julie.ann

Bypass was never something I wanted to do. It was very drastic, not reversable and you have things like dumping syndrome to worry about. It is also not adjustable. I've seen bypass patients gain weight after losing and there is no adjusting. The band is just a tool. You do have to follow the rules to lose the weight. It is the best decision I've ever made for my health! I don't know about the balloon. The band gave me the help I needed. I knew that if I followed the guidelines it would work. I knew that I wouldn't spend all this money just to fail. I was ready. Once you see the results it helps you keep going!

Great! I can't wait to see the pics!

Weight everything out. Keep the food very soft and eat every 4-5 hours or so even if you aren't hungry.

Lala - Hey! I had to attemp murder on my thyroid and then finally had to have it surgically removed. Here is an interesting twist to my 107# weight loss. I was taking 200mcg every other day and 188 the other days. Now I they have just moved me down to 100mcg of synthroid daily and I will recheck in a month. It is a nice side effect for me. Good luck with all!

It is hard. Especially after meals. Don't be too proud to ask your doctor for something to help you quit. There are some good things out there.

Day 3 or 4 was the worst with feeling weak. Get a good protein shake. This will do two things. It will give you calories you need to stay strong and the high protein will help with hunger. Liquids are not going to "fill" you up. You will be able to drink all day long. Liquids go right through the band. Hang in there. Stay hydrated and drink calories so you can heel. There will be time to watch your liquid calories after you are eating.

I can eat a cup or more at a sitting, but usually don't. I don't need an adjustment because I have to be careful and take small bites or I get stuck. You have done great! Keep up the great work!

Has it really been over a month since I have blogged? The newbies won't even know me! Well let me introduce myself. My name is Julie. I was banded 8 months ago in October and have lost 107 lbs. Yay me! Now let's talk turkey..... The band and I just had our first big battle. Now don't get me wrong. The band is in charge, as always, but for the first time I started to get a little pissy at it...always thinking he knows just what I can and can't eat. My son left today for overseas on a 10 day trip, I have hit a plateau the last few weeks and I was feeling like I needed a little old fashioned comfort food. For me that is pizza. What a coincidence.... I just happen to have some homemade (from scratch) pizza in fridge left over from last night. The first time I cooked pizza from scratch in 8 months! Last night I just picked off teh toppings and such. Well none of that sissy crap for me today. I wanted P-I-Z-Z-A dipped in sauce! So the band said no. .....then I said "DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A BET? I'LL EAT SLOW AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!!!!!" Then the band said in a small yet confident voice..."Go ahead honey. Just give it a try. You will regret it. I wish you would listen to me....but if not we'll see what happens." So the band won...then I tried another battle and he won that one too. :confused: It wasn't pretty. So I sat down with some ice cream and HE couldn't stop me from eating that so I feel like crap now. Blah..... So I am going to lay off of the weight training and get back to more cardio and add some Zumba classes. I have been at the gym 5-6 days a week all summer and I need to be careful I don't burn out. I'm going to surprise my family at the end of this month. They still don't know I have lost all this weight and I want to tell them I had surgery. I have been just a couple of pounds away from no longer being obese, but that might have to wait while I realign my routine. Stay cool this 4th of July! High /Surgery/Current/Goal 285.5/ 271 / 177.5 142.5 Banded - 10/29/08 Four fills - 4.7cc/10cc Read My Blog: My Secret Journey Touch Below To View My Pics (More on my profile) [ATTACH]151[/ATTACH]

Well for the first time since October I will officially record a gain. I am off of the next challenge and I am going to try to change things up a bit. Good luck to all and happy 3th of July!

Hello Plateau.....Good-bye Sanity!!!

Jmegirl...haven't heard fro you in a while. How are you doing?

Just dropping in to say YAY! I have lost 100 lbs which makes my Memorial Day Goal!!!! The weight is coming off more slowly becuase I haven't been sticking to my high protein diet like I was. I am still losing and that what matters and it really is more on a lifetime diet. I know I have been eating in a way that will drop the weight off quickly. I have still been working hard, but high protein will drop the weight faster than any other type of diet that I have found. I have lost about 7 lbs this month instead of 10-13lbs. I love dropping the weight fast, but I feel like I am starting the point in my journey that really gets to the real life eating. Sometimes I don't make the best, most nutritious choices, but I have been very rare breaking a single rule until after my first 6 months. Working out continues to be a major part of my journey. I have started a weight training program at my gym. It is giving me variety and that is what I need to keep it interesting. Is losing 6 or 7 lbs instead of 10-12 lbs a month worth the extra here and there that I am eating? I guess that is the question. Everyone needs to aswer that for themselve. I am really happy with how I look, but I know I am not done yet. I saw myself in pictures this weekend. (BSN Graduation) and I was very unhappy with what I saw. I guess maybe I need to see more pictures to get me motivated again. I am still following most of the bandster guidelines most of the time. I am less than 43 away from goal so I could still make my goal of being half the person I was just one year post op. We will see what happens.

Well put me down for a 1.7 loss. I am just a couple pounds shy of my goal. I was focusing on the goal and when I got back to focusing ONE POUND AT A TIME I started to eat better and it started to come off again. I hae to keep that in mind. I know that about myself. I guess I just forget. Good luck everyone. One more week left.

Well I weighed in later in the morning last week and I recorded a 0.3 loss. This week I have 1.7 lb loss. I am so close to that goal of no longer being overweight. I know what I started doing wrong. I started focusing on a big goal when I have to focus on ONE POUND AT A TIME. When I started doing that I started eating better and losing weight. I am not going to make it to the gym today. I hate that. The first day I've missed in weeks (except Sunday when they are closed) Onward and upward....I mean downward! :thumbdown: How is everyone else doing? Jill, be sure you aren't too tight. You don't want to fall into soft calorie syndrome.

BG- I know I've been away from the blogs for a while. I still check in with my forums everyday. I hear you talking about knowing what it is like to PB and I just feel like a proud momma. You are growing up so fast. I'll try to keep in touch. How much have you lost so far in what amount of time?

Okay...where do I start. I know if has been a while since I have posted and I am ready to share some great stuff that has been going on directly related to my band. First a BIG NSV (non-scale victory) I went shopping today for a new pair of jeans. I have been wearing a size 18 (I know I can't believe I've been in a size 18!!!) A couple of people have commented that they are getting baggy. Not falling off or anything, but baggy in the but, so I decided to find some that fit me ok. I tried on a size 16 only to find they were too big too!!! OMG!!! So I went out to get a smaller size thinking that they would be too small and THEY FIT!!!! (I am shouting for joy now) I FIT INTO AND BOUGHT A SIZE 14 JEANS!!!!!!! I haven't fit into that size since somewhere around my sophmore year in high school!!! I still can't believe it!!! I know all jeans are different and I tried on several brands and styles and I could button all of them. I just didn't like most of them and some were too tight, but that's okay. I've also been thinking about getting a body shaper. I am really noticing how much I will be needing a tummy tuck and breast lift. My body is beginning to look like a deflated ballon. Anyway while I was in Walmart I tried on a size 2xl cami body shaper and it was too big so I got an XL. I can't believe the difference! It only cost $16 and it is amazing and comforatble so I will be wearing that most days to work now. I also got lucky and found some amazing deals on clothes that fit me. $5 for a skirt and the same for pants. I kept grabbing the size 18 and kept going back tot he rack to get a size 16. (These can not be even a little snug...they are for work) Okay...next victory. I went out of town last week. I was gone from Tuesday to Friday and I STILL LOST WEIGHT!!! I had to eat out for every meal and was "wined and dined" for two of those (for work not pleasure) and I still lost weight and worked out! VICTORY!!!! YAY! This is the trip every year that usually gets me off track. I have another one next month, but I am more confident that I can make it!. I did find myself starting to feel sad that I couldn't eat more of the stuff I liked, but then I was so grateful because I realized that the band was dong just what I wanted it to do. It was giving me a reason to not over eat. I could have kept gong but I would have felt horrible and I don't want to stretch my pouch. I love my band. I had to say no to fresh hot pretzels and pastries all week, but that is ok. I could have eaten it, but chose not to. The band has helped me make those tough desicions. I know I could have eaten around the band and drank a TON of expensive alcholic drinks and incredible soft deserts, but I have learned a new lifestyle and since I have worked so hard for 5 months I was ready to hit the road and still make good desicions. I have lost 80 lbs and I am 5 lbs from ONEderland. I can't wait to get there. Have I mentioned I love my band? His name is Band Jovi:drum:

First of all you can eat ALMOST anything. Second...what does she think will happen if you can't eat something? Is she worried about depression? Is she worried that you won't be happy? Is she worried about what will happen if you change? Is she worried about what will happen if you lose weight? If you are healthier and more outgoing? I would be very honest with her. The type of honesty that is difficult to give because it hurts. Why do you want to lose weight. What can't you do that you want to do. My husband didn't realize the worries and pains I had because of my weight because he had never experienced it. Once I really showed him my feelings and was honest he began to understand that her really couldn't every completely understand what it was like for me. Let her know what your goals are. Just be very open.

People say that I follow South Beach. I don't know about that. I've never read about South Beach. Follow the bandster guidelines. They are posted towards the beginning of my blog. I also have a blog entry that lists some of my favorite foods. Here are the basics. No bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. No water 30 min before or after meals. Eat Lean protein first to fill you up. I eat lots of protein every day. 70-120 gms per day. (turkey breast, chicken, I am addicted to cottage cheese..I know it is soft food, but I mix it with my meat and it helps things go down easier.) I work to keep carbs low. usually 30-50 daily...more towards 30. WORK OUT! I started to commit to 3 times a week for 30 minutes a day. Now I go about 5-6 days a week. If you log onto www.sparkpeople.com and look me up (nursemom5) you can find my food diary and see what I eat. Good luck. If I can do it anyone can!

Awesome!!!!

Well I guess you can put me down for a 0.3 loss. I almos had a gain this week so I shouldn't complain. I lost more today from yesterday, but if I can maintain that it will be on next week's numbers. Julie, I'm glad to hear everything was ok with your band!

I think I might have a gain for the first time since last October. Crap! I ate like crap last weekend and had my birthday on Monday. I have to get it in gear. I think that I need to tell myself just 15 more pounds because I am getting tired of this weight loss journey. I'm ready to get to maintenance. I will see my family for the first time since December at the end of next month. They don't know that I have lost all this weight. I decided to tan and look really good when I go down. Well now the "girls" are a little burnt. Wow that is a new experience. It sucks! Next week I have to do better!