sandradee0124

You are amazing! All that motivation and willpower already?! You will do fantastic with the band. You have already had a fantastic start!

You look fantastic! Congratulations!!!

I live in the land of plastic surgery. There are more ads for "cellulite repair" than there are for restaurants around here. Its funny because size 2 women walking on the beach have cellulite. God's gift to us for something we did lol. Be proud and happy you've come so so far! Think about last year....... Hugs!!

Congratulations on a great workout and the great weigh in! Making jewelry sounds fun and relaxing -- good for you!

I'm glad you are doing better! Every day will get better. Soon you will wake up and run for your first shake! (Ok, maybe not run but look forward to it). Protein shots might work. Make sure you are taking vitamins, drinking lots of water or fluids and keep walking. Take care!

I could have written your blog! I'm glad you are feeling better about being in the "green zone", and using sparkpeople. I go to that site a lot, and also use livestrong.com to log my food and exercise, although it is recommending more carbs and less protein and gives me way too many calories for working out! We learned in support group last week to prepare for eating out in advance by going to an online nutrition guide for resteraunts and selecting your options based on which work within your daily goals. Maybe that would help? I was a scale whore too and had to wean myself off of it. I went from no weigh ins to 10x a day to 2x a day (now). I had to move the scale from next to the refrigerator (support group again). Its like a drug..... Have a good week! Thanks for your post and good luck when you get on that scale :-).

I cook once a weekend (for weekly meals) from your recipes! Fantastic, thank you again :-). Have a wonderful Sunday!

you will do wonderfully, I'm sure. You've already done a lot of work! And you really don't miss the beer or wine that much. You can still have some, you just watch it! Enjoy the journey, you have made a positive decision for your life and health.

Hey everybody! I'll be 3 months next week. ALREADY? The time has flown by! I feel fantastic -- more energy, more self-confidence, less depressed. I look forward to the next 9 months! I plan to be down 100 lbs on my banderversary 5/26/11 :-).

Janet I love your posts. You are a blessing! Have a great afternoon and blessed journeys.

They covered it above. But I have had those feelings a lot over the first couple months -- ate an olive, got stuck or something. Don't feel guilty, don't worry about your band (its pretty hardy in there). Just move on and find ways to distract yourself when you THINK you feel hungry. A big part of the first couple months are as much in your head as they are in your stomach. It does get WAAAY better, and if you can find it in yourself to react positively to the feelings you will start to gain a self-confidence that is amazing! We will be there all the way with you. Hugs!!! Sandy

Congratulations on your successes! The diabetes, the clothes, the numbers, and especially feeling better about yourself. You are very grounded! I hope you had fun on vacations!, and thank you for checking in. Have an awesome weekend.

Congratulations! Best wishes to you! Walk when you can and get some rest.

How was your blood pressure? When my diastolic gets in the high zone (systolic/diastolic), my ankles used to swell. Taking the blood pressure medication (one for systolic, one for diastolic) controlled this. One of those pills was a "water pill". Taking this medication was for high blood pressure which is a co-morbidity, and the primary reason I was approved by BC for lap band. Well that and BMI of course!

manufacturers and all that go with that. Allergan makes the lap band: Allergan Ethicon makes the realize band: http://www.realize.com/dtcf/pages/about-realize-weight-loss-surgery.htm] There are some good sites out there comparing the two. I chose the surgeon -- I had no choice on the band. Ironically, both of these products are managed in Irvine, CA (where I live!!).

Congratulations on bunco (you didn't say if you won?), cooking and the great post-op visit! You are doing phenomenal!!!

I like the science that went behind this. I'm anxious to see how it goes over the weekend and next week -- I may have to "adopt" your plan! It gets frustrating when one exercises a lot and loses nothing when following the plan! Good luck to you, and have a good weekend!!!

Yep, gurgling in a meeting is a fun one. I find it doesn't happen every time, more when I eat too soon after drinking something (like not waiting about 30 minutes), drinking when I eat, or when a bit of food is about to get stuck. Learning the gurgle triggers helps me avoid them. Most of the time now I do! Good luck.

We all go through this at one time or another. But don't you feel some restriction from the band? Using an appetite suppressant seems to kind of work against what we know about banding? I had a flat week. I got up a little earlier and walked for about 30 minutes or did the elliptical for 30 minutes. Drank more water. Do situps and leg lifts on the commercials at night. Anything to kick up activity a notch. And log your food. I think you might find you are eating more than you think you are and getting less protein and veggies. Just a thought. Hugs!!!

Hi Ranger! Try having a couple sips of hot tea or a teaspoon of applesauce? My PA recommended this last week for me because I was having the same thing and it has totally eliminated the situation. If I don't do this, no matter how much I chew that first bite it gets stuck. She called it "waking up the pouch". Good luck and have a great vacation! (Sure you don't want a lap band consultant along for the ride? LOL).

Yeah!!! WTG! The new dance -- "smaller size and my jeans fit good". Congrats :-)

No, that isn't why they have you do it. My PCP said it was to show the insurance company you have made at least one non-surgical attempt at weight loss before approving surgery.

I don't think you should compare it to others, but that is because I have a lot more than everybody else too, LOL. What matters is how you feel when you eat and when you don't :-). I'm glad it went good -- you are on your way!!!

I'm so happy for you! The time will fly by! You have a great plan and schedule. Take care! :-). SD