Rebeccalee

I was so scared at first that I ate very tiny bites and chewed them to liquid. I also think that you had a fill too early. The stomach can stay swollen quite a while, and you need to be eating solids for a while to even know if a fill is needed. I had restriction without a fill, but my doctor wanted me to be very successful, so he talked me into a fill. I had 2 months of trouble (going back on liquids for a month, too) and now have no fill at all, which is what I need right now. I know you are loving the quick weight loss -- and you are doing fantastic! -- but the trouble you are having is very dangerous. You have hardly healed and you are vomiting often. This is a perfect set-up for a slippage. Have you told your doctor that this is happening? I think you should if you haven't. You want your band to be in good shape for the long term, you will need it later. Hope things settle down for you soon. Your family is your best support group, so listen to them about how things are really going. Congratulations on the great loss so far. Now make that band work the way it is supposed to! :Bunny

I'd say that's a NSV, Ryan. Any step forward or awareness of what we've accomplished is a real victory. Good for you!

That angora scarf sounds lovely. I used to spin yarn and my favorite was alpaca. It's soft. I used to crochet and sew all kinds of things to give away and to sell at bazaars when my kids were little. I also hope to learn to do some more advanced knitting soon. I bought a book that will help. I know how to knit a little, but have never practiced enough to get good at it. I was also hoping to join a small group and learn more from that. I like picking up this hobby again.

Hope to see you back soon after a very happy holiday.

Have a wonderful holiday with your family. Those babies sure grow up fast, especially when we don't see them very often.

Hi Patty, Great to have you here at LBT. You have such a good plan of how to use it. I live a bit north of you in Eureka.

I agree with Vera. Get into some tight jeans NOW! You have lost a LOT of weight and you can't hide it anymore! Silly girl! As the loss slows and we feel like we struggle for every pound, it can start to feel like we have so much more to lose. Others can still see the difference, though. Take the compliments as a reinforcement that you really are changing. You are sure to change a lot more by spring.

April will work for me. I will be in Mexico all summer taking language classes. I plan to come out to Kansas this spring anyway to see my grandson. I used to post on Spotlight until I found LBT.

Good job you two. It is a real acheivement to lose with all the temptations around.

That's a lovely picture, Vera, and you have a lovely family. You look so beautiful, too. Have a good holiday.

My husband is a heat machine, too. Toasty toes! When I moved to Missouri for a year, I did some VERY California girl things. First, when the windshield was frozen and people were scaping away at 7 in the a.m. I wondered why they didn't do what we do in California. So I threw a pitcher of warm Water on my windshield. Had to drive home with a half inch of ice on it! I used to stomp on the mud puddles and couldn't believe the icy sheet on top wouldn't crack off. They were frozen all the way through -- just like the creek we walked on. We always got a new hat, mittens and scarf for Christmas, but rarely used them unless we went to the mountains to play in the snow, which we did every year. In Missouri my nostils got icicles -- REALLY! -- and I realized what scarves were for. I know this is all old hat to you snow dwellers, but it was all amazing to me!

My doctor told me to come back in January or February since I have not been able to go off Nexium. I get pain if I stop it. I think there is a problem of some sort in my esophagus. I don't have a fill, so it may be that my band has always been too tight a fit for my fat stomach. Doc is taking my complaints a little more seriously now, but thinks I might be just eating too much. I hope he does a test after I see him. I'm going to try going off Nexium after Christmas. That's interesting information to have, since I have some trouble swallowing when I don't take Nexium. Thanks for the info, Babs.

It warmed up here with the rain, so it's much better. I am cold all the time, too. Half the clothes I bought recently were sweaters and coats. Sorry you guys are so cold. Stay inside and bundle up.

That was beautiful, Leatha. It reminded me of Vera's photo jam. I love all the scenes and the details that were added. Thank You!

I heard a song the other day that is called "Buttcracker Suite." I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP! Our local station plays great alternative stuff. This one was to the music of the Nutcracker Suite and was a plea for the end of buttcrack displays.

That's fantastic, Pat! That beginning drop is such a boost. Lauri, 3 lbs. is awesome! Everyone else is doing great, too! Just staying the same at this time of the year is good.

I wore those anti-sag garments last night to the party. Good for you for getting on that treadmill, Darcy . Hope your foot is better soon, Betty. Nana, I feel for you with the sciatica. I had that so bad a year ago I thought I'd die. Now it is a rare thing and nowhere near as bad. I hope yours improves like mine has. Well, my walking did help. I didn't go up the scale, really. I'm at 173 this morning. That's one up from my signature, so I can live with that. I don't remember what last Monday's was, but I'm happy that I haven't gained what I deserved to gain! Maybe DH will continue to walk me this week.

Welcome back, Greg! Ready for Monday morning weigh-in? I'm not at all! I went to a Christmas party last night and I'm going to the Harley Christmas party tonight. It will not be pretty in the morning. Sigh.... DH did take me for a walk last night and tonight. That's 3 walks this week, which is much better. I hope it helps.

You look fantastic, Audrey! What a big difference. Way to go!

Beets or a prune work for me. I just have them as a snack.

Putting solid food in your pouch can put pressure on the tissues that are trying to heal. I believe scar tissues forms with the band to help hold it in place. If this does not heal properly, there is theoretically a chance that your band could slip later from not being secured well. Some doctors allow eating much sooner than others, so it might be just fine for you to eat at this point. It's not an exact science. Have you tried going no carb for a while? It takes a few days to get passed the hunger, but most people then have little hunger at that point. I don't know if that works for everyone. Hope your recovery continues to go well and your first fill helps with the hunger.

I was so scared for weeks before my surgery that I kind of shut down my emotions and went numb. I actually didn't think I'd make it. I was afraid I'd chicken out! It went extremely well, though. I had no reason to worry at all.

My DH was not at all happy when my surgeon decided that my insurance didn't pay enough. By law they are supposed to accept it as full payment (with my 25% copay) but he had charged $5000 up front, so he sent the insurance money back and I got to pay it all. Even when it is a smaller amount, it is hard earned money. That's why we work our butts off at jobs that give us medical benefits. I don't like surprises after I've planned for a certain amount, either.

I take a Nexium capsule every morning. Sometimes it gets stuck for a second. I should probably switch to taking it at night when I am looser, but am afraid I'll forget it. I take it with a warm beverage to melt it.

Hang in there, Teresa. It sounds like you are doing everything right. It just is a difficult time of the year -- and this is the first banded holiday season for most of us. I sure hear you about the wide open eating at night. If I don't eat much during the day, I get ravenous and am surprised at how much I can eat, unless, of course, it is nice hard meat, which is never more than half a cup. I recently found out that I can eat quite a few Fritos and somehow they just slide through. Oh, and cashews, too, but I've known that for quite a while now.