Kittycat

Hi there, sorry to hear that you have been having hair loss problems, I also take Biotin. I am a certified make-up artist and worked with ladies years ago who lwere bald and ost their facial hair due to chemotherapy and key to natural eyebrows is not to just pencil them in, ensure that pencil is very sharp and create tiny hairs or you can use a powder, brown eyeshadow with a tiny firm make-up brush and feather it on so they look natural. Lashes are more difficult, use eyeshadow to line your eyes, not pencil it's too drastic. If you need any other tips just ask!!

D-DRIVE AND DETERMINATION is the key to success!! And we all have it in us, let's do it!!!

Glad to hear all went well, he is so lucky to have your support through this!! Wish him well from us!!

Hey Vix, love profile pic, you are beautiful!!

Hi Julie, that is a fabulous idea...I want one too!!!! With two growing boys. who can't seem to pick up after themselves, probably because I am always doing it?? I would love someone to just come in and do my laundry, the rest I could do. I am going to look into it on Monday.

Hi Julie, eating is easier when you buy your own groceries. We ate very well, I love barbequed steak and burgers. I had a few treats, but stayed away from the chips and junk food. If I wanted to snack and I brought salsa and multi grain tostitos. Eating when you travel is harder...restaurants are known for fast food and grease which makes it more difficult. We ate out once, at Red Lobster and I had steak and shrimp, it was yummy. But I know from that meal alone that I need another fill. I ate about 4 oz of steak, 6 shrimp, 5 bites of ceasar salad and most of a baked potato and I was not feeling restriction at all...I will give my surgeon a call on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Hi Stormy, I can't even imagine how difficult it must be handling an austic child, my youngest son is very high strung and has a wicked temper and at times I get winded trying to deal with it all, I even thought I was having a heart attack on one occasion, he got me so flustered. You are a great Mom and you'll be an even better Mom once you get healthy and happy!! Hugs for you!!! > >

Hi there, we are back from the cottage, the weather so sucked, rained everyday, we did get a little sun and we took full advantage of it and basked in the sun and pool. I am happy to be home, missed my kitty Cassie and my own bed. I have mountains of laundry waiting. I haven't hit the scale yet, but I ate well and avoided the junk. It was actually nice not living day to day thinking of the band, I ate as directed and lived my life and it was good!! Glad to be back <' />

Wow!! You look like a totally different person..gorgeous!!

You can do this...you are having a bad day and you want to run to food. I understand how tough the post op diet is, mine lasted 5 weeks (banded in Canada). I wanted to eat the food I cooked for my family, but I didn't. They ate steak and roast potatoes, while I ate cream of potato and cheddar soup. But I did it, and you can too. I had my first episode of PBing today, I ate three bites of a burger too fast and OMG the pain in my chest was wicked scarey and slimed all over the place. I will never do that again. You have embarked on a lifetime committment and if you need help getting you through the tough times without depending on food, I would contact a counsellor to talk to. Do you have anyone else you can depend on or talk to, besides family members? I have a wonderful support system at home and at work. You are not alone, we have all been there and some of us are about to be. You can do this..think of the rewards!!! Take care and feel better!!

The weight loss slowed down, but I have not gained anything back. Follow the guidelines and walk and you will lose!!

Thanks Bill!!! I will definitely slow down, I don't want that to happen again! I am on vacation tomorrow for a week, so I will see ya when I get back!!

Hi Trudy, I felt the same way, I ate chicken strips with bbq sauce, slimed the up which helped them go down easier, my surgeon told me as long as you chew well and eat slowly, you should be just fine. I haven't had any trouble at all, until today, I ate too fast, it got stuck and I started sliming...but I am okay now. Don't let it scare you, it's been 2 months since my surgery and it was my fault today. Be consciencious of what you are doing and you'll do fine.

I was running around getting things ready for my holidays and grabbed a cheeseburger, had only 3 small bites, chewed well, but probably ate too fast, I got this wicked stuck pain in my chest, then the sliming started...OMG!!! I walked, I pounded my chest, spit in the bathroom sink over and over, the food finally passed, thank goodness nothing but slime came up. I have definitely learned a valuable lesson...slow down!!! My tummy is upset right now, should I go on liquids for the rest of the day?

Thanks everyone!!! I will enjoy by rest and relaxation at the cottage. I think I may have spoken too soon on the fill though...it comes and goes. At breakfast yesterday, I definitely felt restriction, but by lunch I ate and ate and nothing happened. Dinner a little restriction but I ate 3 chicken strips and 1/2 baked potato before I was full. I will keep an eye on it next week and if I need another fill, I will get one right away!! Take care everyone!!!

I am sorry you are feeling down. My suggestion would be to change it up...change what you eat, when you exercise, add more water and protein and see what happens! Good Luck!!

I believe that everyone has to sign a waiver or consent when they have surgery, it's standard practice. I have not heard of any deaths related to lap band surgery here in Canada at all. If there should be any, it would think it would be anesthetic related. A friend of mine had the duodenal switch surgery (more invasive than gastric bypass) a week before I was banded and unfortunately she developed a severe infection in her stomach approx. 2 weeks post-op, requiring 2 further surgeries, daily packing and she is still in the hospital today (5 weeks later). They cannot absolutely prove it was WLS related, but there is a good chance it was. I believe as WLS goes, that lapband would be the safest. They do not cut your internal organs at all, so very minimal risk of internal infection. Unforunately, we cannot dwell on what ifs in life...you take it as it comes and deal with it!! Good Luck!

Hi Stormy, I think most of us thought the same way, I ate like crazy after making the decision but then realized I had to make a complete lifestyle change and started eating healthy, it made the transition easier. You don't have to say good-bye to the foods you love, you can still have them after your banded, in moderation.

I can't say that I feel pain in my chest, but I do get back pain after I eat, not sure what that's about???

I have a MIL who has been very generous in the past, however since my FIL passed away, I think she's losing it a little. Some years I get a beautiful card and gift, other years I get a cheap dollar store gift. My sons have been treated very well by their Granny, but a year or two ago, my oldest was given a box of shiney rocks and $5 for his birthday. Talk about wonder what's going on???? I would chalk it up to old age and appreciate her while she's here....unfortunately life is short and they can be gone in an instant. My FIL passed away very suddenly 7 years ago..and it was extremely difficult on all of us, I can't imagine losing my Mom or MIL.

Hi Phoenix, I understand MIL and FIL, but I am not sure what you mean by DD and DH. Can you explain..thanks!

Happy Birthday my fellow "Cathy", all the best for a wonderful, healthy and thinner year!!!

Hi there, I have been a chronic dieter since I was 14 years old and I am now 45. I was at my highest weight at 285 and in April of this year decided, no more!! I investigated my options and gastric bypass was too drastic for me. I check into lapband and called a few clinics for information, booked a consult at the end of April and was banded on June 10th..I have lost 39 lbs since starting the pre-op diet on May 27th. I couldn't be happier with my decision and wish I had done it sooner!! If you are seriously considering this a permanent weight loss option, we can answer any questions you may have and give you amazing testimonials. We struggle, we succeed, but we all love our bands!!! Best of luck with your decision!

My stomach feels like it would if you ate a massive turkey dinner at Christmas time, the kind of full that would make you undo your pants.

Yeh!!! It's weird how fills work isn't it...don't question it, just go with it!!!! I think mine finally kicked in today too! Whoot hoo!!!