shadst8

Way to go hot mama! Go out and get some sexy boots. I went to the nutritionist got to get focussed to reach my goal.

Welcome bacK Bobbie! With the new job you will be right back on track! Hang in there Stacie and you have every right to vent! Melody you will find what works. Stay encouraged. Okay I got a letter yesterday. My surgeon is leaving! I will see him for the last time on November 11. I looked up new surgeons/bariatric centers that insurance will approve now--new rule that they must be on the list. My current doctor was not because of him using a smaller hospital he does his surgeries is not approved, so it works out for the best--now if I ever had to (God forbid) have revision or corrective surgeries, I could get approved. Most importantly Phil can get a proper fill and we can be friends again:)

I use papaya enzymes and find they do work for most. When I venture to eat something doughy and soft like a tortilla, I tend to take them with the first bite to be proactive. I waited about 6 months out from my surgery before eating tortilla or doughy breads, pastas, etc.

Steve is indeed one of a kind. As for Phil--He is not feeling/filling me and I am not feeling him:thumbdown:

Congrats--great attitude--its is a journey not a race:) I have not been up here in so long. I guess to give an update I have lost 109lbs, 30 on the 6mth supervised visits, 20 on the pre-op and the rest after surgery. Had a flipped port problem, so set me back because no fill for a while until end of September (surgeon flipped manually instead of surgery). Go for 4th fill Nov. 1--hoping to get some restriction--none right now. Want to be 244 by 1 year bandiversary--I better get moving as I am at 274 now! Ugh. Pre-band picture (I am on the left) Two weeks ago:

Thanks everybody for the insight! I feel better. I was beginning to feel like I was whining and not using the band as tool--you have helped me see right what I have thought along and that is right now I do not have much of a tool! Thanks Melody--I am good with taking the Krispy Kreme--they are so sweet--they have always made me sick. If I do eat, I can only eat one and that has to be with milk. So all they way from NC, I will cart 3 dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts to NY! Besides--the yummy feeling diminishes without the "HOT" sign on:biggrin: A talking scale--hmm...mine will probably need to have the ability to curse at me:wink2:

I am at 5.5 and no very little restriction and can eat anything pretty much

Congrats Crystl and Melody Pretty bummed. My Uncle died so going to NY this week. Working hard to not emotionally eat. Doing good so far. Although all my NY folks want me to pick up Krispy Kreme doughnuts and bring them with me! On a side note, another bandster and myself were venting that our surgeon does not have a support group, so we are going to start one. We talked about the urge to clean your plate Even when we you put a small amount, fighting the urge to go back and eating to the point of feeling stuffed. The soft signs are not there because of having no restriction. Does restriction help you from literally taking another bite? Since my doc is stingy with fills, she has had one fill! I am just starting to have this emotional battle like her with less restriction. I was just asking because I wanted to know if it was something that the band with restriction can help or do she and I need to learn to live with and conquer this mental demon by sheer will and determination?

Thanks Leigha and Denise--In truth, looking at this forum, we all have and I need to remember that--my insurance thing just lingers like a small black cloud that sometimes make me forget I hard I have worked. Despite our ups and downs, we have remained positive, all of us look darn good, if I say so myself, and one day some one will have to add up our collective losses. Bob--don't sweat it. When you return to normal eating and drinking water, it will come right off Melody--good for you!

Trying to catch up--cannot hit everyone. Denise--good attitude and way to conquer the scale. I need to do the same thing, although I am way less compulsive about it than I used to be Bob--g-string. I shudder Melody--hang in there--the body is a strange creature! Crystl--feel you on the baggy skin--since baggy and saggy dwarfs are taken, I will take waggly! Leigha Mason--or Dr. Doolittle? hmm... Stacie--nice tat--you are a brave creature. Even if I have the courage--trying to find a place to cover it up daily for work just would defeat this purpose. Okay decided to post a cruise pic. Not bad. Got vacation weight off me last week. Now really trying to focus. My 1 year bandiversary is coming in January, and I am so far behind thanks to the flipped port thingey on achieving my goal. I am trying to keep it in perspective. I have done a great job and the compliments I get everyday are wonderful. I am so stressed because I have to be below a BMI of 40 or my insurance goes up in April! :thumbup:

Lol--btw you look great Just back from my cruise--gained a little, but I lost 5lbs three days before I left on purpose to balance it out so that I am really where I started before I left. Back to life and reality and my routine. Will post some pics--I may have not brought the S-e-x-y back in sexy, but I at least brought the S-E!:smile2:

I just got a fill Tuesday and leaving for a cruise tomorrow. My doctor actually asked do I want to wait so I can enjoy my cruise. I said no. I am not at my sweetspot, but at a good level where I get full faster so I will have good portion control. I thought about problems, but I have good traveler's insurance to ship me whereever I need to go! I like others need to make vacation less about eating and more about having fun in other ways.

Hey checking on my vacation and yes I clean before going on vacation, Melody. Quick NSV's: no seatbelt extender or tired and breathing from pulling my luggage!!!:thumbup:

Hey everyone--I do not have time to catch up like I want--just wanted to let you know I had the manual flipping of port on 9/28--and yes it was every bit of manual--took port within his hand flipped stuck me a bunch--too many times--then finally--a fill for PHIL:tt1::drool:. Was not bad--I go back in 8wks--was on liquids--can eat food Friday--and then on to my cruise Saturday--so I will be checking out for awhile--everyone behave:0 He asked did I still want the fill before a cruise--I said yeah because he did not give me a whole lot--1cc and I have been eating too big of portion size and afraid I would just stretch pouch, and finally, I have to learn to live with this band and that includes learning how to make a vacation about more than just food!!! Okay--going to get finished packing!!!

Hey just checking in. Waiting for Sept 28 for the flip port manually thing. I actually do not want much of a fill (I know--after longing for one) but I leave for my cruise 3 days later. I am so not going to be on the ship and cannot eat. So I am going to take a small fill or nothing at all. I will check back in that day. I foolishly agreed to read to children at Barnes and Noble after the procedure. So if I am in pain, the can keep the biscuit the dog book or whatever it is called. I know it is about a dog name bisucit, but I am taking my no biscuit eating self home.

You are quite welcome Leigha. Thanks for starting the challenge as I know you are pretty at much at maintenance. Thanks for being a cheerleader and inspiration. After my port is flipped on the 28th, I will be able get a fill, so I am going to do 8lbs as I am loosing slowly due to no restriction and a flipped port.

Welcome back Melody. It is so lage because the surgeon only does these procedures on one particular day. They originally were trying to get approval for port revision back in August, but insurance was giving them a hard time. Frankly I was bummed that I was finally getting a fill for Phil and he decides to flip--I was in no hurry. Congrats on the NSV. Yeah Stacie--not being overweight is huge--no pun intended:) Denise--hang in there. Hopefully your Dottie--you have a hard decision. I guess I would just go ahead just to be done where I could finally just concentrating on being healthy

Catching up a little because I am refusing to work at home. Dottie--no shame necessary--after knee surgery, weight loss should not be your concern! Leigha--so if I want to get pregnant I should apply for grad school and then bam--baby.:thumbup: Denise--good luck

Okay everyone--it should be back up. Thank God that google allows you to see revision history, so I just went back to the version before it was deleted!

What a transformation!!!

Wow it seems everyone has a lot going on! Stacie: I am hoping everything goes. well Denise: dentist=devil in my book:eek: I admire you--I too am terrified of dentist. Betsy: I am glad you are back on the mend and continuing to do you. Typical low-life behavior--they can't beat you so they try to make you join them and drag you down. Susan Taylor says "Everyone is not healthy enough to have a front row seat in your life." You may not just have to send him to the back row, but cancel his show all together! The fact is you have been the star of the show:thumbup: Waiting patiently for September 28. Been tighter though--potatoes, dough bread, sphaghetti, and dry meats do not go down as smooth. Can't figure it out:confused:

Hello everyone--trying to catch up. I am doing okay. No pain with the flipped port. Just a twinge every now and then. For the first time, I am at a plateau I guess--no weight loss in about 3 weeks, but I am okay. Until I get the port thing fixed on September 28th, I am not really worried about weight loss. I have been going to the gym and working out harder, so it could be muscle. I will get my focus after the port thing, until then I guess I am like Christie on the weightloss sabbatical--I still haven't totally gorged out, just not in full mode like weighing my food, journaling, and counting every calorie. Just watching what I eat so not to get off track. Probably not going to meet the Labor Day challenge, but I am cool. Congrats on the NSV's

My port has flipped--my doctor is going to manually flip on September 28 since insurance was giving them a hard time to have revision surgery.

Bob and elcee--Or just move to the moon and be light as a feather. Researched "manual port flipping." Aparently is nothing new and many doctors have done this on patients. Whatever he does, I am demanding he gives me something that any pain associated will feel like a pinch!

Just checking in--you all know my crazy life. Insurance was giving my doctor such a hard time for port revision surgery, so he is going to use some machine to flip it manually? The surgery will be right in his office--it is scheduled for September 28. I am trying to research so I ask the right questions--will need to post a thread to see if anyone has ever heard of this?:smile::biggrin: