Band_Groupie

If you're not nervous, you're not normal. Let's face it, not only is this a major surgery, but it's a major, permanent change to your lifestyle. I'll have to say that I was also as excited as I was nervous. Best thing I've ever done. 3 mo. post op and I've lost 33 pounds since surgery, 52 total. Best wishes! -BG

Six sizes smaller?! WOW! That must feel great!!! Yeah, welcome to the lower BMI category...the weight loss is slower, but that's how you know you're getting there, right? Happy writing! -BG

Excellent job! CONGRATULATIONS! That size 12 must feel wonderful!!! -BG

Amen! 196.5, I also just had a fill and have been on liquids for 2 days (good restriction now).

OOOoooo! That would burn me (trees). Good luck! -BG

-------------------------- SAVE THE DATE! -------------------------- SWA (Scale Whores Anonymous) -------------------------- Semi Annual Meeting -------------------------- When: Friday, August 21st Where: Right Here at LBT Bring: Your Scale, Your Spreadsheets or your mirror (Lena), and your adventures/tips to share Alright all you SWA Members (and those that need to join), I’m getting ready for our semi-annual SWA Meeting. What? You don’t know if you qualify? Well, here are the qualifications for becoming a member. You only need to say ‘Yes’ to last one* and ‘Yes’ to any one other item listed below, and you’re in: - Do you get on your scale often? This can be anywhere between every hour to more than once a week (I’m a daily girl myself). More often than that and you just need help and you’re too afflicted even for us (Don’t worry Spud.mama, getting on and off 3 times in a row to average doesn’t count as too much…hope that new scale solved this horrific problem). - Do you find yourself trying to wear (or naked) basically the same thing every time you weigh yourself (Julie.Ann…I’ve been wondering when you wash that one workout outfit for your Wii weigh-ins)? - Do you weigh yourself, or your clothing/shoes (You know who you are weighing those shoes and it doesn't matter if you don't weigh at home!) before you go to the doctor so you can figure your exact weight (I’ve found myself going to the garage to get my shoes and weigh in with everything before leaving…and I’ll even admit I won’t go to the bathroom until they weigh me)? - Do you somehow chart or spreadsheet your weight (Julie.ann & Sunshine2), or track it on your bathroom mirror (Lena)? - Do you try to somehow predict what your weight will be in the future? Those with magic crystal balls need not apply (that’s cheating and considered an unfair advantage…the rest of us are at the mercy of the Weight Loss Gods who take great pleasure in messing with our predictions daily). - *Do you NOT want help for any of the above? Meaning you’re secretly OK with the fact that you’re a Scale Whore? Then come out of the closet (or bathroom) and sign up to join us! Can you believe our first meeting was way back in February (time flies when you’re busy weighing yourself)? Meet me right here on LBT for our 2nd meeting. So shine up those scales and get your spreadsheets, charts, and mirrors (Lena) in order. Bring your tips to share (Julie.ann, please bring your three different spreadsheets to share as you’ll be covering the OCD portion of the meeting along with Sunshine2) and be ready to commiserate with other SWA members! Oh, and Lena requests that you bring a yardstick for an extra fun chair rail craft project (photos afterwards, optional). *Suggestions and Volunteers for agenda topics now being taken (you suggest it, you've volunteered)* See you here! Have a great weekend all! Here’s a recap of our first meeting for those who missed it (let me tell you, it went on and on through other’s blogs too…) 2/22/09 Scale Whore - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

CONGRATULATIONS!! Thanks for keeping us posted...feel better soon! -BG

Your mom is a strong woman and what a great example for us all...prayers for her treatments. Glad you're doing well. Hang in there, Bandster Hell isn't forever...keep filling up! -BG

Congrats! Sounds like you're about at your Sweet Spot! Excellent!!! -BG

WELCOME to LBT! Thinking of you now...keep us posted and best wishes! -BG

Excellent job! You are losing so FAST!!! Now remember or put a sharpie mark on the needle mark from this time so she can find it faster next fill (mine is just at the very end of my 'porthole' scar, and yes, I always tell him that and he finds it in less than 30 seconds). Congrats! -BG ...if you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious...

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Thanks so much gals! You'll all be joining me soon and we'll be dancing again!!! ...and I did have that glass of white wine to celebrate...back to solids tonight...YAY!

Good luck with your big day and keep us posted! -BG

Good luck Thursday and approval is right around the corner! -BG

Wendy's in Onederland...whoo-hoo! Awesome job girl...73 pounds is amazing!!!! You've been working so hard for this and you deserve to celebrate this moment!!! Great Job! -BG

Kay- SO glad the pneumonia is better! Let the official countdown begin! :-)

Labor Day Challenge for Bunny Bandsters! Bunny's name -----------Target loss ------ Start weight ----- Current weight --- Target Weight Sept. 7 Band_Groupie ------------ 15lbs -------------- 203 --------------- 198 ----------------- 188 soon2befit ---------------- 25lbs -------------- 261.5 ------------ 256 ----------------- 236.5 hopeful41411 ------------ 20lbs -------------- 253.8 ------------- 253.8 -------------- 233.8 smilan--------------------- 20lbs -------------- 218 --------------- 216 ----------------- 198 trobison------------------- 15lbs -------------- 221 --------------- 213 ----------------- 206 myturn2bhappy ---------- 15lbs -------------- 282 --------------- 282 ----------------- 267 WannaBe1/2TheWoman - 20lbs ------------- 230.6 ------------- 221 ----------------- 210.6 Butterfly64 ---------------- 15lbs -------------- 231 --------------- 230 ---------------- 216 MrsMitch ------------------ 20lbs -------------- 232 ---------------- 232 ---------------- 212 doodlebug11-------------- 15lbs ------------- 192.5 ------------- 191 ---------------- 177.5 size6----------------------- 11lbs ----------- (-)19lbs ---------- (-)21.4lbs ----------- (-)30lbs TerriLynne----------------- 15lbs -------------- 282.2 ------------- 282.2 -------------- 267.2 txdj ------------------------ 18lbs -------------- 183 -------------- 183 ----------------- 165 1want2bthin -------------- 15lbs -------------- 202 --------------- 202 ----------------- 187 ALuv82 -------------------- 30lbs -------------- 265 --------------- 260 ---------------- 235 tbryant1216--------------- 15lbs -------------- 260 --------------- 260 ---------------- 245

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Bandster Hell is something they certainly don't prepare any of us enough for. You have all the build-up and motivation for the surgery, restriction for awhile post-op...and then...nothing....you're back to the old you with all the hunger and it's so demotivating. I can understand why we hear from some here that don't go back to the doc for a year and feel like a failure. I know they are being cautious, but I wish they could do a better job tailoring fills faster for those that need it. I had a little restriction after the last one, but feel a huge difference after today's fill-5.6 now (my third). As I told my doc today 'my weight loss so far has been mostly my doing'...Hang in there...the restriction will come with time and you'll get the help of your band soon. And 32 pounds is great!!!

Size 14! Wow, that must feel and LOOK good! You go girl!! Congrats! -BG

I'm three months post-op now and just had my third fill. I have coffee (doc allows it) and reg. oatmeal with some added soy protein or eggs for breakfast. Lunch is leftovers usually and I eat the protein first then fruit and/or veggies. Dinner is almost always exactly what the family is eating unless it's pasta entree and again I eat the protein and usually skip the starch and eat veggies and sometimes a fruit. I drink water between meals, but I sometimes have a hard time getting it all in just because I forget...that's probably been the biggest change in my routine. I sometimes snack in the evenings...nuts or seeds mainly. NO food is off limits and so far I can eat anything (have had a few PB's/Sliming, but they were my fault...lack of chewing). I've been determined from the start not to make this another diet. I'm good at diets and have lost most of this weight many times, until they end...I could never be on one forever, and I certainly couldn't eat the same things every day or do protein shakes every day...and that's working for me so far...no protein shakes unless it's after a fill and only because it's easy...doc suggests no protein shakes ever. My routine really isn't very different at all; mainly portion control which is exactly what the band is for! The head hunger is hard some days, but that's getting less and less and it's amazing how the band changes how you feel about food...it's really starting to no longer be the same obsession.

I had my 3 mo. Bandiversary last week. I'm down 48.5 pounds total, 29.5 since surgery. I've moved from a size 24 pant to an 18. I reached Onederland today (199.5) and a few weeks ago moved to the 'Overweight' BMI category. I've had 3 fills (last one today) and am up to 5.6cc's/10cc band. I had a little restriction with the last one, but I think this one will make a difference. Overall, I'm really happy with things, expecially as a low BMI'er. I'm doing well on making the diet part a lifestyle...I'm not 'dieting' (never again) and I never drink my meals (except after a fill). No food is off limits and I eat mainly what my family eats, but I'll eat more of the Protein and skip the starches. I'm having no trouble getting in the right amount of daily protein and keeping the calories in line is going well. On the other hand I need a lot of work in making the lifestyle change with exercise...it's been very inconsistent and non-existent at times. Here's to month 4! Sounds like everyone is doing great!

I would call your docs office and ask. Fruit does make a difference in the thickness of the liquid (I do fruit/protein shakes after fills and they are very thick). I was on clear liquids/skim milk for 4 weeks post-op and there's no way my doc would have let me add fruit a week out...but it would be fine in the 'full liquids' or 'mushie' stages. Best Wishes! -BG

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