TerriDoodle

Laura - I neglected to contratulate you yesterday on this TREMENDOUS milestone!!! I know how excited you are....I am excited FOR you!! As a matter of fact, one of my first thoughts as I awoke this morning was about you...and would today be the day that you say goodbye forever to those pesky 300's!!!? Pamela - Don't worry too much about it now. There will be plenty of time to cut back your calories later. If you have 'long days' it's probably more important to keep your metabolism fueled and your energy up. That can't be many calories anyway! A postage scale works great too! Got mine at OfficeMax and it weighs up to 5# or in grams as well. Love it! Uh....Jenn? That does sound like you might be overdoing it JUST A TAD!!! Why are you doing this now? Don't you have enough on your plate?? (And no, I don't have any more pain at the port) TEACH!! - Ya'll are in my thoughts!! Hope everything is going swimmingly! :eek: (I know how you like the water!) SARA - Where the heck are you, girlfriend?? I'm having a great day. I just feel GOOD. I really am feeling all the benefits of exercise now -- have not missed a workout in 2 months. You know the 'benefits' I'm talking about?? The ones that you hear about ALL the time from magazines, news, you doctor, etc?? The ones you get almost sick of hearing about?? Well, I'm really "getting it" now. One of the ones I like best is the feeling that I'm detoxing with all the sweating. I just feel like my pores are clean, my head is clear, I have more energy, etc. Really, it's all so true what they say. I don't see any sign of slowing down and this is MAJORLY HUGE for me. This is such a turnabout that I can't even tell you. I really think that signing up with a trainer, making that financial commitment, having to be accountable to him has made a big difference. Never stuck with any kind of regular exercise, I was very sporadic at best, except for yoga....which has it's own kind of benefits, but not as impactful as these. 'nuf about that. I go for my second fill today! Kinda nervous, but OK. Hoping restriction will be acceptable for my trip 1st wknd of June. Would be a total drag to not be feeling well then. I think he'll probably only do a .5 cc so that'll be ok, I'm sure. I have confidence that I can handle whatever comes. :ermm: :biggrin1: Mdrai - Glad you're still with us and still on track :clap2: Gotta get some work done...bbl!

45# in 17 weeks is approx. 2.6# per week. You are losing at a faster rate than doctors even recommend. Yes, you will go thru periods when you don't lose anything at all. That is normal. Sometimes those periods can last weeks!! Looks like you're doing perfectly OK to me.

Are you tracking calories? Most likely you are eating more than you realize....especially since you still 'do the same bad things'.

HA!!! I don't think I can say that! I am sweaty, stinky and my makeup is running because I've forgotten to take it off prior. Sooooooo pretty!! ....but I DO know what you mean!! I "feel most beautiful" when I can do it in the mornings and get it out of the way...then can look forward to the rest of the day knowing that obligation is behind me! Now, Edie....that is a great idea. I would have to substitute LBT in there instead of TV, though!!

Was there any fruit in the yogurt? You may have something stuck!....that's what it sounds like. Maybe post in the general discussion thread ?

It's my pleasure to support you, Mdrai. I know that type of post can be powerful and thought you might benefit from it. Have a GOOD day!

Ok Mdrai -- It took me almost an hour (ok, a half hour!) to put this post together so you better READ IT!! :whip: Just for whatever this is worth to you.... a little retrospective of where you've been in the last few weeks.... 3/19 IMHO...Don't change your date. Breathe. Calm down. Try not to think too much (it always makes me crazy!). Focus on the positives and don't go reading so much into every little thing. It'll all be ok. We're here for you. We understand. Think calm thoughts. Be kind to yourself. Shower others with love. Get doing & thinking of others & take the focus off yourself. Get out of the downward spiral of self-absorption/over-analysis. Surround yourself w/beauty & peace. It's all good... You get the idea! Whatever cliche or life truth works for you as far as calming you down & smoothing the rough edges & getting you through the next few weeks in one piece. Best of luck to everyone as we get closer & the excitement of our futures changes into scary reality!!! We can do it! We are strong!<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig --> 3/20: Great list Denise! Great attitude, too! Focusing on our "whys" and the positive things that will occur after banding is a great idea! How about we each make up a list, adding to what Denise has written?? I'll do a quick start now, then be back later to add more: * be able to fly in an airplane w/out worrying that I'll need to ask for a seatbelt extender or that my fat will flop over into the next seat. * be able to walk through any shop or restaurant without figuring out the widest path to take * be able to sit in a booth at a restaurant * wear stylish clothes -- any item I like I will be able to find in a "normal" size! (I think this is one of my favs, as I am soooooooooo much more stylish thant my current wardrobe displays!!!) * to have all that extra energy & brain power to focus on other, positive things, rather than my fat arse! 4/9: I'm in the black hole of insurance approval... I try to just "forget" that someone somewhere is reviewing my request & deciding my fate! I pray that "God's will be done"... and know that whatever the outcome, it is His perfect plan and that I can't control everything (that's a hard one for ME! ). I truly think that "Thy will, not mine, be done" is the most difficult prayer there is! I've decided to wait 2 weeks 'til I start following up on the approval... I think that's reasonable... when we're talking about the rest of my life here!!! Again, YAY to everyone... what a great group!! ((hugs)) <!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->4/10: I'm so worried that the ins. co. will make me do another 4-6 months "supervised" diet -- uh, hello? I've been DIETING MY WHOLE LIFE AND ALL IT'S GOTTEN ME IS TO 317 LBS!) Oddly enough, I'm hoping that my big fat a$$ and horrible BMI and sleep apnea and high cholesterol and borderline diabetes... will actually be a blessing for once and work in my favor to show them that I need this procedure! 4/10: I am sobbing as I type this... I am DENIED! 5/2: Lunasa -- AMAZING POST-S!! And THAT is EXACTLY the level of self-discovery that I feel I need to work to in tandem with the band. I truly feel like I have been given the opportunity for a brand new life -- not just a thin(ner) one, but one that incorporates mind/body/spirit. Wow. Thank you for prompting some deep self-exploration for me! Laura -- Sex... what is this strange word of which you speak??? I lost my libido a couple YEARS ago... it must've fallen out of my purse when I wasn't looking! I know that my issues stem 100% from how I look & feel and am cautiously optimistic that problems in that area may improve post-band. I honestly think that's the ONLY reason that dh is even a little bit supportive of this whole thing... men! 5/8: I am just so mad & sad & MAD! I feel exactly like I did when I was denied... like it's some cosmic joke or something... "Hey, watch this! Let's dangle some hope in front of her then jerk it away! Ha! Ok, let's do it again!"..... ok... I've got to go actually do some of the stuff that didn't get done today as I was in limbo... will check back tomorrow... thanks again... 5/8: I just feel soooo bad (badly?) right now.... completely down & out... I'm so close to my dream of being normal... I feel like I'm being taunted... I just don't know if I have it in me to postpone or go through all the hoops again in 6 months to a year... "Poor, poor pitiful me..."...I really am just a miserable mess. The band truly is the answer to my prayers and I absolutely cannot do bypass... no way, no how... so what... it'll be back to diet & exercise, which works for about a week or so before I'm off on a binge... dieting is what got me here... argh! I am so sorry, Violets, for being such a downer... thank you for letting me be wholly & truly who I am at this moment and not having to pretend w/you as I do the rest of the world. I swear I'm giving myself only tonight to wallow in all this self-pity and then it's back to dealing w/whatever may come my way w/my head up in true Violet fashion. Keep sending out those powerful Violet supervibes my way, please... I need 'em! 5/10: Your stories touch my heart. Anyone who thinks that this whole process is easy or simply about eating less food is crazy! We're all tapping in to lifelong issues/thinking/relationships/behaviors that are all in flux and we are learning & changing & growing on every level imaginable. Wow. We're all doing great work and while a lot of it is hard, the rewards will be so worth it. Wow again. 5/15: Hang in there, Pam... take it one day / one moment at a time... sometimes baby steps are the best we can do... and that's ok! Be gentle w/yourself during this difficult time... vent to us... we can take it! ((hugs)) 5/16: OMG! In the spirit of Spring and new beginnings and feeling all proud w/my bad self on all of Day 3 of liquids what did I do?? I had my hair chopped off into a cute, funky short style! i wish I'd thought to take a "before" pic w/my old boring mom style hair so that I could show you guys them both... I'll check on the 'puter to see if I can find anything, but I'm not holding out hope as I avoid the camera as much as possible. I'll get someone to take a pic tonight & I'll try to post them tomorrow. What fun! I feel so light & free & short & sassy!<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

And this point is HUGE. It's not just your "inner binger"....it's the most basic of your instincts, the instinct for survival, that tells you "DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING....I'm doing an excellent job of survival!! Look at all this extra energy I've stored!!" That is a powerful and real instinct that is trying to hold you back. In order to overcome it you have to engage your positive powerful emotions, the higher part of your brain, and stay focused on the EXCITING part of this adventure!! And it's awesome!!!

Mdrai - I want you to search for my post (from March, I think) called "Would You Do It Again?"....it's a poll with around 200 responses. The percentages are 92+% Yes, 7% No. How can you argue with those percentages?? 92%!!! The other thing that I've been thinking about this weekend is this: After that inital big weight loss, I've been losing an average of about 1 - 1.5# per week. My calories probably average 1000-1100 per day (net after exercise). If that's what it would have taken for me to lose this weight without a band, I could have NEVER NEVER NEVER done that. Like all of you, I've dieted a hundred times but it would come off very slowly....so slowly that I'd get discouraged and give up. Then I'd gain....again...and again...and again. I've seen the scale do NOTHING but go up for 3 years. With my blood sugar issues and the need for constant food intake, I could never keep my calories below 1400-1500/day for any real length of time. Ok, well that may be only my issue...but that is my story...and I could never have lost the weight I needed to lose. I am truly very, very happy that I did this. There is REAL hope for the first time in my entire life that I will be able to get down to a reasonable weight, maintain it and be healthy. The value of getting that %#*^! monkey off my back is absolutely priceless. You may feel differently, but that's where I sit right now. I'm not in the business of trying to convince you to have the surgery or not have it. But just know that your fears of "not being able to eat normally" are founded on your habits of today. I cannot emphasize enough that your perspective about food will shift and take on much less importance for you. I've said enough. Best of luck with your final decision and your pre-op jitters. I know how you feel and it's kinda scarey.

WOW...that does seem very restrictive! Every dang doctor is different, that's for sure. If you ask this question of 100 different people, you'll get 100 different answers. But, unfortunately, it doesn't matter what others do, you have to follow your own doctors post-op instructions.

NO!!! That's my point...I ate the bun and it just about did me in!!! No more buns for me!!

Teach -- Best wishes to your DH. Tell him he's got a whole crew of purple angels praying for him. What an exciting journey for you two. My DH is not a candidate but he sure does love food...and all the wrong ones! He's working out with me, so he should probably lose about 20# along the way too. That'll be good. We'll both be HOT by Christmas! Went shopping again today and bought some work clothes...tops that should fit thru another 15-20# loss. (How's that for wishful thinking?) Bought 16W pants and even fit into some regular women's XL's! Gawd, I'll be so glad to get back into 'regular' clothes again. Maybe by August!

Jennifur - Try really pushing the water today and you may find you're ready to drop a pound or two. that seems to be my pattern. Judy - You really are an amazing success story! I don't know how you're surviving on so few calories, but it's definitely working for you!! Congratulations on the 2# loss!!!!! Angie - My son just started driving, too and we got him a (cheap) car so he could GET A JOB! Anyway, my best friend sold us her Pathfinder and within 9 days he had his first wreck!! Just a little fender bender and could have been much worse so grateful for that! But the experience taught him to be more careful and was a good lesson for him....took him down a peg, y'know? I'm really sorry about your wall!! But hey, maybe you could fill the trunk with dirt and plant some daisies!! We went to a graduation party yesterday and I had ...I dunno...2 or 3 glasses of wine. I am SUCH a lightweight now that I have practically decided to quit drinking altogether. All it seems to do for me anymore is make me sleepy. What fun is that? And to think that a year ago I was drinking that much 3-5x a week!! :ermm: One more vice down the tubes.

Denise - Great pic!! Looks like ya'll had a great time! Are you gonna clean and cook all those fish?? You're a better woman than me! I don't do any of that stinky stuff....no way, no how! HEY! Are those pants looking a little baggy???? :what: Mdrai - I'm so sorry honey. :hug: Honestly, I don't think I could have done what you're doing. VERY fortunately, my doc did not require a liquid diet pre-op so I can't really relate and don't have any wonderful, magical advice for you. I'm sorry But I do what to tell you that I'm extremely proud of you for being so strong. Passing popcorn back and forth is the ultimate test and if you can pass that one, you can do anything!! And besides, just think of what a great head start on the weight loss you're getting! All of the girls here who did it had wonderful results and you will too. It's just a few more days. Do the best you can...that's all you can do.

WOW, Kristen!! Look at you! Almost 120# gone!!! that's incredible! You have so much to be proud of and a great life ahead of you!! Congratulations! Sharon - Congratulations to you, too for sticking to your word that you would start exercise at 199!! Jazzercise is a blast (but take it easy!) and yes, walking thru the door is 1/2 the battle. The other 1/2 is to keep walking through it 3x a week!!! Keep your eye on the prize. Exercise makes you feel soooooooooo good!! I have 200% more energy and I've only been at it for 5 weeks.

Alex - thanks for validating what I was thinking yesterday. I had a near PB incident after wolfing down a couple of bites of a hamburger because I was starving!! That bread hit my band and OUCH!!! Immediate pain. The first thing I said to myself when I replayed what went wrong was "I let myself get too hungry and made a really bad choice". That is just SO right.

EXACTLY!! This board is chuck full of people who have successfully lost weight in the past...MANY times!! That's not the trick, is it? The trick is keeping it off. The vast majority don't. Obesity is a subject that is just not well understood at all and magazine articles like this sure don't help. Oh well. Just add it to the list of pet peeves and be glad you're smarter than that.

Well, I don't know what meds they have in Australia, but here in the states Gas-X is highly recommended....it's main ingredient is simethicone, so look for that. you want to get that gas moving, so move as much as you can, when you can. I remember standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes and just kind of marching in place to keep things moving. Also, I read if you lay on your stomach (in bed) and put a pillow under your hips so that your bottom is higher in the air than your shoulders that will help move the gas up and out. Makes sense. Try that. I hope it helps. I know that shoulder pain can be far worse than the surgery pain....it can get quite intense. Good luck. You'll be fine in just a few short days.

Me too!! I could hardly sleep last night because I was so anxious to step on the scale this morning. (wierd, even for me!) I just KNEW that I had dropped another pound (after 2 weeks of nothing)....and sure enough I had! Man, isn't it wild how we can detect just a one pound drop?! so I went from 199 to 198 today....and I'm hoping I will never see a "2" again. wouldn't that just be the coolest thing ever??????

TracyTx- there are some issues with signatures right now...there are certain changes I am not able to make either. So try again in a week or two. I think Alex is still tweaking. In the meantime, why don't you just create a simple signature that has your starting/current/goal weight on it, like mine?....sans ticker. You're doing great on your weight loss!!....21 pounds already!! Awesome!

We've discussed this from time to time on this board ...and my patient advocate at the hospital warned me about a bout of depression post-op, too. Estrogen is stored in your fat cells and when you lose weight the estrogen is released (probably along with other hormones) <shrug> so the feeling of PMS is normal and will go away after a short time. Mine lasted about 2 weeks. Funny, now that I think about it, starting my exercise program seemed to help. It's widely accepted that exercise releases endorphins which eases depression. So, you're not going crazy...this is normal...and will get better. If it doesn't you may want to consider talking to your doctor. When I got on Lexapro 4 months ago I became a new woman and MUCH easier to live with.

thanks for the kudos you guys...that was really nice of you and very encouraging. Now that I have a few sessions under my belt, I do feel better. I worked quads for the second round Wednesday and am hardly sore at all...just the 'good kind of sore'. It's just when you work those muscles for the first time and intensely, it's a killer!! I think I'll be alright and I LOVE my trainer. He is really great. Thanks again to all who responded!

HH - First of all, this is perfectly normal behavior...well, at least I went thru it and seem to read about it all over this board! So it seems normal to me. It is just part of bandster hell...plain and simple. Especially the part where you say "just to see how much I could eat"...that sounds like me. I think part of it is that we miss that REALLY full feeling that we used to have after meals and the other part is just that you ate too fast. I know I am guilty of that. I really don't think that this is worth all this self-flagellation....you are not a robot and you are going to revert to old patterns occassionally. You are absolutely fine!! Just get back on the program, look at it as a learning experience, examine what you could have done differently and try again today. It's all good!:mad: Well, it's not so much a scary thing when it happens, it's just a "oh, crap...I screwed up" thing. But because I stopped eating and drinking at the first sign of a problem, it wasn't really a big deal except that I had to find some kind of excuse for not eating when i had just been talking about how HUNGRY I was!! That was my point was that you really have to stop eating at the first sign or else it will get worse. When it gets worse that's when the bad sliming happens and that creates the embarrassing public situation. So again, STOP EATING AT THE FIRST SIGN. Yes, it was my first regular ol' bread...I'd had pizza crust and tortillas with no problem and I thought I had lost my restriction. I was hungry and just went for it w/o really thinking. But at the instant that bread hit my band it started hurting. As far as after effects, yes I was a little sore last night. I had baked chicken (very juicy) and broccoli and found that I had to cut up the chicken into tiny little bites (like the size of a peanut) and only ate the flower of the broccoli....and I couldn't eat much...and was a little sore. Today I will stick with soft foods, most def. Announcement: I *FINALLY* dropped another pound today. Last time was 15 days ago!!! :mad: But I do think I've been retaining water due to my workouts at the gym and have been trying to not get discouraged. After all this hard work, it was gratifying to see a new number today. Hopefully from here on out I won't be seeing the 2's ever again! That deserves a charm!! Love you guys. Have a great day!

Exactly, Laura! The thing is when you're pre-band you worry so much about "what will I eat???"...but what you don't realize is that after the band it's not nearly as big of a deal anymore! Like you said, just a couple of bites of this or that and you're good to go. I can make do with a couple of spoonfuls of peanut butter, a scrambled egg or two, an ounce or two of cheese, etc. That can carry me for another 2-3 hours! Laura, you made a great choice with the tuna kit! You make me proud! I always used to eat nuts on the run like that....but if I eat them now I have to chew the heck out of them! I also am finding that if I'm feeling hungry, I just drink some water or Propel and that'll keep me going for awhile too. I LOVE MY BAND!!

This too shall pass!!! How many meals have I had since I got banded? something like...125? And this is the first real problem I've had. I've been able to eat chicken, eggs, any and all veggies, fruit, crackers, peanut butter, etc. Today I was 'pushing the limits' of my band...I was breaking the rules and I paid the price!! I'm not worried at all about my future with the band and being able to eat normally (just less). Please don't let my story scare you.... bumps in the road are inevitable...it's just a part of learning to live with the band. This is how we learn. I won't eat bread again. Simple! Let's see.....there's a zillion other things that I CAN have!! YIPPEE!!!