ValleyGirl

Phew! I was starting to worry. How do you think they look? Was this a regular lift or a reduction? Sabrina:)

Yep, it really hurts which is why eating becomes a real pain instead of a real pleasure. It sucks that it has to be that way, I miss my favorite comfort foods, but I don't miss the pounds I packed on from them! Sabrina:)

Shelby, that sucks. He's lucky to have you there for him. Carrie, I had a really tight day yesterday too and have no idea why- it's so random. Now on to my terrible eating day............. B- Coffee and a yogurt cup L- tried a banana and some peanut butter but felt like it was gonna get stuck so only had two bites S- a few handfuls of garlic macadamia nuts I brought home from Hawaii (bad idea, they are SO fattening) D- my nephews bday party and I couldn't get the pizza down at all so I ate cheezies non-stop for about an hour, ugh! Three bottles water No exercise all week cause son has flu so I'm stuck at home with him

Even without a fill, the band gives you some restriction. I can't eat anything that texture (like cake) or it gets stuck. Sounds like you won't be able to either. It will be a blessing in disguise, but you may have to learn the hard way what will and won't work for you. I doubt you can slip your band that easily. If you could, all of us on here would have slipped bands. I still try to "test" certain foods now and then (like sushi) and very quickly get that crushing pain and then stop eating it immediately....even spitting out what is still in my mouth. It hurts like hell. 24 hours of liquids is recommended after a bad stuck episode so you can let the swelling go down. Hope that helps. Sabrina:)

Good for you and keep posting, the newbies need to see all these success stories! Sabrina:)

B- coffee with fat-free french vanilla creamer then a Yoplait Light L- 2 slices deli ham and fat-free refried beans D- bowl of home made chicken and wild rice soup (full of veggies too)

I don't even miss going out to eat now....although it took ten months to really have a shift in my attitude! I'm saving a ton of money eating at home too! Sabrina:)

Couldn't you relate to watching them watch others eat in the restaurants? It is SO hard which is why I stay out of restaurants. My biggest suggestion to those struggling with weight loss is try to avoid going to restaurants. I hardly ever eat out anymore and it used to be my main form of entertainment. Getting together with friends? Why not go to a movie or theatre or concert or bowling or the beach or a hike? The more I stay away from restaurant food, the more I lose. That's one thing that has been consistent through this whole process. Even if you think you are ordering healthy, you can't trust what is in it unless you cook it yourself. Sabrina:)

Last week I was 179 and this week I am 176 so I have also hit the 80-pound mark this week!!! Sabrina:)

I tried to reply to your pm but I'm not sure it went through. Did you get my reply? Sabrina:)

I can't really put it in to words, but it is like something in my mind has shifted.....I am working really hard on the mental stuff, feeling like I deserve this and visualizing myself as thin and healthy and it seems to be working! Sabrina:)

I've been wearing a big fake for months since my wedding ring falls right off. Once I get the real one sized, it's going to look so tiny in comparison to the new 2 carat cc!!! I could get used to this! Bling bling! Sabrina:)

Hope you have good pain meds and are are feeling okay Holly! SO excited for you! Sabrina:)

Plastic surgery seems pretty popular on this board, most who have lost 80 pounds plus seem to be getting tummy tucks and breast lifts. I would in a heart beat too, but hubby thinks it's totally vain and doesn't want us spending our family money on it....especially since we have some debt to take care of first. Please don't hate on him, I am bad with money and very impulsive and if it wasn't for him I would have been bankrupt ten times over, lol! Plus, as much as I hate to admit it, he is right. I want to do it for no other reason than it will make me LOOK better. I FEEL great, but I'd like to look hot too, haha! My boobs are no saggier than they were (and they were a bit saggy), my arms look pretty good, but my tummy now has two rolls (including an apron on the bottom roll) and my inner thighs are starting to have loose, unsightly skin hanging at the top- it looks like the bat wings some people get on their arms but it's on the top of my legs. The only time you can see it is in a bathing suit. If you can afford it, I say do it! I know I plan to one of these days, I'll just have to wait a few years longer than I'd like to. Sabrina:)

For the first time since being banded, I really feel like I am going to keep this weight off for life. I've always been cautiously optimistic, but the band is working..........SLOWLY but surely! My whole relationship with food has changed. I don't even miss french fries any more! Sabrina:)

I'm not sure if the McDonalds in The States uses the same dressings, but the caesar salad dressing here in Canada has more fat than a medium size fries!

Back from Hawaii and the Baileys and Coffee binge! Yes, that was my breakfast most mornings I left weighing 180 pounds and today I am 179............this seems to be where my body wants to stay when I don't really work at it. Back to work now!!! Sabrina:)

There is no scale here so I'll have to weigh when I go back. Best of luck this week everyone! Sabrina:)

I DID IT!!! I just came back from a four-hour walk that included a hike to the top of Diamond Head. There is NO WAY I could have done this ten months ago. I'm so proud of myself! Sabrina:)

Here's my food log from my first day in Hawaii...... B- Cofee and oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar L- small tuna pack with 4 crackers and half a banana Happy hour- lava flow and Mai-Tai D- half a half portion of Nachos with beans, cheese, tomatos, olives, peppers and salsa five bottles of water and LOTS of walking!

Taking a little break from the heat to say hi! I'm in Waikiki and will be taking Lisa's advice to try something new. I'm going to hike up to Diamond Head with my mom and sisters tomorrow!!! I'm not a hiker so hopefully I won't have a heart-attack! Sabrina:)

I have a hard time eating most meats. What are some high protein band-friendly foods? I do yogurt and a latte almost every day. I like beans and tuna too. Any other ideas? Sabrina:)

For Mothers Day in May, my mom surprised my sisters and me with a trip to Hawaii for all of us girls. We go today. I don't have a lot of restriction right now and I'm from a family full of big eaters (except the sister in law that never eats and I suspect is an alcoholic) anyway, I think it's going to be hard being surrounded by all this food and drink (I'm already being accused of being a party-pooper because I don't want to drink while still trying to lose weight). I plan to go to the grocery store and make most of my own meals. I plan to do lots of walking too. Wish me luck! Sabrina:)

I gained nine pounds in three weeks when I got an unfill this summer. The good news is, once I got a small fill, I lost it all in two weeks! I'm still struggling with wanting to eat way too much or graze on stuff just because it is there. I could probably use more restriction so I get the stop signs earlier, but I'm too scared of getting too tight again. I went in to this surgery feeling that even if I lost 60% of my excess weight (the average for bandsters) that I would be happy. I've surpassed that now and I'm happy with my loss most days. I am still overweight, and would love to know what it feels like to be size 6 or 8 but I'm starting to think it might not ever happen for me. I may end up a curvy size 12 forever- but it beats a size 22 any day! Sabrina:)

Same here, not until about 50 pounds and it was really pissing me off. How could they NOT notice? Again, maybe they did but didn't want to be nosy. When school ended in June, I was about 185 and when it started in September, I was 180. I hadn't seen the other moms all summer and they were all "OMG, you've lost SO much weight".. Weird...it was only five pounds since they saw me. Sabrina:)