Greetings from Chicago!

[Island Girl 0]

Hi everyone! I just joined this site but I have been visiting for a while now. I have reached my goal but I know that is only half of the battle. Now.....maintaining! My surgery was a piece of cake, didn't even need tylenol for the pain. I will be here everyday since I have kept my surgery a secret, only my husband (and Dr.) knows that I had the surgery. I've told all of my co-workers and friends that I lost my weight through good old fashoined diet and exercise. You'd be surprised how many people refuse to take that answer. I've even heard that I have cancer and that's why I've lost so much weight!! Oh well, it's no one's business but my own, they can say what they choose. Thanks to eveyone who has posted here...you have helped me tremendously! I'll be back often!

[kabeerah 0]

Do you really think we are going to let you off that easy?! No way girlfriend, spill the beans! Tell us how you worked that band! 70lbs in 6 months...on a light weight...come on...tell us...we family

[Island Girl 0]

LOL...ok. First off, I was able to get my band because I had pre-diabetes. While on my pre-op diet I had lost 12 lbs. The difficult time for me was after surgery and before my first fill. I love to eat. Or should I say loved. I had my first fill and it was not adequate. I was still hungry. I went back to the doc about 2 weeks later and said "Fill it up!" So, he made the band pretty tight. I was able to drink a lot of fluids (ate lots off egg drop soup!) but when it came to food, 2 bites and I was done. I actually had the same fill for about 4.5 months. When I reached my goal he took out a lot of my fill and now I only have 1cc. I am maintaining quite well so far. I think my big thing was that before my band, I was quite lazy. After, I began to really workout and along with the reduction of food intake the pounds just melted away. I hope that helps, I'd be glad to answer any other questions that people may have.