GrizGirl

As VQ said--scared is human...This is a life changing event. I felt the same way--really afraid that I would fail at this too.. The way I look at this is: This whole weight loss thing has been a puzzle I've been trying to put together for years..For me it is only a two piece puzzle (diet and exercise, not diet or exercise). I could never seem to get both pieces in my hand to complete this weight loss puzzle. I would religously go to the gym but my head would tell me because I went to the gym I could eat whatever I wanted. Or I would watch what I ate only to forsake exercise because I was watching what I was eating. Having the lap band has taken care of the eating thing for me--I am going to the gym three times a week. Dammit--it's working! 15 weeks out from surgery and I'm down 32 pounds. It's true, you do focus on the can'ts before surgery....but the "can do's" that come after surgery are invaluable. I am succeeding. I am not failing. THIS IS THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD! I truly, truly feel that I am capable of reaching my goal weight. Being scared is normal--Being well informed is important. You will do great! Sal

Hello All! I had an appointment scheduled last Friday for a third fill. I always go into these appointments with a little fear--Big Needle Phobia hear...(see previous posts!) Anyhow, I have lost 8 more pounds in the 4 weeks since my last appoinment. The nutritionist and I had a great discussion: I'm still losing weight at my current fill level, I am not getting hungry and I have little or no problems with food getting stuck-aside from a few non-chewing/triscuit/McD's fries incident-- So, no additional fill for now. We'll see how the next four weeks go. I am an everyday weigher, On the Advice of LaMadam and others, I had my husband hide the scale. I am only allowing myself to hoist myself onto it on Saturday Mornings!

In my head the music is playing and I see the oompa loompas with their green hair and orange skin. I am having an ultra, ultra sh*&%*$y week at work. This is just about the only thing I've smiled about all week long. Thanks

To all that are attending the bash...Go ahead an have lots of fun without me. Believe you me, I was checking Alaska Airlines for any last minute deals into Vegas...Husband and Kid be dammned. I am going to be playing in a golf tournament tomorrow. I am going to have a thermos full of blended margaritas with me. I am going to slug back a healthy drink about 1:00pm and think about you all laying around in various stages of undress by the pool. Take a drink of whatever is in your hand about the same time and think about those of us not attending in body, but in our hearts! Have a great time!! Sal

Ditto with the McD's Fries. They have been the cause of my only bout of puking. I ate 2-3 fries and within minutes my eyes were watering and I was up and walking. I am sure they appreciated my puking in their parking lot. Talk about aversion therapy!

Good Lord, You are wearing a belt and your shirt is tucked in!! Like Princess said, Ass,what Ass? You look great!!

Great tunes--I too remember the rumour about a woman being murdered during the recording!! I think I also remember the album cover (yes that's right album)--Didn't it have a really large pair of red lips on it. Scary what a person thinks they remember. I picked up a CD in a gas station in a podunk town in Eastern Washington. $6.99--Had all the hits--Love Roller Coaster, The Gap Band tunes, Cameo, Chaka Khan.. Sadly it was stolen. Miss D. Great new pic!!

Have a great vacation! My hubby is a native Jersey Boy, he too used to spend summers with the family in Cape Cod. Kick back and relax! Sal

Hey you! You are one of my many Heroes here at LBT! Congrats! Sal

I have become a born again exerciser. Last spring (May 2004) I went to curves religiously 3-4 times a week. In four months I lost no weight. I am sure I toned up, but it would've been nice to see the scale move. Curves didn't open early enough in the morning for me and I was too tired after work to enjoy the workout. I could also come up with a myriad of excuses why not to go gym after work also. I did do it though. Now I get up 45 minutes earlier in the morning, (4:30AM) and head to the gym (24 hour fitness) then. I am a morning person, so this isn't a huge deal. I also have my bag packed and in the car the night before. It works for me if I just roll out of bed and go. My husband who is a student, has kid duty in the morning. I am down about 26 pounds in the ten weeks since surgery. People are really starting to notice the weight loss. What I've noticed though, is that the weight in the last couple of weeks is really starting to come off and things are seemingly tightening up. Exercise begets energy. I truly do feel better all day long and find I sleep better at night. I am also eating about 1200-1400 cals a day. For me I am thinking the amount of exercise I am getting and the amount of cals I am getting might be my combination.

Hi All Just Curious if anybody out here had there surgery through Puget Sound Surgical Clinic & Dr. Peter Billing?

I had my surgery on a Thursday, stayed overnight in the hospital and went home Friday morning. I was back at work on Monday--I have a desk job. I even golf an entire round about 9 days after surgery!--Not well, but I did it. Sal

Catchy title-- I had my first fill on Friday. Didn't hurt but I've come to the conclusion I am the biggest wiener ever!! They first informed me that I would be standing for the fill--I think I knew this, but I had blocked that piece of info out. I have to lay down to get blood drawn--One way ticket to the floor if I try to sit up to have blood drawn. They numbed up the area where the port is--(while I'm standing mind you)--Here comes the big head sweat and the sound of voices speaking to me from inside a tin can. I say WOAH--I better lay down. Great news, when you lay down, the port moves (makes sense)--they have to renumb the area--Excellent. The doc has to do some serious rooting around to find the port. No pain, just a huge ick factor. He finally hits the port with a hearty "There she is" Fluid went in--then I had to sit up and drink water--I gave the doc the crazy eyeball--You want me to sit up with that needle in my side??? What are you, nuts? I managed to sit up and slug some fluid down--Which promptly gurgled back in my mouth--Cripes--I am light-headed again-have to lay back down. Back off on the fluid a little--take another hit of water. I managed to sit up that time and not nearly pass out. We decided to quit while we were ahead. I ended up with 4cc's in the band and a very amused Doctor. He said to check back in two weeks--He may add a bit more then. I do think I have a little restriction--may just be an angry esophagus/stoma--We'll see! I AM A HUGE WEENIE

coffee COFFE COFFEE-YES YES YES I play on the Jack Team, except for a shot of half&half. No sugar, flavorings, etc.. Just a good bean! The only carbonated beverage I've had is Mike's Hard Lemonade...I pour it over Ice and that takes care of the small amount of carbonation in them..I've happily said good bye to Diet Coke/Pepsi. I had a small taste a couple of weeks ago. I had actually stopped the soda a couple of weeks prior to surgery. I seem to have lost the taste for it.

Hi Lins12- Yep--I've got restriction now. I've noticed particularly in the morning. I really appreciate my Doctor and their staff for recognizing my ability to "read my own body". I also like and appreciate the fact that they haven't stuck to any concrete timeline for fills. Like I said, I didn't really feel much if any restriction after my first fill, I definitely do now. I have my next appointment for a possible fill on September 16. I have been getting my arse to the gym 3-4 times a week for the last month and I've been getting around 1200-1400 cals a day. I have lost, albeit slowly, but I am thrilled. I haven't been measured since mid July--I am curious about inches lost! Let me know how it goes for you! Sal

Day of Surgery: 6/9/05 Weight (Highest-couple of weeks before surgery): 281 Now: 255 Size: 18/20--I am still wearing all of my same clothes from before surgery; Granted the jeans are getting very loose, I will need to do some shopping in the near future. Bras are on the tightest hooks-My boobs certainly aren't getting any smaller, but I've noticed the back fat seems to be decreasing. Height: 5'10".

Hey- I was wondering how your fill went---Why no lidocaine? My doc doesn't use sonogram or fluoroscope (sp?) either, but he damm sure numbs me up? Just curious--Take it easy, glad it all went well!

Here it is, my first NSV I bought a pair of Old Navy womens size 20 shorts in April for a family cruise. I am now able to yank them down (over the backside!) without unzipping them! My twin sister knows this and I had the pleasure of being "pantsed" this weekend!

Work folks gave me an orchid after I had my surgery. It's still holding on too!!?? What do I do with it--how do you water it? It's pretty--don't want to trash it, but I don't know how to take care of it!

Good and Bad, I had my first PB with puking friday night. My twin sister and my daughter took off friday night for a weekend at a friends cabin on a lake about an hour south of Seattle. Traveling with a 3+ year old is always exciting. We had to make a pit (or pee) stop for Sophie at a McDonalds. I wisely had eaten before I left home. Of course, that didn't stop me from horking down a bite of Sophie's chicken mcnugget and a couple of french fries. Holy Mother of God! I worried the hell out of my twin sister. After those bites, my eyes filled with tears, and I got that wonderful (OR WONDER-FULL)--(I WONDER WHAT MADE ME FEEL SO FULL) feeling. My mouth filled with spit. I thought I had it under control--Got back in the car to take off. Didn't make it out of the parking lot before I ground the old mini-van to a halt, hopped out, spit about one-half cup of spit out, bent over and VOILA--UNCHEWED FRIES & MCNUGS. Immediate relief. Live and Learn--Never again.

A lot of the business about restriction is very personal. It can also depend on what size band you have. I have the larger Vanguard band--I had no restriction once the intial swelling from surgery went away. I did have a small amount of restriction after my first fill of 4cc's. I had a second fill of 2cc's about 8 days ago. HELLO RESTRICTION! Chew that food, Protein first--sounds like you're doing swell.

My heart always hurts when I hear of or see injured/hurt/dead animals. I tear up at the sight of a dead possum on the side of the road.

The kid-- Picture #1 Miss Attitude Picture #2 Disciple of Jerry Garcia

Buffalo chicken Dip- Nummy Ingredients: 2 (10 ounce) cans chunk chicken, drained 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 cup Ranch dressing 3/4 cup pepper sauce, such as Franks® Red Hot® 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1 bunch celery, cleaned and cut into 4 inch pieces 1 (8 ounce) box chicken-flavored crackers This is for twenty servings--you can scale it back easy enough. I don't own a crock pot, I usually do this in the oven. Just bake it till it's bubbly at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. You can also use low fat cream cheese and low fat ranch dressing--I think the full fat stuff tastes better though. Directions: 1. Heat chicken and hot sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until heated through. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook, stirring until well blended and warm. Mix in half of the shredded cheese, and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover, and cook on Low setting until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery sticks and crackers.

Hi All- I had my second fill last Friday. I had an appointment scheduled for 4:30--The doctor was running a bit late. Apparently he had an emergency surgery that Friday afternoon. Anyway, when I finally got to see the Doc, I said "I am here to amuse you.... Fill er up." He gave me a strange look and then looked at my chart. The look of enlightment and a grin filled his face. (remember me, I am the big ol' weenie, fainting girl) We decided that I would lay down for the entire procedure. Good call Doc! Numbed me up, found the port and I got 2 more cc's. I seem to have a decent amount of restriction--I am giving the innards a rest however, and eating soft stuff for another day or so. How is it though, I could eat my sisters brown sugar Cookies w/caramel icing so easily on Saturday when the really smushed up egg salad reformed itself into a hard boiled egg in my chest?