juliansmom2003

Hey guys! Checking in! Sorry, work is running me ragged :-(! Bob--nice to see your update! Congrats on 217. Don't you hate it when those same 1-2 pounds keep playing with you??? Denise--how's your toothache? Anything with the teeth I dread. Hope you get in to see a dentist right away! Leigha--holy crap--pass that additional weight loss my way, will you? I have 12 lbs left and honestly i have been between 159 and 161 for the past 3 weeks. I am doing evertyhing I should be (although somewhat slacking on exercise) and way fearful of another fill. $11 socks?!? I agree with Denise, I must see these things. Are they diamoned encrusted ? Shammah--I'm so sorry to hear about your port issues. You are in my thoughts. Are you experiencing any pain? My heart goes out to you! Christie, Stacie --how are things? I hope everyone is doing well. I really miss you all and hope this blasted project I'm working on calms down soon so I can spend more time catching up with you guys. --K xo

Bobbie!!!! I'm so glad everything is okay! It sounds like while you've had a lot going on, there has been some really good things happening! Wooohoo on onederland girl, you go!!!! Congrats on both your scale and NSVs. You've done so amazingly well considering you haven't been able to be seen by the doctor in awhile. Hope time flies until Nov 1 when your new insurance kicks in. Congrats on the new job!!!! Great to 'see' you!

Congrats HB! WTG!

Hi guys! Long time no talk!! I have been working on the nightmare project from hell and have had a bad couple of weeks! I wanted to just check in and tell you guys that I miss you all so much! I have to catch up on all the posts but wanted to at least say hi and let you all know I'm thinking of you and missing you!!!

:thumbup: LOVE IT!

Leigha--Jeez, girl! Like Denise said, NOW we know who is losing all the weight LOL! I reaallly think you look great and I agree with your decision to be done and focus on maintenance. I know a lot of us here long for someone to tell us that we're too skinny, but this really looks like a good weight for you. Size 4 --holy crap!!!!! A-mazing, just amazing! Denise--glad the sodium, msg, water from the PF Changs wore off. I guess for those of us getting closer to goal, it is actually harder because you feel like you can indulge once in awhile...hence...my whereabouts.... So, in addition to not exercising for 3 weeks (other than my 5 day per week 1 mile walk to and from the train), I went down the shore for a long weekend with my family. My eating wasn't out of whack (too bad), but it was the drinking. I had a few Smirnoff raspberries and a couple glasses of wine. Of course I gained 2 stinking pounds!!! I was doing AWESOME--got into freaking size 10 jeans at Express and honestly feeling like i could go the distance and maybe get into an 8. I was looking at some recent pics of me and I don't know if it is the way I'm posed or what, but I feel like I'm not looking all that hot lately. I need to get my $hit together and get to a support meeting before I REALLY fall off the wagon. So for the first time (and this is so hard to admit) I have gained weight and worse, I am back in the 160's when I was so celebrating that 150's victory. I refuse to change my ticker because I am determined to get some exercise in this week. I meant to get up early this morning and do it before work, but I couldn't get up. Summer is so tough, especially with younger ones. I need to just stop making excuses though and get my ass in gear. Bob--wow, you are really doing great! I'm glad you're not stressing. You are making your milestones at your own pace and that's what's important. Stacie--my port actually does get sore on occasion (moreso lately--don't know why), but I never feel the ripping or tugging you mention. Is it constant?

Elfie, I'm so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts. Believe me, I understand how much so they are your children. You take the time you need to grieve (and I seriously commend you for throwing out what's left of that ice cream---I probably would have eaten it all). (((HUGS)))

OMG--still stuck at 158 :-( I did go away this weekend with the family and had a few glasses of wine... I guess it's better than gaining though.... Going to kick it into high gear this week!!!!

Some docs make you wait 4 weeks in between fills. Mine definitely does because for some odd reason, I don't feel the full effect of my fills for 2 weeks after (yeah, I'm weird LOL). Your portion sizes aren't smaller? Are you sure you're not feeling that pain because you're close to being full? How long are your meals lasting? Some confuse restriction with tightness and feeling that pain when eating too fast with being satisfied for about 3 hours in between meals. My doc asks how long it is before I'm hungry again after a meal and if I'm eating more than 6-8 ounces of food and that's how he gauges. I'm not sure if I helped any, but I'd wait to let it settle in for another week or two rather than going in to ask for more and then being too tight. That is such a miserable thing and I'd rather be too loose given the problems that come with being too tight. Good luck and keep us posted.

Wow! I was going on the assumption you had at least one fill or something (and since mine does fills under fluoro, making that assumption as well, which I shouldn't have done). If you did have fluoro, did he physically see a restriction level on the screen that made him think you did not need to have a fill or did he strictly just go by the 8 lbs lost in the last month? Everyone is right about the band needing to work with you and if your tool isn't working properly, it needs to be adjusted. My doctor has never asked how much weight I have lost in the past month/2 months prior to making my appointment--they just schedule it. Signs I tell them I know I need a fill--I'm ravenous between meals, they don't last me 3 to 4 hours AND noticing that my portion sizes are getting larger. Can you try calling the doc's office and telling them about this? You certainly shouldn't be suffering like this with hunger--this should be working with you--you shouldn't have to do all the work yourself--that is the whole point of the band. Good luck to you! I hope you can get in and get that fill!!!

OMG so you've lost 27 lbs in 2 months???? That's definitely over the 'typical' results most people say of 1-2 lbs per week (even if you say 3 lbs per week)! How wonderful for you to have lost that much weight without restriction! TOTALLY amazing! The beginning is really tough. I didn't have my first fill for three months because I was smack dab in the middle of holidays when it came time for fill #1, so I really had a tough time with it. So I tried to eat like a bandster, but h*ll I was hungry! Are you getting in 80 g of Protein a day? The thing that helped me get through 'bandster hell' was just eating as much protein as I could and that gave me at least a little satiety. Even though you lost 8 lbs last month, heck that could be due to the exercise--you shouldn't have to suffer with hunger. How long are your meals lasting you? Could you perhaps add a protein-rich snack to hold you to the next meal? I am thinking the exercise might be increasing your hunger as well. Have you gotten any fills yet or is your band empty? Sorry for all the questions--just trying to get a sense of your situation and what you could do to get the hunger under control. It is a terrible feeling!!!

This is perfectly normal. Honestly, my meal size didn't really decrease until this last fill, which was my 5th. While I was eating considerably less than before having surgery, I still could eat about 8 to 10 ounces up until 2 weeks ago when I just got my 5th fill and I'm lucky if I can eat 4 ounces in one sitting now. You'll get there. It may take another fill, but you will get there. I hate saying this (almost as much as I hate hearing it LOL), but everyone is different, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that the third time is the charm :-)!

Denise- I am totally LOVING the iPad! My husband is all, "Why do you need it when you have the iPhone?" Answer is I kind of don't know. But the kids were out in the pool tonight and I had it with me and was able to surf the web, check email, etc. and it was REALLY nice (and chews up MUCH less battery than the iPhone does), so I honestly feel like I could find myself very attached to this bad boy LOL! I didn't get the 3G one, since I have the iPhone, but when they come out with the second gen, I may splurge and get the 3G model (just cause I'm a freaking brat LOL) Melody--My heart goes out to you. I can't imagine being so restricted (no pun intended) with what I can eat. You should have a salad if you want one, doggone it! I too was thinking a slight unfill might make a world of difference for you. And if that doesn't work, then you can honestly say you tried. You have done an amazing job losing what you've already lost. And what works for some people may not work for others. You're not knocking the band or blaming it defensively--you're questioning if the lifestyle is for you right now because of where you're out. NO ONE would flame you for that. We're all here for you no matter what happens. Please keep us posted. You will be in my prayers. I can't imagine how difficult this must be. (Oh and for the record--I HATE exercise--I mean DESPISE it!!! I fight it tooth and nail, honestly! So you're not going to hear how many ways you're missing out! I'm a bad girl when it comes to that in that I hate it so much, but my sister forces me to get off my a$$--but I don't want to! 2 jobs, 2 kids, 3 dogs and a hubby--who the H*LL wants to exercise in the little free time they have?!? I want to sleep LOL) ((HUGS)) to you Melody.

I FOUND IT! I FOUND IT!! Last night I went to a store I NEVER go to, but I desperately needed bread and pull ups, so I figured I'd take another disappointing look at yet another store's juice aisle for the infamous Trop-a-Rocka! Lo and behold--one lonely little 6 pack was sitting there. LAST ONE! I snatched it up and guarded it like I was robbing a bank LOL! It's DELISH!!!!! I am going to now stalk this store and stash as much as I can (and praying that rumor to discontinue it is so not true)

Hummingbird-- CONGRATS on your NSV! That had to be a great feeling coming from your son!! It's different when it's a loved one that sees you all the time. It means so much more (but hey, nice to hear anyone say how great you're looking LOL) Stacie--I'm so sorry to hear about Jeff. I have been saying prayers. Just terrible and I'm so sorry. And no matter WHAT, you will NOT fail. You aren't able to!!! And to make you feel better, the weeks where I really watch what I eat and exercise a lot, I either stay the same or gain. I attribute it to the whole fat turning to muscle thing LOL. Makes me feel better that way. Bob-- LOVE the ticket to Onederland! Just awesome! Christie--so when does your little man come back (or did he already?) Donna--don't worry about the gain right now. It's early--trust me, you will see the numbers move in the other direction very soon, I promise. Leigha--I have to agree with everyone here. You look absolutely AMAZING! If you don't lose another pound, you have made it, my friend! We're all super proud of you!!! You have worked so hard and honestly, you are a poster child of success!!! Denise--Safe travels to Florida and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I have a baby shower on Sunday too (wish mine was in Florida--sniff sniff). Soooo, OF COURSE I haven't made a purchase in, oh about TWO freaking weeks, so what did I go out and do today? Yup, bought a freaking iPad! I thought of you also as I was setting it up LOL Too funny. Told the hubs I won it at work to avoid any issues (taking it from my funny money so he won't even know ) Thankfully, I am able to eat a little better today. Still need to take my time, but I'm not in excruciating pain like I was over the weekend. I have actually had only 3 small meals today!!!! I'm shocked! LOL I was prepared to need a small snack, but nope. I did great! SO excited--I found TROP-A-ROCKA!!! It's that Snapple flavor Bret Michaels created in the last season of Celebrity Apprentice! I was in a store I never ever go to because I just needed to grab bread on the way home from the bank and BAM! One lonely six pack of it was staring me in the face! It was y-u-m-m-y!! 10 calories for a whole bottle!! Yeah! Jordyn, my daughter, did very well yesterday getting all that dental work done (she had to be put to sleep to have it done). She woke up so sleepy and cuddly. She's 4, so she's already my little baby, but she was suuuuper cuddly yesterday. I had a great day just holding her and taking care of her. I really missed her when I went back to work today. Hope everyone is having a great week! SO excited that I get to run a webinar at 8 pm for our client in Japan. Come on Friday! Hubby and I have tickets to see Tom Petty on Saturday night. Can't wait!!!

I did 2 hours of laps in the pool today and it was so humid today I stayed in the A/C all day with the kids. We had some nasty t-storms too. Tomorrow I will do my Turbo Jam with weights and some TurboFire on Tuesday. Down to 159. I can see the finish line...I can do this!

Figures. That would explain why I cannot find it ANYWHERE :-(

God, I feel your pain. I was SUCH a soda addict pre op. When I found out about the no carbonation rule for bandsters, I weaned myself before instead of doing it cold turkey after the surgery, but JEEZ was it tough. Some days it still is. But as some of the other posters mentioned, your tastes do change after a little while. I did try one and it was kind of salty to me. Mind you, I was one of the ones that HAD to have that heavy carbonation, that burning sensation in the back of your throat (ah, what a feeling), but it's not the same to me anymore. After my one moment of weakness having a couple of sips of soda, I immediately looked online about the repercussions carbonation could cause for the band and I found a couple of things saying it could stretch the pouch. I am sure that's after many incidents of regularly drinking it though. Once you get past a certain point, I imagine it would be okay to have it as an occasional treat if it still is that hard for you. Luckily, it took that one taste for me to realize that I prefer Wylers's caffeine free raspberry iced tea now :-) Hang in there! It does get better!