dmtjet

Hi, Everyone! Haven't been on in quite some time, but think of everyone all the time! I have been doing well, but would be doing better if I hadn't had a problem with my neck. 2 degenerative disks in my neck and the pain in my arm was unbearable!!! This started the end of January and has been quite the ordeal!!! Still dealing with that, plus getting ready for my daughter's bridal shower in a month and the wedding a month later. So with working and trying to clean my house and therapy 3 times a week, I am running like a crazy woman!!!

I do well when I am busy, it is the time when nothing is planned and my hands aren't busy that I have a problem!! What is everyone eating nowadays? Need to spice up the ol' menu, lol!!! Any ideas would be quite helpful!! Especially for evening Snacks, that has to be the toughest one!

Well, I want to read over some of the posts, but I did want to check in and tell everyone hello and that you are in my thoughts quite often! I hope everyone is doing well! Hope to chat soon! Bye for now!

Jeanie - 1st thing you need to do - is take the word diet it out of your vocabulary... Diets are only for a short time and what happens when you quit your diet - you go right back to your old eating habits which made you fat in the 1st place so diets don't work - We are not dieting we are eating healthy and exercising.. this is a lifetime lifestyle change in our eating habits not a diet... This is why I love WW - it is a well rounded balanced eating plan - and that's what i follow - I have meat, starch, veggies and mostly sf sweets - at the new little market around the corner they sell these little mini loafs of french bread - about 6 inchs - I buy these and slice a little slice add a little butter and am happy - I will not be deprived - I end up throwing half away - cuz it get stale - I don't have the urge to eat the whole thing like I did in the past

when I want choc i have 1 or 2 sf double choc pudding or a fudgecicle.

If i am extra hungry at dinner or lunch - i eat extra veggies - for lunch yesterday 3 oz salmon and 1 3/4 c squash...

Throw the junk out - no more - I refuse to even have one piece of candy - I don't need it and the calories are just too much for such little amount of food - i didn't eat one candy bar in the past I would buy the giant ones (hersey w/nut) or bags and eat them til they were gone (1 day) ... I really do just stay away from sweets - and high fat foods.

You are quite an inspiration to all of us! Almost like the cheerleader of the group! Soooo nice to have someone in that capacity! I for one, really need that right now! I know you are sooo right and up until the Holidays I was following your advice pretty well, but right now, I have to get myself motivated again! Not eating much at all, in fact a fraction of what I would have ate in the past, but still not what I need to be doing! I know what needs to be, but man, once I get sidetracked it takes everything in me to get back on the wagon!!!!! Gotta do it though and know that I will, but need that extra push!!!! Thanks for the advice and the concern!!! I am not familiar with the Weight Watcher's Program, perhaps you could fill me in a little on the protocol for that.

Hi, Everyone! Haven't been on in awhile and was reading through some of the posts, everyone is doing great!!! Great job! I have been at a major standstill for some time now! I did really well after my last fill and then the Holidays came around ... doesn't help that I realized that chocolate and ice cream go down way too smooth, lol!!! Have to get back on track and try again! Just was hoping the dieting days were over, but guess they will never be!!!! So tired of dieting, thought just eating less would do it, but doesn't seem to be the case! Kind of down right now and hoping all is going to turn around here real soon! Especially since I go see my doc next week ... I don't think he is going to be impressed!!!! YIKES!

Hope to hear from everyone real soon! Keep in touch!

Jeanie:help:

Hey, just had to check in today and wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving! It has been sooooo hectic lately and haven't been able to get on here like I was, but things are going pretty well. I have had to be treated for kidney infections twice in the past month and ended up putting back on 7 pounds, but last week I had my second fill. Now I have 6 cc in my band. I think it may be too tight though, 'cause I can't seem to keep anything down. Two teaspoons of food and out it comes! Not much fun, but I am losing right now! No, seriously think I will need to try to get hold of my doctor next week and get him to back it up a bit. Hate to do it, but this can't be good for me or the band!

I have truly missed talking to all of you! Hope all is well with everyone and that you enjoyed your Thanksgiving! We are all soooo blessed!!!!

Thinking of you! Jeanie:)

Just a quick hello to say I hope everyone is doing well! Sounds like everyone is losing and plugging along. I have been in a slump a bit lately and really need to get a second fill. Guess I will check into this one of these days, just sooooo busy all the time! Well, hello again and hope all is well with everyone! Miss you all!!!!!!

Thanks, Jackie. I actually feel pretty good now. All the treatments have worked. Today I ate a Wendy's chili and a cesear salad for lunch without any problems. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to have Fluid removed if I have a good restriction and it is just something I may be doing wrong. Anyone have any suggestions????

I am soooo glad you're doing well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I miss talking to everyone!!!

Hey guys,

Well, I did it. I reached my first goal. I'm now a member of the ONDERLAND group. I hit 199.4 on Sunday morning.:whoo: If I didn't have to go into work then, I probably would of taken 10 minutes to just cry I was so happy. But I had to get to work, so there was no time for that, but what a great day I had.

We leave for Florida tomorrow evening :clap2:to go see my grandma. We're so ready for this trip. I've decided to take on a part time job along with my full time job to help out our financial situation, so extra time is few and far in between for me now. But I just had to come on and let you all know I was still alive, and losing the weight.

Hope everyone else is doing good too. I read back a few pages, and everyone seems to have had there second fill already, and lots of pounds are dropping all over the thread.

Have a great week. And I'll try to stop in every now and again to let you know how I'm doing.

Lynette, I am soooooo happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations and have a great time in Florida!!!! Your news is just awesome!!!! I agree that you SHOULD buy yourself a new suit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or a very sexy nightie!!!!!!!! LOL :clap2:

Got my 2nd fill today. He decided to give me 1 cc this time. Since I'm doing so well, he thinks we're close to the sweet spot, so he doesn't want to see me for two more months.

Brandy, that is sooo awesome! What a wonderful feeling! I haven't reached my sweet spot yet! Need to though!

Read over the posts quickly and wow, everyone seems to be doing so well! So proud of everyone!

Hello, Dini!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope all is well with everyone!

Kathy, LOVE your new avatar!!!!!!! You look great!!!

DMTJET, Jackie is right. Weight Watchers ice cream and treats are good and full of Fiber. The fudgesicle is one point and has 5 grams of fiber in it.

I too was afraid of solids etc. Friday was the first day I could eat red meat, salad, bread. Last night my DH and I went out to eat. I ate bread, filet mignon, vegetables and salad without any problem. I was glad. I am guessing as the fills get tighter this may not be the case. Have to wait and see. I know I am ready for my next one. I was told by people who had the band that the first one does not last very long. I know when I had it I had restriction for about 4 days then I felt as I had before. After I get my fill, I am on liquids for three days, mushies for a day and on day 5-10 I can eat anything except red meat, bread, rice, salad, and fibrous vegetables.

Congrats to Jackie, Jeannie, CeCe and everyone else on your great weight losses. I am plugging along. Exercising but not movement on scale. It will come. I just finished 10 days of medicine that I think were contributing to this nonmovement.

Thanks for the well wishes! I will certainly try the fudgesicles. Sound delicious and I love ice cream! Craving usually stops once the colder weather moves in, which yesterday only hit 52 degrees, so won't be long, lol!

Sounds like you are doing very well! Keep up the good work!

Gonna run and get some work done around here! Hope everyone has a terrific day!

And another thing! Remember that I didn't tell anyone at work that I had the surgery, which I still think was the right decision. I've been getting a lot of compliments at work and of course, everyone wants to know how you are doing it and I imagine if they knew I had surgery, they would just dismiss the amount of effort that's actually been involved and think that it was easy. And we all know that this hasn't been easy. I do think it's a sure thing and that you'd have to go a long way to mess it up, but it certainly hasn't been easy. It's that sureness that keeps me motivated, when the weight loss stalls a bit! But, I know that I have worked hard for every pound of my weight loss and continue to make good eating decisions going forward because of it!

Brandy, Good for you! I wish I hadn't told some of the people I told! I told my DH that I am already tired of being the Poster Child for LapBand! Every where I go and every one I see, asks how I am doing, how much I eat, and then right to the how much have you lost line! It is nice to have them notice that I lost, but then drop it and move on! I do have a life outside of the diet and the lapband! I don't know, I guess they mean well, but I don't want to discuss it all night long and in front of everybody! At least, not every time! Once in awhile I would just like to be me! Talk about the weather, or the kids, or whatever, but not my weight!!!! Maybe I am just too sensitive, but it bugs me!!!!! Much more so when it comes from a "thin" person! The other day, one of my relatives asked my DH, if he wishes he would have MADE me get it earlier! I was livid! Didn't show it, but found a reason to leave the situation and go somewhere else! See, maybe just too sensitive! He did ignore the question, but still!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those are the kinds of things that push me over the edge and intensifies my eating ... shouldn't but certainly does!

Jackie, Perhaps you should move on to solids. I was doing the same thing eating only 500 to 600 calories and exercising vigorously, and Dr said I should be between 800 and 1200 calories, I believe and said once I got my first fill it would be 1200 to 1400, I think. I'm now averaging in the 800-900+ range. Had some days that weren't typical, as I was in Vegas or ate out, which usually means more calories.

But anyway, I've been on solids since first fill, a month a go. And I can eat anything. bread goes down just fine! I buy the Nature's Own light honey wheat bread, only 40 calories a slice and a good source of fiber. I toast it with a little bit of whipped butter, and it is delicious and makes your meat seem more like a meal. I eat chicken, turkey, ham, canadian bacon, hamburger, steak, porkchops, etc., without problem. Small problem with first porkchop, but I was eating too fast and didn't chew enough. Also had biscuits and rolls at restaurants and they were fine too. It's all about moderation. Decide what you are going to eat and then stop. I know there is restriction, but I still think it's all about portion control! I'm better at home and when i pack my lunch than I am in restaurants, but that's mainly because of the type of food. At home, I measure out the meat, etc., and eat only what I've put on my plate. I may feel the restriction at the end of the meal, but I was going to stop when I finished my plate anyway.

DH thinks I could have just done this on my own without spending the $14K, but I don't think so. I have good self control, but need to be working a plan to stay motivated. Like they say, it's a tool, not magic. I am working the plan. Without the plan, and the knowledge that this is going to work and I'm going to reach my goal eventually, there are times that I probaby wouldn't have been able to stay on a diet on my own. At first it was the pre-op diet, I stuck to it cause I didn't want my liver to be too big for the surgery, so there wasn't a chance of my cheating. Then you had the surgery and there was the fear of stretching something, so you stayed on the liquids, etc. Then there was the fill and you feel pain if you eat too fast or don't chew. So, that's why this has been successful, more so than doing it on your own would have been. Well worth every penny, although i still wish my insurance co would have stepped up to the plate!

Brandy, I know what you are saying! I feel you did do the right thing and we all did! We didn't achieve success on our own, because we have an illness! We are addicted to food and without help, we weren't physically or mentally able to do this! Don't you ever question your choice! It is done and yes, you did the right thing! Men lose much easier than us and I do think they have a hard time seeing that! Plus, being in the kitchen ALL the time, doesn't help one bit! LOL:faint:

IndioGirl, Congrats to you! Awesome how you exercise! I need motivation, but I am soooo impressed by those that get it in! Now, my hubby and I have been going to fairs and festivals and doing a great deal of walking, but other than that, not much on my part!!!

Jackie,

Haven't tried the Weight Watcher's Ice Cream, but I will certainly give it a try! I was buying the Carb Smart, but then went to the sugar free Brands. Not sure which is the better choice of the two, but since I am/was diabetic (off all meds) wasn't sure which route to go! Thanks for the heads up on that brand!

Jeannie

45 lbs - CONGRATULATION TO YOU TOO !!!!!!:clap2::clap2:

Hey, thanks! I had been going on my pre-op weight and thought, gee, that isn't quite right, 'cause I lost more than that ... so, why not!!!!! Makes me feel a lot better! Thanks for noticing, lol!

Well, missing all my friends ... Kathy, Sunny, Chim, Lynette, Dini, and the list goes on! Must have hit the wrong time to try!!! Hope all have a good night and are moving in the right direction! Night All!:notagree

Dini, Hey, Girl! Haven't heard from you in such a long time!!!! How was your trip? How is my beautiful Annafrencesca???? Hope all is well with you! Don't get on as much these days, just way too busy with work and everything else coming my way! Hope you are still moving along with weight loss and everything! How is the love life coming? Things looking up nowadays????? Sure hope all is well, Girl!

Breadlady, First I've seen your pic and just have to say that you are a beautiful lady!!!! Wow, nice pic!!!!

Hello Lucky 7's. Sorry I've been gone, computer problems really got bad, but it's fixed. Someone came yesterday and added more memory to my computer. It's been working ok so far. Don't have time to go back and read everything, but I hope everyone is doing well.

I'm down to 204, so it's still coming off slowly, but coming off none the less. Still waiting to get Hunter into preschool, as they are waitin on paperwork still.

I'll try to check in later, but we're heading to my moms today in a little bit, and we have my step kids this weekend, so my step son gets on this computer too, so I'll try.

Hope everyone has a great day, and I'll try to check back and get back into things tonight. Any good news happening around the thread?? Any other NSV to talk about. I had 2 associates at work in the last 2 days tell me I was getting 'SKINNY'. Now that is a great NSV for me. My name and skinny have never been thought about in the same sentence ever before.

Please help catch me up to speed!!

Lynette, Been thinking of you and wondering how you were doing! Sounds like terrific!!!! Wonderful!

Still waiting for Hunter to start school? Man, they must really have the paperwork! We have them register one day and the next day they are in our classes, lol! Hope that all works out very soon for all of you!

Had one fill a month ago and got 2 cc's, on top of 1.5 or whatever was in the band originally. Didn't feel it at first, but after awhile started to. Have 2nd fill on Thursday. Think I'll just get a little fill. At first thought I'd pass, but I guess I do need a little more, as I'm starting to get hungrier in the afternoons now.

Seems that you are really doing well! It is wonderful when it works the right way, but I know we have to do our part too and that's the tough part, lol!

Thanks for noticing Jeanie! It goes kind of slow for a few days and then you see some movement. Some weeks it's only a half pound, others it's three and a half, but it seems to all average out at 2 per week, which I guess is probably the best thing for us all.

You are doing wonderful! You have had fills, right? How much do you have now? I have 3 cc's and he said 4 and 5 totally shut me down, but now it seems like things are moving way toooooo smoothly, lol! Down 33 pounds and body feels lots different, but not moving much weight right now! Not scheduled for another fill til November!!!!

Well, that blouse story made me laugh out loud!! Even got a grin out of my DH!! Yeah, time to retire those clothes!! My bras are getting roomy & some shirts I have are threatening to fall off my shoulders so I will be a lot more careful since I read your story!! You're doing gREAT!!

Sounds like you are just doing wonderful too! I don't check in for awhile and I find all my friends are just soooo successful!!! Good motivation to get things moving again, lol! Keep up the good work!!!! It is wonderful!:whoo:

well my 'too tight' fill turns out to be my 'just right' fill! i had only liquids for 4 days and this morning i made biscuits & gravy for my husband...tried a couple of tsp. gravy (i know, i know...gravy!!!) and it went down fine. had Protein drink...went down fine. had some apple juice later...went down fine (granted, i am still sipping. and i mean sipping! waiting several minutes, sipping again.)

for lunch i had a scrambled egg!! i am really happy. i was freaking out thinking i was going to be on liquids for a month or so! it's really just eating tiny bites. chewing 30x. and waiting a few minutes between each bite. i am trying to do something else while i eat to keep me occupied b/w each bite. i notice if i sit down at a meal, i eat too fast.

funny, i remember saying to my husband a few weeks ago...i would be fine and feel like the weight would really start to shed if i could just eat a couple of bites! and here i am. yippee!!

:whoo:

Wow, sounds like you are in a good place for you! Great job!!!! Enjoy the success!!!!:whoo:

Phyllser, I was sharing the blouse story with my DH as well and he thought it was funny too! It's quiet on here today, so I'm probably checking out. Will check back later. I lost another pound today, so I'm a happy camper as well! Keep working it!

Brandy, looks like you are really just clipping those pounds off!!! That is wonderful!!!