agentcmc13

well i was hoping to lose 10 lbs in the challenge...i am only down three. i have been stuck at a plateau for the past 2-3 weeks!!!!!!!! i did get a fill yesterday so hopefuully that will kick me back into gear and i can get closer to my goal. 3 down....7 to go!!!!!

I think that varying your calorie intake helps. instead of what most people might think of as cheating--like eating fried food or sweets--i think it is good to eat more calories one or two days a week. for example if you try to stay between 1200-1500 calories on a daily basis...then on your "cheat" days go up to 1700-1900 calories. i think this helps to keep your body guessing on what it is going to have so it doesnt get stuck on conserving caloires cause you are cutting back. and as far as people being ingnorant and making comments dont let it get to you. i work in a hospital and i have had 2 people ask when i was due...and i got really upset and cried. but then it just gave me more incentive to work harder at losing weight. i dont want that to keep happening to me--so i have to take control and change it. i cant make ignorant people disappear, but i can change my weight. good luck. you are doing great!!!!!!!

i am in the same boat as the rest of you. the thing that sucks is that my family doesnt get how hard it is to have will power even with the band. my mom wanted me to go sit at mcdonalds with her while my nephew played at the playground...i told her i couldnt do it becuase i dont have the will power to go places like that and not eat the bad food. she just doesnt get it! they think the band is a miracle and just becuase you have the band you dont ever want to eat anymore. i was banded december 10th and i go for my 2nd fill tomorrow. my first fill was 3 cc on feb. 12th. i did ok for the rest of feb and early march...but now i want to eat a ton!!! i hope this fill helps!

that is so tough...last month i was working the night shift, and the boss would order pizza and breadsticks for everyone!!! it was so hard...and a did even have some pizza a couple times. for the most part i tried to keep occupied with other things. i also find it helpful to have sugar free gum--i personally like extra...it helps take the edge off of me wanting to eat. however i still lost the battle a few times its an ongoing process for me. Im sure you can relate. maybe if you keep healthier Snacks in your own work area when you feel like giving in you can have a healthy snack instead of the junk. Like a sugar free pudding (only 60 calories).

i havent gotten to the point where people have told me to stop losing, cuase im still over weight, but it annoys the crap out of me when people try to tell me how to eat or exercise. if i wanted their advice i would ask for it. seriously when did all these people go to medical school or become a nutritionist. i must have missed it. LoL you are doing great, and they are probably just jealous!

i have PCOS...and i was banded in december. i have lost around 36 lbs. the band definately helps with the weight loss!! i tried everything else from weight watchers to medications from the doc. i havent noticed much in the way of the PCOS symptoms yet..i am still taking all my meds. metformin, spironolactone, and birth controp pills. i havent discussed stopping any of them with my docs yet. i figure i should lose more weight first since i first noticed my symptoms getting worse around 165-170 lbs and i am currently around 200.

my doc said that you will have soreness and pain the most at the port site and it will last the longest. afterall they did a lot of work there and there is now a foriegn object in that area of your body. i had surgery back in december and still get some discomfort around the port site. not nearly as tender as it was, but if i lay the wrong way...or bump that area it is still tender.

anyone else having trouble with hair loss?? no one has commented or noticed, but i notice when i brush my hair and take a shower i feel the hair loss is crazy!!! ive been trying to get enough protien, although it is hard at times. anyone else have suggestions or supplements that have helped with hair loss?? any advice is appreciated!

surgery was on a wed. and i went back the following monday. however, i didnt have any complications really, and i wasnt sore by then except at the port site if i did lots of moving or bending.

i have not been "hit" in the port yet, but i do notice a slight discomfort if i get bumped in the abdominal area or if i lay on my stomach sometime.

i would like to lose 10 lbs. by may 5th. i am getting ready to go on a week long vacation with my mom and nephew to disney world so im sure we will be eating out a lot. this challenge will help me make the right choices at the resturaunt!!!!!!!! hope i succeed, and good luck to everyone!!

i had surgery at 730 am had the barium study by 11 and was home by 12. i was much more comfortable in my own bed...not to mention i was self pay so it kept the cost way down. the only other surgery i had was an orthapedic surgery...and this was nothing compared to that. just make sure you get the pain meds and take them every 4 hours the first two days whether you are in pain or not. it is easier to keep the pain from coming on than getting it to go away once you are in pain. i also had some morphine in the recovery room and that lasted most of the 1st day.

I think you have to pat yourself on the back for even going through with the surgery and working so hard. I was banded 12/10/08 and i felt like i lost the 1st 20 pounds easily. the past 2 months i have only lost about 1-2 pounds a week. when the weight loss is that "slow" it is hard to stay focused. i just keep trying to tell myself that i didnt gain the extra 100 pounds overnight so even with the band im not gonna lose it overnight its going to be a long process. i too have been very frustrated lately. and i feel like i have been losing the battle the last couple days. however, this thread motivates me to work harder...knowing that im not the only one out there struggling. good job for sticking with the diet and exercise. sounds like you are on the right track...you just gotta keep going for the goal!!

Well i have found that when i have a craving for Ice Cream, i feel very satisfied when i have a few strawberries with Fat Free Cool Whip. the cool whip is only 30 calories perserving. i didnt think this would do the trick, but the cool whip really makes a nice substitution for ice cream! i thought maybe if other people found alternatives to satisfy cravings for not so healthy food we could all share here.

well...i am 2 1/2 months post surgery (12/10/08)....and i am continuing to lose weight it is just at a slow pace now....about 1 to 1.5 pounds a week. i know it is normal to lose 1-2 pounds a week, but after the fast weight loss in the beginning it is getting hard for me to stay motivated. when the results were bigger i felt much better about myself, and it was easier for me to stick to the diet. i keep telling myself i will be so happy when i get below 200....only 8ish pounds more to go...but i find myself wanting to cheat on the diet more. anyone have any advice to stay motivated???

thanks for the advice...i really do need to find something else to focus on. i know i weigh myself waaaaay to often. the reason i find myself wanting to cheat is when i am out or at a work sponsored lunch and they have such tasty things like cheesecake and Cookies. its not that im necessarily hungry...its cause i dont have those things at home so when work provides lunch and the stuff is there i want to go crazy. usually i try to just have a small portion of the dessert so i dont binge later....but i must admit i dont have the best will power. still trying....it can be hard sometimes. i know you all understand!

i was banded on 12/10/08. my first fill was about 10 days ago and it was 3 cc as well. i did notice a difference in the first few days...and even now i stay full longer...but i feel that it takes more than it should to satisfy me at times and i may need another fill in the future. i think 3cc is the standard on the first fill...they dont want to rush things to avoid obstuction and other complicaitons.

i went to fridays last week. i ordered the grilled chicken ( you get two breasts...but i took 1 and 1/3 home for later) you also get mashed potatoes and green Beans (which are steamed). i had all the green beans and about 1/3 of the potatoes even though they are starch that was my treat for being out to eat. it worked out well and the food was tasty so i didnt even miss ordering a burger and fries which is what i would have had pre-band

i was banded in december and have just started exercising at home. I walk 5 days a week for 45 min. when i first started i was at 20 minutes, but over the last 3 weeks i have built up to 45 min. on the two days a week i dont walk i try to do some strength training....like some curls with some dumbells and crunches....and leg lifts with ankle weights. i would like to purchase a treadmill soon so i have no excuse even when its raining....saving up for that :tt2: good luck...its hard to get started, but once you have a routine--like exercising after work but before dinner every day or exercising once the kids are in bed your body gets used to the routine and it becomes kinda natural.

if you are gaining many muscle that might have to do with the weight gain....muscle weighs more than fat. maybe it would help if you measured your waist instead of pounds. i am at a plateau right now...and i desperately need motivation too...guess we just gotta stick with it good luck

i also have PCOS...although i am hoping for fertility in a few years, i am hoping to feel much better right now :sneaky: i had horrible mood swings, on top of the insulin resistance, excess hair, acne, hair loss etc. i have lost 28lbs so far, and i feel much better....not sure if thats just cause i am finally losing weight or what...but it seems to be helping in some way. every other diet i have tried has failed...i lost initally but then it all came back...i hope the band works and i am able to keep the weight off.

I was banded on december 10th of 2008. i had my first fill of 3 cc one week ago. in total i have lost 28lbs (8 from the presurgery diet). i seem to be at a small plateau and i dont know what i should do to try to get over this plateau....anyone experience this and have good advice on how to kick my body back into gear??