Calling all upcoming bandsters...

I just wanted to start a thread where everyone can post their surgery dates and we can start to compare notes.

I am scheduled for 9/12. I have ALL my pre-op stuff next Wed & Thurs, including psych eval, sleep consult, lab work, 4 hr nutrition class, and pre-op appt with surgeon. It is going to be a couple of very full days.

My parents are coming for a visit the following week, and I don't plan on telling them about the surgery, so I am rushing to get through all of that before they get here.

How is everyone else doing getting their pre-op stuff scheduled?

Here is the list of September Bandsters: I'll try to keep it updated for everyone.

9/1 okiegirl

9/1 TexasBr@t

9/1 TruBlueSue

9/1 finallyonmyway

9/1 ashley

9/4 JamesA

9/4 SLHarrison

9/5 Em1125

9/5 kittylover54

9/5 mcw12985

9/5 chabutter

9/5 BigBZ

9/5 TamifromAL

9/6 Ashlee

9/6 Cole

9/6 Kathy S

9/6 r2ht4u

9/6 Gjdf52

9/6 babyjessica

9/6 P McDonald

9/6 harlito

9/6 kareyquilts

9/6 LindaN

9/7 bibytz

9/7 kristyinusa

9/7 sunnshyne411

9/7 MICHELLE43

9/7 cassandra

9/7 green

9/7 happykat

9/8 dovie6523

9/8 valgal1968

9/8 PattyMartin

9/9 mary9

9/9 msgoat4949

9/11 cindyn

9/11 BJean

9/11 SheryBery

9/11 SherryA

9/11 RHCPgirl

9/11 lamamama

9/11 PHAT TX

9/11 drcollier

9/11 fraleyk

9/11 Dana Kwt

9/12 want2lose

9/12 ItsGottaGo!

9/12 TxAngel

9/12 HopeWorks

9/12 kattiegirl

9/12 brendab

9/13 katt

9/13 jewel

9/13 avasa

9/13 whlatimer

9/13 twiceblessed

9/13 suleehci@yahoo.

9/14 gonnabethin

9/14 mom of many

9/14 spike6

9/15 swanny

9/15 fugnick

9/15 coryW

9/15 ericergoman

9/15 melissa0915

9/18 Linstadt

9/18 tayvia99

9/18 April

9/18 Turmoil

9/18 LovinColorado

9/19 vv0710

9/19 susoue

9/19 Elaine53

9/19 reredc

9/19 missSD

9/19 sweet31eve

9/19 lisalee

9/20 mariecarmen

9/20 wantlapband

9/20 samos

9/20 labradoodle

9/20 ErinS

9/20 beechpad

9/20 lifelongband

9/20 mejomojogolow

9/21 jgandg

9/21 WandaKay

9/21 Dallasmist

9/21 JewelsInLove

9/21 YellowRoseKnows

9/22 diane5467

9/22 kellieatkins30

9/22 Lila

9/22 shell04937

9/22 venetiaann

9/22 butterfly1973

9/22 teachmath

9/23 tgjones

9/25 buzz321

9/25 sandranoelle

9/26 marie noone

9/26 christy

9/26 Lin

9/26 The Woman

9/27 Bettina

9/27 tommygirl

9/27 GettinThinMan

9/27 MimIN

9/28 Tracicat

9/28 jumbojet

9/28 "D"-n-OK

9/28 rbabcock61

9/28 Lisa99

9/29 Lapoli7

9/29 ratgirl

9/29 sweetsue

9/29 chattanoogabrat

9/29 phw72

9/29 JessyInSD

9/29 Chrissy "O"

Sounds like everyone is plugging along. What else can we do? I exercised 6 times this week, water aerobics, treadmill and weights. Reporting a grand 1 pound loss. Can't change my ticker right now, but I'll get to it. Off to see my doctor for the last time and find out what to do next. We'll let you know when I know. Later.

kareyquilts: You may just be at a point where your scale hasn't reflected your conversion of fat to muscle as a loss. Muscle weighs more than fat, so you could have actually experienced a decent loss of fat but also a good conversion to lean muscle mass. You're making fantastic headway, no doubt with all that great exercise! Keep up the good work!

Hi Bjean..

Yes, we were banded the same day (hard to forget that date anyways...). I am taller than you. If I remember you are about 5'1"? I am closer to 5'8"...

I hit a plateau in December/January.. I did okay through the holiday, but from January til February I didnt lose one pound (although I didnt gain one either), but since Feb 5th (my last fill) I have lost about 8 lbs, and am getting another fill next week. My doctor will only put in .6cc MAX at each fill. I feel like I *may" be almost at that sweet spot, as I have done real well this month and I feel like the band is really working. I too have that chocolate addiction (hey, that is what got me here in the first place!), but am able to just have a couple of M & Ms and I seem to be okay. Only since the beginning of February have I really realized what this band is supposed to actually do, rather than reading about it.

I am glad to be back as well, and am looking forward to participating!!

Sherry

SherryA: Yes I remember you! We were banded the same day. You've lost more weight than I have. You are probably taller than I am too. I've hit a plateau (after New Years especially) and haven't lost much at all since then. I have a new fill and it is helping some with slowing me down and not being able to eat so much at a meal. But I've had a chocolate problem lately and I've heard others say they have too. Must be something in chocolate that addictive, ya think? :paranoid

I'm glad you're back! I hope you aren't having any problems now that you have a fill that gives you some restriction. I have a feeling that I'm still not at my "sweet spot" but I know that it may take a week or two after a fill for it to really start restricting well. Doc keeps saying, be patient. :faint:

Hi September Bandsters!

I'm down three pounds this week. I started spinning classes this past week, and absolutely love it. I never cared much for group exercises because I'm a little uncoordinated, and don't pick up steps/moves very quickly. I always felt clutzy. But the spinning gives you the cameraderie of a group class without having to learn steps. The time flies, and it's an awesome workout. According to the Spinning website, you burn 400-500 calories per session.

Mim, saw your pics. You're gorgeous, kiddo. You must be getting close to goal. I can't wait to hear from one of our group that they've reached goal.

Ya'll have a great week!

Tami

Sherry: Your weight loss of 8 lbs. since the 5th of Feb. is fantastic!! My doc probably wouldn't give me a fill if I had lost that quickly. The way you describe the time around and just after the holidays sounds exactly what has happened to me (and many others I think). Are you feeling better than before?

I'm going to wait at least another week to see how this fill does, just in case I tighten up. Then if I'm still struggling so much, I'm going to insist on another fill. How often do you go?

Good memory, grrl... I am around 5'1".

Tami: You're an animal Way to go once again, darlin'! The only spining I've done recently is in my office chair, for grins. :heh: But your class sounds like more fun and lots more productive! You've made me determined to go to my water aerobics class this afternoon. It can't hold a calorie-burning candle to your workouts but with my knees, it's the best I can do. And it is definitely helping.

Hi BJean:

I go about every 5 weeks for a fill. Like I said, he will only put in .6cc, so really the first two fills I didnt feel any restriction, felt a little with the 3rd fill, but now can REALLY feel the difference. It is amazing. I know everyone is different in terms of how much fill one needs, but it has made such a huge difference in terms of my eating. I really just cant fit that much in, but am satisfied with the amounts I do eat.... So, I do feel much better all around!! How often do you go in for a fill?

Sherry: Your weight loss of 8 lbs. since the 5th of Feb. is fantastic!! My doc probably wouldn't give me a fill if I had lost that quickly. The way you describe the time around and just after the holidays sounds exactly what has happened to me (and many others I think). Are you feeling better than before?

I'm going to wait at least another week to see how this fill does, just in case I tighten up. Then if I'm still struggling so much, I'm going to insist on another fill. How often do you go?

Good memory, grrl... I am around 5'1".

Well, I thought I would report on my fill experience at my doctors. My doctor is going to be in town until March 27th. We talked and he said, well maybe you need a fill and maybe you don't. So, he measured the amount of fluid in my band. It should have been 1.75 and was only 1.4, so he said, for now why don't we fill it a tiny bit abouve 1.75? I thought it was pretty cool of him to listen to me when I said I was getting hungry easier now. I asked him why we lose fluid and why we keep needing fills. He said that tiny amounts of fluid can be absorbed back into our body and that we need fills, because as we lose weight our stomach gets smaller. I always wondered about that. I am really going to miss that man. He is very kind. Anyway, if I'm alittle tight, he will be around to help me. Hope that this helps and I can keep going strong.

Karey...glad you have such a great doc! It's so nice when they are kind.

BJean....I always liked chocolate but it has become more addictive than anything I have ever imagined. I CRAVE it. Sadly, my workplace is full of it. I have actually locked offices behind me to keep myself out of it. (people keep it in containers on their desks for anyone to eat....how do they do it?!!)

I'm debating whether or not to call for a fill. I live 3 hours away from Houston, where my doc is. I have difficulty with eggs in the morning but no problems with oatmeal or mushy cereal. I can eat large portions if I eat slowly and chew well. I just don't get full.

Once in a while if something is not chewed well, or too dry I spit up saliva, but generally not a problem.

My concern is that the last time I went in (end of Dec.) I was still too restricted to put anything in. It was also the beginning of the TOM.

I went back to calculating my daily intake and it's about 1500 calories a day...if I am careful. Too much. I can't tell if it's bad food or poor restriction.

I've only had 2 fills, one in November and one a week later with omnipaque (sp?). As I said before, the December fill didn't actually take place.

Any suggestions?

I'm down 1 pound this week to 193, ran 3 times this week, 2miles, 3miles and 2miles. Loving the running!

Ooops! Make that down 2 pounds...I didn't count losing the one I gained last week. Now at 193.

week 2 with a consistant 0. UGH! I exercised 7 days last week, 1-2 hr sessions, cardio every day and 5 days of weight training and still notta - frustrating. My BA is in a month and I want to be in the 170s before that and at this rate... anyway enough complaining!

Tami: You are amazing! I am afraid of spinning. Last I tried it I about fell over dead although it was a few years ago. I am getting close to my goal but not quite there yet, 24lbs to go. it is a first to only be 24lbs overweight.

Thanks all for the kind words, I can't wait to see everyone's pics as they start to pop up!

I took off those 3 I gained during the week. So I am at 0 change this week. But that's good.

Linda

251/207/150

Lisa: Since you're so far away, maybe you could have a phone consultation first and explain what you have explained to us. I think that you are needing a fill, but your doc will have his own opinion!

Sherry: I don't have a set time that I go in for fills. I see the dietician every 2-3 weeks and we talk about it then. If I report that I can eat too much (she uses a fake plate of food to go by) too quickly, and I haven't lost too much too fast, she suggests that I get a fill. I think I've had 5 fills. I haven't kept track like most of you have. I don't even know how much I currently have in my band. I am relying on my doc - probably too much. I know that we need to pro-active in every aspect of this journey.

lisa: I'm still fighting the chocolate thing. I absolutely can not have it in the house. I still lose my resolve too easily. I dearly love that I have lost almost 40 lbs. and I am excited about getting below 170 because I haven't been below 170 for about 7 years. About 17 yrs. ago I lost down to 140. Some of my friends thought I looked too skinny in the face because they were so used to seeing my bloated face. One friend who I didn't see for about 2 months didn't recognize me when she saw me at 140. It is such an exciting prospect to think that I will actually be able to do that again. But more importantly, STAY that way!

My DH told me last night that I'm beginning to get my "figure" back. I wanted to say, "round is a figure" but decided I should accept the compliment like my doctor says.

hello all, down 1 this week. I'm like others , I gain and loose in the same week. tomorrow I go in for a fill. I really need it. I know that this is just a tool but I need the tool to work. I have grades due tomorrow so I need to continue with the recording.... Have a good week.