Barbara12375

This latest fill is challenging. So far I've only been able to tolerate liquids and very mushie things. Of course the ice cream went down just great. I really thought I had blocked things last night. It really really hurt and I wasn't able to throw it up. Finally the pain passed and I was able to sleep. About 2 a.m. I woke up really thirsty. I took a large sip and the pain started all over again. Again I couldn't throw up. I stayed on liquids and some plain chocolate ice cream today until dinner. I tried a very small, very tender bite of steak which I chewed and chewed and chewed. No good! Big pain and vomited. So it's back to liquids for me. I'm thinking that things are swollen from all the aggitation. Hopefully I'll get through the weekend ok. If things aren't better by Monday I may have to "unfill" a little. Hope everyone has a great weekend and enjoys the beautiful weather!

Wow! When the website is down I am so lost. I had my third fill this week. Previously I had 1.5 cc. When she withdrew the saline there was only 1.0. She replaced the 1.5 and the barium went straight through. She added another .3cc and it was much slower. So at 1.8 cc we'll see what happens. I've only had soft foods so far and I feel restriction even with thick soups. Hopefully I will get enough support from my band that I can get back ontrack for my Christmas goal. I've started exercising again. It's been so hard to get back ontrack. Hopefully this cooler weather will make we want to get out and walk. I know this is a disgusting subject..........but that's what you're there for, right? Has anyone done a colon cleanse? I have been fighting intermittent constipation and have been reading about these cleanse products. I was just wondering what you all think about them and if you've tried them I'd like a recommendation (or warning). Glad we're back online.........love following everyone's progress.

Welcome new Junebie! Barbara465, I'm with ya regarding the time change, exercise and chocolate! I am going for a fill on Wednesday. I haven't lost any weight since I got home from Vegas. I'm lucky I haven't gained. I started exercising again this morning. I didn't do much, but just getting up and moving is a new thing for me. I'll do better every day! If I'm going to make Onederland by Christmas I've got to get serious! Have a great week everyone!

Thanks for the post Socalgal. Helps us remember why we are really doing this. Good for you............good for all of us.

Maybe it's something in the air. I've been having a terrible week. I think like Barbara says it's boredom. Now that my travels are behind me I don't have anything exciting to look forward to and I'm taking it out on myself by eating and eating and eating. It's that old emotional stuff and has nothing to do with hunger. Now the weather today is not helping. I had to force myself to get up and shower and dress today. I am planning a trip to the mall for a haircut and some shopping.........now I worry that I will become obsessive about shopping or some other evil. This too shall pass.

One of my most exciting events since loosing some of this weight, is being able to cross my legs. Does anyone else out there relate?

Hey Downtown Houston Banders, We met yesterday for lunch and it was great fun. Come join us for good food and lots of gabbing.

I'm glad everyone is experiencing wardrobe delights. I put on some smaller jeans this morning that I thought might fit and they are somewhat baggy. Yippee! I had a bad experience last night and feel the need to tell someone about it. I was having a serious sweet craving so I opened a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia. I sat on the sofa, in front of the t.v., under a comforter eating out of the container. It was so good, I was so cold that I didn't want to get up to put it back in the freezer and (you guessed it) I ate the whole thing. Do you have any idea how many calories that is?!! Oh my gosh! I was nearly sick but I kept eating. I'm not beating myself up about it but I just don't understand why we can gorge ourselves on bad stuff and the few bites of steak and brocolli that I had for dinner would hardly go down. Double exercise time today for me. Hope everyone in Houston is enjoying this weather like I am..........have a wonderful week!

Leila...........Glad to hear it's all over and you're doing fine. Things will be so much better for you now. Take things easy, you've got the rest of your life to get into shape.

Lisa, What a great success story you have so far.......and you've only just begun. The best is yet to come.

Lisa, I'm glad to see you have found your way to the June Group and also glad to see others are already welcoming you. We have a great group here and you'll get all kinds of support, advice, sympathy and congratulations. It looks like you've had great success so far. Maybe you can give us some helpful advice. Barbara12375

Pinkylee...........glad to hear I am not alone with my demons. I am trying to learn to deal with being thinner. Whenever I lose the weight I sabbotage myself and start to eat again, this time will have to be different. How can we help each other with these issues? I know mine is a matter of low self esteem. I've dealt with this all my life. It's easier to hide under the fat.

Darrin...........I appreciate your perspective. Not everyone has problems and some of us have problems but don't make a big deal out of them. I get golf balls almost every meal (when I'm not careful) but I stop eating until it subsides and then continue. Sometimes it doesn't stop so I don't eat anymore. There are many days I probably don't get 1000 calories and I think I am doing fine. My hair's not falling out yet.............and I'm losing weight. The band is doing exactly what I need it to do. It stops me from overeating....sometimes it's not a pleasant experience......but it does stop me.

What a couple weeks! I went to Vegas for a week, flew home last Thursday night and flew to Atlanta early Friday morning for a weekend of wonderful Auburn football. It was a wonderful time even though I have a terrible sinus infection/cold. Through all that.........eating out every meal.........tailgating at the football game.........consuming "some" alcoholic beverages.......getting no regular exercise........not drinking water like I should.......etc., etc.....I lost another 8 pounds. I don't understand it.........but I'm lovin' it. I plan to get back on track now that life should settle down. I had thought I would go for a third fill, but considering my weight loss, I think I will leave well enough alone. I can pretty much eat anything I want except bread. As long as I take my time and avoid liquids before and during eating I'm having no problems. Maybe I got lucky and found my sweet spot with my second fill. I may make my Christmas goal of Onederland. I'm so excited. I haven't caught up on all the posts but I hope everyone is doing ok.

Welcome back from the mini vacations. I leave for a week on Thursday and I'm anxious to go. Barbara...........I like what you are saying about the woman you met this weekend. I have always believed that we are stressing too much about this whole band thing. It shouldn't be consuming our whole lives. I know people who have had it done in recent years and it wasn't any big deal. They just eat a lot less than before and eventually they lose. We will too. I did this because I was tired of always thinking about my weight and always looking for the next great diet. I am eating anything I want (Dove Bars included). I know that breads, pizza crust, etc will not work. I ate a Quarter Pounder at McDonalds a couple days ago and barfed it out the door of the car before I left the parking lot. But the truth is, I enjoyed eating it and once I got rid of it I felt fine. I don't intend to allow myself to vomit on purpose. I do know that I can damage the band but I refuse to be a slave to this thing. Maybe it's my age, but I don't have enough time left to be all consumed by this thing. I am loosing and I will continue to lose since I cannot eat enough to gain. Ok..........now I've had my turn venting. Everyone has their own agenda and none of us should criticize or judge others. We should all expect to get advice (and I want everyone's input) and then what we do with it is our business. Have a great week and good luck to all taking the October challenge.

SOCALGAL........I agree that I feel so much better after throwing up. I wish I could just throw up and get it over with but I can't "make" it happen. Have you been able to induce vomiting?

Barbara.............Happy Birthday! Enjoy your "getaway".

I am trying to get new health insurance as my Cobra is running out in November. I have been denied insurance coverage and the reason they gave is "a medical history of weight loss surgery in June 2006". Has anyone else experienced this or do you know the reasoning? Am I doomed to be uninsurable? This is scarrrrry!

There seems to be an epidemic here. The two Barbara's are turning 60 within two days of each other! 9/26 and 9/28. I managed the calories, H20 and Protein yesterday. Couldn't get my lazy butt movin' though. But just tracking those three items made me do better. We'll get there.

I am trying to obtain insurance coverage since my Cobra coverage will run out in a couple months. (This insurance would not cover my surgery.) I have been denied coverage because of "a medical history of weight loss surgery in June 2006". Has anyone heard of this? Does anyone out there know about insurance regulations, etc? I'm getting scared now that I won't be able to get coverage.

I paid for my surgery and I've never regretted it. There are two things I do regret. I spent two months waiting for insurance approval that never came. That was wasted time. The other regret is that I didn't look into the Mexico hospitals. From what I've learned on here, they are about half the price and the quality is every bit as good. Going for fills would be a hassle but the extra $8000 I paid would pay for lots of fills if I chose not to go back to Mexico. I say if you can afford it, do it and do it now. We never know what tomorrow holds and we should live each day to the fullest! Good luck.

Sounds good to me. Who and how will we track it?

I'm all for a challenge. I will have my own personal challenge in a couple weeks as I'm going to Vegas for 8 days. Actually I do better when I travel because snacking isn't as readily available. I tend to just eat twice a day when I'm in the casinos. Getting my fluids is my big problem. Anyway, I think a challenge is a good thing. Helps keep us focused. I'm not sure about the 6 meals/day. A calorie limit, yes. Protein minimum, yes. Fluids, 64 oz., yes. Exercise minimum, yes! How about for the first month 15 - 30 minutes a day. We can increase it next month. That's my opinion..............

Wow, that is exciting, Melissa. I've never been either. I hope you have a wonderful time. Maybe we can see a picture of you on the beach when you get back.............

Regina, Yes, I think that's what I'm describing. My only concern is that it is much worse now than it was at first or even a month ago. I've been cleaning out my closet this morning (yippee) and I am so sore under my ribs from stretching and bending. Sometimes when I'm bent over it really hurts.............whatever. Melissa, I am amazed sometimes at what I can swallow without problems and then another time I get golf balled on the smallest things............like the cantaloupe (very well chewed) that I had this weekend. One bite and I was near pbing. I would make the appointment for when you get home. You can always cancel it. Last two times I had to make appointments for fills it took over a week to get in. Are you going somewhere exciting?