Road Queen

Thanks for all of your support. This board and the chat room kept me going through the long weekend. I started hiring home remodeling help yesterday. I am going to get the projects done that are difficult with an animal living there now - that way when I am ready to be a doggie mom again, my house will be ready. Thanks again. Celeste

Kare, I have been using the CD and enjoying it but haven't gone through the whole thing yet. That pace sets a pretty intense workout - I was doing some aerobics to tracks 8,9,10 (I think) this morning and it was kicking my rear!!! I will let you know when I get through the whole thing. Thanks for making these. Celeste

I have always lost weight slowly. Even on phen-fen my best month was 6 pounds. I managed to take off 9 of the pounds pre-surgery so really since surgery (7 months) I have only lost 26 pounds. I have also been stuck for the last 10 weeks. I had alot of stress during that time too but the cool part is, I didn't gain 20 pounds like I would have before. I am fluctuating up and down 3 pounds. But my goal this new year is to work on the rules. I will be content if I go back to my usual loss of .6 - .8 pounds a week or 3 pounds a month. That will be 3 pounds less than the month before!! And 12 pounds in 3 months. And hopefully by 18 months post-op, I will be at goal. Patience is my new motto. Good luck on your decision.

Alex, thanks for everything you do but what are you doing working on the site at 5 am on New Years day!!! We all appreciate it. Celeste

I eat meat but alot of vegetables. This last week I got awesome fresh brussel sprouts that I oven roasted. They were awesome. I also oven roast green Beans, carrots, etc. One of my favorite veggie dishes is mushrooms, spinash (cut small), yellow squash, and matchstick carrots - cooked in garlic oil, sprinkle with parmesean cheese. Hummus is a favorite veggie dip for me. I eat soy chips, use Protein drinks, yogurt, etc. I think you can get your protein in without meat. Just track your protein and if you are short, have a Protein Drink for supper or before bed.

Try getting won ton soup (throw the wontons away) or egg drop (use only the brth). These soups are thicker and seem to stick to the ribs longer. I got really hooked on the packaged cheese soups (not canned). If I was really hungry I would add some mashed potatoes to make them a little thicker. Do some searches here for things others have recomended. This is a common question. Good luck.....just remember thin feels better than anything tastes.

Lisa, give the fur-babies New Years kisses for me and I will have a glass of wine for you. Hope you have great movies to watch. Hurry and get well so I can come to LV and visit. Happy New Year and get well soon...Celeste

I also have alot of evening restriction. I am okay in the morning (I'm not much of a breakfast eater so i don't really know), pretty wide open at noon, and tighter at night. I also get tight when the weather changes and when its hot. When I'm really tight, I either have a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Either one opens me up enough to enjoy a bandster style dinner. If I don't do that, I am tight but hungry and end up snacking through the night. Good luck finding what works for you. Celeste

Vines, sorry you are going through this also. Hopefully Schnapps and Astro are going for a run and telling stories about how weird we were and how it was difficult for them when we got banded and quit cooking their favorite foods, etc. I hope this evening gets better for you. I'm going to the chat room. Celeste

Here's my current bike - 2003 Road King but I've got it up for sale and its time for a new one. I've been riding and trading hd's since 1981. My last four have been Road Kings. My dealership loves me. Celeste

Good job!! Please post pictures. Celeste

Eileen, I have been eating out and going to parties (and not losing lately). These recipes will help me get back on track this weekend. Thanks. Celeste

I last posted oct 3 when I was bummed about only having lost 30 pounds and not losing more. I have continued my exercising but I guess my eating habits aren't good cuz I now see stuck with a 35 pound loss. In 12 weeks I have lost 5 pounds. But its better than gaining five. The next few months are going to be very stressful for me so I'm hoping to hold my own. I have to put my dog to sleep on Friday. My mother is moving in with me Feb 1. And the list goes on... Your results are all wonderful. Lets keep losing. celeste

just guessing but I'm thinking that the swelling from surgery went away. Until you get good restriction, your band is 'on vacation'. Just don't get carried away. Try to follow good bandster rules until you get a fill. Good luck.

Count me in. I haven't had any scale victories for a couple of months and haven't seen any NSV so this will force me to look for them. Any special day of the week we should post. 1/3/06 Weight today 177. NSV - I don't know. I will post one later.

Imalene, I can't help you in Mn/Wi but if you drive to Bismarck, the dr here will treat Mexico patients. Dr. Schmit is great and nice. His pa is doing the fills now and he is really good at hitting the 'sweet spot'. I know its a heck of a drive from Wisconsin but its an option that is available. You probably have cheaper flights to San Diego than we do here but flights from ND are expensive!! If you want more details on Dr. Schmit, pm me. Celeste

Wow Jodie ---what a change. You have come so far. It sounds like you have your health back and a great attitude. Good luck in school and keep us updated. Celeste

MuffinBirdie Did you ever move to South Africa? I remember you were considering it. If so, do you know of a fill dr down there. I may be moving to Malawi and will have to dr in S. Africa since Malawi has no embassy approved drs. Thanks for any info. Celeste

She's a doll. And your house looks like a home. Congratulations on the weight loss. Celeste

Welcome to bandland. You are brave - coming home from the hospital for the holidays. Everyone has different experiences post surgery. I didn't have heartburn but had shoulder pain for 6 weeks from the gas. You should read the threads here on the healing process but I"ll try to quick summarize. For the next few weeks, your body will be healing from surgery. You willl lose weight and may not have much of an appetite. As you progress to mushies and back to solids, you will have more of an appetite and may gain back some of the weight loss. Some people continue to have restriction after they heal from surgery. For most of us, our band is on vacation until properly filled. Use this time to practice good bandster rules - some typically given by surgeons include chewing every bite 25 times, small bites, 60-100 grams of Protein a day, etc. Good luck. Celeste

I have been stuck - weight wise - for about 9 weeks. Today when I was on the treadmill, I was reading Prevention magazine on the More Protein = More weight loss. They talk about women who averages 107 grams of protein per day lost one more pound of fat than others who averages 57 grams per day. I looked at my food journal. When I was losing, I averaged 90. Now I'm down to 60 - what the nutritionist recommended. My Christmas present to me - I'm going to try and hit 100 grams a day. I am going to start a protein thread Monday for me to post my protein intake. I hope this works. I want to lose 6 more pounds before Mexico in 3 weeks - after this stall - I deserve it.

Sherry I can't find it either.

Your picture is great. I don't think your facial issues are as noticable as you feel. You've done a great job losing weight. You look good. All of us wrestle with self esteem issues and I think having the band (with its slow loss) helps us work through the issues as we lose weight. I like the fact that avatar pictures are so small. They don't show wrinkles, bags under the eyes, etc. I have posted a few pictures but haven't been able to handle having any more taken for awhile. We all have our picture demons Congratulations on your loss and getting the picture posted. Merry Christmas. Celeste

Dana, you were restricted initially due to swelling from surgery. Now you are healed. For most of us, until we get properly filled, it is like our band is on vacation. You may also gain because you are re-introducing foods back to your body. Don't worry. Remember this is a process not a race. You will find times when you have restriction and times when you don't. Even when you are properly filled, there will be times you can eat too much and the band always lets you eat bad food - ice cream, chips, etc. But it is there when you are ready to get back on the band-wagon. When you follow the rules and have restriction, it will be there for you. Just try and eat better and wait for your fill. When I was 6 weeks out and without a fill, I went to Liberia Africa for two weeks. It wasn't a matter of making bad choices, but not really having any choice. When I came back and got a fill, the band kicked in. Good luck. Celeste

Dr. Schmit is wonderful. Kay is the nutritionist you meet with and she is very good and patient with my weird ways and travels. Andy will probably do your fill. I hate needles too. The first few times I had a nurse hold a book between my head and the needles cuz I didn't want to see it!! They will put you on clear liquids for the first 24 hours so prepare yourself for missing dinner with your family that evening or else plan somewhere you can have broth. I'll pm you my cell phone number if you want to call when you are here.