aloudwhisper

I couldn't have said it better myself. Great article!

Wow! Thanks for sharing your story. I'm so sorry that you are going though that. I know that everyting will work out. I sometimes wonder do I have slippage. They said that I didn't, but if I put anymore Fluid in my stomach I will pop and I'm bearly half way full. Anyways, God is good.

My issue was so lad, I couldn't even drink Water. I was so scared. I wish I could have drank water to anything, but nothing stayed down. I even choked from sucking on a peppermint. I ended up going to the ER. They removed all my Fluid :-( I slowly began putting the fluids back in, but gained about 15 pounds in the process. I have way filled, body can't take anymore (I'm questioning why that is), but I've lost 10 of the pounds and still working hard to bring sexy back. Prior to the stomach lock up, I use to regurgiate a lot. Now I stop before I get there. I'm learning now to better relax my stomach. I also try not to mess with carbs too much, cause my stomach can't take it. Its a day by day challenge. I still plan to get a second opinion, cause I still don't understand why I haven't lost a lot of weight.

I struggled with that some. I realized one day that I ate too much, because it started to come up. LOL! I guess that is always a sign. I try not to put a lot on my plate, and see how I feel after I eat. If I want more, then I tried to talk to myself about head-hunger, being greedy, or am I just still hungry. I have also been trying to cut the meals after a certain time no matter what. If I just have to have something, I can't have carbs. That has worked fair well for me.

Its truly a struggle. I will get to the other side though. I have invested too much in this process to give up.

Well congrats! I am 9 months, and I am still in the struggle. My body now only takes like 1/2cc at a time. I am working out and everthing, this weight just refuses to move. I am so discouraged. It makes me so sad. I do get choked up a bit off certain foods, but I can still eat. I try to be mindful of what I choose to eat, but its hard. I just don't know.

I would really love any information regarding a support group in Maryland. I was banded in Nov. 2009, and I really feel like I need support in order to make this journey as successful one. Please help :laugh:

Okay people I am back. Thanks for the encouragement. I just went out and purchased a bunch of fresh fruit, so I have to be even more committed to eating right, in order to loose this weight forever. I am starting to see some changes. My face is really getting smaller, and I purchased a size 20 dress for my birthday last weekend, and sistas I was HOT!!!! I am suppose to be going to Vegas at the end of June. I would like to loose at least 10 to 15 pounds by then. I am working out 3/4 times per week. Mostly 4, but I had an unexpected activity that I didn't plan for. I was worth missing a day at the gym. I will be on it this week though. Oh! I have a question for you ladies. How do you guys deal with the craving around the time of your cycle. For me, it seems like all diets go out the window when its that time of the month. I am approaching that time, so I am going to need some serious encouragement. :laugh: Talk to you ladies soon:rolleyes2:

Hello everyone! I too have had some struggles. Its funny, cause you think that once you take the big step of having the surgery, is that you won't have the struggles with food. WRONG!!!! I am trying to do better about my food choices as well, but I have truly had my moments. The weight is moving so slllooooowww. My birthday was last weekend, and I truly got it up, and I drunk more than I care to really discuss. :laugh: I am back in the saddle now. I use to cook a lot of Soups. It really worked for me, especially during the weekday. So I am back slow cooking my meals. I plan to make a few different kinds, and freeze them. I don't want to have to count calories, but I am wondering is that really the best thing. I also need to do my best to get on this site, cause it really helps. I guess I wished that there was much more discussion going on, but I have to put my part in to make that happen. I will be here to offer support to all the sisters that need it, in hopes of getting some encouragement myself. cheers

I purchased a crockpot, and started fixing all kinds of soups. I can't say that I have a recipe, because I am just free styling. I tried all kinds of beans, and I will add ground turkey, chicken or smoked turkey. You can add tomato sauce, veggies, other seasons. Honestly, eating the soups have kept me full and on task with my eating. If there are beans in the soup, you have double the protein and you are full. So you can't beat it.

Hello out there! I know that I haven't been communicating much lately, and I think that is the reason, I haven't had much lost. I have been working on building my consistancy. It can truly be difficult to stay focused. I often forget the reason I chose the band rather than having gastric. I have to listen to by body more and not my head for signs of hungry. I would like to hear more from you all about what kinds of diet tips I can include into my program. I am open to any ideas.

You are so right, its a day to day struggle. Congrats on the 20's. I know it felt great. You will be able to sit swat and drop it like its hot in the 20's in a minute as you make room for the 18s. Ebony, please stay encouraged. I know we are going through this. Sxvan said it well. We didn't get this weight overnight, and it will be a slow, but successful project for all of us. I am waiting for my next fill myself. I think my body is use to this fill and is ready for the next. I feel the tightness of my band in the morning, so I still have my shakes (which is cool for me, I am too busy in the morning for anything more),but by lunch time I am ready for some food. I have still be snacking (not good at all). Its like even though I can't eat as much as I once was able to, I still have room for all the junk that I don't need. LOL! So I have to be super mindful of that. Like today, I had two donuts. :thumbup: Yeah, I am cussing myself out about that. I will be at the gym tonight, but I just have to remind myself about eating right everyday. Its a struggle. My goal is consistancy. I haven't been consistant with anything for a while, and I am working on making that a priority. I got 3 days of exercise in last week, and the goal is 4 this week. I worked out last night, and I will be there today and tomorrow, and I get my dance class on Friday :thumbup:. My fill appointment is not scheduled until March 4th, so i am trying to have lost a total of 30 pounds by then. Well that is my prayer. I am too close not to make it happen. Please pray for me. My goal is to have lost a total of 45 pounds by my birthday in April. Keep looking up ladies :thumbup:

So we are now at the same fill. I was suppose to schedule my next appointment, but I have to reschedule it due to work. The stuck feeling is the worse. I haven't been paying attention while eating, and I have gotten that feeling more that I should. They say its not good to throw your food up like that. Oh well. I am trying to do better to chew, chew, chew. As for the work outs. Stay encouraged. Its been a struggle for me. Normally, I do 3/4. Last week, I did two. I didn't go yesterday, but I am planning to go today. I have seen some weight drop off since I got the 4.5, but I am looking forward to more. More, more!!! I want more weight off :thumbup: Just kidding :thumbdown:

Well I have natural hair. I just cover it with a scarf and keep it moving. I rarely sweat out my hair, but if I do its cool. I just wash it and keep it moving. I rock the fro anyways.

Sorry for the delay........ since we are the only ones really chatting on this subject. The week was a long one. Six pounds is good. Congrats! We have to be grateful for the blessing. Hey, it could have been worse. I also tried to prepare you, cause I knew you were not going to get 3ccs. That was just too much. I realize that my restriction are more that I think they are. I find myself experiencing that stuck feeling, when I am not paying attention and I take my normal size bites of food. I was out with a friend, when I had to excuse myself from the bathroom to vomit. I know I shouldn't do that, but its so hard. I just wanna get that food out as fast as I can. I am still losing, I guess I have nothing to be upset about. The funny thing is, the more I loose, the more I see how big I really am. Is that crazy. Its like, I knew I was a big girl, but I am looking at pictures of myself that I've always seen. I just didn't see the weight as it was. Mmmmm...... transfirmation, huh. How are your work outs going?

I think it will be important to just ask the doctor when your next appointment will be, and express yourself if it is much longer than you desire. Be encouraged.

Honestly, it has been a struggle, but we will get through this. We have to stay encouraged, and know that God will make a way for us. As for you getting up to 6ccs in a second fill, you should really be careful with that, because you don't know how your body will respond. You don't want to give you body too much and you can't swallow as a result. Trust that your doctor knows what he is doing. Everyone's body and tolarants is different. I am happy that fills are not done the same way for everyone, because you could hurt yourself that way. We will get there girl. We have to believe that.

I had my surgery in on 11/6, but I didn't have my first fill until 12/7. There were some problems with the holiday, and my doctor being out. They were initially going to give me my first fill on 12/24, but I say "Oh hell naw!!" I was not going to be eating soup for Christmas. LOL! So we opted for 1/7. It was during that session that I discovered that I already had 2 ccs in me. They added another 1.5cc and on my next visit they gave me just 1cc. I don't think my body will allow me to take too many cc at one time. I was told that 6cc and over is where you can find the sweet spot. I have an appointment on 2/11, so I am hoping that I can tolerate 1.5 or 2cc's. I need to get out of the 280s. Its like my weight has been swinging back and forth, but I haven't left 280's. Its so frustrating.

Well turns out, I already had 2cc in my band. Who knew. I got an additional 1 1/2cc on 1/7/08, and I am looking forward to my next fill on the 21st. I had gained some weight since being filled, but it appears that I have lost that weight, plus 1 pound Prayfully, I will loose another few pounds by the time I meet with the doctor. I also started my dance classes last Saturday. So once per week I will be dancing, along with other exercise and weight training 2/3 times per week. It feels good to weigh 284.5. I just want to completely be out of the 280s. Maybe that will be my three month gift to myself. I have also been off fried foods and sugar. I feel pretty good so far. :cool2:

Well turns out, I already had 2cc in my band. Who knew. I got an additional 1 1/2cc on 1/7/08, and I am looking forward to my next fill on the 21st. I had gained some weight since being filled, but it appears that I have lost that weight, plus 1 pound :tounge_smile: Prayfully, I will loose another few pounds by the time I meet with the doctor. I also started my dance classes last Saturday. So once per week I will be dancing, along with other exercise and weight training 2/3 times per week. It feels good to weigh 284.5. I just want to completely be out of the 280s. Maybe that will be my three month gift to myself. I have also been off fried foods and sugar. I feel pretty good so far. :thumbup:

I remember asking my nurse 3 weeks after surgery if I could participate in "adult activities?" He looked at me sidways as asked me "what are you referring to, cause there are a lot of things adults do." He then went on to say, "for the first month, let him do all the work, and you just lay back and enjoy." Now, I can't say that the statement was too appropriate coming from my nurse, but that was all I needed to hear. LOL! That is just what I did. I have instructions, and enjoyed. So do what works for you. I say take my nurses advice. :laugh:

Finally! Today I have my first fill. :thumbup: I have just been so frustrated with this whole appointment scheduling. I was suppose to have my appointment for 12/24, but I was not going to be eating only soup or whatever would be excluded from my diet, so I had to reschedule the appointment. It been two months, and the weight has been going back and forth. I guess I have to be grateful for being able to get into jeans that I haven't been able to fit for a long time. So for that I am grateful. I also took a two-week break from exercising, so I really can't complain for the reason that I haven't lost the weight. Today is Wednesday, and I have already worked out two days, and I finally included weighs into my program. I am feeling really good about that. I just want to be sucessful in my weight loss. I don't want to feel like I am missing out, by not eating foods that I don't need. I don't want to seek foods for comfort, I want to be better than that. I know that God will bring me through that. I am kinda nervous about this fill process, but I am ready for the leaves to be cleared on my path to weight loss and better health. Yayyyy :confused:

Finally! Today I have my first fill. :grouphug: I have just been so frustrated with this whole appointment scheduling. I was suppose to have my appointment for 12/24, but I was not going to be eating only soup or whatever would be excluded from my diet, so I had to reschedule the appointment. It been two months, and the weight has been going back and forth. I guess I have to be grateful for being able to get into jeans that I haven't been able to fit for a long time. So for that I am grateful. I also took a two-week break from exercising, so I really can't complain for the reason that I haven't lost the weight. Today is Wednesday, and I have already worked out two days, and I finally included weighs into my program. I am feeling really good about that. I just want to be sucessful in my weight loss. I don't want to feel like I am missing out, by not eating foods that I don't need. I don't want to seek foods for comfort, I want to be better than that. I know that God will bring me through that. I am kinda nervous about this fill process, but I am ready for the leaves to be cleared on my path to weight loss and better health. Yayyyy :confused:

I would really like to be committed to working out consistantly, eating right and loosing at least 70. I haven't lost much, and its been a bit discouraging. I just want to be successful with this process. I am praying that God will help me. In addition, I want to take my social work licensing exam, and then look at come certificates or possibly another masters.

Okay people, I didn't go to the gym, because I was not feeling like going back out into the rain. I did my walk-away the pounds dvd. I did the 2 mile walk. I was so proud of myself. I have never completed the 2 mile (not because I couldn't, I was just so lazy), and I am so happy! I know you guys would understand. I feel so accompolished, and I got a better workout than I would have had just sitting on the bike. Yayyyy!!!! Well I have completed 3 days of working out so far this week. I am so proud of myself. Keep of the good work people