mix.. You need to find someone who does waxing as there main service and you will be good to go.. Yes it does smart the first go around but if you keep it up every 4-6 weeks the hair will get softer and the experience will be less painful each session.. Good luck and have fun with it.. Get designs on occasion...

I don't have time to read the last three pages this morning, but I wanted to pop in and say hello. We got moved, finally got phone and internet and I've lost 5 pounds in the last week! I'm pretty happy. I found a book about drinking Water. It said that we should drink 1 ounce per 2 pounds of body weight and then 1 ounce for every 2 ounces of soda, alcohol or sugary drinks that we consume. That makes my water intake about twice what I had been doing. I think that plus the extra physical activity of moving plus sticking to my challenge plan has really made a difference. I plan on keeping it up with everything else I'm doing. I finally got to do some specific exercise, rather than just moving related exertion. It feels great and I'm so grateful to be able to do it! The move was so much easier this time around and I feel like I was able to be an active partner for my husband and not let time do most of the work like last time and the time before that and the time before that. . . My weight was 187 yesterday. That is lower than I've been in at least 12 years. Some of my size 14s are getting loose. (Others are still just fine.) So it's a good day. I'll come back and read what you all have been up to the last few days when I have a little more time.