SpideyMom

Aww, thanks, Less. :w00t: It is hard to tell if restriction is back when you're on liquids. I'm in the same boat. Had fill #4 on Tuesday, and am just now eating lentil soup. It's sorta starting to fill me up, but not as much as I'd like it to. We'll see what happens at dinner tonight. That will be the true test for me. Good luck to you! :blushing:

That is phenomenal, Jerry! Keep up the great work! :w00t:

Glad to hear it, OnTheWay. My doc and PA both say the measurement of the saline is inexact because it is to know when you have pulled it all up in the syringe and then how much you have actually added once it all goes back down again. So, it is easy for them to think they got a certain mg in, but be off by a little bit. Sounds like she just miscalculated. Don't worry! :w00t: Hope it doesn't happen again. :blushing:

Thanks, Sarahbellz! I have been taking Biotin for months and months, with no relief in sight for my hair, skin, or nails, but I was only taking 300 mg. a day! I was wondering on here just the other day how much I should be taking. I just ran out, so now I know how much I need to get. Thanks so much for the 411. At my last fill, my doc also order some blood tests, just to make sure I'm not anemic or deficient in Vit. D. I have had trouble with both of those in the past. I'm stopping at the store tonight! Thanks again! :w00t:

Less of me, you are doing fantastic with your WL! I would hang in there with the sideways port for awhile, but I would also start saving money because it sounds like eventually you will need to get it re-sutured. Find out from your surgeon how much that will cost -- I'm sure it's nowhere near the cost of the LB surgery. Keep your chin up. It will all work out somehow. Have faith! :w00t:

Sweetbean, that's great! What a wonderful feeling that is not to have the typical aches and pains. I can totally relate! :w00t:

Oh my goodness, BK! You are a walking mystery! I hope they can get rid of it quickly and easily! Glad there's no problem with the band. Good luck and keep us posted! :blushing:

Whoa -- that is cool!!!! I love it! :thumbup: And it happens to be my son's birthday, which makes it even cooler. He's five, though, not nine, which would be really cool and almost freaky! lol

Those are awesome NSVs, Sarahbellz! I still can't cross my legs comfortably. It's great to see you back on here. Please keep checking in with us! :thumbup: I have another NSV -- a funny one -- I put on a pair of capris on the other day, and they were a bit baggy. I was in my bedroom debating whether to wear them or not, and I tugged on them to see how loose they were. Well, they came off even though they were zippered and buttoned! LOL

Thanks, Jennifer! It does feel good, but I'm a little nervous about One-derland still because I'm only one pound into it (199) LOL! Don't worry, it's just around the corner for you! You have done so well -- 60 lbs lost!! WOW! I'm so glad you have found the sweet spot. I really want to find that. I can't even imagine how 1/2 a cup of food would keep me full for 4 - 5 hours. I know it can be done, though! Keep up the great work, Jennifer! And keep checking in! :thumbup:

Ok, so my body heard me complaining about it -- lol -- and this morning I was back down in ONE-derland! Hooray! :crying: Just goes to show you how one day you're up, the next day you're down. LOL I hope I just stay down from now on.

Work in Progress, good luck with the protein shakes! I think it is really making a difference for me. :sad: Oliviasmommy, way to go --4 lbs!! :mad: Mamadot, I've been taking Biotin also, but I don't know how much to take. I just ran out and have been wondering how many mgs. to buy. I told my surgeon about my hair loss and how you can now start to see my scalp (egads), so he wrote out an order for a bunch of blood tests just to be sure I'm not anemic or low in Vitamin D, both of which I've had problems with in the past, and both of which can also cause hair loss along with rapid weight loss. I think I may also try that Niacin shampoo. Thanks for the tip! :blush2:

Thanks for explaining it, John. You have a better way of telling things than I do. And I'm so glad to hear that your still cruisin' in the green zone! :hurray: I just got back from my 4th fill. The nurse wasn't sure if the surgeon would give me a fill because I lost 12 lbs. in 5 weeks, but like John said, I was aggressive with them. I stood up for myself and insisted that I was very hungry after 2 hours and that I was constantly eating 1-1/2 to 2 cups of food at a sitting! It's not fun to be hungry! The surgeon listened to me. He started out with .5, but that was a tiny bit uncomfortable for me, so we backed down to .25, just like you, John. I'm fine with that. :smile: I'm now at 7.25 in a 10 cc band. Oh, and this weekend I hit ONE-derland! :sad: For one day. :mad: Got on the scale and I'm up 2 lbs. just like that *snap*! Grrr... how frustrating! The next day, I'm up another pound! :blush2: What the??? I know it's all body fluctuations, but come on, bod, don't tease me like that when I finally see ONE-derland!!! That's just a cruel joke. :hurray:

Congrats, Rachael! You are more than halfway there now!!!

Hey, Sarah, sorry to hear about your "camel mode" episode. I've never heard it described that way, but it makes sense. I'm glad you have a good doctor who recognized immediately what you need to do. I started adding a protein shake every morning about two weeks ago, and it jump-started my weight loss. I'm sure it will with you, also. (My hair is also falling out like crazy!) Good luck to you, Sarah! Keep your chin up!

Carrie, I'm beginning to see that I really do have a good doc, for which I am grateful. I used to think he was so conservative, only giving 0.5 cc each time, but now I realize that he is at least giving me something when other docs won't give anything. What a shame. It is no fun to be so hungry! I thought that was a lot of what the band was about -- helping to quell the hunger! :smile2: On the Way, please don't be discouraged. It is a journey. I think that in the beginning we all tend to have more restriction because it was closer to surgery, when our stomachs were very swollen. So now your stomach isn't as swollen, and also, as you continue to lose weight, you are losing fat around your stomach and your stomach is shrinking, so you need more restriction. Think of it as a belt around your waist. As you lose weight, your waist gets smaller, and you are going to have to keep moving to a new notch on your belt. Eventually (so I'm told!) you will get to the point where you're in the green zone or find that "sweet spot" and you won't need as many fills. John337 is a great one to explain this better. He has had a lot of fills (and a couple unfills) and he knows more about it than I do. John, are you out there?? :thumbup:

Lisa, that's too bad. I've heard a lot of people say that their doctors won't give them a fill if they lose too much. I've lost about 12 lbs. every month, but the fact that I can eat so much and still be so hungry is what my doctor focuses on. Next time you go in, you should really emphasize how miserable it is to be so hungry in between meals. Good luck!! :smile2:

WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!! You all are amazing!!!! :w00t: You have all done so well this week! Even you, Rebecca, because you are hanging in there! :thumbup: And, John, you're the first to get to 100!! We have to have a party for you!!! :party:I hope you don't abandon us once you reach your goal. You started this group and are our inspiration, and we would like to see you continue to check in and give us tips and support. :smile2: I lost 2 lbs. this week, for a total of 62 lost so far. I'm really happy! I made a change two weeks ago that I believe has really helped me. I started drinking an Unjury protein shake every morning for breakfast. I never am able to eat much in the mornings and therefore, I sometimes skipped breakfast and didn't get enough protein in for the day. Once I started doing the protein shake every morning, I felt like I had more energy, and I've lost 6 lbs. in the two weeks since I've been doing it. Can't be certain that it is related, but it makes me feel better, so I'm going to keep it up. Just thought I'd pass that along in case anyone else is skipping breakfast because of being too tight in the morning.

You're right, Lana, this is what we should be focusing on -- our health and well being. Thanks for the reminder. I know I need it from time to time when I get too caught up in the numbers game! :smile2:

Bevanfranks and carrie, I am in the same boat as the two of you! I can eat about 1 1/2 cups of food and I get hungry in about 2 hours! I just rescheduled my 4th fill to bump it up to next week (Tues, 9/8). I have had to do that with every fill, and my doctor is fine with that. He says it is best to listen to your body's needs rather than try to wait it out for weeks when your next appointment comes. He says that's when people start slipping up on their good eating habits. He said that being in the green zone should allow me to go 4-5 hours without being hungry. I'm looking forward to that day! :biggrin:

THIS IS SOOOO GREAT!!!!!!

BK, I have been a normal size (9) before, but I had very unhealthy eating habits and did horrible things to my body to try to stay that size. Therefore, I feel that I had a very skewed outlook of what looked appropriate and what did not. While my wasband (ex) was telling me to lose more weight, others were telling me I was fine or too thin. I am 5'7" and my weight was between 120 and 130. My goal this time is to get to 150. I'm going to evaluate once I get there, because in my mind, I would love to get back to 130. I feel I have a much better perspective this time around. I'm much healthier now -- body and mind. PS -- When I look back at pictures from when I was 118-120, and I think, OMG, I can't believe I was SO thin! When I was around 130, I think I looked better. That's what I feel nowadays looking back.

Aw, thanks, Rebecca. I missed you all, too. I didn't have time to get on the computer when I was at the beach. Congrats on all the loose clothes!!! Isn't it awesome?!

It's been a while since we've had some NSVs, so come on, let's hear some! I know you're all doing great, so there has to be something you want to want to share. Let's have an NSV Party! I'll start: I am now considered "ALL" or "MOST" -- lol. I can finally fit into my "One Size Fits All" or "One Size Fits Most" nightshirts and beach cover-ups!!! :w00t: :mad: And!!! I finally did something I've been wanting to do all my life... buy an LBD!!! A little black dress!! :thumbup: I bought it yesterday to wear at my niece's upcoming wedding... and it was a size 14!!!!!! I haven't worn that size since....... well, I actually can't remember, it's been so long!! Probably more than 15 years ago. Now, granted, I'm still going to need some Spanx to smooth the rolls -- LOL -- but HEY! I'm so thrilled!!! C'mon, let's hear from you!!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah! :thumbup: I'm 4 pounds from Onederland, and I cannot wait!!! Glad you are finally feeling some restriction. Keep up the great work! :mad: