PCGIRL

To answer your questions: Yes, I am exercising. My NP at lapband place thinks I do not eat enough w the exercise I do, so have added. I feel better with that plan. Yes, I do eat enough protein. Yes, I get full. I do put down on a computer program my food, but have not been lately bc I am discouraged now. I am going to my yrly physical Tuesday and plan on discussing many things (I have a list) with my primary care doc. I think my metabolic syndrome plays a big part and am going to find out what can be done there. I can't remember the rest of the questions, but I do want to get on with this and ferret out what is happening. Thanks for your questions and your concern!

Hey, I have not been here for a while, but I remember you from before. So uplifting you are. I am not losing like I would like, but it sure looks like you have been doing just great! Wonderful! I am going for my yearly physical soon and am going to talk with my doc about my metabolic syndrome I have going to see if there is anything he can help me with. But I am keeping up with my exercise and do eat well. So things will give sooner or later. I am happy that, as before, I have not just begun gaining all over the place...

Hello, Over 50's. It's nice to be back. It has been a while. I have just read some replies about the band being a tool and want to agree with that. Somewhere back there when I was posting and reading here more, I got that message. But I lost it somewhere-- my stinkin' thinkin', I guess. I have had four fills, slowly filled, and I feel as though I am at a good place at 6 mm in my 10 mm band. However, I have been overeating -- old habits have crept in. My weight loss slowed down so I set an appointment with my center and discussed my food, habits and experiences. What I heard was that I can do myself harm physically if I continue to overeat -- Even though the overeating is nothing like what I used to consume when "pigging out." ONE CUP is a serving. The WLS fellow had me buy a metal one-cup measure -- a bit different looking than the thick plastic type measure -- and I have it on my counter so that everytime I eat, I have a reminder what a meal portion is. NOt one item on my plate, but a full meal. Well, after about ten days, I have lost six pounds. And I am full, too. I just need to relearn for real what a portion is and what full is. I just needed to share that with others who can relate. Life-long habits need tough reality checks and severe honesty. So with that, I say Band is 40 percent, My Self is 40 percent, and using the helpful information to get real is all the rest. The percentages may change as time goes on, however. Thanks to all of you who post...

Hello, Fifties! I am just checking in to say Hi! I have not been here for a little while but wanted to connect up with other fifty folk. I am doing quite well, working out, eating less. Have had my third fill and wonder if I should quit getting more for a while. I eat pretty much what I want but less as I get filled up. I do eat sweets and all. It feels so nice to not be doing some diet but just evaluating the amount of protein versus non-protein. My weight loss has slowed down some but I am losing inches as my clothes are more loose, which is cool! Of course, as usual, that inner voice tells me that I am not doing it well enough -- but that's the old stuff -- I surely have a lot to learn here about me, which is what I expected here. I am absolutely grateful for the band and love being full with appropriate portions. So, hello, fifties banders! Good to be here!

Hey, NM Sunshine: From what I understand, the Fluid has to be taken out and time is given for the esophagus to heal back to it's original size/shape. It is really keeping me in touch with amounts to ingest at one time! I have heard of a couple folks who ate too much at their meals and had that problem. Then the fills begin again. Not what I want to have happen for sure.

I have had three fills now with 6 cc in my band in total. I try to eat about 1 cup of food as that is what they tell me a "meal" is. More than that could stretch my esophogas, which I don't want. And generally I am full anyway so don't need or really want (except in the head) any more. So that's great. My last fill was a week ago so that may change somewhat, as it has in the past. So I'll see. I have made a monthly appointment so will go in and see what their input is. So far I have lost weight pretty consistently so I feel okay about it. Of course like many, I want it gone tomorrow -- which tomorrow never comes -- so some day I will be there. I surely feel more confident that I will get to a decent weight for me without some crazy dieting techniques only to fail -- again. It is so nice to be able to feel full -- Luck to all, and thanks for sharing!

Hello, October Bandsters! I am doing quite well. My last fill was the second and I had begun to think nothing my appetite would keep coming back. But after the fill I have had good restriction and feel not interested in the food in front of me after eating half or so. It's kind of amazing. And I keep full pretty good. I am hoping that third fill will really be the turning point. I am consciously only eating around one cup of food, but that has been pretty easy as I am not interested... Nothing like that never ending appetite I had before banding. No, I would not go the other way at all. It's safer and healthier! Just know that.

It's nice to hear from 50-somethings. I am really feeling great now. Am at my fourth week and will begin solid foods -- actually have eaten some. It is a bit scary, but the Doc says the pouch needs to stretch -- that makes me think something is going to hurt. So far so good with the soft and mushy stuff. I have lost 20 pounds, and that's great! So going to go to lunch soon and find some moist solid thing to eat. It's kind of nice not to be "dieting" per se. Just finding good choices for good nutrition. Don't know what will happen with fills, but I get filled up quickly now anyway. Thanks for all the input from y'all!

Hello, Springfield, MO. I am going tomorrow for surgery in Overland Park, KS. I am so excited, but I would really love to chat with others in my area. I am 52 and have been heavy more than not since the age of 11. First diet started then with my mom -- And so it went. Now I have finally gotten to 100 lbs or more over weight and can really feel the restriction in my life. I like to be active and where I am is not helping my quality of life for sure. I am so ready to succeed here! I really have gotten so many wonderful perks from these pages and would love to chat with fellow Springfield Bandsters! Hey, Chat Back,huh?

2bthinagin: Yes, surgery went just fine. I spent the night and hubby and I came back early this morning. I have been sleeping a lot and just drinking my drinks -- so jello/popsicles. My dogs are happy to see us and one especially knows I have had something happen -- he is just being my big buddy. Short message here -- need to rest again. Walking for gas removal -- all is well, however. Couldn't have gone better. Thanks for your reply. What is PM? Not too sure on all these acronyms people use...

Hi, 2bthinagn. I like your name, and your story is certainly a lot like mine. Thanks for the invite to chat. Sounds good to me. I will get back here as soon as I can get online after my surgery... Hopefully Wednesday evening. Chat then,

Hello, October 07 Bandsters. I have surgery tomorrow so will try to come back here and put in my two cents -- or maybe more! No tellin'. It will be fun to chat with the same-monthers. Chat later - and looking forward to it! Is anything allowable? I may have some weird questions -- don't know. Or maybe I'll be really crazed -- really have no idea. But for now, I'm really looking forward to this whole experience.

Nykee: You look wonderful! I think this site must be helping you as you seem to let it all out here. that's great! I just love hearing about the Non Scale Victories. I have surgery tomorrow! Wow! I have at least 100 lbs to lose. I know this is a tool and I will have just the beginning of the journey to deal with for a while, but one day I will be celebrating, as so many do here!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Had to laugh -- and laugh again. Love the humor. Good for the heart!

dab: Thanks for the reply. I am getting REALLY excited now. It is so nice to have other a place to chat. Looks like you've been doing well. That gives me lots of confidence.

I am awaiting surgery a week from tomorrow and am getting really excited. Feeling Really excited! Guess that in itself is a NSV. Ready to grow and go! thanks for the NSV site! I'll visit often! I know there will be many of them to come.

Hi. I am set for October 23 with DR. Nigro. I was impressed by his knowledge and his ability to get it across to me and my husband. It really has made me feel quite comfortable about the surgery. I am in the Springfield area but will get follow up here and not need to travel for fills. The support forums and really nice.

Hi, Maziemommy. Love your name. I have a date of October 23! I'm very excited. I am reading over all of the info I got from the doc and the center and am looking forward to getting ready for the procedure. He wants me to lose a few pounds before surgery so that my liver is not so loaded with fat around it. I have begun a plan and have started journaling for myself -- my thoughts and plan of action. So I am off! Very Cool. The plan does include one year follow-up in Springfield. And I can travel to KS if needed. I will continue to check on this forum as it is nice to find Springfielders readily available. Thanks for you support now and forever! This is a really positive thing for me!

<br /> I have gone elsewhere as things did not work out with Springfield doc. Just too many hoops for me with St. John's system. <br /> I have decided to go to Overland Park, up north, and have spoken with the surgeon and staff -- what a difference in all of my contacts. Not to put Springfield down -- I love it, but my experience has been much better and more responsive with the private center. <br /> Thanks for your encouragement -- I plan to be back to connect with Missouri folks in my area. I know I will need the support.

Love It! I am going to have surgery soon! Can't be soon enough for me! I am ready now! It is exciting to hear the progress. I once lost a large amount and when I was doing my laundry, I moved away from the washer area at the end on a hallway and saw a person at the other end of the hallway. I jumped back scared to death, as noone but myself was home! Guess what? There was a full-length mirror at the end of the hallway and that person was me! When I peaked around the corner to see who was there, there was my face looking at myself from the other end! What an experience. I will never forget it, and I hope I get there again! I want to go through whatever identity crisis I need to go through. This is for real and forever! thanks again

I would love to know how your experience has been. I really want to get on with it her am looking into Dr. Edwards for my surgery in Springfield. I am going to have to call in the morning to see if I can get in without the meeting, as I missed it tonight. I was so disappointed that I could not get there, and my husband could not find the correct room, so we both could not hook up after waiting a month. Thanks all missourians for posting. I have been wondering where the MOs were! Glad to be here!

Actually, this is the first post that has had these facts you mention. I am glad to know that there are some things to look out for. I never knew what PB meant but now I get an idea. Thanks for the information. I may be like you at some time as I am getting ready to set up my surgery. I still look forward to it as I am rather disgusted with my weight and with food in general. Nothing negative from me -- just a thank you -- I think we all have our days, banded or not.

Hi, Cookielover. I really feel for you. I have felt exactly the same way many a time. I am going to get hooked up with a Doctor this week and have been going through many an emotion. I know I am going to do this because it has been 40 years that I have struggled with this food issue -- weight issue. I know I will have lots of emotional stuff to learn before I get a real understanding of what it's like to be "thin". I have to re-order things, relearn my actions with food. I feel I am ready for that -- I have to be or my health is going to go downhill for good. I have been lucky and healthy through my many ups and downs, but my siblings are starting to show very bad signs of morbid obesity, and I am right there behind them. I need to do this for my psyche and my physique -- not for vain reasons but for real life reasons -- good life reasons. So good luck to you. Hang in there! WE are all behind you! I may need lots of help in the future and I hope I can come to these pages for it. Good vibes you way, PCGIRL

I am considering having surgery in October. I am quite serious since I have been overweight all my life -- more up than down. It would take a year to get to a weight through a diet plan or other just to gain it back in a shorter period of time with more to boot! I am rather disgusted with myself. My sister, who is overweight also and has watched me for a very long time do the yo-yo thing, asked why I have never considered lap banding. Well, just always thought I could do it myself. But there is much more to my weight than my will power. I have shown a great deal of will power and to no avail. Is there something I am missing, I wonder? Don't know, but I truly believe that the band will simply give me a tool to have the fullness I need to keep the weight off. Any good words for me? I would like some support here as I am sure there are others like me out there.

Thanks for the support. It's nice to know there is success out there -- and help with that appetite!