sawyer77

This morning, my scale told me that I made my goal! Wooo! 10 pounds gone! Maybe I'll even surpass that by Sunday/Monday for the last weigh-in. Thanks, gang, for being such a great support network. I really need this place. :frown::tt1:

I'm down two for a total of 9 lost this challenge. Only one more to go to meet my goal! Whoa! Count me in for the Labor Day challenge. This challenge really helped keep me going, and I actually got somewhere, unlike the Mothers' Day challenge back in the throes of the worst of bandster hell.

Hi Sandra! Yay for you! On my off days, I go to classes (yoga, body conditioning, etc.) or do strength training. I also ride my bike every day, at least 9 miles (to work and back). :eek:

I've had 4 fills for a total of 6 ccs in a 10 cc band. No unfills. 1st fill, 5 weeks postop: 2 ccs 2nd fill, 9 weeks postop: 2 ccs 3rd fill, 13 weeks postop: 1 cc 4th fill, 17 weeks postop: 1 cc My surgeon did not give me any fluid when I went in for my 5th fill, 21 weeks postop, because he said I was doing too well. :thumbup: I go back on July 29th, 27 weeks postop, to reevaluate.

My staples are: eggs with cheese (I never have any trouble with that cheese as the magical binding force!), yogurt, cottage cheese, turkey sausage, turkey pepperoni, lettuce, decaf diet iced tea (powder in my water). Foods I avoid: [i do not have full restriction yet at 6ccs, and none of these have given me problems, but I don't want to wait to find out.] bread, rice, and then although they're sliders and would not give problems in all likelyhood, I stay away from Cookies, cakes, those tempting foods. I grab a chocolatey Protein bar if I'm really craving. The only foods that gave me problems ever were a turkey burger once and some deli turkey once. Both are foods I've eaten again without problems.

Sorry, should have been more clear -- I was bemoaning the myth of liquids in, liquids out.

Here's my grumble - "liquids in, liquids out" - Argh! The teacher in me wants to give a little 4th grade science lesson on the digestive system. We don't need to scare folks into dehydrating themselves, right? :biggrin:

I had the same after surgery, then I became constipated for a while! However, diarrhea is not caused by drinking liquids (meaning, "liquids in, liquids out," is not true). If it were, we'd have diarrhea all the time with our Water intake. Diarrhea is caused by any of several things, one of which is stress to your system. Your body is healing and there are some rough spots right after surgery, but you will get through this! Just remember to stay hydrated!

I'm 5 months postop, and I still get shoulder pain, about twice a week or so. My doctor told me today that it's an indicator of fullness, that the gas from the pouch heads to the shoulder. More reason to eat slower and stop immediately when I get the notion!

I went to the doc for my 4-week appointment today and was expecting my fifth fill. I'm 5 months post-op, and have lost 40% of my EBW. I've had 4 fills and am at 6ccs. This last fill #4 was the first one where I actually felt anything resembling restriction. I have lost 7 pounds in the last 4 weeks (says the doc's scales -- different scale readings, doc and home! Plus, doc's weigh-in is never my weigh-in time, ya know? I ONLY weigh in sans clothing and in the bright early AM) with this fill and my surgeon says he expects 40% EBW loss in one year, and I'm there already. So, no fill today. Don't fix what ain't broken, says the doc. [bTW, I'm a rule-follower by nature.] I can't say I wasn't upset at first, because I was just looking forward to the next progression of this journey, but feel great that I am doing so well. I've been really pleased with myself lately. It's been SOOO nice to get away from that plateau in May. When I lose 7 more pounds, I'm "overweight." When I lose just one more to make it 8 pounds, I'll be 50% there! I have an appointment in 6 weeks to re-evaluate, fill or no. It was an exciting little surprise today to find that my surgeon thinks I'm doing too well to fill. :thumbup: Also, I asked about the gas/shoulder pain I feel maybe twice a week. He said that's an indicator of fullness, the gas from the pouch is redirecting to the shoulder. Does anyone else still get gassed shoulder pain?

Nice! Good for you! :devil_smile:

Two words have solved this problem for me: sports bras. When I get down to my goal (I'm 40% there, yayayayay!), I will splurge for the nice bras, but for now, it's sports bras for me!

I'm down two pounds this week. Wahoo! I am feelin' this! Four pounds to go! I get a fill tomorrow so my fingers are crossed for some oomph!

I'm in the moderate camp. I go for my fills every 4 weeks on the dot. I am having my fifth fill in two days. I plan on keeping this pace until there is a reason not to. I had an empty band at surgery, and got my first fill 5 weeks post-op. My doctor would have done 4 weeks but I had a scheduling conflict. I have not felt any restriction so far until this last fill (#4, 6ccs in my 10cc band), where I got to flirt with the idea! :thumbup: I'm glad I have 4 weeks between fills to relearn, readjust and reevaluate. I believe that if you try to get your fills done quicker, you're not getting an accurate representation of your level of restriction. You may think you're too loose, and get another fill, when really it hasn't kicked in yet. My vote is always to sneak up on your sweet spot. Don't overshoot it - I'd like to vomit as little as possible on my journey.

I know I've been absent from this thread, and I'm so sorry -- It sounds like everyone is doing well! I just had to pop in to share a recent NSV with folks who understand. I'm currently wearing size 12 jeans that I bought about a month ago from Old Navy. (My last pair of new jeans was a 17 from Target, and they were exciting to fit into back in, oh, it was March, I think?!) I picked up a size 10 when I bought these 12s. What the heck, right?! The 12s have been getting baggy, and so Saturday, while dressing to head to the Philadelphia Zoo, I figured it was time to try them on again. You know how you keep trying every few days and there ain't no way, no how? Well, I got them on! Zipped, buttoned and everything. 'Course I could only wear them for about 30 minutes before I either had to pass out or decide I wanted to wear my comfy shorts instead. Ha! But I did it! :waytogo: Now it won't be long before I fit into the 9s I have hanging by my refrigerator! I stare at them every day and dream. :thumbup: Woohoo for NSVs! I've been riding my bike to work every single day. 9 - 12 miles depending on if I need a Wawa fix or not. That's a little Mid-Atlantic love for you, right there. I love my Wawa. Also, my work schedule is different now until September, so I can fit in more classes at the gym. Tonight I'm going to explore a Yogalates class. I am so excited. Two things I love, rolled into one! Hope you're all having a great Monday! Ten days until I get a little break from work for a few days. w00t! We're putting up our pool and I want to do nothing but ME. No work, no volunteering, just ME!

LOVE all the pictures! I have to admit, it's hard to see changes in my own pictures, because it's me (and I've seen me my whole life!) and I look at the pics all the time, but when I look at others' pics, I can really see the WOW factor! Keep those pics comin'! :thumbup:

Oooh, thanks! You made me blush! :thumbup:

Tink's Mom -- you crack me up. :thumbup:

I had no clue! My surgeon told me that when they were in there, they noticed it and repaired it. It was nice because I'm a "don't ask, don't tell" person to most of the world, and so if anyone really pressed, I told them my surgery was to repair a hernia. I work with a bigtime gossip in my office, and she would tell the whole building, just so she had something to know and share. I don't need my business trounced around like that. So, I took great pride in telling her when I got back to work that I had a hernia repaired. :thumbup:

You look GREAT, txprincess! Here is my album: Weight Loss Progress And my new updated Virtual Model H/C/G collage, to reflect my current 167:

That was me! Wow, mine came very quickly. I would talk to your surgeon's office. See if they can help you order another one.

I concur with a lot of the previous comments. I almost immediately draw a line in my food, down the middle. I'm at 6 ccs and not at restriction yet, so I have to tell myself my limits. One thing I did learn today for Sunday brunch: Old Country Buffet does NOT honor our Lap-Band cards, so corporate will be getting a phone call from me! If my family members want to go there, I'm not going to ruin their moods by nixing their choice, ya know?

I love a nice spinach, strawberry and chicken salad. OR a Chicken Caesar salad minus the dressing. MMM! And it is very filling, so to me -- not a slider food. In my mind, a slider food does nothing to advance my journey. Another poster put it well, a slider food has to fit the three requirements: goes down easily, high-calorie, low nutrition. Salad doesn't fit that! (As long as you are picking the RIGHT salads!)

I know how frustrating it is to not lose. I'm 4.5 months postop with 4 fills/6ccs in my band. This last fill is the only one where I felt any type progress/restriction at all. I know I'm not at ideal restriction yet, but this is progress, at least! In the last 9 days, I've lost 5 pounds! For all you newly banded (well, newer than me, anyway!) folks, please know that you are going to have to be patient. They don't call "bandster hell" for nothin'! I lost my first 10 pounds in one week prior to surgery, during my pre-op diet. The next 10 pounds took a month, and these most recent 10 pounds took *3.5 months*, and 5 of them were in the last nine days! (Fill #4 was May 20th.) 172 (which had been bopping around on my scale for a MONTH!) down to 167 this morning! WAHOOOOOOOO! That puts me at 30 pounds lost and 38% of the way to my goal. I am so happy, there's nothing that could kill this high today! :ohmy: Keep the faith, and just grit those teeth! :Dancing_biggrin: