deckedout

One thing that my hubby and I have discovered, we are both banded, is that we tend to eat everything we cook for dinner. If we don't purposefully make less food for dinner, we will force ourselves to eat more than we need to. Is it possible that you are, or your hubby is, cooking the same amount for dinner as you did befoe being banded, and he has that "waste not" mentality? We had to cut down on everything, because even with the band, we would force ourselves to eat what had been cooked. So, we cut an average dinner in half, figuring a serving size for 3, we still have a 15 yr old at home, and only cooking enough to feed one serving. If the boy is still hungry, he knows how to use the microwave. This strategy has helped us both, plus our food bill, quite a bit. Instead of eating or throwing away food. It sits in the cupboard until the next meal. It is possible that your hubby want to keep from wasting food,, and instead is waisting it.

Susan, Yes, I am a teacher. I had a training class today. All about bringin Pre-AP to my 6th graders! Have to make AYP! Really, I love teaching and working toward higher and higher standards for my kiddos. My students do more than what I was doing in 8th grade. I love teaching! Denise: I'm not really sure how you know if you are dialated. Dr. C has said not to really worry about it in the first 6 months, because it takes that long to develop. I think it has to do with eating way past being full, like drinking water to eat more. I'm not really sure though. I don't think drinking a little extra puts you at risk. It is more of an every day type thing. That is one of the reasons it is so important to do our best to follow the rules, even though we don't really understand why we have to follow all of them. My DH didn't think it was to terribly important to follow the drinking while eating rule. He was losing weight quite well, then it stopped. Well, he tried the rule, before getting a new fill (I think he is at about 9 in a 10cc band) anyway, he had dropped anoher 5 lbs in a week by following that rule only. He still isn't even exercising on a regular basis and has lost 83 lbs since July! Of course, he is NOT a lower BMI bandster, starting out around 48 BMI. Just to say, it is important to follow the rules in order to keep your band as safe as possible.

I think Lekesha(?) has a great chance. I also really like the bald guy; although I think he should keep a hat on, without it he looks like a Holocaust victim. I was really disappointed with the 2nd ones voted off of each sex. I, too, thought the S boy should have been voted off, DH says all the 14 yr old girls are voting for him. I can't remember which other girl I thought should be off; whom ever it was butchered the song she sang so badly I was sick. The girl that was voted off could sing really well. I thought.

My DH and I were both banded on the same day, July 11, 2006. Currently, he is down 83 lbs and I am down 40. He wanted to lose 168 (402- 230) I wanted to lose 70 (196-126 or so). We are doing great, I think!:clap2:

Veronica: congratulations. That is fantastic. You sound like you have your head on straight about the weight loss. Take those pictures, but make sure not to lose them (we lost ours), they will be shocking to you. Denise: pouch dialation is when your pouch stretches out. It usually happens when you eat too much. This is one of the reasons why we don't eat right after a fill and during the first few weeks after surgery. Karyn: my fill doc requires one day of liquid, one day of mushies, and then back to solids as long as they are tolerated. Today was really busy at work, and I haven't been doing well with my eating the past 2 days but it is my tom, so I'm hoping that is the reason. Hope everyone is going to have a fun weekend. I have to work tomorrow, so someone should have extra fun just for me!

Susan, Thank for asking about the knee, it is slowly coming along. I did yoga, but couldn't do all the moves. I swam the last 2 mornings, yesterday for 30 minutes and today for 40 or so, it starts hurting after a while and I keep the brace on all day pretty much, and ice it after working out and after lunch. Luckily, I can put the ice pack inside the brace and still walk around the classroom! I'm a little frustrated with the whole leg thing right now, plus I'm really tight because of TOM coming, due Friday, so I've been pretty grumpy and probably babying it more than it needs. Still Sexy: Welcome to the lower BMI group. I don't know what to tell you about your weightloss stuggle, except be careful about liquid calories. I'm working on giving those up right now. I have, for the most part, given up my mochas that had like 320 calories and replaced it with more Water and oatmeal at Breakfast at 120 calories. The next thing I think I'm gonna have to give up is my after dinner drink I only have one a couple nights a week, but it is like 300 calories (maybe more it is hard to figure) I like my Bahama Mamas after a hard days work, but I think that they could be contributing to my stall. Hard to tell anything right now cause I'm so bloated. Maybe I'll wait til next week, then give them up for a couple of weeks and see what happens. Anyway, back to you, Still Sexy, Have you tracked your calories and exercise? I use Sparkpeople.com to track mine. If I'm very honest, which many times I'm not, it helps me to see what I'm doing wrong. Maybe that will help you. Hubby is home so I'm off. I'm sure I'll check back in. I hope Audree is having fun in Mexico. I'm sure we'll hear from her tomorrow.

Missed you a lot Audree. Thought maybe you'd fallin' off the earth! Went to yoga, but couldn't do a lot of the moves cause of my stupid knee. I'm icing it right now. Went and got my brace. Hubby wants me to go for a walk later. Don't know if I'll be able to go very far, but I'll probably go. wish me luck swimming tomorrow. I might end up spending a lot of time in the spa.

Sherri, Don't feel like a loser, unless it is a big weight loser. I understand your frustration, but look, you have lost 60 lbs. That is a lot of weight. My weight loss has slowed down a lot as well, I am really having to work for every pound that I lose. If you are hungry, then by all means, get another fill. I have quite a bit more than you in my fill. 3.1 and I am also at 4.0. from what I've read, you can be overfull at one point with a fill, get an unfill, and end up needing a fill right back to where you were, or almost there. Are you exercising? Are you drinking enough water? If you are following all the rules and still not losing, then maybe it is just that your body needs to adjust to the new weight. Have you tracked your calories and your exercise? I am using sparkpeople.com, but other people use fitday.com. See what your calories are and how many calories you are buring through exercise. some of those calories can really sneak up on us. Also, check what your eating. Are you eating a lot of pasta and bread? I love pasta, but get hungry right after I eat it. It matabolizes really fast and leaves me with that hungry feeling. I still think you might need another fill. But check into all the other things. If you can't eat much and aren't losing weight, you are probably on a pleteau. Those, you just have to wait out. I am on one right now, and nothing is doing anything for me. Remember, you have lost 60, that is nothing to sneeze at! You doing great. And, if your hubby is mad about it, just don't tell him!

According to the pictures I've seen, I was pretty average growing up. According to my mom, I was always fat. I remember weighing just over 100 lbs in 6th grade and being teased by the other kids when they found out, I had also already developed and began my TOM at 10 1/2. Now, I am a 6th grade teacher, and all of that is pretty average, but both of my sisters were tiny little things. So, my mom thought I was way overweight and let my know all the time that she thought so, still does. But, I didnt REALLY become overweight until after I got divorced and was miserable in my very early 20's right after my daughter was born. I spent a short time over weight when I was 15, but was able to diet (used the old dexatrim that actually did something, although it was full of caffine and made me really hyper). I became really overweight when I just decided that I shouldn't have to worry about it anymore. So, about the time I turned 30. Although, I have always believed I needed to lose weight (I blame my mother.)

Lessofme, Sounds to me like you are pretty typical. I had a lot of pressure in my chest at the beginning. I had to self-pay as well, as my insurance was only interested in bypass and then only if you had a BMI over 50 and tried their 6 month diet plan. Welcome to the low BMI bandsters. We talk a lot. I have lost 40 lbs in 8 months, for which I am very proud. But, I did no REAL exercise for the first 3 months after surgery. Welcome again.

Hey July group? Where did everyone go? Let say HI!

Well, I certainly did. I joined a sparkpeople group to run a 5K on April 1st. Now, mind you, I have been swimming every morning for 4 months and doing yoga and of course walking. Well, in order to do the 5 K or 3.1 miles, I need to jog or run more, so today I began training for it. I just KNEW I should run on the track at the gym, because it has the shock system, but I wanted to go earlier and they didn't open til 10 today, plus I wanted to take my dog cause I thought it would be fun.:think Well, I did okay on the first half of the trip, walking about 4 minutes, jogging 1 minute. I was on my 5 rep on the way back, and sure enough, felt "something" in my knee give. Now, I have have had problems with this knee in the past. Especially when I was at my heaviest and was walking around Las Vegas a couple of years ago, it would really hurt.:rolleyes But, I thought most of my pain was due to being so fat. And, maybe some of it was. However, it really hurt. Last summer, when I went on hikes with my hiking club, it would sometimes hurt on the way down the hill, and a couple of times after skiing (downhill) it has felt stiff. Anyway, I went to the doctor cause I'm sick of feeling like an old lady who can't do anything. (I was actually pointing out the my DH all the people jogging on the bike paths who did NOT appear to be suffering knee pain for their efforts). :phanvan Long story a little bit shorter, I think the 5 K is out. I have to do physical therapy to stregthen my knee. I told the doctor that I have lost 40 lbs and I don't want to have to stop being physically active at this point. He wasn't going to refer my for PT, but I told him that I want to be able to go on hikes this summer without pain, so he did. I can still swim in the AM, at least I hope so, I'll find out on Tuesday. But currently, I am on meds for the pain ( probably stuff I shouldn't be taking but I did talk them into NOT giving me the Mortin @ 800 mg) I am VERY leary of letting my HMO know I have the band. But, I have to heal my knee too. so, I'm making sure I eat RIGHT after I take the meds. :nervous I'll call PT on Tuesday. I really want to be able to go on some good hikes this summer with our club. I think that is more important than the 5K; although, perhaps I could just plan on walking it?:cry I have also be researching the Portland Marathon, hoping that I could do 26.2 miles next October. It is also a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, but :speechles I don't know, maybe it is just a pipe dream. What was I thinking? I am not in that great of shape yet. Well, I guess we will see what happens. :faint: Boo, hoo

I have a co-worker who told me she was worried that I was "too focused". Last Friday, on my way to work I stopped to get a carmel mocha ( I have given up the mochas because THEY were an addiction for me, plus weren't helping with the weightloss) When I showed it to her she said she was glad because I seemed to be becoming obsessed with being perfect. I currently swim every morning, Monday through Friday, for 50 minutes. I also go to yoga on Mondays after work and am adding Thursdays and Fridays as soon as the classes start. Some my consider that obsessive, but it really makes me FEEL better, and yes, I do feel awful if I skip, but I do occasionally skip, like 3 days this week because we went skiing. But, I enjoy the energy I get from swimming in the mornings before work and the stretching feeling from the yoga is very relaxing. I also weigh myself at any given opportunity, but I don't think I'm obsessed about it. It is a knowledge is power thing. I'm really trying to figure out how my body works and looses weight. So far, I haven't really been able to figure out a pattern, I do expect my weight to increase over the entire day, up to 5 lbs. I understand and expect that when I get on the scale at night, I will not be the same weight that I was in the morning. It doesn't affect my mood, but it does make me think about what I'm doing. I am one of those who threw out the scale for 4 years, then when I got one, discovered I was almost 200 lbs. I'd rather get on it too much, then ignore it and have that happen again. I am NOT good at journaling. I tend to spot check, to make sure what I'm eating hasn't increased. So, I might be one of those crazy obsessive people, but I don't FEEL crazy, but maybe a little obsessive.

Paulax, How are you doing with your new fill today? the board is quiet today, am I the only one who had today off? I went back down to 156 today! I'm happy. So my April Fool's Day goal is 8 lbs, or 148. Solid! Went with hubby and saw the movie "Music and Lyrics" with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. Pretty good chick flick stuff. It had some really funny moments. I am DYING to go for a walk, all it is doing here is raining. I might have to go for a walk in the mall. I really want to walk by the river. UGH! I hate winter.

Susan, Sorry you have a leak. How is your doctor going to write it up so insurance will pay? I worry about things like that. When I went to have eye surgery, my HMO would not even give me the eyedrops because of they fact that they don't cover the surgery. So, I worry that if anything goes wrong, they will blame it on te band and not pay for anything. Paulax, you are doing great. Be careful with that new fill, it can be life changing. Hubby, youngest son, and I went away for Valentine's day. We went up to the mountains and spent the day skiing. I haven't done a great job eating the past few days and I haven't tracked on sparkpeople like I was going to. I did on Monday and had only eaten 840 all day. Tuesday was a little more, probably 1200. I know I'm not eating way too much on most days now. I'm going to assume that I am not losing right now because my body is trying to adjust to the new wieght. I guess if nothing happens in a couple more weeks I'll have to rethink that, but hopefully the scale will move before then. I didn't make my Valentine's goal but I think I need to set a new goal for SPRING BREAK. For us, that is April Fools. I guess not everyone has spring break at the same time, but everyone has APRIL 1st RIGHT? Okay, By April Fool's Day, I want to be at 148, which was my Valentine's Day goal orginally. So, I'm adjusting. I'll have to weigh myself in the morning to make sure I don't have any surprises like maybe I lost 10 lbs overnight? But, I think that is 8 lbs for me, cause even if my wieght is still toying with 158 I'm still saying I'm 156. So, goal by 2/1/07 is 148! Anyone else want to set a goal? It could be weight, exercise, or anything else.

Audree, My doctor does not recommend having a fill while on your period. However, once I went in right before mine was suppose to start and she filled me extra tight and said to do liquids for a few extra days. It is much better if you go in right after your period ends, so you will be the least swollen, remembering that you may tighten up again as you get close to that time of the month again.

Stephanie, You are doing AWESOME. I am really impressed with your wieght loss. I am stuck, although when I remind myself, I am really not stuck, but haven't lost for 2 weeks. I went back up to 158 from 156, but I'm keeping my 156 cause I think it will go back down again. Last Saturday when I weighted myself, I was 155.6, since then I have gone up to 158 again, but I tell myself I am 156. Anyway, thisweek, I am going to keep track of everything I eat, and try not to lie to myself on sparkpeople.com today I have eaten 1533 calories, but no exercise. Tomorrow, I will swim in the AM and do YOGA after work for an hour, I have to keep track of my exercise also. Maybe after a week of tracking everything, I will be able to figure out what I am doing wrong. On Wednesday, I imagine I will post 8 lbs lost, which is still better than anything I have ever done before. I really, really love my band. When I see overweight people at work, I want to tell them to get one. There is one lady who comes to the club about 3 days a week to do water aerobics. I really wish she could get the band. She seems like a great person always smiling and working so hard. I'm worried she will give up. She is about 5'4" and 250 maybe more. Oh well, I really have a save the world complex. Probably that is why I won't leave my low-income school Havve a great evening all. enjoy V-day. Oh I must confess. last week I bought a little tub of Haga-das English Toffee Ice cream. I have had a little bit every night. so far, I have eaten about 1/4 the tub. Maybe I should give it to my son, so I don't crave it. My older son made Deans list, did I tell you all. He got a 3.8 his first quarter of college. He doesn't think he'll do as well this quarter, but he is taking biology and English 201, so we'll see. Good night all.

Sometimes I get hungry more quicklly than I would hope that I would. One thing that I do is drink a bottle of water in between meals. So, if I start thinking I'm feeling hungry after 2 hours or even one, but that doesn't usually happen for me, I will drink water. Usually, that will keep me full until the time for a next meal. It is hard to get the water in if I don't start feeling hungry, because than I will forget to drink anything.

edieparks, I am on probably my 20 plateau lol, seems like I hit another one everytime I turn around. I lose weight, put it back on, lose down to the low weight again, stick there a couple weeks, lose weight, etc. Mary, I'm glad your nephew is better, sorry about your dad. I lost my dad like four years ago and honestly, I still have days when I just feel awful about it. Like when something great happens, like my son making Dean's List at college, that would make him so proud, and I can't tell him. I know he is better off, because he was so miserable, but I miss him for me. I'm not going to make my goal of 15 either. I can make 7, but unless somethng crazy happens like I drop 8 lbs overnight! Wishful thinking. Maybe, who knows, maybe I'll drop 3 lbs by Wednesday? Probably not, especially if I keep eating as bad as I did today. I had a piece of cake, I will confess. And it tasted pretty good too. But, it was small and I didn't eat the cookie, so I figure I did okay, right?

Susan, don't worry, I did not lose the way Audree is either, but I am not unhappy with the way that I am losing. WHile I would have loved to be at goal right now, I totally believe that I am learning new things about myself. Plus, hey, the compliements add up, if it takes you longer to lose, more people notice, right Have a great evening.

Sherri, So sorry you are having a tough time. Has anyone heard from Stephanie, she was doing so well, I hope she still is. I am NOT going to make my Valentine's Day goal, not possible, but maybe, perhaps, I will hit 10 lbs by V-Day. How is everyone else doing? I am happy to report that I am into a size 10. After V-day it will be time to set the April Fool's Day goal. start thinking aobut what you want to do by then. I'm thinking I'll extend my V-Day goal and head for that 148, it is illusive for me!

Terry, Skip tomorrow's weigh in. Give yourself time. Remember we are on a journey, not a trip. I didn't do so good today either. My DD and I went shopping, of course that means going to lunch. I was so tight I PB'ed everything and brought home the huge meal that was left, so I ate that for dinner. it was really, really good. But not the best calorie wise, oh well, tomorrow is anothe day, right? Have a great night.

Wow Laura, a 3/4? How tall are you? I am 5'2" and trying to get to a size 5, I have NEVER been a size 3/4. What are you weighing? If you don't mind me asking. I would love to be a 5 but a 3 would be awesome, I'm not sure I could keep going if I was in a 3. Today my daughter and I went shopping. She made me try on things I never would have before. I got a new shirt that is a small! I'm looking forward to wearing it. I had a fun day with my little girl (she is 21). We went and saw "because I said so" I loved it. If you have older daughters it totally is awesome. I never would have watched it with my hubby, but going to it with my daughter was great. I got a few new pairs of pants to wear to work, so I'm set for a little while. I love Burlington Coat Factory. I can get some nice things without paying the price. I have to admit that I am a really tight wad. So, that place is perfect for me.! Anyhow, it is about time for me to hit the hay. 5 am comes really early. To all of you who thing about going to workout early, and are putting it off, I totally recommend it. I am not a morning person, but this has been the BEST thing that I have done, besides the lapband surgery to begin with.

Wow Susan, that is really exciting! Where do you live that you have all these exciting things to do. Or maybe it is the people you hang with. I have never even heard of this before. It sounds like great fun. Audree, I don't think anyone really said anything to me until I had lost over 20 lbs. I wonder if it isn't noticable or if it is because we lose weight then gain then lose and people don't really want to call attention to it if it is going to come right back on? I know i would hate it if anyone said, "Jane, wow, looks like you've put on a few lbs!" so maybe they wait, I don't know. Also, I just found out a co worker has lost 30 lbs and I couldn't tell, not that she is even that big. She probably only needs to lose another 15 lbs or so. It could also have to do with the clothing we wear. When I'm heavier, I wear bigger clothes, now my clothes fit me better, so it probably looks like I've lost even more than I have.

Hey All, Well, I'm down two more lbs! I'm very excited. I have lost 10 lbs since my last fill on 12/16. That is 10 lbs in 7 weeks. A little over 1 lb a week. For me that is GREAT! Congrats Audree on being down another 3.5 lbs. Your BMI is now lower than mine. You go, girl! YOur going to leave me in your dust! I went and got my hair cut today plus ran around town getting my son new boots for his welding class. I also bought myself a new pair of shoes. I'm not really a shoe person, but I needs something besides my workout shoes to run around town in. My DD and I are going shopping tomorrow. I'm hoping to find a couple more inexpensive pairs of work pants. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!