nomorejellybelly

Thanks, everyone. Good luck to you all too! JustWatchMe, looks like you're doing a great job. I've recently gained some from medicine I'm on and it is disheartening. Hopefully it is Water weight and will lose it, when I'm off the medicine. I just think though that before this medicine, I was only 31 pounds away from my official goal weight. I'm keeping at it. Keep it up, everyone.

My last fill really helped me a lot. Before that I'd had a plateau for more than three years. My four year bandiversary is 09/08.

I rarely eat pizza (although I love pizza) and I very rarely eat hot dogs. I have problems with the pizza crust and the hot dog, as well as the bun. If I do eat a hot dog and bun, I have to eat very, slow and chew a lot. I have problems with bread and cornbread big time too (so I rarely eat that either).

So, people are starting to notice that I started losing again. I'd been at a plateau for a little more than 3 years and after the fill I had in late April/early May, started losing again. Slowly but surely. I'm back to reaching weights I've not been in 19 years! And I'm fitting in some jeans that I bought at the thrift store, before I could really fit in them. Wore those last week! Some shirts and other things are fitting better as well. I'm starting to try and break out of my shell more. And I'm feeling a little better about myself, because of the slow & steady weight loss. These are all little victories. If you're stuck or frustrated, don't give up. Keep on keeping on.

Until you can find a new doctor, start cutting back. Try a liquid diet (just like before getting banded) and then start back the soft/mushy/regular stages. Just like after surgery. You can do it.

I didn't use a straw for quite awhile after getting banded. Now I use them. I was worried about it at first, but it was explained to me, that it's more that they don't want us using them, when we first get banded (I believe). I don't have any problems using straws.

As of this morning, 07/03, I am still down on my weight after my last fill, weeks ago. Am at what I'm calling a 'mini-plateau' at 150.5. Have been here for a little more than a week. Hoping to get past this little plateau, soon. Success though, because a guy friend at work noticed my weight loss!!! That made me happy. Oh and how could I forget to post this? I fit into a pair of jeans that I've not been able to fit in!!! Have had them in my closet for a year, waiting to fit into them. So, that is all. Now I need to get ready for work. Later...

Whoops. Haven't updated the ticker to the current weight. Am a little more than what the ticker says, but that's okay.

Hello, all. I am not at my goal yet, but I wanted to post this here on the success stories forum. After my last fill, a few weeks ago, weight finally started coming off again. I'd been at a plateau (up and down the same 5-7 lbs for 3 1/2 years) after losing the first 50 or so lbs pretty quick. Now, I'm happy to say that I am in a new weight level on the scale. When I saw that '4' pop up, I was soooooo happy. Haven't seen that in 19 years!! So that, is my success I am sharing. I am 34lbs from my goal!!!!!! So close! I'm doing it!!!!

Thanks!! It sounds like you all are doing great as well. I have no choice but to keep going. We can do this!

I just had to share that I tried a new recipe, for a casserole today and it was pretty good. It's a zucchini-tomato casserole, using cheese (you can use whatever kind you want like low-fat I'm sure, but it called for shredded cheddar), seasonings, milk (I use skim milk), eggs (I guess you could use egg substitute equal to the three eggs) and baking mix. I used 1/2 the cheese and added some diced onion and jalapeno. Of course, I can only eat such a small portion, but that way it will last me awhile. How many meals will I get out of this for just barely $5 on ingredients? Several and that is Awesomesauce. Anyhow, the cool thing is now that I've made this, I know it would be so easy to substitute different veggies and Protein like Beans would work also. You could even add in some ground meat. Super excited. If anyone wants the recipe, let me know and I'll share here.

I am getting ready to head out, but I will add it soon.

Way to go! That's awesome. I remember when I had the surgery, seeing on the lapband site forums, how it was a good idea to buy clothes at thrift stores, while you're losing. It saves a ton of money on clothes that you won't wear for very long. I have a couple of good shops that I go to and I still go to them, because I kindof got hooked on them. Now, since I'm losing again, I'll need to start finding some smaller sizes soon. Good luck to you.

Way to go!

B-52 I know the scale goes up/down, fluctuates, but for me who has been losing again (finally) since my last fill, it sucks to be back up a bit at this time. Thanks, Bandista.

Okay, TMI Alert. I made it down to 150.9 just a few days ago. A weight I know I haven't been in a zillion years. Then, I get my cycle and I know there's going to be a little weight there, but I'm freaking out that I'm doing something wrong. It's up to 153.1 this morning. I'm hoping that that's all it is, is because of my cycle and it should be. It's taken me oh, so long to get back to this weight, that I'm just worried. I feel like I'm doing great with my food restriction. And I'm being honest that I did treat myself to two Cookies yesterday, but how many ladies would not eat something we're not supposed to at 'that time of the month'? I'm drinking a lot of water/liquid, but had to slack off on the exercise due to a leg/foot injury. I am doing what I can without doing legs. Ladies, I'm interested how you handle things/what happens to you, when you're on your cycles. Does the same weight thing happen to you and how long does it take to drop back off? I'm hoping in a couple days, that the scale starts back down again.

Thank you, ladies! I know that has to be what it is. I am making sure to drink a lot of fluids. Water, more skim milk and I drink a lot of iced tea (unsweet w/sugar substitute) (both green and black tea). I know I shouldn't weigh every morning. I am just in the habit of doing that. When I get to maintenance, I won't be doing it that much. And, HealthyNewMe, you have done awesome!!!!! Keep it up ladies.

Those are great stories.

I think you're fine. I would say just try and make sure to get liquid Protein in there. After my last fill, I've hardly had an appetite at all. It's increased in the last few days though. I am totally happy to not have an appetite, because I don't then have the desire to eat.

Hang in there. You're doing great. I know it can be very tough. I was up and down the same roughly 6lbs for 3 1/2 years and I've only had the band since 09/2010. It wasn't until this last fill, about a month ago, that weight started moving in the right direction again. Although the last couple of days I have been hungrier than the whole time since that fill. But, I am totally sticking to this, because I have to. Everyone is different, so my advice is just do the best you can with your food, Fluid intake and exercise. You can do it!

I thought I would treat myself today and bought some tamales at a Mexican grocery store (a total treat), figuring that with my current restriction, that I would have to cut them in 1/2 to eat 1/2 at a time. And sure enough, these suckers are ginormous and I couldn't even eat a 1/2 tamale. So, the Lab got the majority of the chicken (I have trouble with meat if it is not moist enough) from inside and a smaller dog got some of the masa part. I wasn't really hungry, so that could be part of it, but I'm heading out to something, where I won't be able to eat and had to eat something before leaving. I will make up with a Protein drink when I am done for the night.

Lori, you've done a great job. Hang in there. I lost close about 60lbs and then have been stuck for more than 3 1/2 years (loss stopped 8 months after surgery) and have been up and down the same 5-6lbs ever since. Got another fill recently, which has helped me get past that and I hope the loss continues. It has definitely given me way more restriction. Personally, I've got to get back better on to the exercising though. I'd taken a break from regular lunchtime workouts. Will start back on Monday though. That should help and will try to start drinking more Water. It takes me forever to drink a glass of anything.

Wow. Good for you, telling her like that. I pretty much tell people the same thing you do about the changes in diet and exercise. I didn't tell everyone I had the surgery though. Family and friends (with instructions not to tell anyone), my boss at the time of surgery (he said he'd take my secret to his grave; how sweet) and the nurses at my office (just in case and they're obligated to not talk about my personal stuff). True the first large amount came off in just a few months, but I've been plateaued for 3 1/2 years since and now just moving again after my last fill. Only 37lbs from my goal. It has not been an easy road. People don't realize that we still have to work at it. Hang in there!

So, I had my last fill three weeks ago. It's been an interesting ride since then, but I'm finally down to 152.6 from 159.6 (I think it's what it was) when I h the fill. food very restricted. I need to make sure I'm getting enough Protein (I need to do better), but I am pretty much never hungry. I've also been taking steroid pills after having a steroid shot for my poison ivy. I don't know if that could be causing some of that huge loss this week, but I don't care. I'll just keep it off! My only issue with this last fill, is that I seem to feel the band all the time and it's a tad uncomfortable at times. But, I am dealing with it, because of how great my food restriction is. And the weight is coming off again finally. I'm at a weight I haven't been in 19 years and I haven't been able to say that in a long time. I am 3 lbs from my next mini goal and now just about 25 from my goal. I can't believe it. Could it really be true that I can get to it after being banded almost 4 years ago? Alright, well that's all for now. Off to work I go. I hope everyone is doing well and if you've been slow at lost like me, don't give up on it.

2muchfun, I mean that it feels like I feel it all the time; It feels tight. food is getting through it though, so I guess it's not too tight. It has not been too difficult getting used to the restriction this time. I just know I can only eat way less. On this initial post, I thought I was 25lbs from goal. I went a little overboard. It's 37lbs. Not bad. I can deal with that, because I've said that goal weight was just that and that if I feel good at say 10lbs more than that, I'll be happy.