Crishell

Well I have not weighed in about 5 days. I had told myself, out of previous frustration, that I just didn't care and was going to eat what i wanted for the Christmas holiday. I knew that was going to include alot of baked goods. I'm not too fond of turkey, ham and all the so-called traditional holiday food so I wasn't too concerned about that but the sweets is a totally different story. My fav stuffing is now off of my list because it won't stay down so that was something else that I did not have to be concerned with and surprisingly I did not miss it . I figured that somehow, I would still be ok even if I indulged in a bounty of sweets. Well, my lovely band (a.k.a. Brad -named after my boyfriend) decided to kick in over the weekend and I had extra restriction for the past 3-4 days. Needless to say, I had several episodes of PBing over the weekend with the last being last night while trying to eat some of my mom's rice pudding and coconut pie. So eventhough my mind told me to eat what I wanted this Christmas, good ole Brad put the brakes on it and showed me who really had the control.

I have noticed less breakouts and my skin is smoother but I still have combination oily/dry skin in certain areas. My scalp is drier.

They say no bread because is a greater risk of it getting stuck when it gets soft. I can eat most breads if toasted but i try to keep at minimum due to carbs.

I don't think it is a rude thing but it is aggravating to me when I hear it in reference to me because I know I am far from skinny. At work folks call me "Skinny Minnie" all the time now. I try not to think much of it because could be called a lot worse. I don't have a formal goal for myself (well actually I would like to see Onderland even if it is 199). I have at least 50 pounds that I would like to lose but would be happy with 30 considering where I came from. My highest ever was 368/ on surgery day I was 304/today 242. I am grateful for what I have accomplished so far and look forward to more to come. I think they say it as a form of a compliment & a form of encouragement & acknowledgement but it is just something about that word.

I'm sorry you are going through that extra stress. My family is very supportive and don't really ask alot of questions. I guess because they can see my weight loss & inches loss. At work,I did not make a secret out of having the surgery and there are two other girls who have had it before I did. We have been each other's support but co-workers want to make it into a contest. They make comments comparing our visible weight loss and watch what we eat. The other day, two of them made the comment to me "you look good, your's is working". I didn't even respond because I know they were trying to bait me into saying something about the other two girls. I did this for me and I know what I am and am not doing to make it work for me. People don't understand the band and how it can be different for people. It is not a contest. I have a very few close co-workers who I share my ups and downs with but the rest of them get no remarks from me.

I know what you mean. Started with all that Halloween candy all over the place at work. Now it's Christmas cookies, cakes, fudge all over the place & the parties...got two this week. There is so much temptation and everyone says "oh, a little won't hurt you". Well, if 10 people are saying & offering it, that adds up. But, while I have had a few slips, I must admit that overall I have done well avoiding the temptations. I try to picture myself being in a video game and jumping over/shooting the cakes,cookies, etc.

I wonder the same about myself but I have been afraid to increase my calories to that much on a consistant basis. My average is 1000-1100 per day. I am confused. I thought I was not eating enough to offset my exercise but decided to re-evaluate my protein. I upped my protein to ensure 60g+everyday. I noticed that I had some occasions, of 2 or 3 consecutive days out of a given week, where I had less than 60g . This was evidently effecting my metabolism and slowing it down. When I became more aware of my protein & increased it a little, I lost 6 pounds in 9 days. Just really started this so not sure how long it will hold up.

Beano worked for me. Take one or two before you eat. Worked wonders for me.

My boyfriend and I have been more experimentative and he says that it "feels better". I do know that I am hornier and less intimidated. I have been a cowgirl (riding) too which is something that I never even attempted to try before with him or in past relationships. I am sure I am hornier because of an increase in hormones but sad thing is that he works so much that he cannot now keep up with my demand.

It kinda crossed my mind too. My neck and shoulders are very skinny so to me makes my head look bigger. But I still decided to start growing my hair out a little as a distraction. Now my nose looks bigger. I figure my face will get thinner and then the wrinkles will set in.

I'm working late tonight so I have some spare time to go over some old posts. Just wanted to say hello. Where is everyone? How is everyone doing now that we are so close to our one year Bandiversary? What are your holiday plans and strategies to stay focused?? All of my family is local so will do the visitation to both my mom and dad's sides of family. That means food a plenty which is my family's specialty. And Curves has the nerve to be closed Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas along with Christmas day. I was bagging up some old clothes on Saturday to take to Goodwill and caused me to think on all the good stuff that has happened in 2007 thanks to my band. I am definitely looking forward to 2008 and celebrating by 40th birthday on August 14. I feel as if I will be 30 or 25 and not 40.:whoo:

I get it too and I am nowhere near my personal goal. People (family and co-workers) call me "Skinny Minnie". My family has always been supportive but my mom and others watch what I eat & think I am not eating enough. People make comments like "aren't you finished yet?" or "how much more do you want to lose?" and the all-time favorite, "oh I almost didn't recognize you, you look like a totally different person". Sometimes I just want to scream. I'm like people, get real!! I still weigh 239 pounds from a surgery day weight of 304. That is good but I am far from skinny. I try to understand their point of view since it's new to them as it is to me and this is the most weight I have ever lost at one time. But sometimes it just gets on my last good nerve.

I am single and I have noticed a difference in how men respond to me (although I have not come across one that I actually want to date). They look at me and acknowledge me. I actually see their beady little eyes sizing me up in a good way-like lust. And they actually speak and hold the door open for me. At first I thought it was my imagination but it has happened too many times now to not be true. Makes me kinda sad though. I was never ugly or bad looking and I have always dressed well.

I did relatively ok for Thanksgiving. My weakness is sweets and there was plenty of chocolate cake, coconut and sweet potato pie floating around. Overall when I think about previous holiday's I did way better than I ever have and that's a plus thanks to my lovely band. I did not deprive myself. I just made sure I got my fluids in and exercised a little more. I did not gain but I didn't lose any either. Christmas will be interesting. But again, I plan to use moderation and look forward to my one year bandiversary.

I was scrolling across some of the old posts and came upon this one. I saw where I said that i just wanted to get to 250 pounds. I think that was early August. Well, this morning I was 239.8. I had been in a major slump for awhile. I had a third (.75 cc) fil) on 8/13 and .25cc on 10/8. Had not lost a pound since 10/8 although I feel I have good restriction. I decided to regroup and pay more attention to the amount of protein I was eating. I discovered that there was 2 or 3 consecutive days where I was not getting in 60g of protein and I think that was slowing my metabolism. I was staying between 1000-1100 calories per day and going to Curves 4-5 times a week plus riding bike at work. It wa a mystery to me why I was not losig weight. To make a long story short, I increased my protein, ensuring the 60+g per day EVERY DAY, and in the past 11 days I have lost 6.6 pounds. This is after almost 8 weeks of the scale not moving, although I was still losing inches. Hopefully my slump is over and I can get through the 230's very soon. Protein is very important and i thought i was handling things but when I really looked at it, I wasn't.

crazy quetion but what did you eat? Are you sure it is blood??

I made a small boo-boo. Today I am 239. Wishful thinking for that 234 (or a prophecy)

You have to do what you feel is best for YOU. I had my surgery on 1/19/07 with a starting weight of 304. Today I am 234, blood sugar and blood pressure are both fine. I have no regrets. I have hand very supportive family and close friends. Alot of people do not know all of the details about lap band surgery and are therefore ignorant to that fact. There are alot of myths and false beliefs about the band and how it works. I have some associates (frineds of friends or folks I know remotely) and some not so close co-workers who have been naysayers and are just waiting for the first sign that I am regaining the weight. I consider it jealously because I made this decision and am succeeding at it. The majority of my negativity comes from females who need the surgery themselves. They should be asking me about the procedure so that they can get the correct education to get it themselves. Their fear and unhappiness with themselves has turned to jealousy and anger towards me when we should be encouraging each other. I have no problem enlightening anyone who asks me questions about the procedure and my success but i am not going to share with those who are not serious or sincere. I have been overweight ALL my life (39 years) and am currently 20 pounds less than I remember putting on my paperwork to get my driver's license at 16. This surgery was my first ever surgery and anethesia experience and I had no problems at all, including not a lot of pain. I guess I say all of this to say, do what is best for YOU. Don't let others and fear stop you. You will be healthier and happier getting the band than if you don't.

I'm 5 foot 6. I am currently 239 pounds and wearing very comfortable size 18 bottom and 18/20 tops (some 14/16 depending on how made). On surgery day, 1/19/07, I was 304 pounds and was wearing 26/28 tops and 26 (some 24 bottoms).

The same thing happened to me. I work in a state psychiatric hospital and many of my patients have made positive comments. Those would have been the last people that I would have expected to make a comment, much less even notice or even care, (given their symptoms, issues and behaviors with just the nature of their illnesses). Also, I used to babysit a friend of mine's 3 sons. I had not seen them in a while and ended up seeing them the other day. One of them goes "you look different". He is 8 years old and I didn't expect him to notice or say anything either. The youngest one is three and he refused to come to me because he didn't recognize me. The positive coments and acknowledgements are very encouraging and brighten my day; especially when I am having a bad day. Further lets me know that I made the right decison.

Congratulations! from a January Bandster. I was banded January 19, 2007.

:)This is kinda long but i figure it might help someone going through a similar situation. I have been on a really bad plateau lately. I had not lost one single pound since my last small fill (.25cc) on 10/8/07. I was banded on 1/19/07 and have had four fills since with a total of 2.75cc. Prior to this last fill I had throught that i was experiencing a plateau because I was losing but very, very slow. I now know what a plateau is. I had been so frustrated and depressed because I knew I had good restriciton, I was not overeating and I was exercising (going to Curves at least 4 times per week, riding bike 3 times a week and doing cardio exercises at home). I was however, still losing some inches. I had been racking my brain trying to figure it out. There had to be an answer, I was getting more and more discouraged and I didn't want to go backwards due to frustration. I have been tracking my food in fitday.com religiously. But had been focusing more on the big picture as in every two week and every month "averages". When I went back and really looked at it daily and did my own percentages, I discovered that there were many days in a month that i was actually not getting at least 60g of Protein. And there were several instances of 2 (or 3) days in a row where i was low. What was making the difference was that on some days, I was getting in 75 or 80+g of protein and that was making my overall average at least 60g for the month. The consecutive days of being below in my protein consumption, coupled with my exercise were evidently screwing with my metabolism and slowing it. Seems simple and I know protein is very important but I THOUGHT I was doing good with my protein until I looked at it further. So after coming to that epiphany, I made a more conscious effort to ensure that I get in at least 65g of protein EVERY DAY and I also increased my Fluid intake because that has been lower than it should (since the surgery, it has been so hard to drink all of that). Sometimes I feel like I need to walk around with an IV with Water and protein in it. To make a long story short, after almost 8 weeks of nothing the scale has once again started moving downwards. I have lost 6.5 pounds in the past 11 days. I really hope this continues. I know this is not the answer for everyone experiencing a plateau. I just wanted to convey that sometimes we can lose focus especially with work, family and relationship issues.

I have the blues too. I think I have been experiencing some hormonal fluctuations since the band. I am able to reflect on the good changes that have occurred in my life since getting my band and I am grateful for it and the future but just seems like something is missing. Feels like my life is a merry-go-round of calories, carbs, protein, fluid, exercise and sprinkle that in with work & "significant other" stress...need i say more.

I joined 3/07 six weeks after my surgery. I think it has been very beneficial in getting me used to some type of physical activity. Has also helped me to lose inches. It is a little pricey in my opinion and can get boring at times but I try to do different things at the recovery stations. Also on days when it is not too crowded, I will switch up the order of the equipment. I like the fact that it is women only so that is why I stick with it.I find that I need structure so it works for me. I also ride elliptical bike at work and have a little cardio workout that I do at home but i cannot rely totally on that. Treadmills bore me. They have an advanced workout that is supposed to help you get more out of your workout by increasing your heartrate. That is a bit much for me. Luckily, my Curves is about three minutes from my house so it is easy for me to go after work and on Saturday mornings at time. I think it also helps that I am single with no kids so I have more time in which to go. Still it has not always been easly and sometimes I really have to push myself to go but I have seen benefits so for right now, I am sticking with it.

I was diagnosed wtih type II diabetes as a result of my pre-op testing. I was put on a small dose of Glimiperide for it. Doc was not too concerned since he knew I was having the surgery soon. After surgery, I had to monitor my blood sugar levels to make sure that they were not dropping too low due to eating less. I went from taking whole pill (4mg) daily to a half daily to only on days when I ate someting high in carbs/sugar (which werent that many). Today, I am not taking anyting and my last A1C was fine. Have not taken any meds in past three months. I still monitor and see my endocrinologist though to make sure it is still on track.