TracieR

Hmm...good questions. Let me think.... My favorite thing about my lapband is my weightloss. Although I can pretty much eat anything I want it limits my portion size. (I choose to avoid bread, pasta and limit my carbs.) I guess my least favorite thing about it is I can eat anything I want , meaning it is not a magic pill and I still work my ass off to lose the weight. Working out has been an enormous help. I still have my favorite foods in moderation and make sure I up my workouts that week to compensate. It works for me and I don't feel deprived. I've eaten pizza! Most of the time if I am around pizza, I will just eat the toppings and a small part of the crust. The worst pain after surgery for me was gas pain, and a super sore throat for the first couple of days. The gas pain lasted a while. Just keep moving it really does help. Also, everyone is different and your experience may be completely different! Good Luck to you! Congratulations on your new life!

Good Morning - I am Tracie from West Islip, NY (Long Island)! Enjoy your day!

Hi - I don't have Dr. Angstadt but I do use someone in the same office. Dr. Garber. I am really happy with their office. The hospital (Mercy) was great. It is such a personal choice though. I have read so many reviews on here that were not happy with Garber and didn't like NY Bariatric Group office at all. I, on the other hand, am very happy. The office is busy. There is usually a wait, I don't mind that. I get some time to read! They are very nice and friendly to me. The PA I see (Donna) is pretty agressive with fills and takes the time to sit with me and answer my questions. I have never had an issue with insurance or billing. I know it didn't really answer your question but hope it helped a little!

09/29/11 - 276 Well didn't reach my goal but did lost 7lbs this month which I am happy with. I've been kind of off track the last few weeks. Trying to get back on it. I have been doing well with my protein and I also cleaned out my garage last Saturday! Thanks so much for putting this challenge together! See you next month! YAY!!

I was banded about 7 months ago. Down 95lbs. Eating healthy, working out at least 5 days a week. I've been feeling great physically. But in the last few weeks I have been super emotional. Cry at the drop of a hat. Stress levels at work and home haven't changed. I even cried at work the other day, I just can't control it! I'm wondering if it has to do with the weight loss and hormonal changes? Anyone else experience this? Have any thoughts?

Congratulations! I love reading updates like this! You are an inspiration! I am at 95lbs lost, pushing towards the 100 lbs lost too. It seems like these last 5 lbs to get there are slow to go!

9/22/2011 - 277 That last 5 pounds to 100lbs lost is really hard to get! At last I am finally seeing some downward motion!!

Congratulations! That is such a great accomplishment! YAY!

This has been a great week so far! Random woman who I don't know but see most weeks at my son's swimming lesson told me I look awesome and she can really tell I am working hard! Thanks so much lady - I am working hard! Today is my birthday and my husband bought me a bunch of workout clothes - which are too big! This is not his fault I told him the size to buy- down from a tight fitting 26/28 to an 18/20! Also, the fact that I asked for workout clothes for my birthday. This morning I also wanted to treat myself to Starbucks. I had planned to order the new Salted Caramel Mocha which I tasted when my sister had one the other day. Delish! Well, when I pulled up in the drive thru they have the calories listed. NO WAY! 580 calories. No thank you! I ordered a Skinny vanilla Latte! 160 calories! It was just as delish (thats what I keep trying to tell myself anyway ) I also broke out the fall/winter clothes and shoes. Well, almost all of my shoes are too big!!! So excited - I get to go shoe shopping! WOOHOO! Hope you all enjoy your day!

Totally normal! I think I cried the whole first week that I made the wrong decision. Try to get as much fluids down as you can, keep the bottle with you at all times and constantly take small sips. Once you start to see the weight come off you will feel so much better!!! Almost 7 months out and getting banded was the best thing I ever did! Good Luck to you!

I've read that it takes a couple of weeks to really feel the full effect of the fill. Also, my band gets super tight right before my time of the month. If it is that tight that you are not eating - call your doctor! Good Luck to you!!

I know the "waddle" well! Keep it up! It does get easier. I am at the point where if I work out and I don't get sore I feel like I didn't do enough. Never thought that would happen!!! Have a great day!

Me too!! Me too!! I want to be in on the facebook group. Add me please....Tracie Van Dina-Romandetti JanT - Great Job! I was banded on 3/8/11 also!

Me too!! Me too!! I want to be in on the facebook group. Add me please....Tracie Van Dina-Romandetti JanT - Great Job! I was banded on 3/8/11 also!

Be careful with the working out. I felt good 3 weeks out and my dr. scared the sh** out of me. She said she sees many people who overdo it and then have issues with hernias and such. I walked and started working out pretty seriously at 8 weeks. Best thing I have ever done for myself. Now I am obsessed! For the first month or so I was miserable. Not losing and hungry. Definitely hard to get through but so worth it now. Good Luck to you!

Thanks everyone! I decided to use LA Fitness. I love that there are tons of classes, great childcare hours, a million cardio machines, huge spin studio (65 bikes!) , and it is sparkling clean. Also, with the membership I am able to use any LA Fitness so that means I can use the one right by my work on my lunch break to swim or get some cardio in. I am going tonight to try it out before I acutally sign up! I am so excited. Hope you all have a great week!

Last night I made plans with a friend. I was so excited all day about it. I couldn't wait to get home and meet up with her and start our exciting Friday night. Do you know what we did? We went gym shopping!!! We checked out 5 different gyms. I was just wondering if anyone has any tips to share for choosing a gym. Things you wish you had considered before picking your gym or something you couldn't live without. Please share! Anyone belong to an LA Fitness? Seems to be the nicest one with out a long term contract. Big and open. Lots of classes to choose from. A pool, hot tub and a sauna. Thanks in advance!!

09/15/2011 - 280

Love the analogy....I clicked on your blog because I thought you posted a recipe! Congrats on the weight loss!

I use them too! I got them on ebay. A case (12 tubes) for $24.00 Keep an eye out for them there! Honestly, I think they taste terrible but it is less than 4 ounces. I've tried the blue raspberry and fruit punch. I just shoot em down.

Thanks for posting this. It is just what I needed to read today. Have a great day!

That is so awesome! Congratulations!

Try fish. I like tilapia. Bake it with some marinade (whatever you like) and then I kind of mush it up and chew well. Tuna fish salad, Egg salad, chicken salad. Chew, chew, chew. Keep trying things also. For me some days I can eat chicken fine and then the next it comes up. If you still can't get stuff down, I would say ask the doctor. Maybe a small unfill is needed! Good Luck!

Great Job! Keep it up!

September 8th was my 6 months "bandiversary". I wanted to document and share my feelings at this point in my journey. I started this whole process at 372 lbs. WOW! I can't believe I let it get that bad. Almost 400lbs. After 6 months I am 90 lbs down and feel good. My weight loss has been great. I definitely have to work hard at it. Honestly, I get so frustrated when I read other peoples posts on here that say how come I can still eat this and that. This is not a magic pill. I have worked my ass off (literally). I work out 5-7 nights per week. I, mostly, follow the rules my doctor gave me. When I don't follow the rules or don't work out enough I don't lose as much that week. Simple as that! It is frustrating but it is my fault. This week I have barely worked out. I have plenty of excuses, super busy at work, my son has me up at 2am every night, run down. But they are only excuses. Last night I sat on the couch and watched tv. I could have worked out but I chose not to. My weight over the last couple weeks have reflected this laziness. It scares the crap out of me that it comes back so quickly - the laziness. I have been lucky in that I have gotten restriction after 3 fills. I feel like I am in a good place. My last fill on 8/4 made me pretty tight. Too tight if I want to be totally honest. When the dr. said would you like me to take some out - I freaked! No way! That is going backwards. I should have let her. The first few weeks of that time I was barely eating, couldn't get my vitamins down and only crunchy carbs were going down. I still lost weight that month but I began to see negative side effects. I am learning now as my weight loss slows that I have to eat healhty. I have to reach my protein goals for the day. I have to take my vitamins. My hair is breaking off like crazy. I recently started taking the biotin and making sure I get my protein in. I was also really constipated for a while. I look back now and see the 4 weeks I wasn't eating healthy really affected me. In only 4 weeks my body revolted. I learned my lesson and now know that being too tight is not the magic thing that will make the weight fall off. It just makes me unhealthy and I lost slower. Amazing what I have learned in 6 months. So I am back on the wagon today. I worked out yesterday, ate healthy and got my vitamins and protein in. Today I came prepared to work for lunch and dinner (have a late meeting). I am embracing the fall as a new beginning. I am also looking into joining a gym. I have been working out by myself and with a trainer this whole time but I need more. I am looking forward to a gym with some great classes and a fun playroom that my son can be in while I am there. Who would've thought I would have been this excited about gym shopping? I do want to share one thing that bugs me.....I was almost 400lbs before I had surgery. 400 hundred pounds!!! Every joint and body part I had ached from just walking before surgery. My knees ached, my arms ached from just holding my son, I couldn't get down on the floor or up off of the floor. I've been reading on here people that say - I can't start working out yet, I have bad knees, I have to lose some weight first. STOP MAKING EXCUSES! You put your life at risk to have this surgery. Don't waste the opportunity you have given yourself. Get up go for a walk, put on some music and dance around your home, get a exercise dvd. I started with a dvd called Heavyweight Yoga - made for heavy people. Just get moving. That is the only way you will ever change your lifestyle. I really believe exercise is what has made me so successful so far. Yes, I know I am only 6 months out. I have changed so much and feel a million times better that I can't even believe that only 6 months ago I was such a mess. It is not a miracle, it is not because I had more weight to lose than most, it is because I work hard and follow the rules. (Sorry, I had to vent.) Anyway, thats me at 6 months post op. Take it or leave it! I know I feel pretty damn good and I want to keep feeling this way so I will continue to work hard for me, for my son and for our family! Have a great day!