marcyinak

Dini - I, too, am eating not the right things...I eat a lot of what I CAN eat and not what I SHOULD eat....man, I can go through cookies and cheetos easy...it's the chicken or any other meat that I have issues with! Brandy - make sure while you're in St. Thomas to take an excursion to St. John and go to Trunk Bay - it's absolutely beautiful and there's an "underwater tour" that you snorkel through...there are large stones under the water that you can read with information about everything that you're seeing...the sand is white and just like powder! LOVE IT! We head out on 11/11 to Grand Caymen, Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel...it's a family affair. I have to say I prefer the Eastern Caribbean, but I LOVE Grand Caymen! Thanksgiving Challenge - well, it's gonna suck for me...seems that AFTER I finished my period/flowers/Aunt Flow I GAINED 4 lbs.! That sets me back a few for the challenge...I'm going to aim for 225 for when I get back (the day after Thanksgiving) and we'll see what happens. I have to admit, however, that I've been using my pedometer (finally got it out of the box) and my Treadclimber...oh, and there's some wood chopping that's been done. So, I'm working out more - but just this week so none of that, "Oh, Marcy...you're gaining muscle." That's not what's happening....I'm eating the wrong things and working on eating the right things. Dear Lord, get Halloween over with already!!!!

OK, I have to admit that I'm a little worried I won't be able to do it....but count me in....10lbs by Thanksgiving. To note though, I'll get an extra day because I'm flying home that day and won't be able to weigh myself until the next morning. But that also takes Thanksgiving dinner out of the picture! Good luck Lucky #7s!

want2bmeagain: I remember this story, not too long ago of Mal having a little PB attack and she described herself on all four and hawking like a cat with a hairball...this is my vision everytime I PB (or feel like I need to). Now I have a new vision! Too funny! I'm glad we can all laugh at your expense! :-) The Halloween Gods are against me. I can be strong when the bag isn't opened, but when it's opened, well....the hard work is done! I've eaten more candy this weekend then I really want to admit. My sweet Andrew gets me some every time he gets himself some...what a sweet guy! My only hope is that he finishes the damn bag before I do! DEAR LORD, GIVE ME SOME STRENGTH!

Janet - YOU LOOK AMAZING! You're really giving me an extra boost in the way of staying away from the opened bag of Halloween candy! OK folks, I'll post a picture in a couple of weeks...not because I haven't lost enough, but because I want to dye my hair and actually "do" it for a picture I'm going to post! I'll be headed for the cruise soon and will be getting my hair done in a "summer color" so it'll be a more fun picture!

Thanks Jackie! I know the 6 lbs. was a "quick loss" so I'm not expecting more weeks like this past one, but I was hoping to lose another 10 before I go on my cruise on 11/11 and this gets me well on my way to that mini-goal! Distant - You look great too! I find it interesting that you got the band and you weren't even 200lbs.! Here my goal is 180 and you were probably there during your pre-op! Haha! Everyone is different and I'm glad you found a tool that will help you. I wasn't so sure about this, but I haven't gained any weight back and that was the whole point of all of this...to STOP GAINING! Oh, BTW...I read it all so you're not being ignored!

Good news! FINALLY I'm losing like I feel I should be! (I say this while I'm eating popcorn though.) As of this morning I am now 1 lb. away from being at my pre-pregnanCIES weight! This is a MAJOR deal for me! I'm so happy! I even put aside my "fat jeans" (to give to a friend) and am wearing a size 18 today...they're just a little snug when I sit, but I don't think I'll be going back to the 20s! I'm VERY happy about that! I know that there are some people who have issues with the scale. I've found that (THIS IS FOR ME ONLY - EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT) when I weight myself every morning I'm more apt to watch what I eat throughout the day. So...after my last fill I've lost about 6 lbs. and that's 7 days! I'm still eating a decent size meal (what a "normal" person should eat anyway) although I'm a little tight in the morning and just have a shake. I'm not excersizing nearly enough, but I feel good...I actually ran around with the kids at playgroup today instead of sitting on the bench chit-chatting with other moms. It's a good day!

Good news! FINALLY I'm losing like I feel I should be! (I say this while I'm eating popcorn though.) As of this morning I am now 1 lb. away from being at my pre-pregnanCIES weight! This is a MAJOR deal for me! I'm so happy! I even put aside my "fat jeans" (to give to a friend) and am wearing a size 18 today...they're just a little snug when I sit, but I don't think I'll be going back to the 20s! I'm VERY happy about that! I know that there are some people who have issues with the scale. I've found that (THIS IS FOR ME ONLY - EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT) when I weight myself every morning I'm more apt to watch what I eat throughout the day. So...after my last fill I've lost about 6 lbs. and that's 7 days! I'm still eating a decent size meal (what a "normal" person should eat anyway) although I'm a little tight in the morning and just have a shake. I'm not excersizing nearly enough, but I feel good...I actually ran around with the kids at playgroup today instead of sitting on the bench chit-chatting with other moms. It's a good day!

Jackie - WOW! I swear you look at least 40 years old in the first photo and my first reaction to the *new* you was, wow, she looks about 17! You look fantastic!

Haha! Just put my husband's name in for the Goth name thing....he's a State Trooper...name is appropriate! Death Dealer!

So, Halloween is going to suck for me...chocolate and candy MELTS! I know I'll be able to make it through the cruise, Thanksgiving, and Christmas because that's all about actual food....AAAAHHHHH! Some loving idiot gave me a huge bag of candy for the church kids today...what was I thinking bringing the dang thing home? I'm PMSing and this is NOT something that should be available! Dear Lord, help me! Andrew was kind enough to move the bag away from the computer and he knows that I don't want it enough to get up and get it so I've been saved! For the time being! My fill is working FANTASTIC! I am totally not able to eat the way I was before. I went to a breakfast at church yesterday and able to only eat a slice of Cantelope and about a 1/4 cup serving of a breakfast/egg casserole! And when I mean ABLE I mean there was no way more was getting down! I've been having protein shakes for breakfast and they are satisfying me so far, but it's getting cold here and a cold shake in the morning is not an ideal way to start the day off...I'll have to come up with something else. Things are good up here in Alaska. A little snow, a little cold, and my blow-up skeleton is scarring the neighbors! Haha!

Mango - mine was also Velvet Crotch...so I used my REAL name *Martha* and got Faerie Corpse...much better...but we're talking Goth here, so it's all supposed to be bad! Haha

Hey all...my ticker is moving again! Only 2 lbs., but I'll take whatever I can get. This last fill is perfect I think!

Oh, yeah...notice that my ticker is FINALLY moving again! Oh yeah, baby! 2lb.s, but I'll take it! I think I found myself a good fill!

CC - I'm so sorry for your loss. I read Sydney's web site and I'm sitting here bawling (apparently I needed a little release and she gave that to me). Thanks for sharing her with us.

ljuht115 - I also have the 4cc band. I had a fill last Wed. that brought me up to 2.5cc. then added .5 cc on Fri. (I have to travel a long way to get fills so I try to get it tweaked as much as possible while in Anchorage). So, 3.0cc seems to be doing the trick for me. I haven't tried bread because food in general is a little difficult to eat - more than a few bites anyway (which is the way I like it right now). I CAN, however, drink soda...go figure?! It is a strange thing, this band. I'm just hoping to be on the losing end soon!

I'm so sad that I can't meet up with you at RR. The picture of you all looks great though! Mal and Michelle you are looking terrific! And Michelle with rosy cheeks after this week?! Things are good here. Got some good restriction going on, but I can snack if I want to and I'm learning to NOT WANT TO!

Michelle - how'd the audit go?

Mal - It's cold here....has snowed a bit this past week...all melted now and muddy, but I'll take it! We should have snow that "sticks" by next week. It's been around the 30's this past week and I'm expecting it to just get colder and colder! I'll have to dust off the treadmill!

So...just got back from Anchorage...I didn't have good access to the internet and I don't have the time/patience to read everything that I've missed...I hope nothing BIG, but if there was something big I expect that someone will fill me in. So I had my second fill on Wed. afternoon. Put another 1.0 cc in = 2.5cc. I didn't feel any restriction and that afternoon I was able to eat a baked potato and small salad (Wendy's has internet access so I was there for a few minutes checking some email.) :huytsaoI called him and said that I'd like more so I went back in on Fri. and got another .5 cc put in. he did a check and pulled it all out to make sure there wasn't a leak and it all looked good. :)So now I HAVE RESTRICTION! And GOOD restriction at that! I was getting a little jealous that everyone was only eating a little bit and I could eat...well, more than that. So now I've been cut off! Now, I just have to get over the "head hunger"! :hungry:I had lunch with a friend the other day and we had chicken legs and salad. I got through the salad, had two bites of chicken and got stopped up! I had a real hard time with having food still on my plate and I hadn't eaten that much! I even picked at it for about 15 minutes, but just got more and more uncomfortable so finally I stopped. Carbonation doesn't bother me though (tried a diet Coke yesterday and was fine, but I didn't drink it fast either). So, maybe I'm on my way? We'll see. I head off for my cruise in a few weeks and I definitely won't feel all sexy, but definitely better about myself.:biggrin1: OH.....NSV! I went to get some jeans (mine are FALLING off of me) and I had to go down TWO sizes! It was AMAZING! I felt good having to go back to the racks for a SMALLER size!:clap2::whoo:

So...just got back from Anchorage...I didn't have good access to the internet and I don't have the time/patience to read everything that I've missed...I hope nothing BIG, but if there was something big I expect that someone will fill me in. So I had my second fill on Wed. afternoon. Put another 1.0 cc in = 2.5cc. I didn't feel any restriction and that afternoon I was able to eat a baked potato and small salad (Wendy's has internet access so I was there for a few minutes checking some email.) :huytsaoI called him and said that I'd like more so I went back in on Fri. and got another .5 cc put in. he did a check and pulled it all out to make sure there wasn't a leak and it all looked good. :)So now I HAVE RESTRICTION! And GOOD restriction at that! I was getting a little jealous that everyone was only eating a little bit and I could eat...well, more than that. So now I've been cut off! Now, I just have to get over the "head hunger"! :hungry:I had lunch with a friend the other day and we had chicken legs and salad. I got through the salad, had two bites of chicken and got stopped up! I had a real hard time with having food still on my plate and I hadn't eaten that much! I even picked at it for about 15 minutes, but just got more and more uncomfortable so finally I stopped. Carbonation doesn't bother me though (tried a diet Coke yesterday and was fine, but I didn't drink it fast either). So, maybe I'm on my way? We'll see. I head off for my cruise in a few weeks and I definitely won't feel all sexy, but definitely better about myself.:biggrin1: OH.....NSV! I went to get some jeans (mine are FALLING off of me) and I had to go down TWO sizes! It was AMAZING! I felt good having to go back to the racks for a SMALLER size!:clap2::whoo:

CO Crazy - I've worked with doctors practically my whole life and I've found that surgeons (in general) aren't that social and are just there to get the job done. Have you had surgery before? If not, know that touchy-feely is NOT what you get with a surgeon. They aren't with you during your diseased journey, they're there at the end, to fix the problem. Now, this said, I feel that Dr. K was more social than most surgeons I know. My experience with him was a little above par. I didn't have ANY wait in the waiting room (on pre-op or post-op visits) and the appointment was short and to the point. I didn't have a lot of questions because I was well informed. Also, I was considering going to Mex. for the surgery until I found Dr. K and I thought that since I was willing to pay $10K to go out of the country, I should be willing to pay $10K to stay IN the country (and at least have American recourses - courts, licensing, etc. if need be). Dr. K also "guarantees" his work, if something goes wrong he's going to fix it. This was a BIG deal to me since I have to travel regardless to get care. Most of the Mex. surgeons do not take care of post-op issues. Bottom line - go with your gut. If you don't feel good about him, don't go to him. You should find someone you feel comfortable with and secure with. Good luck!

There's been some questions about shopping here in Nome. Well, we DO have grocery stores (2 in fact) one is AC which is a normal bush brand for Alaska and Canada - overpriced by WAY more than the cost of living!. The other is a Carrs/Safeway off-shoot, so at least I get points and Alaska Airlines miles when I shop there! We utilize our buckets (lugguage) for things like paperplates, cleaning supplies, mac n' cheese, canned goods...stuff that weighs a lot because that's where they increase the prices at the stores. There is a barge that comes in the summer and you can order from them, prices are pretty similar to buying it "in town" (Anchorage) and having it parcel-post mailed out here. Not too bad, but your order has to be large. There are many folks who use Drugstore.com, but I haven't had the need to. Like I said, we are VERY efficient at the bucket thing! The big thing right now is fuel. We just bought a wood stove to install in our house so we can have some free heat this winter. Apparently, the wind blows so it's not just -60, it's -60 with wind! That can be devistating on a home and the heat bill. It doesn't help, either that we have the lights on more in the winter because it's dark most of the time! I've noticed that when my 7 year old gets up for school he turns all the lights on...and it's not even completely dark in the morning yet! I don't blame him though. Well, we all have a stomach virus of some sort. Figures, since I finally have some motivation to excersize! I've just got to go take some Immodium and rest. Later!

Now...on a funny note...Andrew's been gone for a week and a half. Just got home today. Sidebar: when you live in the bush you utilize shopping and lugguage when you go into "town". AK Airlines gives us three bags at 50 lbs each and they are ALWAYS filled! We even keep a scale in our truck in Anchorage so we can fill our Rubbermaid buckets - Alaskan lugguage - to the brim! So, I start emptying buckets and we have the usual cleaning supplies, crystal lite, cheese, etc. And then I open the top to the big bucket and there it is....CEREAL! Now, this won't sound alarming to many of you, but this is my demise! I LOVE cereal! I can eat it all the time! So now comes a true test of wills....will I succum...will I retreat....story to finish at a later date!

Now...on a funny note...Andrew's been gone for a week and a half. Just got home today. Sidebar: when you live in the bush you utilize shopping and lugguage when you go into "town". AK Airlines gives us three bags at 50 lbs each and they are ALWAYS filled! We even keep a scale in our truck in Anchorage so we can fill our Rubbermaid buckets - Alaskan lugguage - to the brim! So, I start emptying buckets and we have the usual cleaning supplies, crystal lite, cheese, etc. And then I open the top to the big bucket and there it is....CEREAL! Now, this won't sound alarming to many of you, but this is my demise! I LOVE cereal! I can eat it all the time! So now comes a true test of wills....will I succum...will I retreat....story to finish at a later date!

Kathy - thanks for the info and encouragement! As for NSAIDS....when this came up before I contacted my surgeon and first he had never heard of this and then suggested it was because they can cause upset stomach and since our "stomach" is smaller it can lead to more discomfort and possible ulcers...so....he said it was ok to take on occassion (pill form too), but it wasn't something that I should be taking on a regular basis...but this rings true for unbanded folks as well. Really, I think it all comes down to different docs/different rules and we should follow our OWN doc's advise.