barbara465

This is a very interesting thread. Being a little older than most I probably have a different perspective on things. First, my child was raised with high tops not tennis shoes, sandals, etc. that today's children wear. We thought this was the right thing to do. Fast foods were just coming out. I was not raised with FF, nor could we have afforded them if they were available. I didn't take my child to FF restaurants very often. It just wasn't something I wanted to do or spend our money on. We are in such a hurry these days and always looking for the easy things - that's what makes FF restaurants so appealing. When we were forced to eat out we didn't have french fries or shakes etc. because they were too expensive. I don't eat much from FF restaurants because it just isn't something I do. My son's generation can't live without FF. How does an average family afford this? They opt for fast rather than value. Families on a budget will tell you that they are forced to buy carbs and other high fat foods because they go further and are cheaper. How do we provide a more healthy diet that is affordable? When I went to school we didn't have vending machines. We were not allowed to bring sodas from home for our lunch. We took thermoses with hot Soup and a sandwich and a piece of fruit. It's the values of our parents that set the tone. What this all comes to is education. When everyone went on a low carb diet what happened? Restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores started finding other alternatives to the high carb items. It worked. People made other choices. An active campaign, education, will go further than a ban. Giving people the knowledge to make better choices and providing better choices, will help. Now what about all those commercials to lose weight. We are now bombarded with Lapband surgery, diet company alternatives, healthy products, etc. Don't you think that advertisers recognize a growing trend? Americans are obsessed with weight - too much, too little.

This Texas gal loves Vegas and looks for any excuse to go there! I'm all for that location. It could be a little warm in Vegas in June so we'll have to stay inside. Isn't that a shame next to all those slot machines.

Reginia, That is remarkable weight loss. Try to average it and think of it that way. You are doing great. I lost 8 lbs in one week when I had that overfill and PB. Unfortunately it looks like I gained 4 of it back. I'm not beating myself up because I've been a pretty good bandster. My body is just going some things now and it will have to get with the program. It's early yet to tell, but I think I've got restriction. I don't know how long it will last or what will happen when I go back on solids, but I'm not hungry. Just keep doing what is right and your body will catch up. I'm saying this for myself as well. I'm a little discouraged right now, but it will get better.

DH is very involved in the decorating. I listen and then suggest my plan. Most of the time he executes my plan.

I slept in my recliner for a few nights and then moved to the couch. The couch was good because it had high sides which let me manuver around and then held me in place. I moved to the bed about a week later. It wasn't as comfortable, but I built a fort with pillows and then slept better. I was able to sleep on my side at that time, but needed the cushions for support. This to will pass.

I feel a little different after this fill. First, I felt some tightness in my chest. Not pain, not heartburn, just a little tight. Some of this is due to stress I'm sure and some from the fill. Its like I'm on the brink of heartburn, but not quite there. I also was extremely tired. I am sticking to my liquids and don't plan on going off of them before my 3 days are up. I want this fill to work and give me good restriction, but not PBs. Cindy, should you be getting a fill after a major PB? I worry about you. Do you know exactly what caused it? You may be too sore to get another fill. Just be careful. Darrin - glad to know you are a travel agent. You can look over the locations of our group and help us decide a good place to meet. It should be somewhere we can all go, spend the night, and have something to do that would be fun and interesting. I definitely got my water in yesterday. I don't think I'll have much of a challenge the next few days being on liquids. I just read on another thread about a gal who eats tons and tons of popcorn each night, with butter. OMG, I'm just too scared for that. I bought some of those 100 calorie packs, popped one, and ate one kernel. I was so pertrified I gave it to the dog. I hope this fear stays with me. The bravest I've gotten is eating pretzels. You can chew them to absolute mush. Have a great day everyone!

I got to the surgicenter at 3:00 pm. I registered and was in getting a fill at 3:12, out of there at 3:20. I have gone in the afternoon about that time each time and have waltzed in and out. Usually the only person or one or two others. Only the first time I went a little earlier and there were 4 people ahead of me, but it still went quickly.

OMG just got back from surgicenter. I gained 4 lbs. How is that possible? They said maybe because time of day, bathroom, etc. I was just astonished. I don't know how much they put in, took out, etc. She said I now have 1.5. At first they couldn't find the fill, but when she went to put more in the other came out. I asked her how much total was now in there and she said 1.5. I'm not sure I believe her since she asked them to fill the needle to 1.5. I'll just see how this goes. I just want some restriction. OK good I can't eat for 3 days because I'm now depressed!

I was thinking the goal should be Christmas day - December 25th. For instance, my goal is to weight 200 on that day, down 47 lbs. For me, that's a little over 2 lbs a week. I will have to hussle to get there and be especially good come Thanksgiving. I don't we should set a minimum per week because things happen from week to week - water retention, fills/unfills, cycles, etc. The overall goal is the most important. We can report progress, but its just progress. Does that seem fair?

Glad everything went well for you. I am 6 weeks out and doing great. I really didn't have any post op problems and was surprised and how fast I bounced back. I'm going for my 3rd fill/unfill today. I had a fill, then a PB, and a little unfill. TOday going back for a fill. Now that they are at the surgicenter I doubt if I will ever see Spiegel.

There is a program called CODA - codependecy. I have trouble with the name because I don't think it accurately depicts what it is about. However, it is on the order of the other 12 step programs. This one deals with people who are trying to be in control of everything. It is about living for others and letting others dictate our thoughts and feelings. Many of these issues come out in anger. It is learning to let go. Look for a group near you and get him to go. It can't hurt, but until he finds what the source is, he will continue to be angry. I get angry for no reason and let little things get me down. I even think I'm ridiculous, but can't seem to help it. My DH has been very supportive and got me to understand the CODA thinking. Here is their website http://www.codependents.org/

OK we need to get organzied. The Junebies are the best. PM Aimee (warmmorningsun) with your locations for the list for our June 2007 reunion. PM me with your December goals and if you want to be included in the Christmas exchange. Also need ideas about how to reward and fund the December goals. I'll post the December goals for all who are participating. For the Christmas exchange I'll gather all the names and then randomly matched them. Let's target that for September so everyone gets a chance to "study" up on their gift receipient. This is going to be fun. Deadline for December challenge is August 11th. Make it realistic. I liked the idea of gift cards. We could purchase them and send them to the winner in January. How does that sound? If we have more than one winner of the December goals we could draw for the winner or give more than one. Give me your ideas. Going for a fill today. Hope this is the one!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe you can angle the bed, paint the walls a softer color than white, and put some of the furniture in the closet. I put one of my pieces in my walk-in closet and the other one in my dining room. I had a bookcase with glass doors on one side of the TV armoire and a open bookcase on the other. In my new house my wall isn't big enough to accommodate all of that so I split the pieces. The furniture is beautiful. Just add some color. The cats are nice accessories.

Good morning Junebies! I barely got my water in yesterday, but finally made it. Did way too much snacking yesterday - ginger snap cookies. Going for my fill this afternoon. I hope this does it as I hate the 3 days of liquids followed by the 3 days of mushies my doctor makes us go through after a fill. I know its for my own good, but it gets boring. My August challenge is no snacking or eating after 8. I have to break the habit of getting something at night after dinner. This is going to be really hard as we're having a dinner party on the 19th for 6 other couples. DH birthday and they don't arrive until 6:30. Umm, I may have to eat early and just play hostess. Hope everyone is doing well. This is going to be a good week for all of us!!

OK I've decided to have two Christmas parties this year. One an open house on a Saturday night. The second will be on a Sunday afternoon. This is going to be fun. Here's last year's whimisical tree. It was done in all red/white ornaments.

THe band and the port are not really near each other. The port is the "opening" to the tubing which leads to the band. I would say they punctured the tubing if anything. It is more likely you swelled after your fill and the little they took out was enough. Now you have little or no restriction. The same thing happened to me. I got a fill and felt nothing. Almost 6 days later I had a major PB episode and had to have it unfilled a week later. They took out .7 and I felt immediate relief. Now I can eat anything again and must go in for another fill. I think it just takes time to get it right.

Randi you caught me. I always look to see what everyone has lost! I'm thinking maybe I should let them overfill me. I lost 8 lbs that week!!! :Banane56: I really ate alot for dinner last night. I then had a snack afterwards. I didn't have much for breakfast or lunch. Definitely going in for the fill. I have no restriction and self control is starting to wane. Hope everyone has a good day today. Welcome Cathy to our group. This is the best support group you can ever find.

WOW so much going on. Please, please don't eat solid foods right after a fill. Give your stomach a chance to adjust. It swells some and then it will go back down. Restriction can come up to 2 weeks after a fill so don't push it. Read my thread "Joined PB club revoke my membership" for my story and now others. You don't want what happened to me. I like the challenge of not eating after 8. That is my bad time as well. I'm going to try that too. Last night I had some low fat ice cream at 8:45. I only had a few bites and gave it to the dog, but I did have those few bites. I am really getting into the water. I find the more I drink the thiristier I get. Go figure. Sorry to hear about your children's divorce. Its hard on us parents and the grandchildren. I live in Texas so maybe I'll have to go kick #### The hardest part is staying out of it. Hang in there Randi. Its out of your control. Randi do you think the throwing up has anything to do with the scar getting infected? You are having a time of it. I don't think you should be having that much trouble with food. Maybe a call to the doctor is in order. Its cooling down some in Texas, but humidity is still high. Good day to stay inside, but I'm going to do a little shopping and running errands. Have a great day!

Melissa - We need to breakdown what you are eating to ensure you are getting in enough calories and the right ones. Track in fit day or sparks people or to us. You might not be eating enough calories. I also think you need to really, really, try to drink the Water. I think that definitely helps. I go for a fill on Monday so I'll ask the PA what the lump is all about. My DH thinks its the stomach and the band. I don't know. Its embarassing not to know some stuff about your own body. I think a secret pal Christmas gift would be great fun. We could get some ideas about who we draw from their posts and try to match the gift. I'm also OK with doing a goal oriented reward. I think setting and meeting a realistic goal is in order. All those that meet their goal will have their name placed in the eligible pool. We can then send that person something or contribute to a gift card. I'm still worried about the % of weight lost as that may not be fair to those that have a lot or very little to lose, but I'm open to the majority. I like the idea of setting a goal and meeting it or exceeding it. It has to be a realistic one and one that we must work toward. No goal of losing 5 lbs by Christmas sort of thing. Give me your ideas and lets get this started. We also should find out where everyone is from so we can find a place that is convient to the majority to meet next June. That will be so awesome to see everyone after a year together on this journey. I'm getting excited! Drink that water and let's get this journey going!

I love the idea of a family trip. Soon will come the day when they can't or won't go so now is the time. Once the grandchildren start arriving you will be going to their house for Christmas. You can then buy all the cute clothes and toys.

Leila I'm glad you enjoyed the spa. I think I'll make my appointment. No, I didn't mean gas. Its like a hard knot, like a tennis ball, that extends from below my breasts to the port. Its almost like its the tubing. I've had it from the beginning, but I notice it more after I've eaten. It doesn't hurt. It is sometimes uncomfortable and now its beginning to freak me out. I just don't think it should be there. I can't think of any reason why it would be in that place. Maybe we should just do a Christmas exchange. Everyone that wants to signs up and then we randomly match the participants. You then would send to your secret Junebie. That way everyone is a winner and I'm all for that. Let me know if this is a good idea and I'll take it on. Everyone would have to sign up by October so we could send out the gift in early December.

I think the Christmas challenge is a wonderful idea. Not sure # of lbs is the way to go because some have more/less than others, but making and meeting the goal would be a winner. We could then put all the names into a hat (or something) and chose the ultimate winner. Or all the winners could share some contribution from the others or something. I am a member of the Christmas challenge on another thread and have made my committment. I started this journey at 269, 267 day of surgery, and want to be 200 at Christmas. I am currently at 248. I also thought about the reunion idea and have a thought. Maybe we could plan a 1 year reunion next June. We all could meet somewhere and have a face to face. We are an awesome group and I've gained so much from being a part of it. OK, now back to my water.

You handle yourself so well. I think I would have to have said something. The fact that you didn't say anything says so much about you. This woman is hatefull and has her own issues and insecurities. You, on the other hand, are a strong and gracious lady. That is the biggest NSV to take from this experience in my opinion!!!!!!!

I have been wanting to get a massage and keep putting it off. If you don't drink enough water afterwards you can get sick. I've done it plenty of times. I now schedule them during the day so I force myself to drink. Now with the water challenge it won't be as big of an issue. Enjoy your spa day. I increased my water intake slightly yesterday. It is becomming easier and easier to drink. I'm not as scared anymore and can sorta chug. Not sure how I'll do after another fill, but for now its going down easy. I'm starting to notice some difference in my clothes. Does anyone else still get swelling in the abdomen? I get a hard place between my breasts that goes down to major scar. It seems to be harder after I eat. I can feel it when I'm standing, but not so much when I'm laying down. I'm going to have them check on it again when I go for a fill, only when I'm standing. The last time I was laying down and I don't think they felt it. Hope everyone has great plans for the weekend. I don't want to hear any reports of PBs or M&M raids. :rofl:

Funny please update me. I PM you but here it is again. I am now 248, down 2 lbs. Thanks