Ezma

Got rid of the long straight blah hair this last weekend. Part of the new me. Tomorrow is my 4 month bandiversary. So without further ado, here's my progress pics. 1 day before surgery 6-17-08 Ignore the serious, silly face - sun was in my eyes and hubby didn't warn me - LOL Sassy new hair

First off, check the menu online if you can before you go. Most places have the nutritional information. Try soup if they have it, like albondigas soup. Lean toward corn tortillas instead of flour - they go down easier and don't have as many calories. Enchiladas can sometimes be a half way decent choice. Macayos, which I think is a national chain, has Pollo Espinaca Enchiladas that are only 300 calories. I know, only 300?! But it's pretty low for mexican food.

Yeah, I had started one called "Oh what a beautiful morning" when I thought I was going in for my fill. But surprise, surprise....when he tried to fill me he couldn't get any saline in or out of my band. He thinks it's a kinked tubing problem or a port malfunction. Either way, they are gonna go in and fix or replace it. I was majorly bummed when I found out, now I'm okay. I'm just having some hard days staying on track with my food. I'm just hoping they won't have to start all over with my fills. I was just about at a good spot. Even now I have some restriction but I just found out I can eat a whole beef and cheddar from Arby's - Dang it! :sad: Still losing slow and steady though. Thanks to everyone for your well-wishes. Helps a lot to know I have you guys there.

Anyone else have this? Lately I've just felt so darned good. I used to have good days about once every couple months. Now I feel good about 4-5 days a week. I can do more, have more energy and feel so good about myself. I'm almost high on feeling good. The thing that is the weirdest to me is that I feel confident,young and sassy again. Something I haven't felt in many, many years. And the really bizarre part is that I still have over 120 pounds to go until my goal weight. Does it just keep getting better and better? :biggrin2:

Thank you Shelley. I'm sure the surgery will be pretty easy. Just wish it didn't happen. Think I'm over my crying about it phase now.

Glad I'm not the only one who cried over this. I know it's just a minor surgery but I didn't need it now. I go on 6-25 so I'll let ya know how it goes. They said I can go back to work the next day so it looks like a piece of cake for the doctor. I didn't even have any idea anything was wrong. Two fills went smooth as can be. Everything else was going well too. No real pain or anything. I'm sure it's nothing we did. The doctor said something about scar tissue kinking the tubing. Good look to you too Cami.

Seems to take 3-4 fills to get good restriction, sometimes more. Just keep eating the way they tell you and you'll lose weight. At least until you hit the dreaded plateaus.

Well, they finally called yesterday with my surgery date. So on the 25th at noon they'll go in and fix my port or tubing. Please send healing thoughts my way. Thanks.

Katie - I definately relate to most of what you said. We really don't have a lot of restriction yet so the band isn't doing much for us. The weight you're losing is from that week of tightness and whatever willpower you can scavange up for yourself. Hang in there cause they will get you to your sweet spot soon. I too use Daily Plate to monitor my food intake. I try to keep it under 1000 calories a day, usually in the 700-900 range, though my nutritionist would like it in the 600-800 range. And definately exercise. It doesn't matter if it's walking, biking, strength training, sports, whatever you like to do. Not only does it burn calories and increase your metabolism rate but it also builds more muscle and muscle burns more calories that fat just by being there. I had to start really slow with the exercise but I've built up a lot in a fairly short time. I have COPD so I don't breathe real well sometimes. I started with just 10-15 minute walks around the block. Now I walk twice the distance at a much faster pace plus I'm able to do about 20 minutes of aerobic workouts. Hang in there. Your sweet spot is coming. And congrats on losing 15 pounds though your own hard work.

Yay Karen! You go girl! Bet that feels so good. :biggrin: And the thought of a hot cop made me feel good. So thanks. :frown:

Wishing you all good luck on your short term goals. So....GOOD LUCK guys! I didn't make my last one but I was off on my calculation. I only ended up 1 pound short. My new goal is to stay sane and not spend too much before my revision.

Lil, what does it feel like to be over half way on the weight loss? Details, details and tell me slowly. I want to savor it. Gotta live vicariously for a bit longer.

Oh, now....shucks. You're making me cry. But thank you very much. Saw the shrink today. Hard to tell much though since it was the quickie getting to know you session. I'll let you guys know if he gives me any pearls of wisdom. We're gonna talk about why I occasionally do the "Give me food! I don't know what food I want but I NEED something!." until I get so full I'm totally uncomfortable and then I eat a bit more. Luckily it's only happened a couple times but it's disturbing.

That's hilarious Tara. So if someone you dislike slips and falls, you make sure you're out of hearing range right?

Gotta have the Wii system. I just might break down and buy one. Guess it's a good thing I have a video game freak for a son.

Thanks guys. You're support means a lot to me and it's 90% of the reason I maintain any bit of sanity about this band. :biggrin2: Oh, I have an appointment with a therapist this afternoon. He was recommended by another bander from my doctor's office. I'm crossing my fingers that he's good. I don't really think there's a lot he can do I just want to be pro-active and make sure I have all the support I can in place.

Peek - I'm so sorry to hear that you've been dealing with the dreaded plateau for that long. Kudos to you that you still appear sane. Hopefully they will get you to some good restriction soon. I know that helps so much. It's like the band does more than restricting the amount you eat, it almost seems to stimulate a hormone or something too. At least I read that somewhere.

He's sure it isn't flipped. In fact, you know that popping sensation when the needle passes thru the rubber on the port, I felt that about 5 or 6 times. I'm trying so hard not to get down about this. I just really didn't need anything else going on right now. My hubby is kind of excited cause he get's to take care of me. It's so sweet. He felt so bad after my surgery that he didn't get to do it. But he was busy having a brain tumor removed. I think he had a good excuse. Silly man. If any of you are interested in that part of my life, I have a blog on the hospital's site about him, what we've gone thru so far and a bit about me and our son. It's at CarePages and his page is JeffreyAllenHale. You have to sign up but they never send you anything, it's just to help with privacy.

I went in this morning for my third fill and the doctor wasn't able to get any saline in or out of my port. He tried 6 times and we both know he was in the port. He said that lately they have seen more port malfunctions. And he thinks it's that or that scar tissue has kinked the tubing. Either way, I get to have surgery to repair it. He says he should be able to do it without anesthesia, just heavy sedation. It will only take 30-45 minutes. Even though it's just outpatient surgery, it still sucks. I'm a little scared and upset. Anyone else have this happen? What can I expect? Thanks.

Well the future looked so bright until my doctor stuck the fill needle in my belly. After 6 attempts to draw Fluid or inject fluid in my port he determined that I need to go in and have the port or tubing replaced. He could get in the port, no problem. He just couldn't get any saline in or out of it. He said that they've been seeing a bit more port malfunctions lately. So it's surgery for me. Suck, suck, suck! Only possible plus is that he thinks he can do it without anesthesia and as outpatient. Lots of good sedation for me. He did say I was doing great with the weight loss and to keep doing what I'm doing. I lost 11 pounds in 4 weeks. Not enough for me. But on the high side of their expectations. Gonna have to search through the site and see if anyone else has had this happen and what to expect. Though I know everyone's experience is different.

I definately burp more now and louder. And I get the hiccups a lot too. At least we look better now when we burp. LOL

Lil you're such an inspiration for me when it comes to exercise. Right now I'm proud of what I've worked myself up to but my eye is on you for a look into the future. Keep it up and thanks.

I'm breaking out into musicals here. In less than two hours I'm off to get my third fill. I can't wait! I've managed to become quite discouraged over the last few days. I lost great for a week after my fill then hit a plateau for almost two weeks. Then I lost 2 more, then struggled up and down with those two for the last week. I did call around and try to set up an appointment with a therapist but don't have one yet. I'm dealing with more than just the eating issues, have my whole husband with terminal brain cancer. So I thought it might be time to see someone. Anyone know what I should keep in mind or check when looking for a good therapist? Back to happy thoughts though. It's a glorious morning. I have a date with a needle and some saline. Woo hoo!:thumbup:

I was about 20 minutes short this last week. But I'm ready to try again. Guess I'll aim for 2 1/2 hours again. I should get it this week.

Lookin' great Jaime. And I'm reading your blog and totally enjoying it. Had lots of fun with the Prevention Weight Loss Simulator. Interesting to see how hot I'll be when I reach my goal. :tongue2: