juliansmom2003

Hmmmm-- I still don't have that feeling, so I can't really relate, but so sorry!! Bob--I have the same mentality. Wish I could get full on 6 ounces-so I'm jealous of your 3 lol

Quick question for those of you that have your fills done under fluoro. Do you find that you get right to the sweet spot due to the fact the doc can 'see' restriction real time or are you still needing to come in for fills? I am trying to figure out when the heck these fills will stick for awhile. Just had one on Thursday and called again for another appointment because I feel like nothing was done!!! I'm almost half way to capacity, so I'm wondering why I'm not feeling 'real' restriction when my doc can see it! :thumbup:

Congrats Erin! Sorry- I don't have an answer on the female question other than I sometimes feel that way before my monthly visitor comes.

You're kicking some butt too, monkeymama! Great idea to keep track on this thread!!

OMG I am soooo glad I found this thread. I am starting to exercise a LOT more than I used to. This week I have worked out every night, and two days did a morning workout along with the night time workout. I do cardio and sculpting with weights. I've done mostly the Beachbody stuff like Hip Hop Abs, Turbo Jam, etc. and the Jillian Michaels stuff, and while they are fun, I just don't LIKE exercising. I make myself do it and am very happy and feel a sense of accomplishment after I'm done, but I still don't like it, and I've been working out like crazy for a solid 3 months now. I want to like it. How do I like it? I don't know what I don't like about it either (and sorry if I don't make sense lol). It could be I don't have a ton of time with two little ones running around and 2 jobs, and getting all sweaty and gross means taking additional time to shower when I need to be doing other things. I know I need to make the time and I am, I just want to enjoy it as much as everyone else on this thread does. Any advice? I have tried zumba and some other things as well to mix it up and give me a little variety. Luckily, it's summer, so I can get some good exercise in by swimming and riding the new bike that my hubby just bought me for my birthday. Sorry to ramble, but I really do want to figure out how to look forward to exercising and stop feeling like it's such a chore.

My mom has the FitBit and I have the BB. She works out much less than me and really is most interested in her sleep patterns. From what I understand, the FitBit does more with tracking sleep, how many times awakened, etc. and you don't need to pay to use their website. There is a woman on the BodyBugg product page on facebook named Elizabeth Sherman and she is a MAJOR BodyBugg advocate (and sells them cheaper than Apex). She did a comparison of the FitBit and the Body Bugg on her blog: Ambassador of Wellness If you go to www.elizabethsherman.com, you will also see the different BodyBugg bundles you can buy if you choose to go that route. She is selling the BB with the display for $235! I got mine for $278!! Anyway, lots of luck, Bobbie! Let us know what you decide!

So, had to share. I did freaking awesome for exercise this week! I have 235 minutes in just from Monday through Friday (cardio and scuplting with weights) !!! I didn't realize it! Not that I like doing it, but I sooo feel like I've accomplished something afterward. I even got up at 5:30 yesterday AND today and exercised before I went to work! Yahoooo! Hopefully I can behave this weekend with my food choices (weekends are always the worst, I'm more structured at work) and hopefully I'll have a nice loss. I'm down one pound since I signed in to the 4th of July challenge on Monday, so fingers crossed I can make it 2!!!! Yeah! Hope everyone is having a good day! TGIF!

Okay figured I would just put my week together here: Monday- TurboJam TurboSculpt with Weights (40 mins) Tuesday-- Turbojam Cardio Party (40 mins) Wednesday-- TurboJam TurboSculpt with Weights (40 mins) Thursday-- Hip Hop Abs--Fat Burning Cardio (25 mins) in the morning; did it again with my sister in the evening (25 mins) Friday-- Morning TurboJam TurboSculpt with Weights (40 mins); Hip Hop Abs--fat burning cardio (25 mins) That's 235 minutes for this week so far and I still have tomorrow and Sunday to go! Yeah! I had a really good week this week when it came to exercise!

Congrats to you all on your success so far and hope you all get to Onederland in no time flat!

Agreed! I was told I'd never have kids! Then at 27, I got divorce, lost 90 lbs, met a great guy (who I am now married to) and was preggers by 30! THAT is when smoking was stopped, food was replacing cigs and another pregnancy on top of baby weight I didn't lose from #1 wreaked havoc. All I can say is that I am 1 lbs less from what I was when I got preggers with my first child (was 165), and I'm going for 15 more (maybe 20 LOL). I LOVE my band!!!!!:thumbup:

I agree that self esteem and changes in how you carry yourself also play a part in this. I know I would walk around with my head down, would never make eye contact and may not have been considered "approachable" to others back then. I do notice some women being a bit on the "hater" side as well. I am a wedding singer and it's funny because the guys are all wanting me to sit on their laps and the ladies are looking at me like "Don't even look in my direction, sister" LOL :thumbup:

Woohoo! You go girl!!!!! Congrats!! You have every right to boast!!!

I too have ridiculous bat wings. I do notice if I do a dvd that uses weights (like a Turbo Jam Sculpt or Hip Hop Abs Total Body Burn), I see tone and they aren't flapping around nearly as bad. I am starting to actually see definition! I also find that whole muscle burns fat thing to be true--I notice on the evenings that I do some cardio with weights, my BB tells me that I'm burning more calories the next day, so it definitely boosts your metabolism. I am thinking I am going to need a tummy tuck though. I am doing all this ab work and I have a nice waist (let's not talk about the hips LOL), but my "baby pooch" as I call it, has gone south (gotta love gravity right LOL). No matter what I try, it's still there. Yes smaller, but I can't wear certain things because of it and it sucks because my stomach is actually starting to look good! Ack! Never a happy medium! Christie---are you in need of an unfill again or is it just a case of the fickle band? I'm sorry you were hiccuping Crystal Light. That's terrible! I hope you can eat soon! Poor thing. Stacie--you don't sound like a horrible person at all. I HAVE kids and totally get where you're coming from LOL Like you said, you will make the best of it and end up having fun I'm sure Shammah--The BB is great. Of course I'm super obsessed and I'm finding, like Leigha, I cannot take in the amount of calories it's telling me to. It's telling me to take in 1400 and burn 2400, so with all the exercising I'm doing, I'm staying at about 1200 and shooting for the 2400 calorie burn (they days I don't make it, I'm freaking soooo close!) I am losing....but VERY slowly. I have a fill scheduled for 7/15, so I'm thinking this little tweak will get me where I need to be (fingers crossed). Good luck on the third fill! And go for it with the hair! Treat yourself! I did mine last week (she went a little too crazy with the blonde), but I love the cut! My layers are back and it's super curly again! I am jealous of you and Denise with the iPads! I am holding out until the day Verizon gets the iPhone (which at this rate will be next year), but want to see what's going on first. I have spent so much $$$$$ that I need to go easy for a month or two (the horror--let's see how I do LOL)

I try to get 150 mins in per week too. I walk 1 mile roundtrip from the train to my office mon thru Fri, but don't want to count that toward my exercise, since my body is likely used to it (doing that walk for 10 years lol). Monday I did 40 mins of turbojam turbosculpt w/ weights and Tuesday I did turbojam Cardio Party. I plan on swimming tonight when I get home if the weather cooperates, but my back up would be my Hip Hop Abs total body burn dvd (40 mins). Good luck! Sounds like you're having a good exercise week!

Did your doc or nut provide you with a meal progression plan? I think I was on Clear Liquids for days 1-8, then full liquids for days 8-15, mushies days 15-22, soft days 23-30 and then regular food. Every doc is different though, so you might want to ask what the recommended meal progression looks like for post-op patients. For right after surgery, I lived on Jello, broth, sugar free popsicles, crystal light/water and of course you will need Protein mix. Darvocet is good. As long as you have some kind of pain meds available when you need them!! You will need to be sure you have Vitamins on hand as well. Good luck! You must be SO excited!!

I told my boss first, since I needed to make so many appointments to get through the pre-op checklist and I didn't want her to think I was interviewing LOL. I just told her how excited I was about it and she was so supportive. I was so excited I just ended up telling everyone else gradually. Some played nice and said, "You don't qualify for something like that." LOL I was very lucky and received nothing but support and positive comments the whole time! I think part of me wanted to let everyone know so it pushed me to succeed even more!!! You may have a naysayer or two, but don't let these people get you down. When the weight starts coming off, you won't give a rat's tush about what anyone thinks ! Good luck!

I SOOOO hear you! I do strictly water lately, since I was getting bored of the Crystal Light. Ironically, the only kind I drink is the raspberry lemonade too! I'm going to go out and get some of this stuff today.

I did some searching online about the smoking. Not too much other than the fact it makes for a slow healing process (like you mentioned) post surgery and you are more prone to infections and illnesses like pneumonia, since your lungs are compromised. I continued to look and this is what I found on one site: Lap Band erosion: The lap band erodes into the stomach and causes the stomach to leak. This leads to a failed lap band ineffective and the patient may not lose any more weight. The most telling symptom of lap band erosion is infection near the port and the patient may even vomit blood. An endoscopy may be required to diagnose lap band erosion. There are two types of erosion: early and late. Early erosion may happen within 1-6 months of the surgery, whereas late erosion may happen much later and may go unnoticed. Alcohol and smoking are known to increase the risk of lap band erosion. Lap band erosions happen in about 14% of patients. (Source: Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery by William B. Inabnet, Eric J. DeMaria, Sayeed Ikramuddin) Lap Band Revision Surgery Abroad | Medical Tourism Hope this helps! (Oh, and I think hubby and I actually resumed um, "activity" the week after I had the surgery LOL)

My doc"s instructions are always no food or drink after midnight, no matter what time I go (appts are always in the mornings anyway). I had my first fill while on my period, and I didn't know if the reason I didn't feel any difference was because it was only my first fill or having my period or both. I asked the doc and I got my favorite answer that everyone is different. Sometimes you look more restricted due to your period and some aere unaffected. My doc books 3 to 4 weeks out too, so if I were you and there is no charge, I'd go get one. You can always schedule another if you need more :-) Good luck!

I saw it too Elcee. I wish one of the MODs would just delete this thread already.

I imagine you'll get a few different responses on this. My doc waits until you are on your lifetime (solid) diet and you're 6 weeks post-op before he gives a fill. Not sure what everyone else will say, as there are many different docs and instructions that each of them follow, but that's my story :-)! Good luck to you!!

Gotcha! I have got to get to the store and find the stuff LOL! Thanks for posting about this!

A 10 calorie snapple? HUH????? OMG and I luuuuv me some Bret Michaels! I hadn't even heard of this, now I'm going to be on the hunt LOL Oooh, I forgot he was a diabetic! On the snapple site this says it's 5 calories! Snapple - Made From The Best Stuff On Earth All I have been drinking for the past 8 months has been Water for fear of sugars and stuff. I might need to treat myself to one of these every now and then!!!

Hey there. I think we can all relate to what you're saying. First, congrats on quitting smoking! That's no easy feat (and I speak from experience). Also, you are supposed to be on things that will slide right through as your stomach needs to heal. I am right there with you---I despise Jello. I will figure ANY way around it after I have my fills. Ugh. As far as the weight loss, your body has been through a tremendous amount of trauma. It needs to heal, the fluids are an issue because you were on ivs from the surgery, so that sometimes doesn't help with weight. My doctor told me he doesn't even look at weight loss until 6 weeks post-op, that this initial time is the time for healing and anything we lose during that time is a great bonus (yeah, I wanted to slap him too at the time :thumbup:). I know most of us had a million things on the checklist, jumping through hoops getting insurance approval and doing everything we have to and thinking "as soon as I get my surgery it will all be different". That is the one thing I think the docs and nuts need to reinforce with patience and telling them how hard it will be in the first couple of weeks so you're able to mentally prepare somewhat. It's a difficult time--your body has been through the ringer, you are starving, mourning the loss of one of your best friends and wondering if you did the right thing. I can honestly say that I was in your shoes 8 months ago and looking back, knowing how hard it was, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have gotten so much from this band I can't imagine being without it. You'll get there....and you have all of us pulling for you to lean on as you continue your journey!!! Hang in there!

Girl, I couldn't relate more to your post!!! It is going soooooooooooooo very slllllllloooowwww right now and I am starting to wonder "Is this it?" I follow the rules to a "t", exercise my butt off and no loss....I have a moment of weakness (a spoonful of FF ice cream or something like that) and STILL no loss, so it's the same no matter if I'm an angel or have a teeny tiny minute of insanity! I am hoping it's not my body telling me it's finished. You have done an amazing job, whether you lose another pound or not. You are 70 lbs down!!!! Yeah! What an achievement! I'd say the hardest part is behind you! I know how hard it can be on most days, but believe me, we're all pulling for you. We can keep each other motivated :thumbup:! You've soooooo got this, girl!