June 2006 Band Crew

[Pinkylee 7]

Regina - I missed the program - drats. I bet you looked great.

Melissa - you are looking sooooo hot. Love the new avitar. You inspire me.

Gotta get with it - almost time to make the drive to closing. Whew!

I am ready to lose. Fill is definitely on the schedule when I can chew on both sides of my mouth. (second week of April)

NSV - I've exercised to a sweat 2 mornings in a row. We won't mention other issues. I'm working on them. Have to admit getting my heart pounding has definitely cleared my head.

[Melissa Lea 1]

Pinky --thanks for the compliment. It is always nice to hear. Also, congrats on the closing. I know how thrilled you are to have the condo off your hands. I do know how much you enjoyed the condo.

I hope that everyone has a Beautiful Easter :thumbup:

Melissa

[barbara465 2]

Life is so full of challenges. I know there has to be a reason for them. Glad to hear from some of you we haven't in a while.

I am fighting my own demons. Not doing well on my program. I do get stuck, but I am managing to keep from sliming. However, I am eating lots of junk. I have gained almost 15 lbs. I've got to get myself under control and back to basics.

Dick and I will be traveling with a couple trips in the next few weeks. I may have to stay in Amsterdam for business after our river cruise. That will delay my getting a fill. If I could keep myself in control it wouldn't be so bad. I'm going to carry my Breakfast drinks with me so at least I'll behave at breakfast.

Have a wonderful Easter.

[juliegeraci 7]

How is everyone doing? I am down only 65 lbs post op, 100 lbs preop. I am scheduled to have a Tummy Tuck and thigh lift on 4/21. I am now a size 16 down from a size 24. I am getting excited about my tummy tuck. Julie

[Melissa Lea 1]

Hey Julie!! Congrats on your upcoming procedures. I have been thinking about some procedures I will want to have but still need to lose at least 40 more pounds. That would put me at 100 pounds lost.

Barb4 --have an awesome time on your travels.

Have a great one everyone!

Melissa

[Melissa Lea 1]

Will someone please remind me how to post pictures on here from photobucket?

Thanks!

Melissa

[Pinkylee 7]

Julie - congrats. Let us know how the PS process is going.

I'm so mad at my self!!!! Laziness is at the bottom of my progress (or lack of). Love hunger, depression, etc. They might be "reasons" for my slip, but they are not a battle I care to lose again.

GRRRRRRR.

[warmmorningsun 1]

Hi all, it's been sooo long since I've updated. So much happening. The gist of it is that I've been leading a non-bandster lifestyle and have done nothing to use the tool I was so graciously given. (well, so graciously purchased...anyway....). In January, I went back to my surgeon and commited to getting back on the wagon. The amazing thing was that as much food as I ate indiscriminately, I didn't regain my weight (give or take 2 lbs that came and went over and over). So I went from 1.5 to 2.0 in my band. And was waaaaaaaay too tight. I had it loosened down to 1.7 and had exactly 3 days before I caught probably the worst stomach virus I've ever had in my life. I had to go in to have them take everything out because I was so swollen I couldn't swallow spit. I ended up in the hospital for dehydration for 2 days (you wouldn't believe how sick I was). My surgeon made me wait for 2 weeks after before he filled me again, and he put in 1.0 (he wanted to ease up on this). During this visit I had an epiphany. We talked about my food choices, and he said something to me that for some reason I've never really considered. He told me that I should not be eating the things that are easy for me to eat. I should challenge myself to eat the things that are difficult to eat, and then I'd lose weight. That clicked for me because suddenly I understood why I wasn't losing weight on potato Soup, chocolate, milkshakes, etc. (Okay, maybe I understood that before, but for me it was a light going off in my head). I ended up having to go back for the 1.5 fill (back to where I started) but from the standpoint of weightloss, the scale started to move down again! All because I"m forcing myself to eat hard Protein (turkey, chicken, fish, cheese) and I'm absolutely not drinking with meals but waiting a half hour after my meals. I suddenly get what this band is meant to do! So I wanted to share my epiphany, wish everyone well, apologize for being absent for so long, and to remind everyone to eat hard Proteins first and drink 1/2 hour after!

Edited April 3, 2008 by warmmorningsun

[cathgr8 1]

Aimee,

I continue to lose weight without exercising, and I'm convinced it's because I eat hard Protein first with every meal and don't drink for an hour after. I haven't updated my ticker, but I've lost 122 lbs. now and only about 15 more to go.

[warmmorningsun 1]

Cathy, that's awesome! Good for you, that's an incredible amount of weight. I feel like I've coasted on ice cream, soft foods, and chocolate for a year. But I will say that I"ve not exercised either, and the fact that you continue to lose makes me optimistic for myself too! I know that the MD didn't really tell me anything that I wasn't told before I even got the band, but it was like I was lulled into the easy way around the band. The funny thing is that I was PBing all over the place by drinking even with the soft foods, and since I've eliminated drinking with meals, I haven't PB'ed even once. I just feel like I'm starting off from the beginning again and I'm excited about my band again. Thanks for sharing with me the info you did, and great great great job on the weight loss. You rock!

[socalgal3 4]

Melissa-If you post here, the little mountain pic says "Insert image". If you already uploaded your photos to PhotoBucket, there should be a URL for you to upload here. I hope that helps!

Glad it finally clicked Aimee! Better late than never.

You've done great Cathy!

Hang in there Pinky!

I had a little epiphany myself the other day. I realized I missed my protective layer of fat. It is hard to explain cuz it is weird, but I've heard about people missing their friend food. I missed my friend fat the other day. I think it was my buffer against the world. It was cushy and soft and kept me warm and safe in my mind. I know that was random, but I just wanted to share! haha

I'm holding steady around 160. I think I may coast here until summer with no fill, unless I gain more. I'm one of those people that has some restriction with no fill. I haven't PB'd but I have gotten stuck and it eventually passed. That is my update.

[cathgr8 1]

I would love to get the last 15 pounds off by my bandiversary. I happen to have a wedding that weekend - my BF's daughter, first time meeting his ex wife. I know that it isn't as simple as I'm making it. People have different experiences with the tightness of the band which seem to make them avoid the hard Proteins. I have never even PB'd until my last fill, had restriction with no fill, and I still have a very small amount of fill. So in some ways I'm lucky too. my doctor is very conservative, keeps saying it's about quality of life, and without the ability to eat hard Protein, it's a much more difficult process.

[Melissa Lea 1]

Hey Everyone! I wanted to drop in and say a quick hello. Things have been pretty hectic in my life right now (personal and professional). But even during my absence, I think about my banded buddies all the time. I hit a new milestone last week. I made it to the 180s!!! I feel like that is a HUGE vicotry for me. I can't tell you the last time I have seen that number. Today, I weighed in at 188.5. I am so excited. I am trying to run with this new momentum and get some more weight off of me before things slow down again. I have come to the conclusion that I am a "slow" loser and that's fine by me.

I hope to hear from everyone soon. Thanks Socalgal about the pics. I will try and put a couple up soon. Would love to see current pics of everyone as well.

Take care!

Melissa

[Pinkylee 7]

I don't like the changes to this format of LBT!!!

I finally got a fill 2 weeks ago. I was gaining like crazy - over 10 pounds. I was down 3 pounds this morning - which considering what I've (Not) been able to eat - ain't much. I'm doing better eating solids now which is helping the scale move.

My Sunday black pants were loose again yesterday. Inches are good too!

Congrats Aimee and Cathgr8. We are closing in on that 2 year mark.

I'm almost done with our taxes (all the real estate deals were a bear so I got an extension).

I don't like being so tight (again), but I do like not being so hungry. A real sense of empowerment.

Good to hear from you guys.

Please stay in touch.

[socalgal3 4]

I got refilled again this morning too Pinky! I was being a little piggy! Luckily, I was only at 163 this morning, not more. I was so scared that I stretched my pouch, but they said everything looked great. I am so paranoid since my slip whenever I go to the doc. Hopefully, I'll be back at goal(150) by my birthday or by my 2 year bandiversary! Hope everyone is out there somewhere doing well.