BreadLady

I am new to the board. Would love to meet anyone considering banding or who is already banded. I am in Abington (near Braintree, Brockton). Where is everyone else in Massachusetts from? :typing: I really like this board I have learned so much already.

Let's see what time zone all of us Lucky # Sevens are in. Please vote. I will leave poll open for 1 week. Thanks all.

I agree this is an awesome thread. I think part of what makes it great is we are all literally in this together. I mean we all got banded within a month of each other so we really are helping each other through probably one of the biggest transitions we have gone through! You guys are awesome. :whoo::whoo::whoo: I must say I am so impressed by how much so many of you are doing. The gym, counting all your calories. IT IS AWESOME! For me that could be why I am not losing as fast but I know me, I would do it for a while then not anymore. I have sweets on a regular basis. For me if I didn't I know I would breakdown one day and that would be all I ate from thereon in. So I eat healthy but I must have my sweets - not nearly as much as pre-band. I exercise more than I did before but not all the time. I know this is causing (sp?) me to lose slower but I have to try to accept that. I mean heck - the quantities I eat are incredibly smaller than pre-band. In the long run it will be ok. I hardly go to any other threads as well. Every once in a while I'm like "Oh yeah - there are other threads on this site!" and I will go out looking and learn stuff. This site is soooo big that it could eat all your time up!:hungry: I highly recommend the Before and After pics thread. I find them so motivating. I feel like I am losing slowly so I look at the pics and feel encouraged. I also go to the before and after at the ObesityHelp.com website.

Kathybad :confused::bananajump::bananajump::bananajump::bananajump::bananajump::bananajump::bananajump::bananajump::bananajump::bananajump: CONGRATULATIONS AND HAPPY ADOPTION! Thanks for sharing the pics. The kids are adorable! You are looking great as well!

Chim - So sorry about your first PB. I have done it 2x so I know how you feel. On the positive side...at least you know what it's like now . And I am sure you know you don't want to repeat that! Be thankful it was a quick one. My first one was HORRIBLE it lasted like 30 minutes. Seriously. First it wasn't going down, then I slimmed then finally I PB'd. Dini - Congrats on the weight loss! Good job. Lindaa - WOW! That is so awesome. I know what you mean about booths. I am so happy for you. :clap2: dmtjet - Thank you so much for the lovely comment on my photo. Everyone else losing weight. Hats off to you. Great Job!!!!

I have a Vita-Mix and a Magic Bullet. I love the bullet if I am just making something for myself. I do find that if I put too much ice in it there will be chunks in my smoothie but otherwise it works great and I haven't had any problems. I highly recommend it. I do make heavy duty smoothies and when I make those I use my Vita-Mix. When I say heavy duty -- I put kefir, oatmeal, flax seed, carrots, frozen fruit, Protein powder. It is big enough and strong enough that it will make several smoothies in one pop and it will blend it all so you would never know some of that stuff is in the smoothie. And they taste great! This works great in the summer when we (my family) are all too hot to eat something hot and need smoothies with substance to fill us up.

Good idea Indo saving snacks up for the night. Maybe once I get my hunger under control (at proper fill level) I should plan on doing that. I still need a snack between lunch and dinner. Don't really need one between breakfast and lunch. Thanks for the reply.

Be thankful :whoo:. Ever so thankful . I can still eat too much even after two fills.:hungry:

I was thinking the same thing. I had mine done in Boston and it was a mere 28k. I think they must have triple billed it or something! Yikes!

Ok. :car:So today I ran out to the bank and figured I would bring the kids back box of munchkins (I had 5 kids total today - 2 mine and 3 from my best friend). So...I figure I will have a few myself. Along with my iced coffee of course. WELL. Tonight I went to the Dunkin' Donuts website to see just how many calories those little buggers have. 3 Chocolate Munchkins - Calories 200 Fat 10g Three little ole munchkins that many calories. Just goes to show if I am going to have them next time I better be sure I want that much fat and I better really savor them! :hungry:LOL!

Gonna be kind of long trying to describe... Eating after surgery (after about 4wks or so)- no difference than before surgery. Still eating large quantities and able to eat anything I wanted. Eating after 1st fill - a tiny difference. Still able to eat anything. Noticing maybe a not eating quite as much, quantity wise. Eating after 2nd fill (2 wks ago) - I still can eat way more than 1 cup but I do need to eat much, much slower and take smaller bites. I am assuming just because I have to eat slower that doesn't mean I have restriction. I think I am getting there and maybe with the next fill or two I will see a difference. Does that make sense?? Does anyone understand what I am asking? I am kind of working this out as I type. I guess I feel like, it may be hard to eat some stuff and after the first fill I didn't have that problem, but I still feel that eventhough I have to eat slow it's still too much. Is anyone else in this same boat???? ANOTHER THING, I get so darn hungry at night. :hungry: You know like from a couple of hours after dinner until I go to bed. I always need a snack or 2. Anyone else have that problem??? To anyone who takes the time to read this and respond, I thank you . I know it is kind of long.

Well, I waited a few minutes then continued to eat. Albeit, very, very, very slowly. I'm fine. Must have just eaten too fast without even knowing it.

So I ordered Chinese because I was not feeling like cooking. I just ate a few bits and within like 2 minutes knew it wasn't going down. I puked it up. Yikes! So I am wondering - maybe I ate those bites too fast as I was real hungry - should I try and eat some more, it's still hot... Or do I not try. Not sure if it was because I ate fast maybe without not knowing it. Advice from anyone online??? Thanks.

Hot chocolate - my kids would love that:whoo:. They love their hot chocolate after playing on a cold day. I am going to have to check that out. Thanks for the info.

My husband got me one for my birthday about 3 years ago. We love it!!!!!:whoo:It's awesome too when we have company. No need to worry about decaf or not. Everyone can have what they want!

I'm wondering how much experience your doctor has in fills. I have had 2 fills and my doctor gets is right the first prick of the needle. No fluoro for me. I like to stay away from x-rays as much as I can anyway so I am glad my doctor doesn't do them this way. You may want to subtly see if there is someone else with a bit more experience with fills. Just a thought. :guess I am sure there are plenty of others on this site with much more experience than me that can help more. Best of luck to you.

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Hello all, Well at long last I am back. For those of you that don't know me I am the first of the Lucky #7s to be banded if I remember correctly (actually banded 6/19 - they had a cancellation so I went in June instead of July). I have been lurking for about a week now. Trying to catch up on what is going on here with the Lucky #7s. I was gone for the summer at camp and didn't have easy internet access so I was pretty much MIA all summer. Well we have closed up camp and I am now home for good. I have started school. I homeschool my kids! Yes I am crazy :speechles. I look forward to "meeting" all of you who have joined since I left for the summer As far as my band journey... I had my 2nd fill on 8/31. Thanks goodness. The first one did nothing and I had stopped losing. This 2nd fill seems to have helped and I have lost a bit of weight. It certainly has slowed my eating down considerably. I have to take much smaller bites now. This is good though. I have to say, had I had this restriction right away it would have been quite the shock. I am glad that I was able to ease into it over a period of 2 months. My surgeon does the fills (she's done over 1,000 fills). She is so fast it's not even funny. Before I know it she is done. No pain, just a little prick. Heck giving blood is worse than getting a fill. An interesting note. When I had my surgery I had to have a hiatal hernia repair as well. My surgeon told me on Friday when I was there that she has noticed in her practice that those that she has to do a hiatal hernia repair on for some reason it takes longer to get to the right restriction. She doesn't know why she just knows that is what she is seeing. So it looks like it may be a bit slower for me but that is fine. I knew this wasn't going to be a sprint but a marathon! Sorry for being so long winded just wanted to catch up. I hope everyone's journey is going well thus far. Just remember we are in the very beginning so it's going to take TIME. The word "Patience" should be printed on our foreheads for this time.... Looking forward to reading and keeping up with everyone now that I am back. BreadLady

I haven't been around for a while been away at camp. I just read your post and wanted to reply. Had my surgery 6/19/07. Had my first fill this past Friday. Don't worry. I am somewhat down in the dumps because I can eat so much. I just ate a all but one piece of a whole small pizza minus some of the crust :hungry:. Yes I have lost 25lbs. but that was mainly in the first month. Now the weight loss is crawling but my doctor said not to worry. I have to get the right restriction before it will come off as it should. I have read that sometimes it takes 3 or more fills before you get to that "sweet spot". Just be patient. Remember you are at the beginning of your journey :whoo:. The weight loss will come. Personally I am not starving myself. I eat until I am satisfied. Most of the time it is more than I would like but I know in time it will get on track. I am exercising so I know that I am doing a good thing. Even though I can eat more than I should I still don't eat the huge amounts I used to eat. I hope this helps. :confused:

Hello everyone! Many of you probably don't know me. Those of you who do. I miss you all terribly. I will be back online on a regular basis after Labor day! I look forward to catching up. I had to drive in to town from camp and am at Starbucks just to download my e-mail. It's not as bad as it sounds. I love the simplicity of my summer life Everyone should have had their surgery by now. I hope everyone had a good experience. Update on me (if you are interested): I am down 25lbs. Pretty good. I feel better. Sadly:rolleyes, I can eat anything I want. Bread, chicken, salad. All those things they say can be hard to get down. No problem here! I have my first fill in 2 days (Friday). I can't wait - seriously. It's crazy how much I can eat. Not as much as before but pretty darn close! I hope the fill cuts down on the quantity I can eat. My weight loss has slowed down and I sure hope that the fill helps with this. I PB'd a few weeks ago. Never want to experience that again! It was not pleasant! Going to California next week. Hopefully the hotel will have wireless internet and I can catch up here. Otherwise I won't be back on until probably after Labor day. To everyone - I hope the rest of your summer is GREAT!!!! All the best to everyone. BreadLady

I know I am away on vacation. But I miss you guys. I miss all the posts asking me questions :cry. I've lost 14 lbs. since surgery!!!!!!! Havent' put it in my ticker yet as I am waiting for the official weigh in on Monday at the surgeon's office. Yes 14lbs. in 1 week. Not too shabby! Dini - I do hope you are feeling better. If I recall Thursday was my worst day then it started to go uphill! I think about you alot during the days hoping you are progressing well. Chimboree - I love the bracelet. Can you just order the ID tag without the bracelet? I make jewelry so I figure I could make my own bracelet. Let me know. It is very nice. Nelli - Thank you so much for the kind words. Snaggletooth - So glad I could give someone a chuckle :girl_hug: PattiC - 7:30 a.m. surgery that is good! It's always best to be first on the schedule - because they aren't backed up from other surgeries yet. Plus less time stressing for you. It will be here before you know it. ! Lynette617 - I am having a good time. It's been very hot in the 90s. I don't dare swim yet. When I see my surgeon on Monday for follow-up I will make sure all is good then I will hopefully be swimming. Right now my daughter comes up to me and gives me great big hugs and that cools me off because she is soaking wet from the lake. That's as far as I want to go at this point. I am so excited for you. You are going to do great next week. I'll check-in again tomorrow. All the best to everyone!

Just zoomed through the posts hoping Dini had posted. Marcyinak - Love the Pics Chimboree - You are so furtunate that you got samples like that. I would have loved that. Spent alot of $$$ trying to find something I could tolerate. Lynette - Are you getting psyched! Wait til the day b efore you will be beside yourself. To everyone else...Here's my report thus far I have to be quick my kids are waiting at the lake to go in the water :eek: Liquids get better each day. In that you aren't as hungry as each day passes. I am doing awesome. My 2 friends who know I had the surgery said you would never know I had this a week ago. I feel good. Some pain at port site when I bend down and don't hold the spot. Someone asked about the gas. I was blowing like a trumpet all last week. No smell at least. Now I'm in the stage of I finally pooped (liquid in/liquid out). And the gas now stinks to high heavens. I don't know why. As far as the should gas pain. I did have it. I was uncomfortable but bearable. Just use the Gas-X for it. It does work. Must go now. I will try and check in again. Miss you all. I will be sitting next to the lake while my kids swim. Maybe I'll sweat more weight off. Lost 17lbs. thus far.

I am sitting here parked outside a building at camp that I know I can get wireless internet at. I feel like a spy or something! LOL! I tried so hard to get somewhere so I could get online early enough. I am so sorry I missed you. I tried IM'ing you - you must be TRYING to sleep. I hope you have more luck than I did the night before surgery. Please know I am praying for you:pray2: tomorrow and the rest of the week of course. I hope all goes wonderfully well for you. I know it will! Just remember Walk, Walk, Walk!!! I can't wait to log on again and hear how it went. Hello everyone else. Hope everyone else is doing well. Just in case I don't get back online before you have your surgery.... Lynette617, Laurend, Bobbert's Mom, MrsHorne, Cherrybomb I will be thinking of all of you next week. Hope everything goes as smooth as can be. Lynette so glad to hear the Relay for Life went so well. We just volunteered at our local on 2 weekends ago. Talk to you all soon I hope. I am exhausted - I did a lot today. But I was able to do it. I don't feel like I did too much either. I mean I am tired but that's it. Tomorrow is only a week for me since surgery. So you all have a speedy recovery to look forward to. Good night. :notagree