All is good and not so good.  I basically had the band too tight.  I knew it but kept trying to work with it and not be a baby.  I had read too many times where people had x amount of fills and had only had 2 and thought I really must have needed it but in the mean time I was throwing up, alot.  I ended up swelling my esophogus and had to have the fill completely removed.  Because of that, I've gained back some weight.  I've been at a stand stil for a few months.  I ended up going to shakes and bad stuff when too tight as that is what went down so easily and now since the fill has been out I've gone a little crazy and gained 5 pounds!!!!!!!  Weather hasn't cooperated much in terms of exercise.  I hope to get back on the ball and have set a personal goal of 20 pounds by 5/18.  I have a meeting with a group of students I work with and want to be down by then.  They have all been so proud of me.  I figure another 20 will be noticeable... Gosh I just live for those compliments these days, is that selfish or what?

I still feel great.  I'm so glad to be gone with 50 pounds that are no longer there. I just have to remind myself it's a tool and as far as that goes I need to take some part in and responsibility for my actions or it will not work any more than any other diet I've tried.

Job is going great, I'm still broke and the kids are still the kids.  All in all, life is good.

Again a long time between posts.  I guess that is the way it works.  A lot of people make frequent posts at the beginning of a new journey.  Things are still moving along and the weight is still coming off but very slowly now.  I must say a good deal of that is my fault.  I was eating a lot of candy and junk food over the holidays and right after the kids went back to school.  I'm getting in to a better swing.  I started the new job and it is going well.  I'm homeschooling my 5th grader and that is going well too.  It's been cold and I haven't been exercising or walking at all.  As soon as the days get back over 60 I'm committing to walking again.  Hopefully that will happen in the next week or 2.  I had a fill in mid-December.  It took weeks to get over the gagging and I had some throwing up.  I swore I was going in for an unfill twice but held off and am glad I did now.  It really does come down to chewing and chewing.  I've also figured I need to take the first bite and wait a few minutes.  After the first bite goes down I can eat the rest of my meal pretty much all together and at once. I put tin foil over my food to keep it warm and that has worked out fairly well.  I'd have to say that is probably the best tip I could give someone struggling with a new fill.  Tin foil your food, chew it well and pause after the first bite for a few minutes, literally and it will go down without the gag and slime I was dealing with a month ago.  Best of luck to everyone else going through this same journey or considering it.  It is worth it.

Wow!  What a stressful few weeks.  I didn't realized I hadn't posted anything in a while.  I seemed to be at a stand still.  I didn't mind so much because at least I wasn't gaining but I finally decided I didn't want to keep waiting around and had a second fill.  Basically doc put in what I had him take out when I saw him last.  I'm up to 1cc in my 4 cc band.  My rings are real loose, my shirts are very big on me and pants are getting loose.  I seem to be losing alot slower in the lower portion of my body but it's still going.

I have only 2 more days left at my job with the school.  To say the least it's a stressful time.  Between changing jobs, family and holidays if I can just make it through without completing sabatoging what I've done so far I'll be happy.  I had hoped for 200 by New Year's.  I'm pushing that goal back to January 15th.  I know I'll be stoked to lose more after the first of the year when all of the commercials are advertising weight loss etc.

Thanks for visiting my blog!
Laurel

Well it's been an exciting week and although the scale doesn't look better I consider myself to have a victory right now.  We went on a cruise this week for the kids to have visitation with their grandparents.  The cruise itself was a blast and I love my band right now.  The last 2 cruises I went on I gained 10 pounds each.  I didn't gain a dime this time, I didn't even gain an ounce!  I didn't lose any either but that is ok.  I tried my food at every meal.  Most meals left me full after only eating about half of the portion.  I even tried every dessert although I didn't finsih many.  The last cruise I went on I ate 2 different desserts at almost each meal.

Aside from feeling dehydrated from being in the tropics for the past 5 days, I feel great and am optimistic this band thing is working.  I'm still hoping to pull off a miracle and hit 199 by New Years.  Only time will tell.
Laurel

All is going well.  I've slowed down my loss by quite a bunch but still seem to be losing the average of 1-2 pounds per week.  I wish it were more but quite honestly I'm not too worried about it because I can eat anything I want, just small portions.  I'm rarely hungry and I don't feel like I'm dieting even though I'm eating such incredibly small portions.  I've not had any problems since getting the unfill.  I go on the cruise in 2 weeks and am pretty happy with the restriction I have.  I expect to be able to try a bite of everything at dinner time but not be able to eat anything completely.  It should be perfect!  My goal for this cruise is to just not gain weight!

People are starting to really notice the weight loss.  I've also been feeling better about myself and worn makeup a few times.  I somewhat hate the attention but it is nice as well that people notice the weight loss.  Halloween candy has been hell to have around but otherwise I'm behaving for the most part.