housecatgirl

Ok, I first need to admit I did something really stupid Sunday night.:paranoid I drank a few too many glasses of wine. I know I didn't throw up though...just sorta passed out and woke up with a killer hangover.:cry Anyway, I have been contemplating another fill because at times I seemed to be able to eat too much. However, I usually experience the tight feeling at least once per day especially when eating starchy carbs (which I try to avoid). I am worried because I am loose as a goose. Since Monday morning I can eat anything and have NO restriction. I was also thinking maybe my band is leaking because the restriction seems to be less and less since my last fill. Maybe the wine on Sunday night is just a coincidence. It was also my TOM when I got my last fill. So, I guess there are several factors to consider. I am going to get a fill tomorrow and they do it with barium so I guess I will find out if I slipped it. Needless to say, I have sworn off alcohol. I just can't handle it the same way anymore.:Banane45:

I have decided to train to run a ½ marathon. I joined a really great group called ‘Team in Training’. They have professionals that train you on various endurance events. Anyway, I am contacting everyone I know to ask for their support. I was wondering if you all could do me a really big favor and pass my website link along to people that you think might be interested in making a small contribution to this great cause. Here’s the link: http://www.active.com/donate/tntors/LauraWang Thanks! Laura

Hi everyone, Well, I'm about 15 lbs to goal and hubby took some photos yesterday. I'm not here to brag but I do hope to inspire.:welldoneclap: I have worked hard and come a long way. Most of you know it hasn't been easy with all my fills and unfills but I am happy to report I think I finally have the right level of restriction.:eek: I learned that there is no magic and the band is only a tool. I also learned it's at least 50% exercise. Anyway, I will post better photos when I finally reach my goal...

Thanks everyone. I've been "falling off the wagon" so to speak lately. Too much stuff that goes right through the band...egg nog, etc. Anyway, I am getting back on the eliptical and watching it come new years. I was watching a show on MTV the other day about obesity and gastric bypass. Anyway, there was a girl that was getting ready for her surgery and they showed her on a forum like this on her computer. It was so good to actually see her getting inspired by our sucess stories. I hope I am able to inspire some people pre surgery. The only thing that bothered me about the show is that some of the attitudes were that as soon as they got surgery they would magically lose the weight. I wish they knew it doesn't work that way. It takes work and alot of exercise to really achieve results. Even if you can't really exercise...you gotta do a little walking or something. Like my hubby always says, you gotta get in shape to get in shape.

Well, I made it to my original goal. I would still like to lose another 10 lbs but we'll see. I went from a starting weight of 175 to 115....so total is only 60 but I am only 5ft tall so it really is alot for my height. I just wanted to catch it before I got diabetes and hi blood pressure and all the things my Mom and alot of other family members have. I'm a little over a year out now. Anyway, as I have said in the past, I'm not here to brag about my loss, I only hope to inspire you all....

HAHA!! I am like WTF???? in that pic. I used to hate getting my pic taken and my husband was doing a shoot that day and needed to check his lighting.:tired I was asked about my work out routine.... I LOVE Curves. Alot of people say it doesn't work but it does work if you work it, just like anything else. The big difference is it's not boring since you're moving station to station every 30 sec. I also like that I get the cardio and strength training in at the same time....I'm a major multi tasker personality.

I'm so glad to inspire and yes, holly you can get there too!! Just take it one day at a time.

oh, yeah here's the only before I have....I stayed away from camaras back then....which was hard considering my hubs a photog...

I only have one scar that's still visible and that's the port one obviously. If you look close on the black bathing suit one you can see it. I tan alot since I have a tanning salon so that helps hide the scars. I also scar really well. About 2 mos ago I had a breast lift and my scars are already almost faded. I can't see them when I am standing in front of the mirror about 2-3 ft away. Only closer than that. Anyway, no tt....my doc said I didn't need it unless I lose more weight and then we'll see.

one more....

Hi all, I got back from TJ last week after having some reconstruction done on my boobs and Dr. Q did an amazing job! The whole staff there is great and very professional. I even had Dr. Campos do an IPL laser peel on my face...I had some fine lines and large pores...they are gone! I highly recomend them...the web add is Plastic Surgery - San Diego Let me know if anyone has any more specefic questions. Laura

Yes! Cosmed is the best!! Let me know if you have any questions. Laura

Well, I just had to pop in and say you are lucky if you have people at your work that have been banded. I would tell them for sure!! You are going to really want that day to day support. You don't have to decide right away but I think at some point you will want to tell them. I know for me I didn't really want people to know until I lost a few pounds. Then I told the whole world after I lost 50lbs. I am only about 15lbs to goal.:clap2:

oh my gosh, he is super cute and I'm not even the type that likes kids that much. Love his expression in the 2nd one.

:help: I have an appointment to get an IUD on Thurs.:rolleyes I am hoping it doesn't cause complications with my band. Anyone out there have one:confused: I am getting the Mirena one with low dose hormones because I have alot of side effects with the pill ie: bloating, mood change, etc.:faint: I heard the copper one makes you bleed alot and supposedly this one has a low dose of estrogen that makes you bleed light may even stop periods all together.

I have asked this before but I think I didn't get much response last time. My fills have ranged from 3.4 at the highest to about 1.6 now. It seems the more I lose the tighter I get. I have had alot more unfills than fills. It seems like my "pouch" can't hold anything w/o PAIN. I don't want to complain because I love my band and I have lost weight with it but I don't think it's working the same for me as everyone else. I never feel full. It's really a black and white situation for me. I am either so tight it hurts to eat/drink or wide open and can eat anything. It seems to be taking less and less of a fill to be tight. Anyone else with these symptoms?

It's been a year and I'm almost there. I'm not here to brag but I do hope to inspire. I have worked hard and come a long way. Most of you know it hasn't been easy with all my fills and unfills but I am happy to report I think I finally have the right level of restriction. I learned that there is no magic and the band is only a tool. I also learned it's at least 50% exercise. Anyway, I will post better photos when I finally reach my goal... housecatgirl - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

valzie, That's a long story but to make it short...I was very tight and being a very bad bandster girl eating the wrong things constantly and not going on liquids for 24 hrs after a bad pb, etc. Basically, not following the rules. I think it's very hard for alot of us because we weren't disciplined type people to begin with. It's hard to make the right choices but the band sort of forces us to or we end up suffering.

Hi Faithmd, Thanks for your sweet comments. I had breast implants about 11 years ago and I think one of them became incapsulated. Anyway, they don't last forever anyway so I am having them redone. I have saline and I want silicone now that they have discovered the earlier silicone scare was unfounded. I may also have a few stubborn areas lipoed but I want to lose another 10 lbs and see what really may or may not need to be done first.

I even work in a tanning salon part time. yes!!!! I tan 3-4 X a week.

I have a consult with Dr. Quiroz in June. If all goes well with that I plan on having him do my surgery in August.

Glad you are better. Can you give a little more info on the stomach lining thickining thing. This is the first time I have heard that and may explain my situation. I have always heard that as you lose weight your stomach shrinks thereby making you need a tighter fill. However, it seems the opposite with me. I am 10 lbs to goal and at a lesser fill now with only 2.3 yet am tight as can be. Maybe my stomach thickened?

Hmmmm...Yeah, I feel your pain...no pun intended. I think I can top you though by saying I've done this over and over. Fill, unfill, fill, unfill....it's as bad as binging and purging. I basically sabotage myself by eating wrong after a fill then pb'ing and continuing to eat wrong until I am so swollen I cannot even get a bit of water down. Go get a slight unfill and just be careful what you eat. Either that or you can try doing pepto for a few days to see if maybe you just have an irritated band. However, it sounds to me like you are too tight.

Do the best you can. I had Ortiz, too. You will have a great experience with him. Celery is supposed to be -calories so that is good! I wish I could still eat it but it doesn't go down good anymore. I would try to stop the tea for a few days to see if that makes a difference. Some say tea increases the appetite and dehydrates you. Drink alot of water instead.

Becky, I tend to lose weight all over. Pictures can lie a little bit so you can't see the last bit of flab all over. People have asked me about my scars...again, the lighting of the photo hides the port scar pretty well. However, I can't even find my other smaller scars anymore.