Yvette1026

What Dolly said above.. I'm not like the new site for blogging at all either..

So year out... couple weeks over.. this time last year I was on liquids only so the spiritual fast I do every January was very easy...protein shakes and more protein smoothies.. I had been doing it for weeks prior to my surgery and just kept on it while I healed. So here we are this year... January and this year's spiritual fast is here.. no meat, no bread, no sweets. Just all natural fruits, veggies, etc... essentially vegan for a month.. NO animal products. This means alot of gluten free, wheat free and organic eating.. Oh look that was in the aftercare diet.. So now here I am eating veggies and "whole" foods, all organic and gluten free and in the 3 days (started on the 3rd) I've been doing it, I haven't had one single issue with my band, getting stuck or getting that overly full feeling sneaking up on me. Wouldn't you know that in 3 days I've lost 10lbs?!?!?!? PRAISE THE LORD.. last year I lost 42lbs on the fast but I did it for 6 or 7 weeks if you include the pre-op diet. If I keep up at this rate for the month... Hmmmmm I'll be ALOT closer to goal... In my prayer time, I heard to stop eating wheat, it's the gluten that keeps me fat because of my blood type. Then I went online and researched and sure enough... there it was clear as day, O blood types shouldn't eat wheat products because the gluten reacts with our bodies and we pack on pounds... As someone who has lived most of their years on the planet eating sandwiches, hamburgers and pasta.... it ALL makes sense... either way the point to this post is.. I totally get it now and will be making these changes, and adhering to the true aftercare diet...this time next year, I'll be on a billboard... Watch!

Yes I lost 42lbs in about 30-35 days it was great it just came off with the quickness. Your body will settle and slow, you'll go through the different changes and you and your body will find it's pace.. as I'm sure you know, 1-2lbs per week is normal once you settle in. It's a great feeling, I just celebrated my 1 yr on the 18th... you have a great journey ahead of you, keep up the great work!

Congratulations.. I was a year on the 18th and I'm at the same place of 70lbs....so it seems this is normal and great! Congratulations again!

That's right Deandra.... keep at it.. we didn't come this far to give up! This is a LIFETIME change, so we have all the time granted to us! Keep me posted on your progress!

What's that saying... "If could help just one person it was all worth it." lol.. yes throw it out, throw it out!

This is GREAT you look FABULOUS as well... I'm about at the same point you are, year 1 wasn't as successful on the scale as I had hoped but I still think this is the BEST thing I've ever done for myself and like you said... each pound had a story and it feels SO good to be rid of all that baggage!

So I had my 1 yr Bandiversary on 12/18.... I've been so busy I haven't had a lot of time to be around and check on on everyone. But that being said, this year has been a bumpy one as far as my success with the band... band is fine, in place no problems. From Dec - April I did extremely well. May, eh... June eh.. next thing I know it's Nov and I'm almost at my surgery day weight. I was SHOCKED... I was eating right, and ok so I wasn't exercising but then I figured it out... the coffee and sweet tea I drank every day were adding an extra 847-1200 calories to my diet per day. I didn't start drinking them until May when it got hot... and I spent the summer working in various locations so I made sure I got a coffee to start my day and 2 sweet teas to go along.. on those days we were hitting the 1200+ calorie mark on just the beverages alone. Of course it took me til after thanksgiving to figure this out, as I watched the scale creep up another 4lbs in 3 days, again I couldn't figure it out, I was SO tight I didn't really eat much at thanksgiving but ah yes, I was making my lil' runs to the closest QT (QuikTrip) for sweet tea and a caramel mach. So here it is December and I feel like I'm almost back where I started... but now that I know and have STOPPED drinking them, the weight is rapidly shedding like it did before. This time next year I'm going to be where I want to be. So other than a lil' disappointed, I'm not worse for wear... but I definitely learned alot in this first year... I'm still down and still getting "OMGOODNESS You lost so much weight" compliments... so it's still working... now to just make up for lost time. I hope all my fellow 1 yrers are doing well and had a very successful year! I also am in faith that you all had a fabulous Christmas, and in the event that I don't speak to you before then.. All the best in blessings for a prosperous new year!

So something else I was doing made me start to think about all of my progress.. I think I need to print this out and put it on the fridge or something.. It's not goo quality, I don't know how to photoshop or anything like that.. but umm yeah.. WOW *Please see attachment*

Sliming is when your body is lubricating to try to either push the stuck food down, or depending on position in your stoma, bring it back up.... it's that weird heavy saliva you get right before you're about to vomit. Sometimes just spitting works and the food passes down.... other times it pushes it back up and you vomit - mmmm lol

Hey bandland! Weird to realize I haven't been here since August 5th.. Life has kept me pretty busy! I am almost to the 10 month mark, (the 18th will be it) I've been told I'm doing well by my dr's so I'm happy about that. Before the end of the year I have to have an upper GI to make sure everything looks good with my esophagus...yeah that sounds fun.. lol.. In other news, I attended my friend's birthday party last night and saw lots of friends I hadn't seen since my surgery. They all went on and on about how great I looked so THAT... THAT right there makes it all worth it! LOL :cursing: and totally gave me the motivation I needed to keep going and reignite my fire! On my last fill I had them go aggressive and so now I'm having some issues but for the most part all is well.. I'm doing 2-a-days at the gym and loving it, pilates, yoga, zumba, cardio, weights, kickboxing, swimming, you name it.. I'm doing it and it feels great! I'm actually feeling the effects of being out of town for the past week without access to a gym.. I can't wait to get back in there tomorrow :thumbup: Other than that, I think that's it for now.. this is my busy time of year so I don't spend alot of extra time online, but I would love to catch up with all of you, hope you're all doing well! Love & Faith, Y

Once you're approved you're approved - the pre-op weightloss is to take the fat out of your liver, etc. to make the surgery go quicker/smoother.

A big HEY GIRL HEYYYY! Out to all of you in bandland :scared2: I know it's been a while since I was here. I have some how managed to gain 4lbs in the last 2 months. Well I guess I shouldn't say some how, I know exactly how. STRESS causing me A.) to not eat enough and B.) stress eat when I do eat. And you know what? It's just not worth it, so EFF IT. I've decided me and my health is worth way more than someone else's project so I'll give it another week to see if they get it together, if not.. See ya! And I'll be busy working out and working this weight off. Totally lost my train of thought... 8 hours later... eh I'll come back to it

You're not supposed to do anything but walk for the first 4 weeks, so it's more than likely the Zumba that caused it to flip, where you lifting things too? Either way all the best to you for a speedy recovery and getting back to that Zumba!

Consignment shop or host a clothing exchange with people from various sizes with style. You can also take them to a seamstress and have them resized or reconstructed. Or donate them all to a women's shelter and then take advantage of the great sales out right now. Also if you have a JC Penney outlet near you they have some cute suits for around $30 each usually retail for $150 and up.

Absolutely THE best thing I EVER did for myself! I researched and kept putting it off for 5 yrs, letting everyone from my mother to boyfriends talk me out of it. I finally had had enough of yoyo dieting and being uncomfortable in my own body. June 09 I made my first appointment a little scared and skeptical, I went through the 6 month process my insurance requires and 12/18 I was banded...7 months later and down 60lbs it's 100% absolutely THE BEST thing I could have EVER done for myself.

Your body is going through the changes of an intense work out.. you weren't losing because your muscles were building to burn more fat, this is a GREAT thing! I was expecting your post to say "I gained weight!" - which is very typical in this type of situation with intense workouts like boxing. (I kickbox myself.) I would recommend using protein smoothies to supplement your protein..you can make the same smoothie with as much protein as you want without altering the taste too much, especially if you're using greek yogurt like Fage 0% as base, which has 20 grams of protein, mixed with some protein powder (mine is 20 per scoop) add 2 scoops and you're already at 60 grams, plus 8 from the skim milk, etc.. it's a very easy and delicious way to boost your protein, stay full and stay cool during the summer time as well. Overall the chances are you probably weren't eating enough and/or your body was adjusting to the new routine, without seeing your food journal or what you've been eating, its hard to say. But I hope that helped, all the best to you!

So I know it's a total overshare but when you eat something that gets stuck, I mean horribly stuck, I don't know about the rest of you but something I used to HATE absolutely HATE to do is suddenly a relief. Last night at a dinner party of sorts, I had an epic fail of someone's chicken kabob and a cup of the tropical savory & sweet rice pudding (fully expanded in this form prior to eating) that I brought, the pudding turned out delicious and easy to go down..(yay me!) not to mention everyone LOVED it, I should so be on top chef! lol - but while I was able to avoid most of the other dishes because they were sides, I had to eat the only protein and the host's dish of Chicken Kabobs.. The kabob was dry, horribly, horribly dry. Being polite I tried to eat what I could... ugh.. 1 bite too many and the slime comes, the pain, all of that...I finally excuse myself and go home to shower...Not sure why, but I think because sliming is SO gross to me, this where I like to do it at lol. (WOW that may have been a complete overshare lol) but finally about 15 mins into the ordeal it FINALLY comes up... Now I know why people say they can't eat things, or can't handle meats, etc... I've come to realize I need to just stick to eating things I cooked, my meats, especially chicken are never dry. How does one dry out chicken? Evidently this is a common phenomenon.. WHO KNEW?!??!? But I now have full understanding of what people go through.. In 7 months of being banded I've only had 1 bad sliming/throw up experience, oddly enough with honeydew melon.. but after that dry chicken last night ugh! I get it.. I totally get it.. Think today will be a all smoothie day and I'll eat later tonight..

SO.... who knew LBT showed up on places like google, as far as what we post, etc... So just a warning for those of you who want to keep your surgery or blogs private... if someone were to google your username or email, it comes up. On the upside you can change your username if necessary by going to the USER CP section and at the very bottom it gives you an option to change your name. So good deal! Anyways happy blogging...

Couple of things... 1.) Your male friend needed to expound on his comment. Men will choose the skinny/thinner girl every time but for what? Relationship or hookup? There's a difference. This is a conversation I have with people A LOT I actually do some radio interviews, etc.. on the topic because it's such a hot topic. When the show "More to love" was on air I did my rounds on radio shows because I personally was mortified by that show. But as I came to find out, this is the reality of most overweight women or as I've come to help alot of them realize..it's their perceived reality or the one they create for themselves. At 33 having been plus size/full figured or well let's just say it..Fat my whole life.. I mean my entire life and having been a size 14 or bigger since age 8, yes I said 8 as in 6, 7, 8.. I don't have any other reality. I've never had an issue dating, having a boyfriend, keeping a boyfriend or anything like that. I've been married, divorced, dated lots and even serial dated (3 dates in a day, 5 days a week). I've often been told that's because I'm not the "normal plus size/fat girl" - i.e. low self-esteem, ill-kept, ungroomed, etc... And while that may be true the difference between me and most is CONFIDENCE. Whether it's true or not, when I walk into the room I firmly believe I am the most beautiful girl in the room and I act accordingly. While it may only be true in my head, I'll get the attention like I am because of how I carry myself. All of the above is something that has to come from within, your outer appearance really has nothing to do with it. You ever see gorgeous men with hideous women or vice versa... CONFIDENCE. People are just people, everyone wants to be liked, men find it highly flattering when a woman finds them attractive because most women don't express it to them. However, as women we have to allow men to come to us, and really the key here it to love yourself before anybody else can love you. I know that sound cliche but it's true. You can sit and wonder why your life is passing you by or you can stop and just into as it's happening now. It's all on how you look at it.. half empty or half full? Most fat women tend to throw themselves pity parties and think oh gosh they don't like me, because I'm fat or whatever.. when they bottom line is they don't like you cause you don't like you. I know it's a lil' harsh and a lot of people probably don't want to hear it, but that's truth and sometimes it hurts. You've done something out of love for yourself to better yourself and your life, let it flow and let people be drawn to you, the real you that's waiting to burst out... but please not she can burst out at 285 or 185.. she's still the same person. Love yourself and be good to yourself!

Protein Scoops are up to you 1 or 2.. I was doing 2 to ensure I was getting all of my protein.. the strawberry shake is 540 calories and 52 grams of protein (using the products I was using) in the entire blender.. so if you mix it up and freeze to use the rest later it's just as good you just need to defrost and re-blend. It got me through my mushie stage and still gets me through lots of days.. now at 7 months out and 60lbs down the smoothies have been a friend to me! lol Hope they're as good to you, let me know how they work out for you!

These recipes will make a blender FULL, for me that works because I just drink them all day and I make mine thick so I need to use a spoon (makes me feel like i'm eating) But here you go from my previous response to someone else: I do lots of various ones but a couple of simple ones are: 1/3 blender of ice 1/2 cup greek yogurt (Fage 0% is best - lots of protein) 2 scoops of vanilla (I use whole foods brand whey protein) strawberries (6-8 should do) Agave nectar to taste Blend to desired consistency. I blend mine to a thick milkshake consistency, you stay full longer and you actually feel like you're eating something. And being the summer time it's a refreshing treat. My next favorite one is using the frozen fruit mix from costco (mangos, peaches, strawberries sliced and frozen in a bag). Ice 1/3 blender Fruit 1/2 cup Orange Juice 4-8oz Protein Powder (Vanilla) 1 or 2 scoops Agave Nectar to taste Blend.. this one is so tropical and good. I had to be on protein shakes for 3 weeks so I understand what you're feeling, I got super creative, hot chocolates, puddings, etc.. all made from protein shakes.. but the above are my quick favorites to go to. Remember Greek Yogurt and Agave Nectar are your friends in this time period blended into a smoothie it's definitely of GOD! lol

I used smoothies in this time period, I tried the soups etc and it wasn't working for me. The only thing that did was soft mushies like tuna salad, chicken salad, etc.. I would skip all of that and go to fresh fruit protein smoothies. I just typed a couple of recipes in another response.. I'll go cut and paste them hang on.

The key is to make smoothies that are of substance. They will keep you full and you'll feel like you're eating something. I do lots of various ones but a couple of simple ones are: 1/3 blender of ice 1/2 cup greek yogurt (Fage 0% is best - lots of protein) 2 scoops of vanilla (I use whole foods brand whey protein) strawberries (6-8 should do) Agave nectar to taste Blend to desired consistency. I blend mine to a thick milkshake consistency, you stay full longer and you actually feel like you're eating something. And being the summer time it's a refreshing treat. My next favorite one is using the frozen fruit mix from costco (mangos, peaches, strawberries sliced and frozen in a bag). Ice 1/3 blender Fruit 1/2 cup Orange Juice 4-8oz Protein Powder (Vanilla) 1 or 2 scoops Agave Nectar to taste Blend.. this one is so tropical and good. I had to be on protein shakes for 3 weeks so I understand what you're feeling, I got super creative, hot chocolates, puddings, etc.. all made from protein shakes.. but the above are my quick favorites to go to. Remember Greek Yogurt and Agave Nectar are your friends in this time period blended into a smoothie it's definitely of GOD! lol

Anyone else get SUPER tight restriction when they're stressed or upset? In the 7 months I've had my band I've been blessed to have it pretty easy, the past few days I've been having some personal issues that are a cause of stress and anger. For the past 3 days it has been difficult for me to eat anything even though I'm hungry and try to eat it, within 3 bites I'm full or in pain from trying to eat/restriction. Does anyone else experience this? And keep in mind, I missed my scheduled fill on the 15th.. so it's not that..