L8BloomR

Denise, you and I were banded on the same day----I've only lost 30 pounds and you have lost 82?? What ARE you doing, Girl? Are you actually eating at all??? :nervous No wonder I worry about my lack of progress.... sigh..... Karen

Thanks Angela! Yes, I will go next week for the fill. They tried to put me off for 2 weeks, but I almost started crying! I reminded them that I have a hemotoma at the port site and the doctor had wanted to see me in 6-8 weeks, and now it is 9 weeks... and that 2 more would be totally unacceptable. So they are squeezing me in next Monday. Amazing what a little assertiveness will do! :mad: :) Karen

Thanks, Fellow Bandsters, for all your fill stories!! I have been so down and discouraged, and you have helped bring my spirits up. I will try harder to be more patient during this process..... and I appreciate the info and experiences that you share. This is a great group---thanks!!!:clap2: Karen

Thanks, Vikki.... You are right and I appreciate your kind words. I wonder if I am putting too much importance into the band and not enough into eating correctly no matter how hungry I am. It sounds like you are doing all the right things, and I admire that! Sorry you had such an awful experince with tuna.... sounds awful. WOW, that would definitely make me rethink getting another fill! The good news is that you are learning what works and what doesn't... even though it is the HARD way!

So when you throw up, does it feel like you are sick and need to throw up, or does it just come out without all the "icky" feeling? Sorry for the gross question, just curious...since I have not felt any restriction yet. I am sooooo bummed out!! I was supposed to get my 2nd fill today, was all ready both physically and psychologically, just going out the door for the long drive to the doctor's, when the office called and cancelled me due to an emergency!! :think I am sooooo upset!! I will NEVER lose weight!! 4 months since surgery and only 30 pounds lost, gained back 5, and no restriction. Will it ever happen for me like it is for you all?? Sorry I am whining... I guess I just needed to vent...... Karen

I know a few agnostic conservatives....Does that come close enough??

Hi Heather, I am in the Ventura area.... not too far from the Valley. I'm here if you want to meet up or talk about your upcoming surgery.... Good luck! Karen

I guess I didn't express myself clearly here... What I was trying to say was that a person should not have to be pure and perfect to speak out for high standards. We ALL fail and we have ALL done things that we shouldn't. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to reach higher standards morally or ethically, or to encourage others to strive for the same thing, especially if we are in a position to teach or lead. I was addressing the Newt criticism that since he had committed adultery, he shouldn't be talking about moral or ethical issues.

I'm not sure what you are saying here.... Maybe I did not express myself clearly, because I surely DO think that someone should be speaking out to protect children!

I saw an interview with Bill Maher on TV Wednesday night, and he did say that he can't help but wish that Cheney had died..... and felt that saying it wasn't wrong. I think he has the right to say what he thinks, but I also think that if it is OK for him to be politically incorrect, then no one should be upset when someone from the other side is.

AND Congressman Gerry Studds, who had sexual relations with underage pages, and Bill Mahr, who thinks it is too bad that Cheney didn't get assassinated.... And Howard Dean who made terrible jokes about Charleton Heston's Alzheimer's disease.... Hey, we have 'em on both sides, don't forget!! :heh:

Well, let's not forget Charles Rust-Tierney, former head of the ACLU in Virginia, who blocked legislation for putting filters on library computers to keep out child pornography....then was recently arrested in a world-wide sting for having purchased some of the most vile child porno available. When the police searched his computer, he had videos of very young girls being tied up and violently raped while they screamed and cried. Terrible stuff! But you didn't read about it in hardly any newspapers. (Could it be because he is a liberal? I dunno...) And what about Mayor Gavin Newsom, from San Francisco.... his affair with his best friend's wife. And Marrion berry.... his addiction problems have gone on for years. I understand what you are getting at---that the people who appear to be above reproach do fall sometimes. But I don't believe that no one should speak about moral standards unless they are pure as snow or will never fall, or that no one should try to be better than they are or to encourage others to also reach higher. And don't forget that most of these people never say that they are "better"...they are put on that pedestal by their admirers. At least Newt came "clean" on his own and I admire anyone who can do that. I don't see that it benefitted him at all....

Very interesting observation, BetsyJane. I think I do something similiar, but never noticed it until now! I think that when I finally do get restriction with my band, I will hopefully do like most of you do..... portion control and some dieting. I just think that if I rely on diet alone, I will fall back into the trap of dieting for awhile, and then "going off" it and bingeing on stuff I shouldn't. I am SO hoping I will learn to eat and live like a "normal" person...everything in moderation. Angela, thanks for the good "fill" wishes and the advice. I will be needing all I can get! :faint: Karen

Wish I lived closer to you.... my dogs would love a place like yours! Good tips on how you know when you need a fill. I go for my 2nd fill next Monday and I am so anxious to know how this Band is supposed to work. So far, I haven't seen any benefit beyond trying to eat healthier on my own (because I know I should) since I haven't felt any restriction. I can't wait to feel like a "real" Bandster..... Karen

BetsyJane.... I LOVE this camp!! If I dye my 3 German Shepherds a nice, golden color, could they come?? What a neat idea---my dream life! I am happy for you; sounds like you have a happy, active, outdoorsy life. How wonderful! Karen

You have just described exactly how I have been feeling...and what I have been thinking!!! It is so hard to watch the scale not move, or worse yet, move UPward! I will get my second fill in 2 1/2 weeks, but worry that my body will just not cooperate no matter what.... :cry I guess we just need to remember that we are still better off than we were before November, and hold onto that..... Karen

Sounds just simply AWFUL, Angela!! I am so glad you were able to get it all out!! I just can't believe you have so much restriction without a fill --- amazing!! Thanks for the warning....although I don't think I would ever want to eat any stringy seaweed.... unless it was covered in chocolate..... :speechles !!! Glad you're ok now....! Karen

I have one sticker on my car that is similar: "My German Shepherd is smarter than your honor student." I get lots of smiles and comments on it. (And each one of my three Shepherds thinks I am talking about them!) Karen

What a wonderful feeling that must be!! I am so happy for you... YEAH and WAY TO GO!!

No, I really didn't. I think I felt full a little sooner while eating, but that didn't last longer than a few days. I never felt any restriction or like there were some foods that could get stuck. Did you?

Marnie and Tweety, Thanks for sharing your experiences with the 10cc band. I only have 2 ccs so far and I am hungry all the time and have zero restriction. I will get another 2cc or so next month so I should have more to report then. It is interesting how different we all are in the amount of ccs we need to get restriction. My doctor told me it would probably take getting to 6 - 8ccs to get the maximum benefit. I am 3 1/2 hours away from my doctor --- so Tweety, I understand the feeling of wanting to make sure everything is as it should be before you go or leave the doctor's office!! The road on this journey is sure obstacle-filled!! :rolleyes Karen

WHAT WONDERFUL NEWS, BETSYJANE!! :clap2: I am really happy for you.... It sure makes all this worthwhile, doesn't it?? WTG!! Karen

What will we be eating...... Goat?? :hungry: (sorry, Tom, I couldn't resist!) Y'all come.... I would love it!!!

Angela, you are going to PARIS?? FRANCE???? WOW--- how did that happen?? That sounds wonderful... I'm so glad for you!! And you DESERVE it!! Tell us more! Karen

Tom, you are a riot!! And I LOVE snow.... since I live near the beach, my idea of a great vacation is to go somewhere that has snow falling.... I saw it for the first time 2 years ago... it was so incredibly beautiful!! So we are each lucky in our own way!! Congrats on doing so well with your workouts and your weightloss! :clap2: Karen