StephC

Well its been 2 weeks since my last fill and I'm down 6 lbs. I guess thats pretty good, but it seems like most of that came off the first week. I'm hoping I can get these last 9 lbs off in the next 4 weeks. I'm walking 2-4 miles a day, I'm back to work so I'm not sitting home around food, and I'm really trying to watch all my intake. I'm really excited about the tummy tuck and want it to be as good as possible. Everyone I've told that I'm getting the tt are all so jealous! My dd told a friend of mine and she said ohhhh I'm so jealous, my dd said but you're thin you don't need one and she said oh yes I do, having babies has stretched me all out. I told dd that every women who has ever had a baby wants a tt. :wink_smile:

I do when I'm in a routine. Like now, but all winter I basically sat on my butt. Since I got my last fill, about 3 weeks ago I've been really faithful about getting out there and walking. All I do is walk, and a little bit of jogging.

A Hawaiian vaca sounds wonderful! I felt the same way about being in a swimsuit. We have a boat and I havent' ever Water skiied, that was my goal. So maybe this year I'll finally do it. I was at a hotel Easter weekend and I did get in the pool but I still have so much skin and flab that I was still uncomfortable. This tummy tuck is going to be so liberating for me. My visit with the anethesolgist didn't take more then 10 min. I've had surgery several times and I'm a non-smoker so there wasnt' alot to be said. But every doc is different.

:puke: It looks like 2008 is proving to be a very good year for my Steadies! Its so good to hear all the good things happening to everyone! I love you guys!

Bandfan - congrats! I know how exciting it is, and you have a great attitude. You'll do well. When I would plateau I would remember my band dr's words "one pound a week is 52 lbs a year". I was lucky enough to be "laid off" when I had my band surgery. I work at a golf course in PA so winter was good for me to be off. But I do remember that I had the surgery on Monday and Thursday I went Christmas shopping. You should be ok to go back to work as long as you don't lift the kids.

Amy - I love looking at your pics, its so inspiring and makes me excited about getting my own tt done. How are you doing a month out now, are you still swollen? You don't like like you have swelling.

LJM - do you think you're preggers?

Good luck! I know how exciting it is. And how embarrassing to get nekked in front of him.

Bman - I'm guessing this has something to do with a certain chocolate covered marine? :crying: :ohmy:

ohhhhhhhhhhh I want one!!! I can't wait to be a grammy!!! Thanks so much for sharing! We've missed you! He's absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Wow - I can't believe you are so thin! Sounds like you had an easy delivery, sorry the afterwards part was so horrid! Take it easy and give our bandbaby a big kiss from his Bandgrammy!

Thanks LJM - I'm excited! I just don't want to look stupid walking out on the field all hunched over. :crying: The more I think about it the more bummed I am that I won't be there to help dd get ready for prom. I called my ps today to ask if I will really be there 3 days and they said they schedule it as a 23 hr (outpatient) surgery but he always keeps you there longer, the average is 3 days but some he has kept 4-5 days!

Karey - I would demand my money back or take them to small claims. Not only is that alot of money to spend on something you are unhappy with but its money spent on a major part of the most important day of your dd's life. Your dd should have burst into tears right then and there, that would have set the ball rolling. I have a question for all of you ps veterans. I know I've asked several times how soon you were able to get back to work and I think I have that figured out. Since I'm having my surgery on a Thursday I think I'm going to pop in on Tues just to do the payroll and then seeing how I feel go from there. But my dd has prom that Friday night, which it sounds like I'm not going to be home to get her ready :crying: and she may have to come to the hospital to show me her beautiful self all dolled up. Its a bummer since she's a senior but she is going to 2 proms, her boyfriends is May 2nd and then her prom is the 10th, so I'll be home for that one. On the 9th she has senior night for track, which is when the parents walk out with the senior and they present the awards. I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to walk out there "normally"? What do you guys think? Is that whole week going to be exhausting?

Amy - I would call now to see how long it would be to get a consult. That really messed me up on my schedule. I called way back in Oct and couldnt' get in with the ps of choice until the end of Jan - then I had a couple more visits so from first call to surgery took 8 months. 8 months that you'll be losing weight.

I thought you were talking a pic of your tailbone! Just kidding. I love the hair! Tat looks painful. But cool.

It was on D-HC (Discovery Health) and I think it was Plastic Surgery Before/After. I looked on my guide and I don't see the full body lifts on again in the next few days but I think tonight is about face lifts. If I see it on again I'll let you know.

My insurance is covering it - you must show medical necessity. So if you have rashes or skin irritations, tearing, if it hinders your exercise. I only expected to have the pannectolmy covered but my insurance is also paying for my tt. I talk more about it on my thread - StephC's journey/I'm approved!

Last night my dd and I got caught up in a show about gastric bypass patients who have lost weight and now going through full body lifts. Some of them had 3 and 4 surgerys. I couldn't watch some parts of it, the lipo totally freaks me out. If you watch it you'd understand why theres so much pain afterward. Its not like the dentist assistant who gently sucks the spit out of your mouth, they take that rod and ram it - ouch! Then when they are cutting off the excess skin, they just stretch and pull and move that stuff all around. It just seemed so rough to me. Sorry if this is tmi but even though it freaked me out I'm still going through with it and even during the show I clapped my hands and yelled I CAN'T WAIT!!! The results are amazing, just amazing - as we've seen on our lapband friends who've shared with us. I'm getting so excited!

Isn't it crazy how on one hand we can look forward to getting through menopause and then on the other the dread of knowing what we have to go through? Hmmm... kinda like ps. :thumbup: I can't wait to get it done and yet dreading the pain and down time I'll have to go through.

dang you girl! tell us EVERYTHING!

Believe it or not - YES my tt is covered 100%! An act of God. Seriously I did some heavy praying about it. My insurance is covering the pennicultomy and the abdomoplasty - (apron removal and tt). I am estactic to be having it done. Your right I do deserve it! :thumbup: I agree about teaching your children good eating habits. None of my kids are overweight - yet - thank heavens. But I only have one left at home, she's 17 and since I've had the surgery she has completely changed her eating habits. She reads every label. Doesn't eat if she's not hungry and although she still likes donuts and ice cream she saves them for a treat - I'm very proud of how she eats. We went shopping today for a prom dress, and this was the first time I felt good about my appearance. I was always the fat mom with the skinny girls, and tho they never said anything I always felt out of place. Now I felt proud to be with her, like I looked as good as she does but as her mom. Do you know what I mean - if that makes any sense? As Cantweight said yes you do go through a period of hunger during the mushy stage. At 4 weeks post op I begged my dr to give me a fill but he wouldn't until 6 weeks. I never gained any weight at any point, but I have gone through those "dry" spells when I didnt' lose. But like I said just refocus and get a fill and get back on the bandwagon. Keep your support tight and you'll do great. Not everyone loses at the same rate so don't let others success or failures dictate where you should be. Be happy with every pound that comes off.

Are you on hr's? I was at a St. Pats party and there were 3 of my gf's there who are 51 this year and all 3 smack dab in the middle of menopause. One of them is on pills, and I understand they are stronger then the patch, one of them is on the patch and loves it, said it does the trick and the 3rd is on nothing - very naturalistic approach. I figure when it gets bad enough I'm going for the patch. Sounds like its low dose and gets the job done. The one on the pills said she's calling her gyno to switch to the patch. I figure why be miserable? Oops - all that said and I re-read your post and see you did get a hormone shot. I hope you're feeling better.

4meonly - how ya doing? Keep us posted - we all are thinking of you!

My ps told me I shouldn't need lipo, I don't really have any back fat (I'm telling ya - its all in the belly!) so he said he doesnt' see the need but he said he has the equipment at the hospital and if he thinks I need it its just a matter of rolling it in to the OR. I asked about lipo on the upper belly (where he wants me to lose another 10 lbs) and he said its inside and not something we can suck out.

Hi Bandfan and welcome to bandland! :teeth_smile: Yes we do have simular stats - AND a size 8 is achievable! I'm almost there now, my 10 are starting to get loose. I'm due to have a tummy tuck on May 1st so you and I will be having surgery the same day. My ps wants me to lose another 10 lbs before my surgery, so with that and the tt I'm pretty sure I'll be a size 8. I have an apple shape, and it never fails when I lose weight it comes off my butt first and my belly last. I was banded almost 16 months ago - the weight has come off in spurts. The first few months were great, then I slacked off, got a better fill started losing again, then I slacked off, got a fill, started losing again - I might go a few months and only lose a pound a month. Like the last time I had been in was Sept, I lost 10 lbs that month, and then slacked off, and so it took me 5 months to lose the next 10 lbs. When the ps wanted me to lose another 10 I went back in and got a nice tight fill and have already lost 6 lbs in a week & 1/2. I've had 7 fills so far, my advice is if you arent' losing get an adjustment. Whether its a fill, or attitude adjustment, get it done. Support is 90% for me - I NEED support. I caught up with a group of girls who had it done the same month as me and most of us have stayed in touch the whole time on lbt. I go to support group every month through my dr. and my family has been great. I choose not to tell the people I work with that I had the surgery and I'm not telling them I'm having the tt - just too personal for me to share with people I don't really care about. But my church knows and since there are 4 ladies who have had gastric bypass I figured no point trying to hide it. Also 2 of the ladies are sisters and their brother (who doesnt' go to my church) had the band a few months after me and goes to my support group. So no point trying to hide it. I'm not a manic exerciser but I do walk everyday - on a losing streak I'll walk 4 miles a day. But try to walk at least 1 mile a day - although in my lazy streaks I didnt' walk at all. I've lost 71 lbs now and I LOVE my band, I'd do it again tomorrow and I'm VERY pleased with my results. I didnt' come into this expecting to lose the weight over night. I knew the band is only a tool and without me to use the tool correctly it wouldn't have worked. Set you eye on a long term goal and you'll hit it. Good luck and feel free to pm anytime you have questions.

Good luck Tracy! I know how exciting it is!