mandie175lbs

Starting Over...

Hi Jamie, I'm just checking on you.... I hope you are doing well. Take care.

Had another fill this past Friday! I was still a little tight from the last fill! Now I'm really tight! Am I missing something with this site? I am unable to respond to any of my messages. I thought I was going to like this new site, but it's really getting on my nerves now.

Am I too tight?

No excuses.... I'll just have to work hard to do better.

Girl, I am all over the place with this new layout! I kind of like it. It reminds me of facebook and myspace. I was upset abou the removing my profile picture, but I think I will leave it that way since I was considering removing my pictures anyway. So, how was your Thanksgiving? Mine went very well. I don't usually eat during the holidays and this one wasn't any different. lol! Keep in touch!

No warning? They just up and change the entire layout? I think they are trying to be another facebook/myspace. lol!

Hey,

I'm doing fine girlfriend! lol! I decided to see a nutritionist today. I know there's one at the weight loss center but I just wanted to speak with someone outside of the lap band center. My visit with he was an hour long! I feel that at this point in this journey, it was the right thing for me to do. I now have a more defined plan. How are you doing? How are you liking this new layout?

Hey Guys,

I went to the doctor today and had 1cc added to my band. I had to seriously beg and throw a tantrum to get it, but my doctor finally gave in and gave me a fill. She insisted that I was doing fine and didn't need a fill. She said that I have lost more weight than they ever expect I would in such a short period of time. I'm going to just calm down and let the cards fall where they may. I think I'm maybe a little too obsessed with this band! lol!

How's thing going with you these days? Your pictures are soooo beautiful! You are truly an inspiration! You really carry your weight well. Most of the time when people lose weight, the weight just come off and they are left without curves and end up looking disproportionate. Your weight is really coming off gracefully. You do not look like you are any where near 300 lbs. Are you exercising? What do you eat on a regular? Keep in touch! I love your pictures. I will post some soon.

I went to the doctor today and I couldn't believe that my doctor thought she wasn't going to give me a fill today! lol! I told her that until I reach my goal weight, I am expecting a fill EVERY TIME I come! lol! She laughed and kept trying to convenience me that I didn't need it. She was strongly suggesting that I not get a fill, but I was not hearing it today! i told her that if she didn't give me a fill that I was seriously considering going to another doctor for it! I was bluffing, but I made a believer out of her and she gave me 1cc of fluid.... We laughed about it afterwords! I sipped the water that she gave me to test if the band was going to work for me with 5cc of fluid and I could drank water and talk at the same time and she said that that's what she was looking for. So, I'm satisfied.... I guess! lol. My next appointment is December 18. I don't think I'm going to be able to reach my goal by my birthday, but I know it's not going to happen. I'm finally at peace with that.

I say that to say this, I am so glad that you are out there and that you are willing to be a cyber friend to me and others. It's hard having this secret and it's even harder when it's on your mind all the time and you have to pretend that nothing has changed in your life. This surgery was HUGE for me and I sure it is for many of us. I am truly appreciative of your kind words and on-line friendship. I bet your girlfriends just love you to pieces! lol!

I saw on one of the forums where a group of women got together in one state to meet, hang out, and to just bond with each other.... I wish that some of us could get together and do something like that in the near future.

Hey Shonette,

For some reason I was thinking about you today when I went to my doctor's appointment! lol! It's sad but you and a few others on this website are the only friends that I have that I can talk to about this lapband. I haven't told any of my friends and don't plan to.... I don't feel that they will understand and to be honest, it's really not something that I want to discuss with them. I just know that if they knew, it would be ALL that we would discuss when we got together and I'd rather be on equal playing grounds when it comes to them. I dare not have something going on and they not be able to relate to it! lol!

Hello Guys,

Just wanted to share some information with you. Every time I get a fill, I have to pay a $60 co-pay. Well, I've noticed that when I make a payment to the weight loss center, they would transfer that payment over to my account at the hospital that I had my surgery at. So, I called my insurance company and asked them about it and I was told that I had met all of my deductibles, co-insurance fees etc. and I really shouldn't have to pay the $60 when I visit the specialist for post-op because everything else is covered at 100%. Then she said that every doctor office is different because sometimes they will act as a hospital base facility and double up as a doctor's office. I called the weight loss center and asked why was I being charged when my insurance company is paying 100% and I also told her that I had met all of my deductibles and then some.

She made a phone call to my insurance company and confirmed what I told her, so now , I don't have to pay anything out of pocket for my fills. I told her that I had already set up a payment plan at the hospital and that I didn't need them to collect money from me to pay on that bill.... All in a days work! lol! You guys may want to check with your insurance company, you may be spending unnecessary money.

I honestly thought losing weight would be easier than this with the band. I exercised my ass off ALL week, PLUS! went on a strict ackins diet and still didn't lose like I thought I was. Before I had the surgery, I did atkins and lost 14lbs in two weeks! I thought that if I went on atkins with the band, I would lose double the amount.... that didn't happen and now, I don't know what to do. Do I stay on atkins for another week? Or do I just go back to counting calories? I could have done all this dieting without the band! Oh well, I hope that when I do lose ALL this weight, the band will at least keep it off otherwise, this whole experience would be a waste of time and MONEY! Good Luck Guys! PLEASE EXCUSE ANY MISPELLED WORDS, I DON"T EVEN FEEL LIKE SPELL CHECKING:(

I see you haven't posted anymore pictures! darn it! lol! I know you hated not getting that fill. I hope I get a fill everytime I go.... that is if I'm not at my goal weight. I have another appointment in 6 weeks, I hope to be a little over 1/2 way there then (around 23lbs down). I still have my dream of being at my goal weight by Christmas! Do you have a goal weight before the holidays? Take Care and keep us posted

Hey, I'm back on the grind girl! I have started my exercise routine. I recently bought a Gazelle(?) so I am really enjoying that piece of equipment. I work out and hour everyday.

I realized that even when she added more saline in the band, I was still able to pretty much eat more than I would like to eat. I mean, I didn't gain, but I didn't loose any either. This would be fine if I was at my goal weight,, but I'm not and I need to be losing weight right now. Once I get to my idea weight, then I won't mind staying at the same weight.

It's really been a mind game.... or should I say a willpower issue with me because, before when I was afraid to overeat, I wouldn't dare do it! As soon as I realized that I could overeat and not fall dead, I started to overeat! lol! So, I've made up my mind to work with this band. It's only here to help/aid me by holding off the hungry feeling for a period of time. It can't choose the foods that I eat,it can't stop me from eating just to be eating and it certainly can't make me exercise. Once I realized ALL of this, I saw this whole surgery in a different light. I think I got a little spoiled when I lost weight in the beginning and didn't have to lift a finger! I truly have a new respect for my lap band and we are now working together as a team. When I stop losing weight, I felt that the band was just sitting there waiting for me to meet it 1/2 way! lol!

I eat what I'm suppose to eat, when I'm suppose to eat it and I wait until there are clear signs that I am hungry before I put food into my mouth. When my 4hrs are up and I'm not hungry, I usually drink 3oz of protein just to have something in my system in order to keep my metabolism in check and also it's an alternative way to get my protein in. In the mornings, I always have two plain eggs. I am no where near as hungry as I thought I was! I have at the most, three small meals a day. In between time I rely on the protein drinks to fill in the gaps when I'm not hungry (but know that it's time for me to eat something). I have a small piece of meat and 1/2 cup of vegetables at every meal. It's all I need to fulfill the hunger. I've started preparing my meals for the week and freezing them to make it more convenient to stay on track. I have decided to follow the low carb high protein diet. Once I get where I need to be, I will simply watch my calories.

I had to come up with a system that worked for me because I had gotten overwhelmed/off track and was really picking up some bad habits. I figure, if I am going to eat when I'm not hungry, then the band really can't help me. I have to help myself by realizing that I am the star in this weight loss journey and the lap band is my co-star!

I think I have it under control now girlfriend! I am so excited to have a plan! Once I lose the remainder 43lbs, I have a pair of diamond earrings, and necklace that matches my engagement ring that I will reward myself with. My girl at the Jareds (jewelry store) called me the other day to see where I was with my diet (I told her a partial lie.... that I was just on a diet! lol). She is waiting on me to purchase the two pieces of jewelry and I can't wait to get it, but not until I deserve it. I smell success girl! I wish there was something on here where I can join weight loss challenges.... it seems like when most people get their surgeries, they pretty much stop posting or maybe I'm not looking in the right places.

Anyway, take care and keep me posted. It feels WONDERFUL to be back in control! I'm going to work really hard to stay in the driver seat this time! lol!

I'm on my way to your page now to see if you've posted new pictures. I love looking at the updated photos! Take Care!

I went to the Dr. today and got my first fill. I'm back o soft foods for the next two days. I hadn't lost any more weight, but I haven't gained any either. She only put 1cc in it. She said that my band was flushed with saline so I already had about 3cc in the band (I didn't know this!) She emptied the band and measured it to be abut 3cc and she added an additional 1cc. So as I understand it, I have 4cc in my band. I wished she had gone ahead and filled the thing up, but I guess she knows what she's doing. Oh well, I tired from a cold and I guess I will take it down for the day. Take care guys!