Flipper64

OMG! I'm not the only one! Sometimes it's so hard to stay motivated when the scale doesn't move ALL FREAKIN' MONTH. Obviously a hormonal thing, but glad to know I'm just like some of you others!

I hear you... I was banded 9/27/07, and my losses have been negligible. I lost 18 lbs pre-surgery, and then floundered. Last year at this time, at 262, I started doing Atkins and managed to get to about 240 on a roller coaster ride. I have presently been doing Medifast for the past month, started on 2/1, and I have barely seen a 5 lb loss. I'm so frustrated, I'm doing everything on plan, never going over 900 calories a day... and yet I am struggling with every pound. Glad to hear I'm not the only one...

Hi Mandi, You and I were banded on the same day. I'm not working at this as hard as I should be either--but I'm incredibly grateful that I haven't REGAINED any of my initial weight loss. It's a new year and we BOTH need to remember why we got this thing...and get re-motivated. I also eat a lot less than before, but apparently enough to maintain my present weight. Over the years I've never been able to maintain any sort of weight loss...until now. Thank God the holidays are over! Hang in there, and good luck!

Dorr, Good on you for your pre-band loss. I'm one who's also lost on Atkins (quite painlessly) and yet gained it all back. I'm slowly coming to realize (DOH!) how this band is really going to work for me--and that's allowing me to keep the weight OFF once it's gone. You look great, you must be tall!

Nice pic, Edd...long time no hear! And BTW, I'd have issues letting my kids sit on your lap...(-:

Hey Mr. New Bear, Welcome! All the info you need is somewhere on this site...just steer clear of all possible drama (unless that is your thang!) Liberal use of the "search" function is recommended.

Juli! WOO HOO!!

Eddie... Hang in there. I can't even begin to imagine your nephew's pain--a tragedy all the way around. You're all in my thoughts and prayers. Dana

Oh Ed... I'm so sorry about your crappy week! At least there were no injuries. Today I resigned from my job which I've had for 17.5 yrs....thought I was going to throw up! My sweetie and I decided that I could quit and play mommy...a role that this 43-year-old-no-kids-of-her-own woman is just starting to get the hang of after 2 years of practice. I'm scared shitless for a few reasons, the main reason being that I have always been the "responsible" bread winner in my past relationships. I figure, though, that I'm damned lucky to have been given this chance to do something completely different with my life...*sigh* Now, the scary part--telling my parents. (I know, we never really do grow up)

Hmmmmm.... GLBTHLCF...now that's a mouthful! Welcome!

Stacy 73… 40 TulipStar…22 Mdicurn…20 time4me…27.8 Magooz07…11 Caresarn…16 Klpdbl…31 Lapband4me...32 Sirusman…23 Allisarin…23 Tishamarie…49 EL1…23 Juliacleone…14 Kimmie…43 dsmit13…23 ScareDcat…22 Lapitup…22.5 mandi78…23 andrea71…28 Thinmom…23 Kellymovingon...35 flipper64...30 _________________

speaking of kids... I came into my present relationship alone--my DW has FIVE children. The two girls live with her ex out of state and we are raising the three boys. The oldest boy is the only one I've had problems "meshing" with--It was a VERY rocky 1st year or so. But now things are much much better, except when he returns from visiting his other mother in CO. Tends to be stand-offish for a few days before he warms back up to me. I used to take it very personally, but I've tried to be more mature about the situation and try to see his POV. My sweetie is his birth mother, the other 4 are adopted--3 from Guatemala, one from Ukraine.:help:

Great job, Stevee!! WOO HOO!

Yeah, my doc is pretty hard core when it comes to pre and post-op diets. There is no mushie phase--soft foods for two weeks and then on to the real stuff. Apparently he has seen people gain weight on mushies. Personally, I think he doesn't want his patients to eat before their first fill because of non-restriction as well as being assured of ample healing time. Whatever. I'm this far already, and I've got a good jump start on the weight loss. I hear what you're saying re: your family vs. your mood...if any of mine DARES critique the dinner menu there is hell to pay. And of course I remind them of how long it's been since I've eaten! Ha! And THEN they want to drink my sugar-free flavored water....grrrrrr OK, I'm taking the laptop on the cruise--I may need all of the support I can get! Dana

Hi Guys! Eddie--kudos to you. I'm looking forward to my change in obesity status as well! Hell, I just hate the word "obese" all together. Juli--great job on the weight loss (yes, I've noticed) Caresa--glad you're feeling well enough to have lascivious thoughts! I'm feeling pretty good. I've healed up nicely and gas/soreness is pretty much gone. I've got a wicked cold that one of the little darlings brought home from school though...and I'm a bit run down. Still slogging (sloshing?) through clear liquid (plus protein) diet until my first fill, 10/29. Tomorrow will make it 1 month so far. Yes, that was a whine! But truthfully, I'm not hungry. But like Caresa, I've stopped losing for a few days myself. *sigh* Allison (DW) and I are leaving tomorrow to go on a cruise. The ultimate test of my willpower. Gotta pack the protein. Pray for me. (-:

Juli- Love the response! Snotty? I think not. But maybe it gave the poster some food for thought. Speaking of food....I miss mexican. Only 3 more weeks of clear liquids.

The process for me was speedy. Seminar on 6/28/07, all the other stuff I had to do in-between, banded on 9/27/07. I have federal BCBS, no insurance delays whatsoever.

Hey! I'm home and feeling great--the best I've EVER felt after having surgery. I had my gall bladder removed lapriscopically 4 years ago, and felt like absolute crap for at least 3 weeks afterward...I know I'm still under the influence of the meds, but my energy level is fantastic--must be all the vitamins pumped in me! No gas issues...was up and taking walks around the nurse's station 3 times in the middle of the night. Time to try and sleep a bit now, didn't get much last night. Caresa--Hope all is well! Dana

Woo Hoo! Had my stress echocardiogram yesterday evening (just barely fit me in the schedule--whew) and I'm good to go for tomorrow! Being on that f'ing treadmill for only 6 minutes reminded me how outta shape I am...and I walk at work on a daily basis. Geez. So...now the countdown begins! I'm not looking forward to the 5# lifting restriction for 6 weeks, though...my poor wife's going to have to do a lot of my duties for me. We have a soon-to-be 3 year old (along with two other boys) who still needs to be put in a car seat, crib, etc. Also, I'm now off work for those 6 wks because my job requires lifting...lots. At least my supervisors have been supportive. Enough bitching... Go ME! And go CARESA! Woo Hoo! Thanks for all the support, guys! Dana

Welcome, Caresa. I'm also supposed to be banded on Thursday, if all goes well tomorrow when I see the cardiologist because of an abnormal EKG...but of course I'm hoping to be in all kinds of discomfort at about this time in two days, my new band firmly in place! We'll see. I, too, just started this journey--my first seminar was on 6/20 and things have been sailing along since. Maybe a bit TOO quick...nah. Don't be scared, we just gotta jump right in! And Miss Juli Diva...just what kind of a non-camping lesbian are you??? Dana

Stevee, You're going to have great success with that attitude! Keep it up, your motivation is inspiring!

I'm in day 7 of my 2 week pre-op clear liquid diet, which includes two 30g of protein shakes a day...and my doc considers tomato juice to be "clear", so that's what's saving me. Never thought a glass of tomato juice would seem so decadent... Post-op, I'm doing the same thing for 4 more weeks, but the protein is bumped up to 90g a day. And then there are the supplements...

Hang in there, Edd...I'm on day six of pre-op 2 week clear liquid diet. I just finished making dinner for my DW and the boys. Not the easiest thing to do when you can't eat!!! I served it up and headed upstairs to the computer. It's not been as bad as I thought it would, but my doctor requires a 4 week post-op clear liquid diet as well. It's a bit overwhelming to think that I won't eat again for another 5 weeks!:paranoid My surgery is scheduled for the 27th of this month, but at my last visit with my doctor I was informed that I had an abnormal EKG and I'm to see a cardiologist on the 25th and hopefully he'll clear me for surgery. Needless to say I'm freaking out a bit--my sweetie is a physician and tells me that there is some cause for concern...it's possible I've had a heart attack in the past, according to the results of the EKG. Hopefully it was a "fluke" reading and I'm really healthy as a horse and everything will go as planned! (My present fantasy...:car:) I hope all is going well with everyone! Dana

Hey Pamela! Beautiful smile! Nice to see what you look like in actual real person size!! (As opposed to the avatar pic.) Dana

Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry, Radiohead, Garbage, old Elton J., Cheap Trick, ABBA...Oh yeah, gotta love Oingo Boingo and Queen as well.