mary on a mission

Hi Everyone! Hope to hear from you all. No matter where you are, it's good to to come back here to the place people understand and don't condemn! I FINALLY went in for a fill 10 days ago after more than a year. I had stayed away because it was always so difficult to get in to see the doc and I wasn't doing well anyway, and ..... you know the deal. Finally went in to see the PA (really like him!!) and got a .5cc fill. Can definitely tell a difference in my attitude and how much I can/want to eat. Also, I read something on one of these forums that helped me as well. Here is the link that was posted, and it helped me to kind of re-establish what I knew about the band and how it works. dr simpson I also started running (using that term very loosely) again, and have lost 5 of my regained pounds as of this morning. Yay! SO, THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: wherever you are, hit that restart button again. We have worked too hard and been through too much to let this get away from us now. Can't wait to hear from you guys! Where are ya? Mary

Finally checking back in. A friend asked me about lapband, as she was considering it for herself. I had to tell her about my failures. I did tell her the good, the bad, and the ugly. She is considering all that while trying to make her decision. Anyway, in talking to her, I realized that I don't have to let this get away from me again. I hadn't had a fill in over a year. I didn't call my doctor's office during that time because it was too hard to get in, and he always wanted to wait forever to get back in. This friend said she had heard they had a new PA doing fills, so I called and got an appointment for the following Friday (yesterday). It was quick & easy. He gave me .5cc, so I am up to 6.3cc.It's too early to tell, but I can already tell a difference in my attitude. I feel empowered again, not helpless. Not sure how things will go, but I will keep you posted. Let's try to stay in touch. I know I am the world's worst, but I also know it helped me to know others who were going through the same struggles.

sorry, can't get the double post to go away. YOu can tell it's been a while since I was here!

OK, here I am...updating the ticker for the first time in a long time - 10 lbs heavier than it was. I am where I am, and I choose to restart today. No more waiting. No more hoping. I will get in and do the hard work again, and see those pounds go away - forever. I will post weekly with my ticker and more often if I need help. Let's all get this ball rolling. And be sure and share any positive news you have. I need it!

Hello July 09 Bandsters! I have been MIA for a while. No weight loss in forever; in fact, I have probably gained some weight. It's time to get this party re-started. Seems like you have all done well. I am going to start working the band TODAY! I have been snacking, eating carbs, just going back to all my bad habits. Starting today, it's protein first, no drinks with meals, and no sweets! Thanks for the motivation just reading over the last few posts. I will weigh in tomorrow and it will be what it will be! EEEK!!

Wow! Again, same story. Haven't been on here because I didn't want to face my failures. I, too, lost all of my weight in the first 6-7 months. I lost 53 pounds, and have struggled with the same 3 or 4 pounds ever since. It's good to know that I'm not alone. Yes, bad choices abound in my life. I am exercising a lot, which means I feel justified in my sweet-eating. I am a caterer, and my business is about to close, which gives me the stress-eating thing, too. But I know I can do this. It may take me a lot longer than I originally thought (it already has), but I am NOT giving up. I hope none of you will either. We went through a lot to get here. So, what can we do to try and motivate ourselves and each other this week? How about 2 things: increase Protein intake and make sure to drink lots of Water? That's a start, and that will be relatively easy....what do you guys think? Hang in there, ladies. We can do this!

Wow! It's been a long time for me. I have lost a little over 50 pounds (53.5 as of today), but I have been hovering here for about 3 months. I have been living life, doing all right as far as exercise, but not being as vigilant as I should be on the food side. I just love sugar too much! In the past couple of weeks, I have started boot camp in addition to the running I took up a couple of months ago, and I think that's why I am seeing the scale move just a bit again. I knew I was going to have to blast that weight off! Anyway, I am thankful that the weight is moving a bit. I want to be successful, but to me that means living a normal life. It means eating like a normal person, sugar and all. Of course, for me, sugar will always require special attention. But I am not going to stop eating it completely or stop fighting it. I think I will always have to really work at the sugar thing. So, I won't make my goal within one year, but I will be working toward it, and I'm ok with it. I always try to remind myself that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Hope all you July bandsters are doing well. Please update so we can see how you're doing!:thumbup:

Sorry, I must admit that half of the reason I drink shakes is that they are fast and easy and I don't have to think. The other half is that I need extra Protein, they go down easily, and they taste good. That being said, I might like to try a recipe now and then, but for me the Atkins Advantage shakes are fine right from the fridge!:thumbup:

Just finished week 5...wasn't sure how in the world I was going to run for 20 minutes, but actually jumped a bit ahead and did 25! :bored: I hated running more than anything. My husband is a marathon runner, and I have often said that he must be mentally ill to do such a crazy thing...however, now I am really getting into it. I don't think I will ever want to run a marathon, but I feel good when I run. Not fast, mind you, but it is running! Anyway, enjoy it. Keep us posted on your progress!

Just finished week 3. Not bad at all. I am taking it slow and it feels great. You can do it. Just don't try to do too much too soon!

Love it! My local YMCA offers it, and it's great fun. Feels like dancing, not exercising. At first I was worried that I would look stupid, but you get the hang of it pretty quickly, and there are always lots of people of different shapes and sizes there. My favorite aerobics class!:confused:

I know I have been MIA for a while now. The scales have been making me crazy! Since Christmas, I have been snacking, and not well. I went for a fill this week, and the doc didn't really want to give me a fill. He gave me about a half cc, and said that I should be getting to my sweet spot. (5.8cc in a 10cc band) I'm just not sure what to think about it. He has been very conservative since day one, and while I am sure he's a good surgeon, he is truly driving me nuts. I have been banded for 7 months, and have only had 3 fills. He made me wait 12 weeks for the first, then another 10, then another 9. Anyway, he said that I had lost 9 pounds since my last fill (9 weeks ago), and that was exactly where he wanted me to be. One pound per week. He said it should take 2 years for me to lose my weight. I looked at him and said "Then we obviously have VERY different expectations." He didn't budge, and said to come back in 3 months. I sure hope this fill gets me to my sweet spot, because I will then be 10 months out from surgery, and I wanted to be closer to my goal by then. On that note, he also said I had an unrealistic goal weight. He said that I might get to the goal I had earlier (125), but that my goal weight should be to just get within the normal bmi range. That puts me at about 135. I made my goal 133, so I could keep it at 100 pounds. I will aim for that now, and see how I feel then. I am 1 pound shy of the 50 pound mark. Hopefully I will get there in the next week so I can Celebrate next weekend. I am wearing a size 14, and may be able to move to some 12's pretty soon! :woot: I am very happy with my band, but not so happy with myself. Trying to break these bad habits, and keep up with the good ones. Haven't gotten my lazy butt out of bed for the gym in over 2 weeks...5:30 tomorrow morning - Hope everyone else is doing better than me. I see at least one 60 pound loss from our freedom fighters, and some other really high numbers. Congratulations! Keep up the good work and keep on fighting the good fight! Mary:thumbup: