strikeuptheband

Slow and steady wins the race, Cathy! Looks like we are neck to neck in the race! :smile2: I am feeling some chest pain when I eat so that slows me down. I also had the good fortune of being downsized at my job so I will be out of a job at the end of Sept. I got that nuclear bomb on Friday so all weekend I was devastated. Going to work today was also very hard. They expect me to train my replacement. They hired someone else at a higher rate than I am making, and call it a budget problem??? And expect me to train her???? Makes no sense to me. If I didn't need a few more paychecks so bad, I would tell em where to shove it. The stress of that has kept me from eating (or sleeping) much all weekend and I was down another lb this morning. I had to sell my house and talked to a realtor tonite. The market stinks. I am not happy. But, on the upside if there is one, BF is really coming around and being supportive. He has offered for me to stay with him (large town, more job opportunities, no rent, etc). We will talk more about it this weekend. Think I will go walk a couple of miles and wear myself out so much I will sleep tonite. Hope things are better where you are.

Or for you trekkie fans, some alien force once called us "ugly bag of mostly water." Sounds sexy, eh?

After the mammo, you look like this.

Pretty bike! I am going for the kind with the handlebars higher and straight. If I tried to ride yours I would feel like I was upside down!

OMG Wheetsin, ya made me wet my pants. :cursing: What gets me is usually the next thing after a post like that, is "Should I call my doc?" NOOOOO just wait till ya throw up the kitchen sink. THEN call yer doc. Geez some people. .........still laughing hysterically.

Today after visiting my doc to get another fill, (.5cc) BF and I went to a bike shop and looked at bikes. I saw a Cannondale womens bike that seemed to be calling my name.:cursing: He saw a few he liked too. We are still in the researching stage, but like the service they offer at this store. I forgot the name of it but its in Columbia, MO. Now to scrape the money together to get 2 bikes, 2 car carriers, helmets, and all the other fun bells and whistles. We didn't test drive any but someday soon we will have to. Yikes, I haven't been on a bike since early college years, many years ago. Anyone here have a review on Cannondales? What do you like about them? any drawbacks?

Went in for fill #4 today and got another .5cc. My port must be sitting at a wierd angle because again she had a heck of a time finding the middle of it. I could hear the needle poking all around the circumfrence and I am sore and bruised from her pressing so hard with her fingers. I still don't feel much in the way of restriction. With 5.5cc's now you would think something would start to change. I didn't even lose any more weight. But I have build up my endurance and am able to walk 2.5 miles now. The dietician gave me some good suggestions for my problem part of the day....suppertime... so I am going to focus on getting more protein at that time instead of fruit to see if that changes anything. The phys therapy witch was just that...a witch. Instead of giving me kudos for getting off my arse and walking a lot every day, she nagged about I should be doing weight lifting on top of all that. And she thinks I should get up earlier in the morning to do it. Aint gonna happen. By the time I did all that, cooled down, showered, got breakfast and got to work, it would be noon! Here's hoping for a restrictive tomorrow!

Looking good Lady! I have recently been able to squeeze into 16s! 14s will be my next goal. After getting a fill tomorrow (hoping this one will be the last), I am going to check out a bike shop to do some comparison shopping. I haven't been on a bike for years, never even wanted to, but now I am looking forward to when I can get some exercise that way. You are inspiring me!

I think its Bull! They are so short sighted (ins companies in general), they can't see that paying for something preventative now will save them tons of money when they won't be getting claims later from us for our weight related health problems.

Thanks, hoosierpoms! I recognize some of those brand names. Thurs BF and I are going to a bike shop in Columbia, MO to see what they have. I have also heard that its a pretty drive along that trail. I know I will have to work my way up to doing the whole trail! First around my neighborhood, then maybe a day trip on the trail. I don't even know how long the trail is. Gonna have to google it to learn more. I will let you know when I am ready to hit the trail!:thumbup:

I was nekkid as a jaybird under the gown. But they gave me happy meds so I didn't care! lol I am older so dont need to worry about tom, but for those of you who are younger, I would think a tampon would be enough, maybe? You are only going to be out a half hour or so. Wonder if that would work?

My mom, now 83, has always been up and down. Currently she is too overweight for her frame and has several medical problems that keep her from exercising. But not from eating. I worry about seeing her continue to gain. her feet are so full of Fluid, that also hinders her from walking. She's on a downward path and it hurts to watch it. All my siblings except the youngest brother are overwieght. None of them would support my band surgery; they would just laugh while stuffing their faces. I have only told one sister and she is supportive. On the few occasions (mainly Christmas) that we get together, everyone just gets fatter and complains about it. I am waiting to see what they say when I show up this Christmas a lot thinner than last time they saw me. I doubt if I will tell anyone I had surgery; I will just say I am working hard on it, exercising and dieting....which is true.

Wow! I sure don't have time to read the last 500 pages of this thread but wanted to jump in here to ask a question. I was banded about 2 1/2 months ago and once the healing was going and the soreness getting better, I started walking. I have lost 30 lbs but now its slowing down considerably. Not at the proper restriction yet but I am getting another fill this thursday. BF and I have been talking about bikes and the possibility of riding the Katy Trail (across Missouri) at some point. I KNOW its going to take some time to get in shape for a long ride like that so we may not do the trail till next year. Can anyone recommend a good trail bike? I don't know much about whats good and not. I need something comfortable on my rear and preferably light enough I can lift the thing onto a bike rack. I like the look of the straight handlebar vs the curled ones. I like the thicker tires of mountain bikes vs the skinny racing bike tires. What do you ride and how do you like it? Also, it needs to be not real expensive...I saw some online from 250-400 and its going to take a while before I can come up with that much money! Thanks for your suggestions. In the meantime, I will keep walking!

I have a realize band and the port is attached with some clips to my stomach wall AND sutured as well. And I have examined both before deciding and the realize band is not triangluar; it is a softer type of plastic, more pliable and easier to conform around your stomach, I guess. I chose Realize for the smaller, flatter port. my doc also said they were both similar and worked just as well. I was hopefully thinking that with a flatter port, I wouldnt be having a bump sticking out on my stomach when I got thin!

I was banded about 2 1/2 months ago. I used to be a meat and potatoes gal who never ate much veggies. Now I am finding that I like to try new veggies and fruit. Today I had a fresh peach and I can't remember EVER doing that before! I have been starting out with little things, maybe a slice of tomato on a hamburger, or diced tomatoes in a small taco. Theres still lots I haven't tried but every trip to the store i look for something new to try. If I don't like it, I just wont buy it again.:biggrin2: The only thing I have found that disagrees with me is lettuce. For some reason that gives me diarrhea.:thumbup: Just start trying things and see what you like; you might like some things you thought you never would. Lots of people in here have said that after banding, their taste preferences changed. Its fun and exciting to find healthy stuff you actually like!

Amy, I know how you feel. I keep fighting to lose the same 2-3 lbs over and over. I have set myself a small goal to have those 3 lbs gone by next thursday when I go in for yet another fill. Maybe this one will be the one that gives me restriction. I haven't seen it happen yet. I think its great to make small goals. Easier to focus and tell yourself you can do this small thing. Then when you do it, its wonderful and makes you want to set another small goal. Baby steps work. If i focused on my goal to lose 75 lbs, i would never get there. But by taking small steps, we can do it. I do this with exercising too. Don't focus on getting all around the walking trail....I just tell myself to make it to the next turn or the next tree, then set another goal. Dang thing about our trail, its a loop so I have to go all the way around to get back to my car! lol Hang in there!:thumbup:

Thats hilarious! I want one!

I have had a few days off to spoil my 8yo grand daughter but I took her home yesterday. Time to get serious about this again. Even with 5cc, weight loss is super slow to nonexistant. I go back for probably a half cc a week from thursday, the 21st. Maybe I need to set little goals to keep me focused. So here it is: I resolve to hit 190 on the scale at my next fill. And I resolve to walk an hour every other night (or more if my knees hold out) after work. Keep me honest folks. Be sure and call me on it. If I mess up, feel free to beat me (gently). WTG Cathy on cleaning your house. Wanna come do mine? I just got done with a 2.5 mile walk and am cooling down. This afternoon I am gonna put away stuff and swiffer my floors. Someone keeps eating and getting crumbs under my computer.....think it was the grandkid.

Just had some loose stools after the last fill but I think it was more due to eating a chicken salad sandwich for lunch afterwards. It was on a slice of grilled toast which was probably too much grease for me. Made it home without mishap but I did stop and make a run for the bathroom at a gas station!:wink2: Yea, too much info!

Jeter, You have a right to be sad and mad. I think your sis really has some issues and I would guess she's been this way for a long time. I have only told one of my sisters that I trust and none of the rest of my family. Heck, more co-workers know than family members! And now I wish I hadn't told them. A few are supportive but most just look at me like how come you aren't thin yet. (Gee, its been two whole months!) I would put all the distance you can between you and your sis. Keep in touch with her kids; I think they need a supportive aunt to come to if it gets rough at home for them. Surround yourself with positive people and keep on doing what you are doing. Its working for you. I have one sis that is always right no matter what and she also tends to look down her nose at me. I make myself go to family get togethers at Christmas mainly to see those I do enjoy and I just tolerate the rest. Can't wait for this year so I can shake my little booty and make them wonder how I lost it! lol You are awesome for being a stay at home mom with the economy these days. I salute you! and God Bless ya for taking care of your mom. Hope things improve for you soon.

I had the option of staying in the hospital overnight. I was able to drive myself home the next day. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive. I stopped 3 times to get out and walk around. This was probably not the smartest thing I ever did, because I was really tired. But I made it home safely. (Also went in and worked 3 hrs the following day...just to go to a meeting I couldn't get out of. Don't even ask me what they discussed!)

Jules, I only have one little red mark from the needle, but inside she was sure poking around. Maybe I exaggerated about the number, but it did take a while. I was more afraid she would give up and send me on my way without a fill. But she found it and I woke up 2 lbs lighter this morning! Its been a slow month but I hope I start losing a bit faster now.:biggrin:

Oh Catfishdna! I agree with all the other people who have posted. Food is NOT the enemy! This doc is way past conservative. Being on liquids for this long can't be healthy. I would really look at getting another opinion if you can. Most docs will say stay on liquids or soft food for a few days after a fill then move on to eating small portions of regular food. I had my 3rd fill today and was told to eat soft today and regular tomorow. I had half a chicken salad sandwich today after my fill. I would starve to death if I had your doc! Its good to see you are losing some weight tho. But I am not sure you are going about it in a healthy and safe way.

Well gang, had fill #3 today. I posted it somewhere else but now I forgot where...:biggrin: This one was quite an experience. She musta poked me 20 times! I heard a click everytime she hit the port and she went all the way around it before she found where the needle went. :biggrin: I was so scared she was going to puncture something vital! Didn't hurt but it sure made me nervous. Note: next time put a pillow behind my back! I only lost 2 lbs since the last fill but she was ok with that and said we were getting close and the next fill (in 3 weeks) she would start doing .5cc's till we got there. I started bumping up my evening walks to longer than a mile. taking tonite off because of the humidity but I will get back out tomorrow and plan on doing some outdoor stuff with my daughter and grand daughter this weekend. Going to the fair which will be a lot of walking, but not really aerobic. At least its fun. Hope everyone is doing well.

Wow Jules! You really have a conservative doc! I would starve to death if I went to him! lol Today I went in for my 3rd fill, got another 1cc. The first 2 went well, they got it first time and it was done in a second. Not this time! She poked me about20 times! Actually only one stick but she poked around the whole perimiter of the port before she found where the needle goes in. I was sure glad she numbed it first. Nothing hurt but it was unnerving to hear that click every time she hit the plastic part and I was sure hoping she didnt poke a hole in anything vital! She just said eat soft today and regular tomorrow and come back in 3 weeks if I felt I needed another fill. Now I am up to 5cc so I am hoping for some restriction soon. For lunch I went out with a friend, we got a chicken salad sandwich and fries basket at Culvers and I only ate half the sandwich and less than half of the fries! That looked like a lot of food, but I seldom eat out so was getting used to banster sized portions eating at home. I only lost 2 lbs in the last month, and I have been getting out walking every night after work. Gonna bump that up and with this fill, I sure hope I start feeling restriction. Have a great time on your vacation!