Road Queen

I love it!

Sorry to hear the news. Will include him in my prayers. Celeste

Enjoy your day...Celeste

I don't think you are plateauing. Weight loss averages 1-2 pounds a week. One week with less than average is not a plateau. I have had months where I only lost 1 pound. At about 6 months, I held the same weight for 4 months, then it just started dropping off. Are you following the rules - ddrinking your Water, getting in plenty of Protein etc. It may be that your body needs a few weeks to adjust to your loss to date and then you will start losing again. This isn't a quick fix. We didn't gain the weight overnight and shouldn't plan for it to be gone overnight. From the start, I figured it would take me 2 years. Now, I'm thinking 18 months. Good luck and have patience. Celeste

John, one of the latest exercise crazes in the US is the small pools that create the Water forces to push you back and you need to swim against the water. You can build a much smaller pool and get your exercise. Unfortunately, for the price, I will have to work internationally for a long time. Due to the creepy things in fresh water here, I won't try swimming upstream. There are pills that others take to get rid of the creeps but Im a chicken. But I am feeling exercise guilty so I'm gonna go take the neighbors dog for a walk. Celeste

Karla, thanks for noticing. I ordered some chewables from drugstore.com this week but I will be going to the US Aug 23 and will get some there. Orders take about a month to get here. I will be here until spring 2008 or so. This will be my only US trip (I think). Thanks for offering but with netgrocer, hickory farms, amazon groceries, organic food coop, etc I am doing fine. I also have friends that send me treats. Today, I tasted Keebler chocolate chip softcookies for the first time. OMG - they were good. I don't eat stuff like that normally so I know it was just a craving for home. BTW, I have a new 2007 Road King custom waiting for me at home. I ordered it before I got this job. I will ride it for 2 weeks and then sell it. I am feeling pampered today. Celeste

This is my second home. Its my place where I know I can always find someone. I will be here as long as I have internet access. Celeste

I think its tied to the protein and vitamins. I didn't notice mine falling out but I can tell its thinner. I have been too tight to get my vitamins in so I am hoping once I get to the US and purchase chewables it will right itself.

I have 20 pounds of black beans in my freezer right now. I live on them, jerky, tuna, and few other things. I can make soup or refried beans. When i took a cooking class in Mexico, the instructor threw the beans and juice in the blender to break them down, then cooked them up. That's what I do now too. Good luck.

My port bothers me more than anything. If I have any pain issues, its with the port. I hate having fills and unfills because it irritates me again for weeks. Glad to hear that others find it irritating also.

Being banded was the best thing I ever did for me. It took every bit of equity I had to pay for it but it has helped my life and changed me. I was just looking in the mirror a couple of minutes ago and I really don't know myself. I can't wait to get back to the US and go shopping. I sent for an outfit in June (that just arrived) in size 8 and its fine. My mom sent some old clothes for me to give my housekeeper and the size 6 skirts fit --size 6, I couldn't wear a size 6 when I weighed 130 (a hundred years ago) - I think the sizes have changed. It gave me the confidence to sell my house, quit my job, become a contractor, move half way around the world, etc. If I had stayed heavy, I would not have believed I could do all of this. But I used my band tool and now I am using my brain tool to live differently. Good luck on your journey. Appreciate the doubts because later you will look back in amusement. Celeste

This is a good reminder how individual everyone's band is and how it changes by the day. I would struggle with Protein if I didn't have beef jerky (or turkey jerky). I chew it slowly and spit out any gristle. The past week I have been able to eat anything but the quantity I can tolerate is low. Two weeks ago, I ate rice every day. Now, I can't tolerate any. The trick (in my mind) is to take a small bite of something, chew it to death, swallow, wait a few minutes and see if you can tolerate more. Good luck.

I have had a few. First, I am one of the bandsters that react to heat. I had my first unfill during an extreme heat period and it didn't click with me. A few weeks later, in the heat, I was very tight and it was 107 - I was riding motorcycle through Idaho, Montana, and ND that day. I drank warm (not cold) Water through the day to stay hydrated and didn't need an unfill. But I knew by then I reacted to heat. When I went to Mexico in Jan, I had my fill taken down to 1.2. Back in the US, I went up to 1.8 and it was perfect. Then I came to Africa for my job interview - and pbd every day So I went down to 1.5 to move here. Fortunately I moved here in the cool season and I have been able to handle it with problems about once a week. I am going to the US next month and will get reduced to 1.2. The hot season here is coming and I won't be able to eat otherwise. My other issue is that I live in a country with no US approved dr. And to find a dr. that could unfill me would probably require 24 hours of more of airport and flight time. The longer you have your band the more you will know it. It sounds like you are similar to me in that you don't need alot in your band for restriction. That's great. It has worked well for me. I have been a slow loser - but have lost alot of inches and size as well. Good luck on your journey. Celeste

I was on the ultimate pig-out before surgery. I went to Ecuador and ate like a pig for 8 days. Came home 10 days before surgery and was suppose to do 2 shakes and 1 small meal for two weeks prior to surgery. I think I managed that about 3 days out of the 10. I have also had pig out sessions since but only a bandster could call these pig outs. for example, I just got a box of food from a friend in the US. I ate two potato chips (not 2 bags, 2 chips) and a miniature twix bar. Now thats a pig out for me these days. I have been eating and drinking alot the last week and just noticed my scale is up 1.5 pounds. I'm coming back to the US in 3 1/2 weeks and I want to be 145 then so I'm gonna get dedicated again. Then, I will pig-out bandster style for 2 weeks - I miss US food......Celeste

Okay, here's my bummer. I haven't looked this good in years but in many poor cultures, being overweight is a sign of wealth - having money to buy food. So I'm looking poor - go figure. But wait until I go back to the US next month. I know I am looking good physically - just having a temporary hair crisis. Celeste

Michelle, good job. I have been wondering how you were doing. Keep up the good work. Celeste

Missy, I think all of us have had to work through the 'head' issues. I know that I lose well for awhile, then seem to plateau for 2-3 months, and then start losing again. I think my 'head' needs that plateaus to adjust to the fact that I am a smaller person. I remember after my sister had bypass, she lost 150 pounds but she wouldn't go anywhere crowded. She is 4'10 and would get lose and intimidated in crowds. She has since overcome that. I am also working through many issues associated with the weight loss but I think the toughest will be when I return to the US for vacation next month. Even when I left in April, I was wearing tight size 12 pants. I can easily wear 8s now and have fit into some sz 6 skirts. That change is making me feel vulnerable at times. Success is there but you have to be ready for it and adjust to it. Good luck on your journey. Celeste

I can't find them online. They must only have them in stores. There are cashews and ginger here - anybody know where I could find the recipe? I have been looking online and can't find one. Celeste

Leener, don't give up hope. You may find a way to get a fill or your band may just become more restrictive. When it is hot, my band gets tight. This is July so maybe the heat will cause some restriction for you. If nothing else, usually appetites go down in the heat. How much are fills if you self-pay? Can you start putting aside money every week to save for one? Go and enjoy the wedding. Appreciate your relationship. These opportunities don't come around every day so we need to enjoy today. Celeste

Before I moved, I obtained a needle from my fill doctor. He also said the needle used for the mediport would work. According to my surgeon, the cabin restriction can also be caused by air in the band or tube to band. I have not really had a problem. In the 15 months I have been banded, I have been to Africa 2 times (and then moved there), France, and Mexico. When I went to France, I delayed a fill. When I went to Mexico, I had my fill reduced. I know getting fills and unfills isn't cheap, but vacations aren't either and I don't want to spend my trip looking for a dr, going to a clinic, etc. Remember, many things can and will change your restriction. Last summer, I rode motorcycle home from Idaho to ND in temperatures over 100 and could barely tolerate Water. So I just sipped it as much as possible and drank it warm. Its 3:30 am right now and I work up about an hour ago with major gurgling just drinking water. So I am sitting up and drinking tea until my band calms down. I am sure its stress related tonight. Yes, when we go places we need to do our homework up front. But I live 2 1/2 air hours away from the closest dr (not fill dr, just any sanitary dr) and I wouldn't give up my band. I'm loving being within 2 pounds of BMI = normal!!

I have flat, wide feet with big toes that curl up - like elves, not under like hammer toes. I am so happy to be living somewhere I can wear sandals most days. I have had good luck with Wolky sandals and clarks. I hate it when my feet hurt. Good luck. Celeste

Vines, I am sorry. Would you like to come visit me and go grocery shopping? There are no magazines by the checkouts. I could use company. Good luck with your testing and keep your chin up (and the weight will start falling off). Celeste

Kaybee, I have 1.5 in a 4 cc band and pb. I even did when I had 1.2 Sometimes its cuz you don't chew, something might slip through (like that potato), rice might swell,, etc. They are uncomfortable but you live through it. One day you eat something and its fine, the next its not. This is part of learning to live with your band. Good luck. Celeste

Thanks to the internet, I do have a stash. I have Snyders pretzels, hickory farm sausage and cheese, organic popping corn, beef Jerky. Tonight, I was too exhausted to cook so I just had sausage and cheese for dinner. In 4 months, I have finished 2 bags of pretzels and am working on my 3rd. Its mostly to know that I can have comfort foods. Kell, I forgot about tuna and egg salad mixtures. I used to love that. I have some tuna packets so I will make some next week. There is a yummy yogurt mayo here that is pretty healthy. I also make tuna and avacado salad. I made a tuna vegetable chowder with canadian bacon, skim milk, low fat cheddar cheese, (cauliflower pureed for thickener) the other night. (cause I found this cheese in the store) Kashi crackers are also great. I need to order more. Other things I will order soon Craisins pumpkin seeds Almonds S. Beach chocolate chip Cookies

Good job. Post some pics. Celeste