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

Regina--

Congrats to you. You look great.

People who make negative comments are usually overweight themselves or have a close relative who needs to lose. I admit I've been jealous of WLS folks before I was able to be banded. It's really kind of sad. I enjoy smiling at their comment and offering very little comment in return. My healthier body speaks for itself. I am only down 1 size, but I smile a lot these days.

I seem to be eating less since fill last week--but my scale is playing hide and seek with this last pound. Liquids, mushies and lack of exercise spell trouble for me. Even water is a chore. I need to get back on my game!

Good luck to everyone as we approach the 3 month banded mark. The overall tone of The Mighty Junebies seems to have changed for the better. Go team!

hello all! My name is Genn and I am a newly joined Junebie! I am glad to see others who were banded the same time as I was. It will help me gauge my progress. I am having the hardest time getting over the drinking hump. I was a BIG liquid with dinner kinda girl pre-band. Now it is hard for me to get over it. Anyone have any suggestions for me? I don't want to cheat myself. Thanks so much!

-- Genn

Hi Genn --

Welcome to the Junebie group. I am a bit biased but I think we are an awesome group of bandsters.

I know exactly what you feel with the drinking with food bit. I personally have not stopped drinking with my meals. I only sip fluids. But I did not notice any difference with the amount of food I ate and the length of satisifaction after eating. If I stop losing then I will reconsider my sipping.

I think my weight loss will continue as the current plan, 2 to 3 pounds down one week and 0 pounds the next week. That's cool though. I have noticed a HUGE difference in my clothes. I've lost inches. I also did my first 4 mile walk on Monday in 60 minutes (15 minute mile). I never thought I would get back to that pace.

Keep up the great work everyone!!

Melissa Lea

I want to join the Christmas Challenge.........

My goal is 185.......... It have been 19 years since I saw that number.............

Don't forget to update your posts on water challenge. Tonight at midnite is deadline for the week.

Good Morning Everyone,

Boy this band is fickled. I have PB'd 3 times this morning on soft runny eggs. Sometimes I don't eat in the mornings but I haven't been getting enough protein in. I have ate eggs several times b4 and never had the problem, guyess I am just tight this morning. Fickled, fickled fickled I say!!!!! Thanks to everyone for the sweet compliments on my pics. I need to take a new one now I have had my hair style changed. Have a good one Junesters!!!!

Welcome Genn! We are glad you found us. I understand the drinking while eating problem - I was a big drink during meals kind of person also. I have found that if I drink a whole glass of liquid just before beginning to eat I really can get through the meal without any liquid. And it gets easier as time goes by. Good luck to you

Glad to see a few more posters this morning. Please put your ticker at the bottom of your signature line for the Christmas Challenge. That way we can keep up with it.

Went for a fill this morning. First we put in .5, but the barrium went through pretty fast. We stuck me again and put an additional .3 in. Now I'm at 2.3 so we'll see how that goes. I was able to drink the water same as usual and I'm now working on my protein drink. I'll do my 6 days of liquids/mushies and see how it goes. I lost 8 lbs since 7/31, but 4 of that was from a gain. I feel like I'm losing the same 20-25 lbs. They are quite pleased with my loss and think I'm doing great. Umm

I am wearing a pair of pants today that I haven't worn in a year. So that is good news. My loss has been in strange places so I think it will be a while before I can go down a size or two.

I really believe the water is helping. I think it keeps us hydrated and it is keeping me regular. I'm increasing my water intake every day and hardly drink crystal light at all now.

I think the purpose of not drinking during meals is to hold the food in there longer. You should stay full a little longer. I find that drinking during the meal was a habit. I just don't put anything of liquid form near me and I've gotten used to it. In a restaurant I just order water and once I start eating I don't touch it. I haven't noticed that I stay full longer without drinking, but I'll continue not drinking in case. :scalesno:

I really hope this fill gives me restriction, but no PBs. I'm looking for a nice weight loss.

Have a great day everyone!

Barbara4.......didn't they leave the needle in while you did the barium swallow? Why the second stick. Hope this one finds your sweet spot.

Good to hear from Melissa, I've been wondering about you. Don't you just love it when your clothes get baggy!

No she didn't leave the needle in. I think she thought this would be good. I did too actually. Then when I saw the barium swallow and it still going in at a rapid rate, I asked her. She said it was good, but she would feel fine with giving me more. I decided to take a chance and get more. I knew it meant a second stick, but they don't bother me. It was my choice. :scalesno: Remind me of that when I start to complain.

Hey Barbara12 --

Good to hear from you. Yes, it is exciting when your clothes get baggy. I'm spending time shopping in my own closet right now with my accordian of sizes.

Like many others, I wished my weight loss would come faster. We have been emersed in a society that wants the quick fix. But I am positive with my exercise that I am building muscle. That makes the pounds go down slower but the inches faster.

I'm so glad to have you guys and gals here for support. We are not alone on this journey............

Melissa Lea

Listen up ladies... I have a new one...

Well everyone knows I am really tight in the morning and can eat in the afternoon. That has been a huge problem since my second fill. Well Mother Nature came to visit and BAM, I am wide open in the morning... AND CAN'T EAT PAST 5 PM!!!! What in the world is up with that????

My tummy was growling so loud I had to try something in the am, and chicken went right down... and so did crackers... then after work, I came home to sit down and eat some yummy beans and yikes! There was a golfball. This has happened the past two days. So weird.

Anyone else have this issue? Or am I the only weirdo of the bunch???

Poodles--

Glad to hear from you and happy you have reversed the cycle. Late nite eating is the biggest diet buster I know.

Haven't experienced a reversal--just enjoying mild restriction with last fill (it was super, oh well).

Some have discovered ice cream is the devil in disguise. For me it's chili. It was just thin enough to go down smoothly. Before I knew it, the entire 15 oz can was gone. Have to admit some decisions to be made are pushing my buttons.

Stress--it tightens the band--it whispers in my ear just how easy it would be to "beat the band" just this once. It's not the band that causes me pain--it's STRESS.

Ok--war is declared! I'm tired of making excuses for not following the rules. Although I usually stay below 1200 cals/day and exercise faithfully, I'm still nibbling--smaller bites--but still at the fridge. I need a break from the lure of food, but I'm the only one that can give it to me and I'm clueless on how to stop this cycle.

Good morning Junebies! Hope this finds everyone well and in control. Poodles that is really interesting with the reverse open/close. It must have to do with the swelling of your stomach as a result of your TOM. Watch it as it might reverse back once that is over. Oh, and you are not the only weird one. Maybe just in that area, but we're all weird somehow. :confused:

Still too early to tell how this fill went. I got real tired yesterday and last evening ran a slight temperature, and got cold. Seems like that is the pattern for me after a fill. I went to bed early and everything is fine this morning. Can't wait to get on mushies to see if I have any restriction.

Stress can definitely play a role in how our bands will be. We must learn to listen to the signals and back off of food if the stress gets too much. I've had to do this before the band so it won't be a completely new behavior for me. My goal is to stay stress free and I've been doing a pretty good job of that lately.

I still try to put just what I should eat on my plate and no more. That way, I can't overeat. However, I really don't know how much we should eat. Everyone is different and has different stomach sizes.

We need to get over all this and try to get to some kind of normalcy. We are obsessing over the "band' just like we did with food. I don't want this to be my universe. I want to be "normal", whatever that is. :drum:

Have a good one!

Haven't posted in a while gang, sorry. I have been a little frustrated with the whole process. But, I am starting to have a better outlook on things.

I go today for my second fill. My surgeons office was quick to make pre-op appts but are not very supportive of Post-op appts. First fill was at 6 weeks, and havent been able to schedule appt for 2nd fill til 7 weeks after that. When I called after 3 weeks of not feeling any restriction they told me to call my nutritionist and speak to her. I am eating the right things, what does that have to do with getting the band? I went through this process for a reason, for some HELP. I think I am obsessing way too much about the band and not just stepping back and looking at the big picture.

My first fill was 5cc's. I am going to ask for another 2cc's today and see how that goes.

Looking at everyones stats, WE ARE DOING REALLY WELL!!!!:clap2: :clap2:

We have to take this one day at a time, one bite at a time.

I keep telling myself that no matter what I will never be where I was prior to surgery AGAIN. Thats a good thing.

Keep up the good work and stay focused.