lisalee

Down one pound this week to 182. Tami, you are my inspiration! MimIn, you rock too! I'm still running three times a week but finding a day/night to do it under 80 degrees outside is getting tough down here in Texas! I have no restriction but the last time I went to the doctor's he said I was losing weight still and didn't want to give any more fills. I was VERY sensitive too and couldn't tolerate .5 cc saline. I'll just keep plugging along. Meanwhile the occasional flour tortilla and piece of bread is lovely. Great work to all!

BJean....good advice! Yes I was kidding but I was probably subconsciously settling for a lesser goal. We play all kinds of games with ourselves when it comes to food! Karey....keep up the good work! You may want to step up the weight for a while and do something else instead of water aerobics. Don't give it up completely. It's just that we need to shock our bodies once in a while as they get used to doing the same things all the time and are continually finding ways to conserve those calories. Someone told me once to work on high reps, low weights for a couple of weeks then switch to low reps, high weights for another couple of weeks. Or try bike riding instead of water aerobics for a couple of weeks....I think that's pretty easy on the knees right? The trick is to keep our body metabolism wondering what's coming next so it doesn't get complacent. Also, watch those carbs. I have found in the past that varying my workouts has been effective. Let me know what you find.

BJean, I'm still trying to figure out why I bought the scale but it is fun to use! It has one function where you can calculate whether you have "average" muscle mass related to your age and height...as some people can be at ideal weight but undermuscular or over fat. I liked that even though it describes me as overweight, I am also overlymuscular, or have more muscle than the average person for my age and height. It describes me as "stout".....but I'll take that as a compliment! Great news....I went to my regular doctor for a follow up on cardiac concerns....had what's called a highly specific c-reactive protein drawn pre-band. It is an indicator of arterial inflammation and was off the charts. My bad cholesterol was high and good cholesterol too low. Well, the bad cholesterol is still high (they want it under 100 since I have a bad c-reactive protein) but the good cholesterol is still high. So...I start on Zocor. Seems it is genetic and even though I run about 10 miles/week now and have lost weight it hasn't changed it enough. But the good news is that my blood pressure is that of an athlete's.....90/60 and my pulse is at 60 while sitting. That means my heart is in such good shape that it doesn't have to pump hard to get blood out to the extremities. The doc says I can eat all the salt I want! So.....I am genetically predisposed to arterial disease but I have strengthened my heart significantly. Frankly it is nice to hear that even though I will have to take a pill to reduce my cholesterol, it is not entirely my fault No weight loss for me...still at 183. Had another NSV this week though...I went out and bought some size 14 clothes in resale shops and most of them fit nicely. THAT was a huge motivator and reaffirmation for me. I can now say that I really am losing inches, even though the pounds aren't dropping. I may have to reconsider my goal weight of 138 and move it up to 145 or 150. I would like to be in a size 10, maybe an 8 but don't want my face to look too drawn either. What a dilemma :mad:

I'm just peeking in on this thread and loving every post. Y'all are hilarious!

I squeezed off a pound this week, now down to 183. Just bought a new scale that measures body fat, fluid volume, muscle mass, bone mass and other cool things. It's a lot of fun...not sure exactly how accurate but still cool to watch the numbers. The only problem is it weighs me 3 pounds heavier than the old one....which I still use as my guideline (and is the same as the doctor's office. Cost way too much though...bought it on an impluse in one of those stores with the tempurpedic mattresses, gadgets, foot massagers, etc. Looks like we're all headed in the right direction....down!

Quickly dropping in here to report no loss this week. Still at 184. Exercised only twice. I know what I must do.

I remember one of the first thoughts that came to me after surgery was "get this thing out of me!" It was a very traumatic experience just coming to terms with the fact that I was so fat I had to have surgery to lose weight. I am still fat today but healthier and happier. You will go through a grieving process much like having someone die. Only, your old lifestyle and way of looking at food is gone now. You will encounter a lot of ups and downs. Be patient with yourself and realize there will be days when you feel very emotional for no reason at all. It's O.K. Just jump in here any time and reach out!

Another thought....if you fry ground hamburger or turkey, try rinsing it in a colander under hot water to remove some more of the grease. It really works well and doesn't really change the taste.

Mim, does it go away that quickly? I have often wondered myself how that works. Four pounds is a lot of muscle to lose. I'm sure you're glad to be back exercising again! I do know that when I am increasing my stamina or trying to build muscle (not just maintenance) that the body retains water to help flush out toxins and rebuild even more muscle. It often sticks around a couple of days...of course my fluid intake is also increased significantly. Just a couple of thoughts from my corner of the world. BTW are you getting used to your boosies yet?

Tami, I hope you are feeling better soon! I too have a cold so I only ran once this week....it is too darned hard to breathe. I am so glad I didn't actually get a fill last week. Between the cold and stress in our house I had difficulty swallowing anything last week....just too tense. I've been exhaused and sleeping a lot. Fortunately, I eked in a 1 pound weight loss this week...down to 184.

I drank only water the first 24 hours but took my Lorcet (like Vicodin) like clockwork. After suddenly getting nausea I quit taking the Lorcet and never had any nausea or vomiting after that. Vicodin can cause nausea....if it persists after you quit taking it call your doctor. Don't quit drinking water...you really need it. Good luck!

MimIn, I known exactly what you mean! On the inpatient unit where I work they keep it in little baskets everywhere! It's awful. Today I felt very restricted, which I attribute to the crisis over the weekend...and a cold. I was unable to eat breakfast and a few bites of eggs, and refried beans. Don't you know I headed straight for the chocolate and ate several handfuls of M&Ms? Why couldn't I just leave it alone!?! I think I have an addiction. BTW thanks to all for you kind words and sympathy for my kitty. It's hard to put into words how much these mere creatures mean to some of us. May be silly, but that's how it is!

I was gonna say....tell them you had a Nissen Fundiplication (sp?) or hiatal hernia repair. That explains eating carefully and all the quirks that go with having a band, indigestion, etc. Congratulations and good luck!

Finally....I have lost some weight. Down 4 pounds to 185. I have been exercising my butt off, it finally paid off. On a sadder note 2 of my "precious" dogs were playing with the cat last night and when things got too quiet I came out in the living room to find my sweet kitty dead of a broken neck. I am heartbroken since now I have lost my kitty and will be sending off the dogs to the pound. I went to bed with no appetite last night...just a lot of tears.

They didn't take all of the fill out, just what they put in. I still have 1.5cc from my second fill in (the first one leaked out.) I've just decided to walk between the days I don't run and once again be more conscious of my eating. I feel little restriction, an occasional discomfort if I forget to chew well but nothing too bad. Bread, chicken, they go down OK. Maybe I just chew real well. It's an enigma but I will keep working on it. I wish they could leave 0.1 or 0.2cc in...not sure why they didn't. I feel like Tammy did a few months ago when she said she was working really hard to lose weight and felt like she had to work too hard for what she paid for it! Oh well, ce la vie. On a positive note, I'm reallly starting to see muscle definition in my legs and feel more efficient and balanced in general. Life is still good regardless

Well, I went in for a fill today. The doctor initially said he didn't want to put in anything b/c I have lost almost 1/2 of my excess body weight in 6 months....what he expects in a year. He said the more often we access my port, the more likely it is to spring a leak and since I was unable to tolerate any fill last time he wanted to wait a while. That said, I told him I was exercising frequently and hadn't lost any weight in 1 month. So he put me in front of the Barium machine to see what kind of restriction I had. Upon seeing the Barium pass through very quickly he said he was mistaken and we should do a fill attempt. They put in 0.5cc and I was very uncomfortable. So they drew back to 0.3cc, checked the Barium swallow again and it looked OK. At that point they sit you down with a bottle of water and ask you to drink about 100cc or 3 oz. to see if you can tolerate it. I sat there and sipped and gurgled. It was too tight. It was very clear that I am loose, but when they put a miniscule amount in I couldn't tolerate it. They said I am "unusually sensitive" to fills. What exactly does that mean? They reassured me that I was doing nothing wrong, "some people are just real sensitive." Does anyone have any idea what this means? Is this the end of fills for me? As I am now able to eat bread and chicken without much difficulty I was sure this would work. I still have 50+ pounds to go. I'm trying not to get discouraged but feel lost and uncertain about how to deal with this. The only thing I can think of is to exercise more i.e. walk on the days I don't run. What do y'all think?

Karey...sounds wonderful! I got a bathing suit last week (one of those "Miracle Suits") on sale for$25 instead of $100 plus. It's actually a tankini! Size 16 for now...hopefully less by the middle/end of summer. Mim....have you noticed that your balance is off? Hope you are feeling better each and every day. Thanks for the encouragement BTW. A new NSV for me today....the weather was a cool 63 degrees with a light breeze and I ran 5 miles! I enjoyed every minute of it! Not sure what to do when the temps get up over 100 but I plan on finding something else to do. This is just too good to be true....a first for me ever! Sadly, the scale does not reflect what is happening....I am at 190 this morning...up one pound. Just realized that the scale hasn't really moved in a month. Getting a fill tomorrow. I am so ready!!!

Wow, they look great but no wonder you are hurting! Cleavage up to your chin....my, my, my. Did you get to take off the rest of the week like you were hoping to do? That is something else! I know you will be happy when things "settle down." BTW, the rest of you is looking great! All that working out has got to help....when can you get back to exercising? I often don't feel like doing it but am so scared to let too much time go by...I'm afraid I won't start up again. It seems like I'm not getting any faster or better....yes and no I guess. I average 6-8 miles of running/week, over 2-3 days. I feel like I should be getting better but realized today that I am still running around with the equivalent of a 50 pound rucksack on. I can't wait to loose more weight after this next fill. Hopefully I can increase the speed or distance of my runs. I felt worn out and hurt all over today after 2.5 miles yesterday. Went to a baby shower and ate *normal* non-bandster portions for dinner tonight. Boy do I feel like a slug. Yuck. Once upon a time that would not have been enough but now even *normal* portions are too much. I am so ready for my fill next week. This time I know it will work (last time they couldn't put any in and I was faced with the reality that I wasn't doing what I was supposed to as a good bandster.) MimIn, hope you are feeling better every day. No wonder your BF can't stop calling you cutesy names. I'm sure you will feel better soon!

We want pictures! Not necessarily nudies but I get this image of a Sherman tank plowing through the house and I'm wondering what that's like! No, but seriously.....I know you feel very uncomfortable. My sister had it done last year and was pretty uncomfortable for a while. What made it bad were her 2 and 3 year old boys who thought it was fun to jump on her lap and hug her roughly. Now they very innocently say,"watch out for the boobies!" when anyone (strangers too) come near her!

No change for me. Still at 189. Can't wait for that fill!!! MimIn....it may take even longer than a week....possibly a couple but give it time! Tami, I am jealous. I love Mexico! Where did you stay in Cancun?

I am scheduled for my next fill on April 5th....I can't wait! I think I am finally at the point where it will be OK to do it. I was actually able to eat about 2oz. steak, 1/3 baked potato, 1/4 corn and a small salad today for dinner. No problems. That was a moderate meal for me. I won't tell you about the fried chicken strips with french fries I ate last night (and the fried apple pie!) It seems so wrong yet is so hard not to overeat or eat badly when my band has loosened up. I guess that's why I'm a bandster today. I am so excited about the weight I'm gonna lose! This will be my 3rd fill...the patient rep. at the doctor's office swore that the 3rd one is a charm. Size 16 then 14 then 12 then....? It's all becoming a real possibility. Yeeehaaw!

I paid & $14,000 out of pocket. That was after a $500 deduction for paying cash on the spot and a "medical courtesy" discount of 10% apparently because I am a nurse (I guess they think I'll get the word out!) My fills are included for a year then free for another year if I lose more than 50% of my excess weight loss within the first one. I plan on making that happen!!! Tha comes out to $296/pound (so far...it will be $145/pound at goal weight.) Way too much but the money came out of my retirement fund. I figured why save it if my obesity kills me before I can use it?!

Sandranoelle....I have had that experience....I went out and bought a couple of new bras...went from a 42E to a 38D. I just sorta roll them up and tuck them in now! MimIn....I'll try to remember to have someone around when I get the lift (probably in a couple of years.) I helped a friend of mine several years back who had an augmentation...she made it look so easy. But they told her not to lift anything heavier than a gallon milk jug. I just really am too independent! And yes, it's just water! You'll be the greatest loser for the 4th just b/c you have lost so much of it!!! BJean....Flopsy and Mopsy! I love it! How about the Bobbsie twins?

MimIn....that's four pounds of BOOBS!!! Not such a bad thing! Post-operatively people retain water in response to the trauma so don't be surprised if you gain a pound or two....it will come off when you recover. Enjoy your new look! I call mine the floppsy twins b/c that's all they do when I run now!

BJean, my second fill all but disappeared in one week. I went in to see the doctor and they said the saline sometimes reabsorbs into the body. It seems like our little band has some porousity and it leaks through. They put a thicker fill liquid in, called something like "Omnipaque." That did the trick for me. For quite a while after that I knew it was there. I wouldn't say I was at optimum fill or the "sweet spot" but it definitely hung around. Why don't you ask about that? Karey...a size 12? I can't even imagine! That seems so "normal."