scgirl81

I am so glad that somebody else thinks these things are almost as good as candy. Right now I can control myself with just 1, but I sure do hope that one day I don't binge on calcium chews and overdose.

Toni - To a large degree I agree with your statements, the band is supposed to decrease our appetite and help us eat smaller quantities. But I will say that I knew going into this that my eating habits had to change. My doctor had me attend classes and sessions with the nutritionist and they made it perfectly clear that to effectively lose the weight we would need to make good food choices. That being said, I don't really think that I diet. I try to eat things that are good for me, but if I really want a piece of chocolate I have it or if I want ice cream I have it. I just have a tiny bit. I think the band has helped me mostly by controlling binges. I used to have days where I could eat and eat end eat. Now a binge is a snack size bag of cheetos or less. Or a snack cake. Rather than a large bag of cheetos or a whole box of snack cakes. I moderately exercise (only a 25-30 min walk per day) mostly because I am afraid that if I don't, I will have baggy saggy skin. I know that eventually I will step that up, but right now I am happy with the results that I am getting. Toni, hopefully you will find a happy place with your band where you won't feel like you made a mistake. It may just be that you are going to lose the weight slower and once you do you will keep it off forever. Good luck in your journey. Also thanks to everyone for the kinds words about my victory this week.

I am so excited. I had to share this with somebody. I am officially half way. I have lost exactly 1/2 of the weight that I plan to lose. Of course I am doing the happy dance right now. :clap2::whoo:

My biggest tip to make it go smoothly is to make sure you ask the ins company exactly what you need to get the surgery approved. The first time mine was sent it was rejected because something they needed was not completed. I had to do the appt then file an appeal (which is a longer process).

blugini59 - I am not sure what a slip would feel like, but I would definitely consolt your doctor to make sure.

My total so far for this month is 310.

Oh well I ate a lot of junk this weekend that I should not have. But on the flip side I had a pretty active weekend. Saturday I did a walk for breast cancer (3 miles in 50 minutes). Then Sunday I took the kids to the park and we went on a nature trail. I'm only counting 20 minutes for this since it was a little slower pace, but it was about a mile. So that brings my total so far this month to 215.

Welcome to the site and congratulations on being banded. I am actually from Lugoff, SC (30-40 minutes from Columbia).

My MTD total is 110 minutes.

<p>Great job Stef. I am so envious. Soon I will be at a Large hopefully. I have huge thighs that keep me from going down a size on the bottom. I might could go a large in tops.</p>

I am a little over 3 months out and have not had a fill. I go back on the 18th to see if I need one yet. I am still losing without one though.

Stefanie, you are too funny. That sounds like when I found my hip bones. I did 30 minutes yesterday and 30 minutes this morning, for a total of 60 so far.

Way to go!!!

suzzzie (&ja9va) - I have been using the Centrum chewables. I haven't had any problems. I hope the new vitamins help. I must admit I am pretty vain about my hair also.

Stefanie - You threw chocolate cookies in the toilet. Oh no! You have such will power!

Stephanie, those are delicious. It happens to all of us. You are so disciplined, I bet you just jumped back on the bandwagon today. I bet it definitely did quite a shock to your metabolism. Maybe you will lose bunches now.

I didn't get in for September, but would LOVE to do October. My goal is 850 minutes.

mjsafari - Good luck to your husband. I had that before surgery and I think the meds were as bad as being sick. I can't imagine how it would be with the band.

To those who are discouraged today: Chin up! If you keep watching what you eat, getting in your protein, and adding activity, you will eventually lose. It may not be at lightening speed, but one day you will step on the scale and be down a bunch. Don't give up. Just keep trying. There is no way that if you keep working at it that you won't lose weight. And if not a lot of weight, then you will definitely lose inches, and to quote another post, "I would rather be a size 14 at 200 pounds than a 16 at 185." Joeygirl - I agree 5 pounds a month is definitely something to be proud of. Just think that is 60 pounds per year. At least it will 60 pounds gone forever and not any pounds gained. Itsjustme - I don't think I would get the fill if you are getting things stuck. I would probably wait and see how things go. (But I probably am not the best person to answer this, I haven't had a fill yet.) I just think that you don't want to get so tight that you are getting sick. Are you paying attention to your bite size and chewing?

LOL. That is so true.

Wow. 100 pounds in 11 months. I hope I can do that. Although I think I will just be happy with 100 pounds period. OK well this just motivated me to get off of my behind shortly and go walking. I shoot for 5 days per week, but this week I am at only 4, so I will go get that 5th day. Thanks.

Anewme - I am not sure if you are talking to me or not, but thanks if you are. I have not had a fill. I went for what was supposed to be my first fill appointment Sept 6th, but Dr Antonetti didn't think I needed one. He thought that if I was losing a pound a week or more that I was doing fine without one. So, I go back on Oct 18th for my next appointment. I have lost about 5 pounds since I saw him, so I guess I will see how the next few weeks go. As far as diet goes, I am probably not as disciplined as I should be, but I am trying. I try to eat lean meats and veggies. With limited starches, but sometimes it is hard. Sweets are my weakness. I also try to get in two Protein drinks a day. Also, I am trying to exercise. Since August, I have been trying to walk at least 25-30 minutes per day 5 days per week. How are you doing with your surgery? I think it looks like you had yours 7/11. Not too long after me. I have a cousin that went through Baptist for her bypass and now her husband is thinking of going there for the band. Did you like the doctors there? Sorry for the long post.

WOW. Thanks Stephanie and Suzzzie for the info. According to that I should be getting 85 grams per day, but my nutritionist only told me to get a minimum of 60 per day. I wonder why there is such a difference. I guess I will probably try to boost my protein intake.

YEAH!!! SC Bandsters. I have checked out here before, but there weren't recent posts. I am from Lugoff, SC (30 minutes from Columbia). I was banded June 27th by Dr Antonetti at Lexington. I have not had a fill yet, but feel like I may need one soon. My next appt is Oct 18th, so I guess I will see if he wants to do one then. Diana - Dr Givens is in practice with Antonetti. A friend of mine is having surgery with him on Oct 11th I think. They do have a support group. I haven't gone to one yet, but I probably should. I would love to have somebody local to relate to.

Mellie, I too struggle with finding time to exercise. I work a full time job with an hour commute, 2 kids, and a husband. I have found that I can get up before my kids wake up and walk around our neighborhood. I try to do 30 minutes per day at least 5 days per week. It is usually dark out, but we live in a great neighborhood and it is pretty quiet, so I am not too worried. When it starts getting too cold I may have to move inside, but for now it works. Stephanie, you are such an inspiration to all of us. I am so jealous. I have been thinking of stepping up my workouts. I think eventually just walking is not going to cut it and I will need to add in weight training and additional cardio. For now though, the walking/jogging will have to do due to time and money restrictions. Juleeann - I agree with Stephanie about the body fat vs muscle information she provided. In the end the workouts will definitely pay off big time. The other thing is that when you work out you have a little swelling from exercising/tearing the muscles.