Sades

How awful Dianne. I would never want to go through that. I have 7.5cc in a 10cc band and can still eat too much food. I do get stuck sometimes if I eat too fast but am okay once it's sorted. I'm going for more fill next week and I'm going to ask them to check if it's okay. The last time I was there I was told that most people find restriction between 7-8cc. I have lost 31 lbs since Nov but know I could have lost heaps more if not for the cheating I've done throughout this time. For the last 3 months or so I have lost the same few lbs over and over again. This last week I've been back on track so am looking forward to new weight loss this coming week. Rachel, you're doing really well as are all the other Nov Nymphs. It's a long and sometimes hard process but I know we will all get there. Good luck everyone!

Everyone looks great... can't wait to see the finished product.

Hey Kendra that is great news. Staying positive has obviously helped and it sounds like these people are really good at what they're doing. I am so happy for you. Marijuana... a blast from the past... good luck with your baking!! :huh2: Just be aware that some people can get paranoid when they smoke it but generally people feel good and mellow.

I too have the same problem but only around my face. Always have but it got worse once I hit menopause. I have an under active thyroid & high BP which are both controlled by tablets. I hate it when it happens because it's embarrassing when talking to people and having to constantly wipe my face with a tissue. I'll see if things change after I lose another 20 lbs.

I'm staying on plan today because I'd LIKE to say I've lost 9 lbs next week!! :ohmy:

Well you're not the only one Linda. I would have lost heaps more by now if it wasn't for the fact that junk food slides down so easily. Of course it doesn't help that my restriction allows me to eat everything else as well. I am fine during the day at work but at night and weekends I get a little out of control. Sure I don't eat like I used to but definitely way more than I should. I go for another fill next week and I want to get 1cc in because I think I need to make a drastic move to help stop all this. I know some people think we should be using willpower to get the weight off but for me my main problem was the junk food and grazing. I spoke to a friend today who has been banded for over 2 years and is at goal weight. She said the band should be doing 90% of the work so we're obviously not at the right restriction yet.

I have 7.5cc in my 10cc band. I am amazed at how much I can eat before I get full. I may not be overly hungry at the time but if I let myself I can down quite a bit. My dr put 2cc for my first fill, then added 3cc the next fill and then has put .5cc for the last 5 fills so when I go for another fill next week I am going to ask for 1cc. I feel I need to get a little drastic to get my next lot of weight off. I'm lucky because my dr is a 10 min walk away from my office so I can race down there if I have a problem.

I'm staying on plan today because I am still eating way too much so need to be strong and start saying no.

Hi Kendra, sounds like things are a little tough at the moment. I think you're doing really well because I think I would fall apart if I was given news like that. You know you can always come here for the support you need. The people here have said some beautiful things to you so take strength from that and know that we all care about you and want you to fight this and get well. xx

I put on about 8 lbs before surgery. I was so anxious about the surgery I couldn't stop eating. Crazy because in the end because I got through it without any problems. Good luck.

Sorry to hear that. I hope your doctor is wrong and it's not a serious problem. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks for the update Kendra. It sounds like you're in good hands. Take care and keep us posted. xx

Are we talking Jillian from the biggest loser? If so I don't aspire to look like that. She looks great but you'd have to be pretty dedicated to the gym to look like that. I think I'm more the apple lady type. I'm happy to get down to a size 12 (Aussie sizing). I think if I lose any more than that at my age I will end up aging too quickly. At my age you want to keep the wrinkles at bay for as long as you can. :puke:

I have been able to eat quite a bit and was told that I was okay by the nurse at my doctor's office (she's been banded as well). She said while you have very little restriction it's not unusual to overeat and she didn't seem worried about me stretching my pouch. If you are worried talk to your doctor's office.

I have 7.5cc in mine but I'm definitely not at my sweet spot. Most of the time, I'm not hungry so I can go longer without food but I can still eat big amounts of food. I can eat a roll with egg, cheese & salad without too much effort and I can eat apples and pretty much anything I want. I also graze on the wrong foods and as we know they can go down easily. Head hunger has to be biggest killer of weight loss for me. I'm hoping that the next fill will hit that elusive sweet spot. Oh and for the record, I exercise pretty much every day to help combat any excess food intake. Not the way I want to be doing this but that's where I'm at right now.

Before photos taken on 31 Oct 2007 and the after photos were taken on 27 January 2008. Haven't lost much since. Not quite there yet but I can see a difference.

When you want to post a picture you click on reply then scroll down to Manage Attachments. A new window opens, so you click on browse. When you find the picture you want you click on it then click on upload. You then close that window and submit your message. The photos should be in that message. Good luck.

Wow Kendra those things are hard enough to deal with when you're well. As Cindy said, what a roller coaster. Looks like our boots need to be kicking more than just the cancer. Doctors are funny people and it's hard to know if you're doing the right thing finding someone new... you know starting the story all over again but I guess if he is not helping you stay positive then it's time to go. My thoughts and prayers are with you and I'm staying positive that MD Anderson can help you beat this. Take care. xx

Hi I've put my answers in red. Don't worry about all the questions. It's not easy when you're first starting out. Ask these questions at any of the info nights you go to. They are very helpful. Good luck with your decision.

Great to hear from you Jen. I went through this with my brother so I know exactly what you're going through. He had to relearn eveything as well. Good luck on getting well and keep us posted.

I'm up to fill 5 Danna but still not fully restricted... my next one is 16 April. I am finding it hard keeping away from the bad foods. I have periods of doing really well then I find myself going the other way. I should have lost heaps more weight by now. Steve said I was on track with my loss but because I lost most of it at the beginning it feels like I'm never going to get there.

Hi Danna, how's it going?

My BIL is very lucky for sure. I think things will change foodwise for him. I would wait until after the holiday to get another fill, you don't want to regret it while you're away. When I did my big USA holday in 2006, we did so much walking and ate reasonably healthy that I didn't put one ounce on. Walking is the best way to lose or maintain. The pain in my side is subsiding but still not sure what happened. My next fill is on 16 April and I'm sure I'll need it by then. It's got to hit soon. I have very little to eat during the day, seems to be the night time which gets to me the most. I know it's not hunger more like habit. I go really well for a while then bam, back into it. I guess 2 steps forward and 1 step back will still achieve results... just a little slower than some.

Pretty much the same as you Shortgal. I can still eat large amounts but can go much longer without food. I've a bad pain on my left side the last couple of days and it looks swollen. I'm worried that I may have done some damage over Easter. On the BIL front, they found that he had 90% blockage in one artery and 50% in another. They cleared the 90% blockage and said they won't touch the 50% one. They only do it if it's 60% and over. He has to be on tablets and will be home tomorrow. The specialist will see him for a stress test etc in a few weeks. He said that if he didn't get the chest pains and left it, he would have had a major heart attack. Lucky man.

Thanks for asking Shortgal. They believe he had a mild heart attack but won't know for sure until he has an echocardiogram today to determine what damage there is. Unfortunately heart disease runs in his family. His 2 brothers have had major bypasses and his brother and nephew who both passed away in separate car accidents would have needed bypasses at some point. I just hope he looks after himself so he doesn't have to. He is a tall skinny guy who loves his fatty food and junk meals so it just shows that it's not always because you're fat that these things happen. He is originally from the USA... my sister met him in Australia in the 60s while he was on R&R from the air force. How's your restriction going?