Longhorn

Same here! I wasn't told not to wear a bra but while I was home the first few days, I wore a leisure bra. After that, I avoided underwire bras until my stitches healed up.

On the initial challenge post, some people put their starting weight (before surgery, etc.) but it was supposed to be the weight at the beginning of the challenge, followed by the current weight (at the beginning of the challenge, they should have been the same,) the goal weight at the end of the challenge, and how many pounds to go. For example, for me it was: 211, 209, 199, 10. So subtracting 209 from 211, I lost 2 pounds since the challenge began. I hope this answers your question!

Wow, Sades, I didn't realize you only had two mls! No wonder you're so hungry! I don't feel like I have much restriction at 4 mls -- I do feel like I get full on less food but still much more than will be required to lose weight. Here's hoping we get a step closer the next time! Funny how we use ccs instead of mls since they're both metric and therefore "foreign." I teach metric conversions in my math classes so I'm a little more comfortable with them than the "average" American.

Your first fill sounds exactly like mine! I'm glad everything went well. I take it yours was also not with fluoro? I know some people swear by it and wouldn't get a fill without it. I think we all tend to prefer what we're used to, especially if we haven't had any problems. I'll see my doctor once a month from now on but he said we'll decide together if I need another fill, depending on my weight loss and level of hunger. I expect I'll get one next week, though. I've lost a couple of pounds in the last month but not even a pound a week. I'm really looking forward to it! Thanks for sharing your experience!

1. Hollyberries...........298.............296..............285.........11 2. Cagstorm..............360.............357..............345.........12 3. Longhorn..............211.............209..............199.........10

Just be sure to hit "Next" so that you get to the page that shows all the code. But you don't have to copy and paste the code -- it will update automatically. You can check by going back to one of your posts on this board and hit refresh. Hope it works for you! I love graphs -- I'm a math teacher!

So how did it go?

Yep, we're all band sisters. I have 4 ccs now so I'm expecting he'll put in one more. I do want him to take it slow and allow me to adjust. I will also need to adjust my eating habits further. I think I've done a good job of chewing more and my bites are smaller but I suspect not small enough and I don't eat slowly enough for when I do get some restriction. That's one reason I'd just as soon take it slow, to give me time to adjust rather than be forced to adjust. I'll be watching to see how your next fill goes, too! :grouphug:

While I certainly sympathize about the scheduling problems, I'd be thrilled to be losing at the rate you are and from what I've read, there are many others on this board who would also wonder what the problem is! For me, if I was losing weight without "suffering" -- that is, being hungry all the time, feeling deprived, etc. -- then I'd feel like the band was working perfectly and I couldn't care less how much saline was in it. You didn't mention how you're feeling, just that you feel like you need a fill. Some people lose with no fill at all and others are filled to beyond official capacity of the band so there's little value in comparing fill numbers. There's also not a lot of value in comparing weight loss numbers because some have a little to lose and some have a lot; some are exercising; some are dieting in addition to the band while others are relying more on the band to do the work. I'd be really depressed if I felt like I was competing with others in any way because I've pretty much lost that race (though I WILL finish! :grouphug: )

I'm right there with you, Sades! I go in Friday, the 18th so with the time difference, that's practically the same day as you! We'll need to compare notes afterwards -- we've done everything else together! :grouphug: Thanks for that summary! It's great! I'm definitely in the "Add Fluid" zone! Congratulations! What a nice surprise!

Doddie: When you update the info at the Ticker Factory, you don't have to do anything to your signature. At is updated automatically.

Wow, if that's true, I should never have gained a pound! I live in Texas! :eek:

My doctor does them but it's $1000 for the paperwork and initial consultation and then $1000 per year for the fills. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, if you're interested:

My doctor said not to soak in water until the stitches were healed, about two weeks or so. Showers were okay as long as I didn't let the waters stream onto the stitches for a long time.

I managed to hop on the recumbent bike for 30 minutes and get in a good, short workout. It's a good thing because I then reported for jury duty and I was selected! The trial is expected to last through Thursday. It's a good thing I spent the weekend getting ready for school next week or I'd be really stressed out right now!

Whatever you change in your signature becomes retroactive to your old posts so whether you type it in or change your ticker, your old posts will still show your new information. I think including your banding date helps newbies figure it out when they read old posts.

Here are my totals for the week: Today's weight: 211. Total Cardio: 188 mins Total Strength: 0 mins I got busy working this weekend and didn't exercise. But getting this work done now, when I'm on a roll, means more time for exercise on a daily basis later.

We were given a box of four Irish whiskey creme cakes (or something like that -- I never got a real good look at the box.) We left the unopened box on the dining room table when we went to San Antonio overnight on New Year's Eve. Our five dogs managed to knock down the gate that cordons off their "Doggy Den" at the end of our sunroom. A friend came by and put them back in the pen (which has access to the backyard via a doggy door.) When we got home, there was trash all over the yard -- turns out, it was a destroyed box of tissues and the remnants of the box that held the cakes. We got home around noon on New Year's Day -- if the dogs had hangovers, they were gone by then.

I plan to take the Citracal when I finish what I have now (chewables that I don't particularly care for.) And I have Centrum chewables ready to go for my multivitamin. So I just need a good chewable or liquid for glucosamine-chondroitin-MSM. I have a chewable now but I can't stand the taste and I have to eat three of them every morning. But I really think it helps my knees.

I sure appreciate the encouragement! My brain knows that it is normal not to lose much weight until I get to proper restriction but even with my history as a slow loser, I was sure hoping it would be different this time! But I'm enjoying the weight I've lost so far and can be patient. :faint:

Karey: Yes, I love numbers -- I teach math! :eek: I wish I could get a Body Bugg but I've just started a spending diet! :eek: Our twin daughters both got married last year. The year before, I went on three cruises in 13 months plus a trip to Europe. To try to lose weight, I've spent thousands of dollars on bicycles and equipment, an elliptical, a recumbent exercise bike, and a home gym. Now I've got the payment for my surgery every month. I just can't justify the expense for another gadget right now. My poor, patient, THIN husband! Fortunately, I lost weight four years ago and I've kept the smaller clothes down to size 12 so at least I won't have to buy new clothes as I finally lose weight this time (not much happening in that department -- I've had one fill but no restriction so holding firm at about 18 pounds lost.) I do know that the heart rates are accurate on both of my machines because I checked them before I lost the chest strap on my HR monitor. So as long as I know I'm pushing myself during exercise, that's enough. And I just need to replace the battery in that pedometer and I'll have a little more information. Thanks! :clap2:

I've used several online food-logging services, including fitday and sparkpeople. While it makes me feel organized, I can't say that I find it inspiring. Perhaps that's because I have spent months (before the band) being meticulous about staying under an amount of calories that should have guaranteed weight loss and still didn't lose. I don't plan to count calories again but I might still log my food to keep track of Protein, Vitamins and nutrients.

I've been told by my GP's PA and by my surgeon's nutritionist that calcium citrate is better than calcium carbonate. Apparently, calcium citrate is better absorbed and you have to take much more calcium carbonate to get the same amount of calcium in your system. Also, you're not supposed to take a calcium supplement within two hours of taking iron or a multivitamin that contains iron because the iron interferes with calcium absorption. Unfortunately, Viactiv contains calcium carbonate. I love those chews! I got some chewable supplements from a site that specializes in bariatric vitamins but when my supply is gone, I'm switching to supplements I can find at my grocery store!

I gotta agree! There's nothing wrong with folks banding together but I wish the title of the thread could be changed and they can continue their chat. Meanwhile, a new thread can be started on the original topic. Or maybe more moderation could keep threads on topics and the new group of friends could start over elsewhere. I really think it's great that these online friendships form and keep going over months and even years. But when it happens on a support thread with a specific topic, it can be a turn-off to the rest of us. Thanks!

Two suggestions: One, upper body movement. Sitting in a chair, you can take a couple of cans of Soup or Beans and do various curls or lifts from the front or sides, etc. I think if you googled exercises for senior citizens, you'd find some for people who are sitting. Two, if you have a YMCA or fitness club with an indoor pool, then check out Water aerobics. The water helps support your weight but you still get a great workout. Good luck!