Great2BThin

That is so awesome, Janet, brag away!!! You are giving me hope, which is turning into belief that I really can do this too. At first I didn't think I would ever reach goal and I just wanted to lose as much as I could and figured anything will help my health. And now here on my 6 week bandiversary I am down 42 lbs (disclaimer of 10 while researching my options of surgery, etc.), If I could be 100 lbs thinner on my one year bandiversary I would be tickled pink. (need to lose a total of 125-135). I so appreciate you still being here and offering your help and support to us!

Come on, I know there has to be lots of Non-Scale Victories (NSVS) now, let's hear yours!! I had another one yesterday. I discovered my bras just weren't offering the support they used to so I went bra shopping. I've gone from a 42 to a 38!!!

No she means IndigoGirl's thread under that Mentor board. She has been so gracious to offer mentoring to those that need it as have others. Indigo has helped me a lot.

My long lost twin!!! That is really similar stats. I hope I can have a loss like your's then too! I was 305.4, then 295.4 pre op and my goal is 169, I said 170 at first but that still puts me in the overweight BMI so 169. LOL How tall are you? I'm 5'9 and a lot of it's in my legs so had a hard time getting my seat at a comfy riding height, that didn't hurt my bad knee. When was your surgery?? (never mind I see it in your post!)

I wanna get whistled at too!! Thanks for the info on getting started at this biking. I didn't have any water this morning. I got up, brushed my eat, ate some eggs and then since I am not supposed to drink for 30-60 min after meals I went w/o water and then went later in the morning and it's a 99 degree day today so was heating up already. Would it be better to drink and not eat before my ride? or just drink with this one meal since eggs pretty much slide right through anyway?? Wow!! Whosyadaddy!! Awesome results!! I wanna be like you when I grow up in lapband land!!

Thanks Janet. I went to lunch with a fellow Denver LBTer today and she's been banded since Nov. We ordered the same thing and were full at about the same time so I feel like I have good restriction. But will keep in mind that it may change. GUess I'll know when I get hungry again. My pain isn't real bad it's just like a dull ache. I will be glad when I have the ultrasound and know for sure. Boos, I am not for sure it's gall bladder yet. But I have a dull ache in that area that goes around to my back so they want to check it out. Not sure if its' a result from the surgery, or just a result of being overweight all this time, losing weight and being the 3f's or 4 fs, can't remember what they call it: female, fat, forty+ Time will tell.

Well I am now I guess! LOL I just bought a bike last weekend. Nothing fancy for now to see how I like it. I was scared to death getting on, after all it's been 25+ years. But it's true, you never forget how. It's pathetic how out of shape I am. I went around the block my first night. LOL Yesterday I was up to 2.25 miles but today I could only do 1.25 but I added another hill. I also went later in the morning when it was hotter, does that make a difference? I still can't help but think that people are commenting about the fat chick on the bike, but one day they are going to see that former fat chick who lost a lot of weight on that bike! I am also fairly newly banded, just 6 weeks post op tomorrow.

Good morning lovely 50's!! I am just in from my morning bike ride. I was a little discouraged today as I couldn't go as long or as far today. But I added a new hill and that kicked my butt plus went a tad bit later and the heat makes a big difference. I almost didn't go but said no you have to! I really need to build some stamina, it's pathetic. DH is going to get a bike so we can ride together so I want to get a little more stamina before then. I'm doing great since my first fill on Monday. I can't believe the difference it has made. Last night I cooked chicken for DH & I, I had some thighs left in the freezer. I used to make 6 or 7 thighs, I'd eat 2 or 3 and he'd eat the rest sometimes one left over (if I made 7). Last night I made 3 as he wants to cut back too. And, I couldn't even eat one whole thigh. It was a big one though. I see my grocery bill going way down. Also DH is a hunter and has lots of game in the freezer, mostly birds. So I've been cooking him one of his birds and then having a small piece of fish etc. myself, it's a great time to need fewer groceries with the prices going up. And the best news of all I am down 2 lbs since my fill!!

Question about my 1st fill: As you know I just got my first fill on Monday. I can really tell a difference. I have great restriction, yet I can tolerate 2 to 4 oz of solid protein, am full for 2 1/2 - 3 hours, etc. Could I be at my 'spot' already? Or will this too change as I lose more weight and go further down the lap band road? I am loving it right now! And I'm down 2 more pounds since my fill! Oh and I think I mentioned the gall bladder concerns, I have my ultrasounds scheduled for next Tues.

Hi Gina, I had the same senstations with my 1st fill yesterday. Then another gal in the waiting room banded much longer than me said it meant I was too full so i was concerned. So I got 2 more little cups of water and drank them while waiting to talk to the nurse again. She said it was fine and probably just air, to give it a try and call right away if it was too much and she'd unfill me some (I got 3 cc yesterday). I got home and felt that way for awhile but had Beans for dinner and they went down fine, though about half of what I was eating and today added solids and I am doing okay, but eating a whole lot less. So I guess it's working. I do seem to be burping a little more. I've read a lot on the boards about folks burping and hadn't done that before so am wondering if that comes from restriction whereas before I had very little? Good luck and hope you are doing fine now.

Wow Robin, you are doing fantastic, almost half way to goal already!!! That's awesome!!

Ihope they are Skinny Cows!! :huh2: I tried to set an appt for fill #2 after fill #1 yesterday but they wouldn't let me. They said it's easy to get in for future fills as they don't take a half hour explaining everything and I may or maynot need one. I hope they are right if I need it, I will want it NOW!!

Good luck on your surgery tomorrow. We'll be waiting to hear all about it when you are ready! Tomorrow you will officially be a 'bandster'!!

That's for sure!! I hope to keep up with you! Speaking of competivenes, one of the things that keeps me motivated is I have 2 sisters. I see an opportunity to not be the fat sister anymore! That space is going to be vacant in the not so distant future! :thumbup:

Oh cool, do I get a light saber sword or whatever those things were?? I'm trying to learn all I can from all of you further down the road than me. Cause I want to catch you guys at goal!

Good afternoon. Only a few more days, Cathy, you'll get that fill. Are you eating 'slider' foods? Today is day 2 since my fill yesterday and I am feeling really optimistic that this might be the spot! I'm sure as time goes on I will be hungry but right now I'm pretty good. Maybe on the verge of being a little tight but I'm not getting stuck or doing that PBing people talk about (hasn't happened to me yet luckily). I am absolutely stuffed after just a couple ounces of dense protein. They were concerned yesterday about my gall bladder so the surgeons office ordered an ultrasound to check it out. It is scheduled for next Tues. Luckily (?) if I need it out, my lap band surgeon will do it. I really like him and feel at ease knowing that. the notes from the surgery though didn't mention it looking bad, so we'll see. Better safe than sorry I guess. I'd rather find out via an ultrasound that it's bad, than via an attack. Got up early this morning and rode my bike before it got too hot. I sure am out of shape!

Welcome Carol. I am sorry you are having a tough time. I am fairly new to this journey but sounds to me that you are eating too many mushy or slider fulls which isn't using the band properly as those go right through and then you are hungry. If you have a hard time eating denser foods perhaps you are over filled and would benefit from getting a little bit of an unfill. The denser foods will sit in your pouch longer making you feel full longer. Also, how much exercise are you doing? Hope that's of a little help and is just my newbie opinion, if I am off base I am sure someone will correct me.

Well, I'm not sure. Personally I'm not so concerned with getting 1000 calories in, in fact if I go over 1000 I panic. I asked about calories at my fill yesterday and she said not to be so concerned with counting calories as being sure I get my minimum proteins in. I am to eat 5 to 6 times a day about 2.5 to 3 hours a part and 4 oz at a time, she told me that was more important. And 90% of each meal is to be solid proteins. I know there's many different opinions from different docs etc. out there but that is what I go by. Now that's not to say I don't still go to mydailyplate and log my food choices there and see the calories, but I do watch the protein more.

Good morning. Well my first fill is working, down one this morning!!! All I ate yesterday though was a protein bullet while on liquids and then could have mushies last night so had some refried beans. Eggs for breakfast this morning and then at lunch I get to try some solid protein. I sure can feel a difference. I am now going to go out and ride my new bike before it gets too hot out there. Am getting anxious for them to call me to schedule that ultrasound of the gall bladder. If they don't call today I will call and see what's up and make sure I understood right that they were to call me and not vice versa.

I got my first fill yesterday too. Luckily only had to do fluids yesterday. I found it much harder to go back to fluids this time than I did post op. Good luck in getting under the 200 lb mark. You'll get there!

Thats awesome congrats!! I am actually anxious for my next flight just so I can test out the seat belt. I flew to Seattle 2 weeks before my banding in May to take a cruise and the flight was awful. I kept my extender as I never wanted to ask for one again. I can't wait to hand it to the flight attendant and say here I won't be needing this anymore!!

Cathy you can do this. Remember they only put a band on our stomachs not our heads. So we are still going to have to fight that head hunger and old habits. I am hopeful though as we go through this process that will get easier. I got my bike on Friday but have not ridden much. I went that night and Sat. Sunday after church it was too hot and the same excuse is today after I got home from my fill. It's 98 out and I'm not riding in that heat. My fill went good. I got 3cc added. I am on liquids til tonight. Not sure if that's what it is or what, but I am so sleepy. I am supposed to go to a bariatric exercise class tonight, and it's gonna be tough with no food!

Janet, The fill went great. No fluoro and no numbing, but it didn't hurt. Just a little sting. She went over what to expect, my chart, etc. Then stuck me, withdrew the 4cc they put in at surgery to be sure it was all there and it was, then added 3 cc more. She told me I had a 14cc band because they couldn't get the 10cc to fit right in surgery, but it was so big they put in 4cc's so I was a '10cc patient with a 14cc band' LOL So all was fine until I told her about an ache in my right side. She asked if it went around to my back and I said sometimes. They want to do an ultrasound of my gall bladder. Someone will be calling me soon to schedule it this week. Great!! just what I need another surgery. But, luckily if I need it my band surgeon will do it and insurance will pay this time. She said it wasn't that uncommon when you lose alot of weight. Glad all is well with you Janet, I guess you are entitled to a life away from us! ha ha Thanks for remembering and asking about my fill, that meant a lot.

Just got home from my first fill. It went well, a little sting when she poked me. She first withdrew my prefill of 4cc to be sure it was all still there and it was and that was the weirdest sensation. then injected it back along with 3 cc more. She said I am doing great with my loss and losing at a rapid rate. I like that! Only thing I didn't like is she suspicious of my gall bladder, I have an achy feeling in that area so they are ordering an ultrasound to check it out. If it is bad, Dr. Snyder can do that surgery too so I am relieved by tha and insurance will pay for that. Just wish it would've acted up pre banding so i could've had it all done at the same time!

Where's our beloved Janet? She must be out enjoying the sun! Becky, is bread on your mushie food diet list? I know bread is a big deal for me and am told not to have it even on solids, it can get stuck really easy. Be careful, I know there's lots of different instructions from different docs. Kathy, welcome. I am sure you are welcome to join here, Janet has been so gracious to help so many of us. Give her time to catch up and she'll be with you! I am newly banded myself, just 6 weeks ago. I got my first fill today and am doing great. I was nervous before the surgery too. I spent so much time looking forward to it and then as it got closer I got scared to death, that's normal.