healthywoman

Wow, you look awesome-all that work and no real pain?? What a blessing. I hope you are able to post more pics soon. Ignore the negative people who commented. Keep up the good work. I am five months out from my LB surgery, have lost 30 pounds, and hoping my skin will rebound enuf to avoid TT. My body doesn't do well with anesthesia so don't want to go there again. Healthywoman

NCGG- You know you can do this! It's good you realized how many carbs you were consuming. When you track proteins, you will see with many foods that the calorie to protein ratio is also something to track. My doc said 60-80g of protein. Low fat greek yogurt has low cals and high prot, where crackers have high cals and low prot. When I read labels, some things are just not worth eating-this has helped me tremendoulsy. I chose not to have a fill today because I'm in the green zone now. Not sure how it happens but feel like the band has become tighter since the December fill, even though I've lost 3 lbs since. I'm happy with that and am expecting to need a fill by February. Congrats to Stroganoff!! Keep up the good work! Caryn-I'm addicted to sugar also, so let us know how it goes with quitting. I quit smoking 18 years ago, but at this time won't make the choice to quit sweets. I'm still under the illusion of "sweets in moderation". Maybe someday!! Healthywoman

You are only three weeks out from your surgery so you have about three more weeks of this on/off pain. Walking is the best way to get rid of the gas trapped in your abdominal cavity since the surgery. It really will subside, slowly but surely. I am 4 months out from my surgery. Like you, I thought that pain would never go away but it does. Walk as much as you can every day. Remember to eat slowly and chew very well. You are probably just getting to solids so chew,chew,chew!

Happy New Year to all! I am down to 179 so lost weight over the holidays! A first in my life!! Hope everyone is staying on track. We can do this together. I will have an appt Jan 10, but don't think I need a fill as I'm feeling the "green zone". I feel like the band has become tighter over time since my last fill Dec 13. Someone else posted about not eating til they felt hungry during the day so I started paying attention to my body and I don't get hungry til 12:00pm. I've stopped eating breakfast just because its 7:00am. I do drink a small protein shake however, so my body doesn't produce the ketones. Looking forward to reading how all of you are doing since the holidays. Healthywoman

I will pray for you GG! Congrats to the NSV's recently. I had one of my own yesterday, although it sounds kinda silly. After my shower, i realized the bathsize towel wrapped around me and covered everything, no gaps!!!! I was shocked ! I'm stuggling again between the 182- 180 lbs but will stick to the plan and watch what happens in 2012. I went to my PCP for a weight check and blood work to check my kidney function this week. She didn't want me to do the band cuz it's the "easy way" out and "won't solve the primary problem of overeating". I've lost 28 lbs, dropped my BMI from 37 to 32 and she said not ONE word about the loss!!! Not even a mention about the surgery or the great BMI drop!!! This gal is 4' 8 inches and weighs about 190-I think she was mad at me!! Oh well, can't wait to show her how this band can work!! Yea ME!!!! Merry Christmas to all! Healthywoman

Healthywoman here! I made it to 180 today-losing a full 30 pounds now!! So far no PB's or getting stuck. I go in for my next fill Dec 13 and will probably only get .5cc's. My doc reduces the amount over time. I feel healthy, no hair loss, no more reflux. I will see my PCP for blood work to check my vitamin and mineral levels in two weeks. Hope you are all doing well.

Kelly, Have you told your doc about the heartburn? This can indicate problems with band placement. I too had a hiatal hernia repaired which stopped completely any heartburn I had before. Maybe you have a sensitivity to certain foods ie spicy, vinegar, or sugar. I can't eat mustard- its a guaranteed heartburn for me. Caryn, Do you try any stress relieving techniques? Deep breathing, yoga, calming tea, primal screaming???? Might help you get thru the next three weeks. What are you studying? GG-Congrats on the twenty pound mark - did you do the happy dance?? I just made it back to the 184 mark again after the halloween candy. I'm back on track and will go in next week for another fill. Ms Lady-I'll pray for you to. Remind your mom if she gets sassy that you have lost 32 lbs, and this is just a minor problem. You have chosen to get healthy and she should be supporting you. We are all here for you. Trevebyn-Are you hounding your doc's office to get this port issue taken care of?? Are you still losing? Hope everyone has a good week. Healthywoman

Caryn, I know what you mean about those clothes. I'm having the same problem. My 20's are bagging around my legs, bottom and waist but I don't fit into my 18's. How can that be???? I am walking more than I have in my life and feel this is helping with losing inches. I want to get into my 18's!!! I'm glad to hear you are losing and feeling better GG. Too bad about that salad, but only a hundred calories over- you can burn that off by washing the floor on your hands and knees!! Or maybe some arobic vacuuming! Kristen I battled the candy and lost too-working now to get rid of the weight I gained. Back down to 185 (again) and walking more. Jess its good to hear you are feeling better with the papaya enzyme. I don't have issues with feeling stuck, but wonder if they are beneficial to use "just because". Are you all using chewable vitamins? I don't like the ones I have and see that alot of it is being flushed away in my urine. Makes me wonder how much is being absorbed by my body. Heaalthywoman

Sorry to hear about your port Ms. Lady. I will pray for you also. Let us know what happens. Healthywoman

Good Morning all, I enjoyed all your posts-Caryn you're sooo funny! I also was bummed out when I went to my closet- I was down to 184.6 and didn't fit into my 18's !! Crazy- but I fit into them on my way up to 210!!! Confession- I must've eaten a pound or more of the halloween candy too!! Knew I shouldn't have had it in the house. Just one bite and I'm hooked again-don't understand why people get hooked on expensive drugs when chocolate is sooo much cheaper and tasty too!!! Bummed again when I weighed in at 186 today-my punishment for not staying away from the candy! My next fill is on the 18th of November-so I don't expect to have a rough time during the holidays. We can eat small amounts of everything so just cut your pie into smaller portions and eat slow to savor the flavor. I will walk more to burn off the extra candy calories. Have a good week, Healthywoman

Thanks chich, when is your appt for your unfill? Let us know how it goes! Have a great weekend Healthywoman

Congrats again to all of you hitting your new low's. I hit 184.6 today!!!! I weigh every day in the AM, no clothes. I can handle the daily fluctuations and know it's part of the routine for the body to do that. Hope everyone has a good week end. Blessings, Healthywoman

Congrats to Jess and Chich on reaching onederland!!!!! It's a great feeling and such a motivator. I reached another goal this week by getting down to 185 ! My next goal is 180. I'm really having trouble drinking the water. I am only finishing about 22 oz per day. I carry a bottle with me but don't drink it. I'm not feeling thirsty so maybe that's the problem. I'll keep trying though everyday. How's it going with the snacking issues? Kristen did you try the strawberry greek yogurt-I buy Oikos- it's the least like sour cream. Have a great day! Healthywoman

My surgeon always places the port just to the right of midline, just below the ribcage. I was a bit surprised at how close to the surface it was, but it makes sense to be accesible for fills. I too, wonder how evident it will be once I lose weight, cuz my upper half isn't nearly as large as my lower half. Just have to see how the clothing fits as I lose the weight. I'm down 25 pounds, had surgery Aug 18th, have 60 more to lose.

Thanks for all the info about "getting stuck". Kristen I was wondering if your episode was a bread food? I have read and heard that breads and pasta are the usual problem foods. As for the snacking ideas in the evening, maybe you could save some of your protien alottment for the day and have it at night. I love the whey protien shakes I use and they provide a full feeling longer than some solids! I use the chocolate which is yummy and only 140 calories. How about 1/2 a serving of greek yogurt- you could pretend it's ice cream. High in protien and low in cals- a girls best friend. I've noticed that a lot of the posts mention that they are able to eat anything they want and as much as they want. Try to stay focused on the sensation of the food entering your stomach, remember to chew the food til its nearly liquid, and make good protien choices. The band is not majic, it won't work unless you feed your body good protien sources and fewer calories. We must always be following the "rules" because when we finally get to the " green zone" we must eat slowly, chew, chew, chew, or our " stuck " episodes will increase. We don't want to continue bad habits til we get to the zone. Sorry to sound preachy but we might as well stay focused since we made the choice to get the band. We are all in this together, as GG says. We'll have good times and bad, platueas and losses. Thanks again to everyone for sharing. When you all go in for your next fill, notice what they use to clean your abdomen. I'm still pondering this issue about my nurse using hand sanitizer to swab my tummy. Can't wait til my next visit in November to ask. Blessings, Healthywoman