picardy3

Wow! I had forgotten what that was like. It took them a while to get the needle in the port and then they took out everything before putting it all back in. It seems I had 4.5 cc in the band already so they tweaked it and added .2 cc more. Now I'm hungry because I've only had liquids today. Hmmmm, need to go and find the Jell-O. Pic

Hello April 06 Bandsters! I didn't realize how long I had been away from the site until I got a reminder email today. It looks like everyone has been steadily losing. I know that I haven't reached my goal yet, but I have maintained a steady weight for the past year and have been working on adjusting my eating habits and how I view myself. I'm going in for an adjustment tomorrow (today? since it's so early in the morning) so I'm ready to get back on the losing train again. I'll try to stick around a bit more in order to get a good kick in the rear. Pic

I was diagnosed with Type 2 a couple of years before banding. My primary Dr. had me try diet and exercise and then started me on Actos, which did a good job of keeping everything in check. My surgeon told me that my last dose of Actos would be on my day of surgery, and he was correct. I stopped taking it that morning. I'm coming up on two years since banding and my daily numbers are great, mornings anywhere from 80-100 and it just continues from there. Of course now I beginning to see low numbers when I forget to eat because I'm not hungry. Nothing like seeing 72-75 on the meter and wondering where that came from.

I haven't posted in awhile, mostly because I've been finishing my Master's. :whoo: But lately it seems the only thing people want to discuss with me is my weight loss. I had to buy new clothes for work this year, since everything I owned was falling off, and now people can actually see how much I've lost. I can't wear anything new without a comment from someone. Some have even stated that I need to stop losing or they won't recognize me anymore. I'm only in an 18/20 and still have 80-90 lbs til goal weight. How can I convince people that there are other things to talk about besides what I look like and how much I've lost? The fact that I've finished my Master's seems to escape them and I'm more proud of that than the new clothes that I'm wearing. Maybe this is partly a vent, I don't know, maybe I'm just confused at this stage in my journey. Has anyone else gone through this stage? Mostly I just smile at people and change the subject if possible. Any other ideas? pic

I really appreciate the feedback. It's just a few people that have really been getting on my nerves lately because my weight loss is ALL they can think about. When I run into people that I haven't seen in ages I have no problem with them mentioning that I'm looking great. It's the people that I see EVERY day who have a comment just because I'm wearing new clothes. For the most part, I don't have a problem discussing my surgery or my weight loss. There are probably more total strangers out there who know my starting weight and have seen my scars than in my family. I don't mind doing my part to help educate others on what I've done and how it's worked for me. The comments are beginning to die down, thank goodness, since I've now worn all of my new clothes to work and people aren't seeing something new everyday. I think I just needed to get this off my mind and see how others were dealing with it. Of course it will all start again once I hit my next goal because I told everybody that I'm getting diamond earrings when I get to 200. :whoo: But then they'll be looking at my ears and not the rest of my body. pic

I had an appointment with my regular doctor today. My list of medications has now gone froom 8 to 4 :becky: and that's only because I CHOOSE to be on these 4: zyrtec(for allergies), birth control, synthroid, and effexor(new ssri since Paxil packs on the pounds) He was really surprised when I told him that I had not been taking my Actos for the past two months, but when he looked at my numbers he was really impressed. We decided not to refill my blood pressure meds and that I only have to take what I have left every other day until I run out. That should not take long. I'm down 30lbs since surgery! :clap2: My hA1c is 5.7. That is down from 5.9 on the day of surgery and it should continue to drop. Today has been a really good day. My nephew is also visiting with me for a few days and made the comment the other day that I sure do hiccup a lot after a meal. :hungry: Seems he's picked up on my soft stop as well.:thumb:

I haven't updated this in quite a while, of course that could be because I've been off having a grand time and not spending as much time on the boards as I use to. I do have something new to share. I had my first plane ride since banding this past week. Not only did the seatbelt fit without an extender, there was a bit of room left over and I could put the tray down all the way! :whoo: The arm rests didn't dig into my hips and I was actually comfortable on both flights on two separate airlines (Delta and American). Just wanted to share my good news. :mad: Pic

Calling all April Bandits of 2006: Let's come together and share our successes! What is your "Bandiversary" goal? I never really set a goal for "Bandiversary" just small goals along the way. What have you learned this past year? I have learned that I can pass up former favorite foods and that the world will not come to an end if I don't eat everything in site. :hungry: Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? My best NSV for now is buying a pair of designer jeans to wear to the Trace Adkins concert. What is your biggest challenge? My biggest challenge is consistent exercise. I really have to make myself do it and it's still hit or miss most days. What tips would you pass on to the April 2007 newbies? Hang in there! Good things come to those who wait. Oh, and liquids can be your friend. What is your greatest fear? That I will lose my band and regain all the weight plus more. :paranoid What goals do you have for the future? My next goal is to get to 199. When I do, I get a pair of diamond studs. How has your life changed? Life is so much better. I can get up and down off the floor with my students. I don't tire as quickly. I can ride roller coasters again. Has living with the band met up to your expectations? Living with the band has been great. I really can not believe that it has been a year. And due to all of the research I did before hand, there really haven't been that many surprises along the way. :bounce: If you could talk to yourself a year ago, what would you say? Keep at it. Life is only going to get better. I really can't believe that today has been one year. Someone asked me at work yesterday was I going to take myself out to eat to Celebrate. I told her no, that I look for other ways to celebrate now rather than with food. Of course there are still surprises along the way, but that's ok. I'm learning to roll with the punches. I look at how much more some of our group has lost than me, but I also know that they have taken a different road than I did. I started this journey at 300 lbs. and this morning I weighed 255 lbs. When I first started working on weight loss before banding I weighed 348 lbs and had lost down to 280 before it started creeping back up again. After diet, exercise, life style change, and work with a personal trainer for 8 months, I realized that I needed help on this journey. A co-worker was looking into the band for herself and suggested that I go to a seminar and check it out. I did that two days before Thanksgiving and then less than five months later I was banded. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. I tell anybody who asks me what I've done to lose weight. Because I've been so open at work, some of the others are looking into it as well. No one thinks twice about what I do at work as I think most have even forgotten that I had it done. I'm losing slowly in weight, but the inches are coming off. I bought new tops for work and they are 1X, the last size before I shop in the regular sizes. I found a velvet dress for Christmas for $14.00. It's a Large. I will be wearing it! For now, I'm just working for my diamond earings. :biggrin1: Pic

My Gran-dad gave me one many years ago the first time they were issued. We were told to save them because they probably wouldn't be around for long. I kept it for the longest time until someone broke into our house and it went along with many other things. Also, the college I went to for undergrad use to give it's faculty their bonuses in $2 so that the community could see just how much the college contributed to the economy.

Poodles, 3rd grade in TX is the beginning of the TAKS nightmare. The stress to pass is unbelievable for teachers and students. Also, are you prepared to give up students who can semi think for themselves for students who need you to tell them every little thing at least three times and then they'll still ask you "what am I supposed to do?" Now I teach elementary music (PK-5) and wouldn't trade my level for middle school or high school any day, I just don't jive with that age student, but I love my babies. I'm also in an inner-city school in Dallas, so my kids are a bit rougher, but there is a big difference in switching from secondary to elementary. But, if you think that's what you want to do, try it. If you don't like it, you can always switch back. Pic

I still remember what one of my high school English teachers taught me about this. She said, "You are good. You do things well." This runs through my mind every time before I use either of those words. And it has served me well. I very seldom get them mixed up. Pic

I meant to reply to you sooner about this. That totally sucks that someone would tell you that you are just in "too good a place" to date. What does he want, someone who is totally depressed and not sure of what they want???? Hang in there, the right one will come along when you least expect it. That's usually how it works for me. I'm currently corresponding with someone from eHarmony. I have no idea what he looks like and he hasn't seen my picture either, but we did discuss our relative health just recently. I went ahead and told him that I had bariatric surgery and that it was lapband. Today I went in for another fill and told him about that as well. So far he hasn't made any comments but I have no idea what is going through his mind. But he is still communicating, so that's a good sign for now. So, smile and put this guy behind you. He's not worthy of someone who's in "too good a place." pic

Yea Poodles! :clap2: Don't you just love having your own cheerleader who wants to do things with you. My belly dancing class starts on Saturday, so lets both of us keep it up. pic

I'm in the same situation poodles, but I'm taking steps to change it. I really don't like exercise, but I find when I spend money on it I'll do it. I spent about a year with a personal trainer (before banding) and loved it, but find I have a hard time keeping it up on my own. Just recently the continuing education catalog for one of the local colleges came and they are offering several dance classes. I wanted to take the Adult Begining Tap class, but the first one is full so I switched to Begining Belly Dancing. I can't wait! Starting on Jan. 27, I will have 12 weeks of dance class that I know that I will want to practice when I get home, so for me it was just a matter of finding something that I REALLY want to do. I'm going to see about taking the next session of Adult Tap, something I've always wanted to do as well, but it will be during the summer. pic

I love Minute Maid Lite, but I cannot find the Cherry Limeade flavor. What store(s) have you found it in? I'm in the DFW area.

I love Generaln Tso's chicken, but haven't had it in a while. Takes too long to eat. My favorite thing from a chinese restuarant is Hot and Spicy soup. I LOVE this stuff!

This morning on my way to work, I was involved in an accident with an 18 wheeler. :faint: I was rear ended. :omg: It sounds much worse than it actually was, though there is damage. My seatbelt functioned as it was supposed to and I am now beginning to feel the effects of the impact. The area that hurts the most at the moment is right across the top of my stomach where my band is located. I don't think I hit the steering wheel, but my seatbelt did tighten up, mostly through that area. Am I just sore or could there be anything else wrong? I have called my doctor's office and I left a message with the nursing supervisor, but I have not heard back from them yet. I'm just making sure that everything is ok and that what I'm feeling is just soreness from the accident. Mostly I'm just wondering if anybody else has been through something like this or if I'm just paranoid. :suspicious: Picardy

Just had a call from one of the nurses at the office. There recommendations: if there is severe pain or I can't keep anything down, go to the ER and get x-rayed. Since I just seem to be sore from impact, then there shouldn't be anything wrong, but pay attention in case things change. Mostly I just wanted there to be something on record in case something comes up later. It also put me more at ease. If there had been something terribly wrong, it would have already made itself known, so I'm just gonna be sore for a few days. I did go on to work so in case there was something wrong I was with people and not at home by myself. Luckily the impact happened with both of us in motion. If I had come to a complete stop or had hit the vehicle in front of me, the semi would have done MAJOR damage to my truck and me. Oh, did I mention? My truck is officially one month old today and the first payment is due tomorrow. :think I am babying the band for a while. This would not be a good time for a PB. I don't think I could take the extra pain.

Hey amourette! I'm around but between grad school and teaching full time I haven't been on the sight as much lately. I have at least three days at work where I don't get home until between 6 and 7 pm and then its all I can do to stay awake until bedtime. The fall semester is usually pretty busy up until November, then things begin to get back to normal. That's great about the uniform and less back pain. I'm beginning to realize that I need some smaller clothes as well. When I wear something a bit more fitted to work, everyone comments on how well I'm doing. I've been playing with the clothes in my closet and finding that some that I didn't think would fit, do fit, and that others are simply too big and must go. Unfortunately that means most of my tops are too big, so it looks like I need to hit the resale shops. There's a plus size resale shop close to my house and I'm thinking about seeing what they've got. It will be a whole lot cheaper to get one or two things there and then save my money for the big shopping spree that I know is coming. The best thing about all of this is that I know I will be going on job interviews in the spring, and whether they admit it or not, weight does play a factor in some of the positions I would like to look into. I'm looking into administrative positions for the next school year so that I can start putting my master's degree to work. I still love teaching, but if I want a pay raise I have to move into administration. That really sucks! picardy

4-3: JenRN - 263/257/238/150 - 25 total 4-3: jenn28 - 282/265/229/165 - 53 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/257.5/150 - 42.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/259/165 - 41 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/231/150 - 80 total 4-4: Dak – 255/251/205/150 – 50 total 4-4: Angels - 264/255/235/? - 29 total 4-4: Harpseal Al - 327/295/220 - 34 total 4-5: Boo - 208/203/175/130 - 33 total 4-5: siestaqh - 180+/177/136/110 - 44 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total 4-7: Guysis - 234/190.5/134 - 43.5 total 4-10: JulieNYC - 358/267/150 - 91 total 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/184/135 - 55 total 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-11: dsrjrr - 231/230/210/130 - 21 total 4:11: truckinmama - 262/234/160 - 28 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total 4-13: NJgirl - 248/230/206/140 - 42 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217.5/196/145 - 21.5 total 4-17: Amourette - 22.5 total 4-17: Jeepergurrl - 242/207/140 - 35 total 4-17: MelAnne - 245/207/150 - 38 total 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/245/150 - 25 total 4-18: LapBandit - 392/369/347/336/324/308/298/278 - 114 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/188/130 - 32 total 4-20: KimInMD - 288/288/253/156 - 35 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/225/150 - 48 total 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/248/150 - 62 total 4-22: alisonb - 286/270/176 - 16 total 4-24: Eficka - 125/117/104/69 - 21 kgs/46.2 lbs. total 4-24: Ceparano - 255/270.5/225/170 - 45 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/228.5/165 - 60.5 total 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/225/160 - 37 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/237/145 - 33 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/204/145 - 60 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/241/145 - 43 total 4-28: Susan4794 - 283/267/247.8/140 - 35.2 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/258/140 - 75 total 4-28: Irish Girl - 225/214/170/135 - 55 total 4-28: MomofSixKids - 240/238/205/150 - 35 total Just realized I hadn't updated this in a while.

I've just recently taken antibiotics in the past month and I now have a fairly good restriction. Both doctors wanted to give me a pill, but I just asked them to change it to a liquid. They both had to look up how to adjust the dose for a liquid for an adult. I got to take the lovely pink stuff that most kids take when they are sick, but it sure beat crushing or choking down a pill that most likely would have come back up. And the liquid antibiotic worked just as well as the pill forms.

Chicken seems to be out for me as well. :cry Two PB's in one week, several days apart, on chicken prepared two different ways with lots of sauce, etc. to lube it with. I really like chicken, but my band doesn't.

Non-core subject teacher in TX here as well and Rick Perry is at the bottom of my list.

I need to update my nsv's: 1. My shoes no longer fit. They slip up and down when I walk and fall off completely if I lay down in the floor with my students. 2. I can get up and down off the floor in my classroom with my students and not moan and groan while doing so. 3. I sat in a student size desk today and didn't think twice about it.

I have family visiting me this week and we are having such a great time. Yesterday we went to Six Flags. For the first time in at least 5 years I RODE every ROLLERCOASTER in the park(except the Giant because I just don't like it, and yes I've ridden it many time before)! YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!! :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: I have missed my rollercoasters. They are one of the main reasons that I go to theme parks. I have to get my adrenaline fix somehow.