Taynuh

I'll work on the pics... it's sort of became a habit over the years for me to avoid the camera...so I really don't have a recent pic (unless I have hidden myself behind a kid or a bunch of people)... but yeah, even I would like to see myself now that I have lost some weight... I don't really have a good view of my "after" (well, work in progress) self... maybe I'll have Paul take a pic.... I'm not a good bandster when it comes to sharing ideas/coping strategies on obsessing on food. I don't really obsess in the true sense... instead, I find that I get frustrated and angry that I cannot eat the way (read amounts) that I want/used to... I have always been a bulk eater (not a binger, just big portions at EVERY meal), so I tend to get pouty about the smaller amounts that I can eat... basically, I never ate that badly, I just ate way too much and led a sedentary lifestyle. Now, I eat way smaller amounts of the same stuff and am still pretty sedentary (I have yet to officially exercise since my band was "installed"... although I do have two kids currently under three, so there is some activity...lol). If I try to overeat, I PB, so I really have to behave or suffer the consequences... talk about having a shock collar... I also never really was into sweets... so once in a great while I might be bad and indulge on small pieces of candy throughout a day once in awhile, but it never really has been enough to add up to much since it's not really something I am tempted to do often. I give in to my cravings when they do occur... I've discovered I can eat an entire bag (99 cent size) of chili-limon cheetos with no problemo! I do so once a week... but I think it helps me with my weight loss as it jumps my metabolism up and keeps it from adjusting itself downward. I'm a believer in the theory that if you consistently eat a low calorie diet daily and its pretty much the same daily, your body adjusts and lowers its metabolism (famine level) to compensate, thus hanging onto the fat in our bodies longer and burning it off slower. I believe that varying daily caloric intake keeps your body from adjusting, as it does not go into what it thinks is a famine state metabolically. So, while I shoot for lower calorie intake, I vary my days, and go for an average for the week... thus some days are higher calorie days (days when I give in to my cravings) and some are lower calorie (days when I focus on healthier low cal choices)... but if you average my week out, it should come out to about 1000-1200 calories a day... Also, mentally, this is easier for me to handle and I do not feel like I am constantly depriving/denying myself... I'm comfortable with my weight loss and the pace it is coming off at, although Dr. K said I'd probably lose more and quicker, by doing the low carb thing... Also, I tend to smoke when I am craving something that I can no longer eat...so that distracts me. I really do need to exercise so I can be in shape and more fit. Spring will make it easier... The plan is to do lots of biking with the kids...and stroller walks too. Tina (definitely not a good bandster)...

Ummm, I smoke too.... is my only vice left these days... I make it hard on myself... I won't smoke inside or in front of my kids... I will give them up eventually....but for now, I gotta have something... then again, I only smoke 5-7 butts a day! :crying: Tina

I hear ya, my last 6.5 pounds to go to onderland is hanging on tight... on the bright side... today I bought some new clothes...I have to say I am pumped... actually bought a regular ladies (not women's...lol...I think it runs a bit big, but I'll take it!) XL... and some 16/18w's of course.... I'm pleased as punch... earlier this past summer, before I signed up for lapband, I was wondering what happened when my 26/28's got too tight...where would I shop then?! woo hooo... not a worry now! Of course, I also saw myself in the full-length mirror there at the store fitting room (I do not have any at home)....ugghhhh! My legs are flabby! Things are sagging... G-d, I am hoping the skin shrinks a little this next year.... or I'm gonna need a thigh lift, a tummy tuck and a breast lift! ka-ching! Time to start saving for the next round of surgery! Tina (but I am happy I am healthier....) :thumbup:

My fellow September Bandster.... You're kicking butt too, according to your ticker! Woo hooooo! Tina

You go, Girl!!!! Tina :thumbdown:

Hmmm, I thought that was what the lap-band and PB's were... the anabuse for overeating. I know I'm not too keen on the ol' PB... Tina

Nope, Dr. K in Aurora though.... Love the whole experience! Tina

That's TOTALLY awesome! Way to go! Tina

Woo:Banane44: hoo... High five!!!!

That's an awesome milestone! Hoo rah! Tina

Woo hoo...on onderland!!!!!!! Rock on! :tt2: Tina

(((((hug))))) Tina

Not saying it wasn't great before, but you know... fun, exciting, varied... the coolness of having a "new" body and it having more... hmmmm... flexibility and energy! :) Tina

Climbing the stairs in my house without getting winded. The seatbelt in the Jeep fitting loosely instead of "barely". Not dreading the tight squeeze in restaurant booths. Being able to chase my daughter without getting winded. Not feeling like I'm the biggest gal in the room. Finding rings in my size! Bathroom stalls are suddenly more spacious. okay... Sex is more interesting...

Well, I used to be able to eat grits and eggs... but since my first fill, it's just grits. :thumbup: Eggs... once in a while I can get a poached egg down... Weird... you'd think as a soft food it would stay down... Actually, I don't know if that's even true anymore... my third fill has left my band very touchy...and fickle, I haven't even tried an egg yet. Tina (also doing some freelance - contract - work on the side this weekend too... )

Ya know, being a New Englander, I really get into certain comfort foods from home. This time it was Maple Ginger Baked Beans... so, knowing it was gonna be cold and snowy today... I soaked my beans last nite, got up early... parboiled my beans, and set them cooking in the old slow cooker, using my hidden stash of maple syrup from VT. All day, I smelled the heavenly scent of maple and ginger... drooled waiting for them... At dinner I had some...yum! But that damn band, argghhhhhh....major PB's... So unfair! :thumbup: I'm wicked bummed! When I ate Mex before, refried beans were no problem... so I was so hopeful. Tina

I graduated from John Bapst Prep in Bangor, Maine... now known as John Bapst Memorial High School (after the Bishop shut it down and it reopened the following year as a non-secular school).... :biggrin: Tina

It's not a big deal, but, I am finally past my halfway point... Now I have less to lose than I have l have already lost... maybe there's light at the end of the tunnel. Anyway, for me, it's psychologically satisfying to know I am more than halfway there... I set smaller milestones so I can keep myself motivated. Anita! Congrats on "onderland"! :w00t: I know how psychologically rewarding that would be... sadly, I haven't seen a one in front of my weight since high school graduation (1980)... So, that's my next psychological milestone/goal! I have 9.5 more pounds to go!!!! Tom said I should hit it by this spring, but I am thinking maybe a little sooner... Then again, maybe he meant March 20th, the first official day of spring. (Seems unlikely he meant that.) Of course, my band is acting a little tight lately (i.e. lots of PBs)... which is weird, the first few days after my fill on the 21st, I felt some new restriction, but was starting to think it was too loose... now, I'm wondering if it's settled in now and perhaps is a tad too tight... I'll give it some more time... lol, maybe after I hit "onderland"! We'll see if it's the official spring or when it "feels" like spring... Either away, I can feel it coming! Tina

Hey Mal, I hope I get good restriction too... I need it... I am a bulk eater, so I tend to like to eat as much as I can. Which is why I chose the band... Also, I am hoping we got the right amount. I know from last time, being too filled (tight) is no fun. I'd rather be a little loose than too tight. :tongue2: The babies are good. My new son just celebrated his first birthday on Valentine's Day! His big sister is really loving him too! Tina

Hi all, Today, I had my third fill with Dr. K's new PA, Tom. It went smoothly and he's a nice guy. Natalie is looking very good... I had not seen her since my 2nd fill in November and I can see that she is definitely working her band successfully! Marilyn and Mary were as sweet as usual! I found it interesting that Tom said that bands normally lose (through osmosis) a little fluid in between fills (not punctures or anything... just leaking through the membrane material I guess... he likened it to a mylar balloon losing helium over time)... anyhow, I got 0.7 cc's this time. With the natural leakage, I really have no clue how much is in my band anymore, but I am just gonna keeping adding the new amounts to the old figure until we remove it all and recalibrate the entire amount. :smile: I did the 3rd fill because my weight has stalled for almost a month now. I must confess, it's because I was able to eat more and I was really enjoying the "break" from being good -- I taking advantage of my loose band -- but I decided it was time to get back on the "bandwagon" and go in for a fill. So now, back to behaving... and smaller portions. Good-bye 4 slices of pizza (smaller pizza) in one setting. :tongue2: I've been lurking and reading posts... and I am happy to see the newer people coming on board and have been glad to read of the newly banded people's good results and recoveries too. Also, I was saddened to hear of the loss of loved people and the grief that others have recently experienced. Life throws us all kinds of curve balls, some good, some bad... but even our losses are good in a way, because they remind us how lucky we were to have had those people in our lives even if not as long as we wanted... our grief is proof of how well they touched our hearts and our souls and how much they meant to us. I see grief as a way of honoring them and their memories and also of keeping them alive within us... even when it hurts and we want them back with us and it feels unbearable. Tina

Hi all, I just scheduled a fill with Dr. K's office. I guess he has a new PA that can do fills. Has anyone gone that route yet? I'm feeling a little funny about the idea now. Like does he have the experience that Dr. K has? I really do not want my port tubing to get any punctures... so I'm worried about that and his experience level... :regular_smile: I may cancel and wait an extra few weeks for Dr. K... Any experience or thoughts on this? Tina

I hear you... for me, its about losing who I am... or how I see/define me and how I think others do too. I've always been Tina the Fat Girl/Woman... (in my mind anyways...and I am sure in most others') and while it's not always been something I wanted to be, it is who I am (was). Tina the samller person gets treated/noticed differently and sometimes, I kind of dislike that because I am like, why didn't the old Tina get the same treatment, she was/is the same person...and yet she is not. Sounds weird, but in a way, i get angry that I'm treated better/noticed more. Like why do store clerks treat me better now? I make the same money and carry myself the same way... anyhow, I kind of resent it... and it is silly, but also very real and frustratng at times. I feel like I am the same me and somehow the newer me.. and I really did like the old me, even when she was bigger. Her experiences made me "me"... At the same time, I am a bit more confident and things seem better and that creates new feelings too... I keep telling myself... change is good and I am good. Tina

Are you focusing on proteins... they'll keep you full longer... also not drinking while eating...and waiting keeps the stuff in your tum longer... Tina

Taynah~ I feel for you. My 8 year old developed strep yesterday, and he's allergic to so many meds...goodness! It cost me a fortune for his meds! Just hoping the rest of us don't get it. (This is the poor kids second go around this school year for this stuff!) Woofay, I hear ya! I am allergic to many antibiotics... so it sometimes gets pricey for me too, but this time, I lucked out and was able to take generic liquid Keflex... The stuff even tastes good! We are all on a different antibiotics ... Keflex, Biaxin, Amoxycillin and Augmentin... I have a chart to track who took what, when and what number day they are at... Yikes! Nurse Tina a.k.a. Dr. Mom

For you Coloradoans ... Others may wanna look for a similar venue... there's a store in Wheatridge that does plpus size consignment (Plus Size Women's Fashions from Upscale Plus, Inc., Career, Casual, and Bridal,Denver, CO") the rules for selling via christina's store are posted on her website. I'm sure there are such places in other states as well. Plus, E-bay is also an option for you (and out-of-staters). You'd be surprised what people will buy. It's easy! You can sell by the piece or by the lot. Clothes swapping is an option. The Red Robin group ought to consider a clothing exchange. :rolleyes2: Bring in your old larger sizes (they may be someone else's new smaller size) and swap away! Honestly, many of the pieces we have will be like new because people are not staying "at-size" for long or needed something just for a special occasion while still losing weight. Might as well make some money back or swap for something you can use. Then again, donating is always a good thing and a tax write-off too! Tina