Discovery

[Guest guest]

I joined the 8 week challenge *thing* online, but there is no Ballys near me :'( That's ok, I doubt if I would go anywhere other than Curves - let us know how it works for you!!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/31/2006 10:57:57 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, bryefield@... writes:

I moved in April and the complex has a workout room - I have to put forth an effort to get to it - walking over there so I jus use my bike and videos thus far.

That's good though - at least you are doing something (aren't you?) If you feel like a "side show freak" at Ballys, don't put yourself through that - go to the Y, Curves or something if you want the club atmosphere. There you should not feel freakish, even if there are smaller chicks than you. That is what I like about Curves - there are skinny gals trying to stay healthy, heavier gals like me trying to get healthy and pregnant gals trying to maintain some semblance of health during their pregnancy - I am sure with their doctor's approval/permission...

"use your bike" = stationary bike? or out on the roads bike? If the latter, be careful - it's winter out there!!

What videos do you have? I have 3 now, so you gals will know if I say I am doing Debbie, Bob or (LOL!!) - I have a Debbie Siebers "Slim in 6" - no I really don't think I can get slim in 6 weeks, got the Biggest Loser video and now my Sansone (WAtP) "Walk and Jog", so when I'm not Curving and don't want to go outdoors for a walk, I got something to rotate through in the house!

[Guest guest]

Like I said - I've joined every year and never gone - mostly a grudge held over from 1981. I was an active 18-19 yr old when I joinded at 199 lbs - probably the largest person there - I kept up most of the time but felt like a sideshow freak - now I'm 44 and 318. I moved in April and the complex has a workout room - I have to put forth an effort to get to it - walking over there so I jus use my bike and videos thus far. Live, Love, Laugh

Re: Discovery

I joined the 8 week challenge *thing* online, but there is no Ballys near me :'( That's ok, I doubt if I would go anywhere other than Curves - let us know how it works for you!!

[Guest guest]

it's a stationary bike. I discovered in Sept that the dining room mirror (half wall size) reflects my workouts - freaky but also kind of working out at a gym LOL. I have a lot of videos - mostly s, a few s, and then some odds and ends. I'll use 's Love to Stretch - the bike and then some other video. Live, Love, Laugh

Re: Discovery

"use your bike" = stationary bike? or out on the roads bike? If the latter, be careful - it's winter out there!!

What videos do you have? I have 3 now, so you gals will know if I say I am doing Debbie, Bob or (LOL!!) - I have a Debbie Siebers "Slim in 6" - no I really don't think I can get slim in 6 weeks, got the Biggest Loser video and now my Sansone (WAtP) "Walk and Jog", so when I'm not Curving and don't want to go outdoors for a walk, I got something to rotate through in the house!

..

[Guest guest]

I haven't been to Curves, but I LOVE the YMCA! It is the most chubby-

friendly gym I have ever been to, and I only felt really embarassed

the one day when I fell off the treadmill trying to catch my MP3

player! LOL

>

> That's good though - at least you are doing something (aren't

you?) If you

> feel like a " side show freak " at Ballys, don't put yourself through

that - go

> to the Y, Curves or something if you want the club atmosphere.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I know what you mean my gym is sooooo chubby friendly and I have tried 5 gyms before this and half of them women only and since I have been going to my gym (mixed) I have never never felt comfortable... the people treat me like I am normal and not FAT.

Mandy

Re: Discovery

I haven't been to Curves, but I LOVE the YMCA! It is the most chubby-friendly gym I have ever been to, and I only felt really embarassed the one day when I fell off the treadmill trying to catch my MP3 player! LOL>> That's good though - at least you are doing something (aren't you?) If you > feel like a "side show freak" at Ballys, don't put yourself through that - go > to the Y, Curves or something if you want the club atmosphere.> > >

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[Guest guest]

The beginning of August, moved in with us. lived in our group home

many years ago in Wisconsin, he had been raised in an institution and we pulled

him out at age 22. has down syndrome. When we moved to Arizona

would come every Christmas for 2 weeks to visit us. (Our original intention was

to get settled and then see if the family would allow him to move with us but in

the meantime he moved to a new group home with all his friends and was in a

stable workshop that he had been in for years so we felt it was best for him to

stay.) Well, last spring we got a call from 's brother/guardian. The

group home was closing and the houseparent recommended to him that move

with us. WE WERE THRILLED!! We had just bought a new home with more room,

closer to areas where he could be involved in the community and it all seemed so

perfect. So, at age 45, left his home and friends in Wisconsin and moved

in with us. He has finally realized that he is NOT on vacation and this is his

life. We are still fighting the system to get him involved in DDD and get him a

job and insurance but we are actually getting that al set up!!

just amazes us. We put him on the VIP soccer team with Mav. He has never

played an organized sport before. He has a pacemaker and arthritis and he LOVES

playing soccer. He reminds me the day before that it's soccer day. He is a

sports fanatic. He loves going to the HS games where Mav plays in the band. He

loves going to the Jr. High games. He LOVES all the sports channels on TV. He

is great with the kids, he scolds them and holds them. If I am doing flash

cards on the floor with the kids.. he's right there with me.. he'll identify

numbers instead of doing the addition.. but he loves it. In the mornings we are

busy doing things around the house but in the afternoon I turn on the football

channel and he watches football. As soon as the laundry dings he is in there

changing it from the washer to the dryer and sorting what is dry. He loves

helping with dishes and helping sweep and clean. He's learning to be an usher

at church. I'm sure he's sick of staying home with me and will be so happy to

be out and be productive in the community, but even now he keeps himself busy.

The kids love him. They all are learning sign and know that they are to listen

to him and help him understand things. They are very good about walking that

line. Maverick LOVES having here. They fight over who gets to ride

shotgun and now have it that they alternate. So often it's Stubborn meets

Stubborn between the two off them.. .BUT, is a great role model for Mav.

When moved in he shoved his clothes in the dresser. I went in there and

showed him that I wanted him to have shorts neatly in this drawer and shirts

neatly in this one.. etc. Maverick and Mykel helped him organize the drawers.

THEN, Mav said.. , you help me with my drawers now. And did. For a

MONTH.. Maverick has kept his drawers obsessively neat!!! It's so funny.

We are so lucky to have as a permanent part of our household. It's like a

dream come true for and I. Every where we go makes people smile

with his joy at doing anything and everything!!!

[Guest guest]

That is so great . is lucky to have you all, but you are equally

lucky to have him!

Loree

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[Guest guest]

I've noticed over the last couple of weeks that I couldn't feel my port by

pressing on the incision where I used to be able to feel it. Well, last

night, I was poking around my belly and found my port about two inches

higher than where my port incision is. My husband asked if my port had

moved and I told him no, my port is in the same place, there's just less fat

there so my skin is in a different place! I was so happy.

I was banded on May 12th and I've lost 38 pounds. I had my first fill on

June 26th. At that point I had lost 25 pounds. I have my next appointment

on August 7th. I feel like I am eating more than I should be able to, even

though I'm losing weight. I was told that I would be able to eat ¼ to ½ cup

of food at each meal. I'm eating about 1/3 to ½ what I ate before surgery,

I'd say about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of food per meal. I get a little hungry

between lunch and dinner but otherwise I'm pretty satisfied. I'm not sure

if I should have another fill or not. I'm losing weight, but I'm eating

more than I thought I should be able to. Can anyone give any advice?

Jen

" 'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper

you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.' "

29:11

[Guest guest]

i, Jen - sounds as if you're doing great with your loss! Way to go!

Many of us have a lump that develops very near the incision, right

after surgery. This is not the port, but a normal accumulation of

inflammation, forming scar tissue, a small hematoma, and normal

fluids. It can be very hard and even as large as egg-sized. This will

resolve slowly over the next few months, until it is usually gone

completely.

There also can be a fluid accumulation at the port site, called a

seroma, that leaks a clear fluid, sometimes for weeks. if is gets

large or painful, or shows signs of infection, it needs to be drained

and treated with antibiotics. Our docs should be giving us clear

written post-op wound care orders including info like this, so we

know what is needed to prevent incision infections, which can be very

serious.

The port itself is offset from the port incision, so that the fill

needle does not havr to go right thru the hard scar tissue. Over

time, the port CAN seem to move a bit as the fat in the mucle to

which it is sewn shrinks. It's still firmly attached.

Jen, A good bandster meal is about 1-1.5 cups of food AFTER we have a

good fill. It's notpopossible meet the nutriton or calorie needs for

safe loss in less than that.

Plese see the Band Guide in the files for more on food choices,

eating texchnique, calorie need, and band nutrition needs.

BEFORE a " good " fill, many can and do need larger meals.

Hoever, If you're losing well AND getting good nutrition - it does

not matter how muchyou " think " you're eating now - If you're losing,

you're doing fine and clearly having fewer calories! we never want

to be eating as few calories a posible, or get uneeded fills. We

always want as LITTLE fill as possible to still ose slowly ansd

safely - never as MUCH fill as we can possibly tolerate.

A good fill person will carefully assess this, and many other things,

before deciding if more or less fill is needed - or no changes at

all.

From what little you have said, it does not seem you need a bit more

fill for now.

We can't even tell if we need a first fill or not, until we have been

back on regular foods fo 1-2 weeks minimum. soft foods and liquids

never tell a thing, as these are never restricted, even with a tight

fill.

for anyone interested, please see the ducument in the files

called " when do I need a first fill? " Getting on too soon can and has

caused very big lasting problems.

Sandy R

>

> I've noticed over the last couple of weeks that I couldn't feel my

port by

> pressing on the incision where I used to be able to feel it. Well,

last

> night, I was poking around my belly and found my port about two

inches

> higher than where my port incision is. My husband asked if my port

had

> moved and I told him no, my port is in the same place, there's just

less fat

> there so my skin is in a different place! I was so happy.

>

> I was banded on May 12th and I've lost 38 pounds. I had my first

fill on

> June 26th. At that point I had lost 25 pounds. I have my next

appointment

> on August 7th. I feel like I am eating more than I should be able

to, even

> though I'm losing weight. I was told that I would be able to eat ¼

to ½ cup

> of food at each meal. I'm eating about 1/3 to ½ what I ate before

surgery,

> I'd say about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of food per meal. I get a little

hungry

> between lunch and dinner but otherwise I'm pretty satisfied. I'm

not sure

> if I should have another fill or not. I'm losing weight, but I'm

eating

> more than I thought I should be able to. Can anyone give any

advice?

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Jen

>

> " 'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, 'plans to

prosper

> you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.' "

> 29:11

>

>

>

>