JulieNYC

PS: The date didn't go so well -- you'd think new boobs would at least get me from the peck on the cheek to a peck on the lips! Wink. This is a guy I've known for 6 years. It's probably all too new for him, I guess. Anyway, I'm trying to get out more....

OK, I was happier than I looked in these pics -- I was just snapping quick shots on the cellphone to send to a friend to help decide what to wear! I went with the pink.

I had a date Sunday night and got reasonably dressed for it, so I'll post a pic of that outfit when I get home (I'd taken it so a girlfriend could help me decide what to wear!). The scars on my breasts are darn-near invisible at this point (and I'm a poor scarer). The TT scars are very red and raised -- to be expected. Dad said we won't really assess them until the 3 month mark. He thinks my scars will be bad and, if so, may do some salicilic (sp?) acid treatments on them during the healing process. We'll see. I'd like them to be nice, but honestly, it's not that big of a deal to me. What IS a big deal is how much I want my thighs and arms done now that I see how big of a change PS really makes! If I can lose 30 more lbs, I can have the thighs done over Christmas. The arms only require a week off work, so I'm less concerned with when I'll get them in.

Today has been good so far. First of all the scale was nice to me with 3 lbs gone overnight. Second, I'm only at 95 cals from breakfast and it held me all the way to lunch. I considered for a half-second going to the gym tonight and just walking leisurely on the treadmill, but I decided against it. It's so contrary to doctor's orders and I don't want to jeopardize my recovery, RIGHT?? Ahh, lunchtime.

Yes! About every 3rd PB, I seem to burst a ton of blood vessels all over my face. I look sunburned. Powder covers it up and it's gone in a day but it can freak you out when it first happens!

I think it's an awesome plan too, to follow a proscribed diet, if you want to, during the weight loss phase. You go girl! You're taking control of your life and the speed of weight loss you desire. I think that's great. I'd been thinking about doing Weight Watchers for long term support as pre-packaged foods are hard for me (I'm vegetarian). I think the band works really well in combination with a diet, if that's what you choose. I've lost almost all the weight I've lost by paying attention to calories.

Happy bandiversary Eficka! Yes, join us on the food challenge -- we're only on day 2. Boo, listen, seriously, if you try counting calories and it's not your thing, don't worry about it -- everyone has to eat how it works best for them. Then again, maybe you'll try it and love it! I just don't want you to feel any pressure to approach food differently just because Betty and I find calorie counting to work for us. You're a grown-up and I probably don't need to worry about it so much, but there you go. Hugs!

I just took a plane trip home and wanted to share the following with this group because I knew you'd get it without me having to explain why it's such a big deal. I know the person next to me thought I was odd for taking a picture like this with my cellphone! Wink, Julie

I hit 901 cals today, which was pretty good given that I accidentally fell on some 10 year old cheddar cheese and it accidentally landed in my mouth. What to do but to swallow? Wink. It was 350 of those 901 cals. I probably needed the protein and I'm still within my goal, so it's ok. I'm really glad we're doing this mini challenge though because without it, I'd for sure be snacking on the chocolate chips that were left in my pantry from the weekend (until tonight when -- without opening them -- I threw them in the trash). On to tomorrow. Good deal, all. Way to go on our first day! Boo, I use sparkpeople.com too.

I feel your pain, Spydr, I'm in the same boat (not surprisingly as we had similar surgeries at similar weights) -- I don't own a single pair of pants at the moment. I'm looking forward to having a thigh lift too, but as I need to lose 30 more lbs, that has to come first. Take care and I'm sure you look fabulous in those dresses!

OK, here we go with our food challenge. WOOHOO! Go team April! I'm doing great so far. I had tea and a piece of low fat cheese for breakfast with some soy crisps (100 cals) and I brought my lunch, which I'll eat in about an hour. I'm going to aim for 800 cals, but allow myself up to 1000 if necessary. I'm having dinner out with a friend tonight, but I'm going to order plain salad with balsamic vinegar (almost no cals) then eat a real dinner when I get home. Normally I wouldn't be so rigid, but I really feel like I need to press the reset button on my eating to knock off these last 30 lbs. Jenny -- how are you feeling? Nervous? Excited?

Maintaining is NO PROBLEM. I'm eating everything I want, just in small quantites and I'm staying exactly the same. If I'd lower my calories (hence the calorie challenge) I'l sure I'd lose even without exercise, but it's ok. Tomorrow's my "get back to it" day. I worried that I might gain without running too, but I just can't eat enough with the band (absent truly poor choices like a tub of ice cream) to gain. 2 weeks and 4 days till I can run. WOOHOO!

I have a question for you guys. I thought about starting a general post about it, but wanted to see what you guys think about it first. Do you ever read the complications forum? If so, do you notice that there are a lot of pouch and esophagus dilation issues in long term bandsters, even who have otherwise done SUPER well? I know a complications forum is naturally going to show a false positive complication rate, but it's still of concern to me. I know one preventative measure to avoid these problems (and thus have long term band health) is to monitor quantity control (i.e. eat less than your pouch holds on a mostly consistent basis). I know I'm safe on this if I eat 3/4 of a cup or less in a sitting of solid food, or 1 cup of mushies. I don't measure my food all the time, but I do on occasion to try and stay within a reasonable portion size. My head doesn't always do that for me as I have a tendency to pouch pack if I don't pay attention (I have a feeling most of us are that way given our obesity histories). The first line remedy if a dilation is diagnosed is to go on liquids for 2-3 weeks. So my question is this -- is there an argument that for long term band health, we should consider doing liquids for a few days more often to give our pouch and esophagus a chance to rest (for example, maybe 3-4 days every 6 weeks or so)? I know that no one in the medical community actually advocates this, but I also know that sometimes being a patient living with a device can be as informative as being a doctor. What do you think about this concept? All I want is to have a healthy band FOREVER!

Sheila, I'm so glad to hear that you're doing well and that posting helped you to be accountable. I use it exactly the same way. If you get tempted to eat non-mushies again, I'm with the rest -- force yourself to eat mushies, but allow yourself to eat whatever mushie you want (even the "bad" stuff). Believe us when we tell you that once you're properly filled, a good portion of the head hunger will be controlled. For now, it's just about eating the right consistency of food to let yourself heal. You're going to do great! Boo, you don't have to count cals if you don't want to -- your goal can be to eat no chocolate for a week, or whatever it is that is getting in your way (if anything -- to me, you're doing great). Dawn, you rock. Period. Terri, you too. WTG on exceeding your exercise goals even in your month of being banded. Awesome. Molly, you're doing great. The 60s are right around the corner for you! I loved the 60s. I spent a lot of years there and when I got back to them, I felt like "me" again. Betty, would you give us another update on Alan?

My goal is to be a consistent size 6. I'm 5'2 (not quite, actually) and I'm heavy and curvy. Even at 180, where I am now, I wear a 10 (sometimes a 12 on bottom, but sometimes an 8 on top), which doesn't really match -- you'd think I'd be bigger given my vertical challenge. I figure I'll wind up in the 140s. Again, heavy for me by the charts, but who cares. It's hard to call size 6 fat.

I'm going to start my official calorie count (1000 or below) on Monday and run for a week. I'm going to track as much as possible between now and then, but I have out of town guests this weekend and a big DATE on Sunday, which means a lot of eating out and guesswork as to calories at restaurants. When I do my week of reporting, I want to do it 100% accurately. In the interim, I promise to do my best!

I'm just getting home from a looong day and read what's going on with everyone and look forward to responding more substantively tomorrow. In the interim, I was wondering if any of you would like to do a mini-challenge for about a week (here on this thread), as a lot of us seem to be having food challenges at the moment. I was thinking we could commit to do something for just a week -- whatever it is that makes us feel like successful food bandsters (for me that's counting calories and eating under 1000/day -- for some it might be promising not to drink with meals, or commiting to eating protein with every meal and finishing the protein before eating carbs -- whatever works for you). We could check in with each other -- just for a week -- to see if that would help us get back on track and inspire us to get the lbs rolling off again. Anyone interested?

I go home on Tuesday. I'm physically ready, but have gotten used to not having to go to work (wink). The swelling has gotten much better in the morning and early afternoon. In the evening, it's still pretty bad. Apparently to be expected....I wear the girdle for at least 6 weeks. I have 4 different styles, so I can make one of them work with almost all of my clothes. I start the new job on May 21st. I can't start exercising AT ALL for 6 weeks and no real running for 2 months. Apparently there's a real concern about ripping the stitches in the lower stomach and if they come apart, Fluid collects under the skin and has to be drained. YUCK. Anyway, I got enough of a lecture about it to stay still for a while. It means I've really got to cut back on the out-of-control eating that I've been doing. I'll be fine once I'm back in my own environment. It hasn't been so bad really -- it's just hard to control things when you don't prepare your own meals. Let's see, so I can start walking for exercise again about the time I start my new job. And I'll try not to run until June. I probably won't lift weights until July. Wow, that's a long time from now! It's funny to have the opposite goals -- to try NOT to exercise.

Boo, I WANT TO SEE A PIC OF THE TROPHY!!! WOW!!! That's so incredible! Woohoo! Way to go. That's AMAZING. You rock, girlfriend!

Oh my goodness! Lapbandit, you look AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Geeze, I mean AWESOME! Way to go.

Well the only thing that got exercise today was my credit card. I spent about $500 in unplanned clothes purchases! I got 3 awesome new dresses for work/summer and a couple of tops. I was too nervous to try on pants -- maybe next time. Did yall get your exercise in today? Wink, Julie

I'm so happy for you and proud of you Molly. You have done so wonderfully and I'm so glad to know you and be a part of this journey with you. Congratulations on your bandiversary.

OK, I'm not going to win any photographic awards for these, but here goes -- a clothed shot and a more up close shot. ***Here's the further scoop. I'm just not comfortable with nudes of me on the internet. But, I did take them, both before and after. If you're part of the lapband world and you promise to keep them confidential and "for your eyes only," email me through LBT and I'll send them to you directly. Sound fair? The best part is that top is a size 8 and that's with NO BRA and no lycra -- just a top and sweatpants! See my port scar BELOW my belly button! Also, the marks above my belly button and below my bra aren't suture lines -- it's where the girdle they had me in was chaffing. It should fade in a few days now that I've moved to a different style garment. It didn't hurt at all -- I just mark easily. Dad says the swelling on my tummy will go down quite a bit more. I'm happy with it as is, but yahoo!

OK, I got really scared there for a second until you reassured me that I'm the first child (wink). I'm an only child in real life, so this feeling must be the sibling rivalry I've always read about! Seriously though, that's awesome that you met up with Jenny. Hi Jenny! Congratulations on getting banded this month! OK Betty, YOU ROCK for losing 64 lbs in a year and being the hippest, coolest April bandster out there! And I beg to differ -- you have met every goal along the way. You are losing weight and you are the quintessential success story, whether you lose any more weight (which I'm sure you will) or not. Think how great you feel and how amazing it is that you didn't gain weight during the most stressful time your family could imagine. It's really very amazing. GO BETTY. Dancing bananas for you. :D Molly, your bandiversary sounds just perfect. I want to rewind and go paint pottery for my bandiversary! And a healthy walk to boot. You're the best. Happy bandiversary.

Haha! You're going to do GREAT Maziemommy. I can't wait to watch your success in the coming year! Congratulations again on getting banded. When is your first fill?