Sorry, I haven't been on in awhile! Boy, do I have exciting news for you though!!!!! I'm SO thrilled!! I am now in ONDERLAND!! That's right! I now weigh 198! I was beginning to think I would NEVER see the 100's again, but I DID IT. I'm on cloud nine! Well, I gotta go, but I wanted to let you know that I'm still going!!

IT'S WORKING!

I'm so happy! It's working, it's working, it's working!!! Amazing what having the right fill amount can do!! I weighed 202 this morning!! I can't believe it! I stayed at 210-208 for what seemed like an ETERNITY. Those scales wouldn't budge. Now, I'm dropping really fast!! Like a pound or TWO a day. I know this won't last, but I'm SURE loving it right now!

I'm finally able to get some solid foods down. I think that is ONE big reason the scales are finally moving. My body doesn't think I'm starving it now! I'm looking for 199!! When I hit 199.5, I'm gonna do a happy dance like you've never seen!! Should be soon now!!!!! YIPPPPPPEEEEEE

It's WORKING!

Ok, so the past few days since my fill have been....well....how do I put this? EXCRUCIATING?!?!? LOL I have never experienced true restriction, so this is really taking some getting used to. Sometimes liquid will not go down. I can't take my Wellbutrin pills, because they get stuck EVERYTIME. I've never gotten a pill stuck until now, and let me tell you...it is NOT FUN. It HURTS BAD!

I did liquids only, for a few days to try to get things calmed down a bit, after the pill got stuck. I think I had major irritation. So, in the mornings, I have a hot cup of coffee to try to loosen it up a bit, then I attempt to take my SMALLEST pill. Then around lunch, I try to have something like soup, or some type of meat like a turkey hot dog or something. As long as I chew it like a food processor, and take TINY TINY bites, it will go down. But, one hot dog FILLS me up!! Then it's off to the treadmill or gazelle, for 45 minutes.

Then for supper, maybe a small salad, with bleu cheese dressing, and some veggie toppings, and croutons. CHEW CHEW CHEW like mad again, and I can get most of it down. About an hour later, I SIP Crystal Light, and then it's off to bed.

The scale is being VERY stubborn, but the inches are falling off!! I can really tell it in my clothes!
I'm down to my lowest weight since surgery, 207.5. I've lost 1.25" in my waist, 1.25" in my thighs, 0.5" in my calves, 0.25" in my arms, 1.75" in my tummy!!!! And 0.75" in my hips!
So, I'm excited! If you don't take your measurements, I would really encourage it!! Those scales can really discourage you, if you don't know what's going on with your measurements!

OK, so I've rattled on enough. I'm just really excited. I REALLY want to get down to 160 by Christmas. I don't know if that will be possible, but I'm definitley TRYING my best to achieve it! Total weightloss so far: 39.5lbs!

FINALLY RESTRICTION

Well, I went to Tennessee for a visit, and my cousin, (the RN) gave me a fill. She did better than anyone else who has attempted it!! She has a band, and does her own fills now, so she knows very well, how to do it. She hit the port the very first time, and I didn't feel a thing!!

So, anyway, I'm TIGHT. Really tight. She took a little out before I left, but I think I'm still pretty tight. About 3 bites of food is ALL I can eat! I decided to go on a liquid diet for about a week. Hopefully I will lose enough to loosen it up a bit.

I've also added exercise to my regimen, and that has helped a BUNCH! The pounds are being a bit stubborn, but I'm losing inches, and I can really tell it in my clothes. SO, I'm thinking THIS time, it's gonna work! Thanks to my cousin! I'll keep you posted!
I'm down to 208.5. That is the lowest weight I've reached since my surgery! :-)
I'd really like to be at 160 by Christmas, and I think I'll be able to reach that goal!! I hope!

OK, Here We Go Again!

OK, I'm back! I'm pretty happy actually. I am at 210.5 on the weightloss scale. I haven't had a fill since I was last on here. So, I'm guessing the Omnipaque actually worked! I still have restriction! I know I need another fill though. I'm gonna try to shoot for Sept. I want to lose a little more before I get another fill, so I can get a tighter fill.

So, anyway....now I'm not so upset with the band. In fact, I'm sure I would have already gained ALL this weight back, if I hadn't gotten it. I'm just ready to lose the rest of this weight. And, I'm pretty sure I can!
See ya soon!

I've been gone for awhile, huh?

"No news," isn't always "good news!" The truth is....the reason I haven't been here is because I have been SO depressed about this stupid band! I have gained 6 pounds! I have totally been feeling like I have wasted $10,000 on another failed DIET.



Yes, I wanted this blog to be a happy story, from beginning to end, but it just doesn't always turn out that way does it? BUT, you need to know the truth in all it's gorey details. Don't worry, I haven't given up. I said I haven't been here because I have been depressed about the band, but obviously, Im back now. So here goes...

Either my band has a slow leak, or I'm just one of those crazy people that "absorbs" my fills!! Whatever...anyway, this time the doctor pulled out all the saline, and we replaced it with Omnipaque. This is a thicker fluid. It's radiopaque (contrast) so it can be seen under fluoro. There was no sign of any leaking out, so I don't have an "obvious" leak anyway.

Omnipaque can also work as "fix a flat" for bands. It also gives a MUCH tighter fill, and is much less forgiving! Which I am finding out DAILY.

I got this fill on Friday night. It is Tuesday, and I'm STILL VERY TIGHT. If I don't start losing weight now, then my body must be CRAZY. I'm having trouble with cream soup today, so I think I'll be going back to broth for a little while.
Long story short....omnipaque seems to be an answer to PRAYER. I now KNOW what restriction is, for the FIRST time since I've been banded. I believe this restriction will stick around for awhile. So, hopefully you'll be seeing a lot more of me....or should I say a lot "less of me!"

Anyway....my loss at this point is -31 pounds! Not 37....dangit!