Sugarbear

I am with you Mizboo. It is encouraging to see so many successes. Just look at you! 90 lbs!! WOW! I talked to the nurse about band sizes. She said there is a 9.75, a 10, and a 11 which is referred to as a VG. I was confused about that. So if I have misled anyone about that, I am sorry. She said there is no 4cm band. ??? Maybe there is but she said those mentioned above is all our doctors use. Hmmmm. The cards we recieve when we have surgery even have a size listed on there, but it may not be the size you recieved. I guess they just grab one. I think they may write it on there if they think about it. I have a 10cm band. I guess that is about medium. So if you are wondering about your band size, the next time you go to the doctor, ask them while they have your chart. She also said they put 1.8 cc in the band the first fill now, instead of 1.5 like they did in the beginning. That is another good things about the meetings, you can always ask questions to the staff. I liked the smaller room too. But I wish the chairs were situated in an arch on each side, that way you could see and hear better. Wouldn't be looking at the back of everybodys head. Take care.

Hi all. Susan, thanks for sharing the info about your friend. That is encouraging. You are doing super, only 30 lbs. to your goal, WOW!:clap2: I feel like you about the strict diet thing. But I have lost so little since the surgery (16 lbs.) I may have to considerate it. I am going to see what happens after the next fill. I have had 4. This one has made a difference. More now than at the time I got it. Where are birthdays listed? We had a good trip, as bussiness trips go. It was hotter there than here. Glad to be home. Glo, hope things are going okay. How are you feeling, now? Keep up the walking, you will feel better every day. Take several walks a day if you can. This time will pass. Soups that you can thin with milk will help you get in protein.( Get the low fat, low calorie ones, creamies are higher calories) HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Betty hang in there. I had my 3rd fill before I felt any restriction, and it wasn't much. I have now had a 4th, I finally feel what I think everyone refers to as "restriction." Of course everyone is different. Imediate restriction doesn't happen for a lot of us. I know it is a bummer, because as you can see, I am a slow starter also. I am almost 6 months out. Most lose the majority of their weight the first year, unless they have well over a hundred pounds to lose. Like 200 or better. There was a man at our meeting last night that has lost 199 pounds in 18 months!! There were others that lost a lot too. It is very early for you. try not to get discouraged. I am having to work on that too. Tjh, wondering if your surgery is tomorrow? Good luck, and you will be in all our thoughts and prayers. Please post asap after surgery, we will all be anxious to hear from you, and how things went. I want you all to know that I saw Lo2us at our meeting last night and she is looking fabulous! :whoo:As you can see she is nearing her 50 lb. mark!! There was also another lady there that had been very successful, not sure of the amount she lost, but she looked GREAT. Her name was Sandy. So, Sandy, if you read this, CONGRATS! Gotta go now.

Lo2us, I am assuming we go tomorrow (Monday night) as usual. Ours (Texarkana) is the second Monday of the month. So I am assuming it is at Wadley at 7:00 p.m. I plan on being there. I thought it would be posted on the noscales.com site by now but it wasn't as of 15 minutes ago. I think Ms. Betty is going to announce our thread at this meeting. It did say in the letter we recieved that is where we would meet. Hope everyone got the letter. Noscales was kinda newsy this month. I guess it changes every month? Haven't been looking on there that long. I didn't even know about it in the beginning. Hope to see you and your new size tomorrow night. You are doing so great! I am very happy for you. keep it going! I'll bet your husband is happy too.

Welcome Thj!!! Glad you found the Texarkana Bandsters thread. You will have a good support system here, we love questions, and you might even get a few laughs. What day do you have surgery? Any questions? Fire away. Hi Lynn. Glad things are going down easier, but sounds like you may need some blood work. Also, did you have high blood pressure before? If so, you might need to have that checked. Could be much lower. Lo2us blood pressure did a big drop and meds were adjusted, then dropped. You are right, you should have more energy. Also, you might check your sugar. You could probably see your pcp for that in OK. I know your time is probably more limited now that you are back to work. Take care. Hi Lisa, Susan, Betty, Glo, Shannon, and the rest of the gang. Got back from my trip yesterday. Glad to be home. Sounds like everyone is doing well. Shannon, congrats for your nephew! We might venture to the festival today and see what's left. Check out the mark downs. Everyone said it was soooo hot this year. I'll bet you did sweat off pounds. I guess everyone got the letter about the support meeting being at Wadley Hosp. this month. Glo and Thj, hope to see you guys there. All are encouraged to come, even pre-surgery. Thj, be sure and have adult Tylenol, heating pad, Broth, sf popcicles, jello, tomato soup if you like it, or any soups with nothing in them, no bits and pieces to start with. You can thin them down. Also sf hot chocolate w/ fat-free, skim, or 1% milk is good too. All these will taste wonderful after Slimfast for two weeks! Stick to the plan they give you, it will pass just like the past two weeks did. You are almost through the hardest part. Hang in there!

Hi Glo. Hope you are doing well. alk and move as much as you can. Walk up and down your driveway if nothing else, just keep moving. Drink your broth, Water, ect. You might even want to use a heating pad. It was a confort to many of us. Keep us posted. Lo2us, congrats on the size change!! Keep going!! Lynn, glad it is going good at school. You may enjoy this change more than you thought. Just checking in on you guys. I have to go now, off to a ball game. Can't be late! I will be home tomorrow evening. Take care everyone.

Hi everbody. We are part way on our trip. We stay at this hotel every time we come this way. They have a guest computer. So I thought I would check in. Looks like everyone is doing pretty good. Shannon, I feel for you having to go to the dentist. My husband has had two root canals in the last two months. Yesterday he went to the dentist to have a crown put on before we left town. Last night we were in a restaurant and a different crown came off. So we were driving this morning and past a couple of dentist offices, stopped and ask if he could get that crown put back on, they agreed, and dwalla...he's back in bussiness. Of course they HAD to x-ray before they would do it. Oh well, I am just glad it got fixed before we got to where we're going. Now we don't have to worry. I have my lap top so maybe I can check back in tomorrow or the next day. I hope I don't gain any weight on this trip. It's bad enough to not lose any. I believe I am dragging the tail-end of this group on losing. I guess it has to be someone? Talk to ya'll later. Take care.

WOOHOO Betty!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's great!! I really don't care what I weigh if I could slither into a size 10!! LOL. Just kidding. How does it feel to drop 2 sizes? Pretty good huh? Just keep at it. I am going out of town this afternoon, but I have made up my mind to do something about a exercise routine next week. I think that must be one of my problems. Are you in a exercise program yet? Is there a gym near you? We have one here but I just need someone to light a fire under my butt to make me get there. Lynn good luck Thurs. when the kids show up! I am sure you will do jst fine. You just seem like the kind person that has what it takes to adapt. Maybe you won't have to act like an ogre to let them know you are serious about their learning. But, then again, just do what ya gotta do. Are you going in for an unfil? You got to have some solids to keep up with those kids, don't you think? Take care. Take care. Lo2us, how are you doing? How's the food going down now? Better I hope. Later everybody.

Hello everyone. Mondays are usually hectic for me. Things seem to get in a mess around here on the weekend. Mon. a.m. is my "get it" day. Strip sheets, laundry, yada...yada...yada...ya'll know the drill. Plus we are getting ready to go out of town, scratch that..I am getting us ready. lol. We will leave tomorrow afternoon or evening. I will be taking my laptop, just not sure how much time I will have to use it. We'll be gone about four days. Everyone take care and LOSE...LOSE....LOSE... while I'm gone. Lose some for me too. Since my scales seem to be "stuck." Hey Lisa, haven't found any painless nails, why don't you come up with an idea for me. lol

Just now saw you re-post. Explain to the children why you are eating less. Also you may be eating different foods so you can get healthy and stay healthy. Also explain how much better you will be when you lose the EXCESS weight you don't need, and the doctor is helping you. If your husband has genuine concerns and I am sure he does, discuss them in private and iron out the wrinkles without fighting at dinner. THAT isn't good for anyone, let alone the children. Tell your husband dieting doesn't need to be an issue at the table. The kids will know "food" is an issue if he doesn't quit it, even though he may mean well. The kids may learn how to eat healthy along with you. I wish I had developed those eating habits instead of strugleing now. Let the kids know kids and adults need different amounts and kinds of food and why. I think this is all about understanding what everyone needs. Kids are smarter than we think. Good luck! Keep us posted.

Is he overweight? I think I would try to sit down and talk with him over this, if possible. Let him know you researched this and you are being supervised by a doctor about your diet. He may not understand how this really works. Give him that oppotunity to learn and understand. If he doesn't want to do that then you have to take control of YOUR situation. All the vomiting could cause slippage, you know the rules. Does he? Take care of you and your band. I am sorry but it does sound like he has issues. I am sure you know what he is doing, and maybe why. keep us informed and we will try and help you as things progress or deteriorate. Take care. Fill us in on a little more detail of his knowlege. We might better help you if we know a little more about him.

Hi Sunlight, glad to see you are back. This seems to a harder journey for some of us than others. For those of us that have to trudge through it, we'll just have to find things that work for us through trial and error. If you don't get enough calories and or protein, your body may be screaming, "hey, I'm not getting enough! Sooooo, I am going to hold on to everything you give me. I'm starving here already! That is one scenerio why some are slow losers. I will have to admit that is definitely not my problem. Even though we have this tool to use to help us eat less, it will not tell us, "don't eat this, and don't eat that." Sometimes it tells us you shouldn't have eaten this or that, or you ate entirely too much! Does that sound goofy? Oh well.....that's the way it seems to be going for me. You would think once it told me that, I would heed the message and not do it anymore. hmmmm. Years ago I used to smoke. I know, shame on me! When I quit, I thought, that was the hardest thing I have ever done! If I can do this I should be able to do ANYTHING! WRONG! Breaking the horrible habits of what brought me to obesity seems to have a stronger hold over me than nicotine (as powerful a drug as it is) ever had over me. I am truly ashamed to admit that, but it is true. That is something I have to correct myself, the band can't do it for me. Whew! Now that I have spilled my guts,lol, gotta bring this to a close. What I am trying to say Betty, is we are all different. We have to figure out what OUR problems are and then find a solution that works for us. Everyone on here will back you on your journey to lose weight and being healthier. We all need a pepper-upper session from time to time. Me included. I have only lost 16 pounds since the actual surgery. Gotta get my bottom in gear too. Take care, stay in touch.

Lo2us, how short did you get it cut?! You know they have some kind of iron I think at the beauty salons that will straighten your hair I think permanently, until it's cut off. But you have to have the newgrowth touched up. They charge by the inch, so I would think you would have to have it fairly short. I can't wait to see you, I'm sure it is great. Is the enzyme a drink or what? Maybe I will check that out when I am in T-Town. I seldom have the problem. How much fill did you wind up getting? Gotta go, meeting friends in T-town for dinner.

Oh the ticker. Looks like you got a ticker for debt reduction. But getting the ticker over to your signature is the main thing. You might want to change it to "weight loss," now that you know how to do it. Good luck.

Gloharmar, Lo2us was telling us about the enzyme. When you take a bite of something that doesn't pass through the stoma, (the opening that food passes through to enter your stomach) to well, we call that "getting hung up." Sometimes it is slow to pass or sometimes it just sits there, causing much discomfort. The enzyme seems to help it get on through there quicker. That is how I understand it. If that isn't it Lo2us will explain it to you better when she reads this post. The only hanfing up I have had usually passes in a few minutes. The hanging up is usually caused by taking too large of a bite, not chewing well enough, or just simply eating too fast, which we are all guilty of fro time to time. Some things are not as "band-friendly as others. Soft doughy breads, some meats, fodds that our fibrous and or stringy. I have little trouble with anything that is chewed well, at this time. As I get more fills and am more restricted, that will probably change. Some feel that earlier than others. Everyone is different in that category. All of us don't have the same size band, or recieve different amounts of saline in our band when we get a fill. Some food you have to go by trial and error. I can eat anything, some can't eat several different foods. Hope this helps you understand a little better. Whew! I got a little long winded, didn't I? Sorry. Don't hesitate to ask questions, we have all been where you are at one time. Hang in there on the liquid diet. You have just about got it licked. 5 more days and then surgery day! It is for your saftey to lose some weight now. Gives the surgeons more room to work. Be sure to take your vitamins.

Vlynn, you guys are starting rather early aren't you? You the 6th and the kids the 9th?! Never heard of the kids starting that early. Oh well, I guess everybody has airconditioning now. Two bites of food isn't enough nutrition for a bird. Better get back to the drs. office and get that fixed quick. That is going to be hard since you are starting back to work isn't it? Can you go before the students start? I'm not eating quite as much but probably still too much. Are you trying to eat more protein? You need to be in top condition to face all those kids. Whew! I know that's a job. I was hoping to have lost 50 lbs. by this month, (5th bandiversary). No such luck. Take care.

Now that I think about it, there is or was a chat, but I never saw anyone in there. I guess we could open that window and watch to see if anyone enters while we post on here. I guess a lot of what we do on here is "delayed chatting." lol. Hope everyone has a good weekend. Oh Lisa, how is your fill working? Shannon, I guess you are gearing up for back to school. Yes I have seen that advertisement in the paper. I don't take the Texar Gaz, but I saw one somewhere and read that. I would like to talk to someone who has done that for a while. I am skeptical of most of that stuff. That would be great if it really works. I always thought you had to do resistanse training for the firming and toning. I will be interested to see what you find out. Maybe you will know by meeting time. Gotta go now. Later.

I believe most of us use tickerfactory.com Isn't that it Lisa? We need a live chat room!

Mizboo, I gave the trainer thing some thought too, but just don't know if I can afford it right now. I have to finish paying Wadley. Finally got my bill and made the first payment. Where is that gym? Did you check out doing that in Hope? I have heard of a couple of people that do personal training but don't know a thing about them. Is it very expensive? Hope I'm not being too nosey. I know I need to get busy exercising, just can't seem to get started. Priss, glad to hear from you, been wondering how you are. Me? Just turtleing right along. Sunlight, are you still hanging in there? I noticed they haven't posted a new meeting place for Texarkana yet. Guess it will be soon.

Anyone on this thread that is banded by Dr. Hekier or Keilin can also join us at the Texarkana Bandsters thread, located in the Texas forum. I would also recomend Dr. Keilin and Dr. Hekier, and their staff at Precision Surgery, in Texarkana, TX.

Welcome gloharmar. What Lisa printed is all I did on the pre-op diet. If you can't tolerate the lactose I think they tell you something else you can use. I just think it has to be comparable to the SF Optima. I couldn't do 3 or 4 of them, most days I did two with a salad. If you can have sf jello I don't know why you couldn't have SF Popcicles. It wasn't on the list so I just stuck to what they said, and wined about it. lol. My support family right on this thread got me through it every day. If you have read back in this thread, end of feb and first of Mar. you will know that I was a weenie. I was banded 3/7/07. Then liquids two weeks after. You won't have to repeat the exact same 2 weeks again. You will get a little differen't flavor in there. Each day, you are one day closer to being a healthier you. Oh, look at the number on the scale...you will never see it again. Hang in there, it all shall pass. Vlynn and Lisa told me that so many times.......and ........it did!! I go to Texarkanna for the meetings. Lisa, I never go back, I just click on last page. I remember when Dr. H gave me a fill and I ask him how much I was getting, he said he would have to wait until he was through before he could give me the exact amount. Vlynn, how are you and Billy? Been missing ya!

Hi Mizboo. Haven't see you on here for a while. Glad you are back! I was just looking at your ticker ! Wow, 90 pounds! That's great! I thought the 9.75 and 10 cm band were the same. I just thought they were rounding it off. I have kept up with the amount of my fills also, but haven't ask them what their total is. I will ask about that next visit. Do you go to the support group meetings? I believe you said you were from my area one time. Anyway sounds like you are doing great. Are you where you want to be now?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You look great. Gives me hope!!

I have never had problems with nausea after a fill. I think that is my problem....no problems with hardly anything. lol. All kidding aside I do feel more restricted but wouldn't go so far as to say I've hit my sweet spot. How much did you get today Lisa? What size band do you have? Wonder how Sunlight and cmoomoos are doing? Lisa did you ever look up Blondylocks email? I was so hoping she would let us know how the pregnancy was going. Gotta go get DH supper ready, he's working later tonight.

Lo2us, speaking of tickers...I think you need to look and see if they have a "speed demon" for yours, you certainly aren't moving like a turtle!! GO Shannon!!!!! I think I'll look and see if they have someone crawling through the desert on their belly for mine. lol. I noticed that they have not found a new place for the support group meetings. I guess they will before the second Mon. of Aug. Just have to keep checking the web site. Lisa, hope goes well with m i l. Keep us posted. Let us know how the fill goes, I know how you feel. I guess we have "hard to find" sweet-spots. I wanted to get the majority of my weight off the first year. I believe that is the most successful window of time. I am nearly at 5 months, so I don't think it's going to happen that way. Of course I guess I could nail my mouth shut. Ya think ?

Lisa, hate to hear all that about your m i l. Are they giving any prognosis with treatments? We will certainly keep her and your family in our prayers. Is she elderly? My l i l is nearly 87, had a heart attack about 4 yrs. ago and has never really been 100% since. She never had a serious illness until then. She did well through the surgery but lost weight through the ordeal and never seemed to be able to put it back on. She is really frail, about 100 -105, 5'8". Glad you got to return for your fill. I got one last Mon. (.4cc)wished it was the standard .5cc. She said from this point on they would probably be smaller. I just don't seem to be "going anywhere." I have been thinking about going on a liquid diet or at least partially. Just dread it so much I keep putting it off. Gotta go now. Let us know how things go.