ValleyGirl

I would say that I have good restriction 5 or 6 days per week. I've never tracked it to see if there's a cycle, but one week I might have one day where I am super tight and the next week I might have one day where I'm super loose but all the other days are just right. I'm sticking with this amount of fill because having good restriction even five days per week keeps me honest....and I'm still losing. It would be great to have wonderful restriction EVERY DAY but I don't. In fact, I ate A TON yesterday, yet the night before I couldn't even finish one piece of pizza. Don't panic if you have a day here and there where you feel like you don't even have a band....I think that's normal....it's if you feel like that for days or weeks on end that I would be worried. Sabrina:)

Hi Louise! I sent youa facebook message with the info you want.

Hey Dan! If you get this message, my work ( a news radio station) would love to talk to anybody travelling in Mexico right now (you don't have to say why you are there) just to get a feel for what the mood is, how people are reacting to this flu thing. etc. It's our top story today and to have someone "on the inside" would be fanatastic! If you can be reached on cell, let me know. Sabrina:) ps- Welcome to Band-Land!

There's a Papa Murphy's by my place (yes, in CANADA) but I've never been. That sounds great! I'll have to check it out. Thaks for the tip. Sabrina:)

We went for a drive in the country yesterday and ended up in a town an hour away that we never go to. The husband and kids were starving so we stopped for dinner at the first restaurant we saw- a pizza joint. I haven't had bread in months so I didn't know if I could tolerate pizza dough, but I cut it in to small pieces and chewed well. It was loaded with toppings (meat, shrimp, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and olives) and tasted AMAZING!!! I was so mad that I couldn't even finish one piece. I wasn't feeling stuck or anything. I felt just perfect, totally satisfied, so I stopped even though I wanted more. It was the first time in my married life that we split a large pizza between four of us and had some to bring home! The kids and I all had one piece, husband had three, and there was two pieces left! In the past, I would eat 4 or 5 pieces, hubby would have three and we'd have to get the kids their own meals `cause there would be none left to go around. Hell, I've eaten a large all by myself before. I'm just in shock that ONE piece is enough. I asked my skinny friend if that is what "normal" people usually eat.... only one piece? She said, yeah, one or two at most. Who knew? Haha. It's nice to feel normal. I could NEVER have done it without the band. Sabrina:)

I forgot to add black olives to the ingredients for greek salad....that's my favorite part of it!!! The whole family should like it too. I hate having to cook for them and me and try to make meals we can all enjoy. Sabrina:)

Sorry Louise, I haven't heard of him either. As you know, I see the ladies at NWFills in Wshington. Glad to hear you're happy with Dr.A in Vancouver. I may end up going there eventually but for now it's more fun going to Washington and making a shopping day out of it too! Speaking of which, let me know if you are heading south `cause I'm out of K20 water and would love it if you could pick some up for me! I don't think I'll be getting down there for a while. Sabrina:)

I'm down 55 pounds in just under 5 months and haven't lost any hair. Sabrina:)

201 today....two pounds until ONEDERLAND!!!! Keep those fingers and toes crossed....hell, I'm going to keep my legs crossed too beacuse NOW I CAN!!! Lol! Sabrina:)

If you don't mind sharing why your band slipped, I always like hearing these stories so I know what could cause it and what to watch out for. Thanks. Sabrina:)

If you're looking for ideas, here are some of the meals I've had this week: Breakfast- Starbucks new "Perect Oatmeal"....I can even eat the nuts and dried fruit they serve with it (which I worried might get stuck)! Vanilla yogurt with frozen mixed berries (let them thaw just a little) and some benefibre mixed in Lunch or dinner- snack size flavoured tunas (they come in Spicy Thai Chili, sun-dried tomato, garlic and pepper, lemon and pepper) with raw veggies Dole snack cups of fruit packed in WATER (perfect tiny bite-size pieces) with cheese and crackers (I like the olive oil and rosemary triscuits) Greek Salad made with feta, every colour of peppers, red onions, cucumber (without peel) and tomatos (without peel). I mix with lemon juice and the Club House greek seasoning form Costco. It doesn't need oil and the longer it sits in your fridge, the more flavor it has! Shrimp Caesar salad made with Boathouse yogurt dressing and small hand-peeled shrimp Pot roast (the only beef I can eat) with sweet potatos mashed with garlic, salt and pepper) Baked ham and butternut squash Grilled salmon and cooked spinach with a dollp of butter, salt and pepper Turkey chilli (not vety healthy but sometimes I melt a tablespoon of cheeze whiz on top for a change) Snacks- Starbucks tall skinny cinnamon dolce latte smoked almonds baked apple with cinnamon sprinkles (cut in small pieces and microwave for one minute) a few multigrain tortilla chips with home-made guacomole and/or salsa and/or refried beans Sabrina:)

202 today, hooray!!! I din't do anything different this week, so maybe it's all the good vibes sent my way, lol! Thanks! Sabrina:)

I'm 203.3 today too!!! Sending onederland vibes your way! Sabrina:)

That is AMAZING!!!! Keep up the good work! Sabrina:)

Finally I'm doing something right, haha!!! I always order the tall skinny cinnamon dolce latte when I go there.....which has been a few times per week lately! YUM! Sabrina:)

This post has me shaking in my boots! No matter what weight loss program I have done, I get to about 200 pounds (203 now) and that's it....no matter what I do, no more weight will come off. I have lost this same fifty pounds three times now. I was 199 pounds for ONE DAY about three years ago then back to the 200-205 zone.....exactly where I am now, boucing between 205 and 206 every other day:( Can your body get "stuck" at a certain weight? What can you do to get over the hump? I don't need a fill, I have good restriction most days. Sabrina:)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE their caesar dressing too! Funny since I don't like yogurt and that is the base. It's the best....and way less grams of fat than normal caesar dressing. It's available in most grocery stores in Canada too!!! Sabrina:)

Yeah, I'm also confused about the lift vs. the implants. I don't think I need implants, just a little lift. Basically, they are just a little droopy (but not like empty sacks many of my friends got after breast-feeding) they are "full" but I'd like them up a little higher...is this what a lift achieves? Sabrina:)

I wanted to do this three years ago when I had a BMI of 33. By the time I saved the money, it was over 40!!! Just sayin!!! Also, Dr, Ortiz is THE guy. There's nobody better. I know two Canadian doctors who have had him do their surgery recently and there are TONS of nurses on here that will tell you the same thing. Sabrina:)

I picked 160 pounds because I was 150 when I was 13 (and actually had a cute figure) and I figured weighing the same as I did at 13 probably wasn't very realistic! Especially after two huge babies and pushing 40. According to the "doctors charts" I should be 125-140 but I don't see that EVER happening. I must have heavy bones or something, because at 160 I'm pretty small....about a size 8. I know other people that weigh 160 and aren't as small. Weight is weird. Nobody believes I was 256 a few months ago. They knew I was overweight, but thought maybe 200 at best- even my mom! I say go for a healthy BMI and don't worry about the number on the scale. Sabrina:)

Smiley, What kind of cakes can you make with diet coke???? Sabrina:)

Thanks Vangirl....I hope to see you at the next Lions Gate meeting. I was too sick last week and it sounds like you were in Mexico anyway. It's funny, even though I've lost 52 pounds I don't think I look that different. Maybe it's what one of the girls at our meeting once talked about, body dysmorphia, but not that many other people have noticed either. The skin is all still there, it's just loose now instead of filled with fat, lol, so it's hard to tell! Time to hit the gym, I guess. Sabrina:)

Boy, can I realte. Just mentioning the surgery before used to start a fight almost instantly. Nowadays he doesn't mention it much, except to make jokes about my "robot stomach", haha. All the best to you...you don't need to feel alone in this now that you've found us! Sabrina:)

Sounds like you finally have restriction, hooray! Now don't be surprised if it starts to come and go. As you know, I thought I had a leak I had so little restriction last week but now I've been deathly ill with bronchitis (Possible pneumonia, tests aren't back yet) for more than a week and I'm super tight again. I'm guessing all the coughing has pulled on my muscle the port is attached to as well cause it's bugging me again. Be sure to get all those vitamins in SOMEHOW....I was slacking off and maybe if I was taking them every day I wouldn't have become so run down and sick. Take care. Sabrina:)

And you look 20 years younger!!! I have no idea how old you are, but if someone showed me the "before" pic I would have guessed late 50's but in the "after" pic I'm guessing 30's??? Sabrina:)