June 2007 Bandsters

[insubordination 0]

I don't know whether you should get a fill or not. I know you have done this on willpower alone but I think that if you somehow lose your will, the band will be there to 'save' you from gaining. I don't thnk you have tight restriction and are maybe just eating so little from discipline but if some pounds ever start creeping back on, get a fill, then another one.

I'm glad you didn't get RNY because your body needs as many nutrients as you can get and your stomach and intestines are still intact.

[Suzzzie. 3]

Dan, I think you've had great success, and since you did all of it on your own, without the bands help that of course you feel kinda left out there hanging... In that aspect I can see why you feel the way you do. BUT I agree with o2bthin that now that you are at the proper weight you don't have to worry about gaining - because you DO have a band. So this isn't like any other 'diet' - you didn't work your ass of jsut to turn back to old eating habits where you gain it all back, and some more to boot. Your band will not allow that - as long as you keep up with it and get fills if you start to gain the slightest bit. Maybe you'll gain 10 pounds in the next few months... big deal! You can get your fill and use your band. You'll be fine and you've done AMAZINGLY well!!

ALSO - can I add that I have family and a few friends who've had the bypass... did you know that after a while your stomach stretches back out and you can even grow new intestine??? One of my co-workers had bypass 6 years ago, lost 150 - gained back 80... and now wants the band! Bypass really has a bad success rate, because of the re-gaining of weight. (My dad lost 250+ with bypass years and years ago and is back at weighing over 400 now.)

Please don't be discouraged!! You are one of my great inspirations on this board! I can't wait to meet you in Vegas!

[ja9va 0]

Rhonda/otbthin I have reached One-derland! At least I think I am still there? I have not weighed myself in over a week because I am afraid to! I am 1/2 way to my weight loss. I am excited and have bought some clothes that are a size 14. I am more happy with that than the numbers. I went to Belk, like a Macy's and bought some clothes on clearance and sale. I figure for the next two or three months they will still work!!

Dan and others, it is so easy to begin to question the band, who is really working, the band or our will and diet choices. Dan I agree with Suzzie and o2bthin, that you did a FANTASTIC JOB so fast, so it is easy for you to think that the band may not be the tool for you! BUT, I think you did so good with out it that at a point you will need a fill, you will feel the restriction to keep your weight off. that is the main part of the Band that I focus on, that once I reach my goal, I won't gain it back like all the other 100's of times! I knew going in that I would still need to make good choices. I can still eat chips, salsa, junk, wine, ice cream and more! this is an ongoing challenge. but I also love to eat real food! so, the meal restriction truly helps me.

I am sorry for going on and on, but the band has not stopped my from eatng poorly and since June, i think we are all learning.

[Suzzzie. 3]

I love days when I feel like I'm starving... and so I eat and eat and eat ... and feel like I totally over ate - only to realize that NOW I'm stuffed full on only 2 taquitos instead of before when I'd eat 12. Lol. I'm not eating much really, it just feels like it. WHenever I feel like I eat too much I just try to lok at what I ate and compare it to what I would eat pre-band. It totally puts everything in perspective.

CONGRATS to JANINE for entering ONEderland! You totally rock my sox off and I'm jealous! I'm still hovering around 330... I dipped down to 326 one day... and then back to 330... Gr. I know its Fluid and stuff. I need to put a sign on my scale to remind me to NOT get on it except for Fridays or something. Haha!!

OHhhhhhhhhhh! And I'm so proud of myself. I LOVE chocolate - and a patients family member brought all of the nurses 3 big boxes of Russel Stovers and I took my Sharpie and wrote on each box "EVIL EVIL EVIL" and "DO NOT EAT!" Haha! Everyone laughed at me, buT i told them that it was mostly to remind me that I didn't want to eat them, because there would come a point in the day when I would feel weak and go for it. And it totally worked to have that written there! And it actually helped EVERYONE! The few nurses that did open one box only ate a few peices rather than having us all devour all the boxes. ha!

[sjrgilman 0]

Rhonda, I agree with your statment. And laugh too. thanks I needed that How true. It seems a little more scientific than just filling and seeing what happens. Thanks, Sheila

[sjrgilman 0]

Captain Danbo, Wow, you;ve accomplished a great deal with your weight loss. as far as the band.goes I feel like its a gift and I try to treat it as such. The fills are another thing. they are hard to get & hard to understand as far as knowing if your full enough. It sounds like your restriction is not as good as it should or could be. I mentioned in another post that a flourscopy is suppose to register the rate of food empting into your stomach for a specific amount of time. Maybe you should suggest this to the doctor? It may put your mind at ease? Hope you find the answers your looking for.

Sheila

[ja9va 0]

suzzzie your weight loss is amazing as well! each lb is an accomplishment. I know we all said this before, it does not matter if you have 80, 180 or 280 to lose, we all have the same eating challenges!!

I feel about pizza the way you feel about the tequito's. I am glad to eat one piece rather than half the tray plus!

My dh and I took the kids to an apple fall festival in the country. it was beautiful. All was great except for the 16 year old compliants! There was blue grass/country bands playing all day, apples, pumpkins, hayrides, and the sun was out! I am planning to make an apple pie and some apple crisp today. I feel like I can eat the apple crisp. I love fall. it is still a bit to warm, in the 70' but nice!

tomorrow back to the grind!

[insubordination 0]

That apple festival sounds wonderful. Also HUGE congratulations about reading ONEderland. Such an achievement. You must have been stoked when you saw that on the scales.

Bravo!

:whoo::biggrin1::clap2::high5::banana:bananalama:

[Suzzzie. 3]

My dh and I took the kids to an apple fall festival in the country. it was beautiful. All was great except for the 16 year old compliants! There was blue grass/country bands playing all day, apples, pumpkins, hayrides, and the sun was out! I am planning to make an apple pie and some apple crisp today. I feel like I can eat the apple crisp. I love fall. it is still a bit to warm, in the 70' but nice!

tomorrow back to the grind!

THat sounds like a wonderful time!! I want some of that Apple Crisp! Haha!

[sjrgilman 0]

suzzie, Now thats will power, candy is a real delima for me, I try to saty right away from it too. But Russell Stovers Hmmmm You did great.

Sheila

[o2bthin 0]

LOL Suzz! EVIL EVIL EVIL!!! DO NOT EAT!! I have to try that on a bag of Werther candies I have!

For some strange reason, the fill I had on the 17th decided to kick in BIG TIME yesterday and I ate some pork and it was stuck all day. I was miserable with it. I have a new respect for slime! It DEMANDS to be respected! It's its own entity! Who ya gonna call....Ghostbusters! Water was barely squeaking down yesterday, but I think it will let up some today. I'm developing theories with dh that it could be my TOM at play or the flu shot I had Saturday afternoon. Whatever it is, I am NOT going back to have this .6cc removed and then not be restricted. Ugh ugh ugh!

I hope everyone else is doing better than me!

[beckiet 0]

It has been forever since I've posted! Sorry!! Looking at everyone's stats and I'm amazed! WTG, Suzzzie, Rhonda, ja9va, and everyone else! I am going slow, but steady. Averaging around 1.5 a week (which is where they want me). It's a little discouraging because I want to be further along than I am...but am happy to be losing, period.

Unfortunately, my staph infection is back, but healing again. Some portion of it had sealed itself off from before and I've been extremely busy with work and moving and let my immune system go down.

Suzzzie, looks like at beginning of year I'll have to switch doctors/facilities. I'll be switching insurance and they definitely aren't covered, so I'll be venturing to KU Med.

[sjrgilman 0]

Beckiet, If you don't mind can you tell me how many fills have you had? and what is your fill amount? I've been stalled for a month and your weight loss is similar to mine, I have a 4cc band and I'm at 1.6 cc . I would be happy with a 1-1.5 # loss a week . I see we have similar goals . I'm 5'5" and want to loose a total 119#. Can you giveme any insight? Thanks, Sheila

[beckiet 0]

Beckiet, If you don't mind can you tell me how many fills have you had? and what is your fill amount? I've been stalled for a month and your weight loss is similar to mine, I have a 4cc band and I'm at 1.6 cc . I would be happy with a 1-1.5 # loss a week . I see we have similar goals . I'm 5'5" and want to loose a total 119#. Can you giveme any insight? Thanks, Sheila

Sheila, I've actually had 3 fills. I'm at 3cc in a 4cc band. There are days that I can eat anything...and there are days that nearly everything gets stuck or I feel full all day. I do my best to only eat the three meals, and do so only if hungry and make sure to get in my Protein. Some ideas I stick to:

1.) Keep a 32 oz. cup of water/crystal light nearby at all times and sip/drink often. - Refil at least once a day

2.) Vary my meals: Breakfast may be a banana with Peanut Butter and granola one day, smoothie with protien powder one day, sausage balls, cheese grits and turkey bacon; lunch may be leftovers, Soup and chicken salad (no bread), tuna salad and cottage cheese with pineapple; dinner varies too...this week it's Crockpot Herbed chicken & Shrimp with whole wheat linquine, Crockpot Ground Beef Stroganoff, Crockpot Chicken & Veggie Alfredo, Cajun Turkey Bugers and Cajun Baked Fries.

3.) Exercise. I've been horrible the last two weeks because of this infection and open area at my incision site. I need to get back on the ball.

You're doing great! I often get discouraged, thinking why can't I have lost 50 pounds already?! But I take a step back and realize that I am almost at a lower weight than husband's known me at, I have more energy already for my toddlers, I'm down from a 3x top to a 1x top...I am doing my best to concentrate on the positives.

Hope this helps!!!

[Suzzzie. 3]

It has been forever since I've posted! Sorry!! Looking at everyone's stats and I'm amazed! WTG, Suzzzie, Rhonda, ja9va, and everyone else! I am going slow, but steady. Averaging around 1.5 a week (which is where they want me). It's a little discouraging because I want to be further along than I am...but am happy to be losing, period.

Unfortunately, my staph infection is back, but healing again. Some portion of it had sealed itself off from before and I've been extremely busy with work and moving and let my immune system go down.

Suzzzie, looks like at beginning of year I'll have to switch doctors/facilities. I'll be switching insurance and they definitely aren't covered, so I'll be venturing to KU Med.

Sorry about your staph infection!! that sucks! It also kinda sucks about having to switch facilities... but KU is a bit closer...Lol. And as far as losing slowly - Girl, a LOSS IS A LOSS! Be proud of every pound and bid it farewell!

LOL Suzz! EVIL EVIL EVIL!!! DO NOT EAT!! I have to try that on a bag of Werther candies I have!

For some strange reason, the fill I had on the 17th decided to kick in BIG TIME yesterday and I ate some pork and it was stuck all day. I was miserable with it. I have a new respect for slime! It DEMANDS to be respected! It's its own entity! Who ya gonna call....Ghostbusters! Water was barely squeaking down yesterday, but I think it will let up some today. I'm developing theories with dh that it could be my TOM at play or the flu shot I had Saturday afternoon. Whatever it is, I am NOT going back to have this .6cc removed and then not be restricted. Ugh ugh ugh!

I hope everyone else is doing better than me!

Its own entity... Lol! o2bthin - You crack me up! I was laughing out loud and scared my kitty!!