Kristi

My New Years Goal: Tone my arms,legs and belly. (Going to Hawaii in March. (finally) ) Work on my Scrapbooks more and try and complete some of them and actually go to the Friday night scrapbooking sessions to get me more motivated. More ME time. (good one, Shelby ) Organize the pantry, very scary Happy Holidays All.

Hi Sabrina, Sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. I haven't experienced that before, but I hope you get better soon. Hugs, Kristi

Thank you Kayla.

Well, I cut out all sodas, pasta, bread and rice. I have tried whole wheat tortilla and it got stuck so I quit that too. However, I do workout quite a bit and I have a trainer I see twice a month. This all keeps my in check. I do focus on proteins at all my meals. It is not that I am on Atkins or anything, I just follow the bandster food lists that I was given and then found some more on the internet.

Sabrina, I just had the conversation with my mom about the Tummy tuck this morning, and she said, "Why would you need it, you have had children" I told her so I could have a flat tummy for the first time since puberty. I was 9 or 10 the last time I had a flat belly. It would be nice to have one in my adult life, but still scared. Angie, good answer.. You are so quick witted, you crack me up. Well, I say, do the workouts and see how you feel. This is what I plan to do. I am gonna do more ab workouts and see if I can get results I like first. I am going to Hawaii in March, and I wanna get my belly in better shape before then and I won't have ps by that point, so it has to be all me. Hugs, Kristi

CookieJ & Allison, Well, as I have read everyone's responses, Wow, you all are great!!! It makes me so proud to be a member of this support group. Debbie, Amy, Kayla, Lisa and Angie, great advice from all of you. I know being on here regularly has kept me accountable. I just wish I had the willpower to write what I eat everyday like so many others, heck, that might be a good idea for you too. However, I have gotten great food ideas from everyone. And now since Angie talked about greek yogurt, I went out and found it and love it!!!! Thanks Angie!!! Believe in yourself, you have an awesome tool and you can do it and accomplish what you chose to do when you got your bands. I know you can do it. Hugs to all, Kristi

Kayla, Thank you. You are doing great for your pre-op. I struggled too like Angie did with the Pre-op. The Doctor gave me an 11 pound loss when I first saw him and gained 4 pounds by the month after. Ugh.. It was hard, especially when you think you are doing it right and you still gain. But then I cut out all the sodas, bread, rice and pasta (and I only ate whole wheat/grains) and actually increased my workouts and did the protein drinks for breakfast and lunch with a sensible dinner and Voila, I was ready for surgery. Keep up the good work. Hugs, Kristi

Slimbutrfly, Congrats and Welcome to Bandland... I am glad to hear you had a wonderful experience. Look forward to hearing more. Have a safe trip home. Drink as much water as you can, and walk walk walk... Kristi

Sabrina, One thing I would have to go with and agree with is the spotlessness of the offices too. A messy/dirty office would make my OCD kick in and I don't think I could even stay for a consult from the moment I walked in. Probably sounds bad, but unfortunately I have issues and it is not like I am a super clean freak, however, if someone is gonna work on me, they better take pride in everything from their work to their appearance to their office. I am just saying.... I want to have a TT, but I am afraid. I have never had a flat tummy from the time I hit puberty, so it would be nice to have that. Anyways, it will be a while for me if I can get the courage, the $$ and get it done. We will see. Hugs, Kristi

Sabrina, Congrats on your Awesome Check-up. My Doc doesn't do the fluro for the fills, so I need to get an Upper GI to make sure it is good. I am nervous about it, but I am gonna ask for one so i can be sure over 6 months out I am OK. I have never heard that before either, drinking so soon before and after meals. BTW, I agree, you look absolutely wonderful! Hugs, Kristi

Good Morning All, So today is my 7 month Bandaversary. WooHoo..... I didn't weigh in on Wednesday since I was at a hotel and not in my own domain, so I did this morning. The scale read........... 143.7 I am below the Doctors target weight for me 7 months out... Happy Dance...Happy Dance...Happy Dance... I will soon add my own goal ticker as soon as I remember how I did it in the first place. LOL... I know I will need to go back and read how it is done. Eek.. I am so forgetful. HeHeHe Hugs to all, Kristi

Angie, Cute saying, I agree with Shelby... I like it!! Hugs, Kristi

Hi Dusty, Hair loss is common. It seemed like a lot when I was losing weight as fast as I was, but now that I have slowed down quite a bit, now I am back to the normal everyday pre-banded hair loss. They say that an average person loses about 50 to 100 hairs per day. I don't think I lose that much every day now, but I could be wrong. Lindsay, you find stuff so quickly, I am jealous of your internet savvy-ness. I am so not that good at search engines. Hugs, Kristi

I definitely agree too.

Thank you All! It is weird now that I am actually liking taking pictures again and liking seeing myself in them as well. For so long I was unhappy with my appearance that I was usually the one taking the pics, not being in them. Although I do love photography and I take a lot of pictures for others, I find myself just as happy being in them again. Ashley, Looking forward to see a new updated pic of you. With only 17 to go, you are doing great. Shelby, As soon as you get your little black dress, put up pics, I know you will look amazing. Wormbutterfly, I am sure you will be sharing photos soon enough. The pic you have up is great. Love the boots. Debbie, The change in your pics is awesome. Way to go. Lisa, a few of my friends said that he looked the same. He has been at the gym too working out. Mamabear, thank you. Diana, I got my glasses at WalMart a year ago in September. It was the first time I decided to go with more updated fashionable type frames. I usually went with cheap plain ones. Laura, Looking forward to see your new pics. Hugs to all, Kristi

Steph, Looking forward to hearing how everything went. You will do wonderfully. Hugs, Kristi

Hello, well I decided to post a few pictures from our Christmas Party. It was held at the US Grant Hotel. Dinner, Dancing and prizes, although we didn't win prizes, friends did. The first one is of me right after I was ready to head downstairs for the party. The second is with my husband while we were having cocktail hour. Hugs, Kristi

Netsy, Congrats! You are doing really great! Happy Holidays... Hugs, Kristi

Sabrina, You are gorgeous and you are beaming. I have always been bigger in the tops than the bottoms. I was wearing a 18-20 top from Lane Bryant and a tight 18 jean before the surgery and now I am in medium top and 6 jean. Although I haven't tried on small tops yet. My boobs have lost some, but I was wearing a 40D before and now after being fit at Victoria's Secret, I am a 34DD. (and this is with 2 breast reductions. LOL...) Hugs, Kristi

Hi Mamabear, Exercise is very very helpful. Plus drink lots of water. I think Debbie is right, that exercise is key, since I don't lose weight if I don't workout. On that note, take baby steps. Working out till you pass out or puke is not a good thing. If it has been a while since you have worked out, take it slow. 10-15 minutes. Every week, increase your time on the trainer by 2-5 minutes, depending on what you can handle and your fitness level. (BTW, what machine/trainer do you have? treadmill, bike, elliptical?) I go to the gym, but I use a combo of machines, free weights and balance exercises to workout. Then at home, I have a sit-down bike with back support that has different programs. We are hoping to get a treadmill for at home too. Hugs, Kristi

Congrats Tamcat & welcome to Bandland. The gas pains do go away, just need to walk lots and that really helps. As for the BM issue, water water water... I know it is hard to drink as much in the early stages but just keep sipping. Also, milk of mag can help too if prune juice isn't. Steph, we look forward to hearing how everything goes after your surgery. Hugs, Kristi

Good Morning, I didn't weigh in yesterday morning. Tuesday night I went to my husbands dinner party down in San Diego at the US Grant Hotel. I had steak, my husband had chicken and fish and the dessert was a chocolate mousse with cappacino dust on the top and a cookie under which I didn't eat the cookie. We stayed the night at the hotel and although they had a scale in the bathroom, I only weigh in on mine so I can keep within the same conditions as prior. So, anyways, back to the party, I had my first major alcoholic beverage other than a very small glass of red wine since last New Years Eve. I drank an Amaretto Sour and I loved it. It took me over an hour to drink it, but it was yummy. Then after dinner and dancing, my friend brought over her Appletini and she shared with me, although she did accidentally spill half on me, since she was blitzed. It was actually really funny. So then I told her that I was confiscating it and I finished it. We danced for nearly two hours and had a blast. I will weigh in on Thursday the 19th, since that is my 7 month bandaversary. (sorry, I am gonna break the wed. only weigh in this week and post it then. Hugs to all, Kristi

Hi Angie, Sorry I am so late. I have not been on in the last few days. With my hubby home, we have been so busy. I am so happy to hear that restriction is back. While I was reading, when I came upon Sabrina's input, I was thinking the same thing.. (see Sabrina, you do read my mind..LOL) I have days that are good and I am totally restricted and then I will get a day or two that I can just eat eat eat.... Ugh..... I don't like those days, especially now that I have been slowing down with my weight-loss. So, I really pay attention to the amount of food I eat. BTW, restriction matter to me too. Well, I will get going. I have a few things to do this morning before I start working on my sister's wedding scrapbook that I would love to get done before Christmas so she and my brother-in-law will be able to open it Christmas morning. Still lots of work to go. Hugs, Kristi

Definitely Congrats! Also to add to Bogiesmom questions.. I have a few of my own, What size clothes did you start with? And what are you now? What has been the greatest change since your start with your band? Any NSVs along the way? Heavenlee, you really are doing wonderful. Love to hear your secrets about your progress... Hugs, Kristi