1 month visit

Thanks for the e-mail.....I love hearing for everyone. Dr. B told me that the barium swallow showed some swelling where the Y was connected. However, not sure what all that brown stank stuff came from. But your explanation shounds right on the money. Yeah, I have stayed clear of sweets and sugars. I am a label reader! I have had some complications from the get go, so I am very cautious. I have over done it 2-3 times with "over eatting". Like last night, my daughter had her last softball game and we had a party with cake, pizza and ice cream after the game. The game ended at 7:30 pm, party started about 20 minutes later, so I stood there watching everyone eat and eat and eat. Well, about 9:00 pm I ate 4 fat free saltinees with 1 slice of cheese cut into 4 pieces melted on top. Well I ate it too fast or something, well I was very thristy too and right after I ate my crackers I took a big drink of water.......BOY OH BOY was that a mistake. i have done thiss once before, but I was SOOOOOO thirsty! 2 times I have done this and I believe that I will NEVER do that again. I was hurting SOOOO bad. But with in a couple of minutes I was fine. But inbetween that time I was worried and hurting. THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS STRETCH OUT MY TUMMY!!!!! SO that was in the back of my mind too. Lessoned learned! Chell

Chell, I have done the same thing a few times and it sure does hurt- thank goodness it only lasts for a few moments. My PB & J incident last night didn't last too long, but I am glad I stayed home because once I felt better I went walking with my mom and my daughter, and then we played cards together. It was one of those three-generational moments that put a smile on my face and add to our memories. I almost got all of my water in, too- short only about 6 ounces- so I am feeling a little better about myself today. We need to meet at some point, girl! Besides being your angel, we have a lot in common. I have a real fear of stretching out my pouch, too, and I think I have. I have taken Julie's advice to measure everything from now on! I got these small bowls- about the size of a half cup- and everything I eat, I eat out of those. Sometimes, we are so focused on everyone else in our lives that we neglect to focus on our own needs, but after all we have done to get where we are we need to MAKE time. We are important, too, so let's stop putting ourselves at the end of the line! HUGS!! Christine

AMEN! After all that we have put our bodies through....your right we need to make time for ourselves and to take care of ourselves! Sorry to hear about your PBJ incident. I TOTALLY know how you feel. One of those feelings that you just don't forget. I pray that when that happens that I am not stretching out my stomach. That would be just aweful! After all this, to come to that would be shameful, atleast to me. I don't meaure my water, but I did go and buy some small ziploc bowls that I eat out of. I don't measure, but I eyeball it. I don't even think that it is a 1/2 cup. What do yoo think about 4 saltinee crackers? Do you think that that is too much? I fear that it is. I mean I am starting to feel full after 3, but last night I waited WAY TO LONG to eat and ate very fast and then paid for it. But this morning, I ate only 3 crackers. See, I am soooo obsessed with the counting and the worrying. On a good note, I found the time to walk at work, yesterday. it was nice to get out and see nature and to smell the fresh air and not to mention be able to walk and not get over heated or sweatie or out of breath. Yes, I would like to meet you too. i am hoping that I can come to the next LCBB meeting. Maybe we can meet there. This weekend we are having a HUGE garage sale. I will be here next week, but then the next week we will be in the mountains for vacation! A much needed vacation. I should be able to go to the next LCBB meeting, i think. Do you live around here? Chell

Girls, Talk about beating one's self up...I have only lost 25 pounds! I am not exercising as much as I should be but I am changing that. Chell, Julie is right- as long as it goes down and not up, we should be happy. I am trying to force the water in today and my body does not want it. I love water, too, but I am really having trouble here. Chell, can you make it tonight to LCBB? I'd love to meet you in person! Hugs! Christine

Now you are beating yourself up. Stop it. That is an order from your angel! I will tell you what I told Lady D. I keep a water bottle with me. I found one at Wal-Mart called the BUBBA KEG. It holds 52 oz and keeps fluids chilled for 12 hours. It goes everywhere with me, and I mean everywhere. I fill 1/2 way with ice then water, flavored of course. I make sure mid day I put more ice it to up the volume. Then I spend the entire day sipping. You will be amazed how much water you drink by the end of the day. But you also know, getting all the water in is tough. Take it one day at a time, if you do not get in all your water, celebrate what you did get in. I will bet that over time you will notice that you are getting more and more in. Especially with the weather getting warmer, you will get it in. It will all come. We all did a major life change, these kind of changes take time. Hugs Julie

Good to here from you Christine Well, tonight is Kaitlyn's, my daughter, last softball game of the season. We are giving the girls a pizza/cake party and I am responsible for the cake and table. I would love to come......maybe next Thursday. What all do yall do at JC's? Christine, how are you doing? How are you feeling? Chell

Hey there! I am going to stay close to home tonight instead of going to JC's because I ate a PB & J sandwich, and the PB just isn't digesting right yet. I got a tummy ache. I have been pretty well, considering what complications some others have had. I have not vomited once- not since months and months before my surgery. I guess I am really lucky in that sense. I do get pain if I eat too much or something that is hard to digest- like peanut butter. At JC's we have great conversation, support, laughs, and general commiserating and celebrating together. It's really nice to see each other in person and get motivated to see how great everyone is doing- I have only made it once but I want to get back there SOON! It was fun and inspirational. Cheryl owns it and she even has a WLS menu for us all to choose from if we want something to nibble on. I brought my own drink, but there was a container on the table of crystal light single serving packets to add to our water. Anyway, I am going to try to keep up the water, Jules, but I am only up to 84 ozs. today and I have 40 to go- yikes! You must look fabulous girl! I can't wait to see you again! Hugs! Christine

Chell: After my surgery Dr. B told me the 1st 3 months expect to lose 20 lbs. a month, so he probably means 50-60 by August 3rd. Don't stress, the weight WILL come off and in no time you will be a swelte beautie! Hope you can come to LCBB one Thursday night. I would love to meet you! Susann

That sounds more like it. I think I can do 20 lbs. a month. So far I have lost 35 lbs. in a month, my first month. I know that will taper off some, so I think 20 lbs. doesn't sound as intimidating(spelling). Dr. Byrnes is such a wonderful doctor! One day I do hope to be a beautie! I feel so good right now. It is hard to believe that I have lost 35 lbs!!!! For me that is like a miracle. I can do things now that I couldn't do in years. I can't imagine how I will feel when I get the rest of this weight off!!!! Thanks for e-mailing me. I will make it to LCBB meeting one day. Between work, school and my daughter's recreational activities it can be hard! Thanks, Chell