beversman

Yikes! We are having a freakin' blizzard here!! And I am stuck at work watching it come on down.... boy, i am NOT looking forward to that drive home!!

I also have Dr. C -- he is awesome. I had a question last night at 8pm -- sent him an private message on here because I knew the office was closed. I had a reply by 9:00pm. Less than an hour. You dont get a Dr. much more attentive than that. :-) Good luck to ya!

OMG I LOVE my Doctor!! :clap2: I knew he was closed for the day. So, I sent him a message on here about a hour ago (when I left my last post). He already replied back with a response! He is such an awesome Dr. 9:00pm on a Monday and I can get in contact with him for my stupid paranoid questions... I love it! He said that we've been very conservative with my fills... and that with my weight loss (ive lost alot the past two weeks) that he thinks Ive probably got it loosened up. Yeah for weight loss!!!! BOOOOO for more needles... ha Well, at least I have an answer. He told me to schedule another fill for NEXT thursday... (two weeks from my last) ---------------------- Just got done burning 502 calories on that elliptical and I lifted weights for about 30 mintues, and did 70 crunches... and 20 oblique crunches... 30 for my lower abs... Steph have fun with your mom!! VABandster-- I second the queso comment! I wouldnt be able to have it in my house... it goes down WAY too easily and I love me some cheese!!

dont worry Claud the ive had two fills so far and they didnt hurt a bit --- if your worried just close your eyes and dont watch the needle. It will be over before you know it. Ok -- girls... now i just ate dinner... and I am telling you I could eat a cup of food... im worried... i just had that fill last thursday -- shouldnt i feel MORE restriction if anything??? i want to call my doc but i know they are already gone.... gggrrrr

Nat - my port scar isnt healing as "cute" as the rest... the rest are visible, but not very dark at all... my port one still is kind of red and sometime gets a little irritated... so, if I were you... I'd swab it with alcohol in the evenings and use just a small amount of neosporin on it during the day... I think I was keeping mine too moisturized... I think it needed to dry out a little bit to heal up the rest of the way. KatDot - Way to go on the Elliptical!!! That is what I try to run every night... I get at least 500 calories off on that thing each night if I can... Good Bye Calories and Good Riddance! I have also heard that we should do our weights and resistance (crunches too) BEFORE the ellipitcal or CARDIO workout. If you jump on the treadmill or elliptical first, it takes about 15 minutes to get to that FAT burning stage... BUT if we start out working the muscles with weights and resistance first... then by the time we go hop on the elliptical, we will burn FAT the whole time becuase our body has already moved into "fat burning" mode. Well, ladies -- Now, I'm confused about my restriction again... it seems to me that i have less restriction now with my second fill than I did after my first one... Now, HOW does that make sense? My only thought is that I am getting used to eating so little that i am no longer having to work at cutting back, and it just seems like I am eating more. I am only averaging 800 calories/day -- so I can't make any sense of it!!! But to me... it seems like I really do need another fill. Nothing seems to be going down slowly... I get that full feeling, and I guess I am not starving or anything -- Maybe I just dont know HOW I am supposed to feel with this band working properly. I think I'm "second guessing" because I am just starting to forget that the band is in there, and this new life is just becoming normal... if that makes sense... Is it possible that the fat ive been losing was around my stomach?? and things are actually loosening up? Or is it just my brain trying to adjust.... that's what im trying to figure out today. Again, I think this goes back to my impatience.... Oh yeah, GO COLTS!! (sorry nat) but we kicked some big "bear" ass last night... not as good as the New England game, but still pretty damn good. Glad my Colts finally got their super bowl win!

I just wanted to compliment all of you on your exercise! :clap2: I have noticed that this group is very, very good about keeping motivated and staying active. I've seen others that do 2 or 3 minutes on an elliptical and then walk. (thats a daily routine), or I've seen others that exercise on hte elliptical 30 min... but only a few nights a week... Now, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that!! BUT you all seem to be "haulin' ass" ABOVE and BEYOND the typical This group is very, very dedicated to the cause! Keep it up ladies :-) I am proud of all of us. I was just reading through other threads on this site, and had to share my thoughts with you ladies. You all keep me sooooo motivated.

It costs about $125-$130 for a two week supply of medifast My doctors office got it for me. They make all of their patients use it for two weeks prior to sugery.

I actually just talk to my doc about this yesterday. 1/4 a cup is a VERY small amnt of food (per Dr C) 1/2 is fine... even 3/4 of a cup... If you can eat a cup of food... it is time for a fill.

thank you guys for the encouragement! you are all the support I have, and let me tell you... you're all the best :-) Can you believe that we've all been talking for two months? I love you girls! -------- My docs advice is only this... if you can eat more than a cup of food at one time, get a fill! That means the food is moving down to the large part of the stomache to easily. He said that a 1/4 cup is VERY small amount to be eating. Don't necessarily strive to reach that... becuase you will not be getting enough food if you are active at all. He said a 1/2 of a cup per meal is much more reasonable, and anything between 1/2 to 3/4 cup is good too. He also said that if the food backs up into the esophagus... we WILL know. If you have that happen, you will want to throw it up... you will feel really nauseated. So, (sigh of relief)... i think we are all good to go. Steph had me worried yesterday! I didn't exercise yesterday... but I got a TON of sleep! I feel so much better today. It will be time to get back to the grind stone tonight!

I'm back from my 2nd fill... i only had to get .1 CC in -- that is a total of 1.6 CC's GUESS WHAT!!??!! I lost 7 lbs since I was @ the Dr. two weeks ago! :confused: I was 229! I am below the 230's!!! yeah!!! My nutritionist came out and sat down to look at my chart and said "WHOA!" She can't believe how much I've been exercising... she said that is what is doing it. anyway... i just had to tell someone!! and you all are the only ones I have to tell :-)

things get hung up becuase some of them are still passing down into the larger part of the stomach... right now when i take my first few bites (to my understanding) if i dont chew it enough or take small enough bites... it hits the band... blocks up the hole and my saliva wont filter down into my larger stomach... my little one fills up and I dont feel so good. i was told that I still have food moving down into my other larger pouch (down below)... i only have about 1CC in my band... just enough for things to get hung up on if i am not careful. When the the food starts sitting up in the little pouch where it belongs and nothing gets blocked up (i chew properly and dont take big bites) then food will eventually stop passing through as I am eating, and I will be full after a 1/4 of a cup...

I feel it when im eating but I can eat more than a 1/4 cup in order to actually feel full. I can probably eat 3/4 of a cup -- so im not even close to being restricted enough... :-) My doc wants me to lose this big fat ass... I keep getting fills until im losing 2 lbs a week. per the docs orders -------------------- No PBs -- but yep... i know what sliming is... That is when your salvia wont go down... and your nose will start running and the salvia starts leaking out of your mouth... This usually occurs when you are also feeling like you are having a heart attack... due to whatever is stuck. So, it is NOT pretty. Like I said when I got stuck, I do NOT recommend it.

Restriction: I notice in the mornings im tighter. I am also tighter if I dont drink enough water and I get dehydrated. (which might be part of why its tighter in the morning after not drinking all night) I am also tighter the first couple of bites of food... if I eat them very slowly, then the rest goes down just fine. ------------- I go for my second fill tonight ladies... and for a weigh in. I hope my scale at home is accurate -- I cant wait to see the difference in two weeks... hope it is good news, or I am gonna be really pissed off later :-) I too am stuck at 230... this blessed scale wont give me the satisfaction of seeing the 220's no matter now much I exercise my butt off...

You sure can. Glad I could shed a bit of light on that guy. What he is doing is pretty low. That like me saying, "ladies... I only ate one time yesterday!" of course, I ate two entire pizzas..... BUT it was all at one time. So, I am being honest... that guy is such a jerk. By the way: that is completely hypothetical :-) thank god! I did not eat two pizzas... ha

BK (and all you other gals) About the Dr. Rutledge video... First of all he had typos on the captions that popped up....All that I have to say is...how professional can you get? Second of all... the only band that has been in Europe for 10 years is the Swedish Band... the NON-adjustable... So, he is right... the NONadjustable are now completely going out of style. They are no longer used... But he is making it sound like he is talking about all lapbands. He is manipulating the facts in order to support his own practice. HALF the truth!!! the sneaky, little, slimy bastard. The Inamed ADJUSTABLE Lap-Band is more popular and effective than ever. What an ass. He is totally using this to scare people. Don't worry ladies. I hope this clears that up. :-)

Hey Claud... Happy B-day! im doing ok :-) I am focusing as much as I can on this. I'm still as impatient as ever. Glad you're doing so well!! You always have a very good (upbeat) attitude. Wish I had one of those. I am such a pessimist Well, ladies, just got done exercising my butt off... getting ready to go lift weights. I just feel drained still. I've up my calories to 900/day for the past few days to see if that helps, but I still dont have much pep. Wish I could fast forward two months or so :-) I can't wait. Don't know what I will do in a year when this weight is all gone... but I sure wont miss it.

[looking in mirror] "Hey there, Mr. mirror... I saw you checking me out. Thank you for noticing my ass is not quite so large. There was this hoe-ass friend of mine that told me I should practice taking compliments... " Thanks for the instructions smart ass... :clap2: HA! ------------------------------- Kaydot -- [brandi does some introspective reflection... still reflecting..... and....] Nope definitely still not a morning person (hehe) P.S. Nat i like the hair cut... it looks like sexy mama material to me...

Nat -- Good morning smelly! ha! You crack me up. Only because you say shit the same way that I think it. Send me those exercises that your doc sent you for the ball!! I would love to see them. I could never do the "get up in the morning and exercise" thing... i am NOT (I repeat) NOT a morning person. If I manage to get up and get dressed on time, it is a good morning. I dread that alarm going off every morning. Did I mention im not a morning person? I took two days off of the exercise Friday and Saturday night. I think it helped a bit. I feel a bit more energetic today. I did my whole routine last night, but I definitely had alot more energy. So, I think I needed a couple of days off. I was over doing it. bk -- i agree... participate and reward yourself.... Don't you love how those arogant SOB's still find ways to exclude "the big girls" even when you've gone to extremes to fit into their size 6 worlds... the bitches. VAband -- ha. I over indulged in the adult beverages on saturday night too... didnt seem to hurt anything. I figure... some people have a cookie, I have a cocktail... that's my treat. Plus I have to get out at least once a month, or I start going stir crazy. Steph -- your gonna feel THAT one later... ha. thats awesome though!! heck, I say once ive made it through something once... I'm a glutton for punishment... I just HAVE to do it again. Sounds like you are really getting the hang it it though. Wish we had snow here! Good news, 4 or 5 people noticed the weightloss this weekend. I didnt know how to take the compliments... I suck at it. But they were nice to hear nonetheless. Made it alot easier to get back to the exercise last night.

took my first break from exercise last night... ive been so exhausted lately. I decided to just go to bed early and see if I started feeling a bit perkier. no such luck today. Now I feel like a lazy sack. Steph - wish we had snow here to go skiing... it has been the warmest summer ever here in the Ohio River Valley... we had about 2 inches of snow so far this year and that is it for the whole winter season. Nat - Go colts!! haha... that outta get ya (hehe) (I saw your post about Chicago a couple of days ago. So, I had to say it) I lived in Indianapolis for almost 8 years... I'll be behind them all the way, but I have to say that I am completely pleased with both teams that made it this year. They both are very deserving. This outta be a kick ass game! Can't wait till next week. ------------------------------ I disovered the beauty of turkey burger and turkey sausage!! That is some good sh*T!! You can use the low carb wraps and the turkey burger to make little burritos (with taco seasoning/FF sour cream/FF cheddar/FF refried beans). It is a really good meal for only aobut 200 calories... and it fills ya up and makes you feel like you cheated when you didnt. The turkey sausage kicks ass... tastes like the real thing, but is sooo healthy for ya. Is great for breakfast... very moist and (so far) goes down easily. ------------------------------- :notagree so tired.... need energy....

jill -- i dont think it sounds like your eating too much at all :-) Truth is, I lost a big chunk of mine PRE-op... since banding, ive only lost about 10-12 lbs in the past month... (12 on a good day :-) Even though i get as frustrated as you do... I know we all have to realize we are just going to lose at different rates. That is so easy to say though and soooooo hard to think about when the weight seems to be sitting there. Trust me.... I know. I've been exercising my ass off... literally. I am up to 40 min/day at level 3 on the elliptical... I am lifting 10lbs weights for 30-40min... I am doing 60 crunches/day -- plus exercise to target inner thighs and some other spots that everything else doesnt work hard enough. I went to the OBGYN yesterday, and their scale said I hadnt lost anything since LAST Thursday... thats with a diet below 800 calories most days (<50g carbs and 90+g of protein) AND with all the exercise. Then, my grandma -- (my personal cheerleader!! and i love her to death) -- she saw me and asked, "so, are you still losing?" So, there is NO CHANGE!?!?! What the F#%$???? FRUSTRATING! So, you're doing just fine girl! I am right there with you on the "slow" part. It has to come off... doesnt it? I mean low calories... working ass off... It should equal weight loss!! Right?!!? (sigh) just dont give up! I thought about not exercising last night. But I know in 3 months I will thank myself. sorry to ramble... love ya all

carol - they have my prayers. that is one of the hardest situations to go through. sweethot - dont eat at least 4 hours before... keep it light that day. Then for 24 Hrs. AFTER only liquids... then the next 24 Hrs. mushies... then then after that resume regular foods. (just be careful, the restriction might surprise you; bandster bites and NO DRY food :-) I learned the hard way) Steph - dont worry about the chicken wings... i think many of us here are eating the bear minimum and I'm not sure that is the healthiest thing. I've only been eating at the maximum 800-900 calories... So, yesterday i had the topping off of a piece of pizza... in all it greasy gooey wonderfulness!! The scale says I droped two more pounds this morning. (I dont believe the scale yet, but thats what it said) I've been doing alot of reading on different websites about caloric intake and what our body needs. Heck, by my age, height, weight, and activity level... they say for "drastic" weight loss that I should consume the "low" number of 1700 calories/day... Low? that is twice what Im eating now... which got me thinking, maybe we need some days with more calories so our bodies know that we arent really starving. I for one have been getting really tired lately, and I think that had something to do with it. So, yesterday I had to try really hard but I got up to 1100 calories. I think that I am going to alternate a high and low day (every other day) and see if it makes me feel a bit more energetic. Enjoy your chicken wings honey, that was less than an ounce of meat per wing... so even if you had "super" wings you only consumed 6 ounces of meat... plus it was chicken that is like 33 grams of Protein... I wouldnt feel to bad about that. We have to make this a lifestyle, not a diet... because, eventually, we all get tired of dieting and fall off track. I, for one, want this to eventually become effortless and second nature.

hehehe.... Jeebus

I used Medi-fast for my two week pre-op. I lost 25 lbs. I like the cinnamin/apple oatmeal, the chicken soup, the pudding... and that was about it. I mostly ate the cinn/apple -- and I would put a TBSP of splenda in it to make it taste better. I will assure you... they arent the best tasting food on earth BUT they do give you all the essential Vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to lose the weight... (and of course the PROTEIN) I would recommend it to you, but I will tell you. Dont have high hopes on flavor. :-)

that my DOCs video... just had it done last week by him It doesnt hurt a bit :-) I didnt even know he did it.

My nutritionist said dont count calories... BUT i do anyway... I always stay below 900 So, could it be that I am not getting ENOUGH calories?? I workout over an hour each day. I am starting to wonder if a few more calories wouldnt help instead of hurt.