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There's two things - so so many people say that they could have done this without the band becuase they dont feel any restriction. Dont underestimate it. You may not "feel" restriction but it is there even if not optimal. Take it all out and see what happens! Even a tiny unfill can result in weight gain for some people. The other is no, i dont believe there's such a thing as an absolute sweet spot in that there's optimal fill for the band to work. Without exception, and after four years on this forum, when people talk about the 'sweet spot' they really mean a level of restriction in which the band does more work than they do amd weight loss becomes much easier. I also agree that a sweet spot is a restriction level that really sticks with you, it doesnt wane quickly. However, sweet spots are different for everyone. Becuase I was a lower BMI and still entirely mobile and pretty fit for a fat person, I was able to commence running very early in my journey so I was always able to lose on pretty high calories (1500+). I found restriction waned less and less quickly after the fill the more fills I had, but i certainly had optimal restriction from EVERY fill right from the very first, I would lose steadily. I just needed more as I lost. I certainly didnt have to wait until restriction kicked in six months later. So for me, there never was a 'sweet spot' but there certainly was a restriction level which I never needed to go past and which didnt need topping up. So to rephrase, the sweet spot does exist but it absolutely isnt necessary to find it for your band to work. No matter where you are restriction wise, the band wont make good food choices for you and it wont exercise for you. And if you dont do those things you can be at your sweet spot but never get to goal. The band, is quite simply, pretty hard work but its hard work you can do. Not fruitless hard work like losing weight pre band.

Hi All It has been a long time since I have been here. I have lost a lot of weight and now I'm trying to keep it off. my band was to tight my doc took out 2cc and I started to eat like I didn't have a band gained 10lbs in one month trying to get back on track. When the band was to tight I couldn't eat hard foods and eat a lot of soft or ice cream and this went on for 5 months before I told the doc because I didn't want to be unfilled I lost 40lbs doing this it was not good weight lost and now for the first time since getting the band I have weight gain I'm trying not to think about it just get back on track but it is hard to stop eating the way I was when I was tight. The doc will only put back a little at a time so now I can eat and not feel full. I should have good eating habits after 2 years but I don't I now must write down what I eat and no more sweets. Thanks for listening I'm still down 150lbs and I want to keep it off. I was banded 01/07/08

I know how you all feel! Dont give up...... Well today ( 11/11/09 ) I made it to the doctors office... I weighted in @ 345 so I had to reset my ticker.. It came out 5 lbs over so I will call my start date today. My blood pressure was good, no issues there. I took a look at my chart and my last visit was on 8/5/08 my weight then 287.7 lbs.. Man that hit me.. I could not believe I let myself go that way! I saw a New PA and she was cool. I told her my issue and she said thats ok, time to start over a new beginning. I thought that was nice of what she said with a 57 lbs weight gain.. After a brief discussion she began to feel for my port but could not find it. She went to get the other PA ( who I have seen before ) and after he saw my chart you would think he would say glad to see you here, instead he says" what happen " I said long story.. That was a turn off... anyway I think she will be my contact person there from now on....They found the port and recovered only 6 cc of Fluid. My last visit he got it up to 9.cc, so it was a little concerning about the 3. 5 cc disappearance. He said hopefully it just demish, but was concern that just maybe I would have a leak. I now have 7cc in my LAP-BAND®.. I have another appt on 12/2/09 and they will check to see how many CC I have then. I will also attend an aftercare/support class... On is Bariatric essentials ( basically a refresher on what to eat/ how much/etc) and the other is Emotional Eating.. This will be all done on the same day since the doctors office is 1.5 hrs from where I live.. Hope to lose 6 lbs bt next visit!

China doll, hey girl! Thank you soooo much! You keep me focused on the right things. I can easily get sidetracked with always feeling down on myself. Why can’t I just focus on the positives? I mean for goodness sake I’ve lost half my excess weight so far. I did gain some back but at least I stopped it before it got too out of control. That is something I have never been able to do in the past. I would just keep gaining and gaining to the point where I’d be the heaviest I’d ever been. So I gained 20 back. So what? I’d lost over 100 POUNDS!!! I still need to lose maybe 80-100 more (that is with the weight gain) I can do this. I just have to keep tweaking a few things until I can get it straight and the scale will start playing along. Yes, it is true my clothes have been feeling different. I can’t explain why the scale doesn’t show it, but something right is going on. I’m positive with this new tweaking of the WW system I will be able to finish it off. China, one thing though, you have to cut yourself a little slack too. Don’t let too much get into the way of becoming a better healthier you! You have come a long way too, and I believe 100% that you can be successfully complete as well! Hang in there!! Sweet, hang in there! I’m glad you are getting things situated to get back to normal. I also had a primer of 3cc in my 10cc band. Funny thing is, I also didn’t know about it! I’d always thought I’d had about 5-6 total cc in my band after all my fills. Turns out I was close to max!! No wonder I couldn’t keep anything down!! Crazy huh? I now am at about 6.5-7cc. I am super close to being comfortable enough. I think I am going to need another small fill though. I’ll wait til after the Thanksgiving Holiday. I just got one and it’s best to wait a few weeks to see how this fill really fares. Just keep in mind it’s not good to be too tight. You should still be able to eat solid food. It’s the solid food that keeps us satisfied for longer periods, and offers us the best nutrition for our bodies. Best of wishes everyone! Check in if you haven’t in awhile! All are welcome here J

Honestly no one here can give you the best answer, the first person that replied is the one to go with - See your doc and discuss it with them, overall the thing that is the main issue is stretching of the pouch from carbonation which can lead to weight gain so why risk that? For me I have it in my mind that if I take one sip I'm going to have it all foam up in my throat and I'll be in severe pain, that's probably not true but for me it's good to think that way lol.

Phyl - That Kind of weight gain is water - hell even when I have pigged out I haven't ever gain 4 lbs - you would have had to eaten 14000 extra calories to gain that much - I'm know you haven't done that - I know it's still hard when you see the scale go up like that - but like you said - it will be off next week - and I agree with Apples - you did get to onderland and you deserve that purse... I haven't watched the News tonite - didn't sit down till after 7 - took Andrew target/winco shopping anyway - i know this morning they said wind today - but I haven't seen any yet - some clouds when I left work but that's it... Hopefully they will be wrong - but I know they said tomorrow 74 and you know cabazon will be a little cooler - so bring a lite jacket yes for you northern/eastern girls 74 isn't cold but for us desert Rats.. 74 high is cool - long pants - and closed in shoes ;0) Melissa - Exercise is a great stress reliever - I am glad you are doing something for you.. LauraK - my new gym has the class but it's too crowded and looks more like jazzercise - I hope to get to one at my other new gym 24 hr fitness - I have a gf who has gone and said it kicked her butt - so I want to try it too.. Julie - Hugs Hugs Hugs !!!! I could only imagine how hard this is for you with the constant health issues you have had and now this constant pain issue.. I agree with apples - you may just need to go back to the doc - I think you may be just a tad depressed from what all you have going on - constant pain like you are having can drive a person crazy. Right not consintrate on finding out what's going on and causing this pain - ck out that pain management center and getting well - the rest will fall in place and all the worrying in the world isn't going to help the family issues... I gotta say since I had that talk with my Uncle and let my anger go at my sister - things have been better between us - at least on the surface - we have talked a couple of times and the tension has gone - I am wary - but things seem to be looking up - and I think it's cuz I had let go.. Sweetie we are here for you - I think you have done and execellent job on your weight loss - I think you may not know how to pat yourself on the back - So we are all giving you those pats - you have done an excellent job - and will continue to do so - you have a set back right now and once that gets figured out you will be right back on track...

Phyll...my first thought while reading your post was dehydtration. Were there extremely salty food at your party with adult drinks. I will notice a 3-4 lbs weight gain for a few days after I have overdone it on ham or salty deli meats. You gotta get the Coach. You WERE in Onderland and by the time you get home with that purse, I bet you will be in Onderland again. You GF's have a great time shopping and lunching tomorrow.

Ok so really this is the first in a series of blogs on my journey though this addiction called food. I have been banded since june of 008 and have lost 80 pounds to date. That is untill recently...three weeks ago I went to get a fill and had exray done and my band had slipped. So he took all the fluid out and said if it does not go back to normal then I will have to have surgury again to fix....Well to me I heard that the surgury was a for gone conclusion and screw it go on and eat anything you want because ur going to have surgury anyway...felt no hope so I ate and ate and ate and ate.....17 pounds worth of eating....Felling depressed that It has not worked....but really I was not working....I know it is only a tool but I was not ready to give it up....I came into it thinking that ok really it will be forced behavior modification and i just have to choose wisely...well really I have not been...fell of the wagon....I want the freedom and not the prison of food...the goal is not to throw up....to finally listen to my body....please forgive me body for ignore you and for beating you up....I think this blogging will help.....I do not know the plan to be on I think really the only plan is to listen to my body and not throw up....I am not ready to give up the band...I am almost done paying off the band. I am a cash patient and have 2000 left to pay on the bill...care credit is such a loan shark but am thankful to have them out of my hair...so really I think it will be ok....I have PCOS and think that all the yeast and sugar has sent my pancreas into overdrive....that would explain the rapid weight gain....feeding the sickness....so im going to start metphormin again and see if that helps....will keep you posted.....

Ok so really this is the first in a series of blogs on my journey though this addiction called food. I have been banded since june of 008 and have lost 80 pounds to date. That is untill recently...three weeks ago I went to get a fill and had exray done and my band had slipped. So he took all the fluid out and said if it does not go back to normal then I will have to have surgury again to fix....Well to me I heard that the surgury was a for gone conclusion and screw it go on and eat anything you want because ur going to have surgury anyway...felt no hope so I ate and ate and ate and ate.....17 pounds worth of eating....Felling depressed that It has not worked....but really I was not working....I know it is only a tool but I was not ready to give it up....I came into it thinking that ok really it will be forced behavior modification and i just have to choose wisely...well really I have not been...fell of the wagon....I want the freedom and not the prison of food...the goal is not to throw up....to finally listen to my body....please forgive me body for ignore you and for beating you up....I think this blogging will help.....I do not know the plan to be on I think really the only plan is to listen to my body and not throw up....I am not ready to give up the band...I am almost done paying off the band. I am a cash patient and have 2000 left to pay on the bill...care credit is such a loan shark but am thankful to have them out of my hair...so really I think it will be ok....I have PCOS and think that all the yeast and sugar has sent my pancreas into overdrive....that would explain the rapid weight gain....feeding the sickness....so im going to start metphormin again and see if that helps....will keep you posted.....

You know, I'm at 8cc in a 10 cc band. I don't feel any restriction at all. I'm stuck in a plateau... am back on metformin 2 times a day for diabetes and now on lantus at night due to morning highs... My doc tells me that the metformin won't cause weight gain and the lantus is such a low dose, that it should not be affecting my weight loss.... All I know is that within a week of going back on the metformin... I've lost only 4 lbs... and that was 6 months ago. I'm very frustrated... Any ideas out there?

Well today ( 11/11/09 ) I made it to the doctors office... I weighted in @ 345 so I had to reset my ticker.. It came out 5 lbs over so I will call my start date today. My blood pressure was good, no issues there. I took a look at my chart and my last visit was on 8/5/08 my weight then 287.7 lbs.. Man that hit me.. I could not believe I let myself go that way! I saw a New PA and she was cool. I told her my issue and she said thats ok, time to start over a new beginning. I thought that was nice of what she said with a 57 lbs weight gain.. After a brief discussion she began to feel for my port but could not find it. She went to get the other PA ( who I have seen before ) and after he saw my chart you would think he would say glad to see you here, instead he says" what happen " I said long story.. That was a turn off... anyway I think she will be my contact person there from now on....They found the port and recovered only 6 cc of fluid. My last visit he got it up to 9.cc, so it was a little concerning about the 3. 5 cc disappearance. He said hopefully it just demish, but was concern that just maybe I would have a leak. I now have 7cc in my lapband.. I have another appt on 12/2/09 and they will check to see how many CC I have then. I will also attend an aftercare/support class... On is Bariatric essentials ( basically a refresher on what to eat/ how much/etc) and the other is Emotional Eating.. This will be all done on the same day since the doctors office is 1.5 hrs from where I live.. Hope to lose 6 lbs bt next visit! __________________

Dont panic yet - its simply a matter of getting restriction. I must say, the older 4cc bands seem to have people at their sweet spot much much quicker, I found with mine, I had the right restriction for me at that particular time each and every fill. But i know from four years on here that its very very normal to take even up to a year to get good restriction and start losing. till then, well you DO have to summon up some willpower. Dont underestimate yourself - you do have it. Maybe not enough to have 2lb coming off every week, but to start making healthy changes. The band has NOTHING to do with your exercise habits, for example, there's absolutely nothing to stop you going at that really hard and with dedication and that will prevent weight gain, if not see weight coming off. Its a shame its such a drawn out process, but you dont have a "window" in which you have to lose weight or the opportunity is lost, when you get good restriction, it will start happening.

Hello to anyone that will take the time. I sailed right through the surgery and it was fantastic. My doctor took great care and I was back to normal about 2 days after surgery. He requires us to stay in the hospital overnight. I followed all the rules and felt absolutely fabulous after surgery. I started walking right away and of course on liquids for 2 complete weeks and then mushy for the next 2 and then incorporated solids slowly. After about the first month I was 11 pounds down! I was totally happy with that! But after I started eating it was no problem at all eating. When I went in for my first fill I was still 8 pounds down and felt absolutely nothing after the fill. Maybe for the first 5 days I really took it easy. 2 months after I had another appt. I had lost exactly 1/2 pound and it's because I was never full. I can't do it on willpower alone. He filled me (I'm up to 5ccs now) It was perfect for about 5 days and then and NOW I can basically eat everything and anything. There is no restriction! Consequently I've gained back all the 11 pounds plus and I'm so depressed. And calling this guy and trying to get an appointment is like pulling teeth. It takes 2 months to get an appointment. Luckily for me (after all this weight gain) I'm scheduled for next week! Has anyone else gone through all of this? I thought you weren't supposed to be able to eat much. I can take pills and swallow big chunks of food with no problem. Can anyone offer me any advice at all? I'm so desperate. I've called the doctor's office every week for a month but they "can't get me in sooner". Is anyone else having a scheduling problem? Should I try to be seen somewhere else? I'm really lonely about this because I don't really have anyone to talk to. I would appreciate any help anyone can give me. Also, when I go in next week what should I say about a fill? Tell them to close me up? I would prefer to only be able to drink liquids for about 2 months at least. :sad:Thank you

Well today ( 11/11/09 ) I made it to the doctors office... I weighted in @ 345 so I had to reset my ticker.. It came out 5 lbs over so I will call my start date today. My blood pressure was good, no issues there. I took a look at my chart and my last visit was on 8/5/08 my weight then 287.7 lbs.. Man that hit me.. I could not believe I let myself go that way! I saw a New PA and she was cool. I told her my issue and she said thats ok, time to start over a new beginning. I thought that was nice of what she said with a 57 lbs weight gain.. After a brief discussion she began to feel for my port but could not find it. She went to get the other PA ( who I have seen before ) and after he saw my chart you would think he would say glad to see you here, instead he says" what happen " I said long story.. That was a turn off... anyway I think she will be my contact person there from now on....They found the port and recovered only 6 cc of fluid. My last visit he got it up to 9.cc, so it was a little concerning about the 3. 5 cc disappearance. He said hopefully it just demish, but was concern that just maybe I would have a leak. I now have 7cc in my lapband.. I have another appt on 12/2/09 and they will check to see how many CC I have then. I will also attend an aftercare/support class... On is Bariatric essentials ( basically a refresher on what to eat/ how much/etc) and the other is Emotional Eating.. This will be all done on the same day since the doctors office is 1.5 hrs from where I live.. Hope to lose 6 lbs bt next visit!

I completely understand what you mean! I think the difference for me is that I was so STRICT in the past that if I "messed-up" by eating anything that was unhealthy, I just threw it all away. This past weekend, with permission from my nutritionist, I had a half cheesesteak (no mayo, lite cheese and the bread gutted) and a piece of my birthday cake. It was my birthday and I was not going to jeopardize the surgery or outcome. I had that meal and 4 cocktails.....with no weight gain all weekend. I was so excited. I think I have actually learned to eat in moderation and for the first time in my 40yrs.....listen to my "full" button. Please let me know as you go through your appt how things go for you...how much do you have to lose?

AND I DIDN'T GAIN A POUND!!! WOOHOOOOOOOOO! Never before in my life have I ever gone on a cruise or vacation and didn't come back with weight gain. I did get stuck once and PB'd, but I certainly watched it the remainder of the time. I'm perfectly restricted. Thanks Dr. C and staff!

I am on the way to the pot of gold. I am so excited that I could sing, wait a minute I am singing. I am scheduled for my surgery on 12/8/09 at 5:00 am. I am told I should be on my way home by 2:00. I start my liquid diet on the 24th. I am working on getting us to that diet. I am finding it hard to eat only a dime size bite as well as chewing that piece 30 times. I have always drank something with every meal and now that too has been hard. I know I shouldn't complain after reading pages and pages of stuff on this site. I have nothing but to forge on. I will do that. I am not sure where to get protein drinks from. My son said that you can get it just about anywhere but that a lot of them are nasty tasting. If there is anyone out there that can fill me in on the do's and dont's of protein shakes. That would be wonderful. I am 48 years old and am about 180 lbs over weight. That is a terrifying weight gain when you think about how toxic fat cells can be to your body. I am so ashamed of myself for getting this size. I truly didn't think about the weight until I became diabetic then took a long look at myself (I think that was the scaryest of all so far) and here I am. After the blood pressure was going up and up. I began this process. I would be lying if I said that it is all overwhelming right now. I have information swimming around my head like a over crowded fish bowl. This to shall pass I have to doubt. :confused: So as the journey is underway. Lay back and enjoy the ride. TaTa For Now:smile2:

I am on the way to the pot of gold. I am so excited that I could sing, wait a minute I am singing. :redface: I am scheduled for my surgery on 12/8/09 at 5:00 am. I am told I should be on my way home by 2:00. I start my liquid diet on the 24th. I am working on getting us to that diet. I am finding it hard to eat only a dime size bite as well as chewing that piece 30 times. I have always drank something with every meal and now that too has been hard. I know I shouldn't complain after reading pages and pages of stuff on this site. I have nothing but to forge on. I will do that. I am not sure where to get protein drinks from. My son said that you can get it just about anywhere but that a lot of them are nasty tasting. If there is anyone out there that can fill me in on the do's and dont's of protein shakes. That would be wonderful. I am 48 years old and am about 180 lbs over weight. That is a terrifying weight gain when you think about how toxic fat cells can be to your body. I am so ashamed of myself for getting this size.:confused: I truly didn't think about the weight until I became diabetic then took a long look at myself (I think that was the scaryest of all so far) and here I am. After the blood pressure was going up and up. I began this process. I would be lying if I said that it is all overwhelming right now. I have information swimming around my head like a over crowded fish bowl. This to shall pass I have to doubt. :confused: So as the journey is underway. Lay back and enjoy the ride. TaTa For Now:smile2:

I am on the way to the pot of gold. I am so excited that I could sing, wait a minute I am singing. I am scheduled for my surgery on 12/8/09 at 5:00 am. I am told I should be on my way home by 2:00. I start my liquid diet on the 24th. I am working on getting us to that diet. I am finding it hard to eat only a dime size bite as well as chewing that piece 30 times. I have always drank something with every meal and now that too has been hard. I know I shouldn't complain after reading pages and pages of stuff on this site. I have nothing but to forge on. I will do that. I am not sure where to get protein drinks from. My son said that you can get it just about anywhere but that a lot of them are nasty tasting. If there is anyone out there that can fill me in on the do's and dont's of protein shakes. That would be wonderful. I am 48 years old and am about 180 lbs over weight. That is a terrifying weight gain when you think about how toxic fat cells can be to your body. I am so ashamed of myself for getting this size. I truly didn't think about the weight until I became diabetic then took a long look at myself (I think that was the scaryest of all so far) and here I am. After the blood pressure was going up and up. I began this process. I would be lying if I said that it is all overwhelming right now. I have information swimming around my head like a over crowded fish bowl. This to shall pass I have to doubt. :confused: So as the journey is underway. Lay back and enjoy the ride. TaTa For Now:smile2: . How can you beat that

I am on the way to the pot of gold. I am so excited that I could sing, wait a minute I am singing. :redface: I am scheduled for my surgery on 12/8/09 at 5:00 am. I am told I should be on my way home by 2:00. I start my liquid diet on the 24th. I am working on getting us to that diet. I am finding it hard to eat only a dime size bite as well as chewing that piece 30 times. I have always drank something with every meal and now that too has been hard. I know I shouldn't complain after reading pages and pages of stuff on this site. I have nothing but to forge on. I will do that. I am not sure where to get protein drinks from. My son said that you can get it just about anywhere but that a lot of them are nasty tasting. If there is anyone out there that can fill me in on the do's and dont's of protein shakes. That would be wonderful. I am 48 years old and am about 180 lbs over weight. That is a terrifying weight gain when you think about how toxic fat cells can be to your body. I am so ashamed of myself for getting this size.:confused: I truly didn't think about the weight until I became diabetic then took a long look at myself (I think that was the scaryest of all so far) and here I am. After the blood pressure was going up and up. I began this process. I would be lying if I said that it is all overwhelming right now. I have information swimming around my head like a over crowded fish bowl. This to shall pass I have to doubt. :confused: So as the journey is underway. Lay back and enjoy the ride. TaTa For Now:smile2: . How can you beat that

Google circuit training, there is loads and loads you can do at home with virtually no equipment to get really fit. Walking is great, it shoudl be something everyone does often and at the start of your journey, when you're heavier and havent been active, then its perfect to get your weight loss going. It will build some muscle and fitness. But the human body is designed to walk long distances and unless you're a dedicated power walker, it will be really difficult to build impressive fitness and lose 100% of your excess weight, gaining the type of body muscle tone most of us want, with walking alone. It will simply get too easy and wont continue to benefit you in the same ways. You can progress your walking into running when you're ready by adding intervals of jogging, gradually expanding them etc, just as when you can jog long distances, you build in periods of real running. There are so many body weight exercises that will benefit you too - pushups, dips on a chair, planks, squats, lunges - try lunge walking around even your backyard and see how much THAT hurts, lol. You can build circuits by say, doing 20 squat jumps and running a short course (or using a skipping rope for 2 minutes), do 3 sets of that, then change to push ups and skipping, then change to say sit ups and skipping, use playground equipment to attempt things like pullups as you get stronger, the ONLY limit is your imagination. personally, I made myself a sandbag out of a bag of garden mulch and I love hoiking that around rather than using weights. Twenty squats with a 15kg bag will get your heart rate up pretty well! I find this sort of thing easy to make up because I have a fair degree of anatomical knowledge and knoweldge about health and fitness, but you can research it and find all sorts of free programs and demos on the web and especially youtube. The only limit is your imagination. But do take it slowly, obviously I'm using things I like to do as examples and I'm pretty fit and no longer carrying excess weight. But you definitely dont need a gym to get really fit. At the moment, if you committed yourself to say 2 circuits a week where you mentally prepare yourself to work REALLY hard - feeling a bit ill and man am I going to be sore tomorrow type of hard - and then walk the other days at a more pleasant intensity, that would be a fantastic start for you. The duration of walking is great for fat burning, but you will really rocket your results if you can push yourself for two really intense sessions every week. With driving to the gym such a bit committment, dont feel pressured to have to do it. But if you can visit twice a week for a short period to do a circuit class or a personal training session or similar, explaining what you want to achieve, you will pick up knowledge about how to do these types of exercises so that you can design your own program at home.

Hope your day goes well. I've got water weight issues too. Just not wanting to drink enough to get what I need right now. Wish we'd get some rain. We need it! I'm glad I'm not the only one that gains when sick. And 3lbs isn't much. You'll take care of that in no time. Actually I think it might still be water weight gain from going of the BP med. I never got rid of that before I got sick. I sleep better when DH is home too. Not as much pressure I guess. I wake up a lot when he's gone. No wonder I'm tired all the time! My rings are tight too. New jeans tho, are a little loose. Go figure! Have fun at lunch. The cleaning can wait. Mine always does! LOL! ~~~~~ Well, 1PM west coast time, tomorrow, I'm getting my hair all cut off! He called me this AM and he had an opening so I took it! Was starting to feel a little better yesterday but woke up this AM feeling horrid again! UGH! I'm supposed to go to the city Thursday for an ultrasound and a fill but I'm thinking of rescheduling everything for the following week, if I can. I'll wait and see how I fell tomorrow. I AM getting my hair cut tho, no matter how bad I feel! LOL!! I haven't told anyone I'm doing it. Oh DH and DD know but that's it! I'm going to have DH take a couple of before pics and then after pics when I get home! If I'm brave enough (I've been leery about posting pics here) and can figure out how to do it, I'll maybe post a couple so you can see too. Need to go. DD needs a snack! BBL.

Chris - I so love the name "Dexter"! Can't wait to hear bout the ultrasound and AMAZED at the 5lb weight gain - Seriously, I can do that in a blink of an eye! Heather... I so hear you on the snacking. I had a handful of peanuts last night - grrr! It's Hawaii time already - how exciting! Riley - I wish I could jog a mile - I still can't get past week 3 of my C25K! Oh, and, yes - it is the little things - I way past due for all that stuff too. Really want to find a cute, short haircut - little discouragement from the hubby on that note though. Pat - I LOVE sweet potatoes - I like to Microwave em with a little butter and sprinkle them with cinnamon. YUMMO! Sweet T - have fun in LA - are you driving or flying? Ok, Maria - I need to know what ZUMBA is LOL. Jewel - you have a frap today???

It's the sunday after my surgery (Wed Nov 4th was the surgery). I was in the hospital from 6am to 1pm the next day. Surgery must have been a breeze according to the dr. But my dad said the doc was very proud of himself for finding a hiatal hernia and 'fixing it'. Now I don't know too much about them but I do know that I have had many years of misery with my stomach! Was told I just had acid reflux. The gastro doc did every test imaginable and that was the diagnosis. Here take this pill, there is nothing else I can do. And then it was the allergist to test for food allergies. No allergies there, but I had asthma! Where the heck did that come from? Never had it in my life before! Then it just was one thing after another....bad back, sleep disorder, stress....and now the hiatal hernia is 'fixed'. It seems that was the problem! I ate because it relieved the a nausea. I woke up every morning sick to my stomach and green looking even after trying 5 different acid reflux medications. And it took me deciding to have lap band surgery and taking my health into my own hands to figure out what was really going on. Dang! I feel so much better. Sore from the staples, stitches and surgery and I didn't do too well in the hospital with the anesthesia, but I would do it all again just to get rid of the constant nausea, lack of sleep and continual weight gain!!! What a blessing! After a horrible year, this has been the easiest thing I have dealt with. I look forward to my journey and again being a 'hot mamma'! And will gladly share it all!