Ezma

Hope you have a wonderful time. Enjoy it to the fullest. I think that can be done without much food. Not sure though, it used to be a big part of vacations for me. Make the ex good and jealous by not giving a damn.

You look amazing! You should be so danged proud of yourself. And I can totally see the difference, front and back. I'm feeling a bit green with envy here. :thumbup:

Valvinnek - that's fantastic news! Tell him congrats! And enjoy your healthy lifestyles together. marathinner - good for him! We can put his picture on a dart board when we get frustrated - LOL Seriously, how is the sleeve. I was really curious about it but know almost nothing.

Add me to the bruised group. I've had one about half dollar sized from both fills and from my surgery. I'm not an easy bruiser either. I just figured it was from all the poking he did. You're in good company. :thumbup:

Pinching you? Ouch! There are things about this band that are definately a mystery to me.

Wow Queen, mine is doing the same thing. I figured I was losing and the top skin was drooping. Not sure.

You sure it's not a hernia. I have a pretty good sized one just above my belly button. It definately makes my stomach stick out worse than it should, like I'm smuggling a nerf football.

This is one of yours isn't it? Love it!

I hear ya. I'm so sick and tired of mine. I'd love some apples. I think anything less would be just too weird since I've had these for about 35 years. Oh god, they're old. Think I'm gonna have to trade them in for perky new ones.

I have a 14cc band and I don't have any idea how much is in it. He put some in at the time of surgery and I was good for a while. 4-1-08 I got my 1st fill and was good for 3 weeks but he wouldn't tell me how much he put in cause he said people get obsessed with it. Then I had 3 weeks of hell when I plateaued and had no restriction, gained 1 pound back. But lost a total of 9 pounds when I was in for my 2nd fill on 5-13-08. I overheard him tell the nurse he put in 1.5ccs. I have really good restriction now. And hope it lasts until 6-10 when I go in again. It's so nice to feel restriction again. I've lost 4 pounds in 2 days so I'm ecstatic.

Well, I love me some perky. :biggrin2:

Hmmmmm.....:cry_smile:

While I do love both Matt and Sean, I really adore George Clooney and Gabriel Aubry and Michael Trucco and.....well, you get the picture.

Count me in that group too Tap. You're wonderful!

That's some fantastic NSV! You're doing great and I know you're looking and feeling great too. Funny how fast the boobs go, ain't it?:cry_smile:

I have a theme song or inspiration song or whatever you want to call it. Does anyone else have one? Mine is "Beautiful" by Joydrop Here's the lyrics though without the music it loses some of the punch. If I was beautiful like you Oh the things I would do Those not so blessed would by crying out murder And Id just laugh and get away with it too Like you do If I was beautiful like you I would never be at fault Id walk in the rain between the rain drops Bringing traffic to a halt But that will never be That will never never be Cause Im not beautiful like you Im beautiful like me Beautiful like me If I was beautiful like you Id be quick to assume Theyd do anything to please me I know I see the reaction when you walk into a room But that will never be That will never never be Cause Im not beautiful like you Im beautiful like me Beautiful like me Beautiful, Beautiful like me Like me, like me If I was beautiful like you Id have so many friends Always fighting for my time to be next in line So if I hurt one I wouldnt have to make amends That will never be That will never never be Cause Im not beautiful like you Im not beautiful like you Im not beautiful like you Im beautiful like me Beautiful like me Beautiful like me Im beautiful like me Im beautiful like me

Of course he was looking at you. You're gorgeous! Could you send him over to my house to film? I could use some motivation.

Angie I'm so happy for you. I was in the same boat. The first fill was good for about 3 weeks then wham, plateau then disappointment then eating like a fiend. Yesterday I got my second fill and already lost a couple pounds. Though I'm not sure how since I was still trying to eat though the band was saying no. I think today will be much better since my frame of mind is up. Hope you enjoy that tight tummy feeling! :thumbdown:

Shiny, that's shiny! You're looking great. You can really see it on your face. I'd love to have bone structure like that. Woo hoo for you!

Jax - You're looking marvelous!

LOL Nikki. It's so true. It's always greener on the other side of the fence. We're all winners, our victories just take different shapes and sizes.

Oh Ready, I love you! You just eloquently said everything I've been feeling lately. I've been stuck at a plateau and even gained 2 pounds and needed a fill really bad but was too stupid to try to move it up. I haven't changed sizes at all. I fit into a couple of shirts that didn't really fit before but even they aren't much different. As far as pants go, I haven't had ones without elastic waists for years so these will be with me for a while. Part of me is glad because I won't have to go thru a bunch of clothes but I'd really, really love to be able to put on a smaller size. Oh, and don't wish for 5'5", that's what I am and it's still too short to really be able to see and feel a difference when I lose. Why do I want to kill everyone that is thin? It's so not fair that people can eat more than what I'm eating when I'm being bad and they lose like crazy. How can it possibly be fair that if I eat a whole 100 calorie yogurt for Breakfast, it's too much? I don't want to stay away from carbs. I love them too much but it seems to be the only way I can lose. I have about two hours left until my fill and can't wait. I really want to be back on track and I try so hard. I need that feeling back that I had when I was first banded. That feeling of "dang, it's time to eat again already?, I really am not hungry at all". Instead, now I have the "Give it to me! Jeez, I need those chips and then that ice cream". I feel like Audrey II in Little Shop - Feed me! I'm right here cheering you on Ready. We'll get through this without the blood loss of our peers.

Aveamora - you can definately tell. You look great! Keep up the good work.

I posted some pics on the pic thread. There was no way I was going to post here with Marathinner looking so fantastic.

First off - Congrats! You're 1/3 of the way there. That's fantastic. I think you are experiencing the lovely plateau that most of us have hit. It's really hard to make good choices when they don't seem to be doing much. Also, you can dump the shame now. You've told all of us. Sometimes that's all it takes to get you off the shame spiral. Do you have a good therapist? Only asking because it's something I'm seriously considering one and I know many who use them. Weight and eating issues for most of us isn't just simply a matter of what we put in our mouths and how often we exercise. There are many issues that cause us to do the things we know will sabotage our successes. Due to a plateau I've really been fighting hard with feelings of just giving up and feeling like a failure. That has led me to eat in a most unhealthy manner. I think I'm getting a handle on it now and I've got a fill coming up in 3 days but it's still a daily process and sometimes an outright battle. Biggest thing is to not beat yourself up. Realize that it's not the cookie that you put in your mouth that's defeating you, it's when you just give up and don't even try on the next food choice you make. Best of luck to you and if you need some support, we're all here ready to lend a helping hand and word of encouragement.