tonya66

Donna - personally I don't think there is a set number of cc's that people need to get to. I think everyone is different. For me, I lost a lot of the weight in the beginning, but I really tried, I actually dieted and exercised HARD. I ate NOTHING bad. I measured all my food, etc. So, I feel I did the work. The band did help me a little. I was trying to find the story of the lady who did not start losing until after 9 months, when she finally reached restriction, but haven't been able to find it yet, if I do, I'll post the link. I know some feel great restriciton at barely anything, but for me, it takes a lot. I'm at 3.0 and have 0. Or so I think, but I still can't eat as much as I did pre-band, so I must have some. Another reason I didn't tell people about my surgery is because I didn't want people asking, how much have you lost everyday. I know it gets frustrating, just stay on top of your fills. I would have restriction too when I left the doc's office and I could see the barium stuff sitting there too, but by the afternoon, I would lose all my restriction. My doc said its because my stomach swells, or spasms out and so now he takes it very slow, has me sit for a little then looks at it. I think this has helped because the last few fills I've felt more restriction than ever. I would just stay on top of your fills and try and make the best choices in eating and you will get there. Another thing we have to remember its not a race, but a life long commitment to get healthy. The beauty of the band is it will work longer than 1 year or a few months, we can continue using this tool for life. I hope this answers your question. Please feel free to PM me if you have other questions and don't want to post it all here. You can also review my journal and can see how I had restriction,then didn't etc. I try and keep track of everything in my journal.

Wt - 168.9 Did pretty good yesterday, I exercised, I did my cleanse, until last night. I ended binging a little. I ended up eating a salad, which was good, but then later that evening I ate some popcorn with butter poured over it - about 1 1/2 cups of popcorn. I also had some cookie dough. Man I need my restriction back! I am not beating myself up or anything, but I'm just so discouraged without restriction. I've got to just keep trying to make better choices. I will be done with my cleanse tomorrow, so I'll stick to it until then.

First of all, I'm so sorry about your loss. Death is such a tragic experience for the ones left behind. I recently experience losing my dear grandmother and I miss her everyday. People deal with emotions in different way, a common one is not eating, your depressed and just don't feel like eating. Sometimes I think deep inside, you feel that if you eat that your "getting over it" so maybe there is some type of guilt assoiciated with it. Just my opinion. Others turn to food, Its comforting. I seem to be one that turns to food, chocolate, or something of that sort. I tend to drown my sorrows in food. I've learned it only makes me feel worse, not only am I sad, but even more depressed because I eat even more.

Boo Boo - you've done sooo good. How tall are you? My goal size is an 8 too and I am wondering what weight that would be. I'm currently in a size 10, barely. My size 12's are big and baggy, the 10's are a little snug but work.

Sula - I still battle with my binge eating. But I have gotten better. In my old days I would binge eat for months, now I just do it here & there and then I gain control. My binge eating still needs to be worked on, and I work on it every day, but I still haven't been able to overcome it completely. I am happy the band keeps me from going overboard. I'm happy with my progress with the band, and I feel so much better. I know it is going to take awhile to lose the last of my weight and I know exercise is the key for me. Knowing it and applying it is two different stories. I did exercise yesterday and have plans to do it again at 3 today. So I am trying to get back into the full swing of things. Its hard, but I'm doing my best and forcing myself to at least put in 20 to 30 minutes a day. I want to start another BFL challeng on 1/7/07, I just hope my knee can handle it. I'm working right now on building the strength back up so it can handle another challenge. I can't believe we are about to be at 1 year with our band. A lot has changed this past year for me, my weight, my attitude, everything. I hope everyone else is doing good. - Enterprise, you really do look good, your arms look wonderful!

I would ask your surgeon for another physchologist. Get another opinion. Sounds like the psychologist is pushing for RNY.

Yes, I'm guilty of low Protein as well....and Water. Sometimes too many carbs! Fitday really helps me see where I'm lacking, I need to get back to recording my food intake more regularly.

I was 40, but if I had known about it sooner, I would have done it sooner.

I was scared it wouldn't work, one of the reason's that I didn't tell people about my surgery. I was scared of another failed diet attempt. I guess I was hopeful it would work and viewed it as my "last chance", but still scared that it wouldn't. I am so happy it is a success!

Wt - 168.9 Did pretty good yesterday, I exercised, I did my cleanse, until last night. I ended binging a little. I ended up eating a salad, which was good, but then later that evening I ate some popcorn with butter poured over it - about 1 1/2 cups of popcorn. I also had some cookie dough. Man I need my restriction back! I am not beating myself up or anything, but I'm just so discouraged without restriction. I've got to just keep trying to make better choices. I will be done with my cleanse tomorrow, so I'll stick to it until then.

Dimples68 - I wanted to let you know that I didn't have restriction until I reached 3.8cc's in my 4cc band. I thought I needed just a tad bit more, so I went in for another fill, he filled me to 4.0ccs and I was way too tight, could not swallow my own saliva. Ended up in the hospital for severe dehydration. My point is, don't get discouraged because you feel like your 3/4 full, sometimes just .2cc's makes a world of difference. For me, .2cc's closed me completely, I should have only got .1 cc or 1/2 cc and I would've had perfect restriction. But because of the dehdration, and the constant PBing when I was overfilled, I got swollen and they had to drop me back to 3.0ccs until I recovered. I'm now waiting on another fill and have 0 restriction again. So just hang in there, it takes a lot of patience to get to the restriction level, it took me 7 fills.

Thanks, I did the weight training for the bfl challenge and saw great results, I know it works! I'm still going to try and do the AM exercise, however, if I don't the afternoon will have to do.

Wt 168.8 Weight going down again. I'm doing my cleanse, and it is working! I am eating a little, I had a good salad last night and added a boiled egg to it so I could get more protein. yum. Exercise - NOTTA, I suck! I didn't even try to get up today. However, I did bring my sneakers to work and I am planning on going down to the gyn and get on the bike for 15 to 20 minuites. I've got to start somewhere. ****UPDATE***** I went down to the gym at work, I did 15 min on the recumbant bike, I even worked up a little sweat. I also did 3 sets of 15 on the leg press. My weights were 30, 40, 50lbs 3 sets of 15 on the hamstring seated leg curl - 20lbs each I will go down again at 3:00 and do the bike again, and maybe add some situps or some type of ab exercise! I know 15 min on the bike is not much, but I'm trying to just start somewhere, fake it until I make it!

Congrats! I started my journal and have been updating it pretty regularly since I got my band in January. You will love going back and reading it months down the line. Others will enjoy reading your progress too.

Audree - your inspiring me to get my butt back to the weight training. I miss the "good" sore feeling. I miss my personal trainer too, he taught me so much! Yes, I saw your pics! I also saw where they were out of stock until 12/15. I'm glad I bought a bottle from you and have some on hand. I just opened my new bottle! Well, I can't wait for the scales to start dropping again! I am pretty much stuck at the 167 and bounce up to 170, 172. Today it was 168. I usually bounce a lot right before I lose some weight. I'm really hoping this weekend I will drop a few more pounds. I really really really want to be at my docs goal weight by my 1 year bandiversary, or at least close to it. His goal weight for me is 155. I however, I want to go lower. 155 is just not where I want to end up at, 145 is my ultimate goal!

I know u are so happy to get rid of those drains. I have big scars on my arms, but mine are do to a ulnar nerve entrapment. Mine are about 2 years out and they have healed up nicely. Please don't notice them, unless I raise my hands over my head. So I know yours will heal up nicely. Your arms are so tiny! They look so good!

Thank Gawd its Friday!!!!!!!!! I love Friday and today is even Payday, its my year end at work, I made my goal which means I get a 10% of my yearly salary bonus!! Yehaw!!!! I won't get it until February 22nd, but thats okay, I am spending it on our next cruise that leaves June 29th, 2008 to the Virgin Islands. I'm hoping to be at goal by then. Wt this morning 168.6 - starting to drop the water weight!

I know I will probably need a lower body lift, my thighs have always been my trouble spot and my butt is sagging with my weightloss. Thanks for sharing your journey. Your tummy looks so good already! Question for you, I've been doing a lot of research on the body lift, and many of the docs say a blood transfusion is necessary, did you have to have one?

Here is the link - http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f96/

I'm staying on plan today because I need to, I want to reach my goal!

There is a monthly support group for all the months located in the Monthly forum. Congratulations on your knew journey! I love every minute of it (except the weeks I don't lose, lol).

That is great! It's also great you have your DH as your support, that is so awesome!

Congratulations! That is awesome! Before you even know, you'll see bones you never knew you had too! Its a wonderful ride we're on, enjoy it!

Okay - I did it! I went down, did 15 min on the recumbant bike, I even worked up a little sweat! I also did 3 sets of 15 on the leg press and 3 sets of 15 on the hamstrings seated leg curl. Yay! Now I just have to keep it up! at 3:00, I am going to go back down and do another 15 min on the recumbant bike!

Hello all, Nothing really new to report except I need someone to kick me too! I cannot seem to get back to the gym. Every morning I have set my alarm to get up, I laid my gym clothes uot, I had everything ready to go, but I just could not get out of bed! I suck! I know once I get back to the gym I will be committed its just hard taking that first step. I went out online and researched out to get some mojo to exercise. So I'm trying to use those tips. I plan on going to the gym at work during break and getting on the bike, this should help me some. But I'm ready to really get back to the gym and start giving it my all! My knee is still giving me problems and the doc said it would for about 3 more months, and by April, if it is still hurting, they will have to look at it again. Well, I'm going down to the gym right now to get on the recumbant bike for about 15 to 20 minutes. ttyl