Graceful One

Kathy, Best wishes on getting approved...most of all welcome to a great group of bandsters! That is great that when you get approved you will have a close support with your daughter. Is she a member of LapBandTalk? If not you need to bring her in and show her off! Good Luck!

Angela, I just had my first fill last Monday and have only lost about 2lbs...I'm pre-period though so I'm hoping once I get it today some of the Water weight will fall off... However, my Mom took measurements after I had lost the bulk of my weight post surgery in the first few weeks...wouldn't you know even though my scale didn't change much I had lost 9.75 inches...that's a big change! I like what Donali said "This is your life" We are in it for the long haul...sure I wanted to lost 20lbs this month but I'm happy the scale isn't moving up...think of all of us who would gain over the holidays...now aren't you glad your banded? Good Luck!

I hated this stage...I was gagged out on sweetness! I chose alot of refried Beans...a soft omelette with peppers, tomatoes, cheese, and salsa...basically a breakfeast burrito minus the burrito... My save for this week was instant mashed potatoes and stove top stuffing...I know it didn't have alot of protien but if I wouldn't have ate this I wouldn't have ate... It's amazing I still can eat yogurt and pudding...I eat the pudding as a sweet snack when I'm in the mood and usually try the yogurt as a breakfeast... It will be over sooner than you know!

I'm suprised the calories are so low... You know how I view it...I wasn't a big Coke freak...when I drank soda I always drank diet...unless of course I was driving past Mc Donald's and was wanting for a Coke...that is the only time I drank it... For me if I have a frozen coke once a month...or a milk shake at that...it isn't going to kill me...I make good enough decisions daily to keep up my loss. Regardless, it is still going to be less than I would have eaten before...even with a frozen Coke. My sister and her fiancee's family made Christmas Cookies the other week...I told my Mom to save me some...she said, "You can't have cookies...your losing weight." I said to hell with that...if I want a damn cookie I'm going to have one...the only difference now is that I won't eat a dozen...I may have two...regardless there were none left when I went home...or any that I would like...so...no cookies for me... I'm very fortunate I'm not a big junk food eater...I like sweets once and a while and rarely eat chips...actually my ex-fiancee would get upset when I went grocery shopping because I never bought any "food"...apparently whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and dairy are not food... I know alot of women, most of my friends included are demonized by sweets...that has to be hard...I know when I get in that rare mood it consumes my mind...I used to be like that with bread, Pasta, anything with carbs until I was diagnosed Insulin Resistant and went on glucophage...then my cravings stopped...well I haven't taken glucophage for 6 weeks...today is my 6 week bandiversery...and haven't craved carbs much at all...actually I'm rarely hungry and it is more of a challenge for me to eat three meals a day (yes I'm a skipper - bad me - working on this). My toughest vice is coffee...no longer can drink caffienated which isn't a big deal...I drink it for the taste not the buzz...the only problem this causes is I need to remember to get that Water in... I have no clue what the point of this post was...oh yeah...the band is my little tool and I'm going to eat what I want in moderation...

Linda, Glad to hear your happy about not being pregnant! It would be hard with being recently banded. If you had gestational diabetes there is a good chance that you are/were Insulin Resistant...IR is the step before diabetes usually. I feel really good on Lexapro...I was on Prozac Weekly for a few years and was always moody and tired...I do feel alot better since starting the Lexapro... My best friend just got a prescription for it so I'll be really interested to see it working...she's been very irritable for a while and finally she said she was going to try it...

Bright, First of all congratulations on busting through your plateau...I'm getting my period today and I hope those same 5lbs you lost I lose as well... This article was very informative...I wasn't aware of soy but I do know there is something in milk that speeds up metabolism and it is a very good "balanced" drink as it has the right amount of protien vs. carbs...found that out from my Endocrinologist when I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance... And come to think of it...when I slept all the damn time I was skinny...maybe that's the secret...LOL Happy Hoidays Love!

Yeah I found them too...only had about four sips so far but somedays I still want to rip someones face off for a coke...that does the trick!

I haven't started exercising yet...I never sit my ass down but I do need to use my treadmill other than a second bedroom fixture... I bought Windsor Pilates a few months back and it was hard because of my size...I want to start using it because I like yoga and pilates however it is a lot of stretching and I think I may wait a bit more until I'm sure I won't hurt my sutures and I'm a little smaller... The Nordic Track was a great find! I have one at my Mom's house and used to use it religiously when I was small...hmmm...maybe that was the secret!

If you had insulin resistance at all prior to banding losing a bit of weight could actually resolve that and effect your cycle... I'm also on Lexapro but I haven't noticed a change since taking it...I take that back I have spotted a bit more but didn't attribute it to the Lexapro... I have however noticed that I'm spotting more this month since being banded and I did have IR...maybe it is from my insulin regulating and I know I'm not pregnant unless it's immaculate conception... I'll be interested to hear what other's have experienced.

Gulp, swallow, sip, and suck as much as you can but don't eat your computer! After surgery walk walk walk walk walk...I did it everytime I woke up from my morphine pump (at least once an hour) and was about driving my nurses nuts! It helped me alot...get some gas-x before your surgery and don't worry about taking one...that helped too...I felt like I had been inflated to the size of a small sea vessel...and the amazing thing after surgery even though you haven't eaten you won't be hungry! Good luck and wishing you a speedy and slimming recovery!

Well, I know at least Donali wanted to hear it so here it goes... Last night I had my first "date" with Steve, the 31 year old Anesthesiologist...we went to Max & Erma's... Now I know all of you are thinking...what did you eat...well I ordered a glass of Cabernet to calm my nerves...yeah...I was lit like a Christmas Tree! I also ordered a chicken salad and picked at it...didn't want to PB on my new found love...it was good... I am pretty confident it went well...I felt I looked nice...I had on a red turtleneck sweater and my cute new SIZE 18 Tommy Jeans...I was praying like hell I would lose 50lbs yesterday but it just didn't happen...now let's pray he likes a girl with meat on her bones and my charm and wit is enough to cover up my size... He's on-call today and off tomorrow...coincedentally I am as well...hoping we get together again...I'll keep you updated!

I feel more restriction after my first fill of 2cc's. I'm not sure how much the charge is yet, insurance is paying. I'm assuming there is a great difference in fluro charge vs. non-fluro...not sure...

I received an email from my band buddy today who has a friend that moved from the surgeon we currently see in Milwaukee, WI who does fills without fluro, out to Arizona where they use fluoro. Here is part of her quoted email: "During my first visit I told my new doctor I had two fills already and said I still don't feel full. He said by doing the fill under fluro you can see everything and make the correct adjustment in one session. He said they close the opening and then back off to allow for the correct opening size." My band buddy took this to mean that getting fills under fluoro assures the "correct" fill right off the bat. She is going to call and inquire about fluoro for our next fill in January, however, I wonder what your experiences are as my doctor said he doesn't feel it necessary to use fluoro unless there are problems and/or a difficult port.

Bright, I can totally tell in your face...I'm jealous! I think all my 25lbs came of my forearms...they are quite svelt...ahh yes just where I needed to lose it! Feel free to email me any time you want to chat...we can be band buddies! Jayvue@aol.com It must be something to do with the flip flops that your losing so well....hmmm...might have to pull mine out of the closet and give them a try! Good luck love, Jennye

Bright, Congratulations on the 30lbs! I'm not far behind you at 5 weeks and 25lbs. I wish I could see your pic better, however, you have marvelous skin! Thank goodness for this board!

Thanks to all for your kind words... I must now give you my exciting update! I was farting around with EHarmony the other week and had a "match." We started talking and last night progressed to regular email. He also gave me his number and we had a blast talking on the phone for an hour and a half...got along splendidly...but here's the best part... He is a 31 year old Anesthesiologist! Never married, owns a home, and has a super personality! He asked a few times what my schedule was this week...definately hoping I get a call back! See...God does work in mysterious ways... Jennye

Piece of cake sweetie! And your so small now....I was 250...lost about 25 lbs in the first two weeks...just got my first fill yesterday (I was more scared about the fill) and didn't feel a thing! THIS BAND IS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER DONE! Does that make you feel better?

Well it's over and done and I have 2cc's. They froze it and I didn't feel a thing. I made the mistake of watching my band sister get one first and that freaked me out but it was all over in a matter of a minute or two!

Well I'm almost five weeks out and have my second check up as well as my first fill scheduled for Monday December 8th! I'm going with my band twin who had surgery the day before me...we have to drive about 1.5 hours down to Milwaukee...hopefully we'll feel up to doing some last minute Christmas shopping after. I'm very excited...not nervous at all thanks to all the calming words I've read on other's posts. To date I have lost 25lbs on the head...most of the loss was right after surgery when I was much more restricted. Although I've been eating less than pre-surgery I'm hoping my first fill gives me some pretty good restriction! I have yet to measure myself to see if I've been losing inches, perhaps I'll do that today.

I'm forcing myself to eat left overs. I'm drinking way more Water than coffee...my skin is clear! I'm cold all the time...before I would sweat like a pig in a pen in July...what a difference 25lbs make! I've found things to do with my time rather than eat... I've arranged my closet by size rather than color... I've found that at times I could mug someone for a coke!

What was your sugar level? That is odd as Diabetes and even Insulin Resistance (which sounds like you may have) are reasons for getting banded. Perhaps she is concerned you will not heal well if your sugar levels stay high, then again I would ask to have a Hg A1C ran to see what you have been over the past 3 months and if it is high (5-6) ask to be put on Glucophage XR or some other Diabetic drug immediatly. After only a day, my sugar levels went down...

I find this so aggravating. I met a guy a few months ago online and we had alot in common including our rare breed of dog, a Vizsla. When we met in person, even after our good chemistry via email and on the phone, even after seeing a pic, he never emailed me back. His loss! What was too funny is tonight as I searched Match.com I came across him...I sent him an email basically stating that I assumed our meeting under an assumption of friendship and only that...apparently he didn't... In his profile it stated he wants someone who's blonde and slim/slender or athletic and toned. Well I am athletic and toned but far from being slim/slender...nor would I want to be...justification for him being too scrawny in my opionion. How bad I wanted to say, "I just lost 25lbs in the past month and plan on losing 75lb more thanks to my new little friend the Lap-Band...Oh, and I have a great stylist who does fantastic blonde highlights! But this is your loss for being a complete JERK!" I didn't of course...but how funny would that have been!

Linda, I am a control freak too! I'm starting to realize that the beauty of the band is that it is my own little control freak...it is going to tell me when I'm full and cannot eat anymore...it will tell me when I'm hungry...it has taken the control from my head and placed it in my stomach... As long as you make good choices which you did at Thanksgiving you are in control! Heck, even if you make bad choices once in a while (like I did with my Nestle Tollhouse Peanut Butter chocolate Chip Cookies) it still is control. My hardest thing right now is eating three times a day...and I've rationalized it...I got fat because I love food right? So why would I pass up the chance to eat if I can only eat three times a day...if I skip breakfeast and lunch I no longer can eat MORE at dinner...so...that is my struggle right now! You are doing great...we started at similar weights and both have no fill...just wait until we get that restricition! The fat will be flying off...

You know, remember this isn't a diet. If you want it you should have it or your going to feel like your depriving yourself. But remember, all in moderation... I did the same for Thanksgiving...glass of wine...had turkey...stuffing...some green been casserole and later a piece of pie! They were all small portions and I was satisfied...and guess what...the scale didn't budge up a bit! That is what I find so freeing about the band...I can have what I want and no matter what it is I would have ate alot more of it before the band...and I have no restriction yet...no fill at all...I've lost 22lbs in three weeks... I think it is hard for us to give up our dieting mental state...last night I was so head hungry for anything and everything...garlic ritz...chocolate...salad...my friends were laughing at me...I didn't have any of it but I think I was PMSing... Your doing great and remember...it is not a race and you should have what you want...after our fills is when we are really going to take off!

Carmen, Glad to hear everything went well for you! I was three weeks post surgery on Wednesday and it only gets better...besides some reflux I'm doing great too! Congratulations!