ValleyGirl

Don't you just love and hate this band??? I get so angry when it won't let me eat what I want (or as much as I want) to eat- but then I guess that's why we got it, right? By the way, your picture is GORGEOUS! Sabrina:)

B- 6 oz serving Yoplait Light Harvest Peach and Kozy Shack Ready Grains Hot Cereal L- bag of Baked Lays (forgot my lunch at home...normally pack one for work) D- Wendys chili S-half bag of buttered popcorn

Glad you are posting again............I think it's really helped me get where I am. Please don't be a stranger. And I hear you about the chips, they have always been and still are my weakness. I have to keep them out of the house, although I do buy Baked Lays Southwestern Ranch from the vending machine at work once in a while and they're delicious but don't have all the fat and cals! Sabrina:)

Carrie, The only thing I can think I've been doing differently is that I started doing child-care for my niece and nephew so now I look after four kids six and under from 6am-6pm four days per week (on top of my weekend job and business) and it is the HARDEST job I have ever had! Maybe I'm getting skinny from stress! Sabrina:)

Yes, I get these unexpected "holidays" from my band as well. I usually treat them like holidays, too...eating all the wrong foods just because I CAN. It shows me time and again that left to my own devices, I'd still be in the 250's. Thankfully, I only seem to loosen up for one day every few months. If it's been a few days, you might have lost some more belly fat and might need atiny fill. I'd wait at least a week to see. Sabrina:)

After three weeks of bouncing between 173 and 175, I am at 169!!! Finally hit the 160's! Lost six pounds in one week without really trying. Now watch, I'll sit at this weight for a few weeks! Sabrina:)

First off, I am SO SO SO happy to report that as of this morning, I am ten pounds away from goal! I was looking back at my stats and remembered that after my complete unfill, I shot back up to 189 so this means that since I was refilled on September 5th, I have taken off 19 pounds with only 2 cc's in my band; I eat WAY more than I did when I was super tight and I haven't exercised in a month because I had a bladder surgery and was told no exercise for six weeks. I even went on a holiday during this time! Yet still, 19 pounds in less than three months! That's not that much for someone at the start of their jopurney, but I'm at the end... when things really slow down! When I had 3.4 cc's in my 4 cc band, I could not eat solids, my hair was falling out, I was miserable.........I even GAINED weight from June to July. I kept wondering how I could be eating 600 clas a day and not losing weight- but I wasn't. At least for me, having a super tight band is not worth it. If you are starving yourself and still not losing, I really think loosening your band a bit is the way to go. Believe me, I'm no angel, I still "cheat" eating chips or candy now and then but the trick is making good choices "most" of the time. I've been trying to eat breakfast every day, up my protein, drink my water, and although I don't always write everything down, I keep a running total of cals in my head every day, ALWAYS looking at nutrition info first. Sabrina:)

Yay for you!!! Glad to hear your good news. Sabrina:)

I seem to be going through a pattern where I won't lose any weight for three weeks and then I lose a couple pounds over night. This last bit of weight is coming off super slow but at least it's coming off. Two pounds away from 160's! Sabrina:)

Yes, hot liquids will help. I'd go with soups for a few days...home made is best since the canned stuff has so much salt. Add protein powder if you have it. Pea soup, carrot soup, squash soup, roasted red pepper, stuff without chunks. I think you get the idea. Sabrina:)

his address is 15160 Fraser Hwy, Surrey, B.C. V3R 3P1 Tel: (604) 580-5541 Fax 604-580-5542 He does not use fluoro but he has got the needle in with no problems every time! Sabrina:)

This is the first season I have watched and I am HOOKED! Can you buy or rent the previous seasons? Sabrina:)

Foods I can't tolerate with my band include bread or anything doughy, pasta, rice, and most meats. Sabrina:)

I'm so glad to hear you kept looking in to this instead of just saying "the band doesn't work" and moving on. There is usually a reason it's not working and you have found yours. Now you can get things fixed up and get back on the "band wagon"! I use Dr. Manchanda as well and think he is wonderful. I'm glad you found him. Good luck finding a cheap flight- Alegiant has some great seat sales sometimes. Sabrina:)

Ditto to the above. I am very rarely hungry (if ever) but I still battle with grazing just because the food is there. My band just stops me from being able to totally pig out like I used to. For me, it's "forced behaviour modification"- which sadly I need! Sabrina:)

Still bouncing between 173 and 175...three weeks of this..............argh!

Hi Michelle! Thanks for sharing. Are you sure your band has slipped or are you just wondering if it has? I have been so tight I couldn't swallow water but my band was checked and looked fine. I did a complete unfill for three weeks and have been fine since the refill of 2 cc's until a couple days ago and now I have tighetened up again for some reason. Anyway, just wondering if it's a slip for sure and what the signs were. Sabrina:)

Wow! I could have written that myself....I've just never been able to put this battle in to words. In the past I have felt VERY vulnerable when I start to lose weight but because it has come off slower this time I think it has been easier. I always get to about 50 pounds lost and start to sabotage myself....then gain it all back and more. I wish I had more time to delve in to this topic right now but I don't so I thought I'd just pop in to say, "I hear ya". Part of me has always wanted to be thin and attractive, but a stronger part rebels thinking "you (the world) should love me the way I am and if you don't screw you". As far as men being attracted, on one hand I like the attention and on the other hand it terrifies me. I also developed early and my first sexual experiences weren't what I would call sex abuse, but certainly "inappropriate" so no surprise that I would pack on the pounds to keep guys away but, at the same time, begrudge for staying away. I think if I can get my head in the right place, my body will follow. It's already starting to happen! Sabrina:)

Any idea why I would tighten up all of a sudden? I am not stressed, not expecting TOM. A week ago I could eat almost anything and last night I pb'd on half a slice of pizza. I'm drinking coffee now and can feel it going down very s-l-o-w-l-y. I'm going to do liquids today but wonder why this is happening again. I got so tight in the summer I needed a complete unfill and I REALLY don't want to go down that road again. Sabrina:)

B- coffee and protein bar S- handful of dried fruit and nuts L- 4 triscuits and vegetable stew S- bag of Smart pop D- tried eating a piece of pizza but I pb'd....here we go again:( I don't know why I even bother trying to eat anything doughy

B- 2 cups coffee (wake upa t 3am on weekends) then Yoplait lemon yogurt cup....................35 cals/0 fat/4 protein L- Tim Hortons potato and bacon soup ..............250 cals/13 grams fat/ 6 protein D- Ham, triscuits and baby bell cheese.........300 cals/15 fat/20g protein EDITED b/c I took my daughter shopping last night and we wended up at Starbucks...... Tall skinny cinnamon dolce Latte.........90 cals/0 fat/9 grams protein and Biscotti 160 cals/3 g fat/3 g protein Daily total...........835 cals/31 grams fat/42 g protein

Robbyn! You need to write a lap-band recipe book...I'd buy one! I'm making the pear dish for sure! Sabrina:)

It sounds like you are still super tight. You shoud be able to eat "some" solids, just not a lot. If you insist on mushies, though, mashed potatos don't seem to cause me any grief and I indulge on the gravy on special occasions! My sister is vegetarian and always brings a beautiful roasted root vegetable dish at Christmas too. Another favorite of mine for special occasions (like my ten year wedding anniversary the otehr night) is steamed crab legs with garlic butter- although that's not very "Christmassy"! Sabrina:)

.....birth control pills are small but bigger pills might be hard to swallow when your band gets tight. Just an FYI. Welcome to SEXYTOWN! Love that!