stI24nger

Holy crap, Mindy....I think I've said that to you about 15 times in the last 4 days. Please, just DON'T come in to the bank....I think I would run away! Hopefully you people will take all your meds and feel better soon. Did the 105 fever slow the young'un down at all? Something tells me it may have--Barely. Well, my good news is that I finished week 3 today. The idea of repeating it sounds pretty tempting, but I'm just going to continue to go with the flow and see what happens. Thank goodness for the podcasts...I don't think I'd be able to keep up with the week 4 lineup without it. Here's a preview: -Walk 5 mins -Jog 3 mins -Walk 1.5 mins -Jog 5 mins -Walk 2.5 mins -Jog 3 mins -Walk 1.5 mins -Jog 5 mins That's 16 minutes of jogging!!!! 7 more minutes than week 3. Holy CRAP, I say!!!!!

I got banded on 11/8/07 by Dr. Longoria at Southwest Bariatrics here in Austin. Everything about my experience has been perfect...I can't say enough good!!!

Hey everyone!!! I DID IT!!!! Granted, it was on the treadmill....way to cold to run outside--plus I was SCARED! BUT...I DID IT!!!! I ran the entire time I was supposed to--3 mins! YAY!!! I'm extremely proud of myself and feeling SUPER! Cheers, and have a great weekend, All!

Wow. That's definitely quite a ways from the way I feel with my 5cc. Something tells me you wouldn't do very well on pizza and garlic bread for dinner. kandice, you and are are at about the same place, but you've lost more than me. I started at 230, surgery date 11/8. You've had more fills than I have, my doc makes me wait 4 weeks between. I just CANNOT wait to be in the 100's!!!!

So, now that I've had 5 cc for 6 days now, I'm starting to feel like maybe it's not as much restriction as I thought. Last night I ate pizza and garlic bread for dinner....that type of meal just SHOULD not fly....I think I have to wait 3 or so more weeks til I can get another fill....hope I don't get too hungry!

You people are really scaring me. I'm super-nervous about week 3, and now I'm even moreso! Well, I have one more day to get myself pumped up and optimistic!

I am registering for the 5k right now, as we speak. I did day 3 of week 2 last night. I did it on the treadmill at the gym. After running Saturday at Town Lake, the treadmill was a cinch. I was barely even breathing hard! WooHoo! Still amazed that this is actually working. I'm starting week 3 on Thursday.....3 minutes of running?!?!?!?!?!? I'm skeptical, but we'll see!!!!!!!

Completed week 2 day 2 on Saturday afternoon. My BFF and I went down to Town Lake (an awesome hike/bike trail on the Colorado River here in Austin) for an afternoon out. Town Lake is usually a fairly overwhelming experience--lots of EXTREMELY health-conscious Austinites running around in their little tights and what-not. But, this time it was okay. Although I was running only 90 seconds, it's more than I could do before-I felt really good about myself! Even running INTO the wind, I was still able to complete the workout without too much difficulty. Horray, me!

I did day 1 of week 2 last night! I went to the gym and used the treadmill, which is SOOOOO much easier than running outside. It went SURPRISINGLY well. I was concentrating in my mind on how it felt to sustain the run instead of concentrating on when it was going to be over. I'm actually quite stunned. This Couch to 5k thing might actually work!

Don't worry, ParaGirl....there are lots of other fun ways to work your body than running!!!!! Good thing you like your elliptical! I hate that thing!

Mindy....I can't wait until you're over that...I bet it makes DH (so weird to call him that) proud to see you moving. I know my "DB" (that's even weirder) feels that way! Well, I already confirmed with "DB"--we're starting week two together tonight. I gave him advanced warning yesterday so that he'll be prepared. I dont' know though--he's really struggling with the same thing you and everyone else in CenTex is--the cedar is off the charts and the boy just CAN'T breathe!

I can tell you one thing: I've SEEN those girls in person who lose 100lbs in 6 months....and I don't care what the scale says, cuz it just AIN'T THAT PRETTY!!!! Plus, you always have to remember....they said we would lose all the weight within 18-24 months. If you want to lose 155 lbs, that's only 6.5 lbs per month until 11/09.....BABY, You're AHEAD of the game! So, again I say: AWESOME!!!!!

Holy Moly. I'm right there with you. But, you should really be excited! You've lost 29 pounds and that's awesome! What I say is, go slow....that way you won't have a bunch of yucky skin hanging down around your ankles in 4 months. The slower the weight loss, the more opportunity your skin has to respond. Plus, this isn't like other diets. We KNOW that over time this WILL work, so we don't need to feel the hopelessness that we're used to. We just have to listen to our bodies and work with the doctors and find our sweet spots! So, chin up! I've definitely had to keep mine up! I was down to 215 by the time I went in for my post-op appointment on 11/16. Since then, I have been hovering between 209.8 and 215. Just when I'm back at 209, I'll weigh myself and be back to 215. Frustrating!!!! I have even had a fill already, and with a 10cc band, 3cc doesn't feel l like ANYTHING! I find myself wondering if there's even a band around my stomach at all! My next fill is this Friday....

I think I'm clean on the list, but I'm a little curious about the Starbucks Frappucino...can't seem to recall if maybe I MIGHT have indulged in one of those on a hot summer day. I'm starting week two on Thursday. It's weird to wait two days to start the next week after going gung ho for the first week. But, I'm not going to press myself because that always leaves me burnt out. Sorry, Minday.....I know you don't like the gamer talk. I take full responsibility for bringing it...actually, wait, you brought it up when you mentioned WOW the first time. Whatever.

Holy Moly--the expert level eludes me. I was through the medium career on the PS2, but it's a little harder on the 360...plus I just got it 2 days ago! We'll see how it goes. I need to get a long tutorial from my boyfriend on how to use XBOX Live, plus I really think I want to change my gamer tag.....but what's yours? I'll add you when I figure out how!!!!!

Hey, is it true that WOW is going to cost like $25 a month in '08? I heard that. I've wondered this for a long time now----what the H3LL does "DH" mean? Regarding my man--I walked in the house after work yesterday and said, "I'm going to the gym to run unless you want to come with me." He said, "I'm not going to the gym just to get on the treadmill." So I said, "fine. Let's go outside. Get your shoes on!" After that, there was a couple minutes of whining and making excuses (I won't bore you with the details). Finally, I said, "Okay. I'm going to play Guitar Hero III for 10 minutes and then we're going." (Guitar Hero III is my new obsession. I had GHII for the PS2, and on Sunday, I sold my PS2 with GHII and DDR so that I could go buy GHIII for the 360. It's SUPER AWESOME and FUN!!!! So that was that. He got his lazy butt up, put his lazy feet in his lazy shoes and we went running around the neighborhood. It was actually kinda romantic. He was blabbing about nonsense, I was listening to my podcast and occasionally blurting out, "Okay, Go!"

I finished week one last night!!! Thanks, Mindy for turning me on to this--I love it, and I've gotten my nerdy boyfriend off the computer to join me! Sweet! I, unlike some others of you, have kind of had a hard time with this so far. I have NEVER been a runner, even when I was on drill team in high school working out 30 hours a week! The most I've run at one time in my WHOLE LIFE is one mile. I'm nervous about the 90 seconds for week two, but I'm just going to keep pushing and see what happens! Good news----I weighed myself this morning and I'm BACK down to 209! Horray! I think a week of running has something to do with it! I have a fill on Friday--if I can keep running, Onederland will be here sooner than later!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 McNuggets? Holy moly. I just ate a Wendy's Single with cheese AND small fries. I have yet to get stuck, PB, or feel like I'm even getting close. I feel "full" right now after my FULL MEAL from Wendy's....something tells me I'm a ways off from my sweet spot. I WAS able to successfully move my next fill up to 1/11, so that's good. Another question I have: what has been ya'lls experience with carbonated beverages? I have been avoiding them all together for almost 2 months now, but have taken sips here and there just to see what it feels like. Now, I'm sitting here sipping on a diet coke and it feels just fine....what's up with that?

Thank goodness I found this thread! I was starting to think things weren't working right! I know my signature said "I love my fill" because "pounds are falling off," BUT.... I don't know if it's my "time of the month" or the holidays or what, but I seemed to have gone back up to 215 (where I've been for the LONGEST now) from 209, where I was right after my fill on 12/14. I got 3cc in my 10cc AP regular band and I feel NOTHING! I, unlike some of the others on here, AM SO HUNGRY! I can eat whatever and however much I want. I am limiting myself in comparison to what I ate "BEFORE", but it's still TOO MUCH. My next fill is scheduled already for 1/18, but I think I'm going to call this afternoon and try to move it to 1/11. I want to start knowing/seeing/feeling what it's like to ACTUALLY be banded!

Holy Moly, I'm SOOOOOO jealous! I'm getting my first fill on Friday, and it couldn't come any sooner! I'm so ready for it....and soooooo hungry! One funny thing...I feel like I'm sooooo hungry, but then I sit down to eat and I can't eat near as much as I used to. However, I have only lost 2 or 3 pounds since my after surgery consultation on 11/16. Ugh. I really wanted to be in Onederland myself by the end of the year, but it's not looking good unless this fill on Friday kicks me into gear. Any comments from those of you who've had a fill already????? Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated....

I'm back too! For the 10 or so days that I was off of work, I didn't get on the computer or worry about anything but chillin' out and relaxin'!!!! It was Awesome! I came back to work yesterday...things are going well for me so far. I started eating "mushies" last night--the refried beans with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, and some melted cheese REALLY did wonders for me! I felt like a million bucks, even after only eating about 2-3 golf ball sized chunks of this concoction. Oh happy day! Now I can eat mashed potatoes and pudding and....yum yum yum! I'm so excited! So, my incision site is still pretty sore. Especially when I push myself a little too much (like coming to work for the whole day yesterday!). I got a little freaked when i read Longhorn's stuff about the infection, so I peaked down at mine and everything's still looking great for me. I still have one last "steri-strip" over my large incision, even though it's been almost 2 weeks. I'm pretty sure that the soreness will continue to get better with every passing day. So now, besides being totally excited about being able to eat REAL things (and hopefully maintaining a little higher energy level), I'm super-pumped about getting into "ONEderland." I want so badly to lose this next 14 pounds before the new year....but if it doesn't happen, I just need to keep reminding myself to be patient and know that this is NOT a DIET like I've done in the past....this is my NEW LIFE and it WILL happen with TIME.

3 1/2 years on Atkins??!?!?!?!? Surely you cheated a little bit! HEHEHE. But, that's the thing about that diet. It's all fine and good while you're staving off carbs, but the second you bite into that bread, BAM! the pounds come pouring on. Plus, it just CAN'T be good for your heart and arteries!!! Didn't Dr Atkins die of a heart attack? I LOVE Your dancing banana, by the way!!!! I just have one thing to say to nessa---I definitely like the sounds of vicodin a LOT more than tylenol! I hope I get the V's too!!!!!

So, I went to my meeting with the anesthesiologist today. It was crazy! I was in the surgery center (for the first time in my life) and everything totally became real for me. I was nervous as heck sitting in there, and when the doctor asked me how I was feeling, I said, "Well, I'm nervous and scared because I know this is a very serious deal, but it calms me to know that a) I am secure and comfortable with my decision and you all are professionals and will take good care of me." Based on Longhorn's experience, I'm thinking things will go just fine! Longhorn, at which hospital was your surgery? I'm at St. David's and they seem really great so far. So, I'm officially ready. After today, I have just 5 days to get through until the big day. The weekend should go by fast (don't they always?) and then 3 work-days, which I'm sure will be torturous. My surgery is at 5:30 am; I'm excited to be first thing in the morning, but feel bad for my mom and my man! They have to wake up so early just to be my support staff! "Oh, goodie. Let's wake up at 4:30 in the morning so we can go sit in a hospital waiting room all day! Awesome!" Have I mentioned I HATE this low carb diet???? It just seems to be sooooooo wrong for me to eat a double meat, double cheese burger with extra lettuce, onion, and tomato, and no bun. I just don't understand how that can be a DIET!!!!!!!

I like the banana too! It really makes me smile and reminds me how happy I am. You can have one too if you want! When you go to edit your signature, you see the link for the smilies. There is a link next to that one that says more. Click that and there's a TOOOOOOOONNNNNN of choices--there are even about 50-100 dancing bananas!!!!!! Have fun!

"Thin little ol me" ......Woweee.....that'll be the day!