Babe

kalipso, thanks for your thoughtful reply. it's so strange being unfilled after 2 years. i'm super hungry, it ridiculous. even thought i've been a slow loser, i can totally see how the band has worked in keeping my appetite in check. i'm focusing on liquids pre and post christmas, and planning to enjoy my xmas dinner (in moderation). i'm really looking forward to being able to actually eat the bread pudding i'm making for dessert.

I hear you JMin! I do feel intimidated at times by the skinny minnies and I HATE the mirrors in the group classes - so evil! To be honest, I always find them scarier if I haven't been to the gym in a while or if i'm feeling fat that day. I just feel like everyone's looking at how big and out of shape I am. The Y I go to just got renovated and no has cardio machines with tvs - BEST.INVENTION.EVER!!!! Omg, I'm in heaven! Cardio goes by so much quicker and I can completely tune out the odd looks I get or the patronizing comments. And when I'm weight training or doing floor work, I just turn on my iPhone and listen to music or a great podcast. I'm hoping to try out a Zumba class one of these days...

Hi Gerdi, nice to see a familiar name! I've been using fitday since my surgery - admittedly, i've been rather lax the last few months... trying to get back into the habit again. I went to see Dr. Arseneau last week, and he thinks my car accident might have affected the band. For the past few week my band has been super tight, to the point where i can hardly drink water in the morning, to really loose where i can easily eat 2 or 3 cups of pasta without thinking. I've got to go in for a barium swallow to check it out. He says I'll probably need to go on liquids for a couple weeks and get a complete unfill to let the band rest. I'm so happy for you that fitday has helped you so much, way to go!!! I'm going to try and make it to this month's meeting too... time permitting : ) Babe

I'm thinking about trying out Zumba at the Y, but I'm concerned it might be to fast for a me... aren't most exercise groups designed for the skinny folks? I'm just getting back into exercise after a car accident. I've recovered mostly, except for the occasional strange muscle spasms. Before it, I would go to the gym a couple times a week for cardio. What is Zumba like? Is it do-able with a bigger body? It looks like fun.

Love it!!! Thanks so much for posting it - perfect thing to get through the holiday season : )

BUMP... would love some answers!

it sounds like your band isn't tight enough. you might be embarassed, but go in and talk to you doc. he sees this stuff all the time. i was banded around the same time as you, and i've had a really tought time losing. partly because my head isn't on straight and i'm struggling with emotional eating, and partly because the band isn't tight enough and partly because of series of things out of my control. i haven't seen my doc in close to a year because i've been embarassed. i finally sucked it up and have an appointment next week. i can't do this alone, and neither can you. even if it's just to talk and get remotivated, it's worth seeing your doc.

hi all, haven't been here for a long time... it's been a tough year, family deaths, medication changes that made me put on over 20lbs, financial probs, and a car accident. i'm recovered enough physically to be ready to go back to the gym, and I realize that part of that means re-examining my eating in relation to the band. Before all this, I was a super slow loser, but I want to to find a way to make the band work for me. i figure coming here is a good start! babe

ok, with every pound i've put on over the years, my boobs got saggier and saggier. my question is, did your boobs bounce back by themselves as you lost the weight? i'm not banded yet, but i really don't to be Miss Skinny-but-Droopy down the road.

thanks for answering guys... i've also had a bit of a sore throat the last few days, so I might be coming down with something. it's probably the combo of my rag and the starting of a cold that's messing me up right now. i'm going to stick with Soups, Protein drinks and yogurt for a couple days. it'll probably do me a bit of good and maybe jumpstart my weight loss again... hopefully

I've been banded over a year and never really had any probs aside from being a super slow loser. Now, all of a sudden a day before my period started, I got really tight and PBd my dinner last night after a handfull of bites. today, was able to eat maybe half a salad with chicken it before feeling like I was going to pb(didn't, just was slimy for an hour). tonight for dinner, had a couple bites of chicken and pbd 3 times. now my esophogus feels like it's burning up. can't do more than sip Water, hot water is a little better. has this happened to anyone else? does it go away or should try and get an emergency unfill? its the weekend, and i really don't think i'll reach my fill doc till after the weekend. any help, even some comforting words would be so welcome right now!

Bumping...

Can anyone recommend a good iPhone app to track food, exercise etc.? Currently, I journal my food online on fitday.com, but i'd love to have something portable. Unfortunately, they haven't developped an app yet. So, what's good out there? What should I stay away from? TIA, Babe

i say call your band doctor! describe what you're experiencing and see what he says. you should not feel pain when you drink or eat.

sorry to hear that... maybe it was a lesson you needed to be reminded of :confused:

hey dorreen, missed you last night. hope you're ok! Babe

Late joiner here... I definitely want in! I'm a super slow loser, so I'm aiming lower - 10lbs by easter, which would put me at 255lbs.

i plan on being at the meeting too. truth be told, I welcome the break from the all the Olympic mayhem downtown.

anna, i totally relate to the little confidence thing. I think that's key when you're trying to date, and unfortunately I've never felt all that comfortable in my skin. i'm hoping that as the weight comes off, i'll feel better about my body and be more willing to put myself out there. i don't know about the rest of you, but i think when you're fat, you get so used to being rejected for how you look, it's easier to believe that than to take a leap of faith and dive into the dating pool. i wonder how this feeling will change as i get more confident.

I just had another fill yesterday adding .5 cc to my 4cc band making it 2.3cc. In the almost year I've had the band, I've never been restricted so I'm not quite sure what to expect. After the fill yesterday, I was able to drink a cup of coffee, but when I tried to eat some hummus, I started feeling all gurgly (like when you drink soda or beer too fast). Then later I tried some tomato Soup, and it went down like molasses. This morning, even after a cup of warm Water (which went down slowly), I couldn't get down more than 1/4 cup of rm temp water. at lunch, i tried a Protein drink, and it took 15 minutes to drink and I got that gurgly feeling again. Just now, I tried some turkey breast, it took 45 minutes to finish 2 thin slices and I'm feeling a bit slimy. I can barely drink water, and even warm liquids are like molasses down my throat. Should I get an unfill? or is this what restriction feels like? I'm scared to try and eat anything else and i am super thirsty right now. what should i do?

thanks lellow! i'm a bit looser today, but not much. I can't eat anything much till late afternoon/evening. i'm trying to eat broccoli right now, and i think i'll manage half a cup at best. i'm going to email my fill doc and see what he says.

Bumping... really would love some feedback please!

hey guys, for those of you who were at the last LGH meeting, you know I've been struggling for a while and have been a very slow loser. Anyways, I went in to see Dr. A for a fill last week and he put in .5cc, which didn't really do much. I went back today and got another .5cc for a total of 2.3cc in a 4cc band. I'm hoping this one makes the difference. It's great to see some fresh faces on this board. Hope to see you at the next meeting Babe

Debbie, what a great idea to post this! Us feb 09 bandsters may not post much but we're definitely here. I haven't had much success yet with my band, but I think it because I haven't reached that key fill level. I've been a painfully slow loser, and haven't really lost more that 5 or so pounds since June. Hopefully that will change soon. Admittedly, I still do the whole emotional eating thing once in a while, but far less than I ever did a year ago. So I guess that's a score for me. I can't wait to hear from other Fabulous February Bandsters! Babe

Hi Jen, I so relate to your frustration. I was banded in february and I've lost about 30lbs since banding (only 5 of that since June). This slow almost non-existant weight loss is not what i signed up for. I'm seeing an endocronologist next week to see if there's something more going on. I've had an underactive thyroid for years, but even though medication regulates it I wonder if my hormones or something is messing with my weight loss. I think that once we get to the root of the slow weight loss, that the band will start working for both of us. Good Luck!!