jetti

I have been drinking the Low-Carb SlimFast for about a year. Its a great way to get in some protein and keeps me from snacking the day away are work.

awwww such cute pics!!!! and that cake looks yummy!!!! :-)

I think its easy to lose motivation because once we lose some weight we get excited and comfortable. We settle for what we have lost rather then go for what we are actually capable of losing. I hit my 1 year mark yesterday and there is no way I am stopping now!!! My goal is to be happy and healthy...im not sure what that number will be on the scale but I am not stopping until I get there. I have a lot of fill room left in my band so there is no reason to give up

pat - no fill for me yet. for the past 3 weeks or so I got my act together and stopped snacking every damn day!!! I also stopped weighing myself everyday. yesterday was my 1 year anniversay so I got weighed and measured at the gym and i'm down to 190 - not at the goal that I set for myself but I am still happy and proud of myself. I have moments of "dummy you could have done so much better" but really I could have done a lot worse too. I go for my 1 year follow uo on the 19th and i'm hoping to lose a few more pounds and I hope the doctor will be happy with my results so far. I agree that gift cards are acceptable gifts. I fight with my mom every year to just get me a gift card and be done with it. but she always says "I want you to have something under the tree to open" - i love my mom she is too cute but she is so silly sometimes!!!

I went to 2 support meetings and was not really impressed enough to keep going back. the first one was held at a hotel near my job so that is the only reason I went and there was 5 people there and I was the only banded person. Everyone else had gastric bypass and they were 3-5 years out so it was not helpful at all. the second one I went to was better as everyone was banded but most people were only a few weeks out of surgery and I was about 6 months. there was one lady there that was about 9 months but she put me and the way I work my band down so I was not happy about that. I would suggest at least trying the support group once - you never know what you can learn or maybe teach someone. the nutritionist that was at both of these meetings was really helpful so that is one plus. there is an NJ support thread on here...lots of great women from NJ and many other states. its a great group and everyone is helpful. I meet up with one of the other NJ gals a few months ago just before she was banded and we had a good time. we are looking to get a few NJ people together again if you would like to join us...head over to the tread and check it out.

congrats on your approval!!!! My turn around for approval was a few days...I was expecting weeks!

ugh...I hit my 1 year mark today and while I am happy with where I am at I still need to lose more. gotta keep going and keep pushing!!!

I would first suggest finding out if your insurance covers the surgery. Then research a doctor - or 2 - in your area. you can attend the info seminars held by the doctor and they are usually very helpful in telling you what needs to be done. My PCP really had nothing to do with me getting banded except that I had to see him every month for 6 months of doctor supervised diet required by my insurance. good luck

pickles, chocolate milk, peanut butter...just a few of my recent odd cravings!! so much better then the McDonalds, Doritos, soda cravings of the past!

michaele you are doing fabulous and im sure you will hit your Feb goal and your hubby will be sooo excited to see you! I use to listen to pandora at work and then they went and blocked the site so now I just download a bunch of my CDs and listen to those.

congrats on surviving!!!!

I started out going 3 days a week so that I didnt kill myself right away. I felt very self conscience at first but I stuck with it and kept pushing myself. I now go 4-5 days a week and would go more if my schedule would allow. I keep myself going back because I know I am work the effort and I found something I like to do. I mostly do classes - 2 or 3 a day at 45 mintues each - and over time I got more and more comfortable. I notice the difference in myself on what I am able to do but it feels great when others notice too. One of the instuctors/trainers will randomly give me a compliment and that keeps me going! I also go to an all female gym so I dont have to worry or think about the "hottie" in the corner staring at the chubby girl. Find something that you enjoy and it will be much easier to stick to it. good luck

riane I used Dr Bertha and loved him and the entire staff. they do performed surgeries out of St Peters in New Brunswick but that is as far south as they are. their office is located in North Jersey - Florham Park. I would recommend going to the seminar for all the doctors you are interested in and pick the one you feel most comfortable with. I went to 3 different seminars before I decided.

happy belated birthday Diane!!! Dont get so down on yourself!! I think we all hit a wall at some point and we dont know what else to do. this is the reason most of us got the band in the first place. The band works great but after awhile we get to comfortable with it and we know how to work around it. its very easy to work around it when you are not at your good restriction fill. at the beginning the band is new and I know I was afraid to break it. I still have that fear but I think we dont think as much about it as we did in the beginning. I read a thread the other day about this 5 day pouch test - or something like that - and it seems like a really good idea to get back on track with the bandster rules. I am definitely looking at trying it if when I weigh myself on thursday and im still stuck at the same spot. good luck to all of us on this rollercoaster ride that is life!!!

welcome to the NJ thread Megs!!!

not all insurances require the ultrasound and upper GI. I didnt have either one of those so it just depends on your insurance and sometime your doctors requirments. riane - have you gone to the seminar for your surgeon yet? most of the time they will tell you what they require and what is required by your insurance. Good luck to all of you on the journey to being banded...its was the best decision I made!

Im in north jersey but as michaele knows I am willing to travel to meet up. I work every other weekend but would love to do something on my day off. Jettibear78@aol.com

thanks Sherry!! It is hard going to the gym especially now that I am working the second job but I know that I wouldnt be where I am weight loss wise if I was going. And I love the fact that I actually have muscles in my arms and legs. I may even have ab muscles but the belly fat/skin is covering those. No need to get down on yourself!!! we all have our struggles and just have to keep working on getting past them...take it day by day that is all we can do.

in my opinion they are both great doctors and their entire office is very helpful! there is so much info on this thread but if you have any questions feel free to ask and i can try to help ease your nerves.

It was soooo worth it!!! I had been thinking about it for so long and I am glad I didnt wait any longer! I was a little nervous about my surgery but it really hit me when I was on the operating table and that is when I started to cry. My doctor and nurse helped me calm down and 3 minutes - at least it was 3 minutes in my mind - I was waking up in recovery on my way to being the same me but in a different package!!! best decision I ever made!

welcome to the board and good luck on your journey!!!

congrats on the 8 pounds Darcy maybe this is a good kick start for you!! On tuesday at the gym I was talking to one of the instructors/trainers that I really like. She is always very encouraging and when she tells me I look good I actually believe her. Well on tuesday she was telling me that I was looking good and I said the scale was not being nice - not going up but not going down - and she said well I can see that you are still losing inches and you are gaining muscle which will affect the scale. so now that is my story and im sticking to it :-) I am a little bummed about the scale but at the end of the day I am still really happy with my results so far. I have vowed not to weigh myself again until 11-6 which is my 1 year anniversay. I was weighing myself everyday a few times a day so it got out of control. also about 2 weeks ago I decided to revalutate what I am eating and I realized that I was snacking and picking way to much and not on good stuff like fruits but on chocolate and cookies and cakes. So for the last 2 weeks I have not snacked and quess what...IM STILL ALIVE!!!! and no I was not snacking because I was hungry but because I love sweets. when I was first banded I would treat myself every so often but for the past 2 months or so - since I got back from vacation - treating myself became a every day act. So fingers are crossed that the scale starts to be my friend again. I have my 1 year follow up on 11/19 and I will be happy and proud of myself no matter what the scale says its better then the 277 it said when I started this journey. sorry for yammering on and on its just one of those days :-) Oh and it feels so good to hear compliments from my parents and other family memebers. they never put me down before but to see and hear their reactions when they see me is just so encouraging especially when we tend to put ourselves down more often then not. Ok I am not yammering...for now

Im 5'8" and stated out at 277 wearing either 24 or 26 pants and 22/24 shirts and Im now down to 192 and wearing either 14 or 16 pants and L or XL shirts all out of the "normal" size sections. it feels very good not to be able to shop in good ol' lane bryant anymore!!! congrats to everyone on your weight and clothing size loss

the only advise that I can really offer is to use a heating pad for the gas pains - its really worked for me. Walking is also helpful for the gas...just walk around the house to keep yourself moving. and just remember that it will get better soon.