Caolin

Hello fellow bandsters......Happy New Year!!! I haven't been here a lot, with school and all.....but I thought I would stop in to see how everyone is doing and how they survived the holiday season. My wish is that you all are doing well and seeing the pounds fade away....forever!!! Celeste

Hello everyone....just checking in and seeing how everyone is doing, by the looks of it, everyone is still losing.....I'm pretty slow at the moment...but I don't mind....slow and steady wins the race!!! Since my 3rd fill, I've had the wonderful opportunity to experience the pbing and sliming everyone has spoken about....not fun at all.....but it's definitely reminding me to slow down when I eat!! Still not exercising as much as I should, which I know would speed up my weight loss.....but what I know and what I do are sometimes two different things!! ha ha ha.... Busy with school still.......so my time is limited to checking in when I can.....Hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving, if I don't get a chance to pop in here again until Christmas break.... Good luck!! Celeste

Sounds like everyone is doing great.....some slow, some faster, but everyone is heading down...which is the goal!!!:whoo: Had my first GP check up for my meds today, was able to drop my metforim and cut my cholesterol pill in half....I was excited. I was hoping for more, but for now, she wanted to see how I did for the next three months.....one thing was good most all my numbers were good and I was happy...that brings me from 9 pills a day (+ multivitamin, 3 calcium, 2 500mg C) to 61/2 pills + vitamins....any little victory is good, I'm thinking!!!:eek: Speaking about football....the Seahawks did suck, my husband quit watching before the half.....and from the final score, it was a good decision!! Indio.....you are an exercise inspiration......I wish I had your motivation!!:clap2: Celeste

Well, after stating yesterday that I have had no side effects from my second fill (could still eat as before), it happened. Sat down to eat a taco salad last night and just about died from food getting stuck....it wasn't the funnest thing I've ever done, after a little sliming, I was ok and figured NOW I have to really chew and take smaller bites......after the scare, I was excited to know that my band was really working and I didn't have to have so much willpower all the time...... Today at lunch I had saltines (7) with turkey salad and was going to have a little salsa and chips.......hardly room for the turkey....absolutely NO salsa and chips......again, it was exciting to see the band in action after feeling like I was going on sheer willpower..... Hope everyone has a great weekend..... Celeste

Cherea - I don't miss soda so much any more either, it still sounds good now and again...sort of like when I gave up smoking about 10 years ago, every once in a while it sounds good, but not worth risking my health again. Thanks for sharing your experience, it was a learning lesson for all of us!! Celeste

Hello all.....hope everyone is having a great day!! Princess: I just got my second fill as well and there is still little to NO restriction!! I'm so disappointed.....I believe there is only one new feeling with this fill and that is I stay full longer and don't eat as much, but I can still guzzle Water and eat what I want.....I didn't want to do that again....it's really stalled my weightloss......My nurse said that a fill should always allow liquids down with no problems at all....so you might want to check that out!! Cherea - you were brave to try the diet soda.....since I haven't had one in months, I guess I will remain off of it, even if I could drink them, just because I think I suffered from a lot of headache issues at the time I did drink the soda....thanks for being a guinea pig though and trying it out. Celeste

Cherea - sorry to hear you've been so ill....and vomiting ill, too boot. No damage done to your band, I hope? Chris - my deepest sympathies to you and your family. It's not easy losing a parent, no matter what age you are. Phyl - It's a great feeling to make good choices when faced with a lot of bad alternatives, isn't it? I know I don't always make the right decision, but for the most part I'm pretty proud of making a whole lot of good decisions about food. Congrats!!

Ruby - thanks for the encouragement. I got my second fill today and not sure I feel any different, but the nurse had me make another for two weeks from now, in any case. I'm hoping that this one will make me feel "something" and help me on my way. Like I told the nurse, it's hard to have to struggle by myself. Like you, I love the band for those times my head is much stronger than my stomach, or is it other way around? lol I feel pretty good and hope to have some restriction, even a little, with this fill.....but most of all, it didn't hurt like the dickens this time!! That worked for me!! Hope all are well......off to do homework.....take care! Celeste

It's been awhile and I'm sorry that I've not been on here more, I love reading the motivated posts that people put here on a daily basis.....and right now, I need it. I know my eating is no where near where I once was, but it's been getting harder and harder to stick to it. Even with one fill, I got little to NO restriction and find that meal time can be larger than I want. I don't snack most days, between meals, and I don't eat sweets at all, but when it comes to food....and sometimes not all the good kinds of food, I find I can eat more than when my stomach says, "OK, you are full, you can stop now!!" I hate going down that road again. I want to feel the motivation and excitement once again......my only saving grace is that tomorrow I go for me second fill and pray that the restriction is more noticable this time!! I thank God for this band every day, because knowing my past history, I would have sabotaged this "life change" once again. Now when I fall off the wagon....I at least have the band to rein me in. I admire all of my fellow bandsters and their stories and personal successes and feel your pain when somedays are not as good as others. I enjoy all the NSV's that each of you are experiencing more and more!! CONGRATULATIONS!! I knew with my second fill that my eating would dramatically change, so I ate good all day until dinner and then went to Red Robin for my "usual" and it was good.....but my stomach is saying, "Was it really?" I'm feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. Why don't I know how to say, "No more?"....ughhhhhhhhhhh Anyway, I will quit whining and get back to my Quantitative Methods book......take care!!

Good evening all....another pound lost and I wonder how I'm doing this, as I've been real lax about my exerecise "routine" lately! I have a question, if we are eating solids each day, is it necessary to take a protein shake still? I have not had one in about three weeks now....once I return to school I may have one in the morning, but I just noticed that some on this site are still taking protein shakes daily.... OnMyWay07 (Christina) - Thank you so much for talking about the pain in your neck and shoulder, I thought it was just me sleeping wrong, but I've had the same pain in my neck/shoulder as well - - I'm glad you shared what your Doctor said it was, I was getting a little scared about what it could be. Today is the first day in about a week or so that I've not had to deal with the pain..... Sounds like some have had some wonderful victories with weight loss this week....CONGRATULATIONS!! Celeste

I see I'm the late night contributor once again.....lol That is ok, it seems it's the only time I have to get on the computer without interruptions! I appreciate reading about the different experiences with having a fill.....at first I felt nothing, several days later I start to feel a little restriction, but not enough to cause me to pb or slime, I'm confused on how this delayed tightening works? Any one have any explanation? I'd appreciate it! Chim - Thanks, any small NSV gives me a good feeling. Good luck with your weigh in and fill next week!! Lindaa - Glad your ring was found!! I'll be glad to get my 10 year anniversary band in a whole new smaller size (a year and 1/2 to go...) distant0098 - that sounds a little unhealthy to me. I was told that with a fill I should still be able to eat solids as long as I chewed it well and took small bites...I'd check with your doctor about it!! Lynette - Congrats on getting rid of 30lbs. for good!! You are so close to being under 200 I'm jealous.....and look forward to the day when I can share that wonderful news also.....good for you!! Citygirlnks - This is as good a place to vent and whine! I'm a 47 year old student who is heavy, so I can relate in some ways to your feelings. It's difficult to not be chosen for what you bring to the table, but by how you look, it's just not fair, but just keep thinking what you will be like a year from now..........good luck!! I return to the University of Washington this coming week to start my final year....yipeeeee......I'm looking forward to getting back into the work world and having the money to spend on a new wardrobe!!! lol

The only time I've heard anywhere in this country doing the surgery with that low of a BMI was due to health related problems? Do you have any of those, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc?

I was also diagnosed with sleep apnea and used the machine for two weeks before the surgery and two weeks after, but after that I have chose not to use it because it is the cause of the interruption to my sleep. I fall asleep ok with it on, but if I move, the air starts leaking out and wakes me up, so it's a case of I know I should be using it, but every night it's a struggle to bring myself to use it. Also, paying the monthly fees, I should be taking advantage of the machine while I need it, but I don't.

NSV - have not been able to get my wedding band off for two years......it's coming off quite easily now!!

Hello all......I got 3cc's on Monday and took it easy the rest of the day, but after that, it doesn't feel like anymore restriction than before I got the fill......infact, I feel hungry more often now and I don't like that. The nurse must have known something as she had me make another appt. for Oct. 2nd, two weeks after this one!!! I just feel like I don't have that burst of willpower I once had, I'm not "cheating" per se, just know that I'm eating more than I was before the fill......two weeks is going to be a long time....

Brandy - have a great time at your reunion!! If my class actually did anything to have a reunion, my 30th would be next year!! So have a glass of wine for me!! :dance:

CeCe - thanks for the welcome back!! It seems like it took forever to catch up with all the posts!! Kathy - Congratulations on having your adoption final....it must feel great to have that all behind you now! Had my first fill today, 3cc's, and I had heard all the different experiences that everyone has had and thought it would be a cake walk....it was painful!! Crap...it felt like she stuck the needle in and then kept moving it around....not my favorite thing to do, but as I told the nurse, "I'm a big baby when dealing with pain...." lol But I survived to fight another day......or for at least two more weeks when I'm due to have another fill.....I didn't have any restrictions on what I could eat, but just to make sure that I chewed well and kept my portions small....that was easy to do, I had a cup of chili and was full for the evening!! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their weightloss.....whether it's fast or slow at least it's heading down and not up!!

Hello all.....back from Scotland....and have spent days reading all the latest news here....I thought I would never catch up.....it seems as if everyone is doing well, or as well as can be expected!! Sunshine, sorry about the loss of your beloved pet......being a pet owner myself, I really felt your pain. Lynette, glad to hear that your son made it into pre-school.....it's been years and years since my school days, but I never knew it was such an obstacle course of tests and such just to get into PRE-school....sheesh!! Our trip was great and had many complements from my in-laws on the changes in me, even if I didn't think there were many!! But they only see me every other year, so at least they didn't say that I looked older!!! ha ha ha.... I spent most of my time cooking my own food and was able to lose 5 lbs. on vacation, felt pretty go about that.....we also went swimming a lot and that helped. Since I've been home, I feel like I'm getting to that point in every diet I've attempted where I'm losing my enthusiasm and the weight loss has slowed down to almost nothing. I'm so glad I'm getting a fill tomorrow, I need to get a second wind to keep eating good food and to keep those portions small!! Phyl, went to the Puyallup fair on Saturday and wanted BBQ, ate some of it and it was ok, but thought I did a better sauce myself!! lol Then we tried the Halibut and chips...those were good, but only ate a few of the chips to feel like I was really "cheating".....then I knew I better get out of there......fortunately, just don't have the craving for sweets, so that was not tempting, but the monster burgers were calling, so we got out quick!! Everyone is talking about their fills, I always feel so begin everyone here!! I've yet to get my first.......can hardly wait until tomorrow!! It's great being back and getting all the encouragement that is given from this site......and hello to all those not mentioned....it's hard to remember all the topics that have been discussed, but thank you for sharing..... Celeste

It seems for the most part, my food demons are asleep, but I'm sure they are prepared to rise anytime I let my guard down. I've eaten out several times and feel good about my choices. I want to eat normal food, just in small quantities, that is my goal! I've lost my sweet tooth (I will take that as long as I can!!) and I've given up bread, red meat (for the most part), haven't eaten anything fried, no potatoes as of yet and I've done ok, up to now. Who knows what next week will bring, we can only taken it one day at a time!! Well all, I'm off on vacation....heading to Scotland to see my husband's family for 17 days....I am taking a load of food with me (as well as my magic bullet, have a converter) as well as my Protein powder, so I can stay on top of any hunger pangs I may get. See you all when I get back and good luck to everyone in accomplishing their next set of goals.....I will miss your support, believe me! Celeste

Kathy - I can relate to the "no restriction" rule.....everything seems to go down just fine, so my limitations have to be my own. I ate out for the first time since surgery (7/31) at a favorite mexican restaurant and I felt I did really well. I ate maybe 8 tortillia chips and salsa and then half a quesadilla with chicken and was stuffed!!! But as my DH and I ate, I asked him to remember what we use to be able to down at this favorite place of ours: almost two baskets of chips and salsa and then a main meal to boot. So I felt good actually bringing home a doggie bag....as this was a rare occasion before. I did not feel guilty, but proud that I ate a "normal" meal and knew when to stop.....that is what I want to learn.....but I can't wait until a fill (9/13) so that I can have that limitation imposed even more!!!:hungry: Jackie - don't panic, remember the NSV's!!! Your measurements may have changed or your clothes may feel looser.....screw the scale, it spends so much time bringing us down when we really need to feel encouragement!! You hang in there.....:clap2: One thing I have to rant about is all this out loud burping!! Sheesh....it's embarassing!!! Can't wait until that subsides.....

forgve - I forgot to mention after reading your post from yesterday about how you are taking calculus online, that I have great admiration for your math skills!!! I took Business Calc and that is one class I could NEVER have taken online....I needed help....alot!!! (And my DH is a math professor!!) lol Good luck to you.....

Jackie - what a "heartattack" moment hearing that you would have to pay, I'm so happy they got it all sorted out for you!!!:clap2: Linda - Never heard of a breath test before..... I was self pay also and after hearing Lynette's good news I called my surgery center, but alas, with the insurance I have and the place I had it done at, they will deny me. Oh well, it was worth a try!!! I'm still losing weight, so it's all good....:whoo:

Thanks everyone for your "kudo's" for getting to my first goal....it' means a lot!!! I've done it before, gotten under the 300 mark, but this time it felt like the first time I would really REMAIN under that weight!! lol.....I even went to get a few new pieces of clothes for our upcoming vacation and was able to get the next size down......that was a true NSV!!! Brandy - Wow, that is one strict regiment for the AP band!!! The notification I received from the place I got my surgery was just passing along the requirements from the maker of the band. Go figure!! But either way, with those restrictions, you will definitely lose the weight and fast!!! Good luck!!

Whoo hoo.....I beat the 300 mark!! I'm now officially 299......I'm so happy, it's been years since I've seen "200" of any kind....:whoo:

Bostonchic you are being so good!! It was hard to be on liquids for that long....I cheated here and there, then got news two days ago, that those that have the AP band only have to do liquids for one week, mushies for one week and then solids....after I had to endure the liquids for two weeks!! So I can empathize.....you are doing great!!