Carrie22803

I think this is just an informal get together to eat lunch and chat...I don't know, though? Laurel is closer than Annapolis and much easier for me to make it to.

I am at a new low, too - 222. But it's not from eating good, I know that. I've fallen into the eating what goes down easily thing, even though it's not good for me. it seems like evn if I start the day off right, drinking a protein shake and whatever, in the late afternoon I cave and eat tortilla chips and queso (crunchy things go down easy for me). It's probably because I'm not eating enough good food in the beginning of the day, but ??? Sometimes I just black out or something, get a chicken nuggets kids meal from McDonalds, try to eat it, it won't go down, I throw up and then throw everything away...why am I doing this to myself??? I can't seem to get my mind banded, but I'm definitely better than I used to be. I know almost 4 months ago I was 243, and now I'm 222, but it's almost like I can't be proud of it because I lost it the WRONG way. I need some help

I'll be there with bells on!!!

This might be a whole new thread, but I was wondering if any of my fellow Turtles feel the same as me. I don't know if this is right, but I feel like surrounding my surgery (especially afterwards) I was not emotionally prepared for this new way of life. I still had the same brain, even though my stomach was smaller. I still feel sad/bored/happy/any feeling and want to eat. I think about food all the time, where I can eat, how long it will take, etc. And I'm not talking about band issues, just how I would think before banding. I feel like I'm wasting a lot of money because I will order food or buy a dinner and then only eat a little bit, or not be able to eat any at all because the 1st bite gets stuck. But my mind still thinks it can eat it all, and sometimes I try to keep eating even though I am full - it's just the portions I am used to. I think maybe because I was banded in Mexico I wasn't privy to certain programs that prepare you for the aftermath. I am starting to do better, but it has been almost 4 months since I've been banded, and I still have to tell myself that I can't eat certain things, or that I don't need to eat, I'm not hungry, just bored (or whatever). It's kinda hard to do alone, I was wondering if this emotional reconciliation between what was and what now is is the issue for any other Turtles out there, but maybe that's why some of us have had slow weight loss? I am just now realizing all this, but I definitely feel that maybe once my mind catches up with my new stomach, I will lose more weight faster, because I won't be thinking like the old me!?!? Let me know what you think....

Ok, I was scared, but I tried on a pair of 18's...and they fit!!! I am wearing them now!!! There are not as comfy as my 20's, but I can actually zipper and move without my stomach feeling like it is being squeezed to death. I am excited. 18...16...14...12...10...I want to be a 9/10. 4 more sizes to go! And I KNOW there are more people with NSV's...come on, people, lay 'em on us.

It's true...maybe evn more now than it was to start, just in a different way. Now we have to think about what will not get stuck and make us PB at the dinner table! I'm down for Red Lobster if you want seafood...or whatever. This will be fun

Alright, girls...my weight is exactly the same! 225. Stupid scale. As for an NSV, I am wearing a size 18 jeans as we speak!!! Yay!!! So there, scale ! Hope you guys had a good week as well!

Thanks, bay-bay! I don't know how long it will take, but let me tell you, when I weigh 199 I will jump for joy!!!

Oh, that sounds like so much fun!!! There are some good ones, TGIFriday's, Red Lobster, Don Pablo's, Olive Garden...I'm getting hungry! I'm in if we all want to meet up and hang out!!!

Ok, NSV of the day... I seem to not be able to/not want to eat pizza anymore. I've tried in the past, but it ended badly. Now it seems that I do not even want it!!! Yay! One more step in the direction of healthy eating.

Dr. Susan Brinkley Frederick, MD $200. last Wednesday of every month, but adding more dates

Dr. Susan Brinkley in Frederick, MD is where I go. She does Mexico patients (I am one) and she is great. Cost is $200. I'll find the number and post it up here, too.

I found the website for Dr. Rumbaut, it's www.gastricband.com Go check it out, even if you don't go with them, it has a lot of information on the band and the whole process. Good luck!

I was banded in Monterrey, Mexico by Dr. Rumbaut - he is fabulous, and it cost 10,600. But there are credit companies that they use so you can call and see if you can get approved, that way you will just have a monthly bill. I love it. I go to Dr. Brinkley in Frederick, MD for fills, and no, they are not painful. The numbing needle is a little stick, but it passes quickly, and then you can't feel anything. I don't know about the gastric bypass question, my dad had that but he's never regained any weight. I'll find the website for Dr. Rumbaut and post it, or you can google him and find out a lot of information there. Good luck with your information gathering!

I know there are other NSV posts out there, especially one for the turtles like myself. But maybe we could start a MD NSV list? It would help us keep motivated even if the scale is not showing progress. Here is my NSV for the day: My size 20 jeans are starting to get a little loose...could it be that before long I will actually wear a size 18??? NO! I don't believe it. It just can't be. Hopefully they will continue to get looser as time goes on....

Alright, y'all...Friday is only 2 days away...I am scared to weigh in!!! I've heard some people talking about TOPS, how do I find out more information? It sounds pretty good. As for now, that evil scale is calling my name, knowing I have to get on it on Friday Oh, the horror!!!!

Here is my mini-goal ticker, I hope to accomplish this say, before New Year's even though that may be way too fast for a turtle like myself. But, it is something to look forward to, n'est pas? Love you Turtles, and you too, Grand Master Turtle Vines!!!

Y'all are crazy...yeah, I think about fills, but I always think about stretching my pouch or my band slipping...I am so scared something like that will happen, even though my doctor reassured me there's a small chance of that, especially since my band is stitched on both sides, all around. That sucka ain't goin' nowhere! I have the same thing, where sometimes I can eat normally, and the next day, it's like I just got a fill...? It's weird, but I guess it's part of being banded. Mornings are the tightest for some reason!! Great thread!

um, yeah. hittin' the crack pipe. There is NO way 7-800 calories is safe or healthy. Of course, if everyone would eat no carbs and exercise 5x a week and eat a pittance of calories they would lose weight. But we are not everyone. That's why we got banded in the first place. I'm lucky my surgeon is a bandster and he knows what it's like. I have not been able to follow those rules very closely, but as long as I continue to slim down, I feel alright. It's slow going, but it seems like your doctor is a diet-nazi. I think he should emphasize taking small steps to lead to a goal of, say, working out 5x a week. You can't just all of a sudden go nuts and follow all those rules 100%. There's a higher chance of failure that way, which I've heard over and over throughout the years. If you're going to make a real change in lifestyle, it needs to be gradual enough that you can stick with it. I agree with Vines, you are doing awesome, much better than us Turtles. Be happy with your NSVs and tell your doctor he needs help. Rehab?

That's so true! What works for one definitelt does not work for another. I've done zoloft and celexa, and now prozac. I like it so far. I just wanted to reiterate that if you ever need to talk , we're here, I'm here...you're never alone

That sounds pretty good...I had a momentary loss of sanity and tried to eat some spaghetti and some garlic bread. Yeah, it all came up. Not that I ate a lot, but I ate too fast and didn't chew, and I KNOW that I have trouble with bread and pasta...but it smelled so good! And everyone else got to eat it...I just got to relive every bite. Needless to say, I learned my lesson! Now, where's my low-carb shake????

I take Prozac, too. I think it helps me a lot, it's also the only drug approved for treating bulimia too. While I don't have bulimia, I do have BED (binge Eating Disorder) and I think it helps there, too. Obviously, I cannot binge with the band, but losing weight has been a slow process for me and other things in my life have made me depressed, too. We all have our issues! I used to be so against taking any medicine, I thought it would make me different. I am so glad that I tried it, and I realize now, being depressed isn't our fault. It's like being born with any other disease people take medicine for. You would take insulin for diabetes, right? We just need medicine to regulate our depression. I think you are doing great and I'm so happy you are back on the right track...if you ever need anything, you know we're all here for you!!!!

NSV - I decided to wear jeans again instead of loose comfy cotton pants. Yes, they are a size 20, but they do not squeeze my belly fat and make an unsightly roll. This NSV has a lot to do with regaining some care for what I look like. I was on this whole thing of being fat and not caring about looking nice or dressing up. Now I actually care about how I look again and put makeup on and everything. Damn, I think I got my groove back!

yay! I'm a Terp, too! I'm finishing my Master's there right now. I dislike crabs. Not worth it! I love shrimp, too!!!! Red Lobster....yummy. Fried shrimp, shrimp scampi and shrimp alfredo pasta!!! Ok, I need to stop! I love Maryland, too.

They were on sale so you just had to get them, right ? I know how it is...don't worry. Remember, it's not about what happened this weekend, it's about the big picture. You have lost a lot of weight so far, and you'll just get back on track this week. Let us know how the weigh in went, and don't get down on yourself. One weekend of indulgence doesn't ruin everything! You can do it!