L8BloomR

Wonderfully put! I agree 100%.... Thanks for explaining that so well! Karen

http://phillymag.com/articles/science_al_gore_is_a_greenhouse_gasbag I'm not a scientist, but I do know that there are many dissenting opinions on this subject. The above link is just a reminder of the "other" side.... I hope this guy is right!

I know many people who have gone to Dr. Billy, and they all LOVE him!! I met him at a weight loss seminar and felt the same, but my insurance would not cover my surgery with him...they made me travel 3 hours away to another group of doctors. I intend to go to him for my fills after my coverage runs out at 1 year post-op. He is wonderful! I live in the Ventura area, but he has offices all over. If there is any way I can help, just let me know. Karen

:welcome2: ShaeBird!! You have joined a great group!! And ANGELA.... great new picture!!! Now THAT is more like you!!!!! :scared: Karen

Whereabouts do you live? Dr. Helmut Billy is a terrific doctor who will do fills.... he is in Ventura County, but I have heard that he goes to other areas, also. Karen

Great advice, Cassandra....and it was good to hear from you! You have been kinda quiet lately, and I was starting to get worried about you. How are you doing in BandLand and do you have a wedding date set? Karen

WOW, just found this thread and am enjoying it so much! I co-own and run a home-care agency that provides care for the elderly and home-bound. In my free time I work with rescued dogs at the local shelter, and I also tutor illiterate adults in reading. It keeps me busy while waiting for my sons to give me grandkids! Karen

You have a great attitude.... I am positive you will reach your goal! Thanks for posting! Karen

A chair that exercises you?? That's MY kind of chair!! Now, if they could just make some shoes that walk for you.... :biggrin1: OK, I will go check out sparkpeople right now!! Thanks for the "shove"! Karen

Hi, so glad I found this thread! I found out at my first fill 2 weeks ago that I also have the 10cc band. My doctor usually gives 4cc on the first fill, but since I live so far away from her and wouldn't be able to get back in case of problems, I asked for less. She gave me 2 cc, and I have NO restriction; I should have taken the larger fill. Thanks to all the posts here I now know that it will take me awhile, or even longer, to find my sweet spot and that is normal. I love this board! Thanks for being here, Karen

You got 2 MORE MEALS out of that little bit of left-overs??? You are amazing... that would have been a "snack" for me!! :cry You are doing so great!! I am sooooo jealous! Karen

I hope that makes you feel a bit better.... both you and I have had such a small amount of fill so far, and I am sure that as we get more we will feel less hungry, eat less, and lose weight the way the band was made help us do. Hang in there and have faith.... this will work, we are just getting a slower start!! Karen

My surgeon says that she usually takes the 10cc band up to 6-8cc for the final fill. Did yours give you any indication of how much fill you will have by the time you are done? Karen

Vikki, I got 2cc in my 10cc band... and it didn't make one bit of difference in how much I could eat or how hungry I was getting... so I do understand what you are feeling. I do think it is better to go slow with the fills, and to train ourselves to control our hunger through small meals, chewing and eating healthier, before we use restriction-only as our weight loss tool. I also have a desk job and it makes it hard to get in enough exercise, but climbing stairs is a great start!! I have to wait until March to get my next fill, so I know how scary it is that we are doing this without much help from our bands, but we can do this....we have already lost weight, and we will continue to with the help and support of those around us and this board. Hang in there.... in a year from now you will look back on these difficult "learning days" and see how useful they were! Good luck, Karen

Chris, thank you for such great advice on plauteaus!! I needed that reminder!! I am going to save this and try to re-read it often... so I appreciate you sharing it. Congrats on your 10-pound loss, so soon!! And especially thanks for continuing to post here with us Nov. Bandsters... we need you!! Karen

Vikki, what size band do you have? I have a 10cc band, so my first fill really didn't do anything for me. If you have a larger band, maybe you need another fill, but even if you have the 4cc band, some people keep restriction longer than others. I would give it a couple more weeks and then get another fill if you still feel the same way. Good luck! Karen

And Angela.... you are beautiful!! I so enjoyed meeting you and seeing you "in action": you give such great advice and have so much knowledge. It was wonderful to find out where that comes from... the "inner you" (as opposed to "Inner Me"... Hi, Chris!) You are terrific!! Eat that lunch----it is good for you!! :hungry: Karen

Great news, Denise!! I am happy you found a simple solution!! Sounds like you will be enjoying the Banded Life even more now!! Karen

Denise, I am so sorry you are going through this!! I will keep my fingers crossed that they can find and fix the problem ASAP. You must be so uncomfortable! Please keep us posted.... and good luck tomorrow! Karen

You are too funny, Angela!! Thanks for trying to make me feel better!! :huggie: Karen

I think most people get the 4cc band. I was surprised to find out I had the larger one. My doctor says it was a last minute decision based on the distribution of fat and body type. Even people with alot more to lose than me usually get the smaller band, so I am sure it has to do with being "apple-shaped" and thicker through the middle. So 2cc for me was not much of anything. 2 cc in a smaller band would be alot! My doc says that it would be normal to finish my fills at 6-8 cc. Anyone else have the VG band out there? Karen

Good luck with your second fill!! I hope it works for you! What size band do you have? I just had my first fill on Monday and found out I have the VG band... 10cc. So my first fill was supposed to be 4cc but because I am so far away from my surgeons', I asked for a smaller amount in case I had problems with it. I got 2ccs. Now I realize that I didn't get enough of a fill. I am HUNGRY and seem to be able to eat anything. So I am looking forward to my next fill, also!! Let us know how you do with this new fill! Karen

YEAH CHRIS!!! Good luck tomorrow... we will be waiting to hear how it went!! You are still one of US and always will be!! I'll be praying for you!! :huggie: Karen

Brooksie, please listen with your heart to the great advice Angela just gave, and the support and encouragement AnnaM and others have also given. We ARE here for each other, specifically for the very reason that very few others in our lives can truly understand what we are going through, either before the band or after it. We need to stick together and vent and share here.... and not think about what others do or say to us. So please keep sharing your journey! I believe that you will get a handle on this and one day soon you will become strong, capable and self-assured and will no longer let your family or your emotions rule your feelings and behaviors. Hold on and BELIEVE!! And also, please be gentle with yourself... you are a work in progress (as we all are), and you must start from HERE to get to THERE!! Good luck, and keep going!! Karen

"Sivan"--- great response to this post!! Good luck next week--- I'll be there in spirit!! :gluck: Karen