Rebeccalee

Alex, that is not a happy scene. I hope you are feeling better. I would hate to give up Chinese food. Actually, my husband has some chow mein in the fridge left from a couple nights ago. It keeps calling to me to try it. I ate chicken noodle Soup and it went through. I am just starting to try foods that often get stuck. I'm a chicken. :nervous: I haven't even pb'd yet. Hope that never happens to you again.

I knew you had leathers, Betty. I figured your next pic might show you in them. I'm waiting to get chaps next spring when my legs aren't so big. :cheeky: I am really sad that my jacket is getting way too big. It's a really expensive one and it's longer with side zipper plackets and a fitted waist. I'm going to have to give it up soon. It's even personalized with a big scrape on the shoulder where I crashed. OUCH! I might have to save it for a while even if I can't wear it.

Geez! You and Delarla could start a construction business and make lots of money! That is so awesome that you can do that huge project. I can do lots of repairs and build some things, but that is a HUGE project. Hope it is fun, too.

I ate regular sugarfree fudgcicles. I think they have fewer calories and less fat, but I don't remember. I alternated between those and popcicles and sure enjoyed them.

Glad everything went so well. Isn't that pain medicine great, even though it doesn't take it all away. Hope you are feeling better each day. I am soooo disappointed that we won't have any pics of your husband shaving your legs. I'm sure you can send us pics of other experiences along the way. Welcome to the banded side.

Good luck with your surgery, Andrea. Post some pics of your husband shaving your legs. Pleeeeeease!

Wow, Kathy. There is a big difference. You look great. The new hair style looks fantastic, too, really shows off your narrow face.

That is such a beautiful place, Penni. And you are just beaming! :cheeky: Hey, a fantasy bash in Jamaica! I am pouting 'cause I can't go to Vegas. Have to ride bikes with hubby to see a bunch of lighthouses in Oregon. My life is sooo hard. ha Oops! Jamaica is on the news right now. Glad you are HOME, Penni!

OMG! Your bike is exactly what I want! And you are one cool biker mama. I love your dark hair. Those are great pics. You'll have to post one of you all "leathered up" next. I was trying to remember if you have a date yet???? Boy, I wish I could remember things! (and I'm applying for a master's degree program next week -- sheesh! -- old age sucks!)

Hi Nancy, I am the same weight and height as you 5' 4" at 197. I carry my weight low, my belly was the first thing to go (along with half my boobs .) I wear 18 jeans and they are kinda loose. I can put on 16s but they are tight on the belly so I don't wear them yet. I wear XL and L tshirts, but not sure what size blouses. I'm trying not to buy any new clothes until I lose more weight. I think my bones must weigh a lot. Sizes are so strange. Have you tried KMart? Their jeans seem to run big. Go in and try them on for kicks, no need to buy any. :guess:

Congratulations! You have worked hard to get here. And all the jumping for joy will probably take off another pound! Maybe we'll all lose a pound jumping for joy -- now that's a bandster party! :banana: :banana:

Hi Ladies, I'm not doing so well. I have a call in to my doctor, but haven't heard from him yet. I think he's in Hawaii. For the last week, I've been having discomfort in my throat, like something is stuck, but it isn't. It doesn't feel good to swallow. I thought it was increased pressure due to postnasal congestion coupled with the band pressure. Sometimes I cough against it, like a lump in the middle of my throat but not like the painful golfball, not as intense. Now I have a sore throat (not unusual with my allergies) and I have a weird pressure, churning feeling around my band, so the discomfort has moved down. I tried not eating today, but then ate a little. It puts so much pressure on my throat and chest after I eat that I'm watching the clock until I can wash it down an hour later. It doesn't totally go away but is worse after I eat. I've been hungrier lately but can't eat more than half a cup, and maybe even less. I don't taste reflux and didn't feel burning, except woke up today with a sore throat that might be burning, I don't know. What a bummer! I feel pretty bad right now. Can't say it is pain because it is so dull, but it doesn't feel good. I'm going to ask my doctor for a test when he calls and I just took a Nexium and I'll start taking that again. I took it for several weeks after surgery, which is routine for my doctor. Sorry to be such a bummer. At least I lost the couple lbs. I gained over our last trip. But now I'm kinda worried. Sigh....

Hey Darcy, I got one of those digital scales and didn't like those partial pounds at all. :straight: So I made a deal with myself. I round down. ALWAYS! :guess: So, on my scale, you just lost a pound! I figure it all works out in the end.

It sounds like we all have those feelings! Some days I feel like a tub. Lately, though, I actually have to remind myself that I am still too heavy. I feel so much lighter and start to worry that I will let loose and start eating, forgetting my committment to weight loss. So I remind myself that I still weigh about 200 lbs., which means I have a long way to go. I think it's a reality check, doesn't really make me feel bad. I think some of us go through emotional cycles even without the monthly ones.

How awful! I'm glad you know what caused it. Hope your recovery is quick and easy. That would be so scary!

I used a half cup measure to get an idea at first. Then I'd plop it on a plate or in a bowl to see how it looked. I also measured how much Water fit in different dishes so I'd know what would fit in them. My favorite is to eat out of chinese tea cups. Mine can hold half a cup exactly when filled level with the top. I love using them, too! I have a lipped tea saucer that nicely holds that much, too. I use a regular salad plate for dinner. Since I've stopped measuring I know I am eating more sometimes.

Carmen, I too feel the pain with a tortilla! I stay away from those things! I haven't tested bread except for a tiny bite once. I'm scared! :nervous But I bet I could eat it. I was eyeing a cinnamon roll my husband made (from the refrigerator tube) and wanted to try it...but I chickened out. I think I'll try a bite of chow mein tomorrow. Hate to think that I'll have to skip my next meal if it hurts! Then I'll try bread. Hmmmm.....this could lead to trouble!

Hi Kim, Sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. I had a slow recovery, too. I felt sooo exhausted and felt like a whimp. BUT I am 3 months out and have my energy back and more. I feel so much better and am so glad that phase is behind me. Hoping your rough phase passes quickly.

What a great birthday picture and lots of happy memories!

We saw Ann Wilson and Heart at the Sturgis bike rally in August. She looked like she had lost more and she looked great! The difference from her top weight is amazing and has probably made her life a lot easier.

Hi all! We got back yesterday from a motorcycle trip to a lake in Oregon (from CA) and we had a great time. Too good, in fact. This is the first time I think I've gained weight since banding. OUCH! I'll weigh officially on Thursday, but I think a couple found me again. I called my doc and set up a fill appt for next week. Then ran to the computer store to fix my dead computer's power cord. It went down the day we left town and I was anxious to get it fixed the whole weekend. Today I'm gonna try to be good. Good to be back to the board and see how you are all doing. Hang in there, Betty. It will go so fast your head will be spinning. Gotta get ready for school!

No wonder men think we take forever to get ready.

I am on the verge of giving up my daily (many times daily) bounce on the scale. I have been more lenient with myself lately and think my weight loss has stopped. While this is not a catastophe, it does have me on an emotional roller coaster. I am now ready to get serious about REGULAR exercise. I also am going to cut out the extra carbs. I've gradually doubled my intake in the past couple weeks. My official weigh-in day is Thursday, the day I was banded. This Thursday we will be leaving town until Monday, so I will be away from the scale. It will be a good time to start. I think I'll move down to 2 times a week. Once on Monday and once on Thursday. At least that is progress. For now, I am cutting the carbs and snacks, unless a snack is needed. Deep breath....here I go.... Oh, I was thinking of getting a fill, but decided to make these adjustments first and wait another month. I still feel pressure/fullness in my esophagus and don't like the feeling, so I don't want to make it worse. I don't eat more than half a cup, usually, so it isn't pouch-packing, it's just that my throat is sensitive due to my hayfever and I think it is rather narrow. Anyway, trying to adjust my habits first, so I can tell if I need a fill. It's so great to have these boards so I know that the ups and downs are normal. I wouldn't know what to do at this point if it weren't for others who are willing to share their experiences -- the good and the bad. Thanks to all of you for sharing.

Glad everything went well for you. The discomfort sitting will get better soon. After my surgery my 2 belly rolls squeezed my port between them, so I had to recline while driving and keep my pants unzipped quite a bit. It didn't take too long to get better. Hope you feel better each day.

My cat was under the house fighting with another cat today and I just wanted to climb under there and pull her out and tell her about the poor kitty who lost her eye. I hate cat fighting. I drank lots of water today and did well with eating, no snacking. Then we went with a group on a motorcycle run to dinner. I ate half a tamale, the chicken out of an enchilada and a few beans. It seemed like I ate a TON! I also drank half a screwdriver and felt a bit tipsy and gave the rest away. What a light-weight! It felt good to go out and feel like a normal person and no one said I ate funny or anything.