Sula

whew, I just read some posts on another thread that were just vicious. I can't imagine going there or feeling safe posting in some areas. Everyone is so busy getting digs in that the support just flys out the window and criticism jumps up. However subtle. We have got such a good group here. I was going to make a comment on the other thread after someone said, "you look good on the outside" I made the assumption that the writer was saying that the inside of the person was not quite up to par. So I was going to say something that how can we know what a person is on the inside from just these types of posts...but then I got back to my group here and I feel that everyone here is so caring, kind and supportive, I felt I couldn't make that response. When you look at the other comments, besides the support issue about weight loss, such as pain, sickness, injuries, loss, (and found as in the new kitty) I think you are all remarkable. And I'm glad to have you as part of my team!! Thanks!

Relax, you have time to get organized. It isn't that difficult and you don't need too many things. Comfy clothes for post surgery, slip on shoes (bending over and tying laces can be painful), a heating pad, chewable tylenol, gas-x chewable, get any meds in liquid form or chewable (altho my Dr gave me pills and they went down fine) and then look at what you need for food, depending on what your Dr.'s diet suggests. I'd take a look at the list and just add from there. Are you getting the surgery done locally or are you traveling some place?

I haven't noticed my boobs getting bigger. I've gone from a 44DDD to a 42DD and have lost 52 pounds. I was afraid to even open this thread...I want mine to shrink!! Not grow! I've already discussed the possibility of a reduction when I get closer to goal (45 more pounds to go...the slow to lose pounds!)

No depression here either...I've been so up about the band and weightloss, even on my loooong plateau...still felt fine. Just working to find the way to move that scale. For Protein, I also do canned tuna, in Water, Protein powder in milk or EAS Protein drinks, canned chicken and all the others that have been mentioned. I just need to make sure that some of them are very moist. Dry is a stuck episode for sure. You know, I wonder if for some, the depression is a grieving process for having/choosing to give up certain habits, social, eating, etc. This is a lifestyle change and unless you are prepared for it, it will be even harder. This is not an easy process.

Hey all, I've caught a cold and feel crummy...nothing new about that for those of you that have gone through it. But my appetite is down and I'm stuggling to get my protein in. I think that is why my energy is low these days...just not getting enough protein. Audree, wow, you look awesome...you can't have much further that you want to go? Tonya, keep at it...it will move!!

Tonya, We don't raise them, we just feed them all winter, the wild ones so they have an easier time. We hunt birds as well. Have a english pointer, a yellow lab (both mine) and five english setters of various ages. We hunt and then run the pointer and setters competively in a sport called American Field trialing---horseback--birddog stuff...very fun. I gotta work today so back later on to catch up more. S

Yippee, Its friday!! AND I finally hit that 50 pound loss mark..52 to be exact...when I've been struggling since August with the same goldarned 5 pounds. I attribute the shift to getting more focused on portion control, feeling more restriction and maybe that quickslim stuff. I don't think it mattered where your fill is at compared to others. I think it has to do with the size of your stomach and when you lose weight, the stomach shrinks. I don't know why I feel tighter now, than I did before...my last fill was in mid-august. But I think these bands of ours are living and breathing, have a sense of humor and sometimes just bad days!! Kitty did fine over night. I told my DH and it got real quiet on the other end of the phone. I'm sure he is less than thrilled. He thinks the cats eat the pheasants we are trying to cultivate. He is pissed off at the declawed cat because she sits out front every morning and he is sure she is trying to get a pheasant. I don't think a declawed cat can take a full grown pheasant..maybe I'm wrong. Hey all, have a great weekend and KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!

I'm almost 11 months with my band and I know, after a lifetime of dieting (since junior high) that without the band, I would have only gained weight this year, not lost. What it does is help with hunger pains, portion control, and motivation. I have been on diets for a whopping three months at a time and by then I lose my motivation and give up yet again. I have NEVER waivered in motivation since being banded. I may have a bad day or two of eating bad (still eating less) but I have never given up and I know now, without a shadow of a doubt, I will be able to stay motivated. I am also private pay..went the Mexico route. That has also helped me stay motivated...I spent this much...I need to stick with it. When I heard about the band, and did my research I was so excited about it. But, I thought I could never take so much of "our" money just for me. ($7000 or so). When DH said go for it and he'd support me, I never waivered in my determination to get this done...no doubts, no...what have I done. It has been great.

No Halloween candy for me either. I was on a liquid day after my episode of getting stuck so it wasn't hard. I didn't take my quickslim as I thought I'd better not have anything other than liquids. Back on program tho, today. Eating normal...or shall we say, the new normal. A friend of mine who has the band got stuck on Friday on lettuce!!! She finally had to have an emergency unfill as she couldn't even drink water!! She is very bummed. She has to wait a week to get filled again. She was also informed by our fill dr that if there is any problems from PB'ing so much over the days, that insurance won't cover the fix job as she had it done in Mexico. I guess there is the drawbacks from having gone there and yet another reason to take good care of our bands. Oh a good note (or bad note) I got home from work and picked up the mail out at the end of the road (I live in the country and the mail stops a quarter mile from the turn to the house) AND I find the frightened little calico kitty. Took me forever to convince her I wasn't a monster..and actually she crawled up into the engine compartment where I finally nabbed her. Now, I don't know if anyone else lives in the country but there is a school of thought among lowlifes that the answer the too many kitties (rather than spaying or neutering) is to drop them off in the country. I have two other cats that found homes with me after being abandoned. I just know my DH will have a fit...but I do love calicos. I wonder if she'd live in the barn with my other totally declawed stray!! (Who would leave something defenseless for the coyotes to eat!)

Enterprise, you look terrific! Wow! I second the comment about making this weightloss about health and wanting to be around for a long time. Sunshine, great job, you're back on track and in no time at all you'll be there! Rough day for me yesterday and I'm still recouping. I had a poached egg and two sausage links for Breakfast and got stuck. Up came a bit but most of it was there. I thought at about 2pm, when I had a break I could maybe have some Soup, and chew really good, but still had some sort of an obstruction...I couldn't even keep tea or Water down. I did a good job, huh? It cleared somewhat at about 7 and so I thought I'd have some soup at 8, when I got home. No way!! I was miserable and probably dehydrated. I think it is clear but I'm swollen, so today, nothing but liquids...and maybe tomorrow too. Long night with pain in my chest. Feeling better today but I'm really going to watch it. And I've got to get my water in. I've never had a day where I didn't have any! Not good.

I will have to show this thread to my DH. He has been constantly asking if others experience the cold like we do. I've assured him I have see others with the same problem. For me..the night after the surgery...that was the beginning. Usually I'm a t-shirt in winter type but now I bundle up all the time and take extra care not to get cold.

Coolgirl, I have the VG band and at first was disappointed. I was banded in January and have lost 50 pounds with four fills. I've been reading about people who have the smaller bands and they have such little room to play with in adjustments that I, just the past few weeks, have been realizing how lucky I am to have this particular band. Hopefully, you will see that too, altho I just read the post where the band you wanted was also 10cc. Anyway, maybe look at the overall good and I think that if the hospital/dr's will compensate you with free fills, that would be really great. My fills cost 200 bucks and the doctor takes about 5 minutes to do it. I have to pay before the procedure and then they take their own sweet time in billing my insurance. Three months since my last fill and no insurance billed. I've not been reimbursed for the fills via insurance because the Dr. hasn't provided the necessary and requested documentation. So, maybe you will get some additional service. Good luck!

I used to think cheated because I got the big VG 10cc band. I thought I'd have to sell my right arm to pay for all the fills I would need to get restriction. And when I read you're getting ready for your 8th fill, I am reminded at how individual this all is. I've had four fills...they are usually more aggressive than your's of course and don't think I need another one. I have semi-regular PB's from eating too fast....I'm a SLOW learner!! If I'm mindful, I do pretty well and can actually eat quite a bit, but when I'm paying attention I can eat proper amounts as well.

You might try a womens shelter or YWCA. Ours has a donation center and there is no charge for the ladies who need new clothing. I think it is great for women who need to get back out into the world after some crisis.

You might try the women's shelter....ours has a clothing donation center and I don't think they charge. Might be a good place for a lady trying to get on her feet.

So you're less than three months out and you're unhappy with 20 pounds lost? You say that you'd done your research and therefore I would assume you saw that weightloss was individual and we all lose at our own rates? I figure that 20 pounds down is better than one pound up? I second the suggestion of a support group and a therapist. Counting calories will also work. I also eat more than a 1/2 cup of food per setting. Time to change your self-talk...get positive, get moving. Take "suck" out of your vocabulary. It doesn't serve any purpose but to keep you stuck and depletes motivation. You don't suck.

I rarely feel hungry...since being banded. I have a mental clock in my head that says when I much eat (the three squares a day bit...AND I'm a member of the clean plate club). If I would just eat when I am feeling hungry....I'd probably have lost more but this is my journey!! Perhaps, when you are banded...the starving feeling will go away! Keep up the good work.

I quit sodas January 1...and haven't had one since. I was banded mid-january. I think the most direct approach might be best if you decide to tell your Mom. Just confront her "assertively" when she makes a comment that puts you off. I teach people to say "what makes you say that?" which puts the issue back on them to defend their inappropriate comment....then, when/if they respond...I tell people to say...."hmmmmm, that's interesting...." and say no more. Or, you could confront each time and say, when you said...blah blah blah, I felt.. "hurt, sad, angry, whatever" and I'd like you to stop. Communication 101....takes practice. Good luck

I used to think that Slim Fast had too much sugar in it...did they change it? I love the EAS powder..I get it at Sams Club and it lasts months.

Tina, What a lovely post. Best of luck to you!

rns...I hear you about the getting below the 203 mark. I'm at 215 and it isn't moving. I'm not exercising but I'm active...not the same thing for me, tho. I gotta exercise, but again, I can't get motivated either. I've had some projects to finish that I can actually get done if I get up early and there goes the time I exercise. I'm going to work on my self-talk...that usually works for me. Cindi...you are doing great!! Way to go. I think I've only lost 10 pounds in a month the first month!! But we are all losing at our own rates..so each of us take our own journey. Tonya...you are always an inspiration! Thanks for posting and keeping me going. Enterprise...ditto...that is terrific...70 pounds. I am stuggling to get that gol-darned 50 mark...I think I can I think can!! I got some Quickslim30 today...hopefully that will jazz up the metabolism and help motivate me!! You guys ROCK!

I think most of us have had second thoughts, in the decision making stage, about...maybe I can do this on my own. I looked back at how "on my own" has worked for me and decided I needed help.

Happy Monday, I think, I got up to workout this morning and convinced myself that I needed to play on the computer first!! I'm still here! I did, however, kill myself off all weekend with physical work. Got the patio put in...3100 pounds of pavers and sand and sweeping and, and, and. I was really sore on Sunday but feel more Fluid and lose today. So that is good. Lots of squats and curls with those 18 pound pavers. I feel pretty good about all that work tho.

Sounds like you have quite a decision to make. For me, I could not wrap my head around permanently altering my stomach and the food issues were so big with it, I just felt that wasn't the route for me. When I learned about the band last November, I light bulb went off and said...this is it...I can do this. For me, this was the right decision and I'm glad with the weight loss I've had so far...still more to go. I also considered that by losing slower, maybe my skin wouldn't sag as bad and it seems to be true so far. I like that idea of eating normally, but having help in managing portions. I know that certain foods are off limits and cause problems, but I really haven't found any that I absolutely can't eat, but choose to not have them for the most part. I am soo sorry about your injuries and the chronic pain. If I have a headache for two days I'm whining...so I have a lot of admiration for those who deal with chronic conditions. I think that you will find losing weight will help some. It certainly helps with more energy and flexibility. Good luck to you.

I was banded on a Tuesday and back to work full time on Monday. I don't do heavy lifting but I have horses to feed so I did a few flakes at a time and did just fine. Weight loss in the beginning was about 2 pounds a week but I have not lost much in the past two months...same 5 pounds over and over. We are all different!! It does seem like Christmas break would be wonderful time to do it though.