julieburns

Oh yes for sure. I lost hair and weight when my mother passed. If only I could have kept the weight loss and gotten my hair back!!!

Isn't it great to feel like you have a fresh start with restriction. Just be CAREFUL! I've learned more times than I wish since my 1st fill I MUST go slowly and chew or it's trouble. I think I finally may have it though. For you Denise have a great trip. If you get in the night before have a meal at the nice Italian restaurant at the Lucerna, Rivoli....it's delicious. Sort of a last supper.

And I am the snail following behind both of you. Dawn you said it beautifully what this forum is about. I agree with you and wish for the snide remarks to be gone, but it does take all kinds. We are only stronger if we persevere through the storms of any type. I believe the Lord places challenges on us of all types and flavors to encourage us to be better humans. To push past the negativity and shine through with His light. That's my purpose here and in the world. Congrats on the 4 pounds :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

I must have missed it, probably for the best or I'd have to go bust some heads!!! You are wonderful and kind and generous and very thoughtful about what you say, even when you have to give a little tough love, you do it the right way!!

BIG TIME. It's like withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, it's just food. I was all over the map. I'd like to say it has gotten better for me but not really yet. I might have had a week or two that was ok before my first fill but then I could eat all I wanted...then the first fill which I am happy I have restriction but the withdrawal started all over again. I also am suffering from some hormonal changes that come with age so that does not help my situation. you are not alone!! :lb4:

This was a good article, some stuff I new already but it always help to have things reinforced!!!

I am so proud of you Paula. I love the water and need to get my butt to my local pool to try this. It is one of the best places to be for anyone with any joint/pain issues but also just for the great feeling being in the water gives a person. Keep it up sweetie and soon you'll get past the feeling of how out of shape you are and realize just how in shape you have gotten!! =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

I LOVE my WII Fit!!! No more :lb25: for me!! Well maybe just for awhile!

I hope by now you have found this priceless item...Michelle it is hard to lose something that feels irreplaceable to you. I know it's happened to me. Yes I have lost priceless things forever and to this day it burns my heart. The good news is that I have lost other things thinking never again would I see them and them somehow, someway they show up long after I have stopped my search. I do hope you find it immediately but perhaps it may turn out this way also. No matter what please know I am also saying a special prayer for you right now. Hugs

Don't wait if your mind is made up, you will regret that you missed your chance. As the others say the time needed to heal is well within your time frame. Go for it!!

This is NOT the time to count calories, it's time to heal. Have as many and as much as you want of the full liquids. As long as you are following the rules about what full liquids is, like no chunks etc. than go for it. There's plenty of time to count calories down the road. So glad you are better today, so am I. I've got a refreshed attitude and am ready to conquer the day! Yes you CAN DO THIS!! See what a difference one day makes sometimes?

Thanks for a very candid and timely post. The recent posts with mean spirited comments have certainly done their damages to those who let them. This is America and unfortunately no matter how hard the OCC tries to moderate this, people will be just plain rude at times. For those few who think a mean-spirited voice is the way to go I say have at it. Remember the old saying sticks and stones.... etc? For those of us with a heart then we need to be brave and just let that crap go in one ear and out the other, like water off a duck's back. Yes my expectation is to find support here not to be bullied. I am not saying that some tough love isn't necessary at times but there is a way to be tactful like how Lisal put it. We do all respond to different types of "help". We are free to pick and choose what helps and leave what doesn't.

Thanks Kim. I am sorry I sounded so negative, I am just having a "down"day. Thanks for the support.

For me I stayed the night before my surgery at the hotel and then they recommend you stay in the clinic 1 night and then stay at the hotel 1 more night before you go home. I was fortunate with my surgery and went back to the hotel the night of my surgery around 5 or 6. I had my surgery just before noon I think. I then changed my plane flight to go home 1 day early and left the day after surgery instead of staying 1 more night because I felt so good. I also traveled alone and was ready to be back home.

Ok you are having one bad day. I am truly sorry. You are halfway to solids. Yes you can do this, don't give up now. Many days are a struggle for me as well and I do make some wrong choices but please don't let it defeat you completely. I think many of us, myself included are so used to sabotaging our diet throughout the years for deep reasons we just don't understand. We have failed so many times we don't know what success feels like and when we do maybe get the tiniest piece of it subconsciously we panic. And then our old self just wants to give up for the reasons you say. :lb4: You can and will do this. Try and turn just this next hour around with some positive self talk. Go for a walk or do something positive for yourself. Even if it is only drinking 1 glass of water that is a positive step towards getting back on track. Don't let the Devil get you girl!!!!!

Oh Stormy my dear absolutely no Mocha's unless you use sugar free chocolate and NON-Fat milk. Those extra calories in drinks really add up. You can't spare even 50 calories when you are needing to be serious about this weight loss before surgery. I too URGE you to start your pre-op "changes" diet, whatever you want to call it ASAP. You do not need the added anxiety of maybe not losing enough weight that you will surely have if you don't lose the recommended weight. You do need to talk with Dr. Miranda and so does your husband. I think you each should have a separate conversation with her as you each have your own journey. Try not to be defensive about anything anyone will say at this point as it is counter productive to your goal. You cannot be stressed out and anxious and expect to be successful. So get going, the sooner the better. Don't put off until tomorrow or especially DO NOT WAIT until Sept. 10th to start the pre-op work. Call Dr. Miranda or email her and she will call you back at her convenience. She may say 2 weeks before is fine but I'm telling you from my experience it's a very stressful 2 weeks prior to surgery anyway and the extra stress of having to lose so much weight makes it worse!!

Slim Fast Optima Slim Fast High Protein EAS Myoplex Lite And my favorite is Atkins Advantage I personally didn't like the muscle milk light, funny coconutty taste in the chocolate and too sweet

Banded 6/4/06 Weight 9/07 280 Weight at Surgery date 240 !st fill 8/17/08 2.0 cc's in 4 cc band Todays weight 228 Weight Loss in 2 months 12 pounds Average 6 pounds per month since surgery. Not as much as I'd hope but better than none. I also need to work harder to not binge on ice cream, sad but true. I tear up typing this. I must come to grips with what I want/need to do. I have not exercised much either. I just have NO energy whatsoever. Again sad but true. I barely make it through work. I have so much chronic pain I am unable to live life. I have been seeking medical treatment for almost 4 years now and nothing helps. Chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia SUCKS and yes it's real. So considering all that, I guess I am not doing too bad, at least I havn't gained up past where I was and AM losing. It could be worse.

Oh I just LOVE your slideshow. My husband is a nascar freak and would kill to go on a vacation to Daytona. You both are gorgeous and photo so well, especially together!! What a grand way to celebrate 5 years of bliss!! Thanks for sharing. I am jealous though and now want to go too!! And Blazn just so you know you look HOT!! All your hard work with this band really shows. You look FABULOUS!!

Yeah I can see how you'd feel that way after knowing a little more. Maybe someone else has a better perspective. Try and be happy you have a MIL who remembers your other family members so kindly though, I guess.

Kim what a darling new pic of Daisy. How much does she weigh now? She is darling!! I just want to scoop her up so bad!! If I could only sneak another little baby into my house without my husband noticing....HHHHHUUUMMM??? How can this happen??? He is right though the 2 we have are meant to be just 2 .....for now!! Thanks for all your great and encouraging posts. You are such an asset to this forum not only for your success but also your loving spirit!! And what about changing your screen name to...KIMISSLIM???? You are you know. =D> =D> =D>

Yeah I wasn't sure about this either. thanks Linda for the explanation. I don't know what to say. yes it must sting a little to also not be included as your husband and daughters are. It does seem to divide the relationship into "blood and no blood" if you will. I'd probably have hurt feelings also. But like you said it's not about the gift but the message it sends. Do you have a good relationship with your MIL? Has their been a history of conflict or perhaps she is just ignorant?, cheap?, not to be mean. What do you really think the root is, there's got to be one.

It sounds like you are sick and tired of being sick and tired as the saying goes. You sound very similar to where I was, although my circumstances varied as all of ours were so different but similar in one way. We needed the band to finally help us for lifetime weight loss and success we so strive for and deserve. Period. Finally there is a tool that will help us do this. I was lucky to have my husband's support although not immediate until he knew I was serious and was going to have it done. One recent poster has had a similar dilemma with her husband as you feel you have. She wrote him a long letter, gave it to him. fought about it, but he came around and is now going with her to have it done. My state of mind was very depressed and just felt this was the only answer as you have seemed to come to realize. Do your homework. Read everything you can about the band and about Dr. Ortiz. Even get his book, "Lapband for life". He is known worlwide for his many many years in this practice and has trained many of the US docs. Hand down his facility and staff as well as he himself are simply the best care around. Many others will soon reply and you will see you are not alone. :lb9:

Happy day for the Happy girl. Last day of liquids.... :party2: :party2: :party2: You'll be surprised at how little you can eat so plan it carefully!!