karenlynn79

Heidi,

You need a fill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you are hungry between meals and able to eat lots evey slowly you need a fill. I have been down there like 8 times for fills and unfills in 2.5 years. It's just a part of having the band. Schedule one and get back on track!

Karen

Personally I never felt that those prepackaged meals were very filling. Some nights I could eat a whole one, even with great restriction. Other nights not at all. If you were full and not hungry then it's no biggie. Just be careful because those have a lot of sodium and can be very misleading on their "nutrition". I am pretty much off all prepackaged dinners like that for the most part........

Karen

Hi Lisa, good for you! It sounds like you are really taking health to the highest level. I know what you mean about the quality of food. I have been been eating organic stuff, trying to avoid too much processed food. I am also a vegetarian now. I was practically before but now I am 100%. I am giving my kids more health snacks and encouraging them to be veggies too (my baby doesnt' care but my 7 year old son sure isn't liking it much...).

Anyway I know you can do your new regimen with the same amount of gusto as you lost your weight! Good luck!

Karen

Hey Karen -

Isn't it frustrating to be the same for SO long even when you are workin your butt off at the gym? Whats the body bugg?? HMMM.

It's the armband thing that measures with 96% accuracy what you eat versus what your body burns in 24 hours. The newest version has a digitial display that you wear as a watch or in you pocket that shows you by the minute what is up. It's supposed to be amazing. It was very expensive even on Ebay. BUT I figure that it's worth it when nothing else seems to work. I am very motivated by numbers so I am confident it'll work.......... I guess they use them on the biggest loser but I don't watch so I am not sure.....

Carrie I hear you!!! I have been at 160/163 since before Christmas. I am working my butt off. I am literally doing the same as I was back when I was losing 10 lbs a month. This week I decided to step up my exercise a lot. I have always calorie counted (on my own) but I am trying to be really vigilant. I also just ordered the new version of the Body Bugg and the digital display. I am hoping this really puts me over and let me know what is up with my stinkin' body!

Good luck!

Karen

Sure thing, just email me at karenlynn79@gmail.com with your name and address! hope you enjoy them. It's silly but there are some pants I'll miss.....

Ok no one ever wants my pants, but I have 3 pair of nice pants. Black jeans, cool white stripey converse jeans, and then a black jeans stretch skinny cut, they were $50. They fit more like a small 14. Let me know! If no one claims then in a couple weeks off they go to Goodwill!

Karen

I know a lot of you newer bandsters get frustrated about not getting an "aggressive" first fill. This is for your own good! When it's under flouro they can tell how quick the barium goes down and they base it on that. When I got my re-fill in Jan I was a little miffed I only got 1 cc. BUT when he was doing it under the flouro I could feel how slow it was and see it too. You just really have to trust them. Typically it will be 2 fills before most people get restriction. You really just have to accept it and plan the $ ahead. It's a drop in the bucket compared to the actual band price. Of course, that doesn't mean it's not annoying!! Just set yourself for it in your head and if you do have restriction, that's awesome.

Yes I would follow her advice. I have always snacked (I plan it ahead and measure, not willy-nilly snacking). I try to hit 1100-1200 a day. Watch your fiber and protein grams! Those are key as well as water intake. I drink SO much water. Maybe use some Isopure punch protein powder mixed with water for a protein boost. I have always done that too. I think for your activity level you need more calories and protein like she was saying. Good luck!

My first fill did very little as far as restriction goes.

Lisa, yes I am pretty much preparing for the worst! But I plan to do exactly as the surgeon says in order to have as smooth of recovery as possible.

Sara, thanks for the info! I am going to call Dr. Martinez and see what he says........

That's great that you are able to make such a change in your body structure! I thought that that would be me too. In fact, I never even thought about PS before losing all this weight since my daughter was born. I am someone who works out 6-7 days a week and I feel that I have such strong abs (I do pilates all the time). Sadly, my stomach skin is way too loose and saggy that my muscles have no way of making up for that. So I am very much looking forward to my TT. Though I am already sweating the fact that I won't be able to workout for weeks! I will be so bored.

I will be at the Lucerna Sunday night March 22nd, having a breast lift with augmentation the next day at Cosmed. It would be great to meet any new or almost bandsters while I am there!

Karen

Hey Congrats!! I am only 5 lbs away from that and I can't wait!

VERY SMART KAREN

KEEP US POSTED. I'M LOOKING AT A BREAST LIFT IN A FEW MONTHS SO I'M EXCITED TO HEAR HOW THAT GOES FOR YOU. ALSO, ARE THEY GOING OVER OR UNDER THE MUSCLE?

Pammie,

I am doing silicone under the muscle. I am nervous that they'll end up too big but I am taking tons of pics that I found that look like nice boobs!

Some of you may remember that I had a consult at Cosmed in Jan. I was interested in: tummy tuck, thigh lipo and breast lift with aug. Anyway, after reading Kim2BSlim's pain on the TT, I decided to stick close to home for that. But I really wanted Dr. Quiroz to do the breast lift with aug. So.....

I am having the lift with silicone augmentation done at Cosmed on Monday March 23rd and I am having a TT with the thigh lipo too on April 10th here in Stockton CA. I am so excited! I am definitely paying more total than I would have if I went to Cosmed for it all. But, my hubby was really insisting I do the TT local just in case....

I originally wanted to do arm lipo too but 3 surgeons said that it wouldn't do much. Also I am NOT having the extended TT, just the full with lipo on the love handles instead. I really didn't want scars that reached to my back..

I'll be sure to let everyone know what happens!

Karen

Kim- if you are reading this- how is the pain 2 weeks out? Did the surgeon have any issues with your port? My guy Dr. Mabourakh says he won't be able to go SUPER tight with it because of the port. But he is known for being a perfectionist so I am sure it will still work out fine.

That doesn't seem like over a hundred grams though. String cheese have 9 grams each. A SF has like 10g I think. A small filet of fish might have like 24g maybe? I personally look up each individual thing I eat, either on the package or online. I go by that. You may have plugged in the wrong serving size in sparkpeople too, that can certainly affect that. But everyone is right, it does add up. I usually get 60g without trying too hard....... Just being aware will help you though, either way.

Hey Nicole,

You have done amazing! Just hang on til your fill. Even though I have a small fill I also keep gaining and losing the same couple pounds. But you have done so well and you look great. I just told myself there was NO WAY I'd buy any bigger clothes ever! You can do it! The last pounds are so hard!!! I don't know why.....

Karen

Hey Karen,

I started my cleanse this morning. I was just wondering... do you blend your drink in a blender? This morning I just mixed it by shaking it, but I read that it is more effetive if you use a blender. Not sure why. But, wanted to see what you were doing.

Thanks, Kristy

Hey Kristy,

No I just mixed it with a spoon in water. It was awful but I did get used to it. Good luck!

Just wondering if you guys think its necessary to stay the night when getting your 2nd fill. How long does it take to know if you need a unfill? Also, if were supposed to be on clears right after a fill, how would you know if you need a unfill? Basically, I am booking my 2nd fill for either the 11th or 12th. I cant decide if I should stay the night. Any input would be GREATLY appreciated!

Hey Sarah,

Where do you live in NorCal?

If you are going to OCC I wouldn't stay the night. With the flouro they really can tell what's up as the barium goes down. I've had lots of fills and unfills and they have never overfilled me.

Karen

In the mornings I do: 1/2 scoop of Choc Isopure in 1 cup of FF milk.

In the later afternoons I also do 1/2 scoop of Isopure Alpine Punch for the protein. Otherwise I wouldn't get enough in daily....

I've been doing this pretty much forever. I add in a flavor pack like a Crystal Lite for the punch mix otherwise it tastes a little like vitamins.

WHEN weight was flying off last year, I was around 1100 daily and made absolutely sure to get enough fiber, water and protein. And walking al ot and doing pilates and Wii Fit................. Now my body is stuck but I am trying not to get too upset about it...........

Kristy when you get another fill things will be different. We've all been there. Don't beat yourself up. Once you have good restriction you WILL feel full. Trust me, I HATE to feel hungry!!!!! That's the best thing about a good fill for me. Focus on things like trying on clothes that didn't fit before and take pics. I always look at old pictures of me, even from last summer, and I look totally different. Do that!!!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone! I am sure hoping the pain will subside soon.

Pammie~I sure hope you are right!

Karen~This is just my opinion, but there is no way in Hell I would go through this kind of pain in another country. If I wasn't in my normal surroundings I am afraid I would have lost it. If I even had to think about travelling home I would absoluetly die first. I am not exxagerating. My Boobs are not hurting at all..so if I was gonna travel to do something it would be the boobs..definetly NOT the TT!!

You read my mind! I have a consult with a cool lady in Sacramento Wednesday. To do the TT, lipo on thighs (inner and outer) and the upper arm lipo is about the same price as all that plus breast lift with aug at Cosmed. But, it's just not all about the $ either. I think I'm pretty tough too, but with 2 kids it's scary. So I think I might do the TT and all the lipo here and then maybe around Xmas time do the breast stuff at Cosmed. I really do like Dr. Quiroz. But the week I can do it is the week of my 30th birthday! I don't want to wake up there alone on my b-day! Anyway feel better soon! I bet you are going to look sooo amazing!!

Karen

Oh Kim! I am so sorry. You are freaking me out! But I want to hear it. I have really been wondering if going to Cosmed for so many things at once is wise. I might do the TT and lipo locally in April and then do the lift and augmentation at Cosmed in the summer..............

I hope you feel better soon!!!

Karen