Lapband LaLa

I am so excited for you! Feels like the night before Christmas doesn't it? Stay calm, relaxed, and meditate on the future.

This has been the best decision I have made in my life! I researched the band three years before making that final leap. I am glad I took the time to really understand things and make sure I was ready for this life change. Take your time and ENJOY the journey!

Don't be afraid! Have a ball, sarongs are fun too! Go for it!

It's a journey! Oh yes it is! I admire you for your strength! You are doing extremely well. Stand firm, you can't worry about others. It's about you and your health and well being. I am proud of you!

Whoo Hoo! Congrats for YOU!

I SO loved that movie! There will be no sequel for you because you are determined and ready. You are going to do this, I have faith in you! Kick butt and worry about taking names later!

(Jan 30, 2010) Well, this past week was very uneventful. I did lose the water weight and two more pounds. So I have lost 110lbs now and only five more to goal! I am a bit concerned about my band. Seems like I can't keep much down but I don't get sick off of everything. I think I am just re-adjusting again. I use to be able to eat salmon earlier on in my process but now, it just sits there like a ball of coal. I'd like to eat more fish since it's good for me. Tomorrow I am going to try and make a Tuna Casserole. I'm not so sure it's the food, maybe my eyes are bigger than my tummy again. I hate to waste! I am not a big person for left-overs. Thank goodness I got a hubby who usually eats everything I don't. I don't know why I hate re-heated food. I am OK with things like Veggie Soup and Chili, all the stuff seems to taste better the next day anyway but anything else....no thanks. Also, I am having trouble getting all my water in each day. I am no where NEAR the intake I should be taking in. Are there any good cookbooks for one or two people out there? I got an email from my doctors office this past week. They have been going through files and picking out the most successful people and they are starting a photo board. They would like me to submit some photos! I was honored! I turn 40 Feb. 23rd and so I planned a photo shoot on Feb. 19th! I am so excited about it too. I have been looking at new clothes and hairstyles and everything. It will be so much fun! I can't wait. I'll share of course. Ok, so I have something funny. I have NO BUTT! I need some padding back there. We went out to eat and those darned seats were killing me. I was squirming in that chair. The things you did not know before you sure know after! HEE HEE! Ok, I know you guys heard me say this before but I am not very happy about how my tummy is shaping up. It feels so weird. I am not sure it will firm up right. I am going to give it a good whole year of working and toning it as much as possible, but I don't think I will be able to really rule out a tummy tuck. I just really don't want more surgery. I've never been a surgery person and I've only had two in my life with the lapband being one. I'd love to hear from others who have something to say on this. If you've had surgery I want to hear from you and if you've not had surgery what did you do to firm it up. So....just five more pounds people. I can do this! Always....I am blessed! Follow my progress: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/57955-albums3475.html Starting Weight: 280lbs Surgery Date: May 21, 2010 Dr. M. Metz - St. Lukes - Denver, CO

(Jan 23, 10) It never fails....only women have to deal with the ups and downs or crazy hormones! I never lose during this week and matter of fact that last few cycles I have gained five to seven pounds of water weight. It's so frustrating. I know, it doesn't stay but to be so darned close and see the scale not move or go the other way makes me want to scream. Now I understand the commercials for Midol! Who knew? When I was 280 I did not feel it at all. This week I managed to bang my knee in a weird spot which would not allow me to exercise at all. I tried the treadmill and my knee completely gave out! Oh, no....can't have that so I had to let it heal. Oh the horror! But somehow I am still calm about it all. I just know I can drop the last few pounds before my 40th birthday (Feb 23) I have been trying to reflect on my journey as much as possible and there are some things I have got to get better at. I still think I eat too fast sometimes, and also sometimes too late in the day. I tend to sleep better if I don't eat after 7pm, but sometimes that's so hard with my profession. (Realtor) And I KNOW for a fact I don't get all my water in. Got to do better with that. I also need to expand my menu's a bit. It's so easy to just fall back on easy things like soups. So I am going to really try and focus on those things. I wish I could make myself go to bed earlier but I am such a natural night owl! In the next few weeks I will be having new professional photos done for my business cards and for my singing ad's. It's so fun to think about all the cool clothes I can get for these photos. There were two ladies in the office talking about a huge sale at "express" and for the first time I allowed myself to think I just might go check that sale out! I may be able to fit some of that stuff! (wheee) I still have this image of me that is larger and shopping is fun but I tend to still pick up the larger sizes. It's so funny....when the sales people bring me the smaller size. My mind and my mouth immediately say....oh no...that's too small! However when I try it on it magically fits! Euphoria! I went into Lane Bryant last week out of habit and the sales lady who knows me said...Oh no honey, you can't wear stuff here anymore! HA! I use to think I would be a size 12 but I am starting to see that I may be able to wear some size 10's. ME....A size 10! I guess not really much to report this week but not all weeks can be full of stimulating activity! The fact of it all is, I am still adjusting and everyday is a new adventure no matter how major or how small! I am riding high! And as always....I am Blessed!:thumbup: See my progress photos: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/57955-albums3475.html Start Weight: 280lbs Surgery Date: May 21, 2009 Dr. M. Metz St. Lukes Hospital-Denver, CO

You hit the nail right on the head. Food just does not do it for me anymore. It's no longer my safe haven and when I do think I want something, I put it in my mouth and then....blah. Not the same! But it's all good and I could not be happier!

Hi Ronnetta! It's a journey and there is no written book on how you will walk yours. But you are in a good place to share, vent and grow! My suggestions....try fun things to do for exercise. Belly dance, salsa classes, water aerobics...just move and before you know it you will look back and say...where did that weight go! Have a blast!

So happy for you! HIGH FIVE!

Great minds think a like...you have the same one as me.....HULA ON!

(Jan 23, 10) It never fails....only women have to deal with the ups and downs or crazy hormones! I never lose during this week and matter of fact that last few cycles I have gained five to seven pounds of water weight. It's so frustrating. I know, it doesn't stay but to be so darned close and see the scale not move or go the other way makes me want to scream. Now I understand the commercials for Midol! :thumbdown: Who knew? When I was 280 I did not feel it at all. This week I managed to bang my knee in a weird spot which would not allow me to exercise at all. I tried the treadmill and my knee completely gave out! :thumbup: Oh, no....can't have that so I had to let it heal. Oh the horror! But somehow I am still calm about it all. I just know I can drop the last few pounds before my 40th birthday (Feb 23) I have been trying to reflect on my journey as much as possible and there are some things I have got to get better at. I still think I eat too fast sometimes, and also sometimes too late in the day. I tend to sleep better if I don't eat after 7pm, but sometimes that's so hard with my profession. (Realtor) And I KNOW for a fact I don't get all my water in. Got to do better with that. I also need to expand my menu's a bit. It's so easy to just fall back on easy things like soups. So I am going to really try and focus on those things. I wish I could make myself go to bed earlier but I am such a natural night owl! In the next few weeks I will be having new professional photos done for my business cards and for my singing ad's. It's so fun to think about all the cool clothes I can get for these photos. There were two ladies in the office talking about a huge sale at "express" and for the first time I allowed myself to think I just might go check that sale out! I may be able to fit some of that stuff! (wheee) I still have this image of me that is larger and shopping is fun but I tend to still pick up the larger sizes. It's so funny....when the sales people bring me the smaller size. My mind and my mouth immediately say....oh no...that's too small! However when I try it on it magically fits! Euphoria! I went into Lane Bryant last week out of habit and the sales lady who knows me said...Oh no honey, you can't wear stuff here anymore! HA! I use to think I would be a size 12 but I am starting to see that I may be able to wear some size 10's. ME....A size 10! I guess not really much to report this week but not all weeks can be full of stimulating activity! The fact of it all is, I am still adjusting and everyday is a new adventure no matter how major or how small! I am riding high! And as always....I am Blessed! See my progress photos: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/57955-albums3475.html Start Weight: 280lbs Surgery Date: May 21, 2009 Dr. M. Metz St. Lukes Hospital-Denver, CO

WOW!!!!!!! Welcome to the Century Club! I joined about a week ago!

(Jan 17, 2010) I just can't believe how fantastic I feel. Today I stepped on the scale and had dropped more pounds. Total to date 106lbs. I have decided 165lbs will be my goal. So I have just 9lbs to go. My husband and I played the Orion Music Festival this past weekend in Park City, UT and Salt Lake City, UT. It was awesome! We were asked to perform on the Park City TV show. I was so amazed and dumbfounded when I saw myself on TV. Was that really me? You hear the TV adds 10lbs, but that is not what I saw! I was so thrilled! I was JAMMING TOO! :smile2: There was space between my thighs, space between my arms and waist! I was so thrilled I almost cried, but I had to be professional and keep on singing! (HA) I found out I have another "NO" food. Peanuts! We drove to Salt Lake because we had lots of equipment for our gigs and on the way I had just a few peanuts. OH NO! Lilith (my band) did not like them, she churned them and churned them, then said....BLAH, get rid of these! Thank goodness she was merciful and waiting until after I performed on TV to get rid of the peanuts!:thumbup: I am up to two "no" foods. Rice and Peanuts. Ok, I can handle that! I had to just drink broth for the next day and a half to get Lilith back on track. So I must say, with me getting close to goal it brings up a whole new set of issues that may be of concern for me. Once I hit goal, will I be able to maintain? Will I be able to tighten up the few little areas that look like they may sag? And if not, do I really want to go for more surgery? And if so, how on earth do I pay for that? (I was self pay on my surgery) I was told to wait 6 months to a year to see how my body firms up to decide this. [*]Will my goal weight be enough? [*]Will I become this vain shallow person? What I mean by this is....I have never been thin so I feel sexy right now. I feel wonderful and beautiful, but I don't want to be the girl that is always in the mirror primping!:cool: (you guys would understand this because if you have never been thin or the girl who was considered cute you just would not understand!) I'd like to hear from some folks who have been banded and at goal for over a year or more. So that is my story for this week and I am sticking with it. I promised to share the good, bad and ugly! Oh yes....I am blessed! Original Weight: 280lbs Date of Surgery: May 21, 2009 Dr. M. Metz at St. Lukes in Denver, CO

You are doing NOTHING wrong. Everyone is different. In my office they said there is one person who NEVER needed a fill, just the band put her where she needed to be. I am at 5.4cc's and I am at my sweet spot, but I know people with 7cc's in their band. There is no "perfect" equation for all this. You are fine, be patient you are still quite new to all of this since you had surgery in Sept. It's better to go slow than to get overfilled, that crap HURTS! Talk to your doctor and nutritionist about your concerns. Use them, pick their brains and always feel free to chat it out here!

I did it! I did it! I did it! I have lost a total of 100lbs as of January 11, 2010! Just 15lbs to goal! You are looking at one happy lady! :w00t: Check out my progress photos! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/57955-albums3475.html

Whee! I am a singer too! Let me say, you are going to love how you sing after you drop some pounds! I have a BALL on stage! It's hard at first and you will find you will have to re-adjust to live after each fill. Or at least I had to. Take it easy, your body is healing and there are no "set" rules because everyone is different. Keep in contact with your nutritionist and it will all start to even out a bit.

Be patient my little pad-won! (giggle). I know you are very ready to be there but you want to get there slowly. It's best that way. My sweet spot is 5.4cc's and at one point I was at 5.9cc's and needless to say I was in pain! You want to find it in small increments because an overfill hurts and you get stuck which is not fun! Everyone is different so when you reach yours, you will know it. It's still early enough in the game. Keep doing what you are doing because you are on the right track. Try more protein to keep you from getting hungry.

CALL YOUR DOC!!!!!!!!!!! We can all give advise but we are not docs. Be safe, call him or her!