tonya66

Okay first of all - 60 lbs is great!! Congratulations! Can you lose a lot more the 2nd year? I'm on my 2nd year, and I have started losing. I too hit a bump in the road about 7 months post op, and have several issues since then. I've finally gotten thru the issues, my mind is back in the game and I'm ready to lose again, and I can already tell I've started losing. There are lots of people on this site who reached goal around their 2nd band anniversary, there are some that took 3 years, the band does not stop working at 1 year. It will continue to be your tool, as long as you use it for a tool. So, I know how you feel, I remember when I hit my 1 year anniversary, I was a bit diappointed that I hadn't reached goal in 1 year. I was sad that I actually weighed more at 1 year, then I did at 8 months post op. But, its because I wasn't using my tool. I will say I am a lot better off then I was at the time I had surgery. I might not be to goal yet, but I have lost a lot, and I feel better. Will I reach goal - I am confident that I will, it will just take me a bit longer to get there. You can do it too! Don't let anyone tell you that you can't! Actually, I honesty think this year is going to be a little easier, I think I have finally hit my sweet spot after 10 fills and 16 months of trying to get there!

Gerio - yep, we're about the same weight right now, its tough to get out of this plato for sure. I am not that big on ice cream, I do like it, but my downfall is sweets in general. I am on day 6 or something like that without ANY sugar, so I'm slowly breaking my habit. I got into the habit last year, and I swear, Its like trying to quit smoking. (I've never smoked - but I'm thinking its similar). I put that darn cookie down, and then stress comes my way, and I pick the cookie up again. I swear, I eat a pack a day - lol. Trying to break my pack a day habit. lol. The longer I am away from sweets, the easier it gets. The first few days were the hardest, but honesty, its getting better. I just got back fronm the gym downstairs. I worked my quads & hamstrings, and calves. Tonight its cardio time and working my abs! Yes, life is finally going good again. PS - 79 more days until my cruise to the Virgin Islands - My goal is to lose 20 to 25 lbs by then, can I do it? I'm going to give it my all!

I just had my 10th fill - and I think I am finally at the right fill level. Yay. Normally, when I'm at my sweet spot, I stay satisfied for a minimum of 4 hours, sometimes all the way up to 6 or even 8. But always at least 4 hours. When I lose that "sweet spot", I notice that I'm hungry after 1 to 2 hours, not a big hunger, but I do feel it, it takes a little will power not to grab a snack. I know then, its time for a fill. I'm now at 3.9 cc's in a 4 cc band, and for the first time in my 16 month band history, I can no longer eat bread! I'm just excited that I finally have enough restriciton that a certain food is off limits!

Okay, I am sure the fill is working and I don't think I will be going back. I noticed last night when I was eating my dinner, it sure didn't take much to fill me up. Then, this morning was our office breakfast and it was my turn to pick it up. So, we all decided Steak & Shake, so I ordered me the cheese scrambler with wheat toast. Okay, I take one bite of the eggs, and decided I would eat 1/2 slice of the wheat toast. Well, I've always been able to eat breat in the past, and plus this was toated, so no biggie right? Well..........wrong - it was long and I was running to the bathroom PBing. Wow, I actually PB'D! I'm excited that I have enough restriction now that I actually PB'd! After 15 1/2 months, I've got real restriction! Thank you thank you thank you! I'm on cloud 9! No more bread for me! I finally have found a food that I cannot eat! Yay! Menu today Bfast - eggs/part of bread (whatever I didn't PB up) Lunch Protein shake (my stomach hurts a bit from yacking so much, I think I will keep it simple) Dinner - we're going out tonight, so not sure, but it will be healthy Exercise - LBWO - I didn't make it to the gym last night to do the lower Body workout, so I will do it today. Wt - still have not weighed, but will on Monday! TOM is around the corner, so the scales might not be nice to me on Monday, but I will still weigh on Monday.

KWLVIS99 - you sure can.

My new life begins with a lap band placed within I am nervous and anxious and not sure when When will I be at goal, when will I be thin? I tried and tried all my life to please the scales Yes tried to please them, ate nothing at all but to no avail My family thinks I’m crazy, some might think I’m lazy Just diet they say, and you’ll look amazing. No one understands the pain and anguish of being this way No one understands the strain it takes to breathe every day I am thankful for my family and friends you see, But this choice I’ve chosen is mine and for me. So be there for me and cheer me on to the finish line I promise you all I will get there this time!

Oh man, you have to show us some pics.....I remeber seeing a baby calf born at my gpas farm. My mom & dad just bought two more hourses, and they are about to breed, thats all my mom talks about are her hourses. lol. Congratulations on your new baby!

Hello all, I was banded 1/18/07 and it was the best decision I have ever made. I will be at 5 months tomorrow and I'm down 70 lbs! This includes the weight I lost doing my pre-op diet and low carb diet about 1 month before my surgery. We have another January Bandster support thread under the General Discussion thread - entitled January Bandsters. We have lots of great people over there who are successful. I will be checking in here too!

Robzmissus - Congratulations!!!!! That is awesome!

I'm staying on plan today because its Friday, and Monday I want to say "I Did It!"

Okay, you have to ask yourself, where do you want to be 10 yrs from now? Overweight, diabetes, dead? Do you want to eventually have children? As Ajoneen stated, you have to look at the bigger picture. Yes, I won't lie, its a little uncomfortable, but uncomfortable, not unbearable. And the outcome is so worth it. I think EVERYONE should be cautious about any type of surgery, surgery is surgery. This is something that only you can decide to do. Will you feel the cuts? No, not at the time they are doing it, but afterwards, you will be a little sore, but for most they say it leaves within a few days, me, I say a week. I was nervous too, you can read thru my journey. I kept it up now ever since I decided to be banded. I'm sure I wrote about my fears too. Talk to the psych eval therapist about your fears as well, maybe they can help calm you. Also, make sure the docs understand and they too can help give you something before to help with your nervousness. Best wishes.

I had a GREAT workout last night, my DH & I went to the gym and I worked my upper body out. I worked it so hard, I felt like mush when I left. But it sure felt good to be back in the gym workout out like i used to do! I'm excited to be back in the program! I can't wait for 1 month from now, because I know if I am consistant, the results will start showing. Menu today Bfast 1/2 cup skim milk, grapenuts cereal (about 1/2 cup) Snack yogurt Lunch tomatoe soup (this is the last of my container, thank gawd, getting tired of it, but it is good) snack - handful of nuts Dinner 1/2 cup of beans & ham - yum Exercise 10:00 am - 15 min on elliptical 2:30 pm - 22 min of HIIT - burned 181 calories, and 1.71 distance Gym - my plan is go tonight and work my lower body - the abs are screaming for crunches!

Thanks guys! I am just so ready to be at goal, I'm tired of yo - yoing and I think my latest fill has motivated me some too. I'm ready to be in the best shape of my life by this summer and the only way to do it is EXERCISE.

Wheetsin - I 100% agree! Control starts at birth, you can't let them run all over at 3 & 4, then at 15 decide you are going to be a parent. YOu have to take control the second they are born. If more parents would watch their kids, their would be less kidnappings too! I am not trying to blame parents for kidnappings by any means, the bastards that kidnap the children should be hung by his freaken toe nails and shot, but what I am saying is they will have less of a chance of kidnapping your child if you don't let him run all around the store, or go to the park by himself or whatever they are doing. It's sad that kids can't do this, but its the world we live in today. Its just a fact, their our criminals out there who doesn't care, and your child is a target. I know some parents have no choice but to send their kids off to the school bus, but that is when you have to teach them, if a car even comes close to you - RUN. Don't even give them a chance to ask you a question, RUN. I think I've got the fear in my kids about strangers, and when I say stranger, I mean anyone. They also had a code that if someone showed up to pick them up that they knew, like aunt, uncle, family friend, neighbor, that person was to have a code word that only me & my child knew, if that person didn't tell them the code word, then they were to run for help. Most kidnappings happen by a family friend or someone the child has seen before. So, I wanted to make sure they knew NO ONE had permission to pick them up. We've never had to use the code word, because when something happened that one of the grandparents or aunts were going to pick them up, we made sure they knew it before hand. Its just a scary world out there these days.

Sula - nothing wrong with 53 lbs at all! Congrats! I am still wondering about this fill, I just new I would feel tighter and be finally at my sweet spot. Grrrr. I am a little tighter, but I can still eat regular bites of food. Should I be able to eat bread, steak, and all that stuff? I think I am just going to live with this fill for awhile and see how I do. I'm hoping it kicks in a little tighter in a few weeks. Another thing, I am getting close to TOM, so I'm always loser right before, then I get tight during - so we'll see how it goes. On a good note, I worked out hard last night, my arms feel like Jello. I know tomorrow I will be so sore! But it sure feels good making exercise a part of my life again. I really did miss it! I'm just ready to see the scales start moving again. I will weigh on Monday. It seems I bounce from 175 all the way to 188, back and forth. Last November I was down to 165, what the hell happened? Oh well, it time to take charge, and kick some butt! I WILL be at goal by my 2 yr band anniversary! No doubt, I'm not giving up!

I am staying on plan today because I am on day 4 of not waivering from it and I don't want to break my streak. It feels so good to be in control again!

Here an example of somethig I did, I'm sure my kids will never forget it.....But my daughter, who is a talker, she is a social butterfly, was disrupting class. I got a call from the teacher saying she has been talking during class and would I please talk to her. Well, I did better than "talk" to her, I took off work, and drove right to the school, I enrolled with her! Thats right, I told the principal I would like to be a student for the day, the princiapl LOVED it. So, my daugher was totally mortified when I walked in her class and set right next to her. I even raised my hand and asked the teacher a question. She was in 4th grade at the time, and totally embarrased by my action. I told her how embarrased I was to get a call and if she can't pay attention at school, I will go to school with her. Wouldn't you know, I never had another problem from her again! The teacher and principal both said that they wished more parents would do that and they would have less trouble with kids at school. I tell my kids it is my job as a parent to teach them how to be the best citizens they can be, it is up to them to take what I taught them into the world. Once they leave me, they are on their own but I'm hoping they will learn from the lesson I've taught them. I just wish parents would be parents and quit having kids if you are not going to parent them! It angers me to no end when I read about kids taking guns to shool and killing fellow students. Then when the police show up at the killers house, they find all kinds of stuff in their rooms, right out in the open? Parents didn't even notice they had guns laying out on their dresser. This is when I almost think that the parents should be charged with murder too! I know that is harsh, but they need to pull their heads out of their rear and notice what is going on. I could go on and on about this, but it is something I'm so pasionate about and I honestly don't understand why parents have no control over their kids!

I had a GREAT workout last night, my DH & I went to the gym and I worked my upper body out. I worked it so hard, I felt like mush when I left. But it sure felt good to be back in the gym workout out like i used to do! I'm excited to be back in the program! I can't wait for 1 month from now, because I know if I am consistant, the results will start showing. Menu today Bfast 1/2 cup skim milk, grapenuts cereal (about 1/2 cup) Snack yogurt Lunch tomatoe soup (this is the last of my container, thank gawd, getting tired of it, but it is good) snack - handful of nuts Dinner 1/2 cup of beans & ham - yum Exercise 10:00 am - 15 min on elliptical 2:30 pm - 22 min of HIIT - burned 181 calories, and 1.71 distance Gym - my plan is go tonight and work my lower body - the abs are screaming for crunches!

Laurend - That is so sad! I hate hearing stories like that, because they all could have been prevented. It just breaks my heart. So sorry for your loss.

I hope you find out soon! My insurance was quick about approving me, but I know some takes longer. Your doing good by getting all your stuff done and making progress on the 6 month diet plan, just in case they come back and say you need that. How fortunate you are to have your mother too - thats neat to have a buddy going thru it at the same time!

I want one!!!! I'm so jealous! I'm been watching them on Ebay, hoping to find a good deal. I talked to one girl that bought hers off craigslist for 1/2 the price. How lucky she was to find that deal. I'm hoping to get one very soon!

Okay - I just came from fill #10. The doc did something different, he usually takes all my fill out and then refills it. But since I've had so many fills, he just added to it. I was at 3.5 cc, he filled me .4cc, which gives me 3.9 cc's. I remember the last time I had pretty good restriction was at 3.8 cc, then he filled me to 4.0 cc's and all my troubles began. All along, I've always thought 3.9 cc's would be the perfect spot. Well, finally after 15 months I'm at my sweet spot - or at least I think I am. Its still too early to tell. I will be on liquids all day today and possibly tomorrow, then I go on mushies for 2 days, then to regular food. He had me eat some jello while I was there, I can still feel it in my pouch, I ate about 1/2 of the container, and I was stuffed. Now, the problem is, I'm always tighter in the am and loose in the evening, so tonight will be the real test. Menu today bfast - jello Lunch - tomatoe soup - puree Dinner - protein shake Exercise - 3:00 pm - 15 min on elliptical machine

Hang in there, I do think the band needs to be at least 1/2 full to start feeling something for most people. Some are lucky to never even have to have a fill. I will say that I do have restriction, just not as much as I think I need. I never PB if I eat one too many bites, matter of fact I don't PB at all, I can eat whatever I want. I'm now at 3.9ccs in a 4.cc band. Go figure. When I'm at 4.0 cc's, I'm too full and completely closed up, can't even swallow my own saliva. I'm to the point that I am going to have to really use some self control. I am now measuring my food, I'm no longer "testing" the band, I am using it as a tool. If I only eat 1 cup of food or 3 oz - It does make me full. If I eat 2 or 3 cups, I can eat it, but I'm making myself stop at the bandster portion. It seems to be working. Hang in there and keep getting your fills until you reach the point you cannot. It is frustrating, but I do believe the band can be a valuable tool too. Best wishes to you and congratulations on 16 lbs lost already. That is not bad at all!

After I posted that, I noticed the challenge ends this month, so no way to lose 20 pounds by then.....so, I am changing it to 5.3. Name........................Current.......Goal....... Lost.......Still to Lose Renewed Hope...............199...........195...........11...................4 georgia girl....................254...........244...........0............... ...10 darr5380.......................174...........160...........2......... .........14 KarenG.........................179...........173...........0.......... ..........6 Chocolate_Snaps...........274...........260...........0............... ....14 Wannabthin..................197.5........187.5.........2.............. ......8 OH Juli..........................197...........190...........4........... .........7 jfran.............................165...........160...........3....... .............5 Candle..........................190.5.........186..........3.5....... .........4.5 destiny79......................245...........235...........2.......... ..........8 Jennypoo......................194...........184...........2........... ..........8 luvinke.........................220............210..........0......... .............10 Sunshine2.....................181.3.........176.0.......0....... ..........5.3

I'de like to join you guys. I was exercising last year, 6 days a week. But, to make a long story short, I got hurt, had surgery, and was flat on my back for awhile. I'm now 6 months past my surgery (the accident surgery - knee surgery), so in the past few weeks I've been exercising. Not as hard as I want, but I'm working up to it. I'm ready to get back on the loser train again. Here are my stats or goals I would like to do. I am going on vacation in 84 days - but whose counting, so I would like to lose 20 by then. Name........................Current.......Goal....... Lost.......Still to Lose Renewed Hope...............199...........195...........11...................4 georgia girl....................254...........244...........0............... ...10 darr5380.......................174...........160...........2......... .........14 KarenG.........................179...........173...........0.......... ..........6 Chocolate_Snaps...........274...........260...........0............... ....14 Wannabthin..................197.5........187.5.........2.............. ......8 OH Juli..........................197...........190...........4........... .........7 jfran.............................165...........160...........3....... .............5 Candle..........................190.5.........186..........3.5....... .........4.5 destiny79......................245...........235...........2.......... ..........8 Jennypoo......................194...........184...........2........... ..........8 luvinke.........................220............210..........0......... .............10 Sunshine2.....................181.3.........161.3.......0.......................20