mary on a mission

Hi Everyone! Hope to hear from you all. No matter where you are, it's good to to come back here to the place people understand and don't condemn! I FINALLY went in for a fill 10 days ago after more than a year. I had stayed away because it was always so difficult to get in to see the doc and I wasn't doing well anyway, and ..... you know the deal. Finally went in to see the PA (really like him!!) and got a .5cc fill. Can definitely tell a difference in my attitude and how much I can/want to eat. Also, I read something on one of these forums that helped me as well. Here is the link that was posted, and it helped me to kind of re-establish what I knew about the band and how it works. dr simpson I also started running (using that term very loosely) again, and have lost 5 of my regained pounds as of this morning. Yay! SO, THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: wherever you are, hit that restart button again. We have worked too hard and been through too much to let this get away from us now. Can't wait to hear from you guys! Where are ya? Mary

Wow! Again, same story. Haven't been on here because I didn't want to face my failures. I, too, lost all of my weight in the first 6-7 months. I lost 53 pounds, and have struggled with the same 3 or 4 pounds ever since. It's good to know that I'm not alone. Yes, bad choices abound in my life. I am exercising a lot, which means I feel justified in my sweet-eating. I am a caterer, and my business is about to close, which gives me the stress-eating thing, too. But I know I can do this. It may take me a lot longer than I originally thought (it already has), but I am NOT giving up. I hope none of you will either. We went through a lot to get here. So, what can we do to try and motivate ourselves and each other this week? How about 2 things: increase Protein intake and make sure to drink lots of Water? That's a start, and that will be relatively easy....what do you guys think? Hang in there, ladies. We can do this!

Wow! It's been a long time for me. I have lost a little over 50 pounds (53.5 as of today), but I have been hovering here for about 3 months. I have been living life, doing all right as far as exercise, but not being as vigilant as I should be on the food side. I just love sugar too much! In the past couple of weeks, I have started boot camp in addition to the running I took up a couple of months ago, and I think that's why I am seeing the scale move just a bit again. I knew I was going to have to blast that weight off! Anyway, I am thankful that the weight is moving a bit. I want to be successful, but to me that means living a normal life. It means eating like a normal person, sugar and all. Of course, for me, sugar will always require special attention. But I am not going to stop eating it completely or stop fighting it. I think I will always have to really work at the sugar thing. So, I won't make my goal within one year, but I will be working toward it, and I'm ok with it. I always try to remind myself that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Hope all you July bandsters are doing well. Please update so we can see how you're doing!:thumbup:

Sorry, I must admit that half of the reason I drink shakes is that they are fast and easy and I don't have to think. The other half is that I need extra Protein, they go down easily, and they taste good. That being said, I might like to try a recipe now and then, but for me the Atkins Advantage shakes are fine right from the fridge!:thumbup:

Just finished week 5...wasn't sure how in the world I was going to run for 20 minutes, but actually jumped a bit ahead and did 25! :bored: I hated running more than anything. My husband is a marathon runner, and I have often said that he must be mentally ill to do such a crazy thing...however, now I am really getting into it. I don't think I will ever want to run a marathon, but I feel good when I run. Not fast, mind you, but it is running! Anyway, enjoy it. Keep us posted on your progress!

Just finished week 3. Not bad at all. I am taking it slow and it feels great. You can do it. Just don't try to do too much too soon!

Love it! My local YMCA offers it, and it's great fun. Feels like dancing, not exercising. At first I was worried that I would look stupid, but you get the hang of it pretty quickly, and there are always lots of people of different shapes and sizes there. My favorite aerobics class!:confused:

Dang, that's a lot of calories...I don't have one in front of me, but I use the Atkins shakes, which have 15 g of Protein, and I think less than 200 calories. Very good, too. I don't drink too many shakes any more, but I do get on them when I have a fill and do 2 days of liquids or when I feel like I have gotten off track and want to get back to eating the band-friendly way (which is where I am today!).

He is. :smile2:

Well, hello all you fellow north carolinians...I am from Greensboro, and my surgeon was Dr. Newman. I was banded in July and have lost about 45 pounds. My only complaint is that everything takes so long...once I was all paid up, etc., it took forever to get the surgery date, and then they have been painfully slow with fills. Dr. Newman didn't do the first fill till 12 weeks out, and then 10 weeks for the second. I made an appt for the 3rd fill, but they have called and cancelled that appt and said they will have to reschedule it in Feb, but no book yet. So it will probably be at least 10 weeks for the 3rd fill. All in all, though, very happy with my band and the practice. Let me know if you have questions.... Best of luck to each of you. Let's keep in touch! Mary:cool2:

HI everyone! I was banded 7/7/09, and have lost 44 pounds. Hoped to be at 50 by 6 months, but not sure I can get there. Will keep trying. I have only had 2 fills, but I can definitely feel the difference with this last one. I think I am now at 5.5 cc in a 10cc band. Actually, I am probably too tight, but I am gonna go with it at this point. I have difficulty with 1st bite syndrome, and have lots of trouble with chicken & beef; salads are a nightmare (sometimes), and I can usually eat about 5 or 6 bites before I have to give up. The good news is, even though I only "rent" my food for a while most of the time, I still don't feel too hungry between meals. I do try to do some healthy snacking, which helps (yogurt, Protein drinks, cut up veggies), but really, I am not all that interested in food. I did eat a few too many sweets during the Christmas holiday and actually gained a pound, but it's gone now. My official weigh in is on Monday, so I will be posting it then. In reflecting about the year gone by, one of the things that stands out to me is that I would never have believed on January 1 this year that food would not be the most important thing in my life. I still love to eat good stuff, but it's quickly losing its sparkle. Last year it was all about where to eat, what to eat, etc. Now it's not. That is requiring some adjustment, however, and it's not always good. I sometimes get angry because I feel like I have lost my favorite source of entertainment, but I am working on replacing it with other activities. I know I am rambling, but I think I'm in a good place. I just hope it stays that way! Happy New Year everyone! :biggrin:

I agree that I would love to see people talking more, but I think everyone is very busy this time of year. My eating habits are definitely changing. Even though I still eat lots of foods I probably shouldn't, I don't eat too much of anything. This morning, I was going shopping with a friend, and we got a Breakfast burrito at chik-fil-a. I ate less than half, and the rest went in the trash. At lunch, opted for the chicken tenders (not usually a fried food maniac, it just hit that way today), and ate less than half before I was full. If I can just keep my hands out of the sweets, I should be ok. A friend told me to buy some sugar free chocolate covered almonds and toffee, so I did, but I haven't tried them yet. Maybe tomorrow. The good news is that the holidays don't last forever, and it will be easier when there aren't so many foods lying around. However, I do KNOW that it's up to me what I put in my mouth. No one else controls that but me. Anyway, I know I am making progress. It's just a matter of keeping on keeping on. Hope everyone else sees positive changes. Would love to hear any helpful hints! Mary

So sorry, Bobbie. Just remember to try and remain positive. This is nothing but a bump in the road, right? You will have it repaired and then be back on your way. You can do this. Please keep us posted.

Wow! You guys are amazing. I can't think about 100 yet, but I am 8 pounds from 50!!! Yes! My plan is to be at goal by my one year bandiversary as well. That being said, I need to step it up. I had my second fill last week, so hopefully that will help. Happy Monday!:thumbup:

Me, too, Bobbie! We just need to hang in there, get back to basics, and know this too shall pass. We will get there!

I was emotionally "strange" for several weeks after my banding. Some have told me it was because of the anesthesia. I don't know, but I didn't feel like myself for about 7 weeks. It gets better. Just keep telling yourself all the good stuff...you are good...you are worthy...you will be fine. Take care of yourself!:sad:

I just returned from yoga class. I love it! I haven't been in a while, but will try to get back to once or twice a week. It's really great the day after a hard strength workout because you really stretch those muscles out. I have to modify some poses, and I can't yet swing my legs over my head ( I think this is plow???), but I will get there. Enjoy!:thumbdown:

Tracy, I feel your pain. I don't feel like I have a lot of restriction as far as the amount I can eat, although I am starting to think that may be as much mental as physical. I do, however, suffer from the dreaded "first bite(s) syndrome." It seems that whenever I eat chicken or bread (and I shouldn't be eating bread) or about 1/2 of what I eat, it gets stuck for a few minutes. I am PBing way more than I should. I think I still have to learn to eat more slowly, etc. But once I clear it, I am fine and can eat and eat and eat. It's very strange, but I have seen from many other posts that this is probably temporary. I have only had one fill. I learned at that fill that there was 3cc in the band at surgery, and I got 1.5 cc on Sept 16. I don't have another appointment till Nov 25. Yes, the day before Thanksgiving. Great..... My weight loss has slowed dramatically. Part of that I attribute to letting my guard down on sweets & breads (the breads always get stuck, but not the sweets.....hmmmm.). I am working through that. I am trying to step up my exercise and just get back to basics. It's hard. I keep catching myself saying things I used to say that were destructive to my determination. I have to keep reminding myself that I am not that person any more. I am a fit person working toward a goal of a healthier lifestyle. Hang in there Tracy. We will do this. In a year, we will be looking back and being thankful for these hard times that taught us something about our bands and ourselves, allowing us to move forward to that next step! Congrats to all you big losers. Even though it's only 36 pounds for me, I am thrilled. I will get this weight off!!!!:wink2:

Rebecca: I am also a patient at CCS; Dr. Newman is my doc. I had to wait 10 weeks for the first fill (sept 16), and my 2nd is scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving . Hang in there. I am still working hard, even though the weight loss has slowed, I am in this for the long haul!

I'm still here....just really busy lately. I haven't had much time to post. I finally had my first fill (& I have to wait 8 weeks for another!), and it seems to help some. I am losing weight, but ever so slowly. I am so close to getting to ONEderland. That will be a great milestone for me. Haven't seen that in a while! Anyway, before I had my fill, I could eat anything. I mean ANYTHING! Now, I notice I am having a harder time with bread, and I am starting to have to slow down and chew more. Had a couple of stuck episodes. I had a couple before, but they were over quickly. Had one on Saturday that went on for about an hour. No matter what I did, it just stayed there. I sure don't want to do that again, but I have to remind myself to eat slowly and chew and chew and chew! I hope everyone is doing well. I've been kind of following all you 7/7 bandster sisters, and haven't heard much bad, mostly good stuff. I hope that means we are on our way to HEALTHY!!!! Happy Monday. I am going to post my weight in the weigh in thread. I've not been very consistent about that, but I am going to do better!:biggrin:

Congrats on ONEderland! Tracy, looks like we are again on the same path. I actually hit 201 last week, but only record on Mondays as well. Back up to 203.5 this morning (since this is my MOnday). Let's try to get there soon! I have my first fill (finally) next week. YAYYYYY!

Hey Bobbie! Glad to hear you are doing well. I think you are maybe a bit above average, because I want to believe I'm average...I had lost 32 pounds, but let down my guard the last few days and I am at 28.5. That seems to be my pattern. I will lose like 2-3 pounds in a week, gain 1 or 2, then lose again. I know I shouldn't weigh every day, but I can't help it. I only count the Monday weight as my official, though. Today is my Monday. I still have not had my first fill. My doc makes his patients wait 8-10 weeks. I will go in next week. I have been doing this mostly on willpower. I think the food does stay in there longer than it used to, so I don't get hungry as fast, but the full part isn't working. If I let myself, I could eat just like I did before. Anyway, I look forward to hearing how the other 7/7 bandsters are doing!

Hey Tracy! I so feel your pain! I was also banded on 7/7, and I was almost exactly your weight. I was 233 when I started the pre-op. I think (not exactly sure) I was 223 at surgery, and I am at 205.5 now. My doctor won't do a fill until 9/18, so I REALLY have no restriction. The scales stopped completely for about 2 weeks, and they are now inching down, ever so slowly. I am losing a pound, maybe 2 per week. I know that's where we are supposed to be, but I am also doing it on sheer will-power. I am trying to stay focused on the positive, because people are actually noticing, which makes it real for me. It makes me want to continue. I am also focusing on the NSVs, like wearing clothes I couldn't wear before, and just feeling lighter. Hang in there. It's a crazy time, and I hate it also, but we will get there. Sweet spot, here we come! Looks like we are on the same path, anyway. Our weights are really close. Just keep walking and keep thinking positive thoughts!!!!

People are reallly strange. This sounds just like the whole debate about stay-at-home moms vs working moms or breast vs bottle feeding. It's been years since I had young children (my youngest is 14), but I remember the venom that people spouted when they made their opinions known. My suggestion is you counter with something like "Well, it's a good thing this isn't a matter that will affect the world's survival - just ours, and our decision is already made!" And than smile and wish that person the best. They are looking for controversy and strife, and your best bet is to give them smiles and change the subject! Have a great day!:drool:

One more thing....you should probably not drink your water with your oatmeal, nor eat and drink a protein shake at the same time. Remember, liquids don't stop at the band, and they help the food to slip thru the band as well. You should not drink for a half hour before or after you eat. It's been an adjustment for me, but I am getting there.