StephC

Jill - hon its all in the fill! I finally feel like I'm 'getting it' - I have no will power in myself but with the right fill the band makes it so easy! On average I don't eat bk, today I had a bowl of chili for lunch with a few tortilla chips, at 6 I ate a piece of venison bolgna, at 8 I ate a frozen dinner, and a pudding pop. I was under 1000 calories easily. The best thing about it is that I don't feel like snacking all the time. Or if I do, I can eat 2 wheat thins and be satisfied. Yesterday I didnt eat until about 3 and grabbed a cheeseburger at Mcd's, I ate about 1/2 of it and was done, dd finished it, then I ate a slice of pizza at about 9 - that was it. Of course I felt like crap with the cold, but a cold never stopped me from eating before! Nat I read that article - I disagree with the guy who says you don't need cardio. But it was interesting. Bman thanks for the info, your instructions were great. But it kinda burst my bubble when I saw the before and now pics together. I don't look like I've lost that much. I was thinking there was a big difference but not really. Anyhoo I posted it. Boo we're all still looking forward to being on Oprah with you so get busy with the book!

Our sermon today was on how we love Jesus. When he asked Peter do you love me 3x, the first 2x he was asking in the Hebrew which means to love with all you are, a "I will die for you love". Both times Peter replied with of course I love you, but the love he used was the Hebrew love for a brotherly love. Finally the 3rd time Jesus asked do you love me, and used the brotherly love. I'll tell you how it sounded in Hebrew but know the spellings aren't right - the first 2x it was agopa love and the reply was filo love, finally the 3rd time Jesus asked in the filo. It was very interesting, leaving us with the question - do we love Jesus with a dying love or a brotherly love? Tonights sermon was on calming the storm. One of my favorite scriptures and always gives me peace.

I think a Christian thread is great. I have my "steadies" on another thread that I gather support from and I love them dearly so a meeting place for Christians is just another great place to get support and prayer. I prayed for a long time over this band - my sil had the gastric bypass and used the scripture if your eye offends you... so our stomachs offend us, and being banded is safe and I believe just as insulin is a tool for the diabetic so is the band a tool for the obese. I prayed that if it was God's will that I get the band that he would make a way. First of all my husbands insurance said absolutely NO wls, God made a way and I was able to pick up insurance on my job, not only did it pay for my surgery 100% it has a co pay which my dh's insurance picks up, so God came through for me over and above, then it was a matter of timing, its very hard for me to take time off in the summer but my 6 month pcp monitoring was up in Oct, and I was able to get banded in Dec - I'm off in the winter months so I was able to heal without missing work. I had read the WeighDown Diet book and really felt that it made sense but I just didn't have the will power to eat the way she explained it. The band has helped me to follow good eating habits. I thank God everyday for my band.

Bk - I think that support group sounds great! I'd love to be able to go once a week. I really depend upon all of you for my support, NO ONE else can relate.

Have I told you lately that I love you? My dear sweet friends! You all are the best! Nat - whew - I was so worried about you! I love your novels -and I am also queen of the novelist - I type like I talk... on and on... I wish I had some extra energy to start spring cleaning - my closet needs it BAD - actually 2 closets can probably be whittled down to one. Bk - I know about the snacking shtuff - thats why I love fitday - those bites of this and that really add up. But with this last fill I'm not snacking - so I know now when I start that shtuff again I'll be back in for another fill. Bman- you rock! 12's YeeHaaa! and they don't even make 12's with a W behind it. I am with you all on the "other" side of the store - I still wander into the "fat rack" and start browsing before I realize Hey I can't wear these anymore. Va - you too - spring cleaning fool - good for you and hey you can track calories burned by house cleaning on fitday - I haven't checked my email yet to see if Nate wrote back with prices but will soon. Everyone else .. I feel like our steadies have come home... love hearing from all of you mia's Ok so I was having problems with yahoo pic posting - but I got a couple new ones on there now. Bman - how do you put your pics side by side? I have one of me last summer at my son's wedding - my heaviest and then from last night - I cropped them so its just me but can't get them on the same page. I'm posting them too.

Hi ladies - its been a busy weekend for me. First of all I caught a horrible cold on Thurs. - which btw, theraflu makes the dissolvable strips like gasx, so the cold was nice way to start but then on top of that TOM comes... ugh! I was feeling like crap yesterday morning, remember dd had strep, it hasn't been a healthy house. Last night was my dd's pagent. It went really well, I'll post pics on yahoo. She took first runner up (2nd place) but it was good bc the girl who won, her dad is dying of Lou Gerigs and he was there in his wheel chair, crying... everyone was happy he got to see her win. My dd was thrilled and we just had a really good night. Ok so listen to this - I'm loving this fill!!! - today is Sunday, my official weigh day (of course I weigh myself every single day but this is the only day I track) - I get on the scale thinking I won't have lost anything (yesterday afternoon I was 194) with TOM here and this head cold, I got on and had lost 3 lbs! I was like omgoodness! I got on and off and on and off - yep 3 lbs. I actually feel like somehow I will hit my goal! And now that I see the change I have so much more incentive to keep going. I really think the fact that I'm back at work has helped alot, I'm busy and haven't been snacking. Yesterday when I was looking for something to wear I thought I'd wear this suit that I wore last year, it was a 14W - I put it on and said hows this look, the top felt loose. My dd said mom its too big look at the crotch is down to your knees. Packed away!!! yea!! So I ended up wearing a pair of my regular 14's. I just feel happy. Happy happy happy - and I love my lapband!!! Maybe this time next month I'll hit a 12! I want to remind all of you that a 14 on me is not the same as a 14 on someone who's 5 inches taller then me. My body frame I should be a 5/6 to look REAL good because I'm narrow, I don't have wide hips but I have a round belly. So when I put on those 14's the waist is tight and the butt is loose, my life story - an apple shape, I always longed to be a pear. Kaydoll - I was just thinking that you are down past the mark you had always had trouble with - I'm excited for your new fill. Mushies today, yipee! Keep in touch with us! Claudia - sweetie I'm excited for you, have a blast in Chicago! I drink wine, I just sip and I tolerate it very well. But I've really given up my evening glass just bc I don't like to waste calories on liquids. Have fun sweetie I know you've been looking forward to the trip. B-man I see you've change the pic under your name. Girl you look wonderful!!! Unbelievable at what a change in you. You're gorgeous! Has anyone heard from Nat? I miss her. I hope she checks in soon. Have a nice Sunday - talk to ya tomorrow!

The "I can anything" feeling is completly normal and good. You are healed now and most dr's do require 6 weeks of healing before they irratate the stomach again. Don't be suprised if the first fill doesn't do the trick - I had to go in 3 times before I really felt good restriction, 4th one put me at my sweetspot.

Congrats! I know how exciting it can be at this point. It will fly by, my worse part of waiting was the time between pcp appts and insurance approval. ugh.. I thought I'd die from impatience! Finally after about a month I called them and the same day they called the surgeon to say I was approved.

I don't think restriction is uncomfortable. Good restriction to me just means I feel full faster and it stays with me longer. As long as I follow all the band rules I don't have any discomfort. BUT if I take too big of a bite, eat too fast or drink with my meals it is uncomfortable. That feels like a tightness in your chest and if you could just throw up you'd be ok - but its not a nausating feeling - then if you happen to "pb" productive burp, its instant relief. I've got great restriction and have only pb'd twice.

Bk - I know what you mean about the first couple of weeks after a fill, its so easy. Go for a fill if you need it - thats my motto. Good luck. Boo - I had to laugh about your dh dragging you out of Lanes, my hubbster would never go clothes shopping with me. 27 years and I dont' remember him ever going into a ladies store with me. He goes once a year to Christmas shop - thats it. You're a lucky lady - and btw how is the dh? You two have alot going on right now - just remember this too shall pass. Transformer - good to hear from you again! I hope you take some 'me' time in the midst of your hectic life. I think I'll go through my closets this weekend too - good idea! Just remember 40 ain't old.....if you're a TREE!!!! So sorry - when I saw you were 40 I had to say it. I got my sister a bumper sticker that said that for her 40th b-day, at the time I was 28 - well 40 has come and gone for me so I know how it feels. Kaydoll - do you realize the average lapband weight loss for the first year is 40% - so you are over that already - good job!! I'm so glad you are checking in agian. Va - I'm sending you a pm, I emailed my dr. Ok - I've been screwing around for the past 2 hours - I better get some work done. Have a nice weekend!

Hi guys - I kinda forgot about my measurements and just now thought about it so I measured - my first measurements were on 1/8 and since then I've lost 8 1/2 inches off my waist!!!! 4 inches off my butt, and an inch off my thigh, only 1/4 inch off my arms - must not have been as much fat to lose there. Thats pretty good for 3 months!! I had bought a size 14 slacks a month or 2 ago, they were on the sale rack and I had bought jeans at the same time that were a 14 so I didn't bother trying them on, well when I got them home I couldn't even get them buttoned - probably 2" gap - so about 2 weeks ago I tried them on and I got them buttoned but no way I could've worn them - so then yesterday I tried again, PRESTO! they fit and easily - in fact they were almost baggy in the butt. So last night I had to take dd for a couple things and while at the store I thought I'm gonna try a 14 slack again. I ended up buying 3 pairs! They all fit so nice - I started getting all fluttery thinking omgoodness a 12 is next!!!!!!!!! I can't even remember a 12, I don't think I've kept any 12's so I'll have to buy all new! Thinking back I think it was 11 years ago, 1996 when I worked at the newspaper and I was a 12 - I think I weighed 163 then - thats about 30 more pounds. I gotta go get on the treadmill I think I can do it!!! Change that I think we ALL can do it!!! WE ARE LOSERS!!! STEADY LOSERS!!!!

Thought I'd poll this one. Seems like alot of us use the band as a diet tool and many others as a lifestyle change. How do you use it?

I didn't really have a last straw but in the midst of the piling up of pounds I just couldn't get a control on it. Gain some, lose some, up and down, my sil had gastric bypass and used the scripture "if your hand offends you cut it off". I started praying about it and if it was in God's plan it would work out for me, insurance.. timing.. everything, it did. I thank God everyday for this surgery. I come from a family of heart disease and diabetes so I knew it would hit me soon so it was about health in that aspect but even more so it was the little things like riding in the boat watching everyone else ski and tube bc I was too fat to join in. Then theres the vainty side too, I felt my face had become distorted from the fat.

Brandi I can't believe how little your legs are! You'll be wearing those short shorts (hot pants in my day) this summer!

holy cow Bman!!! Brandi you look wonderful!!! What a difference. Come on now and be honest, you've never caught a glimpse of yourself and went whoa is that me? Big difference in your appearance. I really don't think I even come close to that. Kaydoll!!! I've missed you!!! I'm so happy to hear from you! I understand how hard it is with work, kids, school... but we love you and miss you when you're gone. I hope your fill works. I was in the same place and believe me its so much better to have a good fill! Let us know how it goes. I went to Bunco tonight - always a fun time with my ladies. I finally spilled the Beans and told them I had the surgery. There were only 3 of the 8 of us who didn't know... but the one girl who was the most interested is at least 100 lbs over weight - she drilled me. So it was an interesting night. But before all that ... I GOT A NEW CAR!!! Well its a 2004 - but thats new for me! For the past 7 years, since the kids started driving, we've been passing cars around until finally I didn't have one and was driving my dh's truck. And we were free from car payments so it was kinda hard pushing me into the whole loan crap again. But I love it and its mine. Oh its an Impala. My son said why would mom want a big car like that? Its not like you have kids, she should've gotten something sporty (hey its got a spoiler) and I said well when I see him I'm going to tell him its so I can fit 2 car seats in the back just in case they have twins. (they just got married and are waiting 3 yrs for my grandbabies) Claudia - what are you thinking about getting the bf? I agree with bman, dinner is always special. Va Kirsten - bummer to hear of all that bs with the drs - that sucks! I can't believe they would charge you that extra $500! Hey since we are only 2 hours away want me to check with my dr? He's cute. I know he takes new patients bc I met one the last time I was there. Jill, Bk remember we all lose differently. I've lost about 37 lbs, and that was from my highest last summer 231- but since the surgery its alot less. I was at 226 before the pre-op diet, lost 8 so at surgery I was at 218 and so since surgery I've only lost about 24 lbs. Don't worry about it, I know its hard but even if its only a pound or two a month, thats a pound or two you didn't gain. And it will come off! Good night - I love ya bunches - you are my support and like everyone else has said you're really the only ones who really understand. And you're all so nice... I just love ya!

DD has strep. She had me look this morning before I left for work and I saw spots. Sure enough the dr confirmed it was strep, so shes on penicillin. Hopefully it'll knock it out of her before Saturday. Bk - it'll happen when you least expect it to - suddenly you'll go "wow, thats me!" I had another nsv today. One of the guys at work said you can tell Steph is losing weight, she doesn't wear those big baggy clothes anymore (I think he was looking at my butt LOL ) I actually am between sizes, my butt is a 14 but my waist is a 16 - it drives me crazy! So yeah my butt looked good today but if he had seen the fat flopping out at the waistline he may have thought differently. Still it was nice to hear.

(((Jill))) Good to hear from you! The little sweetie pie is healing ok then? I know what you are talking about bc things can throw me for a loop too - in fact just being out of town for a few days and I get out of my routine - I haven't really walked in almost a week. But today I am. I hope your fill works. My fills are covered by insurs. but I still have a $35 co-pay, a small price to pay compared to so many others. My dd is sick, hopefully it will pass soon. She is in a local pagent this weekend so I'm praying she'll be feeling better by Saturday. She came to my room crying last night, she couldn't sleep, she was aching all over, I gave her tylonel and half a sleeping pill (she's almost 17) - and I told her she didn't have to go to school just sleep in and get rested.

wtg BK!!! You are doing so good since your last fill! I'm really proud of you! Ok silly question. Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself and go wow is that me? Just happened to me. I had ran to the bank and when I was getting out of the car I saw myself in the window of the car next to me. My face looked so thin! I was like holy cow is that me? then I kept trying to see myself in all the other windows. LOL

Boo its so good to hear from you! I hope all the tests come out ok. I'll be praying for you and hubby. I'm sorry to hear everything happening to you all at once like this - that really stinks. Congrats on the near 100 loss! woohoo!!! you go girl! Kirsten I'm glad you got things rolling. You'll be happy with another fill. Being at this spot makes it all so much easier. I don't feel like I'm dieting anymore. I don't have to fight the snack urge every night, its great. I'm going to keep up on my fills as I need them, now that I know how it can really work. Back to work... I forgot how much work I have when we open up again. Geesh and I was bored at home??? Was I CRAZY!!!??!!!

Its a great thread I hope more old bandster will keep posting!

I agree with you Wendell. When I got the band I told my dr I was never going to diet again. But I find myself counting calories everyday and stress if I'm not losing. I still eat the foods I've always loved but I had to vote that I'm using it as a dieting tool - at least for now. Eventually I hope it will only be used as a lifestyle change.

Yes to all of the above. I finally feel restriction after the 4th fill but more importantly all the band rules have come into affect for me. I must take small bites, I must chew throughly, I must not drink before or after and I must make good food choices. I am now finally losing 2 lbs a week.

Jackal how long did it take for you to reach goal and on an average how much were you losing per week/month? I'll be so glad when its all 2nd nature for me. Did you use the band as a dieting tool or a lifestyle change?

Jlynn - I actually lived in Taconite (on the range) for about 3 years when I was in jr high. I've only been to Virginia a few times but used to go to Hibbing alot to shop - but anyhoo it is a small world.

Brandi I hope you savored every bite of that Reeses. BK I feel the same as you. When I see the scale finally moving I'm so happy! I love it - makes it all worth while. I still struggle with eating SLOW - geesh I don't know why or how long its going to take me to get better habits! I did it again today, that first big bite and then I'm like whoooooooa! I think its bc I was eating at my desk and not sitting at the bar and thinking about my food.