Great Idea - I will do it right now !!

Hi

I am Janet and I am a recovering food addict :wink2:

I was banded 7/17/07 - My starting weight was 250 - I'm 5'4

Today (just over 10 months out) I am 154 - size 8 pants (was 18/20) Medium tops (was 22/24)

I got banded as I wanted to extend the years that I have left on this planet and to do that I knew that I needed to lose weight.

The band has been the tool I needed. For the first time in my life I have been able to achieve this goal (actually getting to my goal weight)

If you want a buddy - support - help - suggestions - Please feel free to call upon me - I will gladly share my journey with you - the journey is still on going and by helping you I will be helping me (staying motivated and accountable) and then one day you can pay it forward and help someone else.

Hi all:

Welcome, Erika you are in the right place. I am new at this too Sharon, yes a January Hottie. I do see us all in this together. Julie good luck with your fill. I live on a tree farm but the tree work is hard so we stopped planting trees but not the garden and green house work. My DH has a full time job other than the farm. So my job is the farm. I love spring with the flowers blooming in the greenhouse but am worried as flowers and landscaping is discretionary spending, with the economy and all. I am doing what I love. Being a 51 model it is good to do what you love. Julie keep with your dream to go riding some day. You are not to old. Just make sure it is a gentle horse. I used to be in a riding club and I have been thrown a time or two.

Apple you have convinced me your avatar is now you. I’ll watch for you in my travels.

Janet, I had 4 oz. chicken (well chewed) last night with winter squash and I didn’t drink anything for two hours after. I am still so full this morning I can’t even think about having to eat. Is this wonderful or what. It isn’t always like this though. I had more salt yesterday. Maybe, Water retention in the band? Never have had a fill. Holly

Banded 1/29/09

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Holly

Yep restriction is wonder - but so fickle.. Like right now I just took a sip (well a small gulp) and am stuck... At other times it's no problem - some days I seem loose as a goose and others I can get stuck often... But even with those inconsitancies I still love my band - and yes - some pple don't need fills - it's not always all about the fills for everyone - and due to the fact that's all we read about are fills we think we need them every month for 6 months - but it's not like that for everyone...

Goodness, I don't get to check in for a day and I have 3 pages of new posts to read! Welcome to the new folks!!

Just got off the phone and making final payment on my cruise in May. We got our cabin assignments too, a little bit of an upgrade so not bad.

Yesterday we moved up to phases 3 & 4 on our Power 90 workout. OMG! The speed and intensity sure got ratcheted up. But the best part is, my 27 yr old daughter went with me. The old lady out worked her!! HA HA!! I loved it. She's very thin and young and thought the workout was hard. Also the 'ab ripper' part went from 100 crunches to 200 crunches and yes I did them all!! That's where I lost her. Actually I did 198, didn't get the last 2 in. I was very impressed with myself so please excuse my bragging, but I know this was the place other's would understand! After all that though, we went to the movies and I got my #1 dangerous redlight food, POPCORN, my duaghter put way too much salt on it. But anyhow I am up 2 lbs this morning. GRRR hoping it is partly fluid retention.

Hey, good afternoon!!! I made it to my fill.. The roads were still okay down and back; the freezing rain may still come yet later today, so I lucked out.. AND the fill went fine. My PA listened to me describe how things have been going and thought we would try one cc today bringing me to 8 in a 14 cc band.. She said she could feel something that made her quite sure this one will do the trick for me and doesn't expect to hear from me for at least 2 months.. This is great news to hear.. I'm sure hoping she is right. Although I had lost 8 pounds since my last fill a month ago, I really had not lost anything for 2 weeks. So, I'm on liquids today and maybe tomorrow, too. We'll see how I feel.. She hit the mark right away this time so I'm not worried about after effects.. I'm way happy about that!!

I've only been on this site a short time, but really enjoy the atmosphere. I started keeping a little log with information about you all so I can better remember things about you... Thought I would tell you a bit about my life and I encourage any other new ones to do the same. It sure helps me understand feelings and things better when I read the posts........ Here goes:

I'm from central North Dakota, born and raised. I live in a small rural town of 1500 people with my husband and 2 cats. We have three grown children and 3 grandchildren. Two daughters live right here by us and I do daycare for our 22 month old granddaughter. Our son lives in Ohio with his wife and 2 sons... I am a retired accountant and restaurant owner and my husband is a retired power plant operator and soldier. We have rental property so we do still manage all of that, but it doesn't take a lot of time. (Except snow removal this year!!) My husband just accepted a summer job and is looking forward to having something to occupy himself without always costing us money!!! I still do lots of recordkeeping for family members. My extended family mostly lives here, too, so I spend lots of time being a daughter, sister, sister-in-law and aunt, too.. Being a daughter takes up lots of my time as my mother has been ill and even though my brothers are around (1 is in SD) I seem to be the one who deals with all of her issues. I do it willingly most days... I've been very heavy most of my life starting at age 5, with intermitent times of major weight loss.. But it has always come back UNTILL NOW!!!!! I am so looking forward to being of a normal weight and staying there for the rest of my life.. There is still so much to do and I want to do it without pain and disgrace..... I love to cook and bake and entertain my friends and family.. Don't want this to change, but I go at it a bit differently these days..

So, I am eating a yogurt (first food today) and feeling okay.. Hope you are all well. Thanks for listening.. Julie

Hi everyone - I just can't keep up with you all. I had four pages of posts to read through!

Well, Happy Fat Tuesday! Tomorrow starts Lent for those of us who are Catholic. I've decided to give up sugar. I know, should have already done that but for the next 40 days I'm off it!!! I hope it helps with the scale.

Kathy

Long, Apples, Indio,

I could read your postings all day long. I get more information and inspiration from you 3 than you know. Thank you!!

It's almost funny, but every time I think I will post a question - one of you answers it before I ask. My question today was about sparkpeople. I like their tracking systems, but I haven't seen anyone mention WLS and was afraid to come out of the closet with them!!

Keep on keepin' on, Ladies. You have no idea what you do for people who read the postings, but are too shy to post themselves.

So good to get a little of your life story, Mrs. Bubba.

I can relate to ND... husband was stationed at Minot AFB for 2 yrs back in the mid 70's. I didn't like the winters!! And we had some pretty wild summer storms! I worked at th hospital in Minot while we lived there (RN-newborn nursery & IC nursery).

Husband retired AF,so have lived all over the country but native of Buffalo NY. Ended AF career in Seattle area... lived there 12 yrs, then 15 yrs in Oklahoma City with Boeing, now back in WA state, both retired and snowbird in Palm Springs CA area... near IndioGirl!

Weight problems since about age 8 w/many years of yoyo dieting. LapBand surgery 7/07, down a little over 100 lb. Just had my 6th fill last week. Think I have 5.5cc in 11 cc band. P.A. was in a really b____ mood last week and told me my band was near capacity! HUH??? Stll trying to figure that one out. She just wanted to chew me out about every little thing for some reason. Have good restriction and hope to see my weight loss pick up a little now... last few months have been tooooo slow!

Long, Apples, Indio,

I could read your postings all day long. I get more information and inspiration from you 3 than you know. Thank you!!

It's almost funny, but every time I think I will post a question - one of you answers it before I ask. My question today was about sparkpeople. I like their tracking systems, but I haven't seen anyone mention WLS and was afraid to come out of the closet with them!!

Keep on keepin' on, Ladies. You have no idea what you do for people who read the postings, but are too shy to post themselves.

Thank you, Gypsy Girl, for the super kind words. They made my day. Never in a million years ago did I think I would inspire anyone when I went in for surgery 9 mos ago. After all, I was convinced I was the one it wouldn't work for. I've never been to sparkpeople, so sorry can't help you there. When I track my food I use www.dailyplate.com. I'm sure someone will be familar with it though and be able to answer. Keep posting, it helps keep you motivated, focused, and on track!

Well let's see, Mrs bubba, a little about me. I actually have relatives that I've never met in ND. They are in an area called Cooperstown I think. My Grandma who is 99, knows them and they are her cousins so by the time you get to me pretty distant. She lived in ND a brief period of time growing up but soon moved back to Wisconsin which is where I am originally from. But as kids we moved to Minnesota then Denver where I grew up in junior high and highschool. Met and married my HS sweetheart. Celebrating 30 yrs of marriage in April. His family is all from SD and we go back to the farm every Nov. for pheasant hunting. Last year I even convinced hubby to drive up to ND just so I could say I've been there. I am on a Quest to get to all 50 states, have 4 to go. After marriage we moved a lot. I've lived in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, commuted to Atlanta for a very brief period of time, back to SLC, then to Calif., then Delaware (worked in Pennsylvania though at QVC) then finally 2 yrs ago back to Colorado which is where we hope to stay put. I have two kids, daughter age 27 and son age 25. Both single and no kids, though I am getting antsy for grandkids, but prefer to be a mother in law first if you catch my drift. Next week my 99 yr old Grandma is moving to Denver, and I will be helping in the care for her with my sisters. She's going to an assisted living type place though is living in the independent living part. She's amazing. We will Celebrate her 100th on May 1st. I've thought myself overweight all my life. Got many weight comments from both parents growing up. Looking back I wish I could have all those years back, I was not overweight. I remember going on the liquid Protein diet when I was 18 (aka Valerie Harper - Rhoda from Mary Tyler More show) and got to 125 and my mom said I could still stand to lose 5 lbs. HUH????? I am 5'9 by the way. But in reality I gained with both my kids and never lost and kept gaining more. I just hit Onederland last week and it's the first time being in teh 100's since I was pregnant with my son. There you have it my mini life story. :smile:

Holly

Yep restriction is wonder - but so fickle.. Like right now I just took a sip (well a small gulp) and am stuck... At other times it's no problem - some days I seem loose as a goose and others I can get stuck often... But even with those inconsitancies I still love my band - and yes - some pple don't need fills - it's not always all about the fills for everyone - and due to the fact that's all we read about are fills we think we need them every month for 6 months - but it's not like that for everyone...

I just found out this week how fickle the band could be. I had great restriction all weekend, now yesterday and today I've been so hungry !!! and it's not head hunger either. :smile:

Hey Kathy, I'm not Catholic, but I am Lutheran and we start Lent tomorrow, too.. I can't really think of anything I should give up, so I'm going for a weight loss goal by Easter instead... I'm trying to leave the 300's behind me by then... That's 12 pounds.. Some would say that is a stretch, but we'll see... I guess it's the trying that counts most, even if I only make 8!!!!

Phyllser and Long, thanks for all the great background information. And you have both been to ND... that's great.... I've been to WA and CO, too.. Most recently my husband left for and returned from Iraq to Fort Carson at Colorado Springs, so I was there for his send off.. Used to have relatives there... I do have relatives at Bremerton, WA...... Both lovely states... I'm not a world travelor like my husband, but I have been the states west of here and southeast, but never to OK or TX or the east coast.. We are planning a trip to NH this fall with some friends... I'm hoping to be down enough more that I can enjoy the trip and all the walking I could encounter.. Julie

:smile: to Janet re: the treadmill. You called me out. There aren't any clothes on it, but if I turned it on you could probably see the dust clouds from here to Cali. Ok, I know "exercise is the key." Long you seem to have this exercise thing going real good. What was it like when you first started? I actually was a gym rat about 6 years ago. Wouldn't miss my work out time, went there directly from work. I got into a rut and the longer I stayed away the harder it was for me to get back. In Dec started exercising again, then holidays hit and here I am, can't get started again.

Thanks to the Ladies who shared some personal stuff, it's nice to get a little background - so many interests, so much talent. Oh yea, Janet - I'm studying for a Master's in HR/Labor Relations. That's what I do for a living e.g. Labor Relations; unions, grievances etc. so yes, when I get home all I want is quiet and no problems.

Well today, didn't do so bad on the food. Just finished dinner. Fish fillet (baked) and some refried black beans. I just (sorry a telemarketer just called - the nerve it's almost 9pm here:cursing:)...anyway hopefully dinner will take me through the evening. Have to have my snack though e.g. sf pudding probably. Oh well, will check in tomorrow.

:smile: Long you seem to have this exercise thing going real good. What was it like when you first started? I actually was a gym rat about 6 years ago. Wouldn't miss my work out time, went there directly from work. I got into a rut and the longer I stayed away the harder it was for me to get back. In Dec started exercising again, then holidays hit and here I am, can't get started again.

Sharon, when I started working out, it wasn't pretty. I could only do about 10 min on a recumbant exercise bike. It was so hard to move my 300 lb body to do much more. I gradually got that up to 20 to 30 min but it was so boring. And then I added some weight machines. Then in Jan. I started doing this Power 90 workout, at the time I thought I was getting in pretty decent shape. This DVD showed me I could get in much better shape. We have been doing it for 6 weeks and was really seeing the improvement. now today we moved up to the next level and it's like I am back at the beginning again as it's much tougher. But I feel stronger and more confident every time I do it and can do more. It helps so much that I have a friend I do it with. It was going to be the 2 of us, then her husband joined us, mine comes when he can come home from work early enough. then a few more weeks into it another gal joined it and now her husband has too. The guys are even liking this workout. Imagine that?? My daughter hadn't seen me ina few weeks when she came over yesterday, she noticed my arms and how toned they were (well minus the wing I have underneath it ha ha) so that felt nice that it was noticeable. I never would've thought it possible that I would work out this much and not hate it. I won't say I enjoy it but I like how I feel and what it's doing for my body.

Hi everyone, Good to read everyone's posts. Phyllser I was an AF wife too -- stationed in Duluth, MN, San Angelo, TX, and Fairbanks, AK, so have seen my share of nasty, cold winters. I'm originally from Ohio, Youngstown area. After Fairbanks, I divorced and moved to Reno, NV where I raised my DS and lived until I met my current DH and moved to Long Beach, CA in 1992. He became disabled and we left So. CA four years ago and moved to Iowa (where my DS lived) and now my DH's daughter and 2 year old GD live here too. I don't miss So. CA much, I worked in downtown LA and don't miss the commute at all. We left at a good time, and are grateful for that. Janet, today was my weigh in day and I lost my two pounds for the week. I also recalculated my BMI which is now at 39 so I am THRILLED with that, which helps keep me motivated. Linda

Hey there all (Wed morning). I got up this morning and feel like crap. Called and got a Dr appt for today. I think I have a sinus infection. Ive had this for two week now and thats long enough for me. Nothing to report here. My life is pretty much boring at this point. Apples, where is your picture? I am anxious to see you:thumbup:. To the new ones, It is hard to get going on this program for some of you but just do a little each day until you build up to it all. Heck, I still feed deprived about food sometimes. I would love to have a big ol hamburger or a blt. Can't eat the bread. My number one trigger food would have to be popcorn also Long. Havent had much of it since being banded but one night I did have some at the movies and man I was sick all day the next day. My sis put a little butter on it and I havent had butter since being banded. Girls, talk to you all tonight. Oh and Phyl, I would love to work with the babies at the hospital.

Beckyo:thumbup:

Hello Ladies, Thank goodness school vacation is over. Out to eat and a long scrapbook weekend didn't look good on my food journal. I was suppose to leave today for bike week with my brother, but he didn't have enough bikes to haul to make it worth his while:cursing:. Instead I saw my Dr. and nutritionist yesterday(in Worcester,MA), we worked on my food lists. He didn't give me a fill, he's not happy with pbing. I'm a 4cc with 2.7cc's in it. No carbs. (bread), which always makes me bp. Guess I'm a slow learner. So my journal looks alot better for these past 2 days. I'm still wearing the surgery shoe from my fall down the stairs. Drive bus barefoot. Have another appointment with my regular dr. Fri. Have a healthy day. Bonnie