hatmama

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I was able to post so thought I'd say hello and share my good news. I had to go back into chemo for a few months but everythiing is ok now. I have hair again so my hats don't slip around !! I gained a lot of weight during chemo but have now started to lose again and feel so much better. I have lost 35 lbs and have 37 to go to reach my goal. Was almost at my goal when I went back into chemo, darn it. But it's looking good now. This weekend I am going to go "shopping" in my closet for the clothes I bought before my weight gain so I'm looking forward to that! I'm glad to see so many people are on track and doing well with their weight loss and I hope you keep it up. Good luck everyone! :)Laura

40 lbs in 4 months and you're bitching? Get a life and stop whining. Jeeze! Laura

Oh Bandster, I am so sorry. If you are having a pity party, it's only normal. Though I had 2 miscarraiges, I would never say, I know what you are going through. Because everyone has their own little hell, and you are the only one who feels the way you do. If you know what I mean. Though my dr told me it was healthy to talk about the loss of the baby because that would help me work thru it, it was a long, long time before I could do that. I am happy you have your dh to help you through this. Congratulations on the marriage. I haven't done really well on sticking to some parts of my diet because, like you, I am an emotional eater. There is a lot of stress at my office and at home. And since I can almost eat anything I want, that does not help the weight loss, because sometimes I do. Good luck to you on getting back on the program, hope you get to bandster heaven soon. :)Laura

Thanks! I called my dr earlier today to find out if she could fit me in earlier. She can! That will be so good because when Im in the field, I sometimes make really, really bad food xhoices. This will help keep me in control. Good luck. :)Laura

The best way to find a dr is to go into the section here on the forum labled Fill doctors, or something like that. That's where I got Dr. Brinkley's name from. Depends on where you are located. I could probably have found one in the Richmond area but because of traffice, it's just as easy to go north as south around this area, you're still going to be tied up for a few hours. Good luck. :)Laura

Hi all, boy I can really get depressed reading all the posts about how much everyone has lost! Good thing I am usually upbeat. I have had 5 or 6 fills (cant even remember my #s now!) and at the last fill I was so happy because I felt restriction. Well, it lasted maybe 2 weeks,only in the morning. Once in a while I feel it at lunch. I think my food choices are pretty good, though like any normal person, I fall off my diet once in a while. I'm doing ok on my protein (thankfully, since I really don't like the shakes!), have to work on fiber. Calorie count is usually around 1000 to 1200, mostly breakfast and lunch, I eat very lightly in the evening since I get home so late. I've been unable to exercise much due at first to a fractured ankle and a couple of torn ligaments. Then my arthritis in my (same) knee hit and I was bedridden for 2 days. I just got off the crutches, thank God, and am trying to make do with a cane. Still a lot of pain though. Usually by this time of the year, I am up to walking 3 miles a day and by June I am up to 5 miles which is my daily goal. I don't get much exercise in the winter, start back in Spring when weather warms. I don't have another fill due until June 4. Sigh. Wish I could get to her before then but I am scheduled to be out of the office on reviews the last 2 weeks of May. Hope I'm not in a wheelchair by then, hahaha! (I "think" I'm joking) Oh well, I will just keep plugging along. Congrats to everyone who is losing, keep up the good work. :)Laura

Nope, but I'm enjoying doing the things I want to for a change, not even thinking about taking anyone else's concerns seriously! May sound selfish, if so, so be it. Taking off in a couple of weeks to go home for a while (FL) to do some work on my retirement place. My 5 acres are paid for, hope to get well, septic and electric in and concrete poured for storage shed, plus mark spots for a few extra trees while I'm there. Nice and private, only 3 neighbors within a one or two mile radius (lots are 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 acres in size) so will only see people if I "want" to. I have been living in the DC area, all cooped up, for too long. Plus I hate cold weather. My last boyfriend didn't come back from Iraq his second time around and I still miss him even though it's been almost 2 years. We were together for 6 years, so I'll admit it's been kind of hard to get serious about anyone I've met since. Oh well, stuff happens. I'm just really trying to take care of myself and figure I will know when I'm ready to look for another relationship. Sorry this post is so long, just wanted you to know you're not alone. Take care. Laura

you did good! When people say catty things or try to be a smart aleck waving junk food around, I have a couple of replies I give. I will look at them with a mildly astonished look on my face and say, "and this concerns you how?" Thats one of my favorite. Sometimes, after they have spoken I will let a second or so go by and then say, ...and? Nothing else. That one works good too. Hang in there, your revenge will, indeed, be sweet. :)Laura

I hope it goes ok for you after 8 fills. I have had 4 or 5 (or 6!!, I forget!) fills and have just gotten some restriction. However, I am not losing any weight yet. Dunno what's the matter. I finally have the portion size controled, doing ok with my water, getting the protein I need and fiber is ok. Eating protein first. Haven't been able to excerise, which I enjoy at this time of the year. No matter how bad Washington DC is, they have wonderful springs and Indian summers. I fractured an ankle and tore a couple of tendons (missed a step off my front deck at 4:30am, too dark to see. I finally got rid of the crutches but need the splint and sometimes an ace bandage. Somedays you just can't seem to catch that golden ring. Good thing I'm usually an upbeat person, otherwise, I think I could have stayed in bed for the past few weeks! Good luck! :)Laura

OMG! I am so happy. I went for my 4th or 5th fill and have waited an entire week before allowing myself to hope this is it. Did my liquid 2 days, then softies 3 days. Now I can only eat a couple or 3 spoonsful and I feel it! Before, only time I felt anything was up to about 4 days then restriction was gone. The Dr unfilled first to make sure how much I had in my band (10cc band) I had 8 and she added 1. I love this. I have never enjoyed pain like I enjoy this. The first time I overate, the pain was awful, I couldn't do anything except moan for at least 30 minutes,then it was another 30 minutes before it went away. Only wish I had someone close to share this with. I hope this is going to be my "turn-around"! :)Laura

I had my 4th (or 5th, can't remember exactly) fill yesterday and am hoping the restriction will last longer than a week. Quite a few people have had the same experience, not losing much after the initial post-op. Just hang in there and, hopefully, it will change. How many fills have you had? Remember, the LapBand is only a tool, most of us don't lose much weight at first, it's really important to watch your portion sizes. Good luck, I hope you do better. Laura

Banded 10-03-07, left 4cc's in. Just had my 4th (or 5th not sure) fill to 9cc's. I have had basically no restriction beyond 1 week so I am hoping this fill works and helps me control my eating. I'm getting my portion control down pretty good now, but the stress eating, especially at night, is what really does me in. Did ok when I did have some restriciton, was able to stop when I felt rsistance, but like I said restriction only lasted about a week. My Dr does the fills without fluero and has never missed the port. Yesterday (my last fill) she withdrew my fluid so she could be sure how much I had, then refilled me. Here's hoping it works.