minpinmom

Your day will come soon. I am sorry it was so hard on you - but really in a week - this will be a memory. Congratulations on the weight loss that is AWESOME

I do Protein shakes for breakfast - although the last week I have been just drinking V8 juice for breakfast, trying to cut out some calories anyway I can. I eat solids - mostly, I am just still hungry afterwards. Now I am PMSing, so this blows royally. Now I want chocolate, I mean, I want Chocolate NOW!

Very moving post. I am so glad you have seen the real you. Life should be very different from now on.

I have had 4 fills and still have no restriction. Up until a month ago, I was doing really well. Eating all the right things (in the right amounts). I started working out. I go EVERY day - and for 3 weeks, nothing, I didn't lose 1 lb. I got discouraged and started eating more - and now I just can't seem to stop. I have an appointment for my 5th fill on the 25th of this month. I can feel some restriction in the morning - but by lunch, it is if I have no band at all. I am starting to get worried - because I know me and after a few months on a diet - I lose the willpower, as I am doing now. I just hope I can hang in there for a couple more weeks and not gain any between now and then. I know it takes a while to get to your sweet spot, but I never really thought I would feel like such a failure for not being able to control what I eat. I am very disappointed in myself. Everyday I tell myself, tomorrow, I am going to eat healthy, stay within my calories and follow all the band rules. But when lunch hits, I eat my small amount of food on the plate and sit and wait and hope for any feeling of fullness, or just for the hunger to go away. It doesn't I end up eating more, then feeling bad and eating even worse later because of that. Tomorrow is another day. I will eat healthier, stay within my calories and follow all the band rules. But tonight . . . Where's the Thin Mints! Oh and I still go to the gym EVERY day. I never thought I would be able to do that.

I have had 4 fills and still have no restriction. Up until a month ago, I was doing really well. Eating all the right things (in the right amounts). I started working out. I go EVERY day - and for 3 weeks, nothing, I didn't lose 1 lb. I got discouraged and started eating more - and now I just can't seem to stop. I have an appointment for my 5th fill on the 25th of this month. I can feel some restriction in the morning - but by lunch, it is if I have no band at all. I am starting to get worried - because I know me and after a few months on a diet - I lose the willpower, as I am doing now. I just hope I can hang in there for a couple more weeks and not gain any between now and then. I know it takes a while to get to your sweet spot, but I never really thought I would feel like such a failure for not being able to control what I eat. I am very disappointed in myself. Everyday I tell myself, tomorrow, I am going to eat healthy, stay within my calories and follow all the band rules. But when lunch hits, I eat my small amount of food on the plate and sit and wait and hope for any feeling of fullness, or just for the hunger to go away. It doesn't I end up eating more, then feeling bad and eating even worse later because of that. Tomorrow is another day. I will eat healthier, stay within my calories and follow all the band rules. But tonight . . . Where's the Thin Mints! Oh and I still go to the gym EVERY day. I never thought I would be able to do that.

I understand, it took me 3 years before I was approved. Hang in there.

You have really jumped through some hoops - good Luck with your new Dr., hopefully that will be your last hoop.

I have had 4 fills, total of 2.6 in a 4CC band, I have no restriction after 11:00AM. I am scheduled for my 5th fill on the 25th and hope for that wonderful feeling. I am so jealous of anyone that has restriction. I can't wait to join you!

We are glad to have you back!

The gas is the worst - I walked constantly - it was the only thing that brought relief.

I am so glad it went well! Congratulations.

Your Dr.s are not the norm, most Dr.s say not to drink for an hour to an hour and half after you eat. Drinking before varies - My Dr. says liquids should go right through - so wait just a few minutes after drinking to eat. But he is super strict on waiting at least an hour after you finish eating before you drink. Same thought process as above - if you drink - you push food through the band and won't stay full as long. I have cheated a couple of times - taking a few sips while I drink - or once I fill full - and sure enough - it allows me to eat more.

I wish you the best of luck! My thoughts and prayers are with you. Come blog about it as soon as you get home! Or in the hospital if you are like some!

They look like your skin too - so even when I have sandals on, I can leave them on. I love them, kinda pricey, but worth it.

lol, pretty close, but I think you are further gone than he is :-) I would love to play, but they (any type of video game) makes me dizzy (carsick). I don't know why. Sucks.

You crack me up, my husband started playing warcraft a few months ago and he is totally addicted. We were at a Dr.s appt for me and he was reading the manual to it and my Dr. saw him - come to find out he is addicted to, he actually said that was his "crack" as he smacked his arm for a vein! My hubby is medically retired and can't get out much at all. So it is a blessing that he can find something to do that he enjoys. Although at times I find myself a little jealous of the time he spends with WOW. Good Luck on your surgery!

I had my 4th fill yesterday, I now have 2.6 in a 4 CC band. I don't know if I have any restriction because I am on liquids, but I sure hope I do. I can't wait to join the ranks of the restricted! My Dr. now requires a Barium swallow before each fill. A lot of people are throwing a fit and not going. There is a $50.00 fee for the Barium Swallow and I think that is pretty fair. I know I would rather be on the safe side and make sure there are no problems before he makes me tighter. I really liked seeing the xray too. This fill didn't hurt at all - and I am scared to death of needles. Something about the stomach - makes it not hurt. I am so hungry. I know that Slim Fast has enough nutrients to keep you healthy, but man do I want something with some substance. I hope that isn't a sign that I don't have restriction. I know a lot of people say they aren't hungry the day of a fill. I should know in a few days if I have restriction - and trust me, you guys will be the first to know!

I had my 4th fill yesterday, I now have 2.6 in a 4 CC band. I don't know if I have any restriction because I am on liquids, but I sure hope I do. I can't wait to join the ranks of the restricted! My Dr. now requires a Barium swallow before each fill. A lot of people are throwing a fit and not going. There is a $50.00 fee for the Barium Swallow and I think that is pretty fair. I know I would rather be on the safe side and make sure there are no problems before he makes me tighter. I really liked seeing the xray too. This fill didn't hurt at all - and I am scared to death of needles. Something about the stomach - makes it not hurt. I am so hungry. I know that Slim Fast has enough nutrients to keep you healthy, but man do I want something with some substance. I hope that isn't a sign that I don't have restriction. I know a lot of people say they aren't hungry the day of a fill. I should know in a few days if I have restriction - and trust me, you guys will be the first to know!

Here is what I think are the side effects of the surgery: Your weight loss is slower than other weight loss surgeries You get food "stuck" if you don't follow the rules You can't eat certain foods (this hasn't effected me yet, but I am due for a fill) You have to deal mentally with only eating a small amount. Even though you feel full, your mind has a hard time grasping - the small amount you have eaten You have to keep your fill at a good level - which may mean a lot of maintenance. Stuck means when you take a bite that is too big, or that you haven't chewed very well and it doesn't want to pass into your stomach. It feels just like it sounds and it is usually accompanied by your mouth filling up with saliva (trying to help it go down) I haven't had many of these problems - but I know they are there and I think about them - it helps keep me in check.

HEY, just think - if it misread your current weight, then maybe it also misread your original weight - maybe you have lost a lot more, the numbers were just wrong?

Oklahoma was awesome, but I am glad you are now a Texas girl! June 2 is right around the corner, it will be here before you know it!

Gina, My surgery was supposed to be outpatient as well, but Tricare requires you to stay overnight or they won't pay. So I ended up having to stay overnight. Make sure you double check! (I was one of the fist to go through the process once it was an approved procedure, so things may have changed, but it hit me as a surprise)

He all, sorry it has been so long since my latest post, I went to National's last week in Oklahoma and had so much fun! I entered Piper (the diva in my avatar) in the Best of Breed Ring. This competition is only for dogs that already have their Championship, and the Winners for the day, there were over 50 of us. WE WERE THE ONLY CHOCOLATE!!! They had to bring us into the ring in small groups to narrow down the selection because there were so many of us. We made the CUT! I was just thrilled! Piper got lots of nice comments. Unbeknownst to her dad (my hubby), he bought her a new snuggle sack for making the cut. :-) We didn't take too many pictures - they have a professional DVD of the entire competition that we buy, it will take a couple of months before I get it, but I will make sure to post a clip of it.

He all, sorry it has been so long since my latest post, I went to National's last week in Oklahoma and had so much fun! I entered Piper (the diva in my avatar) in the Best of Breed Ring. This competition is only for dogs that already have their Championship, and the Winners for the day, there were over 50 of us. WE WERE THE ONLY CHOCOLATE!!! They had to bring us into the ring in small groups to narrow down the selection because there were so many of us. We made the CUT! I was just thrilled! Piper got lots of nice comments. Unbeknownst to her dad (my hubby), he bought her a new snuggle sack for making the cut. :-) We didn't take too many pictures - they have a professional DVD of the entire competition that we buy, it will take a couple of months before I get it, but I will make sure to post a clip of it.

Sorry, this question was a few posts back, but Tricare goes off of the HIGH weight end. So, if you (like me) are 5'4", according to the Metlife Charts, I should weigh 114 - 127 for a SMALL framed female. (I am actually medium framed, but the Surgeon put small frame (thank you Dr.!) I weighed 259 lbs. So I got in on the 200% over ideal weight. 127lbs X 200% = 254lbs. I barely made it! Tricare didn't require anything but a letter of medical necessity from the surgeon. I was approved within 24 hours. Once the Dr.s office got the approval, I had surgery 6 days later.