amrdmr

Hello, I have been posting since February and I, too, have had "what is wrong with me?" moments. I agree that it just takes patience and lots of posting (I did tons of lurking before I got the courage to post) to start getting responses. I don't think it is on purpose, I just think sometimes people are busy and you fall through the cracks, at least at the beginning. Anyway, you are not alone. AMRDMR

Hey, Chickie, I disagree that all posters are only interested in people who are in their same position/stage. I, for one, am extremely interested in reading posts for the "old" timers, especially ones like you who have reached your goal, your B and A photos are stunning. Plus, all your accomplishments. I have only been banded since 3/20/07, and I rely heavily on support from my local 2-year banded mentor and I believe that the experienced, successful bandsters who post on this forum are extremely kind and generous with their time, answering newbie questions, as many would just be getting on with their lives and not having the interest to spend time on LBT. So, from me, at least, a big giant thank you to you! AMRDMR

Hey, Jacqui, be sure to keep us posted about your biopsy results. I have got my fingers crossed that it is just these crazy hormones that are being released as we lose fat, plus thinking good thoughts for you. AMRDMR

Jacqui, you had me smiling, not so easy to do on a work day! Your progress from MO to Obese to Overweight has been fantastic and is an inspiration to me. I hope to follow your example as I move toward my mini goals and major goals. AMRDMR

Well, the scale read 202.2 this AM, I'll take it. One that that helped me was finding a thread on here about mood swings and also confirming it my "Mentor Bandster" in real life, Robin, Kitty Carmichael's (the fill ARNP's nurse). I have really been emotional lately, especially last week. Even though I no longer am having periods, it felt like a big case of "OH WOE IS ME PMS", plus I was weepy. Robin says that as we lose fat, the estrogen that is stored in that fat gets into our systems, something I hadn't thought of. She says it is very common to have all these emotional crap running through your head at times like these. On the thread, younger bandsters were talking about having 2 periods a month due to the excess estrogen. That's not happening to me, but boy, I have been all over the place emotionally, also tired. I wonder if this will go on as long as the fat is melting and releasing hormones. Anyone else experience this? This week, the hormones seem to have released their control of water retention, as I have dropped the 2 pounds a little earlier than last week. Jacqui, Dwarden, I hope to join you in ONEderland soon. I notice from my ticker the next milestone seems to be a BMI in the 20s, that would also be cause for celebration. Thanks, you guys, so much, for cheering me on my journey, it really helps. AMRDMR

FINALLY! After a whole endless week of bobbling around the same 3 or 4 pounds, the scale moved and I can report it said 204. I know that they say 1-2 pounds per week is great, but it seems to take forever and I just about lost heart that I would see ONEderland soon. At this rate, I guess it will be about 2-3 weeks before I do cross the border. Oh well, I'll take it, I've been working darn hard for it and any weight loss is great. Jacqui, I'm on your trail, hope to meet you in ONEderland soon. This thread kept me sane on those crazy days when the scale went UP a pound or two, despite my eating hardly anything. I was too down to post, but rereading the messages righted my sense of proportion and kept me from despair. Thanks guys, for helping on this journey. AMRDMR

Hello all, If you google telogen effluvium you will get the articles talking about stress-related hair loss. It is quite a common thing to happen, and can happen after any major stress, surgery being one of them, pregnancy being another. What happens is that the hairs all go suddenly into the same stage of growth, so, at 3-4 months after the stress, a large part of your hair reaches the end stage, telogen, and you lose of lot of hair all at once. This has happened to me twice and is not pleasant, I can tell you. However, eventually, your hair should grow back if you aren't having ongoing stress or nutritional deficits. Unfortunately, if you are prone to this, once the stress occurs, there is nothing you can do to stop the hair loss down the road. Just try to encourage the new growth to be healthy. AMRDMR

Hello Ferndale! I was banded in TJ on March 20 by Dr. Ortiz. Who did your bands? I have always wanted to see what Ferndale was like. Maybe when my husband and I retire......not for a long time, what with self-pay, even in Mexico, not cheap. But worth it! AMRDMR

Stanwood is in my neck of the woods! Next stop up from Arlington? Any Marysvillagers around? AMRDMR

I'm here, up in Arlington, an hour north of Seattle. Any other northenders? AMRDMR

The digital scale read 206.4 today, the lowest it has ever read in its life with me (it is relatively new), but I will take it. I don't know if I am still just swollen, but yesterday my first fill seemed to be working, just a few bites were enough, after the protein shake for breakfast, just to try to get some of the protein in. Even though 199 isn't far enough in to ONEderland to feel really secure there I still sure will be celebrating when that day arrives, can hardly wait. I will be right on top of adjusting the ticker then. AMRDMR

Hello all: I am currently 209.4 by my digital scale, banded 3/20/2007 by Dr. Ortiz. Live an hour north of Seattle. Just had my first fill, 1.4 cc 2 days ago by Kitty Carmichael ARNP, CDE up here in Arlington. Can't really tell if the fill is going to make a difference. I am still obsessing about food most of the time, struggling and struggling to keep the eating under control, only some of the time with Antonio's (banderas') help. I started the whole process/road towards banding January this year, and have lost about 20 pounds, most of it under my own steam, cutting out almost all carbs (potatoes are my downfall) rice, corn. I can't eat wheat/gluten, so that was already taken care of for me ONEderland is a place I long to be solidly in, I'll take 199, but 190 would be even better, of course. I would like to be part of this thread, it WILL be great to Celebrate that milestone (pound) with others in my same situation. Boy, it is true, the band is making me work harder to lose the weight than I ever worked before, and only some of the time helping. I know I need to wait a while to see if my first fill "kicks in", but I would really like some more help from Tonio. Got to get back on the exercise bandwagon, encouragement from you folks will help. AMRDMR

what brand are the parmesan cheese crackers? They sound great! AMRDMR

One of the most inspiring things one of the speakers at the seminar I went to for the first time looking into lapband was "I just paid off my Lane Bryant card and cut it up". YAY! Please God, let that be me soon, not even thinking about where to find clothes that fit. Only Wheetsin mentioned Silhouettes, I use them online still. I think Roaman's clothes are tacky looking. Online is good for a lot of things, except jeans and things you really need to try on. JJill clothes are really gorgeous, but SOOOOOO expensive. I wish there were some easier way to set up a clothing exchange, guess it is still somewhat difficult. Even with a goodly stash of "goal clothes" from before, it is still a little exciting to have something "new" to look forward to fitting into. There is something so liberating and a little scary to actually give away the larger sizes......I have always kept them because I have always eventually needed them again. Hopefully NEVER AGAIN! What I want to know is, what do people do about their wedding bands? It is expensive and not always possible to get them resized. As you lose weight and the rings fall off, do you wear them around your neck until you reach "goal"? It seems impractical to just keep buying sizes that fit. AMRDMR

:clap2:Hi BJ, sounds like there's a good chance you'll get your fill at 6 weeks after all, that't great. DH stands for "dear husband", DW is "dear wife", NSV is non scale victory, like even though the friggin scale doesn't move, you have lost an inch off your waist (which just happened for me). Inches gone are important because as you gain muscle mass, muscle is heavier than fat so that will show up heavier on the scale, which is a good thing because muscle actually burn the most fat. There is a thread somewhere I know not where, that explains all the "lingo". For instance, I am close, but not close enough for me to "onederland", that glorious place where the scale number starts with a "1" again. And there is a group of delightful people who started an "on the road to Twoterville" thread to encourage and applaud each others victories/goal, both big and small. AMRDMR