TerriDoodle

I made 4 garbage bags-full of sacrifices just the other day and keep findng more that need to go. Very painful indeed....but otherwise it wouldn't be called a sacrifice, I suppose! I hope the gods reward me with a gift card to Dillard's.

(((Thanks Everybody!!!))) Ya'll are so sweet to pick me up. It worked :girl_hug: I think it did have a lot to do with not being able to work out this week and feeling bad about that. I had a good workout and my trainer said I am making excellent progress...especially since I reported not being sore at all after my last back/tricep workout which usually kills me! He said that is a very good sign. I feel better now. Also, I think I'll try and get another workout in this evening and that will put me only one workout behind. Thanks again everyone -- I really appreciate it. Where's LUNASA?

10 days before I really felt like I was back to normal. I had some port pain for about 3 weeks...just sore to the touch.

Ok. Here's my dark side talking: This morning I weighed 199. Up 2#. Because of a crazy schedule this week and vacation I wasn't able to get to the gym but once. I see all you guys losing weight like crazy, visit the B&A thread, etc. and everyone is dropping LB's but me. I'm going to fail at this too. I'm so depressed. I want this weight gone and gone NOW. Why won't this freakin' scale MOVE dammit. I'll never be thin. I don't want to give up but I need more encouragement than this. I eat too much junk. I need to be more like Judy and Jenn. I need more discipline. I'm a big fat loser. I need some serious head work today. Bleh.

Wow Jenn -- that IS wild!! .... and WONDERFUL!!! I'm all puffed up this morning and don't know why, except that it's about 190% humidity outside today here in sunny Houston. YUCK!! I hate the summers here! I'm heading for the gym in a bit and I plan to sweat all of this off. weights, cardio and sauna. That oughta do it! I found out that my gym offers Zamba (?) once a week so I'm gonna give it a try sometime! Looks like a blast. I'm sure I'll make a total fool of myself but who cares? I'm not there to impress anyone. Gina & Denise - Welcome to the world of restriction! Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly. Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly. Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly. Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly. Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly. Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly. Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly. Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly. Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly. Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly. Small Bites, Chew Well, Eat Slowly.

No, not if you eat a hot dog, but a chicken breast has been known to cause spontaneous combustion once or twice! There's a poll on this board that shows that 92% of bandsters would do it again...I think that speaks for itself. There ARE several adjustments that need to be made in your behavior and you do have to pay close attention to what's going on with your body and appetite. And you do have to stay in close touch with your doctor and get checked out a few times a year. But if you follow the guidelines and stay in touch with your doc, you shouldn't experience many problems at all.

His last post was in late April! I miss his posts! Jack..... Where are you?? We miss you!!

By the way.....Is anyone else just suddenly now grossed out by how much food people put away?? You know, sitting at the table with family or friends? My husband has always been a (ahem) "hearty eater"....he eats too much and way too fast....and it's all I can do to keep my mouth shut. I want to scream at him, "Look at all that damn food you are shoveling into your mouth!!!"

The way I feel restriction is more in the way solid foods won't go down like they used to... you are forced to take small bites and eat slowly. If you don't, you experience pain. I eat about a cup of food in about 20-25 mins. and it keeps me satisfied (not full) for about 3 hours...sometimes more. I have to keep reminding myself that I will never feel 'full' in the old sense again. The feeling I am going for now is satisfied.

Girlfriend!! Don't EVER weigh yourself at night!! Your lowest weight will almost always be 1st thing in the morning. Tee hee - the only reason I ever weigh at night is to get an idea of what I'll weigh the next morning!!! (weird) I usually lose 2# overnight. :nervous Don't worry about getting all gung-ho with the exercise right now. You just do the best you can and when you're ready, you'll do it!! Maybe after the honeymoon or another 20#....whenever you're ready. You've already taken an amazing step towards better health and that'll be the next one...in time. CONGRATULATIONS, JENNIFUR!!! 229!!!! :high5::dance::whoo: I know that must feel GREAT!! It won't be long at all before you say goodbye to the 2's forever. Isn't that amazing!? Be careful with that exercise stuff....you'll be addicted very soon!! KITY - Congratulations on your 1st fill!! Man, your doctor is strict with the post-fill diet!!! Well, judging from my experience since my second fill, it's probably not such a bad idea. I'm 2.5 weeks out and my tummy is just now settling down, I think. PB's are no fun. Hope you all have a great day!!

Sara Mos -- Where are you??? You haven't posted since 5/28!! Let us know how you're doing, sweetie!

I've had an exercise victory this week...a major milestone! The other day my trainer put me thru a tricep and back workout and I didn't get sore from it!! Compared to the first few weeks when I was crippled after every workout this is really incredible to me! That's progress, right?? I'm lovin' it!

Laura -sounds like you got a LOT done today!! I absolutely LOVE the dress!!! I can't wait to see your wedding pictures! Did you find a hotel/venue for the wedding?

Well, now that most of us have been filled, or will be soon, now the question will lurk as to whether we need to have another adjustment! I had found this post long ago and posted it to my journal. Now that we can finally GET to our journals, I grabbed it and will post here. Looks like some good guidelines---- HowtoTellWhenYouArePerfectlyAdjusted: You are losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of protein a day? 2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber? 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories? a. Soup can be sign of soft calorie syndrome b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories 7 calories per gram.(It's also a stomach irritant). c. Fruit juice is just sugar water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? a. Are you avoiding soft foods b. You can't just eat what's easy c. Cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals? 6. Are you eating too much junk? a. Chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don't avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of calcium daily? 8. Do you always eat the protein first? 9. Then the vegetables or fruits a. Five servings a day b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? a. Meat or fish (3 ounces the size of a deck of cards) b. Vegetables (½ cup the size of your fist) c. Starch (If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don't need much - Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta) 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar c. They teach you to like things too sweet d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods a. Real food usually tastes better b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great (Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine. d. The body has no way to break down artificial fats). a. They may go into permanent storage b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? a. If you're not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait 2. Are you eating three meals a day? a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? a. Put the fork down between bites b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? a. Practice water loading between meals b. You won't be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? a. Sometimes it's a whisper: not hungry, had enough b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days 3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional issues? a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your eating? b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions? c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? 4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings? 5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends? 6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically? 7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? 8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? a. Obsessive compulsive thoughts (Obsess about something else) b. Perfectionism (All or none, black and white thinking) c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss 9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? 10. Have you learned how to take a compliment? 11. Are you giving up diet mentality? a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day b. Stop dieting c. Stop depriving yourself d. Stop defining food as good and bad e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food 12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place? E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting too much a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: (1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods (2) Chocolate (3) Caffeine (4) Alcohol (5) Some fruits and vegetables (6) Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers (7) Peppermint (8) Baking soda toothpaste (9) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (Tylenol is OK) n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider

Laura - ((hugs)) to you. In my first marriage, many moons ago, my in-laws created so many problems that it could have easily turned into a nightmare if we had allowed it. But we just went on with our plans and they ended up feeling pretty humiliated in the end and I ended up on my MIL's sh*t list for 7 years!!! Point is, I understand how parent problems can be. My second point is that DH and I have been to Vegas several times and we absolutely love it! I've seen many brides sashay through the casino in their beautiful gowns with bridesmaids in tow. There are so many amazing venues in Vegas that you really can't go wrong there. All the hotels have wonderful wedding packages and are so eager to help!! I really don't think you'd be sorry. Ya'll will have an absolute blast and THAT is the memory you are seeking! Go 1st class and get a suite at the Bellagio!! That's my vote!

Good Morning! - Looks like everyone is moving along and doing well. I can tell those of you who are still looking forward to fills & restriction....you WILL feel it, I guarantee it! Maybe not right away or it may take 2-3 fills, but you will feel it!! If you recall, my story was much like ShineOn's ...I went for my 2nd fill and they told me most of my 1st (1.5cc) had disappeared; so they filled me to 2cc with thicker (Omnipaque) fluid. The NP acutally told me that she bet I was back for a slight unfill. I haven't done that yet, but sometimes I think I should. While on our little vacation, I PB'd twice on chicken. So that's a total of 3 times since I got that 2nd fill....and all on chicken. (How does a person live without chicken???) But before I go back for an unfill, I'm living more closely by the rules to see if that helps at all. What I'm trying to say is, THE BAND IS THERE AND IT WILL WORK!!! After being filled go very slowly. Try risky foods gently and wait a long time between bites before taking another risky bite. TracyK...yeah, for some reason getting a fill (and going back to fluids?) gets the scale moving for me too. Oh, and by the way all you sweet girls....thanks for noticing the losses on my pics. I am glad I took those now...they are a motivator!! I wish I had taken my measurements pre-op, but I didn't. In the last month I've lost 5# and 4 inches tho... not bad. I really love working out. I can't believe i'm saying that. But anyway...CONGRATS TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE JUMPING ON THE EXERCISE WAGON THIS MONTH!!! You will NOT regret it! Keep it going!

Gotta go catch up with everyone...hope you are all doing well! Just got back from a long weekend on the Guadalupe River and it was awesome!!! Took my progress photos today... finally able to see some progress!

I have no idea. I guess the worst that could happen is that she could get a horrible infection or infect the band fluid. Nevertheless, it's possible she truly is disturbed -- judging by the disjointed thoughts and horrible spelling. I looked at her other posts and she apparently has been doing this since june of 06...or says she has, anyway. Back then the other members got all over her but she wasn't phased. Yeah, sounds more like a reflux type reaction if no food came up... YIKES! Salsa can be hazardous??!? Bummer. Ibchelle - WOW you are melting!! No, can't say that fills have exactly done that for me, but they have helped! Haydee - I'm tighter in the mornings, too. Even cottage cheese has a problem going down. So I've learned to (guess what?) take small bites and eat slowly!! I've really got to do that every single meal now. You'll learn!!.....maybe!

I LOVE Dr. Spivak...not only because of his wonderful staff and very pleasant manner, but mostly because of his extensive experience. It allowed me to feel 150% confident in his ability and his pre-op and post op plans, which are quite liberal compared to other doctors. I've heard a lot of complaints lately about Speigal so I'm glad I didn't go with him. I had surgery at Park Plaze but my first fill was at the Surgery Center....and from what I could tell they were wonderful. Nice, small facility and very professional. You're definitely on the right track

For most of us carbonated beverages, beer and champagne are forbidden foods. I was pretty nervous about it at first but I have had absolutely no problems giving them up and rarely miss them. I certainly wouldn't let it stop me from getting my band!! NO WAY!

Mazie -- I couldn't imagine what you were talking about so I did a search and found the post you're talking about! OMG! That chick must be nuckin' futs!!!

Yes, Michelle -- pain is normal for a few days. Take your pain meds if you're too uncomfortable; that's what they're for! I was in a good amount of pain (and taking meds) for 5 days. Are you doing breathing exercises? I know it hurts to breathe deep, but keep doing it and it will feel better after 2-3 breaths. How do you feel emotionally??

My trainer has me on the following schedule:Monday - Cardio warm-up; Legs & abs Tuesday - day off Wednesday - cardio warm-up; Chest & biceps Thursday - 45 mins cardio Friday - day off Saturday - cardio warm-up; Triceps & Back Sunday - 45 mins cardio On my weight training days I try to do more than a warm up on cardio; after weights I get back on the X-trainer or bike for 20 mins or so. My routine usually takes about 45 mins....so 45 mins. 5x/week. That's my goal. Subtracting my vacation days that'll be 19 sessions for June.

Who has met their exercise goals for this month? Who will be making goals for June? I hate to be a nag, but I strongly encourage you to set goals for yourself. They don't have to be big, just tiny little goals at first if you want to ... absolutely no shame in that! Actually, small attainable goals are the best to have anyway! A journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step. I am very proud that I only missed one scheduled workout at the gym this month. My efforts are really starting to pay off! I already feel so much stronger, and best of all I am really enjoying it. Yesterday I really had to make myself go...just put one foot in front of the other 'til I got there...and ended up having one of my best workouts. I just so got into it and sweat my tail off! ...actually got off on that 'runners high' you hear so much about. It was way cool. People, I am telling you that this is a 180 degree turnabout for me and if I can do it, you can do it!

Well, my hat's off to all teachers!! I have always appreciated the very tough job that you all have/had...I wouldn't do it for $200,000/year, much less the ridiculous salaries that you are generally paid. You'll be happy to know that ever since kindergarten I've taught my children that they are to respect their teachers....that they are 150% dedicated to their students' interests or they wouldn't be there at all. That they could probably work at Walmart ( much easier job) for the same money with those hours. My son is a junior and my daughter is in 7th grade....to this day I have never had any complaints from teachers about their behavior. In fact, quite the opposite. Hopefully, something I taught them rubbed off. We've had quite a few learning issues with my son over the last few years and his teachers have all be so supportive with us...exchanging countless emails and phone calls at times....and always willing to help in whatever way they can. I love teachers and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your tremendous dedication. :love: