NimbleBean

Hello All. So great to hear that so many of our May bandsters are doing so well. I've been stuck for a while now... no loss, but no gain either. I've had two fills and this 2nd one (3 weeks ago) has been difficult. Several episodes of PBing. Foods that worked yesterday don't work today. Just feeling frustrated. I can get usually get Protein shakes, yogurt (tough in the morning), mixed fruit, nonfat pudding, Soups, nutrition bars, chili to go down (and stay there!). But I worry that I'm going to get into a soft food syndrome. Before I was banded, I had to do a medically-supervised diet. I worked with a nutrionist and lost 50 lbs. I was really doing well on the program and hoped to be able to stay on it with the band. An important component was eating 9 oz of protein per day. So, I would generally have 4 oz of chicken in a salad at lunch and 5 oz (chicken/fish at dinner). Well, chicken is now impossible to get down. I have even been having trouble with fish. And I know that that amount of food at one sitting is too much for the band! Sure I can get the protein in a shake, but the band is designed to work best with solid foods so that we maintain a 'full' feeling for as long as possible. So, I'm just stymied! I've gone back to taking a Multivitamin, Calcium, Vitamin C and vitamin B complex (all nutrionist recommended). But, I have to say I'm feeling like a big loser (and not the kind I want to be!) that I can't seem to get this to work. My doc is so supportive, but at the end of the day, it's about me and my commitment to working with the band. Sorry to be so down today, but I think I just need to vent and perhaps someone has some words of wisdom (or a kick in the ass!) for me. Maybe I just need a fresh start. Margaret

Weighting... Glad you joined us. I have been stuck on a plateau for quite a while now and just can't seem to jump start it. I have plenty of restriction in the morning and at lunchtime, but dinner is better and then, oh those dreaded hours after dinner. I seem to always be hungry. Have been walking and gardening when the weather is cool enough, but when it's hot and I'm stuck inside, food seems to call out to me! LOL. And it's always chocolate or some higher calorie soft food. Need to quickly change that. Keep us posted on how you are doing with your Water intake and exercise. Cheers, Margaret (aka NimbleBean)

Melissa, I haven't lost a pound since my first fill. I am so frustrated! I have restriction in the morning, less at lunch, and none at all at dinner. But, the problem is I am having trouble with solid food. Even soft flaky fish can be a problem - even at dinnertime. Everything needs to have sauce or some moisture to get enough down. Soft, wet food goes down easy; chili for instance is no problem. But I don't want to get into a soft food syndrome, because there can be higher calories and fat in that type of food, and the band needs solid food for this to work correctly. I hope I'll be better after my next fill on Monday. I am getting plenty of exercise, drinking all my water. I'm just stuck. My nutritionist did say to me once that you reach the same set points as you lose that you hit when you gained. I guess my body likes 216 and wants to stay here for awhile!!! I have noticed my pants are fitting differently this past week, so perhaps a change is coming. We'll see. I just don't want to let this get me too depressed, because that never helps my eating habits! In any case, I'm glad you are all here to talk to. I feel like no one else understand what this is like except for the folks here! We are a great support group for each other and I just want to say THANKS to you all! You inspire me each day!

How's everyone doing with the challenge? I have finally been able to make progress on the exercise portion, but am still struggling a bit with 64 oz of Water a day. I never used to have trouble with that, but now, with no drinking with meals or for 45 minutes after meals, I find it more difficult to get all the water in! But, I'm making a concerted effort to get succeed at this! If only I could say the same for eating. I have not dropped a pound since my first fill and am so frustrated. I have been grazing in the evening because I never feel full. I know it's just a matter of another fill (or two, three, ....), so hopefully by the end of the month things will get better. Things have also been really stressful at work. That doesn't help with the food (I'm a stress eater!), but luckily it has helped with the exercise which has been a great stress releaser! In any case, I hope others are doing well on the challenge. I see some tickers changing quickly and others (like mine) more slowly! Let's all keep up the good work. We can meet this challenge! Margaret

I'm so bummed! It was in the 90s here today, 97 for Monday and Tuesday. I've never been able to tolerate the heat and so I certainly won't be getting my walking or biking in for the next few days. :flame: Guess I will have to go back to the Gazelle or, heaven help me, the dreaded sit-ups, lunges and squats! I can also do some weight training I guess. Just seems so much more pleasant to be outside. Ah well, enough whining. Better find those weights! LOL

Alex, Yippee and Congratulations! You are so supportive of all of us here that it's great to be able to offer our support back to you! Keep us posted! Cheers, Margaret

Janine, NSV is a Non-Scale Victory... Small or big steps in our journeys that can't be measured on a scale! Margaret

Glad you got it to work!

Nimblebean....great NSV!! You must have been dancing in the dressing room! Oh, I had such a moment! Only friends who are going through this understand these small, but important, victories! Thanks Metal! Great calendar too. Today is the first day of the challenge and I still cannot get my ticker to work. I have done everything that the instructions say to do. Oh well I will keep trying! Are you having trouble when you are on the Ticker Factory site, or when you try to drop the Exercise Ticker into your signature?

Hello All! Since some of the recent changes to the site, the May calendar will not post. And you may have noticed that my previous posts of the calendar have all turned to computer code gibberish! I have contacted the list owner, but have not gotten a response. So, I have attached the updated list here. To see it you will have to click on the link, and the file will open in Word. Welcome to all the a-MAY-zing bandster who have joined us! Cheers, Margaret may 2007 band list.doc

This morning I had a small NSV! I got out of the shower and used a regular, standard size bath towel to wrap around myself. There was enough cloth to overlap it in the front! Nothing was gaping (if you know what I mean!) LOL! I guess now I will have to use the beach towels I had been using after showering for... oh I don't know, maybe the beach!!! I had another NSV last night. I went to Lane Bryant to look for a couple of tops. Well, I thought I would try an 18/20 to see if I could get into it. Surprise surprise, too big!! Had to get a 14/16! Amazing to me that back in August, before I started my 6 month, med.-supervised diet and before my May banding, I was wearing a 26/28 top at LB. And sometimes it was tight in the hips! In any case, I had a little weepy moment in the dressing room. I can't believe how proud I am of myself, and of all of us! :whoo: Margaret

I did consider a chart of sorts, but at the moment, I can't even update our May Calendar as there is some sort of problem with posting the calendar grid! So, a created chart of some sort may not even work right now. I think that tracking individually is probably easiest. You might notice that I've added an Exercise Ticker to my signature. That's the way I plan to track my progress. Thanks so much for kick-starting us with the Challenge. I've done some walking, but needed some sort of motivation to do that and bicycling on a regular basis. Guilt at not seeing my little runner move will really be a help!

Laura, We are starting on July 1. Glad you're joining the Challenge! Margaret

In retrospect, I think I ate too fast. I also think I ate a piece of artichoke heart. Even on the hearts, some of the outer leaves can be tough. So that probably didn't help. I think my current restriction is good. I just need to adjust my portion size way down, eat much, much, much more slowly and watch the kinds of food I take in especially in the days just after a fill. I don't want this pain at every meal either. But this was my mistake, not a problem with the band. I am re-learning how to eat and just forgot the lessons I've learned. You may be too restricted if you are in pain after every meal. Are you eating too fast perhaps? Or the wrong kind of food (although I've read somewhere here on LBT that some folks can eat something today that won't work tomorrow). Are you doing any better since the slight unfill? I hope so. Keep me posted. Margaret

I had my first fill yesterday and was on liquids last night, puree today and soft food for dinner tonight. Well I have just come back from my favorite restaurant! I didn't have any of the shared appetizer or any salad. I ordered salmon because this restaurant cooks it beautifully-never overdone, always nice and moist. Came with vegetables - string beans, carrots, onions, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and mushrooms. Had less than 1/4 of it and that was it. The pain in my chest began. Really thought that this was going to be my first experience with PBing. Went to the bathroom and just wanted to take off my shirt and bra. Everything just felt so tight! Just kept telling myself to breath and then the sliming started. That went on for just a couple of minutes, I burped twice and felt a bit better. I never did PB. Went back to the table (2 friends at dinner know about the surgery, the other two do not) and still wasn't feeling very comfortable. But it did pass after about 10 minutes. Boy was that a lesson. Now of course, I'm home, hungry and I know that the leftovers are in the fridge. Part of me wants to throw it out. The practical part of me says this entree cost $30. Eat it tomorrow! I hope I continue to have this much restriction, but more importantly, I hope that I am a fast learner and don't have to go through that ever again!

My first fill was scheduled for today, and boy was I nervous! It was odd because I didn't have a care in the world when I went in for the surgery. I guess I'd just read too many posts from folks who had been poked multiple times! Anyway, it was such a non-event. My surgeon (who is just great) felt for the port and explained to me exactly what he was doing. For some reason I thought it would be some huge needle and told him I didn't want to see it. He humored me, but I saw it anyway. Small needle and barely a pinch! Frankly, I've had more painful mosquito bites!! In any case, he explained about removing the small bit of air that was in my 10cc band, and then I watched as he gave me a 1.3cc fill. Took out the needle, I sat up and drank a glass of water. Went down okay, so I was sent on my way. The procedure itself took about 3 minutes. So, I'll have some broth tonight, pureed food tomorrow morning and afternoon and soft fish for dinner tomorrow night. So, for those of you who are worried like I was, be assured it's a simple procedure with a qualified doctor. Good luck!

Yes! I can eat a full plate - and more! But only in the evening. And, my hunger seems to be stronger than ever. I go for my first fill tomorrow and I hope that helps.

Folks, Metalband has already started the a-MAY-zing bandsters' Exercise Challenge for July thread! Check out http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f92/may-zing-bandits-july-challenge-37009/ You can also reach it by going to the May 2007 support section and it's one of the 3 or 4 threads listed there. Thanks Metal!

I see the doc for a check up and my first fill (I'm a bit nervous!) tomorrow. I'm sure he's going to release me for more strenuous exercise, so I'm in for the July challenge! What's is everyone planning to include in their exercise regimen? I'm going to alternate walking and a Curves workout. In fact, I'm going out for a walk right now. Been doing about 20 minutes a day, but will work up to 30 minutes to be ready for July!

Metal and Rag- Count me in! I'm interested in joining the exercise challenge. Margaret (aka NimbleBean)

Bush, Cheney, Rice, Gonzalez, Oprah, Dr. Phil, Rosie, Oprah, Lohan, Spears, Oprah, Hilton (girls & parents), Isaiah Washington, Barbara Walters, Oprah, the Beckhams, the Cruises, Tyra Banks, and, oh did I mention holier than thou, aren't I wonderful Oprah!!! And thanks to Argon for shining a light on one of my pet peeves - spelling and usage mistakes! I know these are just message boards and we are quickly sending off messages, but come on! If the errors are simply typos, fine. But if folks really don't know the correct spelling and usage of a word, then I would like to add another to my 'what I've had enough of' list... US educational system! Jeez, felt good to let that go. So, thanks all. I will now take my banned self and see what their is to eat that will make me loose weight were I need to. I know, I know, you could all care less! LOL, Margaret

I posted this on the pre/post op questions forum, but my friends here in the May group always have good answers so I thought I'd post this here too! Has anyone had the problem of weakness in your legs if you have eaten too much? This has happened to me 3 times now. Legs feel shaky like they are not going to hold me up! Goes away really quickly, but it is odd. I see my doc on Monday (June 25) for a check up and fill, and will be sure to ask him, but thought this group might have some thoughts. Thanks. Margaret

Has anyone had the problem of weakness in your legs if you have eaten too much? This has happened to me 3 times now. Legs feel shaky like they are not going to hold me up! Goes away really quickly, but it is odd. I see my doc on Monday (June 25) for a check up and fill, and will be sure to ask him, but thought this group might have some thoughts. Thanks. Margaret

It's great that the pix are working, but entering a calender grid (like we have in the May 2007 thread) still doesn't work.

Diana, How long have you been overweight? If you are like many of us here, it's been a lifelong struggle. I weighed 285 lbs when I began this journey and each day I lose a bit more. It has been the best thing I have ever done for myself! Like you, I was is pretty good health, but I knew that all the illnesses associated with obesity were in my future as the weight kept adding up. Because you are in relatively good health, you will bounce back from surgery just fine. And the mushy stage doesn't last too long. Then it's on to soft foods and then back to solids. It's really a short time of adjustment for the reward of the rest of your life without the extra weight. Remember the lapband is not a miracle cure, merely a powerful tool to help those who are motivated to change their life. You need to be ready - physically, emotionally and intellectually - for the changes that will occur. If you haven't yet attended a seminar, you will find it useful. You will hear the pros and cons of lapband and be able to make a more informed decision. You can also check with your insurance company to see if it's covered (more companies cover it than ever before!). I know that I made the right choice for my life, and thanks to the folks on this site who have given me support, advice and a kick in the butt when I've needed it, I am getting back to living my life instead of observing it! Only you know what is best for your life situation, and I wish you all the best no matter what you decide. Keep me posted. Margaret