NukeChik

Way to go Renewed!! Big congrats!! As far as ebay vs. 24 hour fitness, its up to you. I know renewed got hers for 330 bucks and that includes all the same stuff that the new ones from 24 hour fitness have. I paid 350 for the bugg and the display, then I think it was like 10 bucks for shipping. I guess the pros for me were I didn't have to win an auction (which I think renewed did hers buy-it-now, so she didn't have to wait). I knew I was going to get a new, unused product, I always worry about that with ebay. The 24 hour fitness ones come standard with the one free coaching session, and 3 months of online subscription. I think if you buy a used one, you have to buy an online subscription or something, I found that part confusing... As far as online retailers, 24 hour was the best buy I could find, still do a search though, someone else might be having a sale.

I've had my bodybugg for a week. I absolutely love it so far. My BMR on the doc scale is 1900 cal/day. My actual with my normal day is 2400 cal. I have really been motivated to move more and eat less because I can see tangible results. I'm still in the honeymoon phase! I bought mine off of 24 hour fitness. I think renewed got hers off ebay. If you just get the bugg its 249 at 24hr fitness. The digital display is 99 bucks extra, I like it, I look at it all the time and it encourages me to get up and move. Name................Current....Goal......Lost...Still to Lose BigBandFan..........296........270.......0......26 Hastings............253........228.......0......25 KarenG..............174........160.......0......14 (by 7/4) kathystrick.........318........288.......0......30 Leslie2Lose.........233........208.......0......25 (by 7/4) LessNLess...........151........140.......0......11 Luu2008.............215........185.......0......30 (by 7/4) luvinke.............217........190.......2......25 Marissa's Mom.......388........358.......0......30 (by 7/4) MollyMolly..........204........188.......0......16 nancy52.............197........170.......0......27 Nettie..............193........170.......0......23 Newhope4me..........177........160.......0......17 NukeChik............238........222.......4......16 nurse7263...........244........150.......0......24 (by 7/4) renewedhope.........197........170.......0......27 Sunshine2...........179........160.......0......19 (by6/29) Tess415.............329........299.......0......30 TexasFire67.........170........145.......0......25 Wombat712...........135.8......120.......0......15.8 Epm316..............235........200.......0......35 (by 7/4) __________________

My fave is greek yogurt with honey. Super high protein and low calories. Perfect!

Got my 4th fill yesterday. Down to 238 pounds on the docs scale. Still on full liquids so I don't know if I will get anymore restriction. He's really slowed down with the fills now, trying to sneak up on that elusive "sweet spot". I'm afraid I might be one of the post op heartburn sufferers. I don't think I'm overfilled, I haven't had a problem getting anything down.

Mine was 349 from 24 hour fitness. That is for the band itself and the digital readout. You don't have to buy the digital readout, but I think it helps alot (249 for the band itself). I can glance at my wrist (I wear it as a watch) and see how many calories I've burned. For instance today is my first day at work wearing it and I've taken the stairs all day... It just motivates me to move more and eat less. You can get them on ebay, I just didn't want to take a chance... I saw it as a good investment since I paid 14K for my surgery, but thats just me.

I had a fill yesterday so my calorie input was really down, it sure did show with my BodyBugg output. My calories burned were wayyy down. Name................Current....Goal......Lost...Still to Lose BigBandFan..........296........270.......0......26 Hastings............253........228.......0......25 KarenG..............174........160.......0......14 (by 7/4) kathystrick.........318........288.......0......30 Leslie2Lose.........233........208.......0......25 (by 7/4) LessNLess...........151........140.......0......11 Luu2008.............215........185.......0......30 (by 7/4) luvinke.............217........190.......0......27 Marissa's Mom.......388........358.......0......30 (by 7/4) MollyMolly..........204........188.......0......16 nancy52.............197........170.......0......27 Nettie..............193........170.......0......23 Newhope4me..........177........160.......0......17 NukeChik............238........222.......0......16 nurse7263...........244........150.......0......24 (by 7/4) renewedhope.........197........170.......0......27 Sunshine2...........179........160.......0......19 (by6/29) Tess415.............329........299.......0......30 TexasFire67.........170........145.......0......25 Wombat712...........135.8......120.......0......15.8

Congrats Georgia and Renewed on getting one! I just got mine last Thursday. I hadn't lost any weight all month and I'm already down 4 pounds and its TOM :coolgleamA: It makes me move a lot more just so I can watch it tick off. Its really helped me with my food intake too.

Linda, I had what I would describe as fluttering in my stomach/esophageal area for about 6 weeks after my surgery. I think it was just my anatomy getting used to the band, I don't have those issues anymore. It was like you described though, it wasn't painful, just annoying. Even though we have had similar issues in that dept I would still talk to your doc. I have had 3 fills, going for the 4th today. I still don't have restriction. Try not to get frustrated with that, it will come, its just a gradual thing. I had port pain for a while! I would move a certain way and the sharp pain and burning would happen. Again, I'm just sharing my experience with you, I would encourage you to talk to your doc about your issues! Take care and good luck!

Thanks for the info on the website update woodsy. I haven't been on the Realize site since I got this BodyBugg. I do all my journaling there.

I was the same way as you in the beginning. I think it was the limits that were set. You know not being able to eat anything you want... I was proud of myself for the self control that I had, I guess it was because I was scared stiff of doing anything off the books! I've gotten over that constant food daydreaming quite well. I'm no longer focused on food. I do still snack every now and again, but I usually just eat when I'm hungry. While I can't eat much with a meal, I'm not at a level of restriction yet that sustains me. I will get hungry about 3 hours after I eat. I'm not constantly searching out food anymore. And I won't just eat anything because its there, it has to be good stuff. This is a total 180 from what I used to be. I just got a body bugg. I would encourage you to look at the thread on that and the website. Everytime I go to my surgeons office they put me on one of those scales where you have to take your shoes and socks off, I think its called a Tanita scale, anywhoo, they give me a long printoff of things like body fat %, muscle mass, and Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). My BMR when I get on the scale is 1920 cal, thats how many calories that my body burns in a day, with no extra activity. Well, the body bugg is this thing that you wear on your upper left arm and it reads your caloric output. I actually burn about 2400 calories in a normal day. So basically the science of it is if I eat 1000 calories a day and burn 2400 calories a day then my caloric deficit is 1400 calories. Since it takes 3500 calories to lose a pound, I will loose a little over a pound every 3 days. If you ever watch the biggest loser, they wear them. Now minded I'm still in the honeymoon stage, I've only had this thing for about 4 days, but so far I love it and have already lost a couple pounds.

Thanks Judy, I've really been working on watching my calories and working out. I'm a snacker, so I have a day to day battle with that dragon! Dancing, You will probably have to call the actual Realize number. I think it is on the card they give you for your patient information. The representative cannot give you the surgeon's number, they can only contact the surgeon in reference to you. So here's my advice: When you go to the surgeon ask about the surgeon id code. Its not the same as the number on your registration card (I think that is a 16 digit code, you will need a SEPARATE 12 digit code). If they give you that deer in the headlights look, then when you get home call the REalize folks and tell them what you need. In my experience they work with the surgeon's office to get them up to speed. It might take a week or so, but your surgeon should have a packet of stuff for you, the registration code will be in that. As I said before, its a one time only use number. Keep your little wallet size card they gave you after you got out of surgery, you will need that number too. Hope that helps!! Oh and about the oatmeal, it has not been long enough for me to forget just how good eating some soft foods was. The bad thing was I had it relatively easy (I didn't have to go on a pre-op diet). I did one week of Clear liquids, then 1 week of full liquids, then mushies. My first num, num, num meal was loaded potato Soup from O'Charleys. I just ate the liquid, none of the potato chunks or bacon. It was absolutely heavenly. Oh and I woke up from surgery hungry! I didn't have any of that "I have to force myself to eat" stuff goin on!!

The Realize My Success website is really good for your progress as far as measurements and weights. You can also link to your doctor so they can review your inputs, track your fill appts and fill volume, etc. You will have to get a special number from the doctor for your registration. It can be used only once so you can't use anyone elses. The realize site has a terrible food diary input IMO. I have emailed them feedback and they did assure me that they are "beefing" it up. I haven't seen any changes yet. As far as restriction, you need to get ready to be patient. In my experience and others that I have read, it might take a while to feel any restriction. I do have some now, but I am not where I should be yet. I have banded for almost 4 months.

Name.................Current.......Goal.......Lost..Still to Lose BigBandFan..............296..........270.........0...........26 KarenG..................174..........160.........0...........14 (by 7/4) kathystrick.............318..........288.........0...........30 Leslie2Lose.............233..........208.........0...........25 (by 7/4) LessNLess...............151..........140.........0...........11 Luu2008.................215..........185.........0...........30 (by 7/4) luvinke.................217..........190.........0...........27 Marissa's Mom...........388..........358.........0...........30 (by 7/4) Nettie..................193..........170........42...........65 Newhope4me..............177..........160.........0...........17 NukeChik................242..........222.........0...........20 nurse7263...............244..........150.........0...........24 (by 7/4) Sunshine2...............179..........160.........0...........19 (by 6/29/08) TexasFire67.............170..........145.........0...........25 Hastings................253..........228.........0...........25 nancy52.................197..........170.........0...........27 I just got a bodybugg and I have my 4th fill tuesday, hopefully that will get me moving again!

You really should try to load your pouch with protein first. Make sure you chew, chew, chew. My doc recommends filling the pouch with 1/2 protein, then veggies. If you eat veggies first you might get hungrier quicker. Also make sure that you aren't drinking with your meals, that makes a big difference. It really doesn't matter much with me now, if I drink while eating I will PB.

Copied this from "The Cardiologist's Wife's chocolate Too Diet: No Sugar, No Fat & Luscious." It's from the updated health information in the first section. Here goes: "1. Your blood sugar drops with just a 1-pound weight loss. In fact, with just the first ounces off, you’ve made yourself immediately healthier. (Overweight is also a huge risk factor for breast and ovarian cancer in women, prostate cancer in men, and colon cancer in both men and women.) 2. Your heart, which is the size of your closed fist, is a small, overworked muscle, pumping 24/7. And for every extra pound of fat you carry, your body has to grow seven new miles of blood vessels-- primarily capillaries but also small arteries (arterioles) and small veins (venules) -- and your heart has to work that much harder. Put on two pounds and that’s fourteen new miles of blood vessels; fifty extra pounds requires 350 miles of new blood vessels. On and on, do the math. But good news: the opposite is true. For every pound of fat you lose, your body sheds seven miles of blood vessels. They just re-absorb, break down, and get excreted. Lose two pounds and that’s fourteen miles of blood vessels gone, lightening your heart’s load. I’ve told you these two things so you’ll know that even a little is a lot. Repeat that out loud to yourself: even a little is a lot. Let it be your mantra. Because dieting is a slooow process, like watching the grass grow. Try to accept that, and the next time you catch yourself groaning, “Oh it’s almost a week and I’ve only lost two pounds” – understand that that’s good. You’ve already brought valuable change to your body; taken a literal load off your heart. Try this too for reinforcement: take a can off the shelf that weighs one or two pounds, and heft it. Or, in the supermarket, keeping your elbow straight, lift some wrapped meat weighing two pounds. It’s heavy. And you’ll think, Wow, I lost this much?" And another fun fact for every 1 pound you lose, you take 4 pounds of pressure off your knees. Wow, my knees are feeling 124 pounds lighter.

Yeah, I've lost 217 miles of blood vessels so far. It just keeps things in perspective!

Everyone that I have told about my banding has been that way. I think they are so afraid that I'll be smaller than them. It also manifests itself in different ways. So people want to share with me what they are doing to lose weight (my mom has started nutrisystem). Others are just out for plain old sabotage (bringing food and sweets to work). I guess they just realize that I'll be HOT when I lose all my weight Keep up the good work Rain, congrats on the 100 pounds!

I ordered mine from 24 hour fitness, its supposed to be here Thursday, I can't wait!! Will it make it through a metal detector? I have to go through one to come into work. Does it hurt it to get xrayed?

I can only share my experience with you. I lost 16 pounds my first week. I fully expected to gain it back when I started on solids, but never did. Now I'm 3 months out and down 31 pounds. It will really slllooowww down, so being expecting that. I've been at 31 pounds for 3 weeks now. I'm okay with that though.

Click on the search, then you will see a little hypertext link to the right that says "Advanced Search", click on that, then there should be an option that says "search by seller", put the username nicksie26 in and do a search. Or just click on the links below J JILL GREEN STRETCH PANTS 20 TALL WOMENS JEANS CORDS - eBay (item 220225751411 end time Apr-25-08 18:16:28 PDT) J JILL TAN PETAL SOFT PANTS 20 TALL WOMENS STONE DRWSTR - eBay (item 220225752814 end time Apr-25-08 18:24:17 PDT) When you open the item you can also go over to the right and click on "View Sellers Other Items" to see my other stuff. I went through my closet and tried on all my pants, I have so much stuff I need to get rid of. Its still hard to let it go though! Especially the J Jill stuff. I have 2 pairs of pants listed, they are the most comfy pants I've ever owned! I have a J Jill shirt I will be listing later too. It could almost be worn as a dress it is so long, I guess it would be a topper shirt, I'm not sure.

I just listed a bunch of my old pants on ebay. Most of them are tall sizes and practically new. They range in from a 14 to a 20. I have some J Jill pants (my faves, I hate to see them go!). So check them out if you wanted some cheapo clothes. My username is Nicksie26.

I love having BBK up at the top, but no I don't like the new format. I know, I know I can click on different stuff to make it look the same as it used to, I'm just resistant to change.

My doctor had me on Byetta for a time before I got my band. I did lose a little bit of weight, but the requirements and injections outweighed the benefits. I do not have diabetes. It is made from Gila Monster saliva and sometimes nicknamed "Lizzie". The link was discovered while scientists were studying gila monsters and their eating habits. Gila monsters can go long periods of time between meals. Byetta changes the way your body processes and absorbs food. It stays longer in your digestive tract and so on. I think it has been an absolute godsend for a lot of diabetics that have problems regulating their levels.

I have terrible gas. I just don't burp anymore,so it all ends up going out the other end! Its not bad enough for me to take anything. Its helped give me an advantage over my man! I know thats gross, but oh well....

How much does the web subscription cost? I saw 99 bucks a year on one of the pages, is that it? I know I get a 3 month free ride with the purchase from 24 hour fitness, I'm just wondering how much the web support is.