Korilynn

I was banded Feb 9th 2011 and I have lost 72 lbs.

Just checking in.... I'm down 69 lbs! I am so happy I have this band. Best decision EVER!

How is everyone doing now? It looks like no one has posted in almost a month...How are we doing?

Oh my Goodness, Polly! I hope you are feeling better! My friend's mom had a staph infection on her leg a few years ago and that was no joke! You be careful and get it all taken care of! You will be back to losing weight in no time! Try to stay positive! You've already lost 32lbs and that is probably weight you wouldn't have lost without your band, right?! You are doing great!!!

How is everyone doing? I'm down 60lbs, and the scale isn't really moving any more. I need a fill, but I'm going to wait until after I go on Vacation next week. Naughty, Naughty, I know! Check in and tell us how you're doing!!

Soph, You are doing just fine! Don't be so hard on yourself! You might not be losing right now, but I'll bet you aren't gaining either! It sounds like you are doing a lot in the exercise dept! That is great! For me, when I do too much in the gym it slows my weight loss. My Dr suggested I try working out a bit less- He suggested I go 3 times a week or lessen the amount of time I go for if I go 5 times a week. I have really seen some results with cutting back slightly. Maybe talk to your Dr. and see if maybe you are slightly overdoing the exercise? Another idea is to change up your exercise a bit. If you've been walking on the treadmill at 3mph try adding some incline. I usually do an incline of 8 or 9 for a few mins and then go down to a 3 and then switch back and forth a few times. Have you tried the elliptical? I can burn 550 cals in 40 mins on the elliptical. At first I hated it, but the weight loss results are fabulous!! Try it ... I started at 15 mins and worked my way up to 40 mins. I do take a break for a minute if my feet start to tingle..for some reason that happens to me on the elliptical. As far as food goes for me, I eat what I want. I'm maybe not the best person to talk to in that dept. I eat what I want, but do have some restriction. (As I should! I have 8ccs in a 10cc band..) The band has pretty much cut out my being able to eat French Fries. They are my biggest vice. I probably had french fries 4 times a week preband. Now I'm lucky if I can get even 1 down without getting stuck. I also have trouble with Pasta and bread. So, My band is doing it's job there for me. Anyway, I eat pretty much whatever I want, and I lose pretty slowly- usually no more than 2lbs a week, except that I lose in a weird pattern and will lose 5 lbs in a week and then I'll go a couple weeks without losing and then I'll lose a few lbs again. It's really discouraging for me too, because every time I get to that point where I'm not losing for a couple of weeks I think "Well, this is it. It's over." But, in reality it just takes my body a while to readjust to the loss. In the food Dept. I eat lots of chicken. Mostly grilled. Fried every once in a while. Chicken wings are particularly good for me because they take a long time to eat...and I take the time to chew them better than if I'm eating a chicken breast. I eat steak sometimes and things like spaghetti -- I have to be careful with my pasta though! Mostly I find myself eating Salads and things like coleslaw or corn for my side dishes at restaurants. When I'm at home I eat lots of Chicken or Tuna salad & crackers. Sometimes I'll have hummus or pimento cheese, but not too often. I think you probably might want to have some more ccs put in when you have a fill. Will your Dr. do fills under Fluro? That really helped me get to a good spot quickly! If your Dr. wont, I suggest finding one who will! Under fluro they can accurately fill your band without the guesswork! Good luck!! Try not to beat yourself up! This is a long process. My Dr. told me not to worry about losing quickly. It will come off....just be patient!

Elle, As far as exercise goes, my Dr. told me when I had my last fill to cut back some, so I have. I was doing 40 mins on the elliptical 5 days a week + 3 days weight training. He told me to cut down to 3 days a week or go down to 30 mins on the elliptical. We've been moving this week, so I haven't really made it to the gym since Saturday. I think he was right because I am back to losing a lb every 2 -3 days. As far as food goes for me, I do the best with Salad(like a chef's salad) and a grilled Protein or a chicken or tuna(& mayo) salad. I don't really have bread...I eat crackers or pita chips. The other day when I got stuck I was eating a skewer of Chicken Satay. Needless to say, I won't be having that for a while!!! I hope everyone checks in soon! I like hearing updates on everyone!!

It sure is quiet in here!!! LOL.... I've lost 48lbs. Can't wait to get 2 more lbs off so I can be at a 50 lb loss! How is everyone? I got stuck really badly yesterday and PB'd for the first time. Yuck. Ouch! I need to be more careful with my chewing!

Bump!

How is everyone doing?? I got my 3rd fill yesterday. He put in .5 ccs so now I'm at 8ccs. I'm on strict liquids for a week. Hopefully I'll not cheat too bad this time. We'll see. My Dr. actually told me I need to cut back on my working out. lol...I've been doing 40mins of cardio 5x's a week and he told me to cut back to 30 mins. I thought that was CRAZY! I guess all the workouts can really increase your appetite and he doesn't want me to get too hungry. So I'll give it a try and see if it helps. He was really pleased with my weight loss...even though it feels really sloooooooow to me. Elle, You are doing so well!! You're so close to your goal! I'm way jealous! I don't know about self sabotage, I think old habits are just so hard to break! At least that is the case for me. I hope everyone is well!! Check in when you can!

@ Band 29, I have 7 ccs in a 10 cc band and I still don't have restriction. Don't feel bad! You will get there, it just takes some people more than others to have restriction. I'll get a fill, have good restriction for 2 or 3 weeks and then I'm back to needing a fill again! Just go with it and it will be fine! Jay150, Oven Fries (I got the recipe from Self magazine.) Preheat the oven to 450 F . Peel and cut 3-4 med potatoes into fry shapes. Soak your cut "fries" in cold Water for 15 mins, drain and pat them dry. Then pour on about a tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle them with seasoning salt or whatever you like. Bake on a cookie sheet ( I spray it with Pam just so they don't stick!) for 20-25mins until crispy, turn them halfway thru cooking to make sure they brown on both sides. serves 2-3.

I do the same thing! Basically I try to let myself indulge occasionally, but if I find it becoming a daily thing then I know I need to get it in check! Do you work out? I feel like I have some room to indulge because I go to the gym 5x's a week. So, that helps keep things evened out. I feel like if I'm going to live the rest of my life banded I'm going to have to let myself enjoy things sometimes. I try to make healthier choices if I can. Instead of potato chips I'll eat Stacy's pita chips (at least they have 3g protein!) If I'm craving Fries I'll make roasted oven fries (I have a good recipe if anyone is interested.) If I want chocolate I'll have it... I try to only eat 1/2 the regular size candy bar, or sometimes I'll have ice cream- skinny cow truffle bars or regular ice cream but only a 1/2 cup serving. But I still indulge in basically whatever I want...and my substitutions can't be too drastic! I can't go eat cottage cheese when I'm craving ice cream, you know?! It's hard for me, because I'm still not at the "sweet spot" so I find myself snacking A LOT. I would say, maybe you need a fill...if you're really hungry in the evenings and it's not just head hunger. Good luck! We're all human...Nobody is perfect! Just try to "make it up" somewhere else. Maybe an extra 20 mins tonight at the gym will have you feeling less guilt?

It's not just you. I've had 2 very agressive fills.. I have a little over 7ccs in a 10 cc band and I still don't have restriction. I can still eat bread, no problem. Sometimes I get a tiny bit stuck if I don't chew enough, but basically I can eat a lot if I chew well. I'm getting another fill on the 27th. I think it just varies from person to person. So don't stress, just keep getting filled until you feel like it's in a good spot!

Hello! My husband is also Active Duty. We're stationed in England, but I have a friend at Ramstein! Tricare covered everything for me. It did take about 7 months for everything to get approved and my surgery to get done. If you have any questions feel free to PM me. I love my band, It is one of the best things I've ever done for myself! Good Luck!

Bumping so everyone can input their loss for this week!