cathgr8

Hi, I started taking Xanax earlier this year. I couldn't sleep much at all without it. I have come to the realization that I have probably always been anxious, and used food to medicate it. Without my "medication," it was out of control. My doctor didn't want to up the Xanax when I was still having anxiety during the day, so I recently added Pristiq, an antidepressant. I felt a difference in 24 hours. I don't think either have affected my weight much.

Hello Junebies, checking in here. I am 8 pounds from goal, but this past few months have focused on dealing with my horrible anxiety, and also ended up having a D&C last week, working very hard as well. Maybe now I can start on that last bit of weight. I broke it off with the love of my life last night. I thought I would be devastated, but find now it is a relief. he lived 300 miles away and it just got to be too much with a 17 year old to finish raising and working so hard. Also, I am now on meds which have taken away my anxiety, and the break up may help that as well. Wish me luck!

Today is my bandiversary also. Congrats to all. I managed to lose 4 pounds during my trial. The jury came back today in my client's favor, so it's a double celebration.

Stella, Just wanted to let you know that while I won't make it to goal by my second bandiversary, I am only 11 pounds away. It can be done. I've been noticing since many stressful events converged on me starting a couple of months ago, I have had several PB's, which had never previously happened. Other than that, I have exercised little to not at all, and I thinnk my secret is never being overfilled, so being able to stick to the dietary rules. Wish me luck gang. I started my first jury trial in many years yesterday. Talk about a stressful event!

I don't know why but my email stopped getting updates, so I just saw that bathing suit pic. I'd say you were brave to post it, but you look damn good actually. It looked a bit roomy. I have been having huge ups and downs, my BF went through a midlife crisis and broke up with me to spare me from it (??). I spent a few days trying to get some better explanation, then said, so long have a good life. It took him three days to beg me to take him back and a week to convince me that he is sincere and wants to stay with me. In the meantime, I lost three pounds. So of course, in the process of celebrating, I gained them back plus more. Today, two of them are gone, whew! My 17 yo DS is giving me nothing but trouble. Can't even turn in the work on Independent Study, totally evasive and moody. My 23 yo DD is calling me crying daily and said she might move back home because her BF quit his job and they're broke. And work has been grueling, I may be trying a case next week, and the preparation is killing me. I was hired to do research and writing, but as usual, they are throwing me into the fire. I'm taking Xanax before bed, because my anxiety has been keeping me awake at night. The only comfort I have is that I look so much better, feel so much better and know if this had all happened two years ago, it may have been even worse on me. Hoping to reach goal by August 4, my vacation. BF taking me to Hawaii. I don't think I'll be taking any bathing suit pics though!

This is something I have seen on some other threads. I have not had a friend who came out and said anything, but in some of my friendships, and frankly, even my children, I sometimes get the feeling they are uncomfortable relating to the new me and avoid me at times. I don't look like the Cathy or mom they were expecting to see, and they aren't sure who I am. This has been ongoing since I lost about 30 pounds. The surgery happened when my son was 15, and we had a pretty strong relationship. Of course all teenagers want to avoid their moms, but he seems to have almost taken the change as having his mom taken away from him at the same time and it sure compicates things. My daughter moved away, and when she does see me it's like she has to feel me out to make sure I'm the same mom. Luckily, I met my boyfriend after losing 60 pounds, and he knew me when we were 14, and I was slim then, so it hasn't been an issue with him. You should tell your friend how hurt you are in my opinion, tell her you thought your relationship was based on more than making her look good, but if that's all it was, it's best not to continue it, or she may need some time to process and get some help for her own issues.

I started out with a goal that was 140 pounds lighter. I have never focused on the pounds. I focus on the rules, and the pounds have melted off without much trouble at all, and I have added five pounds to my desired weight to account for my advanced age and extra skin, so that now I'm within 14 pounds of goal. If you don't think about your goal in terms of pounds, it, makes it a lot easier to deal with. Celebrate following the rules and not losing each pound.

I would love to get the last 15 pounds off by my bandiversary. I happen to have a wedding that weekend - my BF's daughter, first time meeting his ex wife. I know that it isn't as simple as I'm making it. People have different experiences with the tightness of the band which seem to make them avoid the hard proteins. I have never even PB'd until my last fill, had restriction with no fill, and I still have a very small amount of fill. So in some ways I'm lucky too. my doctor is very conservative, keeps saying it's about quality of life, and without the ability to eat hard protein, it's a much more difficult process.

I started PBing after my last fill. The last time it was so bad, I drove to the market, bought pineapple juice and Adolph's meat tenderizer, waited in line for a $300 order to get checked out before me, then went home, put a half teaspoon of the meat tenderizer into 2 oz of pineapple juice and drank. I could feel the blockage dissolve immediately. It happened again last week at work, but this time I had the meat tenderizer in my purse. I mixed it with warm water, and voila, instant relief. I learned about it elsewhere on this forum. Hope it helps.

Aimee, I continue to lose weight without exercising, and I'm convinced it's because I eat hard protein first with every meal and don't drink for an hour after. I haven't updated my ticker, but I've lost 122 lbs. now and only about 15 more to go.

I thought I'd check in since it's been awhile. Things have gotten better for me with a lot of hard work. My son is seeing a new therapist he loves, and has gone on independent study, which he is enjoying and keeping up with. My daughter finally got some Abilify which has smoothed out her moods, so I'm not getting thoose hysterical phone calls and messages every couple of days anymore. I have gone on Lexapro, and am seeing a great therapist, which is easing my anxiety. All of this has smoothed the rockiness with my BF. I found a cheaper place to live, consolidated all my debt into a low interest loan, and while I dread the moving, I have a dream that when I get there, I will sit down and think I have nothing left to worry about. I have not been eating too badly, but not exercising enough as usual. And my son stole my scale so I don't know what I weigh. After the move on the 22nd, its back to getting those last few pounds off with a vengeance.

Barbara, Thank you. A prayer has gone out for you,. Keep us posted.

Well gang, I have been having a lot of trials. I went on hormones, which has probably contributed to me gaining three pounds, but I haven't been too good on my eating plan either. I have pretty much dealt with most of my stressors, but now my 16 YO son has decided to rise a stink. He's a gifted student who has been cutting and failing classes and experimenting with drugs and alcohol I have discovered. His therapist says he's clinically depressed, but he refuses treatment and wants to move out on his own in June, though he can't possibly work enough hours as a minor to support himself. I feel that when he realizes for himself that he can't do it, he's going to crash, and I'm afraid of what the outcome will be. Hard to think about me or walking or eating.

Regina, I am an attorney, though I am in California, so if you need any legal advice on how to protect yourselves, feel free to pm me. I lost my husband from from metastatic melanoma when my kids were 7 and 1. Know that you have the strength to survive this and that you will find that strength as you need it. All of us here will support you when you need us also. From what I know about brain injury, recovery can be very slow, you probably know that too, but don't give up. I also have found little to post about. My kids have their traumas and challenges on a daily basis, which leaves me drained financially and emotionally. I am not doing well with my long distance relationship at this time, and my mom has been suffering from hallucinations and delusions from dementia, so my dad is leaning on me heavily. Sometimes it seems life is a long challenge. Food used to be my best friend. Without it I feel a little lost at times. Not losing for now, but at least maintaining. It's good to have this place to come to.

Tina, <p>Again, you haven't given us any of the facts about why you feel the way you do. Why don't you want to share your experience so people can judge for themselves whether they want to go to Dr. Paya or not?</p>

I have a dear friend who is motivated by my success and needs a doctor in Miami. Any recommendations?

<p>Seems to me any big warnings about a doctor should be accompanied by facts. I am a patient of Dr. Paya's and find him competent and warm, not too agressive with fills, which has suited me just fine, which you can see by my stats.</p>

I tell people that 80% of the time I feel like I just got up from Thanksgiving dinner.

Happy New Year Everyone! It looks like people are feeling more hopeful so far. Mary --Congratulations on reaching your goal. You're an inspiration to us. Barb4 --Hope you make it through day 5 without any problems. Barb12 -- I hope you get to feeling better soon. Just do what you can. Julie --You're doing lots better and I hope Weight Watchers helps also. Regina --I hope that you feel better soon and can get back on track. Melissa Lea -- Keep up the hard work. It will show. I've been relying on my fill (which did the trick - jump started me again) and have stopped exercising. This happened last year when it got cold in the evenings. I just can't get outside for my walk after a long day at work. I've started getting anxious and depressed again, and that may be one of the causes. Don't know what to do about that. I hope to drop this last 25 in six months, but I will need to exercise to do it.

You just need to be patient. The next occasion where pics are taken will tell the tale. I'm turned around from you. I've lost 3/4 of my weight, you've only lost 1/4. I just compared pics from two months pre-surgery, this Thanksgiving and now Christmas. I can tell the difference, even between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and that's only about 6 pounds. One snapshot doesn't show progress, two of them does.

Barbara, I will keep my fingers crosse you've solved the problem. Have a wonderful cruise. To all the Junebies, have a wonderful holiday without too much stress. Here's to a great 2008 for all of us.

I got a fill today, after practically having to twist my doctor's arm. He feels I am so successful, why fool with it? He says to get more exercise. Since I've already lost more than 65% of my body weight he feels I should be happy with very slowly losing any more. I told him I've never Pb'd, only been stuck three times, can eat a pretty large amount at one sitting now, and get hungry between meals. He finally consented to .4cc. I can already feel my liquids slowing down, I'm glad I did it. Had a snack and it went down fine. I hope this will jump start me to another 10 pound loss and slow me down during the holidays. Hope everyone else is hanging in there. It's been awfully quiet here lately.

I have a lot of experience with BPD, my 23 YO adopted DD has it, and I have done a lot of reading on the subject. Have you? If so, maybe this would be a good time for you to re-read the books, so to speak. Is she writing to any message boards, or exploring the possibility of counseling for her feelings regarding your band? This is not your problem, it is hers. You can learn and practice better ways of responding to her. However, as you probably know, there is not much chance of her changing, unless she is actively pursuing change. You can refuse to accept abuse, and unlike me, you can decide to leave and not deal with her behavior. My BF divorced his BPD wife after 32 years. He has spoken to herfour times in the past year, and each time, she started in on the verbal abuse. Now he just refuses to speak to her directly, and his own health, both physical and emotional, has improved dramatically. You and your feelings are important too. Take care of you.

I think the most important part of the diet is making sure you always start with hard protein. When my BF asks what I want for breakfast, or lunch or dinner, I always say anything with protein. The other day, he said, I'm starting to think that what you really mean is "meat." He's right. The only protein I eat which is not meat is nonfat milk, usually once a day, cottage cheese, and sometimes eggs. That goes in first, then maybe a little pita bread or crackers, veggies or fruit. For treats, I stick almost religiously to sugar free, fat free pudding (3 g of protein too) with a squirt of fat free ReddiWhip (the banana fudge is to die for, with a couple of slices of banana on top). My calories are never under 1000, but since it's mostly lean protein, I still lose. And I still do go out to restaurants, drink alcohol a couple of times a week, and will have occasional taboo treats, like a small slice of birthday cake or split a pastry or a potato with the BF, but rarely. I have certain foods at the fast food places I have learned fill me up, and have lower calories and lots of protein, and that's what I usually have for lunch. And I have started bringing low heeled shoes to work, and walk at lunch or on break, usually to Starbucks for my latte. You can have a few minutes here and there rather than a long bout of exercise too.

I don't think the idea that you should exercise for the band to work well should scare you off the surgery. Frankly, though I'm 52 years old, I have had no regular exercise program at all until the last 6 weeks, and lost over 100 pounds in 14 months anyway. If you follow the food rules stringently, you can still lose rapidly. And as you slim down, you will feel more energy and will become more active. I love my walks now, becasue my knees don't hurt and I don't feel like I'm struggling for breath. It feels good. I don't work out an hour or more a day, I just walk for 40 minutes 5 days a week, and now am incorporating some mild strength exercising 3 times a week. It's what every healthy person should do, even bypass patients, that's all. The beauty of the band is most people can lose the weight by doing what works for them, as long as they follow the basic rules for eating.