Kime-lou

Become friends with your team (doctor, PA, nurse, Nutritionist) and ask lots of questions. They are your best resource, we are just mainly support. Also, do what they tell you- each doctor is different as is each patient. What my doctor told me he may not tell someone else, they look at you and your insides and tell you what to do based on your needs- so trust them! Don't go against what they tell you, you can do damage to youself. I have followed my doctors and nutritionist instructions to a T. It's been 5 months and my doctor told me yesterday that my case was picture perfect. I have lost more than most do in 5 months (who start at my weight) and my band looks awesome.

Each person react differently to the band. Like previously stated becareful with carb calories. Be sure when you do eat carbs they are complex carbs, like those in whole wheat breads and cereals. I do eat cereal each morning for breakfast- Special K with 2% Milk. This does fill me up and last for at least 4 hours. I eat pastas and rice sometimes (just not much at a time and in whole wheat varities). I have a friend who has difficulty with rice- she says it's like it swells in her belly and makes her not feel well. Everyone is diffrent so to an extent you will have to wait till you are on normal food and see what works for you. Also, be aware that what works in the begining may not work in the future. I could eat soft breads in the begining, but not at all anymore they get stuck. Just always take SMALL bites and CHEW.

I tend to get stuck weekly. I don't really throw it up, more like have productive burps that brings it back up. I don't loose everything I ate. I tend to do it when I eat to fast and don't chew well enough. Also I have learned that bread is not my friend- I try to avoid it, but when I really want it I take tiny bites and CHEW!

Great job!! Holidays are never easy when lots of food is around. You should be very proud!

Honestly is the best policy. We never want to admit we screwed up, but you have alread admitted you ate things you shouldn't have. Jump on the scales and see the damage then jump back on track and use this as a reminder to avoid the sweets. Talk honetly to the nutritionist and he/she should be able to help you find a plan that works for you. For instance, when I went to mine last month I told her I was dying for a cupcake- I was really wanting something sweet. She ask what I would do if I made a bach- well I said I would eat them likely all of them within 2-3 days. So she suggested that once a month allow myself a treat- go to the bakery and buy ONE cupcake and savor it instead of wolfing it down. Honestly, now knowing that I can have one, makes it less of a dyer want. Mind game.

AWESOME!!! Glad you are getting the complements you deserve. Make those boys beg! Don't know what you do in LE, but hats off to you!! My father, uncles and cousins are in LE and I have a great deal of respect for you all!

I consider what you did a major accomplishment, you should be very proud. Chances are you would have finished had the accident not occured. I know I couldn't ride like that. One day of heavy riding and I am so sore I can barely move. Great job and don't look at this as a failure, look at this as one step closer to a dream.

I am in the same boat with you. I had surgery June 22, weight was 244 today I am 201.2. I have been bouncing between 202 and 201 all month. It's hard. I still feel huge, but we have to realize we have take off 40 lbs!! I am hanging on and trying to believe in myself!! Good luck and heres to us both being below 200 by Christmas!

I had that problem for about a month. Food I use to like were way to sweet, like yogurt. Almost sicky sweet for me. This didn't last to long, but my taste were different for a little while.

October was an awesome month for me in the weight loss department, I lost 8 lbs. Since the first week in November I have been on a dang gone plateau, and it sucks!!! My weight has bounced since that week between 202.6 and 201.4. My goal had been to hit 199 by Thanksgiving and obviously that didn't happen. I did indulge one day and allowed myself 2000 calories on Thanksgiving day, which was still below the amount I burned that day. Lunch was followed by a nap and then a 4 mile family hike. I totally don't feel guilty about allowing myself that once, as long as it doesn't become habit. Some of you may berate me for that, but we all have to do what works for us. Other than the family hike on Thanksgiving I haven't been exercising per say. I have been working! I get up get into the office by 6:45 work until 3, go home or run errons, then go home clean, do laundry, cook dinner - deal with the creatures (2 dogs, 2 cats). We have stuff going on every weekend that takes us out of town or brings family to our home. When I cook I make my recipes as healthy as possible. I feel like I am going crazy though staying busy all the time. Sunday after my in-laws left I passed out on the couch and took a 3 hour nap, I was exhausted. Is my tiredness playing into the platuea? Is my lack of working out causing? I have no idea what the cause is, but I know it sucks. Tomorrow I return to my doctor for a fill, likely with my head tucked between my knees. When I left last time, my doctor smiled and said I will see you in November and below 200 and I failed! I know that my inches have gone down because my clothes are fitting differently, my 16's are fitting a little looser and my 14's are pefect. But, weight is what is the main measure of success. I know I shouldn't just look at the weight, but it's hard not to. I am so very close to onederland. When I started this journey the thought of getting below 200 was a dream, now that I am so close it almost seem unattainable. Am I meant to always be the fat girl? Is my body against me and refusing to drop the fat? I don't know, but I do know that this plateau is making it very hard to stay motivated. Hopefully, the weight will start to move again soon and in the right direction.

My mother in law and sister in law came be spend Thanksgiving with my husband and I. My mother-in-law had called last week and said she wanted to take me shopping to get some clothes that fit. Considering she has never done anything for me in the 5 years I have been with her son, I was shocked. On Friday us girls decided to hit the mall about 5pm. Being a big girl I have always gotten clothes from Walmart, Belk, place like that where I could hit a sale and get them cheap. Like it really matters what you put on a hippo- it's still a hippo- that is how I felt. Well my SIL said I need to go to Talbots. I had never been there. When we walked in they were busy and the sales girl was so helpful. My MIL told her I had lost 50 lbs and needed some clothes and that price wasn't an option- WOW. She told me to find something nice. The sales girl said she herself had lost 100 lbs in the last few years and she knew what I was going through- she looks like a stick now, amazing transformation. She was helpful picking out clothes that I would have never before tried. By the time I finished I had one pair of pants and 3 tops. The pants were Women's Petite 14- WOW, I never remember wearing a 14. The clothes fit me perfect, like they were made for my body. What a difference the right cut and fit can make. I looked at myself in the mirror and was able to smile and was happy with how I looked- wow. Feeling like you look good does give you confidence and a spunk in your step. The next day I wore one of my new outfits and my hubs was like wow you look hot. I was so excited. With that and the new earrings my MIL purchased for me at Swarski crystals I felt like I was Julia Roberts in the Pretty Women except for the hooker thing. I will be visting that Talbots again for sure!!! Anyone who lives near Raleigh, NC - I totally recommend going to Talbots at Southpoint Mall- awesome staff!

Awesome!!!! Keep you the wonderful job.

Surgery was 5 months ago Thanksgiving day. I've lost 43 lbs. To begin with things were fairly normal after surgery. Now I am noticing that am tootin a lot- I mean all the time! It's not just when I eat veggies like broccoli or things like Beans. It makes no difference what I eat I am gassy. I burp rarely, but toot likily thousands of times a day. Thanks goodness I have my own office. I know TMI- it doesn't smell, but it's just annoying and I am always scared it will slip out when someone walks in. Anyone else having these issues? Would Beano help?

The root of evil many time is boredom, and that seems to be the case in being over weight sometimes to. We eat when we don't have anything else to do. I always knew I tended to be more hungry when I was bored- like I would bake when I didn't have anything else to do at home. Then I would eat what I made. Today I was awaken at 5 am by my puppy. By 5:30am I had finished my breakfast (1 cup of Special K with a 1/2 cup of 2% milk) and was getting ready to go to work. I got to work at 6:40 and jumped right in to a busy day. I was crazy busy all morning. The next thing I know I see people walking passed the conference room with food. I looked up and realized it was Noon. Holy crap, I worked right through snack time. I had gone 6.5 hours with out food! This made me realize a lot of my morning hunger has got to be head hunger and not true hunger. Once I got to thinking about it I realized I was hungry and I went and heated my lunch and ate. Now I am back at my desk trying not to start any big projects, as we are out the next three days, and I am floored that I lasted that long. I know in past times on days that I am really busy I tend not to get hungry and don't eat much. At home when I stay busy doing something, no matter if I am cleaning or working on a project my husband has to remind me it's time to eat. So the bottom line for me is bordem = fat! I have got to find a way to keep my self busy so food is not a priority. Food certainly does play mind games with ya!

I just finished at yummy cup of home made chili with lots of veggies in it!!

I think all of us tend to look way down the road. Oh, how long will it take me to get to 100lbs lost, when will I be skinny, ect. Sometimes these thought hender us from reaching our goals. The job just seems to big to conquer. Instead we should set smaller goals for ourselves and celebrate each one, then when we reach the big one it won't feel like it's taken so long. When I first had surgery, my first goal was to be below 220 (started at 244), then it was 210, now the next one is 200. My goal had been to reach 199 by Thanksgiving. This morning I weighed in at 201.4. So I may not make it quite to goal, but I will get there. All total I would like to be 100 lbs down in one year. But, I know me, if I think oh 100 lbs it will seem like way to much to accomplish, but when I take it in 10 lbs blocks it seem easier. The last few weeks I have been sitting at a plateau, my weight bouncing between 202.8 and 201.8, today I saw 201.4, so hopefully the downward trend will continue. This frustrated me so much that I wouldn't make my first goal. My thought was here we go, the begining of my utter failure (yes I can be dramatic at times- I am a chick- sue me). My hubs had to get stern with me and tell me to get over it. I have been doing great and I just need to stick to the plan like always and in time the weight would start moving down again. He keeps reminding me that I only start to fail when I admit failure. So today, I will not admit to failure. I am still trucking along and will continue. I will get through Thanksgiving and not feel like a stuffed turkey and I will enjoy the bites that I do have. I will continue to lose weight, at my bodies pace.

Drink- SF Popcicles If it is severe you can try Biotine, I get it from my dentist, it is a mouth wash that helps with dry mouth. I had it horribly the few weeks after surgery. It does get better. I found SF Popcicles were the best for it.

I was allowed to have milk at day 4, just depends on your doctor. You may want to make sure you tea is decaf, caffine tends to increase your hungry- I've been dealing with that myself lately. Soft/Mushy stage: thin creamed potatos (made mine with chicken broth and added a little cheese- YUM), yogurt, SF pudding, thinned oatmeal or grits, mushed up soft cooked green Beans, baiscally anything that is of the yogurt consistancy. Beware as you enter into this stage people who have seen weight loss tend to see a slight increase. Just stick to your basics and you will be fine. Right now concentrate on healing your body.

Oh, and if you are using instant, you will likley not be able to eat the entire pack at once. It took me until like week 4 or so before I could eat 1 whole serving of instant oats or grits.