Ewiedbingcott

Dear Cheryl: Today is my 6 month bandiversary and I have been what could be described as a "slow loser." As you can see, I've "only" lost 28 pounds, but when I think back to those days that Love described (eating pounds of food to hide feelings - and feeling disgusted with myself) I will gladly take those 28 pounds and be joyful:lol:. I'm older than some, and I haven't beat myself up at the gym. I walk (slowly with my husband) daily for 30# and some days I force myself to go to the gym. I'm considering taking a "bootcamp" but don't know if I can get up 5 days a week at 5 - I know many people do, but I want to sleep! I read today in the paper that Michele Obama was questioned by children at the White House. She was asked what was the worst thing she had to do at the White House. She said "running on the treadmill." Guess what? She hates exercise too - but the difference is she does it! Yesterday I wrote in my journal about my bandiversary. These are some of the things I've noticed or that I'm grateful for: I'm not 240 anymore! Technically I've lost 1 lb per week. (They say 1-2 pds per week, so naturally I always calculated on the 2 lbs and thought I'd be down 50 by now. When will I learn that is doesn't always go my way??? My stomach is definitely smaller (I carry my weight around my middle -- an indicator that I'm at a higher risk for heart attach or stroke) which leads me to my next point... I feel healthier I'm starting to fit into clothes (from 2 x to some 18's). I also realize that clothes that are too big can make you look (and feel) fat and that it's ok to buy some smaller sizes as you lose, just because you'll feel better! I'm getting more comments on my weight loss. All in all, I'm one happy camper and I wouldn't go back -- I believe this procedure saved my life and if I use this tool that I've been given, I can achieve my goals. But it is a tool and what Julie says is very good advice. Before you eat, think!!! Am I hungry?? Also, follow those bandster rules - protein, no drinking and eating together, small meals, chew well. Finally, I would advise you to go to your doctor. He/she wants you to be successful. Talk to your doctor about this. Take the 5 day pouch test (google it). Start over with new vigor and determination. Remember what drove you to get this surgery in the first place. Change your attitude. You can do it -- it just might take you a bit longer. Don't stop!!! I'm a grateful bandster!!!:w00t:

OK guys, I haven't posted in a couple weeks. I've been traveling, etc. But I have lost another 3 pounds since last we "spoke" and I'm thrilled.

I want to join the challenge. I just counted up the days and so I've adjusted by goal a little. I think I can lose 15 lbs by then if I buckle down to the exercise. Name.............. Start ..........Current.......... Goal ........ToGo 3ShotRoc..............345..............263................220......... ..43 alabubba..............464..............464................400......... ...64 annieemmm.........200..............198.................170......... ..28 ashleyrenee......240...........240...........199...........41 barb12590............173..............161................155.......... .6 Betelnut…………......95….……...…273 …....……..245………….28 Bklyn1984.............317..............248................230......... ..18 blaze21................200.8...........192.8..............170....... .22.8 Chicky Abby..........314..............314................270............44 clcort...................236...............200...............200...... ......36 countrygirlNY........253..............217................182.......... ..35 crzytchr2004.........237..............232................210.......... .22 ewiedbingcott.......215.5............213...............198.............15 Fab by 50.............215..............204................175............29 Fordgal88.............199..............175................199......... ..24 Htaylor1021.....210............210............185.........25 Jazma .............261..........261............235..........24 Jennyt71...............245..............202................170........ ...32 keepingfaith08...225..........225.............190.........35 LessJess...............228..............228................199........ ....29 Letsgetitstarted.....229..............229................199.......... ..30 libbyjane1976.......283...............283................250.......... .33 LilMissDiva...........251.6............247.6..............227......... ..20.6 liz_hager..............158..............154.................145....... ....9 LisaRT.............254...........254.............225.........29 Long2BThin...........192..............187.................169......... ..18 Loveislovely...........191..............187.................169....... .. ..18 Mair.....................222..............220................199...... ......21 mamacj................316..............269................233......... ...36 Melody_mary_42f .277...........231............170..........49 MsNickelback....172...........167............149..........18 nicolerose........365...........288............260..........28 nursemelly.......245...........209............185..........24 onehotmama.........272.............237.................210............ 27 pbpuniser.............212..............212................182......... ..30 peachwood......251...........251............230..........21 picklesix...........197..........187.............170.........17 sexylips................238..............238................199....... ....39 SillyGoose............258...............238................228........ ...10 simone................182...............176.............160........... ....16 ukcatsfan.............340...............340................300........ ...40 workingmom.....214...........214............175.........39 ZiggyLove........226...........202............180.........22 Alleycia...........255...........226.............198........28 Sadie77...........277...........250.............220........30 Lalaredd..........240...........190.............150.........40 OneHotMomma.285...........285..............250........35

Well guys I started a challenge with my sister last week. It includes no weighing (I was weighing 3-4 times a day and the scale was having a big negative impact on my behavior:mad:); counting (& writing down) calories:tongue_smilie:; exercise 4-5 times a week :w00t:(Love & Julie - you'll be so proud of me - went to the gym twice and used the treadmill and eliptical. I sweated real sweat!! I'm going again today); and no alcohol until the weekend (Is Friday night a week night or the weekend???:confused: That being said, I don't know what my weight is -- and I'm not going to weigh until my next fill on April 16. One other thing -- I did try on some of my old "thin" clothes this a.m. I'd given most of them away years ago because I believed I'd never get into them again. Anyway, I was able to get into a couple size 18's. No more 2X's for me:lol:.

It really depends on the size band you have. I have a Lap-Band AP and it holds 15 cc's. He put 5 cc's in on my first fill! My sister, who was banded 2 months after me, has the same brand band, but her's is a 10 cc band and he put 2 cc's in on her first fill. He said something about the smaller band having greater restriction - and that seems true because my sister has always been "tighter" than me. That being said, I plan on going again next week - 3 weeks after my last fill, because I don't feel the restriction that I did at the beginning, and my doctor has said that I should feel full and not be as hungry between meals. When I first get the fill, I think I am swollen and I don't dare eat.:crying: But this time, very quickly, it seemed that I could eat more. So I want to tighten up. I haven't lost much weight either - but I know why. It's the exercise and I've committed to exercising more. I just read an article in "O" magazine where Oprah interviews Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama said she realized that if it came to her job, or her daughters, or another obligation, she wouldn't think twice about getting up early to take care of whatever it was. She realized that by exercising she was taking care of herself - an obligation every bit as important as being a mother, or having a job, etc. So now she gets up (early, I might add!!!) to exercise because it's just as important as her other duties and obligations. That hit me - we have a duty to ourselves to get healthy and take care of ourselves. So let's do it ladies and gentlemen

I'm down 2 lbs (that's 2 wks for me) - but I'll take it!. I'm going next week for another fill - not sure if I need it. I just want to say that I'm starting to get comments now about my weight loss (and that's always nice). People are saying my face is thiner. Also, I just came off a month of entertaining out of town guests (we live in California and become very popular in the winter with family & friends that live in the midwest and east!:crying:) Before the lapband, I would most certainly have gained weight during this time. This year I've lost weight and that's so great. Now if I can just string a few weeks together, I'll get to my current goal of 210 in no time!!! Love you all - and keep up the good work.

Dear Love: So sorry for your loss. I've been trying to reply to this thread, but with the new infrastructure at lapbandtalk, I can't get some of my messages, or post. At any rate, I was really saddened to hear about this. Don't worry Cattoy 1 - I'm a slow loser like you. The important this is we're losing! Slow and steady wins the race - although in this race we're all winners!

My doctor asked us to describe what we were eating. I try to stay in the proteins & veggies with some fruit. I have a fudgesicle every night (the 40 cal ones) and I usually have a drink (vodka - maybe an oz or 2 - no mixers) with my husband each night. He said that was fine (I was surprised) and suggested not portion size so much, but that we try to skip breadfast (I know - this goes against everything I've read or ever heard!) by sipping coffee. He said soup for lunch and to have a piece of meat or fish and veg for dinner.

Went for my 3rd fill yesterday & got 1 cc. My sister went with me and she got her first fill (2 ccs). Anyway, our doctor (Dr. David Davtayn - he's great) gave us both a little lecture on our eating -- mainly reviewing what we know, but so encouraging too. He chided me for not coming earlier for a fill - saying that when I stop losing, I should come in immediately!:thumbup: I haven't lost any weight yet, but my sister and I had measured before we were banded. In all (neck, arm, chest, waist, thigh & calf) I've lost 14" since October 24. That's amazing - over a foot!!!!!!:thumbup: My sister, banded in December, lost 13":thumbup: I was thrilled! Also, my daughter-in-law told me last night to throw away the pants I was wearing (or she suggested I could sleep in them:tongue2:). She observed that they were so baggy on me that maybe I could keep them for my before/after pictures! So I continue on my journey. I hope to post lower numbers next week - although I have my daugher, her husband & 2 grandchildren staying with us this week. And next week my husband's cousin & wife are coming and we're going to Vegas for a few days. But it encourages me that I can live my life with the band -- in prior times I probably would have gained a few pounds. Now I know that I will lose a couple.:blushing: Good luck to you all - Keep up the good work!

Julie - you look great! What a difference. And Love - you are beautiful. Wow - that baby is going to be lucky to have such a beautiful mother. My sister and I are going for fills tomorrow -- I'm taking the measuring tape so we can measure. Hope to have happy news to report!:thumbup:

HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). I'm in the insurance business. I'm a consistent lurker too :thumbup:. It's so great of you, Livin, to e-mail and try to track Katy down. We all hope she's ok

I'm a little late. Had out of town guests and a dinner party over the weekend. I've been holding steady - no weight lost - looking forward to March 12 when I go for my fill.

Everyone is doing great. Just wanted to share this bit of insight I had today. I know I'm going to sound stupid here, but here goes. I've been bemoaning how little weight I've lost. After all, it's 4 months and only 24 lbs. Wah Wah Wah. Then I realized that only 6 more pounds and I will have lost 30. Somehow this made all the difference. It turned the negative into a positive. I will be thrilled to lose 30 lbs! I'm counting my calories diligently each night. I've done this before during other weight loss efforts, but this is chaning the way I think about food. Before, I would have had a yoghurt (I choose a brand of Greek yoghurt that's 130 calories and 13 grs. of protein). Before, the band I would think that's not enough bang for my buck - doesn't fill me up -- isn't a ton of food (I'm a volume eater). Now, I try not to eat unless I'm hungry (I try to listen for that stomach growl - so unfamiliar to me before - lol). If I haven't eaten in the a.m., a yoghurt at about 11 a.m. tides me over until a later lunch. Somehow, it's just different. I'm also more conscious about the food I'm eating and it's caloric/protein value. The other thing is that when I eat a little too much one day, I don't despair like before. Before, if I went off my eating plan I'd simply throw up my hands and say, this isn't working, it will never work, blah, blah , blah. Yesterday I had more to eat than I intended (those dang Girl Scout cookies my granddaughter sold me, & ribs I made for dinner). Today though, my new and better self, is right back on program, eating, drinking the water. Went walking for 30 minutes this a.m. and will try to do more this evening. I'm lovin' my band:tt2:

Dear All: Another pound down - that doen't count all the up & down I've been doing since 2/2/09. So I'm only 1 pound down for the month! My doctor is on vacation so I can't get a fill until March 12. I've been writing my food down and counting calories. I have to say it's easier with the band:redface:. I'm going to really stick to this (counting calories 1100-1200/day) and exercising 30# per day (sorry guys, can't do more than that!) and see where that brings me on March 12. Keep up all the good work everyone.:wink:

LoveisLovely: Well, I guess it is!:sneaky: Congratulations and I hope all goes well today. What does your band doctor say? It's fantastic. Julie: You're amazing - I'm very impressed. You're like the people on Biggest Loser, posting big numers each week. Great job. Keep it up. Whatever you're doing is working. Karen: I'm like you - Weighing too often. I go up a few, down a few. So I'm posting the same. My sister, who was banded in December, is doing the same thing, so I take comfort. I tried to get a fill this week but my doctor's going on vacation so I can't get in until March 12 and I'm nervous as a cat about staying on the band wagon. I had a root canal yesterday (3 hours in the chair with the dentist drilling - not fun:crying:). I'm trying to listen to my body and my band and only eat when I'm hungry - and more importantly, to stop when I'm full! The 2nd part seems harder than the first. Great job everyone!

Dear Julie: You're doing great! I'm out of town, so can't weigh in this week - and it's probably a good thing. I think I need another fill. All of a sudden I notice I can eat more, I'm hungry more often and I can eat without any sense of restriction. Get home Tuesday and I'm going to my band doctor Thursday (his clinic hours) for an adjustment. that's the part I love about the band -- prior to this I would have felt defeated and just eaten even more!:cursing: Now I think, just watch yourself for the next week (so I won't gain, hopefully) and then I'll be back on the down-ward slide.:frown: Where's our friend LoveisLovely? Haven't seen her in awhile. Hope all's ok.

I do best when I log my food in. I used to use myfooddiary.com but now I just use a good old pen & paper and calorie book. I think that's better for me. I have always eaten more than 1200 calories and when I'm losing it's around 1300 although from past experience I can lose on 1400 or even 1500 just much slower. I haven't been drinking enough water and I don't think I'm exercising enough. Another thing I've noticed is that since my last fill (my 2nd - and I have 7cc's in a 14 cc band) I really had to slow down and could feel that full sensation. Yesterday, for the firt time since that fill, I noticed I didn't feel full. So I'm going to be extra vigilent for the next week or so because I'm going out of town. If I haven't lost any weight when I get back, I'm going in for another fill. My weight fluctuates too -- I go up a few, down a few. I'm even thinking of taking my ticker off because it's never right and I feel like I'm not fully disclosing!

You shouldn't worry - the scale fluctuates. I try not to weigh myself so much although it doesn't always work! You're doing great.

You go Julie:thumbup: I'm down 2.5 for the week. I'm lovin' this band.

Everyone is doing great. I may be losing slow, but I'm losing and that's what's important. They told me 1-2 pounds per week and I'm right on schedule now. I've got to get away from weighing every day (actually I weigh twice a day:redface:) because the scale does fluctuate -- even when I've walked and have been clean in my eating. I'm still crazy when it comes to food, diet, etc. I still have to cross that boundry of this is a lifestyle change, not a diet. I'll get there eventually. At least now I don't feel hopeless! I don't think I'm ready for my 3rd fill quite yet. I eat about 1300 calories/day. There is a place here in LBT that people log what they eat for the day. That's helpful when you can see what the "big losers" eat in a day. Go October Bandsters!

Wow Livn - what a difference 8 months makes. You look great

I just have to post this afternoon because when I stepped on the scale this a.m. I was down 2 pounds from Friday. I went away this weekend and saw a friend from high school. We've been friends for over 40 years (I can't believe that's even possible). Not only was I able to stick to bandster rules, but we walked (and talked & talked:biggrin:). She set the pace and today my butt hurts! But I'm thrilled. I'm now below the goal I set for myself for this Friday.:w00t:

Hey Julie - so nice to put a face with a name. You look fantastic! Wow! What amazing changes. Great job. My sister encouraged me to pick up 4 5-pound bags of sugar when I was feeling down about my weight loss. That did the trick! Imagine lifting a 60 pound box!

Julie & Love - you're both doing great. I love this sight and love my band - I'm down 2 pounds myself and I've rounded up to say I've lost 20:redface:. Love, your body was probably in shock because it wasn't exercising. Sometimes I think we just have to trick them! Whatever works. You are doing so awesome. Julie - you too. Amazing. You guys rock! I've posted my anticipated weight loss (at 8 pounds a month) on my Treo phone. Next week, it says that I'm supposed to be below 220. We'll see - can't wait. Go me:smile: