enjoylife

oh, can someone tell me how to update my signature. I can't remember how to do it.

Ok, my diet doesn’t look like any of your diets. I eat. Like last night, I had two huge pieces of cornbread, a half filet of fish, and about seven brussel sprouts for dinner. I don’t think I had lunch, but I a Popeyes thigh for breakfast. Now normally I do not eat cornbread – it really was a special treat, but I really should have limited myself to one piece. The Popeyes chicken was just easy so I ate it. There are some nights that I eat a bowl of raisin bran for dinner (and yes I add sugar) – I can do that for a week and not feel the least bit deprived. Breakfast is usually iffy for me. If it’s easy and available, I’ll eat it – otherwise I won’t. When I’m at work, breakfast could be a bowl of oatmeal, or a yogurt. I am trying to eat more fruits and vegetables so I snack on grapefruits and tangelos. I try to make myself eat apples, but for some reason, I am not really enjoying them. I used to love grapes, but my band is not all that into them… of course the band usually has the final word on what gets ingested sooo… I can no longer eat regular bread. My band hates bread. White, wheat, oat, oat bran, sourdough, or whatever… I can not get bread down. Sometimes I just want a bite of a sandwich, but it is not worth the feeling I get in my chest and stomach after I east bread. I can eat crackers as long as I only eat a few, but who wants lunch meat on a cracker? I sure don’t. Applesauce, which I love, was not going down easy at all, so I gave up on that. Well not really. I just purchased a jar, so apparently I’m willing to try again. Wow, I have not been on LBT in such a long time. My job has blocked access to the site because it thinks of it as social networking site. I used to find such comfort, knowledge and support here. Well I’m back… now that I have finally moved into my new home (the cable man came yesterday). But I plan on starting anew. I have had my one year anniversary, and I am not thrilled with my weight lose. I am down 64 lbs, which I know is not horrible, but it’s not what I envisioned when was contemplating surgery. So I need to get moving…literally. I need to exercise. I am seriously considering the body bugg. It’s not in my budget, but I feel like it would give me the edge that I need. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? The site has changed so much. I look forward to getting back into the swing of things.

Christine, You are absolutely right to celebrate. I am seeing some flab, but Iwas also able to take my daughter to Disney World and walk all over four parks and fit into the rides!!!!. So celebrate your lost sixty-pounds,

NOW onto another note, I just experienced the fill from HELL!!! I went on Friday, August 22nd. Everything seemed fine until later that evening. Everything came up. Nothing stayed down. I thought if I just relaxed that maybe the swelling would go down and I would be ok. HA! That was a joke. That's what I get for dissolving Funions in my mouth on the day of a fill. I had a handful - but my band was not having it. I threw up from Friday to Monday afternoon. I could not even take in water. I sucked ice cubes to stay hydrated and I threw that up!!! By the time I got to my surgeon's office I had lost 14.4 lbs. Let me tell you; that was no way to lose weight. He says I won't gain it all back because some of it was fat loss because I took in no calories. Whatever! I was so glad to be able to drink water again I damn near jumped in my bottle of Aquafina. I may go back at a later date to have .5 cc put pack in - but I am in no rush. I may wait a month. Tomorrow I will try solids again. I'm hoping to be able to finally enjoy eating something again. Well that's my drama - I hope no one else goes through anything like this.

Amanda don't be disenchanted. I know that losing weight only to find that swimsuits looked better on you BEFORE weight loss is a little hard to take. I have been on vacation to Disney World and to Ocean City, Maryland and although I've lost some weight, I knew that hanging out by the pool or on the beach was not for me. For my birthday present this year I am joining the gym. As I have tried to explain to my ultra supportive father - this does not mean that I won't be sagging. In fact, it may mean that I have more sag, because my muscles will be tone, but my skin won't. So much for feeling sexy again. Anyway, buy your self a good girdle hat breathes and allows you to bend and continue on with your workouts. In addition, you may want to start document any problems that you are incurring because of your loose skin. Have you doctor document them as well... And just in case - start saving because you ay have to pay for your repairs yourself. That's my game plan anyway. I'm even researching local doctors that have payment plans so I I start making payments before I even schedule the surgery. I guess I could take out a medical loan, but I'd rather not deal with the interest on those.

Your surgeon can prescribe a pill that will help you to NOT vomit. I got a prescription for it the day I left the hospital.

I have to be careful with carbs. They are definitely my weakness. the one that creates the most cravings for me is chocolate. I really try to stay away from that - one bite leads to the whole bar. - Fenton I'm in awe of you - you can make a bar last for two days - I have to work on making it last for two hours. As for fills - I have not had one in over a month - I was scheduled for one last week, but there was an emergency in the OR - I'm praying that who ever it was made out okay - and my fill was postponed. Westcoastmom - I've read all of the advice you've been given, and there's nothing for me to add. Its all been said - for now. I'm going to carry a pad with me and write it all (what I eat) down - I may even join weight watchers too - I'm serious. I usually log my food at the end of the day, but it may help to log through out the day because I'm sure I miss quite a bit when trying to remember everything at the end of the day. I certainly skip most little snacks - a few chips here, a peppermint there... you get the picture. Boy this feels good.

I need a psychiatrist. I have my WiiFit - have had it since 6/3/08. It's still in the box. I eat too much. I have not lost a pound. I ate New York Peppermint Patty and Almond Joy COOKIES last week. Yesterday I was eating stale toast and grape jam. It wasn't going down well, but I continued to eat the slice anyway. Then I threw up. There was bright red blood - more than I was comfortable with seeing. Now I have a new pain where I believe my stomach is - let me look that up... ok - still not sure. I am scheduled for fill # 3 on July 2nd -but I am wondering if I should cancel that. Until I learn self control, no amount of fill will help me. I figured out - way too late of course - that although my surgeon only requires two days of liquids after a fill - I apparently need more. I don't know if I have that kind of will power. I'm reading all of your posts and everyone is doing so well. I'm not one for long drawn out pity parties - but I'm feeling like a failure. I don't want to be a band failure. You would think that enduring a heat wave that seems to be stuck at 98 degrees that I would at least sweat off a pound or two. I mean it’s too hot to even eat! So I am here once again with my bag of strawberries, cherries, bananas, carrots, and ranch dip. I did this yesterday too - but destroyed all of my efforts with a piece of stale bread with grape jam. I have found a gym that I will be joining. My neighbor goes and she loves it. I have a meeting with the builders today, I saw a guy about a car yesterday, and I start my internship next week. I am an addict. I'm addicted to chewing and swallowing food - and I need HELP. Ok - I'm signing off at 291 lbs. I will not post again until I am in in the 280's (and I don't mean 289!).

I have not been sick more often. However, if you have been sick for exactly as long as you have had the band (or am i reading that wrong?) then you may want to see your pcp and do some research to determine if other patients leaving your hosipital are also sick.

Fenton, I didn't think I'd be talking much about my Wii Fit board because I have been researching the local gyms to decide which one to join. Well I have decided to not join any. I would need one that offers supervised child care and the only one that does that is way too expensive and only has child care on certain days and times. So... it looks like I will be going to pick up my Fit board some time this week. In addition, I may be ordering a Body Bugg. www.24hourfitness.com has them on sale for $199 and the wrist monitor is on sale for $74. I don't know how long the sale will last. Maybe it will get even cheaper (it really is over priced) but technology usually does the longer it stays on the market. That's it for now. Lunch was cool. I think I ate too much and am now just waiting for it to go down. This may take a while...

Either I need an unfill, or I don't like restriction at all. I can only eat one meal per day. I can drink Protein, but eating is tricky. Its like my acid reflux has come back with a vengence. Spicy food is intolerable, but I love spicy food. I usually remember to chew, chew, and then chew some more. Some things go down with no problem and then others seem to sit in my throat burning. The scales have moved, but I'm afraid to eat around anyone because I have no idea how my body will react. I guess it just takes some getting used to. I'm giving myself until June 6th. I have to take that day off from work anyway, so if am not handling this any better by then, I will be getting an unfill. Whodda thunk that 5cc in a 14 cc band would be this much of a butt kicker? Thanks to everyone for your well wishes. I have whiplash and quite a bit of pain - but I also got three prescriptions to deal with the pain - I thought that was a bit much (vicodin, flexral, and ibuprophen). I have only gone walking once since the accident and have not played any Wii games (I don't have my fit board yet, though I did put a deposit on one at Toys R Us). Well at least the scale has moved anyway. Enjoy the last day of your long weekend!

I can't eat anything. Is this what retriction feels like? Yesterday I had a protein shake for breakfast, a chicken thigh for lunch (it took me 45 minutes to eat it) another thigh for dinner - I also tried some shrimp and basil - I must have been full because that crap was sitting in my throat trying to kill me. A few hours after that came back up (yeah I said that) I ate some peanut butter six crackers. I'm gonna starve to death. Oh, I was rear ended yesterday - hard - should I be concerned about my band? I guess that's a question for my surgeon...

I'm doing the HAPPY DANCE for you!!! Blessings on your journey.

The Urban rebounder I'm talking about is the one this MSN Fitness aabout. I read about it here: 4 Fun Ways to Fight Fat - MSN Health & Fitness - Fitness and on its own site: Urban Rebounding program is a fun workout for all ages, shapes, and sizes.

Has anyone tried the Urban Rebounder? I am considering purchasing one because it advertises that does not affect your joints. I have arthritis and bone spurs. In fact, my orthopedic doctor told me I have the knee of a 70 year old. That's twice my age! Anyway, running is no longer an option, but I want something that will work quickly - It claims to burn 569 calories on an average sized person - so I figure I should burn that in half the time!!! – Any info will be greatly appreciated!!!

Has anyone tried the Urban Rebounder? I am considering purchasing one because it advertises that does not affect your joints. I have arthritis and bone spurs. In fact, my orthopedic doctor told me I have the knee of a 70 year old. That's twice my age! Anyway, running is no longer an option, but I want something that will work quickly - It claims to burn 569 calories on an average sized person - so I figure I should burn that in half the time!!! - I think I'm going to post this outside of here to get more feed back. The Urban rebounder I'm talking about is the one this MSN Fitness about. I read about it here: 4 Fun Ways to Fight Fat - MSN Health & Fitness - Fitness and on its own site: Urban Rebounding program is a fun workout for all ages, shapes, and sizes. Any info will be greatly appreciated!!!

WARNING – this might get gross and will definitely be long….:thumbs_up: Be very careful of what you ask for – you just might get it. My goodness, I just posted that that yesterday and already I have been blasted twice. Here’s the real kicker – I wanted restriction – oh boy do I have restriction. I may be too tight. I have no clue how to determine this. Yesterday I got 2ccs added to my band. That makes for a total of 5cc in a 14cc band. My surgeon said, “If this doesn’t do the trick, the next one definitely will.” Yesterday was horrible. I was hungry – I forgot to eat before I got my fill – actually I forgot that I could not eat for three hours before my fill. I tried to sip water on the way home – it was not going down smoothly at all. I called and left a message at the surgeon’s office. I got home, made some cream of chicken soup, but decided to wait until after I cut the grass to eat it. So I cut the grass, took a show and sat down to savor my soup – WRONG!!!! First of all I stupidly took an orso (sp?) pill (for gall stones). I did not crush it – I bit it into pieces. I also took a pill to keep me from throwing up – but I got that right after surgery so I though it was tiny enough to not have to bite. Well let’s just say that soup was not going down smoothly. AND it tasted like cream of chicken and pill soup. I eventually gave up on that – the lump in my throat should have deterred me sooner, but the growl in my stomach kept egging me on. I tried to lie down and get some rest – or at least fined a comfortable position. That’s when my five year old bundle of joy decided she needed some Mommy time and came to plop down on my stomach. Well I finally got her in a position (off my belly but still cuddle close) that SHE was comfortable with and was able to nod off. My slumber was abruptly interrupted by a horrible burning sensation in my nose and a retched taste coming from my throat. I immediately got up and called my surgeon at home (Yes I said I called him – no between man answering service. Isn’t he wonderful?). My surgeon asked me questions about coughing and saliva. He then told me to try to sip water and if I didn’t feel better tomorrow (now today) to come in and he would take some of my fill out. I then walked around and tried to calm my nerves. I got my bed all comfy like and slipped in the finally get some sleep – WRONG AGAIN… Within 4 minutes I was up and heading to the bathroom. I knew it was coming – I could not fight it so I simply prayed that God would make this as gentle on my stomach as possible. I usually throw up from my toes – but this time was much milder. I got foam, bile, and a few retches but no soup. I think those pills were sitting on top of my stoma opening. Afterwards I felt much better and was able to sleep. Today I am doing better. I have been able to get some water down and I even had black bean bisque for lunch. However, my surgeon’s nurse wants me to go back to clear thin broths for the rest of today and to sleep with an extra pillow so that I get a little assistance from gravity tonight. For once gravity is working in my favor (this does not make up for what it is doing to my breast). Hopefully the worst is over and my band just needed some time to loosen up. If I am not feeling back to normal by tomorrow I will be making that 2.5 hour drive up there and back. There’s no way I am going through this weekend feeling like crap. That’s my soap opera… what’s your’s?

WARNING – this might get gross and will definitely be long….:thumbdown: Be very careful of what you ask for – you just might get it. My goodness, I just posted that that yesterday and already I have been blasted twice. Here’s the real kicker – I wanted restriction – oh boy do I have restriction. I may be too tight. I have no clue how to determine this. Yesterday I got 2ccs added to my band. That makes for a total of 5cc in a 14cc band. My surgeon said, “If this doesn’t do the trick, the next one definitely will.” Yesterday was horrible. I was hungry – I forgot to eat before I got my fill – actually I forgot that I could not eat for three hours before my fill. I tried to sip water on the way home – it was not going down smoothly at all. I called and left a message at the surgeon’s office. I got home, made some cream of chicken soup, but decided to wait until after I cut the grass to eat it. So I cut the grass, took a show and sat down to savor my soup – WRONG!!!! First of all I stupidly took an orso (sp?) pill (for gall stones). I did not crush it – I bit it into pieces. I also took a pill to keep me from throwing up – but I got that right after surgery so I though it was tiny enough to not have to bite. Well let’s just say that soup was not going down smoothly. AND it tasted like cream of chicken and pill soup. I eventually gave up on that – the lump in my throat should have deterred me sooner, but the growl in my stomach kept egging me on. I tried to lie down and get some rest – or at least fined a comfortable position. That’s when my five year old bundle of joy decided she needed some Mommy time and came to plop down on my stomach. Well I finally got her in a position (off my belly but still cuddle close) that SHE was comfortable with and was able to nod off. My slumber was abruptly interrupted by a horrible burning sensation in my nose and a retched taste coming from my throat. I immediately got up and called my surgeon at home (Yes I said I called him – no between man answering service. Isn’t he wonderful?). My surgeon asked me questions about coughing and saliva. He then told me to try to sip water and if I didn’t feel better tomorrow (now today) to come in and he would take some of my fill out. I then walked around and tried to calm my nerves. I got my bed all comfy like and slipped in the finally get some sleep – WRONG AGAIN… Within 4 minutes I was up and heading to the bathroom. I knew it was coming – I could not fight it so I simply prayed that God would make this as gentle on my stomach as possible. I usually throw up from my toes – but this time was much milder. I got foam, bile, and a few retches but no soup. I think those pills were sitting on top of my stoma opening. Afterwards I felt much better and was able to sleep. Today I am doing better. I have been able to get some water down and I even had black bean bisque for lunch. However, my surgeon’s nurse wants me to go back to clear thin broths for the rest of today and to sleep with an extra pillow so that I get a little assistance from gravity tonight. For once gravity is working in my favor (this does not make up for what it is doing to my breast). Hopefully the worst is over and my band just needed some time to loosen up. If I am not feeling back to normal by tomorrow I will be making that 2.5 hour drive up there and back. There’s no way I am going through this weekend feeling like crap. That’s my soap opera… what’s your’s?

I am scheduled for fill #2 today. It was originally scheduled for the 21st, but my surgeon added another surgery so the office had to change my appointment. I'm not complaining; I would want someone to change their fill date so that I could get the band. I'm just glad that it was moved up instead of further away. I seem to be stuck. I am hungry. When I'm hungry I eat. I try not to eat too much, but I'm not one of those people that can walk around hungry. My stomach has a notorious growl - its so embarrassing.... I received 3cc during my first fill. I'm hoping for at least another 3cc this time. That would put me at 6 cc in a 14 cc band. I hope this offers a lot more restriction that I have now. I'm getting a little desperate - I am 2 months (on the 24th) post op and I am only down 1 lbs - heck I lost those 18 lb within the first two - three weeks post op. Since then I've been struggling to maintain. I'm glad that I am not gaining - boy am I happy about that - I just want to lose more. My goal was/is to be 280 by June 13th. That may not be possible at this point. If I lose 2lb a week from now to then that would put me at 288 lb. I guess that will have to do. I'm going to have to buckle down - really monitor what goes into my mouth so that I can drop those 8 lbs by June 13th. Then I'll start working towards my July 4th goal - originally I wanted to be 270 lb by then. I'll settle for 278 lb. I'm putting this in writing here because I need some accountability to someone other than myself. No one (except my immediate family knows about my band) so there's no one to push me to try harder (and no one to monitor every morsel of food I eat or whisper about me doing this the easy way - which is why I have chosen to keep this to myself). There are a few people here who have had the band - the conversation that some people have about them is ridiculous. I just don't choose to open myself up to that kind on intense scrutiny and ridicule - I feel like a gay woman whose afraid to come out of the closet - but then again I guess not - I have no idea what that kind of pain feels like and I don't want to compare my petty problems to that. Anyway.... If you guys don't see my ticker going down soon - BLAST ME!! Since that's the last thing I want to see here I will be doing my best to make that dag gone scale move! NSV - I have officially left size 4x behind. I had a peasant blouse that I waited all winter to wear. I put that gorgeous thing on and I was swimming in it!!!! My coworker - who is losing weight, gave me a brand new linen peasant shirt that she is now too small to wear (size 3x) it fit perfectly :thumbs_up:. WHOOO HOOO!!!! That’s right - I'm celebrating being a size 3x. Do the happy dance, do happy dance - spin it around and shake your body down - doing the happy dance ! __________________

I am scheduled for fill #2 today. It was originally scheduled for the 21st, but my surgeon added another surgery so the office had to change my appointment. I'm not complaining; I would want someone to change their fill date so that I could get the band. I'm just glad that it was moved up instead of further away. I seem to be stuck. I am hungry. When I'm hungry I eat. I try not to eat too much, but I'm not one of those people that can walk around hungry. My stomach has a notorious growl - its so embarrassing.... I received 3cc during my first fill. I'm hoping for at least another 3cc this time. That would put me at 6 cc in a 14 cc band. I hope this offers a lot more restriction that I have now. I'm getting a little desperate - I am 2 months (on the 24th) post op and I am only down 1 lbs - heck I lost those 18 lb within the first two - three weeks post op. Since then I've been struggling to maintain. I'm glad that I am not gaining - boy am I happy about that - I just want to lose more. My goal was/is to be 280 by June 13th. That may not be possible at this point. If I lose 2lb a week from now to then that would put me at 288 lb. I guess that will have to do. I'm going to have to buckle down - really monitor what goes into my mouth so that I can drop those 8 lbs by June 13th. Then I'll start working towards my July 4th goal - originally I wanted to be 270 lb by then. I'll settle for 278 lb. I'm putting this in writing here because I need some accountability to someone other than myself. No one (except my immediate family knows about my band) so there's no one to push me to try harder (and no one to monitor every morsel of food I eat or whisper about me doing this the easy way - which is why I have chosen to keep this to myself). There are a few people here who have had the band - the conversation that some people have about them is ridiculous. I just don't choose to open myself up to that kind on intense scrutiny and ridicule - I feel like a gay woman whose afraid to come out of the closet - but then again I guess not - I have no idea what that kind of pain feels like and I don't want to compare my petty problems to that. Anyway.... If you guys don't see my ticker going down soon - BLAST ME!! Since that's the last thing I want to see here I will be doing my best to make that dag gone scale move! NSV - I have officially left size 4x behind. I had a peasant blouse that I waited all winter to wear. I put that gorgeous thing on and I was swimming in it!!!! My coworker - who is losing weight, gave me a brand new linen peasant shirt that she is now too small to wear (size 3x) it fit perfectly :thumbdown:. WHOOO HOOO!!!! That’s right - I'm celebrating being a size 3x. Do the happy dance, do happy dance - spin it around and shake your body down - doing the happy dance :thumbup:! __________________

WARNING – this might get gross and will definitely be long…. Be very careful of what you ask for – you just might get it. My goodness, I just posted for folks to blast me yesterday and already I have been blasted twice. Here’s the real kicker – I wanted restriction – oh boy do I have restriction. I may be too tight. I have no clue how to determine this. Yesterday I got 2ccs added to my band. That makes for a total of 5cc in a 14cc band. My surgeon said, “If this doesn’t do the trick, the next one definitely will.” It must have done the trick because this does not feel like a treat. Yesterday was horrible. I was hungry – I forgot to eat before I got my fill – actually I forgot that I could not eat for three hours before my fill. After my fill, I tried to sip Water on the way home – it was not going down smoothly at all. I called and left a message at the surgeon’s office. I got home and made some cream of chicken Soup, but decided to wait until after I cut the grass to eat it. So I cut the grass, took a shower and sat down to savor my soup – WRONG!!!! First of all I stupidly took an orso (sp?) pill (for gall stones). I did not crush it – I bit it into pieces. I also took a pill to keep me from throwing up – but I got that right after surgery so I thought it was tiny enough to not have to bite. Well let’s just say that soup was not going down smoothly. AND it tasted like cream of chicken and pill soup. I eventually gave up on that – the lump in my throat should have deterred me sooner, but the growl in my stomach kept egging me on. I tried to lie down and get some rest – or at least find a comfortable position. That’s when my five year old bundle of joy decided she needed some Mommy time and came to plop down on my stomach. Well I finally got her in a position (off my belly but still cuddle close) that SHE was comfortable with and was able to nod off. My slumber was abruptly interrupted by a horrible burning sensation in my nose and a retched taste coming from my throat. I immediately got up and called my surgeon at home (Yes I said I called him – no between man answering service. Isn’t he wonderful?). My surgeon asked me questions about coughing and saliva. He then told me to try to sip water and if I didn’t feel better tomorrow (now today) to come in and he would take some of my fill out. I then walked around and tried to calm my nerves. I got my bed all comfy like and slipped in to finally get some sleep – WRONG AGAIN… Within 4 minutes I was up and heading to the bathroom. I knew it was coming – I could not fight it so I simply prayed that God would make this as gentle on my stomach as possible. I usually throw up from my toes – but this time was much milder. I got foam, bile, and a few retches but no soup. I think those pills were sitting on top of my stoma opening. Afterwards I felt much better and was able to sleep. Today I am doing better. I have been able to get some water down and I even had black bean bisque for lunch. However, my surgeon’s nurse wants me to go back to clear thin broths for the rest of today and to sleep with an extra pillow so that I get a little assistance from gravity tonight. For once gravity is working in my favor (this does not make up for what it is doing to my breast). Hopefully the worst is over and my band just needed some time to loosen up. If I am not feeling back to normal by tomorrow I will be making that 2.5 hour drive up there and back. There’s no way I am going through this weekend feeling like crap. That’s my soap opera… what’s your’s?

I am scheduled for fill #2 today. It was originally scheduled for the 21st, but my surgeon added another surgery so the office had to change my appointment. I'm not complaining; I would want someone to change their fill date so that I could get the band. I'm just glad that it was moved up instead of further away. I seem to be stuck. I am hungry. When I'm hungry I eat. I try not to eat too much, but I'm not one of those people that can walk around hungry. My stomach has a notorious growl - its so embarrassing.... I received 3cc during my first fill. I'm hoping for at least another 3cc this time. That would put me at 6 cc in a 14 cc band. I hope this offers a lot more restriction that I have now. I'm getting a little desperate - I am 2 months (on the 24th) post op and I am only down 1 lbs - heck I lost those 18 lb within the first two - three weeks post op. Since then I've been struggling to maintain. I'm glad that I am not gaining - boy am I happy about that - I just want to lose more. My goal was/is to be 180 by June 13th. That may not be possible at this point. If I lose 2lb a week from now to then that would put me at 288 lb. I guess that will have to do. I'm going to have to buckle down - really monitor what goes into my mouth so that I can drop those 8 lbs by June 13th. Then I'll start working towards my July 4th goal - originally I wanted to be 270 lb by then. I'll settle for 278 lb. I'm putting this in writing here because I need some accountability to someone other than myself. No one (except my immediate family knows about my band) so there's no one to push me to try harder (and no one to monitor every morsel of food I eat or whisper about me doing this the easy way - which is why I have chosen to keep this to myself). There are a few people here who have had the band - the conversation that some people have about them is ridiculous. I just don't choose to open myself up to that kind on intense scrutiny and ridicule - I feel like a gay woman whose afraid to come out of the closet - but then again I guess not - I have no idea what that kind of pain feels like and I don't want to compare my petty problems to that. Anyway.... If you guys don't see my ticker going down soon - BLAST ME!! Since that's the last thing I want to see here I will be doing my best to make that dag gone scale move! NSV - I have officially left size 4x behind. I had a peasant blouse that I waited all winter to wear. I put that gorgeous thing on and I was swimming in it!!!! My coworker - who is losing weight, gave me a brand new linen peasant shirt that she is now too small to wear (size 3x) it fit perfectly. WHOOO HOOO!!!! That’s right - I'm celebrating being a size 3x. Do the happy dance, do happy dance - spin it around and shake your body down - doing the happy dance!

I have BCBS PPO - my surgery didn't cost me a dime. IS THE BAND WORTH THE cost for some and and the hoops you go hrough to get it? I believe it is. At least is for me. Good luck on your journey.

For the record - Rugman is right. How much protein your body needs depends on how much you weigh and how tall you are. I need 79 grams. I'm not a big meat eater - when I eat (or drink) more protein my weight loss is so much faster than when I'm getting little or no protein. Go to http://www.unjury.com/reg/calculator.shtml to calculate how much protein you need day. After you do that, try getting that amount for one week - I'm sure you'll see a change. Now if I could only take my own advice consistently...

I'm not sure what's going on. I got 3cc in a 14 cc band. I'm scheduked for another fill on May 21st. I don't really feel like I have restriction - all the time. Yesterday I ate a six inch Subway cold cut (bread and all). Today I could barely finish a cup of school cafeteria chicken and veggie Soup. Go figure. JDUB - I'm not sure what your doctor is doing. I know that my doctor will not charge me for any visits for 90 days post surgery. I suspect I will be there every two weeks until I hit that sweet spot point. I agree with everyone else - you should be politely more agressive with your doctor. You had the surgery so you could have help losing weight - if your band is not helping you, then its his/her job to help it help you. I think I felt that golf ball today. I can't figure out why though. What did I eat? oh - some french fries - half of a small order.