slikchik10

Ok...got on the scales this morning...I'm on the brink...200.0! I'm hoping for the magic # tomorrow. Whoo hoo!!!

I totally understand, but I think learning to eat smaller and slower is part of the banding experience. I know the first month after my WHOPPER fill (Dr. words...lol) I lost 7 lbs. It has taken me the past 2 months to learn to slow down and eat smaller. I'm doing better with it. Toddler silverware had helped to alter how my intake is, thus...not as much PB. Good luck

OK....it's been a while since I posted, but can I just say....YYAAAAHHHH HOOOO! :whoo:I'm not the only one in a slump right now. :faint:I read the posts from the last couple of days and it's amazing to see that we're all fighting the battle of the doldrums. Since my fill a couple of months ago, it's taken me a while to get the hang of eating slow, small and such. Then I hit a mood of I want JUNK...and lots of it. Now, I've gained a few lbs. back and my Dr. appt. is tomorrow. He'll fuss...so what, I'm a big girl, I can take it. Anyhoo...sometimes it feels like you're struggling through this on your own, but I love the Marchies thread, cause we're in the battle at the same time. Chin up folks, we'll get out of our slumps and move forward. Thanks again for all your comments. It's nice to know it's not just me. A.

Well, first...for my girlie time of the month...motrin is the only thing that will cut it, so....children's motrin (liquid form) is what I use...with LOTS of Water to swoosh it right through. As for the other...I take flaxseed regularly and my cholestrol came down 29 pts. since last year. I totally believe in the joint supplements. I've got a friend that should be in a wheelchair with her knee issues but she takes the joint supplements and she's a EMT. I figure that if I baby my tummy, and really make sure that the motrin is flushed straight through, and I don't take too much, it should be ok. And...seriously, I'm a supplement person, and it's been great for me for years. Good luck! :clap2:

Well, I decided to wait on my current school pics (yup, I'm a teacher) to reflect the before/after. I'm rather pleased. (except for the dopey tilt they do). Annette

Here lately....for me, it's been 1 of 3 things. I've eaten too big of a bite of chicken, not chewed enough, or too fast. Either way....stuck/hurt. I would suggest altering one of the 3 to see if it will help. Good luck, Annette

Hi all. I've noticed that by week 2 after I've had a fill, I really begin to feel the restriction. So at lunch I was eating a small apple (already had my protein) and suddenly....wham-O!! There's a saying in the south about vomiting so hard that it's like vomiting your socks off....that was today's PB....:faint:. I've done apples before, but I guess today wasn't my day. It's funny now, but then...right when my class of 35 6th graders were just starting, not good. Things with this fill are actually going pretty well. I've lost 3 lbs. over the last week...so that's good for me, weight coming off a bit quicker than before. Hope all is well with others. I really don't PB much, but today was a toe curler for sure! Annette :confused:

Well, I know we all understand your position. We as teachers are give, give, givers, but in this case, you really should think of yourself first. I know for myself I postponed surgery until I had spring break. That's not necessarily a choice for some, but for me, I wanted to focus on my learning the new routine and understanding the commitment I would be making. So...give serious thought to what you want. I know you love your kids...we wouldn't do this job if we didn't. But...this surgery is for YOU...and doing what is best for you should be your mantra. Good luck! Annette

I too am losing slowly. How many fills have you had yet? I know I'm on my 3rd and I feel the restricting that has been mentioned before. There's a really cool page here on the boards, in the fill section I think, that talks about do you need a fill, exercise, dietary changes, etc. That really helped me look at which of thing things I really needed to change to help move it along. It's moving, but slowly. I hope this helps. I'll look for the link later. A.

Well, after the many months that folks have mentioned their experiences with PB...I had my 1st today. I must say that I expected my head to spin like Linda Blair it happened so fast. I'm not sure if it was a chewing prob, a speed prob, or my tummy just didn't like what I put in it, but WHAM-O...it was gone and life was a bit better. :nervous Anyway, I'm waiting to take me new school pic for the year (I'm a teacher). I want my before & after to be my school shots. It'll really show, that's for sure. :hungry: Now...I've got to figure out what my tummy will eat for dinner....hhmmm? Have a great night y'all. Annette

Serenity, I understand about the sticking on the way through the band. I too have had that feeling. But since this last fill, I'm finding out that I must take a smaller size bite of my Protein and chew, chew, chew and it is finally going down ok. I think (for myself) that I was eating too big of a bite for it to pass correctly. Also, because of this, I'm eating slower and starting to recognize full. I had my band at the end of March and am just now getting to where I feel like things are beginning to settle into a good fill zone. (yes, it's AUGUST...lol) I too understand the frustration of wanting the dang thing to do it's job, but....checking in here, reading your Monthly group's message board, and looking up for similar experiences, it helps to realize that we're in this together. It'll come.... Good luck! Annette

Are there any specific sessions that you would strongly recommend. I teach 6th gr. Math & Science. Any ideas would help. Thanks!

Everything you mentioned about hamburger, chicken, tuna, etc....that's Protein! Does your Dr. have a nutritionist you can visit? I know that part of the "hoops" I had to jump through prior to surgery was seeing a nutritionist. She helped me to figure out those protein, starch, veggie, etc. relationships. THEN....just after my 2nd fill, I went to my surgeon's nutritionist to re-educate myself about eating correctly with the band. I knew what a protein was, but in relation to my band, I had to figure out how to work the "tool." I would suggest that if you can do this, it would help manage the full feeling and your fills should become more effective. I just had my 3rd fill....and boy, I sure feel it this time. My dr. said I needed a "whopping fill." So, now I really feel the difference. I can still get down mushy things, but today was my 1st day on more solid items and I can eat much less compared to before the fill. So, good luck, I hope this helps. Annette

Finally, I'm sitting in the tunnel seeing the light of ONDERLAND!!! I'm so excited, I've not seen Onderland in 15 yrs. I'm so excited, I'm 2 sizes smaller than this time last year, and I'm wearing clothes I last fit into 15 yrs. ago. SWEET!!! Onward and DOWNWARD! :whoo:

Has anyone attended any of the inservice workshops given by the Kagan Institute? Just looking for opinions of some of their stuff. Thanks, Annette :cry

Well...I returned this past Mon., kids Wed., and I made it to Today! :whoo: Thankfully the group this year seems a bit better than last year's crowd. Looks like it'll be a good one. Best of luck to all! Annette

I was also banded on 3/30....and things have been pretty static for the last 6wks. I'm doing my exercise, but it's still annoying not to see the results on the scale in weightloss. I've too have had 2 fills and the only comfort I've found is the NSV in all of this. I am having fill #3 next week, and my Dr. takes measurements also. This is the NSV portion...seeing my measurements going down although the weight might not move as quickly. I've dropped 2 shirt sizes since surgery and I'm down to the size I was back in 2001. I keep telling myself I didn't get this way in a short amount of time, so it's going to take time to get the weight off (btw, it's healthier ). I teach and in my opinion I have not seen changes over the summer but going back to work in my room this week, my fellow staff members have noticed changes that have happened since June. Chin up....I truly believe it's the fill factor. I know that this 2nd fill of mine is finally (after about 2 wks since it was done) beginning to be felt. I expect this next fill to be more of a tweak than #2. Patience....and it will happen. Best of luck! Annette

:help: My suggestion is find a student teacher in the building. I know my 1/2 sis. begins her student teaching next week, she'd be pleased to sift through any stuff from a retired teach. Besides, I remember my early days...and I was ALWAYS glad to have a chance at a retired teacher's stuff. We know we can't take the stuff with us when we die....so...find a new kid to help and pass on some stuff. Anyway, best of luck. I've been there and it's not pretty in the best of circumstances...much less after surgery. Remember, we're not Wonder Woman....YOU come first! (I realize this goes against all teacher genetics, but with surgery, it's an attitude you need ) Take care and good luck! Annette

I don't mean to burst anyone's bubble, but has anyone mentioned that mid to late Jan. is when Vegas has some major conventions and room rates are $$$$$ (group or not?). My hubby has a couple of conventions there a year and we go up (we're in Cali) usually during Feb instead of Jan because he's learned when a good time to go is. There is the Prez. day weekend possibility isn't there? Just thought I'd mention LasVegasAdvisor.com as a great resource for all of this as well as other sites mentioned so far. Like I said, my hubby is very involved with stuff in Vegas and he's a penny pincher too, so when I mentioned the date for this being Jan...well, he looked like this... So, just my input to this adventure. Annette

Well, today was sure an eye opener. I went to city hall to pay for my dog license. After paying, I went out to the car...and found my battery dead. Yup, a dead battery, so dead not even a hitch. I thought about it for a moment...AAA or walk the few blocks down to Autozone to buy the thing. I figured it was a waste to do the AAA when the store wasn't very far and I was hoping that once I was there a poor soul would take pity on me and drive me back with the battery. BTW, it's currently 93 outside so by the time I got there I was hot. After getting the battery picked out, the guy tried to find me someone that could give me a lift, but the extras were out on their lunch breaks. So, I hefted the battery back down to my car. Now, I'm thinking that my battery is on the small side, maybe 30 lbs. Which is about the amount I've lost since last year. Wellllll....carrying that thing in the hot sun for a few blocks was a miserable experience! :drama: But the lesson learned from this was wonderful...just realizing my body had been lugging around that much for over 3 years compared to where I am now. I thought back to my pre-surgery journey and remembered how I felt after all day on my feet (I teach). Now I am able to walk/stand easier, I can lift and do more things, and I feel better in general. I still got hot and it took a bit to change out the battery, but walking in the store with the old battery, after walking out with the new felt REALLY great! :whoo:The serviceman that waited on me was impressed. NSV for SURE!!! Annette

Well, everybody's different, but as for me, I told everyone. There are about 6-7 people on my staff that have had the RNY so many folks are familiar with things being different for surgery folks. During my pre-op liquid phase...I avoided the breakfasts...I LOVE Breakfast, but I just took my shakes to the lunches. Like I said, everyone's different and I currently am the test run of the band for many folks on our staff that have tried losing but don't want the RNY route. So...I'm a poster child...LOL.:omg: Our principal was a diabetic and had to check & dose himself during lunches, so I didn't let it bother me with sharing , we're a pretty tight knit bunch. I guess I'm an honesty is the best policy girl... I hope this helps, Annette

As I read many times after my surgery...."Welcome to bandster hell!" I think it's especially true for those of us that are slower losers. I know for myself, I've only lost 18# since surgery but my Dr. seems pleased. I figure losing is losing. As for where you are on the journey...I would have to agree with previous folks that told me that you really can't judge your weight loss until the fills begin. Besides, I've found that sometimes I gain a lb. or 2 for no reason or I'm losing inches instead of lbs. when the scale isn't changing. Either way...chin up, I know it's discouraging...been there, still there sometimes :rolleyes but you can get through it. I truly think that the mental adjustment for us is that the band isn't the same in it's after effects as the bypass. We see so many that have had the RNY where their weightloss is quick, and even some bandsters are having similar experiences to the RNY, but there again, loss will be loss. Don't worry about all this until after the fill. Just check your what you can control. Are you making good food choices? I know that I've got an appointment with the nutritionist at my Dr. so I can evaluate my choices. I want to make the tool work, so I need to make sure I'm using all the possible things to help it work (exercise, food choices, etc.). Again, give it time. We live in a society that expects instant gratification, but the band isn't that. It's gonna retrain us, which is a good thing. Come here, we're all here to support each other. I love this thread, it's really helped to know that there are others out there that have the band and are having success even though we're losing slower than other bandsters. Good luck! Annette

I truly think it's the genetics. I recently found my bio mom & my 1/2 sister. It's interesting to now see the genetics of the thing. My sis works out like crazy....and she's in good shape, but not a skinny mini, just an average woman in USA. Me....I won't be a workout fiend...3x a week so far for me...and I'm sure I'll continue to be a slow loser. I went for my 2nd fill yesterday and my Dr. was pleased. I was shocked! I have been beating myself up for only losing about 15# since surgery, but I'd lost 3 last month... So....I figure, losing, is losing. I made an appointment with the nutritionist to exam some of my eating, to see if any changes could be made to make better use of the band. I also figure that I'll have to add some length to my workouts, cause 3x a week is about all I can schedule. Also, I'm going in for my annual physical with my PCP, I'm hoping he'll look into other causes I might have for slow losing...since there's a family history now. Chin up folks....really, we can't compare ourselves to the RNY or other bandsters. Losing is still losing! I realized yesterday while waiting at the Dr. office that I'd just gone on vacation and I still lost 3 lbs! I've NEVER had that experience! :faint:So, slow or not...Loss is loss! Thanks for all your support during these times. Annette

I go to the monthly support meetings and that helps, but still....we mostly a few newbies that have the band...most old-timers are RNY. Our numbers are growing, but I find a lot of support and encouragement on this board. I did go to Curves this afternoon .....since I'm back from vacation and would like to have a routine before school starts again. Maybe that will kick start my metabolism, who knows? You know the old saying... "Tie a knot in the end of the rope and hang on for the ride, it could get a little bumpy!" :gluck:

I'd be surprised if my metabolic rate isn't lower....sheesh, what a pain. Still, I try to remember that I've not gained ANY back....so, level or downward...it's at least better than heading up.