Barbara12375

Hey Pinky, Melissa and Barb4, I hope to come to lunch on Wednesday. Let's talk about Vegas at lunch. I can get a room at Bally's for free so I'm a little reluctant to want to pay $330 to join the suite but I want to be part of the party! I called today to get another fill. I can't get in until Jan. 31st. It gets worse every time I need to schedule an appointment. Is there some trick to getting in sooner? I came into the office today just to get myself out of the house. Feeling a little better. I started St. John's Wort yesterday and hopefully it will help my mood. I am very grateful that I haven't gained much since my unfill. I've been eating junk food like crazy. My weight has been bouncing from a 2-4 pound gain and it's time to get back in line if I want to be stylin' with you guys in Vegas.

Great to catch up on everyone's successes and frustrations. I find both of these motivating. Of course your successes make me want to try harder and your frustrations make me understand that I am not alone. This site and you guys rock! I just returned from another trip to our favorite casino. For some reason several dealers mentioned my weight loss this trip. I guess it must be showing more in my face all of a sudden. Whatever the reason I loved it! I have been dealing with some serious depression. Things seem a little better but I must find a way to make myself get out and mingle with people. That's part of the reason for the frequent trips to the casino. My DH is trying to make me feel better. He really doesn't understand depression and he always feels it's his fault or that he has done something. We've only been married for two years so he's still learning. I really really need some new clothes. I may venture out to the mall today or tomorrow. I know that will make me feel better about myself. I got a new haircut at the spa while at the casino. I really would love a massage but my body is so flabby I shudder at the thought of someone strange touching it. Hopefully I'll get past that by Vegas time as I am really looking forward to the whole spa thing. I've never had a facial and I intend to treat myself while we're all there together. I am thinking about doing the Vegas thing without hubby. Does that sound selfish? I really would love a girlfriend kinda trip. How many of you are planning on going single? I can gamble anytime and if he is there I will worry about him and setting times to meet up with him, etc. I think I am needing some serious away, unwind time. I'd appreciate everyone's thoughts on this.

Ok, if I didn't stretch my pouch today it wasn't for lack of trying. Thanks for the scare. I too need to get back to basics. I had an unfill a few weeks ago and have been on an eating binge ever since. Guess it's time to go for another "smaller" fill. I've gained back almost five pounds. I needed to decompress for awhile but this is getting crazy. Thanks for the reminders. I don't know what I would do if I had serious trouble with this band that I love so much.

Ok. Am I the only one who has "hunkered down" in this cold weather eating myself into oblivion?

Lady.........Wow what a day for you. Thank God you are both ok. Thanks for reminding me why I left that part of the country. I used to live in Erie, PA and I know about those kind of road conditions. Again, I am so glad you weren't hurt. Congratulations to your husband for the new job. I still have faith that you will join us in Vegas. I just have one question. How do you "eat corn, typewriter style"?

Barbara465..........hope things are good with your fill as the days go on. What's with things at the SurgiCenter? As reported, my last experience there was traumatic at best and painful being the least. I used to think I had a high tolerance for pain also, but I truly dread going in there. I do like the numbing they are doing now, but I hate the way they press and shove in my port area. I am still sensitive in that area and I find it very distressing when they get so rough. She totally misses me every time and has to use x-ray to find the right spot. I break out in a cold sweat by the time she finds the proper area. I probably should get another little fill but I dread it in the worst way. I gained a couple pounds after my unfill and things have not moved since. I too have had trouble with constipation and the Activa doesn't seem to help. Anyone else have other ideas?

Pinky and Barb4........I felt fine while eating. It hit me later. I have been eating asparagus all along since banding. I only eat the tips and have never had trouble. The only thing about the chicken is that I normally eat dark meat and this was breast meat but was very moist and slimmy with cheese and mushrooms. Who knows. This band has to show us who's boss occasionally and that's ok. Keeps us on our toes. Regina.....one cigarette is no big deal in the big scheme of things. Getting back on the wagon is what counts. I am so proud of you!

Ladypitboss........keep the faith. I understand financial concerns but you never know what tomorrow holds. You sound like you deserve a getaway celebration of life and health. I am so glad you recognized your need for this surgery. Sounds like your family history had you heading for major problems. After having my unfill last week I have been relearning what my band will do. I've found that I can eat most Mexican food with no problem. I still have morning problems but later in the day I don't often feel restriction. Then last night for dinner I had Alice Springs chicken (Outback Steakhouse) and within 20 minutes I was throwing up. I only ate about 6 bites and one bite of asparagus. It was one of the worst pbing experiences I've had (and in the last month I've had some bad ones). I'm not sure what this is all about considering I only have .5 of saline in my band. So it's back to square one. Everyday is a new adventure. DH and I are going to make our first venture out this weekend to our favorite passtime. We are going to Biloxi. I usually lose weight when I do a casino trip as I have lots to distract me from food. Hopefully it won't be spoiled by pbs. Regina, hopefully you've kept the cigarette cravings under control. Please don't give up. You've made so much progress toward better health and giving up cigarettes is huge in your fight to regain control of your life. We are all here for you.

Welcome back PinkyLee, we were missing you bad! All this excitement about Vegas is great. Come on Junebies it will be a ball! I'm all in for the weekend of the 8th and all the fun things that Barbara4 has suggested. No golf for my husband if he decides to go. He can entertain himself quite easily in the casinos. Loose skin you say? Oh my. My inner thighs are disgusting and the thought of a swim suit makes me shudder, but if I'm with a group that is all suffering from the same problems, I can rise above it. We will be so proud of ourselves by then there will be no stopping us! Junebies rock!

Happy Wednesday! I don't know if it's the new year or having my husband with me for another day or being able to eat since my unfill, but I wake up each morning with gratitude and excitement. Yes, I have been eating too much and yes, the scales have tipped a couple pounds in the wrong direction, but I'm ok with that for now. I need time to mend both physically and mentally. It is so great just knowing that I have this band and that I can control the weight gain at anytime I want! I plan to make an appointment today for another fill. I know it will take a week or better to get the appointment and I will be ready by then. All you Junbies seem so happy. Losing pounds, exercising more, stopping smoking! Just think how we all felt last year at this time when we had just come through yet another holiday with the usual weight gain. What a life changing year 2006 was for all of us. Anytime any of us wants to beat ourselves up for an occasional hot fudge sundae or whatever vice we encounter, we need to look back a year and Celebrate our successes. Just think what a group of wild and crazy Junbies we will be in Vegas in a few months. This trip needs to be a celebration of life and good health for us all. Everyone needs to really, seriously consider this trip and do whatever you can to make it. You deserve to celebrate your success. You have earned it! Ok, where's Pinkylee? I haven't seen her on here since the new year. Pinky! Come back, we miss you!

Regarding Vegas...........I would vote for staying on the Strip where there is so much to do. Depending on where we stay I may get my room separate from the group. Since I go so often I can get my room free at several different places. Weekends are not cheap in Vegas and the sooner we book rooms the better. Do we have a count yet of interested Junbies?

Wecome home Barbara4. Glad you had a good time without much weight gain and hope you get over the colds quickly. Of course I'm all for the Vegas trip. I looked at the calendar and I have three thoughts. The first weekend is close to the Memorial Day holiday. The last weekend is close to the 4th of July holiday. The 17th is Father's Day. These are just observations and may not make any difference to anyone but thought I would point them out to anyone who might have family obligations on those dates. That would leave the weekends of June 9th and June 23rd. Is the plan to get a group of rooms at one casino? Or let everyone get their own rooms? It's such a big place with so much to see and do it will take an organized coordinator to keep us all together. Sounds like a good job for a trained "project manager". Just kidding you Barbara! I think we should have scheduled things together and plenty of free time to do things on our own. At this point I'm not sure about my husband attending but I'm sure there will be plenty of gals that will go single so I think we should keep that in mind and not plan lots of things that include husbands that might make singles feel left out. At his point I am thinking a weekend away with the girls (without husbands) sounds really good! These are just a couple of my thoughts. Let's hear from others. Do we have any idea how many are planning to attend? Happy New Year to everyone!

Ok Pinkylee..........I've set some new goals. I think Valentines Day is a good time for our next landmark. I've also set a new goal for my bandiversary. I am feeling so confident about my loss so far I am setting a goal lower than I originally thought I could attain. Hopefully I'm not setting myself up for failure. I went in yesterday for an "unfill". I was so stressed about the whole thing that I was fighting tears the whole time I was in the SurgiCenter. They couldn't understand why I wanted to unfill since I had lost 27 pounds in the last two months and the barium went through with no restriction. I can't explain why it looks good on the fluoro and feels so bad in my gut........but I knew I couldn't stand it one more day. I was really disappointed in the way they treated me. I thought this was all about getting healthy not just losing weight as quickly as possible. I know I am not getting the nutrients that I need. My skin, my hair and fingernails are all showing signs of stress. I don't know enough about nutrition to know what I am lacking but there is definitely something missing. Even though I knew I was suppose to stay on liquids and mushies for a couple days, I left the SurgiCenter and went straight to a mexican restaurant. I had cheese enchilades and they were without a doubt the best meal of my entire life. No pain, no restriction.......just glorious yummy food. Now this morning I tried about three bites of a ham and cheese omelette and I felt that old golf ball start to form. I stopped eating immediately and it passed. So I'm sure I still have restriction but I am also confident that I can tolerate some solids and I will test things out slowly. I know my weight loss will slow now but I still feel confident with the new goals I've set. When I was banded in June my jeans were size 22. This morning I put on a pair of 14s. Life is good............2007 is going to be our year! Happy New Year to all.

Well it's been a long time since I've taken a minute to post here. First, I want to thank everyone who sent their prayers and good thoughts for my husband. He spent three weeks in the cardiac units at Tomball Hospital and then in ICU at St. Lukes. I am so pleased to report that he was released yesterday and we spent our first night at home last night. They have decided that he cannot withstand a heart transplant so we will live each day with medicines and defibulators. I am just so grateful to have him with me that I will do whatever is required just to keep him a few more days. The reality is, he is no worse than before all this hospital stuff, we just didn't know before that he was a walking time bomb. I have a brother that was sent home 6 years ago with pretty much the same prognosis (not good) and he has had 6 great years. I will remain positive and live each day to the fullest. Now! On a brighter note..........I made my Christmas goal! I broke the 200 mark about a week before Christmas. I am currently at 195. YIPPEE! Now, on not such a good note...........I need to get into SurgiCenter soon. I have known for some time that I was overfilled and in the last several days I've hardly been able to keep anything down. I thought it would relax but it seems worse each day. I am surviving on protein drinks and now that I can take a moment for myself I know I need to get an unfill. Poodles, thank you for your post. You've convinced me that I need to get something done. I pb with every attempt at solid foods. Ice cream has been my main substance for the last two weeks. It sure is good to read all your posts. You feel like old friends and right now I need all the friends I can gather around me for support. Thank you again to all of you and Happy New Year!

While I know this is our special thread for us Junebies I think of you all as special friends. My husband had to have an emergency heart catheterization today. It is very bad. He is not able to undergo surgery at this time as his heart is too weak. They are going to try to use medication for the next several days in an attempt to get his heart in the best possible condition and then do open heart surgery early next week. I knew from the look on all the nurses faces that it was bad but when the doctor told me to get all the family here.............well.......... I am asking for prayers, good thoughts, positive vibes..........whatever you can send. His name is David and he needs any help he can get. Thanks to you all...........

Sounds like everyone is courting their magic spots with fills. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Pinkylee........your numbers are awesome! You are fading away to nothing. Don't you love it! Barbara465..........if you keep it up you'll need MORE new clothes before your cruise. I am lovin life right now. I claimed 207 this morning. As I get closer to the 200 mark I get more excited and motivated. I am going out of town for a couple days. That helps me lose weight. Being at home I tend to graze in kitchen all too often. When I'm in a hotel I can't do that and I'm very limited on what's available to eat. I will have limited availability to the internet so I look forward to seeing everyones progress when I get back. Good luck to everyone!

Hey Pinkylee............I like the "fake the chores" routine. I'm good at that one! Hi Everyone. I've been absent from here of late. Tis the season. At last post I had agreed that I was overfilled but had opted not to have an unfill. I'm glad I made that decision. Gradually I have "loosened up" and I'm able to eat in moderation. There are times I still pb but in my mind this is what the band is suppose to do for me. I am constantly aware that one wrong move and I'll be in the bathroom or at the very least slime-ing my way through a meal. For awhile I wasn't able to eat any solid food and I was starting to get concerned, but now with care I can eat most things. I had a very reasonable Thanksgiving meal and even had a little pecan pie without guilt. I am very pleased with this fill and I hope it lasts. My scale has been bouncing from 211 - 208. I've seen 208 on two separate occasions and that makes it mine. I claim it! I still have hope of seeing Onederland by New Years Day. I had a nice NSV yesterday. I was at my daughter's house and my 12 year old granddaughter was hugging me. She asked, "Monga (my grandma name) are you getting skinny?" when I said that was my plan she said, "I'll be the only kid I know with a sexy grandma". Needless to say we all laughed and needless to say I LOVED IT! Have a great week and remember to enjoy the season.

OK. I hate to admit it but I want to see the pictures! Where are CindyCam's pictures?

I saw 211 on the scale this morning but I'm not claiming it yet. I had a terrible day yesterday. I couldn't keep anything down but liquids. I even pb'd ice cream. Yes, Barbara465, I think I am overfilled. I am trying to hold out and not get an unfill as I always loosen up after a couple weeks and I don't want to go into the holiday without restriction. Anyway.........since I'm in a forced fast, I decided to do my Colon Blow. It came in the mail yesterday. I started it last night. It's a powder drink and two capsules for three meals. (Dinner last night, breakfast this morning and lunch soon) I am drinking tons of water and juice. I used my juicer and made grape juice and apple juice. So I won't be attempting any solid food until evening. Maybe by then swelling or whatever will have subsided. So, I'm not claiming any new numbers on the scale until the middle of next week. I know I will loose as a result of fasting and cleanse and I know the numbers will go back up. I know I would be very discouraged if the numbers went up in spite of not eating. Carol just try to hang in there. There has to be a reason and it will drop like a rock in a few days.

Pineapple juice? I never would have thought of that, but I'll keep it in mind for future problems. I've had my share of slime lately and would have welcomed a way to clear it. My fill was nine days ago and yesterday was the first time I was able to eat solid foods without real pain and keep it down. I'm wondering if this is how it's really suppose to be. It was so easy for me before I hardly thought about what I was eating. Now, I consider every bite as a potential enemy. I went to the Nutcracker Market yesterday and the food selection was very limited. I got a baked potato with barbeque on it. It was a huge potato and I didn't eat 1/8th of it but it was soooooooooo good. I know that's not good diet food but after not being able to eat anything for over a week I wasn't concerned about calories. I have been drinking protein drinks and I've tried cereal the last two mornings. Of course the cereal hasn't worked but I'm going to keep trying to get my fiber. Oh, by the way, the "Colon Blow" hasn't arrived yet so unless it comes today it will probably have to wait until after Thanksgiving. I want to be sure I have at least three days in a row without obligations outside the house. Hope everyone has a great weekend. It sounds like the weather here in Houston will be better again. I am so ready for the cool weather to get here and stay............and if it makes our bands tighter, so much the better.

I appreciate the input from everyone on colon cleansing. My reasons for considering a cleanse are not for constipation but for the reported benefits that come from the cleansing. I've done quite a bit of reading and it makes sense to me. I think our bodies were built to handle way more fiber than we get these days. I know I don't get near the fiber that I need. It just makes sense to me that we don't move things through our colon like we should. If you haven't, you should look at some of the pictures of things expelled during a cleanse. I have ordered the "Colon Blow" that someone mentioned on this thread. If it gets here in time I plan to try it this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes. If anyone has any real "horror" stories about this stuff please let me know soon. If nothing else I got some chuckles out of the Colon Blow website.

Congratulations Pinkylee!!!! It must feel so awesome to see that scale move into the 100s........never to see 200 again. You are an inspiration to all of us nearing that onederland! I'm looking forward to seeing you at lunch next week. Wish we could convince others to join us.

Barbara..........yes, I am definitely interested. Pinkylee is right, we tend to change the rules to fit our way of doing things. You can really get way off track. I think it would do us all good to go back and read all the information we received when we went for our seminar and info we were given following the surgery. Thanks for taking the time to post this good stuff. I am struggling with the fill I got last Wednesday. I think I was so used the having nearly zero restriction that I am needing to go back to the basics. Thanks again!

Please keep us updated on the Dr. Oz book. Yesterday I watched the Oprah episode when he talked about his book and he has very interesting thoughts. I agree that our "dieting" days should be over but learning about eating healthy and taking care of our bodies should be at the forefront of all our minds. Good luck and share your experiences with all of us.

Barbara465, I sure hope you get good results from your fill. I have struggled all weekend and I'm not sure what I should do. I want restriction but I end up in pain every time I eat anything other than liquids. I can do it but it hurts. I threw up a couple times on Saturday but yesterday was better. I've eaten some solids today and they've stayed down but after a couple bites I am in pain........not unbearable, but pain. Is this what "good" restriction is all about? It certainly stops me from overeating. I'm thinking I should just live with this for awhile and see what happens. One thing that has happened is that four pounds were gone when I stepped on the scale this morning. I am claiming it as Pinkylee recommends and I'm sure I'll bounce up and down for a few days but I'm only 13 pounds from Onederland. Yippee!