MamaMichelle

Man, I thought I was the record holder for soonest sex after surgery.... Leave it to a man to beat me to it, lol lol lol

Congrats Denise!! Even if those 5lbs don't come off before Tuesday you have made great progress and I know doctor Miranda will applaud your effort and results... Good luck with your surgery!!

Way to go M-C! You are on the way, I think many of us lose weight that way, especially after a long plateau, I was sitting at 200lbs for 2 weeks waiting and waiting for the scale to dip down one little pound then one day I was 197... Surprised the heck out of me as well!! Any weight loss is a victory so keep celebrating! =D>

Bebe- I actually went and tried on some new goal dresses the other day at Ross... I am in a 12 now so I was trying on some 8's and even 6's! I was surprised I could get some of them on (of course they wouldn't zip and were "street-walker tight" on me) lol but conisdering 1 of my thighs used to be all that would be able to squeeze into a size 6 it was encouraging... Alas I didn't find the right one yet... My goal was to get into the current dress by my hubby's birthday (July 4th) and I think I'll get there with no problems, though I'm self concious about my arms so I'll probably end up wearing a sweater or wrap over it I'm still happy just to be almost able to fit into a Junior's size 12 (which I guess is the same as a ladies size 10?) So I guess for the new dress I am going to set a goal to get into it by MY birthday (October 17th) Wow 4 months away and I might be in a size 8 or 6??? That is just the craziest thing ever to me!!

I did some crackers too a few days before my 1st day of food and didn't have any issues, I actually keep some of those resturant/salad bar packs of 2 crackers in my car and in my purse if I feel my tummy growling... That way I am less likely to drive through some place and get something really bad for me because I'm starving... Only a few more days you can do it!

Very exciting, you'll have to post some pics of you wearing it!! Of course I say that and I have been taking my monthly progress pics in a bikini so I can see the difference under my clothes but I'm not brave enough to post mine so I can't blame you if you don't want to post yours lol.. Howeve, Evette and I are getting together for a weekend at the lake for her B-day at the end of June so maybe we will be brave enough then to be photographed in our swimsuits!!

I waited 24hrs, had no problems and lots of fun... lol

Chad- I am trying to add a picture to a post and keep getting the same error, even when I try to reply to this topic or start a new topic with a picture link in it I get the smae error message: Error you don't have permission to access this document I tried posting a pic hosted in my gallery and one hosted on myspace and neither will work, so the photos/link aren't the issue. I also tried posting it from my PDA and that didn't work either so it must be some sort of block on my name or something that won't let me post pics any ideas?

Hello my lovely bandster buddies!! How is everyone doing? Sorry I've been MIA, my laptop crashed so the only times I have been able to get online is when I can pry the desktop computer away from my hubby (he plays online poker) and usually I have work stuff to check on when I do have a few min online! I have been able to check in using my PDA while we have been driving around house hunting (we are in the process of looking for a new home, which is much more time consuming than I remember). Let's see what else is new in my life? My son graduated from kindgergarden yesterday, which makes me feel kind of sad and a little bit old.. lol I was the room mom for his class so I spent a lot of time planning the ceremony and reception so I'm glad that part of it is over, I was good and avoided the cookies and cupcakes!! I also got my hair done again at the Kim Vo salon, it's a little bit lighter but it has a real summer feel to it so I like it... I have been trying to add a picture here but keep getting an error message, guess I need to post about it to Chad on the help board. I added it to my gallery so as soon as that's approved you guys can see it or if you are on myspace I have it on there! On the weight loss front it seems that I am back on the right track, finally losing weight again... I was 191 yesterday when I weighed but it's THAT time of the month so I might actually be in the 180's when I am done with that, we will see on Monday... I honestly don't have much restriction, I have been able to eat bread which I couldn't do after my 1st fill, very weird but I got so used to not eating it and other things that I'm not eating it now. I'm guessing what happened was when I had those PB episodes right after my 2nd fill I got really swollen so I couldn't keep anything down so I decided to get a little unfill, I realize now that I should have kept it and just waited it out for the swelling to go down.. Lol for what I paid for my hair I could have almost made the trip down to TJ and paid for a fill but I'll probably go back in early/mid July! Oh well I am still losing so that's good, I think right now it's mostly due to keeping up with 30-45 min of exercise 4 or 5 days a week, nothing extreme just some pilates videos some days and the treadmill on others. I saw that Lynnzz picked up the ball for a June exercise challenge (thaks sweetie, keep up the good work) I am going to be heading over to that post next to join up, I hope everyone else will too, when things aren't going great with my diet the best way to keep losing is to work out, even though I am still not at the point when I'm looking forward to it or enjoying working out I'm suffering through it... lol I hope everyone is well, I've got a lot of reading and catching up to do so I better get crackin!! LOVE YOU ALL!

Thanks for the sweet comments guys, you are all the best!!

I posted the content of that website back in March, http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=5262 and some said they were going to try it back then but I never heard about how it worked, maybe you can be the first to try it out!

Congrats~ Isn't the lap-band amazing?? Keep up the great work!

Here's the next set:

HEy Guys here are my 3 month pics as promised, I lost 8lbs this month so there's not a lot of difference I see it most in my butt and arms!! On a sidenote my laptop is fried so I don't have the photo editing software I usually use to fix the color issues, take out the red-eye and make sure the sizing is correct so the look a little funky, I will fix them when my laptop is finally repaired, but here they are for now: You will have to click on the picture to see the full sized, un-distorted pic:

Restriction is ok, it has loosened up since my 2nd fill (when I could only eat 5 bites before feeling sick) but I think that was mostly swelling from 2-3 bad PB epispodes I had the first night after the fill, which is why I got the unfill... So while my first fill got tighter after the first week, this one is loser than it was the first day of my 2nd fill but still tighter than before I got it if that make sense. I honestly think I am either a person who doesn't feel full or doesn't recognize when I am full unless I eat things that a bandster shouldn't. Like I can eat 1 cup of chopped BBQ and not get that "stuffed" feeling but give me 3 bites of chicken and 3 bites of rice and I am stuffed. So I only allow myself 1/2 cup of BBQ when I am hungry and then if 2hrs later I feel hunger I will have something else, maybe some yogurt or salad with the spray dressing.. I am still PB'ing everyother day, but it's always totally liquid food (no chunks of food that are stuck) because I chew so well which again makes just no sense to me... If I eat my yogurt too fast I will PB up that, so I add a little milk so it's not as thick. I am avoiding pasta and bread though I did have a bite of both at dinner last weekend and didn't have any problems which is weird because after the first fill just looking at bread would make me PB.. why that has changed with more of a fill I don't get!! Restriction is really is the most confusing thing I have encountered, I am fine doing the head work because I am not an emotional eater or a grazer, my issue was that when I sat down to eat I just wouldn't stop and that's the main thing that I wanted the band to do... and since the band isn't living up to every single thing it's supposed to do (making me feel FULL) so I am more focused on eating when I'm hungry, only allowing myself a little to basically quiet the hunger for a little while, then whenever it returns I eat again.. Of course I am losing weight and keeping it off so while I'm baffled I am totally happy with my progress and my band.. Does that make sense?

It's so funny you mention the band aid issue because I had problems with them as well, I have left bandaids on my leg or arm for a few days with no issue but after surgery the ones on my stomach all left marks, I had these square shaped rash marks where the adhesive was, it was quite odd actually since I have never had an issue with them before... Sorry you had a bad reaction sweetie, hope you're feeling better soon!

Thanks I understand the limitations, I think the before and after pics are the main thing people are posting, but with new pics each month from a few different angles it really adds up! Thanks again!

Beat Water Weight Your body does an amazing job of correcting fluid imbalances. But poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle can tip the scales toward water retention. We have eleven water log prevention tips that will help you look lean this summer. Stock Up- Many foods and herbs promote digestion and fluid-shedding: yogurt, fiber-rich cereal, brown rice, cabbage and cranberry juice. Ginger and dandelion have a mild diuretic effect. Both are available in tea so you can brew yourself a slenderizing drink. Ban Salt- Surplus salt makes the body retain fluids, but you'll need to do more than hide the salt shaker. Steer clear of high sodium foods like hot dogs, olives, salted nuts, pickles and many frozen foods. Be on the lookout for less obvious sources such as soy sauce, ketchup, deli meats and cheese. Skip the Sugar- Too much sugar can raise insulin levels, decreasing the body's ability to excrete sodium. Avoid high sugar foods, like sweetened cereals, cakes, cookies, ice cream toppings and products containing high-fructose corn syrup, such as soda. Don't Undereat- Of course a low-cal diet will help you lose weight, but shed too many calories and you could create water retention. Don't eat less than 1,200 calories per day and include lean protein, an important nutrient in short supply in very low-cal diets that helps stave-off water retention. Move More- Your lymphatic system can't drain excess fluid out of tissues without body movement. Exercise about four times a week to relieve your body of extra fluid and salt through sweating and increased respiration. Get Dry- Alcohol acts as a diuretic at first, making you lose excess water. But that loss can lead to dehydration, causing the body to preserve its fluids. Opt for virgin cocktails, or dilute that glass of wine with seltzer. Get Wet- Take a swim. Water pressure forces fluid out of tissues and ultimately, the bladder. To emulate those results, take some of your workouts to the pool. Fill Up- While it seems contradictory, drinking plenty of plain water -- 8 to 10 glasses per day -- will flush salt and fluid out of your system. A well-hydrated body in less likely to retain water. Spread It Out- Eat five or six small meals instead of three big meals. Nibbling or drinking at frequent intervals will keep you nourished and hydrated and will help avoid the rush of fluid to the tissues that may occur with eating large infrequent meals. Choose Natural- Anything packaged-including that can of asparagus that seems so healthy-will give you more sodium than you need. Become a purveyor of the farmer's market. Ditch canned products and flavored packaged grains. Plan meals that include fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Go Bananas- Bananas are a natural source of potassium, a nutrient needed to help the body balance fluids. Not a banana fan? Apricots, avocados and raisins are potassium-rich, too. Strive for 5 grams of potassium daily. Other nutrients to include each day through diet or supplements: 300-400 milligrams of magnesium (food sources include green vegetables, nuts, seeds) and 1000-1200 milligrams of calcium (orange juice, yogurt, tofu). Getting an adequate amount of each can help alleviate bloating.