BethL

WOW! Just saw your pictures. I can't believe how good you look and 25 lbs that's amazing! Things are progressing with me. I have an appointment tomorrow with a bunch of people (not sure exactly who) and then I hope next week with the nutritionist. I'll let you know how that appointment goes tomorrow. I just can't get over your results amazing! I'm so happy for you.

You look amazing! I love the picture of you doing the handstand on the beach. On days when I'm not lovin the band I always know that I can read your blog and laugh. We are both so close to going under 200...and secretly I'm competing against you. You always average more weight loss than me. I'm lucky if I get a lb a week. And I am determined not to let you beat me to 199. I'm sitting at 205. I got the wii for christmas and I'm starting it tonight in addition to my regular cardio in an effort to kick it up. Good luck to you!

Thanks! I struggled yesterday with the liquid only diet. I had to finally eat something last night (only 5 bites of tuna) I called the doctor's office and told them. I was so sick from not eating that I started vomiting last night so I figured 5 bites of something was better than vomiting all night. Today I'm doing better. I've stuck completely to the liquid only diet. So hopefully that will be ok.

I remember those does in the pregnancy. The first trimester is the worse...all the flood of hormones and it takes a while for your body to adjust. I didn't show much with my first but with #2 I did immediately.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. Have you gone back to work or are you taking some time off? I have a great job but I just started it 3 weeks ago so I'm a little nervous about how much time I will need off. The great thing for me is I work from home on a laptop so technically I could take the laptop upstairs (my office is downstairs) and use it while I lay in bed. So I'm hoping I could have the surgery on a Thursday and take Thurs and Friday off and return to work on Monday (from bed if necessary). After both of my c-sections when I got home (2 days after surgery) I returned to life as normal....moved a little slower but did everything I normally did.

I have really good restriction and don't think right now I would want to be any tighter. Of course, give it another week and I'll change that story. I I have completely stuck to the low carbs and been charting my food intake. Less than 20 carbs per day this week. Jog/Walk 2 miles on M, W and F and walk 2 miles on Tues and Thurs. I've been doing this routine for 3 weeks now. So I figured this morning I would get on the scale and see how this hard work is paying off. I was up 2.5 lbs. I just sat on the floor and cried. Since having my surgery I've not really done the low carb thing just watched what I ate. I'm hoping that it's muscle but it is making today tough. I'm doing a 5k next saturday so I'm going to stay focused.

I hope your pregnancy gets better. I struggled so much with my second one but I can say once she arrived it was such a blessing. She's so special and she was worth all the depressing thought and morning sickness! Have a good halloween!

Hi Colleen,

Wow your first fill. I just had my 2nd one last week. Both were only small fills. The first one I didn't have any trouble eating and could still eat really anything just smaller amounts but this one is tighter. I've been trying to kick it into gear for my sons 3rd birthday party. I'm down 21lbs since surgery 8/18. I started really exercising about 3 weeks ago and have spend the last week under 20 carbs a day...Then today i weight myself and gained 2.5 lbs. I seem to do better when I don't watch my carbs. I'm hoping to also loose 20 by xmas. Let's keep in touch on the progress.

Have a great Halloween!

Beth

Thanks they came through and I was able to open and print them with no problem. I think I'll be ok with my kids...their both going through a mommy phase right now because i just went back to work after being off for 6 months. So they are so used to me being the full time caregiver that it's hard when I'm trying to work. Every time I come out of my office they are running over and wanting me to pick them up. I figured I would do what I did after my second c-section. I would walk my son to the couch and sit down and then help him get on the couch in mommy's lap. That seemed to work well.

I just looked at your pics today. I'm always commenting about your avatar. I always read your answers because you give such great advice. I was banded in August and have lost 30 lbs. but have been stuck for about the last month at the same weight. It's killing me I'm at 203 and every time I step on the scale I'm ready to throw it out the window. I've stepped up the work outs trying to get under 200 and it's just not happening. I read some of your post on running. I have bad knees (several knee surguries on both) and I'm trying to go slowly. I feel like an idiot on the treadmill at the gym jogging so slowly. I'm sure everyone is like get up and run but I keep telling myself what i read on one of your post...start slow and move up slowly and you avoided injury. Any other advice? I've been jogging/walking 2 miles M, W, F and doing 20 min on the eliptical bike and the machines on T, Th, S.

Hi Colleen,

I wanted to check and see how you were doing? Did you make your 20 lbs by Christmas? I've set a new goal for myself...20 lbs by March.

It's ON!!! I need something to get me off my butt. This cold weather in florida has been throwing me off my game. This morning I told my husband I want to loose 25 lbs by my birthday...St. Patty's day. So I've signed up for a 5k a month until then to keep me focused. But my first mini goal is into wonderland....SEE YOU THERE!

Hey Sweetie,

Not sure if you sign on much anymore but I'm always thinking of you and wondering how your pregnancy is going. I'm sending you good thoughts!!!

Love Love Love your blog! You've done a great job with your weightloss and you give me such great inspiration!

Thanks for reaching out to me. I didn't like the Novus Center at all...I felt it was very infomercial like. Did you just call your insurance company to see who was covered? How do you like Cwyes and Baptista? I wanted to stay at Memorial if possible because I live close but didn't want to pay $1500. Did you just call Cwyes and Baptista and make an appointment or did you have to go to an orientation? Sorry to bombard you with questions

Thanks so much. I'm going tomorrow night for the orientation and am very anxious to get started on the whole process. When did you have your procedure and how much have you lost so far? I've seen such a wide variety of weight loss stories.

I'm doing good. I've gone almost a whole week without weighing myself. Although this hasn't been the greatest week. It was my husband's birthday so it was me taking him to dinner and then dinner with friends so i ate things that weren't carb friendly. So I'm sure I didn't loose anything. How are you? Hope everything is going good for you? How's the morning sickness? I hope it's getting better for you.

Wow I'm really sorry about the car accident. I hope you are recovering. I'm with you on not having the baby in the car. It was the first thing I thought of when I heard. Things with the job have gotten much better they have extended my contract yesterday so I'm hoping to get back to basics. I had my first fill and I am still able to eat almost anything just much smaller portions. It's been a week today and I promised the doc I wouldn't weigh myself until I go back so I have no idea how I'm doing. How are you doing? Did your weight loss stall with the accident?

today went great and I'm going tonight to the seminar with my girlfriend (she's considering having it done). My insurance is pretty easy. It only requires 3 months supervised diet with a doctor and 1 meeting with a dietician. I've finished my 3 month supervised diet and I'm waiting for them to schedule me with the dietician. Lucky for me over the past three months my doctor has done every blood test known to man so they think they have everything we need. We're talking about surgery dates at the end of June.

You and I are in almost the exact same situation. I was banded on Aug 18th weight 226 on the day of surgery and have lost 10 lbs since. I've just started mushies today and am worried that I'll gain some of the 10 back. My doctor is happy with the progress but when I read other people's stories and their weight loss i get discouraged.

Hi...what have you been doing in order to loose the weight. You and I were banded 2 days apart but I've only lost 17 lbs.

just wanted to check on you and see how your surgery went. I'm so excited to hear about it.

Hey,

I'm not doing too bad. I go next Wednesday for my 2nd appointment with Dr. B. and then submit the insurance paperwork...hopefully it won't take long to get approved. The kiddo's are doing great. How are you doing? and how is your little girl? How's the weight loss after your 1st fill?

i hope your appointment went well with Dr. Baptista. He's my surgeon and I have my 2nd appointment with him on the 22nd. Then they will submit my paperwork and I can get a surgery date. Good luck and message me anytime.

Hey your appointment is coming up in a couple of days how are you doing getting those last 2 lbs gone? I have my 2nd surgeon appointment on July 22nd and they will submit my paperwork after that visit. Aetna is usually pretty fast with the approval so we are hoping for an August surgery date. I'll keep you posted.

Wow thanks so much for the information...It sounds like we are alike. I hated Novus I asked them could I pay less than $1500 and just have them file my insurance...he laughed at me. I told my husband it was like trying to buy a car from a used car salesman. My daughter recently had surgery so I know how to battle with insurance if I have to so I felt this money was a waste. My only concern was I liked the realize band and didn't know if I would find a doctor who did it. What band did you choose? I'd love to keep in touch to hear about your experience getting banded. I'm not terribly nervous about the process because I look at my two kids and know I'm doing it for them.