hallelujah.girl

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has started a support group for us northlanders. I have seen that there has been interest but have not seen anything posted. I have not been banned yet but will be sometime in May. Dr. Hoehn will be doing the surgery. I would love to hear from others who have had the surgery and who are going to be having the surgery soon.

I am starting over too! I had my surjury May 09, lost 62 lbs. Had it unfilled in Maech 2010 because I was always getting stuck. We were going to go on vacation and I wanted to enjoy myself. Up until this october I had maintained my weight only going up and down losing and gaining the same 5 lbs. Since October I have gained another 10lbs. I was happy with my weight loss up until I gained the last 10lbs. So I have an appointment Feb 7th to get a fill and I am really nervous about going in for a fill. I am nervous and the thought of not being able to eat a lot of things I love scares me, the thought of getting stuck scares me, it hurts and is no fun. This is what has kept me from gaining most of my weight back. I threatened myself with getting a fill and that was enough to motivate me, but gaining my weight back scares me more. I think the thing that worries me the most is getting the fill and having restriction but not be able to lose weight. One thing that I remember most was having trouble eating healthy things, like spinach and lettuce but having no problem what so ever eating chips and Cookies. The first time around, I was very motivated and had a lot of weight to lose, this time around I would like to drop the15 I gained and maybe another 15 or 20 for some wiggle room. I wish they had an area dedicated to those starting over so we could help motivate each other. It has been awhile since some of you have stated over. I would love to hear updates on how things are going for all of you.

I haven't taken any yet, but I think we should all post pictures just so we can all see how great everyone looks! I'll try to do mine tomorrow.

Happy Bandiversary Mayo Banditoes! Tomorrow will be 1 year for me, I can't believe it has already been a year. John 4 lbs below your target weight, AWESOME! And Ann you only have 5 more pounds to go. That has to be such a great feeling for both of you. You both are truly and inspiration to all of us. I just want to encourage the rest of my Mayo Bandito friends to keep up the good work. We can't all be "losers" like Ann and John. We have to be excited by our own accomplishments and be happy that we are "X" amount of pounds thinner this year than last. For me I am down 62 lbs and I feel great. My goal weight is 150 and I am slowly getting there. Once I get there I will set another goal for 130. That was my weight when I got married. I was stuck at 173 since the 1st of Feb and the scale has only started moving for me again. But I feel so awesome. What is really strange is that when I was 30 I weighed 150 and was a size 12. Right now I weigh 167 and am a size 12 (I kept some of my old clothes from back then and I am able to fit into all of them) It's funny how we keep our "skinny" clothes but I've gotten rid of all my "fat" clothes as soon as they get too big for me. Something I tell myself everyday is that this has been a life style change for me and if I lose another 20 lbs or stay the same it doesn't matter. What is important is that I am 62 lbs thinner and I feel great, I am happy and healthy. I will keep striving for my goal and not get discouraged, because once I give up then I will have lost the battle, and this is one battle I will not lose!

Ann I just wanted to say how awesome you look and way to go girl! You have been an inspiration to us all!

Hello all, I just wanted to share some of the things that I have been going through, mostly because there might be others out there still in the learning process after having the band for awhile. I have been really frustrated because I don't feel like I can eat anything, chicken gets suck, deli ham gets stuck no matter how moist It would get stuck. This is even after chewing the heck out of it. Soon as I swallowed I knew right away that I was going to get stuck. This was really frustrating because I have never even reached my sweet spot yet. I know this because every time that I went for a follow up to see if I wanted a fill, I didn't want one because I didn't feel like I could eat anything as it was. He would accept this answer and not give me a fill. He didn't ask me questions like are you taking small bites and chewing your food really good, even though at that point I would have said yes because I thought I was. The last time I went in I told him the same thing except this time I told him that I can still chug Water with no problem, and he was like "aw ha". He said he doesn't know anybody who is at there sweet spot that could chug water. So he added a small fill and still felt like I couldn't eat anything "unless it was really soft like pudding, yogart, cottage cheese, cheese, re fried Beans ect... or I would get stuck and start slimming. This has been very frustrating for me because I could eat chips, candy, Cookies, ect with no problems at all but healthy stuff I needed to eat I couldn't...I can't even have a salad if I wanted one, and on top of all this my weight loss has been veeeerrrrry sloooow. Although I have lost over 50lbs and am very thankful to have done so. I learned last week what small bites really meant. I have read on here forever that we must take small bites and chew chew chew. I knew this and told everyone else who was thinking about getting the band that they must do this as well. Well I really didn't know what a "small bite" meant. This is because the kind of bites I used to take were ginormous. So I am thinking a 4th of the size I normally eat as a small bite is a small bite. Now that I have realized what a SMALL bite is, I have been able to eat alot more things that I didn't think I could before. I have to thank Ann "Spidey Mom" for my realization of what a small bite is. In one of her post that I read it said something like "teeny tiny bites" and that made me think maybe my tiny bites are still to big. (Thanks Ann!) All this said to say if you get stuck a lot take smaller bites than you have been. I used to take a bite of chicken that might have been a ¼” thick by a ¼ inch long and chew the heck out of it. Now I cut that ¼ of an inch piece of chicken into thirds and chew the heck out of that. I have been able to eat several things now that I couldn’t before. It takes me a lot longer to eat so even though I am not at my sweet spot I don’t eat that much because it takes me longer to eat. I would like to hear from others if this is true, If you are at your sweet spot you can’t chug water. Now that I am learning it eat (after 8 months of being banded) I’m trying to decide if I will want another fill or not. I will have to see what this next month brings me, I kinda enjoy still being able to chug water. Sorry for such a long post, but I hope it may help someone else…

Welcome, and not only congrats on your weight loss, but getting off all those meds too! It has to feel great! I have just started shopping in the regular clothes department as well and I got to agree I am lovin it as well!

Wow! You look great, and I know you have to be feeling great too!

Wow! Standing Ovation!!! That is so awesome. I used to love to run but right now my knees are to weak. I am hoping as I lose weight the will get better. I think it is great that you have found an activity that you love to do so much, and it gives you a great excuse to travel a little bit. I agree, we should all find an activity we love and put our whole heart into it...now just to find what that is.

I am glad to hear this post has helped some of you. It does feel great to be able to eat again, and being able to eat the right foods has jump started my weight loss again. I have also started (again, fell of the wagon) keeping track of my calories on the daily plate and try to keep my calorie intake at just under 1200 calories. It is very surprising how fast things can add up. Ann I hope you get things figured out with your PA, 2 cups of food seems like a lot of food. I don't get people sometimes, this is her job, you know taking care of patients with the "Lap Band" a tool that is SUPPOSED to keep you from eating too much. Duh!!! Give the woman a fill, while exercise is great it will not keep you from eating too much, that's the bands job.

I don't think that is true, I heard that they made the sizes smaller so women don't get depressed when they shop, then they are willing to spend more money, but who knows. I think if you fell good about yourself that is the main thing. I'm not sure how to get past the emotional eating. I don't find that I eat when I am feeling emotional, it more about eating things that are wrong and bad for you instead of making healthier choices for their nutritional value. when I am down I want something really yummy.

Yes, i know exactly what you are talking about. I will put a bite of food in my mouth, and of course it is good the first few chews (I would have normally swallowed at this point) but then I keep chewing and it's like YUK! I think meat is the worst for me especially when I'm chewing and run into gristle....double yuk. I think it's because I chew all the flavoring out and am just stuck with the meat...I shutter just thinking about it.

Welcome, and hello, I've been banded for almost 9 months and have only lost 52 lbs. I consider myself a slow loser but am very happy with my progress so far. I am still learning what I can and cannot eat. From what I can tell...when you have the surgery and afterwards, you are sort of forced to eat healthier. The lap band does not force you to eat healthier, it is just a tool that helps you control your portion sizes, and only starts working when you get your band to the right adjustmen (your sweet spot) for some this happens the day of surgery, and for others they are still trying to find theirs. I find it is easier to eat junk food than it is to eat the healthier stuff, no help with the will power there. It does keep me from eating bread, but just the same I have a difficult time eating leafy vegetables. My BMI is 43 and I would qualify for surgery...I am just not sure if I would just be better off pretending I have it and do what I am calling a "LAP-BAND®® diet"... If I can make myself eat that way AFTER the surgery...is there something stopping me from doing it now? My BMI started at 43 as well, and I tried the "pretend I have the band diet" It didn't work for me. It did for a few months and I lost 20 lbs but then of course I gained it all back. Why? Because I love food, it was very difficult for me to stop eating when I was enjoying it so much. I even have trouble now with the band. But I am forced to stop because if I eat 1 bite too many it hurts like crazy. What does having the surgery give me in terms of will power? As far as eating the right stuff you are on your own, the decisions you make as what to put in your mouth is all up to you, but once you are at your sweet spot, the amount you eat will be a lot less. I guess if I REALLY wanted to lose the weight I would have the will power to quit eating all of the junk I am eating... What is it about the surgery that creates the will power not to eat unhealthy foods? Nothing, will power comes from within. This question may sound silly...but hopefully someone out there understands what I am asking?

Ann, I'm not sure when the skinny thinking takes over, maybe when we reach super model status. Even then we would be hard on ourselves. There are even super models who think they are fat. Think about all the times you have been around a skinny person crying about how fat they are while you are sitting there at least 100lbs heavier. I think there is too much pressure from the media thinking all women should be a size 0, anything else is "fat". Remember when they said Tyra Banks was fat, and she was all like "people need to accept themselves for who they are and not what size they are", and she was right but was she happy, she must not have been cause she has lost a lot of weight since then. Anytime a star gains weight they are all over the media it and it becomes the Water cooler story of the week. I think as we lose weight it is just important to get our minds healthy too, start loving ourselves for who we are and not what size clothes we wear or what the scale says. For me I think that will be harder than losing the weight its self. You should be so proud of yourself, you look amazing, and I bet you feel great too, and you have over come so much, just keep telling yourself how wonderful you are(and you are you know) and maybe the skinny thinking will take over. I hope it does for all of us!!!!

Bmooney, I go in for a fill on 2/2. I haven't had any problems with getting stuck either. I hate getting stuck and love that I haven't done so for awhile!! Seems like you and are are neck to neck with our weight loss. Right now my goal is 150 but it really should be 120 because I am 5 1 and that would but my bmi at 22.7 which is right in the middle of normal. I lost a bunch of weight in 1997 on phen-fen, and got down to 150 and loved it, I kept it off for a couple of years, but of course gained it all back and then some. So I really don't want to shoot to high only to be let down, but once I get to 150 I'll set a new goal for 120. Ann is doing awesome and keeps me motivated. I think she has had the more typical weight loss with an average of 2lbs a week were I am more like 5 lbs a month, but I'll take it. I don't think I have ever reached my sweet spot which has a lot to do with that. My doctor told me to expect a year. He also said the closer you are to goal the slower your weight loss becomes. I am hoping that is not true. But I am happy with the way I look and feel right now I'm trying to be thankful for 50 lbs gone, hopefully forever!!! Congrats on your 9 lbs..I think I have lost 10 since 10/31 and don't forget we had the holidays in there too. I also have to be honest and admit I have not excercized since fall, It's hard for me to get motivated in the winter, not to mention I HATE EXCERCISE!!!!!

Hey bmooney, I have not had my fill yet but I do have an appointment on February 2nd. I have not gotten stuck once myself once I discovered the teeny tiny bite thingy either, and am so happy, I hate getting stuck!!! It looks like we are pretty much neck to neck in the weight loss department. My goal is 150 but 120lbs puts my bmi at 22.7 (right in the middle of the normal range) When I was 30 I got down to 150 and felt wonderful and so if I get there I will be happy, I haven't weight 120 since I was in highschool, and I weighted 128. So my goal is 150, I think once I reach that I may change it to 120. My doctor told me it would probably take me a year to get down to that, if I am one of the luckier ones. The closer we get to our goal weight the longer it will take to lose those last lbs. sometimes I get really down about how slow it is taking me, but I just keep telling myself slow and steady wins the race. This is my new life now and just take it one day at a time, one meal at a time, and enjoy the fact that I am 50 lbs down and feeling better than I have in the last 10 years. We have to stay positive and know we will succeed!

Wow Jennifer my heart goes out to you. I have only been losing 3 to 4 lbs a month instead of the 2 to 3 a week that I heard so much about since before surgery. I know how frustrated I am with that, I can only imagine yours. With that said I will give you some of the things I eat that I enjoy. As mentioned above I also love Wendy's chili, I also stop at taco bell for their refried Beans if I can't wind a Wendy's. I love Greek yogurt, (you can find that at super walmart in the yogurt section) but hate regular yogart so that is a life saver for me. It is higher in Protein and in my opionion much better. Sometimes I mix it with a little cream cheese and make a spread to eat with low fat crackers. I eat oarmeal alot, and recently discovered adding chocolate protein power and Peanut Butter (reminds me a little of no bake cookies) whenever I want pudding I add some Protein powder to it to add to the nutrition value. I do eat pizza when my family wants it, but I just eat the toppings off of it and make sure it has lots of veggies. One of my favorites that I couldn't eat for awhile is some baked chicken topped with mozzerella olives, mushrooms and pizza sauce. I cut the chicken in half length wise to make it thinner and just top it like I would a pizza. Today I am going to make some piwheels with neufchatel cheese (cream cheese) greek yogart and crab a little garlic and green onion spread on a low fat tortilla shells. I love crab ragoon so this is how I get my fix. You can just make the dip and put it on low fat crackers. I like wheat thins. Also there is a site called Linda's Low Carb Menus & recipes - Home has tons of receipe ideas. Hope this helps a little!

8-10 oz at a time definitely qualifies as a chug. I would love to be able to eat rice. I got stuck back in July when I didn't even have 1/2 the restriction I have now. Now I'm afraid to eat it. Of course I may have taken to big of a bite thinking I didn't really have to chew. A cup and a 1/2 is pretty good are you still able to lose weight eating that amount of food.

John and Linda you both look awesome!!! Linda I love your hair, it looks good long and I like it straight too. I haven't lost enough weight from my last picture to make a difference, (plus I don't like having my picture taken) I will post again if I ever lose another 10lbs. I've only lost 11 lbs since last picture, only 5.5 lbs a month but i'll take it!! I do like seeing every ones pictures...very inspirational!!!

Wow Dani 22lbs in 6 weeks that is awesome!!! It is good to hear you can still chug Water with restriction and still lose weight, I don't know if I could get my daily water in if I had to sip it all day long instead of chugging. You really should try to eat even smaller bites than you have been. I wasn't able to eat eggs either then I just realized my bites were to big. i thought since eggs were soft I didn't have to chew them as much...my mistake, even though they are soft, if I don't chew them enough then they don't want to go through. I am afraid to eat lettuce, I had some shredded lettuce on a taco and it got stuck. ouch! So I am afraid to try again, but I do miss eating salads. Can anyone else still eat salads with their restriction?

Well this isn't exactly a food find but something I threw together and thought it was really yummy and wanted to share. If you like no bake Cookies you will love this. (they are my favorite) 1 package of instant low sugar oatmeal. I used maple and brown sugar. Fix according to package directions. Then I added 1 Tablespoon of Peanut Butter - I like crunchy. Then I added 1 scoop of chocolate Protein powder - I used unjury. This will not set up like the no bake cookies but boy is it good right out of the bowl. This is so yummy I feel like I'm cheating!!!

John 114 Donny 117 Danielle 80 Rebecca 45 Gaye 42 Ann 91 Tammy 52 Total 541

Thanks John and Shelystar for the great info..you too Ann. I like the dime size analogy that is a good size to keep in mind while eating... It does sound like I need a fill because.... I can chug Water usually 8oz at a time I never get full or have a soft stop (burp, hiccup, sigh ect.) On rare occasions I have been known to have a snack between meals but for the most part I don't graze and I try (usually with good success) not to eat more than a cup at each meal but this is just by pure will power alone not because I can't eat anymore. Ann I can't believe you get stuck on Hummus that is just crazy. BTW I'm always around I just don't always post, just enough to let everyone know I'm still here.

Ann that is so awesome!!! You are doing such a fabulous job and are an inspiration to us all!

Before surgery 229, and as of today I am down 43 lbs. 186 Ist week after surgery... down 13 lbs First Fill 7/2 2.5 cc's no restriction 2 lbs down Second Fill 8/3 2.5 cc's no restriction 2 lbs down Third Fill 8/31 1.5 cc's finally fill like I have restriction I have not had a fill since, I went in for a check up and decided not to get a fill because things would get stuck every now and then and I didn't want to temp fate and get to tight. I lost my first 10 lbs that month with my 3rd fill. I was going to go in for a fill last week but was sick so i rescheduled my appointment, they wanted to schedule it for 2 days before thanksgiving but I decided that I would wait another week and do it after Thanksgiving. I still can't over eat so I think I will be fine. I am down 22 lbs since my last fill at the end of August. I feel like that is when my real journey began, and keep reminding myself that. Some people had restriction right after surgery and then others like me it took awhile to get there so try to remember that when comparing your self to others...that is what keeps me from getting to down at my 6 month bandiversary. Here are some other stats Bust went from 46.5 to 43" Waist 42.75 to 39" Hips 51.25 to 47 Thighs 49.5 to 46 Bicep 14 to 13.24 I was in a size 20/22 and am now wearing a size 16 This is the smallest I have been in 12 years and I feel great.