shadst8

Elfie we are here. I have nothing new to report. Trying to get my band to work with me so I have dropped my carbs to 40 and below--hoping to kick weight loss up.

Love it!!!!! And might I add my family line--"put your big girl panties on."

No you are not. As reverie said, the spreadsheet is locked apparently so that no changes can be made--she needs to allow permission to edit to everyone.

I have two calorie tracker apps on my phone. Before I order anything, I look up the item to see the calories--I usually do this ahead of time but I often just pull it right up at the restaurant before I order. Like other posters, I often ask for to go tray to put half away. Because I check the calories, I make sure to get a good workout in if I eat a meal above 450 calories. Most importantly drink tons of water--a glass before I eat usually. I find even the healthiest of meals are loaded with sodium. No bread with the meal either way. Planning ahead helps.

Checking in and catching up. Melody--good job on the weight loss Crystl--sorry about the job situation--my hubby was laid off three years ago--just works part-time--so hard to find a job in our small town Denise--enjoy the high seas Nothing new. I hit the excercise like crazy for last two weeks. I do not expect weight loss when I weigh Monday though--PMS strikes again ugh. The good news is dare I say but my fill kicked in about a week ago. Not quite at sweet spot, but definitely have to chew and take my time--not something I had to do before. Work stressful as usual, but oh well.

Could it be lingering affects of anesthesia? Also agree with OP, that even if you are on liquids, to slip slowly

It doesn't digust me. I get sad that it once was me. It also made me really understand that obesity is a disease and food an addiction.

I have done it for a day or two, but after that, I find it not very helpful. I am with another poster--if I gain a few, I instantly drop my carbs down between 20-40--I find that helps much better than the liquid!!

Lol. Seriously I agree with Denise, when I look back all the problems I could have, if I had to get a sleeve, I would. I know it's scary, but we promise to still be your friend and are here to support you even if you become a sleevster? Not sure what they call those with sleeves?

I too hoarded clothes, so I started in my own closet. I am a principal, so I understand with the summer thing where you still need a few spring/summer professional items to last you until you get to the summer t-shirt and shorts . I usually hit up discount stores like Ross, Burlington Coat Factory, Cato's and a few others. The secret is I buy a lot of dresses and skirts. When pants get too big, they tell on your everytime with the saggy booty look. Dresses and skirts you can get away with a little longer being big for they become terrible looking. Tops, get at Goodwill, Walmart, or catch sales--they are usually easier to find cheaper. Buy a pair of black pants that are snug like SF that you can dress up and down for work--I also take advantage of layaway, not because of the need necessarily to pay a little at a time, but I put sizes smaller on layway on sale. If by chance I am not to that size, then I just take off layway. If I am, I still have cheap clothes in my new size! SF--I actually am the same way. I am around 270 and wear and 14/16 top and can get in 18's and 20's! You, like me, have reconfigured your body--way to go!

Since I gained 15 in 3 days, two weeks ago, I can concur with maybe it being water gain. My doctor upped the the diuretic part of my blood pressure med which did help some. Hang in there--what you have accomplished so far is amazing--hugs.:huggie: I was thinking maybe sometimes you need a break from weight loss, journaling, tracking, etc and just focus on the other aspects of your life and to protect your mental health from going down from taking care of your physical health? I am sure it is water gain. Do not let it throw you off track!!

Hey Stacie--welcome back. Ditto with Elfie said--I had mine taken through the belly button--1 day in hospital--back up about a week later! Denise--you are absolutely doing the right thing--sometimes people need to experience how wrong they are! Enjoy Hawaii Went back to doc yesterday. He put back 6cc's. Thank goodness. I drank a shake and I didn't feel terribly hungry. I had 7cc's in before port revision--he is not putting that 1cc back until May! He said if I get hungry before then, call immediately for an appointment. I was thinking you bet I will. I am thinking of starting an Easter Challenge, but has anyone seen one already on the boards?

I do not have a magical bullet but I can tell you what is typical that may at least make you feel not alone. First of all if you are like most of us, our band was placed empty--any restriction you had is from swelling--when the swelling is gone--hunger because the band is not doing anything. This time until your first fill is bandster hell because you have to eat like you have a full band, but you don't. The band is not doing anything now. Secondly, by my third week--I lost no weight. I did not lose again until I started solids. Your body is healing--you may fine you gain weight from post surgery fluids. Losing weight during this time is plus and not really an expectation--it is all about healing and learning your new band. I am not a big journaler, but it was the only way during that time that I could ensure I was eating the right things and plannning. Hope this helps.

Denise hang in there! Yes, I do feel different. I got hungry with band, but never stomach growl hunger like now! Also no soft signs whatsoever to stop you. I realty had forgotten all that. Elfie. Actually I have gained. I updated my ticker because I had dropped 13lbs right after my revision surgery. Well, as soon as I started, solids, unlike my original surgery, I gained 8lbs the next day, then 5lbs the next! I don't know how you gain that much in two days when I was still swollen and could not eat a lot I guess is the mystery of the band. I guess if I haven't dropped by my fill Thursday, I accept defeat, change my ticker, and revamp. I'm trying to stay positive and think of Phil as any other equipment that unless it is assembled completely and functioning correctly, that is not going to work to its full potential. However, I am tired of the roller coaster, my fellow bandsters right now. Don't get me wrong I don't hate my band like some or regret my decision because I know the weight I have lost is nothing to frown at. However the fact that I am still morbidly obese and have a long way to go just are making my pep talks less effective these days. On every journey there are valley moments but you just keep heading toward the peaks, right? Elcee hoping everything went okay. Welcome new bandsters to a great thread.

Hey CIS. I'm a principal--let me know if I can assist...boy do they not teach young lot of stuff in school Welcome Nicole. Been busy at work. I went for my post-op check-up. I was right--I was unfilled at surgery! With that being said the swelling is gone--hunger is a beech! Lol I go back next week. He is putting 6cc back and then waiting a month to add the other 1cc to take me back to my 7cc. So needless to say, getting any type of restriction can take three months. Que sera sera--the weight loss I have had has been with zero restriction, so what's a few more months(that is my pep talk). Denise I eat way more than most bandsters. Trying to keep calories between 1200-1600 Elcee I love Zumba. Don't worry about coordination. Just keep moving. It helps to get the basic DVD that breaks down each move. I did that at home.

You have to do what is best for you. I do journal now to track my Protein, calories and somewhat my carbs. I do eat carbs. My nutritionist suggests 100, and I tend to stick with that. Now, if I feel sluggish, hit a plateau or constantly hungry--I will limit my carbs to way less. Like many have said, I do not want one part of this to be a diet, but a lifestyle change. I eat now how I expect to realistically eat for the rest of my life. I mainly focus on the protein, then veggie, then carb rule being eaten in that order. For me that helps because I end up eating the lower fat, lower carb food first. That I can do for the rest of my life. You will get a lot of advice, but it is so individual. Journaling during a week of good weight loss is good way to see what you did and keep duplicating it!

I was part of the other group too, but I have not been able to find it. I can say I have never heard that success rates fir black women are less. I think that research like SF2009 is placing blame on the WLS that could other factors that more black women experience more. I was a year out and had lost 75lbs plus 30lbs ob the 6-month supervised diet. I have lost 11bs since then--had port revision surgery to move flipped port, so was on a liquid diet last week. They kiss my BLACK behind because I will be a success. Lol My friend lost 190lbs. That is my goal as well or size 14--whichever first.

Love it. laughing cow is the best. Thanks for the low fat Alfredo! Just picked up WW jalapeño pepper wedges--I bet I can come with some good queso dip or put in a fajita omlette

Denise: I with Melody. Definitely could be genetic. My mom nor any or her brother or sisters had their own teeth by their late 20''s. My two oldest sister have partials. I know I could be on borrowed time. Oh well enjoying a quick get away at Atlantic Beach. Saved all my calories for spinach crab dip and seafood lasagna. I don't know why I saved calories. Ate a two spoonfuls of crab dip and veggie chips, and two shrimps, a scallop, and crabmeat and tiny piece of lasagna noodle, I was done. I'm with Melody on the restriction thing now as I still could eat more than a cup of food, but hunger is not there. I have to wait 4-6 hrs before feel a small grumble for food. However, today I physically could not eat a lot or my chest was so tight like a gas pain but I was not stuck at all(trust that lasagna went down great ). I guess I am still swollen from surgery or the band is just doing it's own thing.I know my stomach is so bloated. I look pregnant and with my incisions, they look like alien eyes staring up at me because my stomach is sticking so far out.

Just checking in 2be: Crystl is right. Ithink Betsy on bandedliving.com. Denise: sorry about burger and really sorry for the tooth Melody: self employed--must be nice FYI you are not a bad mother--very, normal loving one

Congrats!! NSV's are the best especially crossing your legs. I can cross my legs, but also discovered I have bones--my wrist bone is protruding! lol

Hugs to you. permission granted to make shake a cocktail:)

I am a Zumba person as I too am not at the running stage--my gym figures out the calories. For my height and weight, the Zumba class burns 1000 calories.

Oh by the way Melody. I hate your practically starving yourself. I know you are striving for more than a pound, but you are getting smaller and thereby slowing down the rate at which you lose--the closer to your goal, it will get difficult to take off pounds. You were the size I was pafter my pre-op. Your one pound a week is inspiration for me that slow and steady often wins the race.

I find if you have good restriction and follow the Protein, veggies, then carbs--you will get very little carbs anyway, but 60-80 is good. My NUT says 100, but I do not try to do that often. As other posters said, if I do eat carbs, they are whole-grain At your stage, I would reccommend to keep doing like your doing while your body is healing and getting in your protein and not worrying so much about carbs