cindyg1212

Hi Everyone! CindyG here...Wow, I've missed you all! So good to catch up. Shortgal, congrats on becoming a Grandma! Wendy and SkinnyJill, I'm so jealous, lol! Bandpal, glad you're still doing so well! Sades, how are things in Australia? Must be winter there now...And great to hear from the rest of you! This is exciting that we are still connected after nearly five years! As for me, my band journey has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride. As one of the nurses in my doc's office told me, "Sometimes the band screws with some people and I'm one of those"! It seems like it does with some of our other members as well. I'm either too tight or too loose. I can't get any tighter or I can't even swallow Water. However, the way it is now, I can eat almost anything I like. So I had to learn to work with it. I did lose 60 lbs the first year and kept that off for 2 years. But then 20 crept back on and I had to fight for every pound to lose it. A new doctor at my band doc's office told me that I actually lost more than the average person does with the band and it's going to take sheer will to lose the rest. I have 40 more to go to feel "normal". I've developed a pouch above the band and may need the band removed and either replaced eventually or have a revision surgery. The doc suggested that I consider gastric bypass as the best way to take off the rest of the weight. I think that's too drastic for 40 lbs so I'm going to work very hard with the band and the little restriction I do have to slowly get it off. I also met with a cosmetic surgeon to see how much more I would need to lose to get a tummy tuck and surprisingly, he said I could get one now if I wanted but would be happier with the results if I could take off at least another 20 lbs. So there's some more motivation! I would give anything for a flat tummy again! Anyway, glad that all is well with everyone...Stay in touch and good luck to all of us still on the weight loss journey! Cindy

Hi everyone! It's been hard for me to post as I'm very disappointed in myself. I've gained a few since my son's Bar Mitzvah and am teetering around 200. Never thought I would see that number again. I really need to refocus and cut out the late night snacking which has always been my downfall. I'm as filled as I can handle so another fill is not the answer. Foofy, it's good to see you! So very sorry about your mom. I actually do know what you're going through as my mom died suddenly while my dad was battling cancer. It was the most horrible time of my life and it was only a few years ago. It happened before my band and I gained 50 lbs in one year. I don't even remember what I ate to gain so much weight so fast. Hopefully the band will keep you in check as you support your dad through his illness. My heart goes out to you!

Hi everyone! It's been a long time since I've posted. Glad to find some old friends on here. Wendy, you did amazing. Imagine feeling too thin! I've been struggling lately. I'm up 5 pounds since my son's Bar Mitzvah. Once the stress of that was over, I relaxed a bit. But then my son got the flu (unconfirmed swine flu!) and we were stuck home for a week. Too much eating out of boredom. Our county got hit badly with the flu. NY state stopped testing for swine flu unless you're hospitalized. However, he had the flu shot and only Swine was prevalent. Hundreds of kids were out of school in our area that week. Had to call around all of the pharmacies to find Tamiflu. We all went on it. Anyway, I seem to have a new issue. For the past week, I've been getting a burning, dull pain in my stomach, a couple of inches to the right of my belly button. Could that be an ulcer? Both of my parents had ulcers at my age. Anyone know what happens to the band if you get an ulcer? I'll get it checked out but I'm a bit concerned. On a happier note, all went well with my son's Bar Mitzvah. He came down with a cold, which added to the stress, but with a lot of cold medicine he got through it and did a great job! I wore a deep blue dress which I loved but I'm not very happy with how I looked in most of the photos. I have a few that I look O.K. but I wish that I had lost a lot more. I still look so big. It's really hard to lose without getting a fill. I may give in and get a small one. Just want this process over with! Congrats to all of you who made goal and to those who are getting close. The rest of us need to find our motivation and look to you for inspiration!

My goodness, Wendy! Look at you!! A million congratulations!!!!!!!!!! I've been crazy busy with planning my son's Bar Mitzvah and finishing up school. Sorry it took me so long to log on and see your huge accomplishment. I hit Onederland around the same time as you but I can't seem to get below 190. I can't handle any more fills. I need to finish this on my own. Yep, that means diet and watch everything I eat. I wanted to get off more for the Bar Mitzvah but I don't think I'll be able to focus on weight loss until afterwards. Again, congrats to you and Bandpal for proving that dreams really do come true and with perseverance, we all can get there!

CONGRATS, Bandpal!!! Reaching your goal is an amazing accomplishment! You look great in your new picture and you should be so proud of yourself. Your family must be thrilled that you're thin and healthy. I understand your concern about an unfill. If I could have tolerated being tighter, I would have lost a lot more by now. By just taking out a little, you should be able to eat more normally without pbing and still maintain your weight. I have been eating pretty much what I want. Although I can get most food through the band, I'm not gaining either. The band still prevents overeating. If I could get my focus back and make better choices, my weight will drop. Please continue to post and let us know how maintenance is going for you. You will do just fine. Enjoy your new healthy life!

This challenge will run until June 21, which is the first day of summer!! Name............Start.......Current...........Goal..........To Go Momto1plus1...173...........163................159................4 Bandpal..........151.14.......151.14............150................1.1 Cindyg............190...........190................175................15 Wow, you guys! You're almost there!! I'm proud of you and I desperately need the motivation I know I can get from you. My weight hasn't budged in months. I'm highly stressed out right now with planning my son's Bar Mitzvah this May and finishing up my last semester in grad school. Not very good timing to be dealing with both at the same time. I get very little sleep and I'm constantly busy. Many days I eat just to stay awake. I can't get any more fills because the slightest bit more seems to close up the band. My nurse practioner at the lapband doc's gave me a script for Phentermine, a hunger suppressant. It is an amphetamine and even a half a pill makes me feel too high and speedy. So not a good idea. My primary doc told me not to take them and I really just have to focus on what I'm eating which is definitely too much and the wrong choices. The good news is I bought my dress for the Bar Mitzvah at a bridal shop and it actually makes me look 20 pounds thinner! Great dress! It's a mother of the bride dress and mother of the Bar Mitzvah boy is close enough. It might as well be his wedding with all the planning that goes into it. I miss everyone! It seems we lost so many once we hit a year. My primary doc said most people lose what they're going to lose the first year and then it's a battle to get the rest off. Maybe that's why so few are posting. Wish everyone would just come back so we could support each other. Congrats to Wendy and Bandpal for hanging in there and almost reaching goal!

OK, so the name of this new challenge is a little hokey but I'm running out of catchy titles! Anyway, it's a little hard to look forward to spring with snow and ice on the ground but it will be here before we know it. Let's take this to the first day of spring (autumn for Sades), March 20th. Come on, Nymphs, let's get remotivated and energized! Let's reach our goals this year!! Name............Start........Current........Goal.......To Go CindyG...........190...........190...........175........15

Wendy, you're doing great! I wish I had just 10 to go. I'm stuck up and down the same 5 for months now. I'm having trouble getting motivated. I need to get serious!

Mindy, thank you so much for sharing Laura's letter with us. If you are in touch with the family please send my sincere condolences and let them know that Kendra was an inspiration to us all. Her grace and dignity had no bounds. Her optimism was contagious and we all thought that if anyone could beat cancer, Kendra could. We will all miss her.

Hi everyone! Sades, I'm with you on missing my parents. My mom passed 3 1/2 years ago and my dad a year after that. During the year between their deaths, I gained 50 pounds. More than I ever gained in such a short period of time. I still miss them terribly. Bandpal, cherish this time with your's. I had an emergency unfill last Saturday. Even though I was only filling 1/8 at a time, the last one a week ago was a little too much. I had the worst stuck experience ever on Friday. 4 hours stuck on mashed potatoes! I only had 3 bites and was stuck. It was Hell! Now I'm back down to 7cc's and it's comfortable. Hope I can still lose weight like this. It's going to take more focus and effort on my part.

Hi Bandpal! How is everything on your side of the world? Are you safe where you are? Can someone fix the challenge list? My computer isn't cooperating and I can't line up the columns. Thanks!

Height definitely plays a big part in what size clothes you can wear. I'm a shorty too at 5'2". At 190, I'm just into size 14 pants. I need to weigh in the 150's to be a size 10. Someday, someday...

It's our bandiversary month and we should be celebrating our successes! We have all come a long way on this journey and have made life altering changes. This is the time to toast ourselves and ring in the holidays with a new outlook on life! 2009 will be the year that most of us get to or close to our final weight loss goals. Let's take this challenge to New Year's Day. It's our time to shine so let's ring in the New Year with a New You!! :cool2: Name............Start........Current........Goal.......To Go CindyG...........191...........191...........178........13

Then spring it is, Wendy. I'll try to come up with something catchy. Congrats on getting so close to goal. I hope this is the year that we all see that magic number on the scale!

The New Year challenge is officially over and the winner is.....Bandpal with a 10.5 lb loss!! Lindata was also a winner as she achieved her goal with an extra pound to spare!! Time for a new challenge. How about a Valentine challenge or should we take the next one to spring? Any thoughts or ideas?

Hi guys! Happy New Year!! I just joined facebook too but I've been too busy to do much with it. I need to get some photos on there. Anyway, even with my two tiny fills, I've been about the same weight. Too many holiday treats. Funny how sweets go down easier than anything else! I'm trying to get back to a normal eating plan and everything is getting stuck. I'm with you though, Cindy...I'm gonna get this weight off if it kills me!!! Here's to an amazing 2009 and to all of us reaching our goals to be fit and fabulous!!! :tt2:

Good luck with your fill, TX. It's a good way to start off the new year! Tight in the mornings and looser as the day goes on seems to be the norm. Hope the scale starts moving for you again.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH, HAPPY KWANZAA & THE HAPPIEST AND HEALTHIEST OF NEW YEARS, SADES, AND ALL MY FELLOW BANDSTERS!!! May this year bring us all that we're wishing for!!

Name..-----.Start----------Current..----Goal.....--...To Go CindyG..............191...................190.............178......... .......12 Sades................186...................185....... .....175................11 Stephanie.........175..................169.5..........155............. ..14.5 shortgal.............173.6...............172..............168......... .......4 Bandpal...........172.26..............161.7........ 150................ 11.7 Momto1plus1...187....................185............174............... .11 lindata...............174....................168............169..... .. ..........-1 Skinny_Jill........151.....................150...........143.......... ........7 mrskrzyz...........172.....................172...........162.......... .......10 kalipso2...........172.....................172...........165.......... ..........7 scarecrow.........190.....................190............180.......... .......10 Foofy.................226....................223............212....... ..........11 Hollyberries......245.....................245............240.......... ........5 Yay, another tiny fill got the scale moving again!! Lindata, congrats! You did great!

Close, Amy. I think PB stands for Productive Burp cause it produces the offending food back up.

Hi Bandpal! Hope you had a safe trip back to Israel. I'm working on my Masters in mental health counseling. I enjoy working with children and am now interning at a special school for emotionally disturbed children. The children have disorders such as ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, BiPolar, Aspergers, etc. I plan on obtaining my license and would like to someday open up a counseling center for children and their parents. For now, I'd like to work in a school until I can receive my license. I have to work for 3000 hours after graduation and take the NY licensing exam before I'm licensed. I'm graduating this May, four days after my son's Bar Mitzvah. Can't wait! I know that many sleepless nights studying and writing papers contributed to my weight gain.

Shalee, you look amazing!! Your tummy is gone!!!

Elephant skin? Is that what its called? And I just thought it was cellulite out of control! Ugh, too much plastic surgery to stretch it all out. Can't wait till the only body issue I have is too much skin. Think I will go for that tummy tuck though...

Wow, TX!! A three car accident. Could have been a lot worse!!! All because some idiot was in a rush. I'm sure he went on his merry way oblivious to the mayhem he left behind. So glad you're OK! Your port and band are probably fine. Everything is stiched in place. Why don't you give your band doc a call just to be sure?

Wnt2lose, you look great! What an amazing accomplishment. Wish I could enjoy exercise more so the weight would come off faster. I'm in grad school too and interning while raising two kids. My weight hasn't budged in 3 months either. Think there's a connection between being crazy busy and no weight loss?