Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

thanks everyone!!

and Orea.. thats what doesnt discourage me at this point.. I had lost 40 prior to my first child.. I only gained 20 back .. but with the band I was able to lose it.. so its so encouraging that the band will be there for me when I am ready to start again!

All the butterflies will be skinny and hot by the time I have my baby! :biggrin: you go girls!!

heres to hoping this baby sticks it through!

Hi all, I just wanted to pop in and say hi and give a quick update. I read all the entries in my email, but rarely get

over here to post.

I'm down 68 pounds so far and feel fabulous. I am 3 pounds from my initial goal of 160, but have now changed

my goal to 140 since I can see the smaller me. That puts me right into the normal BMI category which would be

great. That being said though, if I stall here I would be okay. I am in a size 12, run approx. 10-12 miles a week

and just plain feel good.

On the band front, I have been having a few issues. The first four months were a breeze but the last two have

been up and down. I got a fill on 12/3 and had to go in for a partial emergency unfill on 12/8. Things were still

iffy and then two weeks ago, I suddenly got super tight. Period came, so I assumed it was that. Period left and

the tightness stayed (I would get stuck on pureed Soups some days). I haven't been under any more stress than

usual so I don't know. I didn't schedule a new appt since I already had one on 2/4 but ended up on liquids for

those two weeks. At my appt Wednesday, I told him what was going on and he wants to err on the side of

caution. Complete unfill, test for h-pylori and I have to go in today for a gallbladder u/s. If all that comes back

alright, in 4 weeks we can start filling again. We shall see...

My timeline/story is here if anyone wants to see...

Life With A Lap Band | this life of mine

Lacey, congrats on the phenomenal progress you've made so far. I'm sorry to hear you may be having some issues. Your doctor certainly seems to be taking a very cautious and conservative approach. Anyway, the unfill will give you a bit of a break so that's good. I hope it's just a matter of being a bit too tight and that you'll be able to get back on the "band" wagon in no time.

YEA!!! A new baby, how wonderful. Congrats to you and your family

I feel I'm getting towards the home stretch of my weight loss with less than 40 pounds to loose now. It's much harder now. Coming off at like 1 pound a week now. I give all the credit to food journaling.

I'd take 1lb a week right about now. That's still great. I hope I can start that again after my fill on tuesday. Although I'm still a little afraid after the whole over fill thing last time.

For the first time in 2 weeks I slept through the night without being awakened by acid reflux. It's so nice to be back to "normal."

That's great to hear, nothing worse then not being able to sleep and still having to go on with your day.

Edited February 8, 200917 yr by kimaly

I feel I'm getting towards the home stretch of my weight loss with less than 40 pounds to loose now. It's much harder now. Coming off at like 1 pound a week now. I give all the credit to food journaling.

Awesome weight loss! Yes, it makes a huge difference when you journal. I haven't journaled today, and I am eating like crazy.....not bad stuff....just too much.

I have been to the doctor 14 times. Just two were unfills. I have a 9 cc Realize band and I am at 8.8 right now. It is full of the thicker stuff they can put in. I was wondering if any one else has had this many fills. thanks!

Do any of you eat sweets?

I've only had 4 fills. My commitment is to avoid sweets and other non-nutritional foods for as long as it takes and probably beyond. Sweets do nothing good for me and I don't feel good after eating them. I make small exceptions, but only rarely. They are by no means a regular part of my diet.

So, how are you doing?

I'd take 1lb a week right about now. That's still great. I hope I can start that again after my fill on tuesday. Although I'm still a little afraid after the whole over fill thing last time.

Just see if you can get your fills slowly this time. I haven't been overfilled yet, but I did become tight after my hysterectomy and it wasn't pleasant. I hope your fill goes well. Just remember, if you have ANY doubts about much was filled, have them take a little out before you leave. You can always get a little more put in later. Good luck!

I feel I'm getting towards the home stretch of my weight loss with less than 40 pounds to loose now. It's much harder now. Coming off at like 1 pound a week now. I give all the credit to food journaling.

I am with you on this one! Food journaling keeps me honest. I did not drop ANYTHING for over 4 weeks. I knew it TECHNICALLY wasn't my fault because my calories were correct. I stuck with it and now my scale is moving again, finally. I guess it helps that my band loosened up a little bit so I stopped eating the Special K. I know it is supposed to be good for you, but my body doesn't like straight carbs like cereal.

About the special K, I was wondering about the whole not drinking while you eat and the milk thing. I guess it would be the same with soup. sometimes I do eat it but I try to drain as much milk off the spoon as possible. But just wondering if it defeats the purpose

What my mentor, Jessie Ahroni says, is that you can bend the rules about cereal and soup IF it works for you. She often has a latte and a high fiber cereal bar for breakfast on the way to work. When I have soup, i try to have most of the liquid part first and then the solids if there are any. Hope this helps.

Edited February 9, 200917 yr by orea15
typo

I am doing fine, I am just sick to death of trying to reach the "sweet spot". 12 fills and 2 unfills I feel is just ridiculous!

I was crying just a tiny bit last night because I wanted sweats. I just can't seem to get over the sweats. Some times I feel like giving up and think to myself is being fat all that bad? I couldn't hardly get up the stairs and turn over in my bed but I wasn't crying and thinking about sweats all the time cause if I did I would just go get them. I am 45 and I am so sick off this!!!!!!!! Just can't understand why I can't get over this. I had a few days on Christmas Eve and Christmas that I wasn't craving food or wanting to eat. What happened? Why was that so much different? I was much tighter than and now I wonder if I get tighter (had no acid reflux) than those thoughts of food would come back to being nothing like it was.

Having a terrible time with this.