shellyj

WOOOOOOWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE TERESA!!!! thats great!!!! i had a SUPER slow start till i got restriction. at 15 weeks i was down about 20 pounds. at 7 months down 38 pounds. you are doing it! keep up the great work...and lets see some pics!!! michelle

hey jennye! i love the new pic! i cant wait to see a new comparison shot! your face is skinny!!! thanks again! and thank you too aud, mary and blossom! michelle

hey kim, i do the atkins diet. i asked my surgeon and nutritionalist and they both gave me the thumbsup. they said the tiny amounts bandsters eat combined with low carbs makes you lose like a gastric bypasser. as bandsters we are told to eat Protien, then veggies then carbs...well i do that but on my protien i make sure it doesnt have any sweet sauces on it and its low carb, veggies i just eliminated certain veggies (short term) and the carbs i eat are from low carb Pasta and bread's. i had problems getting restriction so the first 7 months of banding i did diet (as best i could) and exercise to lose 38 pounds. since getting restriction the past 5 months i have dieted (and been able to stick to it) and lost 65 pounds. i will only diet till i am at 190 pounds, maybe i'll stop at 199.999999 but for now i am saying 190-200. then i'll be ready for plastics and just maintaining my loss!

well i hope not. we have both taken completely different approaches to banding and it has worked wonderfully for both of us!!! in fact i will be dieting till i get the next 30 off. its personnal choice i just wanted to get the weight off faster. i hope you've un-gritted your teeth you'll need your jaws for dinner tonight! (((((((hugs))))))) michelle (who has been dieting off and on for the last year and CANT WAIT to just have to maintain)

ROFLMAO!!! since you've see donali's and lisa's boobs maybe i can muster the courage to do it??? i dont know!! i am thrilled to report that the C cups were to small i was busting out so i am officially a D for now!!! please god dont let them get any smaller!!! i cant WAIT to see your progress pics marie!

thanks i didnt notice how curvey i had gotten (curving in at the waiste instead of out!!) till i saw the pics. denise my scars keliod to. i personnally could give a rats a$$ because i am having PS and that will probably all keliod as well. the only people who will see it are me and my hubby so as long as i have a good clothed appearance i think i'll be fine!

awwwe lisa i am not on instant messenger so i cant help you but i will be sending healthy food vibes your way!!! (((hugs))))

pre-op weight lost: 25 pounds day of surgery weight: 325 1 year post weight: 222 total fills: 10+++ total fill amount: 3.4 ever been filled to tight? not even close! ever vomited when restricted? how was it? never vomited. i have pb'd probably 10 times. any complications? i had problems getting restriction, the fill Fluid was getting stuck in the port and not traveling to the band. it was fixed without surgery. do you think your to tight? to loose or just right? i would say to loose by just a smidge. i have to super diligent about the WAY i eat because if eat out of order i can eat quite a bit more than when i eat my protien first. longest plateau? 1 month how often do you exercise? i dont have a regular exercise program i am just more active. MUCH more active!

YOU LOOK GREAT!!! i love how you took the pics in the same posistion on the couch! your pics are proof of what the band and some hard work can do! ((hugs))

thanks everyone for all your info! i think it will be helpful for new bandsters to see waht they might expect in a year! mine is coming on the 18th! michelle

COME ON YOU GUYS!!!! check in and lets see how far we have come in a year!

Anne ((((((hugs))))))) good luck girl! soon this will be a distant memory. i have been busy at work to but so glad i checked the board today for this great news! you will be in my thoughts. michelle

http://www.datingfun.com/minglemania/quizzes/puritytest.asp i am a menace to society!! who knew? so what are you??? please tell me there are some more menaces to socitey out there!!!

the 30th is the only day that works for me. i'll be at the beach till sunday night. i would love to have get together with everyone if the 30th will work for ya'll. lisa...come but in any time! michelle

i got out the same day. went in at 6 am left at 5 pm clear liquids 1 week full liquids 1 week mushies 1 week soft foods 1 week jenn and tricia i work over by the airport on murfreesboro rd. maybe one day we could all have lunch or dinner! michelle

hey penni! i would love to get together while your down. i will be out of town the 25-29 but depending on when you leave i would love to meet you monday the 30th! i live about 25 minutes from clarksville. let me know if that works for you. anytime monday is good. i'll be home sunday night sometime.

hey jen and tricia...fellow tennesseans! jen, i was banded with dr morton too. i had a great experience with the hospital and the dr. good luck on your surgery and welcome to the group! i have 3 kids all dogs. tricia! i am with you GO TITANS!!!!! (sorry jen!)

great description thats exactly what its like for me to. i hate it so much it keeps me in line with chewing! i fear the PB and hope its your last too! michelle

i eat and LOVE spicy foods! when you get to mushies you can have refried beans or black beans with sourcream and a smidge of cheese and blended salsa. if you have bad gas pains (from surgery) the first 2 weeks you may want to wait on adding the beans as it will make you gassy all over again. michelle

YIPPEEEEEE DONALI!!!! i had the same thing happen the first 6-7 months of banding. i wasnt losing very much at all and the times i was on plateaus was the time i would get the "your really losing now" comments. i cant wait for you boyfriend to see you in those jeans!!! oh and i say screw the bra i wish i had your boobs!!!! YOU LOOK GREAT!!!!!! :banana

and what a pretty pic it is! but dang girl your down another 30 since this pic! congrats on all your success with the band

lol thanks ladies. once i got restriction it made staying on the bandwagon so much easier! my main challenge comes when i dont plan out my meals. i LOVE my band!

he he janie its funny because the secret to my success has been: follow the rules of banding! the ONLY thing extra i do is omit certain veggies, limit my fruits to once a week and eat only Low Carb bread, Pasta, wraps, chocolate and icecream. BUT only 2-3 times a week

oh yeah dont drink with meals for atleast an hour! it helps you keep that FULL feeling! michelle

thanks marie! what does your average day's food consist of? i eat Protein, protein, protein. i used to eat an egg everyday for Breakfast. today i had stir fry steak and broccoli 1/2 cup, lunch today i had 4 hotwings. dinner who knows. last night it was the stirfry 1/2 cup Do you weigh, measure your food? . no not daily. now after a fill for a week i do measure 1/2 cup incremints because i dont trust the eyeballing. when i notice i am getting that full feeling i stop for 5 minutes to see if i am full or just didnt chew well enough. If exercise, what type and how often do you try to do? i dont do a formal exercise program. i am SO much more active though. i do all kinds of yardwork. i have been on my parents eliptical trainer some, walking, swimming would you mind posting some of your hard-earned lessons on "living with the band"? DONT OVER EAT!! if this is a problem MEASURE your food until you can eyeball it. chew slowly and take SMALL bites ESPECIALLY the first few bites this is a big one! dont let yourself get HUNGRY i eat my 3 meals hungry or not because when i do get physically hungry i want to eat RIGHT THEN and will pick something that isnt that healthy because i did plan ahead What was your beginning weight, current weight, height, co-morbidities (if any)? beginning weight 350. i lost 25 pre-op so day of surgery i was 325. today i am 228. height 5'-9". co morbs- i have heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis all in my family. i was having dizzy lightheaded spells and chest pains. my health was giving me anxiety and panic attacks How long have you been banded? 11.5 months Any band-related problems? i had problems getting restriction. i went 7 months with minimal restriction. i could still eat 2 cups of food. it ended up getting fixed without surgery. Please share anything you've learned that you feel is beneficial. i have done a low carb diet to 'work' my tool. i asked my dr and he said it was great he wished all his patients would do it because it makes you lose much faster. what i have learned is that it doesnt matter WHAT type of plan you do as long as you are happy with it and accepting of the rate of loss it will give you. some people do non-diets they just eat healthy...thats great but you must be accepting that you will slower some people diet- as long as its a healthy one and dr/nutrionalist approved then great! its a great way to work your tool some people eat anything all day and no matter what it is. this is not using your tool.