Hello Junbies ......

I haven't seen a June Band Crew thread yet so thought I would start it .

I'll be banded on June 9th in Texas. I'm getting very excited about it. I know that the band is just a "tool" to aid in my weight loss journey and it will take a lot of hard work on my part to make it successful. I've been overweight my whole life with the earliest memories being around age 4. Although no one else in my family is overweight, I am extremely fortunate to have full family support in my decision. I know that there are many people who's family doesn't offer the support they need. I would love to meet other pre-bandsters being banded in June to walk with me to the banded side of life and offer each other support.

I wish you all the best.

Melissa Lea :hippie:

Pre-bandster 240 lbs

June 9, 2006

Spivak

self-pay

Aimee: So happy for you. Proud for you. Amazing control over a powerful pull.

Now for the bad news--my fill just isn't cutting it. I've been hungry and having small Snacks every few hours. Hate to admit it--it's fill time.

Pinky Lee, Leila, thank you guys both for the encouragement:girl_hug: (that is supposed to be a "girl hug" but looking at it now, it's kind of zombie-like...but you get the sentiment, right? you guys rock :huggie:)

Pinky Lee, how long has it been since you got your fill? let me say this: I got my first fill on July 10th. I waited - and nothing. No help what so ever. So I scheduled a second fill for this past Tuesday the 25th. And it got cancelled *grumble* so I schedule again for August 1st...and suddenly I'm tight. SUDDENLY I feel my fill today. It's not time of month - if anything, that should tighten and Ive been loose during that time last week. Is it possible that a fill can take two weeks to kick in?? Not to tell you to hold off, but...is it possible it can take that long?

Here's an article I liked that I wanted to share with my fellow Junebies.

warmmorningsun - It can take two weeks, I've heard it many times on here. You do take a risk of being too tight if you schedule a fill shortly after another. I decided to do it anyways, LOL, did my first fill on July 19 - restricted for the first couple of days, then eased right off. Starving by 4-5 days after. I knew I might tighten up again, but decided to risk a second fill only 6 days later. My surgeon was fine with it. That was yesterday afternoon, so far last night and all day today restriction has been just fine. I've eaten all kinds of different foods, all solid food, yesterday soft solids, and today regular solids, and have been full on small portions and stayed full, no hunger. If I get too tight later I can always have an unfill. It does happen, but usually it goes the other way, tighter at the time of fill and loosening up over the next week or two. So it's a gamble which ever way you look at. Everyone's different, you just have to make the decisions you feel are best for you, and then learn from the results how your own body responds to the band. There's a learning curve.

100 ounces of Water in today, I think I'm making that my new personal daily goal.

Fill was 2 wks this Friday. I did tighten one week later and now I feel like I have very little restriction.

By the time I make appt. it will probably be 2 weeks b4 I can get in--I can always cancel if I tighten up again.

Had some tummy swelling and it still hasn't gone down much. Probably should check that too. I'm sooo afraid of a stretched pouch.

I'm sold on the Water thing. Without you guys to be accountable to--I'd still be chugging iced tea and very little water.

Leila:

Great article!

:update: - H20 Challenge

The winner is:

LEILA: IS OUR WINNER She met the challenge and posted each day. She also lost 2.5 pounds (an increase over her usual 1.5 to 2 pound average)

Pinkylee: Posted 6 days and had the energy to increase exercise.

CindyCam: Posted 5 days. One day she drank 100 ounces of pure Water (and was water logged)

Poodles: Posted 3 days

HKimber: Posted 2 days

Barbara465: Posted 2 days and lost 2 pounds--higher than her usual for the week

Chakolady: Posted 1 day

The fact is--it ain't easy--but we're on the way to forming an important new habit. READ LEILA'S post last night regarding a favorite article on drinking water. Loose skin--who needs it?

IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN THE WATER CHALLENGE, SIMPLY BEGIN EACH THURSDAY MORNING. DRINK 64 OUNCES OF Fluid WITH AT LEAST 32 BEING PURE WATER. ADD THE BLUE SMILEY FACE :biggrin1: TO YOUR SIGNATURE LINE FOR EACH DAY THAT YOU MEET THE GOAL. DON'T "GUESS"--COUNT EMPTY BOTTLES, FILL A CONTAINER IN THE MORNING OF YOUR REQUIRED INTAKE AND FINISH IT, OR MARK IT IN A JOURNAL. ON WEDNESDAY, LET US KNOW IF YOU THOUGHT THE WATER HELPED.

CLEAR YOUR BLUE SMILEY'S FOR WEEK ONE AND WE'LL BEGIN A WHOLE NEW WEEK THIS MORNING.

OK my smileys are gone and I'm ready for the new week. I really do think the Water has helped. I am a little perplexed. I am losing weight, but I am still hungry. I'm scheduled for a fill on Monday since I really feel no restriction. I don't want to rely totally on my will power. I am questioning whether I should get a fill while I'm losing. Now that they are doing them at the surgicenter I feel better knowing I can get worked in for an unfill if I run into problems. Hope I'm doing the right thing.

OK got to get back to drinking water. I was going to ask about the tomato juice. That seems like a lot, 16 oz, to drink in one day. Does your stomach tolerate it OK? I've heard some don't do well with the acid from tomatoes. I like tomato juice and used to drink a small can when I was having colon problems. FOr some reason it settled my stomach down.

Way to go Leila! I loved this challenge and was sucessful everyday...Just not good at keeping up with posting. I will make that part of my challenge this week!

I am 5 weeks post op today and can eat anything I want, just in smaller quantities. I won't be able to have a fill until the end of August so I hope that I can continue to eat the smaller portions and be happy.

I am also taking Cortisol Weight Loss by Body Choice. I found it at Costco. It is a liquid!!! Yeah. It helps curb cravings, boosts you metabolism and manages Cortisol levels (I have to read more about the cortisol). I really think it has helped me with the cravings.

I lost 4 pounds last week and 6 1/2 inches. I weigh again on Sunday and I'm hoping for more inches lost and hopefully 2 pounds as that is my goal. I also went to Lane Bryant and bought a couple pairs of pants a whole size smaller! Oh it is feeling so good. People are also starting to comment on my weight loss!

Keep up the good work everyone and keep posting. We are one of the most popular threads here!!! We Rock Junbies! And we are going to be the most sucessful cause we have such a good support group here!

thankyou! Congrats to everyone else who managed to up their Water too!

On my signature there is a list of calculators - one is water, there is a link there that calculates how much water we need a day based on our body weight. It's high. Spooky high, I don't think it's realistic to be able to do right off the bat. but I think it can be worked up to. I found that the first couple of days last week I felt a bit bloated and water logged. But as the week went on, I could take more and more in easier and easier. Like with most things in life, everyones adjustment times are going to differ, we all have different bodies. I really think it's so valuable not only for fat loss and for helping prevent loose skin, but for over-all health, so I hope everyone works at it. I just keep a bottle going all the time.

Here's how the week had progressed for me day 1 - 64 ounces, day 2 - 71 ounces, day 3 - 90 ounces, day 4 - 90 ounces, day 5 - 80 ounces, day 6 - 94 ounces, day 7 - 117 ounces.

It's something you may want to check out to see what's recommended for you personally. I'm going to do the water challenge this week too, but have decided I'm going to set a higher goal for myself of *gulp* 116 ounces a day, with at least 64 coming from pure water. Almost double!

The funny thing is, pre-band I used to be able to drink 4 litres of diet coke in a day easily, thats 134 ounces. So why not. Anyone else out there used to pack away the soda?

XO

Leila

barb - Tomato juice and V8 juice go down really easy for me, Other than plain Water, I drink white tea (it's a version of green tea) and I drink mostly V8 juice, sometimes tomato juice, since it's relatively low cal, and I can get more veggies in that way. Some people find it hard on their stomach, but many don't, I don't have a problem with it all. I think if it doesn't upset your stomach, go for it.

chako-lady - congratulations on winning the water challenge as well! I'm thinking about adding a weight-loss supplement, what's in the Cortisol Weight Loss - was it expensive?

XO

Leila

OK my smileys are gone and I'm ready for the new week. I really do think the water has helped. I am a little perplexed. I am losing weight, but I am still hungry. I'm scheduled for a fill on Monday since I really feel no restriction. I don't want to rely totally on my will power. I am questioning whether I should get a fill while I'm losing. Now that they are doing them at the surgicenter I feel better knowing I can get worked in for an unfill if I run into problems. Hope I'm doing the right thing.

OK got to get back to drinking water. I was going to ask about the tomato juice. That seems like a lot, 16 oz, to drink in one day. Does your stomach tolerate it OK? I've heard some don't do well with the acid from tomatoes. I like tomato juice and used to drink a small can when I was having colon problems. FOr some reason it settled my stomach down.

Congratulations to all you water drinkers! whoo hoo!:clap2:

I will start the challenge officially today. I did drink my water yesterday but the result was diarrhea (sorry if that's tmi)...I'm thinking it's just my body balancing...

I so love this thread. everyone here is so supportive, encouraging, informative. my favorite thread!

Leila, Thanks!

The Cortisol Weight Loss has Chromium 250 mcg, Vandium 250 mcg, ans Proprietary Weightloss blend 2000 mg. This is a bunch of natural herbs and juices including Blueberry juice, Green tea, Hoodia, Caffeine... It was 19.49 and if only taken once a day is a months supply. For maximum benefits they say to take before breakfast and lunch. So far I am fine with before breakfast. I'll take it for a month and see what happens! I am also going to get some lecithin because of the suggestion from the article you posted!! I am very worried about my "extra" skin. So I will continue to drink, drink, drink! Thankfully I am a water drinker. Gave up soda over 6 years ago and water has been my beverage of choice, even when I went out to eat. So my biggest hurdle has been giving it up during meals. I sometimes just feel "dry" and would like a sip during a meal.

Have a super successful day!

Goodmorning everyone! Congrats on the H2O challenge. I'm trying to get there. I have increased but not up to 64 ounces yet.

Well, I have had no weight loss in 10 days. Bummer!! I've been so strict. I scheduled an appoinment for another fill on August 3. Will see how it goes before then. I can always cancell it right!!

Melissa Lea

Chako Lady:

Congrats on a great weight loss. This is my favorite thread--hands down.

We have Melissa Lea to thank for beginning this thread and keeping it going!

Way to go Melissa:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Thanks Pinkylee. I'm happy to have all of your support as well.

Melissa Lea

Made water goal yesterday, personal goal too, but it was hard, felt bloated all day, I'm pretty sure I'm PMSing - will find out soon.

For the last 3 months, hubby and I have been travelling all over Canada, living in a little RV, we combined the trip across Canada to go get my surgery done by the surgeon I wanted to have do it, with exploring the country. Yesterday we started the second half of our trip, and are now down in the U.S. in New York state. We always search out RV parks with wireless internet, since he works online. Well, we didn't know anything about this campsite we booked into yesterday other than it had wireless and a pool - so I can exercise. Well, to my delight, I discovered on checking in, that this campsite has a spa/wellness center attached to it!!!! Hubby saw the longing gleam in my eyes, as I read over the spa services brochure, and said to go for it, just don't go over 200$, so we don't blow our travel budget. I am so stoked, after 3 months of camping lifestyle, I've been starting to feel rather on the grubby side despite regular swimming and showering. I've gotten rather tanned from all the time spent in campground pools and lakes and in the ocean, and I haven't tanned since I was a teen. The result, I've been feeling like my skin is in terrible condition, and my feet and hands and nails on both have been getting rather rough. Today I'm going for four hours of pampering, facial, body scrub and massage, manicure and pedicure. I think I've died and gone to heaven. I can't wait! Check in time for my appointment is 1 hour from now. I hope I lose a pound in dead skin! LOL! I'm so excited, I had to share. I very rarely ever get to do this kind of thing, I've had my nails done about 4 times in my life, had a pedicure done professionally only a couple of times. Had massages when I needed them for back pain which were covered, a series of 10 many years ago. I've never had a body scrub, and I've never had a facial (other than doing your own at home). I feel like it's Christmas in July come totally by surprise!

XO

Leila