5jacks

I've decorated wedding cakes for the past 25 years or so. Have attended more than my share of weddings! It's amazing to me that the size of the events have gotten so huge! Back when I first started doing the cakes a bride would borrow a dress, not pay thousands for one. The cake would actually feed the amount of people invited to the wedding....not be partially made from foam so it would LOOK huge without serving as many and also without costing so much. When my husband and I got married (15 years in Aug.) I planned the entire thing, went as "thrifty" as possible so as not to put Mom and Dad in the poor house. Our entire formal wedding, including the rehearsal dinner, reception and honeymoon was a little less that $2,000. These days that's what brides pay for a dress, then start griping because the cake to feed 200 people is going to be $225! I no longer decorate cakes and that's the main reason! Luckily I have 3 boys....with this attitude I'm sure if I had a daughter we would fight through the entire wedding planning process too! Good luck and I don't envy you a bit!!

Sunshine...As for my goal.....I would like to be within 20 pounds or so by the end of the first year. That would mean a loss of 120 pounds the first year! So far I'm on track, just afraid that this sweet ride will end soon and not looking forward to the stop! Enterprise... Unbeleivable, congrats to you! I hadn't realized that you've lost 57 pounds with no fill! I'm in total awe! My doctor appt. is on Monday, if I can remember I'll see what he says about how much a 4cc band can actually hold and what they do for people who "top it off".

Does anyone know if stress affects your band? I'm having a hard time with getting a fill or not on Monday. For the past 2 weeks or so I've been somewhat restricted but still able to eat foods that I shouldn't. One of my best friend passed away in her sleep Sunday night She was only 33, two kids and a hubby. At first I thought the last fill had finally started working....then tonight I PB'D on one bite of Macaroni salad and it brought up the above question. Just wondering if anyone else has connected more restriction with stress or anything else besides your TOM??

Tonya....every time I start complaining about loose skin, tummy sticking out etc. my husband hands me the "before" picture and makes me take another long look! We've all been with a "not normal body image" for so long I think it's going to take a long time to accept the body that we now have. Especially right now as things are changing on a daily basis! Congrats on the weight lost so far!! Also, it's nice to hear your restriction is about the same as mine. It's just a little scary to think that I can still eat all this stuff if I choose to with a fill of 3 in a 4 cc. Doesn't leave a lot of room for future fills...you know??!?!!!

Okay, hopefully someone can explain what's happening to me! Was banded Jan. 18,2007...have lost 53 pounds with 3cc in a 4cc band. Each time I get a fill the first week to 10 days is wonderful, no hunger and feel wonderful restriction. All during that time I keep telling my DH, this is it, not going to need any more fills! Then the next week I'm starving and want to eat all the time. Usually lasts for 2 weeks, the TOM starts and then I drop 10 - 12 pounds in a week or so. I actually ate half of a Whopper Jr. tonight (no lectures please!.....first bread/sandwich/burger I've eaten in 5 months!!) have had a bite here and there of the kids' but never ordered my own for fear there would be problems eating it. Absolutely no problems at all. I chewed very well and only ate half the bun. Should I be able to eat bread this far into the fills? Why am I always hungry after about 10 days? It's always worked so far but eventually I'm going to run out of room in my band! Any help or insight would be great!

I have the same problem....right after a fill I think this is it, no more fills. Then a couple weeks later seems like everything is settled in and can eat mostly normal again.

Sunshine....That's fantastic!!!! I had tears in my eyes I was so happy for you! Congrats on your decision on what to tell the sis-in-law and kudos to your DH for supporting your decision....I've got a DH like that too! Does anyone else have any NSV's to share? I love to hear them. The best one I've felt good about so far is when my 11 year old son comes up to hug me and says OMG you're getting so little!

As for being hungry so soon.....just had my 3rd fill and it's the first time in years I don't get hungry 30 minutes after I eat! Please take your time and work with your band, give it time to heal and adjust in between each fill. You WILL get to the point where you aren't hungry all the time. Until then, if you're going to snack, try to snack healthy. Good Luck!!

It's forever and a day!! Then I was late for my last fill appt.(bad traffic jam....sat still for almost 40 minutes!!) and they cancelled my appt! Was able to reschedule for 2 days later but it's an hour and 20 minute drive one way. Waiting is good though, sometimes it takes a week or more for the fill to kick in.

I agree with Ambrosia....this is a time for healing....you're doing great, keep up the good work and enjoy life! I was banded on January 18, 07 by Dr. Malley in K.C. and got my third fill about a week ago (3cc in a 4 cc band). Up until now I was hungry quite a bit.....today I was stuck for 2 hours, tears were flowing, praying being done, husband leaving the house so he didn't have to hear it.....you get the picture! Anyway, this is tough, really happy that I'm finally tight enough but like every other phase in this life changing process, it's gonna take some time to learn all the new "rules". For lunch last week I could eat a rueben sandwich.....today I tried to eat Chinese (chicken and brocolli), one bite and I was done for the day. Guess what I'm saying is you'll get there soon enough, enjoy the phase your in and let your body and mind process the changes before you push on to the next phase. Good luck!!

Also need to add that I LOVE MY BAND!!!! Tonight at the kids' baseball games I was called skinny! Then, as we left, someone I hadn't seen in a few months yelled out the truck window that I was "lookin' good!". I've lost 48 pounds since January 18 and have went from a 30/32 to a 22/24. Haven't gotten used to the compliments yet....not sure what to say, it's sort of awkward to be getting them about my body after all these years.....

I agree with everyone else!! At the end of the day you have to be comfortable with your decision. We live in a small town and seems like everyone knows about my surgery! No matter what you do I think the truth will come out sooner or later, either by a slip of the tongue or by choice. It's none of your sister-in-laws business so she definitely wouldn't be the first person I'd tell....she sounds like the type that would take the information and run!! My father in law found out about my surgery.....husband finally told him I was considering it because of all the questions about doctor appointments. Needless to say that was last June/July 2006, because of his mouth and throwing it in my face all the time I haven't spoken to my father in law since July 24 of last year! Whatever you do, don't let her ruin this moment for you.....this isn't the easy way out (have you slimed yet?!?!?!) you're working hard for the weight to come off and you deserve to be happy right now!

1. Yes....Had horribly heavy periods all my life but you could set your clocks by them. Had an endometrial ablation (sp?) a year ago and still like clockwork but so much better as far as the amount and the time (I recommend that surgery!!!!). Last month I was an entire week late! The month before that I was about 10 days late. Not sure why except the weight loss maybe?!?! 2. No......I've got 3 kids, a dog, 6 cats, live on a farm, room mother, husband works 3rd shift and I have a home based decorating business....no time for extra sex...but should add when it happens it's definitely better with not so much fat in the way!!

Wish I could help. I was banded on Jan. 18, 2007 and have been stuck/slimed about 3 times already. Each time was because of eating too dry of food too quickly. The first time it scared me....then I learned to just hang out at a sink or spit in a cup. If it keeps up with band-friendly foods you may need a slight unfill?!?!?!?! Have you been losing at a good rate without being as tight as you are now?

We're both losing at about the same rate! Doesn't it feel great?! When I go through the stage of not losing pounds it's a little rough to stick with it. But then my body kicks in and the weight drops quick and all is good! This last month I lost 12 pounds....all in the first 2 weeks....then not another pound for the next 2 weeks! Keep up the good work and let me know when you hit the next 10 away forever!

Oh My GOSH!!!! DIdn't realize you hadn't had a fill yet! That's great to be able to do it with no fill.....I'm jealous!! I'm already at 3cc in a 4 cc band. I'm with you, started out at 330 and would be tickled to be under 200....like maybe 199!! When we got married I was at 220, first kid 280, and the twins I was at 310....would love to be under 250 at this point. It's funny, when people ask me how much I want to lose I hesitate to tell them for fear they'll figure out how much I weigh, yet it's no problem blabbing it all over here with my "LBT friends". Thanks everyone!

Sorry about that....meant to say longest 6 WEEKS ever!!

Please be patient.....it will take time but you'll get there! I was banded in K.C. by Dr. Malley on January 18, 2007. He doesn't put a fill in until 6 weeks after surgery.....longest 6 months ever!!! The first fill definitely helped but the next 4 weeks seemed even longer. After you lose a chunk of weight it takes your body a few weeks to get caught up. I haven't lost anything for the last 3 weeks, it's hard to wait but it's also necessary! Don't sabatoge the work that you've done.....a woman's body does crazy things with fluid retention so weighing everyday is not a good idea if you get discouraged quickly (I used to be this way, now I know it fluctuates a lot throughout the month!). Good luck and hang in there!

Gotta share my nsv of sorts!! Was sitting at two of my boys' ball practice and another mom walked up to me. She started out by apologizing for not saying hello to me during the last practice.....said she didn't realize it was me until her husband later that night said something about "Lisa sure has lost a lot of weight" then she realized it was me!!!!!! Joe.....you rock!! that's a lot of losing!! I'm jealous but not disappointed in my own weight loss. Dr. said today I've lost 53 pounds in 4 months (my scales show 44), wanted to average 10 pounds a month for the first year so I'm ahead of schedule. Do you have a goal for the end of each month/year or are you just going for it?

Sunshine....how is your last fill doing? Last post I read on it you'd said it was pretty tight...did it get better? I've been stuck a few times since my last fill and am a little nervous about getting this next one but know that it's needed!! Still eating too much and can still eat bread. I have 2.25 in a 4cc and I think that's about the same schedule on fills you've had. Going for my 3rd tomorrow!!!

Hey everyone.....looks like everyone is doing great!! I too have had a stall in weight loss. Was banded on January 18 and am down 44 pounds...nothing for the last 2.5 weeks though!! Went for my 3rd fill yesterday and got stuck in traffic for a little over 30 minutes, made me late for the appointment so they canceled it. Takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get there on a good day so I left early and was still late! Anyway I was able to get it rescheduled for tomorrow (wednesday) and can hardly wait to get this losing jump started again! Keep up with the pictures and stories, I love to read and see how everyone is doing! One of these days I'll take the time to post pictures of my own....

I hit the garage sales. Scanned the ads in the newspapers for plus sizes...in one day I got enough clothes to get me through a few sizes! One place I was able to get about 6 shirts, a nightgown, pj bottoms, 2 pair of capri's and a really nice jacket for $7.00!!!! At another one I got 3 pair of dress pants/capri's for $2.00 each. I was wearing a 26 when I bought all the above and they were all sized from 18 - 24. I'm already wearing some of the 24's and it feels great to know that there are smaller clothes in the closet to "try on"!!

After Taylor Hicks won last year I swore I would never watch the show again. Then of course....couldn't help myself! Told my brother tonight when it was down to Sanjaya and Lakisha that if he won over her I was never watching it again....thank God I don't have to follow through with my threat!!!!

All of my fills have been without fluro.....no problems at all! I've had 2 of them and am going Monday for my third.

Also, something that I've noticed on myself....seems like I do better if I switch calories around a bit. Was trying to stay between 900 - 1000 a day, worked really well but I noticed that by the end of a week the weight would slow down. Then by Monday morning I would drop 3 # or more! The dietician told me that sometimes if you stay at an exact amount of calories your body can detect that. Switch up and eat 1200 one day and then back to 800 the next once or twice a week. Good luck and don't let it bother you! You're weight loss is great.....and it's not all about the weight, it's about your health and how much better you're going to feel even if your scales don't show it!