Shellybeans

I have Bay Valley Medical Group and my primary care physician referred me to Dr. John Morton at Stanford. Fantastic doctor and fantastic hospital. I live in San Leandro. You may want to consider switching groups if your primary care physician is also in Bay Valley Medical Group. Check Hills though. Good Luck

Tinker I agree with Luckygirl. You may be eating very little, however, it could be the amount of calories. Also, the Protein is Key. It will give you the energy and nutrition you need. If you can only tolerate soft foods, try having a Protein Drink. I use a strawberry Protein powder with 22 grams of protein in one serving and there is only 110 calories. Add that to 1/2 cup of lite apple juice and about 5 frozen strawberries and a scoup of ice in a blender and you have a great smoothie for under 200 calories and a ton of protein. Most importantly, do not skip meals. By missing meals and eating very little, your metabolism is thrown completely off and your body will become accustomed to this which will slow the weight loss process to a snails pace. You need balance and you can do that while eating small portions. Be sure to take your Vitamins too. Just remember PROTEIN FIRST!!!! Good luck and remember you can do this! We are all in this together and the support is so important.

Hello everyone! Everyone is doing GREAT! I had the PB of all PB's today! It lasted 3 hours. And now I can barely drink my soups. Ouch!!!!!!! Soniacan I know your pain. I have definately learned from this one. I have been pbing alot since my last fill and I am sure I could use an adjustment. I have not lost anything in the past 1 month although I go to the gym every day. But, my body is shifting and I can now get into size 16. Was a size 24 when I was first banded. Yeppee! Love shopping now in the regular sections. Hey has anyone heard from Jimboss lately? I have not seen a post from him in quite some time. Hey Jimboss, how are you doin? You have given so much inspiration to me and I am sure many others! Hope you are doing alright!!! Well, to all my October band babies, have a great and Happy Fourth of July!!!

Hey everyone! Well, I am off to Vegas tomorrow morning. Goin to the Academy of Country Music Awards. I am so excited that I can hardly myself. Lots of drinks and food, but I just had a fill last week and for the first time, I truly know what pb's are. OMG! The pain. I really have to focus on chewing and eating slooooooowwwwwwww! I say a challenge is a great idea. I need something to motivate me. July 4th is a good goal. What is a reasonable weight loss to everyone? 10lbs? Have a great week to all the October band babies.

I am averaging 800-900 calories per day before any exercise. With exercise, it turns out to be around 600-700 daily.

My favorite day is Thanksgiving and not because of the food, but because it is the official kick off of the holiday season. As a child I loved getting up early and watching the Macy's day parade and then the other Thanksgiving day parades. That has always stuck with me.

Well, here on the West coast $150.00 would be a bargain and then some. My insurance is billed $692.00 each time I have a fill done. And HelenC is correct. It is an adjustment and usually you will not have perfect restriction the first, second and sometimes even third time. Remember the restriction you felt right after surgery is due to the swelling in your stomach from the surgery. Hang in there though, you are doing GREAT!!

Hi bandsters! I haven't posted in awhile but just wanted to check in and say, it has been quite a rough road the past 3 months. I have not had a fill since February and am in much need of some restriction! I go to the doctor on May 3 and I am really looking forward to this one! In 3 months I have lost 11lbs but have been stuck for past 2 to 3 weeks. I go to the gym just to work off the excess that I have eaten each day so that I don't gain. I want to be able to go to the gym and work off and lose. Not maintain. We'll see how Thursday goes. Glad to know though that I have this great group of people who have the same issues and yet get strength and support from each other. Have a great weekend and hoping it is beautiful where ever you are. By the way it is sunny and warm here (CA)today, Lovin it!!!!!!!!!!

Krystal, first off thank you for your powerful testimony. For such a young lady, you certainly have the right attitude and are wise beyond your years. I am nearly 50 and am just now getting it! You can do this and just stay involved with this support group. I think that the support is a large part of our success. We see that we are not alone in this and that everyone here has had and are having the same issues. Just by your post alone, you have indeed helped someone. ME! Thanks again and the best of luck to you.

I agree with passing. It is way to early to attempt sitting there when you know that you cannot eat. And remember, your stomach is still healing and if you were to eat anything at this point could cause upset. Good Luck!

Hi Everyone. You are all to much fun. I had a so so weekend. Saturday was my worst. I drank 1/2 bottle of 2 buck Chuck wine. It was wooooooonderful! First time in a very long time. I am not gonna feel guilty for one minute. I went to the gym on Saturday morning to prepare myself for that luxury. We all deserve it once in awhile and I think that if we don't do it once in awhile, we tend to lose all control and have a harder time getting back on track. Here's hoping everyone has a great week. Oh, what is the Easter challenge weight loss is it 10lbs or 15lbs? I thought it was 10 then someone said 15 and I changed my ticker.

Hey Amanda and Laura, I live in San Leandro and would like to get together with others in our area for support. Let me know when ever and and where ever. It would be great to have a support system close. Good luck to both of you and to all Cali Bandsters

By taking you off of his insurance he has bigger issues to worry about. If something major happens to you, who ends up being responsible for the bills? Both of you. In California, community property state, means even if the bill is in your name, if you are not able to pay, he will be looked to for payment. He better rethink his threats and what they could cost him.

Jimboss, thanks for the humor this morning. Well, I did not meet my Valentines day challenge. Missed by a couple lbs. but moving on to Easter. Hope everyone had a wonderful Heart Day! Have a great day.

HEY EVERYONE! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!! Well, I will weigh in a little later today to see how I did for the Valentines day Challenge. Either way, I have done far better than a year ago and the journey has just begun. You are all a great inspiration to me and JIMBOSS, right on big guy! You are doing great and I appreciate your words of encouragement! Let's all continue our success! HERE'S A DOZEN ROSES FOR ALL OF US OCTOBER BANDSTERS! :) :) :eek: :( :rose: :rose: :rose:

I am not a big milk drinker so to get my milk in, every morning have a Tall, Non Fat Decaf sugar-free vanilla latte' or cinnamon dolce latte' extra hot. 120 calories. I am addicted! Great source of protein and calcium

Crispygal, You look great! What a difference. I'll try to figure out how to post pics and send. Keep up the great work.

Easter works for me. Wouldn't you know I would have to hit my first plateau right in the middle of the Valentines day challenge. Hope the scale starts moving soon. However, I have noticed a huge difference in my body shape. Just tried on a pair of jeans today that I wore a month ago and I was swimming in them. Must be the exercise. I say let's shoot for 10 lbs.? Have a great week all!!!!!

Personally, no one should be permitted to pm someone to "tell them off" To me this is a form of harrassment. You have every right to state your opinion and if anyone disagrees, it should be posted for all to see and not be allowed to attack someone privately. By leaving the board, you have allowed them to WIN. NEVER do that! We're here to support and obtain/give information to help us on this journey. There are other forums for ranting and raving. Ánd from what I have seen in those forums, I choose to steer clear. Too many "Know it Alls". Hang in There. We are here for SUPPORT.

Threebeauties, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :happybday:

I think we are all AWSOME! Fun people that I feel like I know personally. Have a great weekend all! We're all a bunch of LOSERS!!!!!!!!! Never ever enjoyed saying or hearing that so much!!

Love Mary Kay everything! I have been using it for 15 years. Can't imagine using anything else!

Good Luck and welcome to the beginning of a whole new wonderful life!!

Jimboss, I think I speak for all of us October Babies, you are the coolest and you inspire me beyond belief. Thanks for your positive attitude and humor.

Banded 10/2/06 62.5 lbs down with 3 fills 4.5cc in VG band. Exercise 4 to 5 times per week at gym and walking dogs.