lindabug

Hi all, boy it's been a rough year so far and I've been off my diet a lot. I have gained about 5 lbs I had a fill over a month ago and got very sick so had it removed at that time they removed all of it because I felt so horrible. Went back after getting over being sick and got fill back in but not much so now I'm eating way to much, hungry all the time and miserable. I go back tomorrow for another fill. I have got to get on track again and it's going to take a lot of will power which I feel I have lost, it doesn't help that I have a lot of emotional issues right now. I stay upset all the time and don't know what to do anymore Sorry to be such a downer

Kim, I know exactly what you are talking about I've been the same way so much so I could have written that.

Is anyone else experiencing severe mood swings. I am and I'm miserable. One minute I'm fine and the next in tears. It's making me so frustrated not to mention how my family is dealing with it. I just want to be alone all the time

Well it seems like since they changed the website no one is around. I just wanted to say hello to my lb friends. Not much has changed here except, no lose no gain no new fills but I do have another hernia. I am putting off surgery for a while. It is small so just have to be careful.

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Lindabug

Feeling so discouraged I have gained 2 pounds, I honestly don't know what I'm doing wrong but I just am going no where. I can not get a fill because I get stuck to often as it is.

Oh well in other Lindabug news my daughters wedding was amazing it was beautiful and hot in Savannah!!! I will post some pics if I can get this darn thing to work!

Hope everyone has a great week! Miss my lbpeeps

Hi ladies. KK sorry you are having issues, I know your pain well. I have not lost anything in months go down 2 up 2 back & forth uggg and because I have had a lot of "stuck" issues myself my dr will not do a fill so it's up to be to get back on the band wagon and watch what I eat and exercise which since my hernia operation in Feb I have done very little of it. KK last week for me was like yours this week. I got stuck and everytime I tried anything got sick again I kept saying well maybe I'll lose a few pounds but nope same old scale says same thing . Anyway it got so bad by the 3rd day my husband said GO TO THE DOCTOR!!! I didn't and made it, now this week I am back to normal (whatever that is) I can eat but really have to be more careful. I saw you said something about dumplings and potatoes, I can not eat those at all if I even try it goes bad luckily for me I don't miss potatoes so no biggie but dumplings oh yes I would love to have some. Nothing sticky or gooey works for me, I really only eat meats, salads and occasionally mild mexican food. Nothing spicy since my hernia. I get bored with the same old things but it is what it is.

Hang in there. I had hoped to be down more by my daughters wedding but it's Oct 5th so not looking good

UGH, Have no idea what is going on. I haven't had a fill in a long time and just last week I was thinking it was time but didn't set up an appointment. I wasn't losing or gaining and haven't in a while but now suddenly since Tue I can't eat anything but rice cakes!!! Everything is getting stuck!!! I have been so sick the last two days and my throat is now burning. I went to get a frappe' this morning just because I wanted something and what the heck I haven't eaten really in two days but I can't even drink it, it is making me feel stuck again and making the burn worse. I seem to be able to drink hot coffee and that's about it.

Haven't heard from you guys in a while, hope you are all doing well and not getting frustrated like me!

UGH, Have no idea what is going on. I haven't had a fill in a long time and just last week I was thinking it was time but didn't set up an appointment. I wasn't losing or gaining and haven't in a while but now suddenly since Tue I can't eat anything but rice cakes!!! Everything is getting stuck!!! I have been so sick the last two days and my throat is now burning. I went to get a frappe' this morning just because I wanted something and what the heck I haven't eaten really in two days but I can't even drink it, it is making me feel stuck again and making the burn worse. I seem to be able to drink hot coffee and that's about it.

Haven't heard from you guys in a while, hope you are all doing well and not getting frustrated like me!

Oh wow Kim, I'm glad you were with them also. My cousin had the same issue and said it was excruciating. So glad you are doing well now and on the mend. I hear this is one of those things like my hernia that happens a lot in our situation. My doctor even thinks some of my back pain could be caused by gb problems but I honestly think it's my arthritis in my spine. I have had it for years and it seems to always get worse when it's cold or damp weather. I have been swimming a lot lately and that seems to help a lot. Take care of yourself and keep us updated on how you are doing.

Thanks everyone I think I am going to set up an appt for next week for a fill, I've been putting it off because I have a lot of stuck issues but when I can eat I can eat a lot more than I was. I'm so bad esp when I'm at work at letting myself get to hungry then I pig out. We recently got a pool so I'm trying to swim laps this is the ONLY kind of exercise I like the least bit. That has been frustrating though due to the rain we have been getting everyday almost. I got on the scale and was excited to be down 1 pound but then got on it two days later and was up 3!! I HATE the scale it never seems to move out of the 180's, I've been in them for several months. I really would like to be in the 160's by my daughters wedding maybe even more logically 170 but I just have no energy and feel like it wont happen unless I get my butt moving. It is Oct 5th. Since my hernia surgery in Feb I just seemed to lose my mojo!

As for the info above I actually found it here on lbt in the fill info. I was looking to see if I could find some info on whether I should get a fill or not and came across it. It is a good reminder of things I had forgotten.

My 1 year anniversary is tomorrow!!! I had hoped to be down more by now but I must say even with the problems I have had I am feeling better and looking better then I was a year ago. I look back at pictures and think My Lord I had no idea!!!! I was living in a fools paradise you might say.

I have a question that seems pretty self absorbed, I saw some people recently that I have not seen in a few years NOT ONE said anything about my weight loss and yes it bugged me a lot. I had really hoped at least 1 would say something but no one did and on another note I have some people in my family/friends that I feel are not happy for me at all, they have weight issues themselves and unless I'm asked about it I do not talk about it around them but somehow I feel that my eating habits and weight loss makes them uncomfortable. that makes me sad I would hope they would want the best for me and that I could be an inspiration to them.

Does anyone even come here anymore? In need of support

Some helpful reminder

info will come in handy when thinking about fills/adjustments. Great information. I have seen this information before and it is really good.

How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted

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

(1) 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

(1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards

b. Vegetables

(1) ½ cup – the size of your fist

c. Starch

(1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need

much

(2) 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

(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet

margarine

(2) 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

(1) Obsess about something else

b. Perfectionism

(1) 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

a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers

(6) Peppermint

a. Baking soda toothpaste

(7) 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

(1) 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

4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if

a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,

especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is

accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast

heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack.

b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise.

c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you

also have nausea or fever

d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee

grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar

in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.

(Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your

stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.)

e. If your pain is severe

Uggg I am so frustrated mostly with myself. It's almost that one year anniversary and I'm down 48 pounds but I'm beating myself up for not losing more. It's my own fault I've become somewhat comfortable with where I've been but days like today I realize I'm still in the 180's and I'm only 5'2" so that's not good. I can't seem to get out of the 180's I've feel like I don't eat much at all but I'm still not losing and I hate exercise so that is something I need to step up. It's been a very busy social summer and I find it hardest to stay on track when in these situations. I'm wondering if I need a fill, I can eat more at one sitting when I can eat but that's just it I get stuck a lot so I'm just not sure what to do

I've been having some of the same type things happen at times I can eat fairly easy other times everything seems impossible. I'm going to the beach in a few days and am a little concerned but I guess I'm muddle through it.

I have a new motivation!!! Over the weekend my daughter got engaged to a wonderful guy. He is a police man in Ga where she lives. I can honestly say I have never seen her happier, she has been through a lot of crap in the past 3 years now she has a good job in the field she went to college for and a good man in her life. They haven't set a date yet but are thinking 4/12/14 because she is a math geek and likes that this date is the same backward and forward! Anyway here is more motivation for me this time I want to look good in the pictures so she can look at them and be proud of her mom not kringe!

KK, how did you get those pictures to post. I having trouble with it.

Linda...THANK YOU so much!! Trying to get to 300 LIKES by my b'day!! Thank you!

I'm sort of 'there' too. Terrible food day - meaning nothing really is going down well. Well, except for OREOs... YIKES. Seems I really really put away the sweets...guess b/c they just MELT in the mouth, eh?? Ugh.

I 'think' I'm down about 42, and Lucy...it'll be one year on July 31. I was REALLY hoping to see a total of 60 by the one-year mark. Not gonna happen. But I do appreciate your photo-reminder of where YOU have come from. I'm still VERY camera shy, so its hard for me to 'allow' myself to be photo'ed. I DID do one or two w/ my hubby in Hawaii...but only ONE is on Facebook.< /p>

Most days are a struggle to get solids down...and I've had a severe issue lately w/ Constipation. Oh dear. Horrible. Not enough Water, I know. I'm back to drinking too much Diet Coke....and virtually NO Water at all some days.

Other thing, with the weight loss, I'm struggling to "allow" myself to even look for clothes in the MISSES section of the store. I head right to the PLUS/WOMEN's dept. And its all too big!! YAY!! But, just cannot seem to get it thru my head that I don't live there anymore. I'm no where near where I really want to be - in fact, I still see my flabby gut and saggy boobs (getting worse as I lose).

I also am not exercising at all. I did well during the winter, with Zumba, but now I can't seem to get my lard butt out the door and just WALK. No excuses. I just don't do it. Starting is hard, you know??

Anyway, we ALL need to make better choices, don't we?? I think we HAVE come a long way, and if you're like me, you only see how far you have to GO...not really where you came from....glass half-empty.

If I have lost even another couple pounds by the next surgeon visit (mid June, I think), I won't get a fill. Haven't had one since March. Can't imagine being tighter than I am now. I just need to avoid the sweets. Have been on a "Sugar Wafer" binge lately...you know the ones - they are think wafer'y things with a SUGARY SUGARY SUGARY cream filling...OH.MY.GOSH. I can eat a whole package of them before I know it. I'VE DONE IT. MORE THAN ONCE. Bad Bad Bad. LOL So, yesterday, I was in Walmart, and I had them IN MY HAND, and I turned right around and put them back on the shelf and walked out without them!! Small victory, I think! But then today, I've eaten about 6 oreos. The rest of what was left of a package I've kept hidden in my office. But once they are gone, I'm good.

anyway, hang in there, friends. We ARE making progress...even if its SLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW. It does add up. Lucy -- you are an inspiration!!

Best,

kim

So, lets go, girls.

Kim, I swear I was reading this and thinking I could write pretty much the same exact thing!

Kim, I see your fb business page so I "liked" it

Me too as a matter of fact I have actually gained a couple of pounds back and seem to be going no where! I don't want another fill I get stuck way to easy now. I'm just bummed 45-48 pounds down and it's been almost a year ;( Don't know what I need to do to get things going down again.

I am having the same type problem, to comfortable but at the same time I get stuck really easy so don't want another fill at this point. My husband says it's to tight and me getting sick is not good for me but sometimes I can eat anything at other times nothing. I don't know what to do at this point. It's scary because I know I backtrack way to easy.

Good Grief, have had such a hard time eating lately and today I'm a bottomless pit and have eaten anything and everything!

Hello everyone! Today is my first full day back at work, I've been doing about 4-5 hours at a time. I am doing better, I still have a little soreness but compared to the way the hernia felt it's so much better! I have not been able to exercise and did not have a fill during my 6 weeks so things were getting a little loose. I wasn't losing any and the other day I got on the scale and was back to 192 I flipped. I didn't fill I needed the fill until I went to the beach with my daughter Easter weekend and realized I could pretty much eat anything I just had to eat it slow this being said I went ahead and got a fill last week, this one is tight tight. I have problems with most anything if I don't chew enough or eat slow, I've also found I can not drink much at all at one time and before I could. All that being said I am learning to not get stuck so much it's so hard to do but as soon as I feel it might be happening no matter how much I want that bite I stop. Sun I was at my moms and she was concerned because I got what my daughter calls the stuck look. I just stopped and said mom I'm okay just got to go slow, she worries way to much! I eventually finished my meal about 30 minutes after everyone else! It's so frustrating sometime but then this morning I got on the scale and it read 186.6 so I am pumped and ready to continue! I will start my walking more back today Kim I could not have describe how I'm feeling any better than you did it's the exact same for me. Amy I'm really envious of you, I've went to Australia in 2007 and fell in love, I have always said if I could move anywhere in the world it would be there or Aruba! Good luck!

I was that way yesterday (dragging) but my daughter convinced me to get out and do some retail therapy. I don't usually like shopping but it was great to just go and I got some new shirts for spring which I really needed since the ones from last year hang off me like a tent that made me happy. Got some great buys at Khols but spent more than I should because I have several birthdays coming up for family members. Thank goodness for 30% off coupons! Just go do it you will feel better.

Yesterday it rained all day now today sitting in my office the sun is shining. figures but at least it's not real cold. I feel for our friend North of us.

Oh and yes some days I think I could eat the house others can't eat much of anything at all!

I am doing better getting there slowly. I can't exercise right now and feel the flabby belly thing myself my daughter keeps telling me my belly is still swollen from the surgery but I don't know. I have lost so much everywhere but feel fat still because of that darn belly fat lol. Oh well all in good time I guess but yes a Tummy Tuck would help. I've had two c sections a full hysterectomy (before they did them liproscopic) lap band and now a hernia. I told my husband I feel like my tummy is a plump road map! I did do quit a bit of walking yesterday seems all I can do at this point. Have a great day everyone I am at work and hope to be able to stay a bit longer.

I am short and small boned, I've always been a smaller size on bottom than top so that's probably part of it but still I was shocked! When this started I was barely getting into a 20 and really needed a 22.