Hi, Everyone!

I'm so excited to have found ya'll (from Ohio, near Kentucky - LOL).

Had my nutrition class today and am scheduled for surgery with Dr. Curry on March 16. Starting the preop diet on 3/9, following an out of town weekend when which I intend to eat whatever I want!!! Is that bad???? Please, please, please share any negatives - otherwise, this is my plan. LOL!

What else can I share? I weigh....OMG cannot believe I'm going to type this....256...and my initial goal weight is 170, although I really want to get down to 150. I don't believe I've been there since...grade school. Ouch.

Anyway, looking forward to "meeting" you all and wish everyone the best of luck!!!

LapLady09

Hi

I was really starting to worry about you!!! I wondered if all of the stuff you have been going thru had caused you not to post in awhile. Im sorry to hear about the divorce, it is a hard thing to go thru and I speak from experience. You will be fine it just takes awhile to get your feet back under you and get back in the swing of life :bored:

I'm also very sorry to hearr about your step brother, what a shock. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Now about the weight thing...I go up and down so much I feel like a yo yo. I have been able to eat anything again so I scheduled hopefully my last fill for this afternoon. That will be my 4th. I just hope it is not like the last time and make it impossible to keep anything down for the first week.

Good luck everyone!!

Bernadette

How all are well. I have struggled since my last fill and have had some swelling after getting stuck. Wednesday I could barely get water down, yesterday water and broth, today I hope I can get some protein. I have talked with my doctor and he offered to un-fill but for now I am good. I am down 70 pounds, so that part is great.

Hi

I was really starting to worry about you!!! I wondered if all of the stuff you have been going thru had caused you not to post in awhile. Im sorry to hear about the divorce, it is a hard thing to go thru and I speak from experience. You will be fine it just takes awhile to get your feet back under you and get back in the swing of life :thumbup:

I'm also very sorry to hearr about your step brother, what a shock. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Now about the weight thing...I go up and down so much I feel like a yo yo. I have been able to eat anything again so I scheduled hopefully my last fill for this afternoon. That will be my 4th. I just hope it is not like the last time and make it impossible to keep anything down for the first week.

Good luck everyone!!

Bernadette

Bernadette,

Thank you for your continued support as well as your prayers. You're great! I can say that I know I'll be having another fill. I'm now at 8.5 cc in a 14cc band and this last fill doesn't feel any different than the one before. As long as I chew well, I feel I can almost eat as much as before the band. I don't allow myself to do that of course. I can't wait until I hit that sweet spot!

Let me know how your 4th fill went. I hope all is well and your able to keep stuff down this time.

How all are well. I have struggled since my last fill and have had some swelling after getting stuck. Wednesday I could barely get water down, yesterday water and broth, today I hope I can get some protein. I have talked with my doctor and he offered to un-fill but for now I am good. I am down 70 pounds, so that part is great.

Congrats on your weight loss! You're doing amazing! I hope your stomach is adjusting to the fill now so you're able to eat.

Hi All

Greg I see you are doing VERY well!!! I wish I was done 70 lbs would be at my goal. That is amazing!! When you had your fill did you do liquids for a couple days after?? I have to do liquids for a day and then mushies for a day.

Well I had my 4th fill yesterday and I really hope that this is the last one, I really hope that I will be able to eat when Im off liquids and not have all the problems that I had last time. I need to run to the store to get some more yogurt and some fresh fruit.

Have a great weekend, we are off to my home town for our annual family BBQ.

Bernadette

Bernadette, when you find that sweet spot you will know it and hopefully it will be soon. I am only half way to my stretch goal so I still have a ways to go and you know men lose different than women so don't be hard on yourself. The fact that your on here encouraging everyone shows you have the dedication it takes to be successful. Hope you enjoy your hometown BBQ.

Hey where are all of the March 16thers!!!!!

I have not seen any of you post lately, I hope all is well! I just thought I would check in and fill everyone in on my journey. I have nor done well in the last month. I went in yesterday for my 5th fill and maybe my last. I have 4cc in my band and that is what it holds. I was told at the fill center that if this did not do it they will fill me under floro next week to see if they can get a little more in there. I have not tried to eat yet so I don't know if Im at my sweet spot or not, I sure hope so. Iam at 35lbs which is okay but not where I thought I would be by now. I also have to confess that exersize has not been a top priority for me.

Everyone get on here and give us an update!!!

Bernadette

Bernadette, I admire you. You will reach your goal and we all could do better. 35 pounds is great and I have confidence that you will have the strength to be persistent. Celebrate your loss you are headed in the right direction.

Hey Greg so good to hear from you!! I hope all of the rest of them chime in too. I have missed our little group and its members! How have you been?? Did you get to the sweet spot yet? I hope this does it for me, I would like to know how it feels to have good restriction. How is your weight loss? are you still losing as fast as you were?

Good to hear from you!

Bernadette:cool2:

I am doing great, I think I am at my sweet spot. Some days I can't eat at all and some days it is fairly normal. I don't dare take anymore at this point. But as I continue to lose I will reach a point I will need another fill. I was told it is like a belt and when you lose weight you will have to continue to tighten it. But I am good for now. I have been on a plateau and am down 80 plus pounds, but it has slowed down and is much harder. I have to increase my exercise and decrease my calories. But I am still happy as a lark. I feel good, like I have not felt in years. The LB is just awesome, not a miracle but still an awesome tool. I feel good enough I am headed to Vegas next weekend, and before I would not even get on a plane because of my weight. Keep the faith and keep after it, the weight will come off.

Greg

WOW what a wonderful post!! Im so happy for you in your weight loss journey. It sounds like you are working well with the band. I have had a few tough times but for the most part it has been good. I feel so much better about myself and how I look. The hardest part for me is eating slow and small bites, Im trying soo hard to be good.

Good job Greg!!

Bernadette

I'm a March Bandster and I have not been on here in quite a awhle and after reading some of the posts I think I should have been. I'm feeling good but have only had one fill and have only lost 25 pounds since the surgery. I can pretty much eat many different things, Its strange like chips are easy to digest but pasta a big no no. I have been complacent and I think I need to call my M.D. and find out if I need a fill. There really isn't alot of follow up with the M.D. on their part so I guess I better get more proactive myself.Thanks to everyone posting I find out alot more here than I ever have from the M.D.

Hi MOBO

You are doing great too, people lose at different paces so don't get down on yourself. How many fills have you had? I have had 5 I go to a fill center because I was banded in Mexico. The center I go to encourages you to get fills as quickly as you can. They say why have the band if you are not willing to make it work.

I agree that you will get more info here than you do from your Dr, they give you the background and you have to do "trials" to see what works for you.

I think I have finally hit my sweet spot, after my last fill Iam only able to eat a very small amount at one sitting. I truly feel full after about 5 or 6 bites, I think I will like it this way. Oh I do agree with you about chips going down good, before this last fill I could eat tons of chips and never PB or feel full.

Keep up the good work!

Bernadette

Hey Bernadette, Gregg and everyone else: Thing are going great here, glad to hear from you all and that you are all doing well.

Bernadette & Gregg, I think that you two should be our official 16th cheerleaders, thanks for keeping us all together.

Things are going slower for me also, but at least still losing. I have my 3rd fill this Friday. Haven't had one for about 2 months, but now think that I am ready. I also am still having time with eating too fast or too big bites. Has been bad 3 times, you would think that I would of learned by now. Maybe.... But am also loving the weight loss so far and loving life now. Feeling so much better about EVERYTHING! It is amazing to me how weight affects so many aspects of your life.

I have so many different size clothes from the past that I haven't even needed to buy any new clothes, but it is so nice being able to wear things that I haven't worn in forever!

I can't believe that it has been 4 months since we had surgery. Look how far that we have all gone. I now really think that I can make it. We can all do this. I still have to make myself exercise, I think that is why that I have less time to be on the computer, but it is so nice to want to do things outside.

Take care all and I hope that everyone has a great week. Update so we all know how you are all doing.

Mobo: Welcome to our little group, there certainly is lots of information on this site. I to feel like that I can eat alot, I have had 2 fills. I can't wait to find my sweet spot and really be able to use the band for all it is meant to be. Contact your Dr and see if time for another fill, my Dr. thinks you need a fill once a month (but only a small amount) but each Dr is different. Remember we all have different reasons for our weight gain and loss, so just keep pushing toward the healthier you! With time we will make it in end and it will be so worth it! Good luck to you

MOBO, please do your own follow-up. I think that is why some are more/less successful than others. I have great follow-up from my doctor, we have group once a month and he is always there to answer any question. I get email reminders and feedback often from his team. The monthly group and weigh in keeps us honest on on course. He has said that the ones the attend are the most successful. If you can't get to a group keep on here for insight and information. There is more on here than some doctors know or understand. Find someone you can communicate with and work as a team. Keep the faith and keep your eye on the prize. Get fills, no need to have a band if your not working it.