melissalee

I will be there for sure (unless something unexpected comes up) and greatly look forward to meeting you!! This should be fun! Let me know if you would like me to call ahead or get there a little early to get our name on the list as I am not too far and will take any reason to do a little shopping at the Oak Brook Mall anyway! Looking forward to all!!

I'd have to say the most annoying thing that has happened to me so far besides the comments that I took "the easy way out" was that immediately after having the surgery, I was suddenly bumped from every lunch or after work activity with my co-workers. I guess they seem to feel that I can no longer enjoy any social activities with me because as I was informed by two of them already "we don't want to tempt you" or "we feel guilty eating in front of you". And even though I have explained that I can go to a restaurant and enjoy an appetizer or other items from the menu just like everyone else, just less usually, they still feel the need to cut me from the list. It's almost as though people feel the need or feel that this has given them the authority to look out for me or that they don't trust me and think as though they have to keep me on track. Now THAT is irritating.

Good Luck Jonathan!!

I'm good for either so just let me know!

It's in the parking lot of the OakBrook mall. In the place where the old theatre was. They tore down that building and built a new one. It is gorgeous. We had our department holiday dinner there, about 12 people. They don't take reservations but they did let us call in right before we left to put ourselves on the list but wouldn't seat us until everyone showed up. But if Oakbrook isn't good for everyone, I could certainly do downtown as well. My DH works downtown so we are out and about there alot. I'm so excited to meet y'all!! Let me know if the 19th still sounds good and we can coordinate!

Frank, The 19th is great for me as it is a day before my birthday and Oak Brook is even better as that is where I work! There are some great restaurants out here. I particularly like the Cheesecake Factory because it has so much variety and the portions are huge so it's nice to order a few and then share but I am totally addicted to their crabcakes. To die for!! Just let me know and I'm in!!!

Becca, I've gotten terrible migraines for years and I have finally gotten to the point that I can recognize the triggers-smells, low blood sugar, certain kinds of lighting. I would say that if simple things like a soothing bath or eating a little sugar or Protein does not help then you should definately see a Dr. I have had them so bad that I've had to spend the day in bed with the lights out and have thrown up and been miserable. Fortunately, my Dr. has prescribed a med that is easy to take, just goes under the tongue and disolves and takes it away almost immediately. Zomig. Works like a charm.

Kim, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I jsut had my second fill this morning and I'm thinking that I can feel my coffee go down slowly. My first fill was supposed to be 1.25ccs and I couldn't understand why I was able to eat EVERYTHING. I hadn't lost a pound in 3 weeks. So when he went in to take the old fill out, he said that I only had about .6ccs, half what they said it was and moved me up to 1.5ccs so I'm pretty sure there won't be any bagels and cream cheese on this girl's plate again. I literally thought my band had disappeared. So here's to restriction and moving forward!

Boy am I behind! Can't imagine how I missed this one! I didn't realize there were so many of us up her in Chi-town (or close to it). I always here about Texas. I'll have to check out the other thread as I would love to finally meet all y'all (but I am originally from Texas)!

My highest pre-band was 368 and my doctor, too, recommended the band for me. I am 34 and was able to bounce back pretty fast from the surgery. More "whiney pain" than real (didn't help that I had my mom with me!). But at your age, you have the benefit of not only bouncing back from the surgery but having that great young skin with a little elasticity left in it that you may have less problems with saggy skin and such than us "elders". In the end, just make sure you are happy in the choice you make and think positive. You will be amazed how quickly your body and mind will take to the weight loss. I can tell you that after years of gaining weight, I already started to feel like a new person after my 20 pounds loss. Good luck to you and this is a great place to find support both before and after the procedure.

Pati, I completely understand and believe when I tell you I have those days too when I feel like I might be one of those small percentages that doesn't lose the weight or who gains it all back. But my DH and my daughter give me the inspiration to succeed at this and the more energy I have to share with them, the better I feel about myself, my marriage and my life. It is a difficult path that we have put ourselves upon but boy, I cannot wait to see where we end up. Just take it easy and take time for yourself to heal. This is a big change for him as well but he will see the difference it makes in you, not physically, but emotionally, psychologically and spiritually, and find that he may just enjoy this next chapter in your lives together. We are here to support you. Good luck and take care of YOU.

LOL!!!! I SOOOOO now how you feel Pati!! My hubby had the same fears in a way but I told him that he has loved from the highest to the lowest so why shouldn't I feel the same way? There is only room in my heart for one man and he is it. And let me tell you. It will amaze you at the difference that your weight loss makes in him. My DH has always loved me but I think after 10 years and a hundred pounds, we had lost the SPARK. But now, I'll just catch him staring at me. He'll call me at work to tell me he loves me. He tells me how beautiful I am. He sees the confidence and happiness and energy that I feel and feeds off it. And if another man pays attention to me, well, I'll just tell him he should be flattered to have such a GORGEOUS woman by his side and not to worry about anything because as long as he loves me for who I am, how can I do anything else but the same?

I was wondering if anyone had tried and either had trouble or success with eating beef jerkey. I used to LOVE the stuff when I was a kid and since I have been having these terrible snack cravings (especially at work when everyone else is munching on crackers and microwave popcorn) that jerkey might be a good way to get the protein in but wasn't sure if it was too dry or chewy to go through well. Heck, I don't even know if the stuff is good for me anyway with all the sodium and sometimes sugar content but I was just wondering.

Wow, Leo, you're looking great! And I agree with you. This board is amazing with amazing people. It's great to have all to support and inspire such as yourself!! Good Work! :banana :banana :banana :banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana

Congratulations Rachel!! You're on your way now!!!:banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

OK. I got on the board this morning in order to get some advice for the weird thing my band is doing and already I've read 3 other posts of people who are experiencing the exact same thing I am. I had my first fill on the 2nd on December and I have never felt any real restriction from it. Mostly, I've just had to keep myself on track. I was scheduled for my second fill this morning but due to passing of my grandmother, I am now in Texas with my daughter to be with my family and to Celebrate her life. Of course as with any funeral, there has been TONS of food and I have been very good but just to give you an idea of my minimal restriction lately, in the last week, I have been able to eat a bagel with lox, cream cheese and onions, I can easily have a Breakfast sandwich in the morning and steak, well, I can eat more steak in one sitting these days than I have ever wanted to pre-band. Anyway, needless to say, I've had the opportunity to really partake in the last couple of days but I have tried to be good, listen to my band, as quiet as it seems to be. Last night I had some bbq brisket (can't get the real thing in Chicago!!) and I was just fine. Then about 11 last night, I was really thirsty, I usually drink a good bottle or two of Water throught the course of every night. So I went to get one, took a couple of big drinks then BOOM. I thought I was going to die. It was so uncomfortableand painful and I immediately threw up the water without even thinking about it. I thought maybe I had just taken too big of a gulp so I waited awhile and then tried to sip some more but immediately could feel it backing up in my band. Thinking this was all just a fluke, maybe stress induced, I sat down this morning to have a couple of pieces of bacon that my mom made and before you know, I was salivating, pbing, burping, anything you want to call it but it was bad and uncomfortable. If you read Leatha's post, you will understand and that was the exact same feeling I was having. I am still salivating 2 hours later sitting here writing this and I even had to throw up again this morning. I've tried to have some coffee so smooth things through as well as sip on some water but it just seems to make it worse. It has gotten better over the last couple of hours but I am really worried about this as I have never had such restriction before. Others have mentioned worrying about something stuck in their band or slippage. Has anyone had this happen and what does it feel like? I am additionally concerned because I am away from home and do not have immediate care here in my parents home if there is something significantly wrong. One point I want make is that it is not pain, like the golf ball pain I have felt when you just eat too much or the wrong things (regular bread can kill me) but an overwhelming discomfort, salivating and the feel of needing to throw up immediately, if I haven't already. Please help!

I just love to see pics of everyone and their families/significant others so I thought I would start a thread to let everyone show us what inspries you. I mean, I know we all want to lose the weight to get healthy and have longer lives or to regain our self-confidence but what is it, underneath the health issues and vanity that truly inspires you? What makes you keep going everytime you start to feel down or feel like you are going to fail?. Or what keeps you from giving up and heading down the old path of head hunger and complacity with your life? I know that my true inspiration and the final reason I made the decision to have this done is my daughter. And not so much because I want to stick around long enough to see her grow into a beautiful woman but moreso because it broke my heart to hear her start every request with "Momma, are you too tired to...". The thought of missing out on all the great things that a mother can share with her daughter was depressing. And that was coupled with the idea that my precious girl would suffer vicariously because of my weight whether it be from comments by her peers or just the idea that hers was the one momma who couldn't chaperone the trip to the zoo or coach the softball team. And my hope is that in the end, my success will have inspired and taught her the benefits of what working hard, eating right, exercising and having a healthy lifestyle can bring. My hope is that this little girl won't ever have to know what it feels like to have a life half lived. And so I sit here looking at the picture of my dear daughter and my loving husband and I thank them for inspiring me to what I needed to do to live my life fully, for them and with them. Thanks for letting me share them with you.

What an inspiration Alex. I can only hope to get there someday. Thanks for proving to us that IT can happen!!

I'm blushing at this thread!! But my dr. didn't say much about sex except to warn me from getting preggers. Seems as though as we lose the weight and get more energy, we tend to get a little more RANDY so he told me to make sure I had my choice of birth control taken care of and at hand! :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :smoke :smoke :nervous :nervous :eek: :P :eek: :guess :guess :D :laugh :laugh :kiss :kiss ;)

Good luck BrightEyes and keep us posted. You're on your way!!

Mary, you look amazing and beautiful. Thanks for rejoining us and giving all us newbies some inspiration.

WTG Tammy!!! Persistence definately pays off. You're one more step closer!

Becca, Your daughter is as beautiful as you! Thanks for sharing. I love this!

I love it!! Everyone has such beautiful families!! Seeing pics like these puts everything in perspective and I agree with Marie, I would certainly think twice about cheating if I have a picture of my daughter and DH. It's easy to forget what angels they are when you are mad or stressed or tired but the pictures capture everything that we love about them. Congratulations to us all!!:banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

Boy, I can't eat or drink after midnight the night before a fill and I'm back on liquids for 2 days after. I've got my second fill coming up on the 17th so I hope that this one works. Good luck to you!