NaturalBeauty

Mary, You have done a great job. Keep up the good work and don't worry about time, it's on your side now!! Stay encourage.

I agree with Diane, a significant amount of weight loss does losen the band. Everytime I've needed a fill, I've lost at least 10lbs.

Well, I am happy to report a loss this week. I weighed in last night around 8:30 cause I was actually feeling lighter. Onederland here I come!!! C=210 (-73 total; -3 this week) NB

Your band hasn't sliped, you may be eating to fast or not chewing slow enough. Also hiccups is a tell tell sign that you may have eaten to much. Happy banding and good luck!

Congratulations Tricia, you deserve a :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: . I know you've been trying for a while now to get into onederland. Update...... I stayed the same so I am OK with that. This last fill has been up and down from day to day so I haven't been able to get in enough calories everyday.

I'm in!!! 2lbs for me would be 211. So here I go again.

aligirrl, I do feel you. I got a fill a couple of weeks ago and I have wanted to eat so bad but the band just wouldn't let me. So I walk around evil for a few days and then I content myslef cause this is what I paid for so I just need to be happy. But it is hard, I will open and closed that refrigerator a hundred times before I just go on up those stairs and go to bed. Anyway, today we had a office Breakfast and luncheon and I made spinish dip, which will go down fine but most of the other stuff is very fattening and greasy so thank you band, I will not be eating that today.

Boy oh boy do I miss Bread, pizza and french fries. None of my favorites will go down so I have done without them since being banded. Every once in a while, I can eat a couple of fries but anything that is breaded, including the cupcakes, pies, cakes, donuts and danishes will not go down. It's been a good thing cause now I can see that I can live without these things.

Welcome Joyce, I have found this place to be very supportive and helpful in so many ways. A lot of times I don't have to ask the questions because someone has already started a thread and asked it for me. You have accomplished a great task by losing 41lbs already so stay encourage, you are well on your way. This will be a piece of cake for you, just not literally (smile)!

Points earned for Rule 1 For each day that you drink a minimum of 64oz of Water, you earn 1 point. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect month. 4-26_1_4-27_1_4-28_1_4-29_0_4-30__0_5-01_1_5-02_1_5-03_1_Total_6_ 5-04_1_5-05_1_5-06_1_5-07_1_5-08_1_5-09_1_5-10_1__Week's Total_7_ 5-11_1_5-12_1_5-13_1_5-14_1_5-15_1_5-16_1_5-17_1_Week's Total_7_ 5-18_1_5-19_1_5-20_1_5-21_1_5-22_1_5-23_1_5-24_1_Week's Total_7_ 5-25_1_5-26_1_5-27_1_5-28_1_5-29_1_5-30_1_5-31_1_Week's Total_7_ Bonus earned: 0 Grand Total: 34 Points earned for Rule 2 For each day that you exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes, you earn 2 points. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect month. 4-26_2_ 4-27__2_4-28_2_4-29_2__4-30__2__5-01_2__5-02_2_5-03_2_Total_16_ 5-04_2_5-05_2_5-06_2_5-07_0_5-08 2_5-09_2_5-10_2_Week's Total 12_ 5-11_2_5-12_2_5-13_2_5-14_2_5-15_2_5-16_2_5-17_2_Week's Total_12_ 5-18_2_5-19_2_5-20_2_5-21_0_5-22_2_5-23_2_5-24_2_Week's Total_12_ 5-25_2_5-26_2_5-27_0_5-28_0_5-29_0_5-30_2_5-31_2_Week's Total_8_ Bonus earned: 0 Grand Total: 60 Points earned for Rule 3 For each day that you do not eat foods that contain flour or sugar, you earn 3 points. (sugar substitutes are allowed) You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect month. 4-26_0_4-27_0_4-28_0_4-29_0__4-30_0__5-01_0__5-02_3_5-03_3_ Total_6_ 5-04_3_5-05_3_5-06_3_5-07_0_5-08_3_5-09_3_5-10_3_Week's Total_18_ 5-11_3_5-12_3_5-13_3_5-14_0_5-15_3_5-16_3_5-17_3_Week's Total18_ 5-18_3_5-19_3_5-20_3_5-21_3_5-22_3_5-23_3_5-24_3_Week's Total21 5-25_3_5-26_3_5-27_3_5-28_0_5-29_0_5-30_3_5-31_3_Week's Total_15_ Bonus earned: 0 Grand Total: 58 Points earned for Weight loss For each pound that you lose during the challenge, you earn 1 point Beginning weight 4-26: 213 Weigh-in weight 5-3: 210 :bananadoggywow: as of 5/3/06 at 8:30PM Weigh-in weight 5-10: 208 whooray!!! Weigh-in weight 5-17: 206 Weigh-in weight 5-24: 205 Ending weight 5-31: 204 Total lost during challenge: 9 Total points earned for Rule 1: 34 Total points earned for Rule 2: 60 Total points earned for Rule 3: 58 Total points earned for weight loss: 9 Total Challenge points earned: 161

I havent been able to eat bread, rice, Pasta or chicken breast since my 1st fill and it's been hard. I have tried but it's never worked. I guess this is a good thing since all breads were my down fall. Now I don't even try them, I just stick to what I know works but I do miss eat bread. I think each person is different and with each fill comes new adventures. Good luck with your fill.

1. Getting up in the morning and my feet not tingling cause of the weight. 2. I've become hotter to my DH and I'm loving it!! 3. The compliments are overwhelming at times. 4. I went into my first regular size store and bought a size 14 blouse. 6. Walk up steps and not be winded. 7. Having some control over my life. 8. Fit into 1 seat on a plane. There are so many things that I just can't name them all but this is one of the best things that has happened to me and I thank God for my band daily. I even pray for my band, I believe God can do anything. I hope this helps!

Diane, You look great! I agree with you, I would rather have muscle and less weight loss than to have the hanging fat. I have been weight training since my 2nd month of being banded. I see so many others who have had other types of WLS and they will not exercise. It's not a pretty sight. We as women do not have what men have to bulk up and gain those types of muscles. When you see women like that, they are on a lot of supplements so don't worry about that. In the end it pays off, I love the shape my body is taking and I know it's because of the weight training.

Good morning to all, I hope that everyone has a good and productive day! C-213 (-2lbs this week, total loss -70lbs)

P'Nut-- Thanks for the info, as usual you have been very helpful to me. I have had the harest time trying to figure this out and this will make life more easier for me. I will be stopping by the store today to purchase these containers.

Just from reading others responses to this type of situation, it sounds like you need an unfill. Heartburn normally comes with being overfilled, this I know from experience. I have had to be unfilled because of going through the heartburn and acid reflux at night and during the day. I do understand your concerns because I self paid and the thought of a slip truly scares me but it would be good for you to see your doctor as soon as possible.

I'm with you Yoda, I perfer cold drinks and have had to give them up since reaching proper restriction. Cold drinks, including Water tightens up my band so much so now I keep my water and any non-carbonated drinks on the counter and drink them at room temperature. Good suggestion on drinking something warm before a meal StrawartS. I have such a hard time now that I have proper restriction. Not because of the band, just after almost a year, I still haven't learned how to chew slow enough.

Well, DH has been wonderful about the weight loss, weight gain and weight loss again, so I can't complain. With this time has been new adventures for both of us and we are loving it!

Betje, Do you need a fill?

Heather you look wonderful and it's 3 AM, what a morning!!! Great Picture. Congrats Dawg what a great accomplishment and without the band, I'm loving it!

Thanks for the reply. It look like you've had your band for quite a while. It's always nice to see someone who has had some time with the band. It's been almost a year, and still so new to me. I don't like the way I feel when I am supper tight either, it's like someone has there hand around my neck but not tight enough to choke me, just make me very uncomfortable. Thanks for your reply.

I think the message boards are good support systems for most of us. My DH has never had a weight problem and neither has any of his immediate family so most of the time he doesn't know what I deal with regarding weight. He always thought I could just stop eating and the weight would fall off but it just doesn't happen that way. I need the message boards and I still get in my 5 to 6 workouts during the week, cooking, cleaning and taking care of DH along with working 40+ hours a week. Also I manage property and we are trying to start a business. So my life is full and the message boards have only been a help.

I will drink up to a half hour prior to a meal but nothing for a while afterwards. I have experienced PB water and it's no fun.

I have several favorites but my number one was pizza. DH & I would order a specialty pizza and wings every Friday from PizzaHut. I would eat pizza and wings on Friday and Saturday but I haven't had a slice of pizza since being banded. Breads will not go down, which is a good thing. Since my banding, I get my DH a personal pan when he wants it. chocolate, which still goes down fine.

I am 11 months out. I will be celebrating my 1 year band anniversary next month and it's been an eye opener and a challenge. I have lost around 69 lbs, which I am very pleased and I have about 20 more to reach my initial goal. I have had 5 or 6 fills and I am at 8.1ccfs in my VG band. I exercise anywhere from 5 to 6 days a weeks and I weight train with a trainer 2 evening during the week. The weight training has really helped in changing my body figure, so even though I hurt most days of the week and weekend, I am very pleased with the results. For eating, I usually do a Protein drink or bacon & 1 egg white for breakfast (depending on how restricted I am) and veggies and some type of meat for lunch. dinner is usually light (a salad) or a Protein Drink cause of acid reflux, which I had prior to being banded. I do have my chocolate from time to time and chips do go down easy but I do limit the amount. Anyway, I drink a minimum of 32 ozs of Water a day but most days I get in my 64ozs, 32 is the minimum. I digest seafood well (except shrimp) and I haven't been able to eat chicken breast or any type of bread since being banded. All in all, the band has been a great tool for me and I love it!