Missing in action

Hi everyone. Sorry I've been missing for over a week now. I've been super busy and to be honest, I kind of forget I even have a band sometimes now. It's not constantly reminding me it's there, so I don't think about it constantly anymore. I need to keep myself posting and reading.

I am doing great, no issues at all since my last fill. I've done surprisingly well, I feel, considering no restriction and can eat anything. I do bounce around from about 162 to 165. I get terrified when the scale goes up to 164, 165 and really start to watch it. I'm there now, I weighed in this morning and am 164. So I'm going to really watch what I eat and try to get back down to 162.

I think often about the next fill. I have mixed feelings, being #1 I had so many problems with my band and if surgery was going to be the fix, was leaning towards taking it out. So i tell myself, I'm here, try and and maintain this weight and don't play around with it or you might do it again and need surgery again.

#2. I think, why have it if you can't let it help you with your weight loss. But I don't want to live the way I was. I think I could probably go in and take a couple very small fills untill I get just past the point of this bandster hell situation. It would be nice to be reminded that he (my band) is still in my tummy somewhere.

I guess I'll just keep plugging along here the way I am and in a month or two think about what I want to do. Right now, I'm just super happy, doing super good.

Sorry to hear that Tiffany and Sarah are having some issues, I've been there and I think waited a lot longer than you guys to figure out the problem and my band fixed itself. Glad you both got in to see the doctor and are getting the problem solved.

Have a great week.

I've Been A Very Bad Girl

Well, been trying to get back on track after a very bad, bad superbowl day. Went to a party and they had so much food, good food (not good for you food)and I ate and I ate and I ate. I've had trouble getting back on track. Every day I start saying I'm going to be good today and I start off well, but have ended the evening with Ice Cream after dinner every night since then and popcorn as well last night. Oh, my this is hard. Afraid to step on the scale. Today is a new day and I vow to be good today!!

I'm dreaming of my next fill!!

Random Thoughts...

Hi there, all is well on my end. Still struggeling with controlling my appetite, but exercising and maintaining as best I can. Okay. So here are a few random things of no importance at all:

Why do some of the blog have funny characters? And i'm not talking about when someone is saying a curse word and putting funny characters for part of the word. I get it in the titles and the body. I think the word and is a common one. Does anyone else see this or is it just me??

What does DH mean?? I'm not that text savvay or blog savvy and I've figured out just about every other one but DH??? I think it means husband, but what does it stand for??

I saw a very overweight man struggle to get out of his car yesterday and I felt so bad for him, could almost cry. I remember what it's like to be large and it's so hard to just move. I remember how badly I felt about myself and my internal dialogue was not very nice. I remember looking for clothes and just buying anything that fit and didn't make me look any bigger than i already was. It's so hard to be overweight in our society and people are so judgemental. I think this weightloss journey has made me even more sympathetic to people who struggle with their weight just as I do and probably will for the rest of my life. Even though I'm at a weight that makes me happy, it's a constant reminder everyday and every meal as to making the right choices especially since my band is not helping right now. It does have a slight fill, so it must be doing a little something. It's kind of like bandster hell all over again.

Did you watch Oprah the other day about our food today and how most of our foods are processed and even our meat is bad for us and full of antibiotics? Really made me think. I think I need to look more closely at the food I buy and what's in it. I can't remember the name of the movie or book, but I should pick up a copy and read more about this.

Even though i'm struggeling with my eating, I love being and feeling like a normal person. The other night I went to bed and layed on my stomach as i usually do and realized I haven't used a pillow to prop up one side of my body because it lessens the discomfort of my band and helps with the acid reflux. I've been sleeping like the old days since my unfill over a month ago and able to eat anything I want and it feels so good. It gives me an idea of where I want my fill to be when that time comes. Able to eat anything, just less of it. Isn't that what the band is supposed to do?? I think I was a little greedy the first time around, I wanted that quick weight loss.

Sorry for all the babble.....Have I told you?? I love my band!!!

Hi.

I keep wanting to post, but don't really have much new to post about. I'm feeling great, all my stomach and digestion problems seem to have passed with my increased amount of fiber in my diet. I still have a bit of trouble with constipation (sorry TMI), but it's not intollerable.

I'm eating normally and have absolutly no restriction at all. I am eating quite a lot and hungry a lot. Late afternoon and night time snacking is the worst for me. I have gained 5 pounds and feeling a bit depressed about it. I understand why i've gained though, it's like I can eat again and I want to try everything I have not been able to eat for the last six or so months. Such a bad attitude to have. I have decided I need to start controlling what I eat and really watch my portions. 5 pounds isn't much to loose, so i need to get serious and get back to my goal weight.

I have to admit, I keep thinking about when I can get another slight fill. I know what I said, I said I'd like to stay here after all my problems with slippage and all, but if I have no restriction, I can probably get another slight fill. Dr. said to wait at least 2 monts before I see him again and, of course, now it will cost me $200 a pop for each fill. My year is up :( I'm going to be patient and wait and see.

I've been reading all your posts and glad you all are doing so well. Keep it up!!

Here's to a good week of exercise and good, healthy eating!!!

Doing So Much Better!!!

Well since starting some solids, I've discovered that I do in fact have no restriction at all with the small fill i have. I can eat everything I've tried with no problems and seem to be able to eat a lot. I've been trying to stop myself, but after not being able to eat for over a month, i'm afraid i've gone a little bit overboard and now I really need to get back on the wagon and control myself and get back into exercise. I was doing so well with exercise and then when my bloating gassy thing started, it was a bit painful to do most exercise, so I stopped.

Oh, an you know that bloating gassy thing that I was thinking might be my gallbladder or something major? Well the fiber helped, it took like a week before I became regular and since then, I've been very regular and am able to pass my gas easily (hubby says a little too easily) and I'm not all uncomfortable anymore. I think it has helped that i've started eating a little more normally to. I was looking at what my fiber intake must have been when I was relying solely on protein drinks and not adding the fiber and it was a 0. Even on my preop diet I would have a very lo cal meal at dinner which gave me some fiber. The last month or so, I've had "0" fiber and that is about when my problems arrised. Also, I did two of those Barrium Swallow x-rays and when I did the second one, they reminded me to drink a lot of fluid or it will harden in my intestines. I didn't know this the first time around and wasn't concentrating on how much water I was drinking (probably not enough). Anywhoo, I am going to continue with my current routine of adding fiber to my diet. I do two scoops of Ground Flax Seed in my morning coffee protein drink (4 gms), then during the day I add a packet of the south beach drink stuff (5 gms) and then I take two Benefiber tablets (4 gms) and i've been making sure I drink at least 64 oz. of water every day. I haven't had those pains in about a week. Yeah!!! I feel like a normal person for the first time in like months. Double Yeah!!!

I am afraid to step on the scale the way I've been eating, but I'm going to work real hard to maintain the way I am right now. Again, I'm so thankful to still have my band!!! Triple Yeah!!

Happy Baniversary!!!

Well yesterday was my one year baniversay!! Yeah!!! And my band is still with me which I am so thankful!!

As I reflect on the past year I feel it was the best decision I have made and really wish I would have done it sooner!! I have had some ups and downs as you all know with my band, but I would do it all over again if I had to make that choice. The only thing I would have done differently is to not be so greedy on fills and maybe I wouldn't have slipped had I not got too tight.

I am so grateful that I accomplished the goal I set out for when I started this journey and I'm very happy with myself and the way my body looks now. It's not perfect, but I don't need to be perfect. I've had two kids and my body will never be as it was when I was a young girl, but I'm so thrilled with it even with all the imperfections. I would love to eventually get a brest lift and tummy tuck, but not in too big a hurry for that. If it happens, it happens.

As for my current situation, I've started eating more solid foods without a problem. Restriction is minimal, but it's enough for now. If I can maintain, i'm going to leave it as is. I've lost the 4 or 5 pounds I gained after the holidays and am back at goal and happy. I have no signs of a slipped band anymore, no acid reflux and such. I complained of pain in my stomach and intestines, so I started doing a lot of fiber and it has gotten much better. I think the introduction of more solid foods and getting in enough fiber has helped tremendously. We'll see how it goes, i'm going to keep focusing on this. I've stopped with the smooth move tea and my plumming (if you know what i mean) is getting back to normal again. I think protein shakes probably are bad for constipation especially since there is literally no fiber at all and that is all i was doing for many weeks, so I can understand why I was having some trouble in this area.

I'm going to focus on eating good and living life and keeping my current weight.

Have a great week everyone.

Poop!!!

As you can tell from the title of this post, I'm going to be talking about one of us banders favorite subject poop!!!

I've been complaining about problems with pain and discomfort in my abdomen area and I mentioned it to my Band Dr. He kind of smiled as I listed all my complaints as if i am a Hypochondriac. I just want him to know so he can help me. I mentioned the Gallbladder and Constipation. It's so hard to know what normal BM's are when I've been drinking a ton of protein shakes and not much food. You know what I mean?? My problems started right after my band was loosened and I was drinking liquids and then moved into a few mushies.

Also, I must admit, before the slip, I would depend on drinking smooth move tea a couple times a week to help with BM's. I might have caused some problems with dependency on a type of laxative?? IDK if tea counts as a laxative???

Anyway, since my last appt. I've been putting flax seed in two of my shakes a day and taking a stool softener (Dr said try stool softener) every day and, of course, getting in my 64 oz. of water every day. I decided I'd rule out the poop thing and if I still have problems then move on to the Gallbladder. Sounds like a good plan huh?

Well, I've been working on this for oh, about 3 days now and not drinking that tea, and last night, I was much better and hope it continues to get better!!!

Sorry if that was TMI as for the scale, it's going back down as it should, I'm starving here, living on protein drinks and soup broths yuck!!! But just so glad my good old band is back!!