littlelove

I am looking still for someplace in AZ where I can get my fills done with fleuro. Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Hi, I found the perfect thread here! You speak my language girl. I was banded last September, lost about 20 lbs, and have been at a dead standstill. I have been trying to check back in here to lapbandtalk for some reactivation of motivation. Life just gets crazy, and I always put my eating stuff last. But I have been so much less happy by not paying attention to it. I put up a few signs around the house a couple days ago "Think about more than just this moment", so that when I am reaching for dumb foods, I think about how it is not getting me where I want to go. I have a serious problem with food allergies, and, I have been "clean" for three days now of dairy! Thats huge for me, cause I love cheese and dairyqueen. Two BIG no-nos. Next week I will be going off wheat. Thats huge too. When I first came back to lapbandtalk about a month ago, I wasn't ready for the change, but I wanted it. And today, I have 3 clean days under my belt, so hang in there! Your motivation will come, just keep reading peoples comments and give your brain time to process!

Hi Hi, How do I send personal messages? Do I need to? I would like to get together with the Tucson group. I was banded down in Mexico by Dr. Zapata Sept. 26. Thanks, LL:smile:

Hi, I am also in Tucson, and very much interested in finding some local support. For me any day, except Tues/Thurs. works ok. Any other interest?:smile:

I was pretty determined to find the place to stop, I was really tired of throwing up. I can only eat 2-3 bites of real food. Vegetables, meat. Processed stuff goes down easier. I take a bite, chew forever, then when I feel a freedom, no pressure, or anything, I can burp OK, then I take another bite. Sometimes I get so needing food, calories, something to satisfy the head hunger that I compromise and have something processed. Learn by doing, I guess. Wish you well.:hungry:

What does NSV stand for? My happy moments have been that the roll above my waist is decreasing. My face does actually look thinner. I went from size 18 to size 16, thats walmart sizes, not designer sizes. I wish my breast size would significantly decrease, I hate being DD, miss C. I have gone from 208 on my surgery date to about 194. I can only bring myself to weigh once a month. I hate disappointment. My goal is 175.

Hi, I was banded Sep. 26, 2007 I go as Littlelove.

Hi, I was banded Sept. 26, 2007, and I have managed to lose 2 lbs in the first month. Had a fill, lost 2 more lbs in the second month. So, I guess I am a qualified slow loser! I am jst grateful to lose, even slowly. It was funny, the technician who has done my fills, was all intense. He says "Next time I see you, you should have lost at least 10lbs", I just smiled and nodded. No sense trying to tell him I am ok with losing 2-3 lbs in month. He wouldn't get it. And the first time I told him, he didn't absorb or comment. Well, just saying Hi, I visit all over the forum, but my jaw just drops when I hear of these people losing 30 lbs in a month. So, this is a good place for me to be. Slow but sure works for me.:biggrin1:

There is no question that we can lose weight when we are motivated to apply the discipline. My problem is that I spend too much time, wanting to lose weight but not applying the discipline. The band helps me, by taking away some of the options I have of not applying discipline. It is a tool, I choose, and it is not easy. No matter how people do lose their weight, I see no point in picking on any other method. All I have to be concerned with is what I need. Then we seek out our support, there's enough room in this world for all of us. Even Oprah. haha!:biggrin1:

Hi Josie, I'm 42 also. I was moved to respond because no matter how we have lost weight, there is that horrible embarrassment when we see someone and we've gained weight back. Especially if the last time we looked great, get all that attention and kudos, then see 'em a year later, much heavier. Total bummer. But I agree with Jack, this is our life, everyone has setbacks. Funny thing is, you don't know what setbacks your lab band fill Dr. deals with, but he/she surely has something in their life that is not right, and they struggle with. I agree with the sentiment, it is not if we will fall that is important, it is what we do when we fall, getting back up is what it is all about. It makes us stronger and it sets an excellent example to the ones around us. Keep on kickin' girlfriend!:clap2:

I know I was more interested in getting a fill, so I could continue to process the lapband/effectiveness. I am at a good restriction now, but it is hard. I have lots of mental/issues with food apparently. I miss just being able to chow something down. Now I must eat with care, or I will be very sorry. I think if I was dropping a lb to three lbs each week, it would be hard for me to think I needed a fill. After all, that is healthy weight loss. I have great restriction but I only lose 3-5 lbs a month. So, in fact it is a great thing not to need a fill yet for you, but I can understand how your brain is saying "but it's time",I would wait. When the losing gets less consistent, harder for you, then maybe it will be a good time to take it to another level. Thats my two cents.

thanks for the feedback, I think with the drinks it is more maintenance. And you are right, with calories being lower, I can stilll lose, just more sanely.:hungry:

Hi, I got my second fill. Now 3cc in a 4cc band. I have excellent restriction. I can take a bite or two, and I have to chew chew chew, and then I have to wait 5-10 minutes until I can take another bite. So my meal time takes about 45 minutes, and then I am very content and full! I found the first week or two at this restriction were very stressfull. Now, I have my coffee in the AM, then lunch I start to eat, usually some turkey chilli, or tuna, something good. But, I am worried that I will adjust and find ways to slow myself down. I have been having a drink or two at night, that I know adds unnecessary calories.:paranoid I guess I figure as long as I have this level of restriction I can afford the calories in the drinks. I guess I am just paranoid that I have to be even more restricted in order to have success. Kinda the 'must suffer' or it won't work mentality. Again, I find another 'fear' factor. Anybody else find they work more off fear than they like?

Anyone else noticing that as they address the food issues, and can no longer use food to compensate, that alcohol has gained in attractiveness? Seriously I used to drink once every six months. Now I find I am looking for booze a couple times a week. Any one relate?:faint:

Well I have a different suggestion for you. Spend $1000, and fly to Mexico, get it done, stay a week so you feel safe and secure. Then go home and use someone local for the follow up, thats what many people do. I did. In Mexico it will cost about $7500. Also, they can get you in very quickly in Mexico, I only had to wait two weeks to get scheduled. I went to Dr. Zapata in Monterrey, Mexico. I had a great experience, no regrets. Wish you well.:biggrin1:

Now that I am at a level of restriction where I have to be very, very carefull how and what I eat. I can take one bite, and I have to chew chew chew, and then wait a few minutes to make sure it sits. Then five minutes later, take another bite. I am understanding why ones start to drink more of their calories. The mind plays tricks, makes me want to not be slowed down, so I am aware of how easy it would be to get satisfied with liquids. Interesting how the band is clearly a tool that has to be used according to the directions, but can be thwarted by our clever little brains, if we're not very carefull.

Well, I just love the term 'head hunger', it is soooooo appropriate. I told my husband I feel like a dog with those electric collars, they get shocked when they bark. If I don't do things just right, ZAP! I'm uncomfortable for a while.... thats the point I guess. Fun, fun!!!

My mom had the gastric bypass, she and many of the other people in her support group lost a lot of hair! Hope you find a strainer, ace hardware, even walmart has those. She takes liquid vitamins to help. Now, a year later, she seems to be back to normal.

Howdy, If you have lost twelve lbs, thats great. I haven't done that yet. I was banded 9-26-07, and I have had two fills. I have probably lost 8-10 lbs. I would be happy with two a month. If it is truly fat. The band requires a great sensitivity, and structure. It is not a method that requires no effort. I get up and try to get water into me, then coffee, by 10 or 11AM I am looking for food. I can eat soup, or a few bites of something, and then I am waiting, for the lump in my chest to subside. When it does, I eat some more, or I jump on the liquids. I find the band a challenge, but such a different challenge then diets in general. I am happy for the assistance from the band, but it will only be as effective as I let it be. I hope you will continue to educate yourself on all the suggestions you'll find in this forum, and apply what you can until you find the right mix for you.

Wow, thanks for your post. It is a good reminder how we can undo what we go to such lengths to do. You know the band is a tool. A tool that only works when used in its proper perspective. We are clever, we can figure out the most imaginative ways to get around the barriers we set up. I am finding it just as interesting to be imaginative and allow myself to play by the rules for once. I think I have proven to myself that I can do what I set my mind to. It is a minute by minute process however. I hope you continue to use the forum, and get the encouragement you need. We all learn from each post we take the time to read and consider. Any person could end up in the same place. Wishing you success.

When you get really hungry, and you need to eat, how do you keep yourself from eating too fast, and the consequenses? I am wanting to get a second fill, but I am afraid of getting too hungry, and then having some of the very negative reactions, pbing... any input out there? I welcome the input:confused:

i agree this is extremely important. For me, I went to Mexico for my surgery, I had not told anyone. Not even my husband. I wanted to be able to hear myself think, and take this project on myself. I have no regrets. I came home, happy, told my husband, he's cool. Told my one closest friend, told my mom, she has gastric bypass 2 yrs ago. I didn't want people watching me, judging my choices in food, making comments and observations like this is a community event. I also didn't want to listen to people talk about how they wish they could if they could afford it, or make judgements about my choosing to spend the money this way. It makes some people less comfortable when they are around proactive people. They get defensive. I am very happy keeping it private. I don't think you have to 'tell' why you are going away, isn't it enough that you and your husband are going to Mexico for a few days, or whatever. I called my trip to Mexico, just a little R&R.

I always joke to my husband, that he will always be my number one, but if ever I were allowed to have more than one husband, why not. Always been a sexist pig. In the reverse.

Well, I hope I don't get any hate mail for this. I don't celebrate thanksgiving. I don't think any american indians are celebrating it, not really. And a day that is a National Holiday, should be equally appreciated. Instead I think to myself, the american indians should be the richest people on earth instead of a nation defined by obstacles like alcoholism...., and commercially people are induced to overeat, over do everything, while so many have nothing. I think a true thanksgiving would be to not celebrate by contributing to the commercial crap, and contributing instead to the less fortunate in a way that would actually enable them to have some degree of improvement over the next whatever. Everyone avoids all this by saying they are just appreciating and enjoying family. Well, we are a human family. And this is just another commercial/govermental crap fest to make people feel good, which is an illusion, and bought into. Thats not where 'feeling good' comes from. I know I sound negative, but amazingly, I only get negative this time of year.

Medical things vary so much. For instance, I saved money as a private pay person by going down to Mexico for my surgery. But, now I pay for fills here because I don't have a surgeon locally to do my fills. Often surgeons do the fills for free the first year after the surgery. Mine does, but I don't want to travel each time, it is not cost effective. Supposedly, it is an average of three fills before reaching optimum performance of the band. And because we are using a man made product, not fail safe, there will be things that cause the need for refills, even the replacement of the port, etc... I like the car analogy, so true, so true.:eyebrows: