It's been a while since I posted-actually I have been having trouble with LapBand's webpage (it overlaps posts and makes it hard to read the posts).,but I just wanted to drop by and say hello!
What an amazing holiday season for me! I have been hovering around the 190 range which is SO amazing since the week before surgery I weighed 248 and a year before that I was 258! I loved the way I look. I can remember this time last year avoiding all mirrors in department stores and now I love trying on clothes. I brought my camera to all holiday celebrations and gladly put myself in photos without hiding behind people! My daughter bought me victoria secret PJs in an XL and the pants are baggy-how cool is that? My self-confidence is back and I am so glad that I had this surgery.
I know some people count calories, exercise,, and record every morsel-but I do not-hoestly I do not do anything. Truthfully, if I did I would probably lose faster because at this point I am losing 5 pounds a month-but I am ok with that-really! I really can't eat a lot anyway. I am trying to make friends with my band. I avoid problems foods like breads, pizza, and unfortunately fruit. When I go to a resturant (which I do gfrequently) I order a seafood item and maybe soup. If I know I am going to dinner I will avoid eating until that time-with the exception of a snack. I simply can not eat in the afternoon and then eat at dinner.
Today I have an appetite-for the first time in a lonnng time I was ablet to eat a small omelet and I had a brownie. I am wondering if I may need a fill? But I have wondered that so many times since my last fill in August. I am just about 15 pounds from my goal of 175-I can't wait to get there!
Life is really good being thinner-I have more energy, I go out to social functions much,much, more and I look forward to them. During the holidays I have had wine and drinks at parties but now that the holidays are over those extra calories will stop and hopefully the scale will dip into the 180's! Wow! That would be amazing.
I wish you all a happy, healthy, and thinner New Year!!
All weekedn people were telling me I looked thinner so today I did it-I stepped on the scale! When I started this journey I was 248 and as of today I was 202.6!!!! 3 pounds away from Onderland!!! WooHoo! Tomorrow will be 5 months since my surgery and I am so glad I did it! I am losing slower than some but at least the scale is moving in the right direction!
Some days I feel really tighter than other days! Truthfully I haven't gotten weighed in a long time because I don't feel like I lost anything. This week a lot of people have said how good I look so I am thinking maybe they are noticing something I am not. I might venture on the scale this week and give a full report.
Having a tight band is not always good. Since I can't eat much I was leaning towards junk food (ice cream, chips, candy), not a lot mind you, but even a little is not good. This week I went food shopping and did not buy any tempting treats. I am committed to getting proteins in first! I want to buy some protein shakes for my mornings. They do tend to fill me up plus my shakes have lots of vitamins and 17 grams of protein in them!
I wentto the boardwalk with my best friend. She does not know I had the band. I was sitting at an outdoor cafe and we ordered an appetizer to share. There was some breading and I tried to avoid eating it but it happened-slime. I wentto the bathroom and PBed came back and still had to PB so I said I left something in the bathroom. PBed again. Then I went a 3rd time blaming it on the cold weather. After that I felt better. Next time I'll order soup and not take chances! Sometimes I can eat fine with the band and other times it's difficult.
I still thought I would be thinner 5 months post op but I am not really complaining. I just can't wait to get under to 200 mark!
On a bright note I am starting to feel sexier! lol
Have a great week felow bandsters!!
Okay it's time to celebrate some good things since surgery!!
Today I went into a store called Anne Sez . The highest size they carry is a 15/16, but I figured I could fit into their tops. I tried on the jeans anyway and they fit perfectly-no muffin top, no squeezing, just prefect!! I didn't buy them, but I may go back! This is so exciting! I also tried on a size 14 coat because they didn't have a 16-and it fit too! It was a little tight around the shoulders, but not too much so-I was really tempted to get it because it was so cute and I figured it would still fit when I lose more weight-BUT it was over $200. I still might get it! lol
People are starting to notice my weight lost-I love that!
My husband now says how nice I look when we go out
I carried in a 20 pound bag of dog food and it was SO heavy! Just to think this time last year I was carrying 2 of those around each and every day-no wonder I was tired all the time!
I have so much more energy too!
I have a skort that I didn't fit into last year and now it slides right past my hips!
I haven't weighed myself in a long time so I am thinking maybe I should-I don't feel like I lost any more weight but who knows?
Oh-today I drove through McDonalds and order a chicken snack wrap-grilled. I didn't eat the wrap part and the chicken inside was perfect for lunch!! Under $300 too!
So today I decided to celebrate the small things! I even postponed a fill appointment because I don't think I need it. I NEVER thought I would say that!!
Since my last fill I have been tight. I would say I can manage 1 meal per day (like a lean cuisene or a light lunch). Forget mornings-oatmeal or a protein shake is the only thing I can manage. Also, bread is a big no-no. I can see how people can gain weight being tight because you get really hungry and junk seems to go down just fine (soft serve ice cream, candy, etc.).
I tried sharing a lunch with my one friend who knows about the band. We ate lunch twice and shared the plate-it was AWESOME! It was more than enough-actually both times it almost looked like a full plate. I went out with my hubby and the same thing, we ordered 1 meal and shared it. I had 1/4 of it and he ate the rest. From now on that's what I plan on doing even if I have to pay a sharing the plate fee!
People at work are starting to notice the weight loss. My daughter told me I looked skinny in my yoga pants and my hubby even called me skinny mini! At 212 I am not skinny, but it sure beats this time last year when I was 258! My next goal is Onederland-I just can't wait!! I have been a slow loser with the band, but as long as I am losing I am not complaining!
I haven't exercised in a month-very bad and I plan to get back to it ASAP. I have pain in my left side under my ribcage and I am starting to think it may be something other than a pulled muscle (maybe a hernia?). The doc told me to come back tomorrow if it didn't get better-well it's not better so I will be seeing her.
No fills for me this month-never thought I would ever get to a point that I would skip a fill opportunity!!
Well, I decided NOT to get an unfill because I really didn't want to over eat on vacation, plus it seemed a little better by the time I left. I made sure I didn't eat anything that would remotely get stuck for the plan ride to New Orleans. I was doing fine the first 2 nights. Sure, I was very tight and couldn't eat much, but I was able to drink. BUT the day I set sail for the cruise was bad-really bad. I felt sick all day and could barely keep anything down. I wentto lunch took a spoonful and had to go to the bathroom to bring it up. On the actual cruise-well I tried to eat at the sit down dinner-but I simply could not. During dessert I was sick and excused myself. I tried rushing back to my stateroom and I didn't think I would make it in time, but thank goodness I managed to get to the bathroom! Uggghh! Not a good day. The rest of the cruise was better, still tight, but better. I even finished a lobster tail!
When I first got on the scale when I came home it said I gained 4 pounds-but no way that was possible with the amount of food I ate! The next day it said I only gained 1 pound! Whew! That's more like it!
I am still tight, but it's getting a little better. I still can not eat more than a dixie cup of solid protein. This morning I had oatmeal with a chopped up banana and a few sprinkles of nuts. It all went down without a problem!
Today I go to a BBQ-we'll see how that goes. The last few days I have not been able to drink beer. I know we aren't suppose to anyway, but I like a coupld at an outdoor event. It takes me hours to finish a beer and then it's warm. I guess that's good.
I know it's got to loosen up soon. I have a September 2nd fill appointment-we'll see!
The danger of being too tight (besides PB and getting stuck) is overeating. I know this doesn't sound right but you get really hungry and tend to go for slider foods such as ice cream and other sliders. The band really works with solid protein to keep you full so a too tight band isn't necessarily a good thing.
Today the scale said 215 - I can't wait to see it in the ones!!
Okay- I am really thinking this fill is TOO much for me. After 1 friggen spoonful of egg beaters I was sliming like a rabid dog and threw up twice-nothing like standing over a toilet for over an hour.
I called my doc for an unfill tomorrow morning. I HATE doing that because I want to lose weight, but I am going on vacation Thursday and won't have my medical team on stand by-plus I don't want my entire vacation memories to be of me paying homage to the porcelain god!
I'll be in New Orleans on then a cruise-I do want to be able to eat and drink (yes drink). I don't want to gain weight, but of I do it's not the end of the world.
Maybe the swelling will go down tonight and I can skip the unfill-but that's not the way to bet
My grade school reunion was fun. I did drink, but I also got a lot of walking in! My best friend noticed I lost weight and said I looked good-but no one else did-WTH? I lost 30 pounds and probably 40 since the last time I saw my cousin and she was there with my neice. I looked at the photos and while I do look better I still don't like how I look in pictures (will that ever change I wonder?).
The reunion was down the shore-I had a slice of pizza on the boardwalk-BIG mistake!! I was sick for hours afterwards. I threw up twice on the boardwalk -gross I know! Got back and still felt sick with sliming. I really started to question if I should get the fill on Monday-especially with a cruise this week.
Monday I got on the scale and I lost 2 pounds! Awesome!! (I only get weighed once a week). I decided that a .5cc fill would be good for my vacation-but the doc gave me 1cc. Wow! I'll say it again...Wow! For those of you who haven't been filled to the point of Wow, your time will come! I could not eat anything afterwards. I know you aren't suppose to eat after a fill-but with my other fills I was still able to nibble-but not this one! I could barely drink anything. Today I can drink, but I haven't tried food yet. I got on the scale and it's another 2 pounds gone! Wow! This entire process is finally kicking in!
When I was at the doctor's office I overheard 2 male patients say that they lost 100 pounds and the other had lost 140 pounds!! Another wow!
I am feeling positive and my decision and more determined than ever. I also think going to the gym has had a very positive effect on helping me lose weight. I feel like I am doing something very useful when I work out-something for me-something other than sitting on the couch! I even plan to work out on the cruise ship!
So it took 3 months for all the elements to come together-but I do feel a forward motion!!
I am glad I didn't wait 6 weeks between fills! As a matter of fact I had 3 fills within 6 weeks! I just don't see the sense in waiting if they weren't doing anything. Also I get free fills for the first 90 days after surgery, now I have a copay of $15 and they book the fills 4 weeks apart instead of 6-interesting.
The last 2 weeks of August are goingto be tough! I just came back from Atlantic City (2 nights) and I did pretty good -not great but I okay. We had free passes to buffets. I don't like buffets-all the food tastes the same and I hate eating all the combinations at once so I did pretty good-except dessert wise.
This weekend I am goingto my grade school reunion with my BFF down the shore. We don't get together too often so it will be a girl's weekend away! There wil be drinking-that I know. I only see her about 3-4 times a year and we are way overdue.
On a positive note I have been working out 4 times a week and I did the treadmill for 4 miles today 60 minutes! Woo Hoo! That's a big accomplishment for me.
Monday I have a doctor's appointment for a fill. I have 3.5ccs and I am really hopingto get another.5cc -I just feel like I really need it prior to going on my cruise next week. I just feel like I could use a little more help from the band. I really did go back and forth with my decision. The doctor might not do it since it would have only been 11 days since my last one (which did absolytely nothing). So I'll give it a shot and see what he says.
September will be a much better month for me. I will be back to work (teacher) and be back on a routine. September will be less festivities too and I feel like I will be better diet-wise. I would really LOVE to be in Onderland by the end of October-we'll see.
One thing I do know for sure is that joining the gym is the best decision I have made. Don't get me wrong-I hate going-but I feel so much better after I go. I have more energy and I am noticing that my size 18's are getting looser on me! I even squeeze my ass into a size 16 suit-tight but loaded and locked!! lol
So tomorrow if my grade school reunion-last time I went (2 years ago) I was almost 40 pounds heavier. I feel a little more sexier now and more confident too. I am even looking forward to getting on the airplane for New Orleans next week-I know the seatbelt won't be as big of a stresser for me!
Have a great week in Bandland!! I'll let you know how my Monday appointment goes and my reunion!!
I have had 3 fills so far (2ccs, 1cc, .5cc = 3.5ccs total) and I still can not truly feel the effect of the band. I have gotten stuck a couple of times and I can't eat anything in the mornings (except yogurt) so I know it's there. Maybe it has helped a little but nothing to really control my eating. Yeah I know that I have to do my part- but when is the band going to do it's part?! If I could do this on my own I certainly wouldn't have had surgery!!!
I know we are suppose to eat proteins first...so that is something new I am going to do with breakfast and lunch. Dinner time I always eat proteins, but for breakfast I usually have slider food and lunch is a salad or something not really protein based. I am working out so that's good. This is so frustrating and the weight loss has been at a standstill for so long! I hear the people with a 10cc band don't truly reach their sweet spot until 5-7ccs. I don't know hoe true that is but that would mean 3 more fills before I am at 5ccs!! UGGGH!!! (my doctor only gives .5ccs for each visit after you reach 3ccs).
I have a standing appointment for August 22nd-that would be 11 days after this past fill and I simply don't know if he would give it to me that soon-but why not if it's not doing anything? I am also going on a cruise the 25th and debating if I want a fill that close to my trip. I certainly don't want to eat like a pig-and we all know cruises are pig-fests in disguise!! Oh woe is me! I really thought almost 3 months after surgery I woul be rocking this band thing-who knew that it would take so long before things start moving!
But getting back to the protein thing...I do tend to eat a lot of slider-type foods-ummm maybe I need to tweak that and see if I have better results. I'll let you know how it goes!
I decided to fully commit and join a gym last week! I convinced my 19 yr. old and my 24 yr. old to join too. They had a really good special going on so I figure why not? Last night I bought myself some exercise outfits. I really hate working out-I am 48 years old and I doubt if I'll ever be one of "those" people who are just simply addicted to working out! But, at my age my metabolism is really slow and I need something too jump start it.
I have noticed my weight loss is very slow too and it's my hope that exercising will help. It took me 25 minutes to walk a mile on the treadmill-25 minutes!! I am headed to the gym today so hopefully I can do a little better than that!
My eating has been ok-I could do better. We eat out a lot and I do try to avoid the bread basket and I usually order fish, but eating out is definitely extra calories no matter what the heck you order. At a friend's house I had 3 beers. I have felt bloated ever since. I think if I am going to partake in a beverage it will have to be something other than beer. Maybe just bring my own Crystal Light mixture.
As far as fills- well my doc wants me to come in every 6 weeks. My last 2 fills have been 4 weeks because I am not waiting 6 friggen weeks! I have an appointment on Monday and it will only be 17 days since my last fill. I am afraid he'll say-sorry no fill - too soon! But I am going anyway! I want this band to start working better! I am so glad I didn't tell anyone about the band (other than my hubby and a girl I work with) because everyone would be thinking-WTH I thought she had surgery-where's the weight loss?! I can tell I have loss weight and I am definitely down a size in clothes-but it's painfully slow and when you are heavy it's not as noticable to other people until you lose about 30-40 pounds. If I can lose 25 pounds more it would be a huge defference-so that's my short term goal!
Good luck to all of you in Bandland!
Well after that first fill I entered "Bandster Hell" the period where you don't lose a damn pound and may actually gain weight!! It's sort of a scary place to be because you wonder if you are going to be one of those people who lose very little or don't lose at all. I have been eating more than I should, but at the same time watching what I eat. Does that make sense?
My scale broke 2 weeks ago and I wasn't in a hurry to by a new one. I finally said enough is enough and bought one. I got on and lost 2 pounds! Today was another 1-2!! I am thrilled and secretly praying that this scale isn't wrong! lol I averaged out my weight loss to about 2-2.5 pounds per week (eventhough most of that was the week before and after surgery). I am feeling happy!
My Fill Situation - okay my doctor does fills every 6 weeks...every 6 weeks!!! Come on-give a girl a break! But I know there's wiggle room with the appointments - I just don't know how much! I know I would be okay booking an appointment 4 weeks, but not sure if I could get away with 2 weeks. He might say "No I can't give you a fill it's only been 2 weeks (or 3 weeks). So I did something very naughty. I am confessing here so shhhhh! There are a couple of doctors at this group and I booked an appointment for every week in August. I have one August 4th (13 days after my 2nd fill), one booked for August 8th (16 days after my 2nd fill) and today I booked August 15th (23 days after my 2nd fill). I plan to book the week of August 22nd too! Now before you think I am absolutely crazy let me explain my strategy. First, I will probably cancel the 4th-that's too soon after my 2nd fill. I will only keep 1 appointment but I wanted to have them schedule because this doctor gets filled up in his appointments so quick you get shut out. But if I don't have any restriction I am not waiting 6 weeks this time.! I hate that I have to book them like this but you can't just call and say I need to come in next week (I tried that already and they said they had no openings until August! Let's hope the 2nd fill has some magic to it!
(scary thing is my couch actually looks like this!)
Finally, exercise, yes exercise-blah! I spend way too much time on my couch. WHen I get home from work that's where I sit most of the night. Today I had off from work and I spent 80% of the day on it! I hate the heat and it wipes me out. Fortunately, I have a pretty active lifestyle most of the time, but I need to get going with some exercise! A gym 5 minutes from my house has a special until July31st for teachers. It's $20 a month!! No long term contract, but I have to pay first and last month's payments. I think that's great so I might go for it. I am trying to talk one of my daughters into it too because she's a teacher and the other is a student so she is eligble too.
So I'll let you all know how the 2nd fill goes on the 22nd!! Take care!
Okay-had the first fill and feel some restriction-which is great!! However I did manage to eat a smallish steak last night-I surprised myself! I definitely eat less with this fill, yet I know I need another fill to get to the right kind of restriction. This first fill had definitely helped though!
I haven't been good about waiting before drinking after I eat-I am going to work on that for sure!
Also drinking water and getting protein in-that's why I feel so tired all the time! I might need to have a protein shake in the mornings to help! I also stopped taking vitamins-bad I know!
New goals are to watch the water, up the protein, and take my vitamins!
Good news is I am down a size!! Very happy about that! My next fill is July 22nd and I think that may get me a lot closer to the promised land/band!
I go for my first fill on Thursday- I am happy about that!
I can't figure out why I am not losing weight. I have 3 small meals a day and 1 big snack at night (I rather save my snacks and have a bigger one at night). I try to only weigh myself every few days. I can tell when I lose weight or gain.
Driving home from work I was thinking...what if I don't lose much weight wih this band? What if I had surgery and I am still fat?!! How depressing would that be! But from al my research I can tell having these thoughts is very, very natural and a part of the process. The lapband is not a fast road to weight loss-it's philosophy is "Slow and steady wins the race."
I have gone to quite a few parties since being banded and I have only had 1 beer total! That's a BIG accomplishment because Jersey Girls love their beer! I have Miller Lite 64's -they only have 64 calories. I also found Crystal Light Mojito and Margarita powders at Pathmark! So far I don't mind not drinking and I especially like waking up the next day knowing that I did good!
I just hope this first fill gives me a little help!
Okay-so I guess I REALLy do have an empty band! Oh, yes I have read about those blessed people who nevered needed a fill and how I really hoped I would be one of the chosen few-butthe monster reared it's ugly head this weekend. I had control-but it wasn't easy. My meals aren't keeping me full. I look at it this way-I am dieting on my own for now, but it won't be forever! One day at a time and one week at a time!
I guess this is what the call Bandster Hell. I can get through it though...I know I can!
What a crazy week! Had my surgery on Wednesday and now I am going back to work tomorrow. Diet-wise I have been doing okay. I can't wait to get on the clear liquids though-I mean enough is enough! But it will all be worth it
I think I've lost 14 1/2 pounds in just 13 days so that's a good jumpstart! I have been researching a lot of recipes and websites too. The more I read the more I think "I Can Do This!" At 48 yrs. old I am ready to make a lifestyle change!
Well I guess it's time to make a nice hot bowl of broth-(yawn)!
