sawyer77

I am 10 months post-op and have just now (five days ago) gotten restriction after 7 fills, and a total of 7.5 ccs in my 10 cc band. You are going to be frustrated, you are going to get tired of being patient, you are going to struggle. And then you'll get there -- but be careful what you wish for, because it's a big adjustment, and it's an absolute loss of our comfortable, easy way of eating.

Betsy, I am so sorry. That man does not deserve the goodness that is you. One thing I know -- you do not suck. Hugs!

Stacie, love the pics! You look great! Leigha, you are one hot mama! So proud of you! Christie, you are snarky and I like it! Melody, I'm so very sorry for your great loss. Thinking of you. Karen, I feel like we're on the South Jersey Frustration Express. I relate to so much of what you're saying. You are doing so well, and little road bumps present themselves just to keep us from getting complacent. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it! I'm at 50% today! My fifth fill (two weeks ago) feels like it's kicking in (yay!), and now I have to really battle the demons of liquid calories. Trying to stick to my diet decaf 4C iced tea powder in Water and that's it! Dunkin' Donuts Coolatas and tasty custard stand milkshakes be damned! I'm trying to balance the stress of my summer (seems like life never stands still, never a break from a new happening to deal with) and my food choices. Seeing 157 on the scale today sure did help to motivate me to keep up the good fight! And some NSVs -- the bathing suit I got in June is reaching the end of its usefulness! The bottoms try to fall off when I'm in the ocean waves (!!), and the whole suit is just otherwise too stretchy! Also, I went to Clementon Park (amusement park) last weekend. This was the site of my "Holy Crap, I'm fat!" realization last summer. It was nice to go on the rides this summer, forty pounds lighter. :thumbup:

OMDog, this last pound gone means I'm simply 'overweight!' -- Wahoo! I forgot to notice! Heh. I am sick with strep throat, and have been all muddied in my brain, but just did an iPhone app update, and one of my BMI apps needed updating, so I thought, ah, let's check my BMI at 158. Cool! I love my band! I am able to swallow the Z-pack pills also, which makes me glad because it didn't occur to me to get an alternative method of antibiotics. Grr, darn brain! It's all good, though! And one more pound to 50%! Have a great weekend, y'all! Hope everyone is in good spirits, with or without wine! :redface:

I'm a SILS patient, and, as of last Thursday with an added .5 ccs, I have 6.5 ccs in a 10 cc band. One interesting thing my doctor said is that he believes the band settles differently on the stomachs of SILS patients, and that he sees a better loss-rate with us. Is anyone else here a SILS (Single-Incision Laparoscopic Surgery) patient? Would be interesting to see if it's a trend elsewhere. [Disclaimer: I do NOT think I have a fantastic rate of loss. I just think I have a steady rate of loss. I know there are others here who have lost weight SO much quicker. For me, I just feel more comfortable with my rate. I'm a slow-and-steady, sneak-up-on-the-sweet-spot kinda girl.)] So, other SILS patients, what say you? Is your progress better than your doctor expected, and has your doctor mentioned the surgery technique being partially responsible?

Hey, all! I'm SORELY behind on reading this thread, so I apologize for not knowing what's up in y'all's lives. My life is a bit more relaxing as of today, as my work schedule lightens a bit in August. I'm in "Ahhh!" mode. I had my 5th fill last Thursday (just a half-cc), to put me at 6.5 ccs in a 10 cc band. My doc was a bit hesitant to give me a fill, because he said I'm doing just fine at 6 months out with just about 50% of my EBW gone, but I told him I felt like I needed some oomph, with my last fill being 10 weeks ago, and some plateaus in that time. Some fat pics were shared by my cousin, and WOW! Do I feel glad to be at 158 and not 197 anymore! OMDog, it's really an eye opener to think back how it felt all those pounds ago. I think I had a gradual awakening to how big I was, and it's nice to see myself spiraling in the opposite direction. One interesting thing my doctor said is that he believes the band settles differently on the stomachs of SILS patients, and that he sees a better loss-rate with us. Is anyone else here a SILS (Single-Incision Laparoscopic Surgery) patient? Would be interesting to see if it's a trend elsewhere. [Disclaimer: I do NOT think I have a fantastic rate of loss. I just think I have a steady rate of loss. I know there are others here who have lost weight SO much quicker. For me, I just feel more comfortable with my rate. I'm a slow-and-steady, sneak-up-on-the-sweet-spot kinda girl.)

I had glue, also. And just like a previous poster, I had BR surgery with stitches and there was no pain when they were taken out.

Today, I am 6 months post-op (tomorrow marks week 26 post-op) and WOW! What a feeling it is. It's been a great journey so far. I am in the "slow and steady" club, I think, and I'm perfectly okay with that! :thumbup: I had (and still have) plateaus that prefer to hang out for a month or so. I am much more confident than I was in 2009. What a great result, regardless of the weight loss! In 6 months, I've lost 37 pounds -- in 27 weeks (my pre-op liquid diet banished 10 pounds from my frame), it averages out to 1.4 pounds a week, which is AWESOME in my eyes. It's not a race for me; I just want the pounds gone and as long as the scale moves downward, it's a celebration! I've also lost 46.25% of my Excess Body Weight. That's another WOW factor for me. That's incredible. I was a lower-BMI patient to begin with, but it really is amazing to me, this progress. I cycled 66.2 miles last Sunday for the American Cancer Society's Bike-A-Thon, starting at the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia. It was an absolute triumph for me, and I doubt I could have done it 37 pounds heavier. I've been so busy with summer work that I've gotten sidetracked with exercise. :tt2: As soon as this summer program is over in 1.5 weeks, I'm getting back in the exercise saddle. I am still holding off on a lot of clothes shopping because I know that I'll still need to go smaller with clothes. I have a hard time spending money on things I know will be obsolete in due time. My doctor did not give me my last fill because he said I was doing too well, and I do agree that it's best to sneak up on the sweet spot. I don't want to chase it down and overshoot. I've had 4 fills for a total of 6 ccs in my 10 cc band and my next fill appointment is in 9 days. I sure hope he gives me some juice then. I could use it! :w00t: If you're post-op and struggling, hang in there! Do these calculations (average pounds per week and percent of EBW), and you'll be sure to get a renewed motivation. C'mon, gang! Keep up the good work, and keep up the positive self-talk! YOU CAN DO THIS!

Thanks so much! I'm so happy to be a part of this community here. :tt2:

I want to chime in and echo -- Couch-To-5K is where it's at! :grouphug:

Not only are you losing at an impressive rate (1.5 pounds a week, as Leigha pointed out), but you've lost **35%** of your excess body weight. WOW! You should be proud, proud, proud! My surgeon wants a lower percent than that gone in ONE YEAR. Remember that where you are is better than where you were 35 pounds ago. Don't give up! Go find someone who hasn't seen you in six months, and you'll perk up in NO TIME! :thumbup:

This is a glaringly-obvious planted post -- a commercial.

I'm in! I'm doing the Labor Day challenge also, and it will be neat to have a long-term goal next to the shorter term. I am figuring on 26 pounds, and that will put me within 15-20 pounds of my final goal. :thumbup:

Yeah, man! You go get 'em!

Okay, I'm in for 10! Wahoo! :thumbup: That will put me at 151, and will put me at a mid-"overweight" BMI.

Karen, I got my iPhone upgraded on the 23rd -- the 4 is really nice! But since it's so new, there aren't really great accessories for it yet. I got a case that has some design flaws, in that the phone thinks part of the case is an ear up against the touch screen, so while the screen deactivates like it's supposed to during a call, it remains that way even after the call is done. I have to pull the phone out of the case to get my screen back. Boo. Maybe by the time yours comes, some nice accessories will be out. You will love the 4. It's got so many nice features (though many of the features aren't specific to the 4; they are in the iOS update that all iPhone users have now) and I think you'll really enjoy it. I had the iPhone 3Gs before this one, and I used (still do!) the C25K app, the B210K app, and my favorite: RunKeeper Pro. I use that app all the time! You can select running, cycling, whatever. I'm hoping my iPhone 4 (with wireless turned off, and the 3G turned off) will give me enough accuracy and battery life for the 66 mile bike ride I'm doing in NINE DAYS! ZOMG! I'm thinking of starting C25K over (I finished in March) because I haven't been running at all. The cycling has been my focus because of the huge bikeathon from Philly to Buena. Good news on my front is even without that fifth fill, I'm losing! Today my total lost is 36 pounds. WOW! I met my 4th of July challenge (I'm in shock! I thought I was destined for bandster hell forever) and I'm only a few pounds away from both an "overweight" BMI and 50% of my EBW gone. I'm so excited! Not even the crappy stuff at work can bring me down. :frown: I remember back in January when friends were asking about what I've lost so far and I was telling them, "I lost 13 pounds," with a big feeling of accomplishment. I can't wait until I can say, "I lost 80 pounds!" Thank goodness for my sleep apnea; otherwise, I'd not have been eligible for this here wonderful band. I'm working hard, but now I actually feel like the band is giving me a leg up. We have our pool ready, the backyard swing, and the chiminea -- that's all the heaven I need for the summer. I love chilling in the backyard. Too bad I have to work (I'm the type of teacher that never gets a real summer - the broke type! haha. "Teacher" and "broke" are synonymous!), but I'll still get time to enjoy the summer when I can squeeze it in. Glad to see Melody back, and sorry to hear about the troubles some of you are having. The best is yet to come! :tt1: And thanks, guys. I know I'm not here all the time, but I really, REALLY enjoy this place and benefit greatly from the support net here.