NJ_gal_in_VA

Candy, I know EXACTLY the feeling! I have been stuck at this weight for months now. And my habits are TERRIBLE! I looked at the 5 day pouch test and I think I'll try that too. Not because I want to see if my pouch is messed up but because I think I need to "start over" so to speak and get back on track. I have to give myself some slack, though. I haven't had a fill in about 6 months. I go back on March 7th so I'll probably start my pouch test then. I'm hoping that the lack of weight loss is due to my lack of fill and that my next fill will trigger some more weight loss. I will be sooooo upset if I don't lose at least 50 more pounds by my wedding.

Hi Canary! When my son was in preschool I had to get him on the sp. ed. bus every morning also. He's in third grade now and doing well. He's in a regular school, just some adjustments to his curriculum! When you go to the ticker page, click on the weight loss link. Then select your ruler. You can click on the numbers for the pages to see them all. When you've chosen your ruler, click on next. Then choose your slider the same way and click on next. Then just type in a password and fill in the current weight or weight loss and goals, etc. Then click on next. Then scroll down and cut and paste the bbCode on to your signature in your profile (Just click on where it says "Edit Signature" to the right of your screen) Then save it and you should be set!:smile:

OMG! My mom does the same thing! She has been doing it ever since I gained the weight. She's always so negative with her "constructive criticism." I can't stand it when she does that. I guess she believes I will do better if I have someone jumping down my throat all the time :wink2: But it actually sometimes makes me worse off because I feel depressed about what she says to me. But I guess they really mean well by it, right Band Chick? LOL!

Doddie, I have absolutely NO addiction whatsoever to soda. I guess I;m one of the lucky ones. I've never felt a need to have it and all I ever drink is water and occasionally some iced tea. I'm so grateful I'm not a soda drinker!

Sliming is the worst! It feels like someone is trying to tear out your esophogus (sp). It happens to me in public sometimes and I try to keep a straight face so as not to let on that I'm "choking!" I can't eat anything real doughy anymore, which is good because I'm addicted to carbs!

Thanks! It sounds really good and I need something I can freeze and eat on the fly!

I'm so jealous at how well you're doing! You lost twice as much weight as I have and you were banded 4 months later than I was! Congratulations! I have the same problem with people telling me I don't seem to have made any progress. And "tough love" my ass! Excuse my language! They know they're being condescending and it hurts more the way some people try to "help". Only we know how truly well we feel we are doing and pounds and inches lost is just a small part of this process to becoming a healthier person. Don't let others get you down.

Hey, we can't change the past, right? So just pick yourself up by the bootstraps and dive in head first again! Don't even think about the past! I was banded 6/11/07 and I've only lost 25 pounds so don't feel bad. And the first 20 was lost in the first week after surgery! We just gotta support one another! Best of luck to you!

Do you have a good recipe for the chili you eat? I have almost NO protein intake and I am a VERY picky eater but I like chili! Thanks!!

EMC, I'm curious to know....when were you banded?

Thanks for the advice shortgal! I know what you mean! It's so bad that I have to have things "locked" away from me...lol! You're right about the weight goal. If I could just be 200 lbs. I would be much happier. Since we both have similar goals and a similar event in a few months, we can be a great support for each other! You must be so excited about your son's wedding! Thanks to everyone else too for your advice. It ALWAYS helps! :cursing:

Do you ladies think it would be unfair to ask my fiancee and my son to sacrifice junk food and keep it completely out of the house? Josh, my fiancee, comes home from work and likes to have a snack of chips or cookies and Shane, my son, is a junk food-a-holic! I know we ALL need to eat better but I feel guilty asking them to completely give it up when they're not the ones who need to lose weight. I just can't seem to have enough willpower to stay away from the junk when it's in the house. :biggrin:

I know what you mean, Liz! It's much easier to be full on a small meal when we have the band. I sometimes eat those smart ones and before the band, it was like having a little snack. So unfulfilling. I started weight watchers too. I have done well on it before. I love WW because you don't have to deprive yourself. It teaches you to watch your portions. Don't worry! You will begin to lose more each week. Just exercise and stick with the program. I should really be giving myself that advice! LOL! :biggrin:

Thanks so much Lady! My fiancee says that I will be a beautiful bride no matter what! I guess I should feed off of those compliments shouldn't I? LOL! As far as losing 50 pounds before the wedding, I meant that I want to lose 50 MORE pounds. So I would like to be below 200. Do you think that's realistic?

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I know my wedding is 5 months away, but I am so worried about being FAT at my wedding! I fear that I will not be able to lose the weight I want to lose by then. My goal is to lose 50 pounds before the wedding. Is that unrealistic? I guess things will be easier once I get another fill. I haven't had one since October 2007! I couldn't get in for one and their next appointment was in March. They say I should only come in once every three months. Do you think I need more often? I just want to lose this weight before the wedding. I fear I will be so unhappy with pictures and so on if I don't lose. I am not exercising at the moment so I know that's a problem. I need to be more active. Also, my eating habits are so bad. I need to get myself back on track and I know what I need to do I just can't get revved up to do it. I'm an "all or nothing" type of person so whenever I "screw up" I feel like what's the point.

That's good advice, lady! Some people are a little more blunt about it than others, but sometimes it's the LACK of bluntness that pisses me off the most! Like my fiancee's family sometimes say little things that make me realize that they're "dropping little hints" about what they think. Sometimes I wish they would just SAY IT! LOL! Although I can't say I eat too well in front of them so no wonder they don't understand :tongue2: But that's my own fault....even though they always cook these "southern comfort" foods! So damn fattening! LOL! I'm from NJ and not used to the fattening foods as much! But, again, that's my own deal and I need to have more restraint. Oh well! One day we'll show em right, lady?!:drool:

<I am so embarrassed that I told people I had this done.> That is so funny that you said that, lady! I was trying to figure out why I never wanted to talk to anyone about my weight but you hit the nail on the head! I feel embarassed that people know I've had the band done because I feel like I should have lost a lot more weight by now. People seem to expect that. They don't seem to realize that this is not gastric bypass! You lose a lot more with that than with the band. Well, at least, you lose a lot QUICKER with gastric bypass.

I am so sorry to hear that you're in a rough spot right now, badonkadonk. Please know that I have felt the exact same way many times and that you are NOT alone! I feel a little like that right now, in fact! But we just have to press on and not let ANYTHING stop us from what we want. I haven't been on this thread in a while and, funny, I gained like 3 pounds! So it's obvious I need support from people who are in the same boat as I am. Stay with us and we will help you through this. I think I can speak for everyone but personally, I am here anytime you need to vent! Also, my fiancee and I have been together for 5 years so we're pretty much considered married! We're getting married in July. But I know what you mean when you say your marriage sucks! I feel that way sometimes but we always get through it. Just remember why you married him in the first place and you will know why you need to work things out! I'm sure he wants to be there for you. Talk to him and tell him how you feel. As for the kids, I have an 8 year old with ADHD. He's ALWAYS off the wall! LOL! Sometimes it seems like I have 10 kids!! So I understand that as well! I'm sure your children are wonderfully unique and they're just being kids! Take some time out of your busy day to play with them. Just go into a pretend world and be a kid yourself. Not only will it relax you and take your mind off of things but they will absolutely love it! I know it's hard to do ANYTHING when you feel the way you feel but just try. The mind is very powerful and you would be surprised what happens when you switch gears and start thinking positive! You're right; when it rains, it pours. But it's also always darkest before the dawn! If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it! Much love to you!

Thanks ladies! I went to the doctor and it's not broken. It's a "contusion". That's a fancy name for badly bruised! It's soooooooo swollen and it's still numb but he said for me to just keep ice on it and motrin for the pain. Guess I should get to it, huh? LOL! I had so much damn housework to do I haven't had a chance to ice it and elevate it. Badonk, do they really do that? OUCH!!! :rolleyes2:

Hey girls, I think I broke my pinky! I was at my son's basketball game last night and was sitting on the stairs. I got up and started walking down them and my ankle gave out and I fell (my bones are soft due to prednisone. And I'm sure my weight doesn't help either!) Anyway, I landed some strange way on my pinky and it swelled up. I thought just to ice it and it would be fine in the morning but now it's very swollen and numb and black and blue. I know they can't do anything for a broken finger but maybe a splint so I'll just keep applying ice. Do you all think I should go to the Dr.? :rolleyes2:

Thanks nonad! It's good to know I'm not alone in this crazy mess called our healthcare system! I'll just have to hang in there until my next fill! You said to lift heavier weights and do less reps to tone up. Can you give me an example?

Thanks denise! I will try walking but any impact on my back just knocks me out of commission! Hopefully it will get better once I lose weight!

So no other doctor will do my fills. Everyone I called either doesn't accept my insurance or say they won't take another doctor's patient. So I'm stuck waiting until March 7 for my next fill. My last fill was back in October so I'm really overdue. And I can tell. I'm still hungry and not getting enough restriction. But I am going on wight watchers for now so hopefully I can keep my eating under control. I've only had 2 fills so far. I know I need more. On a lighter note, we finally set the wedding date for July 12! So now I have a HUGE incentive to lose the weight! I hope I can do it! I really want to get one of those gazelle things but I can't afford it at the moment. I'll probably get it after we get our tax refunds. I need something that's low impact so I think that will be great! And there are no swimming facilities anywhere near me. Otherwise, that would have been my first choice. I need as low impact exercise as I can get because of my back problems and tendonitis in my shoulder. But my physical therapy is going well so hopefully I will get some relief! I'm going to an orthopedic doctor on Thursday so we'll see what he says about my progress and xrays. Hope everyone is doing well!

I dont know if I'm really addicted or if it's just a nasty habit. So I'm not sure if medication would do the trick. And I only smoke 4 or 5 ciggs a day. I've been hearing alot about Chantix though. $200 is way too expensive for me. Wouldn't insurance cover it, anyway?

It's SNOWING!!!! :rolleyes2: