Kristin1031

Thanks everyone for all your wonderful advice, I am taking everything you said in and trying to relax. I have not taken any measurements but will plan on doing that this weekend. I don't know why I didn;t I guess because the weight was most important to me at the time. I know I am losing inches because of how my clothes fit on me. I will continue to try to work out even harder than I am now, I am going to start walking on the treadmill at the club a couple of times a week to give things a change.

Who logs there food and activity? What site do you use? I thought it would be fun to see who has gotten into the logging and found out how much it helps and keeps you goal oriented and motivated. I moved over to Sparkspeople.com I love it there. Wow what a site.

There are so many different opinions out there in the medical community...obviously...because so many people are doing so many different things. I was told by our nutritionist in our pre surgery nutrition classes we had more than one by the way, that there was no way we could eat all the Protein we needed when only consuming 3 ounce meals, so we would need to drink some of our protein. Therefore we are to have one in the mid morning and one mid afternoon. We are to use unjury it is whey protein and is has 20 grms of protein. Our bodies are only able to absorb 23-25 grams of protein at a time. So consuming more than this in one sitting is only hurting your kidneys, they told us. I know this to be true, because I have trouble getting the calories high enough without the Protein shakes with my 3 ounce meals. I think others are eating a whole lot more food than I am. I was told to never eat more than 4 ounces ever again......this was to make the band be as successful as it could be. The whole idea is to keep the portions very small. The pouch is only the size of my surgeons thumb when first made, and only will stretch so much. You do not want it overly stretched. If you figure 3 ounces of food that is very hard to get 1100 to 1200 calories which is the ideal amount that I am too shoot for:) Hope this helps, always do what your own Dr. has outlined for you to do!! NO matter what is said here.

Thank you I shall try that....anything at this point is worth it to me!!!!!LOL I know it is a plateau and I just need to be patient......patience is hard with WL though....LOL Especially when I see such amazing people as yourself......WOW what an accomplishment you have made!! COngratulations!!

I have no regrets I had not lost a pound in over three years and I am down 31 pounds since surgery Nov 9th. How could I regret that...LOL It is not as fast as I might want, but in reality that is awesome weight loss. I just have to stay focused and do the band rules and don't let anything sway me from my long term goal, to eat healthy and too take food out of control and put myself back in the driver seat for once!!! It will not be something you regret I firmly believe that.

I am getting 8 glasses in a day, it is a huge struggle but I am doing it. I don't use salt so I don't think that is a problem. I am not eating prepared foods that much I make nearly everything I put into my mouth so I am certain what is in it. You are probably right, I just know how it furstrates me right now, I almost cried yesterday at the gym when I got on the scale and still no movement. I am trying to focus on how good I feel.....but it is so hard....I want the next 16 pounds to move out....I want to be in ONDERLAND so badly.

My surgeons scale weighs me 6 pounds heavier than my scale at home and I have a proffesional scale...LOL They have this huge scale I feel like a dog being weighed at the vet....because it is on the floor and you step up onto it and then it is digital on the wall. I feel for you all, I have not lost 1 pound since Dec 27 and that is 10 days and I am keeping my food in check and excersising like mad....it is very frustrating. I am still not hungry between meals unless I go longer than 6 hours and then I get a hungry feeling. I wish the scale would move so I do not feel like a failure....I do not see my surgeon til the 7th of February.

Congratulations I remember that feeling well......you will be well on your way really soon now!!!!!

I agree that it is similar to head hunger the whole I need a fill concept because not everyone does......I am nearly 2 months out from surgery and have no need for a fill.....I am losing weight and I am NOT hungry. I know this is not the average.....but I have met others in the same boat as I. My surgeon told me that many of his patients do not need fills the 1st year. I am going with the old addage if not broke don't fix it......as long as the weight is coming off and I am not hungry then I am not filling the band. It is obvious to me that I am able to get restriction......I am only eating 3 ounce meals 3 times a day and drinking 2 Protein shakes in between meals. NO Snacks per my surgeon. I hear alot of there is not restriction til filled, I do not believe that is true for everyone......otherwise I would be starving...LOL I am glad that I have done this well, I know as much of the success is mental and wrapping your arms around the band as merely a tool. It is not so much the restriction as to allowing yourself to believe that 3 ounces of food will be enough to fill you up. I eat til I am satisfied not til I am full anymore......I think this is a huge difference as well.

I have lost it from everywhere. My pregnant looking belly is all but a memory, which I am very thankful for and my butt is looking a tad smaller....could that be possible...LOL Everyone says it is really noticeable in my face. I do not see it there. I notice it everywhere...my clothes are smaller and some are still sagging....all of these things are GREAT!!

Ok I am game here !!! name ............. starting# ..... current#........goal#......togo# Hollyberries.......... 298............ 298.............. 285........ 13 Momto1(Wendy)... 241............ 241.............. 229........ 12 Hungryforchange.. 227............ 227.............. 215..........12 Cagstorm (Craig).. 360............ 360.............. 345......... 15 Teresajo............. 252............ 212.............. 205.......... 7 Skinny_Jill............195.............195...............180......... 15 Foofy ................ 273.5..........249...............237 .........12 want2lose...........236.8...........236.8.............225..........11. 8 sades.................229.............199.7.............189........... 10.7 chiqui.................246.............231................220......... .11 MarieGabrielle.......268.............268...............256............ 12 Trixie...................264.............264...............244........ ...20 Firebolt................243.............224...............212......... ..12 Kristin1031...........287.............256...............240.............16 __________________

Well I know what everyone has been talking about.....I had my first stuck experience with some cooked vegtables they were soft and I thought oh I will be ok with these.....two bites later....pain and this feeling of a full esophogus....LMAO It never came back up I was patient and just remained calm and it eventually went through but oh it was not pleasant. I think eating is going to be interesting next week......when I begin eating normal food again.....I know I am restricted.....and now I am certain of it. Will be anxious to see what my Dr has to say to me on Tuesday. Anyone else experiencing any food issues who are one month out???

I was given a rubber lapband bracelet from my Bariatric support group that has the Allergan Lap Band Logo on it and it says I am with the BAND. I wear it all of the time. I will order one of the medical ID bracelets though I think it is a good idea to have one for emergencies. My bracelet I have is like the Livestrong bracelets.

Congratulations Morningoasis!! You sound like you are doing fabulous!! And without a fill hehehehe as I am....I am not filled either....and I am averaging 3.6 lbs per week loss....I am so happy!! I am glad that you were able to get your surgery and begin this awesome journey and awesome doesn't really come close to how it truly feels to me, I can only imagine how you must be feeling hitting 75......I am waiting for 50.....

oh Ok I now know who she is....LOL

Well like I told you it scared me to death, but I just said OK I cannot drink and I would stop and eat and then use a timer and wait and I did that religously from the day I was banded. I never really missed it, because I have had real problems getting in all the liquid required because I feel full most of the time....:party: I am not complaining. I know you think it will behard but it won't, you will not want to drink with your food....trust me there is no room in there.....if you keep hydrated between meals you will not need the liquid when you eat. I know it doesn't seem possible but it is true. Good Luck on your banding, I am sure everything will be fine.

Who is Ann Wilson, I am sorry I do not know who this is?

:party::)I am totally satisfied with my 3 ounces of food 3 times a day. Protein shake in between Breakfast and lunch and lunch and dinner. No snacking and plenty of Water...:party: I have trouble getting in my 64 ounces of water but some days I do better on that than others. I think everyone is right, somedays I feel more full than others. I always MEASURE my portions.....I do not eyeball.....I was told not to do that. I know people in my support group 4 years out who still measure their portions.......and they are below GOAL!! I don't know why it is this way for some and not for others, I truly do not. I think that would be an answer for the DR's. But I do know that I am thrilled I am one of the lucky ones.....who is not constantly hungry! This is the year of the BAND!!!

Steph sorry to hear about this episode for you! My scars are healing, and they are still red and noticeable. My port inscison is doing great I have a small area at one end of it that took longer to close completely but it is doing better now. I had issues with the disolving sutures poking through my skin.....my surgeon told me to just pull them up with scissors and clip them off if they were irritating me and I did and no more issues with this. I am not worried about my scars because I know they will eventually over time fade. It is like a badge anyhow....of what I went through to get this weight off....it is nice to have that reminder every time I undress so that I do not get complacient about this journey. I am sure your scars will recover and you will be ok. There is also some stuff on the market called McDerma I think and I am going to try it later down the road....not this early though. I think in a couple more months perhaps. My dad used this on his openheart scar and it really helped.

I was terrified of not being able to drink with my meals.....I truly was!! It has been no issue at all for me....I don't order drinks of any kind when out at a restauraunt. I eat most of my meals at home, and prepare them myself.....I just resigned myself to this is the way it HAS got to be. I knew that my surgeon would not have drilled this into our heads months prior to surgery if it were not highly important....for the success of my banding. I actually do not miss it at all.......nor have I found that I NEED it. I drink alot prior to eating......I do not drink 30 minutes before my meal. It is like anything else after doing it now going on two months.....I have created a habit...:party:

Renee you are doing great!!! Don't let anything side track you least of your own critique of how you are doing....I am my own worst critic...LOL You have lost an amazing amount of weight in a very short time. We have nearly the same stats...I am also 5'6" and I weighed 10 more pounds than you at my highest weight and I feel like I have done an amazing job. True I want so badly to be below 240 again, I can taste it.....that is 17 more pounds to go.....for me. I know I can do this, I am working my butt off in the gym and I am eating as much Protein as I can get in each day. I am still not drinking enough, it is so tuff for me, I am always feeling full and so it stops me from wanting Water, but I know I am getting dehydrated because of my lips and my weakness. I push and push to get in all of my water. I can still here the nurtrionist telling me that some people have to adjust their schedule so that they can eat and drink the amount needed, by either staying up later or getting up earlier. I already get up at 4:30 am so I am not getting up any earlier....LOL Make sure you are logging your food somewhere...I think that helps me to stay on track I truly do.....FitDay.com is what I use now. Our Bariatric program has its own software but they have kinks in it and so I just started using FitDay because I heard about it on here.....I live by it now. I hope things start moving for you again soon.....Hugz!!

I wuite smoking 8 years ago cold turkey I do not miss it even for one second. I hate that nasty habit I truly do. I can't believe I smelled like that for one.....and not to mention the breathing problems that it causes. I used to be plagued with colds and bronchitis in the winter, spring, even summer and fall....I was always sick with a cold or some sort of URI. I am glad I was able to kick that nasty addiction......now if I can only be that successful with FOOD.....LOL Good luck on your relapse......perhaps a good support group might help.

Thank you Shortgal I know you are right.....It will be exciting and I am thrilled to know that. I just hope that I have the strength to not turn back to food for comfort while he is away this time.....keeping my fingers crossed for that strength. And you are right it is no easier today than it was 20 years ago. I miss him each and every day. He was diagnosed on Christmas Day 1987.... it makes the holidays very difficult......but my two grandsons have helped immensly with that pain....one of them bears his name...:scared: Congrats on your own VICTORY, any loss is a Great Loss don't forget it!! Hugz,

I think 2008 is going to be the best year for me in a very very long time!! I will be able to see a ME that I have not been able to see for a very long time. I am hoping to reach my goal by my year anniversary. I know there will be alot of hard work between then and now. I think I have laid the ground work for success, however. I am going to the gym religiously. I feel so much better for it. I have a cold right now that is kicking my butt.....but I am still working out...LOL Hats off to all of the November Nymphs and huge successes in 2008!!! Happy New Year!!

I definately understand that feeling. I have watched myself over the past 2 years gain 70 pounds and think will this ever stop. But I also know that I had some major stressers going on in my life. The one I deal with most often is the death in 1988 of our son Adam who was 4 1/2 to cancer. The most recent my husband was deployed to Iraq and those months he was gone I ate and ate and ate to stop the pain. I ate all of the wrong foods, I was not cooking, why would I just for me, it was easier to pick up fast food. It should not be called FAST FOOD it is FAT ARSES that is what it should be called...LOL I am fearful because I am doing well now but I am looking at another deployment in May and I am wondering how I am going to handle him being gone this time, he has been my ROCK since deciding to get my BAND!!