ja9va

Hello Gang! It has been a while since I posted and I see the thread is quiet too. I know some of you are regulars on other threads so hope you are doing well. I am hanging in there. All is going well, vacations are all over for the summer, so time for me to concentrate! I feel lucky that I have maintained my weight and not gained and will get back to basics now. As soon as this miserable weather changes, walks will pick up as well! I looked back at my last few posts and said I had 7.75cc, well when I went for my annual check, not so! To be honest, I will have to look back at my notes, but I think it was only 5 and I am still at 5-6 cc. I think it is so true that the numbers really don't matter, it is how you feel and how you handle your eating. Talk to you all soon!!! Stay COOL!

suzzzie, what size would be a medium and large? I wear a 10 and one of my step daughters a 7. she would love them! insub how brave you are and independent! what is your background, education? how long will you be gone? will you keep a home where you live now or rent it? I hope you don't mind the questions, but it sounds great. Be sure to send us some photo links and drop in, even if monthly! I am glad you were able to tip off your fill, hopefully it will all work out fine. bigbaby did you turn 40 yet? I will be 50 next year! My dream trip is to Ireland. I need to start saving too. Both my parents were Irish and extended family from Ireland. I always wanted to go. I always dreamed of going with my mom, sisters and neice( only girl) but my Mom passed away and my sister is afraid to fly! So, I may go with some cousins. we shall see, but I will be going! My son's 20th Birthday was yesterday and we had chinese food. I actually was able to eat a fried wonton and some rice and chicken dish. could not beleive it since I struggled with half of a baked potato at lunch! the band is so picky! have a great day, stay cool. It was 99 here yesterday and expected today, YUK!

Hello all Junies!! I am not sure why I have not been posting, I usually would make time every morning to do just that. I kept thinking of you all and wondering how you were hanging in there! Yes the heat has arrived! It is close to 100 here in VA and I am indoors today. We went to a neighbors for a cook out and I felt like I was the only one wiping my face! I ended up drinking to much wine chatting away. I actually could eat a half a burger on the plate with some coleslaw and potato salad. My eating has been up and down. I can eat one day and then next nothing will go down. I can drink fine, but there are times I can feel it going through. I thought of an unfill but decided to slow down and chew better. I really don't want to stop the resistance but I don't want a slip either. Insub, how exciting! I agree with a quick tiny fill now, you will have two weeks to watch it. Are you having days when you can't eat like I said above? if you are having more struggles now than I would not. Ask your doctor if they have any resources for doctors where you are traveling? there are band doctor's around the world if you should have an emergency. Rhonda, I am sorry for the rough times. what did they say about the future? Susssie you are as funny as usual. I loved your flip flops, what size are they? well, need to run, promise to be back... you are all doing great, and Karla, WOW!

Diane, thanks for the nice comments. I wish I was doing better too! I have been at the same place, 190 FOREVER!!!! I hit 189 for a glimse! what is strange is that I have not been eating that much and it is stuck on me. i know the key is exercise which has been a struggle with me. I need to do that. BUT having said all that, I am happy that I am where I am and how different I feel from a year ago. Do you have any problems with food going down now? dont get to tight. I am thinking of getting a slight unfill. I keep waiting to see. I guess I don't want to get to loose, but food is difficult to go down and there is no way I can drink carbonated drinks, they girgle up. I am not a soda drinker, but I tried tonic water and beer, and nope since my last fill. I also can't drink to fast and it gets stuck. but if I watch what I am doing it is ok. strange!

good morning everyone!!! bigbaby you look wonderful! I am impressed! I am glad you are feeling great. beckie glad all went well with the port. Keep us posted. It is remarkable what they can do! suzzzie how are you doing? how is your mouth? Dentist,,,,hate it! worse than the band surgery! ginger sorry to hear about your insurance challenges! I am still working on my bills with the doctor's office and hospital. My surgery itself finally is complete, I think I paid about $200 after insurance. But all my visits and fills since then is pending. it is either the doctor's office or the insurance company messing up. it is a nightmare trying to navigate through, but I am confident it will eventually be paid. hang in there. I am off to a wedding tomorrow in WVA. I am excited about the weekend away. it will be fun, just my dh and me. Hello Stef out there!!

Rhonda thanks for the recipe. there is no flour? sounds like cooked peanut butter! suzzzie have you not heard from Stef? where are you stef?? I know she is ok and out there reading and supporting. How is your week going? I have had struggles eating all week after my last fill and don't want to hurt the band. I might call the doc for a slight unfill. what do you all think? i can drink fluids, just difficult with any other food. it eventually goes down but there is a lot of struggle and some pain. Well, Friday again..Father's Day too. Not sure what we are doing yet. hope you all have fun plans.

Lisa you look GREAT!! Good luck in Grad school. kiz good luck with your decision. I went to Commonwealth Surgeons and have friends I met through the band that went to Richmond, they both have their personality differences, however both are great groups to chose from. Is it HOT enough for all you Virginians!! Hopefully the steamy weather will change tonight!

cher I agree about the motivation and the time it takes. I really just need to keep focused and keep going. My biggest barrier that I set for myself is exercise. I am not sure what my problem is there... really don't. but hopefully I will have a light bulb moment. My friend went to a life coach, but it is not covered under insurance so that is not an option at this time for me. do you work for a lap band surgical group? I think that helping others would help you too.

NSV I went shopping yesterday and bought two dresses for an upcoming wedding, size 10 and 12!!! I was so excited. Not sure which one I will wear. It is HOT HOT HOT here. not sure how long this early heat wave will be over us. Hope you all have a great weekend. stef, i hope you are doing ok....we miss you..but know you will be back with your great insite.

iteach Hang in there!! It will get better. I was just telling someone how I disliked those shakes! Look for some good recipes. there is a thread on here. I usually will get a slimfast protein brand, I like them. Some taste like chalk! well TFIF...

Wow insub...you gave me goosebumps reading your NSV'S!!!! Please keep in touch when you travel. if you have no kids this is the time to do it!! suzzzie You are to funny! I don't do those short term goals, or at least don't publically because I feel to much pressure which then results in a gain. I did not know about the 40% or 50% in a year expectation that wombat is talking about until I went for my anniversary fill Tuesday. So, I will accept the 49lb weight loss and move on!! My goal would be to be at my 169/165 weight loss by December! that will be another half a year! Of course I would love it if I was there earlier. I to am tall. I hate hearing people say, "are you at goal?" I still weigh 190! bandaversary!!!!!!! :cool:I took this afternoon off and I am meeting two ladies I met on this site for lunch. We try to get together when we can. We email and chat on line. Both are doing well too. Then on Monday I am meeting another band friend for dinner! it is funny because we have to plan to go somewhere we can at least eat something. I was hoping to buy a new wedding band and reset another ring, but that will be when I meet my goal weight! Have a great weekend!! STay cool, VERY HOT here in VA.

Good Morning all... I received a letter from the ARP this week...not funny! I told my dh to shred it. I am still hanging on to my 40's at 49! Cher, are you a life coach or counselor? I am in the social work field. It is funny how we can help others but hard to help ourselves at times! that makes us real and helpful to others. I really hope I can get to your weight soon. How long did it take you to get to 166? How long have you been there? I guess I am trying to provide myself with realistic goals. I know it is not going to fly off like it would if I was 29! Meri, I agree about the liquids. I went in for a flouro this week to have a check on the band, at least that was my reason for going for my bandaversary, Saturday!!! I was having plenty of restriction, but then I was told I had 6.5cc in when I was under the assumption it was 8.5cc.My NP said I never had that. She then "tweaked" it as she put it, when the bariam went down ok. but I should have said NO, but let her do it anyway. If it gets to restricted I will go back in. I agree, you don't want it to the point that you can't drink and can't eat at all. Ollie, how are you doing? when is your fill appointment?

welcome babs!! I was fortunate that I did not have to go through the 6 month nutrition requirment. But I know that Dr. Schroders' office staff are good and I am sure the person you are seeing is good. Maybe others would know more. I am coming up on my one year anniversary! I can't beleive it. I am about 2/3 to goal, which I heard this week is more than expected. the expectation is 50%. I want more and was hoping to be at my goal, but the band is like other diets in some ways, you can eat bad things that don't benefit your weihgt loss. you ahve to be careful. My goal will be to reach the goal weight by the end of the summer! I need to beef up my exercise!

Wow Gen... you are doing FANTASTIC!! My banaversary is Saturday. We are going to my friends for a cook out on her patio, it is going to be HOT, 96!! She knows I have the band, but our other friends she may invite do not and is very opinionated, that is why I never told her. It is hard not to tell your close friends when you can't eat, they don't hesitate to say, " why aren't you eating" !! I'll give her another glass of wine and maybe she will chill! I am off today but got up and walked with my husband. it was really nice!

Lucy...I understand your feelings for my weight has been similar..we have to keep going and know that eventually our brains will kick in gear!! toni WELCOME BACK....I AM SO GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU... I agree with Suzzzie and others, the band remains inside you, think about starting over, go to a nutritionist and know you can do it!!! holli, glad to see you post too, sorry to hear about the fire..yuk keep in touch you are doing great missy...how scary for you and your daughter. I thought of this when I ran upstairs one night to close and lock a window in the room where my 2 year old grandaughter was sleeping. she is terrible 2's. I am glad it all worked out. big baby, suzzzie and others, our sizes are going downnnnnnnnnn, it is great to have that feeling! kt I to have had a strange appt. with my doc yesterday for a flouro. I always thought I was up to 8.5. I had asked for a flouro for my one year to ensure no stretching or that the band was all OK! they checked my fluid and said it was the same, 6.5 not 8.5!!! I was a bit shocked. she added a "tweak" as she puts it, so I am thinking now 7. My dr does not like us to get caught up in numbers but how we feel, but I was totally off. I am hoping being on liquids and soft foods will kick my weight loss. I was up 3lbs!!! I was so bummed when I left. Karla, sorry to here about your upcoming surgery... one step at a time. keep us posted for some of us will have to face othe surgeries in bandland! well, off to work...

good morning gang!! I went to see Sex and the City last night with a girlfriend. It was GREAT. I enjoyed it. I did get popcorn, but only ate half of it, but this morning the scale is up 3lbs!!!! I am so pi--ed! I really am getting frustrated with that square plate that delivers the sometimes BAD news!! the frustrating thing is that I have not been eating that much either, so I don't get it. okay...no more wining. I did have some positive stuff, fit into size 14 capris and dress pants. I was happy with that! hope all is going well with you guys.. where has Stef been this week? Suzzie and Rhonda you are doing great and a positive support on here. Jamie that is outstanding!!

welcome coppercorrie you sound like you have good restriction. I never had the morning tightness in that way, but many do. I seem to have more of an issue with dinner. But that may be due to the types of food you eat at dinner vs the other two meals. I have 8.5 or 8.75 in my band after maybe 4/5 fills. I am coming up on my one year. I think this is the sweet spot that everyone talks about. I can feel water go down if I drink it to fast. I can't eat many foods, but I relate that more to me not eating correctly. I think for me this is the hardest habit to break, eating to fast and not chewing! acstllns you are busy! hang in there and it will be great. I get frustrated sometiems that the wieght hasn't dropped off as quickly as others, but I know that is due to me not exercising enough and eating poor choices. For even with the band, you can make bad food choices or snack. I have two grand children, ages 2 and 1 month. I am holding my grandson in the photo. well, have a great week, talk to you all soon.

wow, you all sound like I have been feeling!!!! I am wondering if it is the annual day coming up and us hoping that we were in a better place; having our eating controlled, making all good choices, and have lost most of our weight?? I know intellectually this is not going to happen this way, but our hearts want it anyway. We need a Pep talk to rev up our spirits for the year to come! to revitalize ourselves. Getting back to our basics and why we became bandland friends... beckie t, how will the saline stay in there if they take off the port? I think it is scary that you have had the staph infection this long, that can be very serious and life threatening. I am glad there is an end to it for you. we are here, you still have the band, regardless of saline!

Nana to Nana My added photo is me with my new grandson, now a month old!! he is growing to, now 10lbs! This is # 2 for me. How many grandchildren do you have? My son is young but him and his wife are doing really well. I can now run around the yard with my grandaughter with out heaving over! luv You are doing great and I feel the same about how I feel better, but you seem to be better at the exercisign than I. what do you do? I can't seem to get beyond that 50lb loss mark...ugh!

Meliss that happened to me last week. I have been wearing a pair of jeans, Gap size 16, and they pulled right off. I also tossed a pair of black jeans from Old Navy, size 14. I can't fit into a 12, but some brands fit different. I would love to be in a 12!! GREAT for you too!!! Cher...wow you are doing great... I am so stuck losing my last 30lbs. I really get frustrated. I also know that I have not been exercising the way I should at age 49! the weight will not come off with eating changes alone...why can't I get that. ?? I think after one year I am in a slump and need a kick in the a--!!!

Welcome Cathy and good luck on your band journey! You will be happy with your decision. Idol fans....GO COOK!!!! I liked David A, but felt David Cook was better, more diverse. Archuleta sang the same way every week, he will have a successful career too. What did you think of the show? what was with Carly's black hose all night, not good. I like her, being and Irish gal too, but I agree with Simon that she does not dress the best for the show! Off to work..have a great day.

GOODLUCK Scarlet!! Keep us posted. Oregon glad you are doing well.I wish I took notes of my progress, because I can't remember the swelling or tender port. I felt good after a couple days and went back to work. you will do fine! miss meliss You are doing great! the clothes will get loose soon. How are you doing with your eating? bandfan Your tickler says 20 more days, that is why I was not sure you had the band yet, I did not go back on the thread to know. Your weight is where I started at too, just above 80 lbs. I am happy to have lost almost 50, but 80 would make me happier!

suzzzie thanks for you sense of humor. I snacked my night away and today is a new day! I did not feel the best this morning, which I deserve! I wish I could cut out the snacking. bigbaby In Virginia the schools have a similar process called the SOL, Standard of Learning. They start in Elementary school. The teachers changed their entire method of teaching to meet the outcomes on the SOL, not to meet the needs of the students. If the school's average does not meet the standard, they get less state funds. it is crazy! I understand they don't want a student to graduate if they can't read, but it is so money driven that the kids lose out big time. My youngest son was the first class that needed to pass to graduate. I was stressen. Glad it all worked out! I don't plan to hit the scale for a few days. I need to get myself under control so when I get on if it is up, I can handle it in a positive way!

suzzzie I am not perfect, but read others who had that happen, maybe due to the differenct of being to tight and then eating the way you should. I bet those three lbs will be gone by Friday! I am having a stressful day. I have a new tile floor kitchen and broke my first glass item on it, AN ENTIRE BOTTLE OF WINE!!! NOT FUN CLEANING UP!! Maybe that is a sign. I am having problems with my 19 year old son, not working, stopped going to school for the second time. I am really frustrated. My dh is his step dad and can't understand why I am leaving him live at home...but it is hard, he is my youngest but this can't go on forever.... life goes on with the band, hard to break the stress eating/drinking... sorry for the VENT!

You all are inspiring. I was looking on the site for a "how to begin running group!" I had been a steady walker and for some reason my exercise regime has gone down the toilet! what is the program you all follow?? I could really need some help. Kim, where in VA? I have been reading all about the Marine Half Marathon this weekend and have this urge to get my butt moving, running.. maybe next year I can do it!! I know some folks running and I am jealous that I am so stuck! My weight loss has been very slow and I know it is age and lack of exercise. now with the weather finally changing it is the ideal time! I am excited to find this thread! I went back and read some pages, and you are all amazing.