hazeleyegrl1

you should Stop Eating BEFORE you get the stuck feeling. the STUCK feeling definitely should not be your sign to stop....in fact, i HATE that feeling and i'm wondering how on earth you have been putting up w/that miserable feeling. also, it may be the bread on the sandwich that is causing that stuck feeling too. i stay away from bread, rice, & Pasta bc they tend to get "stuck" more often the not. hope that helps. oh, and from what i understand, it takes over eating over a period of time before you'll stretch the pouch, but the previous post is correct, they have to do the fluoro (xray) in order to tell if there is stretching of your pouch. good luck! and let us know how every thing turns out for you. xoxo, christie

ok, i was banded 9-14-07, so i am 5months post op and close to 50 lbs weight loss. however, here over the past few days, i have woke up in the mornings with soreness and pain in my stomach, instinctively i try to touch the sore/painful area and its my port and what i believe to be, my band. i think i can actually FEEL my band from the outside of my stomach....couldn't do this in the past, maybe its bc i've lost weight now? who knows.... BUT...why on earth would i be sore and tender on the inside around my port and band? i sleep on my back and side (mostly), but sometimes on my stomach, but this has never been an issue in the past....i'm wondering if there is an underlying problem that i should address with my doctor or if this is something that others have gone through and consider normal. ANY input would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! i'm trying to decide whether or not i should give it more time and sleep in different positions to see if that will remedy the problem....but i'm also scared that, could it be my port has flipped??? or is my band erroding??? i'm at 6cc in a 10cc band. xoxo, christie

Thanks for all the comments and great advise.....but, now the pain is gone.... so, i'm thinking that if it comes back, i'll make an appt w/the dr...but maybe i just pulled something or over did one of my workouts??? i guess its possible. OH! and whenever you said you thought you could feel the Tubing....now i think that perhaps thats the feeling that i only THOUGHT was the actual band....anyhow, unless the pain comes back, i'm going to assume it was from working out too hard. if/when it comes back, i'll make an appt. AGAIN, THANKS YA'LL! xoxo, Christie

please update my stats....i'm now down to 215.0, so a total of 3.5 lbs down for this specific challenge. i had a week +/- of plateau but it looks like things are FINALLY starting to pick up some. YAY! i'm still doing my elliptical and oh!!! i boiled cabbage w/dinner tonight (GOING GREEN), and that was all I had...it went down VERY easy and so i just skipped everything else and stuck w/the cabbage only. i notice that i can eat mostly 1/4 - 1/2 cup of most things, but w/the cabbage being so soft, i ate about a cup and it was GOOOOD! first time i've ever cooked it...so this GREEN CHALLENGE is also helping me to learn how to cook new things that before I would only get at my parents or at a restuarant....I'm a happy girl! ok, so i'm down 3.5 lbs total.... xoxo, Christie ps - hope everyone else is doing great! AND, what day exactly is St. Pattys Day?? I gotta figure out if i'm on schedule or begin or ahead of this Challenge! lol. Thanks!

any new updates? any one lost any more weight during this challenge yet? i'm once again at another lil plateau, but, its also my TOM (hope thats not TMI), but i'm HOPING that is the reason my weight has been at such a stand still.....yea that and plus... Do GREEN M&M's count as "going green"?!! LOL...sorry, i had a sweet tooth attack!!! i couldn't resist, like i said, TOM! xoxo, Christie

tonight i went "GREEN" with a little bit of broccolli and some stir fry cabbage.... adding this twist of "green" foods into the challenge was a good idea and is actually fun. i now look for foods that are green when i'm trying to decide what to eat....which is helping keep away the more carb type of vegies. again, GREAT IDEA! how is everyone else doing on their "GREEN" eating??? xoxo, Christie

i totally went "GREEN" w/my food today! LOL....i thought i'd share. we were @ the mall food court for lunch and i bought this SPINACH LASGANA....sad that i had to throw 95% of it away, BUT the good news is, I didn't eat ANY of the Pasta layers! I just picked out the spinach and the red sauce and cheese....it was good...pasta is over rated! of course, you couldn't have told me that pre-band! for dinner i baked chicken and made a big pot of mixed greens....i'm from the south! anyhow, i seasoned them up VERY WELL and used NO BUTTER!!!....i did cook some bacon into them for flavor though...but i ONLY at the mixed greens and left the chicken over for my hubby and son...TONS of leftovers, which is great! Bc who wants to cook on Saturdays! I do try to watch myself on the Salads...is it just me, or does it seem like a "Healthy" choice at first...and then you add all the good stuff and the fattening dressings, etc and before you know it, its not such a "healthy" choice after all.....am I the only one that has that problem? I can't eat just lettuce w/out the good stuff....the cheese and bacon bits and croutons and sunflower seeds...then the mushrooms and purple onions and tomatoes....some of its not bad...but alot of it is....especially the dressings. Also, is it just me...or do leafy veges go down ALOT easier then other foods and are ya'll able to eat more of them then other things? I can usually only eat about 1/4-1/2 cup of food, but with the Mixed Greens tonight, it was probably closer to 2/3 cup...and i was HAPPY about that...bc they were soooo good! but does anyone else notice that leafy greens go down easier and can eat more of them then other foods? i'm all into this challenge!!!! and excited about it too! can ya'll tell?!!! xoxo, Christie

I was thinking of some kind of mini goal/challenge that we September Bandsters could do together. I alway see people with their mini goals and exercising and weight loss goals. well, today being 1/14, we have exactly one month until Feb 14th - Valentine's Day!! So Why Not Dubb it "The Sweetheart Goal"? My Sweetheart Goal is going to be to lose 14lbs between now and Valentines Day, since Vday is on the 14th. i know it seems like alot, but if we SUPPORT each other and share tips, recipes, low cal Snacks, ETC ETC, i really think that all or most of us could hit that goal!! ANYONE WITH ME? ANYONE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE? :tongue:THE SWEETHEART GOAL:tongue: READY, SET, LOSE!!!!! WE HAVE UNTIL FEB 14TH TO LOSE 14LBS! 14LBS IN APPROX 1 MONTH! LETS DO IT!!!

WAY TO GO JENNIE1976!!!!!!!! Congrats on making your goal! xoxo, Christie

please update ... new info...lost another 2lbs! woo hoo! Hazeleyegrl1 .... 233 ....... 200 ........ 216.5 ........16.5<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P></O:P>

Georgia Girl, I can't figure out how to EDIT the orginial post with all of our stats. I think that only the original poster (you) can actually EDIT it...not sure. Anyhow, I have updated Stats as I weighed this morning and am down another 2lbs. I realize that we don't officially start this goal until tomorrow...but i've already gone over the valentines one by 1/2 a pound and now i'm down another 2 lbs and well, i guess i just want those 2 lbs to count toward this goal...lol....gotta bank em while i'm losing them, cuz i know that with the way i lose, i lose for a bit, and then plateau and back and forth. hope you don't mind me updating w/my lil loss.... here's my updated info: Hazeleyegrl1 Starting Weight: 218.5 Current Weight: 216.5 Green Day Weight: 204.5 DOWN so far: 2 lbs. LBS to go: 10 lbs.

just adding myself...AND...if my calculations are right, (and its possible i am off bc i did it in a hurry)....TOGETHER we have lost 1,417.20 lbs!!! Doesn't that just blow you away.... over 1400 lbs of pure fat gone for good from this world of obesity we live in! We should all be so proud!! xoxo, Christie Stacy 73… 51 TulipStar…22 Mdicurn…30 time4me…27.8 Magooz07…11 Caresarn…16 georgia girl…65 Lapband4me...32 Sirusman…67 Allisarin…23 Tishamarie…49 EL1…23 Juliacleone…32 Kimmie…45 dsmit13…23 ScareDcat…50 Lapitup…22.5 mandi78…23 andrea71…28 Thinmom…23 Kellymovingon...35 flipper64...30 kagoscuba...37 Lucylu...15 Gurlygirl....27 Amber...39 suzygayle....40 Linda E......24.5 lbs Texrose 575 .....24.0 lbs itstime....23 lbs eastxnurse....30 lbs wannabthin...36.5 lbs Queenp....28lbs Chocolate_Snaps....52lbs Bekiboo26....58lb Jennie1976...49 lbs Hazeleyegrl1...45.9 lbs.

Oh my gosh!!! I just looked @ where I'll be if/when I hit the "Green Day" Challenge of 12 lbs! I cannot believe that I will be THAT close to the 200 lbs mark! I was only hoping to weigh 200 lbs. by this JUNE!! But if I can make the 12lbs then I will DEFINITELY be in the ONE-derland by JUNE! I am going to TRY my hardest to complete ALL of the challenges that this GREEN DAY has! I already have "gone green" with the exception of recycling...everything else my hubby and I have already done over the past year and continue to do. So I'm good on that and feeling great about it. The light bulbs and thermostat have saved us money, so we have MORE green for things we want instead of a higher bill! Invest in the light bulbs ya'll, they are great! We also have the front loader washing machine and dryer and that saves electricity and a ton of water! Plus we use the detergent to go w/it...its a lil higher, more expensive, but well worth it and it lasts longer too! And the clothes ALWAYS smell GREAT! I've put in my stats below along w/Kimmie's since I've already met the Sweetheart Goal, but I still encourage everyone to keep working at it! It can be done! And remember, it was just a "goal" anyways so even if you don't make it, you're still better off then before you started! xoxo, Christie Kimmie Starting weight: 275 Current Weight: 275 Green Day Weight: 263 DOWN So Far: 0 lbs LBS TO GO: 12 lbs __________________ Hazeleyegrl1 Current Weight: 218.5 Starting Weight: 218.5 Green Day Weight: 204.5 DOWN so far: 0 lbs. LBS to go: 12 lbs.

i LOVE LOVE LOVE my elliptical....I'm doing a 2008 Challenge: A Year of Miles on my elliptical! I have 365 days to complete 365 miles on it. I will admit that whenever I first started using it, after 10 or 15minutes I was done...couldn't go on anymore...couldn't finish a mile! I still loved it though, I just had to build up to a mile....and now, I have found myself finishing a mile and going farther and farther past that mile as my stamina builds up. Plus, there are different programs on there to build up your resistance. I can tell you this....I used to walk 3miles a day, 3 times a week....and just 1 mile on my elliptical I feel like I sweat more and get an overall better workout then 3 miles of just walking. I don't have a treadmill, so I can't honestly say anything one way or another about them....but I will 100% endorse the elliptical. and as far as the one you pick out, just make sure it is one that feels good to you and you are comfortable on it....oh, and make sure its sturdy.... mine does squeek and my hubby has had to adjust it and its leveling a few times, but i won't trade it in for a new one bc it cost me over $300 back in december and i will just turn up the radio louder and keep going if i have too....LOL.... xoxo, christie Hope that info helps.

you can do it! you only have 3lbs to go and still have 2 full days!!! thats only 1.5 a day and make sure you weigh in the MORNINGS and NAKED! lol...i even take off my jewelry.... clothes and especially shoes weigh alot more then you would think!!! YOU CAN DO IT GIRL!!! i have seen your weight going down over the past month and i have confidence in you! Put your mind to it and stick to it and you'll meet this goal! xoxo, Christie

ANY kind of exercise is better then no exercise at all. I now workout on my elliptical, but when first banded 9/14/07 i started out walking.... it may sound silly, but i would walk for a lil while and then i would jog the length between 2 mail boxes...then walk some more, and then jog again the length between 2 mail boxes...lol....obviously i was just walking in my neighborhood....but eventually got up to were i was walking/jogging 3miles a day, 3 times a week....and the weight AND the inches started to slowly move downward....nothing miraculously over night or anything, but the scale was definitely moving....plus, i could feel myself firming up a bit and people started to notice my weightloss more. GOODLUCK with whatever you decide to do, but definitely decide to exercise! even if its a richard simmons video tape from the 80's! some exercise is better then none! xoxo, christie

i'm doing what i have dubbed, "2008 Challenge: A Year of Miles"....which means i have 365 days to complete 365 miles (on my elliptical). I began officially counting the miles on Jan 1st and have kept myself accountable on here (my signature line) and on myspace on my personal quote...that way people can see my progress...plus, after I'm done working out, I get to update it....which actually helps push me to do just a lil more! okay, so i'm slightly behind, i won't lie....i think i have stayed behind...BUT, the good news is, i'm catching up, and finding that it is getting easier and easier to complete the 1 mile a day AND add some to it to help catch up! See my signature line for my status so far. I think i'm behind by a lil over 10miles....like 10.86miles or something....but i have full intentions to catch up and surpass that! most nights when i don't feel like doing it, i realize that i have friends on here and on myspace that will notice my stats didn't change....some have even asked if i'm "okay" thinking i wasn't feeling good....it encourages me to work harder at my goal! how is everyone else doing??? xoxo, christie

do you think you could go ahead and set up the thread for the St Patty's Day thing so that way maybe more people will have time to decide to get involved? I don't see any harm in just preparing the way, but not officially starting it until Feb 15th or so. Just an idea, but by all means, I think its great if different people get involved with planning the challenges/goals! Diversity maybe the key that we all need, I know that different things will work better for some then others, so its great that we have different creative minds putting together stuff! I'm excited about the next challenge/goal! AND...for those of you still working on the "Sweetheart Goal", DO NOT GIVE UP!!! It can be done, and its just a "goal" so even if you do not make it, you are still better off then where you started out a month ago! KEEP up the Losing! xoxo, Christie

A St. Patty's Day Challenge sounds AWESOME!!

Please Update, my new info as follows: Hazeleyegrl1 .... 233 ....... 200 ........ 218.5 ........18.5 THANKS! I LOVE THIS CHALLENGE AND WATCHING EVERYONES NUMBERS DROP! ITS A GREAT INSPIRATION! XOXO, CHRISTIE

"Sweetheart Goal" HAZELEYEGRL1 starting weight: 233.0 current weight: 218.5 DOWN So Far: 14.5 lbs. LBS. TO GO: 0!!! *COMPLETED GOAL 2/10/08* GEORGIA GIRL starting weight: 275 current weight: 265 DOWN So Far: 11 lbs LBS. TO GO: 3 lbs LOVEMYBAND23 Starting Weight: 241 Current Weight: 236 DOWN So Far: 5 lbs LBS TO GO: 9lbs. BEKIBOO26 Starting Weight: 231.5 Current Weight: 224.4 DOWN So Far: 7.1 lbs. LBS TO GO: 6.9 lbs BTLBAILEY Starting weight: 265 Current Weight: 265 DOWN So Far: LBS TO GO: 7 lbs ChocolateSnaps Starting weight: 293 Current Weight: 285 DOWN So Far: 8 lbs LBS TO GO: 6 lbs JUST UPDATING W/MY STATS AND YES, I HAVE COMPLETED THE GOAL AND ACTUALLY GONE OVER BY HALF A POUND! I'M GOING TO STICK W/YA'LL TIL VALENTINES DAY TO SEE HOW MUCH FARTHER I CAN GET PAST THE GOAL AND TO ROUTE EVERYONE ON TO THE FINISH LINE OF "THE SWEETHEART GOAL". ALSO, SINCE GOAL TIME IS NEARING, SHOULD WE BE CONSIDERING HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE EASTER CHALLENGE? HOW MANY DAYS BETWEEN VALENTINES AND EASTER? HOW MUCH WEIGHT SHOULD THE GOAL BE? ETC????? SOMEONE WANNA THINK ABOUT STARTING A NEW THREAD FOR THE NEW EASTER/SPRING CHALLENGE??? OK LADIES, 3 MORE DAYS TIL VDAY! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND DON'T FORGET TO UPDATE YOUR STATS! I'M ROUTING FOR YOU, IF I CAN DO IT, ANYONE CAN!!!!! XOXO, CHRISTIE

well, as of FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2008, I have only 0.5 lbs to go...JUST A HALF A POUND!!! I haven't weighed since then, so i'm crossing my fingers that I will be at goal in the morning if not already! This is the very first goal that I have set for myself and I'm so thrilled! I hope that all of you are doing well, please update and let me know how each of you are doing with this goal! The countdown is here, only 4 more days til Valentine's Day! xoxo, Christie

ok i'm going for my 5th fill tomorrow.....AND...depressingly...i'm UP 2lbs....however, next week is my TOM so i am HOPING that its just bc of that, and ovulating, etc.....but still...i ate and ate and ate today bc i was sooo hungry and felt like i was practically wide open with lil or no restriction....again....depressing! i really thought, by the way i was losing weight at the beginning of this challenge that i would've hit the goal by now....i mean, i've been teetering around the 10-12lb weight loss for this goal for what seems like forever now...and then today to have the scale move UPWARDS!!! ugh! anyhow, i'm glad my 5th fill was scheduled for wednesday, tomorrow bc after weighing this morning, i was in tears! part of me still just EXPECTS to see another weight loss attempt failure ya know? its like, we've all tried everything else....and everything else has failed us. i know that i am a long way from where i started at, and thats the only thing that is keeping me going today as far as the lap band is concerned....i'm just praying that tomorrow will be a successful fill. i really thought i had hit that sweet spot...and then after 10lbs came off so easily, it really slowed....and well....ugh! just pray for me! oh....and not to seem selfish with the above, i guess i need to ask....HOW IS EVERYONE ELSE DOING w/ THE SWEETHEART GOAL??? i really am hoping for the best for everyone...but just so depressed about myself and discouraged right now. don't mean to sound like the party pooper of the thread. sorry ladies. xoxo, christie

ok, i am SOO very happy to have found this thread!! my TOM is next week and today i found myself able to eat more and more and feeling practically NO RESTRICTION! here's the other thing....i'm scheduled for a fill tomorrow!! AND...today when i weighed i had a 2lb GAIN!!! i am almost sure its bc i'm ovulating and have bloating, etc...typical symptoms....BUT, i really do not want to put off my fill..... whats the worse that could happen if i get a fill tomorrow instead of waiting until after my TOM??? anyone know? this is literally the first i have ever heard of ppl saying they can eat more w/less restriction during TOM! again, i'm happy to have found this thread....i feel much better knowing i'm not the only one and i had no idea it would be related to my TOM at all! thanks for posting this one! xoxo, christie

well, i THOUGHT that 5cc's was my sweet spot....BUT, i'm going tomorrow for my 5th fill and crossing my fingers that i will have more restriction.... after my 4th fill...hitting 5cc, i had SOOO much restriction and i dropped 10lbs in about a week and a half...BUT, since then, i have had less and less restriction and less and less weight loss. now i almost feel as if i'm wide open again....i'm sooo guilty, i ate like a lil piggy today! i ate only when i was hungry and stopped whenever i was satisfied...BUT...it just toook sooo much more to get me there then usual. my fear now is that this will ALWAYS happen....will i ALWAYS lose weight and lose restriction bc of the weight loss and then have to get tighter and tighter? or will i eventually get to a fill that will stick and not need any more after that? this is beginning to get frustrating for me. i work my butt off on the elliptical and still i see the weight going slower and slower and now today, it actually went UP 2lbs!!! gaining definitely means time for a fill! xoxo, christie