January Bandsters???

[Law Bandster 0]

I DID THAT THE OTHER DAY~! I was bored at home, and began wearing all the outfits I had when I weighed about 200 (when I was skinny). THE CLOTHES FIT! For the most part, and a lot of the current clothes where to loose. It's such a good feeling to know you can control your body's weight.

The best feelings are when I know I've been splurging on sweets like Jamba juice and stuff, and you still lose weight.

[Inner_me 1]

Hey everyone! So, yesterday was my 6 month anniversary since surgery. I'm doing okay. Not has good as I would like, but better then before. I spent an entire month and a few weeks knowing that I needed to up my fill level, but not doing it because of vacation plans that included a cruise and my fear that if anything went wrong, I wouldn't be able to have it fixed until I got back.

Well, sometime in early June when I plateaued at 50 lbs lost, I figured that I didn't care anymore and I'd get a fill immediately. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't get in until the day I returned from vacation.

Long story short, gained 9 lbs, which I've since lost 5 of. YEAH!!! Now, I'm just fighting to get back to the 50lbs lost, so I can move forward. This fill seems to be going okay for now, but I'm not leaving it up to chance. I've already set up an appointment for next month to get my 4th fill just in case I need it. At this moment in time, I think I will. I'm restricted, but not like I would like to be. Granted, I haven't really tried "real" solid food yet. I'm still trying to stick to soft until tomorrow. I'll probably do some fish or chicken. If it holds steady for a week or two, then I might reschedule my appointment for a later date.

So, that's my 6 month update. I'll have to do my measurements tomorrow and update you on how far I've come in 6 months. I know that I've dropped from a very tight 28, to a comfortable 24. I've gone from wearing 4x and 5x t-shirts to a 2x (I am still amazed about this, seeing that I'm lugging around DDD's... My energy has increased, and I'm receiving tons of compliments regarding my weight loss. (Part of me is going...was I THAT big before...then the other part of me goes...YES.)

[juno610 1]

Hey everyone! So, yesterday was my 6 month anniversary since surgery. I'm doing okay. Not has good as I would like, but better then before.

Chris you are doing great I totally understand about feeling like it's not enough, so to speak. In my case, I know it's just that I haven't been following the rules, haven't been consistent with exercise, so I know what I have to do to change. So hard to have those pep talks with yourself, ya know!? Keep at it, you will be fine!

[Sula 0]

Hey Dee,

Welcome to the January crowd!

I realized while reading here this evening that tomorrow is my 6-month anniversary. I'm going to have to ponder that to write of the journey!

It is so nice to have some of the old-timers back amongst us. And great for the newbies to check in as well!!

Shawn

[gigi8 0]

Hey all, brought myself to tears last night...

Went to the closet to pick out an outfit for work. I've been rather casual over the summer, so my business clothes are just sitting. So I put on a pair of slacks that I had and noticed…hey…these are big! So without a second thought, moved to another pair of slacks that I've never worn, because they've always been too snug. Wouldn't you know…TOO big. Then it hit me! With a fury like you've not seen…I went from left to right - and tried on every slack, skirt, capri, in my closet. My NSV - I no longer have anything in my closet that is TIGHT. Everything either fits perfectly or is TOO BIG! Those few pairs of pants I bought for 'someday'…came, and WENT! :biggrin1:

I brought myself to tears…and did a happy dance! :whoo:

So the weight isn't coming off so fast, but the body is changing in size and shape!!! For the better!~ :clap2:

sherilynn- That is AWESOME- a great NSV and feeling! Congrats to you! Gigi:clap2:

[gigi8 0]

Good morning Everyone! Just checking in. I went to see my surgeon on Thursday. He was pleased with my weight loss but wants me to see the nutritionist. He thinks that I am not eating enough for all the exercise that I do. I will call and make an appointment next week. Anyway, I am still on my plateau which is so discouraging, but I am trying not to let it bother me too much. How's everyone doing?

Bandida- So glad to see you're back. I've missed you! Congratulations on your success-You look FABULOUS!!!!!!

BabyGotBack- You look AWESOME! Glad to see that you are back too.

Sunshine- How are you doing? How did you make out with your band? I was also wondering if you could give me some info about the Body For Life challenge.

I hope that all is well with everyone. Hope to check in later today-gotta go for a walk. Have a great day- Gigi

[Bandida 0]

HEY GIGI8!! How are you? How have you been feeling? How is journey going? I'd love to hear from you!!!!

[Sula 0]

Hi All,

Today is my 6 month anniversary. I flew to Monterray Mexico and had my surgery with Dr. Chapa after my orignial surgeon, Dr. Sanchez was murdered. I had made my appointment and nobody thought to tell me this fact. But it all went very well! I was a self-pay as I was pretty sure my insurance wouldn't pay and/or I wanted to start right away.

I have felt that the process has been wonderful and not too terribly difficult. Probably the major roadblocks are those that contributed to my being overweight in the first place...lack of self-discipline, lack of exercise, lack of Portion Control, etc. I had a 6 week plateau in the middle of this and just stayed stuck at the same weight and it appears I'm on another one.

I started out with 2 cc's in my 10cc VG band. I have had three fills for a total of 6 cc's. I think I need another one in the very near future. My insurance hasn't paid on the fills ($200 a piece) and so I need to save up a bit.

So, I'm down 42 pounds as of this morning. I'm walking 4 miles/ five days a week, so far. Exercise has not been consistent until recently. I finally remembered to take some measurements a month after my surger so I've lost 7 inches off my waist, 4 inches off my butt. I went from a 44 DDD to a 42DD. I feel like I should be further along, but I'm happy with what I've accomplished. I was wearing a tight 20 and going up and now I'm wearing lots of baggie cloths and some 18's. I am planning on losing 57 more pounds.

I could not have done this without the band. I also couldn't have done as well without the support from here.

I need to start making better food choices and not have my gin and tonic at night. I need to figure out some strength training to go along with my walking. I need to really pay attention to portion size. So, those are the things I will continue to work on.

Thanks for all your support.

Shawn

[tonya66 13]

Happy 6 month band anniversary!

Mine is coming up in 2 days.

Well, just got back from a mini vacation with my daughter, her best friend, my niece and my sister in law. We drove down to Branson, MO and just shopped until we dropped (and ate way too much).

My dr. called me on Wednesday evening and read the results of my upper GI. I was right, NO RESTRICTION. He wanted me to come in last Friday to do another fill, however I couldn't because we were headed out of town. So I'm going back this Friday (the 20th) for fill #4. He said right now I am doing it all on my own, I have pretty much zero restriction, everything is going right thru the band at a rapid pace. grrrrr. I knew I wasn't feeling right, I just knew it! Anyhow, hopefully the next fill will get me right....I'm ready to feel some major restriction!

[tonya66 13]

I brought myself to tears…and did a happy dance! :whoo:

So the weight isn't coming off so fast, but the body is changing in size and shape!!! For the better!~ :clap2:

Oh man, your NSV brought tears to my eyes too! That is GREAT!

[Sula 0]

Tonya,

How do you get to "no restriction?" I just don't get that part. I know people who get the fill material taken out to see if it has been absorbed? What the heck? I'd love to understand that part.

Shawn

[tonya66 13]

Tonya,

How do you get to "no restriction?" I just don't get that part. I know people who get the fill material taken out to see if it has been absorbed? What the heck? I'd love to understand that part.

Shawn

I don't know??? But I can tell you, I can eat anything and everything right now....bread, steak, you name it - I'm really confused. I have less restriction now than I did before I got my last fill. They keep telling me nothing is wrong with my band,they can see no leaks, it is in the right position, but yet I have no restriciton. and supposedly, I am at 3.5cc's. I'm so worried about it. I'm just fighting back the need the eat, trying to control my hunger at this point.

[I'm still here 0]

I don't know??? But I can tell you, I can eat anything and everything right now....bread, steak, you name it - I'm really confused. I have less restriction now than I did before I got my last fill. They keep telling me nothing is wrong with my band,they can see no leaks, it is in the right position, but yet I have no restriciton. and supposedly, I am at 3.5cc's. I'm so worried about it. I'm just fighting back the need the eat, trying to control my hunger at this point.

Tonya ~ I would ask them about using the OMNIPAQUE (sp?) solution for your next fill . . . When I was filled with the saline, it disappeared, but that has not been a problem with the OMNIPAQUE. I have heard it referred to a 'fix-a-flat', so if you do have a tiny little leak somewhere that they aren't able to see, it might correct it. Just a thought . . .

[Inner_me 1]

Hey everyone! Thanks Juno!!! I'm trying. It's great hearing everyone's recap on their first 6 months. Which is one of the reasons I added mine...how about everyone else? How are you doing? I look forward to reading the next month in review...

Shawn, you added what I needed to...goals to work on. I need to get back to excercising. I can honestly say that other then changes in life style...such as parking further out, taking the elevator, and all of the work around the house (that thank goodness, I know have energy for...) I've completely fallen off of my excercise plan. And, then I wonder why I'm having problems... *sarcasm*.

I did come to say that I finally have restriction! Whoo hoo!!! Unfortunately, I found out the hard way. I've also had my first PB...twas turkey bacon and eggs w/cheese. I've yet to decide which is the culprit. I'm leaning towards the bacon. Oh, and I've knocked off another 2lbs of that extra gain. Things are looking up. I'm now 3 lbs from my loss of 50lbs. Pretty soon, my ticker will start moving again.

[Inner_me 1]

Okay... I completely missed an entire discussion. LOL

That's a good question about Tonya's band. I do know that you can lose restriction based upon fat loss around the stomach area. But, Tonya had just received her fill, and it was gone immediately. For a second, Tonya, I thought you had the larger band size, like me. Without a proper fill, that definitely will leave you alot of room to get bread and other items down. Trust me, I know from experience.

Hopefully they will try the omnipaque (sp)....I heard that it is a more dense fill then the regular saline, and should provide you with some restriction.