patsal

Thanks for checking back in, I was worried about you. Take it slow and easy so the swelling goes down.

Congratulations! I've been following your frustrations along with my own. My guess is we just keep plugging along and the weight has to decide to leave at some point!

About three weeks ago I was in panic mode about this! First think how cool it is, then remember it is only a temporary problem. I found once they got to be about 6 sizes too big they were just too big and had to go. Then I found everything in the closet the next smallest size I had that fit. I think I may have hit the thresh hold there. My newest trick is covering tight pants with loose shirts. I bought the tightest pair of pants I could get into and walk in without fear of popping a seam so I could get the most out of them. It is nearly the end of school year so I will not buy new dress pants until late August. Of all the problems to have I think this is the best one. Try thrift shops and clothing exchanges to get new stuff to hold you over until you get to goal.

I got a fill on Wednesday that put me at 5cc in my 10cc band. Liquids trickled down for the first three days, then I was able to get some mushies down, I had to take really tiny bites. Today I was able to get soft meat down, a finely chopped salad and mashed potatoes. It still takes me about half an hour to consume a 6 ounce yogurt. I can feel the liqid trickle down in the early morning when I am tightest. I think I may be closer to restiction than I was before, but I do not want to count on being there and find I am not.

Great job Bella! I am only down one, but that is in the right direction so I'll take it! Just had a fill so things are "off" as far as liquid and protein, by next week things will hopefully look better!

I am at work very early as well. I try to get a protien shake mixed up as soon as I get up and then sip it at work. I take a 20 minute break at 930 and usually eat a small serving of cottage cheese or a greek yogurt.

I do use a straw. I was never told not to. I have no discomfort and find I take smaller sips (from a bottle or cup I gulp and get pain, from the straw, none)

Just back from fill #3. I have 5 cc in my 10 cc band and am feeling very restricted right now. I had a different PA than I was working with the past three times I went in. She was nice enough but didn't follow the procedure the way I am used to. I figured my usual 15 minute appt.,not quite. Anyway, she reluctantly put in 1 cc. What part of I can eat anything I want and do not have to chew it well to get it down didn't she understand? Not to mention that I only lost 5 pounds in the last month. Anyway the scale is now moving in the right direction and I need to sip slowly, so I must be closer to restriction! I go back in 4 weeks, maybe this fill will have done the trick, but I don't want to count on it so I made the next appt. for 4 weeks! I, too, no longer have any gerd issues and am off all my meds for that. I have a regular Dr. appt the 27th of this month and I am hoping to be pulled off my cholesterol meds! All the exercise has made me much stronger and more balanced so that is something worth being very happy about--it has also lessened the amount of pain I have in my feet, knees and hips. Continued good luck to everyone!

Jon, Great Job! how wonderful you must feel.:smile2:

I don't know how to do a spread sheet, but I would like to join in since I did horridly with the Mother's Day Challenge! I am going to shoot for 15 pounds over the 8 week period, hopefuly I will find restriction and get over this plateau! Good luck everyone.

I'm just plain stuck--that scale does not want to give me anything. I added 50% more cardio and 100% more repitions for toning. Hopefully the extra 45 minutes of exercise will help. I really wanted to be in the "220"s" when I go for my next fill on Wednesday, but that is not looking promising! I was kind of hoping to be in "Onederland" by July, but I am not quite as hopeful anymore! I guess a plateau after 55 pounds isn't bad, but it is maddening.

STUCK, stuck, stuck...this sucks! I have lost 4 pounds total since my last fill, and I am exercising more and eating enough protien and calories. I hate when the scale doesn't move!

Well, the usual things like being full for a long period of time, thinking I can eat more than I really can, not drinking with meals, etc. The biggest thing that is different now is how people treat me. I have people go out of their way to be nice to me in stores and restaurants. It wasn't like that 55 pounds ago. In some ways it is very sad, I am the same person personality wise--I've always been polite and bubbly, but now I get much more attention. At stores people are willing to go the extra mile for me..let me get a manager to override that. Let me get you a box for that extra food, of course you can't finish that big portion. I have to admit that I am wierded out by it a bit, but have decided not to be angry about it, but embrace it while being very mindful not to forget where I came from and treat every one regardless of size the way I would want to be treated--not a stretch for me, I am a very outgoing person who is always nice to everyone, but I guess people are afraid of catching "fat". At work I have people who I have worked in the same building with for ten years talk to me. You didn't know I existed for 10 years but now it is ok to talk to you? That I won't fall prey to, I acknowledge them, but will not be their new best friend. I was kind of hoping I wouldn't see how superficial people really are, but I guess that is part of the process.

That is so wonderful. I hope to see the same kinds of results myself in teh near future!

Same thing going on here...even my face is puffy this time! I will try to weigh tomorrow, but it isn't looking promising!

Mine fell off for the most part after about the fifth day of showering, although I did have a bit of a water trap on my largest incision area. That one was pulled off in my surgeons office 12 days after surgery--it wasn't infected, but the moisture inhibited healing.

I use them in the big iced tea I get from Tim Horton's and sometimes in a protien shake. I was never told not to, though I have heard others say that they were told not to use straws.

How awesome is that? Funny story to share: It was like 70 degrees on Sunday, so I grabbed a pair of bermuda shorts--they went on really easy, but I didn't pay much attention to them. They kind of kept stretching out and I just kept hiking them up, later in the day I jumped off the sofa to grab the phone and down went my pants...too funny! Of course I'm glad I was home and no one else was visiting at the time, but man did my DH laugh. I checked the tag...24. Went shopping right after bought a very tight 14...I figure when short season really kicks in in July they will be just right.

I get a silver dollar sized bruise every time I get a fill. They last 2-3 weeks--usually go away just in time for the next fill!

First off you are beyond doing ok in weight loss. You should be steadily losing 1-2 pounds per week. If you feel you're eating and portions are out of control you need to reign it in. You could do all shakes for 3 days and that should kick it up and detox any bad carb cravings you are having. Good Luck!

White sugar and refined white carbs are like drugs to some people. The more you have them the more you fiend for them. You need to clear your body and cupboards of these trigger foods to get yourself back on track. you can't stop at a handful becasue the more you have the more your body wants and like my body, your body cannot metabolize this stuff effectively and the pounds pack on. I steer clear, for the most part, but I am am human so yes, a slice of pizza looks good, or some chips. I know when I have pizza I will get on the scale the next morning and be up 5 pounds...I have to be honest with myself is that 5 pounds worth it for a a half slice of a trational large pizza? Yes about once every 3 months. Chips, totally not worth it at all to me. You need to detox the white/refined from your body. The first day is the worse! But you did it before when you did your pre-op, and certainly during post op. So try phase one of a South Beach like diet for a few days or weeks and it will get you back on track. Good luck and I totally understand where you are at.

I bought a new digital food scale and the bread plates that went with my dishes so I could match the rest of the family when the table was set. Any good food processor/small blender is good for mushies. Check your measuring cups and spoons to be sure your set is complete.

I am grateful for the minus 2 this week, but I am having a tough time. I am constantly hungry, the last fill did nothing and I am officailly in bandster hell! I have a fill for two weeks from Wednesday but I may call and see if I can get in earlier.

I just use realizemysuccess.com or lapband.com

I worried about the same thing. I was banded in February and have not yet vomited. I have been a little stuck a few times but luckily it worked its way down. You will know when to stop, your body will signal you.