ready2bthin

You need to be seen by your doctor ASAP! If you can get in sooner, please do so. If your band is slipped, they can sometimes fix it by taking the liquid out of it. But, it definitely sounds like something is wrong with your band if you are being completely honest about trying liquids for 2 weeks, mushies for 2 weeks. If you just had some "irritation" and swelling that would have been relieved with liquids, etc. I recommend calling your doctor back and getting in to see him sooner if he has an opening. Your symptoms are NOT normal! Please seek help! You have had success with your band and do not want to lose it and end up gaining all that weight back. Take care of the problem now.

Olive: I must agree with you on support. My support group off of the lbt chat that I'm a part of has been wonderful! I'm encouraged and uplifted by them. So, I will pass that on to you on here, too! Having a goal is great. I think it's reasonable, too, but you may have to change things up a bit with your exercise. When I started at the gym (24 hour fitness) and started working with the personal trainer you saw that I had great results and will continue to see those. I feel great and am thoroughly enjoying working out. Now, it does help that I have a hot, young guy helping me...LOL!! No, really, he is goodlooking but mainly he is a great trainer! He has been so great with me that I actually enjoy the workout! I've been consistent since October and although on vacation for 2 weeks up in Michigan, I got in 4x of exercise which wasn't bad. We were in the car for 4 days..driving there and back and then holidays, etc. Today was my first day back and it felt so great to be back at the gym. Oh, I also wear a bodybug which measures my calories that I burn and steps I take. I download into a program from the gym and log my food too. That has helped TREMENDOUSLY!! I was always resistant to log my food. It has helped me to see where I overeat in certain categories, etc. and with the bodybug, I know how much I can have to achieve weightloss!! Anyway, hope this helps you and others to get back on the wagon!!! I'm on and I'm not getting off this time....my phrase for the new year is..."Looking and feeling fine in 09"

I'm still here too. Mainly I am on chat and have found a little group of gals who were banded about a year after us that I hang with. I am still around 70 down and over 72.25 inches. Over the summer, I had a small gain (10-15) from eating a lot of junk and ice cream. In October, I joined a gym and hired a personal trainer. Well, that has been going wonderfully. I lost 17 lbs. of body fat in 6-7 weeks and gained 10 of lean muscle. So the scale said a loss of 7. But, I lost 7% body fat and over 10 more inches from the beginning of my time with trainer. I need to remeasure all the places I measure and recalculate my inch loss. I have definitely gotten smaller, but the scale doesn't show that. I'm being patient and have not weighed as much either. I know that if I eat properly according to bandster rules, etc. and workout, I will reach my goal! I plan to do this in the next 12 months. I am continuing with at least 1x a week training and then go to the gym 4-5 more times for the program he sets me up on and for cardio days, too. We have all found that the band is not some "magical" pill but that it can help us and has. Don't lose site of that. Also, in your pregnancy, don't let that give you a license to just eat all you want and the wrong stuff. Keep it out of your house if possible. You have both lost weight with the band and done awesome. This is a journey, not just a trip. We can't lose sight of that! Take care!!!

Paula: So proud of you! You have worked this band well! I'm still struggling along but I will get there! I'm determined even if it takes me 5 years...LOL. It would be a nice Christmas present but I'm not sure that will be realistic. I am in a group off of chat that encourages one another and we are in a challenge now. So, hoping I can get some more off. I had a bit of a gain (boohoo) but it was my own fault. Had a slight unfill and took advantage of it. But, I will go forward!! Keep in touch. I look on here once in awhile! Wonder if many of the others are at goal or struggling like I have. But, I won't give up and they shouldn't either!! You have inspired me by reading your success story!!

There is a large bandster group in the metroplex in yahoo groups called dfwbandsters. They are very helpful and offer support dinners/lunches throughout the month where you can meet other bandsters. I have attended some of these and find them encouraging and helpful. Since I was banded in Mexico, I needed to find fill doctors, too. The ones that I know of in the dallas/fort worth area include: Dr. Walter Dobson: 972- 660-3188 (I think he may be in Grand Prairie, but call and find out) Dr. Jayaseelan: 972-566-2263 (Dallas, and this is who I go to for fills now) I know that Dr. Carter is in Fort Worth and may see you, too. He just isn't listed for taking patients banded in Mexico. I would go to yahoo and join up dfwbandsters though and get some support set up and they may have other doctors to add to this list. Take care!!!