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Big Blog Girl

A blog by BarbaraWM in General

  • Entries

    42

  • Comments

    114

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    8,559

About this blog

My personal experience with Lap Band. Hopefully informative and occasionally witty.

Entries in this blog

A Slip Reverses Itself - It's a Lapband Miracle!

There I was, plugging along with 6.5ccs in my band. Good restriction, had just reached the 100 pound mark and then I did it. I sat in front of a tub of food I took out of the fridge with a fork and ate right out of the container. I had already had dinner, but I felt like having a little something and I was PMSing so why not a couple of forkfuls of the delicious papardelle with lamb ragu? I'll tell you why... I ate too much and then it happened. I felt horrible, like I had a burp stuck and it wo

100 Pounds Gone -- I Love My LapBand

As of this morning, I have lost 100 pounds! That's 10 months and 4 days since surgery. Right on schedule.   When I started this process last summer by going to the information session, I had already decided that if I could lose 100 pounds, I would consider the decision to have Lapband surgery a success. My attitude changed the day I made the decision -- I became optimistic and hopeful because I was finally deciding to do something about my weight/health/life rather than continuing to sit aroun

Approaching the Century Mark!

Looking over my blog entries since my banding last November, I came to the conclusion that this "journey" is really a roller coaster ride. I've been up, down, sideways and all over the map emotionally and physically and I find that as I approach my one year anniversary of banding, I'm pretty much where I hoped and expected to be when they strapped me in and put the bar down. There are so many other changes that I hadn't anticipated. Some are simple, some are complicated but I'm rolling with it.

Where did July go? Checking In.

A couple of weeks after my last blog entry in June, I had to get some fluid removed from my band. I had developed vomiting and acid reflux after a sinus infection and antibiotics that were very harsh on my stomach. So, for almost all of July (and two weeks in June), I had a fairly loose band and lots of social engagements. I did ok though. I'm approximately the same weight I was when they loosened the band and just had a little fill last week trying to get back to where I was before the proble

Pretty Thin For A Fat Woman!

I know I am not thin. I know I still have a long way to go but I feel like I've crossed over from "circus fat lady fat" to merely "overweight" and it's a big difference. The compliments keep coming and make me feel great. The work outs make me feel even better. The only thing that continues to bother me about this whole weight loss journey (besides not being able to tolerate bread) is my husband's lack of support. My friends have said that he's worried I'll lose a lot of weight and then change

So Much Energy! I'm A Different Person.

A few years ago, at my heaviest, my husband complained that I always said I was going to do something and then didn't. Simple things like vacuuming the living room or taking out the trash...I just couldn't muster the energy to complete even basic tasks. Boy how things have changed!!!   I cannot believe how much energy I have now. Such a busy weekend starting Thursday when I went out to happy hour and dinner with an old friend and was out quite late. Then I was at work early on Friday followed

Lose Vs. Loose

Let's just get this out of the way first: I am a spelling bitch! I try to see past the poor spelling and grammar all over the internet so that I can actually absorb ideas, experiences and thoughts that might be helpful but I just can't get over some simple mistakes.   This is a weight loss website. We should be able to tell the difference and, spell the difference, between lose and loose. Every time I see someone say he/she is not "loosing" I cringe. Don't even get me started on there/th

So Full!

Current Mood: Tentative :smile:   My last fill was 4 weeks ago tomorrow. At the time, I felt I'd really gotten it right. It was going quite well until last Wednesday when I went out for drinks with colleagues. When I got home, I was hungry and decided to eat some left over steak. Well, being a little bit drunk, I probably ate it too fast and didn't chew well enough and my body retaliated. Vomiting and gagging for about an hour immediately. In the morning, my stomach still felt a bit rough so

Almost 6 months out and 70lbs down.

Sunday will be the 6-month (semi) anniversary of my surgery. As of this morning, I am 70 lbs down from my consultation weight. And, amazingly enough, I've even started a Personal Fitness Program and am now looking forward to getting to the YMCA every other day instead of dreading it. I am still dreading the elliptical which has nearly killed me several times!   I got another fill on April 20th and I think that was the one that really did the trick. I'm finally at the sweet spot with 7ccs in m

Another Fill and Back on Track!

I went for a fill today and I'm feeling pretty good and back on track a bit. Last blog entry was about how I gained weight after a massive unfill. This time, I can say I'm back to where I was before the lap band vacation. I'd gained 6 lbs as of 4/3. Today, 17 days later, I'm back down those 6 lbs and got another 1cc added to my band. Here's how I got to where I am now:   At surgery: 3ccs First fill: +3ccs = 6 Second fill: +1.5ccs = 7.5ccs Unfill: -2.5ccs = 5ccs Third fill: +1cc = 6ccs

What I Did During My Lapband Vacation

It's official. I gained 6 lbs since my "unfill" on March 10. It's probably not a full 6 lbs because I'm very bloated in a womanly way - I'm guessing it's about 3 lbs once I unload all this fluid.   The thing is, I really don't feel badly about the weight gain. I've been able to wrap my head around the idea that this is a process and with any long term endeavor, there are ups and downs. In this case, it's still mostly downs (as in weight going down) and I'm way ahead of where I was mentally

Need a Refill NOW!

My unfill, as suspected, has led to basically no restriction whatsoever. It's PMS week and I have totally lost control. I am practically jamming in food - taking big bites, not chewing all the way and gulping it down. It's like I was starving for a month (I kind of was with the vomiting and all) and now that that I can eat again and there's plentiful food I'm like a dog....gotta eat, gotta eat.   I know I need to get this under control now but honestly, if I had that kind of control I wouldn't

OMG! I'm like a new woman...that might be a problem.

So I got an unfill yesterday. Dr. took 2.5 ccs from my band, which had been 7.5ccs in a 12cc band. I am like a different person. With the band too tight, I'd started to adjust my behavior to accommodate the issues -- too tight, eat less, have soup instead of solids, rationalize that everyone with a lap band pukes!   Now that the band is looser, I can burp. I can eat without pain. I feel SO MUCH BETTER that I can't believe I went for 5 weeks with a too tight band.   My concern about lack o

Unfill - Feel Physically Much Better But Concerned

My last fill on 1/27 resulted in a lot of restriction, so much so that I questioned in this space and others whether or not the band was too tight. At my appointment last week, 3/3, the doctor said he thought 2 ounces of food was a good amount per sitting so I assumed the problems I was having were related more to my eating habits than the band.   And then the real vomiting started. I'd thrown up a couple of times and slimed since my last fill but it got to the point over the last week that

Happy/Happy/Sad/Sad/Happy?

I weigh what I weighed when I met my husband 12 years ago! That would be 60 lbs less than my consultation weight in September '09. (HAPPY - :thumbup:)   My jeans are sliding down and yesterday while I was rolling around on the floor giggling and playing with my daughter, my boob fell right out of my bra because the cup was too loose when I was upside down. She had such a good laugh over Mommy's booby suddenly appearing that I may hang onto that bra for parties! LOL (HAPPY - :tt2:)   Seriou

Am I Going To Die? and Salad for the price of a cookie.

I had my 3rd post surgical appointment yesterday, one week shy of 4 months banded. I was glad to finally be seeing the doctor because I've had some digestive issues since my last fill -- vomiting, sliming, discomfort...you name it. And then, about a week ago, I felt a lump in my abdomen, just inside my hip bone. It was tender to the touch and seemed to move when I changed position. I thought maybe it was a hernia I'd never noticed because of all the fat on my gut before but definitely wanted t

Nearly done in by a Dayquil Liqui-Gel Capsule!

Sometimes life is just a trial. We are flying out tomorrow morning at 6am for vacation. Today I woke up with a bad head cold and proceeded to have a rather bad PB/vomit incident and now, it's snowing again!   If anyone can learn from my problem and avoid doing what I've just done, then maybe it was worth it... NO WAY! I wish someone had told me....   This is the first cold I've had since I got restriction a couple of weeks ago. I'm congested, have a bit of a cough and feel just sort of bl

Let me feed you sweetheart!

When my sister lost a lot of weight in 2008 she started baking and cooking ridiculously high fat and sugary foods and feeding other people. She would bring two trays of brownies covered in fudge icing and chocolate chips to a family event, plus chicken parmesan, lasagna, corn dogs, etc. Even my husband's family commented on how thin she was for someone who cooked like she does. At the time we didn't know she'd had secret Lapband surgery in Mexico. She finally came clean at Thanksgiving 2008, af

Ooops, I Did It Again! (Not the Britney version)

CURRENT MOOD: Aha! :tongue_smilie:   I ate too much!   Wow! When I get restriction I really get restriction. It's been almost two weeks since I got my second fill and I've had some issues adjusting. A couple of vomit/slime episodes and definite pain from eating too fast or the wrong food, followed by swelling and finally relief.   Today, I really can't eat more than 4 ounces, no matter how healthy the food is! Just finished lunch and I am now very uncomfortable. I ate 1 very small bla

OMG! Slime and Vomit....in public!

Current Mood: OK, I Guess :drool:   Wow! I know what sliming is now and I've just had my first Lapband associated vomit. I feel fine now but it was a bad 1/2 hour for sure.   I ate some pulled pork, with a fork, no bun and a fried pickle slice. Definitely ate too fast and didn't chew well enough, at least the pork. Within minutes I had the stuck feeling and then it got worse. I went to the bathroom about 6 times with a combination of severe sliming with heaves and actual vomiting. That wa

Slime and OCD.

Current Mood: Worried:sad:   The Lap Band thing is going well. I'm adjusting to my fill. I think I was eating too fast and a bit too much the first couple of days after the fill and that's why I got stuck a few times. On Saturday night, I tried a slice of turkey and swiss cheese rolled up and the second bite was just wrong. I couldn't get the feeling to pass. I got up and started pacing around the living room and kitchen hoping I could dislodge it. A sip of water made it worse. Finally, I star

Is This The Sweet Spot?

Current Mood: Iffy:blink:   How did you know if you hit your sweet spot?   I got my second fill on Wednesday and since I haven't been able to eat much at all. I stuck to liquids for the first day and pretty soft food the following day. But, everything I have eaten is causing the same feeling... almost a burning sensation at the bottom of my throat as soon as I swallow anything with texture. It's not getting stuck - I've done that recently so I know what that feels like.   I am feeling full

Pardon Me But Your Weight Loss Upsets Me!

Current Mood: Slender :thumbup:   Ok, so I don't really feel slender, just less fat than I used to feel. It's a good thing.   I just came back from my second fill. After asking what I ate yesterday, my doctor said I really need a fill if I can eat 8 ounces of sirloin and 3 vegetable dumplings at a time! (Hey, at least it was protein, well..mostly) I got 1.5ccs added for a total of 7.5ccs in my 12cc band. I must say that I went into the appointment in a good mood but still feeling just a l

My Scale Thinks It's On The Biggest Loser!

Current Mood: Optimistic :thumbup:   In preparation for my fill, I weighed myself this morning and I think my scale has delusions of grandeur or ambitions to be on TV! It is a new, good quality digital scale but when I get on, it does the same thing the scale on The Biggest Loser does....up, down, up, down, up, up, down, down. I find myself holding my breath to see where it settles every time. Luckily, I don't have to wait for a commercial break to find out what I weigh!   I think I've fi

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