DynamoMini

Kim2bHealthy - Wow! You have done such a great job losing. What is your daily food outline? How have you lost sooooooo much? I appreciate the info about the band. I think I will go ahead with the fill. I don't seem to be losing and I'm not eating that much between 1000 - 1100 cal per day with 50-60 grams of protein. I know I can do this. We can do this! We are doing this! Positive thinking helps me. Michelle

Hi Violets! We are having blustery spring storms here. They predict snow in the mountains this weekend. But it will be hot again next week. Crazy. I had a fine day. Worked out with a 40 minute medium aerobic, then another 30 min. of work with the trainer. I felt better than when I worked out on Tuesday. I was pooped. I will be three weeks out of surgery on Monday. I want to exercise a minimum of five days a week. I know I can do it, just get on the clothes, and go to the gym. I put on my headphones, have a book to read, and start working the EFX machine. I really try to zone out, the first and last 8 minutes seem the hardest. Well, I'm pooped. Have a great tomorrow! Cheers - we are doing it!!!

Second week of June, how about a Wednesday or Thursday night? My two cents. You are doing wonderfully, I eat similarlly but I will need to kick it up at the gym. I am doing 40 minutes cardio, but only 3 - 4 days a week. I think 5 or 6 would help my metabolism. Hugs and enjoy the spring storms!

Ya did it Mal! Hooray! You will do fine. Drink a lot of water, at least one protein shake a day and lots of protein. A steak dinner every third day helped me. I really need a lot of protein to recover from surgery well. Is everyone from around here going to be at the meeting Tuesday at 6:30? I am going to be there. Drews how about you? I don't know what most of you look like on the outside, but I know your insides are the BEST! Hugs, Michelle

Lunasa - you have amazing insight. I'll give you the Oscar. You are so right about us actresses. But also the world is acting and we have to remember that. I sometimes need a kick when I get negative. It is partly that if I hate myself then others won't be able to hate me more. Crazy thinking! I am delighted with my band and the difference it makes for me. I can do this. I can learn to identify my feelings, label them and cope without turning to food for solace. I want to really feel not numb out any more with food. It was a great coping strategy growing up, but now at 57, come on. It's ok if I cry or if I am angry, I'll survive. I can do this! That is my new mantra. A belief that this is doable and I can make it happen. Sara Mos - ok, I will give up on the rice, I just wanted to try it with the peanut sauce, I certainly didn't NEED it. So it's gone with the other "white" stuff like bread, cereal, etc. It is funny how different days different things hit me. Hugs to you all and WE ALL CAN DO THIS - WE DESERVE TO BE HEALTHY! Michelle

Skyblue - I really feel for you. It is so lousy that the doc is a jerk. I hope they give you all your money back, you might mention the idea of suing if they aren't ready to give you the money. Especially, when Dr. K said he used the wrong needle. Just know you are doing really well, regardless of the imbecile. Let me know if you fly in and maybe we can meet. Hugs, Michelle

Hi! I had a strange day - good but strange. I worked out really hard yesterday and took it easy today. i took my vitamins and pills on an empty stomach, so felt yucky because I had to delay breakfast an hour and a half. So then an egg, 1/2 c beans and cheese. Very full. Two bites of hamburger patty at 2 and the dog climbed up on the chair and ate the rest when I was in the bathroom. I didn't care. I went to dinner with a friend. We ate Thai food. Edamame, then peanut sauce chicken. I ate five bites of chicken chewed to a pulp, a few bits of veggies, then two small bits of brown rice. That was it, the golfball was in the throat and the dinner over. Nice leftovers. I did get a protein shake down three hours later. So, I think my band is working again. I wonder if working out activated it, or moved it to a more sensitive spot. Because, yes Houston, THERE IS RESTRICTION! I love my band and know I can do this. Keep saying that and you can. Hugs, Michelle

Chica Chula - I feel like a golfball is in my throat, there is some gurgling, burping and FOR SURE I know not to put anything else in. Yucky feeling! I had two bites of brown rice, really chewing and blam - that was the end of my Thai chicken with peanut sauce dinner. I was lucky that I slowly ate some chicken first. I packed 3/4 of the dinner up and that was all she had for dinner. Two hours later I had a protein shake. I know I will lose weight if I feel like this. Michelle

Fluffernutter - good going riding the bike. Where do you live? Are your days nice and warm? I was amazed that the restriction I thought I didn't have, I do today. Very small amounts are satisfying. I wonder if the band is going to work on its own. I am supposed to get a fill on the 17th, but if I feel like I did today, it isn't necessary. I hope to see some reduction on the scale tomorrow, but it will only be official Monday at my weigh in. Hugs and happy May to you all. Perhaps we'll all be in Onederland by July 4th! Michelle

Skyeblu79 - sorry I can't help with the fill info. Yikes! If it is that painful, I can't believe that many of us will go for a fill. I agree that perhaps you need to look into a different fill doc. Did he use any technology to see exactly where the port is or how it is situated? I am lucky that I am local and I'm going to Dr. K for the fill. I figure he did the surgery and will know just where the d--- port is. I think you did exactly the right thing by calling Dr. K for advice. The idea of a big needle going in and out of me gives me the shivers. What is a sonoma? How did you know you had one?

SHRINK'N VIOLETS Well - I am scheduled for the 17th of May to get a fill. I wonder if I need it, as now I am feeling restriction. I don't want to choke like I've read about. At least my doc's in town. About the libido - All you vamps out there - I wish I had a DH, mine died six and a half years ago. Whenever I lose weight there is a naughty naughty woman underneath, so I hope I can find a great guy to have a good time with. Can't say much about the cabbage. The weight definitely affects my self concept, even though I was in denial how fat I am, now I am loving my shrinking roundness. Every fat cell worth. Well see if this 57 year old body has any sex drive left. Chuckles from Colorado - windy and gorgeous, Michelle

Hi Everyone! Lap Dancer - I had a slow morning too. The constipation thing - I have never had that, but without much bulk it's a problem. I went and got a chopped salad yesterday - Southwestern with FF dressing. Anyway, I chewed and chewed and this morning I was a happy camper too. I need that fiber! Mal - I am glad you are working it out. I started working it out about a year and a half ago. I think it is better to be sure than to jump in and regret. Altho' you have to bite the bullet at some moment. I am meeting a friend who had the GBypass last June. She has lost 100 pounds. It makes me wonder, but I think this is a healthier alternative. I think I have a 10 CC band, I already sent the card in for a warrentee. Pretty funny, like a car. Hugs and a restaurant sounds great the second week of June. Do we want to meet after the regular meeting on the second Tuesday? Michelle

I weighed on the digital scale this am and I weighed 205 - OMG, but it isn't official. So on Monday, my official weigh in day we'll see where I'm at. This is so fun, sharing it with all of you. I'm with AMRDMR saying that 199 isn't solid enough ground for me. Been there, done that, and went right back up. So I think I may add another 9 pounds to my ticker so it will track that loss. I was even at 187 last year on Slim 4 Life, but without the band, I went right back up. So old pain lies in these pounds, but what a triumph to wade through them!!! The battle of the bulge is ON! Wow, today with all these war analogies this makes me the Onederland Warrior. Just kidding. But it feels like that sometimes. Hugs and best wishes, every day is another chance to honor my choices, Michelle

Connie - you are doing so well losing weight. What is a regular day of food look like for you? I am struggling to find the right balance food wise. The second week in June sounds great to me. Do we want to meet at a restaurant or a park or at my house? Dyna aka Michelle

Well - it is clouding up in the Rocky Mountains, April showers? Lots of time that means hail. If it hails really hard, I might get a new roof??? Anyway, it has been a good day. The headwork of weight loss seems overwhelming at times. The band sets up a psychological confrontation with what made me fat. what a struggle, but I'm worth it. Hugs all,

Maalani - Go for it! What do you really have to lose, except weight? I went through the same doubting, wondering if this was just another "cure" that I had signed up for in the past, but I am confident that there is something different with banding. When things seem bad, and yes, only two weeks out I had a terrible mental and eating weekend, I didn't gorge. I couldn't. I then could fix what was wrong. THAT IS DIFFERENT! Before it would be months, sometimes years before I got myself pulled together again. The fears I've developed as a coping device are a lot why I am fat. With the band I will face my fears, the feelings from early traumas, I can do this. So can you. That's all I'll say about it. I am working hard to unravel this part of me. Hugs and best to you all,

Welcome from one michelle731 to another - actually I am DynamoMini in my bandster life! Well, I hope we are able to forward to everyone on this thread if we change it. Whatever, I just want to be in on it. This is such a lively thread. About post surgery diets, my doc didn't think I needed to stay on liquids or mushies past the first week, so I am on regular food already and I don't think there is a problem. I wasn't feeling restriction, but today when I controlled my pace and was eating better than yesterday, I was full quickly like on 1/2 salmon patty. Chew....chew....chew..... so different strokes for different folks, whatever. I added the second ticker to show the last 10 to Onederland. Anyone want to cross that border with me? It has been a struggle in the past. Hugs and kisses (I feel smoochie) Michelle

:clap2: It's been a great day! I weighed (officially) even though i didn't want to. I exercised for 40 minutes. I wrote my food down and ate the bandster way, protein first, no drinking 30 minutes before and after. Guess what? I wasn't in pain, angry or crazy hungry. Today was a great day! I also have been thinking of things to be grateful for instead of complaining and focused on negative things. Thanks to all your support and wisdom. I appreciate everyone of you. Boy, LapDancer - your nose knows! Scary, could have been a fire, but there wasn't. So for a happy tomorrow - I will: 1) Exercise and work with my trainer 2) Write down my food 3) Write down anything that comes up as painful thoughts Here's to another red banner day! Hugs,

BJean - what you are telling me is that we all have to fight to lose, no easy pathway. I was hoping not to feel hunger and for sure, not to surrender to the trigger foods of before, but I can see there is mental work that I have to do, everyday to change my lifestyle and eating habits. 40 pounds is a tremendous victory - you can do this. We have to believe that we can do this thing. Today I have said, "I can do it!" at least 20 times. Part of getting my tush outta the toilet - focusing on gratitude. I get negative really quickly. I appreciate the info about fills. We'll see how they rock my world. Hugs, Michelle

Things are much better today. Monday is always a good starting day! I weighed, lost 1 pound since last week, I exercised 40 minutes, I am writing down my food, and I haven't been in pain today so nothing in the pain diary so far. Lunch was 1/2 a salmon patty from Whole Foods. I had the other half ready, but couldn't eat any more. Yeah! I also had a protein shake, and egg for breakfast. Good day! Be good and best wishes,

Okay Jen, You go to www.TickerFactory.com and follow the instructions. Then add the ticker website to your signature. I am going to add a ticker to Onederland to my signature. That way I have a more tangible goal to look at. Kim2bhealthy - you are my hero, I know it takes really hard work, probably harder than ever before and a belief that you CAN DO IT! Hooray for you and the wonderful progress you have made. My goodness in less than a year. Your bandaversary is around the corner!

Hi! all you SHRINK'N VIOLETS Anyway, I am halfway to doing what I set out to do today. I weighed in, and have lost 1 pound since last Monday. Better down than up. I worked out for 40 minutes and tried a yoga class, that i couldn't do because bending in the middle won't work for me two weeks post op. I ate one egg and 1/8 cup of cheese and had some coffee this am. Now I'm making a protein shake after two bottles of water. Hugs to all of you - I just know we can do this! About the alcohol, I think the crystal light idea Tracy had was a good one. Go gently!

OMG Jen - You are soooooo right there! You know we can do this. You can do this! I don't know about the diet coke. I do know that carbonation is a no no, but somehow you are tolerating it, until an aggressive fill? hey - what do I know. I did weigh, I lost one pound since last week. Good for me. And I did exercise 40 minutes aerobic, tried a little yoga, but bending the middle won't work two weeks post op. So now I will write down what I ate so far. Breakfast - 1 egg with 1/8 c cheese 2 cups coffee with coffeemate two bottles of water - now I am off to make a protein shake for a snack. Best wishes to all - and just know we can do this (I am talking to myself there - yes, i can do this!!!!) Michelle

I want to join the countdown to Onederland! I seem to be stalled, two weeks post op and stuck at 208 - 210 depending on the scale and time of day. I have been eating real food, chewing, but some off program types of eating like M & Ms, so I will commit to this thread. Let's keep posting. It is a hard hurdle to cross and I sure could use the encouragement Hugs and best wishes and we march into ONEDERLAND!

Now - the relief I was hoping for seems up in the air. Does everyone have trouble getting a balance of restiction without being strangled? My first fill in 5/17, I am a nervous ninny about it. I want restiction, but not strangulation. Should I be scared? Michelle