January Bandsters???

[tonya66 13]

Hi from Mississippi!

I was banded in Jackson, MS by Dr Ken Cleveland at CMMC on Jan 29th, 2007. I havent gotten the hang of posting and using the tickers yet, but i AM here! My presurgical weight was 330 lbs and as of today, and 305 lbs.

This site has been invaluable to me as I am single and not currently working. Keep up all the good work! :clap2:

Welcome - I've added you to our list. It should be updated next week sometime. Congrats on the weight loss!

[tonya66 13]

Hello All,

I have a questions to those that were banded this month and of whom are getting their first fill. OK, question, I am scheduled for my first fill for this Monday. I still feel like I have pretty good restriction. So I'm not sure I need one just yet. We have a cruise planned for the week of March 11th and I am afraid if I get a fill and there are problems, then I won't be able to enjoy the cruise having only liquids if I experience problems. I am currently still on mushies until 2-26, so I have a couple of weeks to get use to "real" food. Any words of wisdom?

If you fill like you have restriction, I would not get a fill. You don't want to be overfilled on a cruise. Especially if you get something stuck, could make your trip misserable. I think if I were you, I would wait until after vacation, and then get your fill.....

[tonya66 13]

Does anyone know what happens if you stretch your pouch and how would you know if you stretched it? Iam so worried that I will stretch mine.

From what I've been told, it take constant overeating to stretch your pouch. I was told that is one reason not to drink carbonated beverages, that the gas build up can stretch the pouch.

I seriously doubt you have stretched your pouch so soon. The way you would tell if you stretch your pouch is if you were at your sweet spot, and you hadn't lost any weight and you continue to be able to eat more. Thats my guess. The doc could probably tell to when they did your fill if you were stretched out.

[tonya66 13]

Today marks 1 month since the birth of my band (Bandilicious). I measured and I've lost a total of 17 1/4" in 1 month off of my body! I lost 4 inches off my waist and 4 inches off my hips! And I lost every place else too!

Now my weight loss includes my pre-op weight, so I don't want anyone to freak out and think they haven't lost as much - but I am down 41 LBS.To me this is so great, I am 41 pounds lighter since the day I stepped on the scales back on November 22, 2006. I remember thinking when the nurse weighed me that today was going to be the fattest I would ever be! And I was right! I started watching what I ate, not always did I follow that, I had lots of the "last meals". Ice cream, pie, you name it, but I was conscious of what I put in my mouth for the most part, however I never turned down an invitation to go out for lunch at work. Oh, and I had my share of Cookies & milk for a late night snack. The closer it came to surgery, the more serious I got and I believe I was able to lose around 21 lbs before surger, but then gained some back - I kinda bounced back & forth. I think my total weight loss since surgery is around 20 lbs for those of you wondering. I'm happy with that, I'm happy most of all with the 41 lbs I am down since Nov. 22nd. And I am totally thrilled with the inches melting off of my body.

Now that I am 1 month out, I am so happy with my changes. I am looking forward to being under 200 lbs by March 17! (Thats my goal).

I had some minor problems, I was sore for longer than most people, I had horrible visions problems after surgery, I continued for 3 1/2 weeks to have port pain when I exercises. And now that I have been introduced back to solid foods, my body is struggling with that as well. I can only eat about 5 bites of anything and then I'm full right now. I get naucious if I eat anything more. I'm due to have a fill in a couple of weeks and right now there is no way I could get a fill, I'm so restricted.

I still struggle with my Water, but getting better week by week, I also struggle getting my Protein in, but that is getting better. I'm choosing foods that are higher in Protein.< /p>

Now, I can't wait to see where I am at on my 2 month anniversary! I know the weight loss will slow down, I really hope it does to help with the sagging skin. I have 61 lbs to hit my goal weight but I am giving my self an entire 18 months to get to goal. If I get there sooner, I will be thrilled, but I don't plan on getting there until next summer. I know there will be stalls, and I'm anticipating them to happen pretty soon.

I am starting my heavy duty, kick some butt, stand up and be counted for, exercise program tomorrow. I'm headed to the gym at 5 am!

Okay, just checking in and letting everyone know how I did the past month.

Talk to everyone later..........

[shues138 35]

Tonya,

I'm so glad that you shared your 1 month journey so far. Mine will be on the 26th. It's amazing how much our bodies change in just a month. I haven't weighed myself since 10 day post op, but I feel a difference. I started exercising it helps so much with stress. Hope everyone else is doing okay. I had the day from hell at work 8 hours straight no food, no break so far I've only had an egg to eat for the day. Oh and some ricotta cheese, but I felt like crap at work. They'll never get it there.

Everyone have a great rest of the weekend!

[tonya66 13]

Okay, as ugly as I am, I am going to share my before pic and my 1 month progress photo. Remember - I'm a work in progress - I still have a long way to go!

[Sula 0]

Tonya,

Marvelous! You should be so proud of yourself. What a journey and you can see how hard you worked before you even had the band! You are an inspiration even without the visual reinforcement for us!

Shawn

[gigi8 0]

Hi Tonya, I just commented about your awesome progress in the before and after thread, but I want to tell you again. I think you are doing GREAT! You sure are an inspiration. I was banded on 1/30/07 and have lost 25 lbs to date( that is including a pre-op diet). So, in about 1 month, I have lost 25lbs. I am very satisfied with that. I also feel alot of restriction. I am on full liquids and soft foods- cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, sf puddings etc. I feel very satisfied for now anyway. I am not scheduled for my first fill until the 3rd or 4th week of March. Anyway- thank you for sharing your experience. You look WONDERFUL! Gigi

[Bandida 0]

I'm glad you are doing better. I was wondering about the air in your stomach. My doctor was adamant about no drinking through a straw and using a work-out bottle for Water with a small opening, so that I don't swallow air. Could this be part of your problem? Just a thought....

Take care and I hope you feel better soon.

Hi edieday..Thanks for asking...I don't do straws but I do use a work-out bottle to drink..That could be it...But I've used the bottle from day one and the pain just started about 6 days ago...I was told also it could of been that I went too long without food or drink...Sometimes at work I can't have food or liquids so it's hard to keep up with it. Ever since the MD told me what it was, I've been drinking and eating EXACTLY when I'm supposed to and everything is much better...so who knows...I'm just taking it one day at a time and following everyones advice...I do have to say this and I hope it works for anyone who needs it..but the papaya enzymes help with constipation!!!! I'm so excited I found them!!!! I take 4 of them every other day and I go to the bathroom like clock work!!!!!! I hope this info is useful to any one who needs it!!

[Bandida 0]

WOW TONYA!!! You look awesome!!! And whoever told you you where ugly sure was blind!!!! Congrats on doing such an awesome job!!!! Keep up the great work!!!!! :D :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :)

[BabyGotBack 0]

Sunshine2 you look great!!!

Congrats!!

[BabyGotBack 0]

Check in!!

I have been messing with my new Ipod so I have not been on like I usually am! I am doing good, maintaining my weight.

I have been eating some other foods in small quantities, foods I know I won't be able to eat after I get filled on Wednesday. Dr. Ortiz is aggressive with his fills I hear.

I plan on getting back on the Beach on Wednesday.

With my new Ipod I plan on getting my workouts to the next level.

How is everyone?

[tonya66 13]

Thank you guys for your compliments. I think its important to take a before picture, sometimes we might not feel like we're losing weight, so we can compare our pics and see the difference.

I can't believe my stomach was sticking out so far in my before pic, I looked like I was pregnant!

I just had dinner, my tummy is hurting a bit, I might have over ate a bit, I had about 2 oz of salmon, a spoonfull of sweet potatoe and a bit of the inside of my neighbors homemade eggrolls. I'm stuffed!

I'm headed to the hospital to visit my great aunt, then back home to bed - I'm getting up at 4:30 am tomorrow to head to the gym! I want to be there by 5!

[imsusie0929 0]

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone know how to get the glittermaker to work. I have tried to paste each of the different urls but none of them seems to work. Can anyone help, please?

Tonya,

We are band date twins, happy anniversay! You look great, congrats!

Sue

[Chris1982 2]

Hey everyone everything is still doing good after my surgery, I'm on soft foods this week and then solid foods starting thurday and hopefully get a fill after march 1, but so far I think I've done really good with the band, I hope this has been as easy for all of you as it has for me.