jhawkchick75

First off congrats! Welcome to the other side! I had more pain that most people described, but do know that it gets better and after a while I forget how much it hurt until I read my old blogs. Just stick with the plan and i'm sure you will do great. Can't wait to hear about your progress!!!

You all ROCK these are great!!!! Thanks so much and keep 'em coming!!!!

That is so hard to answer....I have 5 fills and I finally feel like i'm at a pretty good spot. Although I still don't get that "full" feeling everyone talks about and I can still eat most stuff but if I eat slow and just stop after a small amount I find i'm full and stay full so that is good. The only thing I do know is that as you lose weight and the fat around your stomach shrinks you will need another fill, so as you lose more weight you would need more fills. But again that is gonna vary from person to person. So person to person though it's hard to say.

I've had 5 and none of mine hurt. I'm not a baby with shots but not a tough guy by any means. Just don't watch them do it. There was some pressure as they pushed it into my port, but it wasn't painful just pressure.

I completely agree! Keep in mind that everyone has struggles and plateaus. I haven't lost in almost two months but i'm not letting it get to me. I look at how much I have lost and think about where I would be if I hadn't gotten this done. I now actually like salad and God help me like to run! Never ever in my life did I think I would eat salad and not eat fast food! I swear the folks at the fast food places around here knew me and probably had my order memorized. I still have plenty of times when I don't eat perfect and that is gonna happen. If it were that easy none of us would need the band! Every day is a struggle and every day I just try to make the best decisions I can and take it from meal to meal. Multiple fills have sure helped, but of course as I get closer to goal (probably have 15-20 lbs to go) it's gonna be that much harder to loose those last lbs. So I enjoy the little things like how great I feel after I work out and how I feel like i've really accomplished something! Or how I can now run around the yard with my niece and hopefully she won't remember when she was younger when i just laid on the couch all day and was too tired to play with her. Can't agree more also with the folks that say you cannot compare yourself to others! Everyone is so different, holds their weight different, has different body fat percentages, etc...I used to do that when I went to weight watchers and it got me nowhere but pissed off and unmotivated. Keep your chin up and you will get there in time!

Thanks everyone!!! These are helping keep them coming!!! I can't afford to go to a gym, so i've been trying to be creative around the house. Here is what i'm doing now: - Running 2-3 days a week anywhere from 2.5 to 4 miles - Zumba - was doing more, but since i'm running more i've laid off so I don't overdo it. Maybe go 2-3 x's/ month - I've also started doing some weights. All I have at the house are 5lb hand weights, but I don't know if those are gonna do much I probably need heavier ones but I just can't afford it right now. I also have resistance bands and with both these i've been trying to do targeted exercises on my tricepts especially but trying to hit my arms in general although I really don't know what i'm doing reps wise so I just do it for a while until it hurts and then do something else. Educated huh! Haven't done anything abs wise yet but would like to now start.

Hey folks! I am looking for some new exercises specifically for my abs and arms. So if you have any please post. Overall i'm fairly happy with my body except for those two areas. I don't have that "apron" that you hear folks talk about on their lower belly - rather I have this weird spare tire above my belly button that goes around to each side but not on my back. But the worst is the "bat wings" on my arms. I've been doing work and my upper arm is getting strong (biceps, etc...), but that underarm is just nasty! I'd like to tighten it up as much as I can with exercise before I decide if surgery is in order. Money is about to get tight so i'm not sure i'll be able to do that in the near future. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

Here are a few things I do. Some folks can handle these and some can't just depends. - Quaker mini delights 90 calorie snack packs. I love the mint chocolate and the peanut butter ones. - Raisins - Individual packs of beef jerky - Chex Mix or mixed nuts I also will take cheese sticks, but I don't like them unless they are still cold so I only take those if i'm gonna eat them within about 1/2 hour or so. Hope those help! Shelby

If I just eat a bite or two then yeah I go ahead and keep on drinking. If it is a decent sized snack I don't or of course a full meal, but if I just have like a couple of cheese cubes or a couple chips then I go on ahead.

Good to hear from you! I love your hair looks cute! Definitely get in and start getting those fills - makes all the difference in the world! Also try to come in here when you can. Always keeps me accountable.

Thanks Lisa i'm gonna try that! I don't do very many sugars at all except in my fruit juice, but the grains I do quite a bit of. If you get a chance, could you tell me what a typical menu for you might look like for a couple days on that? Just want to make sure I know my options. I tend to get bored and need to mix it up. We have a whole foods here so I could work on getting more organic foods in. I've been stalled for quite some time and would love a kick start, but am always leary of eating too few calories. I am a tweener right now (size 10-8) and I am also soooo close to my first goal. I hoped to hit it by this weekend but no such luck. Thanks!!!!!!!!

I have never had children, but I would ask your doctor about breast feed simply because of the calories. I know when you are you need to be taking in a lot more calories than normal similar to when you are pregnant. So you should be able to do it, but I wonder if they won't let you get a fill. Again I have no idea no babies for me thanks. But that is my two cents!

What a great attitude! I think that is great keep up the great work!

Welcome to the group! Yeah, the rules you hear from us will be a little more strict than what i've heard from folks that are banded in the US, but otherwise you will get a lot of great information here. Best of luck and can't wait to hear about your success!!!!!!

So sorry you are having to go through that! I sure hope you are feeling better and it heals up for you! Keep us up to date please!

Wow....I don't know how you all do it! I just can't do that few calories, but I am also training for that race so that means I need more calories. Great job! I have stalled I think i'm gonna do the 5 day pouch test next week so I can get the scale moving again. Not that I ever want stuff to get stuck, but I also really feel no major restriction so maybe I need to tighten up a bit. Great job!

I could eat anything at first and now after 5 fills really the only thing out for me is bread. Some stuff I can't do until evening and I have to go slow, but can do them all still. Everyone is so different it just depends so you now have to go through that fun trial and error we all love!

Congrats! Now aren't you glad you listened to everyone in here! Now make sure and take your time and give your body time to heal. The 21 days is hard but you can do it! Best of luck and can't wait to see your progress!

Wooo Hoooo that is so exciting!!!! Keep up the great work you will be there in no time!!!!!!!

I have had the same problem in that department for most of my life. I recently started putting Miralax in my apple juice each morning and it has made a world of difference! I went two days in a row which im not sure that has ever happened for me! Sorry, TMI but true!

Chloe, from what I can tell today was your day. How did it go!? Let us know when you get time!

I have had that happen a time or two. Usually if I stop as soon as I feel it then it will pass and I seem to be able to go back to eating with no problem. I wonder why it does that? Ahh the joys of the band huh! Glad to have you back in don't be a stranger!

Thanks so much you look fantastic as well! You have done a really great job! Can see a HUGE difference! I haven't been losing lately, but I think i'm toning up a lot. I am training for a 5k and so it has plateaued me a bit but i'm ok with that as long as I don't gain. I also haven't been eating totally according to plan so I need to get back on track. Lots of work and family stress but I can't let than be an excuse! Gotta stick with it!

Ohhh i'm so sorry you had to go through that! I betcha the stress had a lot to do with it. I've gotten stuck, but fortunately never anything close to that. Take it easy and make a nice soup tonight and maybe some oatmeal or applesauce in the morning to see how it goes.

Oh yeah stress tightens me right up! I always make sure and have soup at work ready just in case. I get stressed quite a bit so on those days I don't even try to eat solids and just do soft stuff. The soup at hand ones are a life saver!