finallyncontrol

oh..not that I forgot I just hit post to fast...fabulous job on the 35 lbs!!!

great job on the 4 lbs! It is an amazing feeling when you know it is working just right! Keep up the awesome job!!

Make sure you really watch this..the worse thing for you is to be too tight. A small unfill can be a huge relief! Please take care of yourself!

I have to ditto mamasugar as well! you will be in my prayers!! I have alcoholics and pill addicts in my family so I know exactly what you are going through! You have a tough road ahead of you but if you let god in he will guide you and protect you! Please take care of yourself and your children.

Not saying I have any answers or solutions but here is what I so know... stress and the band..they do not really like each other. My band tightens up when I am under a lot of stress and I seem to pain in all kinds of areas including the sternum area. Acid reflux can work either way..my doctor actually told me that most of the time your acid reflux will get worse. He has been surprised that I haven't changed the 40mg of Nexium that I was taking before the surgery and I am still taking. On an occasion I will take 2 capsules instead of 1..depending on how I feel. Another thing that has made my sternum and chest area feel painful is my potassium level was too low. My level is still low but not in the dangerously low level so I am not in so much pain now but if it gets too low..it feels like someone punched me there. That is what I know...not sure if that helps at all...

Staying positive will go a long way!! I wish you the very best!! I love EAS Myoplex Lite Protein shakes. Stay true to your heart and soul..believe in yourself..you can do this!! Take care!

I do like my creme brulee so I would never judge anyone for eating it..ever!! I did give up icing though..sorry Sandy! but still not judging! I am eating the "guts" out of things right now..IE: cherry pie..just eating the cherry part..oh well. As I tell myself at least the pie has lasted all week and not overnight like before. I actually will have to throw it out tomorrow and only 3/4s of it was eaten..but it said to only keep it 3-4 days and the days are up! Anyway, I am jealous you are spending time with your parents! My parents actually "live" in the mother in law suite that is attached to my house but they travel alot. My grandma (dad's mom) has not been doing well in VA..so they have been taking care of her. My parents were suppose to be home in 2 weeks but I just found out that it will be longer. :-( I hope you have a blast..shopping and just hanging out with them! Take care!

As long as that is your mindset you couldn't ask to be in a better position! It is so powerful and it will be so helpful for now and after you get banded!! I wish you the very best with your journey!

Now that is my type of playing hooky!! When you are doing things right good things happen! :-) As for your fill...you will find out that very small increments really do a lot! You might need more but give it a little time and see what it does for you! Keep on doing what you are doing because you are doing terrific! Take care!

well it does take two to make it work! You and the band! I don't believe you can eat everything under the sun but you can eat healthy things and eat them at a small portion and you will do very well. I eat just about everything..excluding ice cream, sugary foods (cakes, cookies and so forth)...my snacks are sf popsicles (several a day) & laughing cow cheese with apples or grapes and when I splurge it is a handful of jelly beans. I was banded 11/23/9 and have lost 118 lbs..and now have 8 lbs left to reach my goal. I believe they didn't tell you how much of an adjustment they made is because they want it mind over matter...if you play the mind game and think you have a lot, then you will feel the restriction...if you want to be the little devil..and say there is none in there..then you will not feel any restriction...all a mind game. I don't think they purposely want you to fail. Another thing that really worked for me was to stay positive..every day that I was mad or upset at the world..I didn't lose which made me more upset..so then I had to refocus and get my positive attitude back. I wish you the very best!

I am not sure when I will quit thinking I am fat. When I was in our pool with my son and he was think of a name for me I was so scared...he came up with "Pretty Shark"..you know I was thinking he was going to say..pretty whale! I don't think I could of taken it if he would of called me a whale even though he is only 3. I also only weigh 149 lbs now..yeah!! but in my mind I still see the old me and I still don't like mirrors either. Anyway, congrats on all of your NSVs and btw I celebrate losing ounces...so keep dancing away your 2 lbs.

Way to go on the 10 lbs!! That is awesome!! Once you eat foods some of the "bad" foods will get out of your head. Also, I learned over time that I gave into my cravings. I found that I only needed a bite or two of that craving to satisfy the craving otherwise I would eat the entire cupboard as well as the craving. I wish you the very best on your journey! Take care!

I am so proud of you for thoroughly going through everything and making your decision! I knew that once you "made" your decision you would be sure. It is an unique feeling. Yes, everyone has a nervous feeling and it will get even worse the night before however you have just went through the soul searching! I wish you the very best on your journey!

Another thing to do is to keep all of your receipts and turn them into the insurance company after the surgery. Have the hospital try to get your pre-admittance approved prior to the surgery (even if it is denied..save the denial). Turn in all of this after the surgery. Appeal the denials...you never know...I was self pay as well. I sent in my receipts and did just what I explained...there were 3 bills...one for the surgeon, one for the anes, and one for the hosp...I got 50% of the surgeon and the anes bill reimbursed and 100% of the hosp bill reimbursed! If you really want something don't give up...fight, fight, fight! Not all insurance companies work the same way. I fought for pre approval for 2 years prior to having the surgery..then went self pay..then for 10 months fought for the reimbursment. If they would only see how much healthier we can be they would approve it in the beginning!

Please make sure you are completely convinced this is right for you! I knew inside and out that this was what I wanted to do and I would do it over again tomorrow. The only regret I have is waiting so long. I have lost 117 lbs in 10 months. I have 9 lbs to go to reach my final goal. Everyday has not been perfect but then again life isn't perfect. I will say though everyday being banded has been better than being overweight, not being able to get up off the floor from playing with my 3 yr old, not being able to fit into clothes, being depressed and so on!! I actually think I eat a more varied selection of food now and definitely a healthier selection of food. I cook 90% of the time now..which really excites me! As I said you really need to make sure this is for you because you really have to be committed to this lifestyle change! Once you are committed..you will know! Then you to will feel it was the best decision will have ever made in your life! But please do no go into this half heartedly! I wish you the very best with your decision! I am very glad you have found this website..there are a lot of very knowledgeable and supportive people on here!! Take care!

First off you need to set a goal of when you go shopping that for every piece of black that you buy you buy 2 or 3 pieces of any other color!! I think that when we were heavier we tend to "hide" behind black thinking it will make us slimmer and we don't want anyone to look at us..yes it does make us a look a little thinner but now that we are losing our weight and have bodies that we are so proud of..we need to put some color on them! You are such an inspiration! I can't wait to see you at 175 and lower (if that is what you want!)...I know you will be there! Until your next blog...

we all start somewhere!! and you could not have said it any better..it is a reminder of where you are going!!! I wish you the very best..you are already doing so well!

Speaking from experience like Shonette said..an overfill is the worst feeling in the world! I hit 5.0...thought we should go to 6.0...took a couple of .5 and .25 and then .25 to get back to 5.0 before my brain believed me that 5.0 was the right fill amount. I think a lot of us instantly think of band slippage because of all of the throwing up but I guess it does take quite a bit to cause the band to slip. Head on in to the doc..as sandy said..That is why we pay them!! Good luck!

Yeah that needle is huge! As for not going into starvation mode..I do eat about a 1/2-3/4 cup per meal... Shake for breakfast..200 calories..just not into breakfast..no other reason Lunch..about 250 calories...tuna, chicken salad, lunch meat with cheese rolled up, soup..salad with chicken strips. Dinner...500 cals: 2-3 oz of any meat..seafood, chicken, steak, hamburger..you name it I cook it somehow..1/4 cup of mashed potatoes & 1/4 cup of veggies Snacks..sometime throughout the day, usually the afternoon and evening...apple with laughing cow cheese, sugar free Popsicles, sf pudding, 10 grapes. I allow for about 200 calories for snacks...I probably will eat about 5 popsicles a day if not more (I live in Florida so it is pretty hot). Anyway, that is how I come up with my calories and don't end up in starvation mode and eat a small amount. I hope this helps. I have 5ccs in a 10cc band..only once did I try to go to 6ccs and was way too tight, went down to 5.5 and now went down to 5.0. Another thing is that I eat until I am satisfied not until I am full..that helps a lot also. Take care and I wish you the best!

I agree with all of the above comments! Plus god forbid if you have a stuck episode..those are hard to hide sometimes. Another thing now for me is..if you were intimate your port would be very noticeable (or at least mine is). When I go to a doctor who hasn't seen me and they do an examine they always are like.."what is that" and then they what to learn all about it. Anyway, that is my two cents about it. Have fun dating!

Ask, beg, plead and pray!...do whatever it takes and most of all don't give up! There are also medical loans you can get. I was self pay all the way and have fought for reimbursement after the surgery. I have got back some of my money...regardless I would do it all over again tomorrow. Being banded has changed my life, well I should say..being banded has GIVEN me a life. Losing 117 lbs in 10 months is something I dreamed of not knowing it would be a reality! Don't let anything hold you back! Take care!

When I went on solid food I took the word diet out and used the lifestyle change. My daily goal was a minimum of 60 grams of protein a day. I tried to to 20/20/20. For me I breakfast and lunch I averaged around 250 calories each and then about 500 for dinner...leaving about 200 during the day for snacks if necessary. It didn't always work that way. I generally cook about 90% of meals except for breakfast. I am just not a breakfast person..I never was. I have a shake for breakfast. Dinner is family meals..anything from steak, chicken, meatloaf, seafood...I look for recipes that have about 350 calories in them at least 20-30 grams of protein..then I can add veggies and potatoes. I eat 3 ounces of meat, 1/3 cup of veggies and about 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes at an evening meal. This is what has worked for me to lose 117 lbs in 10 months. I hope this helps but please listen to your doctor as well. Take care and I wish you the very best on your journey.

I started at 266..and as of this morning I weighed in at 149...it has only been 10 months! Think positive thoughts and look at the big picture. Remember why you are doing this. The beginning is rough. The headache is due to a variety of things..no sugar, no caffeine, no carbs..if you are allow I would have a chicken bullion. It does get better, believe me!! I wish you the very best on your journey!

I am with you!! I was banded on 11/23 and as of this morning I was down 117. My ending goal is to lose 126..so 9 more and I will be tickled pink! The only thing I would do different is to have done it sooner! I have the strangest conversations with the doctors now.."now you can only lose this much more!" I never remember have that kind of conversations in the past!! LOL You are an inspiration! Keep up the awesome work..it is all so worth it! Put on the bikini now..see what it looks like! Take Care!

Absolutely amazing!! even my husband said so!! I am with you on the accountability part. Even though I dont blog but I feel that if I do not get on here and "connect" with everyone that I am not focused. I have enough non band medical issues that cause set backs so I need to do the "easy" ones like log on! I have 9 lbs left to reach my final goal. I am so excited! I know you can reach you 6 lbs..you have the determination. Also, if I didn't say it before congrats on the 5k! Keep up the great work..looking forward to the next blog!