KarenG.

Hi Lisa - what doctor/hospital are you at? I am at NY Hosp. and althought I wait sometimes I have been overall pretty happy.

So close Tracy! I have been watching your progress because you started at basically the same weight as me. My goal is a little bit lower than yours - I guess I am shorter! Good luck getting to onederland by new years - I dont think I will make it (207 today) but surely I can make it in Jan. which is just fine with me!

because I could not eat at all yesterday either. Must be something about xmas.

My post - op diet put me on mushies or what they called pureed food from 3 days out until 4 weeks out. I would follow the plan that the doctor gives you but if you are allowed mushies there are tons of things you can eat. One of my favorite was veggie refried beans with a tiny bit of cheese and fat free sour cream melted over it. Another favorite withe cheese was spagetti sauce and ground turkey put through the food processor with parm. cheese on top.

I had a few things steak and a big mac. The thing is that most things I could eat after I was done with the special post-op diet and before I got restriction. I did manage not to gain weight before my surgery which I think is a good goal. Somehow I don't feel deprived by the things that I can't eat - tough meat and white bread.

I could eat a lot. Don't worry until you get fileld up. Even then don't worry - it takes time - I am getting my 4th next week. I was impatient at first now I realize that slow is better because I am slowly adjusting to my restriction so I make fewer mistakes. Good luck and congratulations!

Whos - thanks! I have only run about 2 miles so far without stopping. Mybrother claims that if I can run one mile I can run 4 but I am not so sure! I can always take a walking break right? Plus, it is at midnight so dark and nobody will see me!

I can already tell that 2008 is going to be amazing.

KarenG............215....................207.25 .............205..................2.25

Week 8 - I haven't updated in a while. I am only on week 8 (28 minute run) but am hoping to prgress to the final week in a few days. I go so slowly that there is no way I am actually running 5K in 30 minutes! More like 3K! Oh well, I am doing this 4 mile run on new years eve but am already certain I am going to have to walk 1/2 of it.

Yay! Congrats!

208.25. Also 51lbs from my first goal.

Hi Whos - So cold here - I haven't been getting out as much as I would like. I am on week 8 this week and am hoping to have finished the entire thing by new years! Good job with week 9!

Yes, I was initially told it would go away but I can feel it distinctively on my ribs and have confirmed that it is the port. Not only can I feel it but it sticks out when I stand up. I am going to have it moved when I lose more weight.

I have mens spinning shoes and I am sure you can find those in your size. Also, they are supposed to be snug (they tell me).

This is why I did not tell anyone except a few close friends. Even with them I can't help but feeling them "take note" of how much weight I have lost and how much I can eat. Right now I need another fill so I am eating a tiny bit more than I would have with full restriction and I oddly feel weird when I am eating with people who know - even though I am still eating less than one cup of food!

full clothed without shoes.

Not knowing anything about medicine, I am with Wasa - for one thing, she always has great incite with her medical background. Also, I can't imagine that this happens all that often because as a lawyer and I know that we would hear more about this possibility from the anesthesiologist before we went into surgery because of liability.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Do you mean your band or your port?

My port feels sore if I do exercise that involves my abdominal muscles. Actually, my port feels sore a lot but more if I have used my abs. You DH must have just been using them while he was shoveling.

I had a thought that maybe I will be really ugly once I lose all the weight. All my life everyone has been telling me I am pretty and that I would look fabulous thin (well my mom) but recently I have been looking in the mirror as I lose weight and I see my nose getting bigger, lines showing around my eyes and all sorts of imperfections. Anyone relate to that.

I am at 210 and have another fill scheduled for January 4th.

I was told protein, then veg, then starches. I find that I don't feel like wasting room on starches these days!

My doctor uses a barium swallow each and every time I get filled to check the flow.

I am almost 50lbs down in a little over 4 months without full restriction. That means I have lost about 45% of my excess weight already. The statistics say that I should only lose like 10 - 20 more lbs and that will certainly not be true in my case! I think that you should know that it can be done but it is not a sure thing - I keep reminding myself of the work that I need to put in too!