debbieperez55

Teri, that is so fantastic! You have been through so much. I take it the twins are getting over there Winter illnesses, you however, YIKES, that must be awful. Anyway I remember a few weeks back when they were ill and you were so frazzled. And now Matthew is walking. WAY TO GO MATTHEW :scared2: You won't be able to stop him now. And when would you have ever thought you were not eating enough! Isn't life funny. I am going to check it out. I am very courious. Also, just so you don't feel bad, I worked my ass off to loose the weight I gained after my fill. Then the scale was down 3 more. Okay - 201 - almost there, right WRONG - This morning 204, HOW COULD IT BE 204 again, wasn't I just there !!! Anyway, you are not alone, we are all here for you. Especially me. Take Care Debbie

Kiz, funny that you say that. I have always thought - WOW thats how I feel, or that person has the same problems I have. Even now, You all share the same problems, triumps, ups and downs that I experience. We are connected. I started my journey in March. I remember watching that commercial on TV with the Lion and the Kitty. The woman talked about how the band "tamed" her hunger. You know, it was weird, it was the second time I saw the commercial but something that night stuck with me and I called my insurance to ask questions the next day. I never told anyone, kind of like sneak eating, I didn't want to be judged. And then to find all of you and then the September Samuari's. I remember feeling dispare when I tried another site, and that one was Dr recommended and sponsored. But then I found this one using a Google Search - can you believe it? Honestly, I don't think I could have done it without you, all of you. Funny how people from all over the World could come together with one goal and help each other more that those closest to us. What a journey we have been through.

Congradulations Kiz, Way to go! :confused:

Well I seem to be on the move again. Had a little trouble after my second fill, gained - ran into some SF Popsicles, will need to rethink them next time. Anyway, lost all I gained plus three more. I am almost under 200, ALMOST. I think my body knows how badly I want to get under this mark. But, I was able to begin my final phase - the after 5 month diet. I can again eat lettuce. I love lettuce, even just nibbling on it is wonderful. Looking forward to salads. Had corn the other night and all was fine also. I have found that this normal food stays with me a lot longer than what I was eating before. I still stick with tuna and chicken, but I have trouble with "dry". The other day they had a pot luck at work. I figured I would be okay with El Pollo Chicken Breast. It was so dry I almost died - yuck. I had to put some beans on it to get it down. I will stick with my emergency food, thank you very much. Anyway, 2 more pounds to go. Wish me luck. Might take me another month, but I will get there!!!!! Debbie

Hey Teri, so glad you saw your surgeon. They know our bands bet. And .5 fill is a good fine tune. Hopefully this is enough for a while. My cold, gone, but the nose remains. I hate runny noses, but what can you do. Actually, I am not sure it was a cold, it was kind of short. Maybe I am just healthier. I like the restriction. I actually find I look forward to the restriction. I got tired of eating until I was going to burst. And when I think back to the amount I could pack away. Good Grief - Funny, a tiny snack satisfies me. Sometimes I find I just have cottage cheese and fruit for dinner or protien drink. Amazing how little satisfies now. Let me know how you are doing. Take Care. Debbie

I was speaking to someone who has studied nutrition. Seems our bodies are "pissy" little things. You could starve yourself and actually gain weight, for a time. Seems you body can get use to a decrease in calories and then any change causes it havoc. Like carbs, if you don't eat carbs it can mess with your brain and make you depressed. Maybe your body is just "pissed" off and taking a break. Let me know if you want me to give you my Nutritionist's food plan. I would call your Surgeon. I am sure they have come across this before and maybe they can give you a suggestion. Teri, you have done so fantastic. Keep your chin up. Take care - Debbie

Okay - I have to confess. I gained two pounds after my fill. I ate too many sugar free popsicles. They are my weakness. The cold even caused blisters on the roof of my mouth, ouch. And then mushies, I ate too much SF Dark chocolate pudding. MMmm chocolate........ Never ate too much at one time, but obviously there is a point where I should have know better. And you cannot eat nothing but sugar free popsicles and pudding. So here I am trying desperately to get under 200 pounds and I do this to myself. How stupid is that. But I guess it could be worse, could have been Cookies. So anyway, I am back under control and I am now to the final step, 5 month plus post op diet. I finally get to eat ANYTHING I want. So today - a small wedge of lettuce, no dressing. You know what, It Was FANTASTIC. And I have found getting two ounces of protien at a meal sure makes a difference. :tongue: So - Good Bye SF Popsicles, hello salads. I am going to get under 200 if I have to walk from here to the moon! Thanks for being there for me. Debbie

I'm with Slim. You need more protien, go back to drinking your protien drink. If nothing else, try Atkins Drink, but you need to get your protien in. I was told to eat protien first, then fruits and veggies, and then if you have room, carbs. I have an egg every day, lots of milk products and cheese. Also, lots of lean protien, fish and chicken. It take longer for protien to digest, it stays in your pouch and you feel full longer. But if you are feeling that tired you might want to speak to your Dr, perhaps your fill is too tight or your hormones and chemistry are messed up. Call your Dr. Take Care Debbie

Nicey, PBing isn't good. My Dr and Nutritionist have always allowed snacks. They say they would rather you have a snack than overeat at your next meal. I am allowed several small snacks a day, in case I need them. I still drink my protien drink in the mornings, but in the afternoons, an ounce of low fat cheese or some Sugar Free Dark CHOCOLATE :thumbup: Pudding does the trick for me. They feel that if you are TOO hungry, you know, the I AM STARVING feeling, you will eat too fast or too much. But more important, talk to your Dr. He is there for you. This is a work in process and he is there for you! Good Luck.. Debbie

Teri, I know how yhou feel. I average 1 pound a week too and will go for weeks without weight loss. And the first weight came off fast too. I has a horrible weekend after my fill, felt so tight at first and now,,,,,, I wonder if I have a leak. Anyway, talk to your surgeon. He is your best resource. But remember, slow and steady. Also, you have lost inches. Hang in there. I hate this part too, but hang in there. Even if this is all you ever loose, you are still better off than you were before. And, I know how pissed I would be to hear that. Talk to your Dr. Hang in there. Debbie

The fill went great! EXCEPT ----- They only have two Dr who do them, they do them under the foura. My Dr, Dr Hall told me "sorry I am slow I have Carpal Tunel, tomorrow I get surgery. Good Grief, :thumbup: thank goodness I got in when I did. So he had a student Dr who wanted to be PERFECT, good and bad. But she was good all in all. :wink2: Turns out I have a slightly twisted port, thus the problems getting the needle in. But he told me not to worry, just the way the port is stitched to the muscle. Didn't sneeze during the procedure, but when they put the table to the standing position - THE NEEDLE CAME OUT. :mad2: The student told me that "that seems to happen a lot with our THINNER patients" THEY CALLED ME THIN! :w00t: Okay I love this Doctor. Something about the skin and muscle. So they were THRILLED with my weight loss, THIRTY POUNDS since my last fill. :clap:Funny how you forget things like this and how great they make you feel. When I did the first swallow they said I really needed a fill. I felt it just SWISH through. By the time they were finished, I could feel the restriction. The Dr told me he is very conservative with his first fills. He wants you to get use to it before he gives you real restriction. OKAY - COULDN'T YOU HAVE TOLD ME THAT LAST TIME - HELLO! So I had to SWEAR to only liquids for two days, two days mushies, and then guess what - I GET TO EAT EVERYTHING! Or whatever works best with my band. I am looking forward to trying my first salad in months. So for me it was a PERFECT visit. I left on cloud nine Thank you all for your kind words. You know me, I freak out :smile: before this stuff. Now if i can just get under 200.

The cardiologist - HE IS A JERK. :thumbup: My Mom told her Cardiologist, who knows our family and our family history, about my Lap Band. He was very pleased for me. In fact he told my Mom that he is starting to refer his patients for the Lap Band. You need to know that there are Drs who understand. Also, my personal Dr is now a believer and a band supporter. It makes me feel good to know that the next person who talks to him will get a favorable reception and the support they need. You know, if we could do this by ourselves, we would have years ago! No one chooses this! Anyway, Congradulations on doing so fantastic! You are doing great! :thumbup: Debbie

What is it that makes us view our bodies in such a distortion. Everytime I have lost significant weight I have always considered myself still fat. And when I was at my highest weight I didn't realize I looked so bloated and large. I mean, it is stupid things. Like before I lost I would only look at myself from the chest up, like my huge butt and stomache wasn't really there. I actually thought those long loose tops hid the bulk of my body. Swollen legs and ankles, only look at your feet in the mornings and then they didn't exist. Health concerns, no problem, they have a pill for that. High blood pressure, they have a pill for that. Except for me it was three pills. Diabetis, they have a pill for that too. Except the pills were not working and my sugar kept creaping up. Cholestrol, no big deal, I am still young and THEY HAVE A PILL FOR THAT. Heart Attack, they do bypass for that. Fatty Liver - okay now that made me stop and think. Liver transplants. Maybe I need to rethink. No one tells you or maybe they did and I didn't listen, okay I know they did and I didn't listen, about what is going to happen a few years down the road if you continue at that weight. I thought I was young and I still had plently of time. Plenty of time to loose weight, plenty of time to start walking. Plenty of time left to get healthy. Bad things only happened to other people, I was fine. Now what was it that ex husband said, repulsed, disgusting. New Hubby, accepted me fat, kind of like it was okay to be me. Okay to be fat, okay to be thin, okay to eat, okay to over eat or under eat. Never belittled me, sneak eating was a thing of the past. If I wanted it, I could finally sit in front of someone and enjoy it. Sneak eating lost it's hold. So maybe it would be okay, okay to change, okay to discover a new way. And now, here I am. I have worked my butt off to loose what I have and I still have more to loose. How did it get this far? How heavy was heavy enough? How much time did I loose? I try to look at myself different now. Try to acknowledge my progress and accept my body as it is. I know I can't go back in time, tell that stupid person that they would end up with saggy hanging skin. But this time I can be different. I can look, really look at me and see progress. Any progress is better than before. Now, if I sit just right and look down at my thighs I see slimness. I cannot believe how much thinner they look. But then if I look at them from another angle I see all the hanging skin and they look quite large. I can look in the mirror and see the difference in my waist, in my arms, are there less dimples in my elbows? Where I end up I don't know, but I'm in it for the long run. I know I will have hanging skin. But, at least there is less. Less stomach, less face, less neck and arms and don't forget the tush. But also, most important, I mean the MOST IMPORTANT, my health is better. When I think that I could have died from a heart attack or complications of diabetis. The band gave me time. And since I will be around longer I think I will accept my body this time, for the first time in my entire life. I may have a hanging stomach and varicose veins, but I now have a strong heart and liver. I think I will dance at my Grandson's wedding in twenty years.

Glad to see everyone is doing great, Teri, hang in there. Sounds like you are on an emotional roller coaster. I am doing physically great, except right this minute I have chest pain, gas I think - who knows. I just had some cottage cheese and pomagranite applesause and have felt yuck and nauseaus ever since. Maybe I ate too fast. I hate when that happens. Personally life sucks. Hubby lost his job after 15 years and the creap boss didn't give him his final check or his vacation pay. We thought maybe they mailed it, but we have waited long enough. Everyone else got their final checks, but he begged hubby to stay to close up and now nothing. I hate creaps. My Sister-In-Law has Metastatic Lung Cancer, yes it has spread. I am a "care taker" personality. I cannot help myself. I don't think she realizes how bad it is. I think I am more upset than she is. And I am finally loosing again, now that I have my referral and appointment for my fill. Wouldn't you know it, I was at a stand still for over two weeks again, and then I got my referral and the weight is coming off again. I can't figure this out. The good news, I saw my regular Dr. He is so happy. I lost 31 pounds since I saw him two months ago. Now that is putting everything in perspective. He told me my Liver Function is back to normal - The dreaded liver. Remember back before our surgeries and we were so afraid of our livers not shrinking. And now mine has healed. I can't believe it! I really thought it was going to kill me, if my heart didn't. He also told me my cholestrol is normal - NORMAL what a wonderful word, and my blood sugar AC1 or what ever it is called dropped a point and is in the normal range also. The bad thing we discovered - My blood pressure was too low and my pulse was too slow. 94/60 and my pulse 50 ish, I have never heard that! I remember when it was 170/110 and my Dr told me he was afraid I would have a stroke. Now - I have to cut my blood pressure meds in half now. At least I will save money. I did ask for, and he gave me, some "happy pills" - Ativan. I am so afraid the "emotional" will get the best of me. I am not going back to what I was. Hubby keeps sending out resume's, but with thousands loosing their jobs, who wants to hire a 50 year old Traffic Manager. :thumbup: So now my life is upside down. My health is great but the other stuff is falling apart. I am just feeling so down. And to top it off my computer quit sending me email notifications when people post. Does anyone know why it is doing that????? Debbie

What is it that makes us view our bodies in such a distortion. Everytime I have lost significant weight I have always considered myself still fat. And when I was at my highest weight I didn't realize I looked so bloated and large. I mean, it is stupid things. Like before I lost I would only look at myself from the chest up, like my huge butt and stomache wasn't really there. I actually thought those long loose tops hid the bulk of my body. Swollen legs and ankles, only look at your feet in the mornings and then they didn't exist. Health concerns, no problem, they have a pill for that. High blood pressure, they have a pill for that. Except for me it was three pills. Diabetis, they have a pill for that too. Except the pills were not working and my sugar kept creaping up. Cholestrol, no big deal, I am still young and THEY HAVE A PILL FOR THAT. Heart Attack, they do bypass for that. Fatty Liver - okay now that made me stop and think. Liver transplants. Maybe I need to rethink. No one tells you or maybe they did and I didn't listen, okay I know they did and I didn't listen, about what is going to happen a few years down the road if you continue at that weight. I thought I was young and I still had plently of time. Plenty of time to loose weight, plenty of time to start walking. Plenty of time left to get healthy. Bad things only happened to other people, I was fine. Now what was it that ex husband said, repulsed, disgusting. New Hubby, accepted me fat, kind of like it was okay to be me. Okay to be fat, okay to be thin, okay to eat, okay to over eat or under eat. Never belittled me, sneak eating was a thing of the past. If I wanted it, I could finally sit in front of someone and enjoy it. Sneak eating lost it's hold. So maybe it would be okay, okay to change, okay to discover a new way. And now, here I am. I have worked my butt off to loose what I have and I still have more to loose. How did it get this far? How heavy was heavy enough? How much time did I loose? I try to look at myself different now. Try to acknowledge my progress and accept my body as it is. I know I can't go back in time, tell that stupid person that they would end up with saggy hanging skin. But this time I can be different. I can look, really look at me and see progress. Any progress is better than before. Now, if I sit just right and look down at my thighs I see slimness. I cannot believe how much thinner they look. But then if I look at them from another angle I see all the hanging skin and they look quite large. I can look in the mirror and see the difference in my waist, in my arms, are there less dimples in my elbows? Where I end up I don't know, but I'm in it for the long run. I know I will have hanging skin. But, at least there is less. Less stomach, less face, less neck and arms and don't forget the tush. But also, most important, I mean the MOST IMPORTANT, my health is better. When I think that I could have died from a heart attack or complications of diabetis. The band gave me time. And since I will be around longer I think I will accept my body this time, for the first time in my entire life. I may have a hanging stomach and varicose veins, but I now have a strong heart and liver. I think I will dance at my Grandson's wedding in twenty years.

:tt2: I officially hate my scale! :cool2: I think it has it out for me! :mad: I don't know why, haven't I always avoided it at all costs over the years to prevent it from experiencing damage? After all, for years I went to great lengths to stay off of it, preventing it a lot of needless pain that might have been caused by my increasing size. :eek: Shouldn't it be a little gratefull! Maybe it got lonely :crying:, or maybe it isn't use to all the attention I have shown it lately . Wouldn't you think it would be grateful that I weigh a whole lot less and it doesn't cry everytime I step on it?!?!? I mean really, why can't we just be friends. Well, it it is going to treat me that way, I think I shall just make friends with my mirror :rose:. We have been strangers far too long. :wub: And for the first time in my life I kind of like what I have been seeing lately.... A little tonge in cheek :ciappa: to brighten your day. Hope it brought a smile to your face. :grouphug: I have lost over 60 pounds! I cannot believe the change in me! Take care Debbie

Teri, just keep going. You are doing fantastic! I was finally approved for my 2nd fill. I was told by the person in the Drs office that my IPA Group questioned the need for a fill so soon. EXCUSE ME! I had my last fill on 10-23, over two months ago. I asked if they had any idea how this band really works and why did they approve me for the band if they are not going to allow me the tools to make it work. I them her that a lot of people in our group have had 3 or 4 fills! She agrees, once every 6 weeks should not be a problem. I will have to call my insurance co. So much for HMOs. But I am stuck, it is all I have. I am down 61 pounds, 80 all total, but I am now loosing about a pound a week. I know that is what we were promised and what we expect, BUT, you know in our hearts we enjoyed the quick loses we experienced at first. I know, slow and steady is nice, but 4 pounds a month can drive you crazy too! Is anyone else having trouble with their insurance about their fills???? Just wondered. Take Care Debbie

I used baby food for my fruit and veggies, but for the meat, I ground up my own chicken. Added a little chicken broth and made chicken salad. Same with Tuna. I remember the baby food meat from 30 years ago and there was no way that was going to touch my lips. I still keep baby food veggies for emergencies. Never know when it will come in handy. Debbie:blush:

After a full year without soda, I don't miss it most the time, but occasionally, I want some. The Crystal Light lemonade is awfully tart for me, I started using Wyler brand fruit punch, raspberry flavor, etc... It's a little of a softer flavor. I Water it down a little. The Special K Protein mixers are a decent way to get protein in too. You mentioned the Wyler Brand. I too prefer it. I use to get it at my Walgrens. They no longer carry it. Where do you find yours. AND I water mine down too. I am now up to 1 single packet to 32 ounces of water, double the water. Kind of feel it might be a little more healthy, and more water! And yes, I miss the diet soda too. The other day I watched someone open one and I missed the first sip. JUST LIKE A DRUG ADDICT. But my band means more to me than anything and I will NEVER have SODA again. My personal choice, one well worth it. Besides I don't miss the chronic accute gastritis and constant belching.

Yesterday was the worse New Year's Eve I have ever experienced. My Sister-In-Law was just told by her Doctor that she has Lung Cancer. It is in her lungs, bronchi, trachea, esophagus, on her adrenal glads, in her lymph nodes and she has something on her liver. She also suffers from headaches, so now I wonder, is it there too? She goes for a biopsy next week. So there I was, wrapped up in my own life, my husband's company just moved and he lost his job. At 50 and in this job market prospects are not that great. Sister-In-Law was sick, complained about a cough and headache. Said it was her sinuses. I even took her to the ER once. They gave her more meds than you would believe. Vicodine and cough syrup up the gazoo. And what did I do, I thought she was exaggerating to get attention and out of work. A drama queen, a princess. And now I feel like crap. I went over to her house yesterday, swallowed my pride, and became the real person I know I am. I became compassionate, understanding, and took control. I read the report and tried to the best of my ability to explain all the "medical speak" and put it into terms she could understand while still giving hope. I told her today is the start of her new life, the past is the past. She was scared, who wouldn't be, and thought she was going to die. I saw my duty to give her hope, encouragement, but also to tell it to her straight. She has the fight of her life in front of her and she needs to be strong. How could I have been so wrapped up in me to allow myself to become so bitter and uncaring? Where was my compassion before this? I am ashamed of myself. Here I have lost all this weight, but I need to keep the authentic self I fought so hard to find. I need to count my blessings. I had a heart attack, but it was small and now that I have lost weight and my cholesterol is down, I am only going to get better. I am exercising and eating right. Pat on the other hand is looking at chemo, radiation or even death. How horrible, to know that cancer is raging through your entire body. How scared she must be. At least I have my family, my husband, mother and daughter. Pat only has us. I need to find balance. I need to do for me, but I also need to be there for Pat. Somehow I think helping her will help me. 2008 - 59 pounds, who knows what 2009 will bring.

Yesterday was the worse New Year's Eve I have ever experienced. My Sister-In-Law was just told by her Doctor that she has Lung Cancer. It is in her lungs, bronchi, trachea, esophagus, on her adrenal glads, in her lymph nodes and she has something on her liver. She also suffers from headaches, so now I wonder, is it there too? She goes for a biopsy next week. So there I was, wrapped up in my own life, my husband's company just moved and he lost his job. At 50 and in this job market prospects are not that great. Sister-In-Law was sick, complained about a cough and headache. Said it was her sinuses. I even took her to the ER once. They gave her more meds than you would believe. Vicodine and cough syrup up the gazoo. And what did I do, I thought she was exaggerating to get attention and out of work. A drama queen, a princess. And now I feel like crap. I went over to her house yesterday, swallowed my pride, and became the real person I know I am. I became compassionate, understanding, and took control. I read the report and tried to the best of my ability to explain all the "medical speak" and put it into terms she could understand while still giving hope. I told her today is the start of her new life, the past is the past. She was scared, who wouldn't be, and thought she was going to die. I saw my duty to give her hope, encouragement, but also to tell it to her straight. She has the fight of her life in front of her and she needs to be strong. How could I have been so wrapped up in me to allow myself to become so bitter and uncaring? Where was my compassion before this? I am ashamed of myself. Here I have lost all this weight, but I need to keep the authentic self I fought so hard to find. I need to count my blessings. I had a heart attack, but it was small and now that I have lost weight and my cholesterol is down, I am only going to get better. I am exercising and eating right. Pat on the other hand is looking at chemo, radiation or even death. How horrible, to know that cancer is raging through your entire body. How scared she must be. At least I have my family, my husband, mother and daughter. Pat only has us. I need to find balance. I need to do for me, but I also need to be there for Pat. Somehow I think helping her will help me. 2008 - 59 pounds, who knows what 2009 will bring.

Happy New Year to all September Samurai. Just waiting for the 5th so the Dr Office can finish the paper work requesting my second fill. Doing okay, but am stalled. But my even my "skinny" pants are falling off and I can really see and feel the difference. I am changing in other ways too. For the first time I handled a "stressfull" situation very differently. In fact, I am going to walk when I am finished posting this. Last night my Sister-In-Law told us that she just found out that she has metastatic lung cancer, yeah on New Years Eve. :Yawn: I read the report, there is cancer every where. For some weird reason my band gets very "tight" when I am stressed and while I was there I felt it. I was strong for her, assured her we would fight, gave her as much a pep talk as you can and then went home and had a protien drink. For the first time in my life I didn't comfort myself with food. No binge, no thoughtless eating. Just later a SF Dark Chocolate Pudding. I guess I am really relearning after all. Well, off to relieve some stress. Debbie