TucsonAnnie

I use lapband.com and can't find a help button. Is anyone here using that website for their measurement tracking? I did my measurements right before surgery, entered them on that site, but didn't write them down in a notebook. Now it appears there has been too much time passed and I can't see back farther than three months! Has anyone else found how to see back to day one? The weight loss goes all the way back, so I didn't think the measurements wouldn't. I could have a fit! I can't remember my original measurements, which is why I logged them at the website. Does anyone know if there is help available from that site? I have called the 800 number, but they said they don't do website/tech problems.

I have been a couch potato, only walking a little here and there. My weight plateaued. I have just recently started using my clubhouse workout facility and in a week I dropped four pounds. I suppose I'm going to have to listen to common reason and work out. My big thing is conquering the elliptical machine. Today I should be up to 20 minutes at level one. When I get to 30, which I think will take a couple of weeks, I will go to level two. I am doing it slowly so I don't kill myself or get bored. I mix up my workout by doing the nautilus machines (rower, leg press, chest press) and have 5lb weights for my arms at home. I used to be a treadmill fan, especially because at my top weight it was all I could do. Tried three minutes on the elliptical and about fainted. Now I am finding the elliptical almost- I can't believe I am saying this- FUN and I really like how my knees and ankles aren't getting pounded! Good luck finding YOUR fun workout. I didn't believe it was possible, but for me, it is!

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Thanks everyone- I think I am going to head for the GNC and try some new things. Obviously my daily Dr. recommended Centrum isn't enough, and I will definitely look for something other than whey protein.

Aaaaaaack! I am shedding, not seriously, but enough. I get my Protein. Will this ever stop? I am SO freakin' SICK of drinking Protein shakes. I HATE milk and milk products, and I have choked it all down since my banding. I just can't do it anymore. Today I about gagged trying to drink my daily dose of shakes. The last one went down the drain. I don't want to do it anymore. I hate meat and I would rather just get my protein that way- BUT - I am drinking my shakes AND eating meat and I am shedding. I am so frustrated. I am afraid if I stop the shakes I will lose more hair, but I am also afraid to throw up b/c my doc warns against it. I wish I could afford hypnotherapy to get over my milkophobia. Yuck. Boob juice. I can hardly think about it. Anyone else have any positive ideas? Anyone else been in my shoes? I was banded November 11th, and doing well, except for this issue.

Great post- I saved that link to my favorites It does seem when I eat more, I lose more. I have been eating like a two year old ( quantity wise) for the last few weeks, and I'm not losing weight. I used that calculator and now I think I understand why!

This past week we had our first out of towner come to stay with us. We did a lot of touristy things, which meant I did sit down restaurants for the first time since October. I hear ya about the drink thing. After the first time I just ordered a Water to get the server to leave me alone. Once I had to explain I had a lap band to shut someone up. Uncomfortable. I also couldn't believe the weirdness of just asking for a plate. We went to restaurants where the portions are HUGE and I wasn't doing it. Just a 1/2 cup amount of my husband's meal and I am done- and he still had leftovers. I had to tell one waitress I was post op and that worked - that time. One steakhouse we didn't go at all, because the menu states there is a $6.95 charge for a plate. Not being cheap, but that's ridiculous for three bites of a steak and a spoonful of Beans. If I am ever out of town and a buffet is the only choice, I'm going to stay behind with a headache! From now on, if I have to go to a restaurant, I am calling ahead to speak with management, and ask if their servers are trained to spot bandsters- or at least leave it alone when a customer says no thank you. Hopefully, I won't have to go to a restaurant again anytime soon!

This topic - the responses show how different we all are. Wow. I have been eating by the clock on my workdays, just so I don't get jittery or faint. I don't eat much at those times, just maybe a s/f yogurt or a piece of cheese. My work lunch is a 4oz container of the last night's dinner leftovers. I do feel a litle hunger once in a great while this way- instead of the terrible starving feeling at the beginning. My hunger isn't bad at all now. Yesterday was a first for me. I felt a little grumble in the morning, ate my litte bitty Breakfast, then a tiny mouthful of a snack while running errands. The only reason I ate dinner was because I don't want my metabolism to drop. I also don't want do to a freak out and scarf food because I feel like my blood sugar is crashing. So I suppose I should eat when I am hungry, but watch the clock too. Maybe you can find a balance like that as well. It's certainly not easy, is it?

_delete_ error!

Wow. Someone read my post and hit me with a negative mark, maybe they were just trolling, maybe they didn't like that I agreed with Cleo's mom. Maybe they were just being spiteful because they are one of the hateful posters. I don't know, but it's not cool. I just keep thinking about the post that reminds me that a child could be on this forum and we would never know it. Think good thoughts everyone - Karma happens!

I wish I knew. I am drowning in medical bills. My husband had major surgery a month prior to my banding - and we ended up with copayments to so many doctors my head is spinning. I am also trying to keep up with paying for my new year deductible along with the cost of my fills that I didn't know weren't included. (I knew some fills would be out of pocket, but I misunderstood and thought three fills would be covered in the global period. Wow, I was so wrong.) In short, I need to consolidate thousands of dollars. All medical. If anyone reading this knows of a company that does loans for medical bills, please let me know. I want to get all caught up, and fast! I hope I dont, but I might need some cosmetic surgery next year and there are loans available for those types of procedures (at a premium) but is there anything out there for just plain old medical bills? My online search is not turning up anything.

I understand! I hit plateaus. It makes me crazy. IT IS SO FRUSTRATING. But we will get past it. I don't get depressed because I figure during the plateau periods, it gives my skin time to adjust. I feel saggy enough already. I would rather lose a pound a week - or plateau for a while - than go through the cost and pain of cosmetic surgery. You will get there- you will. You are in charge!

Quit with the politics already. Please.

Right on, Cleo's Mom! I have only posted a few times because of all the awful things I read here, and I figured about as much. When I see something hateful or spiteful, I click the red minus button. I wish more people would.

When I asked my doc (yesterday) about the 1/2 cup vs. 4oz thing she explained we were working on volume (1/2 cup) not weight because she is guarding against stretching and slippage. She said I was doing a good job following her book of rules. I did get a fill so I am not feeling so deprived. Now I am allowed up to one cup of food, or less if I feel fullness. I tried a cup of soft food tonight, and I feel better. It stuck with me. I still don't feel full, but I'm not going over her allowed amount.