Ezma

I still don't have a good answer for this one. In fact, I feel like I'm still on one. I only lost 5 pounds between the last two visits to my surgeon, which was a 5 week period. I know it's still okay but I was losing about 10-11 every 2 weeks. Last month I was stuck for 3 weeks. I got a fill last Tuesday. Next day I dropped a pound, day after that I dropped 2 more pounds. I thought I was on my way again. But nooooooooo... for the last 5 days I've been bouncing up and down again. I'm barely eating anything, I upped my exercise a few weeks ago, I tried changing up my diet. Feeling even more frustrated because I'm sitting about 2 pounds from 100 pounds lost. My first major goal and I really, really want to hit it. I'm fearing that I've lost that ole band magic. I did find this today when i was searching around for plateau stuff. It's from the Jan 08 forum - http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f112/how-break-plateau-66916/

Good to hear from you Sadie. Sounds like you're doing great. Congrats on the progress and stop by more often. :biggrin2: Plus we're gonna definately need a report on the tummy tuck. Woo hoo, lucky you!

Don't think it's rude at all. Don't think anyone would be offended when they're told that we enjoy having them around and miss them. I'm on it.

Probably a silly question but, are you still taking pain meds? They make me itch like crazy.

Glad you're feeling better. It's a tough choice to make and hard to get it done but now I want to wring my own neck for dragging my feet. I hope your hubby snaps out of it. It's so much easier when you have good support at home. Good luck with your surgery. It'll be here before you know it.

That's a great one Jaime! Bet you laughed and then beamed for a long time on that one. I've also noticed people are much more social with me now. I know that part of it is me but it's definately them too.

Since banding I've had about 1/3 of a bottle of a wine cooler. I didn't drink much before but I sure do crave a beer or mudslide once in a while, especially when it's hot....like March thru October. LOL

Dang Ready! Look at you, gorgeous girl.

SLCMommy - you're looking great. Doesn't it feel good to be able to see the lovely losses you've made. Keep on swimmin'.

I was and still sort of am that way too. Hate cameras. But I hate them less now that they can show me that I really am losing weight. Helps me get a better feeling of what I really look like. I know....that's good and bad. LOL

Me too! It was okay for a while cause I was still carrying so much weight. Now it's really starting to show. I was able to wear short sleeve shirts but it's looking like that won't be true for long. And I'm starting to get the wrinkled skin things going on the tummy. :smile2:

I know that feeling completely. I was asking my doctor to tell me how much fill I had in my band and he asked me why I wanted to know. Basicaly I said that I wanted to make sure there was still enough band left to get me where I needed to be. And he said that was exactly why he didn't want to tell me. Because his job is to worry about the band and mine is to worry about the other stuff. That way I can't just blame it on a low fill, etc, I have to look at the things I control like exercise and caloric intake. Pretty smart guy actually - though it really drives me nuts not to be in control. LOL I'm so afraid that the weight loss magic will stop before I'm done.

Sounds like a beautiful goal. And you know what you want to look like and how you want to feel better than anyone. I'm so happy for you!!!! Have you posted before and afters to the 6 month pics post yet? I'd love to see.

Wow kjeter!!! Another couple pounds and you will no longer be overweight. Very nicely done!

You have a lot on your plate there Ready. Quitting the smoking habit by itself is tough enough already. I smoked for 25 years and finally totally stopped 3 years ago. I still occasionally have a craving but it's so much easier to ignore after the first couple weeks and most of it is gone in a few months. You go girl!

In fact I'm eating and thinking about drinking right now. This has been the hardest thing in the world for me to stop doing.

Great poll Ready! I hope everyone answers it because then we can get a good idea of Lap Band reality instead of just the few people who talk. I know there are numerous people in each area but not really sure what the breakdown looks like. Thanks

That crab and cheese sounds good. Gonna have to try it. I eat turkey that way with Lite Jarlsburg.

Yay Ready!!!!! I'm so happy for you. And that fill should kick it in gear for sure. I got one yesterday and can already tell a difference. Hoping I make 100 pounds gone in a few days. It's been about a year total to lose that though all but 18 happened since my 2 week pre-op diet.

I think the exercise part is the most important. Just ease back into it so you don't get hurt again. I'm guessing that you may have set your August goal too high, thinking about how much you did before you got hurt. Maybe start off with 15 minutes a day and add 5 or 10 minutes to that each week until you get back to where you were. The weight loss should just naturally happen is you exercise and make smart food choices 80% to 90% of the time. I imagine it would be hard to keep motivated once you've reached normal size clothing. I'm still dreaming of that. Congrats on that great accomplishment. And you know you can always stop if you're happy. But I'm guessing you aren't where you want to be yet. That alone will drive you. You're just gonna have to force yourself to get back into the exercise routine. Maybe try a new kind of exercise, that might make it easier. I really ramble before I have my coffee, don't I? :thumbup:

Love berries and mangos. Also I really like carrots or cucumbers with hummus or this spinach dip. Garlicky Spinach & Ricotta Dip 1 tsp olive oil 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 leek, washed and thinly sliced 2 large bunches of spinach, washed and coarsely chopped 1 cup light ricotta cheese 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg Instructions: One - Coat a large nonstick frying pan with olive oil and set over medium heat. Add garlic and leek. Stir often until soft, 6 to 8 minutes. Add a few drops of Water if leek starts to brown too much before it softens. Two – Increases heat to medium-high and add a few handfuls of spinach. Stir until wilted, then turn into a food processor. Continue to cook rest of spinach in small batches until all is wilted. Place in food processor. Whirl until blended – make it as chunky or fine as you like. Turn into a bowl and refrigerate until cool. Three - Stir spinach with ricotta, sea salt and nutmeg. Taste and add more seasonings if needed. Dip will water out as it sits; stir before serving. Nutrients per ¼ cup serving: Calories – 30 Total Fat – 1g Sat. Fat – 0.4g Carbs – 3g Fiber – 1g Sugars – 1g Protein – 3g Sodium – 100mg Cholesterol – 2mg

Fun thread by the way. Thanks.:biggrin2:

1. What have you learned about yourself since you have been banded? That I really am capable of losing the weight and that if I could make it through the 2-week pre-op diet, I can make it through anything. 2. What has surprised you most about being banded? That it is more about me changing my habits than the band doing all the work. Sadly, I didn't know this before the surgery. 3. What foods do you miss that you can't/won't eat anymore? pizza and Pasta. Restaurant food. 4. Do you regret being banded? No way! Best thing I've done for myself in a long, long time. 5. Would you recommend the band to anyone? Would and have done so. Three people from my company are in the starting process of it. 6. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything? Would have made sure that they got the hospital tax id right so I wouldn't have had to wait until the next year and lost my flex spending money for the surgery. 7. Would you do it all over again? Oh yeah! 8. Has your self esteem improved? Oh yeah again! Told my husband that now I feel like a normal fat person, not some deformed oddity. 9. Has being banded changed your personality? Not really. It's put me back to myself. Gaining the weight changed my personality. 10. What do you dislike about being banded? Not being able to gorge out on something truly delicious if I want. Having to worry about getting stuck and throwing up. Not being able to swallow pills.

Melanie - you look fabulous. Thanks for posting. I know it inspires me so much to see all the progress the VVs are making. Congrats!

I'm so sad. I know the month isn't done yet but we've only had 4 people post for their 6-month mark. To me it was a big milestone mark and I thought everyone would come out of the woodwork for it. Guess this group really is dying and that is what makes me feel so sad. I know we all have our reasons for not posting - busy lives, feeling down and disappointed, not wanting to make others feel uncomfortable when we succeed, etc. I just found this place a much needed release. I could come here when I was confused, frustrated, proud or any other of a million feelings and know that, here at least, someone knew exactly what I was going through. Well, I still plan to stop in at least a couple times a day and will try to keep the place alive. Hope to catch more of you. And if any of you have moved to another area that's taking care of your posting needs, let me know. :biggrin2: