debbieperez55

Well, it is my Band Anniversary and things have changed. #1 I left my husband, a cruel and abusive man. I grew a spine and walked out the door with nothing. He told me I had changed. He was angry that I lost weight. He lost his control over me. It is now a very bitter divorce, but I am free. #2 I am dating again. It has been a year and I love my freedom. I have grown so much. I love myself for the first time in my life. I have excess skin, you don't like it, tough!!! My tummy hangs, you don't like it tough!!! My arms are big, TOUGH!!! #3 I live with my Daughter. I am 57 years old and I live with my Daughter. I have nothing. But I am no longer isolated and alone. I would rather be broke than abused. My life has changed, but I am enjoying life for the first time in a very long time. I love this stage. YES there are men out there who enjoy a more mature figure. Yes there are men out there that will take advantage of you. You just have to be cautious and never go back to the type of man in #1 My weight is stable. I am not thin, but I am happy. So, did I change, DAMN RIGHT I DID. Did I leave a cruel and abusive marriage, damn right I did. I started living for me. I don't care if I never have a possession again. I have my dignity. No one should live their life in fear as a door mat. Take a stand, protect yourself. TELL SOMEONE, you are not alone

No, I didn't have a support group or support system. That is a recipe for failure. I now have my Nutritionist, Daughter and Son in Law. I left my husband and left an abusive situation. I feel 100% better and the weight is falling off. My Daughter encourages healthy meals. I remain a vegetarian, but I sneak in fish now and then and maybe some cottage cheese. You have to have support - it is a must!!! There are thinks that happen with a band that no one else understands. Gurgling noises, hiccups, productive burping or even vomiting. I found if I was stressed I ate too fast and it just came back up. Also, I was told by the Nutritionist that stress causes irritation in your stomach. For me, the band is tighter and I am nausea Now instead of eating something soft like cereal and milk, I ride it out. Try to eat a few bites fruit. You have to be good to yourself FIRST. I feel amazing. I am happy again with my band. We are friends again

Well, I did the unthinkable. I gained. I went from 180 to 245. YES, all that hard work down the toilet. Battling depression, migraine headaches and cereal addiction. Yes, you can be addicted to the carbs in cereal. Went back to my surgeon, he did not beat me up as I had imagined. Everyone was so nice. The do fills in the office so it is so much more convenient. I thought I needed to be filled tight, but after she put 1 cc in she had me drink. YIKES - PAIN!!!, so 1/2 cc out and I have that wonderful feeling of restriction. Actually after speaking to the nutritionist I lost 10 pounds before the fill. How is that for an attitude change. Now back down to 227. The weight is coming off fast, but I know I am thick. My port use to bulge and I just noticed it doesn't anymore. It is tucked away under a layer of fat. But the important thing is I am back. I had headaches after stopping the cereal. What a mess. But I feel better and I am satisfied with that 1/2 cup. How amazing is that??? So if you too have lost your way, let me know. The support I received from the nutritionist made me realize that I was wrong. I CANNOT DO THIS ON MY OWN.

There have been ups and downs. Loss of motivation and triumps. The scale has dropped to new lows. Clothes purchased just a 6 months ago are loo large. Pictures from last Christmas look foreign. And in the end, it is all me. I have grown emotionally and shrunk physically. It has been over a year now and what a difference. I am not, under any circumstances THIN, but that was NEVER my goal. I glanced at my reflection in the window while shopping today and one word came to my mind. NORMAL. I do not think that anyone without a weight problem would understand how that word can lift your spirit. NORMAL. I can now shop in the NORMAL sizes. I can now sit comfortable in NORMAL chairs. I can run up the stairs like a NORMAL person. I am not constantly sick, I just feel NORMAL. A size 28 to a size 14 - NORMAL A size 14 undie to a size 7 - NORMAL A size 48, we won't say cup size, to a 36 bra band - NORMAL I went to breakfast with family and I ordered my NORMAL breakfast. My Mother how is very overweight had the whole enchilada and ate the ENTIRE thing, eggs, ham, potatoes and toast. I have in the past felt funny ordering out. But this time, I felt confident. A small bowl of oatmeal, 1 scrambled egg white. I had brought my own applesause. The waitress didn't even blink her eyes. She wrote my order as if I was NORMAL. And when I only ate 1/4 of what she brought (okay, that was not a small bowl), she just asked are you done and took my plate. Normal - Maybe it was me. Maybe in the past I felt I had to explain. But now - I just want a scoop of tuna and avocado, salmon on the side, and no one questions no bread. That I can thank Atkins for. But NORMAL, the unabtainable dream of just fitting in, just being part of the life I was missing. Not being that huge fat lady who brought stares on her own. Reaching my dream of Normal, Normal - blood sugar Normal - blood pressure Normal - cholestrol Normal - heart Normal Life I thank God for my band everyday I know that without it I would NEVER have acheived Normal.

There have been ups and downs. Loss of motivation and triumps. The scale has dropped to new lows. Clothes purchased just a 6 months ago are loo large. Pictures from last Christmas look foreign. And in the end, it is all me. I have grown emotionally and shrunk physically. It has been over a year now and what a difference. I am not, under any circumstances THIN, but that was NEVER my goal. I glanced at my reflection in the window while shopping today and one word came to my mind. NORMAL. I do not think that anyone without a weight problem would understand how that word can lift your spirit. NORMAL. I can now shop in the NORMAL sizes. I can now sit comfortable in NORMAL chairs. I can run up the stairs like a NORMAL person. I am not constantly sick, I just feel NORMAL. A size 28 to a size 14 - NORMAL A size 14 undie to a size 7 - NORMAL A size 48, we won't say cup size, to a 36 bra band - NORMAL I went to breakfast with family and I ordered my NORMAL breakfast. My Mother how is very overweight had the whole enchilada and ate the ENTIRE thing, eggs, ham, potatoes and toast. I have in the past felt funny ordering out. But this time, I felt confident. A small bowl of oatmeal, 1 scrambled egg white. I had brought my own applesause. The waitress didn't even blink her eyes. She wrote my order as if I was NORMAL. And when I only ate 1/4 of what she brought (okay, that was not a small bowl), she just asked are you done and took my plate. Normal - Maybe it was me. Maybe in the past I felt I had to explain. But now - I just want a scoop of tuna and avocado, salmon on the side, and no one questions no bread. That I can thank Atkins for. But NORMAL, the unabtainable dream of just fitting in, just being part of the life I was missing. Not being that huge fat lady who brought stares on her own. Reaching my dream of Normal, Normal - blood sugar Normal - blood pressure Normal - cholestrol Normal - heart Normal Life I thank God for my band everyday I know that without it I would NEVER have acheived Normal.

These are some of the lessons I have learned there is no magic bullet the band is not "the answer" to all your problems you need to exercise - no really, you need to be active if you have to loose 100 pounds your skin will sag you have to stick to a low calorie meal plan you MUST control your portion sizes you have to cut into small bites you have to CHEW CHEW CHEW The most important thing to remember, you must, understand, this is the most important thing. YOU MUST MAINTAIN YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM Funny once we were past our 6 months everyone kind of slacked off writing. Our group dwindled. I was one of them. Our one year came up and I went back. We were all telling our stories and touching base, bringing everyone up to date with how we are doing. I found that I missed that contact. I read their words, their stories and found that they all shared the same problems and hurdles I have come across. You can't do it alone. You need support. You need someone who understands, who knows, about Pbing, sliming, portions and small bites, and who understands "why you don't have your band removed once you loose the weight" Some people just cannot comprehend that we cannot do it on our own, not that we haven't tried. That is why we got the band, if we could, we would have years ago. You need us and we you. We have a common bond, our bands. Celebrate that common bond, share your ups and downs. Someone out there understands and is there to support you.

These are some of the lessons I have learned there is no magic bullet the band is not "the answer" to all your problems you need to exercise - no really, you need to be active if you have to loose 100 pounds your skin will sag you have to stick to a low calorie meal plan you MUST control your portion sizes you have to cut into small bites you have to CHEW CHEW CHEW The most important thing to remember, you must, understand, this is the most important thing. YOU MUST MAINTAIN YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM Funny once we were past our 6 months everyone kind of slacked off writing. Our group dwindled. I was one of them. Our one year came up and I went back. We were all telling our stories and touching base, bringing everyone up to date with how we are doing. I found that I missed that contact. I read their words, their stories and found that they all shared the same problems and hurdles I have come across. You can't do it alone. You need support. You need someone who understands, who knows, about Pbing, sliming, portions and small bites, and who understands "why you don't have your band removed once you loose the weight" Some people just cannot comprehend that we cannot do it on our own, not that we haven't tried. That is why we got the band, if we could, we would have years ago. You need us and we you. We have a common bond, our bands. Celebrate that common bond, share your ups and downs. Someone out there understands and is there to support you.

I feel normal again. As always, you all write and I find my thought, my fears, my problems. It is nice to be with those who know, really know, what I am feeling and experiencing. Maybe we NEED to stay in touch to KEEP in touch, with our bodies and our minds. I have been on the longest plateau. I have been within 4 pounds for months. I just lost a pound and was so glad. But, I have to admit, even though the number is still large, 178, I am not unhappy with me. So I think in a way my "brain" has affected my body too. I have always said it was my health so the number doesn't bother me that much. Actually, not having to buy new clothes again has been a blessing. I still have trouble. Afternoons and/or "mindless eating", can cause pain which is always followed by sliming. I remember when I first started I needed someone to graphicly explaine Sliming and PBing. Don't need those graphics anymore. Anyway it is the "mindless" that gets me into trouble. Before I know it, too fast, too large, too much. I am learning, they are less frequent, but it still pisses me off that I was stupid for that one moment. I too miss bread. I am back to very low carbs, only oatmeal that one that has extra Fiber. As I have discussed before, I have developed food alergies so I have given up most everything. My stomach distress (gas):scared2: keeps me on the straight and narrow. I had subsituted Cereal for some things I miss, but found I could not control my portions and I found I was eating cereal every meal. So, no cereal for me. Loved that chocolate shreaded wheat. I miss Dairy, no pudding, cottage cheese, or CHOCOLATE. Even tried Almond Milk, but that gives me problems too. So, Rice Milk for me, and I have yet to find rice milk pudding - sounds gross anyway. My insurance changed so I have no idea what I will do for follow up and fills. I called a Dr in my Medical IPA and was told they only do fills on bands they install. I am so distressed. I went for my last visit, my insurance let me have one. Made my appointment, faxed copies of my card. Show up on the day I was told, early of course, THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHY I WAS THERE. THEY DIDN'T SHOW I HAD AN APPOINTMENT. So no one year visit for me. I guess if something happens I get to go to the emergency room and pray they know what a lap band is. :thumbup: But I miss all of you and after reading all your posts I know that I need, I have to stay in touch. I need you. I can't do this alone. Take care - thanks for being there. Debbie

What is it about carbs? I know I need them, but it is a fine line beween need and NEED! My tooth broke two weeks ago and I had to get a crown, back molar. Turns out I had a huge cavity that didn't show on the X-Ray and the tooth just gave way. I am lucky, they say, it didn't break down the middle. I am not a "good" patient, I sweat, almost jump out of my skin. I HATE THE DENTIST. In the middle of my "fix" the novacaine quit working, turns out I am hypersensative. Dentist numbed me again, almost my entire face was numb and my tounge didnt' work properly. I had warning to be careful, it might be sensative, and don't mess with the temp crown. For that much money, even with insurance, I hope it was made of gold! And after, well I put the liquid vicodine to good use! So now two weeks later, I find I was eating mush and lots of cereal. Went back Saturday and he took the temp crown off. I was still embarrased from two weeks ago, so I didn't ask to be numbed up. The Dentist asked how I felt, and I told him it was a little sensative. He poked around a bit and then blew air onto the tooth. OH MY GOD - you would have though he was drilling. The pain was so bad. I took in a huge breath cried out and started sweating. The pain was throbing and I was wishing I could run away. I didn't move or breathe hoping air not moving over the tooth would make it better. IT DIDN'T!!! IT HURT LIKE HELL! So more numbing crap, another numb face, but not as bad and he was able to finish. Went home and hit the VICODINE again. My face throbbed, my tooth hurt and it HURT. AFter the numbing was gone, I went straight to my comfort. CARBS - I ate a box of cereal yesterday. A whole fricking box. Now I didn't eat it all at once, but nibbled the rest of the day. I woke up this am, swollen and retaining water. I felt like hell and I knew what it was, that fricken cereal. My tooth felt better, but I had a Carb Hangover. Then I stepped on the scale. A week of self pitty had taken it's toll. The scale moved up a couple pounds. My worse nightmare. :wink2: Well today I put a stop to the self pitty. I made a protien drink with Rice Milk, Egg White (did you know it was pasterized), Coco Powder (for baking) and Truvea - artificial sweetner. Now I found out, there is such a thing as too much Coco Powder, so I shall cut back next time, but all in all it wan't too bad. I will not allow myself to go back. I will not do this to myself again! Want to know the difference this time? It was only a couple pounds - not 10, 20 or 50. 2 or 3 and the breaks get set. More exercise and no more snacking on cereal. It wasn't the band that stopped me. It was me, Maybe I am learning after all. I maybe a "slow" learner, but it is definately registering. Maybe I need a fill too, you know a little top off, but maybe the ghosts of the past are really in the past, where they belong. So next time, STEP AWAY FROM THE CEREAL box, maybe I'll have some turkey instead. :cool2:

What is it about carbs? I know I need them, but it is a fine line beween need and NEED! My tooth broke two weeks ago and I had to get a crown, back molar. Turns out I had a huge cavity that didn't show on the X-Ray and the tooth just gave way. I am lucky, they say, it didn't break down the middle. I am not a "good" patient, I sweat, almost jump out of my skin. I HATE THE DENTIST. In the middle of my "fix" the novacaine quit working, turns out I am hypersensative. Dentist numbed me again, almost my entire face was numb and my tounge didnt' work properly. I had warning to be careful, it might be sensative, and don't mess with the temp crown. For that much money, even with insurance, I hope it was made of gold! And after, well I put the liquid vicodine to good use! So now two weeks later, I find I was eating mush and lots of cereal. Went back Saturday and he took the temp crown off. I was still embarrased from two weeks ago, so I didn't ask to be numbed up. The Dentist asked how I felt, and I told him it was a little sensative. He poked around a bit and then blew air onto the tooth. OH MY GOD - you would have though he was drilling. The pain was so bad. I took in a huge breath cried out and started sweating. The pain was throbing and I was wishing I could run away. I didn't move or breathe hoping air not moving over the tooth would make it better. IT DIDN'T!!! IT HURT LIKE HELL! So more numbing crap, another numb face, but not as bad and he was able to finish. Went home and hit the VICODINE again. My face throbbed, my tooth hurt and it HURT. AFter the numbing was gone, I went straight to my comfort. CARBS - I ate a box of cereal yesterday. A whole fricking box. Now I didn't eat it all at once, but nibbled the rest of the day. I woke up this am, swollen and retaining water. I felt like hell and I knew what it was, that fricken cereal. My tooth felt better, but I had a Carb Hangover. Then I stepped on the scale. A week of self pitty had taken it's toll. The scale moved up a couple pounds. My worse nightmare. :sad: Well today I put a stop to the self pitty. I made a protien drink with Rice Milk, Egg White (did you know it was pasterized), Coco Powder (for baking) and Truvea - artificial sweetner. Now I found out, there is such a thing as too much Coco Powder, so I shall cut back next time, but all in all it wan't too bad. I will not allow myself to go back. I will not do this to myself again! Want to know the difference this time? It was only a couple pounds - not 10, 20 or 50. 2 or 3 and the breaks get set. More exercise and no more snacking on cereal. It wasn't the band that stopped me. It was me, Maybe I am learning after all. I maybe a "slow" learner, but it is definately registering. Maybe I need a fill too, you know a little top off, but maybe the ghosts of the past are really in the past, where they belong. So next time, STEP AWAY FROM THE CEREAL box, maybe I'll have some turkey instead. :thumbup:

The excitement of the pre-band life is long gone. All the hoops that had to be jumped through for the insurance companies. Then you have the "has my liver shrunk enough" issues. The pre-op tests, the dreaded "head shrinker" appointment and the liquid diet. The after glow of the first weeks post op band have faded. We learned a new vocabulary - Mushies, PB, Sliming. We went through our stages and excitely shared the foods we were able to add. And we learned. We learned to Never eat and drink at the same time. Cut into small pieces. Eat slowly. CHEW CHEW CHEW. The scale began it's decline, maybe even hitting "uncharted water". Some lost fast, some lost slow. For me, getting under 200 was a celebration. I had not been under 200 in OVER 25 years. Now, the scale appears to be STUCK. I know, I eat too much cereal, but when you cannot have dairy or milk products, it is a PAIN. I don't eat bread, rice, pasta, fried foods, refined sugar. I am as my daughter calls it, a MONOVORE. I can live off of the same 5 foods and be quite happy. So Tuna, Salmon, Green Beans, Peas, Applesauce-they have different flavors and oatmeal. But I am happy - I may weigh 180 but I am happy. So as plateaus go, this one is okay with me. Maybe it is just the "non excitement" that makes it so nice. I like the quiet of now. I still step on the scale expecting to see 280 instead of the 180. Sometime I wake in a cold sweat and that was my nightmare. But then I awaken to the clear daylight and I see it was all a bad dream. A dream to learn from, but as with all dreams, it fades. I am happy.

The excitement of the pre-band life is long gone. All the hoops that had to be jumped through for the insurance companies. Then you have the "has my liver shrunk enough" issues. The pre-op tests, the dreaded "head shrinker" appointment and the liquid diet. The after glow of the first weeks post op band have faded. We learned a new vocabulary - Mushies, PB, Sliming. We went through our stages and excitely shared the foods we were able to add. And we learned. We learned to Never eat and drink at the same time. Cut into small pieces. Eat slowly. CHEW CHEW CHEW. The scale began it's decline, maybe even hitting "uncharted water". Some lost fast, some lost slow. For me, getting under 200 was a celebration. I had not been under 200 in OVER 25 years. Now, the scale appears to be STUCK. I know, I eat too much cereal, but when you cannot have dairy or milk products, it is a PAIN. I don't eat bread, rice, pasta, fried foods, refined sugar. I am as my daughter calls it, a MONOVORE. I can live off of the same 5 foods and be quite happy. So Tuna, Salmon, Green Beans, Peas, Applesauce-they have different flavors and oatmeal. But I am happy - I may weigh 180 but I am happy. So as plateaus go, this one is okay with me. Maybe it is just the "non excitement" that makes it so nice. I like the quiet of now. I still step on the scale expecting to see 280 instead of the 180. Sometime I wake in a cold sweat and that was my nightmare. But then I awaken to the clear daylight and I see it was all a bad dream. A dream to learn from, but as with all dreams, it fades. I am happy.

Hi Everyone - so nice to hear from you all and to see that I am not the only one STUCK at the same weight loss. I think I shall stay at 179 - 182 forever. Actually, it is not a bad weight. Most times I do real good and then sometimes I 'munch" Cereal. Healthy whole grain, but still carbs. I had tried to do just protien, no carbs at all, but the carb craves over came me. And I think it wasnt healthy for my body as a whole. Because of food alergies, I eat a lot of egg white, tuna and other fish, moist chicken. I have to drink Rice Milk or Almond Milk. No dairy, soy or whey at all so all protien drinks are out the window. Has nothing to do with the band, just my stupid body thinking that 50 ment that I needed more excitement or it was my body getting pissed because I quit giving it french fries and burritos so it decided to get even. :biggrin: Sometimes I have trouble and I know I have taken in more than 3/4 cup. I sometimes fear I have stretched my pouch, but then the next meal, 3/4 cup is all it takes. I think it might have something to do with liquid. I like a thinner consistancy but that doesn't stay in your pouch. I have started mixing egg white in my oatmeal so I get a high protien, high Fiber "custard like" constancy. Stays with me longer and I know I am getting my protien All in all, I would do it again in a heart beat. It was the perfect choice for me. And the scale, I step on it and if it moves slightly, I cut back and exercise more. Oh - MY hair IS GROWING BACK A LITTLE. I don't loose my hair like I use to. The Surgeon was right, hanging skin and loosing your hair, you needed to be prepared. I know I am early when I say this, put we should all be proud of our successes, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEPTEMBER SAMURAIS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

EVERYONE IS NERVOUS AND EXCITED. That is what makes doing the liquid diet so easy. You are getting down to the wire. Your excitement will carry you through. It is only a little longer. Plan ahead, make sure you have enough protien drink, popsicles - sugar free, and other liquids for immediately after. YOU are going to be surprised how wonderful you feel right after. But right now, continue getting as much information as you can. As my mentor told me, you need to read the good the bad and the ugly. Sept 16, makes me smile and kind of sad. I was still jumping through hoops days before my surgery. I thought for sure that it was going to be cancelled. So do you have a support group you can attend? It is hard to find bandsters and it's funny, at my surgeon, everyone had the gastric bypass. One day I met another bandster. It was like heaven. Don't stress about the little things, just make sure you have all your insurance issues taken care of. So how are you feeling, are you ready for the change?

Teri, how are you doing?