jhawkchick75

Everyone has such different tastes so it's hard, but my favorites were EAS and Atkins. I'm on the run a lot so I don't have time to make my own, but I hear the ones you make yourself taste better. Kind of have to do a trial and error and see which you like.

You know, it is experiences like getting the band that really show you who your friends are. I only told certain people, but it's those people that I know will be supportive. I have a couple more that I will tell down the road and it's not b/c I think they won't be supportive eventually, but they will doubt it until they see my results and it's more out of concern for me, not jealousy or anything. For me, i've lost several friends lately but it's been my choice. They are actually friends that don't know about the band. As i've progressed during this, it's made me re-evaluate a lot of things in my life and one of those are which friends are toxic and which ones make me a better person and bring value to my life. And as i'm starting to notice, I have some in my life where the friendship is very one sided and they are only in it when there is something that benefits them. So I have purposely decided that along with the weight, i'm removing all the other baggage in my life too! If they contact me I won't ignore them, but i'm no longer going out of my way to make room in my life for them. Promise you - whomever are your true friends will shine through in this experience! You will have opportunities as well to make some great new ones. It will all work out in the end I promise!

Yes, we are thinking of you and please let us know as soon as you get done!

Congrats! I hope your restriction keeps up!

Well, I tried to take some of the pills and it isn't doing anything for me. However don't let that distract you from trying them. I have terrible problems with this and have even been on perscription laxatives from my dr and still nothing, so don't go off my experience! Question, have any of you done a colon cleansing/colonic? I have been looking them up online and found a couple places here in town that do them and the price wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. If you have any experience with these please let me know. I've done everything and still no results.

I thought the same thing too last night I was so pissed mine cut off too! Can't wait for next week!

Great job! Congrats on your success! You have done a fantastic job!

I don't think i've noticed these before but i'm going to have to look for them. Thanks for the heads up on these! I am a sucker for Mexican food so anytime I can get my fix i'm in! I'd also like to start looking at more organic food as well as cooking as much as I can. I have quite a few frozen meals, especially WW but the ones I like the most are mostly pasta so I try to not eat those as much, but with my crazy life I don't have much of an option sometimes. But you know, as long as i'm getting my water in they sure are better than what I used to eat!

I don't have my stuff handy, but I believe I was told 6 weeks before doing any hard exercises but you can do walking and things that aren't going to use your abs much. Anyone that has been banded recently chime in, but I was also told you shouldn't do any hard core ab stuff at all. It's great though you are already ready to rock and roll with exercise. I was in a bit of pain for quite a while so I couldn't do it that early. My opinion is give it a whirl, but as soon as you start to feel sore stop immediately.

What a great sign! That will be such a great pic for you to have as you progress.

Lost when I was on post-op liquids, but as soon as I went to solids I didn't lose anything from then to my first fill. My doctor was actually pleased with that and told me many people gain. Since then i've done well, between 1-2 lbs a week except for when I got sick and I lost a lot more, but that wasn't a healthy way to do it. Now that i'm better i'm back to my regular 1-2 a week and i'm perfectly content with that.

Exactly!!!! I'm sure you are just fine and don't worry, here after a while bread will be a distant memory. As you get fills the ability to overeat will be come less and less. Right now it is all willpower on your end, but as each fill comes and goes that will change. I'm on fill 3 and still need a bit more, but my hunger is significantly less than it was. Keep it up you are doing fine!!!

Totally agree! I take a picture every 10 lbs lost and although I might not like what I see, it is really nice to see the difference. Great job girl!!!!!! Keep it up!!!!!

I am so very sorry about your loss thank you for sharing that with us. On a positive note, what a GREAT problem to have your dress being too big huh! I am in a wedding in May and I had to order the dress in January and i'm really worried. It won't come in until April because we had trouble finding the right dress so the turnaround time to alter is going to be tight. It's amazing what a few safety pins will do huh!

Ditto! Take lots of time to check the OCC website and also read through here. I got a notebook and spent hours and hours reading through months of posts in here and took notes and read everything I could get my hands on. Then, if there are still specific questions you have ask away - we are here to help!

I stayed exactly the same weight b/t the end of liquid diet until my first fill and my doctor actually applauded me for that saying a lot of people gain, so that was a plus. Between 1st and 2nd I did pretty well, but even when i've been on a diet in the past I did great at first and then after about 4 or 5 mos is when I lost any willpower I had. So I wasn't too surprised I lost then. But again it was only 4 lbs if I remember right. Between 2nd and 3rd I lost a lot, but mind you I got pneumonia! So I can't take a lot of credit for it! Now you have to remember, this band is a to....um I mean blessing! (Sorry, just me being a turd!) You know it's so hard....the band works so different from person to person. I finally had to stop comparing myself to others and just make sure every day i'm doing what they tell me do to and just trust the band. Now, have I been the perfect bandster every day - hell no! But none of us are perfect so when you eat not so good just brush it off and move on. I fully believe this roller coaster ride we are on is an addiction for many of us and will take time to heal our whole selves - mentally and physically. So savor the weight you have lost and then changes you have made in your life! You have done a GREAT job and have accomplished a lot! Be proud of what you have done! You rock!

Good to hear you got some good news! Many times people don't post if they are struggling, and like you said I encourage them to. It is good to hear the good and bad of this band. You never know who else it can help! Hope this is able to help you!

I agree I would start seeing someone else! Let us know what towns would be a reasonable drive for you and we can all give you suggestions on where to go. Depending on where you are located, MO, KS and TX have quite a few places you can go. Tell him definitely not to give up hope!

Good luck to both of you! Let us know how it goes once you are on solids!

Ohh be careful hon...if that keeps up definitely get it checked out! Hope it loosens up a bit for you!

Oh yeah I remember that pain well! Yes it will subside and no worries. I do agree putting a pillow over it helps a lot. I've had two heart surgeries and that is what I did then too with my incisions and it helps a TON!

Make sure you are getting all your protein in!! That is very important - get those vitamins in as well as protein bullets if you need them.

Exactly what I was going to say! My first fill I did lose any ability to eat any breads, but that was it. I could basically eat anything and everything, but I did have a lot smaller appetite than I had before, but I think that was b/c my stomach shrunk from my liquid diet. Please give it time. If you do happen to get restriction from your first then you lucked out, but I would not plan on it. This is a process and so you have to believe in it and give it time. I am on fill 3 now and I do feel like I get full really fast and stay full, but can still eat most foods but bread. But of course everyone is different.

Congrats! I'm glad it all went well. Keep us up to date on your progress and let us know how you are feeling!

You are such a rock star! Even though it slowed down for a bit I know it will kick back into gear! Great job friend!!!!! You rule!!!!!!!