daisydoodle

I have a 8 year old stepdaughter that lives with us half the time. She is 4'7" and weighs 113lbs. (Hubby and I have only been married a year so I'm still adjusting to my new role.) I've expressed a huge concern about her weight at such a young age. We've discussed it with her mother but she feels like we are making a mountain out of a mole hill. (We don't discuss it with the daughter, just me, hubby, and her mom.) I wonder if I am not overly sensitive and reactive to it because of the way I grew up being fat. I want so badly to "fix" this in my stepdaughter so she won't have to deal with all of the cruelness that comes with being overweight. I've always sworn that I would NEVER let my kids get too big. Do you think I worry about it more than I should? In a way I feel like a hypocrite because I am trying to help control her portion sizes and food choices and exercise and then I look at myself. I didn't do a very good job of those things pre-band. The last thing I want to do is make her self-conscious about her weight and expose her to eating disorders and low self-esteem. But how do you get it under control with a delicate touch?

I'm a liar. Always have been. Always will be. NO...not about everything. Just my weight on my Driver's License. I know that I'm not alone here. Do you know that my DL says that I weight 160 lbs? I went and got it renewed last summer and the person glared at me and asked "Is there any information on here that you need to UPDATE?" I kindly declined. Hell, I think 160 is pretty good. That's just 60 lbs short of the truth. (And hopefully it will be true one day in the near future.) But I thought I was doing pretty good seeing how it said 125 up until a couple years ago. I haven't seen 125 since jr. high. (WAY before driving age.) What if they put out an APB on me using my DL weight? They'd never find me! I don't match that description!! I thought it would be cute to start a thread to see how distorted the info the DMV has on us really is. I mean think of all of the bandster that have dropped the pounds and not yet updated their terrific weightloss. So here goes: Daisydoodle- +60lbs from the truth.

OK, so it's taken me a bit longer than it should have to post the picutes of my perfect little angel. But anyone that's a mother, certainly understands that I have been pretty occupied with this little one. Stats: Natalie Claire Williams Born on August 31st at 1:04 PM 6 lbs, 15 oz. 19 1/2 inches I had a NVD, with no complications during pregnancy. I gained a total of 22 lbs, and today (3 weeks after delivery) I am 3 lbs. heavier than I was pre-pregnancy. I got a partial unfill in my first trimester, and by my second trimester I had thrown all of the band rules out the window. I pretty much ate whatever I wanted, just couldn't eat as much of it. But I have to admit, I gave into whatever cravings I had. I don't regret it. I know that I would have gained at least 60 lbs if I didn't have this glorious band. The hard part will be getting back on the wagon of making good food choices again. I look at my beautiful daughter and that's all the inspiration I need. I want to be the best, healthiest Mom I can be. I've had a million mothers tell me what a miraculous experience this would be.....but you really don't "get it" until it happens to you. I've never felt so complete in all of my life. And now for those pics....

How long did it take you to start losing? I mean REALLY losing like all of the others with the smaller band. After 5 months of being banded, I've lost 25lbs and most of that came off in the first 6 weeks. Since then I've really just lost about a 1-2 lbs A MONTH. I've had 4 fills and am up to 6cc. I go back again in a couple of weeks for another fill. I'm just really getting discouraged because I was hoping for more weightloss by now. For the record, I am not drinking with or after my meals for an hour. I eat my hard protein first...but I can still eat alot if I chew, chew, chew. My meals are not lasting for more than 25 minutes. Confession: I have not been exercising 4-5x a week.

As for the bows, the nurses did the red one the day she was born. I asked them the same question: How do you get them to stick? Don't laugh. KY Jelly. A big glob, stick on the bow, and it dries like glue. But Water washes it right out. I don't even want to know how they thought that one up!

I've done well so far with my pregnancy. Headed into my 5th month and still have maintained my weight. Here's my question: Since my baby has started taking over some of my belly, I definitely notice my port more. It's not really "sticking out" but it seems so much closer to the surface than before. I mean, you can run your fingers over that area and feel it distinctly. Granted, I used to have more "insulation" around this area. But I was just wondering if others experienced the same thing as they lost weight, or were pregnant. Thanks

Feb 28th was my magical one year mark. I used to hang out on this board with great regularity, and now I'm doing good if I lurk once or twice a month. What's the difference? Well, I'm free. I'm living my life. I feel great. I've forgotten all about my struggles with just wanting to be "normal." You see, I think that I AM normal. You may look at my stats and think that I really haven't lost as much weight as one would expect after a year....why do I feel like I have accomplished so much? Well, that's because I finally GET it. It took me almost 9 months post-op to get there...but I'm there. What I'm talking about is "working with my band, developing lifetime habits that are GOOD for me," and now it comes natural. Originally, my doc was conservative with his fills in my whopping Vanguard band. I didn't feel real restriction until somewhere around Oct.-Nov. Never even experienced the dreaded PB until then. (Lucky me.) And then it happened. I felt this thing working. The weight started coming off, and I started feeling great. I WANTED to exercise. I WANTED to go shopping. I WANTED people to see me. That's been an incredible gift. Another snag in my weightloss came late last summer when I got pregnant for the first time.....sadly, it resulted in miscarriage in Sept of '05 and that was a few months of no weightloss. After that, was when things changed for me. I begged my doc to get more aggressive, and he did. I started feeling like someone with a band. Frustrating at times, and I even mourned the portions and foods I used to enjoy...but it was worth it. I found out I was pregnant again (We are so excited) on Christmas Eve. My OB and Band surgeon have been taking extra special care of me to make sure all is well this go around. I actually had an unfill because I was still dropping about a pound a week and I wasn't comfortable with that. (Although they assure me my baby is developing superbly!) Now I'm well into my 4th month, feeling confident about this pregnancy and grateful for my band. My goal will be to be healthy and possibly maintain my weight throughout the next 5 months. But if I start gaining, I'm am perfectly OK with that. I wouldn't have been six months ago. But now I have confidence in how this process works. I know what my role is in working with my band, and I know how to do it. This board was a great source of support for me when I was researching and when I was struggling with my slow loss. The only reason why I don't spend more time here now, is because I feel like I got what I needed when I needed it. Should I stumble again, I'll be right back. I wanted to share with others that need inspiration that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. That just because you aren't one of those that loses a great deal of weight in the first 6 months, doesn't mean that it won't happen for you. It's been said so many times, but this is a JOURNEY. And one that I'm so happy that I made.

I have been banded a little less than a year and I'm proud to say that I'm 3 1/2 months prego. I did have a SLIGHT unfill. Not a complete one. It was just enough to help me get down more protein... Doc says that later on, we can take more out if I'd like...but for now, I feel great.

I got real "restriction" at my 5th-6th fill......8+ months after surgery.

Date Banded: 2/28/05 Country: US State: Louisiana Doc: George Merriman Erosion: Nope

I've gotten lazy and I've started picking up bad habits. It ends today. My band is a gift. I am so lucky that my insurance has paid for this valuable tool and I have not been making the most of it. I've been on a plateau too long, and it's my fault. Goodbye Halloween candy, poptarts, and 9 PM popcorn. I'm going back to the bandster rules. The rules that I have been ignoring. I haven't been posting lately because I know that I have been sliding. I need for you guys to help me stick to this. Remind me that I'm not alone and that others have "re-started" this process after falling off the wagon. Tell me that I can still succeed. Thanks in advance for you support.

Today's food so far: 1 glass of crystal light 1 small bowl of cheerios w/ skim milk 10 oz of Water coffee w/ splenda but it's not noon yet and I'm about to go to lunch! I have turned my nose up to a tootsie roll though...and that's an accomplishment. My co-worker just offered me one!

Look at my fill history below. I never felt restriction until 5 months into the game. I probably could be a bit tighter but I prefer the "sneak-up" method rather than the "oh my gosh, I'm too tight!" I definitely eat less now, but you wouldn't know I was banded unless I told you. My doc takes my fill out each time, so I know that I don't have a leak. I was a lower BMI than most patients, so it has taken me quite a while to get to restriction. I try to stay positive in knowing that I'd definitely not gaining. I'm only dropping about 1-2 lbs a month now though. If I exercised more, I know that would help. Excuses, excuses. Anyway, hang in there. You are not alone. My doc tells me I'm still doing great. He insists that this is a LIFE change and that I've got plenty of time to reach my goal. When I go back in six weeks, I'll probably get a tweak. I feel like I'm getting close to my sweetspot. I can still eat almost any food, I just have to be careful. I don't ever want to get so tight that I can't enjoy a variety of food. My doc says that it's important not to get too tight or you could slip into a soft food habit and then the band can't do it's job. I hope this helps. Proud Member of the Slow Losers Club.

Dang...TWO birthday threads. You REALLY ARE FAMOUS! You are entitled to one large piece of chocolate cake today. Along with MANY adult beverages. Have fun!

I hope you have a wonderful year filled with much happiness. You deserve it, my friend. Love, Daisypooh

Thank you for accepting my application. Maybe now I won't feel so left out as to be one of the few who still hasn't posted a before/after pic on that awesome thread because the only major difference you will see is my haircut! (Does that count as weightloss?) I think that it's important to have this thread to show all of us slow, creeping bandsters that we are not alone. I think we all get discouraged when we see someone that was banded months after us and already passing us up in weightloss. So should we start our own little challenge? OF COURSE it should be an attainable one. Anybody got any ideas?

Definite slow loser here. I've lost less than 30lbs in 7 months. There's no way you can kick me out of your little club. I've been doing better lately though. I'm a slow loser because: I've got one of those whopper VG bands and it took me a while to get real restriction. I don't exercise like I should. I sometimes don't make the best food choices. And I was pregnant for 2 months of banding and was told not to lose. (I ended up having a miscarriage and now I'm back in losing stage.) I'm glad you started this thread. I read the stories of people's one year bandiversary and wonder how on earth mine will come out. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad for what I've lost....I just thought I would be way better off by now.

I'm wearing some black microfiber highcut briefs that have been washed too many times, sometimes with towels....so they have those little fuzzballs on them that make them look 50 years old. Lovely.

I didn't realize it was back on.....I loved that show. When does it come on and what station?

A day late and a dollar short. Sorry I missed your BIG day. Anyway, I wish you much happiness and success in this coming year. You are such a caring person you deserve the BEST. Happy Birthday, neighbor.

Yes, I know....fickle band. My last fill in July put me in a good place. I think I felt like I had restriction for the first time. I lost a few pounds the first couple weeks...found out I was prego and then just maintained for the next month or so. (Both my band doc and OB wanted me to maintain not lose while I was PG.) Well, something weird happened because my restriction went away and since I've had the miscarriage I've lost a couple of pounds, probably due to fluid. But I don't have the restriction anymore. I remember having to be SOOOOO careful just a couple of months ago: VERY small bites, chew chew chew, no bread or it would get stuck. Today I found myself eating 3/4 of a cheeseburger and half of the fries. No problem. Luckily I stopped and reminded myself "yoo-hooo...you have a BAND, remember??" Does it happen that quickly? Restriction today, gone the next month? I could understand if I had lost a considerable amount of weight during that time....but I'm only a few pounds lighter than at fill time. I go back to band doc in October for my next check up. Should I go earlier and ask for an adjustment? Or wait for my fickle restriction to sneak back up on me?

Thank you all so much for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. I'm dealing with this much better this week and I have a more peaceful acceptance of it all. I'm trying to focus my energy back on my band. Yes, it's time to jump back on the "bandwagon." My weightloss was put on hold and if I'm gonna look super hot for NYE I need to go back to being a good little bandster. Thanks again for your support and encourgement. Everyone that posted brought me comfort.

This is the longest I've ever stayed away from the board since banding. I guess I've come back now because I need the support that I've received in the past now more than ever. I was trucking along with my little band pregnancy and everything was going great. We even had an ultrasound and saw the heartbeat. That was awesome. I had maintained my weight so far and had every reason to be so estatic about this whole experience. This past Monday morning I woke up cramping and bleeding. I went to the ER and found out that I was miscarrying. I was at 10 weeks. I'm devastated. Even though I know this is God's way of taking care of things that probably weren't right, I am having a terrible time dealing with this. I feel such a loss. I want our baby back. I loved feeling pregnant. I feel like someone took something away that belonged to me. My husband has been wonderful. He's been very comforting and loving and has even let me use him as a punching bag a time or two. I try to stay positive and think to the future and that we'll get another chance. But every ounce of me is greiving for this child that I had already fallen in love with inside of me. Sorry to be such a downer...

So far, I've had ZERO morning sickness. (Knock on wood.) My only real complaint is that I have terrible gas cramps in my lower abdomin that hit me at night while I'm sleeping. I've tried gas-x and the only thing that gives me any relief is getting up and walking around. (So don't be surprised to see me walking my dog up and down the street at 3AM.) My doc says that all of this "extra gas" is very common in the first trimester, I'm just unlucky in the fact that I can't get rid of it! I'm not sure if it has anything to do with my band or not. Another thing, my last fill finally kicked in a couple days after I found out I was PG. I go see my band doc next week and I'm going to BEG him to let me keep my fill. As long as I can convince him that I'm eating enough and making healthy choices, my OB is cool with it.

Just at night....the doc is prescribing me something that starts with a "R"....that's all I can remember. I'm just 6 weeks. I had my first ultra sound yesterday and I saw my little lima bean!