StephC

Va - I don't have little ones - you meant Kay - my baby is 16. My oldest daughter is bringing her new bf home next week when gramma is here. He's marriage material - I'm excited. Kay - how's she doing today? Its the curse of the first year at school. Fruits and vegies - I try to eat an apple or orange a day or even just 1/2 then my vegies with supper, put a slice of tomato on my tuna, little things like that. and flintstone gummies Annie my doctor says the same thing, stay away from protien drinks, liquids go on through and don't satisfy. Besides I gag on the stupid things. I called my PA yesterday about a fill and we talked for 15 minutes. I got 2cc my first fill and he thinks that was aggressive. He said try to eat the solid foods, like a sandwich, meats... ya know. I told him about my eggs benedict and he said when we get to that ravenous stage of hunger we do tend to over eat and since I had just had a cup of coffee before I ate it probably helped the first half go on down faster and made room for the 2nd half. He wants me to hold off until next week and don't worry about the weight loss. He also said he doesn't want to make this hard for me, the band should make things easier. Then he said since I'm exercising so much not only is muscle heavier then fat but that muscle holds water. Not in a bad way like retention but in a good way. I knew this because my son took creatine when he was in sports and thats what it does, it adds water to the muscle. So he advised me to just try to eat more solid foods, don't drink 1/2 hour before and if I can go 1 1/2 to 2 hours without drinking after I eat do that. I feel better since I talked to him. Its not like any of this was new to me but I just needed to hear it. I really don't feel like I'm eating wrong, I know I'm keeping it at or below 1000 calories, but I just don't get why I'm not losing a little faster. You all have lost 30 -40 lbs and here I am stuck at 21! I guess I'm going to blame it on menopause. House update - hubster decided to take the rest of the week off - yippee - and is ready to start laying the floor today - all the wiring and everything is done. B-man I can't wait to see the pics!

hi all - I went to yahoo to see what I'd missed and I guess I was the last to post. LOL B-man I just saw you had your surgery in Cincinniti - you aren't that far from me - maybe 4 hours? Hubby worked out there for about 8 months a couple years ago. I'm just east of Pittsburgh, and VA I think you are pretty close to me too. I'm glad you made it home ok. Bk - good to hear the fill went well. I think 9.75 would hold 9.75 - right? Its not as bitter cold here this morning. Thank goodness. Kay that soup sounds yummy - something hubby would like. I think a ww point is 50 calories. Nat its so nice to have someone notice all the hard work! You go girl! I'm nervous about mom and sis coming - I think they'll be expecting a thinner me. I don't think they would say anything to discourage me.

BK - good luck with the fill - I was allowed breakfast and then nothing for lunch and I had my fill around 1:30 - geesh I see its almost 2:00 now - you're probably on your way. We got the bar torn out now - and I've cleaned my cabinets out - what a mess. I'm also getting a new countertop and dishwasher. I stand back and think I'd really like to tear the other wall out and put in a nice new island, w/stove and stuff. oh well - I'm happy with what I got. Ok so we were working on all of that today and here we had a pipe break. So glad hubster is home. My dd's car won't start. Its been a day and 1/2 and its only 2:00! Calgon take me away! darn I don't even have Water for a bath!

Good morning ladies! Its freaking freezing here again today!!! We went and bought our new flooring last night. I got Pergo - it looks the most like hardwood with the beveled edges and texture. Also the most expensive but we decided it'll probably last till we die so may as well get the best. Hubby has the bar pretty much torn out and just needs to rewire some of it. I'm excited to get this stuff done its been 20 years since I've had remodeling done, other then just new carpet. I guess him cutting his finger was a blessing in disguise because now he's home to work on the house. Nat - I make a dip kind like your queso - its the large block of velvetta, a jar of salsa and a pound of browned and drained sausage. Its yummy too. Just melt it all together in a crockpot. If you notice I go for the simple yet tasty foods. (and fattening!) LOL Really good dessert if you are in a hurry. 2 graham cracker crusts - store bought is easiest. 2 pks cream cheese, soft, mix with 1 cup powder sugar add a tub of cool whip fill your pie shells and top with cherry or blueberry pie filling. Takes about 5 minutes and everyone LOVES it. Natster also glad you got the do done, always feels good to have nice hair. Kaydoll - you sound like you are doing great with the exercising and even the food control. Once you get a fill you'll be right back to feeling restriction again. B-man sounds like you have a nice dr. Its good to be able to talk to them and know they care. Its funny because you all know I crush on my dr - well I went to his website and he really isn't all that good looking. LOL I guess its just bc he's so sweet and attentive when I'm around him that makes him so attractive. Claud - the fill isnt' so bad - I didn't have any numbing or anything I just don't watch, the only thing that hurts is the initial poke from the needle and we've all done that a million times - concentrate on pressing your 2 big toes together and you won't even notice. But you'll love the restriction when you get the fill. All this rah-rah talk and I'm in limbo hovering around 202 - 205 for the past week. I'm undecided if I should get another fill yet or not. I know I can eat a cup of food and be full for 4 hours if I don't drink so I'm thinking I shouldn't need a fill yet but then why isn't the scale still moving? I'm pretty sure I'm keeping my calories around or below 1000 and exercising everyday. Mom, sis and neice are all coming in the 15th - 20th. Mom is 79, sis is 56, I'll be 45 and neice is 35. Then of course I've got the 2 girls that are 16 and 20. What an age variety!? But we have the most fun in the world when we are together. Me and my girls went out to Mn last Jan. and then they were here in July so we dont get to spend alot of time together so when we do we have a blast. I'm excited to have them here. Men? what men? OK soooo sorry for the extreme post.

B-man I eat a cup of food - but then I'm FULL! And if I don't drink I will stay full for 4 hours or more. My dr said everyones pouch size is different so you may be able to hold a cup. But its important how long you are sated. I gotta run - mom is coming to visit and wants me to find tickets for her. I'll catch up with you all tomorrow.

Hi all - Advil - my dr said it can lay in the stomach and cause erosion. Breakfast - my fav is shredded wheat - theres a new cinnamon flavor I love or else I have an 1egg & 1 egg white with wheat toast. shakes are not going to stay in the banded pouch so I stay clear of them - in fact I try to stay clear of all liquids as much as possible except when I'm getting my Water in. Which I do about an hour before I eat. I drink 3 glasses in the morning before breakfast and then the rest before meals. If I drink sooner I'm hungry sooner. Talk to you all soon!

Thanks for all the well wishes - hubby's finger is throbbing and he's enjoying the pain pills. He's taking a couple days off so my treadmill sits in the bedroom unused. I want to go ski but its like zero here and school is delayed because of it. Burrrr I like the snow but the cold sucks. I hear all of you going in for the 2nd fill and I'm beginning to wonder if I should. I ate like a pig yesterday. Ok so not like a pig but I made these bars and can't stay away from them. I sent food home with everyone - including the bars - but I kept just a few because dd & dh like 'em too - so I ate one before bed - which totaled about 3 for the day! This moring there are 2 left sitting on my table and I already broke a peice off - someone better eat them fast! I guess that was my worst part off the eating but that was probably 600 calories right there! oh no wait - I forgot about all the dip and chips I ate! ugh! I need to measure my food today and watch how I'm drinking before and after I eat because I think alot of the problem is washing it down the band and allowing for more food to be consumed. (ie:eating around the band) So today I'm going to really try to watch what I'm doing and then if I think its not working I'll call Wed for a fill. Nat - sorry sparks weren't flying - but maybe he'll end up being a good friend. And it is sooooo nice to have someone find you attractive! Whats up with the hair? Sorry to all you bear fans but I was rooting for the colts - I'm not a big football fan but my house is and I was the only one who thought the colts would win. It was fun. Jillrn - your house kinda sounds like my house - hunting, fishing, atv's, avid sportsmen in my house - and a couple women too, my dd, and dil both shot deer the past 2 years. But they all love tv sports too. My son is getting into the ultimate fighting - ufc? - and hopes to have his first fight this summer. He was a huge athlete in hs and placed at states in track and wrestling and I know its been killing him not being able to compete so this is something good for him. Nikki hope you feel better soon! Va - you're so lucky to have a friend who's a bandster too! YOU all are my only real bandster buddies. Have a good day ladies - hubbster and I are going shopping for laminate flooring today - yipee - he started tearing out the bar yesterday.

From what I'm told its a productive burp - when you eat alittle too much and some needs to come back up. But I've never had it happen to me so I'm not really the best one to be telling.

hey ladies - didnt' expect to find any of you on since its super bowl day. I'm actually taking a short break from my mixings. I made a pan of bars, and then I'm making a cheesecake dessert and baked Beans then I won't have anything left to make until everyone gets here - we're doing crablegs hmmm. So yesterday we were at a peewee wrestling tourny and I worked a table - everything went well, I ate Breakfast at home, then a slice of pizza for lunch. It went down well. I didn't eat anything and by 6 I was starved so hubby and I went to my sons and then we were going to Lowes to take his snow blower back and get something to eat. Well the guys were loading the snowblower in the truck and it slipped and hubby slashed his finger open - deep. So we spent the rest of the evening in the er - he had to get 14 stitches, half of which were on the inside. So I went about 10 hours with no food. We finally go to eat and I ordered eggs benedict - omg it was so good! I ate the whole thing. Fitday says it was only around 300 calories but I think it must have been more then a cup of food. An english muffin, 2 poached eggs, ham and hollandiase sauce. I ate some hashbrowns too. Believe me I was STUFFED - I just didn't like the fact that I could eat it all. Doesn't that seem like alot of food? I thought that maybe it was because while I was waiting on the food I drank a cup of decaf - maybe that washed the first half on down. I dont' want another fill unless I need it. I really over anaylize the whole eating thing. I went out skiing yesterday morning at like 7:30 am! It was so beautiful to be out when the sun was just rising. I know I know you all think I'm a tard and I would think that too. I hope you all have, had, a nice super bowl day. I guess I'm going back to the kitchen to finish what I have left to do. BTW - hubster is ok - they gave vicoden so he's napping - hehehe - antibiotics, motrin so he's pretty drugged up. The big baby. Gotta love him tho. Natster can't wait to hear how the day went with the man.

my nutrionist gave me a list of what not to eat. Mainly fibrous foods like asparagus and celery because they ball up in the stomach and can't get through the band - same with white bread. the heading says foods that may cause discomfort. Enough of a warning for me. Same with the straw - I don't need to use a straw and would rather not try. So its not an issue nor is gum - Brittney Spears turned me off on gum, she looked so stupid chomping away during an interview I thought geesh I hope I don't ever look that stupid.

me too You all are my motivation - if I wouldn't have had your encouragement during the pre-fill stage I would have probably given up. And the same with the exercising - when Nat and B-man were going like maniacs on those ellipticals I was sitting around doing nothing. Remember I didn't have the ok because of my knee but when I finally got the ok I was raring to go because I saw the results they were getting. I'm proud to say that I'm exercising at least once a day and most days I'm doing an extra 15 to 30 minutes in the afternoon. B-man I'm so sorry if I freaked you out about the overeating. But thats how my dr explained it to me too. If you don't have enough of a fill some of the food that you are eating will go down through the band thus making you able to eat more then the recommended 1/2 -3/4 cup - but if you do overeat it will back up into your esphogus and yes you will vomit - or maybe even pb? When people talk about pbing thats what I'm thinking that they took that bite too much. But then I again I could be wrong. I went shopping today - I bought a sweater but that was all. I'm anxious to lose at least 10 more pounds so I can go down a size. I'm still in a large 14 or a reg 16. I have closets full of clothes that are just waiting for me to get rid of some of this stuffing. But what I was REALLY shopping for is new flooring. Do any of you have the laminated floors? I really like the look of hardwood better but I like the maintainance of the laminated. And I like the look of the laminated. I'm just not sure how it'll look in my house. I'm doing almost my whole first floor, kit, bath, Lr, and dining room. I'm really excited. I've been wanting to tear the bar out thats between my kitchen and LR for years and its finally going to happen. ok - long post. sorry

B-man you are awesome! WTG on the 7 lbs! So very proud of you. I definitely think exercise is the key to steady losing. And hey we are STEADY LOSERS I know I feel thinner. Last night my friend said Steph you are really losing, I can tell. I said thanks I'm working at it. She knows about the band - I was telling her how I've been working out and she said thats whats doing it. If you keep it up people are going to think you had that bypass instead of the band. made me feel good.

Jon - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of self descipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 This verse has helped me, I have it on my fridge, bathroom mirror and wallet. And most importantly in my heart.

Thats the other thing Nate said was that if you don't have much fill in then the food will go down as you are eating - thus making it easier to eat more. I was beginning to wonder if I would be needing a fill so soon and then I realized I was drinking water about 1/2 to an hour after I ate and that made my food go down faster. When I don't drink until about an hour before I'm ready to eat again I can go 4 hours easily. But if you aren't a water drinker this may not work for you. I can drink at least 3 cups of water from the time I get up until I eat breakfast then another cup before lunch and supper and before bed I drink about 2-3 more cups.

Ok so I just got off the phone with Nate and he said I had the right idea. And then he went through the whole hour glass thing. If you have an hour glass and fill it with water it'll go right through, if you put sand in it, it'll take a little longer, if you put rice in it that takes longer, if you put marbles in they'll take even longer and if you put big gumballs in it they aren't going down. So all that said he said restriction has to do with the tightness of the band and how long it takes for your food to pass through. And if you drink with your food its going to get washed on down. He also said that video from Dr Rutledge is going to be the topic of the next support meeting. He said theres so much information going around and you have to be able to decipher whats real and whats not. He said that Rutledges proceedure has had a ton of problems and that no insurance company will ok it. I hated to bother him with this stuff but I guess it was ok since it gave him an idea for the next support group.

B-man that just doesn't make sense. When I got my fill I watched the barium in the xray, in fact he showed me all of the xrays one right after the other, and being able to eat 1/4 or 2 cups doesn't have anything to do with being restricted. If you overeat the food backs up into the esphogus. Really I saw it and he told me that is why its hard to actually stretch the pouch. We should eat 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of food because thats all we need to feel full, if we push it and try to eat 2 cups its just going to back up into the esphogus and make us feel miserable. OR cause us to pb - which is why I don't understand the whole thing with people taking a bite of food and it getting stuck. Restriction should only have to do with the amount of saline in the band which would make the food stay in the pouch longer. Please don't get me wrong I'm not saying you don't make sense - just that thought. Believe me I may be wrong in my way of thinking and think I'll give Nate my PA a call to see what he has to say.

My scale is out the window too! It keeps saying 205 which is what it was saying before I went for my fill last week! And then I get to the dr and his scale says 209 - I hate it! I keep saying its the lying sob and I'm not going to listen to it anymore! Guess what - I'm screwing off at work. LOL big deal - no one here to care. All it does is postpone my screw off time at home. B-man why are you getting another fill so soon? I thought you had good restriction. When you talk about eating slowly and how food goes down... I can't relate at all - everything goes down for me, no matter how fast I eat - whats up with that? Aren't you staying full? Have any of you pb'd or slimed? I haven't had either of them happen. I don't know if its because I'm cautious or I just don't have the restriction that others do. I really am not understanding the whole "restriction" thing. First of all wouldn't restriction mean the band felt tighter? So why does that have anything to do with how fast or slow you eat since we want it to sit in the pouch for 3-4 hours to keep us feeling full. The same thing about drinking water - if we drink when we eat it washes it down through the band right - thats why they say wait. And THIS I feel because if I drink too soon I'm hungry faster. Like this morning I drank 3 glasses of water before I ate breakfast at 9, its 12:30 and I'm still full but I know if I drink again it'll wash it down and I'll be hungry in 1/2 hour. And the stuck "golf ball" feeling isn't that because the food is having a hard time digesting or that you ate too much? Sliming I thought was the result of food being stuck or not easily digested. Am I on the right track? I guess I better run to the bank and post office - I'll catch up with ya all later.

Bk - sounds like you are ready for that fill. Thats how I was right before the fill. I eat about 3/4 of a cup maybe a little more and then it'll last me about 3-4 hours. I like to eat later so I can go to bed without eating but I was staying up to watch AI and ended up having a Special K bar and a popcicle. Same thing happened at lunch I ended up snacking about 3-4 hours after. I'm still keeping below 900 calories. I had been only eating at meals until yesterday. I'm hoping the fill lasts me a while but if not I will go back in for more. BTW your sil is probably trying to make herself feel better about chosing bypass instead of the band. OK Confession time - I come from a family of ministers. 2 brothers and 2 brother in laws are pastors. Well the one is a rabbi - but we won't go there. Anyway I just want you to know that most pastors, youth pastors, good christian men LOVE sex. I think maybe that its almost like their vice. Because when its with your wife/husband its ok. I can bet this guy was looking at your heart Nat and he saw something good. Can you believe its the first of February already! I have to go into work - yuko! Have a good day ladies ttyl

Hey regarding that Dr Rutledge video - I emailed the PA at the dr's office and forwarded him that link and he replied: Thanks Stephanie. I did some research on this provider and his information/resources that he sites are weak and outdated. They also have changed not only the make of these devices, but the operative techniques. He also combines the facts of several different makers of the adjustable bands into one general statement, which is not accurate and is misleading. If you have any questions, please give me a call or shoot me an email. I hope that eases your mind BK. It did me. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdVStOH47h0][/ame]

BK - I don't watch surgery - yuk - just like to clarify my mom and sister are the nurses in the family, I'll stick to paperwork. That Dr Rutledge video... I have to agree with Bman I think its all about the non adjustable band, I looked up his website it was not very professional. The non adjustable band is not much different then stomach stapling. I think the fact that if its too tight we can get some taken out is the key to it working. I'm loving the restriction I've got from this first fill. I really feel like its working for me. I'm not skiing today - its cold and my hip aches again. I've sat with the heating pad all last evening and again this morning. My hubster said I need to slow down a little with the exercising he's worried about my knee. The backs of my knees don't hurt anymore but the top of it ached a little yesterday. So I said ok I'll just walk the treadmill for a few days and then see how I feel. When my sister called last night hubbster answered and said hold on I'll let you talk to the little woman. :biggrin1: My sister said wow you must really be losing weight if he's calling you the "little woman" LOL My family all live in Minn. and I'm in PA so they are excited to see how I'm doing. They were here last summer for the wedding and I felt and was horribly fat then, probably my very fattest. Sis and ma are thinking they'll come out in Feb for a few days and I'm a little nervous about it. I keep telling them 20 lbs doesn't make a big difference when you have 100 to lose so I hope they aren't disappointed when they see me. I also keep telling them this isn't gastric bypass I'm not going to lose as fast as my sil did. Guess I'll go walk the plank er.. treadmill. Ellen will be coming on soon and she makes it alittle more interesting. I was watching a Hallmark movie that I taped from the other night - Valley of something - it was good and I watched it 2 days while walking then yesterday I wanted to see the ending so I watched it all. Bummer . I need something new to watch. Maybe I should pick up a series while I'm in town. Anyone have a fav they watch thats out on dvd? Have a good day ladies!

Maybe the punch is the kind we have at St patty's party, green sherbert, 7up and vodka - ya never know. Ok just because I could love him doesn't mean everyone can. JHud is on Oprah today. Did you hear the dr on oprah the one day say that we are attracted to the other sex by our scent? Maybe you just didn't catch his scent.

Ok Nat I now know you are certifialble - NUTS - WACKO - INSANE and just plain stupid. (go ahead and call me a bitch I don't care) This guy is an answer to most womens prayers! I think I'm in love with him! Why would you find that he's a youth pastor distasteful? I find it honorable - and Lord knows he'd be a good influence on #1 son. A roll in the hay will only bring you a few moments of pleasure - a man looking for love can bring years of pleasure. And he apparently has good taste if he finds you attractive - right? Rethink this one darling cause he sounds like a catch to me! Unless of course you aren't looking to find the man of your dreams! Seriously any man will do for a roll in the hay - am I right ladies? - but when you are ready for love it takes someone special.

btw - I went skiing again today - I just did a mile, and I only fell once. Came home and did 25 minutes on the treadmill and I think I'm going to walk tonight at the school with my niece. Nat - it really does make you feel good about the day when you start with exercise. Calories in vs Calories out

The results of the band vs the bypass after 3 years is the banders are still slowly losing or at goal and the bypassers have started to regain. I've seen it in people I know who have had it done. Nat - I can't wait to hear how lunch went. You go girlfriend! Kay - I can't get past the way they lay under my roll - can't do it. I've reverted to my granny panny's - I'd rather go comando then have my underwear rolled down into a ball under my roll of fat. BUT someday I'm going to wear bikini panties just like I used to - it may take a tummy tuck to get me into them but I'll get there!

Nikki - you changed your name! I didn't know! I'm glad they didn't have to "open" you up. I agree I feel full alot longer now and don't snack between my meals at all. B-man we all wish we could blink our eyes and it be gone but believe me you are doing AWESOME! I feel the same struggle with the scale and have decided not to dwell on it since the last visit when I was so disappointed that I'd only lost one pound. I'm going to keep doing what I think is right and pray it works. Happy Birthday Claudia! I usually try to take a look on the main page to see if its any of yens birthdays but I must have missed it. Heads up my birthday is February 12th - 2 days before V-day. Please, no cards, presents only. BK that jk was funny! Nat - I say you just need laid. Have a night of fun with the youngster and say goodbye. JUST KIDDING! Do whats right in your heart. Don't mind the age look at Ashton and Demi. Its working for them. I'm not a big drinker just a glass of wine now and then. I love dark beer - yuengling is-was my drink of choice. I don't miss it and only drank a couple at a time anyway. I also only drink one glass of wine to my hubbys 3 beer so I take it slow. The only time I tend to over drink is at St.Pattys party our friend has - its always such a hoot and close to home. He serves a punch its got green sherbert and 7-up and vodka - yummy - geesh I just realized I won't be drinking that this year. OMGoodness Kay - I forgot to tell you this. I was watching E a couple weeks ago and they were doing the top 20 fashion don'ts. They played the mom jeans commercial! LMAO! It was like #2 on the list. Ya know what else I can't stand is when my underwear roll. I just bought new panties and thinking ok I'll try the ones that aren't bikini but aren't briefs either. I hate 'em! I have 'em on 5 minutes and they roll down below my fat roll - drives me crazy!