riley4183

PS I have 3 dresses size 14 and size large to give away - anyone interested? Tina? I can bring them to Pat's on the 20th. I wore them for work

Morning all! Annalyn, I hear ya on the domestic violence front - did that in my first marriage, and he kept at it with his wives after me. The police used to call me from Redding and say come get your daughter, we have her at the ER with her steopmom cause her dad's in jail - lovely sh.t. The behavior does not change. You have done the right thing girl!! TINA! I love you and I miss you and don't you DARE leave this thread! No one else is dealing with havinh HAD good restriction and then completely losing it and being refused help. I have no idea what I would do, but I can tell you that I', scared to deather to get another fill cause I dont ever want to need an unfill at Kaiser!! SOMEthing must be going on there to have them all freaking out about unfills, because almost everyone has at least one during their journey - I mean, that's the beauty of the band, that it's adjustable, right?? So something must have happened to cause them to feel the ned to take SO MUCH out when just .5 or 1 cc would bring relief. And I think they should be honest and tell us why! Need to lock myself in my cubicle and write an ordinance today. Chris is coming by to take me to lunch later :-) I am logging everything again and drinking my water, and wonder of wonders, the weight is coming back off. . . . sigh. The band isn't a miracle; I still gotta do all the work. It sure helps tho :-)

Sorry Tina but I have to disagree! I have always felt like I was a part of my treatment team - always. I am SO sorry that this is happening to you! I think you have a personality conflict with Robin and they shoulod remove her from your team then you would be fine.

Maria, my fill amounts are in my siggy. At first he just gave me whatever her felt like giving me, not more than 1cc at a time tho - but pretty much he did it by feel - he could tell when the resistance was enough while he did the fill - the band didn't "want" anymore. The last few times he has asked me how much of a fill I wanted (i'm a chicken - I always want little ones), agreed with what I asked for, and given me that amount. I have always lost at least 9 lbs. between fills - if I dont lose, I don't NEED a fill - my band is too tight until I lose some more. Good luck today!!

YES I finally changed my ticker to reflect my weight re-gain. I have to get OUT of denial and get back with the program folks! It is not a failed band; I do not need a fill. I simply need to get back with the program and follow the damed rules! Here are ALL of the rules I am breaking: ~ not enough water - I dont even try ~ I drink coffee & sodas (slowly), & an occasional beer ~ I snack and graze constantly ~ I eat sliders b4 proteins so I can get the belly-full feeling ~ I dont log anything ~ I eat sugar and carbs when I KNOW they are triggers 4 me ~ I eat when I'm not hungry ~ I dont have a weekly support group anymore :-( ~ I eat in my room, on my bed (and blame it on Chris!) I HAVE to break the carb cycle and get rid of this urge to eat eat eat! It will take me 5 days. Wish me luck!

M u s t b r e a k c a r b c y c l e . . . . .

Besides the weight I mean, what else have you lost? I'm compiling a list for my support group leaders, and I want to hear it all - good or bad! A few examples that Ive heard so far: *My sleep apnea *Two of my chins (ok that was mine!) *A closetful of shoes *My husband *Most of my chin hair *An entire professional wardrobe *My self-consciouness *My high blood pressure *My fear of plastic patio chairs *A 10-year relationship *Half of my hair Please post to this thread or PM me! Thanks all! Riley

It's true! I went from 20-30, plucking ALL the time, to 2 - TWO!!! Now I consider them friends 'cause they've stuck with me :-)

Thanks for the great post, Pat. Love you!!!

I did good today folks! B - egg beaters & reduced fat cheese L - salad with quorn chicken & no-calorie dressing, sunflower seeds, cucumber S - .25 cup egg beaters with 4 cherry tomatoes D - 2 oz beef patty, 2 slices bacon, 2 tbs. peanut butter I'm done for the day! My fat is real high but I am trying to get rid of the carbs this week - need higher fat to do that. And I did snack aboiut 3:30 - I was physically hungry! But did not get into any sweets or wheats, yay me!! I am back on program for my bandiversary :-) OH and I burned off 600 cals at the gym this AM

Oh yes Maria, I know this one! I used to freak because I could eat like 2-3 cups of lettuce at a time, every day! Turns out I just needed a fill . . some foods WILL go right through the band as long as they are chewed well - esp. crackers, lettuce, and of course sliders. Only dense protein will fill the band the way it is supposed to work . . . and even though I can eat 2 cups of lettuce right now - and I have good restriction - I can only eat 1/4 cup of quorn chicken tenders on top of it. When I asked Robin about it - showing her the huge quantities that I was eating - she said no, you just need a fill. She assured me that unless I was eating soda and cupcakes, I had not stretched my pouch! I dont know why cupcakes (or cake), but that's what she said! Oh and no, I cannot eat cupcakes OR cake OR bread, even toast. YAY BAND!!

I had to quit coffee, and it really helped my pre-op weight loss - it was an appetite stimulant for me. I am now 1 year out, very close to goal, and have just recently been allowing myself a "regular" americano in the AM again. Black. . . . but i have found that if I have that in combo with fruit for breakfast, I am much hungrier all day. A good cup of decaf is great, or a half-caff americano!

OK, so I am totally back with my program! Chris brought over fat-free frozen yogurt last night (he asked first, LOL) and I tasted 1 bite and was done (poor guy had to eat the whole HUGE thing by himself - I am determined!). I want to lose these cravings, which means that I have to cut ALL of the sugar and all of the starchy carbs. I have to quit with the wheat again too; both of my hands are painful & peeling, and I'm having digestive stuff again. So out with flour and sugar, back in with protein. The PROBLEM is that I have now become super sensitive to soy! It causes me smelly gas to no end, and if I have more than 2 servings it's horribly painful gassy stuff. So I have added poultry back in, I had already added fish back in. No wheat and no soy??? No more vegetarian Riley :-( Breakfast: 1/2 cup egg beaters with 1/4 cup reduced-fat cheese & tapatio sauce (150 cals) Tina I will PM you my number so we can do accountability :-)

Candra, you need to get to the bottom of these headaches!!!! If they are at all hormonally triggered, they will be worse while you are losing but better when you get to goal . . whatever the heck they are, you CANNOT function with 4-day-long migraines!!! Can't they send you to UCSF??

Awww, thanks all you guys for your happy b-day wishes!! I miss you all :-( WE NEED AN ACTIVITY (Petaluma or Vallejo) SOON!!!

My latest recipe for a "sweet" high-protein snack: Mix low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese with sugar-free strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry preserves (smuckers, Walden Farms), add a dollup of sour cream and mix. De-lightful!!! High protein, very low carb (I use low-fat cheese and sour cream - less carbs than nonfat) especially if you use the Walden Farms product, which is sugar/calorie/carb free! You can buy them online, or at Raleys or Lucky's

SOOOOO hear you Heather! I have been COMPLETELY off track since my last appointment, which was in mid-December. I could blame it on the boyfriend but that's not fair; I'm the one whose ass isn't getting out of bed in the morning. I did make him take all of his snackies out of my house! And he's done griping when my alarm goes off at 4:30 for the gym. The bad new is that I've gained weight back. The good news is that it's only been 3 lbs. since that last appointment, and since I'm TOTALLY carb-loading right now that 3 should come back off easily. I've gained 8 since my lowest, though :-( although that may well have been dehydration. Tomorrow is my one-year bandiversary!! While I had really hoped to be at my weight goal one year out, I'm chosing to focus on my OTHER goals that I have achieved 1 year out: size (10); fitness; energy; activities; my love life!!! I feel SO GOOD. The lap-band is the best thing that I have ever done, hands down. I used to say that my kids were, but do you know what? I wasn't enjoying them for the years I was heavy even half as much as I enjoy them now. I feel so good about myself - physically AND mentally - that my whole outlook on life is sunnier. No yelling, a lot less frustration, much more faith in myself. I can handle anything! And folks, this is coming from a seasonal depressive - two years ago I would have been home in bed, unable to muster the energy to go to work. 1 year ago this morning I was down 41 lbs and drinking my MOM!!! And today - I'm logging on to say that IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT GETTING THE BAND, GET RID OF THEM! IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!! I miss you all! Congrats to all of the new bandsters!! I hope we have a Petaluma or a Vallejo walk coming up soon :-) Love and best wishes to all :frown: C U @ Facebook!!

I'm here, I'm here!! I was SKIING ladies & John, SKIING! A regular snow bunny!!! I had SO much fun. Hardly even sore, either! Weight at the gym really paid off @ the slopes :-) Heavy-duty Valentines Day stuff with Chris (formerly Bachelor #1) when I got back :-) Its the first time in many years for both of us that we have celebrated this holiday and actually enjoyed it - I love being spoiled, and he loves to spoil me! He was good about not giving me candy (although I gave him some, LOL) but I got flowers and a new Starbucks travel mug and special coffee and a fancy dinner out . . I am SO glad he knows about the ol' band cause I don't have to explain when I'm "done" after 3 bites! I took courses 3 & 4 (and most of #2!) home and was still eating it when he came over the next night, lol! 3 meals . . . . . So this morning we talked about how I'm not getting up and going to the gym in the early AM any more, and that is affecting how well I stay (or dont stay) on plan the rest of the day. He stays over 4 nights a week now, so that's 4 mornings out of 7 that I'm NOT getting up and getting to the gym, which is NOT helping me to move forward! He feels bad yeah, but it's me who has to make the change again . . . . so he's agreed to not gripe when the alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m., and to encourage me to go! Jeez its been over a week. Must get back on plan . . . .l 115 lbs down for me, it was 121 but I've gained a few back :-(

DOH I found it - thanks Ash!!

Can you post it Ash? I'd sure like to see that thing

Monique! You are one short stomach flu from onederland, lol! Seriously, congrats!! You should be there this weekend!!! WOO HOO

Tamra you can only lick it if it's greasy and you crave it! LMAO

OK it's official: I am 5 lbs. MORE than I was at my last fill!!!! Uhmmmmm . . . lesson: this is what happens when you don't FOLLOW THE RULES. I KNOW the rules . . . . they are just such a drag! But Robin and I talked about this: in the past (for the first 47 years of my life), is this the point at which I'd give up and go back to my old bad habits? Answer: Yes. Second part of question: And what happens when you do that now? Answer: my band wont let me! I can try to blow it, but the band'll stop me - AS LONG AS I DONT SNACK. So that's my challenge this week ladies and gent! No movie on Saturday either, since I can't seem to stay out of the friggin' theatre popcorn . . ;.

I lost the weight, now I've started to date - ye gads, it's a lot different now! It has been years for me. I love the attention and the new, high activity level, but I hate the games and the disappointments. Any banded single men out there who get it??

Congrats girl! Did I tell you I am/was and RDA/CDA in my former lifetime? 30 years ago . . . . All I wanted after surgery was to lick a hamburger patty - i didnt eat meat so who knows what was up with that . . but i would be out with a friend eating a burger, and i would be all like, "i want to lick your patty . . " weird but it doesnt hurt nuthin!!