Ewiedbingcott

Woo Hoo - way to go.

OK guys, I know it's not Friday anymore, but I weighed in this a.m. and was down a little. Hope you don't mind if I post it today --Slow but sure, that's me.

Well, I guess the Palm Springs vacation did me no favors. No loss this week. But I'm pressing on. Way to go Love:thumbup:, Way to go Karen -- I think 1.5 pounds is fantastic and where I sit this week I'd embrace it. :tt2:

Anne & Julie you both look fantastic. You're doing great. You're both beauties.

I think you may have something here. I feel I do need to drink more. I'll try it.

Wow - and my family is originally from Washington -Whidbey Island. My sisters were born in Everett - brother in Coupeville. Love it there too. We're in the condos at Cook & Country Club. Leave tomorrow tho - at least I don't have to go far (Los Angeles area).

I knew you had to be putting out a great deal of effort at the gym Love. I don't think I'm able to do all that you do (I'm a lot older:tongue2:) But I can do more than I do, so I'll commit to 3 times at the gym this week and I'll continue my "strolls" with DH. I did go last week to the gym and got on the elliptical at 3.8 for 20# - no resistence and no elevation. I thought that was tough:redface: so I'm going to have to toughen up. My work is cut out for me.

Thanks Karen - I always think I need a trainer, when what I need is to get off my butt and get to the gym and do more cardio than it takes to walk 20 minutes with DH at a stroll's pace. thanks.

Everyone is doing so well. I love this site and all the support and encouragement you all give to me. I'm down in Palm Desert -- DH and I have a condo here and we come down about once a month for a week during the winter. Sorry all of you that are freezing -- it's about 80 here and we're playing golf this afternoon. That being said, I find it's harder to adhere to the bandster guidelines here than at home. So I'm going to re-commit for the duration of our time here (until next Tuesday) so that I show some further weight loss when I get home.

Dear All: Well, I'm out of town and can't weigh myself, but I was doing great before I left and had lost 2# - Julie, Love & Karen you're all doing great. To lose 1-2 pounds per week is the best. I'm in Palm Desert (sorry, Love - it's 80 degrees here!). We come here about once per month for a week. I've found that I don't adhere to the bandster rules quite as well when we're here. We go out for coffee in the a.m., share a sandwich for lunch before we play golf, and eat too much at dinner. So I'm going to really watch it now --we go home on Tuesday night -- so that next Friday I will have a good report. We plan a hike for Saturday. And we're going to play tennis a couple times. That should help. Can you guys tell me what you do for exercise -- go ahead Love -- I can take it. I know you must be an animal in the gym:thumbup:. Do you have a trainer, or do you work out on your own. For how long? Doing what? Inquiring minds what to know.

Hi everyone. I don't post here often, but I read the posts and I'm very encouraged by everyone's progress. I'm finally going in the right direction myself and my band is becoming my friend. I'm really learning how to use my tool and I've lost over 2# in the last week. But I have a question -- I can eat almost anything. But I'm sticking to the 2/3-1 cup portions. What's really strange (to me) is that the first couple bites (of anything except soup -- which doesn't count) seem to get stuck. If it's not liquid, the first couple bites just sit there for a moment. I slime and PB. I've even thrown up a couple times (sorry, but I want to be specific so you all with more experience can answer me). After I sit for a couple moments, and the discomfort goes away, the food starts going down and I'm fine and continue eating to the 2/3-1 cup is gone. It's almost like I can feel me esophogus contracting and trying to push it into my pouch. I don't know if that makes sense. But is there anything I can do to skip those uncomfortable pains & slime with each meal???

Great job Molly! In this beginning period it's been hard for me -- to not see the weight drop as I had hoped it would. I've lost 17 pounds since being banded but since my 2nd fill I've been losing steadily. My appetite is diminished and I feel full after that 2/3-1 cup of food. I feel really encouraged and and learning to use this band. I think we all doing great! Go Smashing Pumpkins:thumbup:

Ok gals, it's Friday! Yea! Went to my doctor yesterday. Got my 2nd fill. I had lost 8 pounds in 1 month! Over the holidays! Now that's progess:thumbup: Got 2 more cc's in my 14 cc band making a total of 7. I CAN FEEL IT:eek:. So this is what I signed up for. Ok. I don't remember what I was last Friday, but this a.m. I was 225.7. This is a marathon -- not a sprint. I'm lovin' my band.

I have 5 ccs in a 14 cc band. I'm going Thursday for a fill. I can eat a lot! And while I maintained over the holiday, my goal is to lose weight. Today at lunch (I was hungry and in a hurry - bad combo) I really PB'd bad, slimed and threw up on chicken breast (I know, TMI). But that happens rarely with me. I have to learn to eat much slower and chew more.

Sorry I didn't get here earlier. I was 228.3 this a.m. I like the idea of checking in on Friday and, frankly, Love, I'm impressed by your success and hope to use you as a role model! I hope you don't mind, but you've had so much success and I really want this to work for me. Today I've had: bfast: 1 slice of Ezekiel bread with 1 teas Pbutter and one hard boiled egg. lunch: 1/2 hame & cheese sandwich on pumpernickel bread, 1/2 c coleslaw & 1 cup french onion soup. Just drank my first 17 oz of water. I have a hard time getting it in. Going to a movie tonight with DH and will probably come home and have leftovers or scrambled eggs for dinner. Talk to you next Friday. And happy New Year!!!!!

Gotta B Thin - you've got it exactly right! I've vowed not to update my ticker until Jan 1. I keep telling myself (and my sister who will be banded 12/22 ) the this is a marathon, not a sprint. If I never see this weight again, I'll be so grateful. Congrats to all - slow losers or fast losers.

I was banded about the same time as you, I'm around your age, and from your ticker I can see that you were probably a lower BMI-er. All true for me too. I lost 15 pounds after surgery, but then put 5 back on after I healed and before I had my first fill (12/4 - 5 cc's in a 14 cc band). I've lost the 5# I gained plus another pound. I'm so excited. I was beside myself with anxiety before I got my fill. I thought that I was going to fail at this, like I'd failed at so many other weight loss attempts. When I went into my doctor, the PA gave me a lecture -- said I should have called and he would have assured me that I was "normal" and "everyone" had that same experience. One of the things I've done is log my food everyday. That's been helpful -- I know how many calories I eat and there's even a place to log exercise. I use myfooddiary.com, but there are free sites (I've seen them posed here, just can't remember the names). I've read that the first fill doesn't do anything, but I do feel restriction (even PB'd for the first time when I ate too fast!:biggrin:) Another thing is I'd do the 5-day pouch test (google it) but I'd wait for that until after your first fill when you have at least the hope of resctriction. My mantra - this is not a sprint -- this is a marathon! Good luck.

I just had my first fill. My doctor did it totally different from yours. I stood! After the cleaning a lidocane, he told me drink water while he shot saline in and to tell him when "it stops going down." Then he said he was taking some saline out and to tell him when I could feel it going down. Then he told me to drink more water and he put saline back in and to tell him whether it was going down fast, medium, slow. The last part was the hardest. He also said liquids (soup) for 2 weeks!!!!:thumbup: But I'm feeling some restriction (not a lot) and the scale is going back down, so I'm happy.

I was banded 10/24. Just went through your blog (nice!) and your story sounds just like mine. I lost 15 pds (pre-surgery diet and after being banded) and then gained 5 back! Last night had my first fill and am on liquids today (my doctor says 2 weeks!!!! OMG) I don't know if I can do it for that long but the scale is already showing results and I've lost 2 of the 5 I'd gained (my ticker is so out of date). I'm really looking forward to losing some noticable weight (more than just my husband and sister -- who will be banded 12/22) Anyway, loved your blog.

I count myself very fortunate. I was low BMI of 36. I have Anthem Blue Cross (California) PPO and they paid. I have co-mobidities (I think they require at least 3). Had my first fill yesterday and am losing weight. I agree - this is a great tool, but you have to work it!

Wow Lisa you're amazing. I calculate 60+ pounds since April!? How do you do that? I can't wait until I post in onederland.

Just saw your picture on before & after. Re: Morbity Obese to Normal 12 Months 3 Weeks Oh my gosh IndioGirl, you look fantastic! I was banded 10/24/08 and if I look like you a year from now I will be well pleased. I'm struggling at the moment because I have no restriction yet (no fill) but am going to my doctor on Thursday. I haven't been using my band as a tool at all -- in fact I wouldn't even know it was there if I couldn't feel the lump in my stomach. But I'm hopeful that on Thursday things will change. Can you give me an idea of your diet and excercise? I'm a few years older than you, but even though I'm fat I excercise (walk) daily and have been for years. Obviously not enought to keep up with my eating! Also I play tennis and golf (although DH & I use a cart). I'm really getting scard that this will be another failed attempt on my part to lose weight. Since about week 4 I've been eating anything and everything I want -- not a good use of this tool I've been given. Any words of advise or help would be appreciated.

You look fantastic. Great job! Can I ask how many fills you've had? And what you eat and how you exercise? I'm going for my first fill this week. I want to be as successful as you!

What are you eating??? When was your surgery date? I think I'm going to amend my signature because I always want to know how tall the person is, how much the starting weight was, when they were banded and whether or not they've had fills. Anyway, inquiring minds want to know:smile2:

I haven't been doing well, but go to my doctor on Thrusday. I'm making a list and hopefully he's going to give me my first fill. They old me not to worry over the holidays, but I haven't had any restriction for a couple weeks now and I've gained 7 pds back:cursing:. I've been reading posts here though and I'm encouraged to do better today. I'm worried that I've stretched my stomach. You've done an amazing job - when were you banded? I was banded 10/24. My goal is to lose 20 lbs by the end of the year. I hope that's possible.