marys

cauliflower mashed potatoes - boil the hell out of the florets - mash like mashed potatoes - to save calories add bouillion or skim milk and skip the butter or add just a little. i love em

No, I've accepted being fat

My lapband doc - tho a great surgeon - has let me down completely with follow-up. My last calls and emails for help have gone unanswered and I have officially given up looking for help there. I am planning on getting my band removed next April-May and just muddling along until then.

Yep that was me - started at 183 and at 5'2 that's mighty plump (of course, like many have been even higher - i'm a yo yo person and have gone from 125 in my happiest days to 250 lbs) Unfortunately I've not been successful at the weight loss side of the band and at my one year anniversary (today i believe) i have lost a fantastic 7 lbs. Fluctuated about 10lbs through this journey and hit 160 at one point but now holding at the 7lb loss mark. I'm not happy but at least I'm only yo yoing 10 lbs and not my usual 40lbs a year. I am definitely in the minority or at least that's the way it appears - it seems like most people lose weight with the band.

Within two hours of my first fill i felt like i had the flu and felt ill for two days - for me I think it was the nerves, process, the whole experience coupled with flying back to san diego, traveling to tijuana, and meeting up with my band sisters - just way too much excitement and aprehension. it's never happened since to that level but I do always feel a bit drained - i hate needles, etc. so it's always a bit taxing.

I found out dr ortiz (obesity control center) will remove a band (i believe non emergency fee) for 3800

I lost about 7lbs and loved it - at least i've kept that off but haven't lost a thing since. To remain postive i will say i probably would've gained 40 or so pounds over the last year without the band so at least its keeping me pretty stable - my weight will fluctuate between 1-7lbs EVERY DAY but it stays within a range i'm learning to live with. I still feel a sadness over not being able to eat like I used to that I think would be less if I weighed less. I've resigned myself to staying this weight and there is a certain comfort in that. I had a yard sale this weekend and sold or donated every single piece of clothing that doesn't fit and boy is my closet smaller - i have about 5 things in it but no longer have to look at ridiculously small clothes that will never fit me again. My fill is fine - can only eat liquids or mushies until 2 or 3 (mostly) then can eat a pretty good dinner so I'm not interested in being tighter.

i just wanted to add that i had the exact same shoulder/back pain months after surgery - finally someone on another chat group told me it was often a sign of overeating - i checked it and it was true for me - i have a terrible time telling when to stop eating as i've always stuffed mysefl to the gills pre band. honestly, it has only happened a few times since then - check it out.

Just curious - I had my last fill on 9.11 and have been eating fine - last night i overate but not too severely but today I woke up so tight my chest hurt a little - haven't really been that tight before. Tried drinking tang, coffee and yogurt drink and all came up. I seem to be able to keep my saliva down but still haven't drank anything and its noon. Should I just stay off everything liquid and solid until dinner - or is this something to be concerned about?

It was actually the end of my period but I am really wondering if I'm suppossed to be tighter? Other than that day I never felt the tightness of my band physically (like tight in my chest) and I can pretty much guzzle Water and drinks. When i was super tight i could feel tightness in my chest and could only drink sips of water out of a spoon - granted this wasn't good it was because i was so swollen but i'm just wondering now - if that's why i'm not losing - i'm still not tight enough. I can't eat much during day but late afternnon/evening i can get a lot in /down. I just bought two weeks of medifast diet food and am hoping the band will help me stick to this new diet and i can get a few lbs off.

Beachee girl, would be curious what tests the endocrinologist does - you can pm if you want or email me at thefacilitator@hotmail.com. I'm not losing at all and just ordered medifast for two weeks. I think i can stand it for at least that long if I see some weight coming off. I was hoping the band would stop me from 'dieting again' but that's not to be. I've never done medifast so its probably one of the few diets left. I hope it works soooo bad.

short hair on men. Women: au natural or shaved

one hour of cardio on exercise bike today - have been training to run 3 then 6 miles again - run 3 days a week - various program to build endurance. am up to 8 minutes running, 2 minutes walking repeat 4 times - its pretty tough as i am sooooo outta shape

I have had several fills and am currently at 2.2 in a 4cc band. I started out my first fill at 2.3 so i'm just about where I started after a recent unfill. I seem pretty restricted during the day but can eat like a horse at night. I will probbably get one to two more fills but I never lose weight. I am committed to sticking with this fill business up to one year after surgery and after that - if i can just maintain witohout pbing all the time I will be content. I'm not sure there is a sweet spot for everyone

Hi Kristen, I get my fills from Ortiz (dr romero does them) too I had one unfill and it was due to me eating a piece of sushi at 10am about a week or so after a fill - it got stuck i threw up for two days and couldn't keep my saliva down Had to go emergency to tijuna for that unfill - very very expensive and no fun at all. i'm just now after many months back to my original fill - once you get an unfill you have to really let your tummy rest as get refilled slowly - big pain.

small small small plate or the kids divided into three sections plate works for me - i can't use a big plate cuz i will fill it up - no way can i judge a small portion on my own - i think i am permanently mixed up in that regards!

Thanks everyone - am feeling better today but stayed on liquids all day - have felt a little sore in the middle of the chest but nothing now. I think I will survive - very scary and hope to never do that again.

I didn't think I would do it but i have seriously overeaten and while the pain is subsiding I am abbsolutely embarassed and scared that I've burst my band. Tonight I ate 1/4c rice and 1/2 cup smashed beans and it was probbably double to triple what I should have eaten. I ate it slow but my full mechanism is skewed and I had two friends over just ate the whole thing. About 1 hour later I was wracked doubled over in pain - I ve just returnd from a one hour walk and the pain is localized now -like a brusing inside - and I did learn valuable lessons - small small portions, NO distractions, but I'm scared - should I call my doc - stay on liquids - have by band checked for slipping or I seriously wonder - can it burst?

You look absolutely mar-ve-lous! Congratulations!!

My gyno is o.k. with not weighing - patients have a choice - and I like that - I'm less likely to postpone my checkuup or a visit when I don't have to get weighed.

Yes Jack is right - all calories are not created equal - For example, it is not in your best interest to eat a 200 calorie hershey bar just to add 200 calories in your diet - nutritionally you aren't gaining much and the sugar and empty calories can play havoc on you body (to some people, sugar makes them crave more sugar, more food, etc.) Also, some people tend to pack on pounds if they eat too many refined carbohydrates like breads, Pasta, cereals, white rice... But you may find that your body has grown accoustumed to your lower calorie intake and you may need to shake things up and this can even mean eating a bit more - 2 pieces of fruit can add 200 good calories (a whole food) or a cheese stick or low fat yogurt is good for Calcium and a little dairy if you eat diary....or even a lite 100 calorie bag of popcorn for a treat or a sugar free pudding...i'm sure we can all figure out an easy way to get in a few hundred more calories without junk. I agree to try a few days of adding in some healthy Snacks of fruits and vegetables to see what happens. Also, you didn't mention exercise and a few days of week of doing something that makes you sweat/breath a little harder (20-30 minutes) usually gets the metabolism moving.

What motivates me is variety and accountability - I love meeting others for an exercise class or if I can afford it - pay for personal training - and right now I just started training for 1/2 marathon - it will be quite challenging as my cardio endurance is practically nill but I feel good every time I train. Training for a 5K or training for a walk a thon - it's all the same - you commit to stick to your training schedule and sign up for the event ahead of time, tell everyone you know and you're committed. I signed up for the body for life challenge many years ago and entered their contest 4 times - every 6 weeks - I looked and felt like a true body builder - that was highly motivating - taking pics - keeping workout journals, I also allow myself one cheat day a week - where I can eat pretty much what I want (of course, not stuffing etc.) IF and only IF i stick to my workout plans all week - that's motivating too. Good Luck!

Thank goodness my guy has always loved curvey women - I always liked a bigger, beefier guy but I ended up with a very thin although muscular one with a very thin extended family - its just the way it turned out. While I've always appreciated a toned body, it has always been personality that attracts me first and keeps my interest. My friend met SEVERAL hunks - mostly of the 'normal size' range from joining a big beautiful woman dating website - She is currently seeing a wondeful man from NY she met - they are planning to move in together in a few months - He is a larger guy and loves larger woman - there are tons of men and women out there (of all sizes) who prefer a larger person. She previously dated a fireman, a banker, a lawyer, a musician - a wide spectrum of gorgeous, interesting men...

Had a fill on 8/23 and didn't feel a thing for two weeks - in fact, could eat a lot. Got frustrated (throwing in the towel girl) but scheduled another fill for Monday. Started to feel restriction about 1 week ago and have had a few pb's - mostly from eating things that I shouldn't and that don't typically go down easy (crackers, gold fish...bad, I know). I'm also feeling fuller sooner but have conciously been trying to stop early as I was getting a shoulder pain I thought was gas but realize now it was overeating. Lastly, have not lost any weight since fill (but that's nothing new for me -ha). QUESTION - I have a ticket and appointment on Monday, Sept 11 (non refundable or changebable) and am now wondering if I should get a fill. What is the smallest amount one can get? Do you think I should wait. I definitely don't want to have to get an unfill. Any suggestions/advice.

Just wanted to say thanks for the responses - I did get a fill and I am now at 2.2 (almost where I started!) and am doing really good. I think it is a good amount and I've lost a lb or two. The doc was a bit shocked at my lack of total weight loss but I'm hoping to get some off now -