salsa1877

Holy cow there is SUCH a HUGE difference in your face. You are just going to have those smiley cheeks that are always there when you smile. But OMG I can see such a difference. So I didn't take pictures this month, but I will definetly take them and post them NO MATTER WHAT on my 6 month bandiversary. Can you believe that next month will be six months:eek:????

Well this story should show you exactly you crazy my mom was. And yes she was crazy, as she spent time in a mental institution. I have been fat for as long as I can remember. I was put on a diet on my 8th birthday. My mom sat and ate my entire birthday cake in front of me and told me to eat my veggies as no one that was as fat as I was should be rewarded with goodies. (Mind you she was fat her whole life too, and died weighing over 350 pounds). So I turned to closet eating and admittedly actually would eat out of the garbage can at home. I know disgusting, but I always feared she would take away the food. Since that time I have been binging on food whenever the opportunity would arise. College was the worst because I lived alone and didn't have to hide the food. I remember my first year of college that I would go to each of the fast food restaurants and order the largest meal I could get and usually ended up eating at least 3 super/king/biggie sized meals for dinner. However I am very proud to say that since I have been banded I have not snuck one piece of food:Dancing_biggrin:. I dropped 50 pounds on Aktins, but skyrocketed by up and over my original weight when the stress of working in a gang ridden Las Vegas school caused me to turn to carbs, carbs, carbs. My worst day for eating in vegas consisted of downing almost 2 dozen krispy kreme donuts in 1 day. As for my large sizedness, I still see myself as big. though last night at the gym, I started seeing that I wasn't as big as I was picturing myself. However, I mentally can't wrap my head around the fact that I don't have 100 pounds to lose anymore. It is so bizzare to me. I have been trying to lose weight for 20 years, so I am scared to get to the point that I no longer have anything to lose. I will lose a major part of who I am. I know, I am cuckoo, but you all love me, so it doesn't matter!

I really like this new look. Anyways I have to share my fabulous news. After being down about the fact that I couldn't see/feel a difference after losing weight, I finally found something. I joined a gym today and it seriously is the best thing I have ever done for myself, besides the band. I did 2 miles on the treadmill, BUT I RAN 1.25 OF THOSE MILES! Now it wasn't all continuous, but I did run .5 straight. Then I did another 1 mile on the eliptical. So here are my HUGE NSV's. 1. I ran .5 miles straight for the FIRST time in my life. 2. I wasn't the fatest girl at the gym:thumbup: 3. I didn't feel like I was dying 10 minutes into my workout. 4. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK TOMORROW:Dancing_biggrin: Well after an hour at the gym I need to go get some work done.

I got this from the Crazy Ate's Board and had to share. I have lost an air conditioner and a doze Krispy Kreme donuts. I have been measuring in sticks of butter and to date I have lost 226 sticks of butter! 1 pound = a Guinea Pig 1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts 2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs 3 pounds = an average human brain 4 pounds = an ostrich egg 5 pounds = a Chihuahua 6 pounds = a human skin 7.5 pounds = an average newborn 8 pounds = a human head 10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year 11 pounds = an average housecat 12 pounds = a Bald Eagle 15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs 16 pounds = a sperm whale�s brain 20 pounds = an automobile tire 23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year 24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream 25 pounds = an average 2 year old 30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year 33 pounds = a cinder block 36 pounds = a mid-size microwave 40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg 44 pounds = an elephant�s heart 50 pounds = a small bale of hay 55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner 60 pounds = an elephant�s penis 66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year 70 pounds = an Irish Setter 77 pounds = a gold brick 80 pounds = the World�s Largest Ball of Tape 90 pounds = a newborn calf 100 pounds = a 2 month old horse 111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year 117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she�s 5�11�!) 118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica 120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month 130 pounds = a newborn giraffe 138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year 140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year 144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she�s 5�4�) 150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary 187 pounds = an average adult man 200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds 235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger 300 pounds = an average football lineman 400 pounds = a Welsh pony

The main board is Lucky # Sevens- July 07 Bandsters and you shouldn't feel like an intruder. We are further ahead that you are, but we really like to help people, so we would be more than willing to answer any of your other questions or help you with anything. It is good to have friends that have been there and done that, so that you have a bit more information. That is how I ended up on this board. They were a month ahead of me, so they could help me deal with some of the issues that I had.

I really like this new look. Anyways I have to share my fabulous news. After being down about the fact that I couldn't see/feel a difference after losing weight, I finally found something. I joined a gym today and it seriously is the best thing I have ever done for myself, besides the band. I did 2 miles on the treadmill, BUT I RAN 1.25 OF THOSE MILES! Now it wasn't all continuous, but I did run .5 straight. Then I did another 1 mile on the eliptical. So here are my HUGE NSV's. 1. I ran .5 miles straight for the FIRST time in my life. 2. I wasn't the fatest girl at the gym:thumbup: 3. I didn't feel like I was dying 10 minutes into my workout.:huh2: 4. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK TOMORROW:Dancing_biggrin: Well after an hour at the gym I need to go get some work done.

Glad you found us. You should join us on the main board. Introduce yourself and become one of us!

I know. It is not that I would trade the band for anything. What is really bothering me is that in my head I keep thinking I still have 100 pounds to lose, when in reality I have 31 pounds to lose. When I have talked to people who have lost weight before they say that it takes a while to realize that. I no longer have any concept of what I look like or how much space I take up. I had deluded myself for so long that I wasn't as big as I really was so now that I have lost weight my reflection in the mirror is the same as what my mental picture of myself was when I was really fat. I hope this makes sense. So because what I see in the mirror is equal to what my brain made me think I looked like before I don't see any difference. If I look at the pictures side by side I definetly see a difference. But just trying to do it without the aid of the pictures is impossible for me right now. Besides my tummy is still so flabby that I don't see how in 31 pounds that it is going to be gone. I can't afford plastic surgery and really don't want it. My skin should be okay (youth does have some advantages!). So in an attempt to start toning I am jumping off of the cheapskate wagon and joining a gym. It means that I have to put a little less away in savings but at least I am using it for something good. Besides I am finding that I need a little ME time. After work when I go home my BF is already there and I have no time to spend by myself when I am not working. Last year I had a half hour commute each way so that was my time to unwind, but now my commute is less than 2 minutes and that is not enough time at all. Well back to work. I am swamped with grading....AGAIN!:wink2::pray2:

Jumping in from another board, but it sounds to me like you are too tight. Even if you are looser than most people would want to be if you can eat actual food, I think you are going to feel fuller longer. Liquid diets made me starve. Right now my fill is too tight but I live 5.5+ hours away from my doc and couldnt' get the time off of work to travel there until this coming monday. I tried doing liquids since my last fill on Dec. 21 but it didn't fill me up. I switched to fish and it seems to be working better. My doc says that if you are feeling pain when you are eating anything besides bread, rice or Pasta then you are too tight. As for the bread rice and pasta, some people can never handle them again without pain. Even when I was completely unfilled due to getting something lodged, I couldn't eat rice. I think the reason that you are not losing weight is because you are not getting the right nutrients. Those deceptively easy to slide down foods are usually very high in sugar and fat and halt the weight losing process. As for your doc, is there anyone else that you could go to. I don't know your financial situation but if you are not happy with your doc, you should be in a big enough city that there should be another one around. Hope this gets better for you. Also on a good note, my doc considers someone successful if they lose 50 pounds in 1 year, so you are doing fantastic!

I hope youd don't mind someone butting in from another thread, but I wanted to give you some encouragement. You all seem to be doing well. I know that some of you are not losing as fast as you want, but the scale is going down. Fills are tricky thing...Mine did get tighter after 2 weeks. Now I am too tight. Sharon - You have taken the first step and made the committment to not push the band. Your tool is only as good as you treat it. It is alright to have those treats once in a while. After all, thin people have a bismark. But it is what you do 98% of the time that is going to influence your life. My doc considers you successful if you lose a total of 50 pounds in 1 year (including pre-op diet). Therefore if you have lost more than 12 pounds you are on track! Keep that number in mind and it doesn't make you feel as much like a failure as you think you are. I personally think that you are doing great and am proud that you made your committment to yourself. Want so bad - You got it. Positive attitudes are the only way to do this. The more postive you are the more likely you are to create successes in the future. If we didn't use this band to help us forgive what we have done in the past in terms of our eating, we NEVER would lose weight. Ughh if I kept dwelling on all those super sized meals that I ate, I never would have lost the weight. Instead I would just keep sitting their feeling guilty for eating fries while chowing down on pizza. Kbinaz - All 15 pounds count in my book! They are 15 pounds you aren't going to get back if you just keep on the right path. I know it is not easy to make the right food choices and exercise. Heck if it was, I wouldn't have dropped 17000$ for this tool. Restriction can take a while and believe me I know what it is like to be completely unrestricted. I had to have my filled removed because I didn't chew well enough and got something lodged. But even though I didn't feel the restriction I kept following the bandster rules. If you are not getting full, try adding some more veggies or salads as they help bulk up without adding to many calories. Don't look at this next fill as the breaking point for being a failure. You are a success just in the fact that you have taken the steps to get healthy and lose weight. That in itself should make you feel like a million bucks. It will happen. Some lose fast, some lose slow, but if we struggle together we will all lose. It sounds like you all give each other good support and I hope that you can help each other through bad times. Good luck and best wishes.

Actually I tried working out today and it just hurt too bad so I stopped. I am joining the gym tomorrow and am going to hold off on the situps for a while. I am going to ask my doctor about situps when I go in on Monday.

Wow it is like our bands were separated at birth:tongue:. I had the same issue and wasn't it tough during those times! I just got my fill back on Dec. 21st and now it is too tight. But good luck in you journey!

Val you are looking AMAZING! I still have to take my 5 month pics. Just haven't gotten to it this month. (7 days behind so I have to do them TONIGHT!)

I really overdid it the other day and I have a HUGE not in my stomach muscles right where my port is. It is even causing me issues when I sleep so I had to take Sunday and Monday off. However, I will be back to exercising tonight. When I get my tax refund I am going to go join a gym. The video is great, but I can't push myself to the max, and that is what I want to do sometimes. Plus we live on the top floor of an apartment complex so I have to be careful about what I do as to not disrupt the downstairs neighbors. Decided now that I am not supporting my brother financially that this is something that I can afford to do.

I don't know if I would go as far as a horse! Is it more than I eat... yes, but you are not eating like a horse. It looks like healthy choices and if you are loosing weight and it certainly looks like you are then don't stress yourself out over that. if you feel like you need a fill then certianly get one, but remember we are here for each other, but must remember that this is an individual journey. Here is the thing though you can't cut calories too much, especially with the way that you exercise because you still need fuel to keep up your metabolism. Yes calories in, calories out, but too few calories can also cause a problem. Too bad we can't teleport some of the fill that is in my band to yours:rolleyes:. You want more and I want less!!!

Oh and I dont' know how much you have lost, but remember, the lap band goes much slower than bypass. My doc says that 50 pounds in one year is what he hopes to see patients get to. So if you are anywhere around 25 pounds lost than you are on track. Also, tell us what you are doing and maybe we can give you some pointers.

I think a lot of it is how much you can tolerate. I can eat 1 cup of food now, but I am so tight that it takes me forever to do it, and it hurts. I don't like being this tight. if you go to the main thread you will see how much I whine about being this tight. For me I use the band to keep me from being hungry all the time. I don't have a problem limitng myself to the 1 cup of food when it is time to eat because I am not starving. So what I am saying is that the band doesn't prevent me from eating more most of the time, my brain does. What it does do is keep me from always feeling hungry. However, some people need to use the tool to prevent them from eating too much. I haven't pb'd with my fill, but if you think that you can live with upping the chances of pb's and not being able to eat meat (I couldn't do it!) then another fill might not hurt...especially if you are going up .1cc at a time. In fact it may only take .1 cc before you get to a point that you just can't take anymore without being miserable. Do you live close to the doc so that if you have a little put in and it is too tight that you could quickly get it out? Or is that not financially feasible either. I think you have too look at all of these things. For me I live too far from the doc to take those chances of being to tight, so that is why from now on, I will be VERY conservative in my fill. But again, if you think that you can handle it...go for it.

I have been feeling like this a lot lately. I was watching Oprah the other day and then the Biggest Loser last night and I keep thinking, wow if they can lose over 100 pounds why can't I. Then I think to myself, uhhhh....you only have 31 left to lose before you get to your goal weight. It seems absurd to me to be this close to my goal weight. I know my clothes sizes are getting smaller and in the last few day have had numerous compliments on the amount of weight that I have lost, but I still don't see it. I see it in pictures and when I have clothes on, but the moment I stand in front of that damned mirror in the buff, I still look like the 250 pound person I used to be. I look down and still see that now very wrinkly belly and it makes me feel like I am losing the battle even though i am obviously not. I didn't change my ticker this morning but I am down another 1.5 pounds. 1 pound away from what my driver's license says! I am hoping to lose that by the time I go to the doctor's on Monday. It would be the first time I have been driving with the legal stats on my driver's licence EVER! Well I am still swamped at work so I had best finish my lunch (yep I eat lunch at 10:30 am) and get back to grading. I just get one set of projects finished and then another set pops back up!

I haven't tried or even seen those. I was doing the optima ones. Hopefully I won't have to be back on liquids for a while. Well I will after I have some of the fill removed on Monday, but after that I would like to be liquid free for a while! Thanks for the suggestion.

1) I am just really nosey now... what is everybodies Marital status...??? Single but live with my boyfriend. 2) Does everyone live alone and cook for one?? We usually cook together. Though I would say he cooks more if we are cooking alone. He usually gets home before I do. 3) Who prepares family meals and who eats what they cook their family? We always have the same thing. Rarely we will be on our own, but most of the time we eat the same things. We email back and forth during the day to decide what we are going to have. Most of the time he understands what I can and cannot have. During the times when I am on liquids or mushies he usually eats very unhealthy. 4) Or... do you prepare special meals just for your bandster self? On the weekends I usually make meals that will last me for breakfast and lunch for the following weeks. These are my bandster meals. That way I can just grab them out of the freezer in the morning and pop them in my lunch bag. Janet- We do have a VCR, but frankly I won't watch it if I record it. There is always something that comes up so I just stay up if it is not too late. If it is on too late I just don't watch it. Lindaa - Is your fill too tight? I didn't have that problem at night, but nothing gets between me and my sleep. Well almost nothing. Peaches - I am glad someone wants this level of restriction. I HATE IT!! I have decided that I am going in and getting some taken out on Monday. I still am struggling to eat in the mornings and I refuse to do protein shakes. I think the reason that I lost weight during the liquid phase is becuase I was doing ISOPURE drinks that don't have any sugar. But I can't bring myself back to drinking those. They were good during the 1st 2 weeks but now I gag when I bring them too my lips. Well I have a TON of work to do so I will try to check back in after school.

Peaches I was feeling the golfball/soccerball feeling in my chest. I can't even imagine eating anything with bread right now! And I have to agree with Janet, I was shaking my finger at you! I am still struggling to get to 1000 calories. I think I was just below 800 tonight. I still am going to have to go in on Monday of next week and get a bit taken out of this fill. It is okay now, but I am tired of my meals taking an hour to eat. I did go to work today and it is a good thing that my prep period goes into my lunch cause otherwise I wouldn't have time to eat. It just isn't worth it. On a good note though my weight did go down now that I am back on real foods. I really don't have much tolerance for sugar so when I am on protein shakes the overabundance of carbs prohibits me from losing any weight. As soon as I go off and stop drinking sugars the weight starts coming off. Gosh darn NBC. Tonight is American Gladiators and tomorrow is biggest loser. This kills my bedtime! And no I don't have TIVO. In fact we don't even have cable, just an antenna on top of our TV!! Well I am off to bed as soon as this is over.

...to join this thread, but mentally I don't see/feel it. I look in the mirror and I see a smaller person, but I look down at my belly and it still looks the same. I can see the major changes in my clothes and in pictures but mentally I still think of myself as a 250 pound woman. I was watching Oprah today and they were talking about all of these people who had lost over 100 pounds and I was thinking to myself... "If they can do it, why can't I?" Then I realize to hit my goal that I only have 32 pounds to go, but I can't wrap my head around that. I have been fat my whole life. My mom and my doc put me on my first diet at 8, so for the last 20 years I have been dealing with losing weight. I guess what I am trying to ask is "has anyone else dealt with this?" I am sure that you have, but I was wondering if there was some technique that you used, or a suggestion from a therapist that helped, or what. I am feeling a little lost as I approach my goal. Losing weight is something that I have been trying to do for the last 20 years. I wonder what I am going to do with my extra time!?!

I am new to this forum, but I have to totally agree that people are driving me crazy with their inability to stick with the post op diet for the required time AND even more frustrated that they refuse to take any advice even if it means potentially saving their lives. My doc only made me do 2 weeks of full liquids and 2 weeks of mushies before our first fill and real food. However, I was scared to death that I was going to mess everything up so I essentially stayed on liquids for the full 4 weeks. I was so afraid that I would cause it to slip that even now after having fills it takes me a while to go back to solids. Tami- I have never heard it put any better And the simple fact is that success breeds success. Those who jump into this with motivation to change *immediately* are the ones who are more likely to achieve their goals. The ones who wait for restriction to do it for them are the ones who struggle. This is why I have been so successful. I didn't care if I had a fill or not, I follow the bandster rules all the time. I forgot to chew a while back, ended up with something lodged and had to have a complete unfill. My doc told me that I would gain weight during this time, but I told him that I would prove him wrong. And despite the fact that it was difficult I managed to lose 10 pounds during those 42 LONG days. How did I do it? I pretended like I was filled as tight as I could be. This IS about a lifestyle change and the band IS A TOOL! Thank you for this thread, because I really hope that people researching will look here and realize that this is a lot harder than what people think. Hopefully those that feel like they can't get through one more day of a post-op will come here and realize that the end result is so much better than a steak.

I am so sick of liquid calories, I don't ever want to consume them again! Actually I don't drink alcohol at all. I get a terrible headache about 3 sips in, so it was one of those things that I didn't have to give up. I didn't drink soda either so I lucked out on those things. I think I overdid the exercise this weekend. My port area is very sore. If you push around there you can fill a big knot in my ab muscles. When I go home after school I am going to try a hot wash cloth to see if that will loosen it up. I am not sure if I am going to get my exercising in for the day.

I love my doctor. He is really great and despite the fact that I am so far away, I am glad that I went with him. His staff is so caring and the office manager has emailed me everyday since I contacted them about being tight making sure that I don't need to come in. You are right about other doctors, though. I have heard some scary stories. I heard a nightmare from one of my students about the doctor that is about 10 miles from where I live. It made me feel so much better about my decision.