Inner_me

I didn't change my weight when I came back from my vacation. Because it went up...LOL...but, the good news is I'm back to within 2 lbs of the weight I do have listed. Which means I've lost 7lbs since last Monday. Yes, I gained 9lbs...but I had no restriction on vacation. In a way, I feel that it was a good waste of 7lbs... On the other hand, I've learned that mistakes can be corrected...and this will work even when I lose my mind for a while. I can always jump back on the band wagon!

Tonya, I just thought of something...you said that they completely filled you up, then removed some. You could be like me. Any change causes immediate swelling with me that only lasts for a day or two. The first time I got a fill, I thought that it was perfect, and then in about 24 hours, I was completely open again. Then with the second fill, I knew immediately it wasn't enough. This last time, was better, I actually think I'm getting closer to the correct amount of restriction I need. My surgeon is sneaking up on it, rather then trying to hit it from the start. (Two more lbs to go, before I'm back to my pre-vacation loss...whew...)

Okay... I completely missed an entire discussion. LOL That's a good question about Tonya's band. I do know that you can lose restriction based upon fat loss around the stomach area. But, Tonya had just received her fill, and it was gone immediately. For a second, Tonya, I thought you had the larger band size, like me. Without a proper fill, that definitely will leave you alot of room to get bread and other items down. Trust me, I know from experience. Hopefully they will try the omnipaque (sp)....I heard that it is a more dense fill then the regular saline, and should provide you with some restriction.

Hey everyone! Thanks Juno!!! I'm trying. It's great hearing everyone's recap on their first 6 months. Which is one of the reasons I added mine...how about everyone else? How are you doing? I look forward to reading the next month in review... Shawn, you added what I needed to...goals to work on. I need to get back to excercising. I can honestly say that other then changes in life style...such as parking further out, taking the elevator, and all of the work around the house (that thank goodness, I know have energy for...) I've completely fallen off of my excercise plan. And, then I wonder why I'm having problems... *sarcasm*. I did come to say that I finally have restriction! Whoo hoo!!! Unfortunately, I found out the hard way. I've also had my first PB...twas turkey bacon and eggs w/cheese. I've yet to decide which is the culprit. I'm leaning towards the bacon. Oh, and I've knocked off another 2lbs of that extra gain. Things are looking up. I'm now 3 lbs from my loss of 50lbs. Pretty soon, my ticker will start moving again.

Hey everyone! So, yesterday was my 6 month anniversary since surgery. I'm doing okay. Not has good as I would like, but better then before. I spent an entire month and a few weeks knowing that I needed to up my fill level, but not doing it because of vacation plans that included a cruise and my fear that if anything went wrong, I wouldn't be able to have it fixed until I got back. Well, sometime in early June when I plateaued at 50 lbs lost, I figured that I didn't care anymore and I'd get a fill immediately. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't get in until the day I returned from vacation. Long story short, gained 9 lbs, which I've since lost 5 of. YEAH!!! Now, I'm just fighting to get back to the 50lbs lost, so I can move forward. This fill seems to be going okay for now, but I'm not leaving it up to chance. I've already set up an appointment for next month to get my 4th fill just in case I need it. At this moment in time, I think I will. I'm restricted, but not like I would like to be. Granted, I haven't really tried "real" solid food yet. I'm still trying to stick to soft until tomorrow. I'll probably do some fish or chicken. If it holds steady for a week or two, then I might reschedule my appointment for a later date. So, that's my 6 month update. I'll have to do my measurements tomorrow and update you on how far I've come in 6 months. I know that I've dropped from a very tight 28, to a comfortable 24. I've gone from wearing 4x and 5x t-shirts to a 2x (I am still amazed about this, seeing that I'm lugging around DDD's... My energy has increased, and I'm receiving tons of compliments regarding my weight loss. (Part of me is going...was I THAT big before...then the other part of me goes...YES.)

JULY, 2007 CHALLENGE Name...............................Starting…....Current…......Goal…..........To Go losingjusme..(Christine).........293.............. 294... ..........276.................17 tann.............(Tammy)...........224............ . 223..............212.................11 Josette.................................322....... .......322..............307.................15 RidinMyHDDream.(Carol).. .....267..............267..............256........ .........11 FaithMD............................... 312..............310..............299............. ....11 Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth).. ....275....... .......273 .............265..................8 Libra..(Angela)...................... 218...........;...216..............208............ . ....8 glindab..................................286...... ........286..............275.................11 juliegeraci..............................232...... ....... 226 Inner_me.....(Chris).............. ..295...............295.............280..................15 Waterlily1072...(Nicole).......... 272..... .......;.272 Lapbandit……...............….... .206……….....206 Hi Ladies! I'm back. Was on vacation, way to much vacation, and my scale has taken a trip back to the dark side. *rolling eyes* I got a fill yesterday, though. My first day back from vacation...and so far, its looking like some of it may have just been water gain, because I'm already down 2lbs, and I know it wasn't because of the fill. Since I didn't get the fill until late last night. My surgeon holds appts up to 9pm. Anyway....I'm here, and ready to get started back to losing.

Hi Everyone! I know I've been missing in action. Partially because I wasn't doing to well. I reached a 50 lb loss, and then was stuck. Then I started yo-yoing back and forth. So, I decided enough was enough and that I needed a fill. If you remember, I knew that I needed one, but was trying to hold off until after my vacation which was last week. Unfortunately, my surgeon was booked up until yesterday. Which was my first day back from vacation. I went ahead and went in...especially after I came home yesterday morning, got on the scale, and realized that my two lb yo-yoing had blossomed into a 7 lb gain. Although I didn't get my fill until late last night (they have appointments up to 9pm), I still was down 2 lbs this morning. Hopefully after being on liquids for a day or two, I can shake most of the gain I picked up on my cruise, family reunion, and added on trip to Orlando. Yes, I was traveling for a while. LOL So, I've spent the past several hours trying to catch up on everything. I've been absent for almost a month now, and hadn't realized it. Just really busy with family, friends, birthdays (mine included) and then the vacation. So, I just want to thank all of you who are continuing to check in, through your good moments, as well as your bad. It is very encouraging, and it helps the rest of us to know that we are not alone. Sue, I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter. My prayers are with you and your family. RMS, my band day buddy, I was waiting to see if you checked back in about what your situation. How are you doing? Did you have to get a slight unfil? Is everything okay? Let us know. To everyone else, I'll try and do better about checking in myself...I actually fill some restriction now, hopefully my weight loss will get back on track.

July 4th Challenge Week 8 Name.............................Starting….Current…...Goal….....To Go losingjusme..(Christine)......317...........305 .............295...........10 tann.............(Tammy)........257.......... 231..............232......... ..0 juliegeraci..........................232.......... 232..............220...........12 Josette..............................340.......... 329..............315...........14 Inner_me.....(Chris).......... ..306...........295 .............280...........15 Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth).. .281....... ...271 .............260...........10 Waterlily1072...(Nicole)...... 278..... .....272 .............252...........20 Libra..(Angela)................... 230...........219........... ..205...........14 Lapbandit……...............… .208………..206……..…..185…….....21 RidinMyHDDream.(Carol).. ..281...........269 .............256...........13 FaithMD............................ 341.5........322..............310.. ........12 Hi, I'm still here...late check-in. Congratulations to all that are doing well. I'm in the midst of a rock and a hard place. Vacation, Birthdays, and PMS...but I have to look at the bright side. I still lost a pound. Two down, and one more birthday to get through...MINE...and then the cruise to the Bahamas over the 4th. I can do this...

Thanks for the suggestions Molly!

I hate to say it Dee, but you sound like me. And, we both need fills.

I was okay, coasting along. I've got to pick up my excercise routine. As another poster mentioned, I've been going when I could fit it in. Partially because of my schedule. I'm on my way to work before the gym opens up, and then most evenings I'm either teaching, singing, or at a meeting. It's been crazy, but it changes next week. Other then that, I'm not at a good fill. I was putting off getting another fill until after my trip at the end of June, but I might not make it that long. I can eat way more then I should, not that it's anywhere near what I was eating before...but everything goes down without much of a problem. The only thing I have problems with is my first bite in the mornings. I've never slimed or had a PB. From time to time, I feel a little pressure around my mid section, but that's usually when I'm not eating. I've yet to really feel that "satisfied" feeling that I had right after surgery. Even with the two fills I had, within 24-36 hrs it was gone.

I had to do a quick reply off of this one... Renee!, my band-day buddy, I was just wondering how you were doing. I had to laugh when I saw that we are currently at the same amount of weight loss...although, I'm just getting closer to where you actually started out. You're doing great.