beversman

Well, the pain ive been having is NOT band related. But my Dr. said he might have detected a small growth on my left hand side. Said most probably is a fatty cyst that can form during weight loss process... CUTE... he gave me pain meds though and they are great. I have no pain at all right now :-) They are anti-inflamatory and should zap my sore spot and make it go away. yeah!! Dr C ------------------------ Claud be careful eating too little... 500-600 calories is probably too little. To hard to get all the good stuff you need. You dont want to miss your protein!! Congrats on the walking. One step at a time. Your doing great girl! Maurdan that little gadget sounds awesome. Let me know how it works. Someday when I get a little spare cash I would love to get one. Steph OUCH! That had to be awful to happen while you were out and about. I got "stuck" while dining out at a restraunt... at least I could go hide in the bathroom. But it is just the worse feeling. Just get that next fill girl... DONT wait. It is awesome when you get to that "sweet" spot. I think I might have found mine. VAband -- I am definitely looser in the evenings. In the morning I have to REALLY take my time now. Things do not go down very well when I first get up. Nikki -- Congratulations on moving that scale again. You will get that 16 stone before you know it. I bet is is nice to say. Heck a few more months it gonna be 14 stone... end of this year you could be at GOAL! Keep looking forward. BKwalling -- I sure hope I didnt trasmit a REAL virus via internet.. haha... seems like since I caught that stupid stomach virus... Youve all been sick, and I know it isnt fun. I am still recovering over a week later. Bannanie -- glad the DR was so quick with the unfill. that had to be a terrible feelings when you know that water is starting to go down slowly. At least it happened when you were in a place that it could be fixed!! Who would have thought a few months ago that we'd all have come this far!! We are well on our way ladies! I am so proud of all of you :-)

Well, honest truth on eating??? I drank all my calories this weekend and didnt exercise once,:eek: unless you count the "rough housing" friday night till 5am... haha Ive been no role model lately!! My last fill is just hardcore. I cant eat more than a 1/2 cup at a time. (until evening) and then i just steer clear of food. I am eating very very little... and i was sick last week... that got me moving again with the weight. I wouldnt suggest catching a stomach virus though. It was horrible. I am still sore.

Banannie -- Yes, I know how he is with other girls.... and yes, sometimes I think I know way too much becuase I know EVERYTHING. Like I said, he is a ladies man, and is NOT ready to settle down. Have you ever watched 'Two and A Half Men'.... a series on TV?? He is the "Charlie" character. He loves women. Which was why I thought it odd when he wanted nothing to do with any of them Friday night. But heck, Ive always wondered... what if we both arent married in 5-10 years. He finally settles down a bit. You just never know. The difference between me and the "other girls" is that he doesnt care about them, and he WOULD have slept with them. He does care about me and he didn't. Thats where it gets fuzzy. He confused himself this time. He kept saying, "I am not supposed to be hitting on you." I would laugh and say, "well, you are certainly doing a good job of it." He would get this big goofy grin and say, "I am aren't I?" I think, more than anything, he suprised himself. He certainly suprised me. I was even more suprised, however, with how comfortable I was with the whole thing, and how much I found myself "NOT" wanting to say no. I dont even like guys hitting on me anymore. I don't want them to touch me or look at me. I think it was different with him becuase he is someone I care alot about. I felt safe. It was so nice to lay there and have him hold me. THAT is what i missed more than anything. Just having someone close. I am just still not over my husband. BUT Eric knew all about that, and so it was like he understood... which made it ok. He asked me how long it had been. I told him noone since my husband. And he just hugged me and didnt say anything else at all. So, I never felt like it was wrong. Just not the right time. :-)

I need some reassurance… Ive already call my doctor and I am waiting on a return call. But here is the situation. I got a stomach virus on Tuesday. I feel nauseated all day. And some chicken I tried to eat that morning (before I felt too bad) seemed to be stuck. By noon I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach with a boot. My muscles ached. I had a 101 degree fever. I couldn’t even drink Water without feeling sick, and it felt like things weren’t going down properly. <O:p I threw up a little water on three separate occasions through out the day. That was all. By 4 pm fever was worse, I left work early went home and slept. The virus finally passed by about 10pm that night. I no longer felt sick to my stomach and was able to keep chicken broth down and even a little potato Soup. <O:p</O:p Next morning I felt a lot better.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p Then Wednesday even on my LEFT side just below my rib cage I started to get this horrible pain. If I breath deeply, it hurts. If I lay on that side it hurts. If I stretch, it hurts.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p I am worried that I somehow did something to my band.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p It was only one day… on time being sick. I was hoping it was just an irritation, but should I still be hurting like this 2 days later? Or should it be easing up.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p I was just hoping someone else out there had had this happen and might be able to ease my mind.<O:p></O:p>

wow... ok ladies... it was a great weekend. good story for ya I dont know if you remember or not, but I was really excited becuase this past weekend I was going to Indianapolis to see my best friend, Eric. We've been friends like this for 8 years. anyway... He is a "skinny" girl lover. So, hence he and I never hooking up. I never considered the possibility. Apparently, he must of REALLY missed me... He tried to seduce me on Friday night :eek: OMG. After 8 years??? what the heck? He and I had both had a couple of drinks, and we were out at a bar together. He wouldnt go hit on any of the women there like usual. (which was strange) He is a LADIES MAN. Attractive, a massage therapist, a musician. He was kind of quite and unlike himself. He kept coming and checking on me. (usually I never see him once he finds some girl to talk to). ha. Well, then he wanted to go home early. (also strange) Then, we got back and he wanted to watch this TV show that he'd downloaded. He said, "well, lets just watch it in my room so we dont wake everyone up." (his roommate are two other friends of ours). I get in the room (completely oblivious to what is going on) and he turns around, gives me "the look" and does the husky-man-bedroom voice and says, "shut the door." :eek: I must have looked like a combination of "idiot" crossed with "deer in headlights" becuase it wasnt until then that I finally figured it out. HA. Well, long story short. Things went far... but not THAT far. I am so glad I hadnt been drinking much. If it wasnt for me talking him out of everything... it would have totally happened. It was so hard to say no. Which confused me even more. We are NOT supposed to be thinking about each other that way. I haven't been anywhere near another man since my huband. Never even wanted to be, but it just seemed ok with him. I guess it is because we are so close. It was really nice though. We were laughing and giggling in between him "pulling the moves." In fact, I think we both had way too much fun... What we figured out is that we couldn't do anything because we are TOO close. We tell each other "I love you" (i dont know if that is normal between male/female friends or not) which came up in the middle of all of this too. I don't think you can have a 'casual' encounter with someone if you love them. It is going to end up meaning something. I dont think either one of us was ready to deal with THAT. We were laying there just cuddling. He was trying to tell me why we "should". I was trying to rationalize why I shouldnt. I looked at him and I said, "I love you... you know." He looked back and said, "I love you too." Then, finally he just looks at me and says, "You have to go. It is not safe for you to stay here." (seriously, he said it) HA! (one of my favorite lines of the night). I was laughing (both of us were the whole time)... and I said, "Cant you control yourself around me anymore?" He smiled, squeezed my hand, and said, "Trust me. You need to go to the other room..... Now." So, I sat up and sat there for like 5 minutes. Trying to make myself leave. We both knew I was fighting it out in my head. All the sudden, I felt him touch my back and (before I could change my mind) I bolted for the door. Slammed it shut behind me. Then I sat out there on the couch breathing way to heavily for the next hour NOT sleeping at all. There is your "Young and the Restless" for the weekend ladies... ha I cant tell any of my friends from there. They DONT have a clue. So, I figured you ladies might get a kick out of it. He and I are totally ok with it which is probably strange too... we hung out the rest of the weekend. I even helped him set up his "match.com" webpage so he could meet the hot, skinny woman of his dreams. (ha) Although Saturday night, he didnt hang out when we got home from a party. He kind of smiled at me as if to say, "you know why." Then, he shut the door and went straight to bed. ha. I guess things are "safer" in the light of day. (sigh) boy, that was a confusing weekend. Didnt see that coming. love ya all!

well, i can feel my port and mine is dead center on my abdomin this pain is all the way around on my left side... 4-6 inches left of center just below my rib cage. The doctors office just called. They told me that they werent worried to take aleve and call them monday if it still hurts. I hate being paranoid, but my side HURTS. I didnt even have this pain after surgery.

yeah, i sure do... gall bladder intact

Well, i took my one month pictures... i cant tell a difference... ggggrrrr I guess you can see my collar bones now... and I think maybe I lost some in my arms... my belly was showing in my pics (thanks alot to the camera man for telling me)... so now I dont want to post them on here... ha I will put them on yahoo though... I dont know where that 9 lbs was that I lost... i sure cant tell. ---------------------- Nat -- love you too hon! Dont let a damn man get you down. Do as i say, not as I do... :-) don't get into a "brandi" funk.... that is what drinking and crying is you know. hehe (hugs) if he was that much trouble THAT soon... imagine how much trouble he would have been later Steph - so glad ive found all of you too! I've been lazy as well... dont feel bad Bannanie - oh yes, I did a happy dance when I got ahold of that title, and it didnt leave my hands the rest of the day. The old car with bad brakes... is a hunk of JUNK. so, it is off to the scrap yard. So LONG, and good riddance. --------------------------- I am a bit worried girls. I have this bad pain on my left side (above my stomach) that wont go away. It has hurt since Tuesday when I had my bad virus (throwing up 3 times). If I breath deep, or stretch up... it hurts. I am afraid I damaged something. Wouldnt THAT be my luck. One sick day and trouble.... I sure hope not, but it doesnt seem to be letting up. I am hoping that if I give it a few days that it will be ok. I am just worried. :girl_hug: I hate to run to the Dr. but it sure does hurt.

OMG -- well, the brakes went out on my car on Monday I borrowed my grandmothers car till those could be fixed... the cluth on her car went out on Tuesday! Yeah... no kidding... the same day that i had West Nile/bubonic plague. ----------------- BUT today... I got the title to that car that Ive had since last August.. that the dealer wouldnt send me the title. I finally got it today!!! 6 months later... i can sell, drive, ANYTHING my car. yeah!!! I am not carless!! ----------------- Claud... hahaha... i dont think i can transmit germs through the internet... but these were pretty horrible germs. maybe they DID make it that far... hahaha -- So sorry about the job hon. you should find a way to transfer to Indiana. Then, you can come exercise with me!! I will write more later... just had to tell you all the news!

oh yeah... it is WAY normal for us to be eating way less than we burn just sitting still. Normal people burn from 2000-2500+ depending on weight and age. That is just sitting still (resting)! Just think about how many calories you USED to eat in a normal day. I entered an "old" normal day in there one time. I was eating 3500 - 4000 calories a day...:girl_hug: NO PROBLEM! Now it is 600-800... I feel like ive eaten a ton when I get to 1200. Just goes to show... even with minimal exercise, we are gonna lose weight. Just remember that when you feel like your eating alot. Think about how much you USED to be able to eat. -------------------------- Thanks for noticing the BMI... what is considered Obese? I dont even know. My goal is to get below 200 by the end of March :-)

My goal is to be below 200 lbs by the end of March. :-)

What you do is just look at the Nutrion Label on the back of a package. It will tell you what a serving is. Soup is usually 1/2 cup to 1 cup. chicken fingers... 3-5 pieces. The nutrion label will always give you the serving size. Lets say I eat Uncle Ben's Brown Rice. So, I go to fitday... ADD a "custom food" You name it and then enter the nutrional info. In one serving (which on the box tells you is 1/4 precooked, 1/2 cooked) You have the ability to change the amount of the serving... you can use TBSP, TSP, CUP, LITER So, in this instance... you enter .5 CUP Calories 170 Total Fat 1 Cholesterol 0 Sodium 0 Potassium 100 Carbohydrates 36 Fiber 2 Protein 4 Alcohol 0 Then you SAVE it. Now, when you come back three days later, you could enter that you ate .5 CUP and those stats would pop up. (EX 170 calories) If the next day, you only eat .25 cup(half as much).... half of those values pop up. (EX 85 calories) It will calculate the changes for you once you enter it the first time. So, if you enter the stats for 1 Ounce of meat... then you eat 4 ounces. You enter four ounces and it will automatically X 4 to get the total amount of calories, fat, carb, ect... that you ate. TIP: If you don't have a nutritional label... they have many foods already listed in their database that you can search for and add. You can also find ALL Fastfood nutrional facts at http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=question457.htm&url=http://www.calorieking.com/foods/ You can search by restraunt. Then enter the nutrional #'s into fitday to tally them up with everything else you've eaten.

BK -- I track my calories on www.fitday.com. and yes, it is free :-) You can use the approximate calories that they already have on file or you can enter your own customer foods (by entering the nutrition label off of everything you eat). It saves them so you dont have to enter them ever again. You just select them and enter the amount that you consumed. --------------------------- OMG ladies... Ive been so sick. :sick i almost went to the hospital yesterday. i got a horrible stomache virus that acutally made my abdominal muscles hurt it was so bad. It felt like someone had kicked me in my stomach... right on top of my port. I mean like it felt like someone had beaten me. It hurt to sit up straight. It hurt to breath deeply. It was a million times worse than my surgery. :girl_hug: So, it really scared me. I thought that something was wrong with my band. It felt like I was gonna die. I couldnt even keep Water down. Honestly, I think having the band made it worse... because when i got sick it irritated my stomache where the band was making it even more uncomfortable than it would have been for the average person. I had NO food yesterday. Finally got water down... but no food. I had a fever of 102 the last i checked (last night)... and it got worse before it broke though. It broke at about 10pm last night. I was considerably better this morning... called in to work until Noon. Slept a little bit more and now I'm 100% better, but it sure gave me a heck of a scare. I thought I had an infection with my band or something. I got VERY paranoid. Ive eaten a very very small amount today, but it is all staying down now... no nauesea... so it must have just been a bug. I'm so glad THAT is over.

Here is what i had yesterday.... i had about 47 carbs... little more than I usually do... but I ate part of a piece of pizza. so, that was a bit unusual for me.

bk -- hey hon!! I think you just need to cut the carbs back. Like you said you lost well when you cut those out. I only eat about 40 carbs a day... even though I am eating food. Look at it this way: (for Snacks i will guess low and say 4 carbs... assuming your eating a low carb snack) Protein bar or Cereal - 10 -15 carbs Snack 4 carbs Wheat thins 8-10 probably have 20-25 carbs salad and meat -- depending on the veggies (tomatos and peppers can have quite a few carbs for veggies... the dressing will have from 5 - 8 (or WAY more in a TBSP) You could be anwhere from 15 - 25, maybe even more if the dressing is high in carbs. Snack 4 carbs Cottage cheese 6-8 carbs Wheat Thins 10 -20 carbs Sandwhich - 18 carbs for only one slice of bread if it is white cottage cheese 6-8 carbs That's 95 (low side) to 135 carbs (high side) a day. too high! My doctor says no more than 60 -80 a day. 60-80 is considered high. While you are still NOT eating that much.... You are consuming enough carbs that your body will be burning those all day FIRST instead of burning off the fat that you already are holding on your body. Rule is: Exercise burns CARBS that you consume FIRST. The first 15 mintues of your workout will just be burning what carbs you've consumed that day. Those carbs are the easiest for your body to access. The fastest energy source. So your body burns THOSE first. Then, once your body runs out of the "easy burning carbs" it turns to your body fat which is not as easy to break down, but will make the same kind of energy. So, (as someone who also can NOT eat many carbs) I would cut back to 50-60 carbs a day. Eat more meat and try low carb wraps instead of bread. I never eat wheat thins or chips becuase only 8 or 10 will have as many carbs as a whole sandwhich. They add up fast! Also watch your dressing (for salad) some of those Low Fat ones will replace the fat with sugar to compensate on taste. So, if it is LOW FAT... there is probably more sugar. Try slightly higher fat content and cut out the carbs. Don't get me wrong. You are NOT eating alot. Compared to regular people you are eating lower carbs... BUT The amount you are eating in comparison to the low calorie count will stall your weight becuase you are supplying enough carbs to keep your exercise from targeting the fat. Hope this helps. It's how ive been approaching it. I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and it makes me insulin resistant. Which means carbs dont digest. So, i steer clear of them all the time.

Yes, Ms. Nat -- we better get to hear the story! Steph -- I sure need to get myself into gear on the exercise too. Since my elliptical had its melt down... I havent been to the gym either. (also due to the medical crap last week), but i should have been there this weekend... and I didnt go. It is sooooo all in my mind. kaydot -- congrats on the 90%! I wouldnt feel like moving anything either. ALTHOUGH, it is soooo nice when you get everything organized and cleaned out. i just hate doing it too. :-) bk -- i go to a co-ed gym. I get anxious in there sometimes with all of those men just pounding away on the equipment. i doubt they really give me a second thought, but I feel like they are watching my every clumsy move sometimes. some days it bothers me... some days it doesnt of course, in order for it to bother me... i need to get my butt to the gym! ha ------------------------------ So, this last fill has me ALOT closer to my sweet spot. I actually feel the restriction a little bit again. I think I still need another small fill, but I am definitely not snacking around or looking for food at night anymore. It has really helped alot. Definitely dont wait. If you need a fill, call and get a fill! you shouldnt be feeling hungry. If you do, you need just a touch more. I am hoping to get back on track now.

I cant think of a reason why you couldnt do the elliptical right now. I have one and I was doing mine 2 days post op :-) no problems at all. Per my Dr. as long as it doesnt hurt when you do it... and you work up to a healthy level slowly... then you will be just fine. I did wait about 4 weeks before I did any crunches... but those were fine after 4 weeks too. So, if I were you... i'd go for it :-) but of course, I have to say it is always best to "listen to your dr."

Kristen hope your son does ok... that is always scary to send them into surgery. Let us know how everything goes :-)

.2CC more... I am up to 2.0CC total The nurse told me today that a good .5 to 1.0CC is actually just held in the tubing... so even though I have 2.0 "in the band" only a little over 1.0CC is actually out in the band around my stomach... thought that was interesting. She also explained that anything with fluids will go down straight past the band into my other bigger stomach. that includes caseroles, pot pie type things... or anything that had extra fluid. She said to stick to a plain chicken breast type consistency and I would notice the restriction better. You will also not feel it if you eat sauces with the meat ... it makes it slide right on past. They want it to stick around in there for a few hours so... you have to find the balance between too dry and just moist enough to go down... fun fun fun Well, their scale said I lost 4 lbs. They were happy. That was the 2.0lbs a week... They told me to stop being impatient. They also told me that I should be taking measurements (boy, that sounds familiar... how long have I been saying, "I am gonna start doing that soon." I got my pedometer yesterday... wore it all day today... I just reached 10,000 steps... so according to Dr. C -- I should jump start my weight loss. Hope he is right. I missed Yoga. Got stuck in traffic... we had bad thunder storms here and everyone was driving slow. Didnt get back from the DR. in time...

Maurden -- i have the same problem. I definitely feel like I can eat too much, but at times I still feel it "going down" slow. Like you said, when eating too fast. I have another fill today. I am not looking forward to it. I know I havent lost but 2lbs since two weeks ago at my last fill. I was doing so well before. So, yes, glad to be getting fill... but NO not happy to have to go step on the scale and admit ive been sucking it up. I ran a little over a mile last night. I miss having my elliptical. I havent been to the gym this week... on account of my biopsy, and then NOT having a car. I borrowed a car from my grandmother yesterday. So, now I can get from point A to point B until I make other arrangments. So, I should be going to Yoga tonight. Its been a week. I will let you all know how the fill goes. I sure need one.

Ok ladies, so far TODAY. Feel like someone beat my lower body with a bat... thanks to good ol' biopsy. So, woke up to exercise, got on my elliptical... and BROKE it. :-( nothing makes you feel fatter than breaking your exercise equipment. Decided well... will just go to work. Got in the Car. The brakes went out. I have NO money. but now the car is in the shop. not a good combination You know... God, it is funny and all. I'm sure. BUT give me a freakin' break. Glad to see you back Claud... I will say a prayer for you... Im glad that you had such a wonderful time with your family. You nephew sounds adorable. dont you love the way children see things?? i wish everyone could be so innocent and enthusiastic. VABand -- I know you will reach your 10 lbs girl... AT LEAST. You will probably sail past that with flying colors. Steph -- dont worry girl. i have very little restriction again too. At least any time after noon i go. I just ate 5 (naked) but still FIVE chicken strips for lunch... they were little ones... but it was still FIVE. Decided if the car gets fixed that i MUST get another fill this week... asap. I have good restriction in the morning but thats it. And that just doesnt cut it. Nikki -- thanks hon, I know ive come along way. We all have. It is just so hard to remember that when i am looking in the mirror. Or trying to wedge myself into a size 16 and it is laughing at me. Or when i break my elliptical machine that is supposed to be fine for people up to 300 lbs. gggrrr yeah, i just gotta keep at it. Ive only lost a lbs since my last fill almost two weeks ago. I just dont know what Im doing wrong lately. But thank you for the encouragement. Nat -- you didnt offend me girl. I just have already been there done the meds, and they make me a different person. I can't be on them. I am just not myself. So, I dont go near them anymore. You should definitely tell him if he asks. jill -- congrats on the fill! and 5lbs is great. i know what you mean by impatient though. I am the queen of that. Now that the weightloss is slowing down to a "normal" 2lbs/week... i am NOT liking it. too slow!! bkwalling -- I hope you get to feeling better girl. the last thing you need to be doing is throwing up :-) that is the worst

Dont worry ladies there is nothing to vent about. I don't need drugs. I'll be ok.

Im here. I was just waiting for everyone else to post. My scale isnt budging at all either. I didnt exercise friday and saturday night... I was so sore from last week. I told myself I better rest a few days. Now whether there is any merit to that OR whether I was just being lazy and making excuses... I dont know. I did my weights for 40 min and elliptical for 30 last night. sooo... guess that means im kinda back on track. I'm just soo down still. I have been since the beginning of the month. Its all in my head though... so there isnt much I can do about it. I am ready to go hit the gym starting tomorrow. I have a doctors appointment today :-( not the good kind. I have to have a biopsy done, and im not looking forward to it. Completely NOT band related. My life is one mess after another. :-) This is just another one of those other medical issues. Doctor better not keeping me from the gym. I know he is gonna tell me to stay away, but he can kiss my big white butt. I dont have time to sit around and rest. Not for this crap. Wish I had someone close to exercise with... it would help. I just sat in my apartment by myself all weekend. (UGH) It gets to me.

Thanks Dr. C! Feel free to interject the advice any time you see me slacking! I like the idea that you are keeping a watchful eye. You are the expert after all. So, if I am going to listen to anybody I better listen to you. You ARE the guy with the needle. ha! So, I will definitely heed your advice. See ladies... told you my doc was attentive! I'm so BUSTED :guess haha

Girls, I'm paying for it today. :faint: Feel like I got hit by a truck. ha I took some extra strength tylenol and I guess i will work this all out tonight in Yoga. (i hope) My body is screaming at me... my abs and my thighs/glutes. (ouch) Girls, i didnt exercise all weekend Friday-Monday. So, dont think your doing anything less. I hadnt moved till I saw stephs pics and then I knew I better get my lazy butt moving if I was gonna stay on track with you girls. Hurts to type.... OH! By the way, today is my 2nd month Bandiversary! I can't wait to hear what Nat was up to in Florida. I am sure she will have stories when she gets back.