momlambert

Hi everyone! We just moved into our new home so I haven't been on the computer at all for several days--major withdrawal! We still have lots of boxes (there were over 300 to unpack) but we are making progress and the kitchen is unpacked! Woohoo! Now we can function. One of our daughters and her two children came from NYC to help another daughter with the birth of her second child (our 6th grandchild and first granddaughter!) so things are crazy in our neck of the woods. Baby hasn't come yet but was due today so it shouldn't be much longer. I was excited to unpack the scales and see how much I've lost since I last weighed on them--they keep track of my weight and my losses or gains. It was only a measly .5 lb and it's been two months! Argh! I have my 10th fill on Wednesday--hopefully that will help. My eating has been quite good I thought but I think stress really hinders weight loss. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Good job everyone! Your weight losses are admirable. Keep it up!

I'd be careful with the soda, Marcy. My doctor advises not drinking any at all. As I understand it, the problem is not in keeping it down or having problems drinking it, it's the fact that the carbonation can sit in the stomach and as it expands it puts pressure on the band (or stoma) and can cause slippage. That's how my dr. explained it. FYI.

Welcome, GraceUtah! When were you banded? You have done so well--I'm envious. Glad everything is going well. How wonderful to be skinny for Easter and for summer--that's great. I just moved to Midway from Provo. I lived up by Seven Peaks Water park for the past four years. We had the movers come today to deliver our stuff to our new home--what a mess. I need to get back to work unpacking what seems like thousands of boxes. Argh.

Phyl, I found a good fish oil that I order from drugstore.com. It's call coromega and is a liquid or gel--I guess something inbetween those two. Maybe a paste? Anyway, it's orange flavored and I don't mind the taste at all--no fish taste, for sure. The instructions say that some people prefer to refrigerate it before eating it but I like it just out of the little individual packets. Anyway, just a suggestion. I also use Centrum Silver Chewables and I buy a chewable calcium, also from drugstore.com. FYI!

I was banded just a few days after you were and I've only lost 3-4 lbs since the original weight loss. It really is discouraging. I've had 9 fills and now have 3.5 in my 4 cc band. I'm feeling some restriction now and finally felt any at all with my second-to-the-last fill. I really think it just takes time and some of us need to have a lot of restriction before it works. I have another fill scheduled next week and I'm hopeful it will really do it for me because I'm feeling close. I can still eat about 1 1/2-2 c. of food at dinner and just a bit less than that at Breakfast. Like others have said, I'm glad I haven't gained! I'm exercising 3-4 times a week and keeping my calories around 1200 (I record them on sparkpeople.com). I think another couple of factors for me (and maybe for you as well) besides inadequate fill is that I started with a lower BMI, I'm 58 years old, and I've had unbelievable stress these past 6 months (my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer the day I was banded and died a few weeks ago, I've traveled to both coasts to help deliver two new grandsons, we've sold and moved out of two houses, we're building another home and trying to furnish it, we've been "homeless" for two months and living with our daughter's family, etc., etc.). It's been just unbelievable and I know I would have gained a lot of weight during this time but I've maintained and some weeks lost a half pound or so. Sorry to ramble but I do know where you are coming from and totally understand your discouragement. I was encouraged by hippmom's comments that it took her 9 months to get the right restriction. That would have been VERY discouraging to me 6 months ago but now it's just around the corner. We can do this!!! We will do this!!!!! Good luck to you.

So glad things have straightened out for you, Denise. That had to be miserable. Hope you are back to your disappearing self again in no time!

:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2: That's just awesome--not only did you lose 3 lbs when you were with the girls, you didn't gain! Hooray for you! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

Good luck, Trying! You are going to do just great. Are you having the surgery at the outpatient surgery center? I had mine there and they were wonderful. i was back home by early afternoon just a few hours after the surgery. Went back to work on Friday after my surgery on Monday. I was sore still but have a desk job so it wasn't strenuous and was nice to get myself going. Anyway, I hope you have the same good luck. Let us know as soon as you are able!

That's just so awesome. I'm happy for you and so glad things went well. How is your mom feeling about everything? I hope the trip gave her some peace of mind. I had my hiatal hernia fixed, too, during the surgery (no extra charge, btw). I didn't even know I had a problem but was glad he fixed it while he was there. It gave me a truthful reply when I had to answer someone about having surgery so that was an added bonus. Hope you can walk around a bit--even around your house is helpful. It will really help with the pressure in your chest and abdomen. Nothing helps as much as walking! Keep healing and thanks for keeping in touch. 7 lbs. already is awesome! Take care of yourself and don't worry about losing weight right now--just heal. Welcome to bandland! Karen

Congrats, Nikki! That is just awesome. You are doing incredibly well. What an inspiration!

Sorry for your problems, Kristine. You sound very discouraged. You don't say how much you have lost altogether or how much you have left to lose. Both of those things might be factors in your slow loss so far this year. I thought the first year's fills were included in the original price. Maybe they changed the policy between November and March when I was banded. I have had 9 fills so far and am SO glad I didn't have to pay for them, since I am self-pay. Where do you live? If possible, I would be glad to pick you up for the next support meeting in November. I went last night and it was very helpful and motivating. Have you talked to the nurses about your problems? It sounds like you need a fill and need to recommit to the bandster rules. I remember Dr. Hansen saying that the biggest reason for failure was drinking with meals and not stopping when you are full. And I know exercise is a huge piece of the puzzle as well. Drinking Water between meals is a must, too. You know all this! How can you get yourself to do it? I really like Isopure chocolate Protein powder. It's the only one I can tolerate--the others are all gross IMHO. I mix it with 1% milk (just 1 scoop) in the mornings and it's delicious, plus it supplies half of my day's protein! I'm sure there are others here with words of wisdom but I just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth. I'm a really slow loser but I AM losing, so I'm happy about that. You can be a loser, too. Good luck! Karen

Enjoy, Trying! I actually had a mini last supper tonight because I have a fill scheduled tomorrow. But since I got restriction on my last fill I couldn't really go all out, thank goodness! I can still eat about 2 c. of food at dinner so I do need another fill. It certainly is a process! And thanks for the condolences--it's hard to lose your father. My Dad had a stroke at 54 and has struggled since then. It was so sad then to lose the dad we knew but even harder now that he is totally gone from us. I dreamed about him last night--holding his hand--and that was nice. I just heard from Blue Eyed Kitty! Turns out her mom and I went to school together and were best friends. Anyway, she and her mom called from Tijuana and she had just gotten out of surgery and was doing really well. So exciting! I'm sure we'll hear more from her tomorrow night or Thursday after she gets home.

Great news that your fill went well, I know you were concerned about it. Good luck with chasing that rolling ball downhill!

Wish you could come--it might be just the incentive you need to stop gaining right now. Do you have a proper fill? I'm hoping to get help via a fill tomorrow. You've done great though--just look at how much you've lost. Get back on the wagon and do what you were doing! Easier said than done, right? Tell me about it--I've only lost about 23 lbs in 6 months. We are moving to Midway. We had two houses (one a little rental for students) in Provo and we felt very fortunate to have sold them both before our home was ready to close. It's hard being homeless and living with our daughter's family but, as my husband says, "Selling our homes too early is a problem I'm GLAD we have!" Not selling them would have been a huge problem--no new house for us. It is hard to lose your Dad, isn't it? My Mom is still living, how about yours? She seems to be doing fine--she has lots of support from friends and the family. I was always closer to my Dad than my mom but she probably doesn't know I feel that way. I try to be an attentive, patient, loving daughter but probably don't do all I should for her. I'm learning. Good luck at your conferences tonight. Are you a teacher or do you still have children in school? Have fun!

I was down 1.5 lbs today so I'm at 204.5. Getting closer and maybe my plateau has ended. I got my hopes up a few weeks ago (maybe some of you remember my post about weighing at Curves and balancing at 200 but not being able to balance below that) but then found out (this should be illegal!) that the scales were 7 lbs. LIGHT! How is that for discouraging???? Man, was I bummed. But, they are calibrated now and so I'll settle for my 204.5. Hopefully I can enter ONE-derland by Halloween! We'll see. I'm an awfully slow loser but now I have some restriction (8 fills and 3.3 in my 4 cc band) and am going for another fill on Wednesday. We'll see! Good luck everyone!

Good bye, Plateau! Down 1 1/2 lbs this week. Woohooo! Name............Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal.............To Go alwayscurious........245......................245. ............212.................33 Amelia40...............270.................... 270................240................30 areellady...............232....................228 ...............212.................16 argon..................162...................160.2 ...............142...............18.2 Ariel....................207.................... 199 ..............182..................17 aussie_jode...........212......................212 .............190..................22 BabygotBack..........164.....................164. ............145..................19 Babygrl1234...........215......................205 ............190.................15 Becky42................253.....................251 .5...........220...............31.5 bekafina.................225.....................225.............199................26 Cherrybomb...........311....................306 ..............291................15 chickatee..............203.....................201 ..............175................26 chocolate_snaps......344....................342...............299................43 cQQlgirl..................225....................225................185..............40 Chris_NJ................284....................268 ................250..............18 cindyluhu...............194....................194 ...............180.............14 dacer123...............243....................243. ..............223................20 Denise...................170....................170...............155...............15 Denise..................244.....................244...............220................24 Desertbunnee.........232....................207. .............180................27 DonnaD................185.....................185..............170................15 eclipse..................215.....................212..............199................16 faithmd................303.....................303 ............ 283...............16.7 glindab................ 277.....................269...............250....... .......19 gonnabfree............231....................231................205................26 Guinessgirl77.........241...................241 ..................210..............31 gweniper..............253.....................243. ...............223...............30 hf2havefun...........240......................240. ..............210................30 ihadenuf................216....................216 ................190................26 itsjustducky...........317....................317..................297...............20 james2539............235.4.................235.4 ................220.............15.4 jfran……………………….212………………………212……………………..196………………16 jglong54...............206....................206. .................195.............11 jadrad7.................224....................224 .................200..............24 jazzystouch...........246......................246 ...............220...............26 Jeni 85.................237....................231 ..................207..............24 joisey....................307....................307................290...............17 josiebies...............188......................180................165...............15 JulieNYC................155.....................149.................136..............13 Kaelin's G-Ma.........272....................272............. ......220.............52 KarenG................. 240.....................234...................225. ...........9 katalin.e................230.....................179.................150..............29 Kellymovingon........207......................207 .................187............20 Kimmie.................296.....................290..................270.............20 ladydi............. .....233.....................228.................208...............20 legster..................261....................25 1................235...............16 LeslieLee...............216.....................21 6................186...............30 lisa_in_toronto.......180......................180 ................160...............20 losingjusme...........273.....................269. ...............238................31 luvinke..................225.................. ..223..................195..............28 maddog.................230.....................230 ................205..............25 marcar35...............277.....................273 ................250............. 23 mcgreen...............236......................230.................210..............26 METALBAND...........187.....................184... ..... .......167..............17 momlambert..........207...................204.5................185..............20.5 mpalen.................229.....................229 ................200................29 Peache8887...........330.....................306.. ...............275..............31 pmmegm..............248.....................248..................228..............20 Rainer..................298................... 284..................258................26 robgoblin87............279...................279..................250...............29 SC2VA..................233.....................233..................200..............33 sdakotaRN.............254.....................254.................225..............29 Short C................. 166....................166.................146.. ............20 Soniacan...............198.5..................198. 5.............175.............23.5 Stacy73.................259.....................242 ...............230...............12 Sunny112..............215.....................165................140...............25 Suzzzie. ...............349....................337................320................17 sweethot143..........197....................190................175.................15 tanderson..............231.....................231...............199................32 teacher.................236.....................236...............200................36 ToniaPatt …..........286……….....……......283……….........243.…........……40 UK-Lady...............255.....................223...............210.................13 Wannabthin...........231......................222..............211................20 want2beme...........225.....................225.. ............195................30 wen.....................288......................284..............255................29 Whosyadaddy.........388.....................369..............335................43 LifeLover..............289.....................289 ..............259................30

Good luck, Mrs. Husker, I'm sure you'll do great; and CONGRATS, Tammyj! Wow, everyone is doing so well! I seem to have broken my 2-month-long plateau and lost 1.5 this week. Just 4.5 until I join you in one-erful one-derland, Tammy. We are all MARCH-ing along, aren't we??? Have a great week, everyone.

Hi Utahans! Is anyone going to Drs. Hansen's and Aldredge's seminar Wednesday night at 7? I'm planning on it. This will be my first one since graduating from the 3 months of beginner seminars. It would be great to meet some of you! It's been a six-month roller coaster ride for me since being banded. Some of you may remember that my father was diagnosed with colon cancer the day I was banded. He passed away last week. I miss him so much but, thankfully, he was able to go peacefully with all of us there to support him. It was a beautiful experience. I was also privileged to be at the birth of two of my grandsons this summer. It was so amazing to me how much the birth and death processes are similar and so sacred. My weight loss since banding hasn't been what I had hoped (that's a gross understatement). But I'm hoping now with some restriction and another fill scheduled on Wednesday I'll have more success. It has taken me 8 fills and 3.3 cc in my 4 cc band to feel any restriction at all. But I'm optimistic that now with my life settling down a little (we also sold two homes this summer, moved out of one, lived with our daughter and her family, built a home, and are now moving into our new home next week) and with a proper fill I might have the success I've hoped for. I did lose 1.5 lbs. this week and that was the first I've lost since August so I think I'm on my way. Enough rambling--just checking in and hoping you are all doing well. How is everyone doing? Hope you are having great success and that your life is full of joy. Karen

Congrats on your decision--one week! That's awesome! Nervousness is expected, don't worry about that. You would be abnormal is you WEREN'T nervous. As far as being disappointed about not doing a pre-op diet, I'd say that is up to you. Who is your doctor? I had Dr. Hansen and he didn't require one. He feels that you can't really do much to shrink your liver in just a week and he's never had a complication with nicking a liver during surgery so I trusted in that and enjoyed way too many "last suppers." Argh. He makes up with it with the post-surgery diet, if you ask me. He's much more conservative than most on the board it seems to me. If you want to prepare, I think most people go on a Slim-Fast liquid diet for the week. Others do a low carb diet. A friend of mine is going to Mexico for her surgery today and she's been doing liquids for a week as her doctor requested. I think doing what you are comfortable with would be best since your doctor is leaving this week up to you. Good luck! Can't wait to see you on the other side. You are going to do great! Karen

Oh, Green, I'm so sorry for your pain. I hope every day is better than the one before and you will be ecstatic with the results once your recovery is complete. Here's to the future!

Juli and Denise--Just look at you two!!!!! Wow! Congrats to you both. You are awesome!

Thank you all for your condolences and well wishes. Today has been especially difficult for me and I have no idea why--hidden triggers, I guess. Thanks for checking in Green! We missed you. Congrats on another giant step taken. Hope your recovery goes well and you are back to your old (well, not so old!) better self soon. Take it easy!

No, you aren't crazy, Indio. I remember that conversation but I'm not sure it was on this thread. Out of town now and don't have time to look for it on this computer but I'll check it out tomorrow if you haven't resolved it by then. Have you tried going to Green's name and looking at all of her posts? That's what I'd do if I had time...good luck!

I had a colonscopy last year and it was a walk in the park--I don't remember a thing until it was over although it was just light sedation. The worst part was the preparation for it--oh man! Drinking the stuff, enema, etc. Far worse than the procedure itself. My father died last week of colon cancer--never had a colonoscopy so you can bet I'll have one every time the doctor says it's time (which I understand is usually every five years). Good luck!

You SHOULD be pleased, Annette. Lookin' good! Congratulations on your success.