ocotillo

Catcalico, what a great idea...I still haven't been able to stretch my meals into 30 minutes (most times) but I'm not restricted yet. But I think limiting the time to 30 minutes and then throwing everything left over away is a fabulous idea. When food tastes wonderful I just want to eat and eat and eat. Now if I can practice that..................

Josie has great suggestions and she's lost a lot of weight. You know you can do it too. I have no fill yet and I can see where I can easily slip back to old ways and sometimes do a little. My first fill is scheduled in 2 1/2 weeks so I have some time to get my act together too. I really find fitday helps me....when I journal my food, it does help keep my food in perspective. Even now when I can eat just about anything, I know if I do, it's defeating what I'm trying to teach myself. I also think we lose interest in what we are eating because we keep doing the same things. Is there any way you can shake things up and maybe try some different foods? Maybe eat Breakfast for dinner? Indiogirl plans her Snacks for night time when she really likes to eat. There has to be something you can look forward to and help with what will motivate you. I wish you the best and hope you can find inspiration. ee

Patience people. You didn't gain this weight in 3 weeks and you won't lose it that quick although it is nice when you do. Think about it, you just had surgery...someone cut into you and did stuff to your insides. You need to heal. Your body has been on liquids or mushies or whatever you're supposed to do and it's finally catching up and saying "what the heck are you doing to me?". Most of your calorie counts are WAY down and you are going to react to that, first by losing, but it's going to catch up with you and stop because you might not be getting enough calories or it's just giving you a chance to catch up. I'm 4 weeks post-op. I lost 14 or 15 pounds post-op then gained 4.5 pounds back when I started eating solid foods. I was only eating 900-1200 calories and still gained weight. I've now lost 3 of those pounds and am confident the rest will come off in the way it needs to in order to stay off. Slowly. Not everyone here loses quickly, not everyone here loses at first, if you have Congratulations!! Let the band and your body get to know each other and work things out. When they get acquainted sufficiently, the weight will come off. Just play by the rules. Read some of the posts by the successful people. It's inspiring!:smile2:

Great2Bthin......it is isn't it? Congratulations! I'm honored to be here when someone has reached their goal. Have a great time shopping. Joann, wow it sounds like this is a great trip for you. How cool it is to have your daughter coach you and push you in your workouts. How wonderful to spend time with your grandkids too. I've been on vacation...two of them. Both vacations were short (long weekends) but back to back and I'm tired. We went to the mountains to celebrate my youngest brother's 40th birthday. It was fun and cool there. I hiked until I was very sore, but it felt good. I had just started eating solid food and was able to eat everything. It was pretty cool because my niece (who is very small and pretty) split meals with me. It was perfect. The last weekend we went to Oshkosh, WI for the EAA airshow. I've never been to WI and it was lovely. I was enchanted with the area. My eating wasn't that great somewhat because of the situation. The airshow just didn't have much in the way of healthy diet type foods. Oh well, I'm still doing okay and it's teaching me I can still eat smaller portions and be satisfied. I also walked a lot. Now that I'm back, it's time to buckle down and start exercising for real. It's very hot here, so I'm going to continue with the pool work, but I think I'm going to add a day of DVD workout. Hope everyone has a good day/night!! ee

Week 3 of weekly weigh in for me 7-20-09 239.5 7-28-09 238 gained 1 lb since my last ticker update. 8-3-09 238.5 was up to 241.5 now going down again. ee

RM and the rest of you posters-WOW-LIFE IS GOOD!!! I'm just 1 month post-op. I've lost more than 10 pounds in that month. Granted most of it was lost on the liquid phase, but at the end of that phase, I was already slowing down. When I started eating solid food I gained weight, actually 4.5 pounds. And you know what....it's okay. I am actually eating 1/2 of what I used to. I've been on vacation twice since starting solid food and have eaten everything. What is totally amazing is that I don't eat a whole lot of it. I've already lost 3 of the 4.5 pounds and even more amazing, I'm moving easier. I went hiking on the first vacation and it about kicked my butt, but I did it and I've been walking or doing pool work ever since. I tried a pair of jeans on I had bought and couldn't wear and wore them on the second vacation. What I want is to eat everything, but not huge amounts. A bite of two should satisfy me and so far, it's been working. I am doing the eating healthy thing too because that's what I do, but I will eat a french fry, just one and I'm okay with it. The weight will come off slowly and when I get to my first goal, you'll hear me all the way across the states. Great job to everyone and keep with it. It's worth it. ee

Hi, I feel like I fell of the post wagon. I've been vacationing off and on for the past two weeks and boy am I tired. I will need to catch up on everyone's posts and will do that tonight after work. Just wanted to say hi and note that I'm still around. ee

Lucky5 and Toyster, Congrats on getting to the half way point!! That great for both of you. Isn't it great when your hard work results in reaching such a milestone. Good for you. Well, I just started eating real food last week after my three week liquid diet and I'm finding that I can eat almost everything including bread. I'm eating very small amounts and nothing too quickly, but everything goes down. I have no restriction and will not have any until mid-August, so I have to keep a handle on my eating. I do find that I'm eating half or less of what I used to eat and I'm full a lot longer and satisfied with what I eat. It's nice. I think I will be quite ready for my fill because by then I will need the help of the band to keep me from eating too much. I need to sleep. Hope everyone has a great night. ee

Week 2 of weekly weigh in for me 7-20-09 239.5 7-28-09 238 gained 1 lb since my last ticker update. ee

Joann and Meredith CONGRATULATIONS!! How excited you both must be. It's that persistance and isn't that just so much fun reaching and 10 multiplier 10lbs, 20lbs, etc. I'm getting ready to go away for the weekend for a little family reunion. We've been so busy this week I haven't had much chance to Post. I started eating real food this week and I really like the band. I really am not eating as much as I used to and I'm full for a long time. We went out to eat twice yesterday and I ate a bit of most stuff and that was it. I don't have any fill yet, so everything went down, just not very much of it. Yeah!! This is why I got banded. And I'm down 2 1/2 today. I'm not weighing myself every day either. I'll be checking in again when I get back....I really enjoy this thread. Take care. Eva

Janet, Great Pictures...you look fabulous and the kids are cute!! Phyll, yes, they build in extra time, always....that improves their "on-time" record. That 3 hour time difference really doesn't help the traveling day either. We fly Maryland about once a year and it takes most of the day. You guys have a great time in Canada!! Eva

09Freedom and HappyHour, we'll be rooting for you tomorrow. Good luck and do well! ee:thumbup:

Our name seems to be either Freedom Fighters or July Jewels. I've seen both in signatures. One day we actually might make a decision and do one or the other or we can do both. Good luck with your surgery...sounds like you are on the right path. ee:thumbup:

I want in too!! My surgery day and beginning stats are in my signature, but I'll do the weekly weigh-in starting now too. Monday works for me, except I won't be here next Monday so I'll do my weigh-in on Tuesday if you don't mind? 7-20-09 239.5 We could always come back next week and edit this post and add the next week's weight under this one. Has anyone tried that yet? Eva

Here's wishing all you Lucy 7's a great time in Canada!!! ee

You've lost 30 POUNDS!!! That's 10 pounds a month and truly a wonderful weight loss. You could always say to the rude person, "Sure I've lost weight, I look a lot better naked. You want to see?" That might make them think twice about negative commets. Keep up the great work. How are you feeling so far? I've only lost 26 pounds and my body doesn't look any better either, but my face has lost some weight and is starting to look wrinkled. GREAT, but it's a small price to pay to not be miserable moving and getting off of some of the drugs I take. You just keep after it. You'll do fine and be able to thumb your nose at that person some day soon.:biggrin:

Yes, there are several thread somewhere around here regarding this subject. Post banding the burping is pretty bad, but it subsides, not totally, but it does get better. As for breathing, that is probably the result of the surgery. Take about 10 really deep breaths a couple of times a day for a few days and see if that helps. I am still burping, just not quite as bad and I had problems with breathing for about a week or a little more. I don't have that issue now. Take care of yourself.

I go directly from liquids (full liquids) to solids, no mushies and no blender food. I'll live and my stomach has shrunk (even the lower one) so much that I already get full on relatively small amounts. So I guess I'm happy that I've had to do three weeks of liquids because it is preparing me to be happy with less real food.:wink2:

Wallyone, I was banded on the 2nd too. I'm still on liquids. It's amazing how different the doctors work and what they say we can do. I get off liquids Thursday and can start exercising for real then too. I've been doing some pool stuff, but mostly playing because I don't want to pull something. I don't get filled until mid-August.

I'm about 2 1/2 weeks out and the burping has gotten better. I still burp and some of them are doozys but I really feel better afterwards so I would rather have the burps than the gas pains. I've read some of the posts from people banded over a year and they say they still have the burps, but not as bad and they can deal with it. Lashayeb - the port pain lasted a lot longer than the other incisions and it is still tender, but at about day 9 or 10 the incredible burning I would get when I laid flat and moved stopped and I haven't had that since except if I really twist and do something weird. I thing that is fading too. What still bothers me is my skin around my port incision is very sensitive and not in a really good way. I don't like having it touched...it doesn't hurt exactly it's just annoying. Hang in there ladies (I'm assuming you are all ladies on this thread), it does get better. I believe it's attitude and your tolerance for pain. You all made the huge decision to do this and what you are going through is just a small step on the way to being much better. Keep posting and we'll see if we all can help each other. Eva

Morning.........I'm not much of a morning person so good morning is a stretch for me sometimes................ Joann, I'll be waiting to hear your shout too!! How exciting to be so close to that magic number. And it's exciting that you will be going to Korea too! Just to be able to spend time with your daughter and grandkids, that will be so cool. I'm sure she'll love having you there and being able to spend a month is great for those babies too. Those flights are not fun, but it's worth it. I find I don't bounce back quite as fast as I used to from the jet lag. Laura, your pictures are great. I love to see the difference a few months make. I bet you are feeling wonderful! I think we are close to the same weight now too. Long2BThin, That's so cool you've reached another milestone. I take it you really like your future DIL? Congratulations!! You have a wedding to look forward to. That will be fun. I grew up in beautiful Colorado and still go there yearly. I've already done this year's trip, but maybe next year............. Indio (Janet right?), I can't even imagine 118. It's 107 here and I'm hibernating in the house on the computer. I won't be able to whine how hot it is when you are dealing with much higher temps. Stay cool today. I'm spending another lazy weekend only doing a little bit to just get basic chores done...laundry, plants, etc. Maybe I'll hem my curtains for the bedroom. I have to cut them off because my window is 6' long and 2' high. We put the new bed under it and the curtains get in the way. And now we have to have curtains because the house next door is up for sale and I don't think who ever the new neighbors will be will want a peep show from us. :wink2: I have 4 more days on liquids and I'm so looking forward to an egg Thursday morning. Strange how that works...I really haven't had too much problem with the liquid diet, but I do miss eggs. I may have to make egg drop Soup this week. Hope everyone has a really nice Sunday! Eva

Good luck to you!! If you are not back already have a safe trip. EE

Do you truly want help...then you should respond either yes or no when some kind of help is offered. I guess you just needed to post and now you are going to give up. Too bad....at least a couple of people thought you were worth it.

I went to Mexico to have it done (this is a good experience) and haven't had a fill yet. I did Mexico because I am self-pay also because my insurance will not pay for weight loss. I will go back for at least my first fill, but I am sort of close and it's doable, then I will decide after my first fill whether I will go back to Mexico for the rest of the fills or try and find the fill center in Phoenix. If you are willing to work with the band, not expect the band to do the work for you, do it. It is your choice. Make sure you read all the "down side posts" before you spend the money. ee

If anyone needs inspiration the last two pages of this thread is GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS TO CHARLENE, PHYLL, AND JANET!! It's truly an accomplishment what you all have done. Nicole, my weight isn't coming off as fast as it did at first either. I think the veterans here have the key...just stick with it and the scale will move down again. Well my weigh loss has slowed significantly. I'm still alright with it and figure this is what it needs to be. It sure is a "high" when the weight is coming off every day, but 2 pounds a week is much better than none and a whole lot better than gaining. It will help with the obsession with the scale too. I really don't like weighing myself every day because I can't wait to see how much I lost. So I'm back on the weekly thing. I'm still on liquids and try to do the 4oz of thicker liquids, like Soup, but find 4oz is not quite doing it for me either so end up eating maybe 5 or 6 oz. I'm drinking fluids, Water, coffee, watered down fruit juice, V-8, etc, without much limit, but even these aren't going down as fast as they used to and I do get full on them. I sometimes find it hard to listen to that full feeling. I want to shove more in, but then I have to tell myself I'm not really hungry.......head hunger I suppose. Oh this is going to be a constant battle. I have posted that there are times when I don't even think of food, which is nice because it's been a rarity in my past. I really want that to be part of my life. Yes Janet, reading and posting takes a lot of time and then the weekend is over. Oh well, I guess I need to do this more than I need to do other things. Besides it's over 100 here again. Too hot to be outside. I just bought Walk away the Pounds by Leslie Sansone. I used this before on VCR and bought the DVD's now. I plan on using this when it's just too hot to walk outside. My stomach is still tender and I'm not quite up to this yet, but it's getting much closer. I am walking a lot more and parking on the far side of parking lots to get extra walking in. I'll get there pretty soon!! ee