Alana

Wow, Kimmy! You are really going to make me step up (literally!) my game here. Congrats on 11,000 yesterday! That is amazing.

Yes, pedometers can be overly sensitive, which is why it's important to be conscious of when you're wearing them. I wouldn't wear them while I was sitting - I'd wait until I was standing to put it on. Also, not wearing them while driving. They're never going to be exact, but a general estimation of how many steps per day you're taking. I can tell when mine is registering a step as the little ball inside makes a noise as my legs rise and fall. I wouldn't say they're misleading unless you're wearing them when you really shouldn't be. They're still a great tool for achieving a goal like 10,000 steps a day. I think the good outweighs the bad here.

Yeah, I've heard about them becoming loose or breaking easily, but so far mine seems to work just fine. It's a Sportsline model and the grip is really tight.

Well, the restriction from my first fill isn't that great and the next appointment for the Moultrie location is not until August 9th. I decided to kick up my exercise portion a bit for the time being and started the 10,000 Steps a Day challenge. I bought a pedometer at Target for $4.99 and so far it's been working great! I've learned some important lessons though, if you want to try this for yourself. 1. Don't wear the pedometer while you're driving. Rough roads and speed bumps will clock steps when you haven't earned them. I take it off in the car and put it in my cup holder. It seems to stay still that way. 2. The cheap ones work just as good as the expensive ones. My sister bought one for $24.99 and it has the EXACT same functions as my $4.99 one and works just as good. 3. CHALLENGE YOURSELF. My friend Cindy and I have started a challenge. Whoever has more steps by the end of the day gets a point. Whoever has the most points by the end of the month gets treated by the other person to a girls night out. I hope I win this month! You can spin this any way you want to fit your own needs. Here is a helpful article about walking 10,000 steps a day: http://walking.about.com/od/measure/f/10000steps.htm

You and your sister look amazing, Luke! I hope to have pictures like that to share soon! Keep up the GREAT work!

its hard to explain - I'm sure everything has a different feeling. for me, it just feels like I have had enough food. usually it would take A LOT of food (2 1/2 plates at my favorite chinese buffet) for me to feel full, now I feel it after a cup of soup or half a sandwich. you'll just know when you've had enough.

I don't think it's so much restriction as you're just still swollen from the surgery. I guess it can cause a restrictive feeling. My swelling went away completely by my first fill, which I had at 5 weeks.

I use myspace all the time, but for different reasons. I think it would be harder to organize all of the information on here into myspace's format. this here is just a little more streamlined and organized. don't get me wrong, though - I LOVE my myspace.

Oh Jim, I'm so sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine what you're going through right now, but please know we are all here for you. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

wow, you look so amazing!!

No one???

I had my first fill on 6/14 (total of 1.6cc's) and it sorts of seems to be working. I can feel a little restriction, but not a ton. I notice that I am eating less, but feel like I'm still eating more than I should. I plan to have my second fill on 8/9 back at the Moultrie location. I hate that the fill nurse, Darlene, is only there once every other month. Hopefully I have enough restriction to get me by until then. I lost 2 lbs in the first week after my fill, but now I'm on my time of the month, so I know that will mess around with the number a little. My 23rd birthday is in 4 weeks and I'd like to lose another 10 lbs by then. Does this sound reasonable?

Hi Erin, Yes, I had quite a bit of nausea after surgery and still have it off and on now. (Was banded May 9th). While I never actually throw up, it does suck. I hope it goes away for you soon!

I guess everyone is different - I've not had any problems from using straws.

Maybe 2.0 was too much for you..if you are still having issues, I'd contact the place where you got your fill about possibility getting a little bit of an unfill.

it took me over a week to even feel hungry. I was at the pool yesterday reading Dr. Ortiz's book and they said the band causes a "satiety effect" on your stomach, which keeps you from feeling really hungry or hungry at all. As the swelling goes down, you'll get hungrier.

:lb10: Meeting any goal is exciting. Just think of what you've accomplished! Celebrate and keep it going!

I agree with DiamondJim, Paula! You're look fabulous and I can't WAIT till my glitter star has the number 40 on it. Keep up the good work! (And sorry to hear about your dental disaster. I had braces for 2 1/2 years and they sucked on their own, but I can't imagine being banded and having them. You poor thing! I'm glad it worked out in the end and that you may have changed a young man's life in the process!)

You guys are great. I SWEAR I wasn't posting that just to get compliments, lol. BandedBabe, you only have 8 more days!!!! I remember how I felt on May 1st, thinking "in 8 days, I will be banded". You will be surprised at how quickly these days will go by and pretty soon, you'll be even more of a hot mama than you already are!

Aw, thanks Evette. You're one to talk about being a knockout! I know my posts have slowed - I went out of town on the 5th, came back on the 8th, and then house-sat until the 15th. Things have been HECTIC, but finally slowing down and I will resume my usual addiction to this forum. And I fully intend on twirling instead of walking out of my kitchen from now on. Think of all the calories we'll burn!

So last night as my boyfriend and I got back from dinner (me with a to go container FILLED with all the food I wasn't able to eat!) my neighbor and her boyfriend were outside with their dogs. We get along with them really well and often go see movies or have brunch together. Well, I hadn't really seem them since my surgery (she travels a lot) and he usually gets home from work WAY before my boyfriend or I do. I also hadn't told them about my surgery. So we're talking, shootin' the breeze and suddenly she says to me, "You look so different! You look amazing, WHAT has been going on with you?". My boyfriend and I looked at each other and smiled and I launched into my surgery tale which TOTALLY took her by surprise. "WHAT!? That is SO COOL! WHY didn't you tell me?????". And finally the kicker..."You look so SLIM". Well you could have knocked me over with a feather. Just hearing those words from someone who doesn't always tell you you're beautiful (boyfriend and parents) just felt SO GOOD. Even though I've only lost about 14lbs, it still felt great. I can't imagine what'll be like when I lose more. Also, I have a picture of my boyfriend and I at home from a wedding last August and I couldn't believe how ROUND I looked in the face. We took a picture together last week and my mom said to me, "look how far you've come since then". Even I can tell my face is slimmer, my jaw line is more defined and my extra chin has all but deflated. Whoever said this was right: "No food tastes better than feeling skinny"

Hi Sylvia!! :lb9: First of all, you are making an EXCELLENT decision to be banded by Dr. Ortiz. He is simply one of the best, regardless of where his office is located. My mom and I travelled there for my surgery on May 9th and not once did we feel scared about where we were. I have driven through worse neighborhoods here in Florida. Second of all, you need to make this decision for YOU. Don't base it on what others think - only you know what you need. In the long run, you'll be benefiting your family. Thirdly, there have been people who have travelled alone for their surgery and I never heard any complaints. You'll be physically capable of travelling alone, just pack light. We're all here to help - this forum has been a lifesaver for me. Don't hesitate to ask questions! *BTW, your surgery is the day before my birthday!

Yay! I had a similar experience. I went to get some new bras and found that I've gone down from a 44DD to a 42DD. Not too much of a change, but it feels good! I'm hoping after I lose my first 60-70 lbs, that I'll qualify for a breast reduction. My insurance said they will cover it as long as I lose weight. Yay for new bras!

what a hottie! congrats, hun!

I guess my point is that we've all made this major life change and it doesn't seem like alcohol is going to help us in any way. (except for some of the good effects an occasional glass of red wine can have) cedartown, you made a big point in a topic you wrote about another bander eating too much and that you couldn't support someone who does stuff like that. Isn't saying "DR O said i could drink all the liquor i wanted after day 21." just as bad? I don't feel like alcohol should be the exception just because it can't make your band slip. That doesn't mean it's good for you. I don't know, I'm not a drinker and never have been, so maybe I don't quite understand since I don't get any enjoyment from drinking. I'm not trying to pick on anyone, I just want us to be as healthy as we can since we've invested so much time, enery, heart, and MONEY into this.