minidriver

Woot woot!!! That's fantastic!!! YAY FOR YOU!!!! I know what you mean about the weird hunger/no hunger thing. Give it a few more weeks and, trust me, you'll be plenty hungry. How many calories are you getting in?

Okay, I have a question for all of you (well, not the newbies). I am getting my first fill tomorrow, and am hoping that my rate of loss will start to increase a bit. So, for those of you who keep track of such things (and I know you do!) did your weight loss speed up after your first fill? Or was your biggest loss in the first month after surgery? I am worried that I will be stuck at 1 lb a week. I lost 8 lbs in 2 weeks while doing liquids/full liquids, then less than 1 lb in the third week and 1.5 lbs in the 4th. I know 1 lb a week is considered perfectly acceptable weight loss, but I really would like to lose closer to 2. I'm going to kick up my exercise now though.

Okay, my official starting weight is 204.8.

Have a marvelous trip!

Yep, you looked amazing in the video. Yes, I"m flying in tomorrow, then back out tomorrow night. Whirlwind trip, I know. I'm really excited. I hope my weight loss will speed up a bit with a fill . . .although I'm pretty happy with it so far.

Lotza, that is soooo exciting!! Post as soon as you get back and let us know!

Oh yay! Glad you got your fill. I get my first one Tuesday. I feel like I'm not really losing as fast as other people do their first month, but it's still more than I've ever lost in a single month in my life.

hahahahaha. that's pretty freakin' funny.

It was a bunch of still photos from the BBQ spliced together into a little video, with people's names and stuff. "purplelady" (Natalie, I assume) posted it a few minutes ago, but now it's gone and I don't know what the link for it was.

whoa, that's weird. It went away. Maybe it will be posted again . . . You're not lost! The video is!!!

The video is wonderful! Everyone looks FANTASTIC!!! Wowzer! Hi darlin' Shelbi! How are you?

I'm eating 1000 without counting exercise. I know I have a REALLY slow metabolism, so I can't go over that amount by much even with exercise or I wouldn't lose anything.

I find that it really really helps to keep careful track of your calories every day. I use dailyplate.com to look things up, then enter it all in a version of fit day that I downloaded to my computer. Even though I FEEL like I'm eating a ton right now, I'm actually only eating an average of 1000-1100 calories per day. I do get hungry now (unlike the first few weeks after surgery) but I also get full quite easily. I know I haven't lost a ton of weight compared to some, but my percent of weight loss is pretty decent, so I'm happy. Bandster hell won't last forever . . . look at the success of all our forum mates!!! We newbies can do it too.

I do think it's important to remember that each doctor tends to give different orders and if one doctor says solid food is fine at 3 weeks and that person eats solids at 3 weeks, they are NOT cheating. They are doing what their doctor said they could do. There is a big difference between cheating and following a slightly different plan because of the different opinions of our doctors. Some docs use different techniques for securing the band . . . and those different techniques can also play a role in rates of slippage. I have the same doc as bella and he talked to me in great detail about his complication rates (next to nothing) and his surgical technique (a little different from the norm). He post-op diet is not as stringent as many (progress to solids by 3 weeks) but his record speaks for itself. And there are many of his patients who have lost an incredible amount of weight. Just my two cents.

Hello ladies! Hope everyone had fun at the BBQ. Wish I could have been there, but I just came home from a really fun wedding so I'm glad I was here for that. I'll be in Denver for my first fill on Tuesday though, so I'll be thinking of you all! Dork - put me down for 30 minutes walking every day. I'm going to a conference in Berkeley next week and then to see the grandbaby, but I can always find a place to walk. Denver - I got a sassy new cut and color today too. Doesn't a new haircut just make you feel like a million bucks? Okay, night night lap band ladies. Pleasant dreams to all.

woohoo!!! Partay!

Yep, just stay positive. So have you sent him a pic yet???

Hi Jilly!! Glad to hear that you're doing well. I'm with dee - slimfast low carb shakes are the only ones I can tolerate, and I also like the isopure, but only if I dilute it by 50% with water and crystal light. I pour half into another bottle, then fill with water and one packet crystal light, then do the same with the other half later in the day. Gives me lots of water and 40g of protein!

Lotza, I know you feel discouraged, but this seems to happen to everybody. I gained back a lb or so and then was completely stuck for 10 days. All of a sudden the scale is moving again!! Just hang in there, try to patient. You'll have your first fill before you know it. This WILL work.

Everyone have a great time at the BBQ! I look forward to lots of pics. Wish I could be there!

Okay, I'm in for 10 as well. What the hell. Might as well aim high!!!

I'm in! I would like to be part of a challenge!! Woohoo!!!

vodka and 5 calorie cranberry juice. If you use 1/2 shot of vodka, the whole drink is like 65 calories or something. And it's tasty too.

Anita - congrats on the pants!! Woohoo!!!

Cowboy hat and chaps??? Ride em' cowgirl!!!