Hello everyone...I am being banded on April 10th. I am so excited! Seems like it's been forever to get to the countdown, but I think it'll be here before we know it!

Anyone else scheduled in April? We need to come up with a group name!

Carol

Hi all, I am so glad that I am back here. Funny to hear how your liquids make noises going through your pouch. I an not at that leve of restriction yet. I have to lose another 50# on my own before the doc will do another fill due to the problems we had with the last one. He wants more "fat" to go away around my stomach first. I know I can do this. I actually dug out my Tae-bo tape on Monday and did 15 minutes of that. I know it's not much, but it's a start. I am going to dig out my Richard Simmons tape too, I think that will be easier for me to do daily. Good to be back among you all and look forward to getting and giving support to all.

Gail

Hi everyone!

Boy has this thread been quiet!!!!! Don't give up is the best thing I can offer at this time! I know you're disgusted, but it WILL get better. You already know what to do, and how to do it...you CAN do it! It gets discouraging, but you have already proven that you are in control.

Stay strong!

~C

Thanks for the words of encouragement. That is what I need. My surgeon's assistant suggested I get involved in an online support group and I am so glad I followed her suggestion.

It is nice to have someone (or a group of someones....) that you can readily identify with. I have learned so much and found so much like-mindedness here - I am glad I made the April Bandsters Club! One more day and I would have been shoved into M A Y !!!!!! 8-)

Anyone got big plans for Memorial Day?

Hi Everyone. Back in LA after a difficult week of family in NY. Just a bad week. Doesn't pay to go into what's happening with my mom (84) or her husband, who I like and thank G-d for every day. But suffice to say, I ate through the entire trip. Not easy with a tight band, but I guess if you NEED the food enough, it eventually goes through. Threw up more than I'd like, but then again, it fit with the rest of the week. On top of everything else, for some reason my sister's kids were not generous about living space this trip and so my husband and I spent a week on a very bad foldout couch in an open den---which is right off the kitchen that is filled with food. My brother-in-law is banded, but he keeps the worst foods in the house. Everything he eats is fattening. Cookies, crackers, cake. So, with my emotions hanging out.....anything that would stay down, went down. Oh, and I forgot the ice cream!! Oh, and wine with meals....and wine really opens one up a lot. Food goes right down with a glass of Merlot!

Gained 4 pounds, but a few days of protein drinks and water- I didn't drink much at all while in NY- will help get it back off. Still tight, which is good.

Good to be back. Didn't get on the computer all week, which has some benefits, but I probably should have come here and talked some of it out instead of (literally) swallowing.

How's everyone doing?

Welcome back Gwen!! Sorry you had such a bad time. Family gatherings should be about great memories, but often they involve much drama and added stress. I'm glad you're home though and will be back on track in no time.

One thing is for sure, YOU can do it!

I'm doing okay, still not losing, but am tighter than before. I am still a bit hungry, but not like I was. I definitely think there is progress, but I still don't feel like I did. Maybe the new band is just different? I don't know. So far, nothing is the same. I don't feel full the same way, not sure when to stop, etc. I will get the hang of, but it's getting tiresome.

Have a great day!

~C

Good news to report! My BMI is finally "NORMAL"... just barely, but I'll take it!! 24.7 I still have a little ways to go and still need to do some serious toning, but I'll take it!!! I am very excited... doing a little happy dance today.

Also this weekend I saw my ex-boyfriend from when I was 19. We had seen each other a few times over the years, but he lives in Baltimore now so it's been probably about 10 years since I had last seen him in person. He told me I looked just like I did at 19! Not exactly, I know, but it made my week!

And if that's not enough, I bought size 8 pants on Friday! Woo hoo... lots of victories this weekend. Now if I can just get my butt in gear and work out and tone up, I'll look BETTER than I did at 19!!!

Wow that was a very inspirational report. Very encouraging. I'll just be glad to not be in the obese category LOL!

Good news to report! My BMI is finally "NORMAL"... just barely, but I'll take it!! 24.7 I still have a little ways to go and still need to do some serious toning, but I'll take it!!! I am very excited... doing a little happy dance today.

Also this weekend I saw my ex-boyfriend from when I was 19. We had seen each other a few times over the years, but he lives in Baltimore now so it's been probably about 10 years since I had last seen him in person. He told me I looked just like I did at 19! Not exactly, I know, but it made my week!

And if that's not enough, I bought size 8 pants on Friday! Woo hoo... lots of victories this weekend. Now if I can just get my butt in gear and work out and tone up, I'll look BETTER than I did at 19!!!

Good news to report! My BMI is finally "NORMAL"... just barely, but I'll take it!! 24.7 I still have a little ways to go and still need to do some serious toning, but I'll take it!!! I am very excited... doing a little happy dance today.

Also this weekend I saw my ex-boyfriend from when I was 19. We had seen each other a few times over the years, but he lives in Baltimore now so it's been probably about 10 years since I had last seen him in person. He told me I looked just like I did at 19! Not exactly, I know, but it made my week!

And if that's not enough, I bought size 8 pants on Friday! Woo hoo... lots of victories this weekend. Now if I can just get my butt in gear and work out and tone up, I'll look BETTER than I did at 19!!!

Way to go Tammi!! That's awesome!

Hi Carol,

Back to work and too tired to write when I get home, but there's not a lot of traffic here, eh? Long weekend starting and I had a Bar Mitzvah last evening and a wedding on Sunday - I'd rather read.

One bit of very good stuff...I bought a new dress to wear last evening and it was shorter and more colorful than I've been wearing (I'm a black dress fan) and it even had a lose fitting belt. WOW! I had so many compliments my head was spinning. I see the changes but I'm still a good 40-50 from where I'd like to be. So it was a great time....now I think I need to get back to work on the exercise etc. Capture the moment, etc.

I'm sorry you're not feeling a lot of restriction as yet- it will come. I had to be very tight to really feel the difference between hungry and head-hunger. Even now, most of my eating is head-hunger- I only get hungry when my stomach is very empty and it doesn't get that often because.....head-hunger makes me fill up. So, that may be part of it. I'm a fan of being very tight, even though one throws up more and there's more chance of reflux, etc. I'm still finding it hard- if I eat more than a couple of bits- which I do- I end up bringing it up.

Anyway, that was not attractive, was it? Hang in there...and you'll get to the next fill soon. I want GOOD NEWS, but in the meantime, just do what you can.

Have a happy holiday weekend.

Hi Everybody!

Just popping in to say hello and see how everyone is doing.

I am doing fairly well. I am considering getting a little unfill at my appointment tomorrow. My band has been very tight for two months. I find that I am eating mostly soup, fish and other soft foods. I was tracking my calories for a few days and found that without my protein shake I am only eating around 500 calories. I make it up to around 1000 cal with my protein shakes (adding peanut butter).The weird thing is that although I am exercising fairly regularly I am not losing very well.

Hello!!! Just wanted to stop in and see how everyone is doing. I'm scheduled to have a slight unfill in June b/c I've been experiencing some reflux and the funny thing is I haven’t had a fill since August 08 so I guess I'm tight??? The band is so fickle..go figure. Other than the slight reflux I’ve been doing well, I’ve lost 87 pounds and feel good.

Hi Turler,

Do you mind me asking how you knew your band had slipped? Did you have pain with it or did you just not lose weight?

I am very upset because I have not been very successful with my band. I thought it would help me more but maybe I put too much of the burden of dieting on the band instead of myself. I am only down 40 lbs now since I have gained back about 10 lbs. I can eat just about everything but bread if I chew it good enough. I am getting married Oct 3, 2009 and want to lose a minimum of 30 more lbs by then but not sure I will be able to do it.

Exercise has not been added into my daily routine much because I have had some complications with breaking a foot last year. I need to be able to burn more calories but not sure what I can do.

Can anyone give me some pointers, I invite any help. Thanks much to anyone who can help me.

Yvonne

Hi Yvonne,

I had pain with my slip, but I thought it was a virus because I had vomiting too. It took me a few days of misery to finally get it checked out. My throat was burning and my stomach ached so bad. Each time I attempted to eat, I'd vomit. Could only take tiny sips. It never got better so I decided it wasn't a virus after all and had to be checked via EGD and Radiology. Went to surgery a shortly after that.

Ironically, things were going well for me with weight loss. I'd had some ups and downs, but was losing. I haven't lost at all since I got my new band in Feb. I'm so disappointed, but I refuse to give up. I know it takes time to adjust the fills and this band is huge!!! I am hoping for another fill very soon.

Maybe you need a fill? You could also try logging your food again. It can really open your eyes to your habits. If you think you had a slip, you should contact your doctor and talk to him/her about your symptoms.

I'm sorry you can't exercise. It does help. Not so much with the actual losing part (in my opinion), but more for the prevention of gaining weight. You can eat a little more calories and not gain. I didn't find that I lost any more with the exercise, but I sure did feel better. I am back in the gym this month, but have only gone 4 times!!!!!! lol But hey, it's a (re)start!

~C

Hi Everyone,

Going into a two-day Jewish holiday tonight (Shevuot) and so am cooking for guests both nights and my food intake is just about all tasting! I'm still pretty tight but I like it that way. My weight is hoovering between 221 and 224, which is annoying, but I've just discovered frozen yogurt and having it for lunch every day so I think that may be the issue. Need to eat less of it and you know about those toppings!! Bad habits are lessened but not cured, that's for certain. And it creeps back slowly. Start with a little fro yo and just a little fruit and now it's a bigger cup and choc chips on top. Oh well. The good news is that I am smaller- inches- so I'm feeling okay in general. Next Friday (5th) is my surg check up so I would like to lose a pound or two more if I can - I also really need to up my water- that really affects how much I lose.

So, that's me. What's doing with everyone. Reading lots of good, but also lots of frustration. HEY, WE"RE IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL!!!! It will all be GOOD.

See everyone Sunday. Take care.