Barb

I use Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E. It smooths marks and scars and tones the skin. I have used it for like 20 years; I love the stuff.

I also use the stick on my lips every night and every morning, it keeps me from getting dry chapped lips.

Do you mean if you don't have at least 1000 then you don't lose of if you go over.

I'm finding that if I have anywhere between 600 - 800 I lose but if I have a week of 1000 - 1200 I gain. I never realized that my body "wanted - needed" so little calories.

I used to think that if I went that low I'd go in to starvation mode and not lose but it seems I was wrong.

I was eating around 800 calories a day and I wasn't loosing much (about 1 pound a week), I was okay with that and went about 10 days w/o tracking my food on fitday but I was keeping a written journal. When I got home I had lost 5 pounds in 10 days. I went back and put my food into fitday because I want to always have the history so I can go back and look at the trends. When I did this I was a little surprised that my daily calories were averaging between 900 - 1100 which was more than I had been eating. It had a lot to do with eating out and eating sauces, that are higher in calories; not really eating more quantity.

So, for the months of February and March I decided to try something and see what my weight loss would be if I average 1,000 calories a day. In February I lost 11 lbs. and in March I lost 17 lbs. I don't get exactly 1,000 calories in any given day I just try and keep that as an average over the course of the week.

I have had a few days when I have gone as high as 1,400 calories. Because of my travel schedule I don't weigh weekly but I also don't weigh daily but since the day I was banded I haven't had a single weight gain; there has always been some loss.

So I guess to answer the actual question, I was still loosing with 800 calories a day and I don't gain if I have days that I go over 1,000. For me the 1,000 calories a day average seems to be what works best. I know this will be different for everyone. I did find thst by using fitday to track my intake I was able to determine what worked best for me.

In April my weight loss slowed down, I only lost 9lbs. but I am getting close to goal so I kinda expect it to continue to slow.

Great Job!

I don't diet, I just try and always follow the Band rules and eat Protein first.

I don't worry about eating things that aren't low fat or fat free. I found that with the small quantity it doens't make much of a diference. Before the band I was obsessed with low fat or fat free.

I track my calories on fitday.com; I discovered that if I don't average 1,000 calories a day I don't loose as well as when I do.

Water is my best friend.

I have BCBS TX!

Thanks Wheetsin, I will give it a try and see if I can handle the filo.

I have what I consider "perfect" restriciton. I have no idea how long it will last but so far so good. I got some restrcition with my first fill. On my second I got to much fill and my own saliva wouldn't go down so I had soem taken out and now I consider it perfect. I have 7.5 cc in.

My first husband was my banker. I worked for American Airlines and he didn't like "my career" and I didn't like being controlled. We divorced before our first anniversary.

I had actually met my second husband when I was a Freshman in college and went to a friends house to borrow a drill. He was her brother who had just been transferred back from NM to TX with Halliburton and wouldn't let me borrow the drill but offered to come over and do the work for me. I went out with him a few times but had other romantic interests too and was soon moving to another college. We both married and divorced and saw each other again when we both ended up at the same high school graduation. We will be married 16 years this August.

I am sure it is a surreal time for you right now. You are in my thoughts.

CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss. You look awesome!!

If you have to reheat your meal 3 times in the microwave before you have eaten 3/4c. you might be a bandster.

If you can eat lunch out each day for under $2 you might be a bandster.

If you try on your size 10 jeans every few weeks you might be a bandster.

I was sore for a couple of days after both of my fills. My port seems to be hard to hit and there was a lot of movement with the needle to hit it. I think I was just sore from the actual procedure itself. For me, it went away after a couple of days. The bruises took a week or so to go away.

Hope your feeling better soon.

I am not around much so I lost touch. I wanted to find out where the August 2005 Bandsters are and how you are doing.

I think you are probably fine. Following my surgery and before my first fill I was gradually getting back to eating the same as I had before banding. I don't think this is all to unusual. Things will change when you start getting fills. Like many bandsters I can't eat bread. I can only eat the meat from the hamburger and not all of it.

Mandy,

Sorry you are having problems. I haven't had the strange burping or bubbling so I don't have any good advice, but I am glad to hear that you are not PBing.

We were banded right around the same time and have similar stats. I have also lost 60 something pounds, I want to loose another 20-30 before I go on maintenance (start removing Fluid from the band).

I had perfect restriction since my 2nd fill but statred having problems yesterday after I had a massage. I PB'd on lunch after 2 bites and did the same thing when I tried supper. I did fine today at lunch so I hope it is behind me now.

I hope you get it figured out.

Any meat that is dry usually gives me some problems. When I am eating out I try and stick with things that I haven't had problems with before and I try to order something with sauce or add something to it. When I have to add it I have used everything imaginable ranch dressing, ketchup, BBQ Sauce........

I can get ice cream, chocolate, etc. down without a problem so I just stay away from it.

I think we are all different but for me the "honeymoon phase" didn't begin until I got appropriate restriction (a/k/a the sweet spot). I hope it last because I am planning to keep it for the next few months to goal.

I talked with my fill Dr. and he agreed to let me do the following. When I get between 150 - 160 we will start taking fill out, .25cc - .5cc. at a time. We will stop when I am able to eat a normal meals. When I reach the point where I can maintain we will stop removing fill and I will consider that my goal weight. I am hoping for about 145, but don't actually have a goal weight set.

That sucks! I am sorry that it happened to you, but I am sure you will all laugh about it in the future.

You may get that little bit of magic when you get a fill that gets you to your sweet spot.

Good luck to you and keep your head up, it will work!

I just wanted to share the fact that my insurance had an exclusion for any type of weight loss surgery. The do allow exceptions but I didn;t try I paid cash for the surgery and expected to pay for all the fills and after care too. After my first fill I received a refund check. When I went in for the second fill I only had to pay my $25 co-pay. I was told that my insurance would pay for my aftercare (including fills), and all I would need to do is pay my co-pay.

So make sure you ask and provide your insurance information. It may save you soem money.

Great idea. Thanks for sharing. I am going to try it for luch today!

I cannot do breads, tortillas, bagels..........

In meetings and such where sandwiches or wraps are served I just eat the meat.

When I am at home I will sometimes try a bite of bread but I always get stuck.

I think if you are following the Band rules and eat Protein first you are pretty much on a low-carb diet. I eat Protein first and if I am still hungry I eat salad or other vegtables next but that rarely happens. It is a very occassional thing if I am able to make it through the protein much less on to the carbs or anything else.

I haven't set a goal weight and my Dr. is okay with that. I am hoping that I just know it when I get there.

I have had perfect restriction since my second fill. I have been able to eat 2 meals and consume right at 1,000 calaries a day as long as I make good food choices which I am happy to say I have been.

Yesterday morning, I went and had a 1 hour massage (it was wonderful), came home soaked in the tub, and then fixed my lunch. Unfortunantly, I PB'd after the second bite, so of course that ended that meal. I tried again last night and the same thing happened. I haven't tried anything yet today but I will in an hour or two. I cannot figure out what happened. I have to leave town for work again tomorrow and I want my perfect restriction back.

I never have any problems with restriction. Flying doesn't effect me, and I don't see any change during my time each month.

Any ideas as to what happened?

Wheetsin what is Filo. I have problems with bread so maybe I could try Filo?

Big Paul, I am going to try that recipe. That would solve the bread (crust) issue for me.

Thanks all!