MelodyJ

I am 5'10" and the goal charts say 105lbs for 5ft tall and 5lbs for females for each inch over 5ft. So having said all that I believe I should be 155lbs + 10% so 155-170 is my ideal. I like many would be ecstatic in onderland... but I am shooting for 165-175. I have never been thin even at birth!! As I lose I am SO HAPPY to know that "this time" it's for good!!! GOd Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -73lbs :scared:

Robyn.....you give me hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an amazing thing you've done to lose so much!!!!!!!!!!! Good SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see the pics too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -73lbs

Oh Mary....I am SO EXCITED for you!!!! Also hoping to follow in your footsteps in the next 6mos or so!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! God is so GOOD!!!! Your blessings reinforce the weight loss!!!! God Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -73lbs

The Lord is providing a house at a VERY low interest rate (3% 1st yr, 4% 2nd year, 5% life of the loan) .....and it's BRAND NEW....so my husband and I are VERY excited!!! It is SO MUCH more house than we thought we could ever afford w/ the low interest rate!!! It should be done in a month.....maybe less!! We also get to watch it being built....very exciting!!! And I got to show it to my best girlfriend last night when she surprised us by coming to town!! Good day yesterday! Oh.....and I can eat solid food after being on liquids the last 3 weeks!!! Woooohooooo!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -73lbs:)

I am eating bites the size of pencil erasers....I sure don't want that stuck/vomit/pb/swelling cycle again!!! Glad your making it!!!! Keep up the good work!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -73lbs :confused:

Elisabeth...I'm just the opposite and dinner is easier on me because my band opens up I guess!?!??! Yesterday I ate food for lunch for the first time and not just Soup....ate a whopping 1/4 of a cup....VERY Yummy and so glad Icould do it!!! Thanks for keeping up w/ me!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -73lbs :confused:

I had an IV "infiltrate" when I was 16 and my vein is still popped up.... sorry .....but if it is hard or warm that's different....lots of warm compresses help and elevate it!!! Hang in there!! God Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -71lbs

Paulax-- YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have had to have those liquids much lately.... almost a month too...my blessing is it's full liquids!! Just keep telling yourself that when you fit in those cute clothes and feel a MILLION times better you'll be so happy!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -71lbs

Elisabeth-- I went back just for him to check....felt like 2 wks was a good college try. He put me on the machine and barium goes thru in 1 sec. He thinks that I got in a vicious cycle of vomit, swell, vomit, swell.....so he put me on liquids the last 2 wks....today was the first day Iwas able to eat solids before supper....only about 1/4 of a cup but I did it!!! I did clarify and told him I heard bands can slip if you are too tight....he took me to another surgeon and the 3 of us discussed and it was decided that I would stick w/ liquids for 2 more weeks....I have found hot liquids are the only way too go before anything else....I can now drink liquids the last few days around 9am.....much better Thanks for asking!! God bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -71lbs

My first fill was 2.4cc then 8wks later was able to eat over a cup and hadn't gained or lost in 3 wks....so he popped me up to 3cc....I drove away and drank one small sip (after 4cups in teh office) of Water and promptly threw up all over myself....drove 50miles back and they removed 0.1cc....so am at 2.9cc.....I am still struggling 3 wks later....I cannot eat much at all and PB/slime/throw up if I eat 2 bites sometimes....in teh evenings I am doing better finally!! He ran barium through and I passed it in 1sec.....he wants me to stick w/ liquids a bit longer.... He told me to "enjoy the weight loss wave"......HA! Anyway.....he has had the band and he's open so felt like I should listen.....don't rush the fills....really ALTERS your life and it's tough at times!!! I TRULY understand the desire to lose...I'm there...but as others have said....it took a while to get where we're at. This is a marathon not a sprint!!!! God BLess, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -71lbs

I had a really rough time for 2 weeks....really didn't feel up to par for about 3 weeks....long as you are without a fever or other symptoms of fever I think your doing pretty good.... Don't forget your not eating as much as you used to either..... Hang in there!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -71lbs

Sad to say I am NOT from there.....down in Central FL....but sure do love that area....my husband went to Brownsville to ministry school!! Beautiful community!! God Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -71lbs

I had a tumor on my ovary which caused some hormone changes and lots of facial hair growth....so went and got beard/moustache area done. The ideal is fair skin w/ dark hair....the laser does not recognize gray or blonde hair. The most painful spot was my upper lip and they put a wet roll there which helped alot. There is minimal pain in my opinion(this of course, depends on where you are removing hair as well) and it was SO WORTH it!!!!!!!!!! It will remove approx 85% of hair...you will have a little left over....but not bad at all. You cannot use any hair removal products (except razor) for about 1 mo before you go to get it done. They want to get that root! It's been about 4ys since I did it I believe!? Hope this helps! Would love to do my pits and legs next!!! What a hassle they are!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs

Dr. Ponce in TN does his surgeries in an outpatient center in Dalton, GA. He was $13,000 total I believe?! That's where I had it....little more than CO ...had a WONDERFUL experience. www.lapbandinstitute.com God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs

Remember the word "B.R.A.T."..... B= Bananas R= Rice it can also mean chicken noodle Soup and mashed potatoes A= Applesauce T = Toast or crackers These things firm up the stool...no juice or milk (make diarrhea worse) --try gatorade or Powerade for electrolytes. Hope your feeling better!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs

Rhlane-- Be careful getting filled if you haven't gotten "control" of your last fill....if you are pb'ing bunches and throwing up w/ this fill....you could make it much worse!! Ask yourself if you are truly hungry an hour later when you can go back? I am usually not--I start drinking my Water and that "fills" me up even more I feel like. I think head hunger is definitely a battle in for me!! Your not alone! My secret has been lots of liquids this last 2 weeks....the band is definitely controlling me! I also have much too lose I have 10more pounds just to be 1/2 way to goal!!!!! That means I have around 160 to lose if the charts are correct.....so don't get upset if your in lose 16's....that means your getting closer!!! Your doing GREAT!!!! God Bless, melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs

I don't know how much help I will be but here goes: I take a cheese stick as I found that to be mushy and soft....I pre-measure all my food and took alot of chicken salad and tuna salad....don't forget your baby spoon. Also took SF/FF pudding for a snack if needed. God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs

I was told no caffeine---it's a stimulant and can make you eat more?! Who knows....I was already caffeine free prior to surgery! GOd Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs

Love this thread.....so glad we're back into communicating again!!!! I have lost 70lbs since 3/20/06 :target: I have had 2 fills. The first fill was 2.4cc they took out 1.8cc and put me up to 3cc and it was too much so went back down to 2.9cc. Complications/issues: the fill may be too much. My doc isn't sure he agrees since the barium on flouro goes through in 1sec. Of course, that was in the evening. I have lost around 20 of those pounds in the last 2 wks or so. I am on liquids for 2 wks more....I don't get sick w/ that.. but boy I sure do if I eat more than a bite or two...then it's throw up city!! People at work are just catching on because I didn't start there until after I had lost 30lbs or so. My husband has seen it but SUDDENLY he has REALLY noticed....I know it's tough since he sees me daily to catch it. My NSV's: I am in size 18....haven't been there in years!!! I was in a size 26/28--don't know if that's called 10 sizes or 5?!??! How does that work? :tea: Keep up the good work everyone WE CAN DO IT!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs

Vinesqueen-- Don't think he overfilled on purpose....it's up in the air what to do w/ me... when I drink the flouro stuff it goes through in 1 sec....I watched it....but yet I throw up if even take anything before 11am....this band is a challenge....it's definitely a learning process!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs

Robinem-- If your not uncomfortable that's a good sign...but if you hear it rumbling it will break forth soon I'm sure....besides prune juice I actually used Maalox Max.....but it really loosened things up!!! But it worked!! God Bless, melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs

Laura-- I don't think that they do correlate....I think the docs do it based on their comfort level. My doc put 2.4cc in the first time....smiled and told me he will "make me miserable" but I'll lovehim when the weight is off....I did reallly well w/ that I think....then went back 8wks later and they took out 1.8cc (common to lose some the first 2 fills) and put back 3cc....I have a 4cc band....and it was seemingly fine and I drank 5 little cups of Water in the office....got in my car about 40mi away and drank one little sip and I promptly vomited all over myself.....went back and they took out 0.1cc.... under flouro....still struggling a bit...but weight is falling off!! Just FYI my BMI started at 46.....now haven't checked lately.... God BLess, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs

My dr seems the most strict of those writing so far....2 days of Clear Liquids and 2 days of full liquids then slow advancement..... Needles are traumatic...and they may have used some numbing spray (mine does) and this could cause some redness....if it doesn't go away then call your doc tomorrow...you can even try a little ice on their. 2.2cc's seems ok to me....my dr did 2.3 cc in my band first fill..... God bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs :rofl:

Good job Cloe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't this SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, MElody banded 3/20/06 -70lbs :rofl:

Mythoughts are gas and because your taking only liquids for the cold part...I do liquid fasts in the past and I FREEZE!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -70lbs