lifesaver

I gained weight between my surgery and first fill. I have lost pretty steadily since having fills. Everybody is different but the fills are what help you lose weight.

Labor Day Challenge... Adorkable...put me down for 8lbs. Thanks for taking the lead. You and Dee Rock!!! I need things like this to keep me accountable.

-2 lbs for me. That's a total of 12lbs for the challenge. Not my goal...but moving in the right direction at least. See ya at the BBQ everyone!

Dee, my weight is up 1 lb over the last two weeks. I am really stuck and I don't understand what is happening. I have been exercising (hiking) like a crazy person and my calories have been good each day. I should be losing 2lbs a week....minimum. I curse this body of mine!!! grrrr! Mal...OMG....I can't believe how scary that situation is!!! I am praying for you and your family. Denver-I wish I wouldn't have told as many people as I did. Just me, but I don't think there is any right or wrong way to do it. Just tell who you want to tell....especially if they are people who will support you in the way that you need to be supported. If I had it to do over, I would have told less people and I would have found a support group (like this) a lot sooner. I found that many of my friends and family members were not that supportive...mostly because they didn't know what I needed and couldn't relate. I find that having support from fellow bandsters is what works for me when I am feeling scared or unsure about this new body part of mine. Just my 2cents. Have a good night peeps!!

Hey All, I traveled for business last week and as soon as I got back I went up to Vail to hike for the weekend. I have NO idea what is going on with anyone since I haven't had a chance to read the bazillion posts from the last week. I will catch up soon, I promise. I hiked 16 miles this weekend and my feet are trashed! I am going to do a 14-er in about 6 weeks. So very excited. Dee, I haven't weighed in 2 weeks but I promise I will weigh in tomorrow morning. I am getting on a plane and headed to Boston so I will post my updated weight sometime tomorrow when I have internet access. Chat with ya'll soon. Welcome to the new peeps. Who's coming to the BBQ? Rene'

Bella...I love, love, love your new name. Most fitting. Mini-That is the most awesome treehouse of all time! I'm sooooo jelly bean!!!! Mal (and everyone), I'm doing ok today. I had minor surgery on my other foot today so I didn't get any exercise in. The foot that I had done last week is now infected and hurting. The doc took care of that one today too and hopefully after a few days of antibiotics I will be able to run again. I ate too much today but I have already forgiven myself and I'm ready to start tomorrow anew. Thanks to everyone for your concern. I'm going to be at RR tomorrow for any of you that are planning on going. I haven't seen a roster yet so who out there is going to dinner with us? Lap, are you the artist on the stomach? Is that your stomach? If so, how ever did you paint that upside down? To the newest bandsters....my warmest wishes for your quick recovery and successful banding. We are very excited to be a part of your journey. Off to bed.

Thanks everyone for your kind words of support tonight. I just knew that when I got home tonight there would be a bunch of reassurance from you guys and there was. It made me cry (in a good way). I did as I planned. Worked out, got a massage, called a friend to cry and vented to you guys. I think I may have made up for those 25 hershey kisses I ate today:-) My problems didn't magically get solved in the last few hours, however I do feel stronger knowing I didn't let it get the best of me (this time). I will be ok and may have a few more weepy, weak moments...but I guess that's just life, right? Thank you everyone for just being who you are and for making this a safe place to be real. So who's going to RR on Wed? Denise...I wont be able to do lunch tomorrow. What about Friday? Or will you be out of town?

Hi All, It's not often I am willing to get this vulnerable publicly, but today is not a great day and I feel like if I want to break the cycle of emotional eating I should probably try and circumvent it with another activity....like talking. Today I have been emotionally eating I think for a variety of reasons. I had a really bad hour and a half screaming session with my estranged father last week. It opened up a lot of old wounds that I thought were healed....or at least burried. My job is so overwhelming right now. I was recently promoted and put in charge of the biggest trainwreck in my company. It's a total crisis right now and we are in danger of losing national certifications that would result in millions of dollars of lost sales. All of this lands firmly in my lap....although I didn't create it, I am responsible for it now. It's a new product that I don't know anything about so I don't even know where to begin. My xboyfriend (whom I still care about very much) and I have agreed to have coffee to catch up. It's been a year and a half since we broke up and I haven't seen him and havent really spoken to him since. We are meeting up in a couple weeks but I can't stop thinking about it. I'm so worried about feeling rejected by him again. I still love him so much and I want him in my life. Of course, he doesn't know this and I'm imaginging both the worst and the best outcomes. I can't stop thinking about it and worrying about what he will think of me. ON top of it all, I just found out that my house taxes are being raised almost $400/month which I just cannot afford. This may force me into a forclosure. I've always had good credit and been very financially responsible, however I'm in a situation right now that I can't financially manage. I have a house in colorado Springs that is empty and I can't find renters, my roommate in Denver moved out, my taxes have gone up...way up, and I just can't figure out how to make it. I put the lap band surgery on my credit card (lower interest rate than the loan options) and that is looming over me also. I am humiliated that I have gotten myself into this situation. I don't have any family or friends I can rely on to help me out...there's just me. I wanted to leave work today and just go home and eat, and eat, and eat. However, I'm so worried that I will start an evil downward spiral that I have decided to do everything in my power right now to do something different. Not since my surgery have I had such a pull to emotionally eat. I know what foods I could get down right now that are very high calorie and would not make me pb....I want to sabotage myself so bad right now. The only thing that is going well for me right now is my weight loss progress and health. Interesting that it's the only thing I have left that can be sabotaged....and that's exactly what I feel compelled to do. I know that in order to get through all of the other icky stuff, my health, both physically and mentally, has to continue to be the #1 priority. Although I dont want to, here is what I am going to do instead of eating tonight: 1) go to the gym - work out for 1 hour----HARD 2)Call a friend and cry....(did that a few ago....) 3) Get a massage...luckily i have a free one saved up and Massage Envy and they are open late 4) Post on LBT and ask for support. (doing that now) Thanks for listening guys. I'm going to the gym now.

Dee, I'm down 2 lbs this week. Brandy, how's the FIL? Mal, I haven't started the couch to 5K, but I think it sounds great. Do you have a 5k planned? I'm outta here for the weekend. Hope you girls enjoy yourselves and everyone kicks butt for the weigh in.

Marcy, you look awesome girl! What a transformation so far! Denise, I'm bummed you are not coming to RR. I guess we need to do lunch again soon. I need to get those clothes back to you. Funny thing is that I've grown out of some that you have given me already. Let me know when you want to hook up. I'm glad you had a good fill appt with Tom. I just love him and feel like he is really thorough. Brandy, how is your FIL? How are you doing? Who is coming to RR next week? Looking forward to meeting those of you that I haven't yet. Mini, some of the Soups and stuff that you are having make me want to go back to a liquid diet sometimes. Man that stuff sounds yummy. I'm almost to the -50lbs mark....which is equivalent to a "Small Bail of Hay". Mal, that list was hysterical. It certainly puts some things in perspective. Bails of hay are huge! Have a fantastic weekend everyone. I'm going to Colorado Springs to hike "the Incline". Has anyone ever heard of it? It's like Mother Natures Stair Master From Hell!!!! Sunday I'm going to watch the US Womens Soccer Team game at Dicks Sporting Goods Park. Rene'

I still have something similar. I spoke to Tom about it the last time I was in for a fill and he said it is scar tissue and will resolve itself eventually. Not sure if its the same thing you have going on but maybe a possible explanation.

Down 1.5 for me this week. I went on three hikes in Vail this weekend and burned so many freakin' calories. I guess it paid off and helped burn up some of that yummy marble slab ice cream I had. I am so very sore! I had a great 4th...hope you guys did too. I haven't read everybody's posts yet so I'll catch up with what you guys have been up to when I get a chance. Are we still doing RR on the 16th?

Cute Shirt Mal! :-)

I'm confused, is this week 5 or 6 of our pre bbq weight loss challenge? I will be out of town until Sunday so I will weigh in on Monday morning. Mal, what is a couch to 5k? Is it a specific training program or is it a specific race you are getting ready for? I would love to do more and maybe do it myself. I'm also having issues with the website. Have all of you already reported it? Maybe it's time for us to start a new thread? Wonder if it has anything to do with size.....? Even though I have heard somewhere that size doesn't matter:-) Welcome Newbies. I had surgery on January 9th and as of yesterday I am down 45lbs. Can't wait for the next 35 to come off and be at goal. Dr K and his PA Tom are great. You are making a great choice by going to him. Plus, you cant get a better deal anywhere. I can't wait until I am a size 10 like Denise and Brandy! Getting there...

Hey Denise, I saw PS I love you, I really liked it but I did cry. If' you have lost someone you love it definetly tugs at the heart strings. It's cute that your daughter didn't want you to be sad.

Mini.....So sorry I wasn't able to meet you tonight. Check your PM's for a message from me. Next time I hope. It sound like you are doing great...much better than I was the day after surgery. I had a hard time for a couple weeks with the surgical pain. The gas pains will be relieved shortly. Everyone is different but we all seem to turn out ok in the end. What are your plans for fills? Are you going to get them where you live or fly out here? Everyone.....I had 2 Drs appts today. My first one was a fill appt with Tom (Not TOM). So I weighed in at 10lbs down from my last visit which was 5 weeks ago. Pretty good, I think. It's weird that I didn't realize I was losing at a good rate. So, we started to do a fill, got poked in the belly and then no matter how little saline Tom put in, the water didn't go down right, so we ended up leaving me right where I was at when I walked in. I made another appt for 4 weeks out and I think that will be ok. I have decent restriction right now so we will just see how it goes. I really, really, really love Tom. He always teaches me so much when I see him. Does he always ask you guys if you remembered to bring your port with you? Silly man. After that I went to see a foot doctor and they ended up doing a spontaneous minor surgery where they had to numb my foot and do some stuff. Sorry no details here as I am totally grossed out by feet. I am all wrapped up and can barely walk so I'm worried about being able to exercise and train for the Adventure race. I hope I heal quickly so I can continue on. I had plans to roller blade in the morning and then go up to Vail for the weekend for hiking and such....but I will probably have to stay off the foot this weekend. Ugh. I hate it when my body betrays my plans. Did someone already post a picture of the dinner you guys had the night before Mini's surgery? If so, what page is it on? I missed it. I want to see how ya'll look. Lap congrats on the positive outcome of your PS appointment. Brandy, how are you feeling? Brat....Welcome! You are gonna love it here! For financing I was going to use something I found online, but then I called my credit card company and was able to get a much better rate on my credit card, and without all of the financing fees that the loan company was going to charge. Just an idea. Happy 4th of July Everyone! Have a fantastic weekend.

Hi Mini Just wanted to let you know I am pulling for ya today. It sounds like you had a great time at dinner last night. I hope you feel very supported. I will be back in CO tomorrow and I would like to come see you for a short visit. Where are you staying? Room #? I have a fill with Tom at 4pm so it would be right after that.

I can do the 16th.

When is the next one?

So, the scale says I'm down 4 lbs this week. Since I gained 1lb last week (Damn Tom/TOM!!!), I have lost that and a bit more. Dee thanks again for tracking this for all of us. I really do feel more motivated knowing that I get to be accountable to you guys each week. I'm really excited for the BBQ. There's a few of you I have met face to face and a bunch of you that I can't wait to meet. This is such an amazingly supportive place to come. Albeit, it takes me hours to get caught up if I haven't logged-in in a few days. Bahot, congrats on all those clothes that are too big for ya! YOu are such an inspiration to me. Brandy, glad to hear that you are starting to feel more like yourself. I hope all of that icky, scary stuff is in the past forever! Lap, I love the feedback you gave to your sister about airlines/obese people. I don't know how it could have been said any better with any fewer words:-) Mini, I'm very excited for you to have your surgery. I think it's on Wed, right? When are you leaving town? I travel for work and will get back on Thursday if you are still in town THursday night, I would like to meet you and support you in any way I can. Mal, Green, Munch, Mini, Adork, Shelbi, Jilly, Sidan, and everyone else, I just want you guys to know how much I appreciate your posts and all that you contribute to this site. You guys make me laugh, cry and generally feel like I'm not alone in this journey. Thank you.

Sending my prayers your way Brandy. Let us know as soon as you hear something....you know how everyone around here likes to worry about you:-)

I wish I did, but I dont have Brandy's number. Maybe bahot does???

Dee, I'm up 1 lb for week 4.

Hi All, Ok..lets start with the bad news. Up 1 lb this week but it is TOM so maybe that is a factor. I sure hope so and I can share better news next week. Ugh! Funny story about TOM.....for the longest time as I was reading these threads I thought you guys were refering to Tom (the PA in Dr K's Office). I couldn't figure out why everyone was blaming their weight gains on him. I just made a mental note to never get a fill from him:-) Duh!!! Bahot...Thank you Thank you Thank you for the clothes. What a nice pay it forward. I even wore some of them to San Diego this weekend. You should all know that I learned so much about Denise by adopting her old clothes. She is so the kind of girl who finds something she likes and then buys it in every possible color. Very cute. Amazing pic of you water skiing. You are such an inspiration. You look like you are so happy out there on the water. Brandy and LA....I'm worried about both of you. Please update us as soon as you have any information. Munchkin....My 26 year old sister is a cop in Phoenix. It is very scary for me to think about sometimes, but she is very suited for it. I know what you mean about just being worried. Very brave women. Mal, congrats on your weight loss....I'm so happy that the scale is actually cooperating for you finally. I'm glad you are enjoying some of the clothes you adopted from me. Yay for free clothes! I went to San Diego for the weekend to attend a workshop on Men and Marriage. It was so amazing and I just had the best time. I have more to share but I'm running out of time here. You guys keep me so busy.....I feel like I'm behind on my homework when i don't check in for a few days. For those of you that have surgeries coming, I'm pulling for ya. I'd like to meet any of you that are traveling from out of town, so keep us posted on your visit details. Welcome to JillyPoo. You are gonna love it here! Happy day to all!

WOW...Denise...You LOOK AMAZING! What a difference. Cant wait to dish over lunch.