robbynnoel

(((((((((((((((((((((((Sending Big Hugs to You)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) I'd love to talk to you if you have time. Send me your phone number in a PM. xo

((((((((((((((((((((((Carrie))))))))))))))))))))))))) Your success has really inspired me. With each day I learn more about myself and the band. I'm so glad I kept my mind open to new ideas and I found this board. I wanted to thank you for your friendship and your continual support. I was so worried the morning of my surgery (part deux) and I am so thankful I took the time to read this board and the message you posted to me. I'm so proud of you. xo

Hugs! I have a Christmas favorite that might do the trick for you. I do a very easy "Cranberry Spiced Pear" and it is soft because you can use a canned pear. Can sliced pears. 1 Cup Cranberry Juice Cinnamon (sp) stick and cinnamon. Lettuce leafs Place the pears in a microwave safe bowl and pour the cranberry juice over them. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Microwave for about a minute. Serve hot on a butter dish ontop of a single lettuce leaf. Each person gets 1/2 pear slice. Use the cinnamon stick for a garnish if you wish. If you can tollerate salad, I also like to do a simple spinach salad with a red grenedine dressing. I'd be happy to send you that recipe as well. Also, when I was on liquids I posted recipes for Greek Lemon Soup and Hot Apple Tea. I like to cook and I was going ding dong not using my kitchen.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((Hugs Holly))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) I can certainly relate to your frustration. Hang in there. It will happen. I believe in you. xo

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone)))))))))))))))))))))))) I have been really quiet (again)., but I do have some news. I had my second fill on September 28th (1 cc for a total of 2.5 cc) and it's been a very interesting experience. I've often heard the term "sweet spot" and I thought sweet spot meant a feeling of fullness as well as feeling emotionally satisfied with the amount of food consumed. I'm pretty confident that I've hit my "sweet spot", if I put 3 table spoons of food in my mouth at any time of day I instantly have a feeling of, "if I put another bite I'm in I'll pb", but I'm not emotionally satisfied so often I'll put that 4th bite in anyway and then run for the nearest bathroom. I do think I'm getting better though, mentally about choices. Prior to the second fill, although I did pb on occasion I pretty much was able to eat anything, in whatever quality I wished and although I hate to admit it, I just wasn't mentally ready to follow the program (any program) the way it was designed. So with the second fill, I've been thrown into following, like it or not, because I really have no choice, which is why I decided to get the second fill in the first place. I have been losing weight, but it has been slower than I would have expected. Why? Because I was not ready to follow this program or any other program the way it was designed. I have a wonderful life, but I recently lost my mother (I lost my father and brother years ago) and my husband and I decided it was time to move from our home in San Francisco to the North Dallas area of Texas. I recently found employment (a big change from my corporate management job in San Francisco) as a clerk for the county we moved to and we're living in a hotel because our house hasn't been finished yet. Not that I was mentally ready to follow prior to the move either, but I decided to get the lap band procedure to force my hand so to speak. I am very happy because that is what the lap band procedure did for me. It forced my hand. Like it or not. lol Anyway, back to the amount of loss, it's been small in my eyes (but for me right now anything is good) because prior to getting the lap band I was on 2 meds for blood pressure and one for high chor. plus a happy pill. The theory was, if I was on a happy pill, I'd eat less because I wouldn't eat if I wasn't happy. It did work for a bit, but when my mom died, the weight started to come on again...and again, I decided to get the surgery before I gained everything I had lost back. We moved to Texas and my prescriptions ran out, (actually before we moved the prescriptions began to run out) but you get the idea. This did affect the scale loss because the blood pressure meds kept the water and sodium out of my system, so I wasn't gaining but because my system is carrying more water than it did prior to the surgery, the scale doesn't show that crash water loss that most people have when they first start a program. I went to the Doctor last Friday to ask for the prescriptions to be filled. He looked at me and basically said nope. When the prescriptions were first prescribed, I weighed 294. Last Friday, fully dressed in Texas clothing (which included heavy jewelry and boots) I was 229. Just as Dr. Miranda suspected when I first had the surgery, I had lost enough where I didn't need the meds anymore. I know that was back in May but it took awhile (obviously) before I found a new health care provider. lol My surgery weight at the OCC was 248 I believe, so even though it's been four months, for someone who admittedly wasn't motivated at ALL to follow or do anything I was supposed to do, to be taken off all meds AND had a loss of 19 lbs, I'd call it a victory. I'm rambling here...it's too early I guess. I don't have cpu access at work, and very limited access in the hotel, which is another reason I've been quiet. So I guess in short (too late) I just wanted to say my journey has finally begun. It took four months but it has begun and I'm really happy I took the step to have the surgery to force my hand. All of the weights I noted were before my journey had begun so it will really be interesting to see what happens there. Hugs everyone. Take care! xo

(((((((((((((((((((((Karen)))))))))))))))))))))))) Thank you for the info on the "Eat This, Not That" books. I found a great link I wanted to share: http://eatthis.menshealth.com/

(((((((((((((((((((Sabrina))))))))))))))))))) I believe in you hun. I'm glad you talked to the OCC and I am glad things were caught in enough time for the swelling to go down...and it will. The timing is perfect, summer fruits right now are ripe and juicy. xo

((((((((((((((((((((((((Kristi))))))))))))))))))))))) I love your post. Your progress is fab. I'd love to know what a typical food day looks like for you. xo

(((((((((((((((((((Shelby)))))))))))))))))) OMG you're 3 lbs from goal! You look amazing and your legs are fab. It's been so awesome to see you, Sabrina and Carrie shrink before my eyes. Thank you for your message! xo

(((((((((((((((((((((Sabrina))))))))))))))))))))))) You are doing fab and you look awesome. I even purchased a bathing suit today and I wore a sun dress when I went out wine to a wine tasting with my bil. For me, that is huge. I've always been smaller on top but big legs so I don't show my weight unless I'm showing my legs. xo

((((((((((((((((((((Kristi)))))))))))))))))))) Thank you so much for your post. Your stats and progress is amazing!

(((((((((((((((((((((((Red)))))))))))))))))))))))))) You are so sweet. You have a photo with my favorite nurse. She was so cute. I remember the night after my surgery, she came in my room at 9 pm and I was watching TV. She gave me a sleeping pill and said "You sleep, I sleep." lol

((((((((((((((((((((AimmeJo))))))))))))))))))))) Hugs to you. Hang in there. I was banded recently myself. I think the majority of the pain went away about a week later. I will be honest, I had a rough time with the pain when I was first banded. To the point were I really regreted my decision. I thought, "What the ....urewuo.... did I do to myself?" I thought I'd never feel like myself. Now, just a few months later, I feel so good. Aside from not feeling physically hungry, nothing has changed with the way I feel. I was really nervous I'd feel horrible after my first fill, but I feel great . In fact, to be totally honest, I feel so good I'd go through it all again if I could turn back time and I'd encourage anyone on the fence about the surgery to do it. xo I hope you begin to feel better quickly.

((((((((((((((((Carrie))))))))))))))) Hugs to you. I just noticed you're from Texas! I just moved to Texas myself. I'm in Dallas. Where are you? You've inspired me so much I'd love to meet you. xo

(((((((((((((((((((((Mamabear))))))))))))))))))))) Welcome fellow bandito! I'm so happy to hear you're feeling good. You're going to do awesome. xo

(((((((((((((((((((((CatiE))))))))))))))))))))))) Welcome to for boards. It took a bit of courage to write your post, and I'm proud of you for having the strength of mind to ask for help. We all decided to get lapband for our reasons, but if you are anything like me, you decided to have the procedure because you had a tendoncy to over eat. I can relate to your post, I broke several rules myself. I asked myself why and I came back to the same answer...that I was addicted to food. It sounds pretty silly. I had a friend who sat me down and told me that the surgery would not cure mental hunger but I didn't understand what she meant until after I had the surgery myself. I've joined a support group to help me with my mental hunger. And trust me, I need help. If you want more info, just send me a pm. In the meantime hang in there. Don't beat yourself up. Do what you can and start to follow the rules the best you can starting now. You came to the right place. I believe in you. xo

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone)))))))))))))))))))))))) I'm in shock but very happy. On the day of my surgery I wore 20w jeans, today I went to the store because the 20w's were falling off, literally, and I purchased a new pair. They were a pair of 16 regular. Whooopppppeeeee

(((((((((((((((Chloe)))))))))))))) Welcome new bandito. I'm so proud of you for going to a treatment center. There is an international organization that holds meetings "over the phone" 24x7 to talk about coping with food addictions and I must confess that more often than not I'm listening in when I need extra support. I believe in you. xo

((((((((((((((((((((((Luna))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Thank you for your post. You are a sweetheart. You'll be in my thoughts tomorrow. Where are you having your fill?

(((((((((((((((Denise))))))))))))))))) Hugs Denise. I just had to let you know how awesome you look. You are stunning. xo

((((((((((((((((((((Stormy))))))))))))))))))))))) Sounds as if you are good friend. Hugs to you. It's obvious you care deeply for your friend and you want her to be happy. I wish I had the magic wand or words that would ease her pain and your worry for her. Hang in there. xo

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Luna))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Hugs to you! Good luck tomorrow with your fill. xo

(((((((((((((((Benjigirl)))))))))))))) I can so relate. More than I care to admit. Sending big hugs to you. After reading your post, I know now that if I would have come to the boards when I started the relapse rather than running and hiding under my rock in shame I would have pulled it together fast. You are not a sad-sack. Not in the least. You've motivated me and shown me the importance of this board and you are also very brave to know you need help and to ask for it. I'm very proud of you. I believe in you and we will get though this. xo