LindaV

Well, I am finally posting my pictures. The first one is me at about 315ish. I had to look long and hard to find a real "before" picture. I rarely got in front of the camera the last few years. I was about the same when I started the pre-op diet! The second one is from last Saturday at about 249. I can finally see the 66 pound difference.

Raynie, Welcome to LBT! Good luck with your surgery and your last meal.

Marci - My doctor did not have any concerns about my taking ibuprofen. I know others do so I try to reserve it for my 1 or 2 crampy days a month. I can relate to the shoulder pain though. I've done something to mine and I havn't been taking anything. I plan on talking to my surgeon about NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, before I see my primary care doc because I know she is going to want me to take one in some form or another. I'll let you know what I find out. It might be a while though since I tend to procrastinate about things like this. In the mean time, keep us posted.

Drews - Sorry to hear you guys are having a hard time. Marriage is stressful under normal circumstances and when you throw health issues into the mix it is even more so. I will be keeping you and your husband in my prayers. Thanks for starting the new thread.

I found spending the evening around a bunch of bandsters and their spouses/significant others the most liberating experience I have had in years (maybe my life). I felt completely accepted, unjudged, and loved in all my fatness. And I loved and accepted in return! I don't think I have ever been at a party where I havn't worried about some element due to my size. I knew that even if I broke P'Nut's great new hanging porch swing or a lawn chair that it would be ok. I have never felt so free to be myself! I didn't even realized until last night that I feel that way around normal size people. I have good self esteem (as evidenced by my pre-op psych eval) and am an extrovert who loves to be around people (the more the better). We are in social situations often and I look forward to them. But last night I was just so COMFORTABLE! It was like being with family--no, even with family I am aware that I am the largest in my family! I don't know...it was really a whole new experience for me. OMG - the butter shots from last night have me waxing philosophical this morning! Oh and my latest fill must be working. This is the first time since being banded that I have spent the weekend eating in social situations and I have actually lost a few ounces. (I would have gained a few pounds before the fill.) <!-- / message --><!-- sig --> __________________

One great side-effect I have had with the band is an increased social life. I love the people I have met since being banded. I have made some really great friends who are fun to hang out with and also sharing the same weight loss journey I am on. Yesterday I blew off school with my son, dropped him off at my mom's house for a couple of days, and went with PhotoNut (Susan) and Luna (Sara) to pick up FunnyDuddies (Amy) and MyChevyGirl (DeAnn) at the Boise Airport. Susan is hosting a band bbq tonight and they all flew in for it. We went to lunch, shopping, and then ended up back at my house for Chicken Enchiladas. I had so much fun!

I don't know about exercise challenges but I think there is an exercise forum. Anyway, welcome to LBT!

Hi Calanne! Welcome to LBT from a fellow May Bandster. You should check out the May Band Crew thread. We currently have a 20 Pound Turdey Take-Off Challenge going on.

I have a 10cm band and am filled to 1.7cc ( I think).

Drews & Marci - Your pictures are great! I will get mine up soon--promise! Health1st - I'm glad your problem was not with the band and easily treatable. Paladin - Please say "HI" to 3Loves for me! My Fill - I got my 4th fill today. My doc has been giving me pretty agressive fills (.5cc each time) and today he did the same. Right after I drank the Water he gave me I got a golfball. He took 3 cc's out and the water went down. He had me drink a few more cups just to make sure. I think I now have true restriction. I just ate lunch (I don't have to do liquids after a fill) and only ate about half of what I usually eat. I will definately have to be careful for a while and I will probably have to drink some of my calories. I might even be able to afford some strawberries and icecream for desert!

I collect vintage Pyrex. I love Pyrex and use mine daily.

I BOUGHT SKIS! Skiing is one of my biggest goals with weight loss. I may not make it on them this season but if I keep losing at the same rate, I just may get to try them out in Feburary. Even if I don't make it this season, my skis will be ready and waiting for me next season when I KNOW I will put themt to good use. It was actually kind of weird buying them. I'm probably the fattest person he has ever sold skis to. HA! He should have seen me 6 months ago. I wouldn't have dared to darken his door then. I still can't get my head around the idea that I might actually be able to ski this season!

Cherg - Welcome to the May Band Crew! Kim - I have the medium size band and have 2.5 cc. I am going for my next fill on Wednesday. I wish my restriction would last a little longer. I must have a lot of fat in my stomach organ which I seem to be losing at a pretty steady rate. I seem to need a fill every 4-6 weeks.

Hi Everyone, I'm doing my weekly check-in for the Turkey Take-Off Challenge. I'm at 250 this week which is a gain of one pound since I changed my ticker (it's my TOM)! But I'm still down 3 pounds from last Friday when I officially started. So....17 more pounds to go! I hope everyone is doing well. Drews - Glad to hear you got your fluro scheduled and for such a great price!

Myra - That's great news! Pretty soon you will feel like a whole new woman. Marz88 - I have always shopped the end of clearance sales for the next season's clothing. It is hard to stay away from those clearance racks but I just hate to spend money on clothes that will only fit for a month so. So I have resorted to Walmart for now. Hopefull I will be able to pick up some seasonal stuff at the lb support group and clothing exchange I'm attending tomorrow night. Missnikki - Having clothes taken in! Why didn't I think of that? I think I will look into it. I knew I would one day regret not learning to sew. Oh well! Janey - Here's to getting good restriction this time! Keep us posted. I go for a fill next week. Lapbandit - Be careful with removing all your carbs. That can be dangerous and put you at risk for going into ketoacidosis (sp). My nutritionist wants me to get in as many carbs as I do protein. I've noticed that if my proten/carb/fat ratios get too out of balance, I don't lose as well or feel as well. I have read about others hair loss nightmares as well and I guess we should feel lucky right now that it is only a little each day--and hope it stays that way!

Marci - Yeah for you!!!!!! Doesn't it feel great? I have a clothing exchange to go to in a couple of days and I think the summer clothes that I have been hanging on to are going to go since fall seem have hit Idaho. Hopefull I can pick up a few fall and winter things for myself.

Marci - Congratulations on the new addition to your family. They look really happy! Lapbandit1 - I have been loosing some hair for about a month now. Overall it isn't noticable...yet! I lose probably 20-40 strands every time I shower. Considering everything though, I would rather be healthy and bald than be fat with lots of hair. LOL.

I think the a perosn's optimal fill level is based on each individual and their eating habits. (Doesn't it always seem to be that way with the band?) I like being able to eat a "normal" size portion and take bites that are more normal size. From what I read on LBT I also like less restriction than most. I want to comfortably get in 1200-1600 calories a day w/o having to drink calories. I am tight in the morning but by dinner can eat 2-3 cups of food still fits into my nutritional goals. My problem was eating too much at meals--Way Too Much! So even if I am eating 2-3 cups of food at dinner or even lunch, it is much less than I could before. As long as I make healthy choices an don't eat again until I am hungry, having a little less restriction is working for me. I have a friend who is a grazer, doesn't make the best food choices and tends to eat around her band. She struggles to lose so our doctor gave her a pretty agressive fill last time so to help her break those bad habbits. I log my food every day and I check other peoples food journals to compare and make sure I'm keeping on track. Hope this helps.

Hi again Jenna. I sent you an email that hopefully your computer will let through.

Kato - The way clothes fit is telling--even if the scale is not! Congratulations! Janey - Thanks for the encouragement and for sharing the turkey. I'm still on cloud 9. Kudos to you for being "only" obese! I can't wait to join you.

Hi Jenna, Welcome to LBT! I'm from Eagle, ID. I sent you a PM.

Hi Everyone, I just had to post another update. I have had a MAJOR scale VICTORY! Drum roll please........This morning I passed 250! I was actually at 249! I know it's 2 days after my birthday, but I finally hit and passed my September Challenge goal. I couldn't believe it. I still can hardly believe it--I weight less than 250! OMG!!!!!!!!

Welcome to LBT! If you've been lurking, I'm sure you know this is a great site for support and information!

Hey Diane, Glad to hear you came through everything well and you are home now. You have been missed on the May Band Crew thread. I will continue to pray for you complete and rapid recovery.

Janey - I just realised I copied your ticker! I just love the turkey! I just changed mine but couldn't bear to get rid of the turkey!