MiniMi

I was thinking about this a few days ago actually. My new year started the first day of preop. It's actually a new chapter, a new life and I'm live good!

I just had my third fill too. The pa had to call in the surgeon to do it because he was having a hard time. Usually the nurse does it with no problem. Point is, yes I have a hematoma too, ugly and scary and a little painful to the touch.

Got it! Anyway you want to my dear is fine by me!

The miles are meant for walking, jogging, running, hopping, skipping anything you can do on your own. However, if you cannot and must ride then have at it! just please post what method you used if other than only your legs.

Old vine zin are my favorite wines now. If you are going to get plastered though just don't do it to the point of forgetting you have the band and try to down a pizza or something. I think that I am not saying no to anything, just not now. Once I am there then we'll talk but for now, it's the straight and narrow for me!

Coconut water kills two birds with one stone, hydration and potassium! If you can get past the taste that it!

I was banded 10/5 and I'm down almost 50. Get while the gettin is good! That's what I say to myself. Also, I'm prepared mentally for the halt/plateau that is bound to sneak up here!

Accountant in the house: 401k withdrawal is subject to: the plan penalty ( whatever the plan penalizes for a withdrawal. Check if they wave it if used for medical) Income tax ( withdrawal amount multiplied by your tax bracket federal and state. Remember that your tax bracket may be higher now that you have this lump sum distribution from your 401k) Federal penalty of 10% If in California additional 2% If you itemize then you can take the deduction. The deduction is anything 7.5% over your adjusted gross income. So if AGI is $100,000 then anything over $7,500 is deductible. You have to figure that about 45-50% of what you will withdraw is gonna be eaten up by taxes and penalties. Taking out a loan is a great way to go IF your plan allows for it. There is interest calculated but guess what? You pay the interest to yourself as it all goes into your 401k account. Either way, you should run it by your accountant before making the step.

I believe willpower is just white-knuckling through a situation. That's no way to live. I think you have to set up your environment to one that is conducive to a skinny lifestyle. So, I guess I fall into B-52's mentality that using willpower as a dieting tool sets me up for failure. Having said that, when presented with a situation TODAY, I do not need willpower because I'm not even tempted. The band will help me with the TOMORROWS where I will be tempted. That's my guarantee that I won't gain it all back once I'm at goal!

Scary! Keep us posted!

Missy and Sojo couldn't have voiced my opinion better. Any time you have to medicate daily to survive its not a good thing. I was wondering if your surgeon knows your approach. It seems dangerous to me. You can lose weight with the band without taking the approach that you have. Maybe you could find a happy medium between never losing and being too tight. I'll be happy to hear that you never developed the conditions that I fear you are heading for. Best of luck to you!

Don't act crazy! Just kidding. I was nervous too but it really is nothing. They just want to make sure you are sound of mind, that you know what is entailed. You will do fine!

Oh then please keep your passengers safe and we wish you the best!

I have the Realize band that has a flat port and is positioned differently that the lapband. I can feel it but can't see it even if I lay down and put my arms over my head!

Anyone thats ever had a traumatic event in their life can relate to what I'm about to say. I spent a lot of time in the counselors office talking about forgiveness. Forgiving your abuser and those who supported the abuse, either by denial or by complacency is more about healing you than giving that other person anything. I never once in this whole process ever thought about forgiving myself. I was watching a recent episode of Heavy and one of the counseling sessions was about forgiving yourself. There is so much guilt associated in childhood trauma, at least there was for me. I can honestly say that I have forgiven those involved, but I have never forgiven myself. Part of this journey for me is to work through the reasons I turn to food for comfort. Part of my realization is that I have not forgiven myself; I did not allow myself to break free from my abuse because of the guilt. I feel responsible for what happened, because I didn't speak up, I didn't tell anyone, I didn't make it stop. Why didn't I? Logic sets in and tells me it was because I was only 2,3,4,5,6,7 years old but my memories are processed through my mind, an adult's mind. I am mature enough to know it is wrong..now! But then? I remember saying " this is wrong" and him saying " why?" and I couldn't answer him because I didn't know. How could I not have known? These are the things I am working through...it's not a sob story, so don't feel bad for me. It's just my reality, one that I've lived with my whole life. I'm working through it now. I have no choice because I can't consume large amounts of food anymore to avoid working through them ( thank god!) I'm just telling myself every day that I have the right to what everyone else has and that.... It was not my fault! It was not my fault! It was not my fault!

My mother-in-law passed away yesterday morning on my birthday. She was 73 years old. Her and her husband live in Italy and are both deaf. We got a call at 3 am on Thursday October 4th to tell us that my husband (only child) needed to rush home because his mom was sick and in the hospital and not expected to make it. This was the day before I was scheduled for surgery. He was on a plane that afternoon. I decided to brave out the surgery alone and I am glad that I did. (no one else knew of the surgery except my 17 year old and my 11 year old boys) What followed that day was almost 3 longs weeks of ups and downs until she finally couldn't fight any longer. She had literally never been sick a day in her life. She picked up the strep virus (streptococcus) and it turned into STSS and it literally attacked all of her organs until there was nothing left. My mother-in-law was the absolute best grandmother in the world. Her eyes lit up like the sun when she saw her grandchildren. She would look at them with adoring eyes and hug on them and kiss them. They adored her too. I am just happy that the week before she got sick my 17 year old son was over in Italy visiting them. Her last days on this earth were spent doing what she loved best, being a grandmother. I am happy that I had this surgery as it is my first emotional challenge to face without food. So far I am doing great! I just can't wait for my husband to get home so that I can give him a big hug!

My annual deductible is $3k. I had used some for reg dr appt etc. sleep tests were the most expensive. By the time I had all the preop hoops to jump my surgery was free.

Wow so I also have the realize band but thought they were all 14cc bands. So I now have no idea which band I have. I am up to 5.5cc and I can't say I " feel" restriction. I'm less hungry between meals with each fill. I go back jan 28th for my forth fill. Everyone is so different, that I don't think that anyone can really answer your question. I do know that with the realize band it takes longer to get to the green zone. I'm am very successful so far because I live like I'm in the green. Measure and track everything, only eat healthy foods, only eat 1/2-1 c of food at a time. Cal usually 800 cal a day. Until you hit the green it's just another diet..IMHO of course!

Update: 49.2 lbs lost so far..I just did my weekly weigh in!

Start 235.5 Week 1 233.4-lost 2.1 Week 2 231.2-lost 2.2 Week 3 229- lost 2.2 This week: Week 4 226.4 lost 2.6 lbs

I was unsuccessful with weekly protein shakes in the past. You do it before surgery for medical reasons, nothing more. Having that mind set makes it really important to stick to. After surgery you are healing so you aren't really hungry. Bandster he ll comes after healing and before the green zone. That can be challenging. I'm not in the green zone yet. I'm almost three months post op and I've lost 47 lbs so far. Once your body is used to eating only a little bit then it's easier to control the hunger. I do not allow myself to even taste foods that I'm not supposed to taste. Pies, cookies, chips, ice cream, candy,fast food etc. Being that I have little restriction I could really do damage with these things! The emotions behind why I turned to food in the first place is the biggest "job" I'm working on. The food part is easy!

Good to know Cheryl! I only drink hot tea and water as a norm. Maybe that's why I don't have a problem with the sugar cravings!