lianna

Way to go Susan! I have gotten off my butt and worked out every day the last 4 days. I think I will finally see the scale move again. My little .2 cc fill on Saturday has helped greatly. I can still eat pretty big amounts, but I am staying full again! Not having the hunger (an hour after a meal) makes a huge difference!

I take a chewable Centrum and Viactin calcium chews. My Metformin is crushable, so I usually break it in pieces or use a pill cutter. I rarely get headaches or pains, but I keep a bottle of childrens liquid Tylenol around. It really isnt much of a problem.

I didnt have a pre-op diet. I also didnt diet. I think in the 2 months before banding I gained 3 lbs.

I had no preop diet. I was also banded by Dr. Sanchez! I have nothing but good to say him or any of the staff! Some docs require a preop diet and some dont.

We have similar stats. I am 5'4" and went into surgery at 229. I tried the Meridia, heck I tried EVERYTHING, but couldnt stand the way it made me feel. I got sick and tired of losing and gaining the same 20lbs, and usually regaining a few extra to boot. I was frustrated watching my weight creep up 5-10 more pounds every year. For me, the band has been wonderful! I am actually losing the weight and feel 100% confident that I can make my goal weight and keep it off. I have been banded a little over 7 months and have lost 40lbs, which has already made a HUGE difference in how I look and feel. I hope to lose 30 more in the next five months and be down 70 lbs by one year post op. I know I could not have done this without the lapband, I tried.

I want Halle Berry's body! I think she has a perfect flawless figure.

You need to be very cautious after EVERY fill. Take tiny bites, the size of a bean. Chew to liquid. Wait a few seconds before the next bite. If you have PB'd AT ALL you need to back up and do a day of liquids/mushies. There are instances where you can cause a case of swelling and create a cycle of trying to eat/PB/swelling/trying to eat while swollen/PB/swelling etc...

Yep, there aint a "nano-bite" left when I finally swallow. I like the "chew to goo" part, lol!!

Woot Woot!!! looking good girl!

My eyebrows have 2 years on them. Maybe it depends on who does them or how they are done. It IS permanent, but it does fade or "soften"..just like a tattoo! How much sun it is exposed to makes a difference also. My "regular" tatoos faded somewhat also. I love my eyebrows. Someone mentioned knowing someone that aged and their eyebrows looked funny because they had sagged. The cosmetic tatooing is directly under the natural eyebrow, where my natural eyebrow goes so does the tattooing....it should not make any difference. I hope when my natural eyebrows fade, get even thinner, and start sagging and drooping that I STILL have even the softest hint of the tattoo left!!!!

Good grief Pam, what an ordeal! I think YOU are correct, and know well enough that you will be one that needs to really creep up on the fills! I think I would actually prefer my DH do it if he were a doctor, lol! Sure would be convenient. Glad you have relief now!

The breakdown of fat cells for energy produces a waste byproduct called ketones. These are excreted through your breath, urine, and sweat. The only thing I know that may help is to drink plenty of water to eliminate more through your urine. I used to get ketone breath the first week or two when doing strict low carb diets. I dont have any suggestions of anything else that may help, but it is pretty common and usually gets better after the first week or two...and your right, gum only helps for a short while!

Sue, you look great! I am really happy for you that this is working so well for you! I love before/after pics, they are so inspiring!

It is hilarious that this thread came back up today because I just went for a tiny fill this morning! I have had very little restriction for the past month or two and getting some back was causing me problems, lol! I realized how much I have been able to eat and how careless I gotten with bite size and chewing... because I hadnt had to be cautious AT ALL for weeks! I was only tight like that for Monday and Tuesday.....and then it went right back to my proir not very restricted self. I only got a .2cc fill so if this happens again next month I should be okay by then, and not get too tight! It definitely had to do with water retention, the very next day after my tightness/PB episode my rings were rolling around again and I was back to "normal". (BUT, like a good girl I stuck with mushies and starved all day, lol)

I told my mom, dad, 2 girlfriends, and several very close friends we hang out with. No one at work or elsewhere, I am a semi closet bandster, lol!! I sometimes wish I had not even told our friends, it makes me feel uncomfortable to feel "scrutinized" every time I see them. Someone always mentions "wow, I can tell you have lost", "looking good there", "how many pounds now?" etc... I didnt think my weight should be the focus for anyone else when I was heavier, and I dont want it to be now. But that is just me, lol! I have always felt pretty confident, attractive, intelligent, etc.. and hate the focus to be WEIGHT.....which is just one aspect of what makes up "me".

I had problems with my last fill in February. It was done under flouro and I was "supposedly" going from 1.5ccs to 1.9 (adding .4ccs). I swallowed the Water fine and could see it barely trickle through, but by the time I was on my way home I was spitting slime and foam up. I was totally unable to swallow ANYTHING, including my own spit, for 2 days until I could back for an ufill. I went in for the unfill and had 2.3 in my band! I really think the fill doc made a mistake, thinking I was already at 1.9 and adding .4ccs? or something? I was unfilled, again under flouro, to 2.1 and had instant relief, could see the puddle of barium finally go through. Now I am nervous to get a fill today. My only consolation is that Dr. Sanchez himself is doing it! I have TOTAL confidence in him! I think I am worried because I was swollen shut after surgery requiring an extra night in the hospital, I swell excessively after fills, and I had such a nightmare experience after my last fill. It makes me feel stupid to be so worried though. I guess I just need a pat on the back from someone who understands, lol! My husband doesnt really understand why I am nervous.

Thanks for the feedback, I was worried for nothing. He did the fill without flouro and added .2ccs and then I drank my glass of Water. I am home now and drinking a glass of tea. I have never thought getting a fill was a very big deal, which was why I felt so silly for being so apprehensive. I have had several because I preferred to "creep up" to decent restriction and I think its better to err on the side of being a tad too loose rather than too tight. E. You may need a band adjustment 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose Thanks for posting that Susan, I will save that for future reference. I definitely needed a fill, all 3 of those applied. I always eat pretty good choices because I am diabetic and the crap foods just arent worth it, but I was eating almost "normal" portions again and STILL getting hungry, lol. I could eat bread, steak, scrambled eggs, pineapple, etc... and of course I have lost practically nothing (3-4 lbs) for the past 4-5 weeks. Maybe I can get back to decent portions and get some more of this weight off. I have 10 weeks of summer break, I would like to see a 15-20 lb loss!!!

You have a 23 lb loss!!! You are doing wonderful so far. Have you had a fill yet? The first one doesnt doesnt always make much difference, have some patience....the weight loss WILL resume. Keep your chin up in the mean time!

How great for you! BTW, How is Africa going?

I take regular Centrum chewables in Citrus Berry. They are a regular daily multivitam and I pick them up at Walmart or the grocery store.

I have a 3lb container of the ZeroCarb Isopure in Creamy Vanilla. It is pretty good. One scoopful has 100 calories, 25g protein, and 0 carbs.

deleted my scorecard.....wasn't keeping up with it! I will continue the Wednesday weigh ins though! They help with accountability!

Happy BDay!!!

Happy Birthday Nana!

What about bonus pts for a perfect week in any given area? Breaking it down into smaller goals for a good week? Regardless, I am in for next month!!!! Now that school is out the madness is over for me. Telly...I may need an ass kickin from you over the workouts!