Vivinthewoods

@ Karyn & Teresa - thank you for your good wishes! I have had 3 days of celebrating, lunches/dinner with girlfriends and HD, but have been planning what I was going to eat and trying to make good choices, so have not gained (have not lost either)! Karyn, I really like the 'What a year' post; that will be all of us in a years time. @ Tracy - It is so frustrating when you work so hard with exercise and the scales don't reflect your effort - how I know what that is like. But although the scale does not move, your body is probably still changing. I have found my weight may not change, but my pants may be loser or I go down a size. So, please keep up your great workouts, your hard work will show, don't give up. @ All - I never had a 'before' photo to show - I just hated the way I looked and did not want any record of myself when I was that heavy. I would destroy any photos with me in them. Now that I am losing weight I wished I had a before picture. Well today a friend stopped by and gave me a photo taken Dec 2008. I have uploaded it into 'my albums' along with a couple of photos taken 10 weeks post-op. Also, there is an album of my babies - their the ones with wet noses and fur! Hugs to you all - my awesome friends!

Ara, I love the reasons your band is male (& Anthony's female). I call my band Miss 'O'. I think of it as a friend, a bit like Oprah - helping me live my best life! Although Miss O has been taking time off lately and allowing me to eat just about anything. Today is my birthday, so went out to dinner with DH, tomorrow lunch with a neighbor & Wednesday lunch with a girlfriend - I know the scale is going to move the wrong way!

Hi Anthony, I am so sorry to hear of all your injuries/health problems - you have certainly been through it lately! I am sending leaping leprechauns your way for the 17th, they carry rainbows of good wishes for a speedy recovery. Be careful what you say - we might just hold you to a photo of you in that itsy bitsy yellow polka dot thingy!!!! Take care of yourself

Can I come too? After all we do share the same B.day. Have a super trip - post and tell us all about it when you return. Good wishes for a very happy day:thumbup:

You are doing so well,:sad: you will be in that t.shirt in no time! Re: "What is everyone eating today?" - My surgeon wants his patients to eat meals of no more than 200 calories, which I'm trying hard to do. This was my breakfast today: - Herb tea - 0 cals 1/2 sandwich thin toasted -50 cals A 2 egg white omelet - 50 cals Sonoma Jack cheese wedge - 25 cals 1/2 cup blueberries - 35 cals 1/2 cup Lt. yogurt - 40 cals Exactly 200 cals, with 22 grams of protein!

You certainly deserve a better fill than just 1cc since mid-December! I phoned for a fill appointment today, as I am so hungry and gained 2 lbs over the past week:ohmy: so I sympathize with you. My surgeon will be at the office near to my home tomorrow, but I have a dental appointment, so will have to wait 2 more weeks until I get a fill. I think you have done well to go all this time on 1cc - I have had 2 fills for a total of 5cc's. Tracy mentioned her rings are falling off - well I have to go to the dentist because my crown fell off! Could my mouth be getting smaller!!!

Hi Amey, Welcome! 'btrieger' has quite a few of us groupies following him around this website, so join the club! He writes with good common sense. Anyway, I just wanted to say howdy and welcome. Do let us know how your journey progresses and don't stay in the shadows. Kindly regards

Humming Bird - Thank you for sharing the dental info with us, although I have not had an episode with vomiting this is good information for banded and non-banded folks to know. Cheers.

I am 9 weeks post-op,with 5 ccs in my band and I have never vomited, slimed, PB'ed or got stuck. I also seem to be able to eat anything - bread, tomato skins etc. I do chew, chew, chew and cut food into small pieces and try to remember to put my fork down between bites. I have been completely trouble free so far.

My surgeon holds a support group and makes everyone sign a form saying they will attend support meetings. but it is in his Down Town Houston office, which is 60 miles from where I live and they only meet at night. There is noway I could drive the interstate into Houston at night and then 60 miles back! But on this website I found a lady that has formed a support group where I live. We meet at Starbucks once a month. I have attended 3 meetings and this is a really nice bunch of gals. We had different surgeons and are at different stages in our weight loss journeys - some are just maintaining now. I am the newbe in the group, so learn a lot from some of the ladies who have been banded for years. It is so nice to have people to talk and who share the same weight experiences and understand (similar to this group).

Hi Amy, Yesterday has been and gone and you are starting a new day with a great plan - I like your 6 strategies. You have had a long wait between fills, so don't beat yourself up - we need those fills to make the band do its part. How true that we all struggle and we are all here to help one another pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off when we have a 'slip'. You are doing great with your exercise.

@ Illuminationlady - Re: "Just wanted to update you all as you are family in my eyes." - I have been meaning to tell you, that was such a nice thing to say! I too feel our little 'band' as special friends, who I can bear my soul to (I have never told anyone but you guys how much I weigh!) @ Melinco - you look great in your new dresses! Your smile says it all!! @ Chickadee - Thanks for the info. I have the 'Realize' band and their ports are not stitched in, so I think I'll wait a couple of weeks and get the doc's OK. If you have a good ab exercise that I can do at home please let me know, so I'll be ready to go when I get the OK. - thank you again. @ Michelle - I had my second fill last week and I feel more restriction, but not at my sweet spot yet. I do feel great and the scale has started moving again - tie me down, I might just float away!!! @ Ara - That second fill will make a difference, it has for me. Hang in there, the scale will start moving again. @ ALL - Hugs

Wooooohooooo!!!! Glad you shared your success with your banded buddies. I wish you many more 'fitting room moments'. I do understand how you feel - this weekend I pulled a velvet jacket, that I just love, from the back of the closet (I have not fitted into it for years, but held on to it) and now I can wear it again. I was so surprised!!!! Good luck