New Joy

I have lost 85 lbs total and I do not feel like I need a tummy tuck. It is not pretty but it is not that bad. My WL has been very slow so perhaps I have been toning as I went along??

Does anyone still check in here? I know I fell of the face of the earth. By the doctors scales I have lost 70lbs in 2 years. It has gone ALOT slower than I anticipated and I don't know if I will ever get to my goal of 150. However, I am much happier than ever before so if this is as good as it gets I will take it. I had an aggressive fill yesterday ( .50cc) so I am staying on the liquid diet for a few days and hoping to kickstart some weight loss back in.

We must be soul sisters sweetie....your mom sounds like my mom. I'm in my late 30's and still cringe just at the sound of her voice knowing the weight loss speech is going to come at my like a full speed train. My mother can sabatoge every single good thing I ever do with just a look. You are doing great...and you need to make a decision. Either love your band or get rid of it Personally- I say love it because the habits are going to still be there and it is at least helping a little. If you can make yourself "want" it "for you" you can make it work. I want to tell you something else--- I was banded in December 2009 too. I did great for 9 months and then the demons came rushing in. I needed a small unfill because I had reflux and ever since then I just can't get back on the plan. I can't get myself motivated, I eat junk, I don't exercise. I haven't weighed in, logged my food, or gone to the doc for fear of gettting nagged at. I haven't even been on the boards. I came here tonight searching for motivation and I got it in your thread. YOU ARE INSPIRING me to get back on the right track....

I have a 10cc band and I was at 7.75cc for several months. Weight loss was slow but steady...1- 1.5 lbs a week with a 2-3 week stall every few week. I had an adjustment on September 20. She added .30cc to bring me to 8.05. I was fine perfectly fine....great restriction....great everything. I got a cold, lost my voice for a couple days and had a weird cough. I had a metallic taste in my mouth and my DH was concerned that I had silent GERD. I went to the doc on Oct 11. I had lost 7 pounds in 3 weeks. She took out .20cc to be on the safe side leaving me with 7.85cc in my band. The cough is gone...but now I am STARVING and I have gained 2 pounds. It doesn't make sense to me-- I have more in my band then I did for the last 3 months. Can a small unfill make you feel like you you don't have a band at all? I mean I am STARVING....worse than any bandster hell I may have gone through. I still have a numbness on my tongue that comes and goes but I am not coughing, spitting up, and I can eat drink just fine. Is this something to worry about? Should I go back and get some put back in my band? Any tricks or advice you can offer?? Thanks!

I'm still here. At a slow yet steady rate....averaging still 5lbs a month. It's been 5 weeks since i had a fill- I have to decide next week if I want a small one or if I should stay where I am at. How long does restriction last once you get to the sweet spot?? I don't want to push it since I know I have restriction but seem okay eating anything after 10am.

thanks. I have it under control now. Figured out I can only do coffee or a shake before about 11am. After that I seem to be fine to eat and I haven't slime or PB in a few weeks!

I was banding 6 months ago and although I never went through "bandster hell" because I had 4cc from the get go but I have never had real restriction until this last fill. I am at 7.75cc in a 10cc and boy oh boy can I feel it. It isn't what I expected...I think I expected a nice little sign that hey you are full. Instead, I eat 5-7 bites and bamo I get a tummy ache. Am I pushing it too far or is that my personal stop point?? How do you get your mind to stop looking at the food on your plate thinking I want to finish this! (even if it was only a 1/2 cup portion to begin with) Right now, all I seem to want are Protein shakes. I don't think I am too tight because I *can* eat and I am *not* PB or getting stuck. I know after 6 months I should have this down pat but I feel like I am back to the very beginning. Any thoughts or advice?:thumbup:

Care Credit is just a credit card. I would check out the interest rates and go with the lowest. Good Luck!

I can't explain why but I can tell you that for me--it takes a full week for a fill to kick in. And I am starving for the first 3 days after I get one.

I used to belong to a mommy group, a money group, and a diet group. It became an issue because I was spending more time online than with my hubby. Even though I was multitasking-- I wasn't giving him the full attention I should. So, we have a rule. No computer/ tv while our son is awake and then we make a conscious effort to spend quality time together- once we have gotten all of our talking out---he can watch tv and I can do whatever on the computer. We started this new rule about 10 months ago and it has cut down on a ton of arguments etc.

I have been banded for six months. It took 6 fills before I reached restriction ( I *just* got here) What I did in the meantime was to measure all my food in 1/2 cup containers. I would try to go the full 4 hours without eating but if I was starving I would eat a little out of the next meal. At the end of the day, I was still eating close to what I was supposed to ( even though I wasn't following the 3 meals a day/ no snacking rule) Good Luck.....make sure you are taking measurements and weighing in only one a week. I will think I am stalled out but when I look at a month at a time verses a day at a time I see a 5lb drop each month. Also--seeing the measurements really makes a difference. And monthly photos really keep me motivated!

I'm here. I had my 6th fill two weeks ago. I have 7.75cc in a 10cc band. I feel the restriction now. It is not what I expected so I am trying to figure out where to go from here. I see my NUT tomorrow to get more food guidance. I work out 2x a day 5 days a week---walking right now. I am planning to add some strength training it to it.

I have a 4 year old son who knows I had "surgery". He doesn't know what it is but he knows that mommy had to have her tummy fixed on the inside. He was very attentive to the scars since he had to be careful not to jump on me and he still asks to see them sometimes when I am getting dressed. It doesn't seem to be a big deal to him at all. Good Luck!

I think you look awesome!! I personally would wait on the photo shoot until I was a year out . Just to get closer to goal and to make sure I want my progress photo all over the place. Good Luck!!

not trying to scare you but give you a reality check: It may take a LONG TIME to get to restriction. I was banded 6 months ago, I have had 6 fills, I am at 7.75cc and I am *just* now starting to feel *some* restriction. <sigh> This is what I have had to do to keep from jumping over the edge into carb heaven. I plan what I am going to eat for the day. I portion out all my food into 1/2 cup containers. I try to go the full 4 hours in between meals ( starving) and if I must eat before hand I eat a few bites of my next meal. If I am going to snack, it is on protein-- like a peice of cheese or scoop of hummus. In the end, I am getting the right amount of food for the day but I am eating 5-6x a day verses the preferred 3 meals. It's hard....the head hunger is the worst. But I gotta keep ME under control because I didn't spend all this money to stay the way I was. If I get a really bad craving---I go exercise. Even if it's 10pm at night. Good Luck!

I didn't realize we were using two different threads to post. Does anyone care if we move to a new titled thread since we are 6 months down now???

So...I didn't realize we had two threads going. Anyone care if we start a new thread since we are all six months out as of now. That way we are all in the same thread together???? I saw the doc yesterday. I lost 5 lbs this month so that makes 6lbs in 2 months. That's lower than the average 5 lbs a month I was getting in before. He knows that the weight I lost is sheer will power--not the band. I am working out 2 times a day ( 3o min each) I get in at least 12k steps a day and I am eating right. I am still hungry. He gave me another .5cc fill so I am at 7.75cc. That scares me because I know it's higher than most people's and although I shouldn't compare...I am. Insurance rolls over tonight so my fills aren't covered again until I meet a high deductible....so I am really glad he gave me one ...I was going to cry if he didn't. I am going back to the NUT to have her calculate the calories and food I should be eating based on my high impact life style. Who would have thought they gal who couldn't climb a flight of stairs would come this far in only 6 months.

ANYONE STILL OUT THERE??????:bored::sad:

I am getting so discouraged. I can't break this stall. I have been between 216 and 218 for TEN WEEKS. WTF?? WTF??? WTF?? I am exercising daily---10,000 steps even if I have to march before bed. I am eating about 1100 calories a day with my carbs around 100 and Protein around 100. I just don't have a clue what to do anymore...... I told my hubby I am tempted to do a liquid diet for a week but is that really the answer?? I am at 7.25cc and I am not hungry all the time but my body doesn't make me stop eating...I have to be mindful of every bite. I even am beginning to wonder if I should cut out dairy. I just want to cry.

I am getting so discouraged. I can't break this stall. I have been between 216 and 218 for TEN WEEKS. WTF?? WTF??? WTF?? I am exercising daily---10,000 steps even if I have to march before bed. I am eating about 1100 calories a day with my carbs around 100 and protein around 100. I just don't have a clue what to do anymore...... I told my hubby I am tempted to do a liquid diet for a week but is that really the answer?? I am at 7.25cc and I am not hungry all the time but my body doesn't make me stop eating...I have to be mindful of every bite. I even am beginning to wonder if I should cut out dairy. I just want to cry.

I'm so nervous to go to the dr today. I normally lose 5 lbs a month but this month has been a stand still. I did that 2 day protein fast and got to 217 but the scales showed 219 again this morning. UGH!! My dr appt isn't until 415 so I know I will have put on weight...I am expecting *maybe* a 2 lb loss. I know that I have to remember that this month is different--- I had my surgery and was unable to walk for 2 weeks but still I feel like I failed this month. It doesn't help that we went out for yummy pizza last night and I ate an entire meat stuffed slice ( toppings only) I t was supposed to be my lunch today but I decided to bring a can of soup instead. I am hoping for a fill today......I scheduled my appt with the tech who I have the most history with....she has been good about letting me pick my path. I decided I want the fill before I go on vacation next week...no sense tempting fate. The only good news I have today to report is I have walked 10k steps 3 times in the last 5 days. Woot!!! My pedometer is in my pocket from the time I get up to the time I go to bed. I am making sure I park far away from places, going for lunch walks, and I am walking in place while I watch Tv at night. Last night I marched as I set up my weekly vitamins......but I made it. I am trying to tell myself that 10 miles in 2 days will make anyone retain water........

If you think you will need a seatbelt extender at all. You can ask for one at the gate...if they don't have one to give you you can ask the flight attendant as you get on the plane.....they will be discreet about it. I have asked for one that last two times I traveled because being comfortable was better than being embarrassed. But if you never needed it before ...you will probably be fine now.

Dottie--- you are doing so well!! jealous!! any tips you want to pass on? Ara-- My sweet tooth was out of control so I did a 2 day Protein fast last weekend. I did Protein Shakes only on Saturday and mushies for a day ( basically a fill diet without the fill) It helped kick my cravings again. I went shopping for a bathing suit and was able to buy a 16W top. That was a shock. Ohh...and I *finally* walked 10,000 steps on friday. I am feeling a bit under the weather.......nauseous and headache. I have some zofran left from my Novasure surgery...I am thinking of taking it. I got stuck on saturday but it went down on it's own...do you think perhaps I need to do a liquid diet for a few days??

I was banded the SAME DAY as you. I am not at my sweet spot yet and I feel hungry quite a bit of the time. I do not get the full feeling EVER....I have to weigh and measure my food or I will over eat. I don't think I will ever feel full....but I look forward to the day that I don't feel hungry. I have eaten around my band for several spurts. I find I have to exercise DAILY and document everything or I fall into old habits without even knowing. The scale should not be the only measurement of success. I am a slow loser so i take measurements and photos every month. I also document the things I couldn't do before---- hiking, climb a set of stairs, swim, etc. Make a list of all the non-scale victories you have reached in the last 5 months...you might realize it's not a failure afterall. Good Luck!

I have 6.75cc in a 10cc band. I do not think I am at my sweet spot yet...but I must be getting close. *I can eat anything I want---no problems with bread or chicken. * I do not PB or throw up and I only get stuck if I am eating too fast and not chewing. * For the most part I forget I have the band...and just stop myself from eating too much by weighing/ measuring my food. * I did a 2 day Protein fast to break snacking habits. * I lose between 4-5 lbs a MONTH but this month has been slower. Maybe only 3 lbs. I am on the fence about getting a fill before vacation. I am supposed 4-6 weeks between visits. I am scheduled for my next fill on Thursday May 27 and we start vacation the next week. That would be the 4 week mark. On one hand I don't want to get the fill before we go because I don't want to chance that I will start PB and having food issues. On the other hand, I have to stop myself from eating--- and what if I don't have the self control to do that on vacation. I don't want to gain weight ya know?? So.....should I get a small fill before I go and try to get to my sweet spot? Or should I just do the status quo and get the fill as soon as I get back.