julie.ann

My first thought is how many calories are you getting each day. Are you eating breakfast early in the morning to get your metablolism going. Loosing weight is a good thing and wouldn't make me think a thyroid problem, but it could be. It is good that your hemoglobin was good enough to give blood so your right I wouldn't think you were anemic. Do you take a multivitamin everyday? I take 2 flinstone vitamins I got when I got banded because I wanted chewable (and let's face it I love flinstone vitamins!) Have you been feeling less happy? Have you ever had a problem with depression in the past. Well those are my ideas. I don't blame you for going to the doctor. Losing 55 lbs should give you more energy not less. Let us know how it goes!

Lovely, You are doing AWESOME! I can't wait to see something under 200 on the scale. Maybe this week or next. Boy, I wish I could grow an extra inch or two! :thumbup: Have a great week everyone!

Today I faced the blizzard and made it to the gym. The owner and I were the only two people there and he commented that I had lost a lost of weight since my ID picture had been taken when I joined the gym. I told him yes, just a little over 80 lbs so far. A little bit later he said he wanted to show me something before I left. I finally got done with my cardio and went to see what he wanted to show me. We walked over to the free weights and he picked up a dumbell and placed it on the floor. He said can you pick that up. I bent my knees and worked hard to get it off the ground. I was able to pick it up, but barely and put it down quickly. He said that is 80 lbs. That is what you have lost so far. I just blew me away. I know my body is changing, but that really put it in perspective. I am just 3 lbs from ONEderland. That was my April 1st goal. I'm thinking I might just miss it. The reason I bring it up is because when I start to concentrate on the pounds to lose I start craving things. It makes me think about what I can't eat....what I have to deprive myself of to lose a few pounds. As soon as I stop thinking about numbers and start thinking "lifestyle" those feelings of deprivation goes away. I was thinking that I want pizza. I want the taste. I should be able to eat it. I deserve it. Then I start thinking like a bandster with a differnt lifestyle..... I don't need it. I'm not even hungry so why am I thinking about food? I can eat it if I want to, but it isn't healthy and I will feel bad afterwards. It isn't that I can't have it. I can eat anything I want, but I chose not to eat it and feel bad. It is my choice. The craving basically went away. It is amazing the difference it make in HOW we think about food. That really puts my cravings in perspective. I do have a goal to make and I will try hard and next Saturday if I still want pizza then I will get a slice of thin crust. If I don't want it then I won't eat it. I will be at my 5 month bandiversary in just 2 days. I can't believe how different my life was just 6 months ago. I love my band! I wish I would have done this years ago. My 35th birthday is in June and I hope to have lost 100lbs by then. That will be the best birthday I've had in a LONG time!!!

April 1st Challenge Minidriver ------(Goal -10lbs) -4.5,+6.5,-3.5, , , , Lap_dancer-----(Goal -33lbs) 0.0,+4.5,-2.0,-2.7, -2.0,0.0, (Total -2.4) Deboregon -----(Goal -15lbs) -2.6,-3.4,+1.8,,, , Julie.Ann -------(Goal -19lbs) -4.9,-1.9,-2.0,-2.9,-2.4,-2.4, (Total -16.5) PrtyAntOvrYt---(Goal -30lbs) -4.2, ,-1.0,-1.8,,-4.0, (Total -11.0) BellaPerdente--(Goal -12lbs) 0.0,-3.0,-1.0, 0.0,-2.0,-1.0 (Total -7.0) Lotzasunshine--(Goal -12lbs)+1.5,-0.0,-0.0,-3.0, 0.0,-2.5, (Total -4.0) Jmegirl----------(Goal -15lbs) -2.6,-2.4,+1.2,+0.8,-1.8,-1.2, , (Total -6.0) KaleighsMommy-(Goal -10lbs) ,-0.4,-0.4,-5.4,+3.0,-2.6, (Total -5.8)

Well for breakfast they had a breakfast buffet. I had ham or bacon or sausage and eggs or omlette and fruit. It wasn't too bad. Ham and poached eggs was one morning and it worked great for me. I am not tighter in the morning like so many others. I am usually tighter at night. For meals I had a angus cheese burger, hold the bun and fries. It was expensive, but enough to fill me up. When I was taken out by the company I ate steak and veggies. It was great. When I am buying I do a chicken plate. You can usually find a "diet plate" with cottage cheese, tomato, chicken or beef and fruit. It works perfect for me. Lunch buffets are a little tougher. I have to see what it on them. So many times they have potatoes and pasta and breads, but very little protein and veggies. I don't do bread, pasta, rice or potatoes so I might skip a buffet and order from the menu. I was really worried about eating out,but it is just a way of thinking about it. What can I eat? ...then out of my choices what do I want? Everyone just thinks I am eating healthy and with my weight loss they give me a pat on the back for it. Usually breakfast for me is 1/2c. Southwestern Egg Beatters and a Morning Star breakfast sausage. It is just the right amount and gives me a great amount of protein with about 120-140 calories. You can do it too!

I am close to ONEderland. I have lost over 80 lbs and that is great, but I am starting to look at the other side of the ticker. I finally have less than 60 bls to loose to make it to goal. 50-something is a great thought when you start with 140 on that side! I also see this as an amazing accomplishment to get to the point in my journey that I start to look at the goal and not getting 25% to goal or 50% to goal. I'm sure I will celebrate ONEderland (hopefully next week) and I think I will treat myself to a manicure when I get to the century mark. The small goals I set for myself are great but this is a milestone I didn't anticipate and it is a great surprise! I know I am still months and months away from goal, but I am starting to feel like it is something I can accomplish and this is the first time that I really started to feel that way. It was just arbitrary goal. A couple of days a go a friend said "Another 60 lbs? Really?" I said well that is a healthy BMI. What should my goal be? He couldn't really argue with that. If I get down to 165 that will be awesome and losing anything more than that will be gravy. I hope I can get to 142.5 That will be half of what I used to weigh and that is my goal. I always say "Aim high if you want to accomplish great things!" Banded 10-29-08 Dr. Kirshenbaum Denver, CO Self Pay - $9950

Thanks Kathi. I hope you enjoy the rest of my blog. It has really helped me. I'm sure you will do great!

I have kept this a secret. The only ones who know are my hubby, doctor, and a friend. I am going to share with another friend this week. It makes me nervous. I think the biggest reason I didn't share was I want the credit for all the hard work I am doing. At first I thought that I didn't want anyone to know in case I failed. I also didn't want everyone watching what I ate. I found out a long time ago I wasn't going to fail. Now I am finding that people from work are telling me that I am inspiring them to watch what they eat and start working out. I don't want my surgery to be a reason they give up what they are trying. I might share with everyone at some point. I plan to tell my family this summer when I visit because I want them to think about getting banded too. Good luck to you. I wish you all the best with your decisions. Only you know what is right for you!

I am close to ONEderland. I have lost over 80 lbs and that is great, but I am starting to look at the other side of the ticker. I finally have less than 60 bls to loose to make it to goal. 50-something is a great thought when you start with 140 on that side! I also see this as an amazing accomplishment to get to the point in my journey that I start to look at the goal and not getting 25% to goal or 50% to goal. I'm sure I will celebrate ONEderland (hopefully next week) and I think I will treat myself to a manicure when I get to the century mark. The small goals I set for myself are great but this is a milestone I didn't anticipate and it is a great surprise! I know I am still months and months away from goal, but I am starting to feel like it is something I can accomplish and this is the first time that I really started to feel that way. It was just arbitrary goal. A couple of days a go a friend said "Another 60 lbs? Really?" I said well that is a healthy BMI. What should my goal be? He couldn't really argue with that. If I get down to 165 that will be awesome and losing anything more than that will be gravy. I hope I can get to 142.5 That will be half of what I used to weigh and that is my goal. I always say "Aim high if you want to accomplish great things!" Banded 10-29-08 Dr. Kirshenbaum Denver, CO Self Pay - $9950

I thought it was funny when I would start to hear, "That outfit really looks good on you!" I wanted to scream, "Yeah it couldn't be that 50 lbs I lost!" After losing my weight so far it does get mentioned alot. I still get a kick out of people when they say "Hey that color really looks good on you" because sometimes it is an awful color on me....they are just used to seeing my face fat with few extra chins. I guess it takes everyone around me time to adjust too. My sister stopped by to see me for the first time since I started losing weight she doesn'' know I had the surgery. I said SURPRISE and after a "You look good" she didn't say anything else for about an hours and then asked how I was doing it. I told her nutrition and excersice. She had lost about 35 lbs since I saw her last and I think I took away her thunder. I swore her to secrecy about my weight loss because I want to lose another 25lbs before I visit the rest of my family in florida in July.

April 1st Challenge Minidriver ------(Goal -10lbs) -4.5,+6.5,-3.5, , , , Lap_dancer-----(Goal -33lbs) 0.0,+4.5,-2.0,-2.7, -2.0, , (Total -2.4) Deboregon -----(Goal -15lbs) -2.6,-3.4,+1.8,,, , Julie.Ann -------(Goal -19lbs) -4.9,-1.9,-2.0,-2.9,-2.4,-2.4, (Total -16.5) PrtyAntOvrYt---(Goal -30lbs) -4.2, ,-1.0,-1.8,:wink:,-4.0, (Total -11.0) BellaPerdente--(Goal -12lbs) 0.0,-3.0,-1.0, 0.0,-2.0,-1.0 (Total -7.0) Lotzasunshine--(Goal -12lbs)+1.5,-0.0,-0.0,-3.0, 0.0, , (Total -1.5) Jmegirl----------(Goal -15lbs) -2.6,-2.4,+1.2,+0.8,-1.8,-1.2, , (Total -6.0) KaleighsMommy-(Goal -10lbs) ,-0.4,-0.4,-5.4,+3.0, , (Total -3.2) Good luck to everyone. After our weigh in today remember to let me know on Wednesday what your last challange weight is. I can't wait to hear from you.

Today I faced the blizzard and made it to the gym. The owner and I were the only two people there and he commented that I had lost a lost of weight since my ID picture had been taken when I joined the gym. I told him yes, just a little over 80 lbs so far. A little bit later he said he wanted to show me something before I left. I finally got done with my cardio and went to see what he wanted to show me. We walked over to the free weights and he picked up a dumbell and placed it on the floor. He said can you pick that up. I bent my knees and worked hard to get it off the ground. I was able to pick it up, but barely and put it down quickly. He said that is 80 lbs. That is what you have lost so far. I just blew me away. I know my body is changing, but that really put it in perspective. I am just 3 lbs from ONEderland. That was my April 1st goal. I'm thinking I might just miss it. The reason I bring it up is because when I start to concentrate on the pounds to lose I start craving things. It makes me think about what I can't eat....what I have to deprive myself of to lose a few pounds. As soon as I stop thinking about numbers and start thinking "lifestyle" those feelings of deprivation goes away. I was thinking that I want pizza. I want the taste. I should be able to eat it. I deserve it. Then I start thinking like a bandster with a differnt lifestyle..... I don't need it. I'm not even hungry so why am I thinking about food? I can eat it if I want to, but it isn't healthy and I will feel bad afterwards. It isn't that I can't have it. I can eat anything I want, but I chose not to eat it and feel bad. It is my choice. The craving basically went away. It is amazing the difference it make in HOW we think about food. That really puts my cravings in perspective. I do have a goal to make and I will try hard and next Saturday if I still want pizza then I will get a slice of thin crust. If I don't want it then I won't eat it. I will be at my 5 month bandiversary in just 2 days. I can't believe how different my life was just 6 months ago. I love my band! I wish I would have done this years ago. My 35th birthday is in June and I hope to have lost 100lbs by then. That will be the best birthday I've had in a LONG time!!!

Here here is my blog with my guidelines. My Bandster Guidelines..... - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum I keep track of all my food on www.sparkpeople.com I see that lapband.com also has that option now. There are other free sites as well. I count everything I eat. It has helped me more than anything besides the band. I work out quite a bit, but started at 30minutes of cardio 3 times a week. Get fills as you need them and eat your solid protein first then produce. No liquid calories. No bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. Good job so far and keep it up!

I'm sorry you get such a small fill. My doctor fills until you can drink and then pulls back just enough so that water goes through without a problem. My first fill was 2.7cc my next two were .7cc. I am glad he does it that way. You will get there. Keep up the great work!

Welcome Jill, We would love to have you! I go for a fill next friday. I don't know if I will need one. I guess we'll see. I am doing pretty well. Maybe just a little to top me off.

UGH! I was happy until I saw that I only lost 1.6 lbs this week. I did gain a little and lose a little. Anyway I have not had a week with a gain yet so I shouldn't complain. I am down to 203.0! I am 3.1 lbs away from ONEderland! I was hoping to make it by April 1st....but that is Wednesday so I don't think I will make it. Oh well.....I am still happy with my progress. Let's here from you guys. What has happened to everyone?:smile2:

You are right. Even after 5 months of banding when I get together with friends the question is usually "Do you want to do lunch?" We find ourselves congregrating in the kitchen when we are at the house. It is a different mindset to get into. When you get to the right restiction it is easier to say no. I still go out with friends. I eat healthy and then I am not hungry and do not want to snack. It gets easier when you learn the difference between real hunger and head hunger. Start working on that now. When you start to look for food ask yourself, "Am I hungry? Is my stomach empty?" If you start to learn your hungers you will get the results you want even faster. It is a change, but you can do it!

Was your tummy hungry or was your mouth hungry? That is the big question. Also why are you drinking your breakfast? No wonder you were hungery. Nothing is staying in your pouch. No liquid calories! That is one of the guidelines. Okay so you messed up. It is behind you. We have all messed up. The band gives you another chance. Could you need a fill?Yes. Could it be your TOM that is sabatoging you? Tommorrow is another day. Plan your meals now and get some physicial activity in too. Keep going girl.

So I understand that you can order Red Robin hamburgers without the bun, but what do you eat at Panera? Soup? Just curious.

eat a cup at a time and weigh out your protein when you get to that point. That will get you used to seeing banster portions. I still measure my food 5 months after being banded and 80 lbs gone. It is a great habit to get into.

Nope, Direct exclusion. I went to Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver becuase I am self pay. $9950 and so nice with great recommendations and $15 a fill. It costs me less to go drive there for a fill than to pay to establish in Wichita or KC. Good luck. I hope they'll give in for you. I wish they would have for me.

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:

April 1st Challenge Minidriver ------(Goal -10lbs) -4.5,+6.5,-3.5, ,, , Lap_dancer-----(Goal -33lbs) 0.0,+4.5,-2.0,-2.7, , , Deboregon -----(Goal -15lbs) -2.6,-3.4,+1.8,, , , Julie.Ann -------(Goal -19lbs) -4.9,-1.9,-2.0,-2.9,-2.4,, (Total -14.1) PrtyAntOvrYt---(Goal -30lbs) -4.2, ,-1.0,-1.8, , , BellaPerdente--(Goal -12lbs) 0.0,-3.0,-1.0, 0.0,-2.0, , (Total -6.0) Lotzasunshine--(Goal -12lbs)+1.5,-0.0,-0.0,-3.0, 0.0, , (Total -1.5) Jmegirl----------(Goal -15lbs) -2.6,-2.4,+1.2,+0.8,-1.8, , (Total -4.8) KaleighsMommy-(Goal -10lbs) ,-0.4,-0.4,-5.4,+3.0, , (Total -3.2) BikiniBeachy-----(Goal -12lbs) , , , , , , ,

Just checking in with everyone. Five months. Hard to believe! How is everyone? I'm doing good. I've had 3 fills. I think I may be at the sweet spot or close. YAY! I love my band! Band-Jovi