dieka32

I kept checking in at the 24 hour fitness web site and finally found it advertised for $199. I scooped it up quick! Keep checking frequently and I bet you can too. BTW, I've had my bodybugg for 4 days now and I am loving it! Between the bodybugg and a fill this past Saturday, I am refocused and feeling so positive. The holiday eating was getting so out of control and I feel back in charge of myself now. It is a really fun tool to track your calories in/out and is such a motivator! Probably the best Chrismas present I could have given myself.

Someone on the previous page had recommended Dr. Helmuth Billy who has his main practice in Ventura and who also does monthly fill clinics in Truckee. I have gone to him twice now and highly recommend him. He is very approachable and affordable. I was banded in MX and he had no problems with that. It is about a 4 hour drive for me but it is worth it! The Ventura office # is: 805-648-2227 and the Truckee # is 775-588-4300.

I have MIA since August but am caught up on most of the posts. Everyone seems to be doing well and I am inspired by the weight loss! It's a comfort to know everyone has the same ups and downs as I do. I just had my 2nd fill this past Saturday and feel less hungry and way more satisfied. I still think I can eat quite a bit but I am happy with what I got. I haven't yet experienced the wonders of pb'ing or sliming and am hoping to avoid it all together. I went to a new fill doctor this time and am happy to have found someone who wants me to get fills on a regular schedule and actually use my band. I found out with my first fill that my surgeon actually is against getting fills. Believe it or not, he actually told me to focus on eating my greens and sugar-free jello. Um, hello, but I'm fat not stupid!! I think I could write a book on nutrition info on different foods. I was pretty p.o'd after my 1st fill. He will not be seeing me again! My goth name: Crying' Shame. Kind of boring, dead fart and petrified anus are way better. Keep on truckin' Lucky Sevens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am almost four weeks post-op now and I think I am officially in bandster hell! I have been so hungry the past 5 or so days and more importantly, not feeling satisfied. I feel like I'm being a whiner, but I feel so deprived. We went to a amusement park last night and I ate a corndog! I feel so guilty today. Definitely depressed like I am going to screw this up just like I have screwed up every other weight loss plan I've undertaken. I need my motivation back. My biggest problem is that I tend to do things obsessively, either I'm completely perfect or completely NOT! I'm going to go to soft solids today, not supposed to until Friday officially, but I have to figure this out. Maybe if I stop restricting myself so much I won't feel the need to dive off the deep end. :help::help::help: Any suggestions anyone? By the way, I have felt no restriction from anything so far, not even the blasted corndog. Everyone is having such different experiences. When I read that some are full after 2 oz several weeks out after surgery I can't believe it. I wonder if it is because I have the biggest band, the Vanguard? Sorry for the pity party, just needed to get this off of my chest. I'm going to slug some water down now and go for a walk. On a positive note I am exercising 4-5 times a week and am down 24 pounds. I can do this!

Good morning to all my lucky #7's! I can't believe how many of us are already on today, looks like 10 are active right now! We are some involved bandsters! I am so psyched because I just weighed in and I have lost-drumroll please-9 pounds in one week! That feels so good and makes this liquid diet hell even more worthwhile. Actually, I shouldn't even say hell because I grudgingly went back to one slim fast low carb shake to replace one meal and it made a big difference in my hunger over the past four days. Tomorrow I start blended/pureed so I can start scrambled eggs, I am so excited it's like Christmas in July! Chimboree-glad to hear you had a good experience. After being our cheerleader for the whole month, now we get to be yours! Dini-I'm interested to hear if you have felt any more restriction since your first fill? Do you fell less hungry yet? To everyone else, I read your posts and feel like I know you all. Good luck to you all. Man, this weight loss is like a natural high! I feel so pumped! Off to work now, have a good day everyone!:eek::kiss2::kiss2::kiss2:

Hey all my Lucky #7's!! I am post op day 10 and went back to work 4 days ago. I'm feeling pretty tough because I worked 3 12-hour shifts in a row (I'm a RN in a ICU). I was a little nervous that I would be too sore but I think all the walking I've been doing has really helped! Everyone at work has been really supportive and it actually helped get my mind off of food and my increasing disgust with these liquids! :puke:I am soooo looking forward to starting the next phase this Saturday. I can eat pureed veggies and fruits and scrambled eggs. I just bought myself some eggbeaters and am counting down the days. I have a question for all those who have been banded and to those who will be banded I don't mean to exclude you :nervous:nervous! The question is, what size band do you have and how long out did your doc tell you to wait before your first fill? Just wondering if I'm one of the only ones with "The Big Boy", meaning the 10cc Vanguard band. Take care everyone and GOOD LUCK to all who are up for surgery this week!

[ Lynette, I sure hope I can get as good as you with the exercise. Someone told me the walk away the pounds was good for beginners. Sunny-I was just at Barnes & Noble and my sister picked up the book, "Walk away the Pounds." It had journaling spots in it and exercises within the book. The best part was that it was on clearance and was only $5.98. It looks interesting!

:help:Lucky 7's I need some encouragement that I can do this liquid thing for another week. I am SOOOOOOO sick of soup that I am ready to die! I feel guilty because I read other people posting that they're doing just fine with it and I'M being such a whiner. I get hungry in the evenings and it's like I can't stop fantasizing about food. I stare at my family members food and feel resentful. I am so glad to have this surgery but I'm just feeling depressed about this liquid thing. Right now I can have liquified soup, yogurt, pudding, and protein shakes. One more week until I can start eggs and mashed veggies and applesauce. Good God that sounds like heaven! Ok, I feel better just typing this out. I will be strong, I will be strong, I will be strong..............................

Patti C- Congratulations! I can't think of a better way to reinforce how awesome this surgery is than to have an immediate improvement in your health. Way to go.:bounce:

Hey guys, hope everyone is having a good (or better in Lynette's and Patti C's case). Mango-Thanks for directing us to that link, it really made me feel inspired and excited to look forward to all those changes others report. Kristen-I had no problems after waking up from surgery. Some people do. This isn't a long surgery so chances are you won't have a bad reaction. They give you lots of meds during the surgery to ensure you don't have nausea/vomiting when you wake up! You'll be fine! Good luck, we'll be thinking of you! Chimboree-I love your sass. People like that guy at GNC can stick it where the sun don't shine. Taking the easy way out, my a--! Nurse 76-A while back you asked if I like Critical care nursing. Now that I do it, I would do nothing else! It is so interesting and you are way more autonomous. For me that is awesome, cuz I hate being told what to do! Good luck getting your RN, go for ICU when you do, believe me you will love it! Icybreeze-Hey my fellow Nor-Cal resident. I forgot to message you back and tell you I live in Gilroy. Only 30 minutes from you! I can't remember who posted the question about what we are doing for excercise, but before the surgery I was doing NOTHING, except swimming with the kids in our pool. Now I feel so motivated and have been walking for one hour (30 minutes x2) and I feel so good about it. I think it's easier to move already. So much less food dragging me down. I am post-op day 6 and feeling great. No more gas, the pregnant belly thing is much decreased and I have no pain. Hunger has only been an issue around dinner time, I think I'm missing chewing! A question for anyone: Have you found any UNFLAVORED protein powders that you can tolerate? I bought this HUGE just of designer whey natural protein powder at GNC a couple of days ago for $28. I used 1/2 scoop (which was still a lot it seemed like) and added it to some soup. It was beyond nasty, no way could I eat it. Anyone have some suggestions? Love all you guys, I don't post as often as others but I'm living vicariously through all of you!

Ashrae: I wouldn't worry about this. I also can take regular drinks and feel fine. I haven't really felt FULL, like after you eat an enormous meal but just satisfied like I didn't need anymore. I've been drinking a cup or so of soup at a time, a container of yogurt, a container of pudding, etc with no problems. But at this stage it is all liquids so I've been drinking water/fluids with whatever I'm eating. Some people have bands placed that are snugger fitting right away and so have more restriction. Believe me, my first band was too tight and it was sheer misery feeling that chest pain and pressure after drinking 1-2 ounces. I'm sure you'll have more restriction after having your first fill. Everyone has different experiences, I think it sounds like your doing just fine. No worries!

18monthstoknow: I too have been a little concerned that I can drink so much at one time but I think we would know if it was too much. I had to have my band revised the day after my initial surgery because it was too tight and when I drank just a ounce or two I got this awful chest pain and pressure. So now with the right size band I can drink without feeling that sensation but still try to go somewhat slow and trust what I'm feeling. I think that is the most important thing. Also, don't worry about the weight loss (or lack of) but at this point the most important part is to heal and get in the rhythm of eating appropriately. The weight will come off, don't worry! Make sure you excercise and what else could be asked of you? You're doing great!