sandradee0124

It will fly by. Congrats on getting to where you have; have an awesome day!~

Congrats on getting through your first fill :-). Don't let the "I cant do it'ers" get to you -- feed off of their issues to learn success. There was a lady at support group the other night that blamed the weather, the band, her family. Would not take any accountability. I think that is the best thing to take away from this -- its mostly you. We can support and your band is a piece, but the rest is your heart, head (and stomach ok). I think my surgeon said it could take 3 or 4 fills before hitting the sweet spot. I just had my second and I'm feeling a little over-sweet actually, but time will tell. Have a great day!

How lucky you are with new grandbabies and a wedding to plan! You have done so fantastic and are such an inspiration -- enjoy this time! :-) Sandy

Fantastic accomplishment -- congratulations! And have fun when your boyfriend gets home! Enjoy the changes and each other :-)

I agree with the "call your primary care physician". Here are some thoughts: Are you eating anything different? Like Meal Replacement shakes that you might not be tolerating? Nuts or Protein bars? New Vitamins? Sugar substitutes? It might be an allergy to something you are eating, or even some kind of bug you are working through. I had a lactose issue with meal replacement shakes and it was very difficult for awhile. Once I figured out the issue and changed it up, my symptoms improved. Best wishes, feel better............

I love the statement "how can I be so lucky?". We are, we are. I can't wait for the day when I don't crave potatoes in any form, congratulations on thinking that. I'm sorry you have had a bad week; I applaud your approach to the emotions and wish you a better week :-).

Great job! Laughing at the chewing cottage cheese. You are doing the best things to keep moving forward, getting ready for your surgery and beyond. Best wishes and have a great trip!

I think that is what is so great about support groups -- you see all kinds and it fortifies your resolve. I felt that way last night as well. Keep it up :-). Sandy

Amazon.com: Liquid Biotin Extract: Health & Personal Care And it has B-12 in it too! Good luck :-).

Had a big fill again yesterday and felt restriction from the start. I had a protein shake in the afternoon and drank as much water as I could. When I got home from Support Group I was starving. I made some canned chicken up with a little may, shredded it fine and took ONE bite. Never went down and took about an hour to get over it. Today is a new day. Drank about 1/2 of a protein shake on the way to the gym, drank as much water as I can. Nothing solid gonna even pass these lips today. I need to let this swelling go down before I even try to eat. Support group was fun. There were about 35 people there. First we did taste tests on chocolate and vanilla meal replacement shakes and then 5 different kinds of bars. I was very interested to find out my favorite bar wasn't even in the running for lowest calories, fat and carbs and highest protein. The ones we tried and liked were: Muscle Milke Light Vanilla Toffee Crunch South Beach Cinnamon Reaisin Special K Strawberry Zone (Graham Cracker Chocolate?) I've been eating Kind Protein Bars, and they have way more calories for the amount of protein I get. I'll be giving those to a friend as a present :-). Slim Fast Low Carb won both for chocolate and vanilla. We tried Bariatric Advantage, Premier and Optifast. We also talked about hunger triggers, more on that tomorrow. Have a good day everybody! :rolleyes2:

How could it be a waste of your time? Its a big decision, but one that will help you improve your health for a lifetime. I don't know about your insurance company. Blue Cross California didn't even take 24 hours to approve. But my BMI was higher and I was on blood pressure medication. However, it was an HMO (not PPO), and it was supposedly higher. Google insurance approvals for lap band -- it will bring your spirits up. Insurance companies are making big changes in how they view the cost of wls versus a lifetime of co-morbidities. Sandy

The noises your stomach will make are amazing! Just look at it this way -- you are getting your body and mind ready for this life-changing experience :-). There will be some days that seem long, but seriously the end result and even the victories along the way will be SO WORTH IT. I don't mean to sound wierd, but I like hearing my stomach growl now. Hadn't heard that in years........ And I feel so much energy and joy for life I hadn't had in years. Best wishes to you, and congratulations on starting on the road to health! This forum is an excellent place to share and learn. Sandy

Unbelievable workout, and great inspiration! Your workouts are amazing. I feel you on the carbs. When I was getting my fill yesterday the surgeon mentioned getting more carbs during the day (an extra meal with 40% carbs as a matter of fact). Could explain the lack of energy. Good luck!

I am in kind of the same circumstance you are. I've been married and had relationships after that, but nothing much at all in the last 6 or 7 years. I'm using this time to get healthier, inside and out. Develop some knew interests and see where it takes me. You sound like a very put-together lady. I have absolutely no doubt that you will find someone to make your life what you want it to be. In the interim, enjoy what you have. You seem very smart and funny and obviously healthy (!), so start to love you for you. Your achievements are amazing and you have a love for life that is envious. Hugs! Sandy

Fantastic! I bet it felt so good! Its a good goal for me to keep in my head for next year :-). Thank you for sharing............:tt2:

Good luck on your deal today, keep us updated! I need to go to the movies more. I really miss that feeling of "getting away from it all". :-) Sandy

Fantastic, as usual! Hope you had a great day!

Thank you for your post, and again congratulations. I like the thought about weight lifting efficiency -- I have to say that I thought I was doing ok on my own with weight training UNTIL I met with a trainer. Ick. But the accomplishments you've made are well worth it. Thanks again for the update, keep it up, and keep in touch........ Sandy

Also try Nioxin shampoos and conditioners? When my ex and my mom had chemo they were told to use those and both had great results. This was in addition to Biotin.

My blood pressure was up a little so they put me back on medication daily for awhile. Could be the fact that its 100+ degrees? Oh well I'm good with that. I'm going to watch my salt intake a little as I think I eat a lot of salty fish and turkey bacon. I lost 9 lbs since the last visit on 6/28! I've lost 31 lbs since surgery 5/26 which is pretty fantastic for an old lady! I'm happy with that, given I didn't really have any full signals and was getting hungry way before the 4 hour time windows. Spoke with the surgeon at length about the amount I'm working out and eating. I was told to reduce the days I work out to 4-5 max for right now, and have a 2nd meal of protein and carbs within an hour after working out. I might be doing a little too much right now. I had 5.5 ccs in a 10 cc band before today. I'm up to 7.25, so she added quite a bit. After she was done I drank a sip of water and it came back up so she took out .25 (there was 7.5 in there). I'm still feeling a little tight and she told me to stay on liquids all week if I can as the band tends to tighten in two or three days. I am getting closer though!!! I have the next fill scheduled on 8/6 (2 1/2 weeks from now), and I've left that open and will see how this goes. I'm going to a support group meeting tonight on taste testing protein bars. Even if I can't do much testing myself, I'll get a good idea of what tastes good and what's out there so I'll send out some info tomorrow. I also have to start an emotional eating support group on 7/28. This was part of the contract I signed when I started. It is once a week for six weeks and I'm sure it will help but I just don't like that length of committment lol. News from the band front here in So Cal. Happy Monday everybody; have a great day! Sandy :rolleyes2:

Ughhhhhhh. Kudos to you for all your work!! I'm amazed! Your pictures and your posts are so inspirational! When I read this (and my stomach hurts from the little work I did yesterday), I'm ready to move forward! Thanks, and best of luck toward success with the program. Sandy

Best of luck! I'm a grazer too, which is why I try to stay out of the house as much as possible! Even with the band and no reasonable food to graze on in the house, I manage to eat stuff in too large of portions, each too many times a day, and turn ordinary pancake mix into something delectable and not on the plan lol. I've found drinking liquids helps. And sugar free popsicles and jello........... Best wishes, let us know how it goes!

I was banded 5/26. Ironically I thought about this yesterday trying to lay on a lounge chair on my stomach (I have major tan line issues lol). I still can't lay on my stomach for longer than a couple minutes before it feels uncomfortable. I told my surgeon this today at the fill and he said it could be another couple weeks before that goes away altogether. But now that I had another fill today, it will proably be a couple more weeks. I don't sleep on my stomach, so I never noticed it before the laying out scenario. My port is about 1/2 above and to an inch the right of my belly button. Good luck to you :-)

They poke and prod a lot to get that fill in. I had my second fill this morning and the surgeon told me to lay low for a week and try to do liquids and mushies whenever possible. I felt a little tight at the appointment, and a little challenged drinking Water this afternoon, but after adding ice it did get better. I tend to err on the side of restriction unless I can't even eat soft foods. Then, after a week I'd be in the doctor's office. Good luck!

Yesterday afternoon I bought a WII fit. Didn't use it yet. Anyways, on the way home I was hungry for ice cream for the first time in a long time. Kitty corner from the Best Buy strip mall is a McDonalds and an El Pollo Loco (which has a Tastee Freeze). I drive through El Pollo and order a fat free small vanilla cone. Not bad. I'm told they don't have any ice cream. Sign? Probably. But do I listen? No. I have to drive around a block to get to McDonalds. During the drive a lap band commercial comes on. I quickly change the channel. I go through the drive through and get a chocolate dipped cone no less. $1.04 well spent! I'm driving away and its hot out and my window is down. The vanilla ice cream melts fast and I have ice cream running down my face, my shirt. I got about 1/3 of that thing down before I had to pull over and throw it away. And then I have to walk into my townhouse, full of chocolate and ice cream all over me, carrying a WII fit!! The irony........... What is up with that??? I don't even want to imagine.............. :rolleyes2: