ericsmom

Congratulations on the NSV!! You should be very happy and proud of yourself! Way to go!

I am a Secretary for a middle school principal...there are three assistant principals and one that oversees the entire building. I am secretary to one of the assistants. Last school year was my first year at the job. In 27 days I go back to work to begin my second year. I hope to retire from the school district someday. Before that I worked as the Clerical Coordinator at the main office of a non-profit organization that serves people with developmentally disabled people. My boss drove me to have to see a therapist, so my new job was a God-send. I volunteered in the school district for 14 years, so I knew it would be a good fit. Before that I owned my own home-based business typing for procrastinating college students (this was before everyone owned their own computer or lap top) and wrote resumes and cover letters and helped people with job search. This enabled me to stay at home with my son when he was younger.

I do feel those feelings of hunger - like clock work. When I wake up I have a protein shake...by 11 I'm having cottage cheese and peaches...at 3:30 I'm wanting a cup of pudding, at 7 or so we have dinner, and by 10:00, if I'm not sleeping yet, I need another pudding. I try very hard not to have anything until I feel the hunger. I'm hoping to move up my fill date because I feel like I can eat too much.

I've only had one time that I was adversely affected by smells since my July 5th surgery and it was when I was re-heating beef tips and gravy on top of mashed potatoes for my husband. That was about a week after my surgery. Otherwise, I've been okay - I've noticed things smell a lot stronger though.

My fill is scheduled for Aug. 17th, but I feel like I can eat too much. The doctor said to call if I thought that was the case as it wasn't written in stone that I had to wait the 6 weeks. I think I'm going to call tomorrow and make an appt. for early next week. I hope he'll let me do it.

H 337/ S 322.5/ C 304 (-33 lbs total, -4.2 this week (AGAIN!)) BMI at surgery 55.4 and currently 52.2! ~Gone for Good Club August Challenge Score Card~ Points earned for Rule 1 For each day that you drink a minimum of 64oz of Water, you earn 1 point. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect month. Week 1: 8-02__1__8-03_____8-04_____8-05_____8-06_____8-07_____8-08_____8-09_____Week's Total_____ Week 2: 8-10_____8-11_____8-12_____8-13_____8-14_____8-15_____8-16_____Week's Total_____ Week 3: 8-17_____8-18_____8-19_____8-20_____8-21_____8-22_____8-23_____Week's Total_____ Week 4: 8-24_____8-25_____8-26_____8-27_____8-28_____8-29_____8-30_____Week's Total____ Bonus earned_____Grand Total_______ Points earned for Rule 2 For each increment of 30 minutes that you exercise this week, you earn 1 point. Week 1: 8-02_1__8-03___8-04___8-05___8-06___8-07___8-08___8-09___ Week's Total___ Week 2: 8-10___8-11___8-12___8-13___8-14___8-15___8-16___ Week's Total:___ Week 3: 8-17___8-18___8-19___8-20___8-21___8-22___8-23___ Week's Total:___ Week 4: 8-24___8-25___8-26___8-27___8-28___8-29___8-30___ Week's Total:___ Grand Total:___ Points earned for decrease in BMI For each .1 increment your BMI decreases you earn 1 point Starting BMI 52.2(at the start of the challenge) BMI Week 1____ BMI Week 2____ BMI Week 3____ BMI Week 4____ Total decrease in BMI for August___ Points earned for Weight loss For each pound that you lose during the challenge, you earn 1 point Beginning weight 8-02: 304 Weigh-in weight 8-09: Weigh-in weight 8-16: Weigh-in weight 8-23: Weigh-in weight 8-30: Total lost during challenge: Total points earned for Rule 1: Total points earned for Rule 2: Total points earned for weight loss: Total Challenge points earned:_____

I'm another one here to say "go for it"! I'm 39 and my pre-surgery weight was 337 and my surgery weight was 322.5. I've lost 31.6 pounds since June 21st when I started my liquid and 17.1 since my July 5th surgery. I would do it again in a heart beat! Finding this message board has been a blessing as well. Anything you need to know, you'll find it here. Good luck to you!

I think FitDay.com is a wonderful tool...I use it daily. Also, regarding your knees...I have bilateral degenerative osteoarthritis in both of my knees and I'm bone on bone in my right knee. I need a new one. The exercise I've found that I can do is riding a recumbant exercise bike. Yes, I'm uncomfortable for a while after I ride, but it gets me moving. I get cortisone shots in my knees, but it only lasts about a month and then I have to stick it out for another month and a half before I can get more shots and even that's too frequent. But we do what we have to so I can have some quality of life. I also take Naproxen, which is a stronger pain med for my arthritis. It's hard when you're in pain, but I have to think of the end result. You're beautiful! You can do this

I've been reading books by Geneen Roth - Overcoming Compulsive Eating, food is Love, Feeding the Hungry Heart, and a few others. It's amazing how the things she says are right on. Not only am I learning, it's giving me something else to do Good luck to you in your journey...

I went to my first orientation February 8th and had surgery July 5th...it went fast, I thought.

What a great attitude you have! Thanks for sharing!! And WTG!!

I'm the same way! I find myself thinking about food still, but the urge to go and get some isn't there. I haven't had my first fill yet, and I can tell that I can eat more that I will be able to after the fill, but I just eat and drink like I am. I've been passing the time reading books by Geneen Roth - Feeding the Hungry Heart, When Food is Love, and Overcoming Emotional Eating. That has helped me a lot - a lot of what I read I find myself saying to myself, "Yep, that's me!" It validates that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I'm so happy with the progress this band is giving me. It is a wonderful tool!

Arrrrgh me beauty, send the name Stephanie Evans to davy jones's locker! You will commandeer your ship as Evil Sal (Tisn't the prettiest nickname, tis a nickname none the less)

I have yet another carnival ride experience. Probably 10 years ago I went to ride one of those rides where the arm comes down and locks into place. The carnie slammed it down super hard so it would latch and it pinched me and I screeamed out loud and cried the entire ride. I've never ridden a ride again. I always automatically ask for a table when we go to a restaurant. I have mini panic attacks if there are only booths. In middle school I was walking down the hall and Chris Smith kept calling out "pounder, pounder, pounder" as I walked away. I wasn't even fat then. I have avoided every class reunion because of my size. I had a boyfriend in 10th grade who stalked me after we broke up. In 1999 he found me here in the town I live now (2.5 hours from where I grew up). He came here to my house to see me. We sat outside on my deck and visited. I was overweight, but not as big as I am now. He has never called or tried to see me again. I know it was because he saw how big I had gotten. My nephew asked me if I was going to have another baby, and my DS was only 1 year old. When I said no, he asked why my tummy was so big then. I will say that I am thankful I haven't had as bad experiences as some of you. I would just die...

I watched about 5 minutes of this before I was banded and had to stop, but after I was banded I watched the entire thing. It's very informative.

Great one - off to share it with friends :rofl:

NSV=non-scale victory...something you can do now that you couldn't do before... Congrats on the NSV, Cloe!! You should be very proud of yourself. WTG!!

What a great lesson you gave us! I, too, have been trying to tell the difference between the two. I've been reading alot about it. Congrats on the 98lbs! WTG!

Ericsmom - H 337/ S 322.5/ C 308.2 (-28.8 lbs total, -4.2 this week) YEAH!!!!

My surgery was about an hour and then I was in recovery for about 1.5 hrs. I knew before I ever checked in that I would be staying the night. My doctor said they are doing that with everyone to keep an eye on them. I was thankful I stayed that night. I was home by 10am the next morning. I was x-rayed before I went home, but didn't have to drink anything.

Congrats on your NSV!! What a wonderful feeling, I'm sure!

I am a right side sleeper and my port is on the left, so it was no problem. About 1 1/2 weeks after surgery I started rolling over onto my left side in the middle of the night and it has been just fine Good luck to you!

Good luck to you! It's good to hear you're feeling good. You'll learn to love your ice chips!!!

I'm sure you'll do just fine! Best of luck to you! Band land is a wonderful place to be!!

I had one injection of heparin in my right thigh prior to going to pre-op. That's it.