Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

Congrats, Robin and Erika - excellent numbers!

Erika, I haven't got a fill yet, either. I'm going to try to hold out for six months. Sometimes I even have this dream of going the whole way without a fill, but that doesn't seem likely.

I do get hungry, but I've been pretty good about not overeating. That said, the last couple of days were big eating days - I have a tradition of taking the second Wednesday of every month off and eating lunch in whatever I think is the Best Restaurant in NYC. I went with one of my favourite people this week, and she insisted on ordering an extra course, so I had an extra course too. And last night, kind of out of social obligation, after having had a tasty 300 cal dinner, I ended up having to go out for Vietnamese food.

Still, neither meal was the end of the world. But I do think that, after I eat more than usual, I get hungry faster. I'm thinking of going back on liquids for a couple of days.

Erika and Robin you both are doing great, keep up the good work. I have lost almost 30 lbs since being banded on March 19 and I know that I couldn't have done it without my 2 fills. I'm due for fill #3 on Monday and can't wait. Glad to hear you both are doing so well.

Fenton, Congratulations!

Amanda I love the flowers, sash and tiara. You guys are too funny.

Christine

well i got my fill and now i eat less than 1/2 cup of food but now i cant eat enough. i now have 6.5 cc in a 10 cc band. last night i ate about 5 bites of cottage cheese and a few bites of watermellon and it came back up. I think ill be going to get a slight unfill monday morning.

Amanda, I too love the flowers, sash, and tiara; and Fenton, you SO deserve them.......post pictures when you decide to wear them!!!

Congrats, Scrappy, on Thread Post number 2000!

From the videogame site Kotaku.com comes this news:

Jillian Michaels Going After Wii's Biggest Losers

If you're finding Wii Fit to a less strenuous workout than the one required to help you shed your flab, perhaps the prospect of training with fitness guru Jillian Michaels will help. Majesco is publishing Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009 which—surprise!—uses the Wii Balance Board to integrate "a tiered fitness regimen, expert advice and exercise techniques from the charismatic Jillian Michaels, the game delivers a focused workout that will help players reach their own personal fitness goals."

The star of NBC's reality show The Biggest Loser says she's "a huge gamer" and hopes (via press release) that the Wii game will accomplish something just shy of saving the world. Michaels is corporately quoted as saying "I truly think this type of product will be instrumental in revolutionizing the fitness industry and will help combat the childhood obesity epidemic in this country today."

See? Nintendo totally should've stuck with "Revolution." Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter predicts big things for Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009, and not just amongst the chubby crowd.

"That thing is going to sell," said Pachter. Not all consumers might be aware of what Wii Fit is, but most weight-conscious women, he said, know Jillian Michaels as a brand. "She's branded as a fit person who helps people lose weight," he said, and that brand affinity could help more people see the Balance Board as less of a video game gizmo and more of a health product.

It certainly sounds like more of a workout than managing a trio of hula hoops, as the game is pitched as having Weight Loss, Strength Training, Intervals and Hill Climb modes, each with three difficulty tiers and workout times up to 60 minutes. It features more traditional exercise options like crossing monkey bars to climbing ladders and rowing. The best part? Gamers can unlock "lifestyle and fitness video tips" featuring Ms. Michaels. Rowrr!

We expect to see nothing but six-pack abs and ripped shoulders in close proximity to Wiis by this time next year.

Lately, I've been switching over to the powdered Peanut Butter a fellow Shamrock mentioned. For me, so far, the jury is still out - the powdered stuff has about 75% less fat in it, but I'm not finding the flavour I liked in the peanut butter. Trader Joe's has a reduced fat peanut butter, so maybe I'll give that a shot (even if "reduced fat peanut butter" seems a bit of a Frankenstein product).

We ended up quite liking the PB2 powder in chicken satay and all kinds of peanut sauces and in chocolate sugar free pudding.

Hmmm.... That's a good idea - I have some grilled chicken, maybe I'll give it a dusting with the PB2...

To all of you that are losing your hair, I'm not losing mine as of yet. I keep wondering if I am going to start, but years ago when I was on phen/fen and lost 100 lbs, I was losing my hair. My doctor told me to take 2 vitamins a day and that would help with the hair loss. Since then I have always taken 2 vitamins a day. Are you all getting your vitamins in? I've heard some doctors say, it's because we're not getting enough protein, but I don't think that is correct.

Everyone in the March Thread is doing wonderful. Keep up the good work.

Shoop, I think it's more complicated than that - I'm certainly getting my Vitamins in, and I'm losing hair. In the (excellent, btw) WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY FOR DUMMIES, they note that there is no nutritional supplement that has been proven to prevent hair loss in this situation, although they say there's nothing to suggest it does harm.

I suspect that hair loss would be less in a cooler climate, too, fwiw.

Wow! I was at the lake all weekend and expected to find myself pages behind on here. There were only 9 posts all weekend! I guess everyone was out getting active!!!

Grrrrrrhh..I was really hoping my 2nd fill would give me some restriction. I have 3.5cc in a 10cc band. My doctor will not give more than 1cc at a time once a month, at this rate I think it will take forever.:cursing:

I can imagine it's frustrating, but you're already a third of your way to goal!!

Hi everyone!

Long time no chat!

Life has been very busy lately and I have barely had time to check my email. It took me a while to read all the posts since I last was here!

TheWriteGirl - I so know what you mean! I have 6 cc in a 10 cc band with very little restriction. I have never had a PB (which is good). Occasionally I won't chew well and I get that pain in my shoulder and back. I have lost a mere 12 pounds since surgery. It is kind of frustrating! I have gone back to the "food plan" that my 1st dietician gave me. That is the one that helped me lose the 13 pounds or so prior to surgery. I figure it can't hurt.

hair loss - so far so good. It is so aweful for those of you that are encountering this problem. I hope the hair grows back soon.

OMG - that hoola hoop video was too funny. All, we need is good music and you have a Cameron Diaz type dance from Charlies' Angels. While I don't have a wii, I'm not sure I'd work out in my underwear.

Well, I'm hoping the scale starts to move. My doc doesn't want to see me again until the end of July. I guess I could push it. We will see!