k_podski

aJoneen.......................-1 75 pounds LOST! BrandNewLisa............0 evelas5000.................-.5 Desdemona..................0 Fenton........................-3 100 POUNDS LOST !! HarleyGirl.................. -3 75 pounds LOST! Hopeinapril................0 Lynn1215.....................0 NurseNiki...................0 Nycm00.......................0 Potatie.........................0 100 POUNDS LOST!! Scrappy_Friend......-3 150 POUNDS LOST!!!! SpecialK......................0 Sugarbean..................0 100 POUNDS LOST !! Sharona......................0 stellabella...............-3.4 HALFWAY TO GOAL! Tess415......................0 Thin2bme................- 2 WestCoastMom........0 Wishin4......................0 Kpodski............-5 Wowwwww everyone!! Nice work and congrats on all of the milestones!! Keep up the good work:)

I am so thankful to have this site to come back to. I definately missed the lapband talk world while I was on a 3 month "vaca" from here.. :bored: Now.. On to this whole claw situation.. Will this "claw" reach down and grab me by the head and shake me if I gain a pound? Because that may be just what I need! BrandNewLisa- Thanks for the reply! I looked up the 5 day pouch test.. What a great idea. Next week when I get my fill I will start on it. Hopefully between the 2 I'll have a nice jump start to watching the scale go the other way! I should really ask about fluro to check on things. Great idea! I really am not big on my doc, I have had port pain/ tenderness since day one. He always says "if it hurts to touch it, then don't".. Well, it shouldn't hurt huh?? Even moving around, it's uncomfortable enough tht I notice it a few times a day. I guess I never really thought of it, but maybe this could be part of my issue as well? Anyhoo, congrats to you on getting back on track! And restriction:) See you at the weigh in on Friday! And good luck! Harley, I feel you! We are in the middle of receiving 18-24" of snow right now. It has been a hella crazy winter, which seems to be throwing lots of people off, including myself. If we're not getting buried in snow it -30 out. I'm headed to Daytona for bike week in 30 days (who's counting?? lol) and I'm hoping I will come back refreshed and out of my funk. Winter is tough! You've done a great job, keep up the good work! Oh yah, thanks for your input on the 5 day pouch test.. Do you do alright with the food choices? Some of them seem a bit bland.. I guess I get too bored too easily:) Congrats on the size 16 dress Potatie! What an accomplishment! Can't wait til Fridays weigh in.. It's been a long time since I was excited to look at the scale:) Yay!! Have a great night everyone~ Kerri

Thanks Fenton for posting the article about pedometers. I just ordered one from ebay, and I am really anxious to see how I measure up! Amanda- congrats on holding steady even during a tough time. You go girl! It can be so hard to be away from home and off routine while dealing with a stressful situation.. Keep up the good work! My thoughts are with you and your family. So I finally got a call back from my doctors office and have made an appointment for February 5 for a fill. I think this is what I need to get back on track?? I always feel hungry, and I'm wondering if it's because I've stretched my pouch or if it's time for a fill? It's been since August since I've had a one... I hope I'm doing the right thing. I weighed myself the other day and the scale said 210lbs Ugh.. Up 18?! How the heck have I done this to myself?! I was horrified to see that number. It will be sooo embarrasing to go into the bariatric office and weigh in:( I am watching my intake and feel like I'm doing okay.. I think I will join the Friday weigh in crew and be accountable for where I'm at and where I'm going:) Ok, I'll stop rambling! See you all on Friday! :)Kerri

Amanda, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this tough time.. Hang in there, and take care of yourself!

Thank you soooo much for the replies!! I wish I didn't wait so long to come on here. I guess I didn't want to look like a failure or give anyone that was looking forward to getting the band bad energy... I'm going to call the office tomorrow and get my butt in gear. I can do this. Thanks again for the tough love and pointers:) You guys rock!

Howdy fellow Marchers! Happy 2009, and Congrats to everyone on doing so well:) It has been a very long time since I have been on here.. And for good reason. Errr I guess not so good... I need to vent and beat myself up a bit, and hopefully move on to a happier place:).. So here it goes~ Back on September 21 I decided I was going to quit smoking. And I did. Kind of. I have been pretty smoke free for almost 4 months now. I have kicked a habit I have struggled with since my early teens. Yay, right? Not so much.. Out the window went the cigarettes, hello excuses for eating badly.. I found that quitting made me "feel" hungry all the time. I used food to supplement the craving for cigarettes. And whatever else it has ever done for me.. (Read on..:scared2: So here I am, 4 months later, 16lbs heavier, and ready to smoke again. I have taken a few drags here and there to help me get along on these dreadful fat days where I just can't stand to be myself. What have I done?! I am now in the 200's again from 192. I could taste 180- my second mini goal- my high school weight. The thought of a mirror makes my heart pound with anxiety.. I know what I've done to myself. I can't bear to look. I am miserable with these 16lbs I've tacked on. To the point that I think I may be depressed for the first time in my life. It is horrible. I am irritable, angry, spiteful and so sad. I can barely stand myself.. So much for my husband.. I've put him through hell. And continue to. Misery loves company I guess?? This is not who I am, nor ever been, and this feeling of failure is sooooo frustrating and embarrassing. How could I have lost myself so quickly? I've always looked for excuses to eat. Birthdays, holidays, weekends, camping, socializing. You name it, I ate to it. Before sugery I ate bad for a month knowing the day was coming. Now here I am, wondering if in some crooked crazy way, I decided to quit smoking to give myself permission to eat? Subconsiously was I thinking "I can snack, eat candy and chips, and lose the smoking?" Surely eating these bad things would be better than smoking... Gosshhhh.. I just don't know what to do with myself. Where do I start? 16lbs seems like so much. And now I am in the 200's again. What a kicker. Ugh. Ok, ok, I am sorry to ramble and be so negative! I think it is important for me to get this into the open somewhere.. I am so ashamed, I can't imagine saying this out loud to my family. Maybe I'll start blogging to help me along. I am calling the office tomorrow to see if I can see a nutritionist there who is also a counselor that specializes in eating disorders. I hope I can get into see her. Soon. I hope she can help. Thanks for hearing me out guys..

Hi Carole, and congrats on your 70lb loss!! My name is Kerri and I was banded in Maine on March 19, 2008. I have lost about 50- ish lbs, and I too am finding things wayy harder. I would like to lose another 50-60lbs and seem to have lost my ambition along the way.. I am really frustrated with myself. I used to be on here all the time, but since I've been struggling I've kept to myself. I need to do something different.. So here I am!

Hi there, just found you this thread.. Here's the link: Mental Health and Lapband Life - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum I knew it was on here somewhere.. Hope it helps! Best of luck to you~ Kerri

Yah, I am still at good restriction. Although i have the same issue as you, some days I can eat more than others, and once in a while my band has to remind me- "slow down, smaller bites idiot!" lol Otherwise things are the same. I know 4lbs will go fast, but my motivation factor right now is 0.. For some reason? You would think that since I am proud of not smoking that I would be excited to hit the gym and try out the new lungs? Noooooooo uh:(Not to mention I set my Daytona goal to help me get motivated- not a chance! I think that mentally I gave myself the option to gain weight while quitting just so I could cheat. I def have my "fatty habits" lurking:( I know I can do this, it's just a matter of when.. Anyhoooooo, enough complaining- time to do some chores before work! TGIF! :)Kerri

p.s.s. lol how's restriction????

Hey girl! Congrats to the half way mark!! What a good feeling, huh?! I had no idea how long it had been since I got on here- almost a month! I get online usually daily for my myspace, but that's been about it. I was thinking of you last night and wondering how you were doing- Sorry for not being better with staying in contact- the story of my life lol. I have finally kicked the nasty habit of smoking- for good! Today is day 24. I am so excited! The DH quit as well, and we are feeling better than ever, I'm so glad it's working this time! The down fall is that I've gained 4lbs.. Ugh! I knew I would gain a little, but 4lbs seems like so much to me. I am hoping that some of the nicotine cravings go away sooner than later so i can stop stuffing my face so often! Then I can focus on getting back on track for Daytona:) Oh yah, I just got a new bike too! I got a 01 Honda Shadow:) It's not the Harley I've always wanted, but it's beautiful, and a perfect beginners bike:) My hubby got it for me last week, I can't wait to feel comfortable on it and be able to ride to work:) By the time that happens, it'll probably be winter lol.. Well, I must be getting off to work. Congrats again on the halfway mark- you go girl! Chat soon~ Kerri p.s. do you have a myspace? if so, my link to my everyday page (lol) is: MySpace.com - www.myspace.com/22733778. I get on there daily:) I also have a lapband one as well, but I think you knew that...:regular_smile:

Hey girl, long time no chat lol How is everything since the fill? Are you feeling restriction? It's crazy that 2cc was too much?! Maybe you'll be at your sweet spot with this second fill?? I am definitely at mine. Once in a while my band reminds me not to eat so fast, or to stay away from potatoes lol.. I just can't eat them.. ah well, life goes on. I don't need the starch anyway:) I tried to write back a few days ago on Monday (??) and hit something and it erased all I had written, I gave up I had to leave for job #2 and had no time to write again. I get so frustrated with this site sometimes.. You would think that you could hit the "back button" and your message would be there, but noooooo. Ugh. Enough complaining!My dh and I have decided to go on our first ever vaca to Daytona Bike Week at the end of Feb... I am super excited as I have never really been anywhere, or on a real vaca. We have some friends that are driving down, (2 other couples) and another couple is flying. We are going to drive down with the 2 other couples, and we are all hauling our bikes in a trailer. I have a fear of flying! This sounded like the best opportunity:) I have a goal of losing 43lbs by then. I sooo need to step it up! I will be at 100lbs total loss and 150lbs... My goal.. I know I can do it! I have 5 months.. I know if I hit the gym and watch what I'm eating I will do it no problemo:) I'm on a mission! Well, sorry to blab so much! I need to get ready for work. Hope all is well with you!! Chat soon, :)Kerri

So the weekend was fabulous. OOB was a blast, then we came home and went to a friends cookout on Saturday, then yesterday we went on a wonderful bike ride trough the mountains on a scholarship ride for a friend of ours who was killed on his motorcycle a year ago. It was a wonderful turn out. What a a full weekend! It's hard to get back to reality.. Congrats on losing 7lbs in 4 days! Holy crap, you are a woman on a serious mission:) Well, sorry to cut this short, I have a half an hour in between jobs, and I really need some lunch! Hope all is well, and happy monday.. Ughh lol :thumbup: ~Kerri

I was at Mt.Washington on Monday?! lol..... We got there around 12:15 on bikes, there was 19 of us in all.. Our friend proposed to his girlfriend at the top. I didn't go up, I got scared so most everyone payed $26 a piece and rode up in the vans to the top. They obviously wouldn't let anyone ride their bikes up:) I heard it was amazing tough. The lady at the front desk told us that it was 100% visibility, and that only happens once a year. They all tried to talk me into it but I backed out and stayed with 4 other at the bottom. Too funny you went too! Things are still the same here. I'm not eating the best, and keep catching myself falling into old habits. grrrr I am headed out to OOB tomorrow afternoon for my anniversary (which was technically yesterday, but I worked 19 hours ugghh) We have a few friends going too, so it should be fun. I can't wait to get out of town. I sooo need this! Glad to hear from you, I have been wondering how things were going for you. Chat soon:) ~Kerri

Hey Sarah, Hope you guys had a good time camping! Did the weather hold up? I have only been once this summer, which is disappointing, but I just haven't had the time. Next weekend DH and I are going to OOB with a few friends for our anniversary for an overnight. It will be fun- I soooooooo need to get away! Work has been insane. Over the last few weeks we have had 3 staff out. And we have no per diem staff, so it has made for crazy hours for the rest of us. Not to mention that we are now staffing a client 2:1, and we had to cover that ourselves as well. Our team leader resigned on Monday. lol. Imagine that?! Last week I put in 67.5 hours at that job alone, 20 at my home health job, and 8 hours of classes. I though it was over until Monday I got the call that I had to be in at 1:30pm. I didn't get home until 7:30 last night. Ugh. I am overtired and keep getting these awful headaches. My doc thinks it's tension headaches... I think they're work headaches lol I haven't had time to prepare meals at home to bring to work so I've been eating crappy too. This morning I was 193.6 gahhhhhhh!!!! I just can't win! Now is my time to start anew. I've always seen fall as a time to start over for some reason. It's usually when I get my butt in gear, get to the gym, and focus on what I need to be doing. So I'm on a mission. I wish you were closer so we could meet up at the gym! I need a buddy to keep me on track . Sorry I am soooo rambling.. too much coffee! Congrats on staying at the same weight. It is hard to do when you are needing a fill. 10 weeks is a long time to wait, but it seems like you're on the right track. September is almost here, and you'll be in for a fill before you know it! Things have been great since my unfill. I occasionally feel things going down a little harder than usual, but I know it's my fault and what I did wrong. I still feel like I can eat too much though. I think I'm at proper restriction besides the portions. Do you know if it's normal to be eating 1- 1.5c (sometimes more) of food still? It jut seems that it takes a lot to feel satisfied. Anyhoo, I'm going to get some laundry and supper going so I can have a normal meal at work tonight:) I hope things are good with you! Keep up the good work:) ~Kerri

Hi jda, I am from the same area, and had my surgery at Maine General as well, on March 19. I had Dr. Trieu. Congrats on the 40lbs loss and welcome to the ME board! :)Kerri

Hey Sarah! Im still here! It's been a while since I've been on, I can't tell you how crazy things have been! I could have sworn that I posted after my unfill, but I don't see it?? Things are lots better since. I had .5 taken out, and boy, what a difference! I have stayed at 192.. Which isn't bad, but it's not great, either. I really plan at some point soon to start at the gym regularly, and I know that will kick me into gear. It's just getting there lol... How is everything going for you? How is our restriction or lack of? Hopefully you're finding it easier to get by! Well, sorry to cut things short, I got out of work for 3 hours to come home and shower and throw in laundry- longgggg story! I will be around tomorrow so I'll pop in again. Hope all is going well for you! Chat soon~ Kerri

So I've decided to get a tiny unfill tomorrow. Now I can't get ricotta or potato salad down again. gr... I hadn't been stuck for a few days too, I thought I was going to make it with out:( My scale said 195 this a.m. which was frustrating too, because I haven't had crap to eat. I think this unfill will be helpful so I can eat more of my protein to keep losing. I am craving burgers and chicken and steak.. MMmmmmm! At this point it would never happen I'm sure. The nurse tells me every time I'm there that protein will help me lose. So hopefully this will be it, and I'll be happy camper:) Any luck at the nutritionist appt with a sooner fill? I hope they were able to help you out! Well, I'm off to shower, then head out to a candle party... Never been to one, I'm sure it will be thrilling;) Chat soon, ~Kerri

I also have mine set to private. Members will add me, and say that they found me on LBT. I live in a small town, and prefer that news doesn't get around of me having WLS, and have my myspace URL flying around like hotcakes:) Small town antics... Ugh..

Wow Sarah! Congrats on the 3lb loss! How awesome! Maybe I should head out there some Friday night and get my groove on too:) And another pant size!? I'm so jealous. I seriously need to get my butt in gear. I have my gym pass now, it's just a matter of going:) So I have been getting fluids in, and some foods too. Last night I ate some potato salad and a hot dog from the grill.. It's so strange that somethings just won't go down. I may end up canceling my unfill if I am able to continue eating. Maybe I just was in such a cycle of getting stuck that my body needed a rest to get rid of all the swelling?? A week ago I couldn't get ricotta down, now I'm eating hot dogs and potato salad lol.. I'm going to give it until Wednesday to see how tings go. I really have to pay attention to bite size, chewing, and how fast I eat. If I do all of the above, the food goes down. So maybe I'm just really tight, and need to re-train my mind on how to eat? Until now I didn't have restriction to tell me to slow down, or take smaller bites. Maybe this is what restriction is, and I just need to pay attention lol Kind of an "ah ha" moment. I'll get it someday I guess:) Well, congrats again on the 3lbs! And maybe sometime son I can meet up with you at the gym:) Have a great Monday, and good luck with the nutritionist tomorrow! ~Kerri

Yup yup, the 50lb mark since surgery! That makes for 60 since pre op:) I still have another 40 or so to go, I hope it can be gone for my bandiversary. I still have 6 1/2 months left, so it better be gone! I am dying with the liquids thing.. I am so hungry, and I can't choke down the slim fast anymore. It makes me want to gag. Of course because I am not getting adequate protein, I feel physically exhausted daily. I woke up this morning at 10:30, and now at 12:30, i could go back to sleep for the rest of the day! And the sun is out?! And I just want to sleep?! Damn it I just can't win sometimes. Well, I'm off to try some deviled ham again. Thanks for the idea.. When I get my butt in gear I am headed to Wal Mart for reduced sodium ham, lite spam, broccoli and cheese soup, yogurt and popsicles. WOOT! What an interesting combo lol. Hope you are enjoying this beautiful day!! :)Kerri

Awesome Sarah! I do the same with the scale, like is it true? lol It is such a great feeling to break a plateau, it gives you hope again:) You are so close to onederland! 15 more lbs will fly away before you know it.. Have you thought about calling the center? Or are you going to bring your port/fill issue up at your nutrition appt? Someone has got to be able to help you. You're definitely a fighter, you'll get it figured out! I called the nurse this morning. She said I definitely need a slight unfill. Dr.Trieu is back next week from vaca, so I made an appt for Thurs at 1:15. Until then.. the nurse said nothing thicker than yogurt. Yay for me. I'm not thrilled to say the least. I'm sure I'll push the limits and try something again, and regret it... I just don't want my band damaged. I've been stuck in a baddddd way probably a good 10 times since my fill last thursday. You would think the idea of damaging the band would keep me from food?? Hell no! I'm starving! lol I have tried deviled ham, which works out pretty good. It's mushy, flavorful and high protein, no carbs. Just lots of sodium. So I think for the weekend I'll stick with the ham and yogurt, and the occasional slush puppy. I love love love those things lol Tsk tsk, the sugar content I'm sure is through the roof:( Well, enough blabbering about nothing! Hope all is going well for you today! And congrats again on the 215! You go girl:)

Kimberly, What a frustrating situation! I would try calling the bariatric center and talking to Lynn who deals with insurance to see if she's heard of Allstate Health? Or ask what would happen if you switched to another company all together for that matter? Also another option would be to call Allstate directly, tell them your Husbands work maybe switching to them, and try to get some info from them? I tried looking it up as well, but had no luck. Could it be that maybe they are just switching to Allstate for life/ accident insurance? That's all I can come up with for now. Hopefully you can get some more answers and put your worries to rest. Best of luck to you! :)Kerri

Hi Sarah, Sorry you are going through such a tough time. It happens to the best of us for sure! I was stuck on a few numbers myself quite a few times. I'm sure a fill would fix you up! Is it possible to call the center and try to talk with your doc? Maybe if he did a fill for you under xray it would be helpful? That way he could make sure there is fill in there, and that it's not coming out? I have never met Dr. McKee, but it sounds as though he's fairly understanding? I would think if you explained your situation they could make an exception, especially with the CT results you got last week?? It would suck to wait the 8 weeks, and find that there is no fill in your band, and have to deal with things from there. Hopefully the dietitian will be helpful too to get answers with your plateau, as well as speaking with your doc? I hope things start looking up for you.. You can get through this, girl! I am ding alright. I am 80% sure that I need to get some fill taken out. I have been able to get a few things down here and there, but mostly everything gets stuck. I ate the ricotta from a stuffed shell.. it went down fine, but when it came to the steamed broccoli, forget it! I had two pieces, seriously no bigger than nickel, I chewed, chewed, chewed until it was a delightful mix of saliva and mush, swallowed, and bam! Stuck.. Ugh. The only reason why I'm not sure I'm too tight is that I've been told over and over that the tighter the band gets, the more things u used to be able to eat won't be tolerated anymore. I originally understood this as bread, pasta, popcorn etc, which I won't even attempt! But to get ricotta, steamed broccoli, and scrambled eggs stuck? When I try a new food I use the baby spoon, so I know the bite is small, put it down in between bites, and won't take another until I'm sure the one before went down. Usually within 3 bites it's over. I haven't had a meal since last Thursday a.m. before my fill. Ugh. Then of course it's back to liquid for a day or so... So I'm sure this is where the extra 2lbs is from. Hopefully when I can eat again, whenever that may be, I don't put the weight back on! One day at a time. For now I'm going to try to deal with it until Dr.Trieu comes back next week. Until then, I keep telling myself, "this too shall pass":) Hope your day is going alright:) ~Kerri

Yikes Sarah, you've had a rough few weeks, huh? I would lock myself in a room! lol.. I have stuck mostly with liquids again today, last night the sauce and ricotta didn't go down the greatest, then I had an episode with water again just before I went to bed?? I've heard of people being tighter during certain times of the day, maybe that's my issue? The good news is I'm down another 2lbs. That makes for my first 50 since surgery, and 60 since pre op. Holy cow.. It's so crazy! I guess I set myself up for failure so I wouldn't be disapointed if this didn't work out for me.. I think the saying goes "expect the worst, hope for the best"? That's me! It does feel darn good to succeed for once:) Sorry to ramble as usual! I've got to get back to work. Just wanted to pop in and say hello:) Hope your jaw is better soon! And don't feel alone on the liquids and soft mushies;) Chat soon, ~Kerri