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Hi NG and all- I'm also doing no real exercise- Iknow that has to change, but I've become very lazy. I'm tired all the time. CAN YOU SPELL STRESS! I know, excerise will help it all. Hope everyone is doing well. I've gained about 3 pounds but I think for the surgeon's appt on Friday, it will end up being just about where I was last month. I think what happens is that after being tight for a long time, I get bored with the few things I can eat and start eating "bad" food. Right now, it's frozen yogurt which sounds harmless, but add in all the toppings and whoa! So, yes, a few pounds. Not beating myself up because I actually lost a couple of inches everywhere this month. So, it's still good. I'll see 100 and on from there. Don't need to make myself nuts anymore. See ya all later. Gwenn

Hi Everyone, Going into a two-day Jewish holiday tonight (Shevuot) and so am cooking for guests both nights and my food intake is just about all tasting! I'm still pretty tight but I like it that way. My weight is hoovering between 221 and 224, which is annoying, but I've just discovered frozen yogurt and having it for lunch every day so I think that may be the issue. Need to eat less of it and you know about those toppings!! Bad habits are lessened but not cured, that's for certain. And it creeps back slowly. Start with a little fro yo and just a little fruit and now it's a bigger cup and choc chips on top. Oh well. The good news is that I am smaller- inches- so I'm feeling okay in general. Next Friday (5th) is my surg check up so I would like to lose a pound or two more if I can - I also really need to up my water- that really affects how much I lose. So, that's me. What's doing with everyone. Reading lots of good, but also lots of frustration. HEY, WE"RE IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL!!!! It will all be GOOD. See everyone Sunday. Take care.

Unfortunately, nothing sweet is a problem for me. Only problem is sometimes I eat something cold like frozen yogurt too early in the day and it tightened the band....makes it contract. Maybe that's why you're bringing it up. Happened to me today for the first time. As for visiting home- I just did the same and I'll tell you what I think. You (and I) did not lose the weight for anyone back home. We did it for ourselves and the only extension might be our spouses. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks and anyone who doesn't tell you that you look amazing....can go straight to...."gehenom"! You may find that after a while of hearing nothing but how much you've changed and how great you look, that you get a little annoyed- I did. It was like, enough, already. But that was from friends. I have a mother who is German Jewish, and kind words generally come with a zinger- so if you have that kind of relative, or if there are those who might be jealous, etc...you're just gonna have to blow them off. I have a GOOD friend, who told me how amazing I look.....and I should really now invest in better bras! What the %#&@&? I told her that I know she means well (I'm not really so sure by the way) but please, if you have a compliment give it and leave it at that. My mother is the best at taking a compliment away, but I take it from her and just forget it, but I won't with anyone else. No left-handed compliments- I told my friend if she doesn't have something nice to say, say nothing at all. That my honest advise for you. Have a great trip and stick with those who really care about and "see" the real you.

It's not giving up, friend. It's starting to live life again. However, the band (if you read the boards) is not a panacea and has up and down days....but of course you're having those anyway or you wouldn't be here or even thinking about surgery. Just like any other addiction it will tempt you and rule you- it's like the worst yatzer hora you can have nudging you and it wins all the time. The band literally installs an "off" button. But you need to want that more than you want anything else. There will still be days with the band where you mourn being able to eat everything in site. And guess what....if you don't keep your band tight, you will eat too much. If you are a volume eater, it's the only thing that can make a difference because you simply can't eat too much of anything, except high calorie liquids or ice cream. If you can stay away from those, you'd do fine. It's a big decision and taking your time until if/when you're ready is smart. It's not simple or easy. But it's an answer. Shabbat Shalom (or Shevuah Tov if you're on the east coast). Happy Shavous everyone. Watch out for the cheesecake- it slides down easily!

Hi Carol, Back to work and too tired to write when I get home, but there's not a lot of traffic here, eh? Long weekend starting and I had a Bar Mitzvah last evening and a wedding on Sunday - I'd rather read. One bit of very good stuff...I bought a new dress to wear last evening and it was shorter and more colorful than I've been wearing (I'm a black dress fan) and it even had a lose fitting belt. WOW! I had so many compliments my head was spinning. I see the changes but I'm still a good 40-50 from where I'd like to be. So it was a great time....now I think I need to get back to work on the exercise etc. Capture the moment, etc. I'm sorry you're not feeling a lot of restriction as yet- it will come. I had to be very tight to really feel the difference between hungry and head-hunger. Even now, most of my eating is head-hunger- I only get hungry when my stomach is very empty and it doesn't get that often because.....head-hunger makes me fill up. So, that may be part of it. I'm a fan of being very tight, even though one throws up more and there's more chance of reflux, etc. I'm still finding it hard- if I eat more than a couple of bits- which I do- I end up bringing it up. Anyway, that was not attractive, was it? Hang in there...and you'll get to the next fill soon. I want GOOD NEWS, but in the meantime, just do what you can. Have a happy holiday weekend.

Hi Everyone. Back in LA after a difficult week of family in NY. Just a bad week. Doesn't pay to go into what's happening with my mom (84) or her husband, who I like and thank G-d for every day. But suffice to say, I ate through the entire trip. Not easy with a tight band, but I guess if you NEED the food enough, it eventually goes through. Threw up more than I'd like, but then again, it fit with the rest of the week. On top of everything else, for some reason my sister's kids were not generous about living space this trip and so my husband and I spent a week on a very bad foldout couch in an open den---which is right off the kitchen that is filled with food. My brother-in-law is banded, but he keeps the worst foods in the house. Everything he eats is fattening. Cookies, crackers, cake. So, with my emotions hanging out.....anything that would stay down, went down. Oh, and I forgot the ice cream!! Oh, and wine with meals....and wine really opens one up a lot. Food goes right down with a glass of Merlot! Gained 4 pounds, but a few days of protein drinks and water- I didn't drink much at all while in NY- will help get it back off. Still tight, which is good. Good to be back. Didn't get on the computer all week, which has some benefits, but I probably should have come here and talked some of it out instead of (literally) swallowing. How's everyone doing?

I found a few old friends...or they found me, and now that I'm feeling better about myself, I may meet up with them this trip back east of another in the future. But in most cases, you bump into these old friends on-line and realize that if you'd wanted to be close to them, you wouldn't have disconnected all this time. But it's fun to catch up. I also found my very ex-husband's daughter- I haven't seen him in over 20 years so I was curious, but I didn't feel anything at all.....just hope she gives him plenty of trouble LOL........ Back after smelling something burning. How can I burn potatoes? That's a new one for me. I've never had the Water boil off when boiling potatos before.....there goes nice mashed potatoes I'd planned one tonight. Guess the lord was looking when I ate half a bag of chocolate chip Cookies today. What was that about? And why do they go down so easily?

I have a question. When people say they're on Facebook...where? I don't see a very active band support site so is everyone just on their own personal pages? I'm only on because of business....I'm old and don't get sending a note saying "I just woke up", and I'm not interested in who is friends with who....I'm very out of it. So, I"m here and if no ones around I'll just talk to myself. I could go over to the over 50 crowd, but they've all been together for a while and I feel a little out of place. Been through a year (my bandiversary was the 30th) with you guys and I'm happy in our little patch of the woods.

I'll be at my sisters and I'll have a laptop so I'll stay in touch, although it will be weird to be on east coast time with everyone. Tracy- anytime food sets off vomitting- and so me that's more often than I'd like because I'm very tight- it's best to stay on liquids for at least the rest of the day and preferably 24 hours of so. My surgeon keeps telling me that and I try to follow it, cause if I don't, I throw up again and get very sore and very swollen. Just good to know. Just take your time and look at the big picture. We're all hit the hersey kisses- they melt and go down JUST FINE!

Hi Everyone, My big event was Thursday and now I'm FREEEEEE! I had 840 people and raised 1.4 million! Gosh, I feel good. Best part was that I went through the prep this year feeling great, energized and with little pain. Made a huge difference and it's definitely the weight off that made all the diff. Now the adrenalin is slowing down and I slept all day today. Wed we're going to NY to see my family for a week. That will be interesting. My mother hasn't seem me since last summer, so the weight off will be a big change for her. All good. So, let's see: Numbee- no reason to think your vitamins are that off. If you feel good and if your skin is good, I bet you're not off much. I take Centrum also, and my calcium and now my wonderful wonderful b-12. Like you, I had no obesity related diseases, but my cholesterol was borderline where it used to be very low. Now I'm back to a good place- 187 total. My BP is getting back to low- I was 124/66 last week at the docs. I need to go for the vitamin bloods but no time until I"m back. Watch the fish before you take your tests----you don't want to show up with mercury poisoning!!!!! Carol- it's good to see you sounding better. Stay strong lady. It will be good!!!!!!!!!! Get that fill and soon you too will not be able to eat anything all day. I'm beginning to enjoy it now that the shoulder pain's under control. Cubs- sorry to hear you were ill. Now every time someone mentions the flu I think it's gonna be swine flu. Glad you're recovering. Drink lots of water and get well soon. Good to see everyone popping up again....I was very lonely last week!

HEY. It's Sunday and no one's been here since my last post. Where is everyone. I guess the weather's getting nicer and everybodies outside this weekend. I'm in LA so the weather isn't an issue-LOL. I hear an echoooooo!

Hi Carol, I hate hearing you sounding so discouraged. I'm never on facebook unless it's for work (dont' ask) and I am really trying to stay here at least a few times a week. I get sad when no one's around too. But I'm here for you....I'm not going anywhere except NY on May 7th! LOL I don't know what to tell you. I had about 2 months when I had big trouble, but this last fill made a huge difference. I guess for some of us- maybe you included, it has to be really tight to curb the hunger and the eating. I know that if food goes through, I eat. Even now, as tight as I am, I hit a day here and there that it mysteriously opens, and when it does, I manage to stuff my face. It's less stuffing than the old days, for sure, but I'll be a couple pounds up right away and I gained 7 at one point. If I eat more than a little, it comes back up right away...but I seem to have to live on that tightrope all the time, or else I'll eat. I obviously have lost nothing of the addition or binging capability, so I do understand completely what you're going through- I wish I could think of how to help, but of course I can't. Are you still happy with your surgeon. Do you think that he's trying hard enough to help you through this? Maybe you need someone else to look at your situation....see you with fresh eyes. In the meantime, don't lose faith. Try hot sweet drinks, like Ralphs 25 calorie hot chocolate to give you a full feeling that satisfies the sweet tooth as well. I use that a lot. Make sure you have diet stuff around so that if you eat, you aren't doing too much damage. Soy ice cream instead of Hagan Daz, that sort of thing. I'm off now for Shabbat. Back Sat night or Sunday. I'm around.

Hi Mom, My two cents.....I'm very tight this time around and like it becasue I don't eat much, but I've had a bit of the "bile in the mouth" reflux in the middle of the night. It scared the hell out of me because it's like burning acid coming up and it burns the throat and you feel like you could choke. NOT FUN. Anyway, it only happened when I'd had someone's cooking who used a lot of OIL. I don't use much oil at all now...just don't - and this woman had it in everything. I take Protonix for reflux so this scared me. My advice....look at what you're eating even more than when. If the food has gone through it's not a back-up from constriction- it's something else- oil, spice, nuts, sometimes dairy, etc. Make sure you have plenty of water, too. And maybe pop an OTC zantac and hour before bed, and last, add a couple of pillows, so you're not flat. Oh, one more thing. Probiotics!!!!!!!! AS TO SHOULDER PAIN....I wouldn't have believed this if it didn't happen to me. Someone told me to help my bad shoulder I should take 2,000 or more mg of B12 a day- under the tongue (Trader Joes). I didn't believe it but I was suffering so I gave it a whirl. NO MORE PAIN. I mean NOOOOO MOOOOORE PAIN!!. The post surgery left shoulder pain I had for 10 months is gone!!!!! The nerve pain in my hand from neck trouble. GONE. B-12 works on nerve endings, so if you're deficient in it....and we're all eating very differently now and could be defiicient in something- you could have pain. I promise...I never htought it would work and it did. My surgeon is now sending me for my 1 year blood work to see if anything else is low. Try it....you have nothing to lose. Okay, I'm done now......LOL.

Hi NG- THAT IS AMAZING. You passed the 100 mark!..I used to get so jealous of everyone hitting that number. Now I know I'll get there too. You're so right about this group being ahead of the curve. I guess we're the Avengers alright! I think we also inspire and support and that makes a difference. I'm so proud of your 100+!!!!

Hi everyone. Gee, with bandiversaries this month I thought everyone would be on. Guess it's a busy time for all. I'm still just under 90 and have been eating too much at those times I can eat at all. Always at night. It's all or nothing with me. I want to reach 90 and will, but why do I still hold myself back! Anyway, went to the surgeon for my year check-up and discussed how tight I still am after 6 weeks. His response.....good. I guess he's not overly concerned about lack of anything. We talked about a lot of stuff- If I have food in my stomach, sex hurts- My port seems to have too little muscle so if I'm full, it bangs against the stomach or something. I get like a stitch. Not all the time of course. Stuff like that-oh, and the answer to that is down the road, when I get my stomach done, they'll either do a slight revision or cover the port with more muscle. Interesting. They send everyone for blood tests after a year to see if there are any vitamin deficiencies. I'm curious to see what my mercury levels are, as I eat fish all week long. So, all well here. Gonna check out facebook. I'm on there too- mostly because of business. Brandy- is there a specific site that has a lot of bandsters on it? Later.

I liked the fact that I couldn't overeat...heck, I couldn't eat! I also had trouble with other people's cooking. TOO MUCH OIL! I went to the surgeon today and he was thrilled with my 13 pound loss in 6 weeks. Not thrilled that I threw up a lot over Pesach, but not very surprised. Told me that if I throw up, I should have liquids for day. I knew it but wasn't doing it.No wonder I got so irritated. Hope everyone is well and kitchen's back to normal. Signing off for Shabbas. Shabbat Shalom!

Hello everyone. I have been on this thread complaining and I tried something that is working very well, so I want to pass it on....high doses of B-12. It pees out of your system so there's no danger of overdosing. Seems it is very connected to healthy nerves endings and it s a nerve ending that's involved in a lot of the left shoulder pain. I by sub-ligual...under the tongue...I'm told that's important. I take two every morning- 2.000mgs. Buy then at Trader Joes. I've many less symptoms, but this one is the best it's helped, and lots more energy as well. Hope it helps someone else.

Hi Everyone, I've almost got another pound off- nearly at 90! Changed my doctor appointment to Friday because I've been "listening" to everyone and want to find out if the fact that I'm even tighter now (or seem to be anyway) is okay. Also I'm obviously very irritated for some reason and don't want to let that "back up" with a little burn that I've been getting turn into a esaphagus issue. Always something. I don't mind not eating much....I've enjoyed taking a big drop in 6 weeks and so there to all those who think us old ladies can't lose quickly!!! But want to be safe as well. So, I'm checking it out. No one's on much the past couple of days....hi to all who are...sorry to be complaining so much. After a year I still find myself confused and fearful of new feelings and symptoms. Thanks for your patience.

I have a lot of trouble eating during the day, so the lunches on the first days were big trouble. Also, being in other's homes where I tried to eat (TOO MUCH OIL), so I threw up a lot. Left me very sore and I'm finding it harder to eat overall. I'm concerned I really irriatated the stoma or something. I'm burping and belching from anything- even Water. And I get a "back-up" burn inside a lot right now- like it's so tight that anything more than a little sip hurts. So, I'm staying home for last days. I'm also going into the surgeon on Friday to tell my tale of woe and find out if I'm too tight. I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a flurry of calls on Pesach with all sorts of complaints. You actually made me feel better everyone-- not alone. I've stayed away from matzah almost completely. I also can't wait to get back on my regular diet. LOL

I'm a little too tight right now but I've had the challenge of morning tightness from the biginning. I understand that women have it much more often than men. I can eat at night only. Protein drinks and soups are the stuff of most days. Now, being very tight, I can not eat much at all and I'm torn....I'm losing weight very quickly, but I ache and throw up too easily. I'm back at the surgeon for a check in a couple of weeks, so I'll ask. It's a thin line between sweet spot and too tight.

Thank you to everyone for chipping in on the advice. I'm have mixed days now. I can eat more one than another- though never very much. And if I blow it badly and PB a lot, the next day or so I'm not only a bit sore, but really need to do liquids. My surgeon suggested that early on. WHen I bring a lot up, it makes it sore inside. I managed to eat about 2 big pieces of matzah with cream cheese and some Cookies a couple of days ago...so yes, sometimes I can eat and I still see that saying no or "Stop" doesn't work well. Still have a lot of work to do. Today I'm on liquids pretty much - had Protein Drink and tongiht, chicken Soup. But right now I feel like I'm tighter than when I was filled! I had mashed potato and fish at the beginning, but now I sometimes can't eat that. Most of the time, I don't mind. If you'd told me to do "medifast" or something, I'd have thought you were nuts, but here I'm barely eating and not really hungry(just head hungry). I can have coffee and Protein Drinks and a nice cup of soup and be fine. Egg salad is good. Down another pound so something's working. I'll discuss with the doctor on the 23rd when I go back. I forgot to note who said it, but it's true....it's a very fine line between sweet spot and just a bit too tight. I'm hoping it will loosen a bit soon without having to unfill. Very Happy Bandiversaries to this week's celebrants. You're all doing AMAZING!!!!!

Good for you both...what a journey to take together. Any of us one year bandsters can give you information and/or advise, but may I also suggest getting involved with the April 2009 group as all of us here found it very, very helpful to have each other- people going through the surgery and recovery at the same time. Best of luck and please ask us anything you need!

Help, help help. Why do I feel like I'm either too tight or too lose. Since the last fill I"m so tight, it's hard to eat anything. I really thought that with the band I'd lose some foods, but not as many as I have. My BIL eats most things, just small amounts. Not me. I'm still on soups and mushies (and sometimes not that) and I was filled three weeks ago. The surgeon warned me I'd have a couple of rough weeks....now I'm moving toward my fourth. I lost a lot, but it's slowed now. I can't add food because when I try, no good. Have I written this before? Anyway, going into a two day holiday of Passover and then right into the Sabbath, so I'm off the board until Sunday. Anyone stay tight this long? Will it eventually give a little bit? Thanks- everyone have a great weekend! Back on Sunday.

Happy Bandiversary to all who are a year this week! I'm later in the month. Cubs- how are you doing? Carol- I'm on the other end right now. Very hard to get anything down. The surgeon warned me it was tight fill, but I needed to break through a long plateau. He said I'd have a rough couple of weeks, but now I'm into week 4. Good news is I'm down about 11 since the fill, but it's frustrating cause I can't eat and if I get anything stuck (often), I'm sliming and vomiting and then I really get sore and can't eat and stick to liquids for the rest of the day. I'm sticking with it for now-I'll see him on the 21st. I'm basically eating mushies. HOLD ON and remember how lousy you felt...now it 's all gonna be good! NUMB- glad the Zantac is working. I use it when I take advil which is daily. It's an old trick for not letting aspirin, advil etc eat your stomach.You can also get reflux when you eat too much and it can't get through and backs up into the your esophagus. I have that when I'm tight (like now). I've suffered from GERD for years and take Protonix daily. Maybe I'll get off it eventually, but it's so bad that I'm afraid to try to stop. If the Zantac is expensive for you....and you have a decent med policy that has a drug plan- get the doctor to write you scrip for pharm dose of rantididine- the generic for Zantac- I'm sure I'm spelling it wrong. That's 300mg. If you take 150 you can just cut in halr; 75 quarters, etc. Can save you lots of money. If I'm forgetting anyone or missed a post, please forgive me. I'm getting ready for Passover and work is insane and so am I!!