Jennifer75

Holy Moly - you look like a million dollars!! Congratulations!

Need Help to get back on track TODAY! I need help from all of you. I’m just lost. Totally, and completely lost. I have so many things going on in my head that I’m sorry in advance if I ramble. I’m going to do my very best to stay on point and cut out the bull and give the facts. Fact #1: High Weight 306 Fact #2: Surgery Day Weight: 279 Fact #3: Lowest Weight 251, Current Weight 261 Fact #4: 6cc’s in a 10cc band. Fact #5: Have not lost even 1 lb. since July. (2 months after surgery) So here is a long story made short…Had the surgery – had side effects – ended up the band was ‘too tight’ had to have air pulled from the band in order for me to even be able to drink water without it backing up. Surgery was in May – couldn’t keep water down until July after the 2nd ‘unfill’. (Biggest mistake – I was losing 3.3 lbs. per week average during those weeks) Eventually, the band was loose and I was hungry so we started doing fills – I currently have the 6cc’s in the band. Funny story though, since we’ve filled the band…..I’ve still never hit the ‘sweet spot’ or even a place where it is consistent. I have weeks where everything seems fine – then I hit my PMS week and it’s like I can eat almost anything I want. Yes, I stay full once I’ve eaten more than I should….but I do not have any ‘stuck’ or PB’ing 99% of the time. Nothing to stop me from eating too much. Now please don’t misunderstand – my description of eating ‘anything I want’ is greatly reduced from what I could have eaten before the band – I’m always reminding myself of that – however it is WAY more than ½ a cup of food I was told that I would be eating. I have not had a fill since October. I had an appt. with my surgeon in November but we both decided that I needed to work on my end of this more – eating better food and exercising more. I’ve tried but with the holidays it didn’t happen. I even went off of my B.C. pill thinking that maybe hormones were stopping me from losing weight. Also wonder if my body is just “STUCK” at this 250 lb. mark? Can’t get past it – years and years of trying – no luck. And now, as in the past, I’m creeping up again. Well, I’m not doing that this time!! So this brings me to today – What I need is some sort of eating plan…I can do the exercise – I’m more active now than I’ve been in 10 years…and I feel better…but I need to work on the eating part. My problem is that they told me that I should be able to eat everything anyone else is eating …just less of it. Well..me being lazy in general about food and having a family to cook for – took that literally and I don’t have any special foods that I have for myself – or foods that I should be eating to get the most nutrition/protein. What do you all eat? Can someone give me a meal plan? Or ideas for simple, plain foods…something I can eat at home or on the go…I just need some ideas and a plan to follow. I’m kind of just floating out here doing the same old thing. HELP please! ? Thank you! J

DeAndraBaby, I'm sorry for what you have been going through! Wow - you've had a rough time the last few months. I'm going to PM you to see if I can help you. Just know that you should NEVER be yelled at from your Dr. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself and tell them what has been happening. They want you to succeed at this at well, you are a team. If you do not have restriction, they need to work with you to get there. I now have 7cc's in my 10cc band. My Dr. added 1cc on Feb. 1st. I've lost 14 lbs. since then. (And you saw how worried I was when I started this thread.) Anyways, I hope you can figure out how to get back on a losing streak. I know it will happen!! Keep your chin up and look for a message from me.

It sounds like you need a fill! I have 7cc's in my 10cc band and I'm just now getting proper restriction. It helps so much! Can you get in for a fill? If not, I would just go back to the basics of eating proper calories, tracking food, drinking lots of Water, and being sure to get in your protein. Keep us posted!

Hi Sarah!! I know how you feel right now - but it's OK, once you get restriction again you'll be O.K. I ended up getting my fill on Feb. 1st and since then I've lost 10 lbs. I'm down to 246 now - so that's 60 lbs. lost from my highest weight. The fills make a huge difference! Hang in there till the 26th. I'll be looking to hear how you're doing. Take Care!

You look great! :confused:

Hi! Wow, Congratulations on an amazing loss in such a short time. Can I be you for like 5 min. so I know how it feels? I'm only 1/2 way there. :confused:

Oh, how frustrating!! Yes, what happened to it being a tool to help us stay full longer? I'm at the same point. I've been with no restriction since July and stuck gaining/losing about 5 lbs. I'd be way more upset if were as close to onderland as you are. You can do it though - you are so inspiring to all of us and if anyone can you can. 2 weeks ago I started tracking my food on The Daily Plate, making sure I stayed under 1200 calories, drowning my hunger with Water and I've lost 7 lbs. so far. Is there anyway for you to drink more water, or cut out any refined sugars? Those 2 things helped me the most. My body can not handle even a little sugar. It stalls me completely. (Maybe a side-effect of doing Atkins for so long - I don't know?) Best Wishes and Thank you for all of the wonderful supportive comments. (((Hugs)))

Thank you everyone! I'm doing MUCH better. Jazzy - I'm so happy you posted!! We are the same age, banded the same month - at the same weight. We have to keep in contact! To update everyone, here is what I posted on my shiny new LAP-BAND® Blog: Jen's LAP-BAND® Journey (Come Visit me there!) Fine! I get it. Happy Monday! Two weeks ago I had what someone I know would call a "Come to Jesus" with the scale. Said scale was at 261.8 on Jan. 11th. Whaaa??!! I had gained 10 pounds over the holidays. Not only that, the fact is that I had my surgery in May and quit losing in July. Some of the blame lies with ‘bandster hell’ because I went from May-July: So tight that I couldn’t drink and ended up dehydrated and needing IV fluids 3 times – which necessitated having air removed from my band. (Yes, it really happened – twice!) July–Present: 3 fills – 6cc’s in a 10cc band but still barely any restriction at all. (Hopefully, this will be resolved with my next fill on Feb. 1.) The rest of the blame lies squarely on my shoulders and I’m here putting it in black and white. I know what I did – I took an innocent comment from my surgeon, "You should be able to eat the same things everyone else is eating, just much less" and used it as my personal license to eat all the things I was used to eating, things that in my obese world, everyone else ate. (I won’t go into detail, I’m keeping this a ‘G’ rated blog – no food porn allowed here!) I have re-dedicated myself to clean eating, correct portions, more activity, tracking my food, 1200 cals/day and drinking Water. I went cold turkey on Coke and cut out as much refined sugar as I could and what a difference! I’ve officially lost 7 lbs. in the last 2 weeks. I’m still a slacker on the exercise…but c’mon I’m gonna get there, I promise. (Does reading about Couch 2 5K count?) Oh, just to test my clean eating theory I decided that I’d try to drink a can of Coke yesterday. Well, Mr. Scale decided to pay me back – I gained a full pound. (I was 253.4 yesterday am.) The Coke was the only thing I did differently. Okay, Okay, - I GET IT! No more Coke! FINE! (It didn’t taste so great anyway – so there!) I’m going cold turkey again. Anyone else need to join me on the no sugar bandwagon?

So..I'm back on track - I bought tilapia, low fat cheese, Protein bars, chicken, low carb tortillas, zucchini (my fav. veggie to steam and serve with fish!) sugar free pudding/60 cals. for my 'sweet' tooth (limit of one a day!) Diet Peach Tea and am drinking more Water & tracking everything I eat on MyDailyPlate.com. That will help me immensely - I'm bad about tracking it but I'm only cheating myself. I'm happy to report that as of this AM - I have lost 2 lbs. since posting this on Monday. (Water weight I'm sure - but I'll take it!) Thank you all again for your responses and help - I do appreciate it so much! It's great to know you when you cry out for help (and/or a swift kick in the rear - lol) that you will get it!

The same thing happened to me, don't worry it's temporary. You are doing great!

Thank you Carrie - I wrote down the ideas you gave and I'm making a shopping list. I will get back to eating more fish - I was eating it all the time after my surgery and loved it. The low carb tortilla idea is fantastic too. What type of Protein bars do you use? Thank you SO MUCH for the tips!! I'm going to keep updating this post as it will help keep me motivated. I also made an appt. with my Dr. for the 20th so I'm looking forward to that. So for dinner tonight - Tilapia - and I'm going to top it with a bit of homemade fresh salsa. Thanks again!

Thanks for posting about this ... how very true! I've been having issues with that as well - thinking I'm taking small bites but still getting stuck. My problem then carries into wondering why I can still eat chips/cookies - BAD things with no problems. It's not making sense to me - but at least now I see what is meant by tiny bites - not just small.

Congratulations!!!!

This is happening to me too! I've not lost more than 4 lbs. in the last 3 months BUT I've gone down 3 pant sizes. I was in a 24 but fit into an 18 dress slacks on Friday. My other problem is not looking good in my clothes - ALL of my clothes are either too big or too small. My bras also do not fit - I tried on 12 bras the other day with someone doing measurements at the store. No dice- I have muffin tops at the top. It's really frustrating - but I guess it's a small price to pay for having more energy. I've been having a hard time lately b/c of the scale not moving. I've also noticed that the fills seem to work only for about a week and then I'm back to being able to eat more than I should. This really worries me b/c I need that restriction. It's what I was counting on. I love reading everyones journeys and I'm glad to know we are all having some of the same issues and it's not just me. Thanks everyone!

John337 105 SpideyMom 70 hdmdavid 75 less-of-me 58 Oliviasmommy-25 tulsarealtorGB 38 ruguay 35 Sarahbellzz- 34 Jennifer75=55 Total= 495

Oh my...I feel for you Sarah! I'm having the same problem. I had thinner hair to begin with so every time I shower and comb my hair and see those hundreds of strands of hair, I get worried. I'm trying to increase my Protein but it's hard. I'm going to look into Biotin (I'd also heard about that from someone else) and protein "bullets." ?? Off to do some Google research. Funny note - back when I did the Atkins diet - High Protein - I also had hair loss like this. So I'm not convinced it's b/c of lack of Protein. As I understood it it's a reaction to weight loss in general not a specific lack of nutrients. I'll have to read about it again. I need to do something - I really should be wearing a hair-net in my own kitchen - I'm shedding like crazy!

Thanks Spidey Mom - Hey I just thought of something! Do you realize that you are 199 on 9/9/09? How cool is that?? :-)

CONGRATULATIONS SpideyMom!!! ONE-derland is my dream world!! I have 46 lbs. to go. I'm so happy for you!! Is it amazing? So just to update - I fee like this is my blog and If I don't post it here I won't remember later. (lol) I had my 3rd fill appointment on 8/31. I have been too tight ever since my surgery and on my last 2 fill appts. my surgeon actually removed small amounts of 'air' from my band. I was losing 3.3 lbs. per week and was happy with my results, but worried because I could not take in liquids. So I agreed to have the 2nd 'unfill.' Well I wish I wouldn't have because immediately I noticed a difference. I could drink finally but I could also eat more and would be STARVING after 2 hours. I had finally entered the dreaded 'Bandster Hell' and I wanted out! My appt. was scheduled for 9/14 but I knew I wouldn't make it......I moved it up to 8/31 which was actually exactly 4 weeks out from the 2nd unfill. Sure enough...I hadn't lost anything and had gained 3 pounds! UGH! I am happy to report I have had a 2 CC fill and I'm doing great now! I can still drink my liquids but I'm full for 4-5 hours after eating 1/2 c. of food. It is WONDERFUL!! I think this would be described as my 'sweet spot!' I lost 6 lbs. the first week. (which was mostly Water weight I'm sure I was retaining water) The best part for me was that I had none of the flu like symptoms I had gotten with the 'unfill'. That was a relief! So, long story short - Finally - after 15 1/2 weeks, my body was ready for a fill. I 'get it' now. I fell like I've had the full range of lap band...too tight, too lose, and finally...JUST RIGHT! My only advice for anyone not in the 'green zone' yet - be patient, you will get there!

Thank you for the inspiration!! 300 lbs. is amazing!!!! Congratulations!!

Yay Woosh! That has to be the best feelings - mens jeans are so narrow! Way to go!!

Hey all! Funny story again for me with another fill. The first time he took some air out and the 2nd time he did the same thing. For some reason, my band has been very tight and I was having problems even drinking. I'm happy to report I can finally drink again!! My question is do any of you get flu like symptoms hours after the fill? This has happened to me both times! The frirst time it happened about 6 hours after the fill and the 2nd time it was WAY worse but didn't happen until exactly 21 hours later. It's horrible for me and it's causing me to dread my next (non) adjustment!! I get a headache, nausea which makes me throw up (or have terrible dry heaves) and hot/cold chills. It lasts for about 6 hours. Then I'm fine again! It's so strange! I have 6 friends with lap band and none of them have ever had this problem. Thanks for your input. :-)

Hey Alaska Girl! Sounds like you are doing AMAZING!! Way to get in that exercise too. Wow!! And 50 lbs in 10 weeks is great! That is 5lbs. per week!!!! I was told that if I did everything right I could expect to lose 1-2 lbs. per week. I was happy with my 40 lbs. in 12 weeks since surgery, but I'm gonna have to work out more to try and catch up with you! :-) Way to go!

Those lumps do stink but you are right....it's a marathon! And believe me, it will all catch up with you and you'll have a "wooshie!" Doesn't that just sound fun? Now keep up the great work - it sounds like you are doing amazing!!! I seem to have a wooshie about once a month - I'll keep steady or gain a bit, then all of a sudden, I'll be down 4 lbs. Whoosh...!!! :-)

I forgot to add that I also have to be very careful chewing and that I can not do red meat either. On vacation I tried some veg./beef Soup and the meat was really tender - thought it would be fine...big mistake. Just one small piece (and I chewed it well!) and I spent the rest of that lunch in the restroom. My favorite protien is Talapia. Funny, I wouldn't touch it before the band. But I love everything about it now! Shrimp is working for me too so I can change it up. Beans are great. Anyway...my surgeon doesn't understand why I can eat food and it doesn't get stuck (too often) but the Water or liquids I have to sip. I dont' know either - it's strange. Does anyone else have that problem?