Marimaru

There are some 'lower' jeans for bigger folks now. They aren't hip huggers, but they are just a couple of inches lower than regular ones. I think they are called "low cut", but they still aren't that low. Even now at almost 2 years out, when my port isn't bothering me, I still like them better cuz you don't get cut off at the waiste when you sit down. My port is on my waistline just to the left. My doctor said "I did that on purpose, because it's not going to be your waistline anymore". Yeesh. I wore elastic waistbands for a good few months before even trying jeans. Stretch jeans that aren't too tight might fare better too.

I agree with Crystal... you'll slow down, lol. But in the meantime, the toothpic idea is a good one, or at least, cut up the tiny bites and only put one bite on the fork at a time. If it were me, I'd take baby steps. If you are wolfing down your food, time yourself between bites when eating NORMALLY, and then add 10 seconds in between each bite (yes, you'll have to count). Then when you get used to that add another 10 seconds. I have to do everything in baby steps or it's just all too big!

Kathy, the machines that you just hold or step on evidently depend greatly on adequate hydration, and your are supposed to be hydrated about the same every time you use them (or something). There's other tests you can have done, the one that comes to mind is the one where they dunk you in the Water. Not so convenient as the one you hold, but it's supposed to be more accurate. Can't wait to see the new pic!

Sometimes the meds are all a person needs, and sometimes not. It may be that your body got used to them, and you just need a little more. It may be that the what you were on was enough when your day was busy with all of your school stuff and you didn't have so much 'downtime'. (even cleaning can be downtime for the brain when the thoughts start rushing in). I felt just like you with the crying all the time n' stuff, and I was put on Welbutrin. My doctor said that if I ever feel like it's just not working like it did before, to let her know and she'll up my dosage. *hugs*

Angeleyes; starting a new exersize program can be insanely frustrating, because you don't lose weight at the start (usually). My dad tells me you need too look at it in cycles of THREE MONTHS to see how well you are doing. Who wants to wait that long ?!?! At least you are seeing the difference in your body!! Crystal, I'm so glad to hear your mom came through okay, and I'm glad that you can be home now with your family instead of at school by yourself. When you said you were thinking about taking a leave from school I thought it was a really good idea. I honestly think that if I were to find out I had a brain tumor, I would shut down for a week and not be able to speak or something. Have they decided how they are going to face that? Whatever they do, I'm sure that it has to be a very large part in the equation for your weight loss.... as for being back up towards your surgery weight... the silver lining is that you are still off your asthma meds right? *hugs* Melinda, generally the 'club' is for folks who've lost less than 50 lbs in the first year of banding, and it's kind of hard to tell where you'll end up this early out. Have you considered getting another fill? Do you count your calorie? If so, how many are you getting in? If not, maybe you should log your food for a day or two? It's a real eye opener sometimes. And of course... dun dun dun... exersize... >.<

There are a number of people who are at the "max", but the band can actually hold more than it advertises. The 4cc band can go up to 5ccs, and the 10cm band can go to 13, but it's only supposed to go over, if inamed is envolved (basically the doctor is supposed to inform them that they are going over so that it can be monitored).

How is everyone doing?

For things like that that I might not enter much, I just enter the calories for the ingedients "2 oz tuna, 1oz mayo" whatever... But if you eat those tuna packs alot, or anything alot, you can add them as a "Custom Food", and they'll be in the drop down there. :eek:

I told everyone in my family, lol. Fortunately, my family isn't all that judgemental (openly anyway, LOL). If it were me, and I didn't want someone to know, I'd just tell them I was on a diet. If they start nagging you about it, you *could* say, "You know, I talked to my doctor about this and we arranged a plan, so I know what I am doing this time, thank you". Alternately there's always things like saying you are on antibiotics that are making your stomach upset, etc. :eek: I hope this helps. It wasn't all that long ago that I realized that there are lots of people in my family that I would not choose to associate with if I wasn't related to them.

Another thing to add to Jaqui and Lisa's dialogue about what's available in different countries; I read an article a couple of days ago on MSNBC (In the diet and fitness section, just not going to grab the link right now), that the foods in fast food restaurants of THE SAME BRAND in outher countries is healthier!! They did a comparison in trans fat in one vs the other, it was pretty crazy to me. We had a co worker from Austria visit, and he said he couldn't believe the difference in quality from one McDonalds to the other (Austria vs US). Just thought that was interesting, so I shared.

I agree with everything you said Vines. My first fill was 2cc's, and I did have another fill after that, that was .6. A few months after my 2nd fill I started having first bite syndrome/esophogeal spasms (whatever), and in June I went for a little unfill. I still have the problem, and I wonder if it would have been better to sneak up on the fill a bit. I hardly ever get to sit down to dinner and just have dinner, I have to take a bite and wait.. or make sure there's Soup or something. Of course, it may have happened one way or the other, but one likes to speculate, LOL.

I've got both long term goals and mini goals. My first long term goal was 140, but then it occurred to me that I was about 15 lbs overweight when I was 11 and my dad weight me on the scale EVERY DAY (I'm not bitter), and I was 165. Well, I was a bit shorter then than I am now, so I figure 160 might actually be pretty good for me. So, now it's 140~160. 155 would put me in the normal BMI range, and I'd love to get there, but I don't have anything hanging on it. I would also probably die if I ever got into an 8. I'd be really happy at a 10. My mini goals look like this: 210 will be halfway to my 'original' final goal (left this mini goal alone) 199 (obviously) 180 will be 100 lbs lost 165 is what my dad always weighed me at, so it's kind of a mini goal then whenever after that I feel like I am happy with, is where I'll stay. Of course, that'll also depend on how much skin is removed if I have PS, lol. Of course it always feels good to knock down a BMI range. I just recently went from MO to just "Obese", which is neat.

Congratulations!

congratulations, you look great!!

The best advice I can give you, is if/when you are going to move, start calling band doctors in the area you are going to move to and find out if they will help you. Some doctors have no problem taking on other doctors' patients, but some wont touch 'em.

Corinna, I hope you start to feel better soon. I added your AIM to my buddy list. Mine is MysticTaeza. *hugs*

I would talk to your doctor first, just to be sure, but when mine were mostly fallen off, I rubbed them with a little rubbing alcohol and they came right off.

Mine says Adjustable Gastric Band No NG Tube without Scope See Wallet Card Obviously, if there were a real emergency, they probably wouldn't bother with the card, but I put it on there in case someone was looking for more information. I've always had my card in my wallet, but got a bracelet after an EMT posted on here that usually they wont bother to look through your wallet for a card, and it's highly likely your wallet wont even make it with you into the ER unless it was in your pocket. I also just have a plain stainless steal bracelet. The only time I've taken it off, was for my sisters wedding, and I was surrounded by people who knew about my band.

I don't really watch her show, but I have seen how she's yoyo'd throughout the years, and if anyone has worked as hard as her to lose weight so many times, I can imagine how demoralizing it is to be at goal, then to be close to your high weight, back and forth back and forth. I can see how learning about the band might change her views on WLS if it can keep her from gaining again. As for the tabloid, those stories start from somewhere, just like most rumors have a grain of truth to them.

Before I tell my story, I have spoken to my doctor about my gallbladder, and had an ultrasound and nothing was found. I need to push her for more tests, but I want to make sure it's 'something' before I make a big deal out of 'nothing'. I've had to 'sensations' in the last couple of weeks that have me a little concerned. Not "bad", mind you. Not "oh crap, I should go to the ER" but they just have me concerned.' Last week I was walking from work to the store, and my right side started hurting. I know this is where my gall bladder is, I've done alot of studying on the subject. It was very sore, and kind of throbby, and was slightly relieved when I held my hand to the area with a little pressure. It went away after about 30 minutes and some tums. Last night, I was standing at my mom's house getting ready to take her to the airport and my back started hurting when I would take a breath. I was just standing there, not carrying luggage or anything, so I don't think it's a muscle injury. Over the next half hour or so it got worse, not excruciating (sp), but to where even a decently shallow breath would cause the pain. When I was laying in bed (after I got home from the airport), when I took a deep breath, I could feel kind of a twinge where I beleive my gall bladder to be. Now, that area on the right side of my abdomen did not hurt at all during this time. I took some tums and went to bed, and it seems to be resolved today, other than I can kind of "feel" where it hurt on my back, if that makes any sense. I went to my doctor because that right side area of my abdomen had been kind of sore off and on, and that hasn't stopped at all. And if I poke at the area, it's pretty sensitive. I tried cutting out dairy, and that didn't make a difference, and cutting down on fats didn't seem to make a big difference either. So, all of the above to ask 'what does a gall bladder attack feel like'? I've heard they can be mild or acute, and they can be anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, and while I hope not to be a hypochondriac, I'm thinking maybe that's what it could be. I will probably be calling the doc on Monday to see if I can get a HIDA scan, that I've read about people having from here, but thought I'd get opinions in the meantime. Thanks!

Yikes, that doesn't sound fun. I also thought it was wierd last night that it hurt with breath, but the first incident wasn't like that. Thanks for the input!

I agree with Donna. The only thing I can see slowing your loss other than motivation, is that it's almost always the hardest to lose the last 20 lbs or so.

I believe that the subway wrapper is something less than 100 cals. According to the website, the Turkey Wrap, is 190 calories. This is with no sauce or cheese: "Turkey Breast: Wrap, turkey breast, lettuce, tomato, red onions, green peppers, pickles and olives." I usually get that one with mustard, as mustard is really low cal.

I do better if the lettuce is really crunchy, because it's easier to chew that down, but you might do better if you order a chopped salad. Then it already starts pretty small and then you chew it up even smaller.

I don't know why your shoulder pain is persistant, and why you can't get any releif from it for now, but I'm nearly 2 years out and still get it every now and then. For me, it's usually when I've gone WAY too long without eating, or have over eaten a little bit. But then again sometimes it's a bit random too... Have you tried any tylenol, or a heating pad?