gnjfix@hotmail.com

Hi, I finallly decided to stop blaming everyone else for my weight problem, stop comforting myself with food when things were stressful, and stop waiting for someone else to go exercising with me. I gave up on trying to change other people and decided to accept things as they really are (instead of how I'd like them to be). I got banded Sept 3, 2008 by Dr Michaelson at the NW Weight Loss Surgery center in Everett. The first 2 days after banding I was really sorry I had it done, because I hurt. But that passed fairly quickly. Now I am really glad I had it done. The band is an excellent tool to keep me from having that piece of cake or chocolate bar "just this once". I have been sticking to the diet and have lost 16 pounds (in 5 weeks) since surgery, in addition to the 14 pounds prior to surgery. That makes 30 pounds total in 2 months. I don't anticipate that I will be losing 15 pounds each & every month, but as long as I continue in the right direction EVENTUALLY I will be down to a healthy weight. I admit there have been times when I really wanted to cheat on the diet, but I don't want to have another operation to clear a clog, nor do I want to throw up, so it really helps me stick to the diet. My biggest challange is drinking enough water. I need to fill a quart bottle & drink from that so I know how much I'm drinking each day. I continue to see a counselor to learn new techniques for dealing with stress (other than eating). And I'm learning to put myself first sometimes. It's going to be a long process, but "the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step". Jan

Do you have a copy of the rules? You shouldn't be vomiting at all. 1. Eat only meat (this includes chicken, fish, turkey, ground beef), cooked veggies, & fruit (no skins). NOTHING ELSE. 2. Drink only water, tea, or skim milk. NOTHING ELSE. Drink 2 quarts of water daily. 3. Measure everything. No more than 1/2 cup per meal. 4. Keep your calories between 750 - 1000 per day. 5. Take small bites. 6. Chew, chew, chew each mouthful into a soggy mess before swallowing. 7. Exercise 30 minutes a day. (Walking is good.) If you follow these rules, you should not need any fill at all, and you should not be vomiting. I make a soup of ground turkey, cellery, carrots, onions, garlic, brocolli, zuchini, & canned spagetti sauce. I throw in a little bit of curry. It tastes really good & the veggies get all soft & easy to eat. Best of luck. Jan

No, you haven't failed. You just need to start again. Everyone has times of discouragement. Remember that its not just about diet and exercise. Its about deciding that you are worth working on. Your health (in the long run) is worth it. You are worth it. So after a fall, get back up and take one step at a time. Are you taking your vitamins? Check with your doctor to find out about why your hair is falling out, sounds like a vitamin problem to me.