Banannie

Thanks for the comments Brandi, I will promise to not leave! And yes, I WANT you guys chomping on my heals Nat - Glad you talked to the nutritionist! This is way easier with the right restriction. I'm probably a bit on the loose side (had an unfill about a month ago after getting too tight) but I need to actually eat a bit more with the training sessions coming up.

Oh gosh girls, I certainly didn't take anything you said as criticism or bad mouthing, I think Nat's right, it's the fat girl "I should hide behind my accomplishments" thing. I have horrible self esteem. HORRIBLE. I know you guys are supportive! As I said, there is 100% absolutely NO WAY I'd have done this well with out YOU GUYS. You're my rock and stability - ALL OF YOU! I just don't want anyone to be intimidated! I want people to come and ask "what the heck are you doing??" without thinking I'm going to judge them or think less of them, because I've been on both sides of this struggle - I've had success and I've struggled. I know how much it sucks when you totally and completely want to do something, and are struggling. And if I can help, I want to! So ok, I'll put my ticker back up tonight (I have it set up on my home computer) See, this is why I'm on this group - you don't let me go hide under a rock!

Brandi - YAY on the elliptical! You know, you're probably reenergizing some muscle tissue which is why you've been steady on the weight and not dropping. I wouldn't worry for another week or two! But go talk to your doc and see about a fill - if nothing else, go chat with them, they may be able to see a few things to do differently to rock it all again! I admit, part of the reason I haven't been on the board as much is I specifically don't want others to feel bad that they "aren't doing as well as Banannie" - I'm so sorry about that! Remember this isn't a race! I'm fortunate enough to be able to make this my #1 priority and have the funds to do the trainer and such. I think I'm going to pull my ticker off so people don't get frustrated with me. I want to be here to support you guys AND to get support (honestly, I could NOT have done it without you guys!) and not have anyone mumble under their breath "oh there's that Banannie again..."

BK - congrats on the new job girl! That's AWESOME!!! Brandi - I noticed your "Red Brandi" "Blue Brandi" antics disappeared too! I thought that was too funny... darn LBT! And Nat my girl... YOU CAN DO THIS. I know it, and deep down, YOU know it. Remember how you rocked this all early on? You KNOW you can do it! Ask yourself this question, and write down the answers: Why do I want to lose weight? List like 10 things Then rank them, 10 being highest importance, 1 being lowest, and yes you can have multiple 10's. And yes, being hot & sexy should be on the list! Put this in a place you'll see it at least 2 times a day, like your bathroom mirror. Make a copy, and take it with you. Put it in your purse. Whenever you're craving something that you know is off limits, pull the list out and read it. Then tell yourself I AM WORTH IT. Tell yourself "I deserve to lose weight!" "I deserve to be thinner" and "I deserve to feel better" Plan out the night before every single thing that's going to go into your mouth the next day, and prepare for it. When you get tempted, tell yourself that bad food choice is not on your list of approved foods, and that it's just NOT AN OPTION. As for exercise go lightly at first. You got out of the groove and tried to jump back in with both feet here, and yeah, that would discourage ANYONE. Do 10 minutes on the elliptical. Just 10. When you're on it and workin' it, maybe you'll decide to do 15. Tell yourself you can stop after 10, but would prefer to do 15. I bet you do 15! Count walks with DS as exercise. Keep a log - it'll make you accountable! Then tomorrow, add 2 minutes to the time on the elliptical. Just start back small, and work your way up. As for exercise, join a gym. If it's not the one you went to last week that's ok, but join one. Once you're comfortable doing a decent distance on cardio, sign up for a few personal training sessions. REQUEST THEY NOT KILL YOU. You need to learn the safe way of using the machines and get a good routine set up for you. Request they do a "easy day" routine and a "killer day" routine, and go to the gym with the mindset of at least doing the easy day one. Once you're out and doing it, you KNOW you'll start alternating in those "killer day" routines! I have so much faith in you girl! Don't give up, just take some baby steps. If you do something bad (not exercise, eat something bad) don't beat yourself up. Just remember we all spent ALL our lives eating bad. It's just a mistake, put it behind you, don't fret about it, and think of some positive affirmations you can tell yourself the next time you get close. Because NOTHING tastes as good as thin feels!!! And you know, I have days where I really just want to eat. Everything. ALL. OF. IT. Like last night - I was out racing with my buddies and we went to a brewpub after. There is one sandwich there that I always get. Hoagy roll stuffed with smoked turkey, melted cheese, and grilled onions, and tater tots with ranch to dip them in. LOVE IT. Know what? I knew before hand where we were going for dinner. So, I ate lunch late. Ate a South Beach Diet bar an hour before we left for the restaurant. Guess what? I wasn't hungry enough to eat once we got there. So I cooked a chicken sausage when I got home. NOTHING tastes as good as thin feels!!!!!!! Just know you can make a mistake and that doesn't mean you're a failure. You're normal. Everyone makes mistakes. Just tell yourself to move on, and start making good choices right then, not tomorrow...

I PMd ya a week or to ago - I'll do it again now! Thanks Georgia!

Hey Puddin! Hope things are good! I've been following your journey and would love to continue reading your blog - I PM'd you my info, would love to have access!

Brandi - I'm still SO jealous of your size 10's - and all the fun you're having! You go girl! You'll have to tell us what's up with the new boy and nighttime exercise! Anyway, I'm a classic "pear" shape so my booty & hips are keeping me in 14/16's still! I guess it's a tradeoff - you want to shrink your top, I want to shrink my butt! (well, not too much, I like having curves!) Nat - no secrets to the weight loss - I've just made it my #1 priority! I get to the gym usually 5x per week, no alcohol (which is HARD!) and I'm eating too few calories (and I know it, but it's working, so I keep doing it... bad Annie). And I bought myself the same soap and LUV it too! You should start going to the gym now - you wouldn't believe how much it helps to do weights & have some muscle to burn the fat! You'll also have the opportunity to "mix up" your workout and get your heart rate up! OK gotta run! LOVE you ladies!

Ok, Ok... I was out of town for work on my 5 mo "bandiversary" so I don't have any recent pics, but at 6 mo, which is coming up in a few weeks on the 14th, I'll snap some pics and hopefully be brave enough to post them... (maybe only on the yahoo group) I'm a total weenie that way! Since I've lost fast my head's having a hard time keeping up with my body - I still think I look like I did at 282 lbs! So even though I had people calling me "hot" over the weekend, I still think I look like crap... darn head games! Exact same thing some of you have said - some days I think I look hot, other days I think "Dang, still got a long way to go! I'm still a fattie!"

Hi guys! Sorry I've been absent - just been busy. Work is busy, lots of exercise, friends, and I race cars, and racing season is well underway! I got a fill at the beginning of May and got SUPER tight mid-may at my TOM - lucky me, I flew out of town for a business trip the next day, not realizing how bad off I was. I could hardly get fluids down! Teeny tiny sips... for FOUR DAYS until I got back into town and could get an unfill! The doc initially wanted to take all my fluid out but I didn't want that, then he said 1cc (I had 2.9cc in a 4cc band) and I didn't want that, either, if I could help it, so we compromised at 0.5cc. INSTANT relief but I was still inflamed for a few days. Now I'm back at 2.7cc's (where I was in April) and will just live with that for a while... Glad to hear everyone's doing pretty well - sounds like everyone's had some great stories and adventures lately!

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: WAY TO GO KIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Sarah, you should DEFINATELY celebrate that you have at least one recorded day in Onederland! I totally understand that you can't really get comfortable until it's consistent (I did the SAME thing!) but you should be so HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!! GO GIRL!

JEN! Definitely go for the unfill - I completely understand the pain you're going through AND the frustration - that was me last week! Luckily I didn't puke, but I could BARELY get fluids down. Keep us posted and CONGRATS on the 2 lbs! :eek:

And to everyone - WTG on your progress! Kim - you'll likely just wake up one day, look down at the scale and go WOO HOO I'M IN ONEDERLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kim - yup, had to go get an unfill as soon as I got home. I was hoping to just go back to where I was before the fill I got earlier this month, but the doc said I should get more... he also suggested a complete unfill but I totally wasn't hearing any of that! He wanted to take out at least 1cc but I really didn't want that big of a setback either, so we agreed on 0.5cc with the promise I'd go back today if I was still struggling! So I went from 2.7 to 2.9 cc's on May 2nd, now had a 0.5cc unfill and am at 2.4 cc's - with an appointment for a fill mid-next week - probably will just go back to 2.7 for now. I'm certainly close to my sweet spot! Before, I didn't really notice it getting really tight near my TOM, now I'm going to be ULTRA sensitive of fills around that time! All I can say is that really reinforced how miserable it can be when you're too tight! I'll never hesitate for an unfill in the future - I think on Thursday I managed to get only 25-30oz of fluids in! Yikes! It absolutely HURT to drink even that much - I was taking tiny sips and it would get hung up before going down. But, after the unfill, I'm back up to my 10+ glasses a day now.

Dang it! I hate trying to edit these notes - I actually weighed in at 196.4 today, so I definitely hit Onederland sometime late last week!

Well, I made it!!! But NOT the way I'd hoped! I started the month at 210 lbs. So, I figured, since I have been averaging 12-14 lbs a month the past few months, that I'd be able to make it to Onederland by the end of the month. I had a fill on May 2nd. Everything was fine & dandy, it felt PERFECT until last Monday. I tightened up HORRIBLY but I thought it was because of a too-big bite at lunch. Nope. Took me a day or so to figure out it tightened up right when my TOM hit! Unfortunately, I flew out of town for work Tuesday, and could barely get fluids down (luckily, I still have never PB'd). Talked to my doc, they said to come in as soon as I flew back Friday to get a slight unfill, but to call if it got worse. I got REALLY dehydrated... yuk! So I got back & an unfill Friday, jumped on the scale Sat am at 197.6! I figured, well, I'm likely still dehydrated so I'll wait until Monday to report out... YAY!!!! I'm there, and never looking back!

Sassy - it DOES sound like you're too tight. I had that problem back in March - I couldn't get liquids down easily (no PB's, but even little sips were gurgling down sloooowwwwlllyyy). I got just a tiny unfill and felt SO MUCH BETTER! If it doesn't get better today, get a very slight unfil TOMORROW before the weekend. If you PB again on fluids, don't wait until tomorrow - you could get dehydrated and end up in the hospital! We don't want that!! And Steph - that is the best thing EVER! Glad no one was looking over my shoulder when I opened that one up at work!

Nat - I loved your post - I'm so glad you're back! WTG on the walk, and I'm so glad you're feeling better! I know you'll kick booty this month with that great attitude! Definitely post on the yahoo forum! Brandi - WTG on the workouts!!!!!!!!! You're the queen! I can't really do pushups - I need to try, though. BK - glad your tummy is feeling better and glad you're enjoying your time off! Sassy - YAY on the restriction! Steph - WTG on the 2 lbs! I love it when the scale moves (I'm probably a bit too obsessed with the scale, unfortunately). Please post the e-mail on yahoo for those of us who didn't get it! Ok, gotta run... hope everyone is doing great!

Hi guys! So Kirsten, my fill went good, too! I got just another 0.2cc's bringing my total to 2.9cc's. I can certainly feel the Water going down now! I hope I don't end up tightening up! I did ask the nurse about the BCP and she said it is all individual, and there are some people who get tighter with the different phases of the three phase BCP. She said if I wasn't having a problem not to worry, so for now I won't! Anyhow, just wanted to check in quickly... gotta run! Hope all my ladies are doing well! Nat mentioned her May goal, does anyone else have one? Mine is to lose more than 10 lbs and workout 20+ times in May - it'll be tough with a business trip in the middle of the month!

Kirsten - I'm on the same type of BC - three levels. I'll ask my fill nurse what she thinks of it, too, when I go in later today!

Brandi - oh my goodness, I'm sorry you found that on the computer but I agree with Steph - if he's that bad, I'm glad he's out of your life. While it's so impossible to believe now, THINGS WILL GET BETTER and you'l be happier in the future than you've ever been in your past. You're strong, smart, and adorable - you WILL get through this and it'll all be good! I know it!

Hey guys! Nat - glad you got your fill and some good articles - I'd love to see them! Kirsten - let me know how your fill goes in the morning! Mine is at 4:15 PST so 7:15pm for most of you guys! Gotta run, more later...

Jen - no, I don't know Michelle - most of the bandsters I know around here were ones banded thru the same place I had it done. I'll have to keep an eye out for her, though! It's not raining here right now, but they've forecasted showers most of the week. It is beautiful here right now when the sun is out - super green, lots of trees/flowers/bushes blooming - ah, spring is here!

Jen - I'm from the Seattle, WA area...

Sweethot - I totally understand what you're saying, but there are a bunch in our group that are right where you are - on a plateau! We've all hit them. Remember, when you're stuck on a plateau is when you NEED us the most! Please come back to the "steadies" thread - we're totally here for you!! That's what's great about this forum - if you have a bad day, you can vent, cry, ask for help, and get such wonderful support! We do miss ya! AND WAY TO GO ON THE 3 LBS! Woo hoo!