Sue Magoo

Anitak: Another thing you might try is to put any food you are going to eat in a small container. If the container is smaller you might feel full faster - mind game, but it can help. Ignore your Mom for now. Remind her that everyone's different and they only want you to lose 1 - 2 pounds per week and you're right on schedule for that. Are you exercising? It helps alot. Good luck. Sue

Brenda: I live in Norwood, MA. I am cold all the time. I bought a bunch of pairs of long johns for women and I wear them under my clothes every day. I wear two pairs of socks most days too. I never had issues like this before. I'm thinking it's all of the insulation I've lost. I recommend long johns. It may help. Good luck....bbbrrrrrrr! Sue

Reesh: Sounds like you need to have a slight unfill. You need to be able to eat enough to get the nutrients to stay healthy. Please call your doctor or you're risking a bad situation with your band. Best wishes. Sue

I finally figured out how to update the chart. I had to get an unfill on Friday because I was so tight I couldn't eat supper two nights and was starting to get a reflux sore throat. So, now I'm on mushies for a few days. Hopefully won't set me back. Wow - alot of us are doing great with the challenge! Name.............S.W.........C.W........G.W......T o Go Dakota1984 ..... 246 ....... 242 ....... 234 ..... 8 MJSafari ....... 237 ....... 231 ....... 227 ..... 4 Wombat712 ...... 162 ....... 159.6...... 150 ..... 9.6 SueMagoo ....... 243 ....... 235 ....... 230 ..... 5 Missrhondalynn.. 255 ....... 255 ....... 235 ..... 20 MM ............. 213.4...... 209.6...... 208 ..... 1.6 BeckieT ........ 248.8 ..... 247.8 ..... 240 ..... 7.8 Suzzzie. ....... 312.1 ..... 307.3 ..... 299 ..... 8.3 HUNTERSMOM...... 170 ....... 170 ....... 165 ..... 5 LULUC .......... 182 ....... 182 ....... 170 ..... 12 SWEETY ......... 188 ....... 182.6 ..... 180 ..... 2.6 Joeygirl........ 226 ....... 223....... 220 ...... 3 FarmerE......... 182 ....... 177 ....... 172 ..... 10 Finallythin..... 235 ....... 235 ....... 220 ..... 15 Holliwagz........386.........297.........286...... 11

KelinTX: Funny that you said you seem to be losing from the bottom more than the top. I started at 324 and as of this morning was 235 and I'm shrinking from the top down. I look like an average-sized person from the ribs up, and like a very large woman from the ribs down. I can wear a Large top, but am wearing size 20W on the bottom! I heard that as you get close to goal is when it "melts" off the heaviest part. I hope that's true. Keep up the good work. Sue

Linda: Congratulations. Sounds like you've made the right decision. I hope all goes well with your appointments. I am glad every day that I got banded. I still have a long way to go. Keep looking at the before & after pictures on this website. They can inspire you through the rough band days. Best wishes. Sue

September: Best wishes to you. Welcome to band land. Sue

Hi Kara: I started my journey last January - had to wait for informational seminar until end of February. Had first consultation with surgeon in April, and had surgery in July. So, your time-frame seems reasonable to me. Some insurance companies have rules that must be followed, so you might want to check to see what their requirements are if you're using insurance. Some doctors have some prerequisite tests too. Mine had sleep apnea test, barium swallow, ekg, psychological test, and there may have been a few more tests. I can't remember them all. Good luck with your journey. Sue

Bubblegum: The more you can take off before the surgery the safer the surgery will be. What the doctor told me is that when they do the lapband they have to lift your liver and do alot of work under the liver. So, if you lose weight before you get banded the liver is one of the first places to shrink. So, if the liver is smaller the surgery is easier, thereby less risky. I did a modified weight watchers thing for three months, and then the two week all liquid presurgery diet. I lost 38 pounds before my surgery. Good luck. Sue

Jennie: I'm 5'7". I started out at 324 and I'm down to 232.5 this morning. I didn't update my ticker yet. I think I'll be happy at 160, or size 12 - whichever comes first. I started doing a modified weight watchers diet on 4/23, so in 7 1/2 months I've lost 91.5 pounds and I feel much better - physically and mentally. I get inspired by looking at the before & after pictures. Take a look. Good luck. Sue

Update - I love my second fill. Start Current Goal To Go 243 233.5 230 3.5 Somehow I fell off the big chart. Can someone please put me back on? Thanks. Sue

Chris: The sooner the better to a healthier you. Don't think about the money unless it is something that will stress you out about because added stress isn't good either. I wish I'd looked into it and done it three or four years ago. Best wishes for your success. Sue

Gwhite: Congratulations! I started at 26/28 and I can wear 20's now. It's so exciting isn't it? I have a Salvation Army store in my town. I started shopping there because for $5 you can get a pair of pants like khaki's or jeans. I figure I'm only gonna wear them for a month or two and then I'll donate them back. My Salvation Army store has a nice Plus Size section. I donated alot of clothes already, and I chuckle when I'm looking through the racks for 20's and 18's and I find my old 22's, 24's, and 26/28's. Maybe you have a good used clothing store near you to try? Continued good weight losses to you. Sue

Cagstorm: Mine is 3 1/2 inches - must have needed more room to fix hiatal hernia too. Hope recovery goes well for you. Your weight loss is going very well for a newbie. Keep up the good work. Sue

Hi: Anyone who can be a Mom to 8 must have alot of things going for her already. Congratulations on getting banded. Remember to get some rest afterward. If you're anything like me it may take a few months before you get your energy level back, and then it increases from there. Good luck. Sue

Hi Longhorn: Glad to see I'm not the only using a one-minute timer. It helps me alot. I live in Patriots country, and my ex-husband (and still friend) is a huge Cowboys fan. He goes to a Cowboys game every year from Massachusetts to wherever. I like to see the Pats do well because it makes my coworkers happy. It could end up Pats vs. Boys. May the best team win. I hope our bands have as good a year as the Pats and Cowboys are. Take care. Sue

Tami: You said you're married to a great guy. Count your blessings and don't do anything you'll live to regret. I'm sure your great guy would probably love to share in your increased libido. I am also 5'7" and hope to be 160 next year. Good luck. Sue

Janice: Good luck with kicking the coffee habit. Watch out for the caffeine withdrawal headaches - they kill. Please keep us posted to let us know if the shoulder pain goes away. Take care. Sue

Holliwagz: Welcome to two-ter-ville! Congratulations. Sue

Mine are happier! How funny! My girls are actually happier since I got rid of all of that midrif bulge that was just below them. My girls have always been small and now they have more definition because of all of the fat that I've lost below them. I was so happy to go and buy 38B bras in a regular store because I used to have to get 42B's and they can only be bought at the plus size shops. However, I'm still jealous of anyone who has a letter higher than a B with their bra size. Keep losing and let's see how/where our girls end up! Take care and thanks for the laugh. Sue

Thanks joeygirl!

Hi All Thanksgiving to New Years Challengers: I guess I'm a little bit chart challenged. I wanted to update my current weight on the chart but ended up screwing it up. Could one of you more experienced bandsters please update my current weight to show 237, with 7 pounds to go? Thank you. I got my second fill on 11/21 and the results are adding up quickly - yippee! Maybe this is my sweet spot. I love my band.:whoo: Sue

Hi All Fellow Bandsters: I just got a pedometer yesterday. Today I took 11,352 steps so far, won't be many more because I'm done walking outside for today. Does anybody know how many steps we should be doing each day? Please let me know so that I can set a daily target. Thanks. Sue

Tulip: I hope you recover and heal quickly! Good luck. Sue

Hi: I was 47 when banded. I wish I could have done it 20 years ago! Sue