tonya66

Audree - YAY! I know you are soooo excited! I'm so happy for you that the scale is moving again! My scale is stuck at 174, but I'm really okay with it for now. I'm going to give my skin a chance to catch up with my weight loss and once I get my next fill (August 17th), I think they will start moving again. I get back from my cruise on the 12th, so I will go the first Friday after my cruise and I made my appointment yesterday. I had a great workout last night, I started circuit training for the next few weeks until after my cruise and then I will start another BFL challenge. Even though the scales have not moved, I am skinnier, my clothes are getting bigger and bigger on me. I can wear a 12, however, I don't have many 12's so I've been wearing mainly size 14. Yesterday I had on a pair of 14's capris I wore 10 days ago, and now they were practically falling off of me. My daughter even said "Mom, you've got to get you some more clothes - smaller clothes!", lol. Feels good to know you have to buy smaller. I'm trying to hold off on buying more clothes until I get down into the 160's. I'll reward myself with an 80 lb loss once I get to 168 with a few new outfits. I've been rewarding myself after every 10 lbs. Well, I will check in later..............

The pill worked wonders for me - for about 2 months, then my body got used to it and it quit working. Here are the side effects I had" Mood Swings depression raging mad sometimes My husband could always tell when I was taking it because of my mood swings (my poor kids). My mom has been on it for years, and she is bigger than she has ever been now. So, even though she won't go off of it, it is not working.

Normally, Bandsters are not required to take B-12 shots. However, your case might be different. ONe of the pros and cons to the surgery according to inamed lap band is this very subject, stating that with the band you are not required to take injections of B-12 since it is not malapsorbtion. Of course, there are always exceptions, as in your case. Does your doc say your are low on B-12? Or does he just give all his lapband patients B-12? If so, it is probably because of the many benefits of B-12, and he probably feels it will help in the weightloss area as well. As far as Vitamin D, not sure about that. I know that Vitamin D you can get from the sun, and many other things, but just wondering if you were low on that? I just read an article on this subject of B-12 - if you can get too much? So many doctors, especially diet doctors (my old one), they give the B-12 shots and if you take it and not need it, is it dangerous? The answer according to the Medical web is No, there is no studies that show it is dangerous. Taking extra B-12 promotes energy, and studies show it enhances matabolism. I recently had my blood tested and it showed I was low on Thiamin, which my doc said I needed Vitamin B-1. I'm currently taking a multi B liquid sublingual B-comples vitamin. It is full of all the B Vitamins, including B-12, but since I wasn't low on B-12, I was worried about getting too much, however, now I'm not. Taking B-12 shots is normally not a requirement, however, if your low on a B-12, it should be, being low on B-12 can be dangerous. I'm sure there are some docs that require it just to be on the safe side.

I've heard about it, but actually I haven't experience hardly anything that most say they have with the band. I do remember my band getting a little tighter about 2 menstrual cycles ago, but then afterwards, it seemed to totally go away. I just don't feel anything? I worry that I should at least have to take small bites, but I don't. I eat just like I did before the band, except not that much, and I don't drink while eating.

Well he actually fills my completely full, then has me drink that nasty stuff, and he watches it on flouro, he slowly starts withdrawing the fluid until the barium stuff starts going thru, when it goes thru he stops. Last time it was at 3.0 cc's. I don't think I need much more, but I do need a little more, just .2 cc's might do the trick!

No, bandsters do not have to do the b-12 shots. I work with a lady who had Gastric Bypass and she slacked on her shots and then she started developing Kidney stones, she is back to giving herself her weekly shots. Since the RNY patients have malapsorbtion issues, it is extremely important they take the b-12 shots. I do take a multi-Vitamin, but B-12 is not a thing we bandsters HAVE to take,we can if we want, it does give more energy and I hear boost the matabolism.

sometimes I think people like to "test" us. To see if we really are serious? I don't know - but from now on, I agree get a to g0 box and wrap it up. Tell her you'll save it for her the next day for lunch. Stick to your guns, eventually she'll learn what you can or cannot eat and that you are serious about your weight loss!

I love it! I'm going to my happy place right Now!

I wanted to let all the Oklahoma Bandsters know of a support group that I started. Its for all and everyone, no matter what doc you used. We have it the 1st Monday of every month. The next meeting will be August 6th at 6:00 pm til 7:00 pm, It is held at Barnes & Noble book store on 71st street (By Woodland Hills Mall) Tulsa, OK. We have it in the coffee shop, so far there has been around 4 to 6 people attend and each time it seems to grow a little. The meetings are very helpful, there is a great RN that attends (she had her surgery in TX as well) and she has ran a lot of support groups in the past. I will not be at the August meeting because I will be on my cruise!!! Yay. But the meeting will go on and I hope to have some new people there. We share books recipes, tips, and just have a great time. I hope everyone can attend!

Monday - did 20 min of HIIT on Elliptical Tuesday - my plans (20 min of HIIT on Elliptical) and 45 min of weight training I am mixing my exercise up over the next few weeks, but when I get back from my cruise, I plan on starting another BFL challenge on 8/13. Until then, I think I will be doing some circuit training and trying to burn fat.

Went back for my 4th fill on July 20th, he withdrew my fluid from fill #3 and only withdrew 1.8cc's. That shocked me and explains why I was feeling NOTHING! And why I was HUNGRY. I was a bit worried, I told him he told me that he filled me to 3.5cc's the last time and asked if he thought I had a leak, he said no. He then did the same thing as he did with fill #3, he completely filled my band and slowly withdrew the fluid until some started going thru the band. He ended me at 3.0 cc's. (this is the exact place I was on fill #2) what an idiot! Anyhow, when he fills me up this way, I think my stomach swells and I have spasms and it looks like I have restriciton, but by the evening the swelling goes down and I lose the restriciton. I'm back to no restriction or very little restriction. I leave on my cruise 8/4/07 so I am going to hold off on getting another fill until after I return because I don't want any problems with my fills while out of town and especially in the middle of the ocean. I'm taking an appetite suppresion now, and tryin to DIET very hard to lose 5 more freaken pounds before my cruise. Which I don't think will happen .......grrrrrr. But all in all, I'm going on the cruise at 175 lbs or so, so I am happy that I've lost as much as I have since the band. My goal was to weigh 169 by the cruise, but I don't think that will happen, I'm a little disappointed, but not too bad. I love my band, I just want my restriciton like everyone else! I want to have to eat slow and take small bites - right now I don't have to do any of this! I have slipped on exercise the past week - but trying to get back to it. I did get on the elliptical machine yesterday and plan on doing it today. However, my weight lifting has slipped and I'm craving it so bad right now. I just have not had the time to get the gym, but I think tonight I will have to go no matter what!

Went back for my 4th fill on July 20th, he withdrew my fluid from fill #3 and only withdrew 1.8cc's. That shocked me and explains why I was feeling NOTHING! And why I was HUNGRY. I was a bit worried, I told him he told me that he filled me to 3.5cc's the last time and asked if he thought I had a leak, he said no. He then did the same thing as he did with fill #3, he completely filled my band and slowly withdrew the fluid until some started going thru the band. He ended me at 3.0 cc's. (this is the exact place I was on fill #2) what an idiot! Anyhow, when he fills me up this way, I think my stomach swells and I have spasms and it looks like I have restriciton, but by the evening the swelling goes down and I lose the restriciton. I'm back to no restriction or very little restriction. I leave on my cruise 8/4/07 so I am going to hold off on getting another fill until after I return because I don't want any problems with my fills while out of town and especially in the middle of the ocean. I'm taking an appetite suppresion now, and tryin to DIET very hard to lose 5 more freaken pounds before my cruise. Which I don't think will happen .......grrrrrr. But all in all, I'm going on the cruise at 175 lbs or so, so I am happy that I've lost as much as I have since the band. My goal was to weigh 169 by the cruise, but I don't think that will happen, I'm a little disappointed, but not too bad. I love my band, I just want my restriciton like everyone else! I want to have to eat slow and take small bites - right now I don't have to do any of this! I have slipped on exercise the past week - but trying to get back to it. I did get on the elliptical machine yesterday and plan on doing it today. However, my weight lifting has slipped and I'm craving it so bad right now. I just have not had the time to get the gym, but I think tonight I will have to go no matter what!

Good Morning all - Just stopping by quickly to say hello. 5jacks - you have done amazing! Great job! The hospital called me yesterday to make another appointment for another fill (I'll be calling them back shortly). HOWEVER, if this dr. does not fill it right and listen to me, I'm going back to my surgeon and requesting a new fill doc. The dr is so nice that is doing my fills, however he keeps doing the same thing and I keep getting the same results (this is the definition of insane) He completely closes me up, fills it to 4.cc then slowly withdraws the fluid until I start having some go thru the band. The problem is doing it this way makes my stomach have spasms and swell so it looks like I have restriction. Once I leave the hospital and by the evening time, the swelling is down and I'm back to square one. He has done this twice now and I've gotten the same results. When I go back, if he withdraws the fluid and I show a huge loss then I'm going to demand the other solution. I emailed him about it but he didn't respond to my last email. I'm going to gather a bunch of information about it and take with me to my next appt. (my next appt will probably be Aug 17th). I'm holding off on going until I get back from my cruise. I'm going to demand he fill me up to at least 3.2 cc's and then I will come back that evening and see how it is doing. He told me that he filled my on fill #3 to 3.5ccs but I really don't think he did, I think it was more like 2.5cc's. Fills #4 was filled to 3.0 ccs (that where I was on fill #2). So I'm going to have him not look at what the fluro shows and fill me up to 3.2 cc's, I'll come back that evening and if I have lost restriction, add another .2 cc's. If these dr.s will just listen to me, I think I can finally get to some real restriction! I do have a little restriction at 3.0cc's, but not enough. I can't eat as much as I used to. I can go hours without eating, but sometimes I just lose it and binge which has been a problem of mine for YEARS, so I really need that restriction to help me with that. I have really never PB'd, I have slimed but not PB'd. I can eat regular bites of food and eat just as fast as I did pre band and I know if I had the right restriction, I would not be able to do that. Anyhow, life is hectic right now. My dad is in the hospital, not sure what is going on, his liver enzymes are really high. They are sending in a liver specialist today, so hopefully we will find out what is going on. So I've been living at the hospital since Saturday night with my parents. I'm also trying to get my laundry done and caught up (still trying to catch up from my Branson trip). Trying to get things ready for my cruise in 10 MOE DAYS, 8 hours and 32 minutes (but who is counting?). Mommi-hammi is on the cruise right now, the same one I am going on, so when she gets back I will have to ask her all about it! I will need details! Well, thats my life right now. Exercise has slipped big time over the last week. I did manage to squeeze in a quick 20 min of HITT yesterday on the Elliptical machine, and will try and do it again today. I haven't lifted weights in a week now and my body is craving it big time. Maybe I can go tonight, so we will see. I will be checking in later..........

I'm having the same problem.....But just to let you know, the 4cc band can actually hold 5cc's. I met a lady and she is at 3.9 cc's and finally has restriction, so I would worry just yet. Just keep adding it, and it really doesn't matter how many cc's you have really, the thing that matters is getting you to restriction, whether its 2 cc or 4 cc's. Hang in there!

My dr. emailed me and said I might have a leak. He is actually the fill dr. not my surgeon. How do they tell if you have a leak? What test do they do? I was filled on Friday and by Friday afternoon, I could tell I could feel nothing. So I emailed the doc and told him. I'm so frustrated............

Shawn that is great! I've taken a break on lifting this week, but have managed to walk. Monday I'm starting another Body For Life challenge and ready to get back to building my beach body. lol. I love exercise - actually its not the exercise I love, but the way it makes me feel and look.

enterprise - you look great! Love the blue on you too. Well, I'm so frustrated with this fill dr. He is not my surgeon, my surgeon uses the radiology dept to do the fills - he put the exact same amount of fill in me as I had in fill #2, and again, NO RESTRICTION! I always leave the hospital with restriction - mainly because my stomach swells and spasms, but within 2 to 8 hours I lose it! Here is my history fill #1 - 2.0 cc's Fill #2 - 3.0 cc's fill #3 - 3.5 ccs (he says, but I think he only put 2.5ccs in because when he pulled it out before fill #4, he only pulled out 1.8 ccs - no wonder I was felling zero restriction. Fill #4 - 3.0 ccs - what an idiot, I had this at fill #2 and it did not work, but yet on the machine, the liquid barely was going thru! I'm so frustrated! I asked about the Ominque stuff (sp) and they didn't have it - so I just the dr. an email - he wanted me to email him to tell him if this fill was working. I again ased for the thicker stuff and told him that the way he is doing the fills is givine a false reading the xray machine. My stomach swells and it shows I have retriction and I do but only for a few hours. He needs to just keep adding or take it all out and add the thicker stuff. I'm so frustrated I'm about to cry. Plus those darn 5 inch needs he uses do not feel that great. Its really not painful, but the numbing shot does hurt a bit. Plus, I have to take off work to go do, its just frustrating and I let him know about it. Okay, I'm in such a bad mood today, mainly because of this fill. Plus he puts the same amount of fill back in! What an idiot!%$#&*%$ Well, gotta fun, just dropping in quickly.

I've always been a good dieter, I'm what they call a career dieter. However, I've never been good at lasting more than 3 months and then gaining my weight back and then some. I'm a pro at yo-yo dieting. I do think you have to be serious, you have to be at your last stray and ready to make changes. No, I could not do it on my own. The band is a tool to help me. Even when I say screw it, and want to binge, it won't let me. I'm full and cannot eat, period. Like Edie, I did have to make a commitment to exercise. I believe exercise is a must, I exercise 6 days a week from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on my mood. If I don't want to exercise, I just do my bare minimum of 30 minutes, but other times, I go for the gold and complete my hour. Exercise has made a huge impact on my weight loss. Also, you do have to make the right food choices, you can't eat ice cream or puree snickers and think your going to lose weight. I eat a lot of grilled meats and avoid the bad stuff. Yes, I do splurge every now and then, like last night, I'm on my monthly, and was craving cake or chocolate like no other, so I had a slice of german chocolate cake. The difference in pre-band and post-band is, before, I would have eaten 2 or 3 or maybe even 4 slices of the cake, now that I have the band, I had a slice and I was done. I think you have to be serious, if your not it won't work. My cousin just had gastric bypass (she was not serious about losing weight), I have lost more than she has with my band. It takes a mind change and determination, and the band will be your friend and be your tool, but you have to do the work as well. Good-luck with whatever you choose.

Sheri - mom's always knows best! Your mom is so right! Pre band I would have eaten the entire cake! And still would be eating it today. I certainly would not have stopped with 1 slice. Thanks for sharring your mothers wisdom!

You guys are too sweet! You guys inspire me too! When I'm feeling down and ready to give up, I can always count on my January Bandsters to lift me up and push me to the finish line! I go for my fill tomorrow - and man do I need it! Last night was the night from hell............I got off work at 5:00, it was 98 degrees outside, and I had a flat. Called DH he came and fixed it, then had to go to grocery store, by the time I got home I was starvin', ate a salad, and still hungry, then had TWO granola bars, bad bad. But that is not the worse of it.....I ended up making a German chocolate bundt cake - you actually put the can of frosting inside the cake (the coconut pecan frosting) and then melt chocolate frosting to go on top, anyhow, had a slice of that and a glass of milk. I was miserable last night. I am also on my monthly so that is not helping. My DH was like are you sure you still have the band. I was eating like there was no tomorrow. So, I had no self control last night, didn't even exercise, I was tired and cranky. I am feeling much better today and I think I've got myself under control again. lol. But I need a fill! Badly! So tomorrow morning is the day and I can't wait, I just pray I get some restriction - fast! I just can't believe I have 3.5 ccs and still can eat a freaken' horse. Well, I have a busy day today at work, I have a big conference call I have to get ready and prepared for today, so I better sign off and get busy. I hope everyone has a wonderful day today.

***bump*** good info to review

I joined a gym for 2 reasons - 1. No room in my house to add workout equipment 2. I want to pick the time to work out, so I joined a 24/7 gym. I work out after my kids are in bed, or at 5 am. Lately its been in the evening, but I feel better if I get out of bed and work out at 5 am before I start my day. I am on my 13th week now of not missing a day of exercise!

Let see, I'm 6 mos post op - down a total of 74 lbs, and for the first time in my life, I am no longer GAINING weight. Heck yes, i would do it again in a heart beat! This has been the best decision I have ever made. It is a tool to help me and I have used it as such. I don't rely on the band solely, but I do depend on the band to help know when to quit eating. I have to make the right food choices, but the band reminds me when I've had enough. So we are a great team together!

Today is my 6 month band anniversary! I'm down to 174lbs - a total loss now of 74 lbs and I have only 29 lbs to go before reaching my goal weight of 145 lbs! My dr. goal weight for me is 155, but I'm shooting for 145! What have I learned in the past 6 months - or what has happened to me in the past 6 months: 1. I've learned that food is not everything to me, I don't have to be in the clean plate club, I've learned to eat to live, not live to eat. 2. I've learned when I'm stressed, I don't have to eat, I don't have to rely on food to make me feel better. (shopping does just the same - lol) 3. I can now pull ANYTHING out of my closet and it it will NOT be too small, it might be too big, but not too small. 4. I now am starting to like me, I like the way I look, and I don't think I'm that ugly of a person any longer! I'm still critical of myself, but getting better at excepting things that I cannot change. 5. I now LOVE to shop - I hated to shop in the past, nothing fit! Now it is so great to pull something off the size 12 rack and it fit! 6. I love healthy food, I'm not that big of a chocoholic after all - I still love chocolate, but I don't have to have it everyday! 7. I have learned to love exercise 8. I can cross my legs, walk up a hill and squeeze into tiny spaces now! 9. I actually am not the fatest person in a room now. 10. My blood sugar is normal 11. no more snoring - although I still have to sleep with cpap machine - hoping this comes off soon. 12. I've been called skinny! 13. I've had young men checking me out at the gym - even flirting with me! before - they would have ran the other direction. Although I would not act on such a pass (happily married for almost 20 years now), I do find it flattering. 14. I'm still learning about the band, but feel like I am in control of my eating, my life and my weight for the first time! I am no longer GAINING weight! 15. My dr. wants to use me as his lap band success patient, he wants to put me on his 2008 calendar he produces every year. 16. I go to the pool and no longer feel like everyone is staring at my fat thighs 17. my cellulite is shrinking 18. I have muscle and definition 19 - i'm stronger, I can lift more, and I can go further than I ever have. 20 I no longer dread activities with my children 21. My family is proud of me 22. I look forward to getting out of the bed in the mornings and getting ready for my day! 23. I'm happy - I love life. 24. My marriage has grown stronger 25, My relationship with my children is better because we can do more things together 26. I am not welcomed in the Lane Bryant store anylong - good bye forever! 27. I wear sexy bras and panties now - no more granny panties and the 6 inch bras straps! I'm just an average C now. 36 C - no more 40 or 42 C's which are so difficult to find. 28. I am more positive with people now, not so negative (probably because I'm so much happier)/ These are just a few things I've learned or accomplished these past 6 months.

I agree - the band is not easy! Its a daily struggle and it seems it changes EVERYDAY! grrrrrr. But I do love my band, no matter how difficult it may seem at times, I love the feeling of control I have!