lucymann

So good to see so many of you back on the thread. Happy New Year to all of you. I am sorry to hear that some of you are having so much trouble with your bands. And I sure know what it means to be a self-pay. I worry all the time that my band might slip and I would have to spend that money all over again. I agree with you Barbara465 - I know that I can't be trusted without the band either. I hope that you are able to obtain a level of restriction that will allow you to eat something and yet not gain weight. The band is a good solution but sometimes I wonder if it would have been better to do the bypass. I was talking to someone the other day and they were telling me that they can eat whatever they want with the bypass - they don't have the problems with eating meat like we do. Has anyone else had these thoughts? Good luck to all of you.

Has anyone looked into a tummy tuck? I am thinking I might get one next year but wondered if anyone here had experience with it.

Hi everyone. It has been a long time since I posted but I am glad to see that so many of you are still around. Work overwhelmed me for the last 18 months but I was able to go hiking with my DH once a week anyway. We have been hiking between 5 and 16 miles every week. We would do it on snowshoes during the winter. I have lost 87 lbs since getting banded (116 total) and am maintaining at between 160 - 165 lbs. I would still like to reach my original goal of 135 lbs but don't think it will happen now. I am more active and healthy than I have ever been in my life and that is what is important! I still have restriction - still have problems eating meat and still trying to learn how to live with this band but overall I am glad that I chose to do this and would do it again in a heartbeat

Hi Everyone, I have been out of town on a business trip and just got caught up with all the goings on this morning. I agree with those of you who say - let's focus on the positive I know I had hit a plateau just before Christmas and my scales did not move hardly at all until two weeks ago. I am now losing again but slowly. I have read a lot of profiles and it seems like the closer you get to your goal weight the harder it is to lose. And I think it is natural to crave heavier/sweeter foods when the weather is cold. Our bodies think they need those calories to stay warm! When the weather turns balmy I am certain we will all have an easier time of it. So take heart! Be of good cheer! Congratulations to all of us on the progress we have made. I have always said that having the band is not a diet - it is a lifetime commitment to eating and staying healthy. We need all the support we can get - each other, Weight Watchers, support groups etc. Be glad - be very glad that help is out there and we have the courage to know we need it and will reach for it! Off my soapbox - have a great day everyone!

Sorry to be so abrupt! Hit the wrong key! I am sorry to hear that you have a slipped band. You are correct in thinking that we are all here for you and will be praying for a speedy recovery and success afterwards. I think you are awesome for not giving up. Barbara465 I am sorry to hear that you are having so much difficulty with that fill (again). But you are doing great so going for a slight unfill is the best thing for you. I understand about the problem in trying to eat when nothing wants to go down. I experience that for a week or two after a fill and wonder why I put up with it but I am a self pay and don't like to fork out hundreds of dollars for minor adjustments. That may catch up with me in the end - that's why I would like to know from you Socalgal3 what a slipped band's symptoms are. The weather has improved some here and I have managed to walk a total of 22 miles so far this week. On the weekend we did a 3 mile and then a 5 mile hike in snow on a mountain road/trail. It was awesome to get out in the fresh air and really push the old bod! Our little miniature dachshund walked most of the way with us but when the snow got too deep we put him in a backpack lined with soft blankets. He basically insisted on standing up in it so he could look over my husband's shoulder at where we were going. So cute! I feel so much better for having had this much exercise. I also keep up going to Curves 4 - 5 times per week and I can really tell that it helps - to be honest my "girls" have never looked better! The muscles underneath are tightening up and so they aren't sagging unduly for my age :-) The sun is shining and it should warm up later so I am looking forward to another vigorous walk. Now if this exercise would only show on the scale! Not 1 pound! But I did tighten my belt another notch so you are right Barbara465 - I may be losing inches even though the scale is not moving.

Socalgal3 what are the symptoms of a slipped band?

Pinkylee the cashews are not your enemy! Actually they are good for you if you only eat a few each day. Maybe what you need to do is line up your snacks for the day so when you go into the kitchen what you see is what you have planned to have. I set out a V8 and 5 cashews (sometimes) and I eat each one very slowly. The rest are safely tucked away in the cupboard. Of course I am a visual eater - if I see it I want it but if it is not in sight I don't think about it. That probably doesn't work for everyone. Congrats Barbara465 on being able to send someone your too big clothes. It is a great feeling isn't it? And wearing clothes that fit really does help with the self esteem! I also agree with what you say about making sure we eat the hard protein first. I have made that a habit and I find that the biggest problem I have is that once I have eaten my 2 ounces of hard protein I can not hold anything else. So I worry about not eating very many vegies. That's why my snack of choice is a V8. I have trouble still eating raw fruit. I have only been successful one time eating a raw apple. I tried to eat a banana and it went down ok but only a little bit. My problem all along has been portion control and now I wonder what to do with an opened banana that I only ate about an inch of? What do you guys do? Julie congrats on reacing your sweet spot and doing so well on your weight loss and welcome back. I forgot to mention that there were other NSVs on my trip - like the seat belt fit around me with 6 inches to spare and, like you Pinkylee, my seatmates had smiles on their faces and no scrunched shoulders. It's amazing how much larger the airplane seat was!!!

Hi everyone - I guess it's nasty weather all over! I got back from Northern California last night and it had been very cold there with freezing. The pipes at my motel had broken and we were without water for five hours. I sure was hoping to get a warmup out of the trip :-( I did not do well while on this trip - even though I packed measured protein portions I only had one protein shake in two days. I did get in all of my water and did not eat much at all but was disappointed in myself for not making sure I took the protein. The best part of the trip is that it was to a client I haven't seen since before the WLS and literally no one recognized me! I had to tell everyone who I was. Of course I got lots of compliments. I am still on the plateau - nothing lost or gained. I guess I will be grateful that I am not gaining.

Thanks Pinkylee - I guess I need to take my measurements because I am really discouraged. I try to tell myself that if I am following the program I will lose eventually but I am scared that I will/have stopped and this is all I am going to lose. Cathy - wow! on the weight loss! Keep up the good work!

Hi Everyone - been away for a few days - it is so cold here in the Seattle area!!! And more snow predicted for tonight and tomorrow. Yuck! I am flying to Sacramento California tomorrow on a business trip. This will be my first business trip since banding and I am kind of nervous about eating and drinking properly. I haven't lost any weight in a long time and that is discouraging. I have kept a food log on fitday.com and I am taking in an average of 1136 calories per day and 99 grams of protein and all of my water but the scales are not moving. I have not been able to take my walk in days because of the nasty weather and all I can figure is that is the reason for no weight loss. I sure hate plateaus!

I've read this before but reading it again I laughed til I cried! Thanks for the great start to my day Pinkylee keep your dream of a week's hiking vacation. I started out walking on the flat one mile per day then added hiking short distances in the mountains on the weekend (one - two miles) with an elevation of between 500 and 1000 feet. I did that for the first year - lengthening my daily walks to two or three miles as I got stronger. The second year I increased the distance I would hike in the mountains until now I can hike up to eight miles and an elevation of 2000 - 2200 feet. I now walk three miles per day on the flat every day that I can. Lately the weather here has been awful so I have missed my walk many days. I also work out at Curves four - five mornings per week before going to work. This summer I would like to hike some of the Pacific Crest Trail system - maybe not overnight yet because I don't carry a pack but at least a long day hike. We are now trying to add a mountain hike during the week of about four miles and 1000 feet in elevation in addition to the one on the weekend. But, again, the weather is not very conducive to it. I am thinking about buying some snowshoes but I get cold so easy I am worried that I will go to that expense and then not use them. Good luck to you! Having said all that I am at a standstill on weight loss. I have read about plateaus and I guess I have hit one. I am now increasing my Water and adding an additional Protein shake to see if that will break the plateau. Grrrrr! :-)

YES !!! I have noticed the sagging skin! My arms and legs and belly and hips and butt are all sagging. I look like a Shar-pei! I have been going to curves 4 -5 days a week since I was released from the surgery and my muscles are developing nicely but it really doesn't affect the sagging skin. At least at my age. I get a little discouraged when I see myself without clothes on because I look terrible. I had hoped to avoid PS but maybe I will have to give in and have some just to be able to stand myself.

Barbara465 I will stay at Bally's - from the sounds of it we won't find much better rates anywhere else. Ladypitboss I am not sure if I am having laser or radiofrequency energy ablation. Either way they apply heat which scars the vein and causes it to close. Pinkylee I do have a lot of aching in my legs. Especially if I am on them for more than 1/2 hour or so. I love to hike and the pain can get intense if I am hiking for more than a couple of hours. I used to think it was just because I was so out of shape but my legs are strong now and I know it is the pressure of all that blood flowing the wrong way in my veins. Regina I am praying for you and for your husband. I agree with both Barbara's on this - you should come to Vegas whether he does or not but also it is very difficult - really impossible - to make someone else choose to get healthy. I hope he does participate in the program. Do you have a support group in your area? If he went to some meetings with you I am sure he would meet other men who have had WLS and begin to realize that it is okay to admit that he needs help to accomplish this. We all had struggles with that one and blame ourselves for not being able to do it on our own but at some point we all came to accept that we needed help and help is there for the taking and we grabbed at a chance for a better life. It is true that our lifestyles change - it is true we can no longer eat some of our favorite foods and it is true that we can not depend on the comfort of food when things go wrong. But it is also true that our lives have changed for the better with being more active - feeling more energetic and more free of food addictions. Good luck to both of you and I do hope you make it to Vegas.

I haven't even considered wearing a bathing suit! My legs are UGLY!!! But I have a date for surgery for my vericose veins of May 24th so maybe they will be a little better. I was reading up on the procedure and it says it takes between one and two years for them to disappear. What a disappointment! I was hoping it was instantaneous. But I do feel that if I am with this great bunch of people who understand the issues I will just relax and have fun and not worry too much about my loose skin problems.

Barbara12 I also agree with what you have said. I do need to reflect back on last year when I get discouraged and remember how different this holiday has been! Thanks for the reminder. Barbara465 I'm in on your plans for the weekend of the 8th of June. Sounds wonderful to me! Thanks again for your work on this.

Thanks Regina - I have "officially" lost 60 lbs since the day of surgery. I lost the other 34 before that. Acually my highest was 266 but I did not have proof of that by a doctor's record. Thank you for the compliment. I am really trying. I can't believe you are willing to tackle not smoking AND weight loss at the same time. Good for you! I hope you make it. Are you using anything to help you? I have never smoked but my husband did and I always hounded him to quit. One night I had a dream that I wanted a cigarette so bad I could almost die! It really helped me understand what he was going through. He finally quit cold turkey when a friend got throat cancer and hasn't smoked in over twenty years. Good luck you you - just take it one day at a time

Hi Everyone - I have just been catching up on what's been going on. I was busy with grandkids all week and didn't even log onto the computer once. Barbara465 I am so glad you enjoyed your cruise. And you did really well even though you enjoyed all they had to offer! I have never been on a cruise but everyone I talk to says to expect to gain between 10 and 15 lbs and you were only up 1.3! Wow! Barbara12 I am glad to hear your husband is home with you. I am sorry that the prognosis is not good but I am sure it is better to have him at home than stuck in a hospital. I will be praying for you and your family that you may have many more days to share together. Welcome to all the new members. I hope you find this thread helpful and always friendly. I am looking forward to Las Vegas. I will PM you Barbara with my preferences. I did not make my Christmas goal - I was 5 lbs short. I was disappointed that I did not make it because I, also, do not like to fail at goals I set for myself. But this is a new year and I did not gain so I will be happy with that and start anew. When I got up this morning I weighed myself and I saw 158 for the 3rd time so I am claiming it. I am also having the new procedure to reduce the size of my vericose veins. What I am having done is called ablation. They send something down the vein and apply heat which scars it and closes it instead of stripping the vein. It is done on an outpatient basis by a Radiologist and I am to begin walking almost right away. I think the doctor said after two days they want me walking. I will have to wear compression stockings for awhile but at least I can get my exercise.

Good luck on your cruise Barbara465. I understand the worry about being miserable on vacation - Not worth it! Have a wonderful time and tell us all about it when you get back.

Good Morning everyone! Well I am one of the lucky ones here in the Pacific Northwest who has been without power for four days now. On the bright side - we don't live where it goes below zero, we aren't flooded and our house is still standing where we left it before the storm. But we are still COLD :-) There is power around us so we can find a restaurant for a warm meal and we did finish our Christmas shopping - but we are still COLD :-) Anyway, that's my weekend!

Barbara - sometimes this happens to me and I think I get something stuck - maybe the broccolli casserole? I don't feel pain when something is stuck like others do but nothing will go down until it clears. I can feel the relief and the water going down when whatever is in there finally goes through. For what it is worth I wouldn't get an unfill - I would just wait it out. Once you start pbing you get swollen and it becomes a vicious cycle. When it happens to me now I sip warm water to try and relax the muscle and open the stoma and then I stay on fluids and mushies for a few days until things settle down again. If you were truly too tight I do not think you could have eaten the Mexican the night before. Hope you are better now!

Barbara your decorations are beautiful! What a lot of work! What a lot of talent! Thanks for sharing.

Christa94 - I think you are doing fantastic! If only I was at your weight! We are all different and it is so important not to compare ourselves to others (even though that is hard!) When I look at you I just wish I had been able to have WLS when i weighed 188 instead of waiting until I had piled on lots more lbs!!! But we are all doing good and should be very proud of what we have accomplished. Everyone of us is working on being healthier and changing our eating habits for a lifetime. I think we are all very aware that this is not just a "diet" but a lifetime commitment and we understand that we now have a tool to help us be successful at last!

Barbara 12 my prayers are with you and your family. We are all anxious to hear how he is doing. Barbara 465 I am hoping to see pictures of those trees soon :-) Glad your open house went so well. And I am sorry to hear that you are probably leaking. I can't imagine eating what you described but wish I could sometimes. I don't think it was "over the top" except maybe all the hashbrowns. We should be able to eat small reasonable meals if this is "for life". However, I am still struggling to eat much of anything. Apparently I had a delayed reaction to my fill and most of the time I have not been able to eat much of anything. If it doesn't get better soon I am going to have to get some removed. Yesterday I was able to eat most of one small cod fillet at IHOP but nothing more. That kept me full all day until 6:00 p.m. I do get hungry but only a few bites of something fills me right up. Right now I am not eating enough to satisfy my nutritional requirements and am depending on protein shakes, vitamins and supplements. It's not conducive to good weight loss either so I don't even have that consolation.

Barbara465 I hope you do well with this fill. I am interested in knowing if the thicker saline solution works better for you. My latest fill is okay most of the time. I have a really hard time getting my protein drink down in the morning but by lunch I am able to eat more that I ever have before - which actually means I am eating normal bandster portions. Yesterday for lunch I had 2 ounces of tuna and a very tiny salad and got it all down with no trouble. For dinner I was able to eat about 4 ounces of soup with a couple of crackers. I know we are not supposed to have soup but sometimes on a cold winter evening there is nothing better than some minestrone soup :-)