julie.ann

Well I will have my bandiversary this week. Hard to believe. I keep thinking about what I was doing a year ago and how I felt and how hopeful and excited and scared I was. I was so afraid that this wouldn't work. Would I spend this money and not do what I had to do. I knew it would be hard, but what if I failed? I wouldn't have anything to hide behind. I would have pulled out all the stops and still weighed 285 lbs and stood at only 5'4". Okay I am still 5'4", but now am about 170-175 lbs. My lightest has been 168 and I need to get back on program. I have been maintaining, but I would like to lose more....and I will. I know I will because I know I can. I am starting to not be happy with what I see in the mirror. I want to get down another size, but at a size 11/12 I never would have thought 1 year ago that I would have wanted to lose more than that. I am happy with my progress. I have had 4 fills and 1 very recent unfill. I am really perfect now. (you know what I mean) I am thankful every day! Money has gotten tight and I know that the $263 monthly surgery loan payment is the biggest part of that, but I can't help but think that it is still worth it. I look at pictures of myself from before and my kids and husband say they don't even remember me looking like that. I am used to people I know looking right past me. I have even found myself not striking up a conversation when I am in a hurry (like in line at Walmart) because it takes people a few seconds to even figure out who I am and then they want to hear all about how I lost my weight. I still haven't told EVERYBODY, but I have told a lot of people. For all of those wondering if you should get banded....know that it is hard work. It is a high protein diet for me and you HAVE to learn the difference between stomach hunger and head hunger, but if you are willing to work hard and want a tool that will help you get there.....this is it. I love my band! [/url]

Well I will have my bandiversary this week. Hard to believe. I keep thinking about what I was doing a year ago and how I felt and how hopeful and excited and scared I was. I was so afraid that this wouldn't work. Would I spend this money and not do what I had to do. I knew it would be hard, but what if I failed? I wouldn't have anything to hide behind. I would have pulled out all the stops and still weighed 285 lbs and stood at only 5'4". Okay I am still 5'4", but now am about 170-175 lbs. My lightest has been 168 and I need to get back on program. I have been maintaining, but I would like to lose more....and I will. I know I will because I know I can. I am starting to not be happy with what I see in the mirror. I want to get down another size, but at a size 11/12 I never would have thought 1 year ago that I would have wanted to lose more than that. I am happy with my progress. I have had 4 fills and 1 very recent unfill. I am really perfect now. (you know what I mean) I am thankful every day! Money has gotten tight and I know that the $263 monthly surgery loan payment is the biggest part of that, but I can't help but think that it is still worth it. I look at pictures of myself from before and my kids and husband say they don't even remember me looking like that. I am used to people I know looking right past me. I have even found myself not striking up a conversation when I am in a hurry (like in line at Walmart) because it takes people a few seconds to even figure out who I am and then they want to hear all about how I lost my weight. I still haven't told EVERYBODY, but I have told a lot of people. For all of those wondering if you should get banded....know that it is hard work. It is a high protein diet for me and you HAVE to learn the difference between stomach hunger and head hunger, but if you are willing to work hard and want a tool that will help you get there.....this is it. I love my band! [/url]

congrats! Now you know what it was like 6 months out still feeling like a newbie! I have my 1 yr coming up on the 29th. I am finally starting to feel like I am not a newbie anymore. Keep up the great work! Lots of love!

I just got my unfill on Friday. It is so nice to be able to take a glass of water and drink it right down! I went to TGI Fridays and had my customary sizzlin chicken and cheese for lunch after my adjustment. I was able to each 1/4 of my serving and was full and satisfied and not get stuck. I think Friday was the first time of no PBing for a really long time. I am looking forward to making it a week without PBing and them even more. One day at a time. So far it has been 3 days. Dr. K wanted to start by taking out 0.5cc. I told him I was thinking 0.1cc. I love the fact that he listens to me. We started at 0.1 removed and ended up after "tuning the band" with a total of 0.25cc removed. Not much if you look at it, but I could really tell a differce. I drove 14 hours round trip today to have 0.25cc removed. Wow! I already know that I won't make my Halloween goal, but I am ready to get on my path. Soft Calorie Syndrome really was tough for me the last month. It might take me another 6 months to lose the last little bit I have to lose, but in less than a year I have lost 115 lbs so I know better than to complain!

I just got my unfill on Friday. It is so nice to be able to take a glass of water and drink it right down! I went to TGI Fridays and had my customary sizzlin chicken and cheese for lunch after my adjustment. I was able to each 1/4 of my serving and was full and satisfied and not get stuck. I think Friday was the first time of no PBing for a really long time. I am looking forward to making it a week without PBing and them even more. One day at a time. So far it has been 3 days. Dr. K wanted to start by taking out 0.5cc. I told him I was thinking 0.1cc. I love the fact that he listens to me. We started at 0.1 removed and ended up after "tuning the band" with a total of 0.25cc removed. Not much if you look at it, but I could really tell a differce. I drove 14 hours round trip today to have 0.25cc removed. Wow! I already know that I won't make my Halloween goal, but I am ready to get on my path. Soft Calorie Syndrome really was tough for me the last month. It might take me another 6 months to lose the last little bit I have to lose, but in less than a year I have lost 115 lbs so I know better than to complain!

I just got my unfill today. It is so nice to be able to take a glass of water and drink it right down! I went to TGI Fridays and had my customary sizzlin chicken and cheese for lunch after my adjustment. I was able to each 1/4 of my serving and was full and satisfied and not get stuck. I think today is the first time of no PBing for a really long time. I am looking forward to making it a week without PBing and them even more. One day at a time. Dr. K wanted to start by taking out 0.5cc. I told him I was thinking 0.1cc. I love the fact that he listens to me. We started at 0.1 removed and ended up after "tuning the band" with a total of 0.25cc removed. Not much if you look at it, but I could really tell a differce. I drove 14 hours round trip today to have 0.25cc removed. Wow! I am out on the town this weekend. I already know that I won't make my Halloween goal, but I am ready to get on my path. Soft Calorie Syndrome really was tough for me the last month. It might take me another 6 months to lose the last little bit I have to lose, but in less than a year I have lost 115 lbs so I know better than to complain!

I just got my unfill today. It is so nice to be able to take a glass of water and drink it right down! I went to TGI Fridays and had my customary sizzlin chicken and cheese for lunch after my adjustment. I was able to each 1/4 of my serving and was full and satisfied and not get stuck. I think today is the first time of no PBing for a really long time. I am looking forward to making it a week without PBing and them even more. One day at a time. Dr. K wanted to start by taking out 0.5cc. I told him I was thinking 0.1cc. I love the fact that he listens to me. We started at 0.1 removed and ended up after "tuning the band" with a total of 0.25cc removed. Not much if you look at it, but I could really tell a differce. I drove 14 hours round trip today to have 0.25cc removed. Wow! I am out on the town this weekend. I already know that I won't make my Halloween goal, but I am ready to get on my path. Soft Calorie Syndrome really was tough for me the last month. It might take me another 6 months to lose the last little bit I have to lose, but in less than a year I have lost 115 lbs so I know better than to complain!

I am hoping to just have about .1cc taken out. Did you need a complete unfill?

SO my weight hasn't changed much. I have gained a couple of pounds. I haven't been eating great. I think I am too tight. It is really a chore to eat protein. I have an appt in one week for a tiny unfil. Have any of you been unfilled by Dr. K before? Well I wanted to drop in to tell you that I went jeans shopping. Remember at the first of the year when many of us had a signature that said size 9 in '09? Well I tried on several jeans all in a size 9/10. Couldn't believe it. I settled on a pair of cute jeans and went up to a size 11/12. The 09/10 could have fit, but with all my skin and still a little too heavy I had a heck of a muffin top with them. I know I would look amazing in them after a tummy tuck...okay that sounds really conceited, but I just couldn't believe I could pull them all up and button them without any problems. So I am looking forward to eating solid protein again without so much trouble and the almost daily PBing that I have been having. I also look forward to getting my head screwed back on straight and getting back on the wagon. I am pretty happy with my size now, but another 10 lbs would be blissful!

Thanks guys. I know it doesn't make any sense, but I almost feel like I have fail somehow and gotten too tight. I know that sounds crazy. I guess I always looked so forward to fills that to unfill, even a tiny bit seems WRONG! Oh, and the pizza thing....there is NO WAY I could do something like that. I have realized that maybe part of my problem is that I am eating too much. I keep eating and then feel stuck, but I may just be over full. Instead of my hamburger patty and cottage cheese I had only 1/2 a patty and cottage cheese and I ate that over 20 minutes and I felt good, but if I would have kept going then I would have been TOO FULL and needed to PB. I'll watch that closely this next week. It would be nice if that was my entire problem, but I don't think so.:thumbup:

It looks like my appt. isn't until a week from tomorrow. I am worried about being too loose, but I believe my doc will just take out .1cc That should help enough.

After almost a year being banded..... Okay, so I have addmitted to myself that I am too tight. I have fallen into soft calorie syndrome. It sucks. I hope I can get a tiny unfil on Monday. My weight loss has been so-so and eating is too hard. I have fallen to soft foods, especially ice cream. BAD BAD BAD!!!!! Kind of depressing, but I want to get the unfill before I have to worry about a slip or erosion.

After almost a year being banded..... Okay, so I have addmitted to myself that I am too tight. I have fallen into soft calorie syndrome. It sucks. I hope I can get a tiny unfil on Monday. My weight loss has been so-so and eating is too hard. I have fallen to soft foods, especially ice cream. BAD BAD BAD!!!!! Kind of depressing, but I want to get the unfill before I have to worry about a slip or erosion.

Okay, so I have addmitted to myself that I am too tight. I have fallen into soft calorie syndrome. It sucks. I hope I can get a tiny unfil on Monday. My weight loss has been so-so and eating is too hard. I have fallen to soft foods, especially ice cream. BAD BAD BAD!!!!! Kind of depressing, but I want to get the unfill before I have to worry about a slip or erosion. :wink2:

Halloween Challenge: Julie.Ann----------(16lbs) -1.1, -4.8, ,-1.3, Nazzy--------------(18lbs) -3.0, -2.0, , CarrieJess----------(5lbs) 0.0, , , GiddyupGrandma-(10lbs) -0.5, , , Ruby124-----------(17lbs) , , , Annecolorgreen---(10lbs) :smile:, , , Sarahp626----------(8lbs) +2.0, -4.61, +1.1,-1.7, :sad: Hallfamilyx2-------(10lbs) :thumbup:, , , Ewiedbingcott-------(8lbs) -1.0, 0.0, ,-1.0, Loveislovely -------(8lbs) :wink2:, , , Catherine55--------(6.4lbs) :wink2:, , , MollyJo-------------(10 lbs) :w00t:, , ,

Halloween Challenge: Julie.Ann----------(16lbs) -1.1, -4.8, ,-1.3, :thumbup: Nazzy--------------(18lbs) -3.0, -2.0, , CarrieJess----------(5lbs) 0.0, , , GiddyupGrandma-(10lbs) -0.5, , , Ruby124-----------(17lbs) , , , Annecolorgreen---(10lbs) :thumbup:, , , Sarahp626----------(8lbs) +2.0, -4.61, +1.1,-1.7, :sneaky: Hallfamilyx2-------(10lbs) , , , Ewiedbingcott-------(8lbs) -1.0, 0.0, , Loveislovely -------(8lbs) :thumbup:, , , Catherine55--------(6.4lbs) , , , MollyJo-------------(10 lbs) :tt2:, , , Great Job Sarah! How about the rest of you. We have hit our Bandiversary Month. How are you doing on our Halloween chanllenge?

That is great Timmers! Good luck to all of those coming up soon! One year from today you will be where many of us are! The year will go fast and I hope you are still on the boards sharing your stories!:smile:

I have a 10cc band and I have about 6cc now. Thanks for the encouraging words! I am really starting to feel like I have made a change that will stick with my my entire life! WHOOOHOOO!

I had surgery on Thursday and was back to work on Monday and no one knew. High /Surgery/Current/Goal 285.5/ 271 / 168.9/142.5 Banded - 10/29/08 Five fills - 5.9 cc/10cc Halloween Goal: Weigh What my Driver's License Says I Do!

OMG!!!! I am out of the 170's! I weighed 168.9 lbs today! Awesome! I too started to platuea after about 8 months. I needed another adjustment that I put off for 3 monthsl I also changed up my diet a little. My supper mostly is tilapia fish and a side of cottage cheese to help with the texture. With a high protein breakfast and noon meal the weight has started to move again. I had started to cheat with sweets and it had stalled my progress. Still hitting the gym. I still do much better if I track everthing I eat at www.spartkpeople.com. If I don't track it then I eat one or two things that really screw up my band. I love my band. I might be a little tight. If I was closer to my surgeon I would get a tiny unfil, but if I am mindful of what I eat and the bites I take then I do okay. I'm in the 160's! I just about can't stand it!!!!:thumbup: High /Surgery/Current/Goal 285.5/ 271 / 168.9/142.5 Banded - 10/29/08 Five fills - 5.9 cc/10cc Halloween Goal: Weigh What my Driver's License Says I Do!

OMG!!!! I am out of the 170's! I weighed 168.9 lbs today! Awesome! I too started to platuea after about 8 months. I needed another adjustment that I put off for 3 monthsl I also changed up my diet a little. My supper mostly is tilapia fish and a side of cottage cheese to help with the texture. With a high protein breakfast and noon meal the weight has started to move again. I had started to cheat with sweets and it had stalled my progress. Still hitting the gym. I still do much better if I track everthing I eat at www.spartkpeople.com. If I don't track it then I eat one or two things that really screw up my band. I love my band. I might be a little tight. If I was closer to my surgeon I would get a tiny unfil, but if I am mindful of what I eat and the bites I take then I do okay. I'm in the 160's! I just about can't stand it!!!! High /Surgery/Current/Goal 285.5/ 271 / 168.9/142.5 Banded - 10/29/08 Five fills - 5.9 cc/10cc Halloween Goal: Weigh What my Driver's License Says I Do!

OMG!!!! I am out of the 170's! I weighed 168.9 lbs today! Awesome! I too started to platuea after about 8 months. I needed another adjustment that I put off for 3 monthsl I also changed up my diet a little. My supper mostly is tilapia fish and a side of cottage cheese to help with the texture. With a high protein breakfast and noon meal the weight has started to move again. I had started to cheat with sweets and it had stalled my progress. Still hitting the gym. I still do much better if I track everthing I eat at www.spartkpeople.com. If I don't track it then I eat one or two things that really screw up my band. I love my band. I might be a little tight. If I was closer to my surgeon I would get a tiny unfil, but if I am mindful of what I eat and the bites I take then I do okay. I'm in the 160's! I just about can't stand it!!!!

Are you hungry or do you want to eat everything in sight? There is a difference. When you start to search for food. You know what I mean...you start stalking the kitchen....or the offices that you know have chocolate sitting on their desks. That is when you need to stop and ask yourself if you are hungry. If you have to find a room by yourself and ask it out loud then do it. Am I hungry? Is my stomach empty? Is it going to growl soon? If the answer is yes then eat protein. If the answer is no then your brain knows it is not hungry....you just want to eat. This helped me lose more weight than just about everything else. I also use www.sparkpeople.com to keep track of what I eat. Good luck. Get those sweets out of your system and you won't crave them anymore. It takes about 3-7 days.

Well DH bought me an hour long massage with hot stone therapy in June for my birthday and I haven't had a chance to use it yet so I think I will for my Bandiversary.

Halloween Challenge: Julie.Ann----------(16lbs) -1.1, -4.8, , :cool: Nazzy--------------(18lbs) -3.0, -2.0, , :cool: CarrieJess----------(5lbs) 0.0, , :thumbup:, :cool: GiddyupGrandma-(10lbs) -0.5, , :thumbup:, :cool: Ruby124-----------(17lbs) , , :sneaky:, :cool: Annecolorgreen---(10lbs) , , :sneaky:, :cool: Sarahp626----------(8lbs) +2.0, -4.61, +1.1, :cool: Hallfamilyx2-------(10lbs) , , :seeya:, :cool: Ewiedbingcott-------(8lbs) -1.0, 0.0, :w00t:, :cool: Loveislovely -------(8lbs) , , :biggrin:, :cool: Catherine55--------(6.4lbs) , , :biggrin:, :cool: MollyJo-------------(10 lbs) , :tongue2:, :biggrin:, :cool: I'm taking the week off of weighing because I have been out of town. I'll be back next Saturday. Let's hear it. I have missed several weeks from several of you......:wub: