josephine

Here I am ...................... Josephine

Please read I've Reached my Goal. It is down a little further from this thread. Josephine

I got the results back from the doctor on my blood work. I wanted to see if I was healthy and to see if I had any deficiencies. The report said B12/folate nml. Do you think that I should add B12 to my daily Vitamin intake? The doctors office won't be open now until Tuesday and my only confusion is that when I called them on the phone they said that my results came back normal but the paper they mailed me said the B12. Any nurses or doctors out there that can answer this for me? I want to stay healthy. Thanks, Josephine 251/153/145 Surgery Nov. 10, 2005 -98 lbs. No fills

Your port area will be a nuisance forever, probably. I am 6 months out and it isn't that it hurts but it is in the area where our waist band is to our pants. It is the scar tissue that is rubbing against our port I think. My doctor said that I have to replace mine because he said it is too big and it is sticking out. I lost 98 lbs. in which he never expected and thinks that the smaller one will suite me better. I still have another 8lbs. to go and once I am toned up or get rid of my excess skin it will stick out even more. There are two sizes of ports. One is a quarter size and the other is a dime size. In a couple of months I am going to change it out. Josephine 251/153/145 Nov. 10, 2005

Well, I am almost at goal. I have ten more pounds to go. It is inconceivable to me that I lost 96 lbs. in 6 months. I feel incredibly healthy and so alive and energetic. I see my doctor next Weds. and I don't know what kind of questions to ask him. I have never had a fill and I am terrified for the ability to maintain. This is always where my downfall has been. At least the good thing is that I know I can run to him if I start gaining weight back and get an adjustment, is that what you call it? I didn't keep any of my clothes as reminders and I have only one picture of myself when I wasn't even at my top weight yet. I think that picture is when I was a size 18 and then I went to a size 22. I am now proud to say that I am in a stretch size 8 and a size 10 in non stretch clothing. I went to New Jersey over last weekend and I went on a shopping spree. It felt so good that I wanted to model in the fitting room. My sister was such a big help to me and I can't thank her enough. I can't believe I spent over a thousand dollars on clothes. To be able to wear ANYTHING now is SO rewarding. My stomach though is ABSOLUTELY GROSS. I wear biker shorts to keep it all tucked in. I am truly going to need alot of support when I get to goal at 145. I am terrified to gain an ounce and it won't be easy. I hope you all will be there for me. Josephine 251/155/145 Surgery: Novemeber 10, 2005 No Fills

Well, Today I had my doctor appt. and nothing but good news. I am so excited because I only have 20 more pounds to go. To date I have lost 86 pounds and I feel GREAT! The doctor is still amazed. He walks into the room and says are you going to show off again this month? He saw that I lost 12 lbs, this past month and said, yes, I guess you are. I always forget to ask him though because he asks me if I still feel restricted. I have never had a fill so I don't know without a fill does the band give you restriction? I have a 4cc band and I don't know if when it is put on does it tighten your stomach right away. I am hoping maintenance will be this easy for me. This is what I am deathly afraid of. I am just so used to losing, then gaining plus gaining more than I originally lost. Good Night All, Josephine 251/165/145 No Fills Surgery : Nov. 10, 2005

Oh my God Big Paul ! How in the world did you do it? I see that you had fills but I can't even imagine the amount you eat for the amount that you lost. Way to go November bandsters! Are you feeling healthy? I bet your family is in awe with your loss let alone yourself. Take Care Josephine

I only just started excercising 2 weeks ago. I go on the tread mill for 30 mins. a day. I have only missed out on 1 day within that 2 weeks. I hate to exercise and it shows on my nasty inner thighs and stomach. Talk about the wrinkles.:confused: I had just decided that I was going to change my lifestyle and eat healthy and you know, healthy doesn't taste bad. I will not eat fried foods anymore because that is my addiction. Just about every day I eat a salad for lunch with other veggies and either chicken or tuna on it. I don't worry too much about the salad dressing which ever one I choose because I don't get much fat in my system anyway so I eat which ever I want. I don't eat Breakfast because I am not hungry and I will not eat if I am not hungry! I have always eaten because it was breakfast, lunch and dinner time and not because I was hungry and I used to eat until my stomach hurt because it tasted good and not because of being hungry. I really had to change my lifestyle and think differently about food. It is there so we can survive. My husband thinks that eating is a pain. He eats because he knows he has to. I only ate because it tastes good. I try to keep in my head, eat to live, not live to eat. For dinner I grab a cup saucer of food. It doesn't matter what I make for my husband I can eat because he doesn't care for greasy food anymore either. I broil alot or I eat a half of frozen dinner. I can eat every kind of meat, I am not restricted, thank God. The food tastes good, it is probably about a half of cup and I am full. If I eat beef though I put vinegar on it in a salad with olive oil because of vinegar cuts the fat content of the beef. We got this way for a reason. We all know exactly what are down falls are and I believe for myself, I have to stay away from it. Losing weight hasn't ever been the problem for me, it is keeping it off that terrifies me. Probably in my life time I have lost 300 lbs. that is gaining and losing, gaining and losing. I have had it. NO MORE ! To succeed I believe we have to make a lifestlye change. It is a hell of a challenge but doesn't it feel good to wear something smaller? Don't you feel good when someone tells you that you are looking good? If you haven't gotten there yet, just wait........ there will be no turning back. We are the same inside us whether big or small but other people don't see us that way and it is unfortunate. The confidence builds and builds in us and you will finally notice a change in yourself because of it, but you can't help that change. It is a good change though. Take Care, Josephine PS: I couldn't get the bold off of the thread sorry. I am not yelling but I feel DAMN good so I thought it was okay.

Molly, As you know, people are different with their weight loss. The most important thing you need to understand is knowing what got you to 350lbs. If you want to be successful in WLS, you need to prepare your mind that you never want to go back to the way you were. I don't know if you tried other weight loss programs but I was a failure to all of them because I wasn't willing to make that healthy change in my life. I don't ever want to give up on sweets but I know right now I am not mentally prepared to take that step yet. I still don't trust myself. Down the road maybe I will but not yet. I had my surgery on Nov. 10. 2005 and I have lost 83 lbs. I will be at my 5 month anniversary tomorrow. I never expected to lose this much either but it is because I chose to make this life change and eat healthy. I have 23lbs. more to go and I expect it will take forever to drop but that is okay(maybe). I am just so excited to start maintaining to see if I can become a success. I wish you alot of success in your life change. Think positive and don't try to think of how much weight you will lose in the first few months because you have the rest of your life to think about. Josephine 251/168/145 No Fills

I also don't have that much of an appetite. I don't eat Breakfast, I eat a salad for lunch with Protein and 1/4 to a half of cup of food for dinner. I had my surgery Nov. 10, 1995, I have lost 80 lbs and I haven't had a fill yet either. I am hoping that I will never need a fill. I have 26 lbs. more to go. Looking forward to reaching my goal and maintaining. This is what I worry about. With your weight loss you do not need a fill. If you consistantly lose between 4-8 lbs. a month it would be crazy if your doctor offered you a fill. Josephine 251/171/145

I am so excited. On my 4th month anniversary I lost 74 lbs. I am now at 77 lbs. All the clothes in my closet are all gone except for the ones that are at least 8 yrs old and that is all I had to wear. I think I had 5 outfits for the week to wear. Those were size 14 (reg.). So I went from a size 22w to a size 14 reg. I have been terrified to go shopping because in my mind and when I look at myself I think I am going to look fat so I walk away and forget about it. I can't go out naked so I asked a girl at work if she would go with me to find a few things to tide me over and for her to give me her honest opinion and boy did she ever. I cannot believe the help she was to me and you know what? I am in a size 12. Oh my GOD! I remember I told her that I am a size tight 14 and I will not go any higher than that. When we were finished shopping, I got in the car and cried. Why does it take someone to kick me in the butt to realize that my weight and my health are out of control. I hated myself when I was 251 lbs. I thank God and a girl at work who helped me open my eyes and made me realize I was slowly killing myself. Josephine 251/174/145

Thank you so much for the replies........I don't have any pictures of me. I am totally camera shy. My mother said she has pictures of me that she secretly took of me but she is in Florida and I in Texas. As far as the food is concerned, I am eating very healthy and actually enjoying it. When I smell fast food at work though it is still difficult for me. I can still call myself an addict. Josephine

I am confused................. Is it necessary to have your gall bladder taken out when you have had WLS? You are all making me very nervous. Josephine

What is a sweet spot? Josephine

Diane, Your port area is going to be tender for 5 weeks. Scar tissue is building. See if you can hold that area in when you cough if you can catch it in time. Josephine

I live in Arlington as well and Robert Snow is also 15,000. He does surgeries in Hurst and Decatur. Josephine

I just thought that I would give everyone an update on my progress. I had my weigh in yesterday. My surgery was Nov. 10, 2005 and I have dropped 64lbs. I haven't even had a fill yet. As I said, my doctor couldn't believe it. Twice he asked me if I was feeling okay. Apparently I am above the average for weight loss. He said it is a bit abnormal. My only explanation to him is that I am eating so much more healthy now than I ever have in my life. I am loving myself, excited to wake up every morning, I have a genuine smile on my face every day, and THANK GOD, those men out there who aren't afraid to say to you, damn girl you are looking GOOD. My confidence level has shot through the roof and I am so excited for the new me. More fitted clothing and shorter skirts, you bet ya! Still camera shy though. My mother is dying to see me. The last time she saw me was when I was at my highest and that was 254lbs and that was in October. Good Night All !! Josephine 251/187/145

Pat, What actually is a sweet spot? Josephine

Lisa, I drink Starbucks Mon - Fri. A quad venti, extra hot, non fat, sugar free, french vanilla latte. With my new found love I have no problem getting in my 64oz. of Water. I drink about 40 ozs. by 1130am. I buy a flavoring at Walmart that is in the kool-aid aisle and it is their brand. It is sugar free and calorie free. I don't drink Crystal light since that has calories in it and Walmart brand doesn't. About a month ago when I went to the doctor I told him that I lost my appetite. God only knows that answer. I have only ever eaten because it was Breakfast, lunch and dinner time. It was never because I was hungry. I am not hungry in the morning so I don't eat. At lunch time I eat alot of salads with either chicken or tuna on it with extra veggies. Sometimes I will eat shredded beef with mashed potatoes. When I am driving home from work I get the rest of my water in. My husband was a good teacher for me to eat slow. It now takes me 1/2 hour to 45 mins. to eat a meal. My plate for dinner is the size of a cup saucer. I don't think that I am getting in 1000 calories a day but I can't help that. I will not force myself anymore. I do not starve myself either. I finally know what food tastes like. I also do not eat Snacks in between meals. I watch my sugar and fat intake (contents). I have chosen to change my lifestyle. Losing weight is the easy part, it is keeping it off that is my battle and that is what the band is for me. I hope it will be my maintenance program. If you want this badly enough we all will succeed but I believe to achieve we need to change ourselves because what we did yesteryear.................was the wrong thing to do. I haven't tried bread yet but I will eat crackers or even croutons on my salads, not many though. I walk my dog on the weekdays twice a day and on the weekends three times a day. Exercise is not my friend yet otherwise. I know, my sister says skin on a hanger, doesn't that sound disgusting? I am going to dust off my treadmill tomorrow and see about getting on it. It smiles at me every night and I just roll my eyes at it ! Again, thanks to all who replied to my thread. I love all the support that has been given to me. Believe in yourselves and you can achieve your goal. This isn't short term or a fad diet. This is changing our lives so we can be healthier and live longer. Sincererly, Josephine

HK, As you say, everyone is different but my experience was as follows...... I was so ready to do this and change my lifestyle that I couldn't think of anything bad happening to me. I was very positive about the whole procedure being done to me and didn't have one negative thing cross my mind. I had my surgery on 11/10/05. I went into the hospital at 1:30pm and wasn't even being prepped for surgery until 2:30pm. That last time I looked at the clock was at 2:40pm. I remember saying, am I done already? I was out of the hospital and my husband driving me home at 5:00pm. I didn't experience too much pain and I think I only had 2 spponfuls of pain meds. in 2 days and that was it. I went back to work on Monday and felt great. When I went to work on Tuesday I was a little exhausted so I only worked a half day, but after that no problems. If you will experience any problems it will be with the port area. I felt the port area pretty much for 5 weeks. When you stand up from a sitting position it pulls and burns in that area. Scar tissue is forming and it is a little uncomfortable. Be sure to hold your stomach when you are going to get up from a sitting position, it helps. I have lost 50lbs. so far and the positives so much out weigh the negatives. I believe in the power of positive thinking and it worked for me. I wish you all the luck with your upcoming surgery. Josephine

I am two months post surgery and I was wondering when in the world will I be able to go #2 on my own. I wonder if anyone else is having this problem. I don't really want to rely on Exlax or Super Dieters Tea for the rest of my life. I am noticing things that blow up my stomach like raw onions and broccoli in which I love. I eat alot of salad. I thought the colon doesn't like salad and it would help me go. What can I eat to help me go naturally? I have lost 50lbs. so far but I don't want it to be because of exlax. When I get stomach aches I figure it is because I am constipated so I take something. I may take it two times a week. I'm not hurting myself am I? I have gas pains probably every other day. I bought GasX today and it didn't even help me. I am drinking 64oz. of Water a day plus other liquids. Can someone give me some advice? Thanks, Josephine

I was told it was because people do not drink enough Water. A nurse told me that so be sure to drink your 64ounces. Josephine

Thank you so much everyone ! I think I will try the benefiber. It sounds good to put it in my coffee every morning. I really don't eat much as well. I don't even know if I am getting 700 calories down a day. I told my doctor that I lost my appetite but I try to eat what I can. I thought we were supposed to stay away from fibrous food. I am afraid of cereal for the simple fact I used to OD on it. One bowl was never enough for me. In time though I will go back to it. Happy to say Jack that I am DRUG FREE. I am enjoying this way too much. I am beginning to love ME again. Josephine

Sure I did Adkins............. I lost 55lbs., then gained 75lbs. That was my last fad diet until I got banded. It is bad for your kidneys.... Josephine

I had surgery on 11-10-05 and I have lost 49lbs. I still haven't had a fill yet. Josephine Congrats to all !