jhawkchick75

Ohhh testify!!!!! We all do that but I agree it makes you feel better when you can tell folks about it. I've done this more than once. Now one thing that is nice is when I did do this when I really looked at it it was SOOOO much less food than i'd normally eat before which is nice. We have all been there so just try to utilize portion control, but most importantly don't beat yourself up over it. I just try to take it day to day and meal to meal and make the best decisions I can and if I mess up I just move on and don't stress about it. Glad you posted that i'm sure lots of other folks can relate!

That was a fantastic way to describe it Red!!! I too did the "farewell tour" and thought I needed to eat everything in sight for the last time. Now mind you bread is now out for me and some other things until dinner, but for the most part I can still eat just about anything just in much smaller portions and have to eat very slowly. Now after 5 fills at dinner I might be able to eat french fries and what not, but you know after 9 months I just really don't want it. NEVER in my life did I think I would say that but it's true. We went out Sat night and I probably could have done a cheeseburger no bun and some fries, but instead what sounded fantastic was the talapia and green beans and garlic mashed potatoes. I know a lot of people say this, but I am so serious if I can do it anyone can! I was seriously addicted to fast food and I don't use that term lightly. I ate it every day sometimes 2 to 3 times a day and now I just don't miss it that much. I was freaked out a bit until I spent hours in this board and after that once I did that I was ready to go! No regrets what so ever i'd do it again. I'm still working on the head hunger and the fact that food became a comfort and a ritual more than that it really tasted that good. There are still times when i pass the McDonalds by my house and it is weird that I don't stop there - feels like i've lost a friend but am working to replace it with new habits and friends like Zumba and running. Never in my life did I think that would happen! I think I really messed up many fast food places inventory when I stopped coming! You will do great! I tell people this has been the easiest and hardest thing i've ever done all at the same time. But I sincerely think if I can do it anyone can! Am I perfect...hell no! I've been battling eating way too many chips and dip and Mexican food has been the death of me lately, but I don't let it get me down I move on and try to do my best each and every day. We all have struggles otherwise we wouldn't be here so don't worry if you slip up. It's years of bad habits we have to work on refining and you CAN do it! Sorry i'm rambling now i'm done! Good luck you will do great!

Thanks so much! Yeah, it is funny even with my own band how different it is. There are some days at lunch that I can eat lunchmeat and be just fine or cheese, and then i'll eat the exact same thing the next day and BAM!! Stuck city! Dr. O told me the band is a bitch and he wasn't kidding!

Before I started getting fills I could pretty much eat whatever. I love doing the weight control oatmeal from Quaker it's really filling. I also do cereal but eat it dry. Eggbeaters and a good hearty toast are great too. I can't do toast anymore, but eggs are stll fine. I know some folks put peanut butter on their toast too for a little added protein. I'll also throw some shredded cheese in my eggbeaters and cubed ham and make a little omelet. Haven't tried ham in it since my last fill not sure if it will go down now that early in the AM, but I might try it again. Protein shakes are also always good, but I get hungry faster on those. Good luck!

That is awesome congrats!!! That is the one thing I hate about BMI though - when i get to my goal weight, it still says that i am overweight - WTF!? Just makes no sense to me. To be "normal" I have to be between 119-123 and that is NEVER gonna happen sorry! Keep up the great work!

Thanks so much!!! You will not regret your decision!!! Time has flown by and I can't believe tomorrow is my 9 month bandiversary. It goes by fast!

My suggestion is seafood! One of my first meals was salmon and that is light and soft and goes down easy. Either that or Italian - I did pasta one night which is a slider food so you don't want to do that on a regular basis, but your chances of getting stuck are rare so that is good. Just take it slow and eat slow and chew well and you will be just fine! Have fun!

I agree...at least for me it was that 3rd fill that really made a difference! Bread was always out, but after that 3rd fill a lot of other stuff was out the window! I really hope that salad stays OK. I always hated salad until recently so i'd like to take advantage of it. I'm really hit and miss at lunch but by dinner i'm OK as long as I take it slow. That is one thing with the band it's hard to compare yourself to anyone else as everyone is so different. You just have to test the waters and see what works for you. I am over 3 cc's now and feel like I can eat more than folks that have less than me, which shows that everyone is very different. Ahh the joys of the band...but i'll take it any day!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats I am so glad it went so well! But I am not surprised at all...my experience was so great so I know everyone else's will be! What a great group at OCC they take good car of you! Welcome to the other side! Can't wait to hear how it goes!

Also, I forgot there are also a few sports bras in there, so if anyone is working out and would like those let me know. There is also one bra in there that I bought to wear with a bridesmaids dress - one of those nice bras that is strapless and goes to your belly button. If anyone could specifically use that let me know too!

Let me see how many I have and i'll send you all a couple. I have quite a few I think and can spread the love! I'm so glad that they can get some use. They are pretty pricy and in great shape still. Got you all and one other person that want them so i'll split them up and send them your way. PM me your addresses and I can ship them later this week.

Pretty amazing how different everyone is - I can do all those. No french fries unless at night and have to chew a ton and go slow. No tortillas unless they are covered in sauce like an enchillada. But otherwise all those are good. I do salads for lunch at least a couple times a week, so hopefully those don't become an issue. By dinner I can eat just about whatever as long as I am careful but definitely no bread or rice - lost that ability after the 2nd fill.

I say that is great! I was banded about 3 days after you and i'm only a few lbs ahead of you. I've been told i'm on a great track and where I should be so you are doing just fine! Keep up the great work!

Just an idea for you this is what I do with my soups like that. They are hearty, but with the broth can still slide right through. So what I do is just eat the carrots, meat, etc...out of it and don't do the broth. I buy the healthy choice soups like the pot roast and old fashioned chicken noodle and they are really filling. On an average day here is some of the things I might eat: Breakfast - instant oatmeal, cottage cheese, or dry kashi go lean crunch Lunch - nice salad with lots of hard boiled eggs and turkey, lunch meat with cheese and fruit, or soup, also like to do the small packs of tuna and applesauce, cottage cheese or veggies Snacks - applesauce, cheese, or quaker mini delights 90 cal packs Dinner - Weight Watchers or Lean Cuisine meal w/ a veggies, grilled fish or shrimp and veggies, or chicken dishes and veggies. And YES I let myself have treats now and again. My main treat is Mexican food or after a good work out i'll let myself have some ice cream. Gotta enjoy yourself or you won't stick with it.

You go girl!!!!! Do any of you watch Dance Your Ass Off? It is like Dancing w/ The Stars meets The Biggest Loser. Each week they get a theme and theirs the last episode was on the stripper pole. Very interesting and looks like a great workout! Stormy, when you click on your video did you see the other videos to the side of the pole dancing championships? Wow! Now that is something to aim for! Great job! Good exercise and would give you a real confidence boost too!

I know it is pricier, but there are many specialty bra and lingere shops that also sell swimsuits. Also the nicer stores that only do swimsuits many of them will let you buy different sized tops and bottoms. Once I am at goal i'll do that. This time I just got the tankini at TJ Maxx, but i'm like you and the bottoms are a little too big. But I don't want to drop a bunch of money just yet when it won't fit next summer.

Isn't it just the prettiest day here! All weekend really. I hope it keeps up this week! I have a chance to get out and run a few nights this week and want to take advantage of good weather hopefully.

Good luck you will be just fine! I wasn't nervous but was anxious to get it done and excited. Wow, feels like it was just yesterday and i'm going to be hitting 9 months this week! Everyone is different, but I do agree the gas sucks big time that was my biggest issue and sneezing of coughing hurt the incisions, but otherwise wasn't bad. To be honest I didn't get hungry until that last week and then it got bad, but thinking back that could have also been head hunger b/c I knew I could eat again soon. It's funny how much I missed chewing! Don't even stress about PB'ing or anything just yet. That won't even be an issue most likely until a couple of fills in. So just focus on the 21 days and get through that. Mix up what you drink as much as you can or you will go crazy - use spices, whatever to make it different. Good luck and hop on one of the computers when you are done and let us know how it went!

This always freaks me out, but i'm trying to watch my portions because my body hasn't been giving me that "full" signal in the last few months. I thought I was eating too much, but when I tell my fill nurse what i'm eating she says i'm not eating enough and didn't want to give me a fill, so I guess i'm doing OK. I do overeat, but I try to keep those times few and far between and even then it is so much less than I used to eat so hopefully i'm OK. I can eat just about anything at dinner but now at least lunch I have to be very careful. Highly doubt they would give me another fill for a long time but I might see if I can go in and they can take a peek in a couple months just to make sure everything is AOK b/c they didn't use Xray on my last fill. Just to get a little piece of mind.

So sorry to hear about your fur kid! I know how tough that is for sure! I'm sure that made you tight as a drum! Take it easy and do mushies and shakes and stuff until you are less stressed and then you might be able to go back to that stuff. Take care!

Glad to hear it is all cleared up! I'm sure you will be there in no time! Good luck!

Ditto! That usually equals not enough nutrients. I got some protein bullets for those days i don't get enough and it helped.

I agree you are doing fantastic! And I also want that tan! Keep up the great work!

I don't personally follow the BMI because it says I should be between 119 and 123 and there is no way! I am aiming for 140, but have never been that low before so we shall see. You just need to keep working at it and do the right things and once you are at a point where you feel comfortable stick with that and try to maintain.

Glad you are feeling better! It is amazing how such a small unfill can make all the difference! Keep up the great work!