MarcyD

For some reason, my band seems to be tighter the last week or so. This is odd, as I am scheduled for a fill in a couple of weeks (My doc routinely does a fill every two months until you reach the sweet spot.). I have lost three more pounds as of this morning and hope this means my plateau has broken. Now I have to go update my ticker! Oops! Later, I guess. Gotta go back to work.

I have been stuck at minus 40 pounds for two or three months now. Part of the problem (I think) is that I am on a lot of insulin for my diabetes and insulin acts as a growth factor, promoting weight gain. I have also not been exercising as much as I should. Cheldex, I lost 30 pounds on Nutrisystem before the band, but kept getting hungry. I am trying it again with some of the food I have left and find that the band makes me actually feel full with the small portions. Most of the food is okay, but a few things are nasty. You have to experiment. The message board a nutrisystem.com is very helpful. I still lurk over there sometimes for inspiration. Good luck to all of us!

Wow! What a great compliment. :grouphug:

Congratulations on a job well-done. You look wonderful!

Hi everyone! I have been MIA and not doing very well-- Pouch-packing and drinking during meals and have only lost 40 pounds since my surgery. I just got my 3rd fill yesterday and so I am up to 7cc in my 11cc band. Hopefully, that will get me motivated again to get on the ball. You are all a great inspiration! Glad to hear you are doing well. Marcy

Welcome Martyn! I am at 6cc and go for another fill this afternoon. (In a couple of hours, actually!) No turkey for me this Thanksgiving. Oh well! I was banded in May 2006 and have lost about 40 pounds. I live in Virginia, also, in the Shenandoah Vallley.

Welcome to LBT and good luck on your journey!

Good job, Ousooner and Fran! Keep up the good work. You are inspiring me!

Clean the house. Rainstorm or snowstorm?

Linda, the difference is incredible! You look terrific! I will not be around for a while. I leave tomorrow night for an entire week in Vegas by myself. WhooHoo! I will be staying at the Paris for 3 nights and at the Venetian for 3 nights. All FREE! (I am a pretty big gambler. LOL) I have tickets to see Elton John and Phantom of the Opera while I am there. I am never hungry when I gamble, so I am hoping to lose a few pounds. See ya next week!

I grew up in Bergen county--Mahwah--but live in Virginia now in the Shenandoah Valley.

You may still be holding fluid from your surgery. Give it a couple more weeks and see. Keep drinking to keep your kidneys working and remember, if you eat too few calories your body may actually go into starvation mode and hold onto fat. Good luck! You will get there!

Copngratulations and good luck on your journey!

Dianne, I just love *hearing* the joy in your post! You are the inspiration I was needing tonight. Congratulations on a year well-spent.

Myra, I cannot believe what you have been through in your lifetime! Makes me feel like a real whiner. Yup, I have neuropathy too--Just in my feet. In fact, I just had ingrown toenail surgery and it doesn't hurt a bit since those nerves are shot. I get the bad tingles, too and haven't found anything that helps it. I have been afraid to try a new prescription because I hear they can make you fuzzy-headed and I have to think straight to work. My doc hopes that if I lose weight and my diabetes improves (which it already is), that my kidneys may get a little better. Temporarily, that is. A transplant may be an option, but I am a pediatrician and surrounded by germy kids all the time and don't know if I can work and take the necessary immunosuppressants if I am transplanted. By the way, I take ibuprofen also, but only when I really need it.

Nice job!!! How about some before and after pics?!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Drewslou, I am sorry you are dealing with this mess. I have regained a few pounds recently, but am back on track after a pretty good couple of days. I really let emotional stuff get to me. For those that were wondering, my diabetic kidney disease has been mild, but slowly getting worse. I just found out that my doc estimates that I will need dialysis in one or two years. I am so afraid I did this surgery too late. I am trying not to keep that defeatist mindset and I am determined to make the most of my life. With that in mind, I am going to Vegas for a week this Saturday by myself. I will see Phantom of the Opera and Elton John while I am there. I gamble a good bit and get to stay at some nice places for free. My meals are usually comped, too, although I find I don't eat very much while I am gambling. LOL! It's an expensive diet!!! Maybe i will lose a little more.:biggrin1: Wish me luck!!!

LOL, I love this thread! I am so relieved to finally know that Blinded By The Light is not about douche!!!!:omg:

I am diabetic and use an insulin pump, so I am used to sticking needles into my abdomen. I am also a physician. My surgeon made me SWEAR to never try to fill myself. Besides the above-mentioned risks, there is also the possibility of introducing some bacteria if you don't use sterile saline and you could end up with a port infection. Interesting (and tempting) idea, though!

I have those same two books and really liked them. I also have Dr. Ortiz's Lapband for Life and "The real skinny on weight loss surgery" I didn't like the second one as much, as it is geared more toward RNY. Dr. Ortiz's book is really good about some detailed info and basics on living with the band. I read a TON before my surgery!

I've only been at this a few months, but I have learned... Head hunger is much worse than stomach hunger. I know now where my real supports are. (True friends are a blessing.) You have to exercise to feel good physically-- even if that exercise level is small to start out with. Most Desserts don't taste as good as they look, and certainly don't feel as good once they are past your band! Slow and steady wins the race.

Since being banded in May, I have taken Augmentin (which is a BIG pill) and am currently on Keflex, which is a capsule. No probs swallowing either one.

Thanks Healthfirst. I am trying to stay positive, but it is so hard. I have had kidney disease for years, but just found out that my doc predicts I will need dialysis "in a year or two." It scares me to think that I may be doing this weight loss journey *too late* to make a meaningful difference in my life expectancy. I am a single mom and support myself, my daughter, my parents and one sister. At 40, I am no way prepared to retire financially. I think I will just stay off the scales for a while (I have always been an obsesser) and just try to regroup mentally. I appreciate the support!

How is everyone doing? I am bumming big time. Got some bad news about my health (diabetic kidney disease) and I have been resorting to stress eating again. I have been making bad choices and grazing and pouch-packing and have gained back 5 pounds!!!:help: Any words of wisdom to get me back on track? Hope everyone is doing better than I am.

I took 2 weeks off. I probably could have gone back in 7 to 10 days, though. I am on my feet a lot at work.