Jonathan

Doh! Awesome job Zoe... I guess I'll need to hit the gym this week pretty hard =) I did FINALLY have a losing week. My band is nice and tight, finally, after my second fill. I lost 5 lbs, and am down to 317. I'm expecting to hit 299 in 3 weeks Zoe... so keep at it =) Everyone remember to update your weight on the challenge page: http://www.waistingaway.com/index.php?option=com_wlc&Itemid=50

I decided today that sashimi was "mushy". =) I went to my favorite sushi place (I'm an addict) and ordered the "Sashimi Appetizer". I'd already told the sushi chef there that I was having surgery (yes, I love sushi SO much that I have a personal relationship with my sushi chef =) ) so he was happy to see me and knew I wouldn't be his cash cow anymore =) He cut the sashimi into tiny pieces at my request, and I sat with a friend and ate my "appetizer" as he ate a much larger meal. He was done in 20 minutes, but sat with me for another 25 as I finished my feast. It was, indeed, mushy -- especially with proper chewing. It went down without any pain or discomfort whatsoever. I was amazed at the flavor. I've never really been a taster ... always more interested in texture and quantity than in taste. I have to say, I prefer this MUCH more. I enjoyed an hour away from work. I spent half to one third what I would have spent before. I enjoyed it 4 times as much. And when I left, I didn't hate myself for eating like a pig. Oh, and I actually heard and remembered what my friend and I talked about. In the past, conversation was just a product of being there. I was there for the food. I gotta say, I *love* my band. =) Jonathan

It's on Mondays, but you can report anytime =) And update the challenge site whenever you want =) Congrats!

This is just an observation that I've had that I wanted to share with those who have yet to be banded. I had several "last" meals before my banding. I wanted to eat as much of my favorite foods as often as I could, knowing that once I was banded, I'd never be able to eat that way again. My best, last meal was about $70 worth of sushi and sashimi. It only took me about 20 minutes to eat it all. It was all of my favorites, and a meal worthy of a king, no doubt. A couple of days ago, I went back to that sushi restaurant and had the lunch sashimi special. It cost $10 and took me 45 minutes to eat. I can honestly say that I enjoyed the $10 meal 10x as much as I enjoyed the $70 meal. I tasted it. I chewed it. I experienced it. I was there when I ate it -- you know -- present, instead of off in some food-induced stupor, and I didn't leave so full that I hurt, so shameful that I hated myself until the pain went away. In retrospect, this is true of all of my "last" meals as I ate them then, and as I eat them now. So if you're about to be banded, and you're thinking about all of the foods you'll never be able to eat again, and you're trying to get every single "last" meal in that you can before you're banded, please believe me when I tell you that you will eat again, and that as much as you think you enjoy eating now, when you actually have to chew your food, you're going to enjoy it a lot more.

Nothing's changed really. I still can't swallow liquids, including my own saliva. I've "thrown up" (I don't know if you call it a PB when it's only your own saliva, or a bit of water) well over 100 times now, and am scared that doing so might effect my band position, but my doctor says that it won't, since I'm not throwing up food. I weigh 306 lbs now. I was 327 on the morning of surgery, 4 days ago, and 340 lbs two weeks before that. Obviously, I've lost an unhealthy amount of Water. I spent 6 hours at home yesterday on an IV getting 2 liters of saline (one of the benefits of having an RN for a wife is not needed to spend those 6 hours at the doctor's office or ER). Because I'm unable to take any liquids (or, of course, solids, such as pills), I've not had my anti-depressant for 5 days now, nor have I had *any* pain medication. (Well, I did submit to a tylenol suppository a couple of days ago, but it did nothing for me.) I wake up several times a night choking on my own "vomit". (Fortunately it's not enough to actually asphixiate me.) And all day, I have the "golf ball" feeling in my esophogeal tube. I was addicted to food, no doubt. You guys understand what that's like. So I've been 5 days without my "vice", and 5 days "cold-turkey" off my anti-depressant, and I can't even take ice chips -- you probably have a good idea of how I feel. Instead of focusing on the things I *can* have, because I just can't have *anything* right now, all I can focus on is the things I'll never have again. I'm just not in a good place right now, emotionally or physically. Others have said that this is "so normal I'd be disappointed". If that's the case, believe me when I tell you I'm not disappointed. I'm scared to death that something's really wrong. If this is just the normal way of things, I'd love to hear some stories about how you all thought you'd made the biggest mistake of your life, but that now the band is the "best thing ever". And I know when I posted before, several people had suggestions about eating ice chips, etc. -- believe me when I tell you, I can't keep *anything* down. If I *sip* a tiny sip of water, it comes up within 60 seconds. I may not be at 100% restriction, but whatever level it is it is such that it can't keep up with normal saliva production. I would *kill* to be able to chug down a 16 oz glass of Ice Tea. Please please please someone tell me there's an ice-tea-chugging in my future? Please?

Boy I wish it were. I think the realization (although I've always had the knowledge) that it's not a magic band finally hit me after my 2nd fill. I've got good restriction now. I can't overeat in a single meal, unless I *really* work at it. I joked around with someone at church yesterday that I could still binge, but it took a LOT of work. Well, it's not really a joke. What I find is that I'm eating most of the day, and all night. And even if I can't eat a lot at once, if I eat all continuously, I'm going to gain weight. If I make the wrong food choices, I'm going to gain weight. If I don't make any attempt to excercise, I'm going to gain weight. If eat more than I want to, just because I can, I'm going to gain weight. If I drink 32+ ounces of Water with my meals, I'm going to gain weight. Folks, if you're looking for a magical way to lose weight, keep looking, cause this isn't it. But, now that I'm seeing the situation with "eyes wide open", I see how close I am to a sustained success. At this point, for me, It really is just a matter of not eating between meals unless it's something healthy like fruits or vegatables, not drinking with my meals or healthy Snacks, and getting some exercise. That's it. These things are within my control, even though I'm going to have to work at it a little. Yes, the band requires work. This is not an ephiany for this board. Everyone here that's had the band for any time knows it. I knew it, but now I believe it. So I guess it is an ephinay for me. I'm ready. I think that just really sums it up. I'm ready.

Zoe, I'm up to 322, but the x99 race is still on, and I'm getting my butt in gear, so you'd better step it up! (See post: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6106 ) Jonathan

You're in.

Ah, right you are. I found your post, and you did indeed ask to join before your banding. I've changed your starting weight to 217. Congrats again. =) Jonathan

I've been using the starting weight on the day that people joined the challenge. I thought that was the way to be the most fair to those who joined the challenge when it started. (If Paula wants to change that "rule", I certainly will -- it's her challenge =) ) Awesome weight loss though! Congratulations =) Jonathan

I love this show. I think it's the best show on television, actually. But last night's episode really pissed me off. Dr. Kelso talks a girl out of having gastric bypass, saying that she only wants to take the "easy way out" instead of "working at it". *spit* I know we're not bypass patients, but does anyone here feel like they've taken the easy way out?

I believe you just answered your own question =)

*sigh* I'm up. 318. But, next thursday on the 31st I'll get my 2nd fill. 2nd fill on my 2 month bandiversary =) I'm betting it'll get good after that...

You're in there now. Please update your weight every Monday (or whenever, but most of us are doing it on Mondays) by going here: http://www.waistingaway.com/index.php?option=com_wlc&Itemid=50 and filling out the WLC update module. Jonathan

Everyone is updating their own records now. =) Just go here: http://www.waistingaway.com/index.php?option=com_wlc&Itemid=50 and look on the right side for the WLC update module. Select your name, put in your weight, press the button, and you're done! Jonathan

This one is the weightloss challenge thread... the one you're talking about. =)

Done =) (Did you know that replies must be at least 10 characters?)

Hello, I have a BUNCH of invites now. So, if you'd like an account, just let me know a current email I can send the invite to and I'll do it. If you don't know what Gmail is (Google Mail) you can check it out at www.gmail.com. Jonathan

Did you mean kcohen1625@aol.com ? If so, I sent an invite there. If not, then I'll send another one to the email above. Jonathan

I would agree, and just add that posting your weight HERE every Monday will add to the nuance of the challenge (and get you some praise from your LBT buddies) =) But feel free to update the website as often as you want.

Done. http://www.waistingaway.com/index.php?option=com_wlc&Itemid=50

Our "rule" is that you just drop the .whatever. So you *could* update yours as 205 =) But if you want to pad it, your secret is safe with me (And everyone else here =) )

http://realitytv.about.com/b/a/154067.htm

Ok, Sharon. I've added you now and put your starting weight at 232. Good luck!! =)

Hey guys! (Ok, mostly girls.. still...) Please check out http://www.waistingaway.com/index.php?option=com_wlc&Itemid=50 (or just http://www.waistingaway.com/wlc ) and notice that there's a place for you to update your own weights. I don't thinkwe need any kind of password protection on this... I'm sure we won't be messing with other people's weights. If we find out we need to, I'll take care of it. In the mean time, please update your weights yourself, and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Jonathan