ready2bthin

Chris, I thought I was the only one on here that hadn't been filled!! You've done fantastic!! I can't remember, are you working out daily or what? I'm about to start that Tai Chi class tonight and talk with Derrick (the trainer) about getting started on a daily routine or at least 3x a week routine. I'm getting inspired looking at you and everyone else. I also will be going on a cruise at the end of November with 15 other ladies....YAHOO!!! So, I need to start toning. I want to minimize the extra skin syndrome as much as possible. Do you have a lot of extra skin? You are young so it may be elastic enough to just go down on it's own. How's everyone else today? I had a lazy day as Saturday night I went out dancing with some young chicks. My hubby was all for it as he's not a dancer. Well, I danced off some weight, but on Sunday I didn't get my afternoon nap and boy I was tired today. Oh, by the way, they took me to a place that is "big girl friendly". I wasn't interested in anyone cuz I love my hubby, but it was nice to know that I was not being judged harshly for being plus size. I was thinking that soon, I wouldn't be plus size...YEAH!!! As a matter-of-fact, I ordered a swimsuit online for the cruise and ordered an 18 and it fit...a bit tight but will be perfect at the end of November. It was on clearance for 17.99!! That's my NSV for the week!!

mysherrijo: HUGS to you!! Hang in there and don't let yourself get into a competition with your hubby or anyone. Men lose easier and faster than women...that's a known fact...and we cannot compare ourselves with others either, as we are all made up differently, different ages, etc. Sounds to me that your husband is having his own issues regarding weight, etc. You are doing fabulous!! I do hope that you can discuss your feelings with your hubby and encourage one another as you get healthy together! I go Saturday for my FIRST fill....I think I'm the last one on here. I was excited to get it, but have learned that Dr. Rod's assistant will be doing it. If I had known this, I would have gotten one sooner here in Dallas. I really wanted to see MY DOCTOR and planned this trip with my family for that reason. Yes, I'm whining a little. I guess I have needed this fill for probably 2-4 weeks and I'm hungry between meals, can eat too much, and in a quandry. I'm sure his assistant is competent, but I wanted to see him for my first time. We are still going to go, but I'm not as confident as I would be with Dr. Rod. I know several of you have had fills with other people besides your doc, I just had my heart, head and nerves set on one deal and am getting another. Okay, time to get over it and just plan on a nice time with my family and exchange student!!!

Brandy: Welcome to our wonderful group here!! We are glad you "found" us. We support one another and have fun, too!! Chris: Glad to hear about your success, both in and out of the classroom. I can't wait until someone thinks I'm unrecognizable!! Jane: No exercise yet this week. But, next week I am starting with an exercise class 2x a week. It's some type of Tai Chi (I have some knee problems, so I have to limit the "impact type" stuff till I get some more weight off). Kari: I think you should try and get your toe healed up and do some upper body stuff or stuff that's not weightbearing. Have to go for now!!!

Leona: WOW!! Keep it up!! You can really see it around your middle!! I also hope that your gyn problems aren't anything that causes too much a hassle for you. Please keep us updated. Kari: Seems like I just miss you every night!! So glad you are feeling better! I'm struggling with needing this fill and with the desire or should I say lack of desire to exercise. UGH!! Let us know all about your fill when you get it. I think we are the two last people on here to get fills...lol...I will be the final one...anyone else not have one yet??

Baylor Mom: We had a nice time tonight. It was a small group but they are a friendly one. I was the "newbie" of the bunch. One gal was about a month before me. Maybe you can come next month. My hubby ended up going with me, too. Thanks for the compliments everyone!! Ya'll are so sweet. Ruthie: Only a few words for you: "JUST SAY NO!!"....LOL!!! I do totally empathize with you, as I'm a big time stress eater (hard to believe I know...lol). And with this caregiver situation, I really can't even imagine how you feel. I'm a Physical Ther. Assistant, so I do have a little understanding, just haven't "walked in your shoes". I do hope and pray that the right person comes along to fill that position. Leona: Doesn't sound like you need a fill yet. If you are losing, I wouldn't mess around with it yet. You don't want to get too tight then have to have the unfill done. Sorry you're still having pain, though. Let us know what doc says.

Thanks Sherrijo and Kari!! I need those kudos!! Yesterday was a bad day and I'm struggling some with needing that fill (2 weeks to go). Kari, how are you feeling girl? Give us an update when you can!

Thought I would post my pre-op pic and then my 8 week pic (6 weeks post band...8 weeks since pre-op diet). I chose to wear the same outfit. Next time, the pants won't fit...LOL!!! Pre-Op 8-Weeks

Beth: Sorry to hear about the doctor's appointment and response. You may need to change docs and go somewhere else for your fills if that's possible with insurance, etc. Jane: I did the bike Monday as I posted, but today my pool was too cold and I didn't get on the bike. Guess I have tomorrow and Friday to do it again...lol. I want to meet the 3x a week goal for this week. I don't think I'd do well in Washington, although it looks beautiful in pics. I like SUNSHINE!!! Texas needs rain though and I think we may get some tomorrow. It's been so dry here this past year.

Beth: I sent you a pm about the dfwbandsters. Leona: So sorry to hear about what you are going through. Hang in there gal. Don't worry about the "no situps" for now. The other exercise...walking, biking, etc. will still help you overall. Give us a report after you see the doctor. Kari: Hope you are feeling better today. Miss you! Ruthie: It would be very difficult for me to even have chocolate covered peanuts in the house. Maybe DH needs to put them in his own place and get his own snack. I would probably eat the whole bag!! But, you are right...TODAY IS A NEW DAY!!!

Beth: I really like the recumbent bike. I haven't heard anything about them bothering one's back. I think most regular stationary bikes end up being clothes hangers. Many of them have small seats that hurt the behind, so people don't last much on them. At least that was my experience in the past and several others that I know. I invested in a very good recumbent one, as I've had a couple of knee surgeries and my doc recommended the bike over walking. This is probably due to me carrying so much weight on my body and that being hard on the knees (walking). The brand name on my bike is Diamondback and it's a very good one. It wasn't cheap, but if you can find one on ebay, I'd recommend it.

Well, it was too cold to get into my pool today, so I had my hubby move my stationery recumbant bike out to the living room, so I could ride and watch t.v. (helps the time go by faster). I road for 30 minutes and went over 7 miles...lol. I used a program of varying levels. Felt pretty good!! Other than swimming, this is the first exercise I've done. I am looking into a Tai Chi class and having the intstructor also do some personal training with me just to get me in a routine. I'll let you know when that starts. For now, I'll do my bike and maybe some walking when it is cool here in TX. Stephanie: You look fabulous and those pants aren't going to last much longer without falling off of you!!! BGP and Stesti: I'll let you know when I'll be coming to town. I may be passing through around Christmas, but probably wouldn't have much time for anything...except maybe meeting for a dinner or drinks or coming to your store for the makeup session!! We usually stop in St. Louis and stay in a hotel...many times at the Drury Inn in Fenton (the newer one). I try and get the best deal with a breakfast as there will be 6 of us. I'll keep you updated.

Dr. Rod in Acuna did my surgery on July 28, 2006. So far, so good!! My incisions are neat, small and only 4 of them. Of course, I asked him to make them nice for my future bikini days...lol!!! I had a great experience with Dr. Rod and the staff at the hospital. Barbara, the patient advocate gal who drove me from San Antonio gave me a bookload of information before and right after my surgery. I go for my first fill on Oct. 7 when my family and I will drive to Acuna/San Antonio for a long weekend. Would like to go on a fill trip with others in the future but this worked out for us for this first time. There are many qualified docs in Mexico. I was happy with my experience there and if you have any other questions, pm me and I'll be happy to give you more details of my experience.

MDG: This is a good place to be for encouragement!! We are all here rooting for one another as we "shrink". As far as hiccups, I get them when I've eaten too fast or I'm supposed to stop eating. This has happened a few times to me. Early on, I was very good about stopping as soon as I hiccuped. I had more restriction. Chicken has caused me to have hiccups/pb as well. But, I think I ate too big of a bite or too fast. So, chew, chew, chew, and with chicken I think it needs to be moist or add something to it to make it moist. I've heard a lot of people complain about chicken. Tomorrow is a new day and the start of a new week.

Hey, gotta agree with the bowl of sugar in the core of my brain...That's got to be the issue...yup...that's it...needed a fill...lol!! Okay...I NEED A FILL IN MY BAND!! I NEED RESTRICTION!!! But, if I keep coming here and try and fit in exercise 3x this week...I'm gonna do it...I can wait on my fill Oct. 7!!! BGP and Stesti: You are looking good girls!! Keep it up!! I also haven't heard of that makeup, but boy would I LOVE A MAKEOVER when I get some more weight off. R ya'll in St. Louis or another Missouri city? I do travel through St. Louis when I drive to Michigan, so hey, I might be able to stop in for a new "me"!! Count me in!! Now, I just need a wardrobe person, too...I could really be on that show where they toss your old clothes and have you shop for new ones. Oh yeah...they would have a heyday in my closet...not just because of the big clothes...but because of my "style" or should I say lack of....lol!!! I'll get there though. I have a few "hip" things, so I'll be fine. Beth: I live east of denton, so not far. Actually, there is a dfw bandster dinner coming up in Arlington, which would be close for you. Maybe you and hubby can make it to one of those and we could meet. There is a group on yahoo called dfw bandsters and 3 or so times a month meet in different places around metroplex. You can pm me if you want more info!!

Nannerpudding: Does the doctor use fluro with the fill? Paulax: Thanks....I've forgiven myself....it's a new day. Beth: Well, thankfully, we can move on and everyday is a new one. Glad we are getting rain and basically I've lounged all day. Went to church last night so today was a true lazy day of sleeping, watching t.v. and just relaxing.

Okay, everyone, I just shared something with Kari in a pm, but I decided to "confess" to my fellow bandsters here in case someone else has also struggled a little in recent days. I had my first "binge" since getting the lapband. I had about 1/2 bag of small peanutbutter cups early in the day (this was Friday...I think) and then had icecream as well. I can eat more now and will not get my fill until Oct. 7. Yesterday, I did okay, but I'm eating too much as the restriction is mostly gone for me. So, today, I declare that I will go back to "bandster eating". I do not want to gain back what I've lost. Many people have been complimenting me and my pants are getting baggy!!! Thanks for all of your support....Whew...feel better that I've "confessed"......lol......

Michelle: Sure...come on along to Mexico with us!! We'll go to my pre-band "last supper" place and have one of their margaritas. I will warn you though...pre-band I had one...strawberry frozen...and they are STRONG!! I'm not really a big drinker (maybe 3 or 4 margaritas a year). That margarita sure relaxed me. I even have pictures of me with the mariachi (sp) guitar players!!! I need to learn how to post pics on here. (technically challenged...I am)Wohoo....next day before surgery and before they put the IV in to get me relaxed for surgery, dr. rod said they would be right in. I asked him if it would be like a margarita and he said, "Like 4".....lol...bring it on....I don't even remember being wheeled out of my room...into the operating room...when I woke up, I checked to make sure I had the incisions and had the band put in!!!

Okay, I'm gonna put in my two cents here. I chose "within reasons my mso's weight isn't an issue for me". I will say this, beauty and sexiness come from within. I know that there are some people who just can't ever imagine being with an overweight/obese person...they cannot get past how the person looks. That's not me at all and thankfully my husband still finds me sexy and attractive even though I put on so much weight since children. He does want me healthy though, so is totally supportive of my lapband and life with the lapband. He's even lost some weight, too. I do believe that I'm as sexy and attractive as I was when I was an average size, maybe even more so as my "inner woman" has grown and developed. But, I do look forward to the outer woman and inner woman matching, although at times, I "forget" that I'm overweight if that makes sense. Pictures, plane seats, amusement park rides, knee pain, etc. help me to remember though and I'm so looking forward to those "reminders" being eliminated.

Leona: Please let us know what happens with your appointment. Thinking and praying for you!! Michelle: I can't believe your doctor charges 700 bucks for a fill!! Is that for the first one only or any that you get? I'm heading back to my doc in Mexico...100 bucks with fluro!!! There is a doctor here in Dallas that will do them for 200 with fluro and he's probably been doing them longer than anyone, as his uncle is Dr. Sanchez in Mexico. We are taking a family trip to Mexico, and I want my doc to look over things, so for at least this first one (Oct. 7) I will go to Mexico. I guess I should be thankful that there are so many options here in TX and many here will see patients who were banded in Mexico.

Hey gals, Wow!! I missed out on the fun it seems!! We got out of church late and then our exchange student was having another gal over so I made lunch/dinner for them. I made fried rice and some curry rice which are both foods they eat at home. Anyway, don't know about the next one. I do hope to attend the Dallas dinner at Jason's tomorrow night (Thursday). I belong to the DFW bandster group on yahoo and they have regularly scheduled dinners in different places every month. So, if any of you are interested, check out the dfw bandster group on yahoo and come along!!!

A BIG Welcome to you laura-loo!!! Sounds like you are having great success so far with your band!!! We are happy to have you join us July Bandsters!!! CHRIS: WOW!!! AWESOME WEIGHTLOSS!!! You've inspired me to start my "training". I've been swimming in my pool, but today will meet with a friend whose hubby does personal training and Tai Chi (hoped I spelled that correctly). I'm gonna jump on the exercise bandwagon!!

Chris: That's fantastic!!! Glad you updated us on your progress!!! My 8 week anniversary was yesterday (from pre-op) and I've lost 25 lbs. and a whopping 33.38 inches!! I've almost lost a yardstick...lol!!! I also talked to the gal who rode down with me to be banded on the same day in Mexico. She called and said, "Happy Anniversay" and I couldn't figure out who it was....DUH!! Then, I said, "Is this Val?" We had a great talk!! CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES...COME ON!!!

I started out using unjury protein powder that I ordered from the internet. The site is www.unjury.com. I mostly used the unflavored and added it to my broth, soups, etc. They also will include a recipe guide with it and I would mix it in my sugarfree jello and actually still do. You can't tell at all so when you are eating the jello with a dab of coolwhip (sugarfree or fatfree) you are also getting in the much needed protein. There may be some other unflavored brands as well. I thought the unjury mixed up well. Just be careful when adding to hot soups, etc. They can't be too hot or it will solidify.

I don't like the protein drinks much. I can barely get one down. But, I found a wonderful way to now get in some liquid protein in the morning when I'm a bit tighter. I use a vanilla protein powder...started with the unjury kind as it's low in carbs, calories and a good source of protein. I used a scoop of the vanilla flavored and put it in about 8-10 oz. skim milk. I then add Jello brand sugar free chocolate or chocolate fudge pudding to it. I just guestimate the amount, so a box of that lasts me for several shakes. I then just blend it up. I could add ice to thicken it, but I like it just the way it is. I did add 1/2 banana the other day to add in some fruit. This is delicious. My kids think it tastes like hot chocolate!! Oh, you could also use an off brand of chocolate or another flavor if you wanted, just make sure it's sugar free pudding!!! DELICIOUS!!!!

Kari, My doc recommends the same...protein shake in a.m. and then try to eat food for the rest of the day. Colleen: Kari told you about that unjury powder. Well, since I'm not one that loves to drink those protein drinks (I find them pretty gross...have tried many), I took the vanilla unjury and added a scoop to skim milk, then added in some chocolate or chocolate fudge sugar free Jello brand pudding mix....didn't measure just sprinkled it in. Now, that's what I drink every morning. It's delicious...tastes like hot chocolate. I ran out of unjury (it is low in calories, low in carbs and 20 grams protein a scoop), so my hubby bought me some "On 100% Whey Gold Standard" He bought it from the Vitamin Shoppe and it has 120 calories, only 3 carbs and 24 grams protein. The flavor is Vanilla Ice Cream, but again, I just added that sugar free pudding mix to make it a chocolate drink. I haven't tried it with anything else yet, but I may try a smoothie tomorrow with strawberries or something. I had an NSV (nonscale victory) yesterday. I tried on a pair of jeans that just 4 weeks ago, I could barely get up over my Big (but shrinking) ***. Well, I could button them up yesterday!!! I couldn't zip and didn't feel like lying down on the bed to do that (did any of you do that in high school/college?) but the fact that I had them on and buttoned is significant for me!!! By the time it gets colder here they will fit!!! I have 2 pairs to wear as I shrink!!! Yayyy!!! I know only you guys on here can relate to my happiness!!!