Sula

Hey all, Just recovering from a bout of the flu...oh joy. I had dreaded getting something like that with the band, but it wasn't so terrible..the vomiting that is. And I'm on the mend. Two to three inches of snow last night...puts the kibosh on outside activities. We have been remodeling the bathroom for about two months...maybe we can make a dent in it this weekend. Can't get motivated to workout. I want to be outside walking... Tonya..you rock. You inspire me. I gotta get with it.

Tonya...same here..can't decide if it is time to get a fill as my restriction varies day to day. I don't think it is so good to PB on a daily basis. Wonder, tho, if that is what other people endure to get the weight off quicker. Beats me. AARRGGGG I wish there were some guidelines sometimes, but I guess because we are all so different...you can't set anything down.

Jen, Stay off the scale for a week! Quit perseverating about it for now...you're healing!!

Hey Angyl, Sounds like some rough times...so sorry this is happening to you. Wow, what a time. And just an interesting side note--I got my MSW in 1996 and have been in private practice for years. Love it. Congrats on your schooling.

Sorry about the double post...site was being weird...:thumbup:

just wanted to say how much I appreciated you all and how much this site means to me. I've been super busy and haven't been able to get here a much as I want or need...but I was thinking tonight, after a 14 or so hour day, that I really needed to get here. I hear that many of us are having difficulties and don't know what the answer is but I know we can figure it out. I'm so proud of all of your weight loss and it inspires me so much. I say to myself, well, they can do it, I can too. I just need to knuckle down. Angyl...good for you for being assertive. Cindi...five pounds...you will drop it in no time...look at where you've come from...you can do it. Debbie...I'm doing things that I haven't done since banding as well...and we can overcome this. Or we can do things in moderation now. A few cookies in the grand scheme of things isn't a big deal. Don't get down on yourself. I say, give yourself permission and then get on with it. Cowgirls....sounds like we have a few riders here...what a relief for our prize ponies!! That is a HUGH motivator for me. I gotta get to bed...to many busy days but I needed to be here for a bit to read and catch up. To feel support...thanks all.

I just wanted to say how much I appreciated you all and how much this site means to me. I've been super busy and haven't been able to get here a much as I want or need...but I was thinking tonight, after a 14 or so hour day, that I really needed to get here. I hear that many of us are having difficulties and don't know what the answer is but I know we can figure it out. I'm so proud of all of your weight loss and it inspires me so much. I say to myself, well, they can do it, I can too. I just need to knuckle down. Angyl...good for you for being assertive. Cindi...five pounds...you will drop it in no time...look at where you've come from...you can do it. Debbie...I'm doing things that I haven't done since banding as well...and we can overcome this. Or we can do things in moderation now. A few cookies in the grand scheme of things isn't a big deal. Don't get down on yourself. I say, give yourself permission and then get on with it. Cowgirls....sounds like we have a few riders here...what a relief for our prize ponies!! That is a HUGH motivator for me. I gotta get to bed...to many busy days but I needed to be here for a bit to read and catch up. To feel support...thanks all.

Hey Cindi, I don't really think you could gain five muscle pounds in a week, but I don't know for sure. Maybe talk to your trainer? Anyways, I think time will just take it off again. You're working so hard and we all know that pays off. I wish I could have some of your umpppph. Hang in there. Shawn

Hi all, Been a busy week last week and company all weekend. Now have the house to myself...should be doing chores, but it'll wait a minute. Diet Coke, haven't had one since banding. Thought it would be killer but it was nothing. I have actually read an article where diet sodas create sugar cravings, so for me, it is probably a good thing to have it out of my life. Morning time I also have more restriction and usually start my day with a homemade latte (coco and coffee-very low cal and no fat). I will nearly always eat breakfast of a protein drink or hot cereal, sometimes eggs. But have been feeling restricted more of late anyway. But there are times when I can really put food down. I didn't get a chance to get on the scale today but will see what it up tomorrow. My pants do feel tighter in the waist, but wonder if it is just me not doing any exercise at all. I am pondering yet another fill. I'm scare to get too restricted and really have to limit my eating...isn't that weird? My head games...drive me crazy!! Horseback riding rocks. I have an avid rider, even when I was 50 pounds heavier...but the horses love it mo betta now. I do have a new mare that is abou 15.3 hands and I have to use the trailer to get on...but the others I can get on by myself now. First time in years. Angyl...I'm also interested in what your nutritionist says. Please, if you will, share.

Angyl, what is the amount you have in your band? What size? I'm interested in how you've managed to go a year without a fill and of course, I know you've worked hard to lose the weight. I'm so confused sometimes about how I'm supposed to feel with the right restriction. What does that feel like? Do I have enough of a fill or should I keep pushing until I'm really limited in what I can eat for some time till I lose my weight? AARrggg...so confused. Tonya, I rarely eat bread..but this past weekend, had a waffle two days in a row. I don't have problems I guess, just a mental block that I should steer clear..which I'm glad to have. Soft tortillas give me problems... nearly always. Somedays I feel like I'm restricted where I need to be (actually some days isn't quite accurate...it should be some periods of time during a day) I'll have several days in a row where eating is difficult (egg rolls are now off my list) but then there are days when I can eat a large salad or things like that.

Angyl, you do look terrific and I second the comment about that happy smile. What a wonderful journey you have done with a lot of hard work too boot! I commend you. I'm amazed that you've done this with the least amount of fills, it seems. My DH was looking over my shoulder and said you looked great! I'm doing better this week, my mind is more on what it is supposed to be paying attention to. I just feel emotionally better..guess a few days away from work revivied me, but I do have some busy weeks ahead. It might also be daylights savings...I get home from work and it is LIGHT OUT...gives me more energy. More spirit.

Lisa--same here. No real weighloss since about thanksgiving either. But I'm not always on the mark when it comes to eating, drinking, or exercising. I've really gotten back these past two weeks with my water!! My goal this week is to meet or exceed my expected intake. I gotta get after it. BGB and Sunshine, so sorry for the problems with family. What a stressor!

Tonya, Great news about your eyes. I'm sure you will a difference now with being off the steroids. And I hear you about the chocolate. I'm PMS-ing or something...craving sweets, which I don't do very often, but alas...I am now. So much for my successful 5 day pouch test, get off carbs!! :biggrin:

Hey all, I've been remiss and neglecting my support group here and I think it not a good thing for me. I'm going to stay in touch more and maybe that will get me back in the groove of things! I am, however, traveling the rest of the week, so I may not be here for a few days, but after that...I need to stay connected. I do better and I'm just wallowing. No exercise, not eating real well (not terrible either, but...) and not losing. So, you're stuck with me!! Hope you are all doing well. I wish spring were here...it seems to rejuvenate me.

I've been off pouting. Didn't feel like getting support..hows that for you. I have had a tough week. I made egg rolls...first time since banding...and guess what I found out...after three different days and three different attempts, I can't eat them. They make me stuck and then violently vomit!! Not a dainty PB. So, the last few days (since monday night) I've been keeping it pretty tame in the food area. I'm a slow learner. I've not been exercising. I thought I would begin walking outside on monday but a mini-blizzard put a halt to that. I am also dealing with some dizziness...I had the same about five years ago..and it went away after a few days. This is hanging around longer. I thought maybe it was from throwing up so hard and loosing some nutrients, so I've been trying to take care of myself. I missed a half day of work but I'm not interested in going to the Dr. So, I'm toughing it out. My bad, I know, but it is what it is. Tonya, just keep after it. I think there are several of us struggling right now and hopefully with the light of a new spring day (whenever it gets here) we will be rejuvinated and moving again! BTW...after three days of being not able to eat much, I didn't lose an ounce! Go figure. Our bodies are hanging on with every little corpusel to our fat!!

Hey Tonya, I feel for you and want to offer you support. You have been such an inspiration and I absolutely know you will be successful. I'm sure it is the primary issue of your knee and not being able to get consistent without having problems. Also, the fill issue and going so long without. I do think that each of us has to periodically rededicate ourselves and get going again. I'm struggling and know I'm not giving it my best. So I'm trying to work it out in my head. I do these little bargains with myself. Not working at the moment but I fool myself that at least I'm looking at it. Anyway...stick with us...we will help in anyway we can. You know how to be successful. Don't be too hard on yourself and just set some small goals. You can do this!!

Well friends, A year ago, I was sitting in a motel room in Mexico..Monterray, wondering if I was going to get my surgery the next day, (due to a communication snafu with my "liason"). I remember being calm and determined. I was mentally ready and didn't want to be disappointed by having to reschedule. Fortunately on the 16th of January 2007, I began this wonderful journey. I have been given a gift and I have hope of a different type of future. I feel better about myself and just feel physcially good. I will weigh in tomorrow but it will be a bit skewed due to TOM but....I'm over 50 pounds down. I've no doubt that I will continue to lose (novel idea there, huh?) I will take my measurements and see what that is after a year. I had hoped to be at goal by this time but I guess it was not to be. I'm absolutely NOT disappointed in what I have lost to date. I do get envious, but we all have our own paths and mine is what it is. I think why I handle that so well is knowing that my eating and exercise routines are now lifestyle and over time, this will all work out and I'll be where I want to be. I am left with the feeling that 2008 will be even more exciting that 2007 was...and that is truly saying something. Thank you all for being there and being supportive with kind words, sharing your journeys, trials and tribulations, and occasionally some butt kicking. Shawn

Did any of you feel a change in your restriction following the five day pouch test diet? I did, but I still ate some large salads with turkey or salmon in them. (over the weekend.) I didn't get to going on the liquids yesterday so I think I will hold off and restart next week. I have some things going this week that it will mess up so, I'll just have to mind my p's and q's.

Hi all, Just touching base here. I did the five day pouch test diet...except for the last meal on Friday, when I made Turkey tacos. So, I don't think I was so far off, except for the taco shells. I weighed in this morning and am down 1 pound...same pound I've lost once or twice before.sigh. But I've lost on my waist and hips. I'm feeling a little down that the weight isn't coming off, but I'm not working out, yet again. As the weather turns, I'm sure I'll be doing more in that area. Just going to my dingy basement and doing the ellipital isn't calling to me. Ready-to-lose-I started off with 2ccs in my band, at surgery time. Then I had two fills with 1 cc, one with 2 cc's and the one with one and this last one in January with .5. So that is 7.5 I think. I feel restriction...could feel it very well last week. Had trouble eating lunchs when I was on solids. And still have periodic trouble PBing. I'm going to keep on after portion control and I think two days of liquids...just sort of inspires me. We will see how that goes. Tonya, did you get the promotion/bonus? That would be so awsome. Have a great day all.

I didn't have to do any psych eval before my surgery and have often wondered at what the process was and what it was they were looking for? It seems to me that for the majority of folks I've met on here, it is just another hoop and I've yet to hear of anyone who has been refused surgery outright because of their eval. For years I've pondered the emotional connection to my weightloss. I just couldn't see that I ate because of emotional problems. Then recently, someone brought up the "entitlement" issue as it relates to eating...I worked hard, I'm tired, I did whatever therefore I should reward myself with food. Then the comment came, why don't I feel entitled to be healthy? Or to workout...? It rang a cord with me and that is what I believe to be my "issue". I'm a clinical social worker...and I often wondered what I would be looking for if I were to do the evals on people pre-WLS!

It seems like you are doing everything right, but when I first looked at yoru post, I thought immediately that you weren't getting enough protein. I see a bit in the milk of the latte, probably a tiny bit in the chili and sour cream, and then the chicken. I think there is some in different kinds of lettuce and more in spinach. Are you sure about your protein intake? Seems like you are doing the right stuff however, not eating poorly, exercising like a mad-woman...so beat me. Keep it up tho.

Day three went well, except for the lunch problem. I did drop three pounds the first day but nothing since. I took a waist measurement this morning, just for fun, and it was down an inch from Monday. Could be that the tape was cold and that caused me to suck it in a bit more!! :cursing:

whew...eating today...what a change. I am really restricted after two days of liquid. I couldn't keep the salmon/tuna fish concoction I put together at lunch, down. Skipped out of work early as we are having a blizzard and I thought I should get home before dark, so I'm eating some moist canned chicken with FF miracle whip in it. I was hungry. Had a couple of boiled eggs for breakfast. Probably a fake egg omlet for dinner much later as it is already four. I eat Jello fat free/sugar free pudding. It is 60 calories. It has 14 grams of carbs so it isn't perfect, but it is my treat. I don't have one everynight but it is just something at days end that sort of sooths the chocolate beast if it is rearing its ugly head...like right now with the TOM!!

Day two of the five day pouch test went just fine. I felt okay and just followed the program. I did have periods of being hungry, which is sort of new for me as I usually never have hunger pains. I probably could have had more protein drinks but I just supplemented with water ff/ss lattes or whatever like that. I think the pudding at night really saves me!!