julie.ann

1-17-08 Mentally I am doing pretty good. I think that the newness is wearing off. I am still motivated. I guess after 3 months things really are becoming more of a lifestyle change. It isn’t as hard to choose to eat healthy as it used to be. Today my hubby and kids wanted McDonalds. I went with DH to pick it up because I wanted to grab a couple of things at the store. It wasn’t even a choice I needed to make. I wouldn’t put myself in that situation over and over, but it was okay. I made myself one of these great stuffed chicken breasts that I found. They are at Wal-mart and they are about 230-270 calories, 7-8 carbs and 35 protein. It is so good and tasty. (It is Sam’s Choice brand and come in many different flavors. I like the pepper jack cheese and bacon.) Anyway my point is that I didn’t have any problem waiting the 30 minutes for my supper to get done because the band as curbed my hunger so much and THEN I couldn’t even eat the entire chicken breast before I was full. What I eat and make ahead of time has become a habit. Making food for the next few days has become habit. (I love my quick and easy chicken salad and I keep turkey breast around for a grab and go meal to eat at work with some cottage cheese and a veggie. ) My attitude toward this journey is starting to change. I’m not bored with it. That isn’t the right way to explain it. I guess like I said it is becoming more of a lifestyle. It is more of a normal way of life. I still get up every day and get on the Wii to weigh myself. I immediately get on lapbandtalk.com and record my weight change on my tickers. Every Friday I post my weight for my October 2008 group and every Saturday I have started to post for my Dr. Kirshenbaum group since I started their new challenge. Each Monday I record my weekly weight on my excel spread sheet that graphs my progress. This is a focus in my life, but I haven’t had to focus on it an intensely. It is nice. I just have to know how to balance everything in my life. Part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop. I have always been that person that starts to wonder what will happen when things are just going too good.

I think most people go through the "last supper" syndrome. I could tell you to resist because the more you gain then the more you have to lose. I won't tell you that. It is normal. I was just thinking today that going to a buffet would be a waste of time for me now! Last supper syndrome is normal for most. Keep this in mind. When you can't eat it or don't want to eat it because your weight loss is going so great then you really don't miss it as much as you think you will. At least if we are alike you won't. Good luck!

mymy - I think everything you are going thru is normal. This is a life changing decision. This is where it all starts. I bet you are nervous about surgery and scared it won't work. Will who you are and how you feel change? Will how everyone sees you change? Will they treat you different? Congrats on stopping smoking! That is tough. I know. I am an ex-smoker. If you think that you need to push your date back then by all means do what is right for you. If you think that everything will change in that time and it won't be an emotional and very tough journey then think again. Good luck! I hope everthing works out great for you!

I have heard others talk about losing hair. It seems to happen around month 3-4 for those I have talked to. I was just thinking about that this morning wondering if that will start for me soon. Some have said no enough Protein, some have said too much, some have said too much change in your body all at one time. I don't know if anyone knows for sure. I would encourage you to take your Vitamins, your Calcium and get good nutrition and wait for it to pass, or if you are really worried about it and it continues for quite a while call you doctor. I'm sure they have had that report a lot. Good luck and congrats with your success so far!

Well put me down for a loss of 3.1#. Nothing to be ashamed of... I'm about halfway to my -Day goal! As an added plus I am only 3.3# away from having lost 20% of my body weight so that would be 40% of my excess weight!

How is this for motivation. If your liver is too big and fatty they CAN"T do surgery. I was told to shrink my liver absolutely NO bread, rice, potatoes or pasta! It worked and I lost 15# in 2 weeks before surgery. I still try to stick to that rule and I do except for an occasionally piece of thin pizza.

Pete, You are right, some of your weight gain may be from stoping the lasix. (furosemide) Are you noticing swelling especially in your lower extremities. If you are making good food choices and still gaining weight like that you need to let the doctor know. You don't want to put on a lot of fluid. It wouldn't be good for you. Keep up the great work. You will get there!

1-16-08 I have hit some of my Non-Scale Goals. My goals include being comfortable sitting in a chair without having a table to hide me. Being able to cross my legs and be comfortable. (especially in an airplane) My kids being able to hug me and put their arms all the way around me I realized after my son’s game last night that I was comfortable sitting on the bleachers watching him play. I wasn’t completely self conscious like I used to be. I can cross my legs. I’m not completely comfortable doing it yet, but I’m getting there. Tonight after school when each of my boys gave me a hug they were able to lock their hands together behind me. WOW! Three months after surgery. Who would have thought! My next goals are to · Weigh less than my husband · Be able to use a regular size towel and rap around me and have it stay. · Still working on crossing my legs comfortably. · I will be flying in April. I want to be more comfortable on an airplane and not wonder if the person next to me is wondering how they got stuck next to the fat chick. · I am planning to go parasailing! I wouldn’t go last year when I was at the beach in April because of my weight. I plan on being in onderland this year so I can’t wait to go!!! Whew! That is a lot! Here I go……

1-16-08 I have hit some of my Non-Scale Goals. My goals include being comfortable sitting in a chair without having a table to hide me. Being able to cross my legs and be comfortable. (especially in an airplane) My kids being able to hug me and put their arms all the way around me I realized after my son’s game last night that I was comfortable sitting on the bleachers watching him play. I wasn’t completely self conscious like I used to be. I can cross my legs. I’m not completely comfortable doing it yet, but I’m getting there. Tonight after school when each of my boys gave me a hug they were able to lock their hands together behind me. WOW! Three months after surgery. Who would have thought! My next goals are to · Weigh less than my husband · Be able to use a regular size towel and rap around me and have it stay. · Still working on crossing my legs comfortably. · I will be flying in April. I want to be more comfortable on an airplane and not wonder if the person next to me is wondering how they got stuck next to the fat chick. · I am planning to go parasailing! I wouldn’t go last year when I was at the beach in April because of my weight. I plan on being in onderland this year so I can’t wait to go!!! Whew! That is a lot! Here I go……

If you like him over Detroit the money would eventually add up. Have you looked into the fill center? Do they have good customer service? If the service is comparable I would drive the 45 minutes. If the service is no where comparable then that brings it down to a choice between saving money or having good health care. For some there may not be a choice because they can't afford the $500. If you can then again break it down to the simplest form Save Money or Better Health Care and support.

Well Friday is here again. I am down about 2.5 lbs this week. I guess I can't complain. I had my fill last Friday and I have been eatting less everyday. I ate breakfast yesterday without feeling hungry. I think I might have to start back on protein shakes to get my calories in. I really don't want to get in the habit of eating when I am not hungry. So I am at 231.7 I guess I am pretty close to those 220s that I have been coveting for so long. Good luck to all of you today!

It is the same as the people with kids saying "MY kids will NEVER...." They learn too, don't worry.

Thanks for all the encouragement guys. This place is a life saver....so is this band come to think of it.

Great job Molly! Way to go! It is great when things get moving again

1-13-09 What does my band do for me? That is what I have been asking myself lately. Everyone at work, everywhere I go, asks me how much weight I have lost. Oh it was great at first to have people notice, but now it is all the time and of course the question follows. How are you doing it? I tell them I am doing what I am supposed to. I am eating healthy, watching my portions and exercising. That is absolutely true. That is not a lie at all. So that has made me ask myself what the band is doing for me. I know it is doing a lot. I don’t mean to say that it isn’t. I just need to know how the band is working for me. 1. The band reminds me to take smaller bites. If I don’t take small bites things get stuck and I start to slime. That isn’t fun. Today I had roast beef and I started to slime. If I mix textures I don’t really have a lot of trouble. I mixed cottage cheese with my roast beef. I know it sounds gross, but I really like it. After I mixed the two I didn’t have ANY problems, even with a little bigger bites. Not too big though. 2. The band helps me to get full faster. Since my second fill I eat about 1 cup of food before I get full. 3. If I eat too much the band reminds me that I can’t do that! That means chest pain and feeling crappy! 4. The band curbs hunger almost to the point that I can ignore it if I get busy. I don’t starve myself. I eat three meals a day, but if I am busy and don’t eat for an hour after I start to get hungry it really doesn’t bother me. I am more susceptible to eating poorly if I wait too long and don’t plan ahead. That’s it. That is what the band does for me. What I mean is that there are things that the band doesn’t do for me. 1. It doesn’t buy healthy food and throw out all the crappy food. 2. It doesn’t keep track of what I eat. 3. It doesn’t keep me from stopping and getting ice cream or a milkshake or other high calorie food that would slip right through the band. 4. It doesn’t drive me to the gym. 5. It doesn’t make me step on the scale and be accountable. I work hard for what is happening. I am thankful for the band. I am thankful that I did this now instead of later. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I guess that is what I will keep telling everyone when they ask. This is my journey, my decision to keep it secret and when I succeed it will be MY SUCCESS!

1-13-09 What does my band do for me? That is what I have been asking myself lately. Everyone at work, everywhere I go, asks me how much weight I have lost. Oh it was great at first to have people notice, but now it is all the time and of course the question follows. How are you doing it? I tell them I am doing what I am supposed to. I am eating healthy, watching my portions and exercising. That is absolutely true. That is not a lie at all. So that has made me ask myself what the band is doing for me. I know it is doing a lot. I don’t mean to say that it isn’t. I just need to know how the band is working for me. 1. The band reminds me to take smaller bites. If I don’t take small bites things get stuck and I start to slime. That isn’t fun. Today I had roast beef and I started to slime. If I mix textures I don’t really have a lot of trouble. I mixed cottage cheese with my roast beef. I know it sounds gross, but I really like it. After I mixed the two I didn’t have ANY problems, even with a little bigger bites. Not too big though. 2. The band helps me to get full faster. Since my second fill I eat about 1 cup of food before I get full. 3. If I eat too much the band reminds me that I can’t do that! That means chest pain and feeling crappy! 4. The band curbs hunger almost to the point that I can ignore it if I get busy. I don’t starve myself. I eat three meals a day, but if I am busy and don’t eat for an hour after I start to get hungry it really doesn’t bother me. I am more susceptible to eating poorly if I wait too long and don’t plan ahead. That’s it. That is what the band does for me. What I mean is that there are things that the band doesn’t do for me. 1. It doesn’t buy healthy food and throw out all the crappy food. 2. It doesn’t keep track of what I eat. 3. It doesn’t keep me from stopping and getting ice cream or a milkshake or other high calorie food that would slip right through the band. 4. It doesn’t drive me to the gym. 5. It doesn’t make me step on the scale and be accountable. I work hard for what is happening. I am thankful for the band. I am thankful that I did this now instead of later. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. I guess that is what I will keep telling everyone when they ask. This is my journey, my decision to keep it secret and when I succeed it will be MY SUCCESS!

Mini I stay about where you do. I watch my protein too. I keep track ono sparkpeople. I don't think I would be doing so well if I didn't do that. I think if it is working why mess with it! Have a great day!

Take a look on Lapband.com - LAP-BAND® System Adjustments - Weight Loss Management You want to be in the Green zone to hit your sweet spot.

Dan remember that liquids should go right through. They shouldn't get held up. It is fine that you are getting hungry so quickly. Your body is also spending alot of energy healing. Listen to what your body tells you. Make sure you get plenty of protein as soon as you start the shakes. I even bought the shot of 42 gms of protein that comes in a test tube looking container. (3 oz in each on) I just couldn't get me protein in otherwise. Once you start eating the swelling you have might put you into banders euphoria for a while. That lasted for about 3 1/2 weeks for me. Then you enter bandster hell which is where you have no restriction and have to work hard to not eat too much before you can get in for your first fill. If you are hungry eat/drink. Again this is a time for recovery NOT WEIGHT LOSS! Sure weight loss before your first fill is nice, but don't focus on it.If you lose weight, but don't heal right itis not worth it! Take care and keep us posted! Group Hug!:thumbdown:

I would say you should document your weight. Keep track of it on here with a ticker if you want. Can they make you lose weight? No. You can make yourself lose weight. It is just practicing eating like a bandster. I think the best thing you can do is keep track of what you eat. There are free sites like the dailyplate or sparkpeople.com. This is the best tool I have beside the band. Limit or give up starches. Little or no bread, pasta, rice or potatoes and get plenty of protein. That will help you feel less cravings as your blood sugar spikes and feel less hunger if you have enough protein. I'm a nurse and I understand about needing to weight until you are out of school. It is great you have made the decision to take control of your life with this surgery. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself with the exception of marrying my husband and having our family. Good luck!

1-10-09 Well my second fill is behind me. Dr. K saw my weight loss and asked me if I even needed a fill. (I lost 15# in 5 weeks.) I asked the same thing two days earlier when I called the office. What made Natalie decide that I needed to keep my appointment was the fact that I was starting to get hungry a little faster between meals. I also can eat more than I should. I would stop at about 1 ½ cups but I know I could eat more. I think every fill might be different. It wasn’t as clear for me this time how much was the right amount. Last time there was a level that water didn’t move, then one that did a little more, a lower level with a tiny hesitation then a level when with water ran right through. This time I questioned myself more. Maybe it was because I didn’t hit the level when nothing would move through. I have been so worried about getting too tight. I went out to eat my now customary Sizzling Chicken and Cheese at TGI Fridays like I have for every Denver trip. I was so worried that it wouldn’t go down easily. Thankfully it went down great! I was happy to find that it took much less to fill me up. Last time I ate at TGI Fridays I put half of the meal in a TO GO box and ate a half order. This time I, of course, started out by putting half of the meal in a box, but I had to put half of what was left on my plate in the box too! I only ate ¼ of my meal and I was full! Wow! That was great! This morning I had to stop my breakfast after not being able to finish half of it. I am going to have to learn what my band wants and how much. That’s ok! I don’t mind. I hope that I won’t need to go back to Denver. I hope that I have found my “sweet spot.” I have been working hard at the gym too. At least three 30 minutes workout each week is my minimum. I have been there 3-5 days a week and I try to work out at least an hour each time. I do 30min of cardio every day I make it to the gym and then I’ll work my abs or upper body or legs. I don’t work my legs enough. I know that. I need to work on that because I don’t want to be pear shaped, but I think if I keep working out my upper and not my lower body that is what will happen. I’ve also noticed that I am having a harder time getting an intense workout when it comes to weight training. I did add a new ab exercise. I have to keep my motivation up. Weighing in everyday on the Wii helps me with that. Yesterday was the first day I missed since I was out of town for my last fill. Well I have a goal for Valentine’s Day and only have to lose 11.1 more pounds to get there. I would love to blow that goal out of the water!

1-10-09 Well my second fill is behind me. Dr. K saw my weight loss and asked me if I even needed a fill. (I lost 15# in 5 weeks.) I asked the same thing two days earlier when I called the office. What made Natalie decide that I needed to keep my appointment was the fact that I was starting to get hungry a little faster between meals. I also can eat more than I should. I would stop at about 1 ½ cups but I know I could eat more. I think every fill might be different. It wasn’t as clear for me this time how much was the right amount. Last time there was a level that water didn’t move, then one that did a little more, a lower level with a tiny hesitation then a level when with water ran right through. This time I questioned myself more. Maybe it was because I didn’t hit the level when nothing would move through. I have been so worried about getting too tight. I went out to eat my now customary Sizzling Chicken and Cheese at TGI Fridays like I have for every Denver trip. I was so worried that it wouldn’t go down easily. Thankfully it went down great! I was happy to find that it took much less to fill me up. Last time I ate at TGI Fridays I put half of the meal in a TO GO box and ate a half order. This time I, of course, started out by putting half of the meal in a box, but I had to put half of what was left on my plate in the box too! I only ate ¼ of my meal and I was full! Wow! That was great! This morning I had to stop my breakfast after not being able to finish half of it. I am going to have to learn what my band wants and how much. That’s ok! I don’t mind. I hope that I won’t need to go back to Denver. I hope that I have found my “sweet spot.” I have been working hard at the gym too. At least three 30 minutes workout each week is my minimum. I have been there 3-5 days a week and I try to work out at least an hour each time. I do 30min of cardio every day I make it to the gym and then I’ll work my abs or upper body or legs. I don’t work my legs enough. I know that. I need to work on that because I don’t want to be pear shaped, but I think if I keep working out my upper and not my lower body that is what will happen. I’ve also noticed that I am having a harder time getting an intense workout when it comes to weight training. I did add a new ab exercise. I have to keep my motivation up. Weighing in everyday on the Wii helps me with that. Yesterday was the first day I missed since I was out of town for my last fill. Well I have a goal for Valentine’s Day and only have to lose 11.1 more pounds to get there. I would love to blow that goal out of the water!

Debbie, I know just what you mean. I have lost 50 lbs and I think I look now like I thought I looked when I started. I get these comments from the girls at work. They say...Oh you are so skinny. I still weigh 234 and THEY are skinny. But compared to where I was it is a big difference. I made sure I was in pictures this Christmas so I wouldn't start to fool myself into thinking that I looked so good I could start to fall off the wagon. Well the pictures worked. I'm already getting the mentality that makes me hold up clothes and and say there is no way it will fit THEN IT DOES! The band is the best thing I have ever done for myself with the exception marring my husband and having my family! (But it right up there!)

Well I am a day late AGAIN, but that is because I was out of town yesterday getting a fill. I am down 3.9 pounds for the wee! That puts me at 234. I keep thinking of my self as 250# I have to keep reminding myself. I can't wait to hit the 220s! I love good news!

Alright the first week of our :regular_smile:-day challange is over and you can put me down for a loss of 3.9 pounds! :cool: