nothereanymore

You're doing great! Congrats, I hope you wore the dress! Lisa

Congrats! That's awesome - please post some photo's soon so we can all see! I think we should start the 100 lb club (kind of like the hundred mile club but different)! Thanks so much for updating!

I actually find this very interesting, I don't know if loosing the weight is causing the marriages to fail, or if like we often see here, many marriages are failing before the weight loss. It seems to me that some people are finally taking that step to get healthy to either save their marriage, or they may see it coming and are doing it for themselves to start a new chapter in their lives. Personally, I believe if the marriage is strong before the weight loss, you most likely won’t have any issues. If its already in trouble, loosing the weight most likely wont save it. If someone doesn't love you as you are, fat or slim, through sickness or health – personaly I would dump their sorry ass. And don't try loosing the weight to fix it, do that for you and love yourself unconditionally. And always realize there's someone else out there who will as well. Best, Lisa

What often happens when we change our diet is our bodies will start flushing out toxens. Since you're still on liquids, it should stabilize soon but its a good thing to see happen - try drinking more water if possible.

Its not too bad, I generally start with a glass of red wine when everyone else is ordering appetizers. (I order red since its not cold and doesn't tighten my band) I drink that and enjoy the company and then for dinner I normally just order an appetizer as my main course. Appetizers are generally smaller and easier to eat for me. I’ve done this now for going on 2 years and it works fine. I've learned to not eat the appetizers with the others because then there’s no room for dinner – people don’t mind if you skip an appetizer but it peaks their interest when you can’t eat dinner. (I was told to stop drinking right before my meal, not the 30 minute part but rules change). Its worked for me not drinking up to the meal, then I'm also not thirsty or tempted to drink during the meal which is the big no no.

I'm flying out to Miami Saturday to go on a Western Caribbean Cruise; hopefully this will just go down to a tropical storm by them. They say it’s going to miss us, but I just hate the thought of it hitting anyone. I hope the best for everyone, we have to deal with earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest, and hurricanes are something that we don’t have a very good concept of. Be careful everyone and try to keep in touch so we don't worry! Lisa

I would call the clinic on this one - I'm not sure what's happening. Best and sorry about this! Lisa

I can't binge eat anymore - even with ice cream, but I know some can. (The coldness tightens my band and I can't even fit that much in there anymore) I'd have to eat it slow all day long to really do any damage. But Phoenix right on, many can and do - you can eat small amounts all day long but to tell the truth - it would be a lot of work to do that and I personally don’t have the time. I think the most important part to me is my hunger level has dropped, my stomach is really small now and I’ve learned to control my emotional eating since I really can’t do it anyhow. Also, once you start losing, you find things to do – you do get out and start exercising since you can finally see a real difference – its really brought the sexy back for me – and once you see it coming you start working at it! I eat smaller, not like a rabbit - I'm too into protein - I might eat a small part of a rabbit.. (just kidding)

I'm down 125, (135 from my heaviest) it feels great!

Food isn't our enemy, its our fuel. How we use it is dependant on how we look after we loose our weight, it affects our skin, our hair and it even affects our attitude. Try to use your band as a tool that allows you time to make the good decisions. Think about what you are putting into your body because it is going to affect your body and your spirit. Always try to walk away from unhealthy choices, its hard your going to fail sometimes, but mostly you'll succeed if you’re committed. I didn’t just want to loose the weight, I wanted a healthier more beautiful me. Both inside and out, I did focus on making good choices and mostly the healthy choices won – however I still had to have surgical options to repair the damage. I wonder what I would look like if I had made bad choices. (Actually I know, I have two friends with the band and both are bigger now than they were before they got it, they couldn’t stop the food addition from getting to them). Don’t let this get you down, its an opportunity for you to look at yourself and decide who you are and who you are going to become. I know you’ll make the right choices and once you start its easy since you start feeling so darn good! Once we understand what food actually is and start treating it like fuel then you know you've won the war against food addition. Best, Lisa

OK, if you're very full it looks like you turned to food for support. Its OK, however its also a lesson learned. Its not going to change anything, fix anything and its not going to help you. Try to focus now and get back on track, the worst thing that can happen is you continue on this path. You are getting your band - you are on your way to a new you - don't let anything stop you!! Take a moment, imagine yourself in a tight pair of sexy jeans, you have a really cute form fitting top on that’s tucked in with a skinny belt. You have on comfy high heals, your hair is in a new style and your makeup is killer. You look at your husband, he looks at you and you say “You could have blown it and lost me, aren’t you glad you didn’t”?? So deep breath, no more food that isn’t on your pre op diet and kick some butte’ to get into those sexy jeans! (Let me tell you it feels great)! And you’re going to be in them sooner than you know if you just “DROP THE FOOD AND GET IT AWAY FROM YOUR MOUTH”!! Take care and stick with it! Lisa

My new: Flat tummy Small ankles Perky size C breasts Wearing a normal size bracelet Size 29 rich and skinny jeans with strappy shirt and stilettos (Hot) Short halter top dresses without a bra Waking up and realizing that I am not the old size 22, 275 pound obese unhealthy middle aged lady that I use to be! My band makes me feel sexy!!

It is very common to stall - look below and you'll find a search area. Type in the word plateau and you'll find so many discussions it will make your mind spin! We all do it, but there is some great information out there already - just search and get ready to read allot! Best, Lisa Just to make it easier here's a link: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?act=...lite=%2Bplateau

One thing I forgot to add, I did do the tummy tuck, breast lift and aug. The tummy tuck and lift really helps to bring down the weight and my size. Its surprising how much extra skin adds on to your body. If you have extra skin on your tummy that looks like an apron, removing that may do it for you. (They can hold excess fat that’s hard to loose). However another note, the closer you get to your goal the harder it is to loose. One reason is that many of us are now exercising regularly and the muscle we've built up weighs more than our fat. It really slows down the process. (That's why I gave myself 5 months to lose 5 pounds - and I feel that's realistic. Its hard, Dawn's right we're all different, ask others - I’m 5 foot 6, and I look pretty lean, and I like it since I’m really getting into exercise and focusing on body sculpturing. And I just love how I look. Best, Lisa

Welcome to our group, not only is Dr Ortiz one of the best Lapband Doc's his forum is one of the best on the web. As everyone has noted we're very supportive and good about keeping each other on track so we can succeed. Let us know if you need anything, we're always happy to help! Best, Lisa

I did, I'm around 145, which hits my recommendation. However I do want to get to 140 by January and do it with exercise and lean muscle. (I was there earlier; however had breast aug surgery and it seemed to have increased my weight......) But I'll take it - my body shape does look pretty darn good right now, I'm surprised that after loosing so much weight at an older age - 46 - I could look like this. I love my band!

Congrats!! (And just so you know, you've always been a part of our group - with or without the band) But anyhow... Welcome to bandland and let the journey began!! (May it a wonderful one)!! Best, Lisa

He's being an ass, and don't get me wrong - I know they can be big asses. You are getting ready to make some big changes in your life - you have found a new outlet and friends (us) and most likely spending more time with us and talking about the new you that is coming on pretty soon here. I think its scaring the shit out of him. And when this happens with guys they can act bad since they don't know how to act at times. I don’t know your relationship, I know you have 3 kids (I do too but mine are 18 and over now) and I don’t know if before it was good or bad in the past. If its always been bad and he’s just a total ass and its not good for the kids - I’d look to make some changes more than my weight – if you two use to have something good together and with your changes you are making to yourself – you two together might be able to save this and work it out. Anyone who’s been married for over 10 years most likely has had ups and downs, after 28 years I’ve had plenty – but I know he’s a good guy (an ass sometimes and was an extra ass when I started to loose the weight) and he’s fine now since his confidence is up and so is mine. Its hard, but stay strong and don’t let this detour you, but also be aware how this is going to make others feel. You’re on a journey and you will really find out who your true friends are, who the saboteurs are and who loves you unconditionally. The changes that are coming are both mental as well as physical. Its OK to be hurt but now chin up and let the journey begin! My best to you and my thoughts are with you! Lisa

He’s not a loser and he's not just making stupid choices, he maybe someone like many of us – he has an addition problem and its a disease. Mine was food so it made me fat, his sounds like its alcohol. The hard part is, ours isn’t against the law when driving, we can eat and drive, we can be obese – but we don’t kill people if we go out and overeat then drive, when he drinks and drives he’s taking a very good chance that he could kill himself and others. Just like we all needed help to live healthy and happier lives, its sounds like he does as well. I wish it was as easy as getting him a lap band, but with alcohol, and my brother is an alcoholic as well – its much more difficult. As a family we’ve had interventions, and have gotten him in treatment – he’s doing well right now, but its hard you never know. He's very young, I'd personally get my family together to make some decisions on how to help him. The truth is, he has to help himself - you can stress all you want but if he doesn't own it its a waste of time. But you need to come to a unified decision on how you are going to handle this as a family. Good luck, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Lisa

Here's a link to the discussion thread about this: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?show...p;hl=keep+track Good luck! Lisa

I had extra skin, the only way I could get rid of it was with surgery. Unfortunately for most its most likely not going to snap back - I wish I could tell you otherwise. However I found that a tummy tuck can be affordable, or at least doable. Right now at my plastic surgeon Dr. Nyte in Maple Valley WA, you could have a tummy tuck for $3950 and sign up for credit care and have no interest for six months to one year if you quality. If you received no interest for a year you would have to make payments of $330 a month to pay it off before the interest kicks in. http://www.nytesurgical.com/index.cfm/PageID/2966 Its great to loose the weight and get healthy. At 46 its amazing to look at your body naked and love how it looks! Cosmo in Mexico is also a great option. And look locally – sometimes plastic surgeons will run specials, you never know. Sorry if its not what you wanted to hear and I hope the best for you! Lisa

I would buy boxes of beef - chicken - veggie - broth. I would also buy fresh veggies and herbs along with chicken and beef for flavor only. I would take a box of broth, for example chicken. I would put it in a pan to boil - throw in a couple of pieces of chicken and some veggies and herbs, with seasoning. Cook until chicken is done, and spoon out the broth. I would feed the chicken and veggies for my family and freeze the leftovers in quart baggies. (Saving the extra broth in the fridge for a later meal). Enjoy the broth! Its really good and good for you. You get the extra protein and vitamins from cooking the meat, veggies and herbs in the broth and its very satisfying, just don’t eat any of the solids and if needed strain your broth. You can make beef, use the veggie and sauté onions and add the onion broth, a little bit of port for flavor and yummy! It’s amazing the different flavors you can make with broth by adding different meats, herbs, veggies and seasonings. I actually had fun playing with it and I had my surgery Friday and was back to work the next Tuesday. (Like I said before, just make sure to either carefully spoon your broth out or strain it to remove the chunky stuff before you eat) No worries, you'll do fine and have some fun while you're at it! Good luck!

You don't want to work out on an empty stomach or you'll just burn muscle and you want to eat after. I generally eat something light right before (1/2 banana) and have a small protein shake after.

OK, here's the deal - I started this lapband group on revolution.com, I love my lapband and I wanted to help others to learn about it! Its been up for a few months and not much has happened. Right now my in my job I am so busy its not even funny. I was just out in Halifax a couple of weeks ago, flying out to AZ tomorrow at 5:30 AM for more work stuff and its not ending for a while. I haven’t been checking my revolution site since its been pretty slow lately, all of a sudden 6 people joined! It needs some love and care and someone to write to these people, put up posts and talk about the band (I also talk about my beloved Dr Ortiz…) I am in need of a forum co leader, if you are interested in the position please send me a pm, you need to be someone who’s had the band long enough and passion and time to be able to write and talk about your experience. The pay is bad (nothing) but if we can help others do what we’ve done I’m sure the rewards in the after life will be great! Let me know! And remember I’m traveling tomorrow and may be off the boards for a few days so if you don’t hear from me til Thursday…. Thanks and I’d really appreciate the help! Lisa

Nope, but after 6 months you can drink carbonated drinks! (Sorry for the confusion)