julieburns

OMG it will be halloween before we know it. Summer is gone ( Glad to see you set a date Dana. Just read as much as you can here and if you don't find the answers we are all happy to help with any questions, no matter what they are!!

I love you Michelle, you can fix anything on the computer!!Now it's easy to se the pics all at one time and you can really see the difference!!

I used Atkins brand instead of the slimfast. Much less carbs and much more protein. They are also very good. I think the idea of doing just 1 or 2 days on the 3 shakes per day might help you kick in to losing. You can add fresh veggies to snack on. Get some fresh spinach in a bag and eat one of those a day, cucumbers and celery are good ones to snack on. And for sure if you are not drinking at least 2 liters of water, more like 3 a day you will not lose. I just got back from vacation and didn't drink my water except maybe 16-20 oz a day and gained 3 pounds!! It's that simple. Drink crystal light if you have to to get the water in and add benefiber to it to help keep you full longer from it. So here's your shopping list: Atkins shakes fresh spinach lettuce bags for quick salads cucumber celery crystal light benefiber ministrone soup, this one Dr. Miranda said could be a snack if needed. Write down every bit that goes into your mouth no matter how small it is. The "little tastes" i do of things makes a huge difference in calories. You can do this Kim. Stay off that scale for 1 week or even 2 as this will make you crazy. Weighing daily or even every few days is nothing but self torture, if you like that then do it. Once a week is as often as you should weigh to maintain sanity. You will do this Kim if you really want to. Time is a wasting and before you know it your day to leave will be here and you'll be a nervous wreck especially if you havn't lost weight. Buckle down. You are making good choices and giving up things you've had for years so let me pat you on the back for making these huge changes. Now it's time to step it up as you only have 10 days to go!! What about some sort of exercise? Even a 20 minute walk around your neighborhood would make a difference. Make your husband watch Devin and just tell him you must do this or you won't have your surgery .Period. Call me, I am home if you want to chat.

Paula I swear you have ESP!! I swear not only about an hour or so ago I looked and saw you had not been on since the 29th or so and I got worried. I knew something was up. I will PM you soon so check in to get my mail, it may be later today though so keep checking. I miss you and am glad to see you here again. You are very dear to me and I care for you. I was gone on vacation for 9 days and just got back yesterday. Just catching up myself on what's gone on here. Take care my sweet and I'll write you soon. > > > Hug to you. Glad to know you are doing your water aeorbics and being proactive on getting some outside help. I've been there, I understand.

Christina this is a little late but welcome to bandland!! When you read this it's been several days since surgery. How are you doing?

I'm not sure what you mean but it sounds like you are sort of kidding around with the "rules". I've eaten watermelon with no problems and never was told not to. I think the more liquidy things won't stay in your pouch as long thus not keeping you full as long. They do encourage us to eat "hard" protein to help in keeping us full longer.

Congrats to all on your individual NSV's. Until we share some of these no one knows what simple things can mean to us. I have a great one as well. This past week we went on vacation and met my husbands family at beautiful Lake Pond Orielle in northern Idaho. I had not seen my in-laws for over a year and at that time I was at my fattest. When they saw me they gushed with praise and words of encouragement for my weight loss. My dad-in-law even called me "skinny". It felt so good as they are all skinny and have been very concerned about my weight for my health's sake. Throughout the days together they would mention little hints about my great success. I smiled from ear to ear!!

That's so cool Cathy, I am happy for you!!

I use splenda as my artificial sweetener of choice. I've not tried any of the candy bars though. Give thema try and see what you think and let us know.

Just to repost...I am getting my 2nd fill on the 26th and staying overnite until the 27th. I will arrive at the hotel after my fill probably around 4 or so and then have to leave in the Am for a 2pm flight home. Maybe I'll see OICU812? Hope to meet anyone here on the forum.

WOW!!!! I can see a difference all over Cathy, especially in your beautiful face but also the new body too. I am so happy for your wonderful success. Keep up the great work. You are my inspiration for sure!!

Hey Cathy just to let you know with each surgery you have in the same area you form scar tissue and have adhesions in the area as well. this makes any following surgeries that much more difficult to do and it simply takes longer. Maybe this is the reason for your longer times. Maybe not but just a thought. And to you boilermaker what a nice, concise, man's description of your experience. I am sure the other fellas will be happy to know about the flat screen TV's!! You forgot to mention all the channels they have and the remote!!

:lb13: :lb21: :lb10: What an inspiration!!

Oh Kimmy I am so sorry for you feeling down and depressed. You have come such a long way and are such an inspiration. I think bodies of those who have gained and lost weight more than once are just screwed up. You have lost a large percentage of weight and your body is protesting. It may take as long as 6 months or even longer for your body to start letting go again and I know that's not what you want to hear. I don't know this for sure of course but I am trying to make the point that after a large weight loss, even if you arn't at where you want to be it takes some bodies time to adjust. This is the time to just be consistent and don't blow it. I am stalled at the same weight for weeks now also. Up a pound and then down a pound and then up and down, it's a constant rollercoaster. Maybe just put your scales away for something like 2-4 weeks. I know this sounds impossible but maybe it will help you take the focus off the numbers on the scale. Be happy with where you are right now. You worked hard to get there. Again I say be happy where you are today...your are a success...you have lost alot of weight. Take time to enjoy right where you are. Yes it's easy for me to say this but I hope it will help a little to take the pressure off of yourself. I have a phrase I use for things throughout my life that don't come to me as I want them to come and it's.."Thy will not my will". I repeat this over and over and then put the trust in Him to make things happen. You are not in this alone. Hugs and kisses sweetie, hang in there

Cool graph!

I think it's up to each individual to make their ticker reflect what they choose to share. There are no "rules" that I know of.

I think quite honestly you would be fine to go home. As you said if it is too tight just drive back down. Now I'll tell you my experience with my first fill as food for thought. Many folks who drive to their fill site leave immediately after the fill. I think for the first one especially you would be fine although this is only my opinion. I got 2cc in my 4cc band. I went back to the hotel and thought I had no restriction. I was up all night because I thought I had no restriction. I went back to the clinic the next day to check and see if I could get more fill. They checked it and told me 2cc was all they would give, it looked great. And they NEVER give more than 2cc anyway for a first fill. So for me it wasn't that it was too tight I was worried it wasn't enough. Well about 4-6 days later it kicked in and I had restriction for about 4-5 weeks. It is gone now and I anxiously await my second fill on the 26th. Good luck and have a safe trip

I don't have/use a juicer. What I wanted to respond to was your statement of using this until your first fill to aid in not PBing. For me there was no PBing before my first fill, remember you have no restriction. Yes I would get full very quickly for the first week or so after starting solids but then it went away. This varies from person to person. It's when I got my first fill and had restriction the PBing started when I eat too fast, don't chew well or take too big of bites. I remember Dr. Ortiz saying he wants you to learn to chew your food and not use something like a juicer to make it easier. This is a lifestyle change and you have to retrain yourself or you won't be successful. I do think the idea of a juicer is a good one though for times when you may be having difficulty getting in all your nutrition and why not add some whey powder to it? I realize this conflicts with what I remember Dr. saying though. In reality to get enough nutrition especially at first when you have restriction I have used protein drinks and powders to help me.

:lb21: What a great role model you are Cathy. Keep up the good work.

It's not showing up yet, maybe they have to approve it. Can't wait to see.

WOW!!! You are beautiful, I love the dress on you. What an accomplishment.

I am extremely sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers are with you and your family. This type of untimely loss is one that is most difficult. I know, my sister left us in 2000 in the same way. Some questions will never be answered but have faith they are in a better place. Peace to you, Julie

Well let's just get this out in the open. You hit it right on when you said your abs were a bit sore. As you hinted about the night of those on a honeymoon are filled with .....???? Yes if you arn't used to this type of activity or as much it's amazing how much of your abs you use during a good round of sex. Your band is stiched to your ab muscles and by now it has healed into them. No worries since it's been 4 months you are completely healed. ENJOY!!!!

Hello to all my friends here, yes it's true I am back from vacation. Gosh my 9 days flew by. We got in late last night after a 9 hour drive towing our "new" boat!! I will admit when I first got to our little cabin in Hope Idaho the thought of not being in touch here had me scared. As the days flew by though I was having such a great time I didn't have any DT's from being without a computer. My husband only shook a few times!! I missed you all and anxiously await catching up on the last week. And now I must report my weight....gain Yes 3 pounds back on. I am saddened by this and thought I might have stayed even as I stuck to my program fairly well and was very active. I think it's because I didn't drink anywhere near my 2-3 liters of water daily I usually drink. I did enjoy 2 fresh huckleberry milkshakes, chocolate chip cookies, and a slice of huckleberry pie with ice cream. For meals though I barely ate and had my protein shakes for breakfast. I had at least 3 episodes with my extended family where I had to excuse myself and go slime and/or PB by myself. My family got suspicious and worried about my health as none of them knows about my little secret so I had to fib a little and tell them I was having trouble with getting food stuck. I told them it was from esophageal atresia which runs in my family. It does run in my family. My husband wanted me to just fess up but I didn't want to. Maybe some day. These are very loving, kind folks don't get me wrong but they just wouldn't understand and I'd have to answer a million questions and still they wouldn't understand truly. They are all skinny and are of the mind set a person should just eat less and exercise more etc. So it's right back on the horse today. I am drinking my water as I type. I am also waiting for TOM to visit and feel worn out from all the driving. I have to work tomorrow and the next 2 weeks are very busy with additional mandatory classes for annual competencies as well as a new computer charting program we will start using at work. I am anxiously awaiting my 2nd fill on 9/26. I can eat way too much at a time. I only PB when I have eaten too fast. So that's my update. I hope all of you were well while I was gone and I'm happy to be back with you. > > >