May 2006 Band Crew ~ September Chat

[marz88 0]

Try cutting out the carbs. That seemed to help me with some of the gas. It didn't take it all away, but at least when I wake up in the morning now and roll over, I don't blow the roof off the house! I don't know anything about the Hair loss, that could be related more to stress or change in lifestyle more than diet, most banded people don't have that problem because they still get the proper nutrition. Anyone else out there had hair loss?

[marz88 0]

Hey Marci

Give my congrats to the new couple! I'm a Bridal Specialist with a department store and so weddings thrill me!

[LindaV 0]

Marci - Congratulations on the new addition to your family. They look really happy!

Lapbandit1 - I have been loosing some hair for about a month now. Overall it isn't noticable...yet! I lose probably 20-40 strands every time I shower. Considering everything though, I would rather be healthy and bald than be fat with lots of hair. LOL.

[justduckie 0]

After putting it off for months, I finally cleaned out my closet. And I mean clean! Just like the show, Clean Sweep, I thru out FIVE garbage bags full of stuff and clothes that I no longer fit into, like, ugly....what ever. I even managed to get rid of some of my husband's stuff that he will never miss.

I can actually SEE my floor again! I've gone thru some of my drawers, too. No more "fat" clothes to fall back on. No more "old lady" clothes to hide behind. No where to go but down. In pounds, that is.

I needed to do this. Yeah for me!!

[jcbydesign 0]

Great news! Isn't it a fantastic feeling to finally get to the place where you can throw our your old fat self?

[LindaV 0]

Marci - Yeah for you!!!!!! Doesn't it feel great?

I have a clothing exchange to go to in a couple of days and I think the summer clothes that I have been hanging on to are going to go since fall seem have hit Idaho. Hopefull I can pick up a few fall and winter things for myself.

[missnikki 0]

I recently cleaned my closet also, and I gave away five bags of clothes to a friend and donated about three. :clap2: I loved clothes before the weight loss and I love them even more now. I try to stay away from the stores because I know that I am still loosing. But when something special comes up, I need something new to wear because all the bottoms I did keep are a little big. But on the same note when I go and buy new ones they are too big within a couple of days sometimes. I have had some things taken up, but everything can't be.

[marz88 0]

I work at a department store(not in the clothing area mind you). I have had to beat myself away from the clearance sales!!! Not knowing what size I will be in next spring/summer has kept me from buying anything but the desire to browse is still there. Even after 50 pounds, I have only lost 1 pant size. I have gone from a 3x to a 1x in tops which makes me feel good. I am down to about nothing for clothes now. A few bottoms and a few more tops. I can hardly wait to shop because I "have to"!!! What a great excuse. Do any of you have clothing exchanges in your area? There has been talk of one here but I don't think there is really much of a demand. I think that if you just donate your clothes to Goodwill or perhaps even a "Rape/Domestic Abuse" program, it would be greatly appreciated. I know you don't find many larger sized clothes at second hand stores and I have a co-worker who left everything (except the clothes on her body) behind when she got out of an abusive relationship. Programs designed to help people like her love the donations.

[Mvpo8961 1]

Congrats on the newest family member Marci. They look like a wonderful couple. HHHHMMMMM grandbabies are good too I hear!!!!!!!!!

Well I have to let all my fellow May bandsters in on a not so secret secret.

I have had a two headed problem being overweight and really BAD teeth.

When I started this journey I was going to selfpay and have my band.

Then things worked out where my insurance would cover the band. But my lapband surgeon and my oral facial surgeon wanted me to wait for a few months after lapbanding to proceed with dental work.

I was hoping to get my teeth fixed at the same time so I could start with both surgeries out of the way. But it didn't work out like that.

Now you have to understand I only have 19 teeth, five of which are crowned, most ofthe others have had cavities and such. I think I had five of my original teeth that never had a problem of some type. I also had a very extreme overbite and wore braces when a teen.

When I was five I had a traumatic injury that required me to take the antibiotic that stained children's teeth. While this is not structurally significant I don't remember a time in my life having a pretty smile or white teeth.

In addition I grew up in the country and we had well Water so I didn't have flouridated water growing up.

All this combined to make my teeth very bad as an adult. But I do practice good oral hygiene.

Both of my parents, as well as I, had horrible gum disease.

On the bottom right side of my mouth I don't have ANY TEETH. So the few teeth I have on the bottom left that I have undergo a lot of stress from chewing as I only have one place to chew food. So the gums and teeth in that spot are always painful.

So all this has combined to make actual eating a difficult task for me. I have now gotten to the point I can only eat SOFT foods as I can't chew well anymore. Soft food is high calorie food. Somedays I can't chew anything and just drink coffee and melt cholocate M&M's. (Boy that's sad isn't it).

Needless to say I have had very little weight loss due to the dental situation.

But TODAY I have finally been able to get things arranged to where I will have ALL my remaining teeth crowned and then a partial will be made for my right lower quadrant. When my bite has been corrected I will have an implantable bridge in that quadrant. But I will have to have a bone graft there first.

I guess my point in sharing this is being able to look forward to cleaning out the closet with ya'll and watching my ticker actually move down. I finally just took my ticker off my signature because I found it embarassing that it wasn't moving.

I am very happy for everybody and can't wait to fully join ya'll on our journey.

Myra

[jcbydesign 0]

Today I got filled from 1.6 up to 2.2! I hope this one does the trick, wish me luck. I was able to drink Water OK and tonight had cup of cream Soup for dinner with no problems.

Hope you all had a bander-fine day!

[LapBandit1 0]

Thanks to all for the advice. I'll remove the last of the carbs I've been eating... isn't much though... As far as the Hair loss, I looked into another forum here and there are many who are losing tons of hair. I guess mine is not as bad as I thought it was, reading some of their stories. Maybe an increase in protein... :hungry:

Marci: It's great hearing of the NEW FAMILY member Big Congrats to ya and I hope the GBabies (when they arrive) fill your life with as much love as mine have. I had sons and when my oldest married it was just great having another female around! Good Luck to them and I wish a long and happy life together!

Janey: Third times a charm! You go girl!

Myra: YAY!

Thanks again for your support and advice!

Hope all are well and good on this fine day!

:bandit

[LindaV 0]

Myra - That's great news! Pretty soon you will feel like a whole new woman.

Marz88 - I have always shopped the end of clearance sales for the next season's clothing. It is hard to stay away from those clearance racks but I just hate to spend money on clothes that will only fit for a month so. So I have resorted to Walmart for now. Hopefull I will be able to pick up some seasonal stuff at the lb support group and clothing exchange I'm attending tomorrow night.

Missnikki - Having clothes taken in! Why didn't I think of that? I think I will look into it. I knew I would one day regret not learning to sew. Oh well!

Janey - Here's to getting good restriction this time! Keep us posted. I go for a fill next week.

Lapbandit - Be careful with removing all your carbs. That can be dangerous and put you at risk for going into ketoacidosis (sp). My nutritionist wants me to get in as many carbs as I do Protein. I've noticed that if my proten/carb/fat ratios get too out of balance, I don't lose as well or feel as well. I have read about others Hair loss nightmares as well and I guess we should feel lucky right now that it is only a little each day--and hope it stays that way!

[Mvpo8961 1]

Yeah I am going to be the Six Million Dollar woman!!!!!!!!!

This will be the first time in my life that I will be able to use medical expenses on my income tax.

Now if I was just ready for the boob job, Tummy Tuck and butt lift.:faint:

Myra

[MarcyD 0]

It is so good to come across this thread. I have missed all my May peeps.

Marci-Congratulations on your new DIL! The new couple looks very sweet.

Myra- Hooray for the dental work! I can't wait to hear your progress and eventually see a pic of your new (skinnier) smile.

LapBandit1- Welcome!

Janey-Hope this fill works for you.

I just had my second fill and am at 6 cc in an 11cc band. I didn't quite make my September goal of 285, but was 288 this morning, so I am close.

I want to join the 20 lb Thanksgiving challenge. My goal will be 268. Hmm..If I am going to be that much of an optimist, I better change my Christmas goal, too. Better change my signature!

[justduckie 0]

Today is fill day! I've been bouncing back and forth between 225 and 230 for the last week or so. It depends on what I ate that day and how much Water I've drank. More water, less weight. I really need to concentrate on my water more. Last night I had some Tortilla Soup. Good soup, bad chips on top. I had one bowl then decided I was still hungry and ate 3 handfuls of chips! WHY???????? Because I wasn't concentrating on my food, just eating mindlessly. So today I'm paying for it in water retention.

For some reason I can eat chips. No bread, but chips go down fine. I'm hoping with this fill I won't be tempted anymore. Pain is a good motivator when it comes to not eating certain foods. It worked with bread, now it needs to work with chips as they have always been my biggest downfall and biggest tempting foods. Sweets don't tempt me but chips certainly do!

Thank you everyone for the good wishes for my son and new DIL. As for grandbabies......well, I would LOVE to have some, but they seem to think that waiting a bit is a good thing..........sigh............