Donna113

That's only 7 small bottles of Water a day. It's easy to drink that much so long as you always have a bottle at hand and sip from it. Yes, you do use the bathroom more, but that is good because then you are flushing toxins and hopefully fat cells out of your body. It sounds like a lot, but honestly, if you just make sure you have that bottle by your side and sip all day you won't have any problems getting in 3.5 liters. BTW, I use the same bottle and just refill it. I don't want to overfill our landfills.

Wow.. sorry about the run on sentences. I'm just feeling all pent up inside.

3 of the bandsters are 1 year + but only one has reached goal, the other 2 lost 45 and 60 lbs respectively. There are about 3 other bandsters who've been banded between 4-6 months and they've lost 20 and 35 lbs respectively. The 1 year+ bandsters who lost 45 and 60 haven't lost an ounce in 5 months or more. They all still look grossly overweight and whatever they are doing, it clearly isn't working. They sit around and talk about which protein shake/shot is best and our doctor has specifically told us NOT to drink protein shakes but THEY all do it and the group leader says nutritionists reccomend it and she agrees with them because she's going to school to be a nutritionist and it says you have to get 60-80 grams of protein a day and it's too difficult to get it from eating if you are trying to keep your calories between 800-1,000. This is basically what was discussed in both meetings and it's kind of chaotic and there is one guy in there (the one who lost 135 lbs) who's just smart alecky and rude and interrupts everyone. They all pretty much have an attitude and treat me and one other new girl as if we're idiots and yet proportionately and timewise, if you average it out, me and the other new girl are actually doing better than they have. Anyway, I just don't like them and find them depressing. I want to be around people who are on the road to success or those that have already succeeded because right now I need inspiration because I'm in major bandster hell. Got my 2nd fill yesterday and I'm still hungry and have no restriction and feel like so far the band hasn't done anything for me except bleed my wallet.

Let's talk about "limited capacity". I don't feel it. I only felt it the first week post op. Today is my 7th week anniversary and I received my second fill yesterday for a total of 3.5 ccs in an 8 cc band. I feel no restriction whatsoever. I'm hungry and a bit frustrated because I got the band to help me with portion control and right now I'm fighting the hunger all on my own with no help from the band. Has anyone gone through this and if so, any words of advice?

Hello again Lucky Sevens. I need some advice... I've attended 2 support group meetings being hosted at my doctor's office. They meet a couple of times a month but I do not find the people in the group very inspiring.. in fact I find them to be the opposite of inspiring and more a cautionary tale. What galls me is that they then turn and offer me advice in a condescending manner... I'm thinking I should just stop going to this support group. What do you think?

I got my second fill yesterday. My first fill was 8/19 (3 ccs in 8 cc band). Yesterday, they took out 3 ccs then put in 4 ccs, the water didn't go down very well so they took out .5 cc and then the water went down real fast. I said I didn't think it was tight enough but the Nurse Practitioner said she didn't want me to be too tight so I should just leave it at 3.5 ccs for now and I might find that in a couple of days I feel more restriction. We'll see. I plan on being aggressive with my fills. If I don't feel more restriction/dimishing of hunger between meals, then I'm going to keep going back until I get it right. I paid for a full year of unrestricted fills/unfills for just this reason.

mfinney, I know what you mean but it definitely seems like everyone has different reactions to fills and that's why it's a game of adjustments. You may be perfect with your first fill and not need another one for months. I hope that is the case for you. It sounds like you are at a good start since you don't feel hungry and you are "belching" more than usual. On a positive note, I finally saw some movement since 8/20. I went from 199.5 to 199. It's small but it's a movement in the right direction. I have had movement in the other direction (fluctuating between 199.5 and 201.5 for the past 2 weeks) so it was good to see movement in a downward direction. I refuse to update my ticker for weight gain of less than 5 lbs BUT if I lose even 1/2 lb, then you bet your sweet arse I'm updating my ticker!!! LOL

It hasn't moved in weeks.. tomorrow will be 7 weeks since banding. I really, really need to see some movement.

Brandy, you asked "I put my starting weight as of today is that right or should it be my weight at surgery?" Yes, the starting weight is the weight you are the day you enter this contest.

Marnew, are you at your goal now? You mentioned your size when you got married and your size when you got banded a year ago but didn't mention your size now.

Got my second fill today. It was by the nurse. She took out 3 and put in 4. We did the water test and she decided to take out .5 so I now have 3.5 in 8 cc band. I just ate one of those instant oatmeals for lunch and felt no restriction and feel hungry so I’m thinking this probably didn’t do it. I have an out of town business trip for the week of 9/15 and if I don’t feel any more restriction, I’m going to schedule my 3rd fill for when I come back. My appetite and ability to eat is at pre-band levels so I’m going to be very aggressive with my fills.

Thanks, Kimaly. I just ate a package of instant oatmeal and felt no restriction and still hungry so I fear it's not enough. I have an out of town business trip scheduled for the week of 9/15 and if I still feel it's not enough by this Friday, then I'm going to schedule a fill right after I come back.

ChrisAnn, I can't believe you carried his crap in for him. I can't believe you went shopping for him. IF you were going to the store and he asked you to pick something up while you were there and said he'd come pick it up from your house, then I'd understand. But, going shopping JUST for him and then carrying it into his house while his fat lazy ass stayed in his underwear in the bed.... it pisses me off just reading it!!!!!

It looks like I might have to drop out of the C25K challenge. I have RA and my knee has been getting progressively worse since I've started the challenge. I was told by a nurse, as a person with RA, I should NEVER jog so I'm going to walk instead of run and I will set up an appointment with a doctor to double check whether I can run or not. I really, really want to do this.

Got my second fill today. It was by the nurse. She took out 3 and put in 4. We did the water test and she decided to take out .5 so I now have 3.5 in 8 cc band. We’ll see how it goes.

TulipStar, you looks fantastic!!!! You're such an inspiration. If anyone here has any doubt the band works, just look at the results TulipStar, BooBooKitty and Jachut got from it.

I am happily married but if that situation ever changes, then I'm definitely in the same camp as jbflorida.

I'm STILL stalled on my weight loss. Hopefully when I get my 2nd fill next Tuesday, it will help me eat less. I am exercising almost daily (have had to take today off because my knee is killing me) but I think my calories are on the high side.... 1200 - 1500 a day. At least I'm not gaining and even though the scales haven't moved in weeks, my clothes are getting just a tad bit looser.

Just1More, congrats on the belly/steering wheel thing. I TOTALLY get that one. That's one of the major things that drove me to get the band. Because I'm short, I can't push the seat too far back when I'm driving and my belly was starting to touch the wheel if I slumped in my seat. I started thinking if I don't lose the weight, I'm going to have to get special modifications..... Handicapped by fat? I never thought I'd get to that point and when I was knocking on that door, I knew I had hit rock bottom with food addiction.

I'll be thinking of you Lovegrapes. Please be sure to keep us posted.

I had may first fill 8/19 (3 ccs in an 8 cc band) and it did nothing for me. I have another fill scheduled for 9/2 and am hoping it will help. I am starving and have been for the past couple of days. I am also exercising every day so I know that has increased my metabolism which naturally makes me more hungry. Exercising less is NOT the answer. Do the best you can to avoid unhealthy food and try to eat every 3 hours so that you don't get too hungry which leads to binge eating/bad food choices.

I've got my 2nd fill scheduled for 9/2. I really, really need it because I've been starving the past couple of days. I have been exercising every day (couch to 5K every other day and aerobics on the days I'm not doing c25k). It feels so good to exercise!!!! Can I get an Amen?

I came home and walked the 2 miles on the treadmill 3.3 mph working up to 5 degree incline. I had to talk myself into it because I had talked myself out of it on the drive home from work. I'm so glad I did it because I feel fantastic!!!!!

Yeah! What 4Crazyboys said!

Can one person make a difference? Yes one person can make a difference. They can make a difference in their own lives, in their families, in their community, in their workplace, etc. It can grow and mushroom into a movement that chagnes the lives of many. Waiting around for the government to make a positive change for you is about as smart as waiting up for the tooth fairy. If Americans would embrace their inner Libertarian, everything would just be so much better FOR ME.