cyndiwilson

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> > okay everyone just a quick announcement ---my husband Daron will be joining me on the losing side May 17th. He has decided he wants to lose just like me -----tee hee anyway - I will be posting his progress on here as well as keeping mine up - He will start his pre op diet this Monday to give hime the time to lose the 15lbs. that has been requested - his starting weight is 298lbs. he is 5'10. we are in the process of filing out the paperwork that Lori Becky has sent us and booked our airline tickets last night ---- so the countdown begins? Anyone else getting banded or a fill that day? would love to chat in the office while I am waiting with him - and of course our lonely night in the hotel that we as spouses and friends get to stay without our other half ------ talk to you all soon Cyndi in AZ

Just a quick idea---how about getting the pizza that has allthe toppings on it wether it be a supreme or all meat pizza - take the toppings off and just eat that - I can eat up to about 3 pieces that way and it equals about 1- 1 and half cups of food and I am skpping the bread-----your sandwiches same thing take the middle out eat only it -----or have 1/2 a grilled cheese and dip it in tomato soup -----just some ideas -- is till love my food - but I have special bowls and plates I eat out of and don't go back for seconds too much and if I do i attack the protien first or scoop another soonful of cottage cheese onto my plate - my kids make fun of me cause I eat the cottage at almost every meal ----it is great n tomato soup - on nachos instead of sour cream - mixed in refried beans - I am a big mexican food lover and have learned what to eat off the menu -----if oyu need some more ideas let me know I will journal what i eat and pass it along to you = the thing is eat don't starve yurself , don't not eat cause you may gain something ----portion and the right choices ae what makes this work Cyndi

Yogurt - Cottage Cheese and refried beans were my favorite for about 2 monthes after surgery - the beans ans cottage cheese have okay mount of protien along with the protien drink I had in the morning which was equal to about 28 grams just to start my day out- everyone is diffrent - but i was fearful of gaining weight once i started the food stage - actually eating eating -----i would have chicken or ground beef equal to about 1/3 cup whch was not enough but found I was satisfied if I added the beans and cottage cheese ------just a idea - whatever you do don't be afraid to eat- you will want to binge, make bad food choices, get frustratd and most of all feel awful-------it isn't a bad thing to have a small bowl of something if you are hungry ---if you fell hungry right after you eat wait the 30 minutes and drink a glass of water- I supplement water several times thru the day when I feel the hunger coming on ----water does help ---- just a opnion from me Cyndi in Arizona Best Wishes

Just a quick question when you say you are eating to much - what exactly is too much?

> > OKAY ALL YOU AZ BANDSTERS > > for those of you that have not met yet how about sometime in MAY getting together? Need some ideas of what type of location would be good----Lounge type bar, restaurant, Casino. I usually entertain at my house so it is hard for me to come up with a idea of what to do so any input would be wonderful---and yes we can do it at my house --but remember I leave EAST OF MESA about 15 minutes ---I have a pool and plenty of room we can do a BBQ in the middle of the day while the kids are still at school (hehe) everyone can bring a dish or beverage....throw some ideas out there then we can take a poll and set a date that hopefully will work for everyone? HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL SOON > >

Actually I did my one month weigh in and am down 5 lbs from last month so I think I will skip om the fill - as long as I am losing at a steady rate I will pass the fil up and save for when I actually hit a plateau or become frustrated LOL and everything seems to be going smooth---this makes 57lbs gone in 6monthes as of today GOSH DARN I LOVE MY BAND >

I will have to check my schedule that might work for me- I have been contimplating geting a local fill here in AZ or getting back over to Ortiz's office - will check back later Cy

This is actually words from another bandster that post quite frequently on another board she has been at goal for 3 years and is full of knowledge I love to read her post on Obesityhelp.com > Increase Your Chances of a Good Fill The following suggestions are good rules of thumb and will greatly increase your chances of getting a good fill. 1. Be sure you are very well hydrated when you come in for your fill appointment. That means at least 8-10 full glasses of liquid every day for at least several days before the fill. (You really need this amount at all times anyway). Drink especially well the morning of the fill. If you're flying in, it can be much harder to stay hydrated, so take a drink bottle and drink very often! Those little "to-go" packs of Crystal Lite are ideal - ask the flight attendants for a refill of your water bottle, pop one in, and then you will have plenty to drink. Those little 4-oz cups of liquid they give you during flight are useless. (Hint - If you fly for a fill, While you're on the plane, also take home a couple of those white barf bags

Congratulations to both of you- I have been very bust since starting school and my new job------ but I love it ---I am down to 210 from 267 and I feel great - we are going to Vegas this weekend and then taking a little time off next week for family in town----can't wait till it gets a little warmer in the pool -----I fell in on saturday while doing yard work -- the kids died laughing after I told them it was okay to laugh ---it was a little chilly it is holding at about 72 degrees but that is still way to cold for me ---I am contemplating on getting a fill it would be my 2nd fill since my 6 week check in back at the end of Novemeber but everytime I say that the scale moves a little ----soooooo save the money I guess---especially with Wendy here once a month I may try her I printed the numbers off from a earlier post if I need to go for a fill----butttttt I swear I will get on the scale int he morning andit will have dropped jus that .8 of a lb and that is what keeps me motivated -----I LOVE MY BAND CYNDI

My surgery was 10/16/2006 just hit the 5month mark and I weighed 267 10/01/06 and this morning I was at 211.6 YES i love my band

Well said Kevin ----you are such a inspiration on this board-----I have had lots of comments from friends and family and clients of my husband....which in turn I can't tell if that has hit a sore spot- but the talk of leaving him did get mentioned by him not ME- I advised that I am doing this not to leave him but be with him for the rest of our lives...see the kids grow up -----and so on ---he is know pursuing the kourney of being banded also - my insurance covers it witht eh normal hoops to jump through at 5K or I advised go see Dr. Ortiz it is in his hands now - but as far as I am concerned this surgery has made Daron and I closer in our relationship the 26ht of this month it will be 11 years - and honestly I can't imagine starting over.......best wishes everyone Cyndi P.S. this Friday is 5 monthes out Kevin --- I am down 55lbs woo hoo

> You are correct - i do move alot easier - and to think I never had a problem b4 NOT-----I did a senior aerobics class this morning ad going back at 4 to do a circuit training one hour class------no I am not a senior but the gym I go to doesn't have a low impact aerobics so I do it - I have to do the classes cause I am to embarresed to walk out in the middle of one so I stay for the whole thing LOL

> =D> =D> I HAVE A WONDERFUL SCALE VICTORY TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE AS OF MY 4 MONTH MARK FEBRUARY 16TH I AM DOWN............50LBS yes yes yes CAN WE SAY I FELL GREAT - AND I LOOK GREAT ----- AND THE NEXT BIG DRUM ROLL.......I AM WALKING ON MARCH 3RD THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION IS DOING A 5K AND 1 MILE HEART AND STROKE WALK - I will be participating in the 5K with a bunch of co- workers from Banner Baywood Heart ---http://www.phoenixheartwalk.org/ is where you can go to sponser me if you would like just click on participant and type in my name Cyndi Wilson and it will show me in Gold Canyon -----any donation would be great ----as you can tell I am very proud of myself.....LOL I am joking with all of my husbands clients that since it is 50lbs I have lost that is the minimum thier donation can be - I have 3 that have actually gone for it ---and a great BIG THANK YOU was told -------WOW > you guys are awesome ------HEY LORI BECKY - how about passing this on to the staff at OCC I would love for them to read my sucess so far and add them to my list of sponsers??????? =D> =D> =D> =D> yes i am begging for that big round of applause from everyone LOL I LOVE MY BAND

I am going to cancel my 2/19 appoinment due to I am still losing weight and as long as it is coming off I will not pay to fly down and be filled to possibly a point where I can not eat...LOL and then have to return. So things are good.... GOT on the scale this morning and was 215 started at 267 less than 4monthes ago I am very JACKED about this - I eat and I exercise and I feel and look great in my opinion LOL gotta LOVE THIS BAND and the OCC

I was thinking about all of us AZ bandsters meeting one SAT or SUN in March-----what do yu think? I would love to hook up trade stories see a face with all of the posts that have been made- make friendships that may last forever - build a network of support bandster style-----we can meet centrally if when you check in you let me know what city you live in I will start Teri and I live in Gold Canyon so we can carpool over (if ya want TERI) --- hey another thing is anyone else play BUNCO? mabe we can meet and do that on a SATURDAY? I would be glad to host it ---- we can make bandster food---- lol and have a evening of bunco and live chat?????? wht do ya think? =D> =D> =D> PLEASE LET ME KNOW........

> Well hello fellow bandsters- I am now almost 4 monthes out -started my preop diet on October 1st 2006 surgery on October 16th and DRUM ROLL PLEASE I am down officially 49LBS woo hoo woo hoo woo hoo oh yeah did I say WOO HOO ----I feel great I keep losing something each week - have come to a couple of 7- 10 day roadblocks but it appears all I do is change my diet a little or do a diffrent exercise at the gym and it starts the weight loss back up ----I eat small meals - I drink no soda nor have I tried to drink it- I do not push to see how much I can eat- I have a fill scheduled for 2-19 but at this time I have not booked a plane ticket due to the continuing weight loss- so I just need to remember to call and cancel LOL- people are starting to make comments - which makes my day - I picked my daughter up from school early for a MD appoinment during lunch time - some other girls were in the office that new my daughter and do to a new secretary and her not knowing me I had to go back out to the car to get my ID - when my daughter and I left the girls asked if I was her mother and she said yes - and they are like SHE IS PRETTY----- > thank you thank you - I have never been down on myself about how I look or how much I weigh, let me tell you the last 4 monthes have been a life changing event for me - I FEEL GREAT - I LOOK GREAT- I WALK WITH A STRUT lol---I have started a new job I have enrolled in classes to start towards a AAS in dietician going on to become a registred dietician-----I have 1.6 cc's I believe in my 4cc band and the 1.6 cc is from the first and only fill at this time. CAN I SAY HOW GREAT I FEEL ----I have only had food come up 2-3 times I make sure I just don't eat that again---LOL I can eat most everything ----but tend to do it just the way Dr. Miranda has advised Protien- veggies- and then whatever else if you are able - I usually don't make it past those 2 lol I vary my diet and I believe that helps the continuing weightloss---I know it will slow down- my goal overall is 100lbs that will make it from 267/218/167 but if I can get down to 150 I would be very happy ----but it is a day by day process--- I do check my weight EVERY day I don't want to not know and have had gained 4-5 lbs back I want to see it and work it back off -----if i am up a lb or 2 I watch what I am eating - make note of what time of the month it is - notice more so now that when I have a period I gain 2-5 lbs but as it winds down the weight comes back off- so I don't panic-- can we say I obssessed with my band YES YES YES- it is a investment, tool and wonderful - I have gone from a 24-mostly 26 pants down to 20/22 which are loose but that is okay and buying the largest shirt cause I liked baggy which was a 26/28 or a 30/32 to 18 YES YES YES ---i have bought new clothes and 10 pairs of new shoes all 5 dollars at WALMART gotta love my shoes - I have hit sales and a friend from another board sent me a box of her clothes shipping cost 60.00 but....... there were about a dozen summer dresses about 8 pairs of capris some shirts and I feel it was a investment of 60.00 that was well worht it - I have probably only spent about 300.00 buying new clothes. I feel that it is not that bad of a dent in the budget ---plus we all know things shrink with continuing washing and drying LOL ---so now that I have chatted all of yur heads off I will sign off and wish you all well on each individual journey------LOVE ME CYNDI IN ARIZONA > > >

I don't have a flight yet cause I am holding out to see if I will need a fill? maybe another week but definatly the van ride would be great - count me in

PB is productive burping(vomiting) I will too be getting a fill possibly on 2/19 it will be based if I come to a stand still in my weight loss- I have started losing again sooooo I will wait another week to see if I will need there a a few and we may be doing teh VAN ride across the border it can be split it costs 130 dollars - I think it's easier to get back and forth

JUST A FYI - i had surgery on 10-16 and went to vegas from AZ driving (well my husband did) 10-27 met up with his aunt and uncle - ate lots of soups. we then returned to AZ with them and they stayed for a week - put them on the plane on 11-4 and drove to California to take the kids to Disneyland - i felt woosy in Vegas a couple of times - just called it a night but at disneyland we did 8-9 hour days or the whole time the park was open those days and drove back on 11-7 and saw teh ROlling Stones on 11-8 here in Phoenix - I was pooped after but the next few days just tookit easy ....

I think I scheduled a fill for that day but need to call and check - I am not sure if I will need a fill so I have not scheduled a flight yet - but heck yes I would be willing to split the ride with you ---

I also use the fitday.com and it is personalized ot my very own needs - it is wonderful ---

That is exactly what happens to me- not very lady like LOL

DO keep us posted - my journey is on here look for the Arizona link or you may go to my personal journey on this website it also has pictures http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/cyndiwilson/ =D> Congratulations and best wishes on yur new life-----

> HIJACK---hey Kevin- it's Cyndi - how are you doing? I am doing wonderful- I am still losing weight - I had a fill on 11/28 but think it has atually really now kicked in - I lost about 10 lbs after the fill and then hit a plateau which I can say I have officailly beaten LOL 3 days on the scale below 230 was a god send and announced it at the breakfast table this morning to my family- I explained to my son that I actually weight he same as the day I had him 8 years ago - and that is a big accomplishment for me cause when I was pregnant with him I lost 20lbs while pregnant and then put that back on after about 6mnthes ----so YEAH FOR ME DID I TELL YOU I LOVE MY BAND? LOL Th e weather here in AZ has been crazy cold then beautiful - can't make it's mind up ----I have gone out and bought new clothes not many but everything was hanging on me and I have gone from a 26 in pants to a 22 and my shirts I am buying a 16/18 and use to buy as big as I could find due to not liking things to cling to me - now I don't mind ----LOL Talk to you soon your band buddy Cyndi

Anybody that has a fill scheduled for 2/19 please double check cause I e-mailed Rene after I read this post earlier to make a appoinment and he said that the day is open and wasn't aware of any other fills - I would love to coordinate with you all if you don't mind and I can do the trolley or if you want to pitch in and make the OCC chaufer us around that would be fine also -