Banannie

Brandi - just enjoy it - if something's meant to happen, it will. I'm glad you're protective a bit on where you are (and where he is) in life - good going! On another topic: Anyone get stuck on carrots? I find it so ironic that I got irritated/stuck on something so innocent and healthy, three hours before I was supposed to go out to dinner with friends - and I'd even allocated plenty of my daily calories for dinner, and ate two painful bites of my $30 piece of fish since my stoma was still irritated from the stupid carrots. Yeah, I probably didn't chew them enough, I know, bad Annie, but dang it, I was all ready to get back to a "normal" amount of calories yesterday! I ended up at like 500 or something stupid. (and the dang scale's still stuck... 228.6, 228.6, 228.6, 228.6..... I wanna throw the thing out the window!)

Gerbera - I'm SO GLAD you can eat! Yay! :success1: And Happy Birthday!!! And don't give up on your goal - just do what you can and challenge yourself - You're doing great!

Ok ladies, it's the 15th, the middle of March already! How is everyone doing on their goals/challenges for the month? I started out great on the weight loss but have stalled. Exercise is a habit now - never thought I'd say *that*!!! :success1: Hope everyone is doing great and have a super day!

That's a good point - I've heard of mixing up the calories (like what Nat did) to fool your body, mixing up exercise, but I hadn't thought about mixing up nutrients. I'll try that! Yesterday was a higher fat day due to the peanuts, today will be higher protein, maybe tomorrow I'll try higher carb. Thanks!!!

Thanks Brandi. I know I should be happy, I'm just impatient as you said. I know I didn't get this heavy overnight and can't expect it to come off that fast either. But I want it to! I just tried inputting my calories on Fitday (I hadn't been using it) and yesterday I thought I ate a lot - turns out only about 750 cal, even with me eating a 1/4 cup of peanuts trying to get some of the "good fats" and a touch of protein! Today's estimate (I don't have all the food labels in front of me) isn't any more. I really need to get to 1000. Maybe I'll have some milk today...

Ladies, I'm so bummed today. Even with being way too tight for a few days, my weight hasn't changed since last Friday. I know my calories have been too low until yesterday when I could eat again (even then it was 1000 max), and I've been working out regularly. I'm almost depressed! The *only* thing I can think of is I did change some of my exercise routine late last week (with the ok of my foot doc - still have a bum foot from some torn ligaments last Sept.). Doc basically said "try anything but stop if your foot hurts" and ok'd me specifically to try the leg press machine at the gym that I like. So since last Friday, I've been on the elliptical vs. the upright bike for 30-35 of my 60 min, and I've been doing my leg presses when I do my leg exercises (both of which made me sore, which I hadn't felt for a while). I'm so hoping it's just some additional muscle growth. I'm getting into that "I'm going to fail this thing" mode which I *don't* like at all!! I'm just so dang bummed! It's hard for me to look at how far I've come when something like this happens! I'm ok with a few days stall in weight, but six?

Gerbera, I agree with Brandi - if it's been seven days and you can only take a bite at a time, go get a slight unfill NOW - don't wait!! I was reluctant, too, hoping it would loosen up on it's own. It just got tighter. You'll get INSTANT relief - and be able to have a bite of birthday cake!!

Yup, my weight has been absolutely steady for 5 days, and I've worked out 4 of the 5 - an hour of cardio minimum each workout plus weights on some of the days!

Claudia - most doctors don't want you to go much below 1000 calories, some insist on closer to 1200, some more! 520 is too low... your body could go into starvation mode and "hold on" to the fat - I don't know how much truth there is in the starvation theory but I know you can't get all the nutrients your body needs in 520 - it's hard to do at 1000-1200!

Oh, and my weight loss almost stopped when I couldn't eat... now that was frustrating!

Gerbera, be really careful being that tight. My last fill was good for about 8 days, then starting last Friday I got progressively tighter and tighter such that I couldn't really eat yesterday and had to sip tiny sips to get Water in without pain. I got a very small 0.2cc unfill last night (I have a 4cc band) and it is NIGHT AND DAY better! I'm now at 2.7cc down from 2.9cc. If I'd realized how little could be taken out and get such tremendous relief (without making me hungry, either!) I would have done it a few days ago! If you can't eat in the next day or so real, solid foods, go get a slight unfill. You won't help yourself in the long run if you can't eat solid foods, as that's how the band works - soft/mushy foods slip right through and don't trigger the "fullness" feeling that shuts off the hunger. The band is not designed to be used with soft foods from my understanding!

Yup, sounds like you need a fill *and* an "eating adjustment" - you shouldn't get a cheeseburger girl! That bread would get anyone with even modest restriction plugged up. And no ice cream! The fill will totally help with the physical hunger, for sure. Put a couple of South Beach bars in your glovebox (140 cal with 10g protein) or a baggie with nuts or something. If you don't have options like that, choose the Fruit & Yogurt Parfait or stop by a convenience store and get beef jerky or fruit or nuts, no cheeseburgers! Since I was a touch too tight, I've hardly been hungry for the past few days (even with my slight unfill) and since yesterday morning until lunch today, I had maybe 400-500 calories, total. I should have been starving! So the fills TOTALLY HELP! I *did* eat my lunch today comfortably - yippee! I specifically tried the same thing as yesterday so I could see the difference - 0.2cc's was night & day! So even a small fill should help a bit! You've got the knowledge, and with us behind you, you've got the strength. Now go get that fill!

Hello ladies! Well, I ended up getting a slight unfill at 8:30 last night! My last fill was on 2/28, and was fine until last Friday. Since then I've been getting progressively tighter, to the point that I could only get down a few well chewed bites even late in the day, with lots of pain and "golf ball" feelings - I almost PB'd yesterday at lunch (still haven't, thank goodness!). At 8pm I was sitting in my doc's monthly group meeting and could only sip my water with little sips and had it painfully gurgle its way past the band(I didn't eat dinner, bad Annie). After the meeting, I asked Jessie (who did my last fill) if she thought I was too tight, fully assuming that if she said yes I'd have to call the next morning and make an appointment, and she said yes, but come on back, let's do it now. She took out 0.2cc's and I feel MUCH better today - I was still tight this morning, but can drink my water. I'll try food at lunch and see how it goes...

You've got a great attitude on this - really! Sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders, girl! :eek: Very healthy attitude! And your weight loss is amazing! WTG! You'll have to share what you've been doing since we all wanna be like you!

B-man, your story was exactly what I needed to read to lift my spirits on a hectic Monday morning! Glad you and the boy had such a good time and didn't damage the friendship - that's SO cool! :eek: So thanks for sharing! BBK - I really hope you get better!

Morning ladies! Glad some of you are feeling better, and for those just coming down with the bug, I hope you get better soon! Nat - the time change has totally messed with my work schedule - I'm having to reconfirm every stinking meeting so I know whether my calendar online is right or not! But, I like it staying light later earlier so I guess I can't complain *too* much! Ok, I have a question for you guys. Do you really believe in the concept that your body will go into starvation mode if you eat too few calories? After my last fill, I was OK for a week, dropping weight (mainly the TOM leftover water weight, but whatever) and now in the past few days I'm WAY tighter, so I'm not eating much. Since Friday, I've been steady on the weight (grrrr), yet I've been working out and eating very little. I would have expected a half lb or lb in 3 days, given what I'm doing! So I understand the philosophy that if you eat less your metabolism slows, but doesn't that kind of fly in the face of the gastric bypass results? They lose TONS because basically what they eat doesn't get absorbed (i.e. it's like they aren't eating). This has always confused me. Thoughts?

Clau - hope you feel better soon, and sorry to hear you didn't get the job - keep your head up, maybe the next one will be better!! Beversman - YAY on the car title! :girl_hug: It's so nice to hold that in your hand, isn't it? AND! Way to GO on the weight loss - you're a machine! Kay - I think I'm a bit afraid of getting skinnier, too. I've been shy as long as I can remember (and heavy as well) and I've always felt a little odd when people (boys) check me out. I'm not sure how well I'm going to deal with getting skinnier - the last time I lost weight (still didn't get skinny - got to 167 at 5'6", about size 14) I was in a serious relationship, so I didn't notice people checking me out. Already I've gotten more attention. A bit unnerving! BUT girlfriend - you are strong and beautiful and amazing, so I know you'll pull through this funk! Maybe print out the bandster rules, have them handy, and look at them before you eat something bad. Then it'll make you think - is this Chinese Chicken Finger worth it??? Also, I've found forcing myself to work out makes me feel better and boosts my mood. It's hard to get out and exercise, so maybe tell yourself - if I do 10 minutes today that's ok - once you start going, you may find yourself doing it longer! Nat - sorry your friend is still upsetting you... I hope you guys have a chance to talk and see if it's something worth persuing! You're so worth it girl! Don't "settle" (like I'd ever expect you to!) :cake: Gotta run...

Maurdan, I bet it's the sinus infection. All of my fills I felt right away, if anything they faded a bit a few days after once the initial swelling/irritation went down...

Beversman - OMG!!! I'm so glad you're ok!!! I hadn't really thought about how "normal" illnesses we'll all get in the winter will be increased due to our bands. Keep your chin up girl! :girl_hug:

Little happy dance for me - I hit the big 5-0! I'm down 50 lbs now!!! Khristina - track and actually measure everything you put in your mouth for a few days - it'll be eye opening. Your portion sizes are likely too big, which is not surprising since your doc isn't giving you fills!! Cut out all processed carbs - focus on Protein, then produce. 3 oz of "real" protein rather than cottage cheese, which runs through your band and won't fill you up. Then 1/2 cup of produce - veggies the priority over fruit. Stay on solid foods, and cut it into really small pieces the size of your pinkie nail, eat slowly and chew, chew, chew a lot - this will not only help you stay full longer with the solid foods, but it'll help you practice and not PB - you've got a lot on your plate you know so between the stress and not eating slow enough/chewing enough, that's probably what's causing the PB-ing! Good luck girl! You can do it!

WOO HOO Kay - Nice job on your exam!!! That must feel great to be over it and have done well! And I totally can picture the visual on the elliptical cleaning - made me giggle - I hadn't thought about it that way... And Nat, we're all curious now - let us in on the scoop!!

Nat - glad to hear you had a safe trip home! I wouldn't be surprised if you're carrying a bit of Water weight since your diet was different the past week. Now that you're back on track, I bet you beat your goal! Steph - awesome job on the skiing! Someday I'll have to try that - we don't get enough snow here in Seattle to ski from my house, but we've got mountains nearby... sounds like a great workout! BK - I go to a coed gym and like it fine. Many of the womens only gyms aren't challenging enough for me (like Curves) - I like trying the free weights and some of the womens gyms only have the machines.

SWEETHOT!!! We were worried about you! So glad you checked in! Hope life is slowing down a bit for you - stress certainly doesn't help with weight loss! I agree with Steph - 20lbs may be a bit too much for a month, I'd hate to have you get discouraged as soon as you got back - 10 lbs in a month is doable and a good challenge - or maybe consider doing 20lbs by Easter or something? Steph - I just love the sound of Onederland... :eek: Well, I'm heading out of town for the weekend so I'll catch up with you ladies either late Sunday or Monday!

Ok Steph, I'll hold you to it if you do the same for me! I figure if I do a weight loss goal, by default I need to exercise, so it's two-in-one! (and 199 is SOOOO cool! I'm totally jealous!)

STEPH! GREAT JOB!!! I can't wait to hit Onederland! B-MAN! GREAT JOB!!! 50 lbs!!!! Everyone is doing so well!!!