Kim2BSlim

Thanks everyone! I am a new person today because of the Lap Band. It was by far the best thing I have ever done for myself. Good luck to all of you in your journey. Remember, follow the rules! If you do, the pounds will fall off before you know it!

Here are a couple of recent pics. The 2nd one is Halloween of course..lol. It's so great to get updates from all of you!!

Wow! I see a lot of familiar faces and so many new ones! It has been a long time since I posted, but I wanted to update everyone. I did it! I reached goal and I am in a size 5!! That's a long way from the size 22 woman I was when I stepped in the OCC on March 28th, 2008! I can't wait to see everyone's pictures and I will also post some new ones. Great to see everyone!

Good luck today! Just remember, the pain will be worth it!

You have to upload them to photobucket and then add the url on the 2nd little box after the smiley face.

Yes, the pain was 100% worth it!!

I have had alot of requests for pics from my TT so I just took some with my phone. I am only 2 months out so I still have some swelling, but the results are amazing!! I dropped 2 sizes and 25 lbs in the first month post op. The before pics were taken two days before my surgery.

Front View Before:

After:

Side View Before:

After:

Thanks everyone! Todays is 6 days post op and I can get out of the chair by myself so I guess I am gonna live.

Thanks everyone! I am sure hoping the pain will subside soon.

Pammie~I sure hope you are right!

Karen~This is just my opinion, but there is no way in Hell I would go through this kind of pain in another country. If I wasn't in my normal surroundings I am afraid I would have lost it. If I even had to think about travelling home I would absoluetly die first. I am not exxagerating. My Boobs are not hurting at all..so if I was gonna travel to do something it would be the boobs..definetly NOT the TT!!

Sorry I haven't updated! I never expected this surgery to be so painful and so hard to recover from. I have been in my Mom's recliner since Wednesday and I still cannot get up on my own. I have had several surgeries and two babies, but this is the most painful thing I have ever been through..and I am no whimp!

I am swollen something awful so right now my stomach (although it's flat) looks bigger than it did! How long until the swelling goes down? The drainage tubes are also bothering me and I have to keep them in for two weeks.

I may change my mind when I see the end results, but right now I am wishing I would not have had this done or at least been more prepared for the pain that comes with it.

Thanks for asking about me!

My stomach is awful..2 kids..lost almost 100 lbs. I am having a tummy tuck/breast lift 2 days from now and I am really excited. I am sure this will be the final leg of my journey!

Congrats to your Mom! I wish I could get my Mom to have it done.

You look so amazing and so happy! I am so proud of you and your success!

Heidi! You look AMAZING! You are a total hottie!!!

I am having a tt/breast lift on Jan 28th..I am so scared! My Dr. won't do the implants at the same time as the lift, but I may get them 6 months out if I want them. You have done an amazing job with the band! I am so proud of you, my friend!

It always takes me around a week to feel my fill kick in. 2cc's is a good fill and you should be able to feel it soon. Give it some time! Big hugs!

I have to throw my 2 cents in here.

I actively own a message board that I Admin and I have been involved in several message boards over the years. The PM system is PRIVATE. Moderators and Admins are not supposed to be able to see PM's and they also should have no control over what goes on in PM's. If there is a problem with someone PMing you then you should block or ignore them. The Mods and Admins should not have to interfere with something as private as a PM. The PM system SHOULD BE PRIVATE and the mods/admins shouldn't be involved. In other words, if someone is bothering you in a PM..deal with it on your own..don't involve the Mods/Admins unless it is on a public forum.

To take the PM system away is ludicrous. Do you know how many people PM me per week asking for advice? Several. Now they can't do that? That is really, really sad. I am very disappointed in this decision. Yeah I know everyone can't be pleased all the time, however this is a low blow.

As for the Mods here..I am sorry but I rarely see them take an active part in this board. There was a time when both myself and mamamichelle asked to be Moderators on this board and we were both turned down. At that time, we were very active posters with tons of information to share with newly banded members. I believe being a Moderator means taking an active role in this board, learning about the members, watching for trouble, and trying to resolve any issues people have with one another. I have yet to see that be done here.

With the correct amount of staff on this board with the correct amount of dedication this could be a very pleasant board to share our weight loss journey with one another. I have seen this work on boards with way more members than this one..I know it works firsthand! To take away all our special feautures is enough for me to seek another weight loss support group other than this one.

Karen~

I am so glad you got that fixed! I have days where my fill is too tight and others where it is just right. I did cancel my fill for this month because I know I can't handle anymore saline in my band.

Take care! You look so amazing, honey!!!

I was banded on March 28th and I have lost 85 lbs. IMO that is alot of weight! My fill Dr. says I am doing "too good" since his patients take much longer to lose weight. You haven't even received your first fill yet, and things will change when your band is filled! I go through stages where I hit a plateau for 2 months or so and then my body will let go of about 8 lbs all at once! I get so frustrated with the plateaus, but they are just a part of weight loss that sucks.

You have to be patient with the band or it will be a long, miserable journey for you. It took a long time to gain all that extra weight and it takes just as long to get it off.

By the way, I suck at exercising. I have two toddlers that wear me out and I don't have much energy left for exercising after I deal with them, housework, a part time job, and a husband! LOL

Just remember, if you follow the rules..YOU WILL LOSE THE WEIGHT! It has been proven over and over. Hang in there. Your jeans will be falling off in no time flat!

Mine is my highest weight! I lost that weight too so it counts!

Are you ovulating or about to start your period? Twice a month I gain about 5-7 lbs with water weight when it is that time. It comes off as fast as it came on though. Hang in there!

The pre-op diet is very hard! It is a complete change. If you can make it through the pre-op and post-op diets then you will learn that you do not need so much food to live. I eat for energy and vitamins now instead of for pleasure. Somedays I literally have to make myself eat. The band is amazing. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

I know several of you have quit smoking recently and I was hoping to get some pointers. I am having a tummy tuck/breast lift in a little under a month and I have to quit smoking before I can have the surgery. I was less worried about my lap band surgery and just cut back, but this time I have to completely quit 2 weeks before surgery so my nipples will re-attach. OUCH! I have quit before, with pregnancies..but since I eat very little now I tend to smoke more. I am afraid this time will be very difficult. It is not an option though..I have to quit. Period. I thought about Chantix, but I am not sure. The times I quit before I did it cold turkey, but I was also carrying babies inside of me and the guilt was too much for me to take. Any suggestions?

I hope all of you have a very blessed day today!

Love, Kim, Brady, and Bella

Progresso canned soup makes Chicken Cheese Enchilada soup. It is mainly liquid with a few chunks of chicken you could eat around while on the 21 day post-op. I eat it on days that my restriction is really tight. It is absoluetly delicious!! A really nice surprise for canned soup. I wish I had known about it while I was post-op. It is also very low carb. Check it out!!

The band is designed to make your stomach tell your brain that you are full after a very small amount of food. When you drink while you eat, you are simply washing your food out of your pouch and into your big stomach which totally defeats the purpose of having the band. I hope that helps you.

LOL I will definetly show ya'll my tummy before and after pics.