Road Queen

Welcome and good luck on your pre-surgery diet. You are brave (and smart) to do this over the holidays. Just think about how great you will look and feel next Christmas. This site is a great resource. There are many old threads with valuable information on diet after surgery, Protein shakes, fills, etc and new ones with info on what's the latest and great info. Keep us updated. Celeste

Kim, I'm alot older than you are so I've had lots of time. I really didn't start joining and doing many of those things until I was about 30 (I was a slow learner). Good luck. Celeste

This sounds great. I wish places like that were here - okay maybe its better that I can only enjoy stuff like that on vacations. I'll have to put that in my vacation book. Celeste

My mom used to return everything we would give her and my dad would never use the things he got. So one year I donated a goat in their name through Heifer International. They were just kind of in shock and didn't really say anything but I got the satisfaction of knowing that some family would use this to better their life and my folks couldn't return it. I now give my mom food from Omaha Steaks, A La Zing, or Impromptu Gourmet. She can't return it so she either eats it or gives it away.

fitday.com

Des, My scale can have a mind of its own sometimes. Its digital and sometimes it gets lazy and just gives me the same numbers as the last time - for days. I get mad and pull the batteries out so it has to start over. scales - can't live with them and (I) can't live without them. I would take the 197 reading to mean that you are close but the scale likes your old numbers. Give it time to adjust :eek: . Celeste

Kim, Wheetsin gave some great info so I'm just going to supplement with things that have worked for me over the years. I have an accounting degree (CPA) and started out auditing governmental entities. I worked for a CPA firm, then went to auditing government and business firms that received federal funding for hiring or educational purposes. I joined Toastmasters to improve my speaking and interviewing skills. Advancing as an Officer in the local club and regionally (president, treasurer, public relations office, member recruitment, newsletter prepration, etc) gave me experience in managing volunteers, running meetings, and leadership. Giving Toastmaster Seminars provided me with training skills. I also started volunteering with local organizations. And became a board member on some non-profits (expanding skill sets again) and sometimes just worked on committees. I went on an international Rotary exchange program and started learning about working with different cultures. After joining Rotary, I participated in additional international and volunteer work - to learn more about countries, cultures and contribute to the communities. Through church, I volunteered with a local church and an orphanage in Honduras. I joined a local chapter of the National Management Association, went through the officer ranks, and participated in planning conferences. I took the tests and became a Certified Manager. (I am also a Certified Government Finance Officer.) I went back to school and got my masters in Management with an IT specialty. (I need 3 more classes for my MBA). After that, I began getting offers to teach as adjunct faculty. I have taught a graduate level Financial Management class and undergraduate classes in Governmental Accounting, Public Policy, and Economics. I am currently trying to get an appointment as a federal personal services contractor to do Budget work in Malawi, Africa. That may fall through for a number of reason. If it does, I will continue expanding my skill set and experiences to provide me a better background for future positions. I did not apply for this or the teaching jobs. These things have happened because someone told somebody about my skills. I guess the long and short of this is to continue learning new things and sometimes it pays off. Good luck in your efforts. Celeste

My mom tries really hard but she likes to stockpiles things and have them available for gifts. A few years ago when I came home from Brazil, I gave her a choice of my purchases that she would like. Last year I got them back as my birthday present. (She forgot she got them from me). At least I usually buy things I like so I was happy to have them back.

One day I'm tight, the next day the weather changes and I'm wide open. Then I get stressed and I'm locked up. Have a glass of wine to relax and I'm wide open again. I am finding that my band and restriction is very sensitive to weather, stress, etc. It sounds to me like you may have some of those issues. Also, my dr told me that if there is any air in your band, you will have additional swelling from flying. I swell a little from flying but nothing major. Most of it is due to the changing weather conditions. As far as retaining Water, add lemon juice to your tea and drink plenty of water. I also take psyllium husk daily - my family has a history of polyps and colon problems so I keep myself regular. (TMI :eek:) Good luck in figuring it out. Celeste

I started my presurgery diet at 212 and a BMI of 36.6 I had surgery at 203 with a BMI of 34.8 Today, I am 176 with a BMI of 30.2 I am averaging .9 pounds per week. Except the problem is I have lost .3 pounds in the last 9 weeks (according to the dr scale) and I am basically sitting in the 174-178 range. I am exercising 60 minutes 5-7 days a week. I am losing inches but I learned in Nan's Holiday Challenge that I am losing them slower than others. I will not accept that this is where I am going to end up. The lower BMI may be part of it but I have lost weight many times in the past and I want this to be different. I will lose more weight but I think my body and mind are slowly accepting the changes so that this time I won't gain it back. The last nine weeks have been challenging with no loss and many people having problems here. I thank God that I have been given this tool to help me live a better and more productive life and pray he will give me patience in this journey. Celeste

Okay, I just learned that I don't know how to use these polls. I only voted on the first question so I'll just answer here. 7 months out - 35 pound loss Are you 100% satisfied with Band and surgeon? Yes Have you experienced problems but finally have a healthy band?No problems. Have you ever had a port revision or removal surgery?No Have you ever had a port infection?No Did you have to pay extra for problems you never expected?No Have you experienced Band slippage?No Have you ever had erosion? No Have your Band been removed?No If you had your Band removed, did you get a new one?No Ever had a bad Band-related bad experience in Mexico?Not applicable Ever have to go back to Mexico for unexpected problems (other than fills.) not applicable Do you have a Horrifying Band experience overall? No If you had your Band removed, would you want a new one if possible?yes Has anyone maintained weight loss after a full year?not applicable

When I had my first fill, my dr had no restrictions on what I ate afterwards. After my fourth fill, they now have 24 hours of liquids. I had my last fill in the morning and did liquids the rest of the day and mushies the day after.

Angie, sorry that you have to suffer through this. Keep us updated. Good luck. Celeste

I try to have pieces about the size of my little fingernail. And chew them 25 times.

Laura, I was banded in May and haven't hit 40 pounds yet. I have been hovering between 34 and 38 pound loss for 2 months. And I lost 9 of those pounds in my pre-surgery diet. So, I'm down 25 pounds since banded almost 7 months ago. But I still use my high weight since if I hadn't been getting banded, I wouldn't have gone on the pre-surgery diet and lost that weight. And if I hadn't gotten banded, I'd probably have gained 25 pounds. I am eating way less and exercising 60 minutes most days. Since I can only walk at a slow pace (3mph) , I have added incline to my treadmill workouts and am wearing weighted shoes in my other walks. I know I'm not the perfect bandster but I think I should be losing something. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to vent. I try not to since I believe that I have a great life and the band has given me a wonderful opportunity to make it better. That said, I won't complain again for awhile. Celeste

Happy Birthday - enjoy your day. Treat yourself to something special. Celeste

Awesome getting filled right is great. My surgeon is now having his pa do the fill and he has a theory that the needle dances/wiggles when you've hit your sweet spot. His fill did work well me me - now the problem is me and following the rules.

After a pb, you should only have liquids for 24 hours, then a day of mushies. Your insides were irritated from the pb, then trying to eat again has probably irritated them more and caused additional swelling. Try going on liquids for a couple of days. Call your dr on Monday and talk to him. Good luck.

I am not sure but I had read to wear heavy clothing and put rolls of quarters in a multiple pocket vest. Leave your heavy shoes one when they weigh, etc Instead of that, I refinanced my house.

I am postiing the picture I had taken for last years photo. It is me and my baby - Schnapps. I didn't get the Christmas cards made and I don't look like that anymore so I don't want to send it out. This is a way to feel like I didn't waste the money. Oh no, I just looked at the picture and think we look alot like!!

Congratulations!! Post some pictures for us. Celeste

Welcome to Bandland. Celeste

Lisa, good luck in your process and decision. I hope they find out everything is okay and get you a port (covered by insurance). If not and you have your band taken out, I hope you have phantom band like some others are experiencing. I have read all the difficulties you have gone through and your patience, endurance, and humor have provided many of us with hope, laughter, and patience of our own. Here's wishing you the best and asking you to keep us updated. I know these decisions must have been difficult for you to make. Good luck. Celeste

That's great news. I think some of us are alot more sensitive to fills than others. It took about 10 days for my last fill to settle down. And that was only .2ccs. Thank goodness my fills are free the first year so I can get little adjustments. Good luck and keep up the good work. Celeste

Yes, yes, yes!! You will get through this and other episodes as you change your life and food habits. Try to take your mind off of it. Take a walk, bubble baths, get lost in a good book, watch movies, etc. Even at 6 months out, I struggle through the times when I used to turn to food. And get a little emotional. How can we not be emotional? We are replacing our best friend - food - with a healthy lifestyle. Losing friends is always tough but food was a friend that never gave opinions, always was there, provided needed comfort, etc. Post alot and read threads. Everyone has challenging times in this process. Good luck.