AngieB

Yay for the fill! Sounds like you are either near, or at a point of restriction. Woo hoo! I consider chips easy to eat. Not like the harder protein. Let us know what you think of your restriction with hard protein! I am excited for you! Also, I will be curious to hear if you notice your hunger is gone. Most of my hunger went away. Which is very cool and at first it was strange. Try to stay away from your favorite slider foods until you determine you have restriction! I know it's not easy, but being the WW gal you are I know you can make it work.

Carrie and Kristi - thanks! It is really big. I worked my toochie off last night. Lifting, organizing, carrying heavy large items. I did wonderfully! I worked up a sweat and it was fun. All the other volunteers pooped out and I finished strong. Finishing strong made me feel good too. . I even helped a diabetic who was in trouble with her blood sugar. I knew what to do because the disease runs in our family, which was another reason why I wanted to change my life! She snapped out of it in about 20 minutes. Anyway, it was another reminder of what I am working for. I love how this band gives me gifts everyday!

Okay Amy, time to let us know how you are doing with your fill. Come on girl...tell us everything!

Coffee with FF creamer Greek yogurt with blueberries and milled flax seed. A small filet of fish a small amount of grill chicken (boneless skinless) 1 bag of Honey flavored almond filled protein cookie bites Water hydration goal for today 114 oz at 42% of goal.....drink drink drink!

Hi everyone! I was just on Ashley's page writing a comment to her, and realized something. So, I decided to share.... So I am pretty involved in this awesome consignment sale, Take 2. I've been doing it for 3 years now. I have items in the sale, volunteer, and SHOP LIKE A MAD WOMAN!!!!! Seriously, my dear hubby cringes twice a year because I go a wee bit over board..... The first year I was a volunteer, I broke my time up. They have 4 hour time slots. Why did I break the times up....let me tell ya! It was simply because I could not be on my feet for that long. My puppies would hurt! (puppies aka feet) This year, I did not even think about that until I was really thinking about the sale. (Commenting on Ashley's page.) Before I would have carefully planned out my time spent. What is embarassing is I would have made a lame excuse about limiting the babysitting time or something like that instead of the truth, that I was to heavy to handle the full time at once. So yesterday, I stood in line for an hour before I even got inside to shop, then I shopped for 2 hours. Spent another 30 minutes talking to my friend who was shopping. After I went home, fixed dinner, and showed off my haul! Woo ya! Let me tell ya! I got a huge haul. Let's say I loaded my car and part of hubbys truck! Ha! Today, I am going to volunteer. When I was pushing the upper 200's, I would have NEVER shopped one day and worked the following. That would have been to much for my body to handle. I am feeling so much freedom from my weight and I have lost 1/2 of my goal weight set my Dr. Miranda. Living life is great, and I have so much time to focus on it rather than plan my time like I had been. I am so grateful for my band and for being able to live a full life! (and to think, it will get even better from here!!!!)

*clears throat* and more TMI ...... yep, that seems to be a good way to discribe most of my converstations! LOL! I have more acne now, but ever since I got heavy I have had it. It is much better than what it use to be; that is for sure! I really think my latest out breaks have come from my treatment of .....the constipation issues I was having. Now that my colon health has improved, I have noticed more small outbreak areas. No scientific proof, but that is what my thoughts are on the topic. Since I eat less "crap'o'la" my acne has improved. I no longer get the once a month super sore large pimple under the skin issue! Thank goodness, those suckers hurt! I bought some bioten.....haven't taken it regularly....it's affordable & I have heard wonderful things about it.

Robyn - the hardest time I have is when I go out to eat. I have a portion control for meals I prepare and take to work or eat at home. When I go out, I am served a plater of food. That is the hardest. I have it ingrained in my head the old lesson I was taugh to clean my plate. Ugh. Plus the food always tastes so good cuz it is not always the best. Even when I order good, I know the food has more calories than it would if I where to eat it at home. If my meal is well rounded, I am notice I feel more satisfied. If I eat only one item being protein heavy....I tend to feel deprived. So I make sure to have a few items. Mostly a protein and veggie. As for my eyes being bigger than my stomach, I actually feel like I have adjusted well to my new reality. The times I have "issues" is with super good food. If it is my favorite and super tasty, I often don't feel mentally satifiied. I remind myself that I can have it again. That this is not the LAST time I will be able to have this item and that helps. I really have come so far from where I began with this mental learning process. I will be so happy to see the day when I look at food as more of nutrition/fuel and less as a treat, celebration, comforter, or the like. Progress baby, progress! I am so thankful for my band. With the added restriction that I have gained it changes and takes me to a new level. Change and adapt, that is what it has been for me. I am so glad you are back on the board and life has settled a bit for you. It's your turn now.

Hey B - do you watch the barium swallow, when you get your fills? I've watched all my fills closely. Mostly because I have found it very interesting. The barium should be slowed but not held up. This video shows a good fill. Watch the barium. See how it flows.....has your been similar? The reason I ask this is because I've not heard anyone say the OCC is fill stingy. I myself don't get my fills there, so I have no first hand knowledge, but it seems strange to me. Also, the last time we spoke before your fill previous to todays, you had mentioned you had considered asking them, the OCC, to go easy on you. What did you decide to do? Did you ask them to be conservative? If you did, maybe that is why you feel like you do??

Shelby! That is awesome, and what a great partner to run with! You sure are a success story!

I am in the same line of thought as Jill. If it's not broke don't fix it. Personally I've come to understand that a little tweak goes a long way and can often times be to much. If you are at goal and not having an issues, leave the band to do her job. Congrats on your success and it will be interesting to see what others have to say!

I am a late poster B., but wanted to post anyway. Girl you know I feel your pain. I know this time for me what the hardest; Mrs. 4 fills to hit restriction that stayed....that was me. It's not easy to wrap your head around, and understand what you don't have, but want so badly. Take a step back and let this process play out. You are coming close, so don't try to manage this. Let it happen. I understand this is easier said than done, when you are on my side of the fence....really I get that. But honestly, it will happen. I remember clear as day Shelby telling me in a post the same type of thing. (thanks Shelby!) You are going to rock the band, you are a "professional WW gal, and I believe you will conform to the band wonderfully. Light years ahead of me sista girl! But we all can see I have foodie issues! Ha! Nothing really to laugh about, but laughing for sanitys sake. B - I really think you are getting your feet on the ground so to speak about it. I know it can be very hard not to think about, but do your best to let it go. Restriction will happen!!! IMHO I do not think you have a leak, and I will tell you why....because you go to the OCC. LOL Leaks are not a common occurance. I know many bansters and have only met one who has actually had a leak. The floro the OCC uses is very clear and they can see your port and tubing well. If you have a leak, I would be shocked and amazed. Heck you will pry be able to knock me over with a feather if you do. The one gal who had a leak had it after a fill gone terrible. The fill PA did a blind fill and poked her several times before accessing her port. Anyway, hang in there. You are doing great! Don't let the band run circles in your mind. ((HUGS))

Mindy - oh my goodness, thank you so much for coming back here to share your VICTORY!!! I would love love love to see your before and after piccy! Congradulations on your success and the learning journey along the way! Amazing! The band has been a wonderful teacher for me. I am getting to be a average eater now. Where I feel like I am seeing food and responding to it in a healthier manner, if that makes sense. You give me hope and inspiration! Thanks for posting this!

Welcome back! Glad to see you post. We all have our journey with the band. Some kick ass and take names, others are moderate loosers, then you have me...who dilly dally's around. I love my band! It fits my life and does what I have not been able to do for myself. Great partnership. Glad the band can not fire me! Sometimes I think she does more of the work....I am a hard nut to crack! So let me tell ya. I hit a good level of restriction after my 5th fill. I love it! I will say I still have days when my band opens up and says AAAAaaHHHHHHHHH. I am always suprised when that happens Robyn. Anyway, it seems like it is only a day an then, dumm dumm da dum. It snaps closed and says...remember me, I am restriction! LOL I have not gotten to the point where I don't take FULL advantage of the open band days.....but there is always hope.... I've changed A LOT in the time I have had the band. I am sooo greatful and thankful to have this aid in my tummy! When I set out on this goal to remove yet another 100 lbs...I knew it would take a while. I had said 3 years. Now, I of course hoped that I would be one that kicked butte but ya know, I am not in that league. Why....because I don't always follow the rules and haven't put exercise in the fore front of my life. Bottom line is - this is my personal journey. My lovely friends here can give me input and tips, but until I put those morsels of knowledge to work. I am on my pace to drop the 100 lbs in 3 years. Why did I say 3 years, well my body is fairly young, but I have really put her through a tough load. Which I won't go into much. I know how intense it can be for a body to filter out all the crap, so I set a reasonable pace for myself. I drink a crap load of water ever day to help flush my human toilet. I am doing my best to be good to my kidneys, liver, and gallbladder. At anyrate, the whole point of the above story is this...don't beat yourself up my sweet Robyn. Enjoy the ride and love it for all it's worth. 25 lbs is major, and thank you sweet band for that. Yes mamma! Not only that, I am with you when you say you would have been over 300 lbs by now, oh yes....Thank you again GOD for the bands! Woo hoo! We are in such a better place because of them. I am so glad that you had no complications with the Anesthesia!!!! Good to have you back. Don't think of the could haves, think of the what is's!!!! I love you Robyn and am so glad you are back to hug us all again! Missed you! Angie

Okay Lindsay, I put some oats in my shake tonight....I was to pooped out to cook. It was good and filling. The oats really make a huge difference. I put a Tbsp of milled flax in as well. Good to go. I think I will add oats more often when I have a shake...great suggestion.