insubordination

I honestly think that being in an exclusive club will come across as even more smug than R&R (which I attempt to take in the spririt its meant in).

See I tend to get a tad looser after a few days and then moreso over the next week or two. Start with mushies and then try solids after a few days. If it won't work, then you'll need some out. So long as you can still drink liquids, you're not in danger yet.

That is so odd. I can't imagine how confused you're feeling. She clearly needs to speak to somebody. Know that it's nothing you've done. Why should your getting weightloss surgery affect her so deeply? No one in my life reacted like that. I don't get why she can't support you and why she won't let you support her through this. Close friendships can be harder than relationships sometimes. She needs to look up 'integrity' in the dictionary - stat. What a shitty thing to write to someone.

Danna, have heard that Dr L is great. Really hard to get an appointment with them, so you're lucky.

I signed permission for the docs to fix any hernia they found. None showed up in the pre-op testing, so I thought I'd be fine. I didn't realise that it would cost extra. Anyway, got the band. Everything went well except for one thing. No one told me that I had had a hernia repair performed on me as well. I got a bill in the mail 3 weeks later. What would you do? Just pay it? Complain? It seems a bit negligent not to tell me that they had done it and whether it would affect recovery time or not. I asked the doc about it at the first fill and he acted as though it was no big deal that I hadn't been told and told me some details. I'm happy with the service otherwise. Would you make a complaint?

Well my fill = loss and I'm so happy because I had gained. Two freaking pounds to go. I don't know if I can do this without liquids! I tried to set a realistic goal. It will be so annoying if I don't get there. Huntersmom...... 174........... 170....... 159............ 11 SWEETY.......... 202........... 190....... 180............ 10 MJsafari........ 268........... 239....... 238............ 01 captdanbo....... 211........... 177....... 185............ -8 PaulaD.......... 216........... 216....... 199............ 17 Stefanie42467... 206........... 200....... 175............ 25 Suzzzie......... 349........... 317.6..... 320.......... -2.4 glindab......... 277........... 260....... 250............ 10 MM.............. 242........... 215.8..... 218...........-2.2 finallythin..... 254........... 254....... 225............ 29 BeckieT......... 259........... 252....... 239............ 13 Miscontext...... 303........... 303....... 275............ 28 ja9va........... 207........... 199....... 182............ 20 wombat712....... 180........... 164.8..... 165............-.2 Waters.......... 214........... 213....... 190............ 24 lessnless....... 206........... 184....... 179............ .5 MissDarlene..... 223........... 223....... 195............ 28 o2bthin......... 238........... 225....... 215............ 10 insubordination. 300........... 285....... 283............ 02 Holliwagz....... 325........... 302....... 295............ 07 cc.............. 202........... 194....... 190............ 04 Grace........... 173........... 169....... 165............ 04 Sheila...........220........... 211....... 200............ 11 Texasmom5573.... 252........... 239....... 230............ 9

So happy you got through it OK April. The worst part is over now. It was a good idea to take the time you need. So great you're banded! You must be one Smilin' Apple.

Wow! I've never heard of it but since I don't eat meat, I'm very, very interested. BTW Liz, I love your new avatar. I'm a fan of your posts and it's great to see how happy you look.

I remember being 11 or 12 and weighing 250 and sitting on the floor in the bathroom with a razor blade and examining my veins. I had forgotten about that until I read this thread. Man that's tragic.

Great news on this thread today. Congrats all 'round.

I do a full 48 hours liquids after a PB and not from self-discipline. I feel my stomach needs that time to recover. I'm really good at not PBing these days. I really have learnt to slow down and chew and pick foods that work. NValicia - that is truly outstanding and you must have worked hard. I must say you deserved a great result like that.I remember when you got your port revision. I didn't want anything to go wrong for any of us and felt so bad for you. I can't believe how much your BMI has dropped. Inspirational!

Wow! We are amazing. It's probably way more than that but many people have forgotten to update.

It's the little things, isn't it? Normal-sized people would have no idea what we go through and how crappy it can make you feel. I always felt that I wasn't a 'standard' human with the same right to enjoy life as others. Sad that I felt that way but I'm trying to change.

PS Marga, it is awesome to have you back (and 13kgs lighter, not-too-shabby my friend). I can understand why you got the irrits with 7 fills. Let's hope that you have now hit the spot where you will lose.

I love NSV's. When they happen to you, it's so wonderful. It's cool that we have something to call them too. I had one yesterday. I usually catch the train to work and I walk down the stairs (it's a split-level train) one at a time. (i.e. step, bring the other foot next to the first foot, step again). Yesterday, I noticed that I just walked straight down them like normal people step-step-step. When did that happen? Also, I looked in my car mirror today and I felt that my face definitely looked different - and better. I almost thought I looked pretty for a second. Oh, another train one. It used to be that no one sat next to me on the train but I've noticed now, people are starting to sit next to me and I'm not the last one with a spare seat next to me. Naturally, I prefer a seat to myself but it's nice all the same. Oh and yet another train one. I used to go through the biggest turnstile (the one for people with babies) but now I go through the regular one and don't scrape the sides. It seems that this week, I'm finally starting to notice that I have lost weight.

Let us now how you get on with the BodyBugg Karla. I don't know if it's suit me. I'm more of a 'head-in-the-sand' type person. Nice to meet you Geneva and Elisha. Great names! I'm sure I'll forget 'em by next week however.

Congratulations Wombat! I have been keeping an eye on you and I knew you would make it.

That sucks Rhonda. I gained last month too and it is so demoralising. A new fill sorted me out. I can tell I've lost again but I haven't weight myself because I'm under a lot of pressure at work right now and a weight fluctuation would make me snap. I'll weigh myself for the last day of the Thanksgiving challenge and that's it. Can't advise you BBaby. I don't think I have ever eaten less than 600 calories. I can't imagine cutting down more than than. I reckon ask your doctor for advice. Janine, you are right. There is only 1 month to go until our 6 month bandiversary. Rememember that many of you have promised photos - myself included. I'm going to wait until the last possible moment to take them 'cause I want to be able to see the difference.My face and thighs have shrunk a lot. Not so sure about my arms. Hey, I have never told you guys my name. I like being referred to as Insub on here but, if you're curious, my name is Ann. I can't wait to see some of your pictures next month.

We are all completely nuts. I can eat some nuts just fine (walnuts, hazelnuts). Just not macadamias. Go figure. I just had a fill too. Last week I could have eaten 12 or so but definitely not a can. It is odd how people can eat some things and not others. I always thought that it's all about the biting/chewing technique but bread and not salad, that's odd! It is

Although, with a tight fill like I have today, I can only manage 4 macadamia nuts chewed well. They are too full of fibre. Nuts are my problems food too (well, that and chocolate). Raw, unsalted nuts are a healthier option. Every one of us has a trigger food where we just can't stop. I guess our 'eating issues' don't go away in a hurry either.

Good Lord! You two are on fire.

Oh and welcome back Heather. I'm glad you posted. We hadn't forgotten you of course. The band is such a wild ride with enormous highs and plunging lows. Definitely not easy at all. I guess we have to keep plugging away and not give up hope and blame ourselves.

I have the opposite problem Rhonda. I got a fill a couple of days ago and it's perfect. I can eat 'just a few bites', don't actively search for food, can't finish lunch - all how I want it. However, I know that in 7-10 days I will be able to eat more than I would like and it all goes downhill from there. I hope one day my fill just stays put and I lose the rumored 2lbs a week. Imagine that!

I know that not every successful bandster counted calories/cut out carbs (thank goodness!) but they did all seem to have developed the habit for exercise, so that is absolutely essential.

It's awesome you had this done while you are young and before the co-morbidities hit. There are a few people here who were/are pushing 500 and have done really well. My co morbidities were just in their infancy (diabetes, a few gallstones, starting to get a slightly fatty liver, ongoing thyroid issues, high blood pressure, heart irregularity, morbid obesity). Seeing them all on paper scared the bejesus out of me, especially considering they didn't exist a year or two earlier. They just sneak up on you. I was feeling a hell of a lot older than 31, I can tell you. I also felt that I had willingly flushed my life down the toilet and I had to do something. My highest weight was 374 but I could easily have seen myself getting to 400 and beyone over the next few years. It was only the fact that I've been a vegan for many, many years that stopped me reaching that point. A lot of bandsters here had the potential of dying for obesity but they found something in them that wouldn't give up. So far I've found that the band in fine, the food is fine, the exercise is fine. The battle with the mind is the true battle here and that's what I have to conquer.