Well I went on Tuesday for another fill. This would be fill #6. I now have 2.25cc in my 4cc band. The doctor came to the conclusion that I really haven't had much restriction since the start. I could eat anything I wanted, breads included. So I guess most of my loss was because of determination and hard work exercising. The last 4 months I gained about 10 pounds. Well since my fll 4 days ago I've lost 6 of those 10 pounds! I think I am getting some restriction now. At lunch I ordered beef & broccoli from a local chinese restaurant. I couldn't believe the small amount it took to make me full. Dinner I went to KFC with the family.(I know, not a good place to eat.) I got the boneless BBQ wings. I usually can eat 6 just fine. I could only eat 3 now. I hope this fill will help me get going on losing again!

Another month has passed. No big news on the weight loss front. I'm down 95 pounds. I had another fill on Tuesday, so that brings me to 1.8cc in my 4cc band. Dr. Baker told me to have some patience and that since I'm exercising 1.5-2 hours a day that I'm building muscle which weighs more.....etc etc etc. I just want the scale to move too. I'm hoping for this fill to help jump start the loss again. I want to be at goal by my 1 year post op appointment which is May 6. That's only a little over 3 months. I'm going to really have to clamp down to meet that deadline. We'll see how it goes.....

In 2 days I will be 7 months post op. Wow where did the time go? I am down 94 pounds. Today I went shopping and actually got my big butt into a size 10 pants. And they actually zipped and buttoned!!! I had said from the start of this that I would be happy in a size 10. But in all honesty I don't know if I will be. I still have 21 pounds until my goal of 165....will that 21 pounds bring be to a comfortable 10? or maybe even an 8? I don't remember the last time I was this small. It was way before high school, or even junior high for that matter. Guess I'll just have to keep working my band and see where it takes me. Until next time......

Well I haven't lost much this last month. I'm down 94 pounds. I have a small baking business so it's been hectic with the holidays and all. It's hard to eat right when you are SO SO SO busy! But I've been sick so I'm getting myself back on track. I forgot to take a 6 month picture, so I'll have to do a 7 month picture soon. I'm only down a pound or two from last month.

Well I went in for my 6 month checkup yesterday. Everything went great! I now have 1.55cc in my 4cc band. I'm on liquids for today and onto mushies tomorrow, and regular food on Monday. As of the doctors scale I lost 15 pounds in the last 2 months. I was hoping for more as I was doing 10+ pounds a month, but i knew it had to slow down sooner or later. As of this morning I am down.....................93 pounds!!!!! The nurse measured me yesterday as well. I've lost 11 inches in my waist 12 inches in my hips, 5 inches in my upper arm. Crazy stuff!!! I only have 22 pounds until goal. I've been getting the "you'll be too skinny" speech from relatives, but I don't think I'll ever have a problem with being too skinny. I just want to be healthy.

As of this morning I am down to 193. That's 87 pounds lost. I think part of the reason my weight loss has slowed down is because I'm gaining muscle. Before joining the gym I was exercising 1/2 hour a day. I was either walking or biking. Well since joining the gym I'm exercising longer plus I'm lifting weights. I notice my clothes feeling looser so I'm guessing that its' helping at least. I got see Dr. Jeff in about 2 weeks for my 6 month appointment. I'm hoping for another fill. I can eat too much again. Dang it's almost 6 months since surgery. Wow where did the time go?? I'm hoping to be below 190 when I see him. 4 pounds in 2 weeks.....we'll see.

As for the turkey day goal. I've lost my 20 pounds as of yesterday. I'm actually at 21 pounds lost in 11 weeks. Woo Hoo!

I think I just ate 3/4c of them. Chocolate is so evil! Still at 196. I see my surgeon in 4 weeks for my 6 month checkup and a fill. I have to break that 190 mark by then. I've upped my exercise. I do an hour of cardio plus 15 of weights 3-4 days a week. The days I don't get to the gym for that I've been using the stationary bike at home for at least 45 minutes. When I first started I could barely do 10 minutes at 9mph. Now I'm doing 45 minutes at 15mph. It is truly amazing what you can do 84 pounds less! I've said it many times, but this was the best thing I've done for ME!

Well I'm down to 196 pounds. That's 84 pounds lost as of today. I'm 21 weeks out from surgery. The scale is moving soooooooo much slower. Like I said before I think the last 30 is going to be the thoughest. My goal is to lose all of it by January 31st. That is 8 months post op. That's roughly 4 months from now. Now sure if I can swing 30 pounds in 4 months. We'll see though. I've been averaging 12.4 pounds a month thus far. It's attainable but might be a struggle to get there that quick. 

Turkey day challenge.

Wk #1 214
Wk #2 210
Wk #3 209
Wk #4 202
Wk #5 200
Wk #6 199
Wk #7 199
Wk #8 196  -3
Wk #9 196
Only 2 more to meet the goal!

It's about time I got there. I have been sick the last few days so I haven't felt like eating. But I'm taking it. I haven't had a 1 in front of my weight for about 10 years!!! Yay me!


T-day challenge weigh in today as well.
Wk #1 214
Wk #2 210
Wk #3 209
Wk #4 202
Wk #5 200
Wk #6 199
Wk#7 199

Only 5 more pounds to reach the t-day goal.

I am really struggling this last week. I've been baking, it was our anniversary, etc, etc, etc. I can always come up with excuses. I am having an extremly hard time staying on track! I've been averageing 3+ pounds per week and if I keep this up I'm not going to stay there. I have been getting in all my water and exercising, but the snacks, cakes, ice cream, cookies, and chips are counteracting the good things. I haven't gained, but I can't seem to get past the 200 mark. I want to have a 1 in front of my weight so bad, but seem to be sabotaging myself.    So starting tomorrow I am vowing to stay on track and eat only things that are good for me. No more junk food! This is going to be tough, but if I'm going to get to my goal soon I need to clamp down. I've lost 58 pounds in 4 months. Think I can lose the last 35 in 3 months??? Time to clamp down if I am going to attain that goal. I know it's a little aggressive, but with me it's all or nothing. And nothing is not an option right now.

Well that's my pep talk to myself.  Hopefully I take my own advice.

Wk #1 214
Wk #2 210
Wk #3 209
Wk #4 202
Wk #5 200

Total lost 14 pounds. 6 to the 20 pound goal. 35 to my ultimate goal. :)

My BMI is now 29.7! I'm over weight! I can't believe I'm happy to say that! Only 35 or so to goal. I've been losing on average around 3.5 pounds per week. If I can even do 2 per week I could be at goal in about 4 months. That would be fantastic! Guess I'd better behave if I want that to happen.

My turkey day challenge goal was to lose 20 pounds by thanksgiving. As of today I have lost 12 of that 20. Only 8 to go. I bet I could lose at least 25 though. We'll see. I'll change it if I lose the 20 early.
Wk #1 214
Wk #2 210
Wk #3 209
Wk #4 202

On a side note, Only a few more pounds to ONEDERLAND!!! Haven't been there in over 10 years! 

The only complaint I have about losing weight is sleeping problems. I've lost my padding and it's hard to get comfortable. I think we may have to spring for a new mattress this spring. We've had the current one for about 6 years, but when you have 2 260lb +  people, there's only so long the mattress is going to be comfy.

Well yesterday I had my second fill. I am up to 1.3cc in my band. I was losing good, I just needed some help on staying full a little longer. According to my doctors scale I lost 14 pounds in the last 4 weeks! Not too shabby! Anyhow as of this morning I'm down 77 pounds! Only 38 to my goal. I'm hoping to be there by spring. On liquids for the rest of today and tomorrow I start pureed and in 3 days back to regular food. I'm sure I'll really feel this fill then. I can feel it now when I drink. It's like it hesitates for a second before it goes down. But some of that may be from swelling.

Well as of 3 days ago I was 16 weeks post op. I am down 74 pounds total. It sounds too good to be true!  I took some new pictures and entered them in my profile.

Well I am down a total of 71 pounds still. For the turkey day challenge I'm down a total of 5 pounds. Still weighing in at 209 this week. Hopefully that will change next week after I get my 2nd fill.

Well as of yesterday I am still the same as the week before. 210 pounds. This morning I was down a pound. Yahoo!

Today I hit another milestone. I've lost a total of 70 pounds 14 weeks post op. Only 45 to go. So I've lost 22 pre op and 48 post op. Not too shabby!
I am in the turkey day challenge and my goal is to lose 20 pounds my then. I'm already down 4. Only 16 to go and 11 weeks to do it in. I think that is attainable.

I am down 5 pounds in 3 days. How freaking awesome is that?!?!?!? I can tell for sure that I have a band now. Even with pureed food I'm full on 1/2-3/4 cup of food. My head keeps telling me that isn't enough, but I just need to keep measuring to stay on track.

I joined the thanksgiving day challenge. My goal is to lose 20 pounds by then. That's about 12 weeks out. I started at 214 on 8/30. Today I'm down 2 pounds already. Only 18 to meet that goal. If I meet that goal I'll only have 29 pounds until my ultimate goal of 165! Wow that's finally looking like a number I can attain. I just need a little patience. It's so easy to feel like nothing is coming off. Like you just want to wake up and be skinny. But I feel soooo much better. No more ankle and knee pain. I've quit using my inhaler. I'm staying away from junk food. And I'm feeling better about myself. I guess I need to be content with how things are going. Ok who am I joking? I've almost lost 70 pounds. I'm freaking ecstatic!

Till next time.............

So I had my first fill today. I got 1cc in my 4cc band. I can tell a difference already, but it could be because I'm swollen. I'm on 2 days of liquid, 2 days of pureed, and then regular foods. I'm so ready for the scale to start moving a little quicker. I've been bouncing the same few pounds for a little while again. I think it will be a jump start to my losing again.

Dr Jeff is such a fantastic doctor. He cares so much about his patients. I wouldn't trade him for the world. But I may follow up with another doctor closer to home just while there's snow on the ground. I really don't want to drive 2.5 hours in bad conditions. I mentioned it to him and he was okay with that. So we'll see how it goes. I may not need to follow up here if I don't need a fill and keep losing.

The scale is finally moving again. It's been 11 days since I've lost anything. I actually gained 3 and lost 4 so hopefully it'll head the right direction for a while. Last weekend I ate terrible, had chips, candy, bread, etc. Guess I just had to test the waters. It was SOOOO hard to get back on track after eating like that. But I gotta do it!

So 2 months post op and I am down a total of 60 pounds!!!! So I'm at 220 today. That is freaking fantastic! Only 55 to go. That doesn't seem so bad since I'm past the halfway point! I won't be going for a fill tomorrow either. I talked with Dr. Jeff and he pretty much asked if I thought I needed a fill and I said no. I've been losing well without one, so I'm going to keep putting it off until I do need one. No need if what I'm doing is working!

Down to 221 this morning! That is 5 pounds in the last 3 days. I wanted a fill, but now I'm not sure. If I'm doing this well maybe not. I've lost 16 pounds since I saw Dr. Jeff 3.5 weeks ago. I'm starting to have a little harder time with food, but nothing I can't deal with yet. I'm going to call him today to discuss it.

Finally the scale is moving again! 2 more pounds gone the last 2 days! My next appointment is Thursday. Only 5 more days. I hope I get a fill this time. I've lost 11 pounds since I saw him 3 weeks ago. Not too shabby! I've been busting my butt every morning. I get up at 5 to exercise. I'd like a little help from the band as I'm doing it all myself right now. So I hope he agrees to give me a fill. I can eat more than the 3/4c that he said I should be eating. So I bet he will. I can hope anyway. I can finally say I'm a size 16!!! I haven't been that in over 6 years!

I also caught a cold. I should've stayed away from my friend's sick kids. 2 days after we were at her house the girls and I got sick. Summer is not the time to be sick!

Well I came back from vacation fully expecting to have GAINED. But I stayed exactly the same. How weird is that? I would've rather lost, but hey and least no gain.  Next Thursday I am hoping to get a fill. I am doing ok without one, but I am working my butt off and really am having a hard time controlling my eating. Maybe getting back into the routine after vacation will help. Vacation really throws a wrench in things! But I did exercise every morning at the hotel gym. I can honestly say I've never done that in my life!

I thought this was an interesting way to track my weight loss. Fyi, I'm down 7 pounds in 9 days. That's 51 total!!!! Only 60 or so to go. That still seems like an astronomical number. I'm betting I am not going to need to go see the doctor on Aug. 2nd for a fill. That would be nice. Gas is getting expensive for a 300 mile trip to see him. Anyway, here's the chart.

My Weight Chart:

So since Thursday I've lost 5 more pounds. That's 5 pound in 6 days. Must be the protein shakes(that and working out EVERY morning). I had quit them and during that time I didn't lose an ounce. So I'm down 50 pounds from a year ago! Amazing. I guess I won't have to go see the doctor in August. Maybe if I start feeling hungry sooner I will still go and try to get a fill. I might have to twist his arm though. :)

Woke up this morning, weighed myself and I'm down another 2 pounds. At this rate I won't have to see my doctor in August for a fill. He said if I lose four pounds from the time I see him until my appointment (8/02) then I don't need to come down for a fill. Well when I saw him I was 237. Today I was 234!!! I'm betting I'll lose at least 1 pound in the next 3 weeks.

Now on to clothes. Losing weight is GREAT! But having no clothes SUCKS! I bought 2 sundresses 16 days ago and I can already tell that they fit differently and they are a little big in areas. I think I'm going to have to shop at goodwill until I get to goal weight or I'm going to go broke buying clothes.

Yesterday I had a garage sale and it was about 95 here. My poor shoulders are so red. They don't hurt too bad. Just a little irritation. I need to start working on my upper arm flab. That bugs me the most. I've only missed 4 days of exercise since my surgery. How awesome is that. I've been getting up and going biking or for a walk before the family gets up. Gets it out of the way and sets me up for succeeding with my band! I didn't have surgery to fail.

So today was the day to see the doctor. I fully expected to get a fill. No such luck. He said I don't need one since I'm not eating much and stay full for about 3 hours. So my next appointment is August 2nd. He said if I feel the same as now and I've lost at least 4 pounds to give him a call and let him know and I won't have to be seen yet. Which is nice because I have a 150 mile (one way) trip to see him. He also said out of all the people he's banded, I am only the 3rd one that didn't need a fill at 6 weeks out. Interesting......So he congratulated me on my 20 some pound weight loss, checked my incisions, and my port, and sent me on my merry way. Guess we'll see how things go maybe I'll be a lucky one that never needs a fill. :) Hey a girl can dream right?

So the scale seems as though it's stuck.....Been the same weight for about a week. I was thinking that I might not need a fill next week, but I guess I do. I need to read the hand book they gave me  as to protein & carbs   guidelines. Hopefully tomorrow when I step on the scale it will have moved a bit. :)

In exactly one week I go to see my doctor. I want to lose 3 more pounds by then, but I'm not sure that's possible. If I do that will be 25 pounds gone in the 5 weeks since surgery. That would be AWESOME! I'm so impatient. I really need to realize it took years to put on, it's not just going to fall off! I'm SOOOOOOO glad to be back on normal food. It's great to CHEW! I've also become obsessed with the scale. I have to get on it EVERY morning. I need to cut back to once a week, but it's so awesome seeing it go down. As of today 71 pounds to go.

This is great! Down 2 more pounds this morning. I really need to step away from the scale!!! lol So that's 22 since surgery 44 total. YIPPIE! This is the best thing I've done for myself. Things are already better for me. And I wouldn't even qualify for the surgery anymore. FANTASTIC!

Wow, woke up and weighed myself this morning. down to 238! I haven't seen that number since I was pregnant! So I've lost 20 pounds in 22 days. Not too shabby! I want to lose 25 before I see the doctor on July 5th. So that's about 2 weeks. I hope I can do it! My appointment is for a fill, but I'm not sure I'll really need one as I am satisfied with the food I am eating for about 3 hours. And I'm still on mushies, so once I get back to normal food I think I'll stay full just as long. We will see though!

I've been walking at least 30-35 minutes everyday, sometimes there has been longer work outs but that's my minimum. I had a conversation with the dietician yesterday. Said I need to get more protein. That is one tough thing to do. I am managing getting enough water, not drinking with meals, and slowing down to eat, but I refuse to puree meat! Just the thought makes me gag. So only 6 more days until regular food. Can't wait!

As of this morning I am down 17 pounds. That's not to shabby. 17 pounds in 17 days. I'll take that :)
Yesterday was horrible. The family and I went shopping after work and I didn't have time to get myself something to eat before hand. And since I am still on pureed food, I really had no options eating anywhere. I had an extremely hard time when the family wanted to go to Wendy's. Then my husband asks me to drive so he can eat his food. At that point I decided that I shouldn't have had surgery. Why did I do this to myself? I felt deprived, depressed, and like an idiot because I was so mad about food. Starting this process I had myself convinced that I didn't really have a food addiction. I didn't have a problem with food. I just liked to eat. Guess I was WRONG! Hopefully today will be better.

Wow if I knew a liquid diet would do this I might have tried it before! I weighed this morning and was down 14 pounds in 8 days. Amazing! I haven't weighed this little since I was pregnant. I had my week checkup yesterday. He said I was doing beautifully and he thought I'd have great success in my journey. Can't say I love my doctor enough! I'm finally getting control of my eating. This is WONDERFUL!

So I had surgery 5/31 and today is 6/06 so that's 6 days out from surgery. I've lost 10 POUNDS already!!!! Now granted a clear liquid diet sucks, but those are awesome results!!! I can't wait for the fun to begin after the fills start. Woo hoo!

Well I was home the night of 6/1. All went well with surgery. I'm a little sore and bloated. But that will pass. I'll update more when I'm feeling better.

Tomorrow is the day!!!! I have so much to do today. Laundry, clean the house, pack for the hospital, pack the girls to stay at Grandma's. I'm not real nervous yet. I'm sure I will when I'm at the hospital though.
Thanks for all the well wishes OH friends!

So I thought I was doing ok with this whole process. But last night as I was lying in bed lying on my left side I thought "I'd better get used to sleeping on the other side. That's where the port is going to be." Then I started thinking of all the stuff I should bring with to the hospital. Then what should I pack for the kids to stay at grandma's house? I need to get the house clean, the laundry done, my work at work needs to be done ahead of time, etc. The anxiety started in early this morning with me having a  queasy stomach from the get go. I have my pre op tomorrow afternoon as well. It's getting so close!!!! I know I'll be fine, but it's the fear of the unknown that's getting to me.

Only 10 days until surgery! From start to surgery is almost a year. Who would've thought it'd take this long. I'm not really excited or nervous, YET! I'm sure as it gets closer I will.  

Finally got approval!!!!! Yippie. My appointment with the surgeon is May 8th. Just some more waiting.

I feel like all I'm doing is waiting. I called the clinic on Thursday. Got a call back Friday. The nurse said the surgeon dictated his letter but it won't be sent to insurance until next week sometime. She then said when they receive approval THEY will call me. She really emphasized that. Well I don't want to wait for 4 more months, so I will call, call, call until they get the ball rolling. This is my health, not theirs.
I've had a really bad week of eating. I've been eating everything in sight. Tomorrow I have to get back on track. No ifs and or butts.

I might actually have surgery.....
So now I am completely done with all steps in the process. Now I wait for the surgeon to write a letter and send it all to my insurance. I think I'm going to call Wednesday to see if it has been done yet. Seems like I really have to keep on the clinic or nothing gets done. Crossing my fingers that I'm approved. Maybe I'll actually have surgery before summer. I'm not going to get my hopes up though.

So I called Unity today to see when my records were sent to insurance. Well come to find out it was never sent and the nurse dealing with it will be out until next Monday. Just when I think things are going my way, something ALWAYS goes wrong. I just want to find a different clinic to go to. But since they required me to lose 10% of my excess weight, my BMI is now to low to start the process somewhere else. So it kind of puts me between a rock and a hard place. Maybe this whole thing is a lesson in patience? Time will tell.

Well I faxed my last few months of my physician supervised weight loss plan to Unity on Tuesday. I hadn't heard from them so I called them today. Apparently they submitted it to insurance. I called insurance, and they were closed for the holidays. So I guess I wait until Tuesday to see if they received it. I hope I'm approved. I'm so sick of jumping through insurance hoops. So now we wait.

Wow it's been a long time since I've updated this. Well I'm still seeing the dietician montly. I'm down to 266. So that is 14 pounds lost since March. Not much for 7 months but it's better then gaining. Not sure where I am in the process since I faxed everything to the doctor a week ago and I still haven't heard from them. I contacted my insurance last week. Kind of got a big let down. I asked them for a written policy on WLS. Well it says I need 12 months of a physician supervised weight loss program. If that's the case I still have 7 months to go! :(  I think they set those kinds of guidelines just to discourage people. Whatever doesn't matter. I need to lose weight no matter what. So even if I have to wait a year to have surgery, maybe I'll have lost a bit more weight to help me along in this journey. It's starting to get cold here. Even snowed this week. Ugh! I got an exercise bike that I can sit and watch TV while working out. So far I'm averaging 3-4 times a week. Just to keep that up.....Well I'll try and update more often. Life is just so hectic.