DynamoMini

Okay - let's see June 6 (Wed.) or 7 (Thursday) either works for me. Lap Dancer, do you want to meet some of us while you are in Denver? Drews and Woofay - would this work for you? Anyone else? Anita - did the fill benefit you? Are you less hungry or less able to overeat? Well, I don't want to write a book, the last time the whole thing crashed, but posted. hugs

Wow! So many posts, has anyone else had trouble with the LBT website? Sheesa - glad you have a plan and let us support you. Woofay - you are too funny - I'll just think acupuncture and get through my fill on Thursday. I'll let you know if I cried. Labgeek - welcome! For me there wasn't much pain, but the nausea was more of a problem. Those suppositories, that I thought I would never use, were a life saver. Wear really loose clothes. I chose a mumu type housedress and felt happy that I didn't need underwear. Some people said a pillow on the lap really helped them drive (fly?) home with the seat belt. You won't want anything rubbing your incisions. Best wishes, Dr. K's a great surgeon. DrewsLou - I was 201 naked this am, but "officially" yesterday with clothes I was 205. It was down two pounds from last official weigh in. I am happy about it, I just think I get too anxious waiting for the weight to drop off. How are you doing? Well, it was my one month bandiversary yesterday. Am I happy I did this? You bet. I feel I have a chance for the healthy life that I deserve. For all you undecideds out there make sure your commitment is firm, get your questions answered and if everything supports a "go" DO IT! I had a wonderful realization this morning that my bra extender wasn't needed any more. Yeah! I am getting measured today with my trainer. i just know it is better, I am moving more easily. Hugs to everyone, Michelle

lauraj - I think you are triggering the summer vacation memories of childhood. We used to call it Bug Juice, probably because it had so much sugar.

Angie38 - have a wonderful time in CA. I think it will be a very casual get together. If it is wonderful we will do it again! Anita - you are way funny and as I write this you are probably coming up here. Sooooooooo, make sure you write and tell me exactly what it was like. I have mine on Thursday. Hugs all,

Hello Violets - I hope Mother's Day was wonderful for all of you. Lauraj23 - I'm with you, anyway I cringed seeing myself on the scale today for my "official" weigh in because we had eaten out two times yesterday. I ate the right stuff, but didn't have a protein shake, and you know that you always eat more out, a taste of this and that. So shaking I got on the scale this morning and I had lost two pounds since last Monday. Yeah! Now, I had worked out six times and really ate under 1100 calories every day, so I earned it, but isn't it silly that we second guess ourselves? So, pat yourselves on the back and say hello to another new week in Bandland. Hope you planted your flowers. Violets! Hugs, Michelle

Okay ladies, I am available as of today on June 4, Drews can't 5th, 6, 7, or 8th. So let's get us on the calendar. i am so excited that I lost another official 2 pounds from last Monday to today. I think I am going to put my scale away for a while, because I am a scale whore. (oops - when did that happen?) Mother's Day was wonderful. My three boys all were there for me and hugging and kisses. We ate two times yesterday and I did great. So Drews, I still have a stubborn 5 pounds to let loose before Onederland, but i am crawling my way there. I understand what you said about letting the "weight loss" go and live. I need to keep that area focused, but not crazy obsessive, because i am setting myself up for a fall. Hugs - let's really do this and see if it meets our needs, Michelle

debi717 - Hi, we are close to the same age and having the same difficulty. I was banded only a month ago, but haven't lost weight since I went back to real food. I am eating around 900 - 1200 cal, getting enough protein and using some Benefiber to keep things moving. I am seeing the nutritionist to ask about this. Probably some of the problem is weighing every day. I will put the scale up. i do have an official weigh in day on Monday on an official scale, because in the past I have held on to the wall, tilted right or left, just not been real with it. So I will let you know what she says, and if there is any way I can rev up my weight loss that would be great.

Margi - I wouldn't argue with great results. I admire you. Teach Lady - I wanna be you, now. I am not losing and wasn't going to weigh today, but I did. I have been on this plateau for three weeks. I even exercised an extra day last week. Who knows? The inches are getting better. Congrats to all you Shrinking Violets! I'm impressed Denise that you could do Tracyinks picture board. I am computer challenged. Hugs to all, Happy Mother's Day to all (I'm sure all of us have nutured someone or something)!

Anita - I haven't be able to "relate" to bandster hell, until today. I am ravenous. I haven't gone into last supper mode, but a little handful of ChexMix yesterday, nothing wrong, but lots of food today. I am gritting my teeth. What worries me is the family Mother's Day tomorrow. We are going for sushi, because I refused to cook. Fish is a good choice. My first fill is Thursday. Anyway, look yourself in the mirror and say ,"I can do this. I deserve a healthy life." We can do it you know. Prepare yourself to have an organized food plan when you get home. Kind of like we did before we were banded. I was surprised what people said that you could eat anything after a fill. I guess I want to hear if from Dr. K. What time is your fill on Monday? Maybe we can meet afterward if you have the time. PM me if you have an extra hour in town. I'd love to meet and chat. Remember, you can do this, and you deserve a healthy life. Mal - OMG what drama. The teeth the band all at once. I hope Dr. K thinks it is ok to go ahead for surgery. You are so brave to forge onward. If he doesn't give the go ahead, it will be for health reasons. Your body may be on overload. But then, why not get all the pain over at once. For me the band hasn't been half as painful as other stuff. Best wishes!

Oh Mal - you've been through the wringer this past week. What a wonderful husband you have. I'd do the surgery if Dr. K says ok. But if you still have infection, I'd postpone it. I have had two other major surgeries where infection took me FOREVER to heal. You don't want to invite that into your life. Anytime for tea ladies - let me know. Drews says Tuesday evening are the only time for her, I am more flexible, though as all of you, lots of stuff is planned. What about the first week of June? Time and Place??? Michelle

Dwarden - I wanna be you........ I can smell the 100's but the scale won't budge. I exercised five times this week. :faint: What is the matter with me??? Wow! Congratulations! Way to Go! Whoooooooo Hooooooooo! Yipppppppeeee! You did it. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Best wishes have a great weekend!

lauraj - it is important to see yourself. Make sure your arms are under your shoulders, and hips are over your knees. Just being on all fours isn't all that comfortable, my wrists get tired. Anyway, flat back, no arch either way. Pull stomach in as tight as you can for ten seconds, then relax. Make sure each time you breathe out you suck in the gut harder. But make sure you breathe! I tend to hold my breath with doesn't help. Let me know if it helped you. REally tight!!!! Michelle

CBlancha - Good job! Any weight you lose now just supports your surgery and future weight loss. I think that a positive attitude is wonderful. My doc seems to be the most open to postOp real food - his plan was days 1 - 3 clear, 4 -7 mushie, after that it was any soft food, then regular. By one week I was eating chicken, steak and salad. But I know lots of docs want people to be on liquids for a long time. Their weight loss is faster than mine, but I am not dying of starvation and am getting good nutrition. That said, it is best to follow your doc's advice about the liquids, but know that there will be an element of common sense that you will use. Best wishes, Michelle

Denise - about the fiber - I have had to use the Benefiber chewables, but I am eating some lettuce, strawberries, cantaloupe, applesauce, etc. Just not very much. It seems once I slow eat my protein chewing...chewing...chewing there isn't much room for fiber. I also eat black, refried and canelli (white) beans for fiber. Shar - I know the first couple of days suck, but it is wonderful getting the food monkey off your back. This is a great tool to use for permanent healthy weight loss and later stability. Best wishes all you mothers out there. Happy Mother's Day weekend be kind to yourself and know that you deserve a healthy life and we can do this! Michelle

Okay Violets - This is what my doc emailed me - You’re doing no harm. The exercise routine sounds great, in fact. The band is inside your peritoneal cavity and around your stomach and is unaffected by exercise of any kind. Dr. Kirshenbaum So if you don't feel restricted you might want to try it. For me, it works. Hugs all, Michelle

Aw come on LauraJ, I'll bet you've started all sorts of rumors! JK Anyway all you Violets, I have emailed my doc, I don't want anyone hurting themselves because you read my post. WARNING! I'll let everyone know what he says. Of course his secretary said she had never heard of that exercise hurting anything, but we'll check to make sure. Hugs all you mother Violets and hugs to all you non-mother violets, Michelle

Evilah - You are right. We all have a story and you can tell yours here if you want. I found it theraputic to get out why I thought I had turned to food to comfort myself from a life where nothing else seemed acceptible. I do want to confirm that I will read your story if you want to tell it; because it perhaps will trigger more memories of things I buried in my past history. We need each other. Thanks for sharing yourself,

Wow! Jaqui - Congratulations to you! All the rest of you - yum reeses and wedding cookies - naughty...naughty...... It seems sometimes the harder I try the less I lose. I should have a great loss on Monday, cause I've had a kick ass week. Hugs to all you mothers out there! Ya, hugs to the rest of you too!

Lauraj23 - Maybe, I suppose it could be swelling. I see my doc next week and will ask him. Did it work for you? Did you try it? It didn't hurt or anything, altho' it is hard as crud to lift all my stomach over and over. Hugs,

Laura23 - have a fantastic time at the concert. Somethings happen in mysterious ways don't they? I loved the story of how your tickets came to you. Hello Violets - I didn't think I had much restriction until I worked out with my trainer. So now for all you bandsters who feel kinda loose in the restiction department I have something you might want to try. Ok - here it is - you can place me in the institution after you try Get down on all fours, make a table with your back, you might want to be infront of a mirror. Anyway, let your stomach extend downward, without holding it. Then pull it in and hold it tight for 10 seconds, then let it go for 2 -3 seconds, then pull it in and hold it tight for 10 seconds. We did this 6 times, worked out, then another 6 times. She is working on improving my stomach muscles, but I have an added benefit. I have a ton more restriction after the exercise. So i figure I could pass it on and see if it worked for anyone else willing to try it. Let me know. Hugs to you all, Michelle

Elena Rose - It isn't a bad thing to figure out the source of the eating disorder. In fact, I think it is an essential step to coming to grips with the addiction. Yes, it is out of control behavior, but not because we are bad, but because eating was our means of coping. Be gentle with yourself. I know there is conflicting info on here, work with your doc first then use common sense. Try to define where the hunger is really coming from, real need or head hunger. Then you are halfway there. Welcome to Bandland.

Denise822 - Good for you. I am only 5 feet tall and shrinking (I'm 57) and it has started. I too have been exercising. I can lose weight using a high protein/fiber diet with lots of water, but it is slow. Oh well. I got banded because when I binged I would always gain back the weight. This time I won't be able to 'ignore" what I am doing. The band is like an internal hug for me. Best wishes and thanks for sharing, Michelle

Hey DrewsLou - Welcome! You are having a stellar day with the food, girl! Keep it up! Michelle

Denise822 - that sounds kinda grewsome (sp?)! But at least you know. How tall are you? Did they predict how quickly you would lose on 1000 cal per day? I have always know calories in? - calories out?

Woofay - way to go! I love seeing the numbers go down. When things slow down I need to remember this is a 2 year process. Hugs, Michelle