KayleighsMommy

Deb, Thanks very much for the good wishes. Hope you have fun at the casino. I am planning on taking my MIL (if she is up to it) in early July....and I am looking forward to it!!! How is your mom doing, by the way?? (well, I hope) julie

I am not out of the woods yet :wink: His PA said she would discuss the possibilty with him. He may still stick to his guns though. Also... I will live with this hernia (though it is really quite painful. as well as annoying) if I can't get the panni done at the same time. Which might be an unhill battle getting the insurance co to pay. Plus.... I don't even know if it would be possible to do this any time soon, since with my MIL's cancer and driving her around to chemo/shopping etc. I also would have no one to take care of Kayleigh. She is starting school in a couple of weeks (Wahhhh... my baby) but I know the plastic surgery is hard on you and usually requires quite a bit of chair/bed rest. Especailly with my history of post op issues. I just really don't know if it is doable :sneaky: Though I am still hoping this will all come together in a good way. Getting rid of the stomach would bring me down to 100 pounds lost, so it would take me under the 35 BMI (I did point this out to him last time I saw him) especailly when he told me my stomach itself is at least 25 pounds!!!!! :crying: I guess I will just have to wait til my July 12 appt to see what he has to say.

Marie I know how you feel. I have had the same problem with jeans my whole life. I always say jeans look like clown pants on me :sneaky:. Now that I have lost some weight, it has gotten even worse. If you really want a pair of jeans can I suggest the mens department?? They seem to have not so wide thighs in them. Back when I was young (like 17-18, and embarrased as heck to have to shop there.... mainly beacause I had to ask for help, thus drawing attention to my big self!!! :wink:) I got my jeans in mens stores. I guess that's why I stopped wearing jeans 20 years ago!!! julie

Dee, My first week I had a .8 loss. julie

What a relief..... I went to Dr metz's office today and talked to his PA. She said I had just irritated my pounch (hence the pain) I tried to explain to her it wasn't the usual "OMG, I'm stuck" pain. She said she hears these complaints all the time. She said the shoulder/back pain was just referred pain from the irritation :wink:. She even gave me another fill. .4 which brings me to 7.4. When I was laying on the table she goes, "Oh my, what a large hernia" I told her it has grown since Dr Metz saw it last. She said she is going to talk to him about repairing it (much bigger and it is going to impede my port) We talked about me getting the panniulectomy done at the same time. I don't know if anything is going to come of this.... but she had me make an appt for 4 weeks to see the doctor. I know he said he wil not do it til I'm a 35 BMI (I'm 44 now) but he may feel it has grown enough to take medical action. I also am fairly sure BC won't pay for the panniulectomy... so his possible willingness to operate on me may be a moot point anyway. :smile: I am just so happy. I had visions of having to have my band emptied/removed. Whew.... feel like I dodged a bullet here.

Julie, I am drinking protein shakes/protein smoothies to stay hydrated. This definetly isn't a post fill tightness.... I haven't had a fill since Thanksgiving week. How the heck did my band know I was planning on getting a fill on Tuesday?? I am just hoping for the best. julie

I forgot to mention.... even mashed potatoes are causing me pain. I tried to eat them and I don't even like potatoes!!!

Patty--- Thanks for the reassurance. I really don't think this is food related though, I was just hoping maybe the queso swelled up my stomach or something. (clutching at straws here... ya know??? ) The pain is just like the pain I had when I was first banded... when Dr M told me the band was "seating". That is why I am so afraid of this pain. Dee---- I was down .8 last week, and up 1.8 this week. If I do not need a complete unfill, perhaps these days of liquids will help my loss, huh?? julie

I don't know if it was my 3 days of eating (I didn't eat a whole lot at one time... just more cals to try to jump start my metabolism) but I think my band has slipped . I am so upset about this. I am seeing my surgeon on Tuesday for a "fill" I may be getting a complete unfill. I really am hoping the cheeseburger con queso I had at RR Wed night just irritated my stomach (though it's not super spicy, I don't do spicy...at all) Starting Thursday morning, every time I try to eat something solid I get a lot of dull (but intense... if that makes any sense) pain in the band area, as well as pain at the top of my shoulders (mainly on the left side). The pain is only upon swallowing, then it goes right away. No nausea, no reflux, no throwing up. I am tolerating liquids just fine. I did have this happen once before (a couple of months ago, for a day) but then it went away without any intervention. It has gotten marginally better since Thursday... but is still definetely painful to eat. I am so afraid I have messed it up. I just don't know what I am going to do if I lose it. Has anyone else had, or know of anyone having, this type of pain and it was nothing major???? julie

I had a great time last night. Patty, Deb and Mal it was great meeting you guys. Mary, Theresa and Dee... it was so much fun seeing you guys again. Mal..... if you ever want to go for a walk together, just let me know. Maybe a walking partner would get my big butt moving LOL julie

Did you local girls see the tornado today?? We were in the basement, my husband went outside and started calling my name... he was like "see the funnel cloud?" I didn't see it, then took a couple more steps out of the house, and there it was. I totally freaked!!! tornados are my biggest fear. We came back inside and could watch the tornado out our windows. It touched down about 2 miles from me.

Dee--- First off, congrats on the loss... that is soooooo great!!!! (I can't wait to be where you are :thumbup::thumbup: ) Please put me down for -.8 <sigh> I just can't seem to lose (I was down lower than where I am at now a week ago... I just keep yo-yoing between 270 - 272. I don't know what else I can do :thumbup:. I am looking forward to seeing everyone on the 10th!!!! julie

Dee---- Thanks for sharing with me how you are losing. Also, please put me down for 10. julie

Marie, i know what ya mean. My year will be June 26. I also wanted to be down 100 by my year. Hmmmmmm... guess it's not gonna happen now :smile: I am at 72 right now... so I am hoping to be down at least 80 by then. julie

Count me in!!!! julie

I am so sorry you are struggling. I have been having a hard time too. The weight just seemed to melt off the first couple of months, now I feel like it is never going to go. I posted about the changes I am making to see if I can speed up this process (it is a couple of posts up). I know this is soooo hard to do. Just know you are not alone is this battle.. and sooner or later (and please let it be sooner :thumbup:) we will win it!!! julie

Wow. That is so great!!!! So... it seems like the personal trainer has done you a lot of good. Not that you weren't doing great beforehand. Good for you!!! :thumbup: julie

Kim, Like you, my head has not been competely in it. I have not been really carefull with my food choices. I have not been completely crazy... basically eating wayyyyy too much fat (I was making protein drinks every night and putting about 3-4 Tablespoons of peanut butter in them, also eating the not so occasional peanut butter cup, and drinking a daily cappuchino :thumbup:. I was doing fairly well with my loss, then went home to Michigan last year. I was there for 3 weeks and couldn't eat the whole time, I was getting so stuck. Came home and was no longer getting stuck... but couldn't lose a pound (other than the 9 I gained in Michigan drinking McDonalds shakes!!!) I did not lose another ounce for 3 months!!! Finally I said the heck with it and for 2 days ate all the candy bars I could get my hands on. Believe it or not I started losing again!!! Went to Michigan last month and it is the same story all over again. Been back a month and haven't lost anything. I have sort of recommited to my band. I am being really careful what I put in my mouth. I have never exercised, and I am starting now...slowly. I am charting my food, trying to stay around 20 grams fat and 100 grams carb a day. I am trying to eat between 1200-1400 cals a day (according to all the online calculators I should be eating 1400 to lose 3 pounds a week.) Yeah, right. I have found I am only eating 600-800 cals a day. I purchased a gowear fit (a little less expensive version of the bodybugg they wear on biggest loser) I am anxiously awaiting it's delivery. So..... I am trying to go from giving 50% effort with my band to giving 110%!!!! Feel free to PM me if you would like to talk more. julie

A question for you all.... When I had my surgery done my surgeon told me to stay under 20g fat, 100g carbs and 1200 calories. I have been doing calculators online. Most say for my height (5'6") my weight (271) and my activity level (breathing) I should be taking in about 1400 cals a day to lose 3 pounds a week. I have been very careful...charting every bite that goes in my mouth. I am finding to stay under that fat level I am only taking in about 600-700 cals a day. AND.... I feel like I am eating all day long. I'm wondering if this low caloric intake is why I am not losing?? What does Dr K say you should stay around when it comes to fat/carbs/cals?? I think I need another fill (it's been 6 months.. though I don't seem to be realy loose) and I am going to ask to see the dietician at that time... just wondering if I can get some ideas of "where I should be" before then. julie

I'm down 1.3. Happy Memorial Day all!!

WOW... good for you. 100 pounds is quite an accomplishment.

Put me down for +1.2 <sigh> I just can't seem to get it together. :purplebananna:

Just wanted to say how much fun I had last night at Red Robin. :thumbup: Jan, Mary and John it was great meeting you, and Nora & Dee, it was wonderful seeing you guys again. julie