Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🌈 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins

Blogs

edieparks's Journal
 

good day

water exercised for 1 hour 15 minutes 2 30 minutes walks (beautiful day) Had a good food choice day too scales this morning 216!   Now Im starting to think about once I get to goal , how the hell am I going to keep it off? Will I start buying cookies and lie to myself and say I'll only eat one a day? Will I ever be able to have anything really mouth watering in my house again Damn it. I have had to cut myself off from sf pudding because I was so weak . I was bringing two containers to eat at one time. The sf carmel was just to f***** GOOD.   highest 272 lbs/ pre band 247/ banded 7-19-6 / 9-3-6 216 lbs:)
edieparks

edieparks

1
RKidder's Journal
 

Green light to meet with surgeon!

Weighed in last Wednesday -- down 3.5 lbs. I was surprised, since I just got back from vacation the week before. She said I can call and schedule my first visit with Dr. Paciulli (October 23). Finally! I wish I could get the banding done before Christmas or maybe early January! We'll see.  
RKidder

RKidder

1
ShayDee's Journal
 

Hurry up, Sept. 11th!

I had read one of Telly's entries and saw her virtual model so I thought I'd try it myself and omg, how I long to look like that I can't wait to actually have a body and dress up like a young lady instead of boyish because I can't find clothes big enough to fit comfortably. That's an amazing difference... from 280 to 150 lbs.
ShayDee

ShayDee

1
Malice X Girl's Journal
 

Downfall

I have no idea what is going on with me this weekend. Seriously I have for the first time in a long time, knowingly sabatogued myself and I feel as if I need to figure out why if I want to stop it, and I do. I think that it would be nieve of me to think that this is just me craving stuff, like it's a chemical thing going on in my body, no I don't know what or why but I think it's psychological. Why am I backing off of my success? I am so proud of myself, I love the way i'm looking and the success that I am having. Initially I know that it started with, "it's Friday I get to eat what I want" but typically it doesn't go all weekend.   Saturday I had a blast, spent the day with mom, went out Saturday. Went merangue/salsa dancing. I LOVED it. I discovered though that my social skills aren't the best in that situation. I need to work on that, so I guess I need to get out and practice a bit more. For whatever reason I have an inherant feeling as if i'm fooling everyone and secretly i'm not good enough to deserve certain things in life. Almost as if people don't really know what they are getting into with me. The more I think about it though the more I think that it's my way of blocking myself against rejection. Push myself away, make myself unavailable so I don't have to go through the discomfort of getting to know someone else, and not giving them a chance to ditch me. Geeze I suck, I know that if that is the case I will miss out on alot of good things and that is not something that I want. I want to be able to be myself with people without worrying what they think, like somehow I will get down a few knotches on their friend ladder. How ignorant is that?   I also want someone to love me no matter what. I want that now...before and even sometimes now i'm really not sure. I don't know if it is worth it, don't know if loving someone is worth the aches and pains that I know it will bring. I don't know if it is worth dealing with their behaviors that drive you nuts. Living alone is great, I do what I want how I want. I don't have to worry about someone else. So I have two sides war-ing. I don't know which one will win out. I have never known what a productive relationship is like, never saw it growing up. Relationship=bad, mess up your life, yet I know that it must be amazing to have someone love you, no matter what, the good and the bad. I know that one day (in the distant future) I want a family, want to do the family thing, but I don't know how to get there. Basically i'm really jacked up. But I will not sabatogue my success, my weighloss is for me. I am doing this for me not for other people to like me better.
Malice X Girl

Malice X Girl

1
vinesqueen's Journal
 

Heading down to OHSU tomorrow--bring it on!

Hi Campers! (hi Crystal!)   Ok, I'm heading back down to OHSU in Portland tomorrow early morning. I have to be there at 8 am, so we have to get a very early start.   I just wanted to give all y'all a quick heads up. I had a mid-line placed on Friday (it was pretty cool learning to draw my own blood) I'll be doing blood draws every 4 hours, I'll be meeting with the neuro-surgeon Tuesday, and I still don't know if I'll be having the CSS Wed or not. Because I hit a High on Thursday, they had to scramble to fit me in and get me tested while I'm still High.   Keep your fingers crossed for me that my High stays all week. Hopefully this means that I'll be in for brain surgery really soon! Yes! Hopefully this means that Pitunia will be given her walking papers and that unwanted B*tch will be history!   So, here's hoping I'll be like the majority of other Cushies, I'll have the tumor out and then drop 40-90 pounds in a matter of months!   Anyway, I'll be gone for a week, so there won't be any update in my journal while I'm gone.   bu-bye!
vinesqueen

vinesqueen

2
sarai's Journal
 

today is Sunday, Sept. 3

today I'm just over 2 weeks since surgery and I feel great. In fact, probably too well since I've been eating regular food. If I don't get a fill soon, I'll probably start to gain weight. So far I'm down 15 lbs. but have stayed at 15 lbs for the last week. I'm feeling a little discourage but I know that I'm not doing all of the things I'm supposed to. I NEED that fill! This is definately harder than I ever thought it would be when I started this journey. I haven't been too hungry since the surgery so I can definately tell a difference. Since the surgery, I've had Thai food once, spinach dip and sandwiches at a party (Ashley Lissy's baby shower), potato salad at another party (Maryanna's 1st Birthday), and 6" chicken salad sub at my mom's house. But on a positive note, I've exercised almost every day at least 20 minutes. I feel physically better. I just wished it showed a little more. At first, when I lost the weight really quickly, people that I work with noticed but that has really slowed down. Actually, the thing I think about most is "what if I paid 17,000 and lose 20 lbs?" First, that would make me feel like such a failure, second, I would be so embarrassed, especially because some people like Donna and Brent know how much it cost. I would feel like a fool. yesterday, we went out on the boat w/ my family. At first, I was excited to take pictures, by the end of the night (after I had seen a couple of them on the digital camara) I didn't want to be in any more. I looked so fat. That was really discouraging. Anyway, I'm still glad I did it, I just want to make sure I don't waste the money or the opportunity. I'm joining the chat forum. The next support group meeting is 4th Thursday in Sept. Anyway, thanks for listening.   Love, Sarah
sarai

sarai

1
KariK's Journal
 

Blank

Hmm well I was nearly down another pound today. Im sure by tomorrow I will be at 209. I can't believe im losing despite eating icecream and my favorite.. fudge. Yum. Im definitely going to hop onto the treadmil today and get my 30 mins. in.   9:00 am Breakfast: 15 oz. chocolate calorie countdown milk + 1 Scoop unjury protein powder.   11:45 am Lunch: 1 1/2 hard boiled egg choppled mixed with 3 T. Miracle whip, 1/2 tsp mustard, salt/pepper. 15 Kashi crackers (one serving). 1:00 pm Snack: SF chocolate pudding cup.Isn't this emoticon funny? lol   5:45 pm Supper: 1/2 can tuna, 3 Tbs. Miracle whip, 1/2 avacado, 1/2 tomato, 15 Kashi crackers, and another SF chocolate pudding.   Exercise: 30 Min. Treadmil 3mph   Water:>64 oz.   Vitamins: 2 T. Liquid Multi, 1 Viactiv Calcium, 1500 mcg Biotin   Goal: Exercise tomorrow, try not to eat more than one pudding cup, unless I do go down a pound tomorrow then heck, I'll keep having my puddings lol. I was really cranky today for some reason. I hope im not a crab tomorrow. I haven't had a period yet since having my baby 4 1/2 months ago.. maybe im going to have my first one? Or maybe im just stressed. Ugh.
KariK

KariK

1
avilla's Journal
 

Could Have Been Worse

Oh well, my weekly weigh in could have been worse...With me being sick and not up moving around much I will totally accept the 2.5 lbs gain...I will get that back off in no time...Of course I am not happy with it but I think my health this week was alot more important...My husband says that will can start walking as a family in the evenings for a little bit more of a workout, but we will see how that goes...I am going to atleast get back started on my afternoon workout possibly today...
avilla

avilla

2
KariK's Journal
 

Another Day Another Entry

9:00 am Breakfast: Atkins drink + Unjury. 1 Sf Jello pudding cup.   12:00 pm Lunch: 1/2 can Tuna, 3 T. Miracle whip, 1/2 Cubed Avacado, 15 Kashi crackers.   6:00 pm Supper: Ate at my moms, 1 Vietnamese eggroll homemade, 1 C. split pea with ham soup again homemade.... This meal tasted good but it didn't really go together lol what was my mom thinking??   7:00 pm Desert/Snack: Broke my no food after 6 pm rule but hey I succeeded at my 5 day sugar fast!! So tonight I had 1/2 of a small hot fudge sundae from DQ.   Vitamins: 2Tbs liquid multi, 1 Calcium chew, 1500 mcg biotin.   Water: Lost track but Im sure it was over 64 oz.   Goal: Exercise tomorrow! Didn't get any in today, bummer.:think
KariK

KariK

1
Telly's Journal
 

Here's what I did to lose the weight so fast

Exercise Routine & Weight Training Ok, I made up my routine however I did use a Personal trainer to get me aquainted with the circuit machines. My P.T. reviewed proper stance, movement and isolation using free weights. Please feel free to copy and paste my workouts and use them for yourself.   Get a very supportive sportsbra, I would get mine a size smaller than I normally wore b/c it held me together better. Try to get 4 of them, that way there are enough to have for a 4 day per week workout. I have 6. Get a sweat jacket if you can. I used to wear the sauna suits to drop water weight and inches but it got to be too costly as I wrecked those suits every week. I use a sweater or sweat jacket and it works great. Keeps the heat in as I run and workout. Heat also allows your muscles to be less tense and more relaxed, so in other words, it will loosen up your muscles. After I run, I tend to get really cold so it keeps me warm. Just think about boxers in training. They wear sweat jackets, with their hoodies on.   Weight training is great for you, toning your muscles and tightening your skin as you lose weight, however your weight will stall a bit during weight training. You will be building muscle hence speeding up your metabolism, causing you to be hungrier, more often. That's why I eat 6 times per day. I weight train 3x's per week.   Word of advice - if you just want to tone and not bulk up then go with bigger repetitions and lower weights. If you want to bulk up and build muscle then up your weights heaviness and lower the repetition.   The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Muscle burns more calories than fat.   Food Choices & Food Portions Try to drink 64fl oz to 128 fl oz (1 gallon) per day. This will keep you hydrated and keep your system clean.   Stay away from sugar and flour products. I stay away from pasta as well.   Eat tuna if you can. It's packed with protein and very low in fat, abvout 1.5g of fat for 3oz. Albacore is the best. Salmon is high in protein and has good fats such as Omega 3's. Lean Chicken or any kind of Lean meats. I eat alot of Spinich leaves. It is high in iron, folic acid and full of nutrients, not like your iceberg lettuce. Iceberg is all water. I will also mix the Spinich greens with a bag of garden salad mix. I use fresh lime juice as dressing or I will use Asian Sesame or Mikoto dressing. I stay away from Italian, Thousand Island, French, Ranch, etc. They are very high in fat.   Try to stay within whatever your nutritionist layed out for you with regards to caloric intake. If she said to stay around 1,000 calories then darnit, you better start counting. Calorie counting is a chore but it works. If you take in too few calories, you will lose weight BUT your body will go into "starvation mode". We don't want that. Starvation mode kills your metabolism and will allow you to survive and maintain at that calorie count. However, you will ruin your metabolism and if you started to take in more calories because you are hungrier then ..uh oh. Weight gain with a slower metabolism. Don't go under the recommended amount. If you are stalling on weight loss and you are taking in 1,000 calories.... crank up your exercise. You will exert the weight off in a healthy way. If you are running marathons or biking, jogging and lifting weights in the same day then you will need to up your caloric intake to over 2k calories. You need to understand that in order to drive yourself to these extremes, you have to fuel your body.   If you are banded and are filled then you should be able to feel restriction and will know when to stop eating. However, the purpose of the band is to help remind you when to stop. You should be aware of portion size as well as be aware of how much you are eating on your own. You should pay attention to how much you are eating and stop yourself before the band does. I mean, we all know when enough is enough right? I got here b/c I had a bottomless pit I think, but I ate good foods, I just didn't know when to stop. I kept eating and eating and stopped exercising.   So review time: Water - Drink lots of water
Food Choices - Eat good, wholesome foods with alot of nutrients and low in fat, low in carbs. Complex carbs are better for you. Complex Carbs - potatoes, pasta, grains, beans, etc. Also may want to invest in some protein shakes. Isopure, Spiru-tein, Myoplex are good protein shakes to check out. Try to replace at least 1 meal a day with a shake.
Cardio - Put in 45min - 1 hour of cardio per day for 5 - 6 days per week (if you can). Weight train at will but alternate muscle groups. Never work the same muscle groups 2 days in a row. It will do more harm than help you. (If you lift weights in a muscle group, you will create small tears in your muscles. This helps to build muscles as they heal. However if you go and weight train the same muscle groups the next day you will hurt that muscle and possibly damage it due to too much work and stress on it. Give it a day or so to recooperate).
Portion Control - Know when you feel satisfied or pay atten to the band. Do not try to pouch pack.
Vitamins - Take a multivitamin. I take GNC's Nature something..I forget it's a women's multivitamin. I also take biotin for hair, skin and nails and my hair is growing back after some recent hair loss. My skin is very clear, even glows and my nails are stronger than ever. I hope this helps a little.
Telly

Telly

6
faybie's Journal
 

Day 4 after surgery

Today has been a good day so far, my 2 year old jumped in my lap when I wasn't looking, reflexively I guarded my stomach, so he only hit the far left wound. My mom is here waiting for me to be ready to go walking. LOL. I hate it but love it. Mom's are great like that. I took my first real shower today and was very careful with my incisions.   My DH used adhesive remover on places where I had adhesive build up from surgery and bandages. I am fortunate, I have a whole box of adhesive remover from when I was undergoing chemotherapy and we had to change my port bandage every 3 days and get the glue off from the tape. He gently placed bandages back over all of my incisions. For some reason, I feel more secure with bandaids over them for now.   Emotionally I feel great. I feel like going back to work on Tuesday after the holiday will be just fine.   Food on Day 4: morning: 1/2 cup coffee with equal, didnt drink it all. I was hoping this would act as dieretic, but it didnt. Breakfast: 1/2 cup of grits w/slice of cheese melted. Didn't eat it all. Lunch: Packaged low sodium potatoe and green onion soup. Only have to mix 8 oz of water. I first tried adding a scoop of unjury powder to it and it was disgusting, so I threw the first batch out and started over. This was the second time unjury powder was a failure. I need to research this and see what other ppl are doing with unjury powder.
faybie

faybie

1
ShayDee's Journal
 

little ranting and bitching...

I love my boyfriend/fiance', but god he gets on my nerves sometimes. So, there we are in the grocery store and he sees some meat seasoning he wants. First of all, I don't like pork chops or steak so it makes no difference to me what he puts on his meat... but I made the mistake of wrinkling my nose in disgust and he says "okay, i'll put it back". I didn't want him to put it back!! lol.. I just don't like it *shrugs*... but what really irritated me is why does he need my approval for everything? I'm not his mother. Then he says to me "how can you grocery shop and not get any meats?" Well, I'm trying to eat healthier so I had got some ground turkey instead of hamburger and since I'm a full time college student and work when I'm not in school, a lot of the things I buy are quick cooking things like pizza, salads, chicken nuggets ( for my son ) etc. Anyway, it turned into a huge argument so I just went to the checkout lane and he takes off to the truck... sometimes I think, why do I bother?:angry
ShayDee

ShayDee

2
kutia's Journal
 

Back on REAL food!

Today was my first day back on real food. For lunch I had a Chick-fil-a sandwich (no pickles) and a small order of fries. I ate very slowly and tried to concentrate on chewing very well. It took me about 45 minutes to finish and now I feel FULL. This is awesome!!!! Before my band, I would go to Chick-fil-a and get a sandwich, large fries and a 12 pack of nuggets. The nuggets I would eat in the car on the way home. When I got home I'd inhale the rest in about 5 minutes. This is so much better.   Since my fill isn't until Sept.20, I'm really worried that I'll have to make my ticker go to the left. I'll be happy if it just stays right where it is until my fill. Of course I wouldn't mind if it continued on its merry way to the right.   I have come up with a strategy to combat the fact that I can now eat real food. This past week I have been faithfully walking every evening. I go around my neighborhood and the distance is roughly (measured with my car) 1.2 miles. I walk this in 33 minutes on average. Tonight AND FROM NOW ON I am going to extend my route. My neighborhood is vaguely shaped like a E. I live in the middle of the top. I go down the vertical, along the bottom, turn around, go along the middle both ways and then back up and over to my house. Tonight I'm going to do all that, except when I get to my house I'm going to keep going. I'll walk outside the E from the top all the way to the bottom and then walk the E again. That should make my route (for those of you who aren't lost yet) roughly 2.5 miles. I'm hoping that will keep me from gaining before my fill.   Teresita, thanks for the reassurance. Although I gotta wonder why the icon is running away?:rolleyes
kutia

kutia

2
MICHELLE43's Journal
 

THE ROAD AHEAD

I AM SOOO HAPPY...... FINALLY, I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR MY BAND!:faint: I GUESS NOW I AM GETTIN A LITTLE NERVOUS....BECAUSE LIFE IS GOING TO CHANGE....DRASTICALLY:eek: I KNOW I HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD...BUT IT IS A WELCOMED CHALLENGE...BRING IT ON! THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
MICHELLE43

MICHELLE43

1
faybie's Journal
 

Surgery day , day 2, day 3

Surgery day,   Surgery was a breeze, I was out before I even knew I went into surgery. However, after I could'nt wake up from the anesthesia. I went to the bathroom asleep, did the barium swallow asleep and my dr. requires you to drink a bottle of water before leaving. I slept through that too. I would take a sip, fall asleep, then wake up, take a sip, fall asleep. I have no idea how long it took me to drink that water.   Food on surgery day: 2 1/2 cups of creamy broccoli soup that I found in the organic section(this is the yummiest soup I have had in a long time) small sips of crystal light lemonade small sips of water all day   Day 2, This was my most painful day so far The general anesthesia wore off and It was miserable all day. The pain wasn't unbearable, just miserable. I took more than the recommended dosage of the pain meds I think. I look 7 months pregnant. It's kind of cute because for medical reasons I can't have any more children. So I found it adorable that I looked 7 months pregnant for a day. My mom took me for my walk. I held my belly as if I was pregnant and got a few smiles from people. It hurt the most to get up and down from the chair and on and off the bed. I was really hungry all day today. I recognize my full feeling from reading this forum, however if I hadn't have known what to expect, I would have kept eating not realizing my limitations. I had a LOT of gas this day, but not in my shoulder like other people complained about. I would burp about once an hour and it would come from way down the bottom of my stomach and resonate all the way up. He He, by far the loudest and longest burps I have ever done.   Food day 2: container of yogurt for breakfast, couldnt finish it all before I got full. no salt added butternut squash soup for lunch, found it in the organic section. (it was sooo yummy but not as good as the creamy broccoli, LOL) Dinner I had what was left of the creamy broccoli soup. It wasn't quite a full serving, so I had a feeling I would be hungry later. evening snack: I only had this because I felt excruciatingly hungry. I made a 3/4 of low sodium chicken broth. I put a bit of mrs. dash in it and heated it in a coffee cup. I sipped it like it was a warm cup of tea on a cold day. I wasnt able to finish it all before I felt full   Day 3 I slept 18 hours straight. I haven't done that in a LONG time. I woke up this afternoon and a good bit of my sweeling has gone down. and the pain isn't nearly as bad as it was yesterday. I haven't even taken my pain meds yet and I seem fine so far.   For Breakfast: I am having a yogurt cup that I put a half of scoop of unjury powder in and mixed. It does change the flavor, but I guess its ok for now. Dinner: homemade egg salad with 2 eggs, fat free mayo, dill relish and a dash of mustard. I ate about 2/3's of it. Dinner: 1/2 butternut squash soup, but could only eat 1/4 cup. Evening snack: low sodium V-8
faybie

faybie

1
Teresita's Journal
 

Hello

It'ssssssss Friiiiiiiidayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Woooohoooooo I'm not eating right today kill me cini minis BK sausage/egg/cheese croissant BK small bag chips orange soda almond snickers tea kill me please I will exercise today and lick stamps for dinner
Teresita

Teresita

4
KariK's Journal
 

Measurements

9/1/06 Neck: 14" Bust: 50" Upper Body includes around arms: 54 1/4" Upper Arm: 18" Below bust small part of rib cage: 40 1/2 " Waist at belly button: 45" Wrist: 6 1/2 " Hips: 53" Thigh: 26 1/2" Knee: 16 1/2" Ankle: 9 1/2"
KariK

KariK

1
Telly's Journal
 

Tattoo

Yesterday I decided I wanted a tattoo to kind of cover my diaphram scar. It's color has been bothering me. My skin, pale around my belly and my scar was very dark.   I wanted something significant and relevant to why the scar was there. The scar meant "change". The Scar represents the Changes I wanted in me. I wanted to lose the weight, become more active, live longer, look better. It's the Scar of Change and thats what the Japanese Symbols mean.  
Telly

Telly

4
KariK's Journal
 

Down A Pound

Ok so I woke up this morning and im down another pound! I was definitely not eating enough calories for a few days there and my body would NOT give up an ounce. Then I ate around 1300 and poof a pound just falls right off and I didn't even exercise yesterday. Well today im going to try to eat similar amount of calories and exercise and see what happens.   9:30 am Breakfast: Atkins + Unjury, SF chocolate pudding.   12:00 pm Lunch: 1/2 can tuna, 3-4 T. miracle whip, 1/2 avocado cubed and mixed in with tuna and mw, 15 Kashi crackers.:hungry: yumm I liked this meal, next time I think I'd add in a cubed tomato.   6:00 pm Supper: 1/2 cup pork roast, 1 c. Baby red potatos, a bite of carrot, a few bites of cooked onions.   Vitamins: 2T. liquid multi, 1 Calcium chew, 1500 mcg biotin   Water: >80 oz.   Exercise: Treadmil, 25 min 3mph.   Goal: Exercise more!!
KariK

KariK

5
my life with the lapband
 

previous journal 7-03 thru 8-06

since this is a hot topic i figure i'll give my OPINION on lapband VS other WLS (RNY or DS or FOBI) reasons i chose the band... *shorter hospital/stay quick recovery...i had surgery monday and worked friday *no malabsorption of nutrients or medicine *if you get pregnant you can have the fill released to have a more natural pregnancy *the band can be removed at any time *its adjustable...you can always go in for a fill or unfill to meet your EVER CHANGING NEEDS!!! lol *no dumping *less chance for gallstones, kidney stones because the weight is lost slower *skin has a chance to catch-up with your body because the weight is lost slower *no rerouting of stomach *less chance for death during surgery and complications arent as severe (although the band does have its own complications!) *you are forced to deal with your eating/food issues from day one since you absorb EVERYTHING you eat. *at any time (10 yrs whatever) you can get an adjustment. with the other surgeries if you stretch your pouch the only way to change the size is a revision. i dont think there is anything wrong with other WLS if you in an urgent weight loss situation. its is my opinion that if you only had 100 - 150 lbs to lose and no urgent co morbs that lapband is the better choice. its complications arent as severe immiediatly post op or long term. worst case scenario they take your band. with other WLS worst case is DEATH. yes you can die with the lapband but is FAR less common than with the other more serious procedures. if i could not have gotten the band i would have had RNY.     i guess i could give some info about myself.. i am 26 years old have been overweight my entire life. i am worried that if i don't get my health/weight in check before long i will be DEAD. i have high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes all in my family.(don't know what i have to embarrassed to go to dr.) I don't want to shorten my own life because I over eat.   pre-op 350 7-2-03 i went to a seminar for LAP BAND!!!! which i am really interested in. i started out first wanting any of the other surgeries but after MUCH RESEARCH i want the band! as soon as i am approved i will definitely update! i am doing atkins diet now and have lost some ( i didn't weigh before because i was afraid to know ) i am going to continue till my liquid diet begins!   7-3-03 o.k. its started! i went to dr. mortons office was weighed and they sent off my info for approval. i like the sound of that word. yes i did say they weighed me...325 1/2 ...i hadn't weighed in a long time for sheer embarrassment and humiliation. thank god i started dieting 4 weeks ago i have probably lost 25 pounds and will stay on it till my surgery!   7-7-03 well i am not sure if i am going to be able to wait for insurance approval!!! this is going to seem like forever. well over the weekend i cheated on my atkins diet. i had 2 pieces of pizza and 2 pieces of cheesy bread Thursday. i had ribs and pineapple cheesecake sat. Sunday i ate ice-cream and a Reese stick 1 package   i had to deal with my family going how are you gonna have surgery and keep eating like that? your on a diet now and are already cheating. well i have been on this diet for 5 weeks with little cheating and since i will be having the surgery soon i figure i can indulge a little. i am right back on the diet today, just irritated with my family for pointing out the neg.   i think i should just keep dieting, eating and surgery to myself. i know that i would have been better off sticking to the atkins but soon i will be seriously restricted and think it's alright to get any cheating out now.   7-16-03 man this sucks!!!!!! i have always been impatient. my insurance request is approved....but they have to check the policy to make sure that there is not an exclusion. I HOPE NOT!!!!!!!! my bosses wife has already had gastric bypass so i would think there are no exclusions.   i have not been doing so well on the atkins diet. i can go strong for a few days but then i end up cheating. i guess that's why i want/need this surgery! it is very frustrating and discouraging and depressing. i don't know what I'll do if i don't get approved. I did call the dr office and ask them when i would have a surgery date for, annnnnnd they said if i had approval today then i could have the surgery in 2 to 3 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!! i need this so bad. I cant believe that i weigh 325 that's disgusting. people look at me like I'm disgusting treat me like i am a pig and though a lot of the time i know that they are just insensitive asses most of the time it hurts. this is just a cruel cycle. I WANT OUT. i am so big now i cant exercise. i get winded just doing minor things. i am afraid i would keel over if i tried to do anything. Once i get below 300 i will definitely start exercising. why cant i just stick with the Atkins until my surgery. this is so hard.   7-21-03 I AM APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAHOO! I JUST TALKED TO THE INS CO AND I HAVE BEEN APPROVED! THE DR OFFICE WONT SCHEDULE MY SURGERY TILL THEY RECEIVE THE LETTER, SO I HOPE THEY OR I GET IT BY THIS FRIDAY. STILL HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE ATKINS. I CAN DO IT FOR A FEW DAYS BUT THEN CANT HANG ON. I WANT TO START THE LIQUID DIET BECAUSE THAT SHOULD HELP ME LOSE. I JUST WANT TO BE A LOSER. I WILL POST AS SOON AS I HAVE A DATE SECURED   7-29-03 I HAVE A DATE!!! AUGUST 18!!!! i am so happy! this has all been a little surreal. i was first looking into gastric bypass and had a consult scheduled for today how ironic that today is the day i got my surgery date. i am so comfortable knowing i will doing the lapband! i feel much safer! i am even looking forward to the liquid diet! since i was last weighed (month ago) i have lost 3 pounds i am ecstatic about that since i have been *cheating* a carb here and there and here again. i will try the Atkins while i am banded and see how that works for me, and of course i will post the results.i cant wait to start losing my first goal is going to be to lose 50 lbs by Christmas. secretly it will be 70. but I'm not even going to say it out loud so don't tell anyone! the larger you are the faster you start out losing that's why i think 70 may be do-able. yay me i cant believe i am doing this. i deserve it!till next time... 11-20-03 hey i was right! i now weigh 299! woohoo mini goal for me!!!! now i only have 100 lbs to lose to be under 200! now that will be INCREDIBLE!!!! i had 5th fill today and now have 3.4 cc! holy cow that's a lot but that's what it has taken and that's what i got! my official loss since surgery is -24 lbs!! cool! i want it lose 26 more pounds by Christmas! (long shot) i am still going strong with no carbs! till next time- 11-21-03 i know i am back soon....i had my 5th fill yesterday bringing me to 3.4 cc and i ate soup last night. today for breakfast i ate 1 scrambled egg and noticed i did not have any discomfort with it going down (usually every morning when it 'hits' the band i can FEEL it) then for lunch i brought 2 pieces of chicken- a leg and a thigh and was able to eat both of them PLUS some broccoli WITHOUT getting full. (and i never felt it 'hit' my band and stop) i could NOT have eaten this much before the fill and i am worried that my port is leaking!!!! i brought the 2nd piece to have for dinner and now i am dinnerless and worried???? i don't know what's up but this is not something i want to deal with. 12-4-03 HI- I GOT ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT ON 12-1 THEY CHECKED TO SEE IF ALL THE PREVIOUS FILL WAS IN THERE... IT WASN'T! THERE WAS ONLY 2.8 CC AND THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO GIVE ME ANY RESTRICTION THEY DID GIVE ME ANOTHER FILL BACK TO 3.4 CC THE ONLY THING IS I STILL AM NOT RESTRICTED EVEN AS MUCH AS I WAS AT 3.2 CC WHY DID I GO FOR THAT 'FILL FROM HELL' THAT HAS CAUSED THIS!!! I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER APPT AND SEE WHAT'S UP!!! ( I AM CALLING AS WE SPEAK, CRAP HAD TO LEAVE A MESSAGE ) I HAVE AN APPT FOR TODAY I WONDER IF THEY CANCELLED IT SINCE I SAW THEM ON MONDAY??? ANYHOW SINCE THE UNFILL MISHAP I HAVE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME TRYING TO STAY ON TRACK. IT IS EASIER WHEN YOU CANT EAT BUT A TINY AMOUNT. YOU DON'T OBSESS ABOUT FOOD. NOW ITS ALL I THINK ABOUT!!! I NEED TO BREAK THIS CYCLE. I NEED SOME RESTRICTION!!! I WONT REACH MY GOAL OF 275 BY CHRISTMAS. MAYBE BY MY BIRTHDAY? IT IS FRUSTRATING TO SEE PEOPLE LOSE HUGE CHUNKS WITH BYPASS WHILE I AM STRUGGLING IT JUST SEEMS AS LONG AS I AM ABLE TO EAT HUGE AMOUNTS OF FOOD I DO. AS LONG AS I CHEW WELL I CAN EAT TILL THE COWS COME HOME. WELL NOT WITH THE CORRECTION ADJUSTMENT BUT I CAN STILL EAT WAY MORE THAN A 1/2 CUP MORE LIKE 2 CUPS...NO FOOD BACKING UP, NO PB, NO GOLF BALL PRESSURE, JUST ME GORGING MYSELF 12-17 well now i have restriction!!! i am eating about 1/3 piece of chicken and a few bites of veggies and i am stuffed!!! i am now at 288!!! 12-22-03 Happy holidays! i have 3.8cc's in a 4.0 cc band. i have pretty good restriction. i am starting to exercise. i just bought a treadmill and cardio glide at the goodwill for 2$ a piece!!!! they are both sturdy and in good shape! i know that exercise will help me lose inches. i also want to start stretching in the mornings and at night. the problem is i hate waking up in the mornings!!! the next time i weigh I'll report the loss!!! 1-6-04 well i still haven't weighed but i am sure i have lost!!!! i have been doing good eating my protein first then veggies and ABSOLUTELY NO SUGAR!!!! that's a big one as i could DRINK CHOCOLATE!!!! even though i have struggled to get restriction and i will say up until the new year i have been eating whatever i want. here's the cool part~ i never gained more than a pound or 2 back and continued to lose inches. i know your probably thinking - your supposed to lose weight but i didn't have restriction till mid December and that's a long time!!! so to not have gained any of the 25 i lost pre band or the 30 post band that is incredible!!!!! plus i have been 'reshaping' loosing inches! every time i see my family they ALL say boy your loosing now and i really hadn't lost that much but now since being restricted its a whole new ballgame! PLUS i have been exercising so that's a huge help!!! i cant wait to weigh! 1-7-04 i just found out that effective 1-1-04 our insurance changed to BCBS of TN and i am very irritated because there is an exclusion for "services and supplies related to obesity, including surgical or other treatment of morbid obesity" well if i just had to pay for fills that would be one thing but the more fill i have the more i worry about my actual band needing tightening. i have 3.8 cc and 3 weeks since that last fill it is really loosening up so since i only have .2 cc's left i am getting pretty nervous...anyhow it has been almost 5 MONTHS and i have some restriction but as i lose and my band loosens up i don't have much room for more fills... if i have to have a revision to tighten my actual band would i have to 'sue' the dr to not have to pay for the entire bill myself? i am not gonna get a fill for a while because i think i can lose on what i am eating now~ but what the duck an i gonna do when i am at fill capacity! 1-16-04 well i am getting my swallow study done Thursday but it comes with a hefty price tag of 600-800 smackers. then if nothing is wrong and i need another fill another 150. i ended up starting a 'diet' because i want to see the scale MOVE! i have 3.8 cc in a 4cc band and the band is not stopping my food i can feel it pass through the band. (if that makes sense) since bc bs has an a specific exclusion for wls looks like i am going to have to buy secondary coverage. my boss could care less he was like 'eh maybe you could appeal it' well eh maybe he's an asshole. sorry for the frustration in my post but there is no telling how much ins will cost a morbidly obese person. 1-23-04 SOOOOO i had my swallow study yesterday and i was told my band is fine. it has not slipped and my pouch is not stretched. so what gives??? my dr's PA (physicians assistant) told me just stop eating at a half cup. well hello if i could do that i wouldn't have gotten to 350 lbs. i told her why don't we do lunch one day so you can see me eat!!!! i asked her what will happen when i get another fill and am at 4.0 cc there is no adjusting left?? she said we'll cross that bridge....yada yada i had an appointment i thought she would address my questions! i personally think the band may be to low on my stoma where the tissue is thinner. i am going to have my dr call me after he has had a chance to review the x rays so he can answer my questions. I AM NOT BAND BASHING HERE. I LOVE MY BAND. WITHOUT IT I WOULD HAVE GAINED BACK ALL MY WEIGHT PLUS SOME. IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING FOR ME AS DESCRIBED. every time i have lost with the band it has been from dieting and exercise. i DID lose 10 lbs this past month but that is from starting the atkins diet. if i don't diet i just stay the same. i hear a lot of bandsters saying "why would you have gotten the band if you were gonna diet?" here is an idea of what i eat since starting atkins:   25 oz water before i eat breakfast~ 2 eggs scrambled with cheese, 2 sausage links 25 oz water lunch~ 2 cups salad or 1 chicken breast with 1/2 cup veggies 25 oz water dinner~ medium new york strip with 1/2 cup veggies tea with splenda!   does that seem like to much??? does it seem the band is doing what it is supposed to for me? i eat all my food within 30 minutes. do not drink with meals. 1-28-04 things have been going good. i have lost some of the restriction i had but i can deal with it since i will have to self pay for fills now. i am going to try to get on in February. i have been doing the atkins diet to lose and it has been working!!! that combined with EXERCISE!!!! i have been working out and stretching for at least 45 minutes a day (5 out of 7) the last time i weighed i weighed 290. i WANT to get back on the scale though!!!! i did have my band tested and was told that everything is fine. i don't know that i completely believe them since i have 3.8 cc in a 4.0 band. but since i no longer had ins that will cover the lapband i guess I'll just deal with it. yesterday i was DYING for some chocolate (PMS) so i went and got 3 atkins candy bars and ATE THEM ALL... it did satisfy my craving and i didn't eat the 'real thing'... oh and how cool is this my BMI is down AGAIN!!! FROM 51.7 to 42.8!!!!!!! i am almost not morbidly obese anymore!!! i will only be SEVERELY OBESE!!!! 2-3-04 hi i am going for another fill tomorrow which will put me at 4.0 cc. i had better be restricted DAMN-IT!!! funny thing. when i had insurance for the band and would call for a fill it would take 2-3 weeks to get an appt. i called today and got an appt for tomorrow with cash. HMMM 2-17-04 lately i have been feeling guilty. the other night i was laying bed thinking how bad i ate today i was gonna fail and when i went through and made a mental list of everything i had eaten they were all good food choices. i was around 20 carbs for the day and 1300 calories. i couldn't figure out why my mind would do that to me!!! i have been doing great on the atkins diet. about my only bad thing i am doing is not getting in my water!!! through the week i do good but on the weekend i drink tea w/splenda and diet 7 up. so by Monday i am feeling dehydrated. i have to do better on this. i also got another fill and i am now at 4.1 cc's and i do have restriction!!! i wonder if this makes me in the 4% complication stat since i am overfilled. on a lighter note! i am going to Gatlinburg 2-26 i am staying in a chalet with a hot tub so i had to get a new swimsuit as mine was as saggy as my skin is becoming! i will not be hot tubbing in front of the other couple i am going with i will go alone in the early morning. i am also bringing our 2 dogs with me!!!! i am excited because this will be their first vacation! i know i spoil my dogs. 2-18-04 6 month BANDIVERSARY i have had 10+ fills and have had problems getting restriction. i am now at 4.1 cc in a 4.0 cc band with pretty good restriction although i can still eat any meat pretty much anything. i have lost 40 pounds to date and i cant complain about that!!!! i tried the not dieting thing and letting the band 'work for me' and it did to some extent~ i never gained any weight but i didn't lose either. the only weight i have lost has been through diet and exercise. now that i have restriction we'll see how it works combined with diet and exercise.   NSV so far: *not fearing ANY seat- movie, booth, chair with arms *starting size 30/32 current size 22 have even fit into a few 20's *rings that were to tight before surgery are now to loose!!!! *not being the biggest person at winter banquet this year! *increased energy and productivity (losing seems to motivate me??) *exercising- i actually enjoy it now! and i am building some stamina! *being able to pull off a few SEXY clothes!   2-23-04i don't know what happened to me today. i had 2 scrambled eggs for breakfast 32 oz water lunch- i had to go run an errand so i decided to pick up a can of chicken breast meat. well they had the 12.5 oz can on sale so i bought that thinking I'd be able to eat that for the next FEW days... i ate the whole can in 30 minutes. then you would think i would have stopped but i had brought a salad for lunch originally so i decided to 'pick at it'. ITS ALL GONE TOO. so here i sit stuffed from the bottom stomach up to the top. i feel absolutely HORRID. NAUSEATED. GROSS. my salad was a spinach salad so not only am i FULL but those natural fibers are making me bloated to boot. i know partly why ate that...i guess i wanted to 'test' my band. i have 4.1 cc's in a 4.0 band and still no FUCKING restriction unless i eat solid meats. i have been to my dr too many times, had the swallow study and was assured everything's fine' well if it was I WOULD NOT PHYSICALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EAT ALL OF THAT!!!!! i just know for sure that i will have REALLY WORK my band along with dieting until my insurance changes and the band is covered again. Unless i want to sue my dr i don't have any other options. i knew this before i have known it since Jan 1. i just made a PIG of myself today. well thanks for letting me vent. i know for 100% sure that i never want this feeling (stuffed pig) again. michelle on a good note i didn't have hardly any carbs in my food and was protein first but my god a days worth in one sitting... 3-1-04 well i had a wonderful time in the mountains! we did get some snow but it didn't put a damper on our trip! i did have a few light bulb moments! first off~ if you have cut sugar from your diet, don't drink a coke. i had about 6 oz of a real coke and it made my stomach knot up and turn. i wouldn't have had ANY but i BROKE the damn coffee maker pot and was in dire need for a cup of caffeine. 2nd off~ i do have more restriction than i realized. i ate some carbs with my meals and BOY i really couldn't eat! my SKINNY friends either think i am sick or have an eating disorder!!! at every meal they were like didn't you like your food? are you ok? i haven't told them about the surgery since i weigh more than BOTH of them combined even NOW that i have lost 65. some examples of my indulgences... breakfast- 1/4 egg sandwich lunch- 1/2 whopper junior dinner- 1/3 chicken breast 6 bites mac and cheese breakfast- 1 scrambled egg, 2 bites of potatoes lunch- Doritos and hummus 1 handful dinner- new york strip steak 1-2 oz, 3-4 bites of potatoes with red pepper and feta breakfast- 1 1/2 pancakes about 3 inches around lunch- 1/2 burger with bun dinner- 3 ribs, 4 bites of maple crème Brule breakfast- 1/4 bagel with butter lunch- 2/3 taco dinner- 1-2 oz steak now that's what i ate... i wasn't watching what i was eating so the choices i made are high calorie. but i think i will go for a while eating carbs and just following a healthy eating plan and see how that goes. these were the first carbs i have had since i had been at 3.6 cc and i am telling you i really couldn't eat! 3-10-04 just thought i would let ya'll know that i will be having another swallow study done tomorrow with the dr and the P.A.!!! i FEEL so much better knowing that they will both be looking at it! Since i contacted inamed they haven't gotten back to me but it did spark a call from the dr's office wanting to know WHY i contacted them. i told them "i wasn't unsatisfied with my care but i just wanted other professional to look at my case. since i am uninsured when it comes to the band i didn't want to have to pay out of pocket so after the advice of OH message board i contacted the manufacturer." they said they wanted to do another swallow study (since i am now at 4.1 cc with mild restriction) and they are able to work me in for TOMORROW!!! thank goodness i work only 10 minutes away from hospital!   3-11-04 i had my swallow study don't today this is how it went... go in drink barium look at band. NO RESTRICTION. check to see what's in the band 4.1 cc. everyone is very confused how can this be yada yada. fill me to 4.5 cc. drink barium. no restriction. fill me to 5.0 cc. no restriction. the fluid in my band came out a little murky. they decide to change the t-shaped fill needle thing. when changing them out the dr wants to access the port himself (pa had done in past and today) he is poking jabbing stabbing etc. he even BENT the needle trying to get it in. switched again, got it in. removed all fill. still not happy with the connection so they switch access needles again. thank god they decide i need another numbing shot. so they fill me again to 3.0 cc and have me drink. i had a little restriction, bump me up to 3.2 cc now my opening resembles a bandster!!! remove fill, fill, swallow barium. remove fill, fill. swallow barium. they leave me at 3.2 cc. they concluded that when i was getting filled before, while they were accessing the port they were not getting the fill fluid into the part of the port that would send it to the band. when they would withdraw fluid it wasn't coming from the band but a pocket in the port. i don't know. i don't care. all i care about is if i have restriction!!!! i had a can of cream of chicken soup just now and was able to drink the entire can with relative ease but that's just soup so we'll see as i get more adventurous tomorrow and this weekend with foods of substance. they were also VERY impressed with my loss since the band hasn't been offering me any/very little restriction. my dr has banded 200+++ patients and i am the only one this has happened to so don't worry i am an oddball! i guess i am in the 4% complication rate...but not anymore!!!!! i hope! 3-26-04 well things are going great with restriction! i am eating 1/2-3/4 cup depending on the texture of the food. i am currently doing the atkins diet (once again) but i feel like i am behind on losing since i went so long without restriction! i lost 11 pounds the first 10 days and now day 16 i don't know cause i aint weighing till i go to my dr in 2 weeks. but 11 pounds is a great start! i am going to TRY to follow the atkins plan till summer then switch to sugar busters it is still low carb but the carbs you do eat come from whole grains, and you can eat fruit! i really will be lot more active this summer (my parents have a pool) so i am thinking it will give my body a chance to recoup and regroup! i have lost 75 since 6-01 i think i might just make the century club in 1 year!!! i went to the farmers market today and bought 14$ worth of veggies: roma tomatoes, red peppers, green bell peppers, avacodos, white onion, yellow onion, cilantro, jalapenos, green beans, mushrooms, lettuce, spinach, green onions, garlic and broccoli. now REMEMBER foods that haven't been processed (fresh) stay with you longer. they also make you chew more which is something i miss sometimes. the meat i eat is also not processed. 4-13-04 so i had a three day weekend and Monday i went to the dr for a checkup and possible adjustment. when i checked in the nurse gave me a sheet for when you need and adjustment. after reading that i decided YES! i do need one so i had an adjustment. anyhow i got .2 cc's. More than i wanted but i am not the 'expert'. after the fill i got to the FUN part... WEIGHING!!! 1 month ago i got 'restricted' weighing 286 yesterday i weighed in at 268!!! that's a 18 pound loss in 1 month!!!! i did this by ALWAYS choosing protein first, not eating sugar or bad carbs that turn into sugar, drinking 96 oz water a day and some exercise. i am basically doing the atkins diet. my dr fully approves of it as a way to maximize your tool to get the weight off but not as a way of life. so am i to tight??? i don't think so. i couldn't wait for three days to see if i was to tight so i ate some real food. A TINY BITE. no problems and i was full and STAYED FULL!!!! no pb's or slimes! this morning waters going down slowly but fine! ( i was hesitant to post the eating part and don't recommend it but at 8 months out i got the chewing down so i attempted it at my own risk, like i said ) 4-27-04 i am still restricted!!! WOOHOO!!!! well i have really been losing since i got my band fixed!!! the scale said 261 the 3 days before i started my period now its at 265 and last night is was 268!!! GROAN. tomorrow we weigh in and i hope it's at least under 264 so i can report a loss from last week. if not when i finish this dreaded 'curse' it had at least better say 261!!!! things seems like they are moving along on cruise control. i just eat and do my regular routine and the days keep passing and the pounds keep melting away. i can now wear 20's all 20's and i cant wait to be in the teens!!! i think i could possibly be a 14/16 by august!!!! my mom told me that she and my dad will pay for any plastic surgery i need...SHOCK!!!!...they are usually quite tight with $$$ even though they don't *need* to be! i will try for insurance approval but if not i will be hitting up the folks. i am still doing the atkins plan and man is easy to 'diet' with the band! i hardly ever get hungry. i guess that's all for now! 5-19-04 for the past 2-3 weeks my butt has been sore and hurting. last night i was doing a butt exam kinda like breast exam trying to figure out where the soreness was coming from and felt 3 lumps on my rump!!! i quickly yelled for Steve and asked him if you could get a tumor on your butt and he felt and LAUGHED it seems the lumps are BONES!! thank goodness!! today when i was sitting outside on a bench i COULD NOT get comfortable from the bones hitting the bench!!! i guess i am used to having more 'cushion' michelle 5-24-04 DID IT!!!! TODAY ITS OFFICIAL!!!!!! I AM -100 POUNDS!!!! (this includes 25 pounds lost 2 months before surgery.) i am so EXCITED!!!! *i went from a size 30/32 pants to a having room in 20's!!! *my BMI has gone from 51.9 Morbidly Obese to 36.9 severely obese (in 2 more bmi points I'll only be OBESE!!) * i have lost 52% of my excess body weight (if you base it on a goal of 156 pounds) so much for those 'you can expect to lose 35% in 3-5 years' stats!!!!!!!! * i have the energy to do the things i had not been able to do... plant a garden, landscape yard, hiking on hills, swimming laps in the pool, going to outside festivals and not passing out!, run (no i am not a runner but sometimes I'll get the urge and i can actually run more than 10 feet!) so i am 100 down and i am not sure how low i will go! before i always said i just wanted to get into 14's or be at 200 because i knew my health would drastically improve and that what i REALLY wanted out of surgery. BUT now i think reality is setting in. i will be in those 14's soon (!!!!) so i may actually get to a size 10 which i haven't seen since the 6th grade!!!!!! only time will tell where i end up weight wise but i am already reaping the benefits of my loss and if i never lost another pound i still would consider my surgery a raging success! June 19, 2004 weight 236!!! still doing the atkins diet till i reach 199.9999 do i miss food? no i eat all the things i love. i only eat things that are 'treats' now when they are PERFECT before i would eat a 2 day old donut that wasn't even the flavor i liked. now i haven't had a krispy creme in MONTHS but i will have one and when i do it will be from the K.K. shop when the hot light is on and i will enjoy that sucker! i wont lie and say when i see a foot long sub part of me doesn't want to scarf down the whole thing and this morning i was upset and driving into work i cant tell you how many times 'egg mcmuffin' popped into my head. thank goodness i have the band to keep me inline, pre-op i would have bought a combo and extra sandwich and large coke. this morning i did drive into to work crying but i can say i didn't turn to food for comfort. 6-28-04 well i am now another WLS statistic. i am ending a long term relationship that i have been in for the past 5 years. mine falls under the 'it wasn't healthy to begin with' category. they say if you are in a happy healthy relationship it will get stronger and if your relationship was in trouble to begin with it will likely end. i decided that i wasn't going to settle for anything less than everything i have always dreamed of. wish me luck!! i have someone that i have my eye on but we are waiting for the timing to be right. i am at 235 right now and think my weight will stay the same for the next week or so. i tend to lose for 2 weeks out of the month and stay the same for 2 weeks. WEIRD. as long as the scale isn't going up though i can deal with it! 7-25-04 well another month another 5 pounds. i really have been eatin to many carbs this past month. i still am ending my relationship. i will be moving at the end of this month. i have been working an obscene amount plus trying to pack. this has been very stressful. i think after this week things will get much easier. next month will be my 1 year bandiversary!! i will be -100 since the day of banding hopefully more! i have completely exceeded any expectations i had before banding. i think if i can cut out some of the carbs and get my ass on my parents elliptical trainer I'll really notice a loss in pounds and INCHES! i am going by there tonight to drop off a load of boxes and house plants...i PROMISE to do 5 minutes of steady workout. 5 MINUTES!! don't laugh that thing will have me hobbling to my desk all week. it really leaves me 'feeling it'. since i will have to look at every night when i go home i will MAKE myself get on it! my parents have had it for almost 2 years and RARELY use it. next month i will be going to the beach with my family so that will be some much needed rest and relaxation!!! at the end of august some friends from my old job want to go gambling so hopefully we can orchestrate that! THEN in September i will be going to visit a very dear friend of mine FUN FUN FUN! oh and i have a Plastic surgery consult scheduled for sept too. so i will still be busy but i will have lots of fun things going on. weight 228!!!!!   7-27-04 I'm a cheater!!!!! just kidding i 'endulged'!!! this saturday a friend of mine called me up and invited me to come make cake weenies with her. being the good friend i am i happily obliged. we made little chocolate cake weenies with chocolate frosting and pink ones with white frosting. they were yummy...well actually i had a weird experience...on the chocolate one i could only eat about 2-3 bites before it became WAY to sweet. i even let it sit for 2 hours while we watched a movie thinking i could finish it later. STILL to sweet. weird in a good way!! have you had your cake weenies today? 7-29-04 well i DID go work out the last sunday and i have paid for it all week. my mother was laughing at me the whole time i was on the machine and come to find out it was set at the highest level of incline (isnt she sweet). my legs are sore!! i need a strapping lad to come and give me a massage. if i were guaranteed a massage for working out i would do it every day!   8-17-04 (happy birthday TO MY BROTHER) i was asked these questions via email and since it covers so much i thought i would share my experience when it comes to these questions... 1. When did you have the surgery done and which surgery was it? Lapband. banded 1 year ago (well 1 week shy of 1 year!) 2. Where did you have it done and who is your surgeon? Dr Charles Morton at southern hills medical center in nashville tn 3. How long did you have to wait to have the surgery from the time that you applied? it took 1 month to get ins approval and 3 weeks from the day of ins approval till my date. i took a date that had been someone elses that had to reschedule. 4. How much have you lost so far? i lost 25 before banding and i have lost 103 since the day of banding 5. Are you satisfied with the results so far? i have exceeded ALL of my expectations! 6. Have there been any complications for you? yes i had problems getting restriction it is in this profile from november till march. it was fixed without surgery 7. Can you drink all the water that you want? I am a heavy water drinker the more you drink the better. it helps you lose 8. What is your daily menu like? i follow the atkins diet so that i will lose faster. i eat foods off this list http://atkins.com/Archive/2001/12/15-464579.html i can eat any meat without problems and buy low carb pasta, bread, wraps, icecream, chocolate etc. all low carb though! 9. What size are you now? i started in a tight 30-32 i can wear size 16's but since i like to breathe and be able to bend over i am not wearing them in public! 10. Are you having problems with too much excess skin? if so is exercise helping? exercise will help with toning and firming the MUSCLE but not the skin. my skin is a problem i have a plastic surgery consult scheduled in sept. 11. Do you have dumping syndrome? no bandsters dont do that. we PB (productive burp) when you dont chew well enough or eat to fast the food comes back up. 12. Did you try many diets before and where you ever able to lose any weight? if so why do you think you were not able to keep it off? i have lost 100 pounds before. i wasnt able to keep it off because of portion control and it only took 1 tiny thing to make me blow my diet then i was off it. PERIOD. now when i cheat i wake up the next day and i still can only eat 1/2 cup to a cup of food. all i have to do is chose healthy things to eat and stop when i am full. it makes it seem more do-able knowing that i have something to rely on besides will-power!. 13. This question may not apply to you but, have you gotten pregnant? if so is everything ok with the baby? if/when you get pregnant you simply go in for an unfill (all or partial) and when you deliver the baby or finish breast feeding they can refill you. the fills take 5 minutes and are done in the office 14. What has been the hardest thing to deal with emotionally? life! i have to deal with my problems and emotions a large pizza and cheesy bread just arent an option anymore! 15. what has been the hardest thing to deal with physically? not being able to guzzle when i drink! 16. Can you feel anything? inside I mean?! i can feel my port it is beneath my breastbones betweeen the ribs. i actually touch it all the time. it makes it seem real! 17. What other health issues did you have before the surgery? and are they better? i didnt have anything MAJOR going on at the moment. my feet were killing me (not anymore) i was having dizzy spells and anxiety over the condition of my health. (gone) i wouldnt have been able to concieve and have a normal pregnancy (gone i could now!) 18. do you have enough energy? theres no stopping me! i am SO productive these days! 19. are you anemic? nope i take my vitamins and eat protien first. you have to make sure to get your bloodwork done yearly to make sure you dont have any deficiancy's 20. do you have any concerns about the long term risks associated with the surgery? sure! i knew what they all are and accepted that i could have one, luckily the one i had was minor! 21. Has your hair fallen out any? some although i am thinking its more to do with stress. it didnt happen till i started - breaking up with BF (done), working 70+ hours a week at work (done! finished project yesterday!), and moving (done 8-1-04) all at the same time. 22. If you were banded, how many fills have you had so far? 10+++ 8-22-04 i get several emails a week asking me about the amount of food someone can eat and do they need a fill... my response is always roughly the same...restriction varies with the types of food you eat. so i got an email over the weekend saying i can eat a whole taco do you think thats to much? my response was i can eat a whole taco too but not a whole chicken breast. taco's have (well at least mine do) cheese, sour cream, tomatoe, lettuce, guacamole to help everything slide through the pouch area. so i didnt bring my lunch today (this is what happens when i havent planned a meal in advance) i ended up going to taco bell i ordered 1 steak soft taco and 1 baja chalupa with beans instead of the beef. i was able to eat BOTH of them without PB'ing, sliming or anything in less that 25 minutes. (no drinking with my meal) i am full. not as full as if i had eaten a 1/2 of a chicken breast but full. more importantly i did satisfy my craving i have been having for taco bell. the moral of my story is that yes i can eat quite a bit of food if i do not follow the bandster rules: 1. protien first 2. no drinking with meals 3. quit eating in 30 minutes or less 4. eat SOLIDS (i classify my taco bell stuff as borderline mushy because it was saucy) but when i follow them i am limited to about 1/2 medium chicken breast and 1/8 cup veggies. another key part of this is i would feel FULLER if i had just had some chicken and a tiny bit of veggies. the meat SITS on your pouch so your brain registers that HEY I'M FULL given that i can only eat that much dense protien i dont think i need a fill i just need to stay conscious of my order of eating and food choices. so if you think your to loose make sure you are eating the way your supposed to so you can MAXIMIZE the effectiveness of your tool. michelle ps. i am not feeling the least bit guilty about my taco treats. pre-op my taco bell order was 2 baja chalupas with beans instead of beef, 1 taco, 1 steak soft taco and a chicken quesadilla...about the time i would be on my last item i would be thinking DAMN i should have got the cinnamon twists too. 9-22-04 YIKES!!! to long since my last update!! well i havent been 'low carbing' for the past month but i am still at 222! which is great considering i have had things like GODIVA chocolates, mashed potatoes, orange juice, pina colada's, fuzzy navels, cookies etc. i am starting back on low carb as of TODAY! my boyfriend calvin (he had RNY) and i have challenged each other to lose 12 lbs by halloween. i CANT let him win!!! today i am having coffee, roast beast (beef) 2 slices and 2 slices of munster cheese for breakfast. lunch is up in the air but i am going krogering for some half and half (for coffee) and splenda so i will grab some grub while i am out. i have gotten comfortable at the weight i am now so i am excited to lose 12 lbs that would put me at 210 and then i will have a second goal of 199 by thanksgiving!!!! i would OFFICIALLY be at goal then. but i have unofficially changed my goal to 190 when i reach that i would like to have plastic surgery. 10-13-04 well i have been dieting and exercising to no avail so i made an appointment for a fill (adjustment) for tommorrow!!! i am VERY excited! i can eat about 1-2 cups of food depending on texture so i NEED a fill. i had a major NSV this weekend i was able to wear size 16 NON STRETCH jeans out in public!!!! that means i could breathe in them, squat down, bend over! i am so close to my goal i can taste it!!! originally i set my goal at 200 lbs or size 14 and i am 19 pounds from 200 and 1 size from a 14!!! i cant even begin to explain how i feel since losing 130 pounds... 10-20-04 6 days since my fill and down 5 lbs!!! 214!!!! WOWWWWEEEE i am quite restricted. in the am it is hot liquids only till 10 am...good excuse for morning coffee! then i eat breakfast 1/2 cup. lunch i have been eating veggies first so i can eat 1/3 cup cooked veggies and 1/3 cup meat. dinner is 1/2 cup meat. i am still doing 2 flinstone vitamins a day and am having to give up the sweet tea (splenda) and lemon because i am struggling to get in a decent amount of water. i had a ps consult. they said i MIGHT be able to get my tummy tuck covered by ins. if not for boob lift and implant and tummy tuck would be $15,000 and thight lift, arms, and double chin removal another $15,000. who knows what will happen here??? i'll keep ya posted! 11-1-04 yuck!!!! so i had a interesting morning to say the least. i went to waffle house with calvin for breakfast and split a cheese and ham omlet and hash browns. i got about 3-4 bites down before i *knew* i was gonna have issues. i sat there, stretched, breathed deeply etc. all to no avail. finally i excuse myself to the bathroom and as soon as i get the door open i pb (barf) luckily it made it into the toilet. 2 seconds later pb AGAIN then SPLASH the force of the PB caused toilet water to SPLASH into my OPEN TOE shoes!!! YES you read correctly i said waffle house toilet water in my OPEN TOE SHOES...the PB wasnt bad at all its the TOILET WATER that was so BAD!!! i did call my dr's office because i have PB'd probably 10 times in the past 3 weeks AND had reflux a few times at night . i thought the reflux was from the way i was sleeping but i had it again last night. the P.A. said to go on liquids for a week or come in for an unfill. so i am gonna do liquids for a week but if i have reflux even 1 more time i am getting a slight unfill. i cant bear the thought of losing my band so if i need to be unfilled so be it! i had a great visit with calvin. he saw me get stuck or be in pain basically everytime i ate. this morning (after the pb) i asked him what he thought about my restriction (because i was/am worried that i need to be unfilled) and he too was worried that i might not be eating enough or i am getting stuck to much. i will post some pics tommorrow when he emails them to me. ohhhhhhhh big news here i fit into and wore a size 14 skirt and went shopping and fit into 14's in the REGULAR stores...i GUESS i am at my original goal!!!!!!! i said 200 lbs or size 14 whichever comes first....the 14 came first...i havent weighed in a week so i dont know where that stands, last wednesday i was 212. michelle 11-5-04 soooo after a 4 days of liquids and no change in my restriction i decided on the way home last night i NEED an unfill!!! the soups i have been eating are full of sodium and so while they arent irritating my stoma it isnt getting any looser. i can drink 1-2 cups of yummy hot soup in 30 minutes but it takes me an 2-3 hours to sip down 16 oz of semi-cold liquids...screw this!!! i am gonna have them take out 1/2 of what they added AT LEAST. i just need some breathing room!!! i want some food! ...
shellyj.

shellyj.

1
LittleBird's Journal
 

Mexico photos

I finally got my photos of the trip to Mexico for surgery uploaded so here are a few. I should have been more "reporter" like about it for newbies considering the trip - but I went more "touristy" instead...I didn't want to haul my expensive camera down there with me, so these are just so-so pics...     Hubby and I the day after surgery in the courtyard of the hotel.   These workers to it the old fashioned way...this was a hotel down the road being worked on.       The view outside our hotel window - the "frogger" course!   The hillside outside the hotel patio. Up close these houses leave a LOT to be desired. I would have loved to see the "real" TJ rather than just the touristy section of town.   You see these delivery bikes everywhere. I guess they can manuver through the crazy traffic faster than a car!     The bathroom in our room. These guys at Hotel Lucerne are great - they leave a fuit basket every day - not good for me but my husband enjoyed it.   The room - I think they do double beds for Dr. Ortiz's patients cause everyone else had one too. DH was relaxing upon our arrival.     The hotel has a great pool - very large with a walking bridge over the two sections. I was able to enjoy a swim the day we arrived. This is the day after surgery.     Saved the best for last - my incisions the day after surgery. Lots of sticky iodine everywhere - still washing that sticky stuff of my belly!!
LittleBird

LittleBird

3

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

Bariatric Forums

For Patients

Health Professionals

Search Surgeons

Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

×