juliansmom2003

Honestly, I cannot believe I'm taking the time to respond to such a thread. There is actually another thread in general discussions that started enough controversy if you want to show your friend that one. I believe you are better just googling the risks of this rather than post this question, as I believe in addition to some good info, you will read many opinions that may not really convince your friend if she is set on doing this. This is such a crazy idea I can't even imagine anyone considering doing this. Sorry, that's just my opinion....

Down 1 lb this week, making me 159. Slllllowly but surely I'll get there. 14 lbs to my goal of 145 (and 19 to my ultimate goal of 140!) Hope everyone is doing well!

Wow--it looks like I missed some posts--even after my last post. Our thread is huge LOL Leigha--awesome NSV at the bank! What a wonderful feeling that must have been! You've crossed that line into a full fledged skinny person :-) Lovin'- I 100% agree with Leigha on the pics. You will be SO glad if you take "before" pics. Actually, you might even find yourself disappointed when the weight really starts dropping off that you don't have many pics from when you started on this journey. Even if you keep them to yourself and don't share them until you're ready to compare to your 'after' pics, it's such a great benchmark! Denise--Yeah on the two guys checking you out! You know you still have it anyway, but it's so nice when you see other people noticing! Bob--nice to see you! Welcome back! LOL @ Christie's comment on the sliming and puking being the glamorous life. Ain't it the truth! WTG on getting those extra pesky pounds! They don't stand a chance, girl! How's Steve treating you??? To everyone that responded about my fill dilemma--still not sure what to do. I went to a party yesterday and it took me like an hour to eat a hot dog and a couple spoons of potato salad. Then I decide to have a piece of honey dew melon and I think it was past my full point because up everything else came! I honestly think that I didn't have the 'true' bandster characteristics before this because if I follow everything text book when I eat, I'm okay. I guess I haven't had to do it until now. I managed to eat a turkey burger in about 30 mins last night and did real well. We also went out for breakfast after church this morning and I had 1/2 of a scrambled egg, 2 bites of a 1/4 rye toast slice and a few bites of potatoes and I was DONE. Holy crap, do I now have portion control?!?!?!?!? SCALE VICTORY: To my surprise this morning, I weighed in thinking I didn't get enough calories in these past few days that I would actually weight more and I saw a beautiful number 159!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm out of the 160s! Holy crap!!!! I can do this, I can do this, I can do this. Thanks guys for all your humor, advice and support. No way in hell would this be possible without my core. I wish we could plan a trip to all meet one day, like a spa retreat or something. One of the people that runs my support meetings went to this spa where it was all health activities, portion controlled healthy meals and everything. It really might be something we could look into at a middle point somewhere for this motley crue. I'd just love it!!!! We're off in the morning to take my 4 year old to the hospital for sedation to get her teeth done (apparently she has 2 cavities that are so badly infected, novocaine has no impact, so she needs to be knocked out). Wish us luck!! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

OMG me too! I have been in the 160s since the end of May, so I too got that pleasant surprise this morning when the scale said 159! I could hardly believe it! My first goal was really 150, but honestly, I am just going for my 'ultimate' goal, which is 140 (even though still higher than I should be for my height---I'm 5 ft 2) Congrats on getting into the 150's! We're almost there!!!!!:bolt:

Anne I'm so glad for your update and that you're okay. You're going to be a twig in no time, holy crap! 16 pounds in 2 weeks? WOWZA!!! Guys--need some advice. I had my fill last Thursday 7/15 and went back to solids on Monday the 19th. All was fine and then this past Thursday---BOOM! I mean, I'm needing to eat TINY pieces of food and literally wait 45 seconds to a minute between bites! I can no longer guzzle my water, must sip or it will come back up. Also, I notice with portion sizes, I still was able to eat 8 to 10 ounces, and never needed to worry about eating smaller portions when we went out. I made healthy choices, but was still able to finish a 'regular' size plate and it would hold me 3 to 4 hours. So, since then, now I am needing to take tiny bites, have to chew until it's freaking pulvarized and definitely have to wait a bit before the next bite. Dare I ask--is this how it is supposed to have been the whole time and I wasn't at the right restriction level or am I too tight? I am able to eat food, but if my bites are too big or too close together I will slime, so I really need to pay attention now. And that pain in the chest I would always say I never ever got? Yeah, I have that too!!! I had .5 ccs added to my band and thought at first it was too little because I was getting hungry every 2 hours, but I'm now only able to eat about 4 ounces, so I am thinking I need to throw in snacks because my portions have been sooo greatly reduced. If anyone has advice on this, I'd LOVE it. I just don't want to go in for an unfill if this is indeed the sweet spot. Thanks for any insight!!!

My workouts are pretty intense too. I notice when I lay off them and just do 2 days a week instead of 4, I lose weight. I am thinking working out like that really increases the muscle. Luckily, the support group I belong to also has the weigh ins right there and you can see the fat/muscle breakdown on the scale and it seems like it really is all muscle I'm gaining! Is it possible that you're just gaining numbers due to the muscle--that your weight is just redistributing? I'm clueless with this stuff, but that might be it. Your calorie burn during those workouts is about the same as the freaking celebrity tae bo cardio and turbofire I'm doing. Man I'm exhausted after, but SUCH a great feeling. (And I definitely can't eat anything else. I'm sitting here still trying to get some Protein pudding down for the last 20 minutes :-( )

Leigha--girl, I don't know what I'd do without you giving me that slap of reality I need. I don't know why I'm in that fixed mentality that I need to be satisfied for 4 hours between meals--it's certainly not my doc's orders, so I need to relax with that a bit. I guess I needed to know it was okay that I was hungry every 2? Who knows, but I am with you about the wine. Something about winding down on a Saturday night with a glass (I maybe allocate 200 calories a week to it). It's my pleasure in life. If I can't smoke or have diet coke, you ain't takin' my wine away LOL I'm glad to hear your friend looks better. I will continue to send prayers his way. Please keep us posted on the results. Thanks again for your advice my friend. You have honestly been such a help to me throughout all of this. Not many can deal with such paranoia:wink2:!

SO glad it worked out, Nina!!!! Now, you can really focus on having fun getting to know each other! Enjoy yourself on Friday!!

Denise----Oooooh, you bad girl!!!!!!!:thumbup: The only thing I have to say about the whole not exercising thing is "you lucky little witch" LOL! Lovin'--welcome--cute profile pic! Ajay--welcome to you as well! So nice to have some new blood :-)! Bobbie---I agree with Christie about you being a dork, like you need to ASK to come over here. And you don't visit, you live here!!!!! Stacie--how is the heartburn today? Any better? Bob--where the h*ll are you?!? Things are pretty good here. As I mentioned earlier in the week, I had my 5th fill last Thursday. For some reason, everything (including water) is slow going, I am able to eat, no throwing up or anything, but I start getting hungry in about 2 hours. Ugh. There is NO way I can get any more of a fill because I know I won't be able to get anything down, but what the heck gives??? I guess I need to just give in and have a freaking cheese stick in between my meals. Kind of miffs me that my meals aren't lasting longer, but what can I do? NSV NSV--My hubby and I had to perform at a Mall Bridal Show the other night. After we were done, he grabbed me and took me shopping at Victoria's Secret! He bought me the most gorgeous bras, a teddy and some perfume. I can't tell you how good it felt for me not to be able to shop in there, but to have my husband go in there and treat me to stuff I CAN wear! Did I mention I LOVE my band ?!?

Yeah! You brag away, girl! What an inspiration you are! I bet you feel amazing! Keep up the great work. I bet it won't be long at all before you're at your final destination :-)!!

How is it possible that I missed this thread?!? I was banded on October 21, 9 months ago yesterday and while my ticker says I'm 10 lbs to goal (which would be 150 lbs), I would love to be 140-145. So I'll split the difference I suppose. I'm going for 15 more (145)! Did some serious workout yesterday with weights. Thank God for my sister keeping me motivated, sometimes that's how I get through it. I just had my 5th fill last week, so I now have 5.8 ccs in my 10 cc band, but for some reason, I am hungry every 2 hours now, but Water is even slow going down. Astrasmom---CONGRATS on reaching Onederland! You go, girl!!!!!! Lots of luck to my fellow October bandster bunch!

Welcome to the thread, Donna. Congrats on your surgery, and your goal sounds wonderful--short ones make for a great experience, like baby steps, but you will get there!! Denise--gotta love the hubs for keeping us straight, right? Ugh. I honestly think that gain has something to do with TOM. I would wait until that unwanted visitor leaves and check again. I LOVE the Mike's Hard Lemonade too! I find them best after a fill when I'm on my liquid diet and can't eat any solids--then I KNOW I have the calories to spare LOL Shammah--Principal...well excuse me LOL! You go with your bad self girl! SO proud of you!!! It won't be long before those little snot nose punks are infesting your halls once again, so enjoy the desolate sound of your shoes clicking down the hall Stacie--YOU GO on the 14! That is awesome!!!! Christie--Glad Steve is back. It was so nice of him to remind you that he never left you :-) Leigha-that plate looks YUMMY!! I hit my head on the computer trying to jump through the screen and take a bite LOL! I said prayers for you and your friend yesterday at church. He is in my thoughts... So, I am thinking I might just about be ready to no longer be slave to my Body Bugg. I LOVE it, don't get me wrong, but it's almost as though, I have things figured out in terms of what I need to do exercise/activity wise to get to my burn goals (plus I look much better in a tank top without the band around my arm LOL). Logging my food is crazy too because nothing is in the data base, and it's sure easy enough to just purchase thedailyplate.com app on my iPhone and continue to log my calorie intake that way like I used to before the BB. I can't see paying to use that site either after my free subscription ends. Don't get me wrong, it's an AWESOME tool and I LOVE it! It helped me really see the science of what I needed to do to see results. I just think now, with 20 lbs to go to goal, I have established a pretty solid activity regimen to get the daily burn totals I need. Am I crazy? This thing is like my security blanket, so I am thinking it over very carefully LOL If anyone has thoughts on this, I'd LOVE to hear them!!!

Oh Leigha, I'm so sorry. Thoughts and prayers are with you both. I can't imagine how you must feel right now. (((HUGS))

Stacie--that's awesome you're signing up for a 5k! I have been thinking about it too--don't know I'd make it the whole way, but I'm sure I could finish LOL Lots of luck! Denise--did you schedule your fill yet? Isn't it funny how you just know you need a tweak?!? Hopefully you don't have to wait too long.... HB -- change that ticker! So few of us are normal these days LOL NSV--so some of you have seen on FB, but I noticed my size 12 shorts were getting pretty big so I ordered a pair of size 10 off eBay to see if they fit. WOW! Boy do they! I can honestly say I am in a 10! HOLY CRAP!!! Yeah! So, I had my 5th fill today. It's funny how you sometimes can figure out when you're ready for one. I noticed I was a teensy bit hungry in between meals and knowing it would take me at least 3 weeks to get in, I called for my appointment. It wasn't that bad, but I just knew I needed a little tweak. Sure enough, .5 ccs baby. Liquids until Monday, but today hasn't been that bad. I've had 2 skinny vanilla lattes from Starbucks, a nice banana, peanut butter, chocolate protein shake, water and will have some jello when I get out of the pool...which is exactly where I'm going right now! Can't do any cardio tonight. I just about killed myself doing celebrity tae bo cardio with my sister last night! 43 minutes of pure hell and your eyes burning with sweat LOL Hope everyone is having a good week. The weekend is almost here! Yeah!

I'm with you--hoping that the last 11 fall off (then I can go for 10 more LOL). I have my fifth fill tomorrow and was this close to canceling, but it seems like I've been ravenous all day. Fickle band. Thank GOD for fluoro!!! LOL

OMG, I am dying! Just did 40 minutes of cardio tae bo! Sheesh, Billy Blanks still has it! The freaking thing is ALL double time! I'm sooo ready to pass out LOL! Last night did TurboJam Sculpt for 40 minutes. Need to stay on track. I have a feeling it's going to be a good week. Have a fill scheduled for Thursday that I can't cancel or I'll get charged, but not so sure I need one....we shall see...

Gosh, it really stinks that the one place we all go to for support has to be tarnished with some negative nellies. So kind of NSV, I went to support group last night and of course did a weigh in since it's been awhile. Ahh, how I missed that beloved Tanita scale...NOT!! Anyway, my fat percentage is in NORMAL range! That little item "fat to lose" that once was 90 lbs was 6!!!! 6 lbs of fat to lose! I thought there was a number missing! I guess I may not be losing the weight as fast as I used to, but it's reconfiguring the right way! 6 lbs of fat left to lose?!? Doesn't seem possible when I have 20 left until goal, but I'll take it LOL! (I am sure 10 of it is extra freaking skin though LOL) Just wanted to share!

LOL BOB! You freaking crack me the hell up! Shammah-CONGRATS on the promotion!!!

Christie, congratulations and I'm so glad I have a new partner in crime to join me in my bankruptcy LOL! I cannot tell you how much more selection there is now! LOVE the new pic in your Avatar. Lookin good, girly!

Holy $hit, Leigha! I'm with Bob-- forget about those 8 lbs! I honestly don't know where they will come from. You are SKINNY! OMG, I actually have tears in my eyes looking at you! You've been so much inspiration to us over these last few months and to see such results on someone who deserves it so much is SO wonderful to see (oh and btw your hubby is a hottie too :thumbup:)! So, I have been in and out with my kids (dental appointments, gigs and stuff), so I missed all the freaking drama with the 'newborns' and the clique crap. Ummm, honestly, tone can always be a huge issue anyway. But since day 1 I have just known Bob to be witty and a geniune smart ass like me (and I mean that in the most loving way honey ), so I have never thought him rude. Oh wait, I must be just sticking up for someone in my clique. Don't they realize we're ALL in the same clique? We have a piece of plastic around our stomach to eat less, umm I'd say we're a group of 'different' people! Whatev. Let the haters hate. The ones that are truly successful are the ones that at all cost suffer and follow the rules in the beginning. Add up all the weight lost in our little 'clique'--speaks volumes. So in this case, I'm thrilled to be part of a clique. I couldn't ask for a better group of people to be grouped with! (Oh and for the record, I can eat a whole 6'' Subway turkey and cheese on a whole grain roll with mustard and my doctor said it is fine! It's slow going, but I do it every now and then if I'm out and about and need a healthier choice in the junk food mecca that is the mall food court LOL) Bob- you're a smart ass, but you're OUR smart ass--we've got your back, brotha! HB--how are you feeling? I'm sorry you had trouble eating yesterday. I never realized how much trouble elevation level could cause. Luckily, my travel schedule for work has fallen off since banded, but dear Lord, this doesn't excite me thinking about it when it does happen. Please post an update and let us know how you're feeling today! Shammah--Love "Phil"! I'll also be happy to lend you my doc any time! He's AWESOME! I'm contemplating calling today to cancel my fill on Thursday because I am thinking now that I don't need one (but you get charged $100 if you cancel within 72 hours). Don't know what to do! Christie--you have every right to whine (and it really isn't whining)! You've had a really hard time and you've been amazing through it all! I just hope Steve cuts you some slack so you can tighten him a little bit and get you back on the awesome road you started on! Love the new pic! You can sooooo see that difference! Way to go!!! I actually made my first public puking debut on Friday night. We were at my niece's championship softball game and I was starving--literally drove there right after getting off the train from a LONG day at work, so I ran to the snack bar with my kiddies (and the only thing I felt I could 'get away' with, the mini tacos, would be 7 minutes and I didn't want to miss my niece's first at bat and I was STARVING!) Of course, I'm all, nothing bothers me EVER, so I figured I'd treat myself to a soft pretzel. Thought I'd eat half, give the other half to my daughter and BAM! FORGOT I needed to space a little while between swallows, especially with something like a freaking pretzel, but it was too late. So I sit there waiting, thinking I'll just slime (it's happened before, no biggie), and it just kept filling my mouth until I looked like Violet from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory so I booked over to a lonely FAR field with woods and just let it go. I waited and sure enough. It all came up. I felt SO much better though. And thank God I was able to crawl into the woods so no one saw me yacking my guts up!!!!

LOL to Bob's point, you at 25 have a much better chance than an old fart like me (37). I've lost 100 lbs in the past before getting preggers with my first, then had another one and my weight before starting the program for the Lap Band was 240-241 ish. I notice that a lot of ab exercises I do has helped considerably, but gravity is taking over and I do have an 'overhang'. Funny thing is, it only really bothers me when I'm...ummm...naked and laying on my side. My hubby said it doesn't bother him at all, I'm too self conscious, I think it's worse than what's actually there, blah blah blah (LOL), but I'm thinking at some point (in a year or two, of getting a tummy tuck). Honestly though, it sounds funny, but Hip Hop Abs really has made a marked difference in my torso area and I have definition--holy cow I can see ribs too LOL! Good luck! At 25, I think your elasticity is still strong enough where you will see good results when you get to goal :-)

Girl, you are shooting for 130? There will be nothing left! :thumbup: Work that pound! Go you is right!!!

I think my surgeon's assistant thinks I'm addicted to fills. My band is over 1/2 full and I have never been full on 8 oz of food, nor have I ever had to eat eraser sized bites. Maybe I'm just a freak...

Well next week I am lol! This will be my 5th and I am also not sure if I need one or not. Thank GOD for fluoro! I think I am pretty close, but I should not be able to eat as much crap as I've been these past couple of days. My meals aren't lasting 4 hours anymore either so maybe a teeny tiny tweak is in order. Do you have your fills under fluoro? I'm LOLing @ Goldilocks!

Omg, Crystl congrats on your successful year as a bandster! You are truly an inspiration and a success story for those on the fence about being banded! Christie- I'm so glad you're okay! You have seriously been through it girl! I hope and pray the worst is behind you! Wow, Denise. Everyone okay out there? I'm with Butters--holy crap lol