addy

Thank you!! Butterfly I ate some mashed up beans and cauliflower a few min. ago after doing liquids for two days. UGHH!! I forgot how it feels to eat to much or maybe just to have band full. Now I am waiting my hour, which I haven't done in a while, to drink. Counting the minutes lol. I am excited about it though, trying to pretend it is a brand new thing. I so appreciate ya'll on here, so I can relate to someone who knows how it feels. I use to go to the support groups before all foot surgeries, so I miss it. Good Week to you all : )

Shannon, I really hope to join you in this 2015 reboot!! I restart today, liquids, soft then food. I have lost then gained back due to back/leg/foot surgeries, that have kept me down, literally and figuratively, and pity eating. I have not gotten nearly enough Protein, so back to eating right for the band!!! and for ME! Thanks for the support. Addy

Thank you all for your comments, I too, had my band put in several years ago. I did well at first and then multiple back/leg surgeries kept me off my feet, but nothing was wrong with my elbows, they kept putting "pity" foods in my mouth. I have been slowly gaining back my weight. Well, today I decided to do just as you said "start over" I have a re-start from my dr. and it is like you said - 4 days liquid, 3 days soft, then back on portions - PROTEIN, PROTEIN, PROTEIN. Good luck and I hope to keep up with your journey, and achieve success with you. : ) addy

Karebare, Congratulations on starting over. I had my lap band in June of 2008, I lost 60 lbs. then had to have back fusion surgery and had severe complications which caused a major setback and then I just started eating wrong, not much, just WRONG!! I decided last night that I was going to start again!! I read a blog from my Dr. and realized I can do this! I have a friend who is a workout fanatic : ) I will check with her and see her advice for working on the "sparetire". I gain weight in my gut first and seems like last to go. I have physical problems right now but look forward to start walking soon. Good Luck : ) Will talk to her tonight.

Bless your heart, I can't imagine losing a son. Thanks to you for his service. I weighed today and nearly freaked out, 5 more lbs!! So today I am starting my Dr.'s restart program. It is similiar to the two week program we had to do to have surgery. I am determined at this minute, but I have to "cook" homade cornbread, beans, etc.... and I have done the same as you realized that I can chew it to the point of mush. I also got back on Coca Cola that I love!! My husband is my enabler. He will bring home Coke and candy (I am a chocoholic). I just have to stand firm. I did it before, I can do it again. And, so can you!!! Congratulations for losing 70lbs!!! That is great! We need to love ourselves and just get back on the wagon. We knew we needed a band, that is why we got one. Congrats, too on the 5 day pouch diet, how did you do? Good Luck and have a great day : ))

It has been a long time since I have been on here. I don't know why, it was a very helpful site when I was first banded and then as I settled in to my band, I slowed on the site. I have had several surgeries and am restricted in exercising, I was doing really good maintaining, even though I really wanted to lose more. I lost several pounds in a surgery that had complications, I sure wanted to keep that weight loss. However, getting better led to weight gain. Back to my maintained weight. Now, my brother is dying with liver cancer and I am on exercise restrictions and PT, so I am eating everything that I see. I had to have some fluid removed because I was having reflux so bad, so I thought that would help me lose. NOT!! I started gaining, so back to adding to my band. I am not eating properly, so of course, I am not losing, I am gaining!!! I have gained 10 lbs, which doesn't sound like much, but I will bat my eyes and have gained another 10 and so on and so on. I feel like I did when I first started, kind of "what do I eat" what do I not eat" trying to eat right and then getting side tracked during the day. Tomorrow I resolve to start over. I tried to do the restart with slim fast, but I couldn't stay faithful to it, so I am just going to start eating properly for my band. Praying for willpower. Nite

Hi all, haven't been on for quit awhile, just wanted to say hi to all the June bugs. Congrats to you all, looking good. I am still 30lbs from goal, back surgeries, complications and life in general, but I will get there. Still so glad to have lost what I have and KEPT IT OFF!!!:thumbdown: Well, just browsing around the site and wanted to say hi! best wishes, addy

Hi all, I hope you all had a Happy Easter. Can't wait to try and go back and read the site to catch up. Seems like forever, I have been so busy with school, and family that I just haven't had time to get on and chat. LOTS of reading for history class. I am finally to the sweet spot, maybe just a little to full, not quite sure. I can't seem to eat until "late" in the day, then I really want to eat, I get to hungry. Having LOTS of belching, does this sound familiar with anyone??? I haven't been able to work out, because of reading either, so weight has stalled again, but!! I have mantained, something I have never been able to do before. I am getting off here and going to take time to ride bike for at least 30 min. Hope you all are doing well, God Bless, addy

Take the slim fast and add some Protein powder to it, it just makes it thicker, you can add ice if you want, makes it increase a little. Tastes the same as slim fast with triple protein. I realize you have already had the banding, but this still helps with the liquid part, getting extra protein. addy

Happy Birthday Allie!!! I hope you had a great one. Hi all, Haven't been able to get on much, trying to study. I am working towards my BSN, I still ask myself why??? Lucy - WOW!!! yeah!! Cathy - so glad to hear from you, to true, no way you look 60, happy belated birthday. I went to the dr. Tues. and I weighed the same on his scale as mine, SO, I am claiming ONDERLAND!!!!!!!!!!! I weighed 198.5 I smiled all day :tt2: My bp was still at 112/78 perfect for me, which he was very happy. I told him that that was the first time in years, that he had not told me to try and get off some of the weight. We both just laughed, and he told me to keep up the good work I loved the "40" birthday party story, how sweet. I would probably pass out, if my husband even remembered how old I was, let alone give me a party LOL! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, I have got to go read about the "Boston Tea Party" woo hoo addy

Congratulations Long!!! WOO HOO :hurray: Strike - I know what you mean about family. I only told one aunt (my fav. one) and she swore not to tell, now my aunts and uncle look at me tell me how good I look and wink ( I know a secret wink) They are all tall and skinny, all have drank like a fish, smoke like a chimney, and all but two, there were 10, had more marriages than who knows??? But they are SKINNY!!!! So you know foodies are just weak :hurray:, my dad included. Dad doesn't EVER bring it up, or tell me he is noticing I am losing, I don't know if he is embarrassed of me having to "have" lap-band or that I did not tell him. I am really trying to just not care anymore. let them talk :hurray: He came to hospital :hurray: I was shocked I had told him I was going in for a hiatal hernia repair, which was true. When I was being wheeled to my room after surgery, I was still half out of it, and suprised to see him there, I just blurted out, "you know I had my stomach fixed" and dozed back off LOL. So technically I did tell him, not sure he understood, but I did tell him :thumbup: I am going to try and upload some pics, I will have to scan them, so we will see :tongue: You ladies have a great Monday, addy

Hi ladies :smile: WOW, miss a few days and it seems like weeks :wink: won't be able to address it all, but here goes. armywife - hang in there, I think I have 7cc now, and I AM restricted, it is wonderful, just like when I first had surgery. allie - woo hoo what a hottie in the tankini, your husbands analogy about the caterpillar was so sweet. Congrats on the d's scholarship. long - take a good long look in that mirror and see the beautiful "butterfly emerging from her cocoon. apples- sorry for all the water problems, hope there all fixed now. I am working on that love your body thing, still trying :eek: lucy - woohoooo!!!!!! in onderland!! congrats on the clothes too. A big pat on the back for teaching canning, I am 46 and still stuggle with some of that. v - just hold your head up and that job will come and be the best yet. Now, I have been busy with family stuff, so haven't been able to get on. I weighed and scale said 199.5, but I am not going to celebrate until it stays there I did have a non-scale victory today though. I went shopping with some store cards I had received for birthdays last year had to use them before they expired. I had been hanging on so I could use them when I "was smaller". I got the clothes "knowing" none of them would fit, they never do. THEY FIT!!! Size 14 levi jeans, hip huggers (trying to avoid contact with the port site) I had to look twice, of course I had brought bigger sizes in with me, they were to big :wink2:. I even bought a pair of shorts for this summer for $3 that were on clearance at Kohl's. Went to Dillards, found a xl blouse and it looks great . Last week when I hit 199.5 (for all purposes - hair dye) I dyed my hair and got it cut, I had long shoulder length curly/wavy hair and got it cut to a neck length bob, I have to straighten it, but it looks soooo different. I have gotten so many compliments on it, and they tell me I have lost SOOO MUCH weight, (it is just all my hair gone, LOL). So maybe you are right allie, butterfly??? we will see My dh loved it. When is the meeting in Oct. I would love to go, but I hope it is not around the 17th, son is getting married. How do you upload pics to site? I love getting on here, also. I always leave with a smile. I pray you all have a great Sunday! What a beautiful bunch of butterflies. addy

WOW V, great pictures, I love your haircut. I looked up the AP standard band, do I feel stupid, it is the Lap-Band brand band. addy

meant to say the suits are in the JCPenny catalog. Not sure about the store, I usually cannot find anything in the store. addy

HI ALL!!! I am so thrilled, I weigh 202 (imagine being excited about that, :frown: My scales have been messed up they are only 6 months old, got them when I had surgery, I have been stressing out for bad scales :eek: ANYWAY!! I had lost 7lbs at the dr. office. He just laughed and said that is why there website is noscales.com :eek: As long as I keep doing what I am suppose to do, don't weigh. He told me to get off the slimfast, that the band is designed for food, not liquid. I found out my band is an AP Standard? never heard of it, and it is 14cc capacity, no wonder I have had so many more fills. He checked it all and said I have only had 5 fills as of today! I would have sworn it was 6 today :biggrin: On the pain around my port, he said that more than likely when I had the coughing fit, that I rip a stitch. That they put 4 stitches in my port to hold it in place and sometimes with exertion you can pull one out. It is ok, the port starts to seat itself (grow in place). He told me just to let him know if it seems to get worse or if I have any new pains. But, the port was in place (he got right in) and the fluid was all there. It sure felt better just to be reassured by the dr. and not the NP. SOOOO that makes me 3lbs away from ONDERLAND!!!!!!!!!! So maybe with liquids today, mushy tomorrow, I can get there LOL. He said that I am right where I need to be, as long as I lose at least 4-6lbs every 6 weeks, I am doing great! So, even though I would love to see big numbers fall, I am so relieved to know I am doing ok So, for all my buddies out there who are slow losers like me, we are doing ok!:thumbup: Good luck with all the tankini searches. JC Penny has some pretty suits, we have to look for them all year because of water aerobics. I found my current suit at a garage sale, new size 14 (only thing I can wear in a 14 :eek: and it was a Speedo brand, cost me $1.00 :cursing: addy

Allie, How wonderful for you:thumbup:. It sounds like your weekend was fantastic, a true second honeymoon. Well all, I go this morning to the dr. and ask them why I am not losing, and why my port site hurts so bad. Wish me luck. I am trying to rehearse so I don't sound like a whine bag :biggrin:, just a concerned patient. Hope you all have a great day, I can't wait to get to start shopping. Ya'll are making me anxious to go, I love to shop, and haven't really done any for awhile, wanting to lose more. You know break the 2's addy

Hey all you beautiful Junies, Hope you had a great Valentines today!! I have been busy helping my son (who is getting married in Oct.) and his fiancee. They bought a house, they wanted to buy after they got married or at least closer to date, but the market is so good right now, and the perfect house came open. I have been helping them get it cleaned up and trying to do some minor DIY. I went back and read to catch up. long, hope you feel better soon with your root canals teach, great pics!!! lucy - woo hoo!!! Congrats on onderland!! strike - girl, I know what you mean about moving, I don't look forward (physically, mentally :scared2: to helping those kids move!! at least it is not my stuff LOL Allie - wow, congrats on the winning streak, and being under 200, I will wait and woo hoo :crying: when you say. I was reading about the Mom situation with you and apples. I felt like I was reading part of my story, mom chose him over me, have 2 (his children) siblings that I love dearly, but distanced. I never could understand, I am her flesh and blood and he was just a man He died 3 yrs ago, I did finally forgive him, had to for MY sake. I never really told him, just started talking to him, Hi, bye, after not for so long. Never did forget, God said I had to forgive, like HE forgave me, but HE didn't tell me I had to forget. It sure took a weight off me, It wasn't my fault!!! The blanket thing is to weird, I do the same thing, I have to be covered with something, sheet, blanket, etc.... It has caused stuff between me and my husband, I was like a tiger with her cubs with my kids, NOONE was going to touch them! Anyway, we are stronger and different women now!!! We cannot let the past effect our future. I pray you all had a great day, the dinner plans sound great!! And Allie, can't wait to hear about the date Have a blessed Sunday, addy

Good morning Junies, Thank you all so much for your kind words, advice, and just the pats on the back. I didn't realize how much I needed them. I think I just get overwhelmed sometimes by people asking me how much I have lost, every time I see them (every Sunday at church!!) It had just got me feeling like I must be doing something wrong. Plus not seeing the scale move on top of that. So thank you, I needed a reality check. I am proud of the fact that I have not gained back the weight, that no matter how slow it IS coming off. I don't know what kind of band, but I am going to ask next week. I went to the support meeting last night and it was really good, one lady there said that she had been at three plateau's in the over "200" lbs lost journey, and that once she dropped 12 lbs, after a 3 months plateau. So that was encouraging, also. I guess for my body, it is saying "lets see if she is serious this time" LOL. I have dieted for so many years and gained it back each time. I have decided to just get up this morning and start over a new day, do what I am suppose to do and get over it, the scale WILL move. But, once again, I thank you beautiful women for your encouragement. My husband, keeps telling me I just can't see the weight loss for the scales, (you know like forest for the trees). That I need to look in the mirror, I just haven't gotten that image yet, but I will!!!! :thumbdown: I hope you all have a blessed day full of laughter, addy

long, thanks, I probably said it wrong, I meant I am including the slimfast with protein powder in my calorie count. I have been eating for months, protein first etc... and not losing, I thought if I tried to get back on the liquid part of the diet, maybe I could jump start something :thumbdown: no such luck. I tried eating as few as 600 cal. I was full, lots of veggies with the protein, but weight did not budge at all! I feel like I am doing something wrong, but don't know what? Or is it just going to be SLOW going? I feel full with the slimfasts, always did, just don't want to live on them. I always welcome advice, thanks, addy

oh yeah forgot to add those 4lbs, I keep batting back and forth. addy

way to go Allie, congrats on the contest. Great pics, too. OK, I know that ya'll are probably sick of my whining, but I am getting so frustrated. Had 9lbs to get to onderland. I have been drinking slim fasts, eating 900-1200 calories (including slimfasts with protein powder), swimming, water aerobics, and I have only lost 4lbs. What am I doing wrong????????:angry:aughhh!!! Can anyone help, give me a heads up? I cannot wait for the 16th, my next appt. I am going to ask for a flouro fill to see if it is leaking, moved, anything. If I could control my eating amount, I would not have had the surgery, and I hate milk and don't want to drink slimfasts to lose it. I dont' understand why I am losing so slow. :thumbdown: and as you guys see, it is not like my last 9lbs to lose, I am still in the 2's. People at church this morning were so nice, saying how good I looked, they didn't know I was squeezed in I am so thankful for 30lbs, but I just thought there would be more resistance and weight loss by now. Ok, please forgive my rant. You guys are the only one who would understand my frustration, others think I shouldn't have done it anyway. Thanks for they ear, but I would appreciate any opinions. addy

lo2us, this is addy, welcome back. Glad that you are feeling a little better. I have used the protein powder before, you can put it in anything. I sent you a response, when I saw you on the clothes exchange. Long letter, I am not exactly sure where it is there are so many sites. I responded with a reply on that site. Please, try to find it and let me know if you do or don't. We are banded on the same day!!! feel better, addy

Hi Junies, Grey, I do use Splenda, cannot hardly make myself drink it black, I just started drinking coffe when I got the lap band,anyway. That could be a big thing for me, sugar (sub) first thing in the morning, making me want it all day :tongue: I will be praying about your appt. Wed. Long, WOW! Great pics! Lucy, great for you to run, how freeing :thumbup: You said you were going to go in for a fill, do you just call and ask for one? They make us schedule them every 6 weeks, no sooner. Suzy, how great 70lbs!!!! Hunzi, congrats on being approved. I just got back in from walking, I am trying to shake up my exercise routine some. I am inspired by all of you workout guru's :drool: Maybe if I can shake it up some, I can get rid of this plateau, I need the hair dye!!!!!!!!!!!! :w00t: I am starting to look like my mom. My husband started trying to diet today, so that will make it easier around here, not having to fix all those sweets that go down so easy. If anyone has any good recipes, post them. I need some new ideas. Hope everyone has a great night. addy