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It's a lie

The Lapband works, if anyone tells you different they don't have a clue what they are talking about. I post this since some people get discouraged and hear people saying it's just a gimmick or it's too hard once you get banded. October the 16th will be 7 months for me and I am doing great, I took a vacation from the band while I was on vacation (extended which really lasted almost two months). That means I ate whatI wanted too, not always what I should. While I did not lose weight during that period, I did not gain. Thus the band works, it controled my eating even it it was not my intent. Well I am back from vacation and had a fill the day after I returned. I am back to losing. I did walk in the Little Rock "Walk for Obesity" and now I am back to working my ban. I know I will be in "onederland" soon. Get the band, it works.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

5
 

I cheated and it felt so bad

Well it was the 4th of July weekend. On Friday I took a nephew to see Transformers, did good had water while he sat there eating his popcorn. After the movies he wanted to go to Maggie Moo's and ice cream shop right outside the movie. Cool we went in and he ordered, and before I knew it I ordered one scoop of dark chocolate ice cream. It really was not as good as I had imagined, not saying the ice cream was not good, I am sure it was great, just one of those self expectation that did not live up to the expectation. Wish I had stuck to my meal plan, notice I did not say diet, I don't diet anymore. Then later that night, it was a BBQ and a home made lemon maraign pie. The BBQ went down fine, I guess I had about a half cup. The pie I took home and over the weekend I consumed about a quarter of the pie. Not good, since I am going to Vegas this month and wanted to be down another 15 pounds. For Sunday I had bought a steak, decided I was not hungry Sunday, remember I had eaten pie. So I cooked to tonight. I ate maybe two bites and stuck tighter than you can imagine. I slimed and PB'ed for over an hour, just plain nasty. I swore this is the last steak I will buy...anyway, I don't feel like I failed, just feel like I could have done better.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

7
 

I was so stuck I thought I needed to call a plumber

last night I cooked a turkey medallion, one of those you get from Sam's Club, I have not had any issues before with them, so I was quiet surprised when I got stuck almost at the end of my meal. Guess a took a bite without chewing it the way I know I need to chew or it just went down the wrong way. I was not too bad at first but it just kept getting worst. It took over two hours of slimming and puking before I got any relief. You know it ti bad when you are so stuck you drink water just to try to get it up, since as soon as water went down, it came right back up. I was so exhausted when after two hours it went down, that I had to go to bed. While it was going on I walked and did anything I could think of short of calling a plumber to snake it out. NOT MUCH FUN AT ALL. today I ate another one with out an issue. It is so odd that what you can eat one day you can't the next and vice versa. But even with all that I would not trade my band for anything. This morning I was down another two inches in the waist. I am now in a size 40, begin with a 46 that was tight. I have cleaned out my closet, as soon as they fit the other size is out of the closet never to return. I did this with a big smile on my face. :thumbup:
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

7
 

Packing for Vegas

I started packing for Vegas today, I leave next Sunday. I have packed enough Muscle Milk Light to cover my protein needs each day. I know sometimes when you fly you tighten up, and if I was any tighter (well perhaps I should not use that phrase). If you have any suggestions for me on my trip please chime in. At least my food bill in Vegas should be next to nothing.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

OMG what a fill

I had my second fill yesterday and it was only an increase of .4cc, but what a difference. I went from being able to eat steak on Saturday night to having to drink my water slow. Tonight I tried some chicken noodle soup, I thought I was going to die. I slimed big time and PB'ed forever but it did go down as opposed to coming up. I guess I have to slow down even more and maybe be on clear liquids for a few day. I AM NOT COMPLAINING, I would love to be at my sweet spot on the second fill, but that might be just a dream.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

3
 

Un-eventful Week

It was really just an normal week. Nothing major to report since getting stuck on Monday. I have been very careful since then and I did eat my steak after a few days and had no issues. I am only down a few pounds since my last update, I guess I am at another terrible plateau , hate it when I am not losing. I wanted to be down to a certain weight by my Vegas trip and only time will tell, but as it looks now, that goal is going to be hard fought. That is something else I want to point out, you have to set realistic goals each month then make it happen, either by increasing your exercise or decreasing your food. Since it is just too hot for me to go out and walk like I was I have decreased my food intake. I am shooting for about 800 calories a day as opposed to my normal 1000. I know I can make this work and you have to work this band.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

2
 

Has your mentality changed?

You know I am in a complete different mindset now that my weight is dropping with my LB. I use to plan which restaurants I would hit, what food I would cook, and what grocery's I would consume on the weekend. Now I plan on what I can get done, where I am going to walk, and who I will visit. I have made amens with many, including my Dad that I have not spoken to in about 10 years. I think I carried so much guilt on my shoulders with my weight that I had forgot who I was, I have to say again the LB is life changing. Hope everyone gets the same results.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

2
 

It has been a while since I posted, but life is good

I have been so busy and so at a stand still with my weight that I have not posted in a while. But that does not mean I am not as happy as I can be with my Lap band. It means I have I have gotten off course. I have been at a stand still since before my Vegas trip in late July. Here a month later I still weigh the same, but I have changed. First I have not fallen off the wagon, I just don't follow my previous winning routine as I did before. I am not eating bad, just not as good as I could. No sweats or anything like that, just more than I should and I joined a gym and go almost daily. I am in 38 jeans, do you know what that means. Six months ago I would have bet I would never be in 38's I would have bet I would not join a gym. But still I feel this has been very successful and I am sure I will take off the rest of my weight. Perhaps I just needed to take a breather and slow it down. I am headed to the beach in a week and when I get back I will get another fill and take off that last 40-60 pounds. Even now I feel wonderful. Last weekend I walked 9 miles on Saturday and 6 on Sunday, six months ago I struggle to get to my office.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

This is going to sound odd

This morning I ordered a heavy duty rolling clothes rack, I know bazaar. But I need something to start moving my old clothes out. Everything I put on is too large and I have to get them out of here. So I ordered a rolling rack, remember I have years of FAT clothes all the way up, but this time if I can't wear it out it goes as I am very confident that I will never be that size again. Once it gets here if I try on something and it is too big it can go straight to the rack. Then out to the garage sale or charity. The LB has changed my life....Alos let me note that my restriction is holding, it is only liquids for me at this point. It is strange when your turned off by food, because you know what will happen if you eat it. LOVE IT!
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

3
 

Another good weekend

I did not get to walk today because it was raining this morning so that put a damper on the whole day. I was not as motivated as usual on only Biddle around, really did not accomplish anything other than I was able to eat my steak today. It is odd how the LB works sometimes I can eat other times not so much. It did take a while, but was worth it, good protein. So the rest of the day I will only have two protein shakes. I did brown some ground turkey for my meals though out the week. It just makes it easier when I don't have to give much thought to the food I eat.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

4
 

The immersion blender is my new "Best Friend"

I have struggled since my fill last week getting any solids down. You read where I tried steak. Last night it was ground turkey, still had major issues, took me an hour to eat then an hour at the sink getting it back up. Not much fun. So today I turned my ground turkey into chili, then hit it with the immersion blender till it looked like red apple sauce. At that point I had no issues consuming about a cup, maybe more. Since it was the first real food I have had in days I did not mind going over a little. I know this tightness will loosen up, but for now I will say I can't imagine having another fill. It is all about working the tool and I would say that is what I am doing. Best to all of you for reading my rants, Greg
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

3
 

Well, I am at a standstill and I know why..

It has been too hot to walk like I was walking and it has slowed down my weight loss.I really need to be down another 15 pounds by the last week of July for my Vegas trip, self imposed goal. Anyway I will continue on and I am not discouraged, I know it will continue to come off if I don't cheat and work my band like my company works me (not a complaint, glad to have a job). The 4th of July will be different, instead of me grilling, drinking and eating. I will be chill-in. I did buy a brisket for a friend to cook for me, don't know if I can eat it, but will give it a try. Chopped up in the food processor a quarter cup at a time. I have just now begun to get a little solid food down since my tragic chicken episode last week. I also bought another chicken today, took it off the bone and chopped it to shreds, then shredded it with a fork. Maybe and just maybe I will be able to eat some of it. No worries if I don't eat no big deal. I also think my lack of food has stalled my weight loss. Happy 4th of July to everyone.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

3
 

Your Fired

Friday I came home from work and my yard was not done, see I am the last yard of the week. So I am thinking after years of having my yard done, because I was too FAT to do it myself. I figured if I can walk 2.5 miles, I can mow my own yard. So I fired the yard crew and got the mower out and mowed. This may seem like a simple task to many but since I was so FAT I could not do it without it taking me hours since I would have to mow a little and rest a lot, mow a little and rest a lot. When I mowed I edged, fertilized, and killed the bugs while I was out there. I did everything in 2.5 hours on a Friday night after working all day and walking 2.5 miles at lunch. Boy I love the LB. More money saved since I was spending $200 a month for yard care, add this to the $400 I am saving in food and I will take a nice vacation this year.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

5
 

Officially 53.5

OK, I am not at my official self impossed goal to be down 60 pound in week 11 post-op. But I am close.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

Today was a defining moment

Usually on Saturday nights I have steak. It's just what I do. Well as usual I went and got a couple of nice filets today from The Fresh Market. Cooked them up tonight and even though I cut mine in the size of a pencil eraser and chewed, chewed, chewed. It would not go down. I guess my days of eating steak are over. But I will try again tomorrow. On a positive note, I did walk my 5 miles at 6am this morning, mowed the yard ( and that was with a push mower) planted some plants and worked in the yard the rest of the day. Guess you know why I wanted a steak. I ended up drinking a protein shake. Guess that last fill really did the trick.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

2
 

News Flash****now down 70 pounds****

OK, I have really been struggling since my last fill. On Tuesday I tried to eat some chicken and it got stuck, by Wednesday I could barely get water down. Yesterday I was able to drink some water and a little broth. I spoke with my Dr. and he offered to do a un-fill. But I am going to hold out for now, as long as I can get water and broth I am good. I hope it will loosen up in a few day, may have some swelling due to being stuck. I was at a good spot and don't want to regress. The good news is I am now down 70 pounds in 3.5 months. Keeping the faith...
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

3
 

Just when you think life returns to normal you are attacked by PB's

OMG I thought I was going to die. A little background first, I love chicken, I ate chicken almost daily before the LB. Well I am 3 months post OP and have had a second fill that has me very tight, now your caught up. So yesterday I go to Sam's and buy a rotisserie chicken, like a have done a few hundred times before pre-LB. I got it home and took it off the bone and in the fridge it went. I am thinking I can eat this, the ground turkey is getting old and I needed something new. Now the gross part. I am setting at lunch today have a very small plate of chicken approx 3 ounces and I take a bite chew very well and a nice change from the ground turkey. I few more very small bites go by and then it happens. I get stuck, it is so painful and just down right nasty. I stand at the sink for at least 30 minutes foaming at the mouth, coughing up nasty and every time I think I am done, I am not. I chew papaya enzyme pills trying to get unstuck while I am in pain. At one point I thought what am I going to do. It just keeps on....then one last painful puke and it's gone. Boy did that suck. I thought I was past this..... I was so tired afterward I layed down for a while. Now the good news, when I got up I had a brainstorm as opposed to the brain farts I usually have. I wanted ice cream, so I broke out my ice cream maker and turned my chocolate protein shake into ice cream by adding a little splenda and some sugar free Hershey's chocolate sauce to my protein shake milk and soy milk. It was great, I don't have to feel left out.. I can live with my LB. Oh the chicken was finely copped and added to chicken broth, orzo, corn and pea dish that I had no trouble getting down at dinner. I should also note that I did not walk this weekend it was just too hot, it's time to Wii.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

5
 

I slimmed and PB'ed

I have been doing great, sticking to my less than 1000 calories a day and have lots of energy. The weight is coming off slowly, but better than it going up. I still have not had a fill, but think I might ask for one...Anyway to the point. If you read my blog, I am treating myself well, I can afford to since I eat so little. Well Saturday night I cooked the two lobster tails I had bought at the first of the month (by the way lobster is dirt cheap right now due to the economy), I digress. Anyway, yesterday I worked in the yard all day, I mean all day, then came in and got a shower. I decided I would eat the second lobster tail, they are only 6 ounces out of the shell, yes I weighed them, I weigh everything so I can track my calories. So I popped that bad boy in the microwave to heat it up and since I had been so good I also heated up a turkey patty. So I sat down in front of the TV to eat, with my small fork and my surf and turf. I get most of the way through it and I get that feeling that you get when you are suppose to stop. I thought what the hell only a couple more bits, who is going to throw away lobster. That is when it happened. This horrible pain mid-way down my chest, OK, I jump up run around the house for a few hoping it will go through, not so lucky the pain get worst, then I start the sliming, all a sudden I am spitting out slim, a lot of it. Then I belch a few times, it continues on for several minutes and then the food goes down which is way better than up. It made eating very unpleasant. I even thought about just doing shakes, that was how bad it was. But man can not live on shakes, so tonight I bakes 6 ounces of flounder and it went down without issue, of course I was very slow eating. I did not want to repeat that ever again. You may also remember me mentioning my new toy the Magic Bullet, which I mix my shakes in, well, now with the vanillas Chike and some fruit, I have tried, cherries, mango, blueberry's and raspberries (blueberries are the best). It is a great treat like a dessert. I limit myself to one a day since I still have to come in under 1000 calories. I have done so well I tried on my 42 waist pants today, wishful thinking, still a ways to go. But it did start my day out more determined. I go to group on Thursday and will update my ticker after I get an official weight. Stay the course.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

4
 

FOLLOWUP to OMG I thought I was going to DIE!!!

When I say the chicken was stuck it was stuck and it has taken me 4 days to recover. I am back to drinking protein shakes and eating chili and soups, I have not tried any solid food at this point, too scared. Not scared of the food, but scared that I will have to have an un-fill not that I feel I am at the perfect place after only two fills. You can't imagine that so little can really be so much in your band. I now know why doctors give very small fills, especially if they don't use the fluoroscope. I did buy a new protein drink at Walmart this morning Muscle Milk light, has anyone tried it? If you read my blog thanks, please do not get scared with one entry, if you read more you will know I LOVE my LB and there is nothing to be scared of, but some of it you learn trial and error.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

It just keeps getting better...

You know I was a slug before the LB, I did not feel like doing anything other than stuffing my face and watching the tube. Not anymore, since dropping the pounds it is all about what can I do today. Today I worked all day and cam home and mowed the yard, remember I fired the yard boy. I went to Sams Club today and the only thing I bought was water, that has to be a first. I have saved enough money on food in 3 months that I am treating myself to a trip to Vegas. It has got very hot so now I walk in Walmart at lunch, I can still work up some sweat and I only have pushed on "bluehair" down so far. Hope your all doing well.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

I cheated :)

On Thursday, since I took off Early on Wednesday for my Birthday. The people at work had me a nice German chocolate cake with candles and I had a piece. Well maybe not a piece. I had approx one table spoon, not rounded either. I think they were testing me, in a nice way. They wanted to do something for me and did not know what to do, I skipped lunch since I had that tablespoon and was not hungry anyway.
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

1
 

After 14 months two insurance companies and much headache I AM APPROVED

I started this journey years ago, but started the Lap band Journey as my 2008 New Years resolution. The year was trauma and drama, I fought BCBS of Arkansas all the way to the Arkansas Insurance Commission, who would not even acknowledge I existed, much less assist me. Moved my insurance to United Health Care and changed my Lap band doctor and today I got the call that I have waited 14 months for, I AM APPROVED. So here I am 51 years old male at 320 pounds. I go to the Shrink on Monday, not a insurance requirement but a doctor requirement since he had to remove a band from someone who was not prepared. I will then go on two weeks of liquid diet and Monday we will set a date. This may sound odd, but I am excited that someone is going to invade my body and implant a foreign device,but I am. I appreciate all of your entries since that has got me though this process. Thanks to all....:cool2:
Gregnlr

Gregnlr

4
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