julie.ann

April 1st Challenge Minidriver ------(Goal -10lbs) -4.5, , , , , , Lap_dancer-----(Goal -33lbs) , , , , , , Deboregon -----(Goal -15lbs) -2.6, , , , , , Julie.Ann -------(Goal -19lbs) -4.9, , , , , , PrtyAntOvrYt---(Goal -30lbs) -4.2, , , , , , BellaPerdente--(Goal -12lbs) 0.0, , , , , , Lotzasunshine-(Goal -12lbs) , , , , , , Jmegirl----------(Goal -15lbs) -2.6, , , , , ,

2-21-09 I weigh 213.8 and just in case you didn't notice that puts a bigger number on the left side of my ticker than the right! I AM OVER HALF WAY TO GOAL and I have lost 50% of my excess body weight! YEAH! I am almost 4 months post-op. I love my band! I hope to be in onderland by April 1 and hit the -100 pounds by my 35th birthday in June!!!! Thank you guys for you great support. I thought I needed a fill. Starting to look for food again between meals. Well my hubby broke his foot and will be off of work for a month (surgery yesterday to put a screw in his foot where he broke it) so I don't think I can afford a trip to Denver. What I noticed picking up a few days a clinic for my practicum is that I didn't get hungry between meals. I think I have been fighting that very conniving enemy called head hunger. I'm usually quick to pick up on it, but I think it was sneaking up on me and that's what the problem has been. I thought I was very wise to head hunger but sometimes it is so hard to tell the difference. So I might not get a fill soon, but I think I will be ok with that. I'll have to see closer to the time if I have any money to go. I am supposed to go two weeks from tomorrow. So we were sitting the doctor’s office yesterday morning waiting for orders to go the hospital for hubby’s surgery. I was sitting there and comfortably crossed my legs. That is has been such a big deal for me. I told hubby look! This is comfortable! I used to not be able to do this. He winked at me and said that getting me to cross my legs was the opposite goal he had for me. He’s so funny sometimes! I told my doctor the following yesterday: Here is an arithmatic lesson. It doesn't look right, but I've found that if you check it....it does equal out the way it is written. 4 months post-op (almost) - 71 lbs = 50% excess body weight = 1/2 way to goal of healthy BMI I may not get down that low, but I hope to be close. Healthy is my goal. I thought I was needing a fill, but with hubby off work I don't think I can afford a trip to Denver besides I noticed the last two days working at the clinic that I wasn't really hungry between meals. I think I have been struggling with head hunger which can be MUCH WORSE than real hunger. But I have to be honest I have been really lucky in my results so far and getting restriction so early. I don't think my results are rare at all, but I bet I am in the top percentage of weight lost so..... um...I guess the word I'm looking for is...... easily? Not to say it hasn't been work. I started spinning class again on Wednesday. My butt is still sore! I read an article that said that a successfull band patient is one that loses 50% of their excess body weight and keeps it off indeffinately. I just need to keep it off. I'm already successful. I think losing any more than another 50 lbs is just gravy. My band’s name is Band Jovi…:thumbup:...I’m a huge fan!

I weigh 213.8 and just in case you didn't notice that puts a bigger number on the left side of my ticker than the right! I AM OVER HALF WAY TO GOAL and I have lost 50% of my excess body weight! YEAH! I am almost 4 months post-op. I love my band! I hope to be in onderland by April 1 and hit the -100 pounds by my 35th birthday in June!!!! Thank you guys for you great support. I thought I was needing a fill. Starting to look for food again betweem meals. Well my hubby broke his foot and will be off of work for a month (surgery yesterday to put a screw in his foot where he broke it) so I don't think I can afford a trip to Denver. What I noticed picking up a few days a clinic for my practicum is that I didn't get hungry between meals. I think I have been fighting that very coniving enemy called head hunger. I'm usually quick to pick up on it, but I think it was sneaking up on me and that's what the problem has been. I thought I was very wise to head hunger but sometimes it is so hard to tell the difference. So I might not get a fill soon, but I think I will be ok with that. I'll have to see closer to the time if I have any money to go. I was supposed to go two weeks from tomorrow.

April 1st Challenge Minidriver ------(Goal -10lbs) , , , , , , Lap_dancer-----(Goal -33lbs) , , , , , , Deboregon -----(Goal -15lbs) , , , , , , Julie.Ann -------(Goal -19lbs) 4.9, , , , , , PrtyAntOvrYt---(Goal -30lbs) 4.2, , , , , , BellaPerdente--(Goal -12lbs) , , , , , , Lotzasunshine-(Goal -12lbs) , , , , , , Jmegirl----------(Goal -15lbs) , , , , , ,

That is great. That is how my doc does fills every time. Fill till too tight, then pull back enough to let water go through smoothly! I LOVE that. Imagine how long it would take you with little fills to get to 8 cc!!!

I like the chocolate AdvantEDGE I get from EAS at Walmart. That is my favorite!

I think the rule of thumb is 1- 1 1/2 c. of food (3-4 oz of solid protein) keeping you full for at least 4 hours. I'm opposite. I am tighter at night (TG) I don't know if working out in the evening has anything to do with that. I am usually tighter at night.

It sounds like either you need smaller bites and chewing more or yes you could be too full. Good luck!

Love: That is GREAT! I hope all goes well and I will be thinking about you. Please keep us up today on what is going on!!! Well I bet you are the first of the Smashing Pumpkins to have a band baby!!! It seams like the phenomon is fairly common. I bet you are more fertile and a little more active with 90 lbs gone! Will you try your pregnancy with your current Fluid level or have some taken out? CONGRATS!!!

-4.2 this week and I hit 70 pounds lost as of today. By monday I should be at the halfway mark!!!! I can't believe it. 4 months from surgery!!! 50% of my excess body weight is GONE!!! Today I weight 214.7

Sometimes it can take several fills to feel much. Make sure you are eating your solid protein first and keep doing what you are doing until you can get in for another fill. Keep bread, potatoes, rice and pasta out of your diet to cut down on cravings. Sweets too. At least until you have some restriction. Get to the gym and keep track of everything you eat. It has been 2 weeks....how long till the next one. You are dong great so far!

Just no Toto jokes--K?

So funny BG! You are from OK? I'm from KS! We are neighbors! When do you get to join the band?

One time at band camp...... JK - it is a wonderful thing to do. Be ready for some discomfort. Don't think that you will come out dancing but it is worth every bit. You have to expect some pain post-op so it doesn't take you by surprise. You will do great!

"You are the kind of patient we nurses live for!" True, but I have to admit love it when I avoid the vein "that never works" just to end up there getting the IV in right there. HE HE.

2-10-09 Did I really just do that? Did I really just buy a size 16? Does it matter they are stretchy? Does it matter they are from Wal-mart? Does it matter that they are a little snug? Does it matter that I feel like I will be able to wear these forever? I can’t imagine ever growing out of (or shrinking out of) these. I started out a size 24. I dug out my old size 18 and that was the smallest jeans I’ve had. I wore a size 16 about 9 years ago for just a little bit. I haven’t worn anything smaller than that since high school. I want to do a happy dance, but I’m still saving that for onederland! I love my band! :w00t:

"If I was schizophrenic, I would have been beside myself." Very cute! I enjoy your posts. If you are pre-approved by insurance I must hate you based on fact I am self pay. Otherwise I hope all goes well. Let us know!

Welcome. The view here is great!

Did she have you drink water before you left the office?

Wendy is right, most surgeon do not put the band in with fluid. She is also right that most docs don't allow fills for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Every doc is different. I'm not saying he is wrong. As far as throwing up.....uh, I haven't found it is "easy". I have only been stuck once and it took like 90 minuts for it to pass. Throwing up or PBing as some call it just kept happening trying to fix the problem. It wasn't really throwing up. If people are making themselves throw up then I hope they don't have the problems with the band they are asking for. Vomiting is a real good way to get band slippage. So you are about 6 weeks out. How long have you been working out? How much? How is your food log going? How many calories have you been getting? Have you cut out bread, pasta, rice and potatoes? They aren't healthy and sabatoge your weight loss on many differnt levels. They are the foods most likey to get stuck. They are most likely to form a gummy ball in your pouch. They will spike your glucose levels forcing insulin to be released and then causing cravings. Are you staying away from all liquid calories? I posted my guidelines here. Here it is in case you don't want to go looking for it. I hope you'll look through my blog to see some of the things I have learned. Here are the guidelines: Guidelines: • No liquid calories [except 2 servings of non fat milk (2 x 8 oz = 16 oz/day)] (16 grams of protein) • No soft foods • Two 3-4 ounce servings of protein/day (2 X 21-28 = 42-56 grams of protein) I have been getting about 80-120 a day. • Always eat the protein first, then the vegetables • Avoid bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and other starchy foods • 20-25 grams of fiber a day (Examples: bran cereal, fruits, vegetables, beans) • Eat only three small meals a day with maybe one small planned snack • Eat slowly and chew thoroughly • Stop eating as soon as you feel full • Do not drink while you are eating (This is the hardest for me.) • Do not eat between meals except for a planned snack • Eat only good quality foods • Avoid tough stringy foods • Drink plenty of liquids during the day (48-64 ounces) between meals • Drink only low calorie liquids • Exercise at least 30 minutes per day (I have to still work on how to fit this into my full time mom/wife, full time work, full time student day.) Your surgeon may have different guidelines

Slim - That is awesome. I just decided today it is time for my thrid fill. I canceled the last one because I thought I was at my sweet spot, but maybe all my weight loss has made the band looser. Keep up the great work. I take it you are working out? I hit the gym 3-5 days a week.

Wow! I only had to wait 4 weeks, but waited 6. I take the Nature Valley chocolate calicum chews. It tastes like a tootsie roll and it is my "fix" and is still healthy!

I love sparkpeople.com for my online journal. I am nursemom05 on there if you want to check it out. I agree it is the second best thing I have ever done for my weight loss journey. Now lipstix...I agree that No-Carb is not the best way. Carb-lite is a great way to eat. I stay away from startches. No bread, potatoes, rice or pasta. Nothing wrong with that and yes I stay away from sweets too. Keeping these out of my diet or Far away keeps my blood sugar levels from rising. Now I am not a diabetic. The more carbs and sweets you eat the more glucose you have have in your system. When that spikes your body (if you are not a diabetic) naturally reduces the glucose by releasing insulin. That drops you blood sugar levels and then...CRAVINGS!!! I basically live without having horrible craving because of my diet and how I eat. You may know all of this and you may eat something differently, but carb control is good. Most people I talk to say they have been told to eat solid protein first then they veggies and such. This is a carb control diet. I have posted my bandster guidelines on my blog. Anyway if you are eating healthy and it is working for you then keep it up. If you are wavering then maybe you needed that less productive week on the scale to get you back on track. I had that 2 weeks ago myself. I use every weigh in (daily) as a learning experience. What did I do right? What did I do wrong? What will I do today?

Lap_dancer: I am totally ripping off a post of your from a couple of years ago but I thought it was great when I read it! ------------------------------------------ "...In my private practice, I often ask my clients to read Portia Nelson's "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters", requesting them to observe which chapter from the five listed best describes where they find themselves today..." Chapter 1 I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in I am lost.I am helpless It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. Chapter 2 I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in the same place But, it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. Chapter 3 I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in.it's a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. Chapter 4 I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. Chapter 5 I walk down another street.

April 1st Challenge Minidriver ------(Goal -10lbs) , , , , , , Lap_dancer-----(Goal -33lbs) , , , , , , Deboregon -----(Goal -15lbs) , , , , , , Julie.Ann -------(Goal -19lbs) , , , , , , PrtyAntOvrYt---(Goal -30lbs) , , , , , , BellaPerdente--(Goal -12lbs) , , , , , , Lotzasunshine-(Goal -12lbs) , , , , , , Jmegirl---------(Goal -15lbs) , , , , , , Sorry Jamie! Once I get things organized it will be better! I promise.