MyNewLife

Hi WormButterfly! First I just wanted to say, somethings are easier said than done, Im sure that is why we ALL have been banded. This is a very hard process and yes it would be so damn easy if we just could do everything "perfect", but we have not been doing this to begin with, so yes we all have bumps and we all need support and advice! I have days sometimes weeks that I just dont feel like doing nothing, Im sure that I am suppose to say that I exercise everyday and I eat everything perfect, well I dont. I go through modes where I dont want to exercise, yes I know I need to but it is hard at times. This is when I come here and get SUPPORT from others and try my best to pick myself up and do better, and in my opinion that is all we can do! OK with that Off my chest.....Wanted to say much more, however I did VERY good with keeping that under control.... My ADVICE to you would be start counting your calories and maybe take it DAY for DAY...OK today I am going to eat this this and this..WATER WATER WATER!! This is a HUGE thing for me.....The more water I drink, the better I do....If the ice cream and chocolate is a big thing for you, and say you eat it EVERYDAY, maybe try to say ok...ok Wednesday and Saturday ...whatever day....i can have a cup of icecream and two squares of chocolate...Then the rest of the week, do your best ! Make heathly food choices, stay away from fried and breaded foods. Try to stay away from eating out. Again maybe reward yourself once a week, maybe until you can get it under control.....Make a List of YOUR No No foods and make a goals to not eat them for a whole week and go further out from there..... My Support to you.... is LIVE YOUR LIFE....try not to make food and this band ALL you think about....OMGoshhh I did this at first and like to drove myself crazy.....Food ONCE AGAIN was controlling my life, actions, thoughts, EVERYTHING I did was about food! Just LIVE! Good Luck to you.....As for as earning some points, I encourage you to make goals and earn your own points for each thing you do better! You have already made the decision to do something for yourself. Jump the bump and get on your straight road....Dont look in the review mirrow, press the gas and haul a@* from here! (I think that is going to be my new saying...lol) Carrie

WAY TO GO GIRL!!!!! LOOK AT YOU ASHLEY!!!!!!!! Carrie

Ashley, It truely does help me. The not realizing was my problem. I did not "feel" 262 pounds and the funny thing is I feel the same exact way now as I do then. Guess I thought I would feel "skinny". I know that sounds so weird but I truly thought that. Anyway, good uck to you and thanks again. Carrie

Hi Shelby! Just seen that you were doing this...GREAT IDEA! I love seeing what everyone is doing! B- Smoothie King Shake (gladiator) 42 grams protien and 180-190 Calories S- Bananna L- Baby Organic Spinach Leaves with 1/4 cups Real Bacon Bits and with Vingerate Dressing, 1/2 cups cottage cheese and three strawberrys S- South beach diet Protien Bar -180 calories 12 grams protien D - 3 oz Steak, Plain Bake potatoe and a little bit of salad H2O not real good.... 30 oz No Exercise yesterday... :-( Shelby, how many calories are you doing a day? Carrie

DiasterWalking! What a GREAT response and such a GREAT ATTITUDE to have! Someone once told me that I had a great attitude and determination, not to worry that I would do great! Thanks again Lisa! I think you will do AWESOME! Carrie

Hi I have been wondering where you have been! I know you said you dont post here much but I feel myself when I get frustrated, all I gotta to do is come here and it helps me SO much, kinda reminds me why I did this. I think this fill is just what you needed to get back on your "feet". You got this band to help you and it sounds like you have had no help. This fill should help you so much. Just take it very easy at first, maybe protein drink for breakfast, could NEVER do breakfast for a long time after a fill. Try softer foods first then move on to other. Tuna and chicken is VERY hard for me to do at lunch, much better at dinner! I am SO glad you posted! Please hold your head high! Trust me you CAN do this~! You just hit a bump, not your on the straight road! Please stick around with us, maybe we can help you in anyway that we can! Carrie

I too Agree! Pammie you are great! You look WONDERFUL! Thank you for posting all the pics that you do and helping us out when needed! YOU ARE AMAZING! Carrie

WOOO HOOO............THANK YOU PAMMIE!!!!!!! Thanks everyone for the VERY kind words. I do have about 40 more pounds to go until I get to the goal I want to be at. I plan on having TT and Breast Lift in March 2010, pretty excited about that. As far as what I do, I have to take it day for day. I have a wondful husband that supports me and works out with me and keeps me motivated, I sometimes dont have great will power! Food wise, I try to eat very healthy, as much as I can. I DO count my calories on a daily basis, and I pretty much dont even have to write it down anymore, I can figure it in my head. On weekends, I do reward myself, my down fall is ice cream. I have found for myself, the longer I eating my ice cream, the more I will eat of it and the more often I get it ,sooo I get something I want once a week, every Saturday and this helps me to the next Saturday,,ok Carrie, its only Monday,,,lol,,,you gotta wait until Saturday and it seems to help me. Everyone is differnent. I do exercise as much as I can. Some weeks I will do NOTHING! just dont feel like it, but then I try to pick myself back up. I try to STAY OFF the scales as much as possible to, I STRESS over the scales!..... I am VERY active on this board and LOVE looking at pics, this keeps me motivated and gives me new ideas. I also take pics and measure my self once a month and compare about every three months. My next will be on November 14th....My one year band Aniversary! Carrie

WOW THAT WAS SUPER FAST....PIC IS NOW POSTED!

Hi Everyone! I have posted a collection of pics into one pic and have posted it. (waiting for approval) Would love to post it within my signature but I STILL have not figured out how to do that. Has been a great nine months and cant wait to finish out the Journey. Carrie

Shiney, Dr. Martinez is a lapband Doctor at the OCC with Dr. Ortiz, as a matter of fact Dr. Martinez is the one who did my surgery. They are friends with Dr. Q..... Carrie

Thank you Sabrina! You look AMAZING yourself! Glad to be one this Journey with such great friends! Carrie

I took my laptop with me and If it was not for my Brother-In-Law carrying it for me , It would have been pretty hard. He carried it the walk across the boarder and in the Airport...etc....I have a 17" screen laptop, so its pretty big. The upside to having it was I did not have to leave my room. Anytime I wanted to chat, it was there. If I had to do it again and I was going by myself, I would not take it. Good Luck to you and keep us posted! Carrie

Lisa, What are your thoughts on Crystal Light for your water. I have a HARD time drinking plan water. I just wonder, bacause I use like three or four of them a day.. If Im out eating, it has lemon and sweet in low in it. Carrie

Lisa, Thanks for the reply. I am pretty sure I am going to have to have the Ext TT. I have a pretty big apron and it drives me crazy! I did call and talk to Dr . Q in TJ and the only thing that I am not to sure about is the stay, I dont want to stay for 6+ days. There is a surgeron in my town that ALOT of people use, my sister has used him for Breast Implants. The price that he gave me for the Ext TT was very good, however they want you to be pretty much at goal. Im not going to have this dont until March so I still have time to get my weight down. Im thinking about going to TJ for the Lift and Implants and doing the Ext TT here. The only set back with that is, I will have to have two different surgerys when I could do it all at one time, recovery with one pain...lol..... I have been taking your advice and looking at TONS of pictures to see what I want. I am like you, dont want to be straight, would love to have some curves....... All I can do is keep on working and hopefully by December I will be closer to making THE decision. Carrie

Hi Stormy! I have tried SERVERAL red wines and the one that is my fav is Lambrusco. It is very inexpensive as well. Give it a try and see what you think. Carrie

Sabrina, Just wanted to say good luck. Keep us posted on how you do. I hope you can eat those fruits and veggies! Carrie

I agree, I think both of you should start logging your food, this will help so much! Dont forget to log your liquids as well, they can have a TON of caloires, depending on what you are drinking. Also ask yourself if you are eating foods that are high in protien and what kinds of foods are you eating. Are you eating fried, breaded, pasts, high carbs...or you eating "slider" foods, chips dip, ice cream, food that goes straight through your band. The one thing that is hard for me, even after my fourth fill, is the band does not POLICE what type of food goes into your mouth, YOU have to do this. As anything, I HATE exercise, but something is better than nothing. Maybe try parking futher away in parking losts, go for a 10-15 min walk, baby steps never hurt anyone, I know it did not hurt me..... Stay positive and after you start getting your fills, it will help! Carrie

Just wanted to say Congrats and welcome to band land! This will be one of the best times of your life! Carrie

OHHHH Robbyn that would be WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!! I am in East Texas! I live in Lufkin which is about 3 hours from Mesquite. I have several friends who lives in Dallas, as a matter of fact my companys corp office is out of Dallas! You just tell me when and where and I will be there!!!!! I think Athens if half way, so maybe we could even meet for Lunch one Saturday. (hint hint...Hubby works most Saturdays) Carrie

Hi Catie and welcome! First of all you are not a failure at least you are being honest with yourself and acknowledging that you are doing something wrong. I agree with Shelby, you need to step back and ask yourself why you made the choice to be banded in the first place. You did this, like you said for a change in your life. We all have bumps in the road, but we just have to take the bump and start over on a flat road. The food that you are eating, if you have to, take them out of your house, take it out. Stop and think of how devistated you would be if you slipped your band and had to have it removed. My advice to you would be, one that has helped me the most is... take it day by day. Ok today I am going to eat this and this and this,,and that is it! I have to do this alot, or I will find my mind wondering... Read the post, ask questions, check out the photos. The people are this board are GREAT and very supportative. I promise we will help you as much as we can. Good Luck and keep your head high, the more down you get about this, the more you will tend to go back to old habits. Remember ATTITUDE is everything! Carrie

Robynne! That is Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have became cloths addicted...lol I have to watch when I go shopping. I love buying new stuff! Congrats Carrie