FeliciaLevy75

Support is not always touchy-feely; support is tough, open, and honest. Support comes in all shapes and sizes. All of this means that you will not always hear what you want to hear, but the people saying it are doing so because they care. Whether family, friends, coworkers, etc., support comes in all flavors. That said, support is only as good as the person receiving that support. What am I getting at? Sadly, too many people project their own inferiority complexes on those very people trying to help them. In truth, it is you who needs to learn how to deal with the support you seek. How you respond or solicit that support says a lot about you. It is your reaction that is important when mentally processing the support options provided to you. Members of my family are the kings and queens of this type of destructive behavior (among others). Someone doesn't say something that is in blanket agreement? Someone suggests that they work harder, longer, smarter? Someone says that they will have to cut back (on salt, fat, calories, alcohol, smoking, etc.), lose weight, or exercise more? Someone disagrees with their uneducated pontification on Jeopardy answers? All hell breaks loose, let me tell ya. My family, some people on these boards, people at school, work, etc.... we all know these people. The "what the hell does s/he know, anyway?" crowd. The people who, know matter how much they claim to be open to new ideas and viewpoints, shut down as soon as someone suggests that accountability and responsibility lie within the supportee. To all of these dysfunctionals: Get over yourself, people! You don't have all the answers, no one does. If you solicit support (and yes, posting on these boards is included), be prepared to hear something you may not like. The point is to process what is being said, research it and, if appropriate, take steps to better your life because of it. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone falls down. Learn from it; learn from the people with whom you interact; learn from others' experiences - good and bad. Speak your mind, sure, but if it's just to discount everything people say because it doesn't fit into your preconceived notions of how things should progress... shut your trap. If you approach someone for support and advice, and if your best reply begins with "But....," shut your trap and THINK about what they are saying. But wait! I am not saying that the would-be supporters are infallible - I am just suggesting that the mouth doesn't shoot off immediately. Think about it. Think about why you need to rebutt so quickly; think about why you are put off by it. Support should make you think, make you act. It's more than just a hug and some tears, it's something that enables you to move on, move up. Like I've said before, if you already knew it all, knew how to do it, and knew more than anyone else.... you wouldn't be here asking for support.

rock on!! Congrats!!!

We see the same questions and same exclamations over and over on LBT... and frankly, it's getting old. I know that a lot of new people come in every day, and I know that everyone has questions. Hell, I am sure I ask(ed) some stupid ones, too. I am still relatively new to all of this; I am not claiming to be some expert... but I can look around, I can read, and I take the time to participate in my own education so I am not a complete raving lunatic. In some cases, I am willing to overlook the redundancies, but it's getting to the point where I want to shake people like a bad nanny shakes a baby. I will probably be adding to this; I see this as a vent blog. You don't have to agree with me, but it's my blog, so it doesn't matter if you do or not, eh? Anyway, some of the more annoying things I find.... Why am I not losing weight? Gee, when you admit to eating crap, especially crap that slips right through the band, do you really need an answer to that question? The band is not gastric bypass, you still absorb everything you eat. You are simply (supposed to be) eating less and making healthier choices. (And even with GB, you are limited in the sugar, fat, etc. you can take in for fear of Dumping Syndrome. And yes, it's as bad as it sounds.) Just because you CAN eat it (get it down), doesn't mean you should. If you are eating ice cream, smores, Fritos, cheeseburgers, bacon and sausage pizzas, etc. as regular food instead of the occasional treat, then you will continue to look like you eat those things. Calories in need to be less than calories out (expended). Low carb, high protein, SugarBusters, Weight Watchers, whatever you are doing... calories are still king. Eat more than you need and you gain weight. Eat what you expend and you stagnate. Eat less than your bigger body needs and you will begin to lose weight to create the smaller body we all hope to achieve in this process. Move your ass! (Thanks to Jachut's sig for that reminder.) If you are sitting around expecting the pounds to melt off simply from "dieting," you are in big trouble. It may work at first if you are watching your caloric intake, but that will slow down - if not stop. Your body needs to move: your heart, lungs, muscles... they need exercise to become more efficient and fuel this healthier body you are trying to create. You don't need to be a triathlete (but kudos to those who do!), but you need to move. It also helps with skin elasticity, so there's a double bonus there. Soda? Pop? Cola? Beer? Sparkling Water? Carbonation? Fizzy Drinks? How many people have to post on this one - creating a new thread with a poll every week? Even if your doctor didn't tell you to stay away (because I realize that not all docs are created alike and some people did not receive the guidance they should), READ THE BOARDS. This and other questions are dead horses on which so many people still beat. Seriously, it's called a search button. Look for key words, phrases. Spend some time researching what it is you are looking to understand. People answering the 2,863,298th poll about carbonated beverages is not justification, especially for those posters who admit that they "know better" or "know it's bad", etc. It's science. Carbonated beverages contain (cold) compressed gases. Introduce them into a (warm) stomach and guess what happens? The gas bubbles have no where to go. When they explode, much like they do on the top of your beer stein, where do you think all that goes? It's trapped. Trapped exploding gas bubbles = expansion of their environment... your pouch. Expand the pouch and the band as a tool becomes nearly useless. I Know It's Bad, But..... This just needs to go away. If you know it's wrong or bad, don't freaking do it. Period. Posting on the boards and finding other people who know it's bad does not negate the fact that your behavior is your worst enemy. If it's bad, don't do it. If you slipped, stand back up and do the right thing. Continue to screw up, and no amount of board postings will help you. Someone tell me what to do. Whip me into shape. This one just pisses me off. Looking for advice is great. Comparing notes is fabulous. But, if you need this board to tell you step by step how to live your new life... you need way more than this board can provide. This is a message board and, while I have met some great people and read some great posts, it is still up to the individual reader to take action on what they learn here. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE. If you need someone to hold your hand and lead you through each day, each meal, each issue, you need to look into something more face-to-face. Also, if it's a medical issue, go to the damn doctor. How many more people will post that something is broken, bleeding, popping, or otherwise falling off - then wait for the online community to tell them that they haven't been banded yet but maybe it's this, that, or the other? KEEP YOUR SURGEON INVOLVED - ESPECIALLY WITH MEDICAL-RELATED ISSUES. I did _____________ earlier than I was told. I didn't follow ___________ exactly as I was instructed. I ate ______________ a month before I was supposed to. Follow the rules. If your doctor gives you guidance - even knowing that they are all different - who are you to decide that his or her medical education and training are inferior to your experience as a patient? Let's face it, if you knew better, you wouldn't be in this position... would you? Get over yourself and accept that you don't know everything. Are some of the rules harder than others? Hell yes, they are supposed to be. This isn't supposed to be easy - you have to put some effort into this new, healthier you. If you can't be bothered, then why go through with this? ----- More to come... believe me.

Awww, thanks, Ursa! It's always nice to hear that. As for your food choices, have you been tracking what you eat? One of the theories behind tracking's success is that you are face to face, in the numbers, with what you eat everyday and what it does to your new healthy lifestyle (remember, this is not a diet... this is ongoing... this is life). When you see how the unhealthy stuff adds up, you tend to not want to see it anymore. If you don't eat it, you don't track it, and you don't have to see it on the list anymore. You can do it. If you aren't already there, sign up LiveStrong.com to take advantage of their information and The Daily Plate. TDP is a great tracking tool. Good luck!

Hmmmm, nothing wrong with getting some information early. Maybe I'll see you there.

I have 3.9ccs (1cc + 1.4ccs + 1.5ccs) in a 10cc band. I didn't notice restriction until the last fill. And then I noticed it as soon as I was off the 2-day liquids and back on to regular food. Dry Proteins are not nice to me, regardless of how small the bite and how much I chew. It takes a lot less to get full and I stay fuller longer, for sure. I have a checkup on this fill planned for August 15. If I don't need it at that time, I will reschedule for 2 weeks later to see how things are going. I may have found a spot that will work for a while, it's exciting!

You've been doing a great job, Liz! I have faith in you. There are quite a few people who haven't checked in. If you are reading this thread and and your stats haven't updated on the list, please let us know how you're doing! You can do it!

Your stomach and muscles (including the diaghram through which the esophagus travels) will react to stress, which makes it seem that the band is getting tighter. Stressed folks seem to have a higher rate of acid reflux, etc. for this reason. The band itself isn't changing; it's a silicone implant and blissfully unaware (regardless of some of the Borg jokes in the Men's Room some time ago) of what is going on with you physiologically. Managing stress has been a big part of this process for me. As a full time employee in a busy and high-stress job, and a full time student, I feel stressed in some way every day. Various things work for me, including an ultra-healthy diet during periods of extreme stress. The healthier I eat, the more rest I get, and the more exercise I fit in, the less stressed I become - and it's exponential. The more I take care of those situations, the less I experience them and the less strain there is on my body that could affect the band's fit or placement.

I want to put that on a t-shirt.

Grats, Bunkeye! As of Friday, I was down 3lbs since I last posted. Name.............StartingWeight....Current......Goal.........To Go Bunkey1965........220.................203............189...........14 CQQlgirl..............200.................198............190...........8 Cadets71............239.................226.5..........219...........7.5 Dreamsize8.........216.................216............190...........26 FeliciaLevy75......286.................246............240........... 6 Gayle21..............190.......... ......190............175...........15 Jeni 85................189.................183............169...........14 Laura bough........215.................205............190...........15 Liz_hager............172.................165............150...........15 MMarg.................220.................214............199...........21 Newhope4me......163.6...............163.6..........150..........13.6 NukeChik.............227.................227............197...........30 Scrappy_friend....222.................222.............200..........22 TexGirl................202.................198............180...........18 Thininside28........271.5..............271.5..........245...........26.5 Wannabthin.........199................199.............179...........20

Ceradad - Still a huge accomplishment; very proud! Great job!! Updating my list: 8/1 - 35 minutes walking at 3+mph and 2.0 incline; AND 15 minutes bicycling @ 20+mph (5.5 miles in 15 minutes); AND 1 mile walking around the block (approx. 20 minutes). Total - 70 minutes 8/2 - 25 minutes walking at 3+mph and 2.0 incline; AND 15 minutes bicycling @ 20+mph (5.5 miles in 15 minutes); AND 10 minutes on the elliptical at home after a day on my ass playing cards. Total - 50 minutes 8/3 - 30 minutes bicycling @ 22mph (11 miles in 30 minutess) + 1.5 mile cool down; AND 15 or so minutes treading Water, moderate; AND 25 minutes (1 mile) walking around Town Square in Las Vegas. Will also do 30 minutes of light stability ball work tonight. Total - 45 vigorous + 25 minutes light to moderate (ball not included)

8/1 - 35 minutes walking at 3+mph and 2.0 incline; AND 15 minutes bicycling @ 20+mph (5.5 miles in 15 minutes); AND 1 mile walking around the block (approx. 20 minutes). Total - 70 minutes 8/2 - 25 minutes walking at 3+mph and 2.0 incline; AND 15 minutes bicycling @ 20+mph (5.5 miles in 15 minutes); AND 10 minutes on the elliptical at home after a day on my ass playing cards. Total - 50 minutes

I had my first fill on July 3. Then two weeks later I had #2. 2 weeks later I had #3. I have an appointment for 2 weeks from that for #4, if needed (it was 2 days ago, so I need to give it about a week to see how it's working out). If I need to change it, I just call and push it back 2 weeks for a follow up visit during which I may or may not get a fill, but I will get to see someone and get an update on how I am doing overall. My timing is just as Nana described. It's not about volume as much as it is about feeling fuller faster and staying that way.

Count me in. I did... OK.... in July. I walked about a mile and a half every day in July, but the good, focused exercise sessions were more sporadic than I had hoped. The weekend in Chicago was amazing, 22 miles in three days, but while it was in the heat and humidity and carrying things around, it wasn't necessarily aerobic. I count it as good, but not as good as it could have been. I am starting this month on the right foot and have workout plans for each of the first three days of the month. My goals is to work out - not just throw some walking in - at least 3 days a week on a treadmill, bike, or elliptical. Walking every day will be additional, instead of the only exercise I get. I will also add some yoga or pilates or weights at least 2 days a week.

I am going to Ecuador to see a friend while she works at an eco lodge for a while. From there, I am taking about 4 friends and we're going to go DIVING IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS! I am getting certified now so I can get practice and experience before that time.

16 days is too early to gauge anything. For the first 6 weeks or so, focus on healing. Make healthy choices and let your body get used to having the band placed. Take it slow, follow the rules. Once you have your first fill, then focus on restriction.

I was banded by Dr. Soong at SWWC (Atkinson's partner) and I loved him, the office and staff... the whole experience. I chose them because a friend of a friend had it done with him. I am a cash patient and all follow up for a year is included. I have had three fills so far, and everyone has been amazing. Absolutely supportive, great attitudes and a willingness to be involved in the process. I even get emails from Dr. Soong after I am in the office, whether I see him or not, acknowledging my visit and offering support through "atta boys" - those messages that say, "Great Job, Felicia! I see you were in the office and you are doing so well! Keep it up!" I admit that I am a fairly demanding patient (hence three fills in a month) - I take a very active role in my band care, I watch everything and discuss it in detail with the PAs when I am in the office. I like to know what's going on and I like to learn. I am sure their term for it is "pain the ass." =) Anyway, I am a SWWC Atkinson/Soong supporter all the way! Everything about them has been such a positive experience for me. So good, in fact, I have made a few successful referrals!

You could still have swelling, you could have a lot of restriction with the band alone. There are many reasons. When you say a piece of egg, though, I have to think of how easy it is to mash up egg... remember to chew, chew, chew. And take very small, small bites - the size of a pencil eraser. If you do that, eat slow, and let the first bite go down and relax before you take the next, you'll be able to gauge what goes down easier than other things. Take the time to heal. If you are constantly stuck - a very bad idea anytime, but especially when healing - try eating smaller (and possibly softer) things until you can eat without getting stuck. And always call your doctor if you are unsure of how to proceed.

Exactly! I was told the same thing and while I am not drawn to snacking as I once was, I avoid it to avoid the temptation of "just one more." If I am hungry, and it's close to meal time, I will just eat my meal. If I feel I just can't wait, I try and deflect it with Water, a distraction, etc. There have been a few times when I just had to eat something.... and I made sure that I had only a single serving of something healthy and small - just enough to not be starving.

I flew the same night of my first two fills and was I was fine.

AWESOME!!! Great job!

As of today, I am in the 240s!!! AND - I figured out how to fix the tickers. Use the following link, substituting the text in red for the code for your ticker (a gobbledygook of letters for each ticker is found in the URL): http://www.tickerfactory.com/weight-loss/CODEGOESHERE/ Name.............StartingWeight....Current......Goal.........To Go Bunkey1965........220.................205............189...........16 CQQlgirl..............200.................198............180...........18 Cadets71............239.................229............219...........10 Dreamsize8.........216.................216............190...........26 FeliciaLevy75......286.................249............240........... 9 Gayle21..............190.......... ......190............175...........15 Jeni 85................189.................183............169...........14 Laura bough........215.................205............190...........15 Liz_hager............172.................165............150...........15 MMarg.................220.................214............199...........21 Newhope4me......163.6...............163.6..........150..........13.6 NukeChik.............227.................227............197...........30 Scrappy_friend....222.................222.............200..........22 TexGirl................202.................198............180...........18 Thininside28........271.5..............271.5..........245...........26.5 Wannabthin.........199................199.............179...........20

Remember, too, that the band is only a tool. Watch your calories, eat healthier (not just less), move around, and don't rely on the restriction to do it *all* for you. Easier said than done for some, I know, but recognizing what you should eat versus what you can eat will help you moving forward. Know your portion sizes; waiting until you feel full is too late... Depending on how fast you eat, even feeling satisfied can be too late. You can do this.

And what the hell is up with TickerFactory all of a sudden. I can only get pics to show up, I can't get the link to update my info. Double UGH!

I am ditching my freaking specs and going back to contacts. UGH!