HeatherO

I am curious about the website you are referring to . . . can you please share? I am really interested to see how people look at various phases because I really don't have a good idea yet.

Wow, at 8 weeks??? I remember I didn't start showing so that people noticed until I was 5 months with my first child, and I was an average weight then. I was trying to think of when it would start being noticeable and I was thinking maybe January/February . . . but if you are already showing at 8 weeks, I could start popping before the end of the year, lol. My husband tells me I am already showing as well. I don't believe him at all. I am sure if I were kissing my stomach several times a day . . . it would look bigger from that angle as well, lol. I think it is just wishful thinking on his part. I think I wouldn't mind lack of showing until about the ninth month, lol. Although give it another few weeks of getting used to the idea of "omg I'm pregnant" and I am sure I will change my mind.

I dont' really think my taste has changed other than after so much healthy eating I have begun craving healthy food. Sometimes I just want a little salad with feta cheese where I might have wanted french fries or something similar in the past. Something tastes awful when you chew them to mush but are fine if you swallow them half chewed as before banding . . . that is certainly true. Fatty foods make my mouth feel weird now and just don't taste as good. Sweets seem overpoweringly sweet now. I had a small sip of stale diet coke months ago . . . and gag, did it always taste that bad, lol??? However, I still think this is just my tastes adjusting to different dietary choices. I think you get used to whatever you are eating.

Strangely enough I donit have any mornıng sıckness at all. I don't know if I am just lucky or if it is just a matter or time. However, my band got sooo tight . . . I scheduled an appointment for a small unfill on October 14th about a week ago. Just yesterday I started feeling normal again where I could eat beef and mushrooms with a little yogurt for dinner. I also had a dish called melemen for Breakfast which is ground beef, onions, garlic, and peppers with a little beef "sauce" to give it a softer texture. For the last week previous I have been able to ingest little more than Protein drinks and Soups . . . nothing of real consistency. I am surprised and happy, but I guess I will see how it goes. Does pregnancy seem to do strange things to band tightness . . . or could it just be something else?

All I can suggest is following your diet plan. If peanuts are on your plan, that is fine although I suspect they are not. Peanuts can be high in calories, but the real point of this is to follow the plan. Don't start cheating before you even begin. You deserve to make a real go of this for your own health. Don't start making excuses this early on if you want to be successful. A peanut here or there may not make a big inpact . . . but it could be the start of allowing other "off plan" items to creap in.

I am curious as well for the answer to this question.

I think anyone who has ventured into the Obese category should have it available if they want it.

I am in the general area. Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I was just curious . . . were you able to shake up your routine a little? Have you started losing again?

I got 1.5 on September 23 after a 2cc unfill . . . . but I am feeling way too much restriction (can't eat any solids). I am going to go for a slight unfill on 10/14. I went for many, many months with the perfect fill at sweet spot but just started having trouble. I am sure that being pregnant must have something to do with it.

<HR style="COLOR: #d9d9d9; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #d9d9d9" SIZE=1>Name_________Start Weight___CurrentWeight___Goal_______To Go *****<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600">:myscared:</v:shapetype>************************:lost1lbs:**********:smile2:*********:crying:* agreatknead........204............198...........180...........18 areellady..........189............189...........159...........30 BIGB...............342............342...........300...........42 BellaPerdente......287............230...........200...........30 Boos02.............258............226...........200...........26 Brandy.............221............215...........191...........24 BrownBear..........240............235...........200...........35 Cadets71...........223.4..........223.4.........189...........34.4 Claudine...........250............250...........225...........25 Bunkey1965.........194............180...........170...........10 CubsGirl17.........172............170...........150...........20 Cutiew/booty.......251............243...........220...........23 cQQlgirl...........195............195...........175...........20 crzytchr...........276............275...........246...........29 Dionna113..........199............196.5.........160...........36.5 Ekat...............527............172...........152...........19 feefee57...........262............212...........180...........32 FeliciaLevy75......240............225...........190...........35 GillieBean.........304............296...........264...........32 HeatherO...........150............146...........130...........16 Hollie ............l54............154...........125...........29 Jeni 85............182............182...........160...........22 Jillbeme...........235............209...........185...........24 Josie74............260............255...........215...........40 klmsilva...........216............212...........190...........26 legster............183............183...........160...........23 linksmom...........251............240...........200...........40 Liquidbluegal......225............220.4.........199...........21.4 Liz_hager..........161............158...........130...........28 lotzasunshine......292............287.5.........250...........37.5 Luu2008............230............199.5.........153...........46.5 Mamanmidwife.......295............295...........260...........35 MELISSA AGUIRRE....266............233...........160...........73 Melody2006.........223............223...........173...........50 MiniPearl#2........???............???...........???...........?? Minxz..............299............287...........270...........17 neefam.............238............189...........158...........31 odizzzydori........242............242...........199...........43 paige65............252............252...........208...........44 rainer.............236............233...........199...........34 reif78.............294............195...........140...........40 RichardCranium.....338............276...........200...........76 soontobehottie.....201............194...........165...........29 srknepler..........285............285...........255...........30 squale.............353............353...........325...........28 Sunshine2..........177............171...........160...........11 stevegoad..........370............341...........267...........74 Terilynn112........240............230...........199...........41 Truediva...........299............285...........235...........50 thininside28.......255............255...........215...........40 youcandoit!........196............193...........165...........28

*******NAME**********START WGHT****CURRENT WGHT*******GOAL********LBS. LOST ****************:smile2:*************:lost1lbs:************:crying:*********:myscared:* 1dayatime..........263............261............243............2 2BHealthE!.........194............179............194............0 ahsem2bme..........244............244............225............0 aJoneen............223............218............213............5 Aphrodite1984......208............208............190............0 Ariel..............199............196.4..........180..........2.6 ArmyWife4life......209.5..........209.5..........190............0 Barb12590..........228............218............213...........10 Bea1128............210.5..........205.5..........188............5 blueriley..........206............206............190............0 Brandymom1234......227............151.9..........135..........4.1 Caramia71..........208............202............195............6 cQQlgirl...........194............192............180............2 Crzytchr...........281............272............265............9 DebinFl............181............181............168............0 georgiagirl........245............229............220...........16 HarleyGirl.........188............187............175............1 HeatherA...........210.5..........203.9..........200..........6.6 HeatherO...........155............146............140............9 Ivyrose325.........212............212............199............0 Jazzyywan..........255............255............190............0 Jodi_620...........196............184............177...........12 KikiVal315.........237.5..........229............220...........8.5 Lana24.............208............195............185............0 laurigee...........180............176............160............4 Leslie2Lose........220............214............205............6 lindar172 .........274.2..........266.2..........256............8 LisaB..............205.5..........196............180..........10.5 livn4thm...........235............233............210............2 Long2bthin.........248............235............230...........13 Luu2008............203............199.5..........183..........3.5 Mamanmidwife.......299............286............280...........13 mamato3............186............186............170............0 MarinaBleu.........226.5..........226.5..........216............0 memom..............210............210............170............0 Minxz..............299............286............280............9 mominlv13..........299.8..........290.2..........280..........9.6 Momof5.............192.5..........187.5..........175..........5.0 nip50..............175............170............160............5 NukeChik...........218............218............208............0 NurseNiki..........258............255............239............3 odamay.............242............242............225............0 paige65............252............247............232............5 Peaches11..........205............205............194............0 pj_txlady..........220............220............200............0 Redtulips3.........180............171............167............9 Renee74............214............213............199............7 Renewedhope........171............169............150............2 reif78.............294............195............185............0 savimama...........216............216............200............0 shaversd...........230.5..........225............210..........5.5 SpecialK...........294............288............280............6 Sunshine2..........177............171............167............6 Tess...............304............300.5..........280..........3.5 thatDEgirl.........211............205.2..........195..........5.8 tp78...............201............192............180............9 Turler.............225............219............210............6 wendyw.............192............188............172............4 wowox7.............195............185............170............10 WyominGirl.........327............321............312............6

I was banded by Dr. Corvala at Hospital Angeles. It was a great experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was very professional and I felt well taken care of. Coming back on Tuesday should be fine as well. I will send you a private message if you would like to discuss it further. Good luck!!!

It happened to all of us during the early stages . . . and you are so newly banded, you may still be grieving for your previous life. Also remember that as you lose fat rapidly, you are releasing hormones trapped in the fat that can give you longer-term super pms like emotional swings (just ask my husband, lol). It gets better, you adjust and with time you will be so happy with your new life and new you that you will never even want to think about the past. These food stages are super tough as well but we all make our way through these miserable days. I agree about staying away from cream soups - and 2 cups is alot. Cream soups need to be ingested in moderation if you intend to lose during this period. Try to drink more Water, broth and other sugar free beverages to combat some of that desire to eat these things. Good luck!!!

I actually have one more comment. I was also "in the closet." Only my child really had a clue that I was a hidden junk food eater. Children notice too much to not "get it," or at least mine does. It was part of the obsession. Also, I can't tell you how many "car" pig outs I had. I don't know what it was, but being alone in the car while driving is an excellent opportunity to stuff yourself without anybody being the wiser. I also would go to friends houses for dinner, eat reasonable quantities . . . but you can rest well-assured that unless my husband was with me I was stopping at a gas station or fast food joint before I got home . . . then would stop one last time at a gas station to get rid of the evidence. These behaviors would have me in their clutches from a couple of times a month to weekly during the worse stages. I have never previously admitted it to another soul because it causes considerable shame for me. Many people have told me I eat like a bird and they don't know how I can be overweight . . . but I know the truth. However my husband eats with gusto and big quantities as well, never hides it and he is athletic and trim . . . go figure??? My food obsession did not start until after I had a child and put on a little too much weight . . . it then started yo yo dieting and food obsessions began as well and over the years increased in proportion to my weight (what a surpise that is, lol). I always felt I had to be in starvation diet mode or eat everything in site mode. I didn't know how to stay "normal." Recovery for me involved making changes about my "hidden" eating. I only eat with family, friends or coworkers near . . . my car is offlimits. This has made a huge difference . . . because it involves self-honesty and personal responsibility for my decisions. Another big part of recovery for me is eating a relatively low-carb diet. I stay away from trigger foods, because I know cravings will return and make me want to overindulge. I am not saying low-carb is best, it just is for me for now. I do eat carbs but only in whole fruits, vegetables and the occasional whole-grain cracker or tortilla shell.

That is indeed quite a confession. However, I would be amazed if less than 50% of us bandsters do not have a few food addiction skeletons in our closets as well. A healthy relationship with food does not lead us to seeking surgery (unless of course there are other causes such as thyroid, medications, etc.). I am a carbohydrate addict . . . which includes sugars, chips, potatoes, Pasta, Cereal, etc. It can be highly sweet or salty and fatty . . . I crave them both. The band has helped me to recognize this, admit it to myself and move on with life. Congratulations for putting it out there so boldly . . . now it is time to kick the healing and recovery into high gear :0). Thank goodness for our bands . . . I know I never could have gone this alone.

Congratulations, you are doing awesome!!!!

I am only 6 small pounds from goal. Only 6 measly almost insignificant pounds . . . it is unbelievable. I can practically taste my goal it is so close and I had huge plans for when I finally attain it (shopppinnnngg sppprreeeeee). But now, what can I say, I am not sure I can make those last six pounds. Perhaps it will take me a year to get there. Nutrition is the goal right now with a baby coming. I gained 67 pounds with my first pregnancy and I was 126 pounds when I got pregnant . . . 67 POUUNNNDDSS!!!!!. I got unbelievable stretch marks that time because you don't just grow by 50% in a few short months without ill affect. This also signalled the beginnings of obesity for me. My first child is now 16 years old. I am really super scared of gaining weight. I am afraid of becoming a diet fanatic, but I really want to eat healthy and well for my baby . . . specially during these early weeks. I am so thrilled, happy and ecstatic about the new baby, yet I am feeling sad and lost about weight loss stopping. I don't know if I can survive the scale going back in the wrong direction by too much. One minute I feel like laughing, then next I feel like crying. Does anyone else feel this way???

I would definitely say that quite a lot of it has to be water weight. Keep drinking plenty of water . . . and the losses will continue :0)

Gum and drinking Water helps, but this is a tough time no matter how you slice it. Don't think about two weeks, only think about making it through today or even the next meal . . . you win the war one battle at a time. This should be the toughtest part of your journey . . . but it will definitely pass. Good luck!!!

I am hoping I can still make this challenge . . . but as I just discovered I am preggers . . . I won't be too dissapointed if I am not 130 by year end. :0) Name_________Start Weight___CurrentWeight______Goal________To Go *****<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f" filled="f" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600">:thumbup:</v:shapetype>***********:thumbup:*************:w00t:**********:biggrin:********** agreatknead........204............198...........180...........18 areellady..........189............189...........159...........30 BIGB...............342............342...........300...........42 BellaPerdente......287............251...........200...........51 Boos02.............258............226...........200...........26 Brandy.............221............215...........191...........24 BrownBear..........240............235...........200...........35 Cadets71...........223.4..........223.4.........189...........34.4 Claudine...........250............250...........225...........25 Bunkey1965.........194............180...........170...........10 CubsGirl17.........172............170...........150...........20 Cutiew/booty.......251............243...........220...........23 cQQlgirl...........195............195...........175...........20 crzytchr...........276............275...........246...........29 Dionna113..........199............196.5.........160...........36.5 Ekat...............527............172...........152...........19 feefee57...........262............212...........180...........32 FeliciaLevy75......240............227...........190...........37 GillieBean.........304............296...........264...........32 HeatherO...........150............147...........130...........17 Hollie ............l54............154...........125...........29 Jeni 85............182............182...........160...........22 Jillbeme...........235............209...........185...........24 Josie74............260............255...........215...........40 klmsilva...........216............212...........190...........26 legster............183............183...........160...........23 linksmom...........251............240...........200...........40 Liquidbluegal......225............220.4.........199...........21.4 Liz_hager..........161............158...........130...........28 lotzasunshine......292............287.5.........250...........37.5 Luu2008............230............199.5.........153...........46.5 Mamanmidwife.......295............295...........260...........35 MELISSA AGUIRRE....266............233...........160...........73 Melody2006.........223............223...........173...........50 MiniPearl#2........???............???...........???...........?? Minxz..............299............287...........270...........17 neefam.............238............189...........158...........31 odizzzydori........242............242...........199...........43 paige65............252............252...........208...........44 rainer.............236............233...........199...........34 reif78.............294............195...........140...........40 RichardCranium.....338............276...........200...........76 soontobehottie.....201............194...........165...........29 srknepler..........285............285...........255...........30 squale.............353............353...........325...........28 Sunshine2..........177............171...........160...........11 stevegoad..........370............341...........267...........74 Terilynn112........240............236...........199...........41 Truediva...........299............285...........235...........50 thininside28.......255............255...........215...........40 youcandoit!........196............196...........162...........34

I am hoping I can still make this challenge . . . but as I just discovered I am preggers . . . I won't be too dissapointed if I am not 140 by the 31'st. :0) *******NAME**********START WGHT****CURRENT WGHT*******GOAL********LBS. LOST *****:thumbup:***********:biggrin:*************:w00t:*********************:thumbup:* 1dayatime..........263............261............243............2 2BHealthE!.........194............179............194............0 ahsem2bme..........244............244............225............0 aJoneen............223............218............213............5 Aphrodite1984......208............208............190............0 Ariel..............199............196.4..........180..........2.6 ArmyWife4life......209.5..........209.5..........190............0 Barb12590..........228............218............213...........10 Bea1128............210.5..........205.5..........188............5 blueriley..........206............206............190............0 Brandymom1234......227............151.9..........135..........4.1 Caramia71..........208............202............195............6 cQQlgirl...........194............192............180............2 Crzytchr...........281............273............265............8 DebinFl............181............181............168............0 georgiagirl........245............229............220...........16 HarleyGirl.........188............187............175............1 HeatherA...........210.5..........206............200..........4.5 HeatherO...........155............147............140............8 Ivyrose325.........212............212............199............0 Jazzyywan..........255............255............190............0 Jodi_620...........196............184............177...........12 KikiVal315.........237.5..........230.5..........220............7 Lana24.............208............195............185............0 laurigee...........180............176............160............4 Leslie2Lose........220............214............205............6 lindar172 .........274.2..........266.2..........256............8 LisaB..............205.5..........196............180..........10.5 livn4thm...........235............233............210............2 Long2bthin.........248............235............230...........13 Luu2008............203............199.5..........183..........3.5 Mamanmidwife.......299............286............280...........13 mamato3............186............186............170............0 MarinaBleu.........226.5..........226.5..........216............0 memom..............210............210............170............0 Minxz..............299............286............280............9 mominlv13..........299.8..........290.2..........280..........9.6 Momof5.............192.5..........187.5..........175..........5.0 nip50..............175............170............160............5 NukeChik...........218............218............208............0 NurseNiki..........258............255............239............3 odamay.............242............242............225............0 paige65............252............247............232............5 Peaches11..........205............205............194............0 pj_txlady..........220............220............200............0 Redtulips3.........180............171............167............9 Renee74............214............213............199............7 Renewedhope........171............169............150............2 reif78.............294............195............185............0 savimama...........216............216............200............0 shaversd...........230.5..........225............210..........5.5 SpecialK...........294............288............280............6 Sunshine2..........177............171............167............6 Tess...............304............300.5..........280..........3.5 thatDEgirl.........211............205.2..........195..........5.8 tp78...............201............192............180............9 Turler.............225............219............210............6 wendyw.............192............188............172............4 wowox7.............195............185............170............10 WyominGirl.........327............321............312............6

It is good to read about options. I figure I can forego maternity clothes until next year . . . and perhaps tops altogether in that I still have a lot of pre-weightloss clothing. Pants and skirts will be the most helpful.

I agree, 12 months is the standard up to 24 months.

Newbeginnings, I have never said this before because I believe strongly in listening to your doctors advice . . . and always thought this should be taken over anything said in a forum. However, please take your new fill doctors statement with a grain of salt, and don't be discouraged. When I reached perfect restriction, the tiniest fill (.25cc) was entirely too much. However, .5 cc less was entirely too loose. When you reach the correct restriction level you will notice all of the difference in the world. I had great restriction at 8.3 which is close to where you are now, and our bodies are all different. I doubt that if they filled you to capacity that you would not feel restriction. You just have to get to the "right" level and any other level is too much or too little. I have never heard of any doctor saying you have to convert to a different WLS because you havent gotten to a sufficient restriction level. As long as you are eating healthy, exercising and following bandster rules, there is no way you can not lose. Have heart and just disregard this insensitive answer for now . . . you already know that you can lose the weight.