Mackenzie

Monet- I love how postive you are!!!! You are the perfect person to lead a support group!! I love reading your posts just because i can sense how positive you are! You are pretty inspiring!

I was sitting here on this forum reading some things..and it popped into my mind how GREAT lori is! I must have called a million times and emailed just the same, and she was always there to answer my questions without any sound of annoyance in her voice! So Lori, I know that what you do is a job just like mine..but what you have done is helped me (and many others) make a life changing decision and for that I couldnt be more grateful. Thank you for your help, this is the least I could say! =D> > =D> > =D>

Thanks for sharing your story- I totally feel how you felt- I was just banded however, weight has been a battle for all of us im sure and it is really dissapointing when you dont lose anything! esp in you GAIN (even just one pound) So thanks for letting us all know how important fills are!

Yeah, I am just scared!! I dont quite trust myself yet- I think we talked before that you didnt alwasy have a weight problem- and i developed a food addiction sometime in the last few years..and here I am. I just dont want to resort back to my old habits- it isnt an OPTION for me...but sometimes that demon is bigger then my angel you know! ahaha we will see how things go... I heard my mom talking to my family doc also my god parents (they delivered me actually) and they said that if mackenzie sets her mind to something, then the fight is over..which is true- but GOD, that doesnt mean its easy- esp this! good luck to you- i just know that I will keep writing on my blog and keep posting on here and I will get thru!

like any addiction--- the one with food is no different...since you are on your pre op diet- i think that it is still reallllly hard to say no since are still allowed to actually eat. Once you are on liquids- i sort of see it as a detox from food/sugar/grease- and resetting your tastebuds if you will. It is a GOOD thing that you messed up today and you realize why you did it..stress. Next time, when you are getting stressed- say to yourself, I AM NOT GOING TO EAT SOMETHING BC I AM STRESSED OUT, bc honestly, does it help? NO. It just makes you more upset. you are still going to mess up, as i have, but you will be one step closer to beating your food addiction. Just remember that eating when you are stressed doesnt solve anything-- just try and tell yourself that..and if you do mess up and eat when you are upset or stressed..sit down when you are done and recall why you did it again and try not to make the same mistake again. Good luck! you are not alone in this- i am beating it too- I dont know if I want to start eating solids again bc i dont trust myself yet, but everyday i feel like good/logical part of me get a little bigger, and the bad part a little smaller! >

nooooo one else feels like this?!!! i cant believe it

sometimes i think that it wouldve been better if i wouldve gone alone as i think my husband got a bit bored since for a whole day I was at the OCC! It is safe- and nice and im sure other ppl will be there alone as they were when I was there! Good luck!

So...Here i am, less than a week away from being able to eat FOOD....and at first, it couldnt come soon enough, but NOW?!! Now Im scared! I dont want to fall back into my old habits, and I really wish that I could be on all liquids until my fill on April 11th! Does/did anyone else feel like this? I just DO NOT want the scale to move up at all bc its happend to me before and Im just TERRIFIED of it happening again. AHH! I have already made my grocery list and meal plan for when I can start eating again to make sure that I make VERY healthy choices (no butter, everything non or low fat, SMALL portions, veggies, turkey/chicken/fish)..so that is a start...anyway just had to get that off my chest...am i alone here?!

just a small update/thank you... i am down 25 well... 24 lbs now..i gained a lb last night?! haha and i didnt freak out since i know that a lbs is not THAT big of a deal (thanks to you guys) and Im sure it will be off within the next few days or so... once i am confident with myself and my choices and start exercising i will change my weighing to once a week..but for now im on that baby EVERY morning! hahah thanks again to all!

well, im not a super successful bandster YET, but i will be! I just wanted to say, if you can go thru the pre op diet, AND the post op diet, then you can stop eating the cookies!!!! That is my weakness, sweets...so i know how you feel! I havent even started eating FOOD yet, but maybe for lunch tomorrw you could try shredded chicken on a salad? i hear that lettuce goes down well, and when you shred chicken youve got a head start on it breaking it down...or what about ground turkey?? i hope that you get through it! im sure some other expierenced bandsters will come thru for you soon enough! good luck!

thanks for that... and thanks for your posts!!! have a great day! looking forward to seeing the new pics! make sure to post them when you put them up!

cylnn: you do look awesome! way to go! you always give such AWESOME advice on here! so thank you!!! what do you eat?? like what is an average day for you food wise? thanks mackenzie >

thanks for thinking of me! I really wish I could go out there with you girls but its just not economical right now!!!! sounds like SO much fun!!!!!!! Im jealous! I hope that my fill goes as well as yours at the OCC!

Name and Location: Mackenzie from Florida Age: 21 Gender: F Band Date: 2/27/08 Height: 6ft Highest weight: 213 which was when I started the pre-op Current Weight:291 as of 3/10/08 Goal Weight:170-185

im jealous you guys are going back to the OCC for your fills!!! I live in Florida so its just too far! and the tickets are too expensive! my fill is sch for the 11th like an hour from my house- soooo not too much longer!

When I did my pre op diet there were a few times that I fell off the wagon. It was a good friends birthday and where did he want to go? Hooters..my favorite greasy/totally bad for you place. we had fried pickles, wings, fries.... since there is NOTHING healthy on that menu I just went for it! I didnt weigh myself for a few days, went right back to the diet and lost a pound still. So dont worry! I still lost 10lbs preop - no one is perfect!

haha true youre right- its just been going up for so long and to finally have it go down, for a few weeks consecutivley (sp?) it just made me get scared like im going to gain everything back plus some! thanks for the advice- i need to get a grip hahah

the driver drops you off RIGHT at the door pretty much-you just walk inside (15 feet) to show them your ID/passport, then another 15 feet or so to put your bag thru security...then you walk across the street to meet the driver in a parking lot- its not far at all- but i would suggest a wheel bag and pack pretty light!!! Its not dangerous at all you are at the US border with security/cops everywhere. It doesnt take long at all as you go thru an expedited line while you are in the car and inside of customs! No worries!

goooood thinking- totally forgot about that- and it is around that time...haah THANK YOU

BUT WHY?!! I was banded on 2/27 and I have lost 11lbs since my surgery date (21 all together)- i got on the scale this AM and it said I gained a lbs....I dont mind staying the same...but plus one?! I also know that "this is a time for healing and weight loss isnt a concern right now" but it feels too good to not lose anything!!!!! Maybe too much sodium? I had some hot sauce last night like 2 tbls- maybe it was too much sodium....anyway- someone shed some light! Im sooo annoyed with myself--someone tell me Im just being stupid! Happy sunday!

i know that is really exciting!!!!!! I was once skinnnnnny im 6' and i was at 188 only 8-10 lbs from my goal weight and i tore all the ligaments in my ankle and gained all my weight back plus some. I remember how happy I was and how good I looked- so I try to think about that- but while I gained all the weight back I gained a food addiction too---sooo now im dealing with that- but it will happen! We will def have to keep in touch!!! I cant WAIT to be back to 188 again and then get rid of those last 10 lbs! congrats on the new jeans- i have a feeling we are going to be doing that a lot!

go for it! dont get a refund! what part are you scared of? maybe some people who have been banded can give you some advice?!!

I have been banded since 2/27 and I have lost 22lbs (that is including my pre op diet) How about you

there is a blow dryer in the hotel! have a GREAT TIME! Its fun! And a piece of cake! Good luck!

I was banded on 2/27 and I have lost 22lbs total-- trying to catch up to mama michelle! haha Unlike you girls, I still have like ALL of my glue on~but they are healing very nicely! Still havent smoked a cigarette! Its been almost 30 days-so Im pretty proud of myself for that! I have not started any walking, but I will be starting on Monday- I had been sick with a throat thing soo Im excited to start walking (even though I cant exert myself until the 19th per Dr. Miranda) The food issues are something that Im still dealing with, but writing a lot and thinking about it a lot. I feel GREAT that ive lost so much weight, I have a pair of jeans on that were WAAAAAY too tight before! everyone has made comments, so that makes me feel good. Lastly, i am pretty sick of drinking everything that is for sure. My husband has been GREAT!!! He has been cooking his own dinner (which is a HUGE accomplishment) He MAY be more excited than I am about me going back to solids- Is anyone else a bit scared to start solids again? I am excited, but REALLY enjoying all of this rapid weight loss! MamaMichelle: You are really inspiring- you just seem sooo positive and excited about this- do you have days when you just want to EAT something? Were you "addicted" to food?? Im so impressed with your 30lbs- good for you! and thanks for starting this post! we should do this more often! I have also found soooo many healthy, low fat low cal recipes- has anyone been looking?share them if you have any good ones!!