I was so sad the last post...and frustrated. Since I am not a person who normally gets down, I try to LIFT myself back up :-) i am almost down the weight I gained on vacation. The scale is slowly dropping again. And, that is positive. Hope everything else is going great for other in band land!
I'm having a rotten day. So, I got back from vacation a couple of weeks ago. I managed to gain 7 pounds while I was there. 7 pounds!! I know it is my own fault....splurging in the high calorie drinks and zero protein shakes. I stepped on the scale and I was 284. I almost cried. At the end of this month, I will have had this band for 10 months. I remember, at the end of November, weighing around 297. That is so freaking discouraging. It's like I had to give EVERYTHING I had in me to lose the 50 lbs (which I am proud of). But, can not seem to go lower.
I have 7.7 in my band right now. The only food I can not tolerate is some chicken. It comes right back up. Everything else, with the exception of breads (which I don't eat at all), is okay. I portion out what I eat and am hungry 1 1/2-2 hours later. You might say, "Well, get a fill." Which, is what I think, too. I go to the dr. in a couple weeks. But, when they had 7.9 in my band, I was throwing up everything. I can not seem to find that spot. When I think I do, I get all excited then it seems like once the swelling goes down, I'm not there. I just feel like I am on an eternal diet. I stock my house with protein, greek yogurt, veggies, etc, but I can still eat portions that are bigger than what I should be. It doesn't help when I eat the proper portion and am hungry again in a couple of hours.
To make matters worse, I saw a friend who had the sleeve done 3 1/2 years ago. She went from 280 and is at a slim 130 right now. She just had a tummy tuck and boob job. She at 3 bites of a hamburger (with bread), a couple bites of fruit, and proclaimed, "Wow! I am STUFFED!" I didn't know whether I wanted to cry or strangle her! Meanwhile, I sitting across the table, with tiny bits of my half brat (I don't do the skin of it because it doesn't agree with me) and my tomato salad.......finishing it, feeling satisfied, then hungry again in a couple hours. My friend is never hungry and forgets to even eat. I. am. having. a. SUCKY. day.
So, for the first time since being banded, I am having a fat day. I haven't lost anymore weight since my last posting and I know I need to work out more and add protein. I am leaving for vacation in a week and a half and having been busting my butt trying to get everything done. I make tutu princess dresses for babies and toddlers on the side, so I have been furiously constructing them to get them completed before I leave.....oy! A year ago, I stressed out for at least three months...at least...about the plane ride and being able to buckle my seatbelt. It was horrible. Everything buckled, thank goodness. One of the 4 planes barely buckled. This year, I am 50 pounds lighter but I started to freak out a week ago about the stupid seatbelts again.....yes, really, I did. It should be fine. While my body has changed, sometimes I still have the mentality that I originally started with. Strange, huh?
I feel so much better since that last fill! I have restriction back. YAY! No more bread eating or too many carbs...I love how my band helps keep me in line when I go off track. I hit 279 this morning....which, I think is great considering this is normally my highest time of the month (if you know what I mean). I have officially lost 48 pounds and am now 8 months out. Sometimes I sit and think about how slow the process is and how I should have lost more. Other times, I think what a big accomplishment this is.....considering I have had a couple missed appts and overfill recoveries :-) So, I continue plugging right along......
I FINALLY got in for the fill that I seem like I have been waiting forever for! YAY! I had a little fluid taken out in March, due to me having a cold and the drainage was miserable! I couldn't hold anything down. I made an appointment for April, but I couldn't get off work to make the appointment as our owners were in town. So, I finally got to go yesterday. They had taken .5 out of my band and put .3 in this time around. I should be around 7.7 in my band. Up until yesterday, I felt like I was eating more than I should and definitely hungrier. No fun. I could eat biscuits (even though I know I shouldn't) with no problem...I didn't get stuck on anything! Amazingly, i still lost a pound during that time. Now that I have a nice bump, I'm ready to get on the weight loss train fully. I have been trying to get my daily workout in and also trying to keep track of myself on sparkpeople.com. When I weighed this morning, I am 282, still up from my lowest of 280, but I know water weight can fluctuate, so whatever. Goal for next weight in: 272. Full steam ahead!
Since my last minor unfill, I have been able to eat more and I don't like it. I have been able to eat and enjoy food that I couldn't before. i know, it's bad, I should have more willpower, but my band is my buddy that helps keep me in line. I have managed to gain 4 pounds back and I am super disappointed. My next fill scheduled for Monday so i am on my p's and q's with the strict "no eating out" and protein shakes again. I just hate how you still have to "diet" in between fills and watch everything **sadface**. Oh, well, I wanna see that scale go back DOWN!
Well, I had a little fluid taken out about 6 weeks ago, due to me getting sick from all of the drainage when I got a cold. And, I have been naughty....very very naughty. I have no idea who much fluid she took out (although, I'm guessing not alot) and it made a HUGE difference). However, I need it put back in ASAP! My weight has officially stalled completely out. I can eat more than I should and am hungrier in between meals. I keep gaining and losing the same 3 pounds. I had an appointment a week and a half ago, but had to reschedule, due to work conflict. The soonest they could get me in was May 16th, but I am going to BEG to get in sooner, if they have a cancellation, next week. I ate a donut (I know, I know) with absolute ease and no problem. I am leaving for Mexico in less than two months and was hoping to have a little better weight loss by the time I left. I want my restriction back. Unfortunately, it just means that I have to work on my self control a little harder :-) On the plus side, I'm walking more, hoping to counteract the new position of being able to eat any type of food (not that I should).
Well, I am officially a little over 6 months out. I have lost a total of 46 pounds total, including preop. It is coming off slowly, but surely. I have been at a plateau the past couple of months and need to make better food choices and definitely work out more. Overall, though, I am very happy being 46 pounds down. It is 46 less of me that I have to lug around. I am going to Cozumel in just a couple months and my goal is to get down even further and finally invest in some new clothes! Right now, they are hanging on to me for dear life (YES!). I may not have lost as much weight as my friend who had RNY at the same time, but I still feel great and feel this choice is a "for life" commitment. And, on days I feel sad I haven't lost as much, I look at my before pictures and take notice of the weight that IS gone.....forever!
So, after my sinus drainage last week, I made an appointment with my doctor's office to get a little fluid taken out. They took out just a bit and what a difference! I was able to eat, drink, and start losing again! I have lost 3 pounds since they took the fluid out. I think because I can get my protein in now! I am officially 46 pounds down and almost 6 months out. Once these 280's are gone, I will feel so much better. I feel like I have been stuck here forever! Now that I am finally where I need to be (fluid wise), I am hoping it will start coming off quicker now. Too much fluid, I don't lose. Too little, I don't lose.
We went out of town on a shopping trip this weekend and I was really proud. Instead of getting steak or something like it at Outback, I got a small size seared tuna appetizer at Outback. And, it was filling! I have found that I need to just order small portions when I go out. Even if I get a smaller meal and box half of it up, I will still try to eat more than I should. It's all mental. If I get just what I need (usually a kid sized portion is plenty), I do better at limiting myself.
It's taken 6 months, but I am finally starting to "get it" and adjusting. Everyday is a struggle for a recovery food addict, but I am getting better and better at eating better. One upside to eating out? Instead of going for the most bang for the buck (I used to choose the biggest portion item sometimes!), I can get a better quality, tastier, and healthier item for the same price and be okay with the fact that it's a tiny portion. I love my band. Sometimes we bicker, by my love for it is unconditional :-)
I think I have a sinus infection and this drainage is making me feel stuck. I haven't been able to keep anything (non liquid) down in two days. Anyone have any suggestions or experiences?
I went to my doctor's office a couple of days ago and didn't receive a fill this time around. I have been seeing the nurse practitioner the past couple of times and she is just as nice and informative as the surgeon. She recommended I not get a fill this time and just focus on exercise for this month (which I have been very much slacking off on). She also gave me a list of recommended Lean Cuisine type dishes that they recommend for lunches. They all include chuncks of protein (which she tells me to have), under 300 calories, and over 15 grams of protein. I really like having that list because it wasn't what I was eating! So, hopefully I will lose more this month. I am almost to 7.5 cc's in a 10 cc band, but I finally have restriction, so that is a positive!
42, to be exact. I am so proud to have that weight GONE. Although I have a lot more to lose, I am well on my way. I need to work out more and see the weight drop even farther, quicker :-)
One more pound and I will have hit the 40 pound weight loss in my (almost) 5 months of being banded. I am now down to 287. It is incredibly sllllooowwww, but so worth it. I can tell a little difference (mainly in how my clothes fit-----or, not really fit anymore, I should say), but other people say they can tell a big difference. I am to the point where I really need to go out and get some new clothes.
After my last fill, my band keeps me in CHECK! If I eat too fast or take too big of bites, i get stuck, feel miserable, and eating time is o-v-e-r. I really have to remember to chew chew chew. And, sometimes (with dry chicken, steak, etc) that is not enough. And, some days are different than others. My husband make steak on our anniversary last Thursday. I took a few bites of the 4 oz steak, felt sick, and dinner was done (even though I took small bites and chewed). I brought the leftover steak for lunch the next day and got it down fine. However, when I tried to eat my small baked potato afterwards, I got two bites in and that was it.
My husband and I just shared our 4 year anniversary this past week. I went out to dinner with him Saturday evening to McCormick and Schmicks. It was sooooo good! They brought huge chuncks of fresh bread out (my heart really sank), but I did clip off a tiny smidge (and I do mean TINY!) and dipped it in butter just to try it. And, I did order a tuna tartare appetizer, salad, and stuffed salmon for dinner. Yes, I still think sometimes like the fat girl I became over the years, but this time, I ordered knowing I'd have left overs for a couple meals and could take it home :-) It's a fantastic restaurant, why not have leftovers? I ate the appetizer and some of the side salad. I ended up bringing home my full entree. And, how nice was it to actually slow down and enjoy the flavors. REALLLLLL NICCCCCE!!!!
The next day, we had lunch with friends. I ordered a tuna appetizer and a side salad. I ate the side salad, felt full, and brought the tuna home. I must say, I like leftovers!
I really like the restriction and tightness that I have now. I would definitely rather be a little too tight than not enough. Sometimes I am not as wise as I should be and the band now seems to "smack my hand" if I have something I shouldn't. I love that!
I have pretty much kissed goodbye all bread products, pizza, donuts, etc, but I am totally okay with that. Stringy fruits (oranges, grapefruits, pineapples) seem like ages ago since I haven't been able to eat those for awhile now. I can still get down all veggies (I love asparagus and thank the Banding Gods for allowing me to still eat that), but potatoes pose a problem unless they are mashed. Thankfully, too, chicken wings don't go down good anymore. I really needed my band to help me with those as they are my weakness. I do miss regular chicken and steak sometimes (as it seems to be 50/50 if I can even eat a little bit). But, really, I have found that fish goes down perfectly and is much better for me than red meat.
If I could completely rid myself of my Starbucks addiction, I would be doing even better. Starbucks is sabotaging me...even when I ask for nonfat milk with my white chocolate mocha. I have made an agreement with myself to treat myself on Fridays, but NO other time. It is amazing on how many calories that actually adds to my day. Seriously, I would be nailing my caloric goal everyday if it wasn't for those days I got Starbucks. Thank you sparkpeople.com for showing me how ugly this coffee can be In the art of compromising, so I don't sabotage myself, I iron out 100 calories everyday for my cups of coffee and creamer. I love it to much to completely let it go, but 100 sure beats 500!
I still haven't joined the gym but AM planning to. I just need to narrow down which one. I would like to do Curves, but I don't think it will be feasible for me to get to considering where I live, kids, and the fact my husband has a completely different work schedule than me. I think a 24 hour place will work good. I do like my Zumba video but would LOVE to do it at a gym. I find when I work out, I feel better and I drop a pound here and there like no one's business. I can definitely improve on the working out! Fortunately, a friend of mine has created a facebook group to help address this with everyone. It's sort of an online support page where we can become accountable to others. I really am looking forward to working this page for all it's worth :-)
Whew, how therapeutic it was to write!
Eeeeeek, next Wednesday can't come soon enough. I need a fill SOOOO bad. I am joining a gym this week, but there are no aerobics classes, etc....Just the basic with circuits, weights, etc. What is your favorite thing to do at the gym. I wanna get the most out of my workout :-)
I have been losing slowly.....so slowly. I have read up another person's success by adding in MORE protein. I should have figured this out by now. I reviewed my sparkpeople.com records. I have found that I am staying in the 1500 range some days, which is not good. But, that I can make wiser choices by adding in more protein. If I have a salad with fat free dressing, throw in some sunflower seeds, etc. It makes sense. I have no idea why I have gotten away from protein. I aim for 60 each day, but some days I don't even get that. Others, try for at least 75. I'm curious, how much protein do you have everyday? Do you do better by counting calories, counting protein, or both?
This process seems to be soooo slow. I had to cancel my doctor's appointment yesterday because of all the snow we got here. I can't go in until a week from Thursday and know I need a little something in my band. I can eat more and I"m not thinking I like it very much. Everything seems to go down with ease. And, on top of that, it takes more to make me feel full. Also, I don't like feeling hungry after a couple of hours. Grrrrrrr! I have lost a whole pound in 8 days. I am down about 33 pounds total. About 15 of that after I got banded. I feel good about the weight I have lost so far, but also look at crazy envy at those banded around the time I was who have lost 50 or 60 pounds. Eeeek!
It's time to kick up the exercise in high gear while I wait, I guess. Does anyone have any good items to soothe your sweet tooth? I can't do any jello or sugar free bars for a long time. If you have any suggestions of something to curb it, while tasting sinful (yet lower in calories), please let me know. I usually do pretty well, but today I have a crazy ice cream craving and can't seem to overcome it :-( What's funny, I'm not really even an ice cream person!
Thank you if you are still reading me spew negativity. I am just having one of those days :-(
I expected big things from 2011...just not me! I was banded on September 30th, 2010. It has been a long, but quick process, if that makes sense. I have gone from 325-327 (by my at home scale) to 293.6 , as of this morning. It seemed so daunting when I first started the insurance process, seminars, etc, in April of last year. But, it truly went by quickly. Before I knew it, I was banded. If anyone is reading this and is overwhelmed by insurance hoops, don't be discouraged. Just take it one step at a time because the payoff is HUGE!
My last fill, # 3, they put in a little more in my band. That was 3 weeks ago and I've lost about 6 pounds since then. Slowly, but surely! Fill 1 was okay...no real restriction, though, fill 2 was an overfill---followed by some being taken out, then fill 3, I feel, is my sweet spot. I feel like I eat too much (i'm so paranoid about overeating), but my husband says I hardly eat anything. In comparing what I ate before, he's probably right. I still keep track of everything on sparkpeople and really am trying to watch everything. It certainly something that isn't easy and is something that we all have to continually work at. Each day, I still argue with my body about what to put in it. I think it will get easier and easier, but it has hard not to stop at McDonalds in the morning for a breakfast sandwich (not that I can really eat it without getting stuck anyway!), but my mouth would still try.
I have just started really trying to get serious about working out. I don't really have time for an actual gym between my kids and my husband's crazy work hours. I have picked up Zumba and also love working out to my Wii! My doctor's office has a program they refer to as 'Bootcamp'. It is 3 nights a week for 6 weeks. Of all of the places in my city, it happens to be held just a few miles from my house, which is great. You work out with a personal trainer those 3 nights, meet with a counselor for a few minutes on 2 of those nights and meet with a nutritionist the other night after your workout. And, as long as you don't miss more than 3 sessions, it is all free. So, I will be beginning that on their next session start next month. I really can't wait!
I am starting to have loose clothing, which is great, and my knees are already feeling better when I go upstairs. I love that. When I met my husband, I was hovering around 270. Still fat, but nothing as to what I turned into over 5 years! I guess my happiness was directly correlated with my weight gain, which, ironically, caused unhappiness. But, one the road to being a better me feels good! I recognize I will never, realistically, be 135 pounds ever, but I'm okay with that as long as I can get down to a healthy weight of maybe 170. I really can't wait to to do things with my kids this summer! I can already tell I'm getting more energy and can't wait to see how that goes up, too.
Anyway, those are the thought that are in my head today. I hope everyone is doing well after the holidays!
I think after all of the putting fluid in/taking fluid out, I have finally hit my sweet spot. I feel restriction and I feel full for several hours in between meals. It's been nice. When I went to the doctor with for the 2nd fill and they overfilled me, I had some fluid taken out. I actually had less in there than with my first fill so I was very hungry. I gained several pounds back. But, with this fill, I have lost about 5 pounds this week, which was good. I have also noticed not only are my clothes starting to feel a bit looser, my pants also seem longer......anyone else have this? Strange!!! Other than busily scurrying to get last minute Christmas stuff together, life has been pretty vanilla. How is everyone else out there doing? Any good weight loss goals met recently?
Soooo, I'm getting a bit discouraged. They unfilled what they put in last time. And, I gained back the weight I lost. Of course, I realize that it is all water weight I lost and gained back, but that means I'm still at a standstill. I know my magic number should lie between 6.5 cc (where I can eat anything) and 7.5 ccs (where I can't drink anything). I yearn for the day I can feel restriction. Sometimes, I feel it and sometimes I don't. I can still eat bread and all of the things I shouldn't be able to eat and that actually makes me sad. i need to know something will get stuck if I eat it so I won't WANT it. I'm still working through the food issues, but it makes it harder when you can still have what you probably shouldn't be eating. Eeeeeek! When I try to measure out my food, I am STARVING after just the 4 ounces of protein and half a cup of veggies. How much in your band did it take to reach your "sweet spot"? What foods can't you have and how much can you eat?
So, I went in for my second fill on Monday. It was 2 months to the day of my surgery. When I stepped on the scale at the doctor's office, I was happy to learn I had dropped 4 pounds over the past two weeks without really trying. I was ultra bad on Thanksgiving, caved in, and had 2 rolls....eek! Those went down fine, so when i went to the doctor's office, with 3 cc's in my band, of course I told him I could use another fill. He filled me with another 1.25 cc's and sent me on my way. I had a few sips of water in the office that really went down okay. However, by the time I got home, I felt soooo nauscous! Luckily, since the rest of the family has the stomach bug, I had some anti nausea meds on hand that I took. I did try to eat mashed potatoes and those came back up. I had a sinking feeling I was overfilled. But, I blew it off as swelling and tried to get liquid down in small sips. It was crazy. I would take a sip of water and feel stuck for 20 minutes. Since my baby girl came down with the stomach bug really bad Monday night and Tuesday, I couldn't get away. But, after waking today with an incredibly thirsty body and not being able to even drink, I knew I had to go today. The husband stayed with the baby while I made the 40 minute trek to the doctor. He wasn't in, but his nurse practitioner was. She took me back to unfill under the big fluero machine. She first unfilled me completely. We were both shocked to find that I wasn't at 4.25 cc's...I was at 7.5 cc's! My band must have been partially filled at surgery and there was no record of it. So, she took out 1 cc, leaving me with 6.5 cc's. I can get water down now, FINALLY! And, did I mention I lost 5.5 pounds since Monday? Probably from being so dehydrated! So, I think I should be good here for awhile. I felt a little restriction before and, once I add full foods again, I'm hoping I will be at my sweet spot. Word to the wise------if you think you might be overfilled, go see your doctor ASAP! On a plus side, I'm now under 300 **applause** Have a great day, everyone!
My second fill comes tomorrow....maybe...most likely. I currently have 3 cc's in my band. The first four days were extremely hard to get anything down without getting stuck (after my first fill). Now, I see that I can still eat breads (small bites....thanks to Thanksgiving!). I don't have anything in the way of restriction, so I really have to watch my portion sizes. I have also been doing awesome with not drinking for a half an hour after I eat. That has been so hard! I am currently down to 301.8, after being stalled for a month. Thanksgiving also went pretty well. I grabbed a salad plate and just put a small portion on it of foods. I don't think I allowed myself alot of food at all. Yesterday, I took my son and daughter to lunch with my parents. Lunch was a bowl of steak soup. I was only able to eat about half of it and my daughter ate the other half. I do find I feel tighter in the mornings. I would love to feel restriction, but it is not so bad where I'm at right now. i can tell the band is helping. While I don't feel restriction, I do find the food stays with me longer, which I love. We'll see what the doctor says tomorrow. Until next time....hopefully, I can soon report that I am under 300!
So, I am on soft foods for the next couple of days. I decided I will try sushi...Having read that some people have trouble with it and some don't, I decided I would take smaller bites of it. My train of thought was,"Well, might as well nibble now because if it doesn't agree with me, that will be the end of that."
Fast forward to opening my yummy sushi roll. I split a piece in half, eat a bite, then remind myself I need to chew better. I eat the remaining piece.....wow...weird feeling. I proceed to the half of piece of sushi piece #2. WOW!!! Oh no! I'm gonna get sick! I felt a huge wave of nausea and got the watery mouth. It last for about 5 minutes and I'm so glad I was able to hold on to everything. Getting sick in front of my coworkers was not #1 on my priority list today. I was able to finish the sushi roll....eventually. I cut it up into 1/4's and chewed it forever.
The learning how to eat continues....will keep you posted!
Today was the day of my first fill. I was a little nervous, not knowing what to expect, but it was all good. I ate pretty light today. Coffee and a bagel (eeeek!) this morning. Pineapple and a piece of grilled chicken for lunch. Then, this afternoon, the fill!
They brought me in, weighed me, checked my incision sites, then had me lay back on this table. The doctor explained that I would feel a sting, then said I wouldn't feel anything but maybe a bit of pressure. He cleaned of the area then I felt something like a little sting. After that, I didn't feel pressure at all. I felt, while he was putting the fluid in, a little tickle or maybe even butterflies. It was such a weird sensation! They then had me drink a small amount of water to make sure everything was going down just fine. He ended up putting 3 cc's in. I go back in another two weeks and will most likely have another fill. I am back to soft foods for 3 days, but that is okay. I'm finally on my way!
Well, the first fill is going to Monday. I really can't wait. My weight loss has definitely stalled out and I am excited to get this kick started once again. I am trying to plan a vacation to Mexico next summer and would LOVE to drop some excess baggage by then. The earlier, the better
My doctor actually has me set up for an appointment on Monday, one two weeks from then, and one more two weeks from then. So, hopefully we will kick this in high gear...lol
What do you all do the day of your fill? Do you eat light or do liquids? I suppose I should call the doctor, perhaps, but I'm curious to see what they have you do. My appointment isn't until in the late afternoon.
