shortgal

Congratulations TXArcher and Happy belated Father's Day. Your "MANCAVE" plans look impressive. Keep up the good work and none of us would be surprised at the "looks" you are getting. My hubby has been very positive about the changes in my appearance and how much better I feel about myself and my new level of activity. BandPal: You will be amazed at how much better you look and feel when you wear clothes that really fit your new body. So get rid of those old baggy ones and splurge on a few new ones. Hope to check in on the forum again more often, been kind of absent for the last month.

Not sure what goal to post???? Didn't make the last challenge goal. Struggling to achieve good restriction so hunger is a problem. Only bright spot is I am walking fairly regularly. Having my next fill ( July 3rd) with floro, so maybe that will help. Guess I'll wait until then to determine a goal for this challenge. Great to finally take a minute to check in and see how everyone is doing.

Hi All, Haven't been on the forum much lately, just a busy time of year for me and haven't had much to report. Finally can report a measly two pound loss so I'm at 173. Just didn't have time to copy and paste list today. TXARCHER: Way to go! Below 300 is great!

Hi and Welcome to the Ct family. Dr. Ehrlich did my surgery as well. I thought I was a slow loser but he seems happy with the amount of weight I've lost so far. I had a gap of several months between first visit and actual surgery and at the time of the first visit, they did not have a liquid pre-op diet, so I was lucky I didn't have to do that, but the liquid pre-op also jump starts the weight loss, so that's probably the best way to view it to get through it. The first four days after surgery were the hardest for me but we all get through it. Good Luck and check in with the Ct group when you get home.

Exciting news, Cindy! :thumbup: I'm sure you did the "happy" dance when you saw that on the scale. I've been out of the loop lately, did you get there before Craig? I'm winding down on the biggest part of the work here in RI. (Thankfully) First Bridal shower this weekend and then I'll PM you soon after. Judy

Cindy, Congratulations! Awesome job, you must be so proud of yourself!

SADES: Looks like your last fill is working for you, finally. Good for you, you've waited a long time.

Kat, So glad to hear you are doing well since the surgery. I haven't been on the forum much the past two weeks but I check in once in a while. Sounds like you got great results from the surgery, no more wearing long shirts and tugging on them! Hurray! Take Care.

Don't worry. It WILL happen, just a matter of time.

Hi everyone, Haven't been on the forum much lately. Seems I can either walk OR eat right but doing both has been a challenge lately. I am in RI and when I get back to CT tomorrow, I will weigh myself and see where I stand. I have been walking regularly, anywhere from 2.5 up to 4.5 miles. Also have a fill appt tomorrow (that;s why I'm driving back to CT tonight). I think I am close now to better restriction, we'll see. Don;t have much time to post lately, but I do check the updates and you're all doing great. Cindy and Craig, You'll hit that 100 pound mark very soon! Awesome!

I think your Dr's forgot about the positive effect of the boot "stomping and kicking"! Great news Kendra, so happy for you that the treatment is going so well. Keep up the good work and your happy positive attitude.

I have no weight gain or loss to report on this challenge yet. Got a fill this a.m .3cc, think I need more but have decided to go a little at a time. Driving back to RI now, just came home to Ct for the appt. Don;t have much time for the forum lately. things will calm down soon and I'll check in on all the great weight losses I'm sure you're all posting!!!

LINDA and SADES, I'm going for fill on Weds, too! Can't get to sweet spot. Last fill was too much at one time and the pain was awful but liquids went down, so I had a slight unfill. I'm at 8.4 cc's now. I will just keep getting small fills until I'm there. I am in Rhode Island ( no scale) eating a little more than I should but have no clue if I gained or how much. I am so dependent on the scale to alert me. I guess I'll find out soon if I gained, hopefully two days of liquids after fill will help, If I did gain. I was doing so well, with slow but steady weight loss, it seems to get much harder with time and once we lose some weight. Hang in everyone and I'll be checking back to see how you both do with next fill.

Hi All, Just checking in. I have no weight loss to report. I am one of those that also cannot understand how I can eat this much with 8.4 cc's in my band. Have another fill scheduled for Weds a.m.. Since I get so tight right after, I think I am going to have to go often and do very small fills until I hit the right spot. chicken, beef, you name it, it goes down. I am in Rhode Island until Tues a.m. Cleaning, Cleaning, cleaning. I think the work I'm doing makes me believe I "deserve" the treats I'm eating, but I know I'm not doing that much work. Too many of those 100 calorie snack packs ( and no scale here). I won't be buying those packs anymore. I thought I was back on track after vacation but I am off my old routine. And the wedding looms large! Hopefully after my fill, I'll lose a few.

I am struggling with an older pet with problem, too. My 15 y/o golden retreiver just had a lump on his leg removed. It was sent for biopsy as it could be cancerous. He has no appetite since the surgery, hope he's not in pain, seems lethargic. We'll have the results in a couple days. He's the last of four pets we had at one time. Two dogs and two cats. The first dog ( small breed) lived past 17.5 years and the cats were at least 18 years old. It's so hard bringing them to the vet that last time and having to make that decision. I think this will be our last pet and that's hard to accept also. Don't know if I can start all over with another puppy. They are such a big part of the family, I'm sorry when anyone has to go through that process.

Wow, that WAS a rocky start to that office visit! Glad everything turned out ok in the end. Congrats on becoming a grandmother! I'm still waiting. DD is married almost 6 years now, says she's not ready. Yeah, but I am! LOL. So much happy news for you!!!!!

I hope it's a "short quick flight" to onederland, BandPal. Sounds like you've had a great trip. I wish I had the restriction you have. It scared me how easily I was able to eat almost everything on vacation. I really don't want food to have so much control over me, but without good restriction, I caved to temptation. I've had that feeling of being in control a few times since surgery and it's wonderful to look at food and be able to say "no thanks". I am having trouble getting to sweet spot, when I get a fill I swell a lot and get so tight it hurts. Not just hurting when I eat, but all the time, like a heart attack. I had to have some taken out, but that has left me without good restriction. I plan to ask them to just add a tiny amount at a time and not withdraw all that's already in there, hoping that will help. Thanks for the update!

Hi Holly, You and I were banded on the same day and have lost about the same amount of weight. I have stalled the last two weeks, ( was on vacation one week) and feel like I'm back on track now, but scale will not budge downward. I'll just keep trying. I am not at my sweet spot yet and having some problems getting there but it will all work out. I do not get a numbing shot when I get fills. What's the difference if they give you a needle to numb you or the needle for the fill, wither way you feel the first stick. I usually do not find it very painful. I don't see the surgeon (ever), I see the PA instead. I feel they give me plenty of time to talk about where I am and how much I can eat etc. I was losing about eight pounds a month, then five a month and I think it's slowing down more unless I can get the right fill amount. I try to stay under 1200 calories a day. Just hang in there and find the support and info you need about your band here on the forum.

I had read that it is not the large metal walk thru detectors but possibly the handheld "wands" at the airports. I recently took several flights and had no problem going through the walk through type.

Hi Kat! Sending lots of good vibes your way for a speedy recovery. I know how happy you are to be having this surgery, no more pulling those shirts down! I've been MIA for a little bit. Vacation one week, a fill that wasn't so good, a slight unfill and kind of back to normal, now. Have fun on your Shrinking Violets weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

Here's where I am right now. I sort of feel like I wasted two weeks. First I ate way too much on vacation and gained weight. Got a fill as soon as I got home, got too tight, got a slight unfill, lost the weight I gained on vacation and now I'm stalled. I think I just have to let my body get used to the up and down it just went through. I think I need a little more fill but I get so much swelling with the fill that it's painful, so I am going to ask the PA not to take out all the fill and then replace it all with more. I will instead ask them to just add a little bit, since it seems the action of plunging it all in, activiates the swelling and pain I get at the fill. I guess we're all so different. Hopefully this week, I will see the scale move down again, I know I am back on track with eating, but less we weigh, less food we need to continue to lose. Keeping busy won't be a problem for the next month. My busy time of year is here. Time to get our beach rentals cleaned, weeded, painted etc. so I'll be moving a lot. My trunk is loaded with paper towels and windex and other cleaning supplies ready to go. Weds is the start! Stressful getting three furnished houses and yards ( plus mine own home) done in a short time but somehow it always gets done. Oh and my dog is having some surgery Monday. Poor guy is 15 years old and has a mass on his leg. They'll remove and biopsy and we'll go from there. Wound care could be an issue, the area of mass has very thin skin, so closing wound could be difficult. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Happy Birthday Jill! :tt1: Enjoy Vegas. Our daughter lives there, we go at least once a year. My favorite thing to do is sit on the patio at Bellagio overlooking the fountains at night, with a drink and appetizer and watch the fountains with the backdrop of Eiffel tower from Paris hotel across the street. And congrats on your weight loss, you've done a great job!

I am very sorry you and your family have suffered this loss. Your advice is sound for everyone ( not just those being banded or having surgery). We never know when we will become a victim of car accident or other event and having our wills and insurance and other personal wishes in order could save our family members lots of additional problems.

Cindy, Welcome to the forum. You know life is full of setbacks. We save some money and then boom, a pipe breaks or we need a new roof and there goes the money we saved. This is just one of those life moments. In a real perfect world, we would all lose our weight, reach goal and never gain a pound back.... oh if only it were that easy. If I'm doing the math right, you're still down about 100 pounds! And that's great, don't let the 45 gained turn into 55 and just start over to get those pounds off. I know it must feel like you thought that struggle was all over and I know I'd be "down" about it, too. The only way to stop agonizing about it, is to do something about it. It sounds like that's what you're doing with the counselor and nutritionist, so you're on the right track. Join one of the "challenges" on the forum to help sgtay motivated or join one of the other groups and you'll get lots of support from people here, too.

TxArcher: Great B & A photos. You and your family look so happy. It's nice that you are enjoying the beauty of your new home state. My son lived in SC for a little while and we enjoyed visiting. Try to get to Charleston for a visit, if you haven't already. And your family might enjoy a few days at a beach like Folly Beach or Isle of Palm. And NO WAY am I betting FOR or AGAINST either you or Cindy on the 100 pound goal. I hope you both hit it in the same week! Hey, 95 or 100 pounds it's all good and you both look so good. Congrats!