tonya66

thank you luckinlove, your welcome for dinner anytime! lol

Thanks LoiseIt!

Thank you jdog75 & sara09.

Its been over 21 years since I've seen the 140's. Needless to say, I'm just so happy. My size 8 pants are falling off of me today, I realaize I'm going to have to move to a true size 6 now. I can't even remember wearing a size 6. I'm almost back to the weight I was when I got marred 22 years ago. I just have to pinch myself to make sure this is not a dream.

I look at myself in the mirror, and I think, is that really me? wow, I'm thin. Then other times I look at myself in the mirror and think, you are still fat, I notice every blimish I have, every sagging part of my skin. But I know that I need to be proud of every step and quit critisizing myself so much, I've come a long way!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much! The best advice I can give is 1) follow the band rules, eat the protein first 2) stay on top of your fills. 3) exercise 30 min a day! Best wishes to you! Getting the band has been the best decision I could have made, no regrets!

Todays menu;

bfast

coffee, cream,

strawberries made into a jam

melba toast

Lunch

chicken stuffed with spinach and marinara sauce poured over it, sf, ff marinara sauce.

Snack

Apple

Dinner

Chili with onions and jal peppers

sliced tomatoes with a little sea salt

I love Bison! (Buffalo) so lean and has so much flavor. I also love beef, but I buy all my beef from a lady that I split a cow with. All her beef is grass fed and no hormones so the flavor blows what you can buy in the store away. I was out of beef and waiting on my next side, and decided to try some Bison at our local health food store, it was also grass fed, organic. So now I'm hooked. :thumbup:

Scale was up today, not sure why, but more than likely its because my body is fighting me getting lower....well, I will win this fight!

I also need to drink all my water today, did pretty good yesterday on my water, but not good enough!

Today's menu:

Bfast

coffee with 1 TBSP cream and capella drops

melba toast

strawberries mixed in magic bullet with a little stevia, made a jam out of it and spread on my melba toast

Lunch

chicken breast stuffed with spinach

Snack

apple

dinner

bison

asparagus

Exercise

treadmill

Menu today

Bfast

coffee with 1TBSP coconut milk, 10 drops fo capella flavor drops (vanilla custard)

1/2 grapefruit with stevia and cinnamon, 1 Wheat melba toast

Lunch

chicken baked and stuffed with spinach and sugar free/fat free marinara sauce over it. Yum.

Snack

1 apple sliced and peeled with 1/2 lemon squeezed over it

Dinner

Chili made with extra lean beef, 1 melba toast and extra onions over the top, 1 sliced tomatoe with salt & pepper

Exercise - still too sore from working in my garden over the weekend. whew, can barely sit on the toilet without screaming out in pain. I'm getting to old for this, lol.

Thank you for your support luckyinlove, I really do appreciate it!

Janetsjourneytoslim, please google HCG diet, its a pregnancy hormone. There are several different ways to to take it. I have tried both the homeopathic kind and the perscription kind. I got my perscription from alldaychemist.com and it took about 3 weeks to get it since it is coming from out of the country it also has to be approved from customs (I also order latisse from them for $10 a bottle vs $120 here in the US and you wouldn't believe my beautiful eyelashes and how quickly it works) I learned how to mix the RX kind by watching youtube by mamaclock. I also had to buy the mixing kit which I got from EBAY. You can also inject, which I chose not to inject. Injections are 1x per day, oral sublingual RX HCG is twice a day, and the Homeopathic HCG is 3x's per day.

The homeopathic kind I got from healingpowerwithin.net, and it has worked too. Its the best price and very reputable with all the women I've talked too. Many are using it and having great great success.

I've been trying to decide which brand I like the best and I am almost leaning toward the homeopathic kind, so either one is great. If you want to start soon, I would order the homeopathic kind and you will have it in 3 days.

The key to the homeopathic kind is to figure out what dose of drops you need, many do not do well on "10" drops as the instructions state, and find themselves hungry, most do better on 6 drops or .35 on a dosing surringe (1 cc surringe) which is what I do. You can pick up a 1cc/ml surringe at the walgreens pharmacy, they just gave me 3 of them at no charge. No needles on them, just the surringe part.

I hate to confuse people more, but there is so much information out there on HCG, and if you want to know more, please PM me and I will send you Dr. Simeons Manuscript called pounds and inches - google that too and you can find it online, free. He outlines the entire plan. I follow his plan to the T. Except in his plan he talks about how sensitive HCG is to oils, so you can't wear your makeup, lotions etc. A lot has changed since this manuscript was writtin in the 50's, so I continue using my makeup and a lot of women I have talked to do to and have no problems. So I did ignore that part of his program.

There are many clinics out there and charging $$$$'s big bucks for it, $500 to $1000 a round. I am doing it for less than $1 a day on my own. Also many of the clinics "tweak" Dr. S's program, this slows down the weightloss so you keep coming back to the clinic - therefore, they make more money. If you follow his progam to the T - you can expect to lose 1/2 pound a day average. A 30 day program and you will more than likely lose 15 pounds.

I lost 22 in 39 days and I had a few "cheat days". I then went off it for a "planned interruption", drank some sugary alcohol drinks and gained 8 lbs back. Lost the 8 lbs in about 10 days after I got back on it, now down an addtional 10 lbs - and want to lose just 10 more! Weighing around 150, and hoping to get to somewhere between 135 to 140. My doctors goal was 155 and I've passed that now! I'm no longer overweight! So happy and pleased. I wear anywhere from a size 6 to an 8, depends on the style. But I own several size 6 clothing peices now, and some of my 8's are swimming on me. I havent been in a size 6 since, I can't even remember ever buying a size 6 to be honest.

Also, I took a break from it for most of April and just stuck to eating "bandster" style, and I maintained my weight.

It is not a starvation diet and many claim, even though you are eating very few calories. Your body is surviving on the "stored" abnormal fat and getting nutrients from that. So that is why there is no hunger. I did find I had slight hunger for the first 10 days, mainly because I didn't load correctly (this is outlined in the manuscript). But it was a managable hunger. But after the 10th day, had absolutely no hunger, almost like when I first got banded.

I hope I didn't confuse anyone more, but please feel free to PM me and I can send you some information I have on it.

Best wishes!

Thought I would come by to post in my lonely journal. lol.

Anyhow, took a break from HCG for most of the month of April, not sure why I did it, just felt I needed a break.

The good news is, MAINTIANING my weight. Down in the 150's which is my doctor's goal. My personall goal is 145 or maybe even 135.

I started the HCG again this month and will do it until the end of the month and then will end it. I should be close to my goal by then.

I am very happy with the fact that as soon as I began eating more than the diet required, I didn't gain. It seems that the resetting of your hypotholamus (sp) is what the HCG is supposed to do, it seems it might have worked because I am not gaining. I didn't lose either, but I didnt try. I just ate normally, protein first and then the rest of my meal.

I will post more this month with my results. I plan on stopping on 5/30 then I will do a 3 week maintenance plan according to the manuscript and then 3 weeks slowly reintroducing the starches and carbs into my diet. Then I will be leaving for my cruise.....If I still have another 10 lbs to lose after my cruise I might do one more round.

It feels so good to be in a size 6 and being so close to my personal goal! Also, I'M NO LONGER OVERWEIGHT according to the charts. I'm a normal weight. Wow, first time in 22 years I'm normal!

Thank you Mr. band and thank you HCG. Together they have acheived miracles for me!:thumbup:

I also want to say that I owe most of my progress to the band! The band helped me lose 80 lbs! HCG is just helping me get to my personal weighloss goal. For some people they can get to goal with the band by itself, but for me, it just wasn't happening - I was sooooo close to goal, but yet sooooo far.

The last 20 lbs is by far the hardest. I tried Weight Watchers, low carb etc and just couldn't lose the last of my weight. So I decided to give HCG a try and it worked for me, very happy with the results if I havent mentioned that before. :confused:

Anyhow, I just don't want to confuse anyone especially newbies that they will have to go on some special diet with the band, that IS NOT THE CASE.

Follow the band rules, proteins first, no drinking with meals, exercise 30 minutes a day, stay up on your fills, etc. You will do great! And then when you get to final stage and having problems lose the very last 10 to 20 lbs, thats when you might think of trying something new for your body. But until then, I recommend eating the lap band way. It does work!

Here is a little info on it - What To Eat On the HCG Diet Plan

I would not recommend it while you first get banded, you will do fine if you just follow the band rules. I've been banded for 3 years now, and down to my final weight I have to lose (10-25 lbs) The doctor thinks I only need to lose 10 more, I personally would like to lose 20 to 25 more. That is the only reason I am doing. I am very very very pleased with the results and the way my body is "reshaping". My thighs have never been this thin in all mylife. It is supposed to "shrink" your inches and I certainly can say it has worked for me. Bought a size 6 dress this weekend!

Well, back on the HCG diet - started it again on 4/01.

I did pretty good until Tuesday night (3/30). Had a late dinner and did not make good choices, ate fried chicken tenders, fried shrimp, and french fries, then had two drinks!!! Can you say yuk? Anyhow, by Thursday morning was up 7 pounds. Good news, I'm down 5 of the 7 pounds in 4 days. I know a lot ot it that I gained was water weight, alcohol seems to do that to me.

Anyhow, will stay on HCG until 4/21, leaving for my puerto vallarta trip on 4/22. So I will be taking another "break" for about 4 or 5 days from the HCG diet.

I will "try" and not over indulge in to much fruity alcohol drinks, but can't make promises. :tongue:

I just love sipping on an umbrella drink by the beach or pool! I love the sunshine, I hate the winter!

Wearing a size 6 - thats right a size 6 capri pant today!!!!! I love it! I am totally loving my legs these days. My cellulite is even disappearing, I still have some, but not near as bad. I really am seeing the changes in my body, the fat is truly melting away. I'm a believer!

I'm off HCG now, taking a week break or otherwise known as a "planned interruption".

I ate so much yesterday, stayed away from sugar and carbs, and I was worried stepping on the scale this morning, but I lost another .6 oz. Crazy, but I did. Down to 157.5 now. Yay!

I am just in shock at my thighs, I can't say enough about them. They are my biggest problem area, always have been and now they are shrinking!

I have not been this small in 21 years! Its amazing!

Life is going good these days. :wub:

Menu today

Bfast

Coffee with coconut milk creamer (yum)

strawberry jam (crushed strawberries with stevia) with melba toast

Lunch

Spinach/ricotta cheese stuffed chicken breast

(yummy again)

dinner

Steak, salad, blue cheese dressing

***I'm eating lower carb this week while taking a break from HCG diet. Will continue HCG on 4/1 until 4/18

Yes, your missing a lot. You don't know about HCG. I would suggest google pounds and inches by Dr. Simeons.

Today is day 39 on the HCG diet. I'm taking a few days off, also known as a "planned interruption". So today is my last dose of the HCG, then I will follow the diet for 72 hours until the HCG is out of my system. Then I eat "phase 3 style", or avoide my sugars and starches, I will be back on it around 4/2. I just have an event this weekend, and on the 30th. My plan then is to stay on it until 4/21, I will be leaving for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on 4/22. Once I return, right back on the program. I believe I should be at my goal weight by the end of May or first of June if I still to the program.

I did have a few cheats on this round, but I still managed to drop around 22 pounds in 39 days. Not bad in my opinion. I probably could have dropped 25 if I had not swayed from the program.

Here are my daily results, I'm sure you will be able to tell when I cheated because the scale would go up for a few days.

Day 1 - loading days 179.8

Day 2 - 178.5 (another loading day)

Day 3 - First day of VLCD 179.8

Day 4 - 176.2

Day 5 - 175.6

Day 6 - 173.4

Day 7 - 172.4

Day 8 - 171.1

Day 9 - 168.9

Day 10 - 168.9

Day 11 - 168.8

Day 12 - 169.0

Day 13 - 168.2

Day 14 - 167.6

Day 15 - 167.5

Day 16 - 166.9

Day 17 - 165.8

Day 18 - 165.4

Day 19 - 164.8

Day 20 - 166.1 (started cheating)

Day 21 - 167.1

Day 22 - 166.8

Day 23 - 165.3

Day 24 - 164.8

Day 25 - 163.7

Day 26 - 163.3

Day 27 - 162.4

Day 28 - 161.2

Day 29 - 162.4

Day 30 - 161.2

Day 31 - 162.3

Day 32 - 162.2

Day 33 - 161

Day 34 - 161 - My body is stalling big time!

Day 35 - 161.7

Day 36 - 159.3 FINALLY BROKE THE STALL

Day 37 - 158.1

Day 38 - 158.8

Day 39 - 158 - Last dose of HCG

Total loss 21.8 pounds!!!!!

Wow, I am in the 150's, I'm doing a Happy dance today! So close to my goal of 140!!!!!

I am going to try and not gain too much while I'm off the program this next week, I want to continue going down!

Congrats on reaching goal, I think Humming bird's suggestion might be a thing to do. lol, after all, what better way to show off your new body? LOL.

Day 1 - loading days 178.2

Day 2 - 178.5 (another loading day)

Day 3 - First day of VLCD 179.8

Day 4 - 176.2

Day 5 - 175.6

Day 6 - 173.4

Day 7 - 172.4

Day 8 - 171.1

Day 9 - 168.9

Day 10 - 168.9

Day 11 - 168.8

Day 12 - 169.0

Day 13 - 168.2

Day 14 - 167.6

Day 15 - 167.5

Day 16 - 166.9

Day 17 - 165.8

Day 18 - 165.4

Its so nice getting on the scales and seeing them continue to go down. And its nice not experiencing any hunger! Today's menu

Bfast

1/2 grapefruit, 2 cups of green tea

snack

melba toast

Lunch

Shrimp salad, celery

Dinner

HCG approved chili

Applie crisp made with stevia - yum

Wt this morning - 165.4

HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. I take the hormone in a sublingqual form vs injections. You can read about it here - Pounds and Inches Away: About the HCG Protocol

Well, I started a controversial diet on 2/16 and so far it has been going good. I have read lots of negative stuff about it, mainly from doctors. I am always surprised at the comments from readers which are all positive, they had all done the diet and quite please with it, so I decided to try Dr. Simeons HCG Protocal. I did something similar to it back in the 80's but it wasn't quit the same.

I am down to my last 20 lbs to lose and I'm finding it very hard with just the band. So I decided to do the HCG diet which is pretty strict and so far I have not cheated one time. I've followed it to the T and am down about 13 pounds (This is about the weight that I've gained thru the winter so no need to get too excited)

Day 1 - loading days 178.2

Day 2 - 178.5 (another loading day)

Day 3 - First day of VLCD 179.8

Day 4 - 176.2

Day 5 - 175.6

Day 6 - 173.4

Day 7 - 172.4

Day 8 - 171.1

Day 9 - 168.9

Day 10 - 168.9

Day 11 - 168.8

Day 12 - 169.0

Day 13 - 168.2

Day 14 - 167.6

Day 15 - 166.9 (total 12.9 pounds)

I have about 25 more days to go. My goal is to lose a total of 25, but its slowing down, so I will be happy with a loss of 20.

Its amazing how little hunger I have. With the band and the HCG, it seems to control the hunger. I'm proud of my will power too. I have stayed on the protocol and have not strayed at all. I've become creative with my snacking too.

Today I made "apple chips". Sliced a green apple up (peeled it first) and sliced it very thin, sprinkled stevia on the slices and cinnamon and baked in oven and made the apple chips. They are great for snacking and I can have a few thru out the day. I get 2 fruits a day. It also helps with my "sweet tooth".

Well, thats whats been going on in my life lately. I will post more in my journal.

PS - I would appreciate no negative comments, I was reluctant to post this however, I am keeping this blog for my future reference and have kept it updated from the very beginning of my research with Lap band, therefore, I decided to detail the HCG in my blog.

Thanks!

My latest fill is still pretty good, I think I might need just a tad more then I will be done. I'm so glad he finally listened to me and quit taking all the fluid out each time. My way is working!!!! I am finally getting some restriction!

My menu today:

bfast

1/2 grapefruit, green tea

Lunch -

saute'd grape tomatoes, with 3 oz of grilled chicken breast

Snack

2 melba toast, sliced apple

Dinner

4 oz of talapia (grilled)

cabbage - steamed

I used to have acid refulx really bad before the band, but now I really don't. The only time I have had reflux is when I eat late. I make sure I eat at least 4 hours before I go to bed and I don't have any problems. I dare not eat right before bed or I will be up all night with problems. I learned this the hard way. lol.

who4u22 - yes, it does seem like a bit much, no I don't have a leak, been tested on that and they cannot find a leak.

My doctor takes everything out of my band then refills it each time, has done this all along. Well, after much research, we found that this can actually change the shape, and slightly the placement of the band, which in turn can change the restriciton level. The last three times he has not taken any out and just added some more fluid. It seems to be working. Another problem I have is when he fills me up, I have major eshophagus spasms,which makes it looks like I'm tight then after they settle down, I'm loose. So, my fills have to go very very slow. Thank gawd for double insurance!!!!! I am getting close to 4 cc's again so I don't think I can go much higher. Its always a waiting game for me, it takes about 2 weeks for my fills to settle in, and then I will know if I have good restriciton or not. Right now, Its very tight. Could not even eat a 6 oz of yogurt, could only eat about 1/2 of it, which is good. Thanks for your support

Now that the doctor has quit taking all my fluid out every time I get a fill, the fills are slowly but surely getting tighter. Fill #20 did pretty good, but still too lose, so I just had fill #21 and I'm having a hard time drinking my shake. I have to slow down a bit on it, that is GREAT! My fingers, leggs and toes are all crossed, hoping that this fill is the one that works - I am hoping to keep the restriction! I am to be on liquids for the next 48 to 72 hours.

Fill #1 - 3/6/07 - 2.2cc's

Fill #2 - 4/17/07 - 3.0cc's

Fill #3 - 7/6/07 - 3.5 cc's (I think it was only 2.5cc's because when I went back for fill #4, he could only w/draw 1.8 cc's)

Fill #4 - 7/20/07 - filled me back to 3.0 ccs - He should have filled me more!

Fill #5 - 8/17/07 - 3.4cc's

Fill #6 - 10/08/07 - filled me to 3.8cc's - the best restriction I've ever had,but still could eat big bites of food, so I figured I needed to be tighter.

Fill #7 - 11/21/07 filled to 4.0 cc's. By the evening could not hold anything down, not even my saliva. PBing all night - horrilble experieince

UNFILL #1 - 11/23/07 - unfilled to somewhere between 2.5 to 3.0 cc's - NO RESTRICTIONS AGAIN :smile2:

Fill #8 - 1/18/08 Went in and the doc filled me back up to just right under 4.0, according to Flouro, it was perfect. Well, by next morning, could not hold down saliva again, ended up back in hospital

UNFILL #2 - 1/19/08 - Doctor had to unfill me to 3.0 again because of the swelling from all the PBing for being too tight. Again, NO RESTRICTION -

Fill #9 - 2/12/08 - 3.5 cc's - was tight for about a week, now feel lose again. grrrr, still have "some" restriction, just not quite enough! Next fill scheduled for 4/7/08 - I hate that it takes sooooooo long to get in to see the fill doc.

FILL #10 - 4/7/08 The doc just added .4cc's, making me at 3.9cc's. I think this might be the one!

FILL #11 - Was scheduled on 6/25/08 - but the doc did not fill me up, I was leaving for a cruise on 6/27 so he didn't want to risk me being too tight, so did not get a fill.

FILL #11 - 8/5/08 Went for a fill, this time the doc took all my fill out and all he could get out was 2.4 cc's. Filled me up to 4.0 cc's, I left, had to go right back because I could not drink, he took out a little over .2 cc's, he said I'm somewhere between 3.5 to 3.7 cc's. - I had great restriction for 2 weeks, but It has now loosened some. I feel I might need a tad more. I'm worried I have a very slow leak.

UNFILL #3 - 8/5/08 - Took a little over .2 cc's out, had pretty good restriction, but still a tad too lose.

FILL #12 - 9/17/08 - Added just 1/10th of a cc - I think I'm somewhere between 3.8 to 3.9 cc in a 4cc band. I am hoping and praying this is the fill that I stop with! I do not have another appointment for another fill, will wait this one out and see.

Fill #13 - 10/06/08 - Doc added about 2/10's of a cc. He took everything out and put it all back in and said I was about 3.7 to 3.8cc's. - which is where he said I was last time.

FILL #14 - 11/10/08 - Doc took everything out and I had about 3.6cc's, which is pretty good. He then filled me up to just under 4.0cc's I believe I'm about 3.9cc's. I ate some canned peaches and set around the office for a bit, made sure none came back up. Seems to be doing good so far. I hope this is my last fill!

FILL #15 - 08/10/09 - Added about 1/10th of a cc. I think I'm right at 4.0 cc. Wt on the morning of my fill was at 165. But was very bloated from steroids I was on for the previous week.

FILL #16 - 8/31/09 - My last fill lasted 2 weeks then I felt wide open. Went in for another fill, this time he did not take any out and just added 2/10th's of a cc. I think I'm just a little more than 4.1 cc's in a 4.0 cc band. I feel great restriction so far. I'm hoping this last. I'm sick of fills. lol. - I could tell my fill was wide open, I was starving all the time, wt at the time of fill was 170! grrrrrrr

FILL #17 - 10/30/09 - completely drained me, checked for a leak - no leak YAY - added 4.6 cc's - I feel like he didn't add anything, feel wide open! Hungry all the time

FILL #18 - 11/09/09 Doc did barium swallow test - I think he thought I was full of it. He saw what I was talking about and agreed I was way too loose. He added 2.5cc's. I feel restriction again, but not a real tight restriction. I have no idea where I'm at these days and I really don't care anymore how much CC's I have, I just want RESTRICTION!!!!!!

Fill #19 - 11/23/09 - I had a some restriction, but not enough, the doc added 3/10ths of a cc. I feel pretty good, not too tight, which means it probably will get looser. I will ride this fill out and see what happens. Very discouraged at this point.

FILL #20 - 12/28/09 - did not take any fluid out, just added 4/10th's of a cc. Still feel lose, but on the fluro it showed I was tight, so we'll see how it goes.........

FILL #21 - 02/01/10 - Doc did not take any fluid out, added 1/2 a mil then I told him it was still too loose, so he added another 1/10th of a cc. Feel really good right now - but as always we will have to wait and see.

Sunflower - thank you

L. Boogie - my insurance has paid for my fills, I actually have double insurance, so it hasn't cost me a dime.....yet. We just switched insurance companies, not sure they will cover a fill or not. I think I need just one more fill.

Now that my doc has quit taking the fluid out and just adding, I'm getting restriction.

Had my 20th fill, and I feel a lot more restriciton so I'm pretty happy with it. I've been exercising, but the last few weeks, eating has been bad! So, back on track now and have rid my house of all the bad chocolates my clients have sent me!

Menu today:

Bfast

skinny latte

Lunch

spinach

turkey

olive oil

snack ff pudding

dinner

grilled fish

steamed spinach

Exercise

upper body workout and cardio