PhotoNut

You know, you're right! I think I'll stop by there and get them today! Thanks! And thank you to everyone for the cheers! It's so awesome to have all of you to share these things with. It's truly making the journey much more fun and interesting! Love you guys! :confused:

Funny! That's great news! You go girl!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

The Spring 2006 GFG Challenge will begin on April 26th and end on May 31st. I will post the rules and information for how to participate sometime in the next few days. This is going to be fun for everyone, so please give it a go. There's no telling who will win until the very end. I'll also be designing a GFG Badge of Honor for the winner to have in their signature. :biggrin1:

Thank you ALL so much for all of the sweet and encouraging comments both here and on the before and after thread. I love you all too! :confused: Kathy, those are the stubborn 22s I mentioned in my NSV. I cant believe Im comfortably wearing my new 18s today, yet those 22s are so tight. Could be the cut. You'll notice those are the tapered legged jeans - that went out of style years ago! LOL I've been wearing old clothes that I've saved from previous weight loss attempts. These new 18s are lower cut (just above the hips) and slightly flared legs! I'm wearing bell bottoms!! First time since the early 70s. :clap2: Ok, here are my numbers for the week: C 246 (-61 lbs total, -4 this week)

Why force it? Unless you are in some sort of discomfort, be happy that you're full! Your tummy is probably still swollen from surgery but that will ease off soon, then you'll be hungry again. Until then, relax and listen to your body. We shouldn't eat because the clock on the wall says its time. We should eat when our bodies need the nourishment, and your body will tell you when it's time. :confused:

Awww! :confused: Grats Kelly, I remember well that feeling of hope that surges through you when you first find out you're going to get your band. I'm very happy for you!

After you finish your 48 hours of liquids, slowly transition back into the solids working your way up from very soft and easy to chew foods. Take small bites, paying close attention to how well things are going down. If everything seems fine, continue adding more foods back into your daily diet. If you have any problems with mushies, don't progress to solids and talk to your Dr about a slight unfill. You'll be fine as long as you don't leap head first back into the foods you were eating prior to your fill. Better to be safe than sorry right? :confused:

Hey sunshine, don't be so quick to blame this entirely on your eating habits. It sounds to me like you were overfilled last time. You shouldn't try to eat anything for a few days, stick to liquids and call your Dr. about a slight unfill. The esophogus gets so irritated and swollen from PB's and without time to heal it will just continue to make eating almost anything impossible. Bless your heart. Be sure to let your Dr. know how much you have PB'd and have your band checked for any problems.

93 pounds since last July? Josie, that's wonderful! You must feel like a new woman!

Definitely! And you can be sure that when the dressing room attendant took the pair of 14/16s from me, I made sure she knew I could get them on but I chose to buy the 18s. *laughs*

Um, I put up some pics of me on the Before and After thread. Just in case any of you want a peek at me. *grins*

Ok, I've posted enough pictures on here for others I figured it was time I put up some of me. My front veiw before picture was too awful to show so I'm just putting up the progression of loss from the side, along with all views taken today. I don't have any pics of me at my highest weight. Big shock huh? I've never posted my pictures anywhere online, except for the avatar, so this is a huge step for me. Tricia K gave me the courage to do this, so thanks my friend! And just for fun, this is one I photoshopped! Look Ma! Perky boobs! LOL! Oh for the day when that double chin is really gone! I can hardly wait!!

Aww come on Paula, notice that you get points for days without sugar. I tried to make this so everyone had a fighting chance to win. If you don't earn points one way, you can earn them another way. And besides, the motivation is good! *tugs on Paula* Come on.. come out and play with us! You'll be glad you did! :confused:

My second child was conceived just after I lost 60 pounds. I hadn't used any birth control since our first child was born - 3 years prior, so I know this to be true! Needless to say, without a band I gained it all back and more. You will do wonderfully. Even though you aren't filled, you still have a band and you'll still need to eat like a bandster so you have a safety net. Congratulations on your wonderful news!

Shackdog was banded yesterday morning. I talked to him in the hospital last night and aside from being very dried out, he was doing great! Although, when I went in for my monthly appt with our surgeon today, he told me that Shack was whining about hurting! I told him to tell Shack he was a big cry baby, and he said he did tell him that! LOL Grats on your band my friend! Welcome to Bandland!

Wonderful job! Amazing success! Congratulations and a very Happy Bandiversary! How about: ANULIFE THENUME MINIME ALL4ME BANDED BNDSTR I used to ride a horse, but now I'm only big enough for a pony!

Thanks for all of the pats on the back! Felt great! :confused: For the challenge, I was thinking about something more than just who loses the most weight. How about we set daily goals and be on our honor to report in how we did with them? Um, example: 1. Exercise 30 mins per day. 2. Drink 64 oz water per day. 3. Take daily vitamins. I figure whoever participates in this challenge for one month will see great results! So everyone will be a winner. However, to win the badge of honor for your siggy, there will be points awarded for three different categories. 1. weight lost - 1 point per pound 2. days you achieved the goals above - 2 points per day 3. days you go without eating sugar or flour products - 3 points per day! I am thinking we should start on April 26th. That is the last weigh-in day of April. I was also thinking that those of us who participate should each post our own daily tally sheet that we edit each day, rather than making 30 some different posts. Everyone will be on their honor. Sound like a plan?

I'm finally starting to feel as if I maybe have lost some weight. Tomorrow is another follow-up with Dr Cahn. I'm not planning on getting another fill. I'm eating just fine and losing about 3 pounds a week. I'm satisfied with that. Paul and I can tell a huge difference between us. There's so much more room when we hug or snuggle. Its odd but wonderful. I've been fighting depression though. I think I need to go see Margaret and maybe up my Efexor. I keep dragging my feet on that. I don't want to be a zombie. Maybe I just need exercize. Or, maybe the CPAP machine needs to be adjusted and I need to use it? Now why would I do that? We only paid $1,500 for it! :confused: Here are our most recent pics:

I'm finally starting to feel as if I maybe have lost some weight. Tomorrow is another follow-up with Dr Cahn. I'm not planning on getting another fill. I'm eating just fine and losing about 3 pounds a week. I'm satisfied with that. Paul and I can tell a huge difference between us. There's so much more room when we hug or snuggle. Its odd but wonderful. I've been fighting depression though. I think I need to go see Margaret and maybe up my Efexor. I keep dragging my feet on that. I don't want to be a zombie. Maybe I just need exercize. Or, maybe the CPAP machine needs to be adjusted and I need to use it? Now why would I do that? We only paid $1,500 for it! :confused: Here are our most recent pics:

I think we need some shaking up! Everyone seems so quite and lethargic! Would any of you be open to a one month mini contest? The prize would be a "badge of honor" for your signature. I'm open for ideas - any suggestions? Anyone interested in jump starting May? Summer is only a couple of months away!!

Wow 3loves! You did a great job of hiding! *laughs* How on earth did you fold yourself up that much? I'd have fallen over! *laughs* By the way, you have adorable boys and don't hide you silly. You look so pretty! Well.. what I can see of you anyway! :confused:

Were you wearing heels in this year's pic? You look taller by your hubby, who by the way is very handsome! And look how much your children have grown in one year! *sighs* I hate time. It takes away so much, and yet everyday I want it to hurry up and pass so I can be at goal. Anyway, you look wonderful my friend. I'm truly happy for you and your family!

Mrk520 - Please stop and take a few minutes to think about what you're doing. During your band surgery, your stomach is pulled up over the band and sewn to itself as part of the procedure to secure the band in place and help prevent slipping. Most Drs instruct patients to be on liquids and then progress slowly to soft, mushie foods and then on to more solids. My Dr's guidelines were 3 weeks on liquids and 3 on mushies. These types of foods slide easily through the stomach, reducing its need to work hard at breaking down its contents before it's moved to the intestines. This also limits the possibility of stuffing the pouch and putting pressure on those stitches in your stomach lining. While we do have the sensation of being able to eat just as we did prior to banding, things have physically changed in there and it's important to allow time for the healing so your band can get seated well and to reduce the risk of slipping. This part applies to this entire thread. If you are having trouble determining when you are no longer hungry (notice I didn't say FULL) then try eating from a one-cup container. Glad makes disposable containers in the 7/8 cup size. This is the only container I will allow myself to use for serving my meals, unless I'm out at a restaraunt. Firstly, I know I'm serviing myself a reasonable amount and secondly, when it's gone I am not tempted to continue eating. I set the empty dish aside and do something else for a while. Typically, I only cook enough for me. So there is no going back for seconds. If you are eating a small portion of the meals you cook for your family, and you know there are leftovers in the kitchen, do NOT take your dish to the kitchen. And if possible, have someone else do it and have them also put the food away before you go back in there. I know that if it's lying in front of me, I'll just keep going. I'm an addict and need strict control. One more thing. My meals consist of meat and veggies, or cottage cheese and fruit. I always put the fruit or veggies in the Glad container first, then put the meat or cottage cheese on top. That way, I have to eat my way through the Protein to get to the carbs! :confused:

I agree with Donna. Since my first and only fill, I have had times when I preceived that there was no restriction. I say preceived because it only makes sense that there IS restirction. I think are just days when we are more hungry than on other days. A lot of what we are changing is in our heads, not just in our stomachs. I once told my husband that I could eat just like I always could and he asked if I thought I could eat a foot long Subway sandwich. Of course there was no way that I could. I have since come to realize that my perception of a lot of food has changed a great deal! Try journaling your food intake, and stick to no more than one cup of food per meal. See how long you can go before being truly hungry again. The goal is four hours. There are times I get hungry within 2 or 3 hours, but that isn't the standard for me so I'm not going in for another fill. I'm happy not being too tight. How is your weight loss coming along? If you are losing 1 to 2 pounds per week, and you are following the bandster eating rules and not having to struggle against true hunger, then I see no reason to be filled tighter.

I will turn 50 in December, I figure I'm close enough to pitch in here. If not, sue me. *laughs* As you can see in my signature lines, I've been banded just over 3 months and have lost 45 pounds since. Add in the 16 I lost on the pre-op diet and that makes 61 pounds. I have heard theories that as we grow older our metabolisms slow, making it harder for us to lose weight. But I think my progress has equalled many younger women here on LBT. In fact, in the spring of 1983 when I was 26, I lost 60 pounds in 4 months. I re-gained that and more during my pregnanacy with my second child. (funny how weight loss can cause that to happen). Anyway, all my life I have looked back on that time and told myself that I would probably never again see that kind of rapid weight loss. Luckily, I was wrong!