socalgal3

Approaching 4 year bandiversaries ladies! Check in and let us know how you are doing! Poodles-did you go through with the DS? I will check back in on my bandiversary and post my update:)

Let the 3 year bandiversaries begin! Please post when you day arrives as to how you are doing-good or bad. We can support those who are struggling and celebrate with those who are succeeding! My bandiversary is June 29, so I'll be back then! Don't leave me hangin'!!

Glad you had a successful revision Halobabe. Let us know if you have restriction yet. Hopefully you are healing well and back on the losing trend! Hey people! Check in with me! I miss you all and wish you the best!

Poodles- I am so sorry for all your struggles with the band. I am sad that it didn't work for you. It makes me thankful that it worked for me and reminds me not to take it for granted. Let us know what you decide regarding gastric bypass. Remember, you will always be a Junebie!

Okay, this is my 3rd attempt at a post-it better work this time! Halobabe-I am so sorry that your band slipped. Unfortunately, I know exactly how you feel. I hope you are able to resolve it. Stella- I am also so sorry to hear that you lost your band. I know I would be back at my old weight without mine. Let us know what you decide to do and I send you my best thoughts and wishes! Lucymann-I never really thought of doing gastric bypass because I didn't qualify originally. Also, I know 2 friends and I have 2 cousins who had it. One of my cousins is back to her original weight. The others have gained as well, but not all of it. If I did anything else, I would do the sleeve. Hopefully, I will be able to keep my band for a long time, but if not, the sleeve would be my next choice. I was 158 this morning, so I am maintaining pretty well. I would like to get back down to 150 or less this year, hopefully by my bandiversary. But, with the struggles everyone is having I need to just be thankful I am where I am. I wish everyone the best. This is a lifelong struggle for us all, but I am glad we have each other to lean on!:thumbdown:

Hey all! Watching the Biggest Loser finale and it reminded me to check in with the Junebees! I am consistently around 160, so I am maintaining pretty well. My goal in 2009 is to get back to 150 or below. I have free health coaching through my work, so I am going to take advantage. It is good to hear from you all. Feel free to email me at my personal email, since I rarely come here anymore(I can't access from work as this site is considered "social networking"!) marymbs@hotmail.com

Melissa- I am jealous of you on a cruise! I have never done one! Regina-Glad you enjoyed the meet and greet. Wish I could have been there to see you ride the bull! Lucymann- OH MY GOODNESS! We were all so worried since we hadn't heard from you in so long! I am glad you have been successful with the band and it is great to hear from you! Don't be a stranger. No news to report from here. Things are the same! I guess that is better than problems!

How was the fling Regina? I am doing a walking challenge at my job. Our health insurance plan is sponsoring it. I am in the "moderately active" group, so I am supposed to do 10,000 steps per day. I did 16, 101 so far today! yay! There are different prizes for reaching your goals like a Water bottle, mini sunscreen, etc. They also sent me a pedometer(I already have like 3!ha!) I was hoping it would keep me motivated. I had fun at the wedding, but of course, the time went by too fast. I hope all the June Crew are hanging in there!

Just checking in... I walked last Wednesday 5 miles and again on Sunday 5 miles. Today I rode my stationery bike for 30 minutes and did 5 reps of 20 of 5 different arm exercises. I am walking 5 miles again tomorrow. I I am doing a walk in October to honor my cousin and raise funds and awareness around suicide. Visit my page at: DonorDrive I am heading to Minnesota this weekend for my college roomie's wedding. I haven't seen her since 1996! I got a great dress , but I bought a shrug because I still hate my flabby arms! I hope everyone is GREAT!

Thanks for checking in Poodles! I haven't posted because I have nothing to post! I guess that is a good thing....I maintain around 160-165 without much effort. If I tried harder, I could probably stay at 150, but it was nice to say I made my goal, even if I didn't stay there! I am comfortable at 160-165, wearing a 10/12. I wanted to make single digits, but I don't think my height and body type are meant for that. I hope everyone is good.

I have done fine with shrimp and lobster, but scallops have been 2 of my worst pbs ever. I avoid scallops!

I agree with the previous posts, but that being said, sometimes we plateau. Your body may be freaking out that it has lost 32 pounds in 2 months-that's alot! You may have periods where you don't lose for a month and then you start losing again. Another thing to try is to mix up your routine. Try a different exercise than walking. Try to have 1000 calories for 3 days and then 1400 one day. Repeat the cycle. (You can decide on your exact calorie counts, but mix them up to trick your body not to go into starvation mode). Be patient with yourself. You are doing great.

Today is my 2 year bandiversary! I am not 150 like I had hoped, but I am still down 80 pounds from 2 years ago, so I can't complain. I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

My cat needs a tummy tuck. She isn't fat, but I think she had kittens in the past. She has a saggy belly! (I got her as an adult, so I don't know her history)

I went by myself to Mexico and did just fine. There are many on here who have had the surgery safely and successfully in Mexico. I am happy to answer any specific questions you have. Mexico was my only choice as my insurance only does gastric bypass and I didn't qualify for that. I am 2 years out and very happy with my band!

If you can eat as much as you want if you take time, set a time limit on your meals. We all can eat more if we graze slowly throughout the day. Are you exercising? I know you say you can't eat some fruits and vegetables, but experiment with some others and maybe make some healthier choices. Log on to Spark People or Fit Day for a few days and track your calories. You may be consuming more than you think. Congrats on the 70 lbs. lost and best of luck with the final 50 or so!

For some people(like myself!), just having the band provides some restriction. That is why fill levels vary so much. Some people just need more fill, while others can lose and maintain with little or no fill. I'm not sure if that answers your question though!

Happy Birthday to ME! Last year I was celebrating with a margarita in Vegas with some fabulous Junbies! Regina-I won't feel bad for you because you don't want me to, but I will wish you all the strength and grace it takes to get through this transition in your life. You are a wonderful person and deserve the best. Congrats again on the house Melissa. Where's Pinky?? I hope Barb, Barb, Cathy, Aimee and everyone else is doing well!

Have you had heartburn and pain? Has the amount of food you can tolerate changed? Have you PB'd alot? Sometimes we have a tight band day due to stress, allergies, TOM, weather, etc. Sometimes we overeat or PB and irritate the band. If the symptoms continue-see your doc. Try liquids only for a few days. If symptoms persist, it is probably more than an irritated stoma, a tight day, etc. I hope you are feeling better soon!

You probably won't know for sure unless your doctor looks at your pouch under fluoro. You may have symptoms like pain, heartburn, etc. One episode of overeating generally won't do damage. Just get back on track today measuring food. You may not be at good restriction with your band. The 10cc usually takes several fill to achieve that. It doesn't sound like you did too bad. When you get a fill, they usually take out the fluid that is there and then put it back in to make sure you are maintaining the saline. Make sure they do that when you go for your next fill to make sure you aren't losing fluid.

Menstrual Cups, Period Products, Feminine & Menstruation Products - Instead Softcup I tried this one, but I didn't like it. I ended up making a mess taking it out! So I am a tampon/pad user. I use both depending what I am doing and how my flow is.

Sorry, one more thing.....How does removing eating eliminate your underlying issues of overeating? By removing one's coping mechanism(eating), one generally tends to replace the coping mechanism with another(smoking, drinking, etc.) Hopefully, you can replace it with a healthy thing like exercising, journalling,etc. If your "issue" is purely that your "I'm full nerve" is broken, the Lap Band helps it work a lot better!

You are definitely welcome to try and you will most certainly lose. The problem with most of us is we have dieted several times and regained the weight. I did Opti-Trim, which was not a complete liquid diet, but allowed one meal a day. I lost 70 pounds and gained it back plus some over the following years. The best thing about the LapBand is that it helps you maintain a loss. Even when I "cheat", I usually don't gain much. It is easy to get a fill and get back on track. It is impossible to totally eliminate the act of eating from our lifestyle on a permanent basis. Unless you want to be on a feeding tube! I wish you the best, but I will say, for me, the Lap Band has been great in keeping the weight off(and I still get to eat real food!)

I agree with Jen that you should get a slight unfill. People are so reluctant to get unfilled, but it is just as bad to be too tight as it is too loose as far as gaining. And being too tight can lead to many problems, such as a slip. At least call your surgeon and consult with him. But, even .2cc less could make a huge difference in how you feel. Good luck!

I agree Froggy! I have no friends! haha